Collapse of Kingfisher Airlines Essay

Kingfisher , Sony and Kodak have one thing in common . i.e. They are finding it difficult to reinvent themselves. They are trying hard to be a phoenix but will they truly rise from the ashes or simply fade away is the real question. Let us take the issue of Kingfisher here. One of India’s most high profile airlines few years back , now in shambles. It is really interesting to ponder that in same market scenario, one of the competitors of Kingfisher is flying high and high. Yes, Indigo Airlines is the most profitable airlines in India. The question is the difference between discipline or grandeur. What makes one company succeed, while another, in the same operating environment, falter? One of the reason is Mr. ( or Dr. in which degree?) Vijay Mallya flamboyant nature. Kingfisher was launched as an all-economy, single-class configuration aircraft with food and entertainment systems. After about a year of operations, the airline suddenly shifted its focus to luxury. When an airline keeps changing its model and takes to random expansion, there is no time for the airline to stabilize. After Kingfisher’s plunge into luxury came its next folly—a merger with Air Deccan, an airline formed by Captain G R Gopinath in 2003. I believe the fall of Kingfisher airlines started the very day when they bought Air Deccan. Capt. Gopinath , the owner of Air Deccan can be termed as shrewd but smart investor who knew when to part with his investment , just at the right time. The all-economy configuration of Air Deccan was rebranded and called Kingfisher Red, which continued to operate as its low-cost wing till recently. Kingfisher ended up spending Rs 550 crore on an airline that had losses of over Rs 550 crore. It is widely believed that Kingfisher merged itself with Air Deccan so that it could classify as an airline with five years of domestic flying in 2008, thus fulfilling requirements to fly international routes. The fact that Jet had meanwhile swallowed Air Sahara didn’t help, fuelling a competitive race to be the biggest airline around. Essentially, jet fuel prices began to sky-rocket and soon touched $150. Then came the 2008 recession that made fundamentals in the airline industry worse, which is when the airline launched its international operations. Some companies just fail to learn—either from the examples that its peers may have set for the industry, or from its own past mistakes. Now, Kingfisher has decided to change its model yet again—discontinuing its Kingfisher Red brand and completely converting its fleet to a dual class, full-service configuration. Kingfisher was gifted to Mr . Sidhartha Mallya by his father on his birthday i.e. a Near Zero experience in running a company and the later CEOs appointed by Mr . Mallya couldn’t bring any significant result too . His over indulgence in petty things like parties and Kingfisher Calendar also lead to inadequacies in his finances. .IPL is also one of the reason for Kingfisher downfall because it is known that many of the money was diverted to IPL from Kingfisher airlines, resulting which they defaulted in Loans and recently became a NPA (non performing asset) to its leading bankers like SBI . The lack of trust was shown recently when Mr Mallya asked the government of India to bail him out. The new minister Mr. Ajit Singh clearly told that the Government will not bail out private airline because Air India is itself in need to bail out. I personally feel that Mr Ajit singh made a good decision because When Kingfisher doesn’t give public anything in return of its profit , then why is it asking for Public hard earned money ( income tax money) to bail him out. The lack of management and top of it the soaring petrol prices, the airport charges added to Kingfishers humiliation. Frequent cancellation of flights , nonpayment to employees, rude staff laid the ground for Kingfishers grave. Kingfisher reputation took a beating when it was known that employees tax were not submitted to government on time since the last three years! Government of India also freezed 40 Kingfisher’s bank account. Latest news is that Kingfisher employees have been not paid three months salary. We all know how we feel when our salary is delayed by a day, imagine what happens to them when they are not getting salary for last three months. How do you expect the employees to keep a smiling face to its customers when they themselves are crying . A company which forgots its employees, is also soon forgotten. A classic example is Kingfisher airlines. Mr Mallya had to sell 49% of his ownership of Force India( F1 car) to Mr Subrato Roy to get kingfisher going ( owner of ailing airline Air Sahara , years back) , but it too failed to save the airlines from tatters. I still have hope from Mr Mallya that he will refrain from over indulgence and concentrate on his fragile business. It’s time he and his son become responsible and start this company from scratch instead of late night parties and IPL and took inspiration from Indigo airlines who proudly claimed themselves as Low cost airline and exceeding the customers delight in every way they can.

How Is the Extract of Jekyll and Hyde Dramatic

The realisation of the reader from this extract, that Jekyll has only been experimenting with science produces dramatic tension. Throughout the extract, Jekyll confesses that he can only speak ‘by theory alone' regarding his attempts to create the potions to transform himself into Hyde. This represents his constant uncertainty about the results of his experiments. Therefore if even Jekyll, the man performing the experiments, is uncertain of the results, dramatic tension is caused for the reader to discover the results of the experiment. Jekyll also confirms that he doesn’t know anything for certain, as he only speaks what appears ‘to be most probable'. Since the results are uncertain, the reader doesn't know the effect the experiment would have on Jekyll. The reader also discovers that no-one has attempted the experiment before, which builds up tension and suspense about the end result and makes the reader intrigued to continue reading in order to discover it. The unknown of the experiments Jekyll performs builds drama and is dramatic since the unexpected may happen. Stevenson’s imagery of imprisonment in this extract makes it more dramatic since it portrays the idea of Jekyll being trapped. Jekyll presents being Hyde as a disguise ‘like a thick cloak’ in order to abandon his life as Jekyll, which is boring and tiresome, as if he is escaping from prison in order to live a new and free life. The ‘thick cloak’ could represent protection and by suggesting it is like a piece of clothing, this shows that transforming into Hyde is effortless and comforting to do but the constant interchanging between the views of Jekyll, when he is himself, and Hyde is dramatic. Jekyll likens the potion to a drug by saying that it had ‘no discriminating action’, explaining that it is addicting once he has tried it. However it then became impossible to prevent the change describing it as falling into ‘slavery’ and by being trapped this leads to the extract becoming tense and exciting. Metaphors are used through the extract to provide imagery for the reader. Jekyll explains that Hyde was pure evil and that it was ‘written broadly and plainly on his face’ suggesting that when people saw Hyde, it was immediately clear that he was a cruel person. By using this metaphor, Stevenson is attempting to show the personality of Hyde through his face and that his characteristics were clear from his physical appearance. After drinking the potion, Jekyll ‘had come to the fatal cross-roads’ which is a crucial moment in the novel for him, as he can choose only choose option suggested by the ‘cross roads’. This is dramatic because as there is a decision to be made which is extremely important, this builds suspense, especially as the decision carried the possibility of death which requires Jekyll to ponder his options carefully. Since the cross roads are ‘fatal’ this may imply that the cross roads will lead to disaster or death. It could also indicate that the cross roads were unavoidable as it was fate that determined Jekyll would have to make this decision. The dangerous decision that has been forced upon Jekyll makes the extract dramatic, since his decision may lead to his death. The use of violent and dramatic language by Stevenson in the extract increases the pace of the novel and makes it more engaging and exciting. Jekyll is uncertain about the result of him drinking his potion which creates tension and by ‘hurrying back to my cabinet’ this shows that there is urgency from Jekyll to discover the effects of the potion which leads to the extract being exciting and dramatic and it is building up tension. When Jekyll had transformed into Hyde he was aware that people were frightened of him and took an instant dislike. He said that people couldn’t approach him without ‘a visible misgiving of the flesh’ and by using violent language to describe their reaction, it demonstrates the severity of the cruelty that Hyde possessed. By saying ‘the flesh’ instead of skin, this shows that people were unable to hide beneath their skin, the reactions they felt regarding Hyde. This language engages the reader with the emotions felt by the characters towards Hyde, producing anxiety among the reader resulting in a dramatic confrontation that is described. The exposure of many mysteries is revealed all at once which creates a dramatic atmosphere. In the extract we learn that Edward Hyde ‘was pure evil’ which is the reason behind people such as Utterson and Enfield ‘taking an instant dislike to him’ as we learn previously. We also discover the motive for Jekyll to transform into Hyde which is because he ‘began to profit by the strange immunities’ of his position, as he is taking advantage of the freedom he has when Jekyll is Hyde. The answers to the questions which were formed by the reader earlier in the novel were slowly being revealed throughout it. However in this short extract, lots of answers are provided to the reader from Jekyll, because he is explaining the actions of both himself and Mr Hyde. Also since the novel is told in third but in this extract it is in the first person perspective, it leaves few questions remaining, allowing the reader to piece together Utterson’s perception. This therefore results in dramatic tension as the reader now understands the actions Jekyll has taken and is intrigued to discover the fate of Jekyll and Hyde.

Benefits of Tourism in Singapore

Benefits of Tourism in Singapore 1.0Â   Introduction 1.1 Definition of Tourism industry Tourism refers to the movement of people from different social and cultural background travelling out of their usual environment staying in a different place for business, personal, or professional reasons. These people are commonly referred to as tourist. Their actions in the country they visit affects the local economic market as they carry out their activities, as most of which may require them to spend money thus increasing the expenditure in the local markets which in turns boosts the GDP of the respective country (Media.unwto.org, 2014b). Therefore the tourism industry is formed to cater to the needs and demands of locals and tourists in terms of products and services and is defined as such in this report. 1.2 What does the tourism industry mean to Singapore? As Singapore lacks natural resources, the tourism industry serves as an integral factor that acts as a crucial pillar for the economy of Singapore. It contributes an estimated 4% to the gross domestic product of Singapore and also provides jobs to about 160,000 people. The tourism industry serves to reaffirm Singapore’s position as a global cosmopolitan city that is dynamic, able to cater to the locals’ and tourists’ demands for leisure, entertainment, giving consumers enhanced quality and diversity in terms of leisure creating a wider range of options creating a vibrant living environment that Singaporeans can proudly call home (Stb.gov.sg, 2014). 2.0Â   Economic Impact Analysis Four types of Economic Impacts that Tourism have on the economy 1-Direct contributions Tourism’s direct contributions are results of revenue earned from tourists’ expenditure by businesses like hotels, restaurants, retail outlets, transportation services, cultural / sports and recreational services. 2-Indirect contributions Some of the indirect contributions derive from investment spending from the businesses of the travel and tour ism, Government expenditure in the form of investment to improve or enhance the industries. 3-Induced contributions The direct and indirect employees involved in this sector then in turn contributes to the consumption by spending their wages on food and beverages, recreational activities, clothes, housing and household goods. 4-Total contributions Therefore the total contributions from the direct, indirect and induced contributions will in turn affect the GDP and the employment rate as they affect various factors of the GDP equation which also affects the production rate thus increasing the GDP and employment rate in a situation when there is an increase in revenue and demand from tourist and with certis paribus assumed. 2.1 Contributions to Singapore’s GDP The latest press release by UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, shows that expenditure receipts international visitors spent on food and beverages, services, entertainment, accommodations and much more totaled up to an estima ted SGD$ 1,455 billion during 2013. And that the growth rate of receipts experienced a 5% increase from 1035 million during 2012 to 1087 million during 2013(Media.unwto.org, 2014a). According to an economic report by Singapore’s Travel and Tourism Economic Impact report 2014, in 2013 travel and tourism’s direct contribution to Singapore’s GDP was SGD$ 19.1 billion (5.3% of total GDP) Singapore’s GDP. Its GDP contributions in 2014 is expected to experience a 5.8% increase, and also to experience a 3.4% increase per annum, as of 2014-2024, to SGDS$ 28.3 billion as of totaling a 5.3% of the total GDP in 2024 (World Travel and Tourism Council, 2014).

