Education in the Twisted Military School

Not many of the boys who enter the Carolina Military Institute as freshmen leave the school as graduates. Set in South Carolina, this is a story seen through the eyes of Will McLean, a sensitive, yet rebellious young boy, who aspires to be an â€Å"institiute man†. He is an intelligent, honest, sarcastic and incredibly funny Irish, working class youth who doesn't hide from the truth or his fears. Secondary characters Dante Pignetti, Mark Santoro, and Tradd St. Croix, come into Will's life as he studies at the institute. Tradd is a fragile young man who chooses military training to please his father. He is sensitive, loyal, and caring. Pig and Mark are the â€Å"big men† of the group. Will considers them his protectors because of their size and sense of loyality. 0n the surface, the institute apppears to be just another military school engaged in training fine southern men to defend the country during the Vietnam War. But behind the clean walls of the school and the stern faces of the upperclassmen is a horrifying secret. The Lords Of Dicipline is a book about four young men, Will, Pig, Mark and Tradd, who are trying to recieve an education in this twisted military school. It's a school where â€Å"the system† rules instead of the teachers. The â€Å"system† is run by upperclassmen, obsessed with upholding the school's reputation for turning out the finest men the country has to offer to the war. Will watches as the boys in his class are dismantled and reassembled to become military men. He watches as boys are tortured because of their differences, as they are run out of the school, and even as they are driven to the threshold of sucide. The instutite seems to change everyone who remains there. It seems to harden them, to turn them into the very men they feared as freshmen. Will fears that he too will be corrupt by the brutality that surrounds him. When Will, Tradd, Pig, and Mark discover that there is a secret oragnization called â€Å"The Ten† that upholds and enforces â€Å"The system† Will becomes determined to expose them and bring to justice the students who were their victims. The Lords of Discipline is a wonderfully chilling and realistic book with believable characters and a great story line. It strtesses the fact that one way of thinking isn't always the right way and if you feel that something is wrong, you should stand up for what you believe in. I really liked this book and I reccomend it to everyone.

Regulating Violence Portrayed in the Media

Two themes have emerged as dominant in recent media broadcasts: sex and violence. These two themes have proven to garner high ratings from viewers and they further ensure the success of television programs and cinema movies. Viewers themselves rank programs which feature either or both of these themes as favorites. Of greater impact it seems is the evolution of violence as depicted in the media.With the aid of modern technology, especially as employed in animation and special effects, the depiction of violence has been further facilitated and enhanced. Furthermore, the proliferation of violent programs provides easy access to the same by viewers of all backgrounds, young and old as well as impressionable and guarded alike.This reflects that regulatory boards and associations are no longer able to keep up with the numerous programs deployed containing violent content. On the other hand, the ease with which violent content may be accessed might be attributed to a slackening in standard s. This is reflected in the programs which depict violent and gory images aired for children. Sometimes, as is the case with a lot of Japanese animation, the violence portrayed for the youth surpasses even that depicted for mature viewing.Scope and Nature of the ResearchThis research intends to study the role of violence as portrayed on the screen on aggressive behavior of viewers. It is the goal of this paper to assess whether or not there is a need to regulate the extent of depicted violence on screen. Should it be shown that such a need exists, then the reasonableness of the regulation to be made will be broached.No distinction will be made between programs aired on television and those shown in movie theaters. Neither will distinction be made between programs with purely violent content and programs which only dedicate a portion of the airtime to violence. Included in the programs and movies to be analyzed will be news programs, fictional stories, and even animation. It will be borne in mind that what is of importance in this study is not so much the manner in which the violence is depicted but more on the effect that portrayals of violence has on the viewing public.What will be taken into account will be the effect that violence has on the individual behavior as well as on the society at large bearing witness to it. Given the response of persons, whether implicit or explicit, to portrayals of violence, a close look will be taken as to the effect of regulating the violent content of movies and programs in the cinema and on television.A brief analysis will be made regarding the effect such a regulation might have on viewer ratings and on the process of regulation itself. It is only as regards this aspect of regulation that an analysis of acceptable levels of violence will be made. Therefore, it is only in outlining a rational process of regulation wherein the manner of depicting violence will be assessed. These are the research goals and delimitations withi n which this paper will be made.Research IssuesSuch goals have been borne out of an observation that the increase in violent programs shown on screen have resulted in a related increase in crime and violence in the community. Several empirical research data have been obtained which support this observation. Although there has been contradictory evidence obtained which also tend to refute supporting evidence, the fact remains that in some populations and studies, a positive correlation has been drawn between television violence and violence in the individual and in the community.Furthermore, actual cases have been observed wherein felonies have been committed mimicking behavior aired on television or shown in a movie. This reflects the danger of giving free license to creativity in violent films. This is particularly so in programs wherein the characters are permitted to accomplish their criminal objectives without resulting in action by legal or police authorities.Not only as regard s criminal behavior, but even in programs reflecting suicide behavior, there has been shown a duplication effect in the acts of viewers. Thus it is shown that concepts shown by the media give ideas to the audience regarding behavior that they themselves might engage in. Taking into consideration the extent of violent acts that can possibly be depicted in films today and the variety of programs accessible to different viewers, we are faced with the problem of having to control for an infinite number of different atrocities in any given community.Given these facts, the emerging issue is undeniably whether or not regulation may effect a means of control for aggressive and violent behavior in societies exposed to violence in films. Given that violent programs have already been introduced into the regular broadcast of media, would its belated regulation result in a discernable change? Furthermore, up to what extent should regulation be made in order that an observable decline is found in violent behavior of the public?Theoretical FrameworkThe focus and issues of this paper is based on several theoretical foundations. These theories serve to ground the rationalizations and argumentations made regarding the relationship of media portrayed violence and actual violent behavior. An understanding of the theoretical framework of such a relationship will support the importance of regulation and provide a background for determining the level of regulation required.The first underlying theory bases the relationship on cognitive priming. Cognitive priming focuses on the ability of a stimulus to activate similar stimuli causing a chain of reactions as a result of the initial stimulus presented. This type of inference from one stimulus to another is largely dependent on built-in associations established in the memory pathways of the individual.Applying this approach to violence, it is theorized that the violence in films stimulates previously held aggressive thoughts or tendenc ies in an individual. In fact, the individual need not necessarily have entertained such aggressiveness nor is there a need that the individual be attracted to violence. The only aspect required on the part of the individual when considering the cognitive priming approach is that there is a natural link made between the violent scene or act viewed with other violent behaviors – both those personally experienced and those simply associated on basis of logic.Emotional arousal is different from cognitive priming in this sense because in emotional arousal, the natural tendency is key in bringing forth aggressive behavior as a result of witnessing a violent program. It should be noted that arousal merely energizes dominant behavior in a particular situation. Therefore, arousal produced by watching violent programs merely facilitates or intensifies a predisposition for violence. However, if there is no prior propensity for aggression, then there is no object to be energized by the arousal resulting from violent films.Another reason why individuals are encouraged to act on their aggression after viewing violent behavior is a probable sponsor effect which operates on the mind of the viewer. This effect results from a perspective regarding the person of the sponsor endorsing the violent program.This effect is said to have relevance when certain socialization norms dominate the understanding of the viewer causing him or her to gain respect for certain authority figures – such as the ones who have permitted the airing of the violent program. Given that the acts in the program were encouraged and not prohibited, then certainly the imitation of the same in actual life should warrant the same encouragement or at least a degree of tolerance.It can thus be seen from the above theories that repeated exposure to violence on films causes an increase in permissiveness for deviant behavior. Furthermore, the lack of portrayal of punishment of violence causes viewers t o rationalize that they themselves are capable of escaping reprimand should they perform the same acts.As regards sensationalized victims of violence, individuals may even bring home the message that should they themselves receive the violence witnessed, they too should receive attention and momentary fame. All these signals represent misinformed ideologies about the role and effect of violence in society thus resulting in socially maladaptive and harmful behavior.The Research ProcessConsidering the nature of the study to be made, several resources should be tapped in order to gain a holistic view as to the present standing of matters. Adequate research would also reflect the rational future steps to be made in terms of regulation. First, relevant material pertaining to present regulatory guidelines pertaining to violence should be obtained. Given, the guidelines, an assessment should be made whether or not the same are applied.Next, an actual study should be made gathering data fro m a chosen population regarding the effect on aggression in viewers of the permitted level of violence in films. Should it be found that there is a significant relationship, then research must be made as to what level of viewed violence would not result in such violent viewer behavior.The results should then display the effect such a regulation would have on viewer behavior by reviewing the data collected from the population organized. Furthermore, television viewer ratings of violent programs should be noted in order that a determination may be made as to the effect regulation will have on the ratings of networks and movie houses. From the above it can thus be seen that legislative acts, experimental data, and media network data sheets will be utilized in order to solidify a firm resource base for the results of the study.In obtaining such resources, several research methods will need to be used, first of such will be the interview method. Members of movie regulatory bodies will ha ve to be interviewed regarding the process of review and the standard of violence permitted in movies. Also, officers of media networks or their representatives should be interviewed in order to gain an accurate estimation of the quantifiable effect of violence in shows on viewer ratings.Apart from interviews however, a field study should be conducted regarding the effect of particular levels of violence on viewers. In order to facilitate data collection, certain levels of violence will already be categorized and the viewers of such kinds of violence disseminated among the groups. Data will then be collected through a series of questionnaires and self-report tests.It is hypothesized that the study will reveal that there is a lack if media regulation of violence on television programs and movie shows resulting in heightened levels of violence in the community. Increased regulation of media portrayals of violence will however serve to dampen the awareness of the public regarding the v ariety of violent acts. Regulation will also serve to maintain the authority of legal and police figures in controlling violent behavior. Thus, there should be an increase in regulation of violence in the media.Works CitedFelson, Richard. â€Å"Mass Media Effects on Violent Behavior.† Annual Review of Sociology 22 (1996): 103-128.The author effectively synthesizes the large body of work related to the effects of mass media on resulting aggressive behavior in the viewer. The paper is objective and presents data supporting and defeating the relationship of depictions of violence with actual violent behaviors. The presentation sticks to the relevant data in the mass of previous studies conducted regarding the topic. Yet the detail embedded in the paper serves to enhance the reader’s knowledge of past studies. The paper is holistic as it takes into account concepts and theories as well as empirical data gathered.Pirkis, Jane, Burgess, Philip, Blood, R. Warwick, and Francis , Catherine. â€Å"The Newsworthiness of Suicide.† Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior 37(3) (2007): 278-283.The authors herein take on a very limited perspective on the role of media on suicidal behavior. The theory implemented herein is that of modeling and emulation only. A further limitation of the paper is that it only considers those suicide attempts which were real and covered by news programs.The authors focus on the danger that viewers may imitate the behavior of sensationalized and detailed suicidal acts. Several examples are given as to actual cases wherein media-covered suicides were copied by viewers of the news program. The authors themselves also suggest stricter regulation of suicides which are to be deemed as newsworthy and as to what aspects regarding the suicide should be revealed to the public.

