Historical Educational Theorists Letter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Historical Educational Theorists Letter - Essay Example Indeed, this is a serious concern that can affect any school system, for this reason; there are certain steps that need to be taken into consideration by your administration to restore the system to its full functioning. It is important to understand that the process of real education only happens through the stimulation process of a child’s powers, these often comes about because of social demands that the individual child finds himself in. By interacting with these societal demands, a learner is inspired to act in a way that portrays him as a member of that community. In my perspective, â€Å"I believe that in the ideal school, we have the reconciliation of the individualistic and the institutional ideals† (Dewey, 2013), therefore, you need to outline clearly these separate ideals. In this way, the learner finally graduates to become a useful and reliable member of the school and community. In my view, â€Å"I believe that the child should be stimulated and controlled in his work through the life of the community† (Dewey, 2013), and not being forced to conform to the system that is set. Therefore, what exactly needs to be done? I would prefer that you play the leading role as a leader of the institution to create an environment in which learners can know how to interact with various systems in the school. In this case, create core values that the administration and school community can uphold, they should be values that facilitate proper communication, respect, love and excellence among others. Through these needs, learners will find themselves with the urge to behave in certain ways that are in line with the core values set. Keep in mind that the school is a social community where learners, teachers and other stakeholders play a crucial role in shaping the values of a child for life. The management problems and the poor relationship that exists in your institution can be due to lack of proper awareness about the

Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Research Paper Example In this brief research, the researcher wanted to find ways the various factors that influenced reasons for disobeying basic traffic regulations. To simplify the data collection process and make the entire project simplified, the researcher came up with a hypothesis, which the data collection and findings of the research sought to justify. The hypothesis was that â€Å"the degree to which car drivers conform to traffic regulations depends on the gender of the driver and on the presence of passengers.† To this effect, the researcher selected one particular junction at the heart of the city where a traffic light operated. The data collection procedure included the use of both observation and interview. Through the interview, it was observed that more males broke the traffic rules as compared to females. Further interview showed that the situation existed out of impunity. This is to say that most people broke traffic rules because in most cases there were no authorities to enforce the law. Introduction Traffic laws are in place basically to ensure sanity on our roads and avoid road carnage. This notwithstanding, not many drivers obey basic traffic rules (Gardener, 2009). Most often than not, drivers are seen jumping the traffic. They do this by cross their way through even when the traffic light signals for them to stop. Again, it has been noticed that not most drivers would break the traffic rule by stopping when they are not to. The researcher has a strong conviction that there are a number of factors that are responsible for the creation of this basic problem. In the estimation of the researcher, a major factor that will influence such as situation has to do with the degree of courage a driver would have that even if he beats the red light, he or she will not run into other cars. Because of this assertion, the researcher holds the hypothesis that male drivers are the worse offenders of traffic rules. Again, the passenger make up of a car would contribute to traffic law irregularities. Method The research design designed by the researcher was a survey research design. This means that the researcher selected a very large sample size and generalized the results with what prevails in all other areas. There was a specific setting for data collection and this was New Jersey. This means that are was a level of confounding where the researcher did not have to deal with people from other parts of the State. On the sampling technique, the researcher adapted the use of random sampling technique, where no specific groups of people were targeted. The approach of the researcher was to record the gender of the first one hundred (100) drivers who committed various traffic offenses at the 4 way intersection. The hundred people were therefore to constitute the sample size of the researcher. Not aware of the possible number of drivers who may conduct various traffic offenses in a day, the researcher gave himself up to five days to collect data. If he gathered one hundred (100) offenders before the first days, he would not proceed with the data collection and vice versa. Generally, the researcher used observation as a major primary data collection approach. However, in order to make the data analysis and discussion easier, the researcher went ahead to interview some drivers in the traffic lane as to why they would possibly break traffic regulations. Results and discussion The results from the data collecti

Small and Medium Enterprises in Indias Economic Growth

Small and Medium Enterprises in Indias Economic Growth Small and Medium Enterprises in Economic Growth of India: Directions towards Sustainable Development Manvendra Pratap Singh, Arpita Chakraborty,  Dr. Mousumi Roy Abstract The inclusive growth is prerequisite in any of fast growing developing economies. Micro small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) play vital role in the socio-economic development of the country. In 2011-12, 36.18 mn enterprises were operational and employed around 80.5 mn people of country, second largest after agriculture sector (MSME Annual Report 2011-12). They accounts for 40 percent of India’s total exports, contributing 45 percent to Indian manufacturing output. With all the good things the darker side of MSME, it attracts only 2.33 employees per unit (on an average), they contributes mere 17 percent to the Indian GDP. This paper will highlight the reasons behind the shining India and Bharat. This paper will also focus on the facilities, scheme provided by the central or state government of country, its implementation and possible solutions for empowerment and spreading its boundaries beyond the country through international cooperation scheme. Keywords: MSME, International Cooperation, regional Economics Introduction Indias economic growth is expected to pick up a faster pace