Internal and External Factors Affecting Four Functions of Management Essay

Internal and External Factors Affecting Four Functions of Management - Essay Example However, an organization that does not reflect on these factors is likely to flop since the external and internal factors will have dire consequences on its performance. To begin with, technology is one factor that has significant effects on the performance of an organization. In the current developing and developed world, many organizations are embracing technology to perfect service and product delivery. Some organizations were formed long before technology was enhanced. However, these organizations are benchmarking other organizations that have incepted technology in its operations. For instance, IKEA was formed in 1943, when technology was not enhanced. However, the organization has been able to enhance its technology to continue giving savored services. Apparently, it is considered that organizations that embrace technology continue to give unparalleled services and products to its customers. This is one factor that has enabled IKEA to attract a large market niche for its products. With improvement in technology, the organization has been able to offer high quality products and services. However, the induction of enhanced technology comes with i ts challenges and setbacks. First, the organization has to settle on technologies that will offer quality services. The technology should offer maximum utility to substantiate the investment in the technology. Secondly, technology is a huge investment which needs massive resources. Therefore, the organization has to collect massive resources in ensuring it is improving in its performance. Lastly, technology requires apt decision making. The organization has to make sensitive decisions on acquiring the stated technology. The second factor that affects the four functions of management is globalization. Globalization is a factor that has improved the performance of many businesses across the globe. Organizations that embrace globalization are likely to reflect a better performance than other organizations that are operating in a defined location. Spreading to other geographical regions exposes the organization to vast markets which create a greater demand for products and services. For instance, IKEA has embraced globalization by opening stores in many places of the world. Initially, the organization recorded low profits and revenue due to its location. However, the management decided to increase its market share by opening other stores in other countries. This has proved a positive approach as the business continues to sprout (Caglar, Kesteloo and Kleiner, 2012). Though this is a big investment, it is also a source of large amounts of revenue. For instance, IKEA has opened large stores in Sweden, Croatia, China and Germany. Previously, the organization was specialized in offering services in Europe. However, with the influence of globalization, it started offering services and products in many parts of the world. Apparently, the biggest stores that the organization has initiated are not situated in the same geographical region. The largest stores in the organization’s name are in Stockholm, Shanghai, Shenyang, Tianjin and Berlin. This shows that the organization is recording a positive performance from the diversity of its market niche. The availability of many markets across the globe ensures the

Discussion Boards 2-3 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion Boards 2-3 - Assignment Example For this reason, it will be quite important for all therapists to consult widely about the exact dynamics of dual relationship in order to avoid finding themselves in a precarious situation. Dual relationship can undoubtedly become an ethically troubling incident in a wide range of settings, which include both clinical and non-clinical in multifaceted ways. The first major ethical concern is the fact that it can lead to boundary violation. Boundaries are often set in relationships to maintain professionalism. However, dual relationship is believed to create boundary issues due to unclear and ambiguous boundaries. The more the therapist engages in dual relationships with the client the issue of role conflict arises making dual relation a major ethical issue. The same case also applies to the client as he/she also becomes confused of which of the two or more predefined roles should take precedence. There is also an ethical concern of impaired professional judgment during care delivery as the therapist may overlook his professional counseling role (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2012). The final ethical issue associated with dual relationship involves power exploitation. It is believ ed that the party holding influential position can sue the dynamics of power arising from the dual relationship to exploit or harm the susceptible

Strategic management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 13

Strategic management - Essay Example For conducting external audit of the company, its opportunities and threats are discussed below. Consumers are becoming more health conscious and consequently the demand for healthy and organic food products is also increasing significantly. Kellogg’s’ is capitalising on this trend to develop its brand image (Seaberg et al, n.d.). The company has expanded its business in global market and is equipped with necessary human and other resources to gain upper hand position in the international market (Wayne State University School of Business Administration, n.d.). The rate of competition is increasing drastically which poses a vital threat to the company. The company is facing intense competition from General Mills and PepsiCo. The products offered by its competitors act as substitute for its ready-to-eat cereal products. The main buyers of its products are Wal-Mart and Target Group. Their bargaining power is very high and it affects the pricing strategy of the company. Porter’s Five Forces analysis indentifies the five factors that affect the competition level of an industry. These five forces are bargaining power of suppliers and customers, threat of substitute products and new entrants, and rivalry from existing competitors (Henry, 2008, p.69). The company relies on its suppliers for manufacturing high quality food products. It needs suppliers for a wide range of products from raw materials and ingredients, packaging equipment and skilled labours. However, a large number of such suppliers are easily available in the global market and it can negotiate with them. Therefore, the bargaining power of the suppliers is quite low in this industry. In convenient food market, a large variety of ready-to-eat products are available. Fast-foods are the greatest threats to Kellogg’s products. The barrier to enter this industry is comparatively low due to low

Air Cargo Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Air Cargo - Assignment Example It is worth mentioning that the airline sector has been developing in a massive rate and is growing faster than any other segment across the globe (Hvidt, 2013). Additionally, with the development of logistics, the transport sector of the GCC regions is identified to be flourishing in a massive manner. The GCC countries are majorly inclined in developing mobility connections across the countries with the aim of enhancing their network and transportation facility. Furthermore, with the recent development in trade and commerce, development of roads, airports and bus networks has become quite evident. This has further promoted the development of transport sector, which evolved largely after the decision made by the government towards making the airways sector privatized (Saif, 2009). With this concern, the essay intends to analyze and discuss about the airline and air cargo operations in the three GCC countries namely Bahrain, Qatar and UAE. Moreover, an attempt has been made in identifying the factors that contributed in evolving and changing such conditions over the preceding 30 years with making future projections about the development of the same. Since World War I, the aircrafts in the GCC nations were majorly used carrying lightweight materials. Presently, world cargo exchange is majorly based on air transport for both transferring lightweight as well as heavy weight materials. There has been a series of development that has been incorporated into the cargo sector for carrying the heavy materials throughout the globe. The cargo careers are highly modified to ease carrying the different materials across diverse regions. However, there always been a strict monitoring prevalent in the sector, which enhances the credibility of the careers to carry heavy goods. The types of cargo that are carried into the varied gulf countries generally constitute most of the foreign

Organizational Structure Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Organizational Structure - Essay Example Structures of formal organizations are outlined in an organizational chart, which acts as a â€Å"blueprint† showing its functions, activities and formal relations (Roussel 2013 pg 56). The principal reason for clarifying the organization structure is to clearly show the chain of command, official communication lines, span of control and connections for all department personnel. It is important to note that an organization is a society of people; therefore, delivery of health care services is a very vital element in an organizational setting. Health care services can be categorized by profit motive, type of ownership involved and whether the client is being admitted in the institution. Since time immemorial, hospitals and nursing institutions are the common health care service providers. The main role of nursing in organizations is care service administration. This is where activities are coordinated to enable provision of nursing services to the personnel in various departments of an organization. Nursing service administration is a guided process where activities are aimed at improving nursing care for clients within an organization. This includes establishment of overall goals and policies that can be accommodated in the organizations’ major goals. Through this, an organization is able to provide facilities and skilled staff such as nurses to accomplish these goals. The organization therefore is able to do this in the most economical and effective manner because of high level of professionalism used. It can only be achieved through, cooperation from all members of staff who will coordinate activities with other members of staff within various departments of the organization. Nursing in an organization creates an environment where marshalling of activities and resources to accomplish a goal is made possible. This can be an art and a scientific process where one can systematically analyze

Personal Moral Compass & Vision Statement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Personal Moral Compass & Vision Statement - Essay Example Back in the late 1990’s Nike, a corporation that was built on image and marketing to obtain tremendous brand value, lost a lot of customers due a sweetshop scandal. In this paper I will provide an assessment of my capabilities for ethical leadership and vision five years from now. Since a very young age I have always had very high moral standards. I believe it is important to do things the right way. In the marketing profession there are many challenges that a professional may face. There are ethical dilemmas such as choosing whether to target other competitors and aggressively discredit their practices in campaigns even when the claims may be half truths or irrelevant information. I believe do not believe that adverting people should use the competition as a point of basis of a campaign. Advertising should focus on highlighting the strengths of the firm or product. I think advertising campaigns such as the Dunking Donuts campaign that tells people that real friends donâ€℠¢t let their friends drink at Starbucks are unethical. I consider that my capabilities to make decisions using ethical leadership are outstanding. I have always considered the ethical implications my decisions in life and in business. I can improve my ethical understanding by taking structured seminars and continued education courses on the subject. In the past when I have been faced with tough ethical decisions I sometimes communicate the dilemma to friend or colleague in order to gain their opinion and input on the matter. Active listening skills are useful to evaluate the feedback from other people in order to make better informed decisions. Five years from now I plan to be working in a marketing department. At that time I will face ethical challenges on a recurrent basis. I potential challenge that I may face could involved deciding whether to expand the operations of the company into developing countries to raise profits with the consequence being lowering the jobs the firm cre ates in the United States. The options in this scenario are to expand into one or many foreign countries or to target growth exclusively in the domestic market. My ethical point of view on these types of business international matters is that it is the ethical responsibility of the company is to choose the alternative that maximizes shareholder’s wealth. Patriotism is a nice notion, but in business being close minded doesn’t lookout for the best interest of the firm. A good option to create balance would be to invest in the international option if is more profitable, to then in the future use those profits to diversify your operation and help the US economy by investing in new ventures in the United States. There are other important ethical decisions that I might face in 2016 as a professional in the workplace. A topic that is going to gain greater popularity in marketing circles in 2016 is corporate social responsibility. I have seen companies that are using innovativ e marketing programs to help out social causes. A few years ago Starbuck Cafe introduced a program that donated 5 cents out of every sale of certain beverages towards supporting AIDS programs in Africa. These types of programs at first glance might be seeing with hesitation by upper management because their perception might be that such a mandatory donation is an added cost that lowers the profitability of a product. Ethical leadership can have tremendous benefits. As a marketing professional it would be my duty to educate management over the value of such a

Schindlers List Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Schindlers List - Movie Review Example The plot of Schindler’s List runs on multiple accounts under the overall parasol of German atrocities on Jews, but at the core of film is rooted on the transformational narrative of a corrupt and flamboyant German businessman named Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) into an unexpected hero for the Jews. In the event of German capture of Poland in 1939, Oskar moves to Krakow in hopes of establishing a business with the help of local Jewish accountant Itzhak Stern (Ben Kingsley). Initially to prosper but eventually to rescue Nazi victims, Oskar bribes the brutal SS Lieutenant Amon Goth (Ralph Fiennes). The documentary style of the story, scripted by Steven Zaillian that is based on Thomas Keneally’s book Schindler’s Ark, excels in describing what had actually happened. Since, not much was written about Oskar Schindler (Manchel, 1995 March), Zaillian had the flexibility to mould the character in the best possible manner. The essence of story would not have been captured in the movie that well if it were not because of powerful and gripping performances given by the cast. Liam Neeson’s portrayal Oskar, an enigmatic entrepreneur, with a carefree attitude exudes confidence and empathy. To the other extreme is Ralph Fiennes’ Goth character, a psychopath and cold Nazi official. The third arc, Stern essayed by Ben Kingsley has been portrayed as a calculative businessman with a hidden agenda to save lives. Minor roles such as Helen Hirsch (Embeth Davidtz) - the object of Goth’s lust and the Jewish couple that marries in the concentration camp helped recreate images of humiliation, grief and torture, often providing useful insights about the cultural chasm created at the time. The powerhouse of acting in the film coupled with equally powerful technical expertise in filmmaking provides audience the desired effect of being right there in Krakow, 1939. A variety of visual and auditory techniques have been used to inject right emotions in each frame. Using real locations, Krakow (Poland), Aushwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp (Poland) and Jerusalem, Israel (The Internet Movie Database, 1993), Spielberg enhance movie’s claims of authenticity and credibility. The settings of dark and damp Aushwitz camp, kitchenware factory of Krakow or the posh German nightclub by production designer Allan Starski add authenticity to the story’s interest. For example, a stark duality between two back-to-back scenes, one detailing Oskar’s rich wardrobe and the other of thousands of Jews entering Krakow provides to audience an apt visualization of the two worlds of Germans and Jews. Adding to the set-design, costumes by designer Anna Sheppard also highlights the stark brutalities amongst powerful and the powerless. Oskar’s movie star possessions, Nazi uniforms, German women’s chic dresses and innocent captives’ modest clothing opinionates viewers towards what the director is narrating. The monochr omatic palette transports the viewer to that era by switching from the riches to the ghettos, and from the ghettos to the camps. Despite the fact that the film is in black-and-white, specific use of color has been used 5 times to bring viewer’

Analysis of Asian American Essay Example for Free

Analysis of Asian American Essay The United States has become the most diverse society on the face of the earth. For more than a century, most immigrants to the United States were Europeans—Germans, English, Italians, and so forth. However, according to â€Å"Globalization and Contemporary Immigration to the United States† by Min Zhou and J. V. Gatewood, â€Å"non-European immigration to the United States began in the late 1960s and has accelerated at rapid speeds since the early 1990s after a long hiatus due to restricted immigration. † More than one million people a year migrate, mostly from Asia and Latin American- is transforming America into a multicultural society. At the same time, diversity became a distinguishing characteristic of contemporary Asian American. Cultural, social, economic and geopolitical factors have contributed to the diversity and also has brought new challenges for immigrants and their children to adapt themselves to the new environment. (Min Zhou and J. V. Gatewood) There are four aspects about â€Å"the development of a coherent vision for future Asian American† as what Min Zhou and J. V. Gatewood described. Firstly, variously national origins, which make impact on both the immigrant generation and the second and third generation in language and religions. Secondly, socioeconomic diversity brings about different kinds of mobility patterns. Thirdly, diverse settlement modes influence the development of Asian American community. Finally, â€Å"immigration complicates intergenerational relations and ethnic solidarity. † As what Min Zhou and J. V. Gatewood referred, â€Å"the Philippines, China/Taiwan, Korea, India, and Vietnam have been on the list of top-ten sending countries since 1980. †Even though there were different kinds of laws to restrict immigration from the â€Å"Asian-Pacific triangle†, Asian immigrants found other ways to become eligible citizen. For example, marrying white Americans. With the development of globe economy, the U. S. immigration policy had been changed. On the one hand, the United States sought cheaper labor and resources abroad to develop the globalization of its economy. â€Å"Since the 1980s, about on e-third of the engineers and medical personnel in the U. S. labor market have come from abroad-mostly from India, China, Taiwan and the Philippines. † (Min Zhou and J.V. Gatewood) Further, more and more Asian study abroad, therefore, many international students, namely, foreign students, had found permanent employment in America so that they could stay here. On the other hand, globalization had played a significant role in immigration. For one thing, developing countries’ economics and occupational structures were interposed by the U. S. investment. The U. S. imported the abroad material and then processed, finally, exported to those developing countries. For another thing, with the increase number of labor demand, rural-urban migration increased rapidly.