Racial Profiling Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Racial Profiling - Essay Example Arguing that racial profiling does exist within Canadian law enforcement and that colorblind justice in this country is an idea which is not yet been attained, the following will address the racial profiling issue in holistic perspective. This research paper will begin with an introduction to racial profiling, both in Canada and throughout the world and will discuss what has been done to address this issue from a social policy perspective. While both descriptive and prescriptive, a significant portion of this research paper will explain what should be done in order to address this problem within Canadian law enforcement. Accordingly, this research paper will advocate a public policy which will address issues of criminal justice and social inequality with the aim of tackling racial profiling in this country. As with United States, racial profiling is an important issue which has garnered much media attention but which remains problematic for visible minorities as well as for the polic e services in this country. The following now turns to introduction to racial profiling. According to the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights, racial profiling is defined as â€Å"as "the practice of police and other law enforcement officers relying, to any degree, on race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin as the basis for subjecting persons to investigatory activities or for determining whether an individual is engaged in criminal activity" (United Nations Commission for Human Rights, 2009). Although many would like to think that racial profiling is a thing of the past, the issue of racial profiling by police services was brought to the fore of international media attention with the arrest of African-American Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Junior. His arrest was quite controversial and was predicated on the fact that Prof. Henry

Chief Security Officer Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Chief Security Officer - Assignment Example Computer crime cab be described as any unlawful activity involving a combination of a network and a computer. Some examples of computer crimes include hacking, pornography, copyright infringement and many others. In essence, the issue of computer crime has elicited heightened debates among heads of various institutions of higher learning. As a chief security officer in the institution I have to establish effective strategies that prevent the occurrence of computer crimes and mitigate any losses that might be suffered in case a cyber-crime occurs. The neighboring institutions of higher learning have established various measures to curb the problem of computer crime. In essence, from the available studies, it can be affirmed that the challenge of cyber-crimes affects  many  institutions of higher learning  across the  US. In this regard, the ministry of education in conjunction with the various institutions of higher learning have initiated several strategies to handle the problem of cyber-crime. In essence, most institutions have established backup information systems to ensure that important information is not lost to cyber-crime. Maintaining an information backup system has proved to be one of the effective strategies for handling the problem of computer crime. Essential a backup system ensure that the stored information is not lost through computer viruses or other computer related malfunctions. Essentially, it is imperative to identify that the problem of computer crime is quite diverse. For instance, one of the m echanisms employed to execute computer crime is the use of viruses. The viruses are spread through the various websites found on the internet including emails. Apparently, the people who conduct computer crimes share some links on the websites and send some random links containing viruses to people’s email. Following such links transfers the virus

Aircarft performance work Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Aircarft performance work - Assignment Example ly against a clock and are required to complete tight turns through demanding aerial low altitude attack course consisting of â€Å"Air Gate† or Pylons (1). These races are mainly held over water close to cities. They are also held at natural wonders or airfields accompanied by supporting programs to show flights. More often than not, these races are held on weekends. The first day is dedicated for qualification with the second day being dedicated for knockout finals (1). During the race the aircrafts can achieve speeds of up to 230 mph, and, they along with the pilots can experience force of up to 12G (1). The ultimate objective of the race is to complete the course with the fastest possible time. The Pilots must enter, pass through and exit each Air Gate in the precise position, either flying level or at 90Ëš to level (often referred to as Knife edge flying) (1). Whilst avoiding contact with the pylons and the aircraft. Hence reduce being penalized with time penalties to t he overall lap time. The eventual winner in this series is determined through aggregation total points obtained at the end of each of the races across the season. For one to qualify, a pilot along with the chosen aircrafts must meet strict requirements set by the Red Bull Race organizers. The pilots must agree to be taken through a super License testing process in ensuring that he/she can cope with difficult turning/maneuvering while at the same time flying at a very low ground speeds. This races provide the pilots with a unique opportunity to showcase their skills speed precisions as they push their aircrafts, as well as themselves through extreme physical limits (2). The Zivco Edge 540 aircraft is a racing aircraft manufactured by Zivko Aeronautics and was first introduced in 2000. There are three variations of this aircraft: Zivko Edge 540, Zivko Edge 540A, and Edge 540T. Zivko Edge 540, which is the latest of the three variations is the focus of this analysis. This is highly aerobatic and

Software Engineering Design Workshop Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Software Engineering Design Workshop - Essay Example Almost all newspapers across the world have some form of crossword for their readers. Actually some readers, especially the elderly and the scholarly people buy a newspaper only to solve the crossword and challenge themselves everyday. This said one must remember that the mobile technology has given the people a power to be online all the time and communicate as and when required. Hence, it is quite definite that the mobile technology has made lot of difference in people’s life. From taking important decisions to addressing their day to day requirements, the mobile phone has given the people to be in touch 24x7. Thus it is quite imperative that their pastime need to be made available on the move. There are only a few people who still carry the newspaper along them. The mobile gadget is all that they require. But that does not mean that the games will not be available to them. Guardian has already incorporated their popular crossword games online. This means that many people can now just go online and play the game whenever they want. But it is not actually the mobile technology. One must have 24x7 accesses to their favorite games and pastimes. The idea of this paper is to deal with the design and implementation aspect of a mobile crossword puzzle which will be available to the people on the move. But first and foremost we have to understand that the normal crossword puzzles that are published by Guardian are of two types. One comes in a normal image format and the other is a dataset which can be decoded to meet the requirements of the mobile gaming platform. However, there are other aspects that must be taken into consideration. The first and foremost is the screen of the mobile phone. It is usually not large enough to accommodate the entire crossword with its grid and clues. Also the game should be downloadable and must be in sync with the latest one. Another aspect is that the advertisements must be removed in order to keep it simple

Terrorism (Historical Analysis) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Terrorism (Historical Analysis) - Essay Example When a terrorist target is focused and isolated, such as when the Unabomber attacked University faculty, there is little public outcry for compassion for the victims. Yet, when the country is faced with the graphic images of the Twin Towers disaster and the massive loss of life, the social agenda focuses on caring for the victims and the survivors. Modern terrorism has presented the world with a new definition of terrorism and is in search of a new definition of victimization. Modern terrorism has its roots in the 1970s and the wave of airline hijackings during that period. This was a move away from attacking strategic targets to the taking of innocent hostages as victims in an effort to create a threatening public display (Rapoport 421). The hostage taking at the US embassy in Tehran presented a new dynamic to the American people. The media provided an endless stream of pictures of Americans being held captive and the terrorism became more personal as the public was able to relate to the victims. Religious extremism became even more apparent in the 1980s as numerous Middle East countries that facilitated terrorist organizations began to directly threaten the security of the US at home and abroad (Shuggart 29). However, until the turn of the 21st century foreign attacks against Americans would remain overseas. Because they were out of the public eye, they remained largely out of the public consciousness. The attacks were sporadic and seemed to have no log ical target. This was in keeping with the characteristic of terrorism of focusing on an indirect and innocent target that could be used as negotiating power. September 11, 2001 forever changed the way Americans would view terrorism and the way that they would perceive the victims. The 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was the first time that the public would mobilize to generate aid for the victims of terrorism ("A

The Rise of African Nationalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Rise of African Nationalism - Essay Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that the concept of African nationalism rose in the post-war period in Africa. This was a turning moment for a people whom centuries of slavery and colonialism had deprived of humanity. Ideologies centered on the theme of nationalism and the essence of nationalism was anti-imperialism. It was a claim and struggle against something. It was an expression of a struggle against denial of humanity, denial of respect and dignity and denial of the African identity. It was the struggle to bring back African mind to Africa as well as a time to end the historical experience of racial humiliation, political oppression, economic exploitation and cultural domination under European slavery. Three components characterized African nationalism and various emphases, accent and formulations occurred in all African nationalists’ thoughts and consciousness. Pan Africanism, Independence, and Racial Equality dominated the continent in the 1950s. Each country ’s actions were focused in opposition to imperial domination and this basic opposition effort is what constituted nationalism. The objective of the struggle varies across historical periods, but the struggle is a common principle. Therefore, it is not so much that nations were searching or struggling for dignity, identity, and independence, but rather a people facing a common problem of domination and exploitation claiming their freedom. Nationalism can be summed up into three elements namely Unity, Independence, and Equality. The three cannot be separated and together they constitute an express African nationalism. African leaders were on the front line in making sure that elements of African nationalism were instilled in the people. For example, Kwame Nkrumah, who studied in the United States and was heavily influenced by the books of African-American theorists such as C.L.R. James and George Padmore, played a major role in introducing Pan-Africanism and articulating the id entity of the African people both on the continent and abroad. As early as 1963, Nyerere once admitted that basically, Pan-Africanism meant African unity.

