My Favorite Stephen Sondheim Musicals

Born March 22nd, 1930, Stephen Sondheim seemed destined to become one of America’s most beloved figures in American theater. When he was only ten years old, he moved with his mother to the Pennsylvanian countryside. There, he became neighbors and friends with the family of Oscar Hammerstein II. In his teens, Sondheim began writing musicals. When he showed Hammerstein his work, the famed lyricist explained that it was awful – but he also told him why it was awful. An amazing mentorship began. Hammerstein provided him one-on-one instruction and advice and gave Sondheim difficult yet creative challenges which honed the young artist’s songwriting skills. In 1956, Sondheim was chosen to write the lyrics for Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story. Soon after, he created the lyrics for the amazingly successful Gypsy. By the early 1960s, Stephen Sondheim was ready for his compositions to premiere on Broadway. Today, he is beloved among sophisticated audiences and performers alike. Here is a list of my favorite musicals by Stephen Sondheim: #1) Into the Woods I had the pleasure of watching the original Broadway production when I was 16 years old. At the time, I absolutely loved the first act, which plays like a wonderfully crafted and complex fairy tale comedy, ideal for the entire family. During the second half, however, I was quite disturbed by all the chaos and death. The story became too much like real life. And, of course, that’s the point of the show, a transition from fantasy to reality, or from adolescence to adulthood. Gradually, after listening to the soundtrack, and growing a bit older myself, I have come to love and appreciate both acts of this fun and fascinating musical. #2) Sweeney Todd It’s difficult to find a more violent musical than Sweeney Todd. And it’s difficult to find a more haunting melody than Sondheim’s â€Å"Johanna Reprise,† a hypnotic song that mixes beauty, longing, and murder. This is the story of a demented barber who seeks revenge, but goes way too far, driven mad in his lust for bloodshed. (It’s one thing to reap vengeance; it’s another thing to stuff people into meat pies.) Despite the carnage and cannibalism, there is a dark, infectious humor throughout Sweeney Todd, elevating this dreary story to genius. #3) A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum If you’re looking for a show that has a simple, laugh-out-loud happy ending, then Stephen Sondheim’s first success as composer/lyricist is the musical for you. During the show’s test run in Washington, D.C., Forum received negative reviews and apathetic reactions from the audience. Fortunately, director and self-proclaimed â€Å"play doctor† George Abbott suggested that they scrap the opening song, â€Å"Love Is in the Air.† Sondheim agreed and created the bouncy, hilarious number, â€Å"Comedy Tonight.† The new opening number energized Broadway audiences, eliciting laughter (and long lines at the box office). #4) Sunday in the Park with George Filled with beautiful songs and exquisite sets, Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George was inspired by the artwork of Georges Seurat, in particular his painting â€Å"A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.† I love stories that examine the lives of artistic geniuses – even if their history is fictionalized a great deal, as is the case with Sunday in the Park with George. The first act focuses on Seurat’s passions: his art and his mistress. The second act transitions to the 1980s, showing the struggles of a modern artist, George (the fictional grandson of Seaurat). Whenever I’m working on a creative project that takes a lot of concentration, I inevitably start to sing â€Å"Putting It Together,† one of my favorite Sondheim tunes, and an insightful commentary on the artistic process. #5) Company For me, this is the most â€Å"Sondheimish† of Stephen Sondheim’s musicals. The lyrics are funny, complicated, and emotional. Each song is like a cathartic experience for the characters. The basic premise: It’s Robert’s 35th birthday. He is still unmarried, and tonight all of his married friends will be throwing him a party. In the process, Robert analyzes his life and the relationships of his friends. It ran for 705 performances on Broadway, and earned six Tony Awards. So, why do I have it as my 5th favorite Sondheim musical? Perhaps it’s simply a personal thing. When I was a kid, listening to show-tunes such West Side Story and Sound of Music, I was vaguely familiar with Company. I liked the songs, but I could not connect with the characters. I assumed that when I became an adult that things would change, that I would eventually like to drink coffee, discuss real estate, and behave like the characters in Company. None of those things happened. Despite my own short comings, I still enjoy the songs and the non-linear storytelling style of Company. What’s Missing? Of course, there are many other great Sondheim works that didn’t make my personal list. Musicals such as Follies and Assassins never struck a chord with me. Tony Award winning Passion almost made my list, but because I’ve watched the video and not a live production, perhaps I wasn’t as entranced by the show as others have been. And what about Merrily We Roll Along? Although it flopped on Broadway, some would argue that it features Sondheim’s most heartfelt songs.

The Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini - 1430 Words

Vanity is a feeling; according to Merriam-Webster, it’s that feeling of being proud. Yet, vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. Vanity relates more to what we would have others think of ourselves, where pride relates to how we feel about ourselves. It’s possible for a person to feel pride without being in vain, and only then will they have truly gained full control over their identity. In the Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini tells the story of a young Afghan boy, Amir, whose childhood interactions with his father and Pashtun culture shapes his moral compass. Vanity especially influences his desires to achieve through the fulfillment of his father s expectations as well as Pashtunwali, the set of†¦show more content†¦He has nang and namoos.’... [or] Honor and pride†(Hosseini 121). When Baba says â€Å"nang and namoos,† he refers directly to the code of conduct in Pashtunwali. In order for â€Å"the man† to have a sense of satisfaction from namoos, or pride, they must have tora and nang: courage and honor. The expectations of â€Å"Amir† pile up as Baba begins wanting his heir to become more and more like he himself was. However, throughout Amir’s life, he has always known that Baba believed â€Å"there is something missing in [him]† (Hosseini 17). Amir has always known he has never been able to match the expectations of his father and has never been able to feel the sense of â€Å"namoos†, or Pashtun pride, that he has always dreamt of. This creates a life path filled with feelings of worthlessness and shame. The largest strike towards his namoos happens in his childhood; with Amir stating in the beginning of the book, â€Å" I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975†(Hosseini 1). That very day, Amir scars the honor and pride of his best friend Hassan by letting him be raped, for â €Å"Hassan was the price [he] had to pay, the lamb [he] had to slay, to win Baba†(Hosseini 65). As Amir ran away from this incident, â€Å"[he] actually aspired to cowardice.† By stating that â€Å"I became what I am today at the age of twelve,† Amir is is emphasizing the fact that he never let go of what happened in his past; letting his childhood shape a path thatShow MoreRelatedThe Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini883 Words   |  4 Pagesregret from past encounters and usually feel guilty and bitter about the situation. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, revolves around the theme of redemption. Redemption can be used as a cure for guilt. Throughout the novel, the author shows that redemption requires some sort of sacrifice and the only way that is possible is if you can forgive yourself from the mistakes you have made in the past. Khaled Hosseini effectively portrays redemption through motifs such as rape, irony and flashbacks, symbolismRead MoreThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini1651 Words   |  7 Pages  Ã‚  Ã‚   The novel â€Å"The Kite Runner† by Khaled Hosseini describes the life of a boy, Amir. Amir’s best friend and brother (although that part isn’t known until towards the end), Hassan, plays a major role in Amir’s life and how he grows up. Hosseini portrays many sacrifices that are made by Hassan and Amir. Additionally, Amir seeks redemption throughout much of the novel. By using first person point of view, readers are able to connect with Amir and understand his pain and yearning for a way to be redeemedRead MoreThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini1655 Words   |  7 PagesSarah Singer Major Works Data Form Title: The Kite Runner Author: Khaled Hosseini Date of Publication: 2003 Genre: Historical Fiction Historical information about the period of publication: Since the September 11th attacks in 2001, the United States has been at war with Afghanistan. Their goals were to remove the Taliban, track down those in charge of the attacks, and destroy Al-Qaeda. Biographical information about the author: Khaled Hosseini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 1965. HIs motherRead MoreThe Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini1098 Words   |  5 PagesIn The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, we learn a lot about Amir the main character, and Hassan his servant/brother. In the beginning Hassan and Amir’s relationship was one of brotherly love despite the fact that Hassan was a Hazara and Amir a Pashtun. Back in the 1970’s race and religion played a big part in Kabul and these two races were not suppose to have relationships unless it was owner (Pashtun) and servant (Hazara). Baba Amir’s father had an affair with Hassan’s mother, but it was kept aRead MoreThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini1050 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"There is a way to be good again.