Implementing Information Technology Driven Solutions for Supply Chain

Implementing Information Technology Driven Solutions for Supply Chain Introduction The market is increasingly becoming competitive as the world gets globalized. Business units are forced to come up with measures that can ensure that all their departments are running within expectations. Technology has redefined various fields of business operations. The logistics department is one of those that have been heavily influenced by the emerging technologies in the contemporary world.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Implementing Information Technology Driven Solutions for Supply Chain specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to Bidgoli (56), the emerging technologies have redefined supply chain with the emergent of various technological inventions. This scholar says that use of technology driven applications have become very common in the modern society. With the world reduced into a global village with this same technology, it is prudent that logistics managers apply technology in their n ormal operations in order to meet the expectations of the market. Bidgoli (78) says that some firms have suffered serious loses due to wrong application of technology in supply chain management. This scholar says that the emerging technologies are very important in the logistics operations. However, it is a challenge to understand the most appropriate technologies to use. Some of the technologies are not appropriate because they are disruptive in nature. They have the tendency of disrupting the normal operations of a firm. This means that a firm must be able to identify the appropriate technologies and come up with measures that would help in its normal operations. It is through this that a firm can manage its logistics in a manner that would yield the desired results. Implementing these technologies does not only need an understanding of the technologies themselves, but also the long run impact they may have on the firm. This research focuses on the most appropriate methods of impl ementing information technology driven solutions for supply chain management with focus on the case study on Rolls-Royce plc. Business Analysis and Justification of Electronic Business Operations Electronic business operation has increasingly become important in the current world. Many business units have come to appreciate the importance of managing their businesses electronically. As was stated above, the world has been reduced into a global village due to technological developments in the field of information technology and transport. Firms are currently striving to have global operations as a way of increasing their market share. However, this may not be achieved if the management ignores the importance of some of the technological developments. According to the case study given about Rolls-Royce plc, it is apparent that the management of this firm has come to appreciate the importance of using information technology in managing its logistics.Advertising Looking for repo rt on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This business case clearly demonstrates that the market has become increasingly competitive, and firms are forced to ensure that all their operations leading to delivering products to customers are done efficiently and in time. This has seen a lot of pressure put on the logistics in order to ensure that products reach customers in time, and in good condition. This is what the management of Rolls-Royce has been very keen on. Electronic business operations cannot be avoided in supply chain management. As shown in the case study, when a firm releases its products from the manufacturing plant to the market, there is always a need to track the products in real time. There is need to ensure that the products movement are known by the logistics manager in order to help other departments such as the marketing unit in planning for the delivery of the product to the customers. Tracking of the products electronically while on transit not only helps in enhancing their security, but also in assuring the management that the products will reach the destination market in time. Through this, the management will also be kept abreast with any occurrences that may cause delay in the delivery of the products. This way, the management will be able to come up with measures that would help arrest a possible crisis that may arise when the products delivery is delayed. One of the most important tasks in supply chain management is the management of the inventory while in the warehouse at the production plant, while on transit and in the market before it is delivered to the relevant authorities. According to Yahaya, Gunasekaran and Abthorpe (25), the market has become very competitive, and firms are keen on delivering value to their customers in order to maintain them. Value chain management has therefore, become an important strategy for many business units. Supply chain management plays an important role in value chain management. This is because it ensures that the inventories are managed properly and that when a product finally reaches the market, it is in good shape. This is what the management of Rolls-Royce has been keen on as demonstrated in the case study. This process can be made easier and more efficient if the concerned authorities can incorporate information technology in it. Installing various electronic gadgets can help in detecting the condition of the product, especially when the product is perishable. Most of the transport vessels have electronic gadgets installed in them to help in automatic regulation of temperature within the transport vessel. In case there is a cause of alarm, the gadget would communicate with the officers manning the facility for an action to be taken. This has created a scenario where products reach the market in better condition than when the manual methods were used. This not only increases the profitabilit y of the firm, but also helps in developing strong trust with the customers. This is because of the reliable communication and delivery of products in good quality to the customers.