Stretching Our Horizons Essay Example for Free

Stretching Our Horizons Essay Comparing and contrasting Platos Allegory of the Cave with Paulo Freires Pedagogy of the Oppressed is a complex example of comparing bananas with tangerines. It is hard to take in the mind of a great philosopher. It is even harder to make that mind your own. For that reason the task of fully evaluating these two pieces side by side may forever be a work in progress. Each essay contains three major points. These points discussed new and advised teaching methods, how man is related to or with the world; and the responsibility that enlightened individuals have to mankind. The ideas of these two philosophers both mirror and oppose each other in varying degrees. Through taking very different paths the two writers make their own points clear and demand rational and logical thought of their readers. Plato was a student of Socrates and though the writing of Allegory of the Cave is all his own the basis for his ideas came from none other than his own teacher. The teacher you see is one half of the great element in Platos epiphany. Socrates is in fact a main character in the conversation from which this excerpt is taken. It is said that in this particular work, Plato described symbolically the predicament in which mankind finds itself and proposes a way of salvation (Plato 1). Throughout the conversation a system of ideas develops that are meant to teach the reader or readers about themselves, their world and how it should be viewed rather than a simple, inverted, non-involved outlook that is common to everyday people. The purpose of this writing was to bring about enlightenment. To bring forth this enlightenment we must search for knowledge according to Plato and this knowledge he refers to as light. Light brings the world into focus, so does knowledge and realization of ones plac e in the world. In Platos model, the teacher questions the actions or ideas of the student so that the student will learn to think on their own. A person who quests knowledge for themselves and engages in thoughts other than those placed in their heads by another individual will find that knowledge. The quest for knowledge is not only a right but also a duty and one that brings with it responsibility and dignity. Everyone has the ability to search for and find the light, or knowledge as we call it. Everyone also has the ability to attain this  knowledge. According to Socrates in this dialogue, living a life with true knowledge and enlightenment is living a philosophical one. A life that casts a downward look onto one of politics is one of true philosophy and one of true philosophy. This life is the only one that degrades the grandeur of political ambition. Part of finding this light is becoming aware of the human relationship with the world. Plato believed that most men see themselves as living in a narrow world. If the truth is told the world as they believe it is not a picture of reality. Therefore, the world exists and man is here in it, but does not truly understand what it really is for he does not knows even himself as a man. Once a person has discovered himself, once he has discovered the light, it is his inborn duty to share this with the world. His purpose is now to become a writer of philosophy, to become a teacher in the school of thought. Despite the level on which a person decides to do these honorable deeds, it is not enough. It is the enlightened mans reason for being part of this great world that he has discovered. Pablo Freires ideas about man and educating are compiled in his Pedagogy of the Oppressed. He strongly suggests that for teaching to be the most effective it must be cognitive or revolutionary forum. The students should be pressed toward thinking on an individual level and this must be done in such a way that the teacher is not the source from which the knowledge comes. The instructor should be a means to obtain knowledge, a tool that is an aid rather than a necessity. Often times the teacher must become the student in the since of being open to new arguments and ideas that are introduced by the student. Freires theory also states that a person is not part of the world; but the world is part of the person. He says that without mankind the world would not exist because there would be no one to say that it was doing so. What a person is what becomes reality, it is the true world. Freire suggests that to be enlightened, one must be more humanistic. The more humanistic a person can become the more knowledge they have obtained and the more they can help the world. This is the most important element because since they are of such great knowledge it is their job to pass this onto the world so that everyone may become more enlightened and raise the level of our existence. As it may be seen the two writers have both theories in common and those completely at odds with one another. Plato says that to teach you must challenge that you must force, but Freire says that you must stand back and let the student come to personal and individual cognition. In this Freire argues a revolutionary teaching method, but does so in an essay that follows the style of narrative banking, while Plato rigidly portrays his methods in the way that his writing is developed and constructed. Both men see that man has a direct relationship with the world. Plato sees man as a part of the world, which must be brought into the light to see in reality. Freire on the other hand says that the individual is the world and that what he sees is what is real. The main area of agreement comes when both philosophers convey, it is the enlightened peoples place to carry on their knowledge to others. In one suggestion Plato uses his theory of philosophical lives being of a higher level than thos e of simple political ambition as an example of how to broaden the horizons of common place people by saying that enlightened people should be the ones in these political offices. From these offices they will be able to do more good than an unenlightened person will. They will be able to teach life and the value of it. Freire believes that an enlightened person must teach the very enlightenment and that the responsibility of extending this thought lies both on the student and the teacher. People cannot become great on their own, they must have educators, people to point them in the right direction. Their aid in seeking personal enlightenment could be anyone or anything and come from any of the various methods. The existence of the world is what we make it. Our duty is to ourselves and that entitles all that we believe both as individuals and as a group. While the debate about whom is right or wrong will continue throughout time, one thing is for sure: we must go on.