Cuban revolution Essay Example for Free

Cuban revolution Essay The dual personality of doctors has been observed since ancient times. Thousands of years ago, the mythological Dr. Imhotep of Egypt had a personality similar to Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde—two personalities in one person. Even more recently, this has been noticed in terrorists and extremists. In 2007, for instance, 45 Muslim doctors planned US terror attacks from Britain. And just five months ago, a Fort Hood medical doctor, a psychiatrist in fact, open fired on his fellow American soldiers in the military base where he treats other soldiers. Scientists have also been known for this type of bipolar madness, such as the mad CERN scientist who was arrested seven months ago for plotting terrorism. There are hundreds of similar cases, but sometimes, these people become larger-than-life heroes, especially for the people that they fight for. One of these bipolar idols is Dr. Ernesto â€Å"Che† Guevara, a physician who is a hero, a caring person and a martyr, yet also a brutal guerilla revolutionary who left behind a legacy. Mr. Che is a hero. He is a Marxist revolutionary from Argentina who played a leading role in the Cuban revolution of the late 1950s, second in command to Fidel Castro. He is an icon in Cuba because he fought against inequality. Latin America was plagued by socio-economic inequality caused by imperialist nations such as the United States through the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Some American government officials, such as Secretary of State John Dulles, owned or worked for US corporations that exploited land and labor in Latin America. And Che felt strongly about the immorality of these dealings (Kellner 32). He strongly believed that in order to correct the inequity of the situation, only an armed struggle through a revolution could change the status quo (Sinclair 12). In a speech given in 1961, he attacked the United States, which hypocritically calls itself a â€Å"democracy† while discriminating against African Americans and other minorities, physically torturing them through the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), and controlling the financial system through a few well-to-do groups of white people. By 1964, after the successful Cuban Revolution, he became a diplomat to the United Nations (UN) in New York City (Kellner 60). And in a speech to the UN, he condemned South Africa for its â€Å"brutal† apartheid and challenged the UN to end the racist policy. He also attacked the United States in the UN for racial prejudice and injustice that allows whites who murder blacks to go free and prohibits African Americans from demanding their civil rights as human beings. Che was also an economic advisor to Castro, and he advised Cuba to follow the example of China to develop the Cuban industry, but Castro favored the practices of the Soviet Union and ignored Che, as asserted by John Riddell for the Centre for Research on Globalization. Had Castro followed the advice of Che, Cuba could have followed the economic success of China instead of the collapse of the Soviet Union. He also supported the communists in Vietnam and called for the development of â€Å"many Vietnams† throughout the world, in a letter written in 1967. This led him to aid communist uprisings in Congo and Bolivia. Dr. Ernesto Guevara is also a caring physician. He was asthmatic, and in 1954, he worked in the allergy department of Mexico City’s General Hospital. He also lectured about medical subjects in the National Autonomous University of Mexico. His wife, Hilda Gadea claims in her book, My Life with Che, that he wanted to work as a physician in Africa. She also mentions that he was always deeply troubled by the suffering surrounding him. One of his patients was an old laundry woman and Hilda recounts how Che was deeply saddened by her situation. He felt that she symbolized those who were exploited and neglected. He then wrote a poem and dedicated it to the elderly woman, stating that he will fight for victims of poverty and exploitation, leading to a better society. Even after the Cuban Revolution, he continued to care for the wounded and the sick. In 1960, he provided emergency medical assistance to blast victims at the Havana Harbor which killed more than 76 and injured hundreds. Moreover, Leonardo Tamayo, who fought alongside Che said that he was like a father to him. He was his teacher. But the â€Å"most beautiful thing† that Che taught him was â€Å"to be human† (Schweimler, BBC News). Also, when Che was fighting in the Congo, he needed an interpreter to translate Swahili and other local African dialects for him. The teenager, Freddy Ilanga, became his translator, and over time, Ilanga’s admiration for Che grew due to his hard-working nature and his equal respect for blacks and whites (Doyle, BBC World Affairs). And in preparation for his death, he wrote a farewell letter to his children, five all in all, which was to be read when he passes away. It taught them to be sensitive to the injustices committed against humanity around the globe. This sensitivity, he says, is the revolutionary’s â€Å"most beautiful† feature (Guevara 167). Mr. Che is also a martyr. His actions always suggested self-sacrifice, and he was a man who was always ready to die for his cause. For instance, he risked his own life to save Joel Iglesias, his lieutenant. With his gun tucked through his belt, he darted to the wounded Iglesias and carried him on his shoulders. The guards saw him, but they did not shoot him because they were so impressed with his act of martyrdom (Landau X01). Furthermore, after a frustrating ordeal fighting in the Congo, he wanted to send back his surviving Cuban companions back home and fight by himself, like the Lone Ranger, since some of his comrades already died. But Castro sent two representatives to convince him to come back since it was not yet his time to be a martyr. And since Che thought that there was â€Å"nothing† more to do in the Congo because the leaders were â€Å"corrupt† and had no passion to fight, he complied with Castro and retreated (Kellner 87). But he knew that one day, it will be over for him, so he already prepared for his coming death by writing his own epitaph. In it, he welcomes death, as long as someone else continues the fight against inequality and injustice (Bourne, The Guardian). He also believed that his death would become a type of â€Å"renaissance† that would bring forth â€Å"renewal† or â€Å"rebirth† (Nadle 42). Just before his enemies killed him, they asked Che if his own immortality was in his thoughts, but he said that he only reflected on the revolution’s â€Å"immortality,† as Time magazine reports. Eventually, he was executed. But when his corpse was displayed to the local public, many of them thought that his body seemed like Christ’s, so some of them clipped locks of Che’s hair as holy relics (Casey 179). Indeed, after John Berger, an art critic, saw photographs of his cadaver, he realized that it resembled Mantegna’s painting of Christ after he died (Casey 183). In the end, some Bolivian farm laborers consecrated Che and called him St. Ernesto. They pray to him for their daily needs (Schipani, The Observer). Mr. Che is also a brutal guerilla revolutionary. After joining, Fidel Castro’s July 26 Movement, he was trained by Colonel Alberto Bayo in guerilla warfare even though Che was planning to be a medic. He learned ambush-retreat techniques, running through rivers and jungles, and hiking up mountains. He graduated as the top guerilla of his class, and he made a great impression on the colonel (Kellner 37). But after their invasion of Cuba via a sea route from Mexico, the Cuban government under Batista attacked them heavily. When his comrades started running away, he dropped his medical supplies and started arming himself to fight. Eventually, Che would become a commandant second only to Fidel Castro. He did not tolerate cowardice, so anyone who wanted to run away to the enemy, or accept bribes in return for information, or simply pretended to work for their movement while actually working for the enemy, were all considered to be venomous traitors and were all brutally slaughtered at the command of Che. He would send squads to hunt down and kill traitors; summary executions were also not uncommon (Anderson 237). In one instance, when it became â€Å"uncomfortable† for the people to execute Eutimio Guerra, a convicted informant, Che himself shot him through the head in a detached manner, later writing about it as a sacrifice that was necessary for â€Å"redemption† (Anderson 237). He and his men were also outnumbered 10 to 1 in their battle for the control of Cuba, but in spite of this handicap, they were able to capture Havana and win Cuba, a â€Å"remarkable† feat, as told by some observers (Sandison 39). But to this day, many Cuban Americans and exiles hate him and consider him to be a â€Å"butcher† (Casey 325). However, even with his negative record, Dr. Ernesto â€Å"Che† Guevara has left behind a legacy. His name is on the list of Time magazine as one of the most influential personalities of the previous century. Nelson Mandela also calls him the freedom-lover’s inspiration (Guevarra, II), while Jean-Paul Sartre thinks of him as today’s intelligent and â€Å"complete human† personality (Moynihan, Stockholm Spectator). The Black Panthers also believe that Guevara lives on through his ideals (Sinclair 67). Truly, a bronze statue of Che’s likeness stands 12 feet high in Argentina, where many high schools and museums are named in memory of him and his principles (Popper, Reuters). Furthermore, Cuban children pledge to follow him every morning, while his face is immortalized on Cuban currency (Peoples Weekly World). A photo of him taken by Alberto Korda is a popular icon among counter-culture groups and modern merchandising (Lacey, The New York Times). It would not be unusual for someone nowadays to wear a hat, T-shirt, bikini or tattoo of this iconic photograph with Che gazing up to the left, like a saint, appearing Christ-like with a trimmed mustache and beard; his long wavy hair is covered by a beret bearing a five-pointed star at the center. Indeed, the five-pointed star or the Wu Xing, as the Chinese call it, is a very apt symbol for the justice and equality that Guevara stood for. As Rodney St. Michael states in Sync My World: Thief’s Honor GA SK, the five-pointed star is a universal political symbol that stands for the multi-polar conflict and harmony between the five basic Selves, races, genders, classes, organizations, nations and so forth. In the end, while Dr. Ernesto â€Å"Che† Guevara had five faces—a hero, a compassionate doctor, a saint, a vicious revolutionary and an iconic legend—his multi-faceted personality allowed him to become a very influential leader who still lives in the hearts and minds of millions of people around the world. He is truly a five-star icon. Works Cited Anderson, Jon Lee. Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life. New York: Grove Press, 1997. Bourne, Richard. Obituary: Che Guevara, Marxist Architect of Revolution. The Guardian, 11 Oct 1967. Casey, Michael. Ches Afterlife: The Legacy of an Image. Vintage, 2009. Dorfman, Ariel. â€Å"Time 100:   ple. † Time, 14 Jun 1999. Doyle, Mark. DR Congos Rebel-Turned-Brain Surgeon. BBC World Affairs, 13 Dec 2005. Gadea, Hilda. My Life with Che: The Making of a Revolutionary (reprint). Palgrave Macmillan, 2009. Guevara, Ernesto. Che: The Diaries of Ernesto Che Guevara. Ocean Press, 2009. Guevara, Che. Colonialism is Doomed (UN speech on 11 Dec 1964). The Che Reader. Ocean Press, 2005. Guevara, Che. Economics Cannot be Separated from Politics. Our America — Kennedy and the Alliance for Progress. Ocean Press, 2005. Guevara, Che. Message to the Tricontinental in Havana. Bolivian jungle camp, Spring 1967. Kellner, Douglas. Ernesto â€Å"Che† Guevara (World Leaders Past Present). Chelsea House Publishers, 1989. Lacey, Mark. A Revolutionary Icon, and Now, a Bikini. The New York Times, 9 Oct 2007. Landau, Saul. Poster Boy of The Revolution. The Washington Post, 19 Oct 1997. Moynihan, Michael. Neutering Sartre at Dagens Nyheter. Stockholm Spectator. Nadle, Marlene. Regis Debray Speaks from Prison. Ramparts Magazine, 24 Aug 1968. Popper, Helen. Argentina pays belated homage to Che Guevara. Reuters, June 14, 2008. PWW Writer. Che Guevara remains a hero to Cubans. Peoples Weekly World, 2 Oct 2004. Riddell, John. Che Guevaras Final Verdict on the Soviet Economy. Centre for Research on Globalization, 13 Jun 2008. Sandison, David. The Life Times of Che Guevara. Paragon, 1996. Schipani, Andres. The Final Triumph of Saint Che. The Observer. 23 Sept 2007. Schweimler, Daniel. Latin Americas New Look at Che. BBC News, 9 Oct 2007. Sinclair, Andrew. Che Guevara. The Viking Press, 1970. Sinclair, Andrew. Viva Che! : The Strange Death and Life of Che Guevara. Sutton publishing, 1968. St. Michael, Rodney. Sync My World: Thief’s Honor GA SK. Raleigh: Lulu, 2009. Time Writer. Che: A Myth Embalmed in a Matrix of Ignorance. Time, 12 Oct 1970.