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Implementing Information Technology Driven Solutions for Supply Chain specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Identifying Proper Market Segments and Marketplaces Market segmentation refers to the process of selecting and then classifying the markets based on demographical factors, especially the social class, gender and age. Market segmentation has become important in the current world, especially with the increasing differentiation in the market. As firms struggle to capture more markets globally, they are faced with differences in tastes and preferences among different classes of people. According to Gunasekaran and Abthorpe (258), the current consumers always demand for products that are specific to their nee ds. Firms are therefore, forced to find a way of meeting the needs of different categories of consumers in the market. Market segmentation is an important step in achieving this satisfaction. When the market is segmented, a firm will know how to deliver products to specific market segments. In the given case study, Rolls-Royce has been keen on identifying different market segments and delivering quality to these segments. In supply chain management, segmentation helps the logistics management in identifying products that might need to be delivered to the market within the shortest period. Each market segment will therefore, be treated uniquely based on their characteristics. Potential Legal, Ethical, and Tax Issues In logistics, it is always important to maintain ethics and all the legal issues that entail business operations of that firm. According to Gunasekaran and Abthorpe (261), there are legal issues that a firm is expected to follow based on the country in which, it operates. This is especially so when the firm has a global market coverage. As seen in the case study of Rolls-Royce, it is important to maintain ethics in order to help a firm build a good reputation. One of the ethical issues is on tax remittance at the custom duty warehouses. Many firms have learnt the art of evading taxation when moving its products from one border to another. Not only is this practice unethical, but also illegal and can lead to a law suit if the relevant authorities were to realize. In logistics, it is important to understand all the legal terms and conditions as stated by the relevant authorities. Once these laws become clear, it is then important to maintain ethics by following these laws closely to ensure that the relationship between the firm and these authorities is cordial. This will help in building a strong reputation for the firm. Whenever there are tax issues that a firm should address while goods are on transit, it is ethical to address the issues as expected to ensure that the firm do not find itself in a legal tussle with any authority.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It is important to ensure that all the logistics officers responsible for the physical transportation of the products do not engage in such unethical practices as bribery because when the authorities realize this, the image of the firm can be tainted, besides the possible litigation that may follow. As Bidgoli (98) notes, building a good reputation may take years. In order to bring a firm to the level where its brand is strong in the market, it may take a long time and at great expenses. However, a small unethical behavior of the individuals trusted with running the firm can destroy the firm within a very short time. As Bidgoli (114) says, it is important that all the logistics officers carry out their tasks knowing that the future of the firm rests in their successful delivery of the duties assigned to them. Conclusion The case study given about Rolls-Royce demonstrates that firms in the current world must develop competitive strategies that can enable them manage the market compet ition. Rolls-Royce has come to appreciate the fact that success and failure can always befall a firm, depending on the approach that a firm takes in managing its logistics. Logistics is a very important aspect of a business unit through which a firm can realize success in the market if well managed. In logistics management, it is important to employ information technology as a way of improving efficiency. Technology has become a very important aspect of business units that it cannot be brushed aside by firms. An attempt to ignore these technologies may render a firm obsolete in the market. It is also important for these firms to segment the market in order to deliver maximum satisfaction to customers. Above all, a firm should ensure that it maintains ethics and maintains legal practices in its operations. Bidgoli, Hossein. The Handbook of Technology Management. Hoboken: John Wiley Sons, 2010. Print. Yahaya, Yusuf, Gunasekaran Ahmed and Abthorpe, Mark. ‘Enterprise information systems project implementation: A case study of ERP in Rolls-Royce.’ International Journal of Production Economics 87 (2004): 251–266. Print.