Cultural Ethnography, Scheins Model Essay Example for Free

Cultural Ethnography, Scheins Model Essay Introduction: Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless company in the United States. The company boasts the largest voice and data network and over 58 million customers. In 2004, Cingular generated over $32 billion in revenue. Cingular is owned by ATT Inc. and Bell South. Cingular‟s vision is, â€Å"To be the most highly regarded wireless company in the world, with a driving focus around best-in-class sales and service† (Cingular, 2006, p.1). The corporation values customers, integrity, performance, teamwork, and its employees The goal of this study was to reveal the organizational culture of Cingular Wireless at a retail sales location. To help determine the culture, this study focused on what is the nature of work for Cingular Wireless sales consultants, and how do employees identify themselves within the corporation according to Edgar Schein‟s models of organizational culture. To guide this study, several aspects of employment at Cingular were studied including employee daily routines, flexibility, expectations, and the relationships between managers, sales representatives, and customers. To analyze Cingular, this study will be utilizing Edgar Schein‟s model of organizational cultures. â€Å"Edgar Schein is a management scholar and consultant interested in the role of leaders in the development and maintenance of organizational culture† (Miller, 2006, p. 105). Schein (1992) believes that culture can be studied in levels, which are the degrees to which the culture is visible to observers. His three levels include artifacts, espoused values, and basic underlying assumptions. According to Miller, artifacts are the most obvious in Schein‟s model which consist of the architecture, furniture, technology, dress, written documents, art, forms of address, communication during meets and decision-making styles. (Miller, 2006, p. 107108). â€Å"The problem with artifacts is that they are palpable but hard to decipher accurately. We know how we react to them, but that is not a reliable indicator of how members of the organization react† (Schein, 1990, p. 111-112). The second level of culture Schein recognizes is that of espoused values. Schein‟s espoused values are, â€Å"the articulated, publicly announced principles and values that the group claims to be trying to achieve† (Schein, 1992, p. 9). Schein (1990) believes that the values, ideologies, and norms can be found using interviews, questionnaires, and surveys. Schein believes that, â€Å"Open-ended interviews can be very useful in getting at this level of how people feel and think† (Schein, 1990, p. 112). The third and most difficult level of culture for observers to witness is that of basic assumptions. Miller (2006) believes that members of the group can rarely articulate these basic values since they are a natural part of their daily lives, making the basic assumptions even more difficult for observers to see. From Schein‟s models and definitions it is apparent that the Schein views, â€Å"culture as a complex pattern of assumptions, values, behaviors, and artifacts† (Miller, 2006, p. 111). Schein (1990) believes that through intense observation and the involvement of motivated employees usually unconscious assumptions and perceptions can be discovered about the organizations culture. Schein states, â€Å"Working with motivated insiders is essential because only they can bring to the surface their own underlying assumptions and articulate how they basically perceive the world around them† (Schein, 1990, p. 112). In addition to these three basic levels this study will also utilize the ten major categories Schein uses to help define an organization‟s culture. These will include (Schein, 1992).: 1. Observed behavioral regularities when people interact 2. Group Norms 3. Espoused values 4. Formal philosophy 5. Rules of the Game 6. Climate 7. Embedded skills 8. Habits of thinking, mental models, and/or linguistic paradigms 9. Shared meanings 10. â€Å"Root metaphors† or integrating symbols Although Schein‟s models are widely applied and studied, areas of disagreement with his methods include how much time is actually required to reveal the levels of an organization‟s culture. How many participants are needed to properly assess the culture, and if bias affects the review of an organization also can all hinder the accuracy of a study based off of Schein‟s model. To conduct this study eight of Schein‟s ten major categories were incorporated. The first, observed behavioral regularities are the languages, rituals, traditions and routines of employees. The second category is espoused values which are publicly known goals of the group. The third category is the formal philosophy which is company policies and interactions with customers. The fourth category will be the rules of the game which are the things new employees must learn to fit in. Embedded skills and shared meanings will be the fifth and sixth categories incorporated into this study. These are the necessary skills to do the job and how the employees have similar meanings for certain things. Finally, the basic assumptions will be the eighth category incorporated into the study of the organizational culture of Cingular Wireless. (Schein, 1992) Methodology: To discover how Cingular fits into Schein‟s categories of organizational culture a method f participant observation will be used including observing daily routines, employee interactions amongst themselves and customers, and participating as a member of the Cingular staff at a retail store location. This ethnographic approach is influenced by an article Esteban, Hirt and McGuire. The article incorporated Schein‟s model in a study on â€Å"The Work Life of Student Service Professionals at Rural Community Colleges. The article was helpful in the organization of this study as well as an example of different methods of conducting the study itself. (Esteban, 2003). Applying Schein‟s Model To Cingular Wireless-7 For this study, information from Cingular Wireless was collected including orientation information, employee handbooks, daily forms and corporate publications. In addition, the company owned retail store at Marley Station Mall in Glen Burnie, Maryland was extensively observed and studied. The store has a manager, three full-time employees, and one part-time employee that were interviewed as well. These methods are being used because they will provide a window for gaining insight into the culture of Cingular Wireless. These methods will reveal the way the organizational culture is shaped by the management, employees, and corporate headquarters. The methods are better than others in this situation because it will allow the study to examine a variety of aspects rather than only one or two. Participants: Jason Celani, 34, has been the manager of the Marley Station store since its opening in the fall of 2005. Celani was a former ATT employee and has been in the wireless industry for about 8 years. His job consists of scheduling staff, ordering products, conducting inventory checks, reporting to a regional manager, conducting weekly meetings, and attending training sessions. Jason loves technology and enjoys reading about new products in his spare time. (J. Celani, Personal Communication, 11/06/2006). Tracy Corcoran, 39, is a full-time employee that has been in the wireless industry for 6 years. Previously Corcoran was also an ATT employee. He is the senior sales representative at the Marley Station store and is not very interested in new technology. Tracy is hoping to get out of the wireless industry within the next few years. (T. Corcoran, Personal Communcation, 10/28/2006). Is a part-time college student that has been working at the Marley Station store since March 2006. She enjoys having the newest phone on the market and loves being able to get her email wherever she goes. She has no previous experience in the wireless industry. (L. Andes-Miller, Personal Communication, 10/27/2006). Chuck Payne is the newest full-time employee at the store. Payne is 20 years old and a former radio broadcaster for a gospel station in the Washington D.C. area. Payne has never worked in the wireless industry but also enjoys getting new phones when they come out. Payne began his employment in late July of 2006. (C. Payne, Personal Communication, 11/01/2006). Alejandro Quant is the only part-time employee observed and interviewed at the Marley Station store. Quant, 21, is a full-time student at the University of Maryland. Quant is valuable to the location because of previous job experience with T Mobile, another wireless provider and also because he is bilingual. He speaks both Spanish and English. (A. Quant, Personal Communication, 11/05/2006). The participants were all observed and interviewed and the way in which they interacted was noted. They were asked about likes and dislikes, daily operations, and if they saw a future within the company. This study was conducted at the Cingular Wireless at Marley Station by a parttime employee that has been with the company since June 2006. As an embedded observer internal access to the organizational culture of the Cingular store was gained. The research for this ethnography also benefited because as an employee the basic workings of the company was easily accessible, the other employees are not uncomfortable interacting with me, and access to internal documents and meetings was possible. The goals of this ethnography are to gain a better understanding of the basic assumptions of the organization. The representatives studied work long hours and they have a good grasp on the organizational culture of Cingular. To bracket avoid bias in this study observations and interviews were conducted off the clock. Time was spent observing the employees out on the sales floor and also via the security cameras located in the office. Also to avoid bias, interviews were conducted outside of the work environment at local restaurants. They were not conducted during or after scheduled shifts. Materials: A variety of materials and sources will be used to support this study. This will include orientation and training documents, internal employee handbooks, external documents, interviews with employees, and on site observations. Analysis of Data: To analyze the data collected in the study of Cingular Wireless at Marley Station Mall this portion will be organized according to eight of Schein‟s categories utilized for this study. They will be supported using internal and external documents, observations, and employee interviews. Artifacts: The Marley Station Cingular store had a plethora of easily observable artifacts. The most apparent was the colors and logo of Cingular all over the store. There was no furniture and a very linear floor pan. In general all of the staff members said that they disliked the floor plan because standing all day got tiring and it was hard to maneuver around the store when it got crowded because it was small and the counter‟s linear design made it impossible to get around each other. The colors of orange and blue were on most signs and popular slogans such as â€Å"raising the bar,† â€Å"roll over minutes,† and â€Å"All over network† were visible all over the store. The floor plan pushed what Cingular refers to as its advantages over other wireless carriers. Cingular shirts and name tags were the next most obvious artifact. All of the employees wear Cingular branded shirts and a name tag on the right hand side. Cingular has a contract with Lands End clothing company to customize what the company refers to as its â€Å"Team Colors.† (See Appendix A) Each employee is allowed $125 for their spring wardrobe and $175 for their fall and winter uniforms. Specific vocabulary and language is very obvious at the store. Celani often sends text-messages to all of his employees at the end of the business day and he refers to them collectively as â€Å"team.† When a representative has customers come in, they are referred to as an â€Å"opportunity,† and extras that can be added onto a calling plan are referred to as a â€Å"bolt-on† (J. Celani, Personal Communication, 11/01/2006). Cingular boasts that it has the largest product variety in the wireless industry. The store itself has a large amount of products on the wall which are referred to as „live.‟ This means that the phones are in working condition and the customers can try them out in the stores. â€Å"At de alers the phones on the walls are dummies, customers can‟t try them out† said Andes-Miller (L. Andes-Miller, Personal Communication, 10/27/2006). There is a large amount of documentation conducted at Cingular Wireless stores. Every morning a form titled â€Å"Non-Negotiable Standards† is filled out by employees. (See Appendix B) This is a check list of standards such as cleanliness, work attire, and merchandise that is to be completed before the store opens. â€Å"The non-negotiables are like getting a cup of coffee in the morning, we all are used to doing them,† said Corcoran (T.Corcoran, Personal Communication, (10/28/2006). Every time a representative makes a sale or adds on to a customers account they are also required to mark it on the â€Å"Daily Sales Record† sheet. (See Appendix C) Observed Behavioral Regularities: Cingular has what they refer to as a six step sales process. (See Appendix D) Each employee is introduced to this on their first day of new-hire training, which is a program that introduces new employees to the Cingular way of selling. According to this process each customer is to be greeted within 10 feet/10 seconds of entering the store. The representatives at the Marley Station store do this without thinking. Also included in this process is building value for the customer, offering solutions, asking for the sale, educating the customer, and thanking the customer. In addition to a set sales process each representative knows to sell what is referred to as â€Å"The Cingular Advantage.† (See Appendix D) All of the representatives are required to have skills on a computer system called Opus. This is the computer system which allows the representatives access, create, and change accounts. â€Å"Opus is much easier to use than past systems,† said veteran employee Corcoran, â€Å"It freezes but we all know how to deal with it. Each of us uses the same system and procedures every day to work on and verify accounts† (T. Corcoran, Personal Communication, 10/28/2006). Every employee realizes that they must attend a meeting every Friday morning before the store opens. At this meeting the floor plan is discussed, scheduling is worked out, and any other issues are brought up. The communication between the employees and the managers is very informal. Everyone has a chance to speak and the staff knows that once all business is completed they will go out to breakfast. It is very obvious that Cingular‟s first level of organizational culture, the artifacts, is prevalent through out the store. Employees have a common vocabulary specific to their work, they have uniforms, a system for selling and a store that advertises what the company is all about, being the best wireless provider. Espoused Values: The team at the Marley Station Cingular store is constantly striving to achieve goals which are advertised by the wireless company. While working with customers the sales representatives know that they need to promote the Cingular Advantages. The Cingular Advantages include the best technology, great value, best products and services, newest handsets, and the most convenient services. (See Appendix D) â€Å"Orientation and training pounds these ideas into our heads from the first day we have our jobs,† said Quant. â€Å"Cingular has high standards that we all must uphold† (A. Quant, Personal Communication, 11/05/2006). To ensure that the representatives uphold the values of the company Cingular sends out mystery shoppers to each store at least once a month to make sure that the representatives are selling in accordance to Cingular policy. The mystery shoppers have a checklist and grade the representatives. (See Appendix E) The company also makes what it values available to the general public. On its website Cingular lists its goals and core values, as well as their definitions and what the values mean to the company. (See Appendix F) Basic Assumptions: The basic assumptions and values of Cingular wireless are hard to observe as both an outsider and as an employee initially. After extensive observation, job experience, and interviews there are some basic assumptions that surface. The first is that the organization values employees that are „hungry.‟ If it is a slow day at the store employees print out flyers and distribute them to local business or make calls to customers asking how their service is going in hopes of adding onto their plans. These behaviors are highly praised by the manager of the store for being innovative and going above and beyond the job description. An example of this is employees distributing flyers outside of their scheduled hours for events such as â€Å"Friends and Family Day,† which gives customers extra discounts for coming in on designated dates. (See Appendix G) Unlike many full-time workers that have benefits the employees of the Marley Station store expect to work nights and weekends. If an employee begins to gripe about working these hours the other employees tend to remind them that that is just the way things are. Finally, all employees seem to understand that they are expendable by the company and do not question quotas, paperwork, or seemingly superfluous procedures that waste time and do not make sense. New employees tend to learn quickly the way are and solutions that have been turned into operational policies. All staff members know to let a customer know that not all phone numbers may be successfully transferred when they upgrade their phone but they will do their best. Very rarely are numbers unable to be transferred but employees know the steps necessary to cover themselves in case rare things actually happen. â€Å"I didn‟t understand half the stuff when I started working here, I thought that Friday morning meetings were stupid, and I did not want to be here at 9am on Saturdays. Now I just how things are, I didn‟t realize that those things were a part of Cingular‟s culture. I didn‟t even know Cingular had a culture, but I guess that makes sense,† said Payne (C. Payne, Personal Communication, 11/01/2006). Conclusion: This study tried to examine the organizational culture of Cingular Wireless in relation to Schein‟s model and his levels of artifacts, espoused values, and basic assumptions. The study would have been improved if there was an employee in the process of leaving the company that an exit interview could have been conducted on. This would have benefited the study because it would probably have uncovered some downfalls of the culture of Cingular. The next step and question in this study would have been to compare the employee experiences at the Marley Station Mall store to employees at a stand-alone store or at a kiosk to see if their experiences were any different. Finally, the implication of this study on later discussions of the corporation is that this study provides a solid base for a person trying to research this wireless provider in the Washington D.C./Baltimore market. References Cingular Wireless. (2006). About us- Cingular at a glance. Atlanta, GA: Retrieved on †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.November 8, 2006 from http://cingular.com/about/ Cingular Wireless. (Spring 2006). 2006 COR team colors program guide. Atlanta, GA. Cingular Wireless. (2005). Expectations: Selling the Cingular advantage. (Cingular †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦publication, CGL-PT-PG-050605). Atlanta, GA. Esteban, R., Hirt, J., McGuire, L.(2003). Editor’s choice: The worklife of student service †¦ professionals at rural community colleges [Electronic version]. Community College †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.Review. Retrieved November 8, 2006 from †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0hcz/is_1_31/ai_107200755. Johnson, D. (2000) The Corporate Culture Survival Guide. (Review). In Journal of †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Leadership Studies, 7, p111. Retrieved November 8, 2006, from Academic Onefile †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦via Thompson Gale: http://find.galegroup.com/itx/infomark.do?contentSet=IAC.Documentstype=retrievetablD=T002prodld=AONEdcld+a65538125source. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦=galeusergroupname=aacc. Miller, K. (2006). Organizational communication: Approaches and processes (4th ed.) †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.Belmont, Ca: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning. Schein, E. (1993). On Dialogue, culture, and organizational learn ing. (Special issue on †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦the Learning Organization). In Organizational Dynamics, 22, p40 (12). Retrieved †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.November 8, 2006, from via Thomson Gale: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.http://find.galegroup.com/itx/infomark.do?contentSet=IAC- Applying Schein‟s Model To Cingular Wireless-16 .Documentstype=retrievetablD=T002prodld=AONEdcld+a14606098source. =galeusergroupname=aacc Schein, E. (1990). Organizational Culture. American Psychologist, Vol. 45 (No.2), p. ,,,,,,,,,,111-113). Schein, E. (1992). Organizational culture and leadership (2nd ed.) San Francisco, Ca: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.Josey-Bass Publishers.