in 2013-14 and record six per cent plus levels of gross domestic product (GDP), according to Mr C Rangarajan, Chairman, Prime Ministers Economic Advisory Council (PMEAC). Country reported to expand at a better growth rate as compared to its three BRIC peers China, Russia and Brazil in May 2013, as per HSBC survey. India witnessed an improvement in its business climate on the back of increased foreign direct investment (FDI) and greater revenue receipts by the Government. The ‘BluFin Business Cycle Indicator (BCI)’, reflects macroeconomic developments on a monthly basis, stood at 165.3 points in July 2013, 5.3 percent higher compared to July 2012 which implies that business performance is comparatively better than previous year. In economic development scenario, India is leading from all fronts i.e. 2013 FDI confidence Index stands 5th, 2013 Deliotte Manufacturing Competitive Index stands 4th, 2013 KPMG Change Readiness Index stands 65th. 2013 Global Innovation Index stands 66th. While on societal development front, India’s condition is not upright. As per the United Nations Development Programs (UNDP) Human development Index 2013 India stands 136th. In inequality Index, India stands 91st, in gender inequality 132nd, value of multidimensional poverty index is 0.283 on basis of year 2005/2006. A major cause of poverty among India’s rural, urban poor both individuals and communities, is lack of access to regular job opportunity, productive assets and financial resources. High level of inadequate health care, illiteracy and extremely limited access to social services are common among poor people. Seven states – Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Odisha, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Prad esh – account for 61 per cent of Indias total poor. Chhattisgarh is the poorest state in the country with approximately 40 per cent of its population being below the poverty line (www.downtoearth.org ). According to NSSO 66th Survey 2010, around 52.9 percent of population engaged in primary sector (agriculture and allied sector) contributing 19 percent to gross value added (GVA) of country, 22.7 percent of working population engaged in secondary sector which contributes 28 percent in GVA and 24.4 percent of population engaged in tertiary sector (Services) contributes 53 percent in our GDP. Considering NSSO 66th Survey, around 75 percent working population engaged in primary and secondary sector of the economy, and resides countryside or in outskirts of cities. While considering the basic amenities in such areas are vulnerable i.e. health care centres, schools, sanitation facilities etc. These differences demarcate a thin line between Shining India (Cities) and Bharat (Village s, towns and outskirts of cities) in terms of societal development and economic parity. Literature review In dynamic economic world, business innovation and competitiveness helps Small and medium enterprises to grow leap and bound. According to the Global Manufacturing Competitiveness Index, 2013, Developing nations are emerging as potential manufacturing destinations like china ranked 1st as best manufacturing destinations while other developing nations are India, Brazil, Vietnam Indonesia etc. GMCI, 2013 report envisaged that in next five years the above mentioned nations will be key manufacturing hubs along with three leading manufacturing powers i.e. USA, Germany and Japan- remained ranked in top 10 most competitive nations today. Across the world, more than 95 percent of the enterprises are SMEs and employs 60 percent of total private employment (Ayyagari et al. 2011). SMEs by number dominate the world stage, Japan has highest number of SMEs registered among the industrialized nation accounts for 99 percent of total enterprises (Edinburgh Group Report, 2011). India had 26.1 million SMEs (MSME, 4th census) and employed around 59.7 million people of the country, second largest employer after agriculture sector. In European Union, jointly 27 countries accounts for 99.8 percent of total enterprises, employs 67 percent of all workers and contributes 58 percent of gross value added. (Edinburgh Group Report, 2011). The SMEs are lacking in knowledge and information base which reflected in poor work practices mainly the managerial and technical abilities among owners and managers. They mainly fall sort of environmental awareness and its impact and focused toward short term gains over long term objectives because of limited resources and lower capital-output ratio compared to a competitive large unit. Mainly SMEs are reluctant to the programs and policies i.e. waste management circle initiated by National Productivity council because of lack of their nature (Dasgupta, 1999). For example, Henriques and Sadorsky (1996) explored the effect of self-reported community pressure on Canadian firms’ decisions to adopt an environmental plan. The effect of self-reported community pressure (presence versus absence) on Mexican firms’ decisions to adopt certain environmental management practices. Analysis: Urban and Rural working Population across the sectors: In India, services sector mainly includes hotels restaurants, Banking Finance Securities Insurance (BFSI), Information Technology (IT) Information Technology Enabled services (ITES), Education, Health etc. According to NSSO 66th Survey, contribution of services sector is 53 percent as gross value added to the economy and employed only 24.4 percent of working population. Figure 1 shows the distribution of population employment per 1000 distribution in all three sectors of economy. Primarily comparing Round 66 and Round 68, finds out that rural primary sector population is shifting toward secondary and tertiary sector mainly men are relocating toward secondary and women are relocating toward tertiary sector. Considering the fact, urban population i.e. men and women are relocating toward secondary sector with marginal increment. With such development in secondary sector, more than 60 percent of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) approvals have been extended to IT/ITES sector, the manufacturing sector left with one third of total approvals (Deepak Shah, 2009). It may affect growth and competitiveness of manufacturing sector which shows huge potential in terms of engaging new skilled pool of population into itself. According to NSSO 66 Round Survey (Figure 2), while comparing secondary sector of economy, particularly, manufacturing (D) Construction (F) for rural and urban India, employment opportunities are relatively more in urban areas compare to rural areas because of basic facility location factors. With respect to social security, from entire workforce mere 8 percent workers entitled for statutory social protection (i.e. risks as sickness, maternity, disability and old age) through central and state level rules on conventional social security (NCEUS, 2006). Around 86 percent of total workers who employed in unorganized sector lag behind for