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Dates: June 9, 1836 - December 17, 1917 Occupation: Physician Known for: first woman to successfully complete the medical qualifying exams in Great Britain; first woman physician in Great Britain; advocate of womens suffrage and womens opportunities in higher education; first woman in England elected as mayor Also known as: Elizabeth Garrett Connections: Sister of Millicent Garrett Fawcett, British suffragist known for her constitutional approach as contrasted to the radicalism of the Pankhursts; also a friend of Emily Davies About Elizabeth Garrett Anderson: Elizabeth Garrett Anderson was one of ten children. Her father was both a comfortable businessman and a political radical. In 1859, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson heard a lecture by Elizabeth Blackwell on Medicine as a Profession for Ladies. After she overcame her fathers opposition and gaining his support, she entered medical training as a surgical nurse. She was the only woman in the class, and was banned from full participation in the operating room. When she came out first in the exams, her fellow students had her banned from lectures. Elizabeth Garrett Anderson then applied to, but was rejected by, many medical schools. She finally was admitted this time, for private study for an apothecary license. She had to fight a few more battles to be allowed to actually take the exam and get a license. The reaction of the Society of Apothecaries was to amend their regulations so no more women could be licensed. Now licensed, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson opened a dispensary in London for women and children in 1866. In 1872 it became the New Hospital for Women and Children, the only teaching hospital in Britain to offer courses for women. Elizabeth Garrett Anderson learned French so that she could apply for a medical degree from the faculty of the Sorbonne, Paris. She was granted that degree in 1870. She became the first woman in Britain to be appointed to a medical post in that same year. Also in 1870, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and her friend Emily Davies both stood for election to the London School Board, an office newly opened to women. Andersons was the highest vote among all the candidates. She married in 1871. James Skelton Anderson was a merchant, and they had two children. Elizabeth Garrett Anderson weighed in on a medical controversy in the 1870s. She opposed those who argued that higher education resulted in overwork and thus reduced womens reproductive capacity, and that menstruation made women to weak for higher education. Instead, Anderson argued that exercise was good for womens bodies and minds. In 1873, the British Medical Association admitted Anderson, where she was the only woman member for 19 years. In 1874, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson became a lecturer at the London School for Medicine for Women, which was founded by Sophia Jex-Blake. Anderson stayed on as dean of the school from 1883 to 1903. In about 1893, Anderson contributed to the founding of the Johns Hopkins Medical School, with several others including M. Carey Thomas. The women contributed the funds for the medical school on the condition that the school admit women. Elizabeth Garrett Anderson was also active in the womens suffrage movement. In 1866, Anderson and Davies presented petitions signed by more than 1,500 asking that women heads of household be given the vote. She was not as active as her sister, Millicent Garrett Fawcett, though Anderson became a member of the Central Committee of the National Society for Womens Suffrage in 1889. After her husbands death in 1907, she became more active. Elizabeth Garrett Anderson was elected mayor of Aldeburgh in 1908. She gave speeches for suffrage, before the increasing militant activity in the movement led to her withdrawal. Her daughter Louisa also a physician was more active and more militant, spending time in prison in 1912 for her suffrage activities. The New Hospital was renamed the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital in 1918 after her death in 1917. It is now part of the University of London.