England: A Christian Country

England: A Christian Country Christianity as a religion is one that was first brought to the British Isles around 1st century AD, this was during the Roman Empire. Britain had its own set of religious icons; Pagan gods of the earth and Roman gods of the sky. It was into this setting that Christianity arrived, and It is thought to have started in England before moving to Ireland, Scotland, and then into other British Isles. This evangelization was carried out mostly by the Gregorian Missionaries; this eventually led to the beginning of the Church of England. The Church of England which is the foremost form of Christianity in England has it beginnings towards the end of the 6th century, during the time of the Anglo-Saxons. The Church of England highlights continuity through apostolic succession and traditionally looks to these early events for its origins rather than to changes brought about by the English reformation. Events such as Henry VIIIs schism with the Roman Catholic Church or the excommunication of Elizabeth I or the wider Reformation in mainland Europe are all events that contributed to the development of the Church of England as it is now established, but are regarded as a continuation of the arrival of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church to the British Isles.  [1]   Wikipedia articles on the origins of the Church of England. However, as the years progressed the notion was formed that the Church was founded by God and the ruling monarch was automatically the Head of the Church, appointed also by God. Christianity rose from a small religion to being the national religion, with the association of Church to Monarchy. This therefore meant that all proceedings within the Kingdom were governed by God. Christianity was a part of the people and the people were conditioned into the lifestyle of being Christians. Children were being baptized, taught in the faith as part of daily living as well as in school curriculum. Births, Marriages and Deaths/Funerals were conducted and registered by the Clergy. Therefore during this period, England was predominantly a Christian nation. It is worth mentioning that there was also paganism in England, however as Christianity grew paganism reduced. The discussion in this essay however, is not about the origins of Christianity nor is it about the origins of the Church of England. Some of the points discussed below are from personal findings, while other points are secondary research. With the herald of a more accommodating society, more religions are being rooted in the British society. This is also because of the increase in the ethnic groups in England, who have various religions, and with the world of political correctness; other religions are blooming and thriving as well. Unfortunately, the percentage of English people of Christian origins are dwindling, leaving generations after them to being less keen about religion altogether. Christianity is slowly diminishing because we are now in a more secular society. There are less faith schools, and the percentage of Church goers has reduced over the last couple of decades. According to personal findings, Church buildings are been sold or remodelled to other functionalities. In current times, even though England is officially a Christian country, there are less than 40% of the people who are Christians and even few much less of them are a part of the Church of England. The remaining population are either Atheists or of a different religion. Findings have proved that the Church today has lost about 1 in 10 members are from 1996 to present day, at this rate the church will find it hard to survive in the next 50 years. There is now a massive fall in registered Births, Marriages and Deaths in the Church. The church today is been grounded by challenges from a changing society, where the Christian institution is on a decline as well as challenges from a rise in cultural and religious diversification. BBC sources record that the United Kingdom, which England is a part of is ethnically diverse, partly as a legacy of empire. Lately, the country has been struggling with issues revolving around multiculturalism, immigration and national identity. This is against a background concerns about terrorism and political and religious radicalismà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ã‚  [2]   In conclusion, we can accept that England is still officially a Christian country due to the fact that the Anglican Church is rooted in England and that the monarchy is associated with the Church of England, however it will be hard for Christianity to hold its footing if the Church does not rise up and take a stand. 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Church_of_England 2 . http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/history/uk_1.shtml 3.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/5661035/Britain-is-no-longer-a-Christian-nation-claims-Church-of-England-Bishop.html

How is National Income derived? What is the GDP? What information does

How is National Income derived? What is the GDP? What information does it give us about a nation? What is per capita income? If you wanted to know about the economy of a country, which would you consider more important, and why? (25 points) National Income is derived through the overall income earned by a country’s people, including labor and capital investment. Gross domestic product is the sum of gross value added by all resident producers in the economy plus any product taxes and minus any subsidies not included in the value of the products. It measures output generated through production by labor and property which is physically located within the confines of a country. The following excerpts are definitions of National Income and GNPas listed on this website http://members.shaw.ca/h-chartrand/Macro%20+%202.0.htm â€Å"National income is the sum of all factor earnings from production of current goods and services. Factor earnings are incomes of factors of production: land (rent), labor (salaries & wages), and capital (interest and investment income)†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Gr... How is National Income derived? What is the GDP? What information does How is National Income derived? What is the GDP? What information does it give us about a nation? What is per capita income? If you wanted to know about the economy of a country, which would you consider more important, and why? (25 points) National Income is derived through the overall income earned by a country’s people, including labor and capital investment. Gross domestic product is the sum of gross value added by all resident producers in the economy plus any product taxes and minus any subsidies not included in the value of the products. It measures output generated through production by labor and property which is physically located within the confines of a country. The following excerpts are definitions of National Income and GNPas listed on this website http://members.shaw.ca/h-chartrand/Macro%20+%202.0.htm â€Å"National income is the sum of all factor earnings from production of current goods and services. Factor earnings are incomes of factors of production: land (rent), labor (salaries & wages), and capital (interest and investment income)†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Gr...

The Once And Future King - Mig Essay -- essays research papers

The Once and Future King The legend of King Arthur is a tale as timeless as any other found in literature today. Introduced to us by Sir Thomas Malory during the fifteenth century in Morte d' Arthur, it was the first complete tale of Arthur's life. Countless portrayals followed for any reader interested in the tale of the boy who was destined to become King. The Once and Future King by T.H. White is certainly the most popular representation of the immortal legend of King Arthur. It is similar to the tales woven before it but White gives new meanings and modernization to the traditional story through his unique perspectives and writing. White takes the reader on a journey in the past enriched by the knowledge of the future. Most importantly, White's notion that society cannot be governed by might alone is a prevalent theme throughout the work. He expresses the ideals of 'might vs. right'; as it relates to a world much like our world today. He clearly understands that 'might'; rules the actions of individuals, but 'right'; is the ideal that we seek to obtain. As we often find, the former prevails. The novel is divided into four sections that represent periods of time in Arthur's life. The novel begins with The Sword in the Stone, the tale of Arthur's childhood. At this time, he is not referred to as Arthur but Wart. His foster brother gave him this name and it was his childhood nemesis. Early in the book, Wart finds Merlyn who becomes his tutor. One of the earliest indicatio...