basic social security benefits. As per (Figure 3) MSME Annual Report 2012-2013, rural registered MSME units are lesser than urban units while unregistered Micro and Small (MS) rural units are far more than urban units. Another important aspect of Indian MSME sector is that micro and small enterprises are more than medium enterprises and employed more number of population compared to medium enterprises where labor efficiency, economics of scale and environmental friendliness would not be considered as a parameter of growth. The overall labor efficiency is gloomily low which signifies poor quality of employment mainly because of informal employment called casualization. In manufacturing sector, 88 percent of employment lies under such category (Kannan (2011). According to planning commission estimates,  casual workforce earnings were only one-fourth of the wages of regular (full time) workers (Rs. 51 as against Rs. 200) in 2004-05. Prevalence of poverty among casual workforce, self-employed and regular was as high as 32 per cent, 17.5 per cent and 11 per cent respectively with an average of 20.51 per cent for all employed workers. (Planning Commission, 2008, Chapter 4, Annexure 4.7). MSMEs financing and credit trends: While considering the outstanding bank credits to micro and small enterprises (Figure 4) are on higher side with year on year increase of average 33.3 percent, which reflects the position of respective enterprises and condition of workers working for such enterprises, because it’s obvious that if an enterprise is falling sort of funds to manage its outstanding credit taken from various banks, how it will take care of its enterprise and workers. It reflects that mainly MS enterprises are dragged behind due to falling short of funds and other finance facilities which requires to compete with established local and global players in respective market. Conclusion: According to NAS data the service-sector has achieved an average annual compound growth rate of 8.7 per cent annum between 1999-2000 and 2009-10 as against 7.7 per cent achieved by manufacturing during the same period. Manufacturing sector in urban India has grown at a faster rate (2.8 per cent) relative to all India (1.7 per cent) over the period 1999-2000 and 2009-10. Unlike service sector has practiced skill scarcity and growth in service sector is reasonably more skill demanding than manufacturing sector at higher skill levels. Indian policy makers needs to focus on manufacturing sector like china counterpart which leads in exports and generated huge and stable employment environment by focusing on MSME model (Ramaswamy, 2012). Microenterprise development could generate income and enable poor people to improve their living conditions, has only recently become a focus of the government. The government initiatives and scheme like cluster development program, integrated industrial development scheme and credit guarantee fund scheme etc which stimulates inter-firm linkages and network have assisted MSMEs to move up in the value chain and gain competitive advantage, given access to technology upgraded production technology in sector should be spread across the industrial zones of the country by conducting workshops and training camps to reap the bene fits (IBEF, 2013). The report of Task Force on MSME (2010) provides roadmap for the enhancement and up gradation of MSME sector and mainly emphasized on following key issues: Public Procurement Policy: Government Departments and PSUs to reach atleast 20 percent of their annual volume purchase from MSEs Government should focus on rehabilitation of sick SME units and enhance schemes in context of National Action Plan for Climate Change (NAPCC). Enable conducive environment for legal and fiscal instruments to incentivize SMEs for their corporation as entities. Assurance for strict adherence to stipulated targets by commercial banks for SMEs. References: ATKearney Foreign Direct Investment Confidence Index, Back to Business: Optimism and Uncertainty (2013) Ayyagari, M., Demirgà ¼Ãƒ §-Kunt, A. and Maksimovic, V. (2011), Small vs. Young Firms Across The World – Contribution to Employment, Job Creation, and Growth, Policy Research Working Paper 5631 (The World Bank Development Research Group). Deepak Shah (2009), Special Economic Zones in India: A Review of Investment, Trade, Employment generation and Impact Assessment, Indian Journal of Agriculture Economics, Vol 64, No. 3, July-Sept 2009. Das Gupta N, 1999. Energy efficiency and environmental improvements in small-scale industries: present initiatives in India are not working. Energy Policy (27) 789-800. Edinburgh (2011), Growing the global economy through SMEs. Goyal M, (2013, June 09). SMEs employ close to 40 percent of Indias workforce, but contribute only 17 percent to GDP. The Economic Times retrieved from http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-06-09/news/39834857_1_smes-workforce-small-and-medium-enterprises. Henriques, I., Sadorsky, P., 1996. The determinants of an environmentally responsive firm: an empirical approach. J. Environ. Econ. Manage. 30, 381–395. HSBC EXPAT Explorer Survey 2013 Report: http://www.expatexplorer.hsbc.com/files/pdfs/overall-reports/2013/report.pdf Human Development Report 2013. The rise of south: Human Progress in Diverse World. Kannan, K.P. (2011) ‘How Inclusive is Inclusive Growth in India’ paper presented at the International Expert Workshop on ‘Inclusive Growth: From Policy to Reality’, jointly organized by International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada and Indian Institute for Dalit Studies (IIDs), New Delhi; 11-13 December, 2011, New Delhi. KPMG Change Readiness Index (2013), KPMG International  MSME Annual Report 2012-13 NCEUS (2006) Social Security for Unorganized Workers, New Delhi, National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganized Sector, New Delhi, Government of India. NCEUS (2007) Report on Conditions of Work and Promotion of Livelihoods in the Unorganized Sector, New Delhi, Government of India and Academic Foundation. NSSO (2005) Income, Expenditure and Productive Assets of Farmer Households (Situation Assessment Survey of Farmers), 59th Round, Report No. 497, New Delhi, National Sample Survey Organization. Planning Commission (2008), Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012) –– Volume I, Inclusive Growth, –– Volume III, Agriculture, Industry, Services and Physical Infrastructure, New Delhi, Planning Commission, Government of India. Ramaswamy K V, Agarwal Tushar (2012), Services-led Growth, Employment and Job Quality: A Study of Manufacturing and Service-sector in Urban India, WP-2012-007. Rs 27 per day: Indias new rural poverty line, 23 July, 2013, Down To Earth, http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/indias-new-rural-poverty-line-rs-27-day Samuel R A, Global competitiveness Index Report 2013 Zaidi L, (2013). Proceeding from International Conference on Technology and Business Management.