Islamic Education After Independence Education Essay

Islamic Education After Independence Education Essay Initially, Islamic education was taught after school hours. Starting from 1962, the Islamic religious subject was implemented and officially included in the school time table where it was taught for 120 minutes (2 hours) per week by the teachers approved by the state authority.(Education Ordinance 1957). Rosnani (1996) is of the opinion that although these recommendations were positive, in the sense that they gave importance to religious instruction in national and national-type schools, they affected all Islamic religious adversely i.e a decline in pupil enrolment because Malay parents saw many advantages in the national schools, firstly their children could learn religion whether in national and national-type English schools. Second, greater opportunities to further studies and, greater job opportunities that awaited graduates of national schools compared to religious schools.The decline in enrolment was due also to the automatic promotion until Form Three, the abolition of the Malayan Secondary School Entrance Examination and the establishment of national secondary schools. The second major consequence was the transformation of the the Madrasahs curriculum in accordance with the National Educational Policy where the Malay language replaced Arabic as the medium of language and the religious subject had to be reduced to accomodate new secular subjects i.e Malay language, English, Mathematics, Geography, History and general Science. The third major impact of the National Education Policy was the shortage of teachers in the Madrasah because qualified teachers left for better facilities and better pay offered by National schools. Madrasahs institutions also had acute financial problems and had to be rescued by state religious department. Rosnani, (1996) further claimed that these factors, in addition to changing societal values brought about the decline of Madrasah and near demise of pondok in 1960s. Paradigm shift a) The Integrated Curriculum for Primary School (ICPS) and The New Secondary School Integrated curriculum (NSSIC) It was a fact that the 70s witnessed the increase of Islamic conciousness among the Muslim throughout the Muslim World including Malaysia which subsequently contributed to educational reform. A few Islamic organizations such as ABIM, Al Arqam and Jamaat Tabligh were also formed during the 70s where their dynamic activities help to strengthen Islam in Malaysia. According to Ghazali (2000), there are many factors contributing to the Malaysian educational reform. Apart from the implementation of suggestions and report made in 1979, the changes in the political climate where people were more inclined to Islam should be considered. The influence of the Islamic movement in Iran gave a significant impact among the Muslims in Malaysia to support the Islamic party (PAS). Then, the government under the leadership of Tun Dr. Mahathir officially introduced Islamization policy in 1983. Consequently The Islamic institutions, the International Islamic University (IIUM) and the Islamic Banking were established. The philosophy of the University was inspired by the recommendations of the first World Conference on Muslim Education held in Mecca in 1977. According to this philosophy, knowledge shall be propagated in the spirit of Tawhid leading towards the recognition of Allah as the Absolute Creator and Master of mankind. Thus all disciplines of knowledge should lead towards subservience of this truth. Knowledge is a form of trust(amanah) from Allah to man, and hence man should utilize knowledge according to Allahs will in performing his role as the servant and vicegerent (khalifah) of Allah on earth. In this way the seeking of knowledge is regarded as an act of worship (Diary IIUM, 2005) Subsequently in 1982, The Ministry of Education, introduced The New Primary School Curriculum (NPSC). It was implemented nation wide in 1983. The NPSC was formulated to provide equal opportunity to students to acquire basic skills and knowledge in addition to inculcating noble moral values. The emphasis of this new curriculum is on the acquisition of the three basic skills,namely reading, writing and mathematics. With a renewed emphasis on integration, it was decided in 1993 that a change of name take place. The New Primary School Curriculum (NPSC) is now known as The Integrated Curriculum for Primary School (ICPS)(Curriculum Development Centre 1997). The New Secondary School Integrated curriculum (NSSIC) or integrated Curriculum for Secondary Schools (KBSM) which was guided by the recommendation of the first World Conference on Muslim Education 1977, in Makkah was introduced in 1988 for lower secondary level and in 1989 the curriculum was implemented in phase up to form five level. (Hasan.L, 1993). The main focus of the curriculum is on an integrated educational approach. The approach incorporated knowledge with skills and moral values. It also combine theory with practical training. The strategy is to incorporate Moral Values into curriculum and the Malay language with curriculum (Curriculum Development Centre,1997). b) The National Educational Philosophy (NEP) The Education Act 1961 has determined Malaysias education policies for over three decades until it was repealed in 1996. The Education Act 1996 is the latest and is the most comprehensive where it stated for the first time in writing the National Educational Philosophy (Under Act 550). The official statement of NEP states as follows : Education in Malaysia is an on-going effort towards further developing the potential of individuals in holistic and integrated manner so as to produce individuals who are intellectually, spiritually, emotionally and physically balanced and harmonious, based on the firm belief in and devotion to God. Such an effort is designed to produce Malaysian citizens who are knowledgeable and competent, who possess high moral standards, and who are resilient and capable of achieving a high level of personal well-being as well as being able to contribute to the betterment of the family, society and the nation at large. Langgulung, H (1993) stated that based on this NEP, the planning of KBSM is meant to help students to develop their intellectual, spiritual, emotional as well as physical potentials in comprehensive and integrated manner. It is hoped that the comprehensive and integrated development could create student who is able to adjust himself in society and contribute to the progress and the welfare of himself in order to function effectively and productively in the national development. Southeast Asian Education particularly Islamic Religious Education in Indonesia and Malaysia The Indonesian Experiences After the downfall of Ottoman Empire the entire Muslim countries were completely dominated by Western Colonial countries, particularly British, French, Spanish, Dutch and so forth. Southeast Asian countries were ruled by the British and the Dutch. The British ruled Malaya and North Borneo, whilst the Dutch ruled Indonesia. Dutch rule in Indonesia lasted for over three hundred years who used iron claws to suppress private schools that sought to establish carders to fight colonialists. The establishment of Sekolah Tinggi Islam Japan occupied Indonesia for three years, during which Dutch schools were totally closed down and replaced by Japanese curriculum including language of instruction. Indonesian fighters for Indonesian independence suggested that since all tertiary level of education were closed by Japanese, it is high time that Islamic higher institution of learning (Sekolah Tinggi Islam = STI) be established. The idea was suggested by Majlis Shura Muslimin Indonesia (Masyumi) along with the establishment of armed forces called Hizbullah (Gods Party). The prominent personalities leading the school are : 1. Dr. Mohammad Hatta (Vice President) as chairman 2. Mr. Soewandi (Civil servant) as deputy chairman 3. Mohammad Natsir (later on became the first Prime Minister of Indonesia after independence) as secretary 4. Several other members of society such as Prof. R.A.A Hoesein Djajadingrat, Dr.Hidayat, Dr. Soekiman and many others were acting as members of executives. The Sekolah Tinggi Islam started with four faculties i.e Law, Religion, Economics and Education. After independence, Religious faculty was sponsored by Ministry of religious affairs and became Government Institute religious of knowledge (Institute Agama Islam Negeri = IAIN) whose curriculum were planned by people graduated from Al Azhar. It is logical that the curriculum of IAIN in early days of its establishment was carbon copy of faculties in Al Azhar before the latest reforms in 1961. The institute originally has three faculties like in Al Azhar, i.e Usuludin, Shariah and Arabic language, later they added faculty of tarbiyyah (education) Organization like the Muhammadiyah during the Dutch rule even set schools using Dutch as a medium of instruction to compete with the schools established by the Dutch. Other organization such as Nahdatul Ulama (NU), Persatuan Islam(Persis) and Al -Irsyad continued to maintain Pesantren (religious training centre for Advanced Islamic Studies), Madrasah (Islamic schools) and pondok(Muslim boarding schools) which they had been managing, so much so that bumiputera (the son of the soil) children need not have to go to Dutch government schools for their education. In the early fifties the government tried to set up schools for the training of religious teachers (Sekolah Pendidikan Guru Agama-PGA) by putting some of the exising Madrasah under the management of religious affairs. The objectives was to train religious teachers in government schools where religious knowledge was also taught. This was followed by the setting up of Sekolah Guru Hakim Agama (SGHA) to cater to the needs of the Muslim jurists both in Shariah and the State courts. The Muslim organizations and Muslim community alike were quite disappointed with the scope offered by both the PGA and SGHA. Muslim organizations such as Muhammadiyah continued to be self reliant in the management of their schools. All they needed to do was to comply with the government regulations and current requirements. Pesantren too began to mushroom since the fifties. A press statement issued by the Ministry of Religious Affairs in the later part of the seventies put the figure at 20,000 Pesantren with 9 million students. It is estimated that current figures have far exceeded these numbers in view of the 40% increasing of Indonesian population from 150 million in the seventies to a 220 million currently. Rapid Development of Islamic schools Among the factors that contributed to the rapid development of Islamic schools lately were: 1. The government inability to cater to the educational needs of all children. The problem therefore was partly resolved by the existence of private schools. 2. Dissatisfaction with the scope offered by the PGA and the SGHA in the fifties.The government, however, has been trying to improve the situation by: i) Accepting the standard of madrasah so that they would be at par with public schools. ii) Uplifting students of madrasah for admission into equivalent public schools at primary, lower secondary and upper secondary levels. iii) Recognizing the private madrasah certificate as equivalent to the state (government) madrasah certificate to enable leavers of private madrasah to continue with their studies in equivalent government schools iv) The influence of the Islamic revivalist phenomenon world wide, particularly the international Conferences of Muslim Education first held in Makkah 1977, Second in Islamabad 1980, Third in Dakka (Bangladesh), 1981, Fourth in Jakarta 1982, the Fifth in Cairo 1987 and Sixth in Makkah 1993 and the Seventh in South Africa 1996. The conferences had deliberated on this religious education from elementary to tertiary level and produced guidelines for the implementation. How far Muslim countries, particularly in Southeast Asia, have responded to these guidelines and implement them in their curriculum is yet to be seen. The International Conferences of Muslim Education mentioned above should be a stepping stone toward the unified religious curricular reforms in Muslim countries for the years to come. The Malaysian Experiences The history of Islamic religious education in Malaysia before independence The history of Islamic education in Malaysia dated back as early as 13th century when Islam first came to this region (Abdul Halim, 1995). Islamic education can be divided into four stages : i. Centered around teachers houses ii. Centered around mosques, suraus and madrasahs iii. Centered around religious institutions called pondok. (literally , Hut school) iv. Centered around religious institutions called madrasah schools i. Centered around teachers houses At the early stage it was carried out in a very informal way suitable to the environment of that time which it centered around teachers homes (rumah-rumah guru). Students came to the teachers (normally known as Ulama) homes to learn reading Quran and fardhu Ain (basic Islamic teaching). ii. Centered around mosques, suraus and madrasahs Due to the increasing number of students flocking to the teachers homes where the later could not accommodate all of them, then came the idea of religious education to be centered around mosques, suraus and madrasahs. The teachers used to sit with their students in circles. These teachers were easily received by the society even sometimes they were called to palaces to teach the king of the state and their relatives. iii. Centered around religious institutions called pondok Subsequently it centered around religious institutions called pondok. (literally, it means hut school) Pondoks are traditional religious schools which dominated the Malay world education system in the earlier part of 14th century. i.e pre colonial and even during colonial period. The pondok institution was the first and most influential legacy in Islamic education in both Malaysia and Indonesia (called Pesantran). The management of these pondoks differs from place/center to another place/center and there was no standard set of syllabus. However, the mode of instruction was similar to that practised in Makkah and Cairo before the advent of modern methods of teaching. Rosnani (1996) mentioned that many scholars have discussed the origin of Pondok institution in Malaysia, whether it originated from Sumatera, Indonesia or Pattani, in Southern Thailand. However, she argued that one cannot dismiss the possibility that the pondok institution was an influence of Makkah education of that era because the content and the teaching methods in pondok institutions were comparable to those in the Al Haram Mosque in Makkah and many pondok teachers had taken the pilgrimage to Makkah and deepened their knowledge of Islam. Some of the famous ulama (Tok guru) in the middle of 19th century were Tok Selehor, Tok Kenali, Tok Kemuning, Tok Ku Pulau Manis, etc. Although there was no standardised content and no limitation in the years of study. The pondok curriculum shared some common features of the subject. All pondoks usually include the basic disciplines such as Tauhid, Al-Quran, Fiqh, Hadith, Nahu, Sarf, Tasawwuf and Akhlaq. After years of study and considered as alim or knowledgeable by their guru these students will come back to their respective villages to teach and some may go abroad to further their study to Makkah, Cairo, Pakistan or India.. When these students went to Al Azhar University and other Middle East countries they were taught and trained with the curriculum of that particular place of study and easily got influenced by it. Thus, when they returned to their home countries they usually joined the existing pondok or established a new one. They would planned and implemented either totally or partially the curriculum they had went through in their early days as students. Thus, it was not a surprise to find out that many pond oks or madrasahs curriculum were the carbon -copy of Al- Azhar and other Middle East countries. This situation continues until now since the academic results or certificate given by these pondoks and madrasahs are not generally accepted by mainstream universities, many of these students have to continue their education in locations such as Pakistan, Egypt and other Middle East countries. iv. Centered around religious institutions called madrasah schools At the end of 19th century especially after World War 1, with the influence of Islah movement led by reformists Sayyid Jamaluddin Al Afghani (1839-1879) and Muhammad Abduh, (1849-1905), many religious madrasah schools were established in many places in Malaysia as alternative to pondok school and also to compete with the secular school. The Malaysian reformists ideas came from Sheikh Tahir Jalaludin and Shiekh Ahmad Al Hadi who were very much influenced by Al-Afghani and Abduh (Al Attas,1972). With these Madrasah system, Islamic education not only focus on spiritual, fardu Ain and Tauhid but it became more comprehensive, it include other subjects in the curriculum such as Arabic language, Maths and Geograph. Islamic Education during the British Period Japan conquered Malaysia (1941-45) and was defeated to the British. The British then made few educational reformations starting with Barnes Report and Fern Wu Report. Briefly, the Barnes Report stated the lack of religious instruction in schools had led Malay parents sent their children to learn religion in the afternoon sessions which were very tiresome. The committee suggested jawi be omitted and religious instruction be taught instead. Barnes Report also suggested only one system of primary education (national primary school) to be held. Fenn Wu Report suggested and supported trilingual where Malay, Chinese and English languages should be encouraged to be the medium of instruction. As a compromise, the government passed the Education Ordinance 1952, where the promotion of national school system by gradual introduction of English into Malay Vernacular schools and Malay and English languages into Chinese and Tamil Vernacular school and also recommended the maintenance of English nat ional type school. Interestingly, it also recommended that religious education be provided to pupils either within school premises or in suitable premises close by as part of the school lessons ( Hussein Onn,1957). During the British period education was divided into religious and non religious education. Here has the beginning of the secular education in Malaysia. Secular schools in Malaysia were largely an innovation of British colonial government. Many of the earliest schools in Malaysia were started in the Straits Settlements of Penang, Melaka, and Singapore. The oldest school in Malaysia is the Penang Free school, founded in 1816, followed by Malacca Free School later changed to Malacca High school in 1978. While the Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK) was established in 1905 based on English Public School. Many of these schools still carry with them an air of prestige although there is no formal difference between these schools and other schools. Islamic education after independence and the impact of National Educational Policy Formal educational policies came into place after Malayas independence in 1957. The task of the new government was to establish a national education system which, while making the Malay as the national language of the country, the languages and cultures of non- Malay communities are preserved and sustained. The most important development was the implementation of The Education Act 1961 where The Razak Report and the Rahman Talib Report became the basis for the formulation of this Act. The main features of the Razak Report are; a uniform national education and centralized examination system, A Malayan oriented curriculum, one type of national Secondary school, English and Malay language compulsory and Bahasa Melayu as the main medium of instruction. While the main features Rahman Talib Report are : Free primary and universal education, automatic promotion to Form 3, Establishment of schools Inspectorate, Bahasa Malaysia as the main medium of instruction, Religious/moral education as basis for spiritual development, emphasis on teacher education . In addition, the implementation of Islamic education in National Educationtal System was also based on the reports made during Razak Report (1956) and Rahman Talib Report (1960) where it is clearly stated that in any assisted school where not less than 15 pupils profess the Muslim religion, religious instruction to them shall be provided at public expense. Instruction in other religions to other pupils may be provided so long as no additional cost falls upon public funds and provided that no child shall be required to attend classes in religious instructions without the parents consent Initially, Islamic education was taught after school hours. Starting from 1962, the Islamic religious subject was implemented and officially included in the school time table where it was taught for 120 minutes (2 hours) per week by the teachers approved by the state authority.(Education Ordinance 1957). Rosnani (1996) is of the opinion that although these recommendations were positive, in the sense that they gave importance to religious instruction in national and national-type schools, they affected all Islamic religious adversely i.e a decline in pupil enrolment because Malay parents saw many advantages in the national schools, firstly their children could learn religion whether in national and national-type English schools. Second, greater opportunities to further studies and, greater job opportunities that awaited graduates of national schools compared to religious schools.The decline in enrolment was due also to the automatic promotion until Form Three, the abolition of the Malayan Secondary School Entrance Examination and the establishment of national secondary schools. The second major consequence was the transformation of the the Madrasahs curriculum in accordance with the National Educational Policy where the Malay language replaced Arabic as the medium of language and the religious subject had to be reduced to accomodate new secular subjects i.e Malay language, English, Mathematics, Geography, History and general Science. The third major impact of the National Education Policy was the shortage of teachers in the Madrasah because qualified teachers left for better facilities and better pay offered by National schools. Madrasahs institutions also had acute financial problems and had to be rescued by state religious department. Rosnani, (1996) further claimed that these factors, in addition to changing societal values brought about the decline of Madrasah and near demise of pondok in 1960s. Paradigm shift a) The Integrated Curriculum for Primary School (ICPS) and The New Secondary School Integrated curriculum (NSSIC) It was a fact that the 70s witnessed the increase of Islamic conciousness among the Muslim throughout the Muslim World including Malaysia which subsequently contributed to educational reform. A few Islamic organizations such as ABIM, Al Arqam and Jamaat Tabligh were also formed during the 70s where their dynamic activities help to strengthen Islam in Malaysia. According to Ghazali (2000), there are many factors contributing to the Malaysian educational reform. Apart from the implementation of suggestions and report made in 1979, the changes in the political climate where people were more inclined to Islam should be considered. The influence of the Islamic movement in Iran gave a significant impact among the Muslims in Malaysia to support the Islamic party (PAS). Then, the government under the leadership of Tun Dr. Mahathir officially introduced Islamization policy in 1983. Consequently The Islamic institutions, the International Islamic University (IIUM) and the Islamic Banking were established. The philosophy of the University was inspired by the recommendations of the first World Conference on Muslim Education held in Mecca in 1977. According to this philosophy, knowledge shall be propagated in the spirit of Tawhid leading towards the recognition of Allah as the Absolute Creator and Master of mankind. Thus all disciplines of knowledge should lead towards subservience of this truth. Knowledge is a form of trust(amanah) from Allah to man, and hence man should utilize knowledge according to Allahs will in performing his role as the servant and vicegerent (khalifah) of Allah on earth. In this way the seeking of knowledge is regarded as an act of worship (Diary IIUM, 2005) Subsequently in 1982, The Ministry of Education, introduced The New Primary School Curriculum (NPSC). It was implemented nation wide in 1983. The NPSC was formulated to provide equal opportunity to students to acquire basic skills and knowledge in addition to inculcating noble moral values. The emphasis of this new curriculum is on the acquisition of the three basic skills,namely reading, writing and mathematics. With a renewed emphasis on integration, it was decided in 1993 that a change of name take place. The New Primary School Curriculum (NPSC) is now known as The Integrated Curriculum for Primary School (ICPS)(Curriculum Development Centre 1997). The New Secondary School Integrated curriculum (NSSIC) or integrated Curriculum for Secondary Schools (KBSM) which was guided by the recommendation of the first World Conference on Muslim Education 1977, in Makkah was introduced in 1988 for lower secondary level and in 1989 the curriculum was implemented in phase up to form five level. (Hasan.L, 1993). The main focus of the curriculum is on an integrated educational approach. The approach incorporated knowledge with skills and moral values. It also combine theory with practical training. The strategy is to incorporate Moral Values into curriculum and the Malay language with curriculum (Curriculum Development Centre,1997). b) The National Educational Philosophy (NEP) The Education Act 1961 has determined Malaysias education policies for over three decades until it was repealed in 1996. The Education Act 1996 is the latest and is the most comprehensive where it stated for the first time in writing the National Educational Philosophy (Under Act 550). The official statement of NEP states as follows : Education in Malaysia is an on-going effort towards further developing the potential of individuals in holistic and integrated manner so as to produce individuals who are intellectually, spiritually, emotionally and physically balanced and harmonious, based on the firm belief in and devotion to God. Such an effort is designed to produce Malaysian citizens who are knowledgeable and competent, who possess high moral standards, and who are resilient and capable of achieving a high level of personal well-being as well as being able to contribute to the betterment of the family, society and the nation at large. Langgulung, H (1993) stated that based on this NEP, the planning of KBSM is meant to help students to develop their intellectual, spiritual, emotional as well as physical potentials in comprehensive and integrated manner. It is hoped that the comprehensive and integrated development could create student who is able to adjust himself in society and contribute to the progress and the welfare of himself in order to function effectively and productively in the national development. The Islamic educational challenge faced by Malaysia since Sept 11 To ensure that the Malaysian education system responds properly to the nation building, unity and the development of the country there were many curricula reviews and tremendous changes in Malaysia education since its independence in 1957. It is a well-known fact that the Muslim education system in the Muslim world including Indonesia and Malaysia is the extension of the Western educational system which is compartmentalised and secularized. As a consequence of the Western influence and the weaknesses of the Muslims, the religious curriculum in schools and university levels in both Malaysia and Indonesia are still compartmentalised. Rosnani ( 2004 2nd edition) claimed that the curriculum practiced in Muslim countries either borrowed wholesome or partially from the West and even the subjects and methodologies presently taught in the countries are copies of the Western. Here, it is important to note the statement made by Tan Sri Murad, the President of the social committee for the study of curriculum in national schools that the implementation of religious education at National Schools have a lot of weaknesses because there are still many students cant read Al Quran and write Jawi although they had attended six years of primary schools. (Berita Harian , 26/Feb/2003). Although there were many surveys and writings carried out for examples by Rosnani (1996), Sahari Langgulung (1999) and Abdul Hamid (2003) found several weaknesses of Islamic religious schools such as its curriculum, lack of facilities and financial and poor administration. However, one has to remember that SAR has contributed significantly to Islamic education in both Malaysia and Indonesia before their independence. Despite the weaknesses of Islamic religious schools, informal conversations and interviews with some Muslim parents revealed that they were still interested to enroll their children at this school due to a variety of reasons: i) With the high cost of living, many Muslim parents are both working full time thus they have very limited time to teach their own children and expect the schools to act on their behalf ii) Some of these Muslim parents are interested to teach their own children, unfortunately they themselves do not know how to read the Al- Quran and either have no or very limited knowledge regarding fardu Ain iii) Some parents also opt to send their children for religious classes after school hours or Sunday schools at the mosques because they feel that religious subject at the national school is not adequate or failed to meet their expectation iv) Many muslim parents are aware and worried about the moral decadence (social ills) in the society especially among the youth keep on increasing such as drug addicts, illegitimate child , bullying, gangsterism and etc. Thus it was not a surprise to learn that Peoples Religious Schools (SAR) in Malaysia mushroomed because parents were concerned about their children Islamic knowledge while the national school curriculum seemed inadequate. According to a daily newspaper, there were 500 SARs nation wide with 126,000 students receiving Islamic education in such institutions (NST, 22 Jan 2003). People Islamic religious schools (SAR) are schools mostly built, funded and owned by individuals or a group of people offering full time students Islamic religious education. These schools also use the curriculum which has been standardized by State religious department or Department for the advancement of Islam in Malaysia (JAKIM).These religious shools received the grant given by the government i.e RM 60 per year for a primary school student and RM120 for a secondary school student. However, in November 2002, the Malaysian government has stopped their state subsidy to SAR. The government gave two reasons for i.e that SAR lack of facilities which resulted students poor achievement and lack of trained teachers and thus urged parents to send their children to national schools (NST 9/10 Dec,2002). Rosnani (2004 2nd edition) raised a few important questions rega