Coca Cola Economic Position Paper

Running Head: ECONOMIC POSITION Coca Cola Economic Position Paper ECO 365 Coca Cola is the world’s leading manufacturer and distributor in the beverage industry. The economic position of Coca-Cola is determined through careful analysis of the organizations history, market conditions, market trends, and finally the recommendations needed for the future of the organization in their economic position. Overview of the company will consist of the history, industry market, the role of government regulations, and issues or opportunities. History of Organization A pharmacist John Pemberton founded Coca Cola in 1886. Pemberton took the caramel colored concoction to Jacob’s pharmacy and added carbonated water. The initial take on this strange water was so good that Jacob’s pharmacy sold approximately nine glasses a day at 5 cents apiece. After Pemberton’s death in 1888, the colored water went on a century later to sell more than 10 billion gallons of syrup. During World War II, the company established manufacturing for overseas operations and by the end of the war had become an international company. Coca Cola has developed into the largest beverage organization since 1886, an unimaginable dream come true for the founder. Coca Cola operates â€Å"in more than 200 countries and market a portfolio of more than 3,000 beverage products including sparkling drinks and still beverages such as waters, juices and juice drinks, teas, coffees, sports drinks, and energy drinks† (The Coca Cola System, 2010). The core philosophy for the bottling of each product is on building local relationships with customers and communities and is the foundation for growth (History of Bottling, 2010). The mission of Coca Cola is â€Å"To refresh the world, to inspire moments of optimism and happiness, and to create value and make a difference† (Coca Cola, 2010) Market of the Coca Cola Corporation The Coca Cola Corporation operates in vast marketplace, that is to say the company operates on a global platform, expanding 200 plus countries. The Coca Cola Corporation focuses on the non-alcoholic beverage market in the â€Å"drink† industry. Incorporating over 400 brands and over 3,000 other beverage options, the Coca Cola Company is the largest beverage company in the industry. (Coca Cola Corporation, 2008) . The brand, Coca Cola, recognized as the world’s most valuable trademark is bringing in positive cash flows of over 8 billion dollars annually. (Coca Cola Corporation, 2009) . Role of Government Regulations Coca Cola bottlers are presently making non-refillable recyclable plastic bottles in the United States as well as markets around the world. Many bottlers offer refillable containers, which are also recyclable. Coca Cola states, â€Å"Legal requirements have been enacted in jurisdictions in the United States and overseas requiring that deposits or certain eco-taxes or fees be charged for the sale, marketing, and use of certain non-refillable beverage containers. † All of Coca Cola’s services in the United States and in other parts of the world are subject to a variety of environmental regulations and laws. In following the laws and regulations within the United States and around the world, Coca Cola has not nor anticipates any adverse affect on the company’s competitive position, capital, or net income. Issues or Opportunities The health issue challenge can disrupt the growth of the soft drink industry. However, opportunities exist for CCE to continue to stay ahead in the beverage industry. For example, penetrating multiple markets around the globe is a strategic move that will allow acquisition opportunities and enhance the market and financial gains of the company. In addition to acquisition efforts, tapping into the existing bottled-water market frenzy is another opportunity Coca Cola has to regain market growth. The beverage segment of bottled water is rapidly on an incline in the United States as more people are becoming aware of the need for a healthy lifestyle. By tapping into the bottled water segment, Coca Cola will strategically position itself for growth. Taste is the ultimate power behind selling a beverage; by offering flavored water to the consumer-markets, new and re-brand, loyalty is increasing. Re-brand loyalty is important because consumer segments that lost interest in soft drinks are looking to live better by a smarter selection of food and beverage. Market Structure _Current _Market Trends The Coca Cola Company (TCCC) operating in an oligopoly is a trend in the carbonated beverage industry not expected to change. This statement, made on the fact that the Coca Cola Company operates not only in the carbonated beverage market, but is a diversified corporation operating in the non-alcoholic drink market. The diversification of TCCC was necessary to continue its competitiveness with market trends in the industry. In recent years, the trends have shown the carbonated drink industry declining in lieu of the health conscious position. Simply stated, the company competes in a variety markets including teas, coffees, energy drinks, and many others facets of the industry. As a result, TCCC competes with only a few corporations in the drink market such as, Nestle and PepsiCo. (The Coca Cola Company, 2009) . TCCC, along with the competitors, operate in collusion with one another in an effort to maintain consistency and sustainability in the non-alcoholic drink market. An important point to note, oligopolistic organizations operate interdependently and are viewed as collusive (cooperating) or noncollusive (not cooperating). Oligopoly market structures have other defining characteristics that differentiate from the monopolistic competition market structure. Figure one provides some of the characteristics that define an oligopoly market structure. Figure one {draw:frame} Impact of New Companies Entering the Market _Current _Market Trends Currently, the carbonated beverage industry has three major corporations that have a strong presence in the market. The Coca Cola Company, PepsiCo, and Dr. Pepper Snapple Group maintain the majority structure of the market share in the industry. The statistics measured in 2008 have the Coca-Coca Company dominating at approximately 40% with PepsiCo and the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group placed at 20. 1% and 8. 5% respectively. The other players to the marketplace compose the remaining 31% (Datamonitor, 2009) . New companies have surfaced in the drink industry and have stirred the competition, at least enough for companies like TCCC and PepsiCo to be observant of their presence. Simply stated, TCCC monitors the newcomer and surveys the public reaction to the product. Figure two {draw:frame} New companies entering the carbonated beverage market would have significant entry costs (advertising and marketing) to compete with the majors previously identified. â€Å"The nature of the market demands an intensive marketing campaign in order to generate and maintain a successful brand image. With Coca Cola Company and PepsiCo so firmly established in this area, even aside from the costs, this acts as a daunting deterrent to potential entrants † (Datamonitor, 2009, p. 18) . Prices Current _Market Trends CCE's trailing-12-month return on capital (ROC) is 11%, compared to a stout 15. 9% for Coca Cola. (Pienciak, 2010) the company is already in a price war and needs to make a change to improve its competitive advantage in the market. For this reason, Coca Cola recently announced that it would obtain the world’s largest bottler of Coca Cola-owned beverages n ames. The merger should improve operations and assist in adjusting to customer preferences. Pienciak (2010) states, â€Å"Essentially, owning the North American bottling business boils down to flexibility—both in product innovation and pricing. Technology _Current _Market Trends Recent movements in technology for Coca Cola improvements and modifications have come from the market trend of cleaning up the atmosphere. Coca Cola is committed to putting as little pollution into the atmosphere as possible and has given a press release that states, â€Å"100 % of their new vending machines and coolers will be hydrofluorocarbon-free (HFC-free) by 2015. Coca Cola is committing to use its scale to aggregate demand and encourage supply as a means of accelerating the transition to HFC-free refrigeration equipment† (News Release, 2010). Productivity _Current _Market Trends Coca Cola offers one of the largest widely distributed products for beverages, in a market, which reaches across the globe. Coca Cola's products are so popular that three million people consume them annually. Its product line has 3,000 varieties (Coca Cola, 2010). Production systems include soda, water, juice, tea, and sport drinks. Productivity includes the system with fixed and variable inputs, including the manufacturing, the branding, the bottling operation, marketing activities, and, of course, one of the most important is the packaging. These market trends change with time as the changing needs, and desires of the consumers change The market trend productivity is on the rise for Coca Cola. In June of 2009, Coca Cola announced a new structure for productivity, the three new structures â€Å"Global Business Services, Global Information Technology, and Transformational Productivity† (Press Center, 2009). Because Coca Cola has created a new structure for productivity, they promoted five new executives, making room for more promotions and new hires. Cost Structure _Wages and Benefits_ _current market trends. _ Fixed and _Variable Costs current market trends. Fixed costs are those such as factories, which do not change regardless of the level of production. Variable costs include such things as cans, bottles, and hourly wages, these things directly relate to the level of production. Because of its vast economies of scale, Coca Cola has very low variable costs. Coca-Cola uses sugar, bottles, cans, and soft drink syr up as inputs. Because it is a very large buyer, it can use its influence to obtain these goods at reduced rates. Coca-Cola creates its own syrup, the recipe for which is a trade secret. TCCC sells Coca Cola Enterprises the syrup, which they use to create beverages, and then distribute. Therefore, in spite of Coca Cola’s relatively good salaries and benefits, its variable costs are a minor consideration. However, its fixed costs are considerable. Each factory costs millions of dollars to build and maintain, as well as the bottling equipment, recycling equipment and vehicles. Price Elasticity of Demand Current Market Trends â€Å"Price elasticity of demand is the percentage change in quantity demanded divided by the percentage change in price (Colander, 2008, p. 128) . Concerning the Coca Cola Company, price elasticity of demand is, at best, subjective to many areas of business. Geographic location, type of product/brand, and competition are facets considered subjective when speaking to price elasticity of demand. Market trends in price elasticity of demand relative to the â€Å"standard carbonated offering† (cola, sparkling) are concentric. Simply stat ed, the prices are inelastic to reasonable price changes; however, pressure from health groups may influence the future state of price elasticity of demand in the carbonated beverage industry. In recent estimations, â€Å"the price elasticity for all soft drinks is in the range of –. 8 to –1. 0. (Elasticity of –. 8 suggests that for every 10% increase in price, there would be a decrease in consumption of 8%, whereas elasticity of –1. 0 suggests that for every 10% increase in price, there would be a decrease in consumption of 10% )†(Brownell et al, 2009, p. 1602) . Competitors Current Market Trends Coca Cola is a very diverse organization with over 400 brands dividing into approximately 3,000 products. Competition includes companies such as PepsiCo. nd Aquafina; the variety of competitors stretches through the supply and demand chains to include organizations like Starbucks or any store that carries products other than Coca Cola brands Pepsi Co. is the leading competitor for Coca Cola because of the ties with the carbonated beverages for which both companies produce. PepsiCo and Coca Cola have fought a â€Å"Cola War† (Strauss, 2010 ) for decades with their marketing techniques and following the flow of market trends. Supply and Demand Analysis Current Market Trends In a new report from Beverage Digest, a remarkable downturn in the soft drink market is accelerating. Total US sales fell 2. 3% in 2007, which was worse than the 0. 6% drop in 2006, which was, in turn, worse than the 0. 2% decline in 2005. The carbonated soft drink industry has moved from roughly 3% growth in the 1990's to increasing rates of decline in the last three years. Then again, the US is doing its best to keep Coke afloat. Even with the recent declines, the U. S. still has the highest consumption of carbonated soft drink per capita in the world (Kedrosky, 2008). Coca Cola’s expansion into other markets has absorbed the decline in demand for carbonated soda, as the demand increases for their other products in the US. Globally Coca Cola’s demand is still increasing with expansion into newer territories. Impact of Government Regulations Current Market Trends Final Recommendations The analysis thus far of the economic position for Coca Cola is only lacking in recommendations for the future, price, production, and composition of inputs, global competition, and the possibilities of expansion. Government policy, social diversity, and business ethics will be necessary as part of the recommendations for the future status of Coca Cola’s economic position. Price As the world’s largest provider of non-alcoholic beverages CCE has positioned itself in the market as the standard for others to follow. Competitors are constantly knocking at the door and for this reason CCE needs to continue to be innovative with pricing strategies throughout the world market. The trend today is prices on non-alcoholic beverages are increasing, fuel, and electrical cost are higher causing companies to raise prices. CCE can maintain its position as the world leader by reducing costs and pass the savings on to customers. Production The North American and Western Europe markets have been difficult for CCE recently. Both markets have shown a decline due to consumers turning towards healthier non-carbonated beverages. Prices for raw materials that CCE needs to produce its products have become more expensive. To combat these obstacles CCE needs to provide innovative ideas and methods to reduce production cost. CCE could benefit from cutting down on employees and utilizing assets more efficiently. CCE might benefit from new products that are non-carbonated. New products would appeal to the healthier consumers. Composition of Inputs Many different inputs are needed to produce the 3,000 different varieties of Coca Cola products. Figure 3 below shows how some of these inputs work together to produce the final product. Figure 3 {draw:frame} Some of the other inputs are the quality of work performed by employees, and vendors who supply the bottling process. All of these inputs work together to create the most recognizable brand in the world. (Figure 3 provided by Fuzzy Logic Control) Global Competition Global competition is much like national competition and one of the biggest competitors is the neighborly PepsiCo. For Coca Cola, it is vital to watch the competition in its back yard. PepsiCo being from the same country is the biggest competitor. Import and export scenarios are much the same for both companies making production costs in competition, which in turn makes the price of each beverage competitive. The three primary issues TCCC can focus on to keep up with the competition globally are: (1) expansion in countries that are growing rapidly, (2) expansion on lower sugar beverages, and (3) expansion into noncarbonated beverages (Sivy, 2007). All three expansions will help maintain a competitive edge as well as diversify the company making Coca Cola stock more sustainable. The recommendation for Coca Cola is expansion. Analysis of Government Policy, Social Diversity, and Business Ethics on Expansion Government policies result in TCCC being proactive in meeting or exceeding rules and regulations, on a national and global plane. Expansion of operations demand TCCC follow local, state, federal and foreign government policies to ensure cohesion exists between the units to satisfy the objectives of each. The new market trends in the beverage industry indicate a shift to the health-conscious position, thus increasing the need for TCCC to expand into new markets. National and State government policies designed to rid the public school systems of high-calorie beverages create new challenges for carbonated beverage providers, thrusting TCCC to diversify its offerings to support a healthy lifestyle for children. Foreign governments have accused carbonated beverage makers of allowing harmful levels of pesticides in their carbonated offerings, thus increasing the need for higher standards of quality in to be placed into the product. Both challenges have a direct impact on expansion, but also provide for innovation in the carbonated beverage industry. Social diversity is an aspect of expansion directly affecting TCCC in a positive direction. Expansion of operations suggests global implications; meaning more opportunities for a diverse workforce. TCCC operating in a global arena demands the company use diverse workforces to improve its position in the marketplace. The company can both educate while also learning from individuals cultural backgrounds to propel TCCC to greater achievements in the beverage industry. Business ethics are an important feature of expansion. TCCC is committed to performing all business dealings with the highest morals and standards in the industry and is reflective of their Code of Business Conduct in daily operations. Business ethics encompasses a large and often complex set of guidelines to abide by. Expansion often suggests the mitigation of competition through mergers or corporate takeovers. TCCC has the responsibility, in such cases, to act with integrity to its adversary. Conclusion The market trends of the economy will cause changes for Coca Cola; however, the organization is very stable and will often lead the industry into new market trends. All variables will touch Coca Cola at some time but several that affect the organization on a regular basis are new companies, prices, new technology, variable costs, competitors, supply and demand, and globalization. Coca Cola has led the industry in innovation. Through expansion into new markets around the world, Coca Cola will continue to lead the industry. References Brownell, K. , Farley, T. , Willet, W. , Popkin, B. , Chaloupka, F. , Thompson, J. , & Ludwig, D. (2009, October 15). The Public Health and Economic Benefits of Taxing Sugar-Sweetened Beverages. The New England Journal of Medicine, 361(16), 1599 – 1605. Retrieved from http://content. nejm. org/cgi/content/full/NEJMhpr0905723 Coca Cola. (2009) Annual Report. Retrieved from http://www. theCocaColacompany. com Coca Cola buys stake in Honest Teas. (2008, February 06). Oligopoly Watch. Retrieved from http://www. oligopolywatch. com/2008/02/06. html Coca Cola Finance KO, 2010. Daily Finance. Retrieved March 31, 2010, from http://www. dailyfinance. com/company/the-Coca Cola-company/ko/nys/top-competitors Pienciak, Mike. (2010). Coca Cola Plays Copycat. Retrieved April 4, 2010 from http://www. fool. om/investing/dividends-income/2010/03/03/Coca Cola-plays-copycat. aspx The Coca Cola Company. (2009, July 16). Datamonitor, 1 – 26. Retrieved from www. datamonitor. com Strauss, S. , 2010. How to Research Your Competition. Retrieved March 23, 2010, from http://www. microsoft. com/smallbusiness/resources/expert/strauss120105. mspx Coca-Cola. (2009). The Coca-Cola Company. Re trieved March 28, 2010 from http://www. thecoca-colacompany. com/ourcompany/index. html Kedrosky, Paul. (2008 March 12). â€Å"U. S. Tries to Keep Coke Afloat†. Seeking Alpha Online. Retrieved April 6, 2008, from http://seekingalpha. om/article/68286-u-s-tries-to-keep-coke-afloat? source=yahoo Coca Cola Corporation. (2008). _The Coca Cola Company Fact Sheet (Fact Sheet). Retrieved from Coca Cola Corporation: http://www. theCoca Colacompany. com/ourcompany/pdf/CompanyFact_Sheet. pdf Coca Cola Corporation. (2009, February 9). _The Coca Cola Company Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results (Annual Report). Retrieved from Coca Cola Company: http://www. theCoca Colacompany. com/presscenter/nr20100209_corporate_fourth_qtr_earnings. html Coca Cola Enterprises. (nd) http://www. theCoca Colacompany. com/ citizenship/pdf/10k_12_19. df Datamonitor. (2009). Global Carbonated Soft Drinks. Retrieved from Datamonitor: www. datamonitor. com http://www. allbusiness. com/consumer-products/food-bev erage-products-nonalcoholics/7867864-1. html http://www. globalhealingcenter. com/soft-drinks-america. html http://www. scribd. com/doc/9995196/Swot-Analysis-of-Coca Cola Sivy, M. , 2007. In cola wars, Coke now has the edge. Retrieved April 11, 2010, from http://money. cnn. com/2007/04/12/magazines/moneymag/colawars. moneymag/index. htm? section=money_commentary_sivy Unk (2007). The most recognized brands.