Techniques Used in Morris Glietzmans Boy Overboard Essay -- essays re

In Morris Glietzmans heart breaking but remarkable book Boy Overboard, he shows how the corrupt government in Afghanistan has forced out many of its inhabitants making them try to leave the country by avoiding the government and staying in refugee camps until they can leave is in the country. Morris Glietzman shows the pressure put on the families in Afghanistan through similes, metaphors, and humour. The Afghanistan government or the Taliban as they are called, are very harsh and unfair with the laws that are in place in Afghanistan and are not nice to the families in the country. Woman are treated very unfairly in Afghanistan for minor crimes, and are whipped or killed for a crime such as showing there ankles in public or not being with a male person of there family while outside. Similes are used throughout Boy Overboard to show a comparison in the readers mind. By using a comparison with another obje0ct and using like or as to show this comparison the object can be shown to be something normally not possible for the person or object to be or do. One example in the story B...

Night World : Spellbinder Chapter 10

Gran told me that the only person who can send a spirit back is the one who called it up,† Thea said. â€Å"But the problem is that you have to be able to see the spirit, you have to be close to it. Then you can do the sending-back spell.† â€Å"Okay,† Dani said, nodding. â€Å"But-â€Å" â€Å"Wait, I'm getting to it.† Thea got up and began to pace the few steps between her bed and Blaise's. She spoke slowly at first, then more rapidly. â€Å"What I'm thinking is that this can't be the first time this has happened. Sometime, somewhere, somehow, some witch must have called up a spirit and let it get away. And then had to go out and get hold of it again.† â€Å"I'm sure that's true. But so what?† â€Å"So if we could find a record of how she did it-how she tracked the spirit down-we might be in business.† Dani was getting excited. â€Å"Yeah-and it wouldn't even have to be a case of a summoned spirit. I mean, some spirits just won't go to the other side at all after they've died, right? Maybe there's a record about how one of them got sent across the veil.† â€Å"Or a story. Or a poem. Anything that would give us a clue about how to get them to stay in the same room with you while you do the spell.† Thea stopped and grinned at Dani. â€Å"And if there's one thing Gran has lots of, it's records and stories and poems. There are hundreds of books in the workshop.† Dani jumped up, dark eyes snapping. â€Å"I'll call my mom and tell her I'm staying over tonight. Then- we find it.† After Dani called her mother, Thea called Eric to make sure he was okay. Now that she knew there was a demented spirit on the loose she was worried about him. â€Å"You're sure you're all right?† he said. â€Å"I mean, I still feel awful about taking you to that place. I wanted-well, I'd like it if we could see each other without something terrible happening.† Thea felt as if someone had squeezed her heart. â€Å"Me, too.† â€Å"Maybe we could do something tomorrow. If you're up to it.† â€Å"That would be good.† She didn't dare to keep talking to him with Dani around. It would be too easy for anyone listening to guess her feelings. The first thing Thea noticed in the workshop was that Blaise had taken her new project with her. She must be close to finishing it. â€Å"I'll start here,† Dani said, standing in front of a large bookcase. â€Å"Some of these look really old.† Thea picked another case. There were books of every kind: leather-bound, paper-bound, cloth-bound, suede-bound, unbound. Some were printed, some were handwritten, some were illuminated. Some were in languages Thea didn't know. The first shelf yielded nothing except an interesting spell titled â€Å"how to make an elixir of abhorrence, which works quite as well, or perhaps a little worse than the traditional Elixirs of Loathing or Detestation, and is less delicate and expensive than the Elixir of Odium used by royals and members of the nobility, and will also keep extremely well for a very long time.† Hmm†¦ Thea put that book aside. She'd looked through another half a shelf when Dani said, â€Å"Hey, I found your family tree.† Thea scooted over. â€Å"Yeah, that's the one Gran keeps. It doesn't go anywhere near back to Hellewise.† She laughed. â€Å"Who's this guy?† Dani put her finger on a name. † ‘Hunter Redfern.' I thought the Redferns were that hotshot vampire family.† â€Å"Lamia family. I mean, there's a difference, you know. Someone who's made into a vampire can't have kids.† â€Å"But what's the lamia guy doing in your family tree?† â€Å"He's the one who did a kinship ceremony with Maeve Harman, back in the sixteen hundreds. She was the leader of the Harmans then. See? And we're all descended from their daughter Roseclear.† â€Å"She did it with a vampire? Creepy.† Thea smiled. â€Å"She did it to stop their families from fighting-they had a feud going on. And so now all of us modern Harmans have a little vampire blood.† â€Å"I'll remember to watch out if you start looking at my throat.† Dani traced a finger down the tree. â€Å"It looks like you and Blaise are the last of the female Harmans.† â€Å"Yeah, we're it. The last Hearth-Women.† â€Å"That's a big responsibility.† It was almost exactly what Gran had said. Thea suddenly felt uncomfortable with family trees. â€Å"Yeah. Um, I guess we'd better keep reading.