† (Hosseini 334). This quote given by Rahim Khan to Amir holds a great amount of force and symbolism. In theory, this quote symbolizes the beginning of Amir’s path to redemption. The eye-opening Kite Runner by K haled Hosseini tells about the struggles of Afghanistan before and during the Taliban, and one’s struggle for redemption and acceptance. With regards to the opening quote, some see Amir’s actions as selfish. However, others may believe that Amir truly changedRead MoreThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini1583 Words   |  7 Pagesnovel the Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Amir, the main character, shares his thoughts and actions due to his poor decisions. The problems he encountered were all because of the sin committed in his youth. His sins taunted the beginning of his life and gave him a troublesome memory full of guilt. As the novel continued, Amir attempted to disengage the memory of his sin and forget about it. Amir then faced the long bumpy road to redemption. Khaled Hosseini’s novel the Kite Runner is about sinRead MoreThe Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini1313 Words   |  5 Pagesis not unique to just J.K. Rowling. Khaled Hosseini also incorporates life experiences into some of his novels. A prime example of this is The Kite Runner. The storyline of this novel reflects his past to create a journey of a young Afghanistan boy, whose name is Amir. This boy changes drastically throughout his lifetime from a close minded, considerably arrogant boy to an open hearted and minded man. This emotional and mental trip is partially based on Khaled Hosseini’s own life. Throughout Hosseini’sRead MoreThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini1908 Words   |  8 Pages​In the novel, â€Å"The Kite Runner†, written by Khaled Hosseini, was taken place in Afghanistan during the 1970’s to the year of 2002. Many historical events happened during this time period and Hosseini portrayed it into his novel. Kabul, the capitol of Afghanistan, was a free, living area for many Afghanistan families to enjoy the life they were given. Until one day, Afghanistan was then taken over and attacked. In the novel, Amir, the protagonist, must redeem himself and the history behind his actionsRead MoreThe Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini871 Words   |  4 Pagesthat person is trying to fix that mistake. This also applies to the novel The Kite Runner. The story revolves around the main character Amir, and his childhood friend, Hassan. After Amir came to America with Baba, his father, he still regrets the things he had done to his childhood friend. He left Hassan getting raped by Assef in a small alley in 1975. Thereafter, Amir always feel regret and seeks for redemption. Hosseini -the author, argues that redemption can be achieved by helping others, teachRead MoreThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini2522 Words   |  11 PagesIn The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini creates an awareness and humanization of Afghanistan as a nation and as a culture. Throug h a postcolonial perspective, the main character, Amir resembles the internal conflicts and external tribulations that a country and its citizens’ face when living in a war-torn region. Postcolonial criticism offers a unique perspective by highlighting the destructive events that lead to death and misery, rather than glorifying the exploratory nature of colonists as they

Health and Safety in Health and Social Care

Question: Discuss about theHealth and Safety in Health and Social Care. Answer: Introduction The success of any organization depends a lot on the quality leadership that the employees get. A leader provides the correct guidance to his subordinates and motivates them to put in their best. He is responsible for building the morale of the employees and also their confidences. The leader should be aware of each and every members personal skills and utilize it fully for optimum output. He should be able to create a healthy work environment for the employees for the maximum growth of the organization. A leader must be approachable. He must be the friend to whom one can come with their problems, he must be the philosopher so that he can use his intelligence and experience to give the correct advice to the employees and lastly, he must be the ultimate guide so that he can supervise the employees and lead them in the correct direction to achieve the goal of the organization. Being a leader is no cakewalk. It is a highly responsible job and he needs to possess certain qualities to emb ark the job. He must be an efficient individual, who is not biased to a particular individual. His opinions should be based on facts and figures. He should be a visionary and be able to avoid disastrous decisions based on his foresight, intelligence and experience. Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality. - Warren Bennis. He needs to be a good communicator so that he can efficiently communicate the plans and strategies to the employees and look after its implementation. He needs to understand the problems faced by others so that he can resolve such issues. No one is a born leader, but a good leader is a product of constant hard work and self-improvement. How Might Leadership Affect Safety Management Leadership is not just restricted to one style. There are many styles of leaderships that are followed throughout many organizations. Say, in Laissez-Faire style of leadership, the leader completely trusts the skills of the workers and allows them to work independently. In this style of leadership, there is no direct supervision of the employees and sometimes the leader fails to give direct feedbacks. On one hand, the workers can work independently and utilize their own resources but on the other hand, it can hamper the production of the workers who indeed need guidance(Management Leadership inOccupationalSafety and Health, 2016). Secondly, in autocratic leadership, the supervisors can take their own decisions with little or no input from the workers. The leaders have the supreme authority in this form of leadership. The creativity and the input of the individual employees suffer as a result. In the participative or democratic style of leadership, the input and ideas of the team memb ers are valued by the authorities, but the ultimate responsibility to take the decisions lie on the hand of the leader. It helps the employees to feel that their decisions matter. Another style of leadership is Transactional