Chapter Reviewing the Facts

Of course, It Isn't always pleasant to hear active comments about what we are doing. Sometimes our feelings get hurt, our ego Is wounded, or the feedback strikes us as, well, stupid. That said; let's consider a shift In our perspective. Feedback Is a form of coaching. When we work with a coach, he or she Is constantly giving us negative feedback-?and we appreciate It. A golf coach, for example, will correct the way you hold or swing the club and you're delighted to get the negative feedback. In fact, you pay for all these â€Å"complaints. † Dissatisfaction happens.What we choose to do about it can make all the difference in reading customer and employee loyalty. To do something about dissatisfaction, we need to know when it is happening-?we need to get the silently dissatisfied customer to speak up by creating open communication channels. (Customer Service: Career Success through customer Loyalty) Chapter 9-Reviewing the Facts 2. – What are the three important steps ne eded to recover the potentially lost customer? The first step consists of both apology and accountability. Say, â€Å"I'm sorry,† and take ownership of a mistake, even if it's because of supplier or other problems.Next, work with the customer to determine an appropriate remedy. This involves the customer in the resolution and sometimes uncovers less costly solutions. Resolution should not only address a customer's direct loss but also compensate â€Å"pain and suffering. † Some refer to such compensation as â€Å"atonement. † Manage expectations with resolution schedules. In one Citibank experiment, specifying time frames for next steps increased customer satisfaction by 40%. Finally, follow-up. Determine whether the customer has received the promised treatment, and, more important, how they feel about it.One study indicated that a follow-up call to a once-unhappy customer can boost satisfaction by 5%-7%, and intentions to repurchase by 8%-12%. The second level is building integrated customer recovery capabilities In the following four areas: Companies must do more to upgrade the skills, training and pay of customer service representatives, especially since they handle an estimated 65% of all complaints. Other employees must also understand the Importance of customer retention. Ford trains new hires In such recovery skills as Interpersonal communications.Others regularly rotate employees Into customer service to underscore the Impact of departmental processes on customers. How much authority do employees have to recover customers? Employees at Marriott International, for example, can spend up to $2,500 without authorization to compensate customers. What are the timetables for resolution? Brothels Airways research showed that of customers defected if it took the company longer than five days to respond want level AT complaints trigger corrective Acton? Can any employee handle recovery, or should you depend on special representatives trained for customer recovery?Customers should be easily able to complain via email, letter or even well-publicized hot lines. Systems should streamline complaint acceptance, and generate complaint-based reports. Insurance giant USA scans every complaint letter into its database. Causes for the complaint are analyzed, and processes examined to avoid similar complaints in the future. To institutionalize improvements, systems should be developed to hold other departments accountable for their actions. Complaint data should also be used to determine investment priorities and service improvements. (Small Business Resources – How to Recover Lost Customers)