Unintentional Findings :: essays research papers

Unintentional Findings EN 102 Honors February 12, 1997 One can find their place in society much the same way as Stephen did. Unintentionally he went back and forth between extremes until he found his own preference. Figuring out what one wants to do with their life can be confusing, especially since there are so many opportunities in the world, but giving each a chance and finding one that suits one's personality and attitude is the best thing to do.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many people think Stephen went from one extreme, wanting prostitutes, to another extreme, a life of celibacy as a priest, were done on purpose, on course to finding his own happy medium. The same people might also say Stephen purposely chose a happy medium as not to subject himself to either extreme; being in the middle lets him experience a little of both extremes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Different people might say that his oblique search for his place in society was brought on from when he was very young with his artistic vision. He looked at things differently then others boys around him and he knew that. He always had extra questions about the simplest of matters and constantly thought about what was wrong and right and how it lead to double-standards. This is seen when he is asked if he kisses his mother at night. No matter what his answer is he still gets laughed at and this remains in thoughts for a while. His artistic vision can probably reflect his incessant habit of always having an opposing opinion to his schoolmates even if it was something small such as who he thought the greatest writer was.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In his school Stephen seemed to be told how he was supposed to think and do things and in turn saw his family unable to follow the strict Catholicism taught in his school. This guided him in his decision for his future plans since he felt he was isolated from others because of the way he thought and did things.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When looking at his decision for where he fit in society one should not ignore the fact that his family life had an impact on his choice. Had Stephen not been so sensitive it would not have bothered him so much how little he gained emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually from the Irish nationalism surrounding him and his religious background.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To begin his life as an artist, his final decision concerning his place in society he realizes he cannot stay in the environment where he is seen as

The Keys to Job Satisfaction Essays -- Work, Employment, Relationships

Job Satisfaction Workplace Relationships If a company is interested in growth and profit, it must establish positive relationships and good rapport with its employees. People will be happier in their jobs if the environment that surrounds them is made comfortable and positive. Three main factors aid positive workplace relationships: trust, respect and teamwork. Positive workplace relationships are easy to develop when time is taken with each factor. Overall, these factors benefit everyone. People are the "heart" of an organization and care should be taken to foster a positive work environment. Workplace relationships are important in job satisfaction. In fact, studies show that an employee's direct supervisor has the most influence on whether he or she finds a job satisfying, says Lenburg. "Working with a manager who "understands" them, and gives them some choices in their work lives, tends to improve the satisfaction level of most employees" (Hochgraf, 1998). Productivity tends to improve when employees are treated with respect and consideration. Managers need to remember that every worker is different and that priorities of people vary from one individual to another. Managers should be open to the desires of their employees as individuals. If employees feel they are listened to they will feel that they are being respected and that they are important. Job satisfaction will tend to increase in these circumstances. Teamwork is also important when considering job satisfaction. If teamwork is not evident, or worse, deteriorates from the old norm, employee relationships begin to suffer. Teamwork requires people to work together to make decisions and resolve disagreements. Teamwork among staff members strengthens workpla... ...ional.com/eprise/main/web/us/smi/en/candidates_career_dev_job_satis Kovacs, Joy A. "Examining the Difference in the Relationships between Job Satisfaction and Perceived Dimensions of Employment". Web. 1 May 2015. http://www.users.drew.edu/jkovacs/psyc/psyc102/research.html Reiner, Michael D. and Jihong Zhao. "The Determinants of Job Satisfaction among United States Air Force Security Police." Review of Public Personnel Administration (summer 1999): pp. 5-17. Timm, Paul R. and Brent D. Peterson. "Motivating with Compensation and Other Rewards." People at Work - Human Behavior in Organizations, 5th ed. Ohio: South Western College Publishing, 2000. Ting, Yuan. "Analysis of Job Satisfaction of the Federal White-Collar Work Force: Findings from the Survey of Federal Employees." American Review of Public Administration 26, no. 4 (December 1996): 439-456.