leadership, where the leaders set a goal for the employees and provide incentives for them. If they succeed, they receive rewards; say in the form of bonuses. And if they fail, the leader helps to rectify it by training them properly(Cooper, 2015). In the Transformational style of leadership, the leader needs to possess a high level of communication skills. They focus on a bigger goal. The leaders motivate the employees by communicating with them and they focus on the bigger picture. The leader serves as an inspiration for the workers(MANAGEMENT STUDY GUIDE, 2016). Leadership and safety management of any organization are highly interlinked. A leader is mostly responsible for the safety of the organization.It is his responsibility to ensure their safety by communicating with them and making them well aware of about this matter. There are numerous examples around the world that show that many have become the victim of poor safety conditions in some industries, some have even paid dearly with their lives. Many suffer because of the insufficient arrangement of health and safety measures in their workplace(Flintrop, 2016). They might suffer serious medical injuries and worse, they might lose their lives. And not just the workers, their families suffered as a result too. So, it is clear that a minor glitch or an overlook might change the lives of many. And this is where the expertise and skills of a good leader are needed (Flintrop, 2016). Human life is the most precious thing; it should be the primary concern of an organization. But apart from that, useful health and safety management not only promotes the efficiency of the organization but also reduces the cost. Occupational safety ensures good health of the workers at the workplace and thus they can give their maximum output. Also, the 2005 Act on Health, Safety Welfare at Work entails that the organization or industry should ensure the health, safety and welfare of the employees as far as possible. And also conduct their day-to-day work to ensure the same. Finally, the industries and the organizations have a moral obligation towards their workers, to ensure their safety and health(Worker Participation in Occupational Safety and Health, 2016). A good leader is one who would communicate these plans and policies to the workers and see that they are being maintained. But the safety issue is not just confined to the hazards in the workplace, it goes beyond that. Mental stress and emotional distress should also be taken into account when we are talking about health and safety measures. So, safety management in the workplace not only denotes the nonexistence of accidents that can physically harm the workers, it also covers the mental well-being of an individual. Only when an individual is fit both physically and mentally, he can give his 100% to the organization(safety works, 2016). There are several advantages of having a capable leader to handle the health and safety measures. He can ensure the safety of the individual workers by communicating the safety measures. Thereby, he increases the business productivity by ensuring the maximum output by the employees. He saves a lot of money by reducing risks and leads to a better economic performance. He encourages people to take the responsibility for their own safety by setting up clear goals for them and not pushing them to do something that would put them at risk. Another advantage is the improved quality of work. As people are less likely to get ill due to the conditions in the workplace, also because of reduced stress, they would provide a better quality of work. He builds a better reputation among his dealers, clients and other partners or stakeholders(Boundless, 2016). As a result, more companies would be interested in investing in the organization. As the former CEO of General Electric said- Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others. So a leader is responsible to a great extent for the growth of the industry and the growth of the individual workers. The leader represents the policy by acting as a good example. It is advantageous for an industry to have a good leader for effective safety management because he/she demonstrates the safety policies and acts as an inspiration to the other employees(Boundless, 2016). The management should ensure that their health and safety policy is suitable for the hazards and danger that the workers might face and should also include a pledge to protect the workers, the normal people and the contractors as far as possible. The management should be able to review their health and safety objectives from time to time to ensure continuous improvement. Another very important thing to remember in this regard is training. It is absolutely essential to train the individual workers in safety programs so that they can handle themselves and know what to do in a situation of hazard.The responsibility of health and safety management is normally given to the senior executive officers, the senior managers and the supervisors(Safety Goals and Objectives, 2009). The leaders should also take into account the views and feedbacks of the employees, because, at the end of the day, its the workers who have to get the work done. But there is one disadvantage to this the decision-making process slows down, as many people are involved in it. In the words of George Orwell, "The leaders who offer blood, toil, tears and sweat always get more out of their followers than those who offer safety and a good time. When it comes to the pinch, human beings are heroic." So, a leader is the one who can work hand in hand with the workers and work as a teammate. A leader has the capability to change the culture in the place of work. He