† It was several hours later when Dani said quietly, â€Å"I've got it.† â€Å"What?† Thea went to sit by her. The book on Dani's knees was bound in green with a crescent moon and three stars on the front-a Night World symbol for witches. â€Å"It's a book of humorous stories, but they're supposed to be true. This one is about a guy named Walstan Harman back in seventeen seventy. He died, but he didn't cross over. He just hung around town playing jokes on everybody-appearing at night with his head under his arm and stuff like that. He never stayed in one place long enough for them to catch him, though.† â€Å"So how did they track him down?† Dani flashed a triumphant smile. â€Å"They didn't. They lured him in.† Light dawned for Thea. â€Å"Of course-I'm so stupid. But how?† Dani's slender finger swept down the page. â€Å"Well, first they waited till Samhain, so the veil between the worlds would be thinnest. Then Nicholas Harman had this big feast prepared, this huge table piled up with Walstan's favorite food.† Dani made a face. â€Å"Which happened to be mince pie made with bear meat and pumpkin, with a cornmeal crust. They have a recipe for it here, too. Gah.† â€Å"Never mind that. Did it work?† â€Å"Apparently. They set up the table with the pies in an empty room, then they cast a circle around it. Old Walstan was attracted to the food-I guess he just couldn't resist taking a look, even if he couldn't eat it. And when he came down to check it out, they opened the door and nabbed him.† † ‘Sent him speedily and conveniently through the narrow path to the airy void,' † Thea read over Dani's shoulder. The story sounded genuine-only someone who'd actually seen a summoning or a sending-back would know those words. â€Å"So now we know how to do it,† Dani said. â€Å"We wait until Halloween and then we lure her. We just have to find something she likes-â€Å" â€Å"Or†¦ something she hates,† Thea broke in as an idea struck her. They stared at each other. â€Å"Like what she saw at the old gym,† Dani breathed. â€Å"Something that reminded her of what they did to her.† â€Å"Yes, except†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Thea stopped. Her mind was rating on, but she didn't want to share her thoughts with Dani. Except that the humans might already be doing something oh ? Halloween, something that would attract Suzanne. If the police opened the old gym, the Halloween party would be an incredibly strong lure. All those horror booths†¦ So if I wanted to draw her somewhere else, I'd need to be doing something even worse, something that would remind her even more of what happened to her. And I'd need bait, somebody she'd want to kill. A human. Somebody who'd work with me, who'd be willing†¦ Not Eric. Her thoughts came up short as she realized where they were leading. She found that her hands were icy cold and her heart was pounding slowly. No. Not Eric, no matter what. Not even to save lives. She pushed the thought from her mind. Of course there was some other way, and she'd find it. There was time†¦. â€Å"Thea? You still with me?† Dani was watching her. â€Å"I was just trying to figure it all out.† Thea forced herself to speak calmly, to focus on Dani. â€Å"Urn, listen, there's one good thing I just thought of-we may have a little time. If Suzanne is still watching the old gym, it could work for us. As long as the gym is closed up, people won't go in there, and she won't be able to get anybody.† â€Å"I hope so,† Dani said. â€Å"I mean, I understand why she's upset, but nobody deserves to die the way Kevin did. Not even a human.† Late that night, while Dani was breathing peacefully in Blaise's bed, Thea lay and stared at the faint glow above the window curtains. It wasn't just visions of Kevin. Her mind kept returning to what Dani and Gran had said about her responsibility. Even if I send Suzanne back, even if Gran gets well, even if I manage to keep Blaise from killing Eric†¦ where am I? I'm a renegade witch. And there's no future for Eric and me†¦ unless we run away. But that would mean him leaving his family forever-and us being hunted wherever we went. And me betraying the Hearth-Women and the Night World. One last thought glimmered before she could force her mind into blankness. There's no way everybody is going to come out of this happy. The next morning Thea was late for school. And she had a hard time tracking down Blaise-it wasn't until lunchtime that she and Dani found the Circle Midnight witches in the front courtyard. â€Å"Please let us see it,† Selene was saying as Thea and Dani walked up. â€Å"Just one peek. Please?† â€Å"I want to do a trial run first,† Blaise said, looking very pleased with herself. She took a drink of iced tea, ignoring Thea and Dani. â€Å"How's Gran?† Thea broke in without preamble. Blaise turned. â€Å"Better, no thanks to you. Why didn't you call this morning?† â€Å"I overslept.† After terrible nightmares about strangled people. â€Å"We were up late last night,† Dani said. â€Å"It's not Thea's fault.† â€Å"Your grandma's really doing well,† Vivienne said kindly. â€Å"She just needs to rest for a while-Mom'll probably keep her at our place for a couple of days. Sleep heals, you know.† Thea felt a tiny breath of relief, like a spring breeze. If Gran was getting better she had one less thing to worry about. â€Å"Thanks, Viv. Please thank your mom, too.