Humanitarian interventions can only be strong states's strategies, Term Paper

Humanitarian interventions can only be strong states's strategies, discuss - Term Paper Example the front, with examples such as liberation of Iraq from dictatorial rule, which was successful after the US military managed to apprehend the then president Saddam Hussein (Chomsky 2007 p 30). It has also been in the forefront to restore democracy as well as suppressing armed militia for example in Somalia during the first battle of Mogadishu, invasion in Afghanistan among others. As it is today, the global economy depends highly on peace especially due to the various international trade organizations in place and hence, any country which may seem to jeopardize growth as a result of war and oppressive leadership should be made to account for its own short comings. These interventions however, should not be based on the greed to serve personal vendettas but for the common good of preserving humanity. This essay is a critical evaluation on humanitarian intervention, supporting the idea that they can only be successful if conducted by strong states, citing examples of successes and fai lures mostly from the US perspective. Humanitarian interventions as discussed herein, involves exercising liberty to disregard the sovereignty of a country with a genuine reason in order to protect the rights of the citizens as the understanding of international customary law dictates (Nye 2008 p 66). Many citizens continue to die as a result of power hungry politicians, who are willing and able to kill their fellow country men for them to remain in power. In defense, rebel movements especially in the third world countries continue to emerge resulting to more deaths and destruction of property. The Iraq government for example under the watch of president Saddam did not only pose a great threat to its neighbors such as Iran and Kuwait but also to its own citizens, who faced brutality from security forces, especially those who dared to criticize his rule. It is estimated that 300000 Iraqis died as a result of atrocities committed against them by Saddam’s regime. Most of these victims

Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Report - Essay Example All these were visiting artist from Kenya and most off the audience were Africans who had come to enjoy their music. The song that was played is known as Ogallo Nyakalaga. This is from the composition of Suzzana Owiyo who was also the main artist performing the song. It was the first time that the song was being performed and so many people who anxious to know how it would come out since she had talked a lot about it. This was an Afro-fusion song that combined the native Luo songs and instruments and tried to modernize it. Most of the attendees were also from the Luo tribe. The song was written in Native language and so it was hard for me to understand what she was saying but I could tell from the crowd what was going on. The song was also accompanied by the local afro-fusion dance which is a soft simple dance which involves the ladies dancing with the men but no contact is allowed. Afro-fusion music fuses traditional African music with modern music. It tries to make the African musi c modern through the use of modern instruments that were not used before and also through the use of modern dance and words. However most of the other styles of the song remain traditional with differences only coming at some points of the play. Another song that was played is known as Ndoa. The song was from Anayo a local Kenyan musician. The song was a mixed gospel with the lingala genre of music. The composition was from Anayo and the song involves vigorous dances with the dancers jumping up and down sweating. It has a song that was supposed to make the crowd in the party mood and make them feel that they were partying. One characteristic feature of this song is that it is fast and the beats are heard more than the words which were in Swahili. The other song that was played is known as Kisumu City. This song was played to praise the city of Kisumu. The song also had fast beats which were accompanied with the beats from the drum which was supposed to make the audience dance to the m. The dancing was also kind of rough with some men going to the extent of lifting up the ladies up. The guitar was used as an accompaniment in the concert. The guitarist used the technique of going high when the beats were low and sometimes going so low when the beats were high. This created a presence of the guitar in the crowd and made someone notice its presence. The guitar was also used to start the song and every song began with the guitar being played for almost 5 minutes before the other beats were introduced. The high point from my opinion in the performance was when the drums were used to add to the beats of the keyboard. This is when the beats were so high and the crowd also showed by the way that they danced. This was accompanied by low guitar plays and high verbal plays. The performance was good with the mixing of all necessary elements of music that made the night enjoyable. Most of the people who attended the concert looked certified and only few people left the place before the end of the time showing that they liked the performance. The audience also had lots of reaction to the performance by shouting whenever a performance was at its peak and also dancing to the beats of the song with the other dancers and performance. The audience sometimes sang the songs to go with how the performers were singing so that it looked like they already knew the songs. The order of the song was well planned. It started with slow smooth songs with very soft dances but as time went on, the pace of the beats