can ensure the safety of his workers while adhering to the moral values that the company upholds. The leaders or the supervisors interact with their employees and that way they learn how they can do their jobs safely and avoid any sort of accident. He needs to relate to his employees and not just that, he should be a trustworthy person, someone who understands his employees and their values. He can hold meetings to inform the employees about the safety procedures or any immediate hazards that need to be dealt with. He must look for the immediate risks in the workplace like faulty equipment or any potential exposure. He must ensure that the workplace is clean and well-maintained. An unclean workplace is more prone to hazards. Also, a clean working environment increases the moral of the workers and thus increases productivity(Continuous Improvement Plan, 2006). Supervisors continuously interact with the workers, so they have more opportunities to imbibe a safety work culture among them. And the reward is a much safer workplace and the least amount of occupational hazard. Good leadership not only ensures safety but it also improves the performance of the workers which is interlinked with the productivity of the company. A leader is one who dedicates his time and energy to improve others. As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others Bill Gates(Continuous Improvement Plan, 2006). Most organizations have formed boards to ensure the health and safety of its members. They give the necessary advice, training and direction. If an employee loses his life in the workplace due to a mishap in the safety management of the organization then they have to pay heavily for it. The employer or the supervisor may even be imprisoned for involuntary manslaughter. The industries which deal with hazardous equipment especially need to be careful. The leaders play an extremely important role in this regard. He gets the major share of the blame. "A good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame, a little less than his share of the credit." Arnold Glasow, humorist and author.He is the glue in the team that holds all the members or the employees together(Cooper, 2015). It is impossible to function properly in the workplace without any sort of assistance or guidance. That is where a team leader or a supervisor is needed. In the absence of a leader the team would go haywire, they would lack synchronization and that is what attracts a disaster. Lack of leadership diminishes the commitment of the team members to their work because there is no specific person to set the goal. Everyone would aim for the power play and they would fail to identify their interdependence. It is not productive for the organization or the team members. Leadership is therefore indispensable (Flintrop, 2016). Conclusion Any organization needs a strong leader so that the organization can reach its optimum potential. In other words, the success of an organization depends a lot on the kind of leader it chooses. He can identify the skills of the individual workers and use them in such a way that the organization will be benefitted and also the person will have a job satisfaction. He is the role model that others can follow and look up to. He must respect his employees in order to get respect from others. He has to realise that he is not just an individual unit but a part of the whole organization. "To lead people, walk beside them. As for the best leaders, the people do not notice their existence When the best leader's work is done, the people say, 'We did it ourselves!'" Lao Tzu, philosopher. If employees are the pillars on which the organization stands then the leaders or the supervisors are the foundations. He should be a complete package. "The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly." Jim Rohn, entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker. References Boundless. (2016).The Importance of Productivity. [online] Available at: https://www.boundless.com/economics/textbooks/boundless-economics-textbook/economic-growth-20/productivity-98/the-importance-of-productivity-368-12465/ [Accessed 9 Dec. 2016]. Continuous Improvement Plan. (2006). 1st ed. [ebook] Available at: https://www.osach.ca/SG/Workwell/WorkwellSeniorManagementTeamSampleTemplate.pdf [Accessed 9 Dec. 2016]. Cooper, D. (2015).Understanding Types Styles That Improve Safety Performance. 1st ed. [ebook] Available at: https://www.behavioural-safety.com/articles/effective_leadership_cooper_0215.pdf [Accessed 9 Dec. 2016]. Flintrop, J. (2016).The importance of good leadership in occupational safety and health. [online] OSHWIKI. Available at: https://oshwiki.eu/wiki/The_importance_of_good_leadership_in_occupational_safety_and_health [Accessed 9 Dec. 2016]. Management Study Guide. (2016).Transformational Leadership Theory. [online] Available at: https://managementstudyguide.com/transformational-leadership.htm [Accessed 9 Dec. 2016]. Management Leadership inOccupationalSafety and Health. (2016). 1st ed. [ebook] /Brusse. Available at: https://osha.europa.eu/en/tools-and-publications/publications/reports/management-leadership-in-OSH_guide [Accessed 9 Dec. 2016]. Safety Goals and Objectives. (2009). 1st ed. [ebook] Available at: https://www.asse.org/assets/1/7/11018chap3.pdf [Accessed 9 Dec. 2016]. safety works. (2016).Managing Safety and Health. [online] Available at: https://www.safetyworksmaine.gov/safe_workplace/safety_management/ [Accessed 9 Dec. 2016]. Worker Participation in Occupational Safety and Health. (2016). 1st ed. [ebook] Brussels. Available at: https://osha.europa.eu/en/tools-and-publications/publications/reports/workers-participation-in-OSH_guide [Accessed 9 Dec. 2016].