† Blaise raised her eyebrows and made a tiny sound like â€Å"Hmf.† Then she tapped her chin with one long nail. â€Å"A trial run†¦Ã¢â‚¬  she said again, gazing far away. She was dressed unusually, in a bronze silk jacket with a high collar that was zipped up to her chin. Thea had a sudden sinking feeling. â€Å"What are you trying out?† Dani asked. Blaise gave them a slow smile. â€Å"Hang around and you'll see.† She scanned the courtyard and said sweetly, â€Å"And there is the perfect mark. Selene, will you go ask him to come here?† Selene got up and languidly drifted to the boy Blaise had pointed at. Thea recognized him. He was Luke Price, a guy who drove a sleek red Maserati and looked like a bad-boy Hollywood star. He was fashionably unshaven and unkempt, had electric blue eyes, and right now looked vaguely surprised to find himself following Selene back to Blaise. â€Å"Luke, how's it going?† Blaise said pleasantly. Luke shrugged. â€Å"Okay. What do you want?† His electric blue eyes lingered on Blaise, but he was obviously used to playing the tough guy with girls. Blaise laughed shortly, as if taken off guard by the question. â€Å"Nothing I can have,† she murmured-and then looked slightly startled at herself. â€Å"I want to talk to you,† she said smoothly, recovering. â€Å"And†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She tilted her head thoughtfully. â€Å"Maybe the keys to your car.† Luke laughed out loud. He leaned one hip against the concrete wall by the stairs, two fingers fishing in his T-shirt pocket for a cigarette. â€Å"You're crazy,† he said indistinctly. Dani coughed as smoke drifted toward her. Thea swirled her plastic bottle of Evian water in one hand. Blaise made a face. â€Å"Put that out; it's disgusting,† she said. Luke blew smoke toward her. â€Å"If you've got something to say, say it.† He was eyeing Blaise's zipped-to-the-neck jacket with disfavor. â€Å"Otherwise stop wasting my time.† Blaise smiled. She touched the zipper at her throat. â€Å"You want to guess what's under here?† Luke's eyes went up and down the silk of the jacket, particularly where Blaise made it curve. â€Å"Maybe you'd better show me.† â€Å"You want me to show you? You're sure, now?† Thea looked heavenward, thumb playing with the opening to her Evian bottle. Luke was scowling, blowing smoke between tight lips. His electric blue eyes were narrow. â€Å"I think you're some kind of tease†¦.† Blaise took the zipper between two fingers and slid it down. The necklace fit like a collar, lying against the pale skin of her throat and the matte black of her simple blouse. And it was everything Thea had known it would be. It was delicate, exquisite, magical. Swirls of stars and moons in enchanted patterns. Gems of all kinds tucked into the mysterious curves. Green garnet, imperial topaz, sunstone, cinnabar. Violet sapphire, African emerald, smokestone. It seemed to move as you looked at it, the lines changing and flowing. Pulling you into the center of its mystery, winding around you like strands of softly burnished hair. Holding you fast†¦ Thea pulled herself away with a physical jerk. She had to shut her eyes and put up a hand to do it. And if it does that to me†¦ Luke was staring. Thea could actually see the change in his face as the necklace worked its spell. Like some Oscar-winning actor transforming from bad boy to vulnerable kid right there on screen. His jaw softened, his tight lips relaxed. The muscles around his eyes shifted and he lost his tense squint. He looked surprised, then defenseless. Open. Those electric blue eyes seemed dazzled, pupils widening. He sucked in a breath as if he couldn't get enough air. Now he looked awed; now hypnotized; now yearning†¦ Spellbound. Luke had been transformed. His whole body seemed smaller. His lips were parted. His eyes were huge and full of light. He looked as if at any second he might fall down and start worshiping Blaise. Blaise sat like a queen, with her midnight hair tumbling around the necklace, her chest moving slightly as she breathed, her eyes as brilliant as jewels. â€Å"Put the disgusting cigarette down,† she said. Luke dropped the cigarette and stamped on it as if it were a spider. Then he looked back at Blaise. â€Å"You†¦ you're beautiful.† He reached a hand toward her. â€Å"Wait,† Blaise said. Her face assumed a tragic, wistful expression. â€Å"First, I'm going to tell you a sad story. I used to have a little dog that I loved, a cocker spaniel, and we would take long walks together around dusk.† Thea gave her cousin a narrow sideways look. She'd never heard such a lie. And what was Blaise talking about dogs for? â€Å"But he was run over by an eighteen-wheel Piggiy Wiggly truck,† Blaise murmured. â€Å"And ever since, I've been so lonely†¦. I miss him so much.† She fixed her eyes on the boy in front of her. â€Å"Luke . .. will you be my little dog?† Luke looked confused. â€Å"You see,† Blaise went on, slipping a hand in her pocket, â€Å"if I could just have somebody to remind me of him, I'd feel so much better. So if you'd wear this for me†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She was holding a blue dog collar. Luke looked even more confused. Redness was creeping up his neck and jaw. His eyes filled. â€Å"For me?† Blaise coaxed, jingling the collar- which was way too big for a spaniel, Thea noticed. â€Å"I'd be so grateful.