Cessna Headquarters, Wichita, Kansas Essay Example for Free

Cessna Headquarters, Wichita, Kansas Essay The words â€Å"Cessna Skyhawk† have special meaning for anyone who has ever wanted to learn to fly. At 27 feet long and 8 feet tall, with a 36-foot wingspan, a 140 mph cruising speed, and room for two adults and their luggage, more people have learned to fly with a Cessna Skyhawk than with any other plane in aviation history. In fact, the Cessna Skyhawk is the best-selling plane of all time. Clyde Cessna built his first plane in 1911, and Cessna became a storied name in aviation. Cessna built 750 gliders for the army in World War II, introduced the Skyhawk in 1956, produced the first turbo-charged and cabin-pressurized single-engine planes in the 1960s, delivered its first business jet in the 1970s, topped $1 billion in sales in the 1980s, and then, in one of the worst downturns in the history of aviation business, nearly went out of business over the next decade and a half. Sales of general aviation aircraft, which had topped out at 17,000 planes per year, dropped to 12,000 planes within a year, and over the next decade finally hit rock bottom at 928 planes for the entire industry. During the same time, Cessnas sales of piston-engine planes, like the Skyhawk, dropped from 8,000 per year to just 600. Cessna was forced to lay off 75 percent of the employees at its piston-engine plane factories (Cessna also makes business jets and larger planes) and eventually stopped making piston-engine planes altogether. However, after the economy improved and the U.S. government approved the General Aviation Revitalization Act (barring product liability lawsuits on any plane over 18 years old), Cessna decided to start building its legendary Skyhawks again.

Cessna Headquarters, Wichita, Kansas Essay Example for Free

Cessna Headquarters, Wichita, Kansas Essay The words â€Å"Cessna Skyhawk† have special meaning for anyone who has ever wanted to learn to fly. At 27 feet long and 8 feet tall, with a 36-foot wingspan, a 140 mph cruising speed, and room for two adults and their luggage, more people have learned to fly with a Cessna Skyhawk than with any other plane in aviation history. In fact, the Cessna Skyhawk is the best-selling plane of all time. Clyde Cessna built his first plane in 1911, and Cessna became a storied name in aviation. Cessna built 750 gliders for the army in World War II, introduced the Skyhawk in 1956, produced the first turbo-charged and cabin-pressurized single-engine planes in the 1960s, delivered its first business jet in the 1970s, topped $1 billion in sales in the 1980s, and then, in one of the worst downturns in the history of aviation business, nearly went out of business over the next decade and a half. Sales of general aviation aircraft, which had topped out at 17,000 planes per year, dropped to 12,000 planes within a year, and over the next decade finally hit rock bottom at 928 planes for the entire industry. During the same time, Cessnas sales of piston-engine planes, like the Skyhawk, dropped from 8,000 per year to just 600. Cessna was forced to lay off 75 percent of the employees at its piston-engine plane factories (Cessna also makes business jets and larger planes) and eventually stopped making piston-engine planes altogether. However, after the economy improved and the U.S. government approved the General Aviation Revitalization Act (barring product liability lawsuits on any plane over 18 years old), Cessna decided to start building its legendary Skyhawks again.

My Vacation to China Essays -- Summer Vacation Essays

While vacationing in China last summer I had the opportunity to visit "The Great Wall". Combined with its technological feat and awesome presence the "Great Wall" could easy be one of mans' most remarkable accomplishments. With its design and texture that stretch for miles it can be an overwhelming experience. Construction of the Great Wall started in the seventh century B.C, it joined the walls to hold off the invaders from the Xiongnu tribes in the north and extended them to more than 5,000 kilometers. Even many miles away from the Great Wall, one could already see the outline of the wall stretching out forever. Standing near the Great Wall I notice the cold stale air. It was hard to breathe and I had to constantly cough to keep my throat clear. Visiting this huge wall of block in the morning can be an unforgettable experience. The ground was muddy because it rained non-stop the previous day. Climbing up the stairways that leads up the "Great Wall", I could hear all different languages spoken by the people who were in attendance. On top looking down sideways the wall seems t...