Bio Essays (1429 words) - CanadaJapan Relations,

Bio The Japanese Internment During World War II, Canada was at war with Germany and Italy. Canada was fighting to protect the lifestyle that its citizens had become accustomed to. The soldiers in WW II gave their lives for the good of their great nation. Canada was also facing a major threat in the Pacific. The threat was the powerful nation of Japan. To that point in time Japan was the strongest military force that the world had ever seen. The Japan government was strongly influenced by military leaders who were in favor of an expansion of Japanese power in the Pacific through military means. Japan had been sweeping through such strong military forces as China, Australia and Britain (Hong Kong). Japan was a major threat in World War Two to a lot of countries. Then when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in a surprise attack against the Americans then the Canadian government had to move quickly to protect its borders. The Canadian government decided that it was best that the Japanese be moved inland away from the coast. This was done for two main reasons, one to prevent spying and sabotage and secondly to protect the Japanese from anti-Asian violence. This decision was not only for the good of the country but also for the good of the Japanese people. The government made the right decision for the matter at hand. It is true that the Canadian Government noted that "no Japanese in Canada has been suspected of or linked to, an act of sabotage or espionage". Also in a RCMP investigation, the Japanese in Canada were not considered a real threat but the assessment was conducted before the country of Japan was officially in World War Two. These reports would have been outdated as the ideas and beliefs of the Japanese could have changed once Japan was at war with the world. People changed their views during times of change. As Japan officially entered W.W.II many passions of the people may have changed. The Canadian Government was faced with the treat of this possible change. If the Japanese were to roam free during this time, what is to say that a small group of loyal Japanese could not have started a subversive group? The Japanese government could have also paid some of the Japanese's in Canada substantial amounts of money to spy for them. Although many Japanese living in Canada would be patriotic to Canadian cause, there would be some that would align themselves with Japan, which could be seen as a potential threat to Canada. In fact if the Canadian Government did not intern the Japanese and let them roam free, a small minority of the patriotic Japanese could have spied on Canada helping the Japanese to attack Canad ian borders. If the Japanese had attacked Canada the impact would have been very destructive. The Japanese could have easily attacked Canada because most of our military force was in Europe. We could not bring these forces back to protect our borders because the opposing forces in Europe were strong and would have surely gained an advantage over are allies. Also the potential existed for the patriotic Japanese in Canada to use terrorism and sabotage to help Japan in any attack against Canada. These types of actions would have resulted in the loss of many lives. There are many possibilities of what could have happened during this turbulent time. Canada made a reasonable decision that resulted in nothing. Undoubtedly the property of the Japanese internees was sold; nevertheless the Japanese were in internment and were not inhabiting nor using these properties. The only course of action the Canadian Government could take was to sell these properties at market value to sustain the economy of western Canada. Japanese internees said that their properties were sold at low prices. Although, the real estate market was in the right conditions to be in a recession, which would have resulted in lower prices. The Japanese received the money that properties were sold for. In most other countries, the internees would never see any compensation for their properties. Furthermore Japan had bombed Pearl Harbor almost destroying all of the American Naval Fleet. This attack concerned the Canadians

Corporate Strategy Analysis of Kraft in relation to Cadbury Acquisition The WritePass Journal

Corporate Strategy Analysis of Kraft in relation to Cadbury Acquisition Introduction Corporate Strategy Analysis of Kraft in relation to Cadbury Acquisition IntroductionCorporate Strategy Critical Success Factors (CSF)Corporate Parenting RoleConclusionRelated Introduction I have been asked to investigate and evaluate Kraft’s overall corporate strategy in relation to it’s acquisition of Cadbury in 2010. Moreover, this report will also highlight some of the critical success factors that Kraft might apply to Cadbury and it will demonstrate and outline the corporate parenting role Kraft could take up in respect to Cadburys. Kraft Foods is a well known American food conglomerate with its presence in over a hundred countries. The $19.5 billion (Clearly et al, 2010) takeover of Cadbury has enabled them to become the biggest confectionery and beverage giant in the world. This acquisition has enabled Kraft to expand their portfolio in terms of product offering. They now have over forty well known brands each bringing in over $100 million worth of sales each year. (Nasdaq, 2011). The Cadbury brand is well recognised around the world and they are one of the largest chocolate producers in the world, furthermore they have a well established base in the UK and abroad. Therefore by acquiring such a prestigious company with iconic brands, Kraft will be able to enhance its long term revenues and growth by strengthening