† Luke looked as if he were having a tremendous internal struggle. His breathing was uneven. He swallowed. A muscle in his jaw twitched. Then, very slowly, he reached for the collar. Blaise held it down low. Luke's eyes followed the collar. Jerkily, as if his muscles were fighting each other, he knelt down at Blaise's side. He stayed there, stone-faced, as Blaise fastened the dog collar around his neck. When it was secure, Blaise laughed. She glanced at the other girls, then jingled the metal loop for the dog tag. â€Å"Good boy,† she said, and patted his head. Luke's face lit up with an excitement that bordered on ecstasy. He stared into Blaise's eyes. â€Å"I love you,† he said huskily, still squatting. Blaise wrinkled her nose and laughed again. Then she zipped up the bronze jacket. The change on Luke's face was much quicker this time than his first transformation. For an instant he looked completely blank, then he glanced around as if he'd suddenly woken up in a classroom. His fingers went to the dog collar. His face contracted in anger and horror and he jumped up. â€Å"What's going on? What am I doing?† Blaise just gazed at him serenely. Luke tore the collar off and kicked it. Although he was glaring at Blaise, he didn't seem to remember the last few minutes. â€Å"You-are you gonna tell me what you want or not?† he snapped, his upper lip trembling. â€Å"Because I'm not going to wait all day.† Then, when nobody said anything, he walked huffily off. His buddies across the courtyard were roaring with laughter. â€Å"Oops,† Blaise said. â€Å"I forgot about the car keys.† She turned to the other girls. â€Å"But I'd say it works.† â€Å"I'd say it's scary,† Dani whispered. â€Å"I'd say it's incredible,† Selene murmured. â€Å"I'd say it's unbelievable,† Vivienne added. And I'd say it's the Armageddon of accessories, Thea thought. And, incidentally, so much for Selene and Vivienne changing their ways. They may have been shocked at what happened to Randy and Kevin, but it sure didn't last. â€Å"Blaise,† she said tightly, â€Å"if you walk around school showing that, you are going to cause a riot.† â€Å"But I'm not going to walk around school showing it,† Blaise said. â€Å"There's only one guy I'm interested in right now. And this†-she touched her throat- â€Å"has his blood in it. If it works like that on other people, I wonder what it will do to him?† Thea took a few deep breaths to relax her stomach. She had never gone one-on-one with Blaise in a matter of witchcraft. And no one had ever challenged Blaise for a boy. But she didn't have a choice-and putting this off wouldn't help. â€Å"I suppose you're planning to find some time to ambush him,† she said. â€Å"Some time when I'm not around.† It worked. Blaise stood, tall and regal in her bronze silk jacket, hands in her pockets, hair like a waterfall behind her. She gave Thea a slow smile. â€Å"I don't need to ambush anybody,† she said with dreadful confidence. â€Å"In fact†¦ why don't we set up a meeting after school? Just the three of us. You, me, and Eric-a showdown. And may the best witch win.†

IT-based management: Challenges and solutions. NTT DoCoMo Essay

NTT DoCoMo Introduction            NTT DoCoMo is one of the largest mobile communications companies in japan that has thrived for a long period. Despite of this factor, the company faces several challenges in terms of market saturation, competition from rival companies and rivalry in the mobile phone industry. NTT DoCoMo was found in the year 1992, a period when it was spun off by NNT (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone). Looking back at NTT’s history, it is noted that the company was privatized in 1986, but still the government of japan still held some shares of 46% and part of its equities in the year 2004. As a result of this, NTT owned 58% of DoCoMo’s equities.            Though DoCoMo poses great potential in terms of innovation, the company also faces competition, especially in the technology sector. Felica (part of DoCoMo) has over the years competed with Type A and Type B contactless IC technologies, where type A technology was mostly used in Europe, and Type being utilized in Japan extensively. With this type of competition, the company was able to form alliances with other stakeholders to come up with a technology (a chip tech) that would be utilized by credit card users.            DoCoMo’s strategy to pursue the wireless internet was achieved with the launch of i-mode. This is in consideration of the fact that i-mode technology enabled users to receive an incoming call while surfing the internet. The technology mostly targeted young consumers rather than business persons, in spite of the fact that business individuals would most probable use premium services of the product. Through this aspect, the various competitive advantages of the product are realized with its market limitations on the other hand. This concept introduces porter’s generic strategy into use, where one can increase profits through the reduction of costs while at the same time charging industry’s average price. Porter’s strategy (cost reduction strategy) also facilitates the increase in market shares through the lowering of prices, while at the same time making reasonable profits from the sale of each share. In consideration of the cost reduction strategy, DoCoMo Company was able to set up small transaction fees for its chip technology to its users. These transaction fees were on an average of about 2% to 3% for EDY services. Such a strategy poses a competition to credit card companies whose transaction fee run on an average of about 3% to 5%.            