Frankenstein and Prometheus Essay

Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein can be compared to the myth Prometheus by J.M Hunt in several ways. Frankenstein and Prometheus both created life in their own way and faced consequences that they had not expected to encounter although they differed in that Frankenstein abandoned his creation and abhorred him whereas Prometheus wanted to help and care for his creation. Both Frankenstein and Prometheus developed creations easily but did not realize the consequences behind it. In the novel Frankenstein Victor always wanted to understand the cause of life and death and he set his mind into finding the answer. â€Å"I collected the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet (Shelley 58). Victor was excited to understand that what he has created was the answer to his problems. Prometheus also felt the same way when he was creating his creation. Prometheus had the task to create man. â€Å"Prometheus had the tas k to create man. â€Å"Prometheus shaped man out of mud, and Athena breathed life into his clay figure (Legend of Prometheus). Prometheus’ task in creating life was easy, as for Frankenstein it was much harder as he spent months creating it. With the goal of creating life they both faced consequences because of their actions. Frankenstein and Prometheus ended up with severe consequences when they had created life. When Victor left Geneva for Ingolstadt an incident had occurred. Once day he received a letter from his father. â€Å"William is dead! That sweet child, whose smiled delighted and warmed my heart, who was so gentle, yet so gay! Victor, he is murdered! (Shelley 73). When Victor had read the letter he was shocked. Upon returning to Geneva he realized the monster had murdered his brother. Prometheus also faced consequences when he created man. When Zeus discovered that Prometheus lied to him he took fire away from man. Prometheus then lit a torch from the su and brought ti back again to man. Zeus was enraged and punished Prometheus. â€Å"Take [Prometheus] to the Caucasus Mountains and chain him to a rock with unbreakable adamant chains. Here he was tormented day and night by a giant eagle learing at his liver (Legend of Prometheus). The pain wouldn’t end for Prometheus because his liver would grow back again. Frankenstein and Prometheus faced consequences that ended in Frankenstein losing his loved one Prometheus being physically tortured day and night. Despite their punishment, Frankenstein exhibited actions that led him to become a bad creator, and Prometheus showing qualities of being a good creator. Frankenstein fathered his monster with his own hands. He labored for years in order to successfully breathe life into his creature. Then later once it was alive he abhorred him. When the monster was alive Frankenstein said â€Å"Oh! no mortal could support the horror of that countenance†¦ [Frankenstein] passed the night wretchedly†¦ Mingled with this horror [Frankenstein] felt the bitterness o f disappointment† (Shelley 59). This shows that all he wants to do with he creation is run away from it and to never see it again. Although Prometheus showed different qualities towards his monster. Prometheus fought to protect the human being he had given life to. â€Å"Prometheus lit a torch from the sun and brought I back again to man† (Legend of Prometheus). All he had tried to do was help his creation. Frankenstein and Prometheus differed because Frankenstein tried to hurt and abandon his creation but Prometheus did the opposite to his creation. Frankensten can be compared to the myth of Promethheus in many ways. When both are read the reader can infer many clear similarities between the two. Both Prometheus and Frankenstein faced consequences but treated their creations in different ways.

Surrogate Marketing (Advertising)