Civil Disobedience: The Curious Case of Edward Snowden :: Civil Disobedience

More than six months after first sending shockwaves through the world, Edward Snowden is alive, not imprisoned, and still making daily headlines. A former National Security Agency contractor, Snowden was responsible for revealing to the American public the existence of enormous, secret governmental surveillance programs, tactics that irrefutably border unconstitutionality. He gave up his freedom and ultimately his way of life in revealing how the NSA was harvesting and storing global phone records and text messages, the majority sent by ordinary American citizens. Snowden voluntarily broke the law and publically took credit for his leaks, rallying behind his core belief that mass surveillance undermines the fundamental right to privacy. He felt obligated to warn his fellow countrymen that their freedom â€Å"to speak and to think and to live† was potentially being threatened, and was thus compelled to release the classified information to which he had access to, regardless of consequences. Believing that he had â€Å"done nothing wrong,† he maintains that it was absolutely necessary to inform the public that they were being victimized. While he acted alone, Snowden hopes that his actions will encourage a larger movement amongst the populace, especially other technologists, to pressure the government into reconsidering its national security platform. An essential feature of civil disobedience is nonviolence, a factor that Snowden and King similarly endorsed. Both assumed activist roles and looked to bring nationwide attention to their causes, but in no way did they promote an outbreak of violence, which they felt would prove detrimental. However, this did not stop the two from knowingly breaking the law, as each maintained that they possessed the right to defy authority due to the obvious presence of social injustice.

Feminist Analysis Death of a Salesman Essay

What’s great about this play is gives us insight into the past and focuses on an average family and provides lots of material to do a feminist analysis of. The most prominent woman figure in this play is Linda, but the male characters in this play also give us insight into women’s roles and help feed the feminist analyses To get us started, how do the roles and identities of women in this play compare to that of the male figures? Objectivity of women Biff and Happy Quotes -â€Å"Take those two we had tonight, now weren’t they gorgeous creatures?† -â€Å"it gets like bowling, I just keep knockin’ them over and it doesn’t mean anything† -â€Å"a girl, y’know, they always believe what you tell ‘em† (27) -Biff was seen as successful in Willy’s eyes when he made the girls swoon in high school -Could this be influenced by Willy and their upbringing or are they just a product of their time? -They see women as achievements: When Biff and Happy are talking Happy says how he’s not happy currently because he wants â€Å"his own apartment, a car, and plenty of women† (23) Women Don’t Have Identities -â€Å"The Woman† that Willy has an affair with doesn’t have a name, she’s always laughing and really sexual. He slaps her butt ad she laughs and thanks him for the stockings. She picked him because he was â€Å"sweet† and â€Å"such a kidder†. She says â€Å"I’ll put you right through to the buyers?† SLEEZE. -They see their mother as the epitome of what a woman should be – The only interaction Linda has with other woman is calling them whores, after Biff and Happy leave Willy at the restaurant and she’s angry says â€Å"did you have to go to women tonight? You and your lousy rotten whores!† Linda What do you guys think about the character development of Linda throughout the play? Do you think she is an example of a strong or weak woman? She knows that Willy is suicidal, tries to protect him from other people, and does not lose her temper with him when he acts horribly towards her -We never know more about Linda other than that she does the laundry, cares for her boys, and knows the finances -In the beginning I found it annoying how all she did was take off his shoes, put on his jacket, eager to please him. Only portrayed as a wife and mother, less dimensional than the other characters. -Does this take away from her character development? -Her goals are measured by Willy’s achievements -Linda is desexualized Treatment of Linda/Relationship with Willy -Willy is commanding to her â€Å"swiss cheese† â€Å"You’re my foundation and my support Linda† -Willy does not let Linda talk â€Å"don’t interrupt† (62, 64-65) READ -Biff defends her from Willy but she defends Willy, then Biff says â€Å"Don’t go making excuses for him, he wiped the floor with you. He never had an ounce of respect for you (54-55) -Biff and Happy objectify girls (20 + 21) Also, â€Å"gorgeous creatures†, ‘it’s like bowling† (23-24) -Linda says† I’m not your maid anymore† -Described by Happy as having â€Å"character and resistance† which is a quality he wants in a woman, unlike the ones he’s been with -Whenever Willy is upset about something she just sugarcoats his flaws and compliments him (37) do you think we just know something she doesn’t, or is there other motivation for her to do this?) -Seems like the first time she ever voiced her real opinion (57) about how Happy and Biff are ungrateful towards Willy -What is the purpose of her character? So that women of the forties could empathize with her situation more Hyper-masculinity Seen as negative or positive? Doesn’t lead to happiness. Happy and Biff â€Å"raise cattle, use our muscles, men built like us should be working out in the open (24) Uncle Ben Salesman Manual Labour Football Willy always refers to how their appearances make them well liked â€Å"guys built like us should be working a farm† â€Å"a man who can’t handle tools is not a man. You’re disgusting† (44) to Charley â€Å"thank God you’re built like Adonises† God of beauty and desire MORE SUBTLE EXAMPLES I NOTICED When Howard’s wife goes to talk to the recording device she has nothing to offer, as opposed to his son and daughter who wouldn’t shut up his daughter whistles, his son names the capitals of states, his wife says â€Å"I can’t think of anything†¦hello? Oh Howard, I can’t talk into this†¦.† (78) She could have just been shy, she doesn’t have a name, she is known as his wife Connect Howard’s wife’s role to Linda’s role? This is our chance to see a family woman other than Linda, do you think this serves a purpose, not matter how subtle it may be? Linda is content without adventure, she didn’t want Ben to encourage Willy to go to Alaska (95) Linda is overshadowed by her boys who go out and pursue things. Conclusion: Arthur Millar shows us the restraints of sexuality as well individuality in this play. Just like Willy Loman struggles to find his place socially and struggles economically, Linda is restrained by her gender.

A Comparative Study of Government-Business Relations and Benefits for Citizen in the United States (U.S) and Japan

The success of any national economy in the world is the sum of the successes of the different sectors that make up that economy.This is because every nation has more than one economic sector which is used for the purposes of enhancing the performance of the national economy. It has been paramount for every government to ensure that there are appropriate measures being put in place ensure that these various sectors of the national economy are performing well to be able to deliver the value needed for developing the nation and ensuring that there is rapid development (AMBA, 2009).Therefore, in view of this – and given that the manner in which the business environment is able to operate is a key factor in the determination of the performance of economies of nations – it is critical that governments are able to devise models that will ensure that their relationship with businesses is such that benefits are able to be realized for the enjoyment of their citizens.This paper c ompares the government-business relations employed in the United States of America and Japan, with a view to establishing the inherent benefits of each of them and so establishing which model is more appropriate owing to its ability to bring more in returns in the form of varied benefits to the country and to its citizens. The main focus will be on the manufacturing sector.The Role of Government in Business and in SocietyThere is always an intrinsic relationship between government and business because the two are the main institutions in the society. The actions of one are affective of the other and the actions of the two affect the way the society is viewed.As such, government – being the main player and coordinator of all affairs in a country – ought to ensure that it is in a position to work well enough to ensure businesses operate in the right way and that whatever is done is for the enhancement of the mutual good of the organization (AMBA, 2009). Governments play a very important role determining the direction of the economy and in influencing the outcomes of the economy.Among other approaches, the nature of measures like protectionism, currency rate determination and control, free market policies, and the handling of globalization determines how businesses in the country operate and so their eventual outcome. The manufacturing sectors of the United States and Japan – the world’s largest and second largest economies – are very different. The main difference is in the relationship between the government and business.The government-business approaches in the manufacturing industry come in different ways and vary in each of these countries.Common policies in the sector have largely covered the areas of grants and subsidies, regulation with the aim of shielding the sector from stiff competition from the external environment especially in the face of widespread globalization of trade as well as other forms of regulation aimed at protecting the public from environmental pollution and other wasteful manufacturing practices; and ensuring that labor issues like employee rights, minimum wage, union autonomy, and work-place safety.The manufacturing sector is usually a very important sector and is in most cases the main source of the country’s much–needed foreign through its exports (Toshiyuki, Mika & Yusuke, 2010).Japan and the United States both have booming manufacturing sectors and although the United States has a relatively greater number of industries, Japan has tended to benefit a lot from the industry owing to its approaches to handling business matters (Toshiyuki, Mika & Yusuke, 2010).The American government has emphasized the need to subsidize its products from the manufacturing sector so as to shield the sector from stiff competition brought about by the influx of other goods from other countries in the age of globalization; as well as to ensure that the consumers benefits from reduced prices.Subsidies have made the cost of locally produced goods to be lower such that it makes it hard for products from other sectors to be able to compete on a level playing field with the American commodities (Toshiyuki, Mika & Yusuke, 2010). Therefore, although the country might not have a totally regulatory mechanism to check an influx of imports, it uses subsidies to give its products an unfair advantage over other products.