Porter’s generic strategy also incorporates the focus strategy, where a company concentrates on a particular market. This is usually through the understanding of the dynamics that exist in a particular market (understanding of the customer’s needs is one of the crucial factors to consider in this strategy). The main advantage of this strategy is that, customer loyalty is usually established especially when unique services are provided in a new market. Despite the DoCoMo’s extensive marketing strategies, the company was not able to utilize the focus strategy. Though DoCoMo’s success in Japan in the initial launch of i-mode, the company did not lay a strategic focus on the Japan market. Its foreign ventures especially in the USA and other countries also faced various challenges that were not considered prior to the venture. From the study, it is evident that DoCoMo’s partners also did not adopt i-mode technology, something that cont ributed to its disadvantages overseas.            In porters five model, four factors are perceived to have the capability of causing market rivalry. These factors are supplier power, threat of new entrants, threat of substitutes, and the buyer’s power (Hill & Jones,  2010). Through the analysis of DoCoMo’s market, it is realized that the company faces a high supplier’s power in its market, a factor that has made it loose its influence over the Japanese market. Government policies have also affected DoCoMo’s entrant to new markets, an element that has reduced the extent of expansion of the company.            Prior to taking any risk, companies and others organizations ought to come up with a model that will enable them to project the probable risk that is prone to affect their venture hence making it unsuccessful. DoCoMo is a company that has great ideas and innovations but the only issue affecting the company’s performance was the lack of well centered risk projection pattern or model. In a risk projection model, one has to identify the risk, analyze the risk qualitatively, assess the issues at hand quantitatively and finally come up with a risk response planning. With this model, DoCoMo Company would be able to come up with a solution to its market problem especially in the Japanese market. The model would also enable the company to choose selectively, the most appropriate countries to partner with (Grey,  2004). .            Competition is one of the problems that DoCoMo is facing. This problem can be addressed effectively through the implementation of a proper differentiation strategy. Product differentiation entails making once product different and more attractive than the competitors’ products. The extent of differentiation in this case will depend on the nature of technological products being produced by other companies in the market. In consideration of this concept, DoCoMo will be obliged to produce products that have more functionality, features and durability than the competitor’s products. I relation to this; i-mode (DoCoMo’s product) would have a higher competitive edge over its rival products (Joia,  2003).            Though DoCoMo tried to diversity its market extensively, the company was unable to come up with an effective focus strategy. By having a proper focus strategy, DoCoMo would be able to dominate in its market where the product supply would remain constant. In this case a proper focus can be achieved through the development of a uniquely low-cost and well-specified product market. Such a strategy would enable the company to create dominance over its market, hence establishing customer loyalty (Joia,  2003). Cost focus differentiation would also be an important strategy for the company to implement especially when attracting new customers. In consideration of all these factors that DoCoMo should consider in coming up with a solution to its problems. The management of the company is also expected to carry out a SWOT analysis of the company in order to solve its problems. A clear and well-set SWOT analysis would enable the company come-up with a measure to manage the s uppliers’ power and also the capability to reduce the buyer’s power. This would in-turn enable the company dominate its market and thrive in all its market ventures (Joia,  2003). Recommendation            From the study, it is realized that DoCoMo is a company that has been extensively to produce products that are of high innovation due to its mergers with other stakeholders. The company also faces problems in terms of competitors. As a result of all this, it would be recommendable for the company to set-up a proper management program. A program, that will be able to overlook all the necessary strategies that can enable the company thrive in both domestic and foreign markets. Implementation of both SWOT and porters five model would enable the DoCoMo thrive well in providing e-money services (Joia,  2003). References Grey,  S. (2004). Practical risk assessment for project management. Chichester: Wiley. Hill,  C.  W., & Jones,  G.  R. (2010). Strategic management theory: An integrated approach. Mason, OH: South-Western/Cengage Learning. Joia,  L.  A. (2003). IT-based management: Challenges and solutions. Hershey, PA: Idea Group Pub. Source document