The makers of these brands were banned to advertise and they resorted to surrogate advertising. It is a sort of advertising where a cover product is promoted in order to promote the actual product that is banned. Surrogate marketing refers to intentionally utilizing a company, person or object to help convey the message of another party. The term has both positive and negative connotations. On the positive side, surrogate marketing is somewhat akin to grassroots or viral marketing in which a marketing organization may actively recruit others to help spread the message or can also be likened to hiring a manufacturer’s representative to sell your product. However, it is the negative side that seems to have drawn the most attention. A surrogate advertising campaign can be used to indirectly promote products or services deemed by some groups as being unhealthy, unethical, and immoral or, possibly, illegal through activities that are viewed as acceptable forms of promotion. For instance, in some parts of the world where regulation exists that may ban promoting alcohol and tobacco, firms promote these brands by tying the brand names to more acceptable products. For instance, the same brand name used for selling cigarettes may also be the same brand name on a juice product. In this way the customer is not only aware of the acceptably advertised brand but also understands the connection to the regulated product. Surrogate advertisements took off not long ago in the UK, where British housewives protested strongly against liquor advertisements â€Å"luring† away their husbands. The liquor industry found a way around the ban: Surrogate advertisements for cocktail mixers, fruit juices and soda water using the brand names of the popular liquors. In India, ministry of health has banned the advertising of liquor and tobacco. But many liquor brands (like McDowell's whisky) initiated other products like sodas in the same name which are then advertised. Another instance of surrogate advertising is ‘Four Square Bravery Awards' in the name of Four Square cigarettes. Surrogate marketing is used in two contexts: the first is when a company â€Å"farms out† the entire marketing function and the group providing the service is called a â€Å"surrogate marketing department. † I don't believe this is the context for which you are looking. The second is what is happening in India with respect to the ban on tobacco and alcohol advertising. Companies in banned industries are introducing brand extensions with products that are legal to advertise with the same brand name as the banned product. One liquor company introduced apple juice with the same brand name as the liquor. The idea is the companies can advertise freely the extension – thus keeping their banned-from-the-media products in the minds of the customers. So the apple juice, for instance, is the surrogate for the liquor in the ads. The companies also don't care much about the sales of the surrogate products -for instance, it seems that the apple juice isn't even readily available to buy throughout the company. This loophole that the tobacco and liquor companies are exploiting is upsetting the legislature because every apple juice ad that reminds the consumers of the liquor is a slap in the lawmakers' faces. But, they also don't quite know what to do about it! In general, surrogate marketing is when you promote one product or service in the hopes of selling another. Why you would want to do that varies. The best reason is that you aren't able to legally. But other reasons might be because the two products sell better together – for instance, you may make a product and it requires service – which you don't provide. You can market a service provider – the surrogate – who will only use your product.

Why Setting Your Story Matters

Why Setting Your Story Matters Why Setting Your Story Matters Imogen Clark lives in Yorkshire, England with her husband and children.  She also writes books for young teenage girls under the pen name Lucinda Fox. In this article, Imogen talks about how establishing a real sense of setting in her novel improved her story, and even benefitted her marketing strategy.Picture the scene: You've read a great book that you want to share with your friend but your memory is letting you down on the details.â€Å"What's the title?† they ask. Blank. â€Å"Who wrote it?† Nothing. â€Å"Well, where's it set?†And, of course, you remember this because the setting of a book stays with you long after the metadata has faded. This is because it's the setting that takes a reader deep into the world of a novel, creating those vital visual images that allow them to travel with the protagonist. Whether a story is set in the heart of the Amazon jungle, a post-apocalyptic landscape, or on one street in London, the way that setting is described can make all the difference to a reader's experience. "It's the setting that takes a reader deep into the world of a novel." @imogenclark IlkleyBut this is not the side of the town that I wanted to portray in my book. In the novel, my protagonist, Cara, is trapped in Ilkley, forced to care for her terminally ill father whilst her elder brother escapes to London. The twee parts of the town - the areas that attract the tourists - mean nothing to her. Instead, she (and therefore the reader), focus on the darkly ominous moor that rises up like a shadow behind her house. The Ilkley of the book is a dank place where the sky remains resolutely grey.Of course, back in the real world, the sun does occasionally shine in Yorkshire, and I had pangs of guilt at drawing such a bleak picture of my hometown. But I had to remember that I had to see it through Cara's eyes, and not my own. "Authors need to depict a place through their character's eyes, not their own."  @imogenclark I can safely say that as a result of my developmental editor's advice to better establish a better sense of place, my book has immeasurably improved. It sits solidly in its setting and truly belongs there. Giving my book a home has also helped me with the writing and hopefully gives my readers a more satisfactory experience too. If they were to describe my book to their friends they might say, â€Å"Oh, you know. The one that’s set in Ilkley.†Please  share your thoughts, experiences, or any questions for Imogen Clark, in the comments below!Postcards From a Stranger is available in paperback  and on Amazon Kindle.