Starbucks’ Mission & Strategic Choices

Starbucks' Mission and Strategic Choices: Are They in Alignment? Executive Summary This paper examines strategic management, which encompasses business decisions and actions that: define the organization's mission and objectives, determine the most effective utilization of organizational resources, select best courses of action to meet its mission, and seek to assure the effectiveness of the organization within the environment. This case study evaluates the strategic management process, and applies those concepts to a practical case study of Starbuck’s mission statement. This case study is presented in the format of a formal business report – prepared by a consultant and presented to the Starbucks' Board of Directors and CEO – that provides an analysis of Starbucks' mission and strategic choices, and a summary of the alignment of those strategies to its mission. This report is based on a critical review of the Starbuck mission statement, goals, and objectives, which is then compared against the strategic choices that Starbucks has made (e. g. product differentiation, research and development, operations) to determine how well Starbuck’s strategic choices are aligned to the company’s mission and vision. Finally, this study answers the question: Will the company continue its past  success? Randy Tanner, 2009 Starbucks' Mission and Strategic Choices: Are They in Alignment? Cover Sheet: Starbucks Corp. 2401 Utah Avenue South Seattle, WA 98134 Phone: 206-447-1575 Fax: 206-682-7570 Web Site: http://www. starbucks. com Business Plan presented to:Howard Schultz, Chairman of the Board, President, CEO Starbucks Board of Directors Prepared by:Randy S. Tanner Statement of Purpose:Analysis of Starbucks' Mission and Strategic Choices: Are They in Alignment? Table of Contents Executive Summary4 Background4 Company Description4 Starbucks' Mission, Vision, Goals and Objectives. 4 Strategies. 5 Management Team. 6 Business Model. 6 Infrastructure7 Offering. 7 Revenue Model. 7 Pricing. 8 Customers. 8 Competitors. 8 Stakeholders. 8 Marketing Strategy. 9 Financials. 9 Analysis10 Company Analysis. 10 Current Marketing Mix Strategies (Product, Price, People, and Promotion). 10 Current Target Markets10 Market Analysis. 10 Competition & SWOT Analysis. 11 Competitive advantage. 12 Financial Analysis. 12 Conclusion13 Are Starbucks' mission and strategic choices in alignment? 13 Will the company continue its past  success? 13 Executive Summary Are Starbucks' mission and strategic choices in alignment? Yes. The strategies of innovation, product differentiation, and customer experience are directly aligned with Starbucks published mission â€Å"to establish Starbucks as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world,† while â€Å"inspiring and nurturing† the spirit of their customers. Starbucks continues to apply strategies to expand its product offering in both breadth and depth. Coupled with this strategy is the expansion of alternate distribution channels to multiply the potential in increased revenues. Each offering in the product portfolio reinforces the brand name and quality experience described in the company’s vision statement. The recent focus on increasing profits in existing stores is not a shift of business strategy, but more of a symptom of business maturity – less waste equals more profit. The corporation has tempered its original goal of market dominance by saturation – slowing its growth in new stores – to market dominance with more efficient and more profitable stores with its strategy of disciplined expansion in key markets. The strategy of using the Seattle’s Best segment, vice Starbucks to expand the base of corporate customers also supports Starbucks’s prime mission. This elevation of Seattle’s Best does not create a corporate-sponsored competitor to the nearby Starbucks stores, but does serve as an alternate distribution channel for the company’s expanded product line. Therefore, this strategy supports the overall brand quality of Starbucks as the â€Å"premier coffee,† yet captures additional customers that do not seek the branded Starbuck experience and would likely choose one the niche competitors. This strategy can cater to a slightly different clientele – in both coffee stores and supermarkets – and increase overall corporate revenues. Will the company continue its past success? Yes. A continued emphasis on customer satisfaction, coupled with effective strategies that develop new product lines, will stimulate revenue growth and stabilize share prices. The current vision and path summarized by Starbucks president and CEO, Howard Schultz, is a commitment to â€Å"continually improving our customer experience as the roadmap to renewed growth and increasing profitability,† with emphasis on continued application of previously successful strategies, â€Å"we will continue to innovate and differentiate, two perennial hallmarks of the Starbucks brand. † (Starbucks Financial Releases, 2009) Background Strategic management is â€Å"a company-wide process that includes  a long-term plan of action that assists in achieving  an  organization's objectives and  fulfills company vision,† (course material) and is comprised of four major elements: situation analysis, strategy formulation, strategy implementation, and strategy evaluation. (Bushman, (2007) This Strategic Management process includes the following steps: (Luca, 2009) 1. Developing a Vision/Mission/Goals and Objectives 2. Analyzing the environment company (internal and external) 3. Identifying internal Strengths and Weaknesses and external Threats and Opportunities (SWOT) 4. Articulating  strategic choices at the business, functional, and corporate levels 5. Selecting a strategy or strategies, based on in-depth internal and external analyses, to accomplish vision and mission goals. These strategies may exist at several levels: business, functional, corporate, and global. Company Description According to the company’s Factsheet (2009), Starbucks was founded in 1971 in Seattle’s Pike Place Market. The original name of â€Å"Starbucks Coffee, Tea and Spices† was later changed to â€Å"Starbucks Coffee Company. As quoted from Google Finance (Starbucks Corporation, 2009), Starbucks, together with its subsidiaries, â€Å"purchases and roasts whole bean coffees and sells them, along with fresh, rich-brewed coffees, Italian-style espresso beverages, cold blended beverages, complementary food items, a selection of premium teas, and coffee-relate d accessories and equipment, through Company-operated retail stores. Starbucks also sells coffee and tea products and licenses its trademark through other channels. Starbucks produces and sells a range of ready-to-drink beverages. The business segments of the Company are United States, International, and Global Consumer Products Group (CPG). The CPG segment includes packaged coffee and tea sold globally through channels, such as grocery stores and operates through joint ventures and licensing arrangements with consumer products business partners. † Starbucks' Mission, Vision, Goals and Objectives. Mission statements are â€Å"fundamental to the survival and growth of any business,† (Analoui and Karami, 2002) and â€Å"set the direction and goal for the long term, reflecting the strategic intent. (course material) According to Germain and Cooper (1990), an appropriate mission statement serves to â€Å"promote a sense of shared expectations amongst employees and communicate a public image of the firm to important stakeholders and groups in the company's task environment. † Starbucks’ mission statement as stated in the corporate Factsheet (2009) is â€Å"To establish Starbucks as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world while maintaining our uncompromising principles as we grow. The company’s stated Vision, Goals, and Objectives may be found listed as â€Å"Our Starbucks Mission† in the corporate website (The Company, 2009). This vision is expressed as â€Å"To inspire and nurture the human spirit— one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time. † Some of the company’s objectives – referred to as â€Å"guiding principles† – included in that strategic vision focus on: 1. Quality of the coffee 2. Robust partnerships 3. Human connection to customers 4. Unique atmosphere of the retail stores that encourages social interaction 5. Being accepted as neighbor in the community 6. Obligation to shareholders (long-term success and profitability) Strategies. The original focus since the company’s beginning has been on product differentiation, in both the product and the store setting. This strategy emphasizes a premium product served in a unique atmosphere. Some claimed tactics employed to execute these strategies are to: (Factsheet, 2009) †¢ Provide a great work environment and treat each other with respect and dignity. †¢ Embrace diversity as an essential component in the way we do business. †¢ Apply the highest standards of excellence to the purchasing, roasting, and fresh delivery of our coffee. Develop enthusiastically satisfied customers all of the time. †¢ Contribute positively to our communities and our environment. †¢ Recognize that profitability is essential to our future success Historical Strategies for business growth noted in the 2006 shareholder’s meeting included continued expansion of retail stores, and exp ansion of the company’s portfolio of unique and innovative products â€Å"to appeal to a broad consumer base. † (Business Wire, 2006) These products included: †¢ Premium and proprietary food offerings as a component of the Starbucks Experience. Introduction of warm breakfast items in Company-operated stores by 2008. †¢ Joint venture with Apple to launch a Starbucks Entertainment Area on iTunes. †¢ Introduction of a heated-on-demand vending initiative, †¢ Expansion of its Kraft relationship to distribute Starbucks coffee into supermarkets. Recent changes to this original approach – which were in response to the recent economic downturn and drop in share prices – are aimed at retaining customers, rather than gaining new ones. According to Howard Schultz, the company’s CEO, â€Å"The issue at hand†¦ is the cost of losing your core customer. (Adamy & Wingfield, 2009) These changes in business strategy shift the focus from mark et saturation with additional stores to: (Starbucks Newsroom, 2009) 1. Increasing profits in existing stores, 2. Expanding the product base, and 3. â€Å"Disciplined global store expansion in key markets. † While continuing with the strategy of product expansion (to even include some non-food products), Starbucks has tempered its desire for continually opening new stores. This â€Å"disciplined† approach includes more niche targeting in key markets and even opening, or converting to, a Seattle’s Best vice Starbucks. Some of the new tactics announced at the 2009 Shareholders Meeting to implement this strategy include: †¢ A $500 million structural expense reduction to align the company’s cost structure to its current business strategy †¢ Focused efforts to improve operational efficiencies with technology investments, and better training for store managers †¢ Emphasizing the concepts of value and quality to the customer with selective price incentives †¢ Launching VIAâ„ ¢ Ready Brew instant coffee to tap the $17 billion instant coffee market †¢ Expanding alternate foodservice channels Management Team. Corporate organization and key management team members include: (Reuters, 2009) Howard SchultzChairman of the Board, President, CEO Troy AlsteadChief Financial Officer, Chief Administrative Officer Arthur I. RubinfeldPresident – Global Development Martin P. ColesPresident – Starbucks Coffee International Clifford BurrowsPresident – Starbucks Coffee US Paula E. BoggsExec VP, General Counsel, Secretary Michelle GassExec VP – Marketing and Category Olden C. LeeInterim Exec VP – Partner Resources, Director Dorothy J. KimExec VP – Global Strategy, Office of the CEO Peter D. GibbonsExec VP – Global Supply Chain Operations Culver, JohnExec VP, President – Global Consumer Products, Foodservice & Seattle's Best Coffee Business Model. According to Osterwalder, Pigneur, & Tucci (2005), a company’s business model includes: infrastructure, offering, customers, and revenue model. 1. Infrastructure – the core capabilities and competencies, partnership network, or business alliances, and value configuration (what makes it mutually beneficial for a business and its customers). . Offering – the value of products and services offered for a specific customer segment, and how it differentiates itself from its competitors. 3. Customers – includes (1) the target audience for a business' products and services, (2) the distribution channel used to reach the customers (includes marketing and distribution strategy), and customer relationship management. 4. Revenue model – the cost structure and revenue flows that define the company’s income. Infrastructure. Starbucks infrastructure (sales & distribution model) began as a basic shopkeeper model[1]; brewing and serving fresh, premium quality coffee in a relaxed â€Å"neighborhood† atmosphere. This model chooses a location frequented by targeted customers, employs low-wage workers, and establishes repeat business based on customer satisfaction and ease of access. Recent strategic management emphasis is trending toward, or adapting part of the Loyalty or Service Quality model to reinforce the perceived quality of the product. Part of this model is based on the belief that it is cheaper to keep customers than gain new ones. Offering. The Starbucks brand portfolio is marketed as premium and, therefore, is luxury goods, relying on â€Å"consumer discretionary spending to drive sales. † (Hattery, 2009) This portfolio includes Starbucks Entertainment, Starbucks Hear Music, Tazo, Ethos water, Seattle’s Best Coffee, and Torrefazione Italia Coffee – offers a variety of products and services through its retail stores and other channels, including: †¢ 30 blends of Coffee †¢ Handcrafted Beverages – fresh-brewed coffee, hot and iced espresso beverages, coffee and non-coffee blended beverages, and Tazo ® teas. Merchandise – home espresso machines, coffee brewers and grinders, premium chocolates, coffee mugs and accessories, and gift items. †¢ Fresh Food – baked pastries, sandwiches, and salads. †¢ Starbucks Entertainment – selection of music, books, and film from both emerging and established artists. †¢ Global Consumer Products – bo ttled Frappuccino ® beverages, Discoveries ® chilled cup coffee, DoubleShot ® espresso drinks, Starbucks ® Iced Coffee, whole bean coffee and Tazo ® teas, Starbucksâ„ ¢ Coffee Liqueurs, and a line of premium ice creams. †¢ Starbucks Card – a reloadable pre-paid debit card. Revenue Model. Starbucks’ revenue model includes its cost structure and revenue flows. Starbucks operating costs are directly influenced by fluctuations in the commodity prices (milk and coffee beans) which have risen sharply in the past. Starbucks purchases teas and primarily Arabica coffee beans directly from international markets in Costa Rica, Africa, Asian Pacific, and China. The wholesale price of coffee beans is unstable and often susceptible to dramatic price changes from a variety of weather and political events that may, or may not, affect global production. These reactionary prices can remain elevated for several years. Coffee prices in 2008, for example, were 20% higher on average than 2007, resulting in Starbucks paying an average price of $1. 42 per pound of green (unroasted) coffee. The price of Milk futures also rose dramatically from $13 to $18 per hundredweight in March, 2007, falling only recently to $17 in September, 2009. Starbucks’ revenue flow from its company operated coffeehouses relies on discretionary consumer spending, and can be affected by negative economic conditions. In fiscal 2008, Starbucks generated $10. billion in revenue through the sale of whole bean coffee, food, equipment, and beverages. The distribution channels included both its retail stores and specialty operations. [pic] Figure 1 – Revenue Categories Company operated retail stores (7,238 stores in North America and 1,979 international) generated 84 percent of the total revenue. (Hattery, 2009) The remaining 16 percent was generated through the specialty operations segment, which is chartered to â€Å"develop the company's brand through third parties outside the traditional coffeehouse. This segment channels, and percentage of specialty operations revenue generated, include: 1. Licensed Stores (48 percent) located in airports and supermarkets that generate licensing fees, royalties, and retail revenue from coffee, tea, and CDs. 2. Foodservices Operations (25 percent) sells Starbucks coffee to restaurants, offices, hotels, and Barnes & Noble Cafes under different licensing contracts. 