Pride and Prejudice †review Essay

Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775 to the Reverend George Austen and his wife in Hampshire, England. The sixth child out of the seven, Jane was educated mostly at her home although she and her sister, Cassandra, were sent away to school for several years when they were young. Austen wrote several novels when she was in her teens, but her major works were written later on in her life. ‘Pride and Prejudice’, was first published in 1813. Austen began writing the novel in 1796 at the age of twenty-one. The first title was originally called ‘First Impressions’. Between 1810 and 1812 ‘Pride and Prejudice’ was rewritten for publication. ‘Pride and Prejudice’ is usually considered to be the most popular of Austen’s novels. This novel is mainly about people expressing both pride and prejudice in their relationships. The main theme of the novel is marriage, which reoccurs throughout the story and it is marriage which attracted Lydia to run off with Mr Wickham. There is pressure on women of these times to marry properly this is because the women need to get financial safety, not for just themselves, but also for their families too. In this novel the most important cause of marriage for a woman were financially and a high social position. The first line of the novel justifies this and explains what the novel is about. â€Å"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife† (Chapter 1) This is a wonderful introductory line written by Jane Austen to introduce and outline much of this romantic novel. There are various reactions of Lydia going to Brighton by the Bennet family as they all have their own response and thoughts. Mr. Bennet is the husband of Mrs. Bennet and the father of Elizabeth, Jane, Mary, Kitty and Lydia. He is the master of Longbourn. He has a sarcastic humor intelligent and believes his two eldest daughters sensible, while he finds his wife and younger daughters silly. He does wants to be bothered as little as possible by his family. Even when Elizabeth warns him not to allow Lydia to go to Brighton, he does not listen to her because he does not want to be bothered with Lydia’s complaints. Mrs. Bennet is a different person does not really care about her daughter’s education. From the beginning of the novel her only obsession is to marry off her daughters to wealthy men, as she has a greed for wealth. Her only joys come from visiting others and gossip. She is a self-centered person and causes humiliation to the family due to her inappropriate behavior. Elizabeth Bennet is the second oldest of five sisters. Elizabeth is lively, smart, and intelligent. Her father and herself are not too different in their characteristics therefore she has a good relationship with her father and makes decisions wisely due to her intelligence. She is not scared to express her feelings and gets along with people very well except those who think they are far more superior to her, for example Darcy in the beginning but later on through the novel Elizabeth discovers Darcy to be a fine gentleman. Jane Bennet is the eldest Bennet daughter and is considered quite pretty by all has a good relationship with Elizabeth. She is Beautiful, friendly, sweet, sociable, humble and noble. Jane never thinks badly of anybody. Kitty Bennet is the third daughter in the family, and she is more under the influence of Lydia, Kitty follows what ever Lydia does. She effect by Lydia going off to Brighton. Mary Bennet The third oldest of the Bennet sisters, she is the most modest of the five daughters .She dislikes going out into the public, and uses her time studying instead. Lydia Bennet The youngest of the Bennet sisters, she is a self-centered girl who is the flirting kind. However she is the liveliest out of all the sisters. She is the first to get married despite her being a young teenager. She also has similar characteristics to her mother. She doesn’t really care about her family members after her marriage. The various reactions of Lydia going to Brighton are mainly negative. This is due to Lydia’s ridiculous thinking. She’s an extremely self-absorbed teenager. She has a great interest in men and particularly officers. She begins flirting with them once they have settled in the town and also admires and enjoys their presence, and exposes this in freely, in view of the fact that she has no shame. Due to her selfishness Lydia commits foolish acts which affect her and her reputation and mostly has an effect on her family. She shows a negative impression of her family by eloping with Mr Wickham mainly because she also has another four sisters who are keen to get married and their chances of doing so have diminished. She does what she likes without thinking of the consequences to come. It is like she is in a world of her own and doesn’t realise the bad reputation her family is developing because of her immature behaviour. Lydia is invited be her friend to Brighton by Mrs. Forster. Mrs. Bennet is extremely excited and pleased for Lydia’s trip to Brighton and wished all the best for her. â€Å"Mrs Bennet was diffuse in her good wishes for the felicity of her daughter and impressive in her injunctions that she would not miss the opportunity of enjoying herself as much as possible† (Chapter 41) Mrs. Bennet was totally trusting Lydia to go Brighton and thought she was old and mature to take care of her self, awareness to what the entire family is going to face shortly and how it will effect her sister’s chances of marriage. Lydia begins celebrating she is thrilled, perhaps because of the reason that she will be with the presence of the regiment. â€Å"Lydia Flew about the house in restless ecstasy, calling for everyone’s congratulations, and laughing and talking†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Chapter 41) She showed this excitement by roaming the house in happiness. She was awareness about her sister Kitty’s feelings and how degraded she feels, lonely and neglected. Kitty doesn’t understand why Mrs. Forster doesn’t ask her to come to Brighton too. â€Å"I cannot see why Mrs. Forster should not ask me as well as Lydia† (Chapter 41) Kitty as mentioned before follows Lydia in what ever she does and feels as though that she should be going as well due to her close relationship with Lydia. She becomes extremely upset, expressive and is envious towards Lydia. â€Å"The separation between her and her family was rather noisy and pathetic. Kitty was the only one who shed tears but she did weep from vexation and envy.† (Chapter 41) Kitty was mostly envious towards Lydia because of her trip to Brighton she was jealous and she wanted to go as much as her sister wanted to go. . She is saddened by the fact that Mrs. Forster requests Lydia to go and not her and can’t do anything about it. â€Å"Though I am not her particular friend. I have just as much right to be asked as she has, and more too, for I am two years older.† (Chapter 41) Kitty cannot accept the fact that she will not be going and exposes her frustration. Kitty gradually becomes resentful of Lydia’s attention. Lydia is unaware of Kitty because of her self-centeredness. Lydia and Kitty are very similar to one another when talking about their characteristics due to this, if Kitty would have gone she would have copied Lydia’s interest of men, and may have also began flirting just like her sister, and soon enough eloping with an officer and getting married just like Lydia. So by Kitty not going she may perhaps have been saved by the hazard she may have faced if she were to go. However, Elizabeth as the second oldest, was entirely aware of the situation and Lydia’s potential and capability, and is worried of what may occur if Lydia does go to Brighton. Mr. Bennet is a person who doesn’t not want to be bothered by his families problems so as a result he does not think about the damage Lydia may cause if she goes. Mr. Bennet just wants quiet and peace; by letting Lydia go perhaps he has the impression that there will be less botheration from his family. As mentioned before, Elizabeth has the same distinctiveness as her father and realizes that Lydia is not mature enough to go to Brighton so she tries and convince her father to think twice. â€Å"If you were aware.† said Elizabeth, â€Å"of the very great disadvantage to us all, which must arise from the public notice of Lydia’s unguarded and imprudent manner; nay, which has already arisen from it, I am sure you would judge differently in the affair.† (Chapter 41) Elizabeth is worried about Lydia going to Brighton and is trying her best to change her fathers mind and trying to stop her father giving Lydia permission to go. She also thinks that Kitty may be affected by this and points this out. â€Å"In this danger Kitty is also comprehended. She will follow wherever Lydia leads. Vain, ignorant, idle, and absolutely uncontrolled! â€Å" (Chapter 41) Kitty follows Lydia in everything she does and Elizabeth realises this and is concerned, and mentions it. Elizabeth also expresses her frustration also by telling her father how the rest of the family can also be affected. Mr. Bennet is well aware of Lydia and her capabilities and her attitude towards men, especially officers, but simply doesn’t care and wants her to leave for the good of the town and possibly the family, as he mentions this to Elizabeth. â€Å"We shall have no peace at Longbourn if Lydia does not go to Brighton.† (Chapter 41) This quotation shows us that Mr. Bennet has no concern about his daughters and can’t be bothered. He fails to complete his duties as a proper father to the family. It may have been because of him not listening to Elizabeth that the bad reputation that Lydia soon gives to the family. This may have happened because of his immature behavior as a father. Despite the argument between Elizabeth and her father, Lydia is still sent to Brighton. After sometime the situation in Longbourn improves and Kitty overcomes her emotions. Later Elizabeth begins to have feelings for Darcy and is quite thrilled when she hears that she is going to meet him while on a trip with her aunty Mrs. Gardiner. Elizabeth arrives at Pemberley where Mr. Darcy was also. Her relationship with Darcy was improving on a regularly for the duration of her stay. She discovered what type of man Darcy actually is. She also gets to meet Georgiana Darcy the sister of Darcy. She is found very pleasant and charming to Elizabeth by surprise. While Elizabeth was on her trip she receives letters, one of them stating that Lydia had eloped with Mr. Wickham, she was shaken by the message and totally astonished that her sister had done such a thing. The emotions Elizabeth was going through made her burst in tears. â€Å"She burst into tears as she alluded to it and for a few minutes could not speak another word, (Chapter 46) Elizabeth is obviously in disbelief and in shock. She is worries about Lydia and the reputation and shame she have bought on the family, she must be also worried about her father feeling because it was his idea to allow Lydia to go in the first place. â€Å"Lydia-the humiliation, the misery, she was bringing on them all, soon swallowed up every private care. (Chapter 46) Jane expresses her devastation and requests that Elizabeth to return as soon as possible since there is disorder and astonishment from this shameless act by Lydia. The whole family regrets sending Lydia to Brighton. M r. Bennet is going through an immensely tense emotional situation. Mr Bennet on the other hand, handles the case with ease and isn’t extremely stressed compared to the rest of the family is. Kitty was told about the news and was not surprised at all, as if she was expecting it from her sister. â€Å"To Kitty, however, it does not seem so wholly unexpected.† (Chapter 47) Jane points out this in her letter. Kitty already has negative feelings about this matter and wasn’t really surprised. Elizabeth is totally overwhelmed by sad emotions mostly due to her absence and her concern for Lydia. Mr Darcy becomes aware of this situation and decides to think of a solution to the problem, as he is trying to build up a relationship with Lydia, this could be the chance to show he cares about her and her family and can feel the pain she is going through whilst thinking about the awful reputation that her family will have to face later on. The Bennets were completely disgraced by this and were mocked and looked bad upon by the community. However, there was still a way for the family to get rid of the reputation, which the family desperately hoped for that to happen was for Wickham to marry Lydia, as that was vital for a better future for the family, especially the sisters as they still have to get married. Mr Darcy shortly takes action and meets Wickham, and completes Wickham’s demands by paying off all his debts off which then soon encouraged Wickham to decide on marring Lydia. While everyone was miserable and disgusted by Lydia’s untrustworthiness and selfishness they were quite soon relieved, after hearing that Wickham was due to marry Lydia. Darcy’s attendance was very important in this and he also deserves an immense amount of praise for doing the right thing and sort out the problem in which Elizabeth was going through. . The matter is soon solved and Lydia is back together along with her family. She feel proud that she is the first out of the five daughters to get married and her parents are very proud too especially their mother as she was excited for her daughters marriages. Conclusion â€Å"Pride and Prejudice† is a book in which we can be taught that having pride and arrogance is not liked to have in your individuality as a person. It destroys your status inside a community an example of this from the book is Mr Darcy, who in due course shows his true qualities and changes from a disliked person to well-liked Lydia is a cheerful young lady after her wedding which Mr. Darcy showed by returning the Bennet’s family reputation the right way by speaking and encouraging his friend Mr. Wickham to marry Lydia as soon as possible On the other hand, her other sister Elizabeth finds herself a man who can become a great husband for her. Mr Darcy establishes this constantly because of his support to Elizabeth and his . Mr and Mrs Bennet, Jane, Kitty and Mary are all happy for Lydia after the family come together after her marriage ceremony. . The elopement of a woman with a man was very common at that time. As we can see from Mrs Bennet’s reaction it is a painful experience upon the mother as well as the entire family. The whole community changes their sight about the Bennet family due to a self-centred person mistake by Lydia. The story also gives us an image of how romance and relationships took place during that time enabling us to compare and contrast it with the present and we can see what sort of relationships went on between the men and women of the 19th century It all shows that how one person and by a mistake can destroy the family and effect everyone else in the family especially the parents.