The Demographic Transition Definition in Sociology

The Demographic Transition Definition in Sociology Demographic transition is a model used to represent the movement of high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as a country develops from a pre-industrial to an industrialized economic system. It works on the premise that birth and death rates are connected to and correlate with stages of industrial development. The demographic transition model is sometimes referred to as DTM and is based on historical data and trends.   The Four Stages of Transition   Demographic transition involves four stages:   Stage 1: Death rates and birth rates are high and are roughly in balance, a common condition of a pre-industrial society. Population growth is very slow, influenced in part by the availability of food. The U.S. was said to be in Stage 1 in the 19th century.   Stage 2: This is the developing country phase. Death rates drop rapidly due to improvements in food supply and sanitation, which increases life spans and reduces disease. Without a corresponding fall in birth rates, countries in this stage experience a large increase in population. Stage 3: Birth rates fall due to access to contraception, increases in wages, urbanization, an increase in the status and education of women, and other social changes. Population growth begins to level off. Mexico is believed to be in this stage in the early decades of the millennium. Northern Europe entered this stage in the later part of the 19th century.   Stage 4:  Birth rates and death rates are both low in this stage. People born during S tage 2 are now beginning to age and require the support of a dwindling working population. Birth rates may drop below replacement level, considered to be two children per family. This leads to a shrinking population. Death rates may remain consistently low, or they may increase slightly due to increases in lifestyle diseases linked to low exercise levels and high obesity. Sweden has reached this stage in the 21st century.   The Fifth Stage of Transition   Some theorists include a fifth stage in which fertility rates begin to transition again to either above or below that which is necessary to replace the percentage of the population that is lost to death. Some say fertility levels decrease during this stage while others hypothesize that they increase. Rates are expected to increase populations in Mexico, India and the U.S. in the 21st century, and to decrease populations in Australia and China.   Birth and death rates largely plateaued in most developed nations in the late 1900s.   The Timetable There is no prescribed time within which these stages should or must take place to fit the model. Some countries, like Brazil and China, have moved through them quickly due to rapid economic changes within their borders. Other countries may languish in Stage 2 for a much longer period due to development challenges and diseases like AIDS.   Additionally, other factors not considered in the DTM can affect population. Migration and immigration are not included in this model and can affect population.

A critique of tourism policy and planning in France Essay

A critique of tourism policy and planning in France - Essay Example Tourism, however, might be an activity that benefits only a selected few. The political class enjoy the full extent of the tourism sector. This is a disadvantage many citizens in these regions face, but cannot do much to help their situation. This paper will examine the tourism policy and planning in France, and how this might affect individuals in that region. The introduction of international relations promotes tourism in many parts of the world. Globalization enables culturally, socially, and politically diverse individuals to interact daily. It is through this interaction that folks are able to comprehend the diverse nature of the places they visit. While doing so, they are trading some of their foreign currency with that of the country they are visiting. This often enables the country to earn some foreign currency. Tourism policies and planning in France enables everyone to enjoy the culture and traditions of the country without restrictions (Gunn & Var 2002). There have been complaints about the coming of diverse cultures into France through tourism, but they only fall on deaf ears. Tourism policy is a vital factor in trying to comprehend the nature of a country. If the economic and environmental effects of tourism were only felt in some countries, then tourism policy would not be as crucial as it is in modern day (Lickorish & Jenkins 2012). The involvement of government in the running of the tourism sector is an indicator that there is a lot gained from tourism. It is through government that many of these policies are arrived at, to ensure that the region benefits entirely. The actions of a government, whether direct or indirect, can influence tourism in a region. It is, therefore, common to see governments making tourism a priority because of the economic stability it brings. Tourism policy involves making decisions that affect the tourism sector in a region. Some of