3. Packaged Tea and Coffee (21 percent) sold at various food stores. 4. Branded Products (4 percent) like ready-to-drink beverages and ice creams sold through partnerships with Pepsi and Dreyer's. Pricing. Starbucks has maintained a premium pricing strategy for its branded premium quality coffee beans and unique customer experience. Customers. Starbucks serves approximately 50 million customers a week in its stores. The target market is defined as â€Å"young (25-to-45 years old) professional men and women, in higher income brackets with stressful lives (at work, home, or both). Most members of this target market live in the suburbs and commute to work in urban areas. † (Holmes, Bennett, Carlisle, Dawson, 2002) Competitors. Although Starbucks maintains a â€Å"dominant position in the specialty coffeehouse market and has no single clear rival in the sector,† (Hattery, 2009) competitors include other specialty coffee shops, doughnut shops, and restaurants. The closest specialty coffeehouse competitor is Caribou Coffee, with only 415 stores, with the major competition being â€Å"dispersed among the thousands of independent or small-chain coffee shops (i. e. , Die drich Coffee, Inc, Coffee Heaven Intl. , Autogrill S. p. A. Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea, Inc), and McDonalds Corp[2]. Stakeholders. Starbucks’ organizational stakeholders include both individuals and groups â€Å"who have an interest (give-and-take) relationship with the firm. † (course material) These internal and external stakeholders of Starbucks are identified as: shareholders, employees (including board members, executives, managers, supervisors, and baristas), customers, suppliers, local communities, and global alliance partners[3] Marketing Strategy. As described in VoteForUs (n. d. ), since the company’s inception in 1971, its marketing strategy has â€Å"ignored the traditional advertizing avenues of billboards and commercials and focused on seven fundamentals to differentiate Starbucks from other cafes. † These fundamental areas of marketing focus are: (VoteForUs, n. d. ) 1. Perfect Cup of Coffee – an emphasis on product quality (rich, delicious taste and aroma) to support the premium pricing structure. 2. Third Place – creating the â€Å"third place† for everyone to go to between home and work. This is another differentiation technique, aimed to create a unique and relaxing experience or atmosphere with which Starbucks could be branded. 3. Customer Satisfaction – ensure that customers feel the uniqueness of enjoying their Starbucks coffee experience. 4. Creating a Starbucks Community – this marketing strategy has even expanded to create a community around their brand. On their website, individuals are encouraged to express their experiences with Starbucks history, and the company strives to â€Å"personally† join in the discussions. 5. Smart Partnerships – create strategic partnerships that expand business opportunities and increase sales. 6. Innovation – a strategy to continually create new products or services that support their customer base or add new customer segments. (different coffee flavors, more food on their menu, and one of the first to offer internet capability in their stores) 7. Brand Marketing – The Starbucks marketing strategy has always focused on â€Å"word-of-mouth† advertising and viral marketing, letting the high quality of their products and services speak for themselves. Financials. Evaluating the company’s financial statements since the economic low point of May 2008 – with its first quarterly decline in profit, and 38 percent stock plunge – Starbuck’s has managed to maintain a healthy balance sheet. Consolidated company revenues for Q3 2009 were $2. 4 billion, compared to $2. 6 billion in 2008, reflecting a five percent decline in store sales. Quarterly financial sheets verify the reduction in operating income and corresponding slight increase in net profits. With the cost realignment scheduled to be completed in 2009, operating costs are expected to drop further. Total revenues for Q2 2009 show a positive rebound with a sustained upward trend over the last two quarters. Share prices – which bottomed around $8. 00 during Dec08 through Mar09 – have stabilized around $19. 00 for the last quarter. In response to the implemented cost reduction strategies, Standard & Poor’s raised the company’s short-term debt ratings (from â€Å"A-3† to â€Å"A-2) and â€Å"revised its outlook to ’stable’ from negative,† (Ogg, 2009), reaffirming the â€Å"BBB† corporate credit rating. According to Ogg (2009), â€Å"S&P believes that the company’s performance will continue to stabilize and that the credit metrics will continue to improve or remain at the current levels. † Analysis Alignment in the framework of strategic management refers to the mutual agreement and enforcement of the company’s vision, mission, and goals with its business strategies. These strategies are employed to achieve and maintain a competitive advantage in the market segment, and ensure long-term profitability for the company. Company Analysis. This company analysis focuses on three factors or issues involved in maintaining a competitive advantage. These factors and issues are: (1) current target markets, (2) current marketing mix strategies, and (3) the strengths and weaknesses of the Company. The company's marketing mix strategies are discussed in relation to the Five P's of Marketing. The elements of Five P's of Marketing include product, price, place, people and promotion. (Nimetz, 2009) These factors are explored in comparison to Starbucks’ published mission, vision statements, and guiding principles. To establish Starbucks as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world while maintaining our uncompromising principles as we grow. †¢ To inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time. † Current Marketing Mix Strategies (Product, Price, People, and Promotion). Starbucks built its coffee stores on the principle product of Arabica coffee beans. T his product was marketed as a premium quality item that â€Å"† The pricing scheme followed the premium quality scheme, offering the customer more than a cup of coffee. Starbucks stores became the â€Å"third place† to go to and enjoy a unique atmosphere. One new strategy that CEO Howard Schultz brought with him was the emphasis on the role of sales clerks, or Barristers who brewed and served the coffee. Specialized training for employees reinforces their role in the customer’s perceived value of the product – the unique Starbucks experience. The promotion tactics employed by Starbucks broke with traditional concepts and avoided advertising, relying on word-of-mouth or viral advertising techniques where satisfied customers willingly share with others, and promote the Starbucks experience. This viral advertising has proven quite effective. Current Target Markets. For most Starbucks most consumers, coffee is not just coffee, but more of a ritual – a deserved reward. However, although the targeted market of professionals contains a significant percentage of higher-income professionals, the recent decrease in sales (and corresponding drop in shares) implies that they too are affected by the economic downturn and willing to reduce their â€Å"rewards. † Market Analysis. A market analysis reviews the specific market segment being targeted, and examines the demographic and social data required to â€Å"know your customer. This required information concerning the targeted customer includes: †¢ Who they are †¢ Where they are †¢ How to reach them †¢ Identifying their needs (what justifies premium price) †¢ Size of market †¢ Percentage of market captured †¢ Market growth potential Starbucks market for its coffee stores is targete d at 25- to 45-year-old professionals looking for solitude, or social interaction, without alcohol. This higher-income crowd of young, college-educated represents a group which tends toward higher luxury-consumption levels. The failure to successfully add drive-through service to its stores clearly differentiates its clientele from McDonalds or Java Hut customers whose needs or to grab a quick caffeine jolt on the way to or from work. According to Euromonitor International Plc,[4] Starbucks has captured 52 percent of the global specialty coffee market. According to Mintel (global consumer research firm in Chicago) Starbucks controls 43 – 73% of the U. S. market share[5] in coffeehouse sales in 2005, with its closest rivals being Caribou Coffee, and Peet's Coffee and Tea. Competition & SWOT Analysis. The SWOT analysis identifies and evaluates a company’s internal factors (strengths and weaknesses) and external factors (opportunities, and threats). This analysis helps to focus on key issues to consider in strategic planning. The following details are an updated paraphrase of the SWOT analysis from Marketing Teacher (2007): Strengths. †¢ Starbucks Corporation is a very profitable organization, earning in excess of $459 million in 2008. The company generated revenue of more than $10. billion in 2008, exceeding revenue for 2007. †¢ It is a global coffee brand built upon a reputation for fine products and services with approximately 9000 cafes around the globe. †¢ Starbucks is know as a respected employer that values its workforce, and was one of the Fortune Top 100 Companies to Work For in 2005. †¢ The organization displays strong ethical values and an ethical mission statement that emphasizes its commitment to environmental lea dership. Weaknesses. †¢ Starbucks has a reputation for new product development and creativity. However, they remain vulnerable to the possibility that their innovation may falter over time. †¢ The organization has a strong presence in the U. S. with more than three quarters of their cafes located in the home market. An increased percentage of international cafes would help to spread business risk. †¢ The organization is dependant on a main competitive advantage, the retail of coffee. This could make them slow to diversify into other sectors should the need arise. Opportunities. †¢ New products and services can be retailed in their cafes, such as Fair Trade products. The company has the opportunity to expand its global operations with the emerging markets for coffee in India and the Pacific Rim nations. †¢ Additional co-branding with other manufacturers of food and drink can be pursued. †¢ Capitalizing on the Seattle’s Best brand in both the retail and franchise markets could diversify revenue streams and spread business risk. †¢ With recent economic conditions, and dwindling disposable income, Starbucks could pursue a larger market share of the home-brewed coffee market with increased advertising. Pursuing additional partnerships with manufacturers of other goods and services has potential to decrease Starbuck’s dependency on it single competitive advantage in retail coffee. Threats. †¢ Starbucks has been branded and marketed as a luxury item, relying on the disposable income of its targeted customers. Regional, or national economic instability can be reflected quickly in revenue loss. †¢ Future growth of the coffee market is uncertain. A change in the current fad of coffee shops would significantly impact Starbuck’s major source of revenue. †¢ Starbucks is exposed to unpredictable cost increases in wholesale coffee and dairy products. Recent growth in the coffee house market has attracted many competitors, including copy cat brands and national restaurants that pose potential threats to S tarbuck’s competitive advantage. Competitive advantage. Starbucks established an early dominance in the market segment of coffee houses, and sustains its competitive advantage[6] through differentiation[7] by capitalizing on a unique experience that offers ambiance and unusual product variety. The primary strategies employed to establish market dominance were branding, creativity, and saturation by store expansion. 1. The branding strategies include quality product, personal service, a sense of community, and environmental responsibility. This strategy is strengthened by market and demographic analyses to slightly customize each store to the local city/community personality. 2. The creativity strategies emphasize â€Å"constantly looking for new ideas, new products, as well as new experiences for guests. † (Thompson & Gamble, 1999) Successful products are retained while weaker products are eliminated in a continuing cycle of process improvement. 3. Although growth in the store expansion strategy has peaked, new stores are still being added. This strategy has been modified from saturation by area concentration, to a more disciplined approach, that identifies key markets, based on market analysis that emphasizes individual store profitability. (Adamy & Wingfield, 2009) Financial Analysis. Starbucks has a solid financial status with multiple revenue streams from multiple coffee related products. A look at Starbucks Profit and Loss and Cash Flow tables[8] (shown in Table 1) reveals a slight dip in gross revenue, but a positive trend for increased net income. This is probably a result of the recent cost restructuring and emphasis on store profitability. Future revenue streams from coffee house sales are expected to increase from a combination of stable sales and higher efficiency. Revenue streams from alternate distribution channels show a slight, but steady increase, further bolstering Starbuck’s solid financial foundation. |In Millions of USD |Jun 2009 |Mar 20099 |Dec 2008 |Sep 2008 | Jun 2008 | |Revenue |2,403. 90 |2,333. 30 |2,615. 20 |2,515. 40 |2,574. 00 | |Total Revenue |2,403. 0 |2,333. 30 |2,615. 20 |2,515. 40 |2,574. 00 | |Gross Profit |539. 10 |470. 20 |481. 80 |393. 50 |452. 60 | Total Operating Expense |2,199. 90 |2,292. 40 |2,497. 50 |2,501. 20 |2,595. 60 | |Operating Income |204. 00 |40. 90 |117. 70 |14. 20 |-21. 60 | |Income Before Tax |217. 30 |34. 90 |98. 30 |-1. 20 |-33. 20 | |Net Income |151. 50 |25. 00 |64. 30 |5. 40 |-6. 70 | |Table 1 – Quarterly Financials Conclusion Are Starbucks' mission and strategic choices in alignment? Yes. The strategies of innovation, product differentiation, and customer experience are directly aligned with Starbucks mission â€Å"to establish Starbucks as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world,† while â€Å"inspiring and nurturing† the spirit of their customers. Starbucks continues to expand its product offering in both breadth and depth. Coupled with this strategy is the expansion of alternate distribution channels that will multiply the potential in increased revenues. Each offering in the product portfolio reinforces the brand name and quality experience described in the company’s vision statement. The recent focus on increasing profits in existing stores is not a shift of business strategy, but more of a symptom of business maturity. Less waste equals more profit. The corporation has shifted its goal from market saturation – slowing its growth in new stores – to market dominance with more efficient and more profitable stores with its strategy of disciplined expansion in key markets. Using the Seattle’s Best segment, vice Starbucks to expand the base of customers for the greater corporate good requires close examination. As a corporate-sponsored competitor to the nearby Starbucks stores, this strategy seems in conflict with the prime mission. However, as an alternate distribution channel for an expanded product line, this strategy supports the overall brand quality of Starbucks as the â€Å"premier coffee,† yet can capture some additional customers that do not seek the branded Starbuck experience and would likely choose one the niche competitors. Seattle’s Best can cater to a slightly different clientele – in both coffee stores and supermarkets – with a different set of customer needs, while increasing overall corporate revenues. Will the company continue its past  success? Yes. A continued emphasis on customer satisfaction, coupled with effective strategies that develop new product lines, will stimulate revenue growth and stabilize share prices. The current vision and path summarized by Starbucks president and CEO, Howard Schultz, is a commitment to â€Å"continually improving our customer experience as the roadmap to renewed growth and increasing profitability,† with emphasis on continued application of previously successful strategies, â€Å"we will continue to innovate and differentiate, two perennial hallmarks of the Starbucks brand. (Starbucks Financial Releases, 2009) References Adamy, J. & Wingfield, N. (2009). Starbucks brews new strategies to fight slump. Wall Street Journal (Europe), p. 4. Retrieved July 11, 2009, from ProQuest Newsstand. (Document ID: 1662578621). Analoui, F. and Karami, A. (2002). CEOs and development of the meaningful mission statement. Corporate Governance, 2(3), 13-2 0. 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