their presence in developing markets such as India and Mexico. Cadbury is more of a brand led company whereas Kraft a more of a product orientated company. Cadbury as a result gives them a brand building capability which Kraft needs in order to expand overseas. From this perspective we can see quite clearly why Kraft acquired well known Cadbury. The main intention of Kraft’s takeover was so that they could get hold of Cadbury’s assets, resources and their core competencies which sets them apart from other rivals. Corporate Strategy Corporate strategy is best defined by (Lynch, 2003, p.5) as ‘ an organisations basic direction for the future: its purpose, its ambitions, its resources and how it interacts with the world in which it operates’. Likewise, (Porter, 1996 cited in Thompson, 2001, p. 15 describes it as an ‘overall plan for a diversified business’. Kraft has three corporate strategies which are: To delight global snack consumers To unleash the power of iconic heritage brands To create a performance – driven and value led organisation (Kraft, 2011) By implementing such strategies Kraft are able to manage their activities appropriately and by doing so they are able to identify the skills and competencies which are required to foster organisational growth hence drive profits. Krafts growth strategy is to build a global snacks powerhouse and unrivalled portfolio of brands people love. It is essential that managers are able to effectively formulate and implement corporate level strategies’ in order to achieve corporate objectives of the firm by means of developing and sustaining competitive advantage. Management must have a clear vision in place as to where it wants to be in the long-term so it is able to identify its strategic purpose as to why the company exists. Kraft’s strategy enables managers’ to look at ways in which it can add value to the different parts of the firm. Moreover, how it can meet shareholder expectations. Kraft should effectively link its internal capabilities together with its external relations if they want their strategy to be successful in this ever changing environment. Furthermore, strategy also seems to shape organisational behaviour therefore it is vital that everyone in the organisation is focused and that they have a shared a vision because they will be more likely to be working towards the same goal. Corporate planning and strategic fit is crucial at Kraft as it enable them to conduct environmental scanning so that management can address and identify the key areas which are likely to affect the overall business strategy due to uncertainty within the market. Its purpose is to provide a bigger picture of the environment in which the business is operating in. Strategic analysis helps an organisation to identify what is happening outside of the business so that they can focus on external elements or threats that the business is likely face. This is usually done through PESTEL analysis or even a SWOT analysis so that managers can identify their strengths in comparison to their competitors so that they can improve on their weaknesses. Furthermore, it also helps them to spot opportunities within the market place so that they can expand and take advantage of change. Critical Success Factors (CSF) Also known as key success factors (KSF) best defined by (Lynch, 2003, p.102) as, â€Å"the resources, skills and attributes of an organisation that are essential to deliver success in the market place. The phrase was first introduced by Daniels in 1961 and has now become a widely studied phenomenon within the field of strategic management.   Critical success factors are those business activities which must be managed and performed in order to foster organisational success. Understanding and identifying such factors are crucial as it enables managers to make the right strategic decisions. Kraft are now focussing on their top ten power brands such as Cadbury diary milk, trident gum etc to maximise revenue as they have dramatically shifted their focus towards growth in areas which contain higher margins. There are a number of critical success factors that Kraft could apply to Cadbury. Firstly, Kraft is a much stronger company than what it was 2 years ago. It has a hugh market share with an annual revenue exceeding $49.2 billion. Therefore Kraft could use Cadbury to strengthen their global base and use their core competencies to maximise profits. The market share of Kraft enables them to sustain their competitive advantage over others as they become a dominant enterprise within the confectionery market.   Likewise, Kraft can use their brand strength along with Cadbury’s product range to enlarge and broaden their brand portfolio. Moreover, this will enable Kraft to distribute Cadbury’s brands in markets such as China, Brazil and Russia were Cadbury has lit tle or no presence. This opportunity will also open up doors for Kraft so that it can grow and penetrate into India and European Union where it lacks behind. This will help it to boost sales and hopefully increase their market share. This ties in with effective supply chain networks that both companies have in place. From this perspective we can see that one of the main purpose or benefit in acquiring Cadbury was to control Cadbury’s distribution network and their infrastructure so that Kraft could use this advantage to get into developing markets where they will be able to widen their footprint by increasing their presence in international markets by offering diverse products. This opportunity has also widened their global supplier base which means that they can concentrate on economies of scale by getting their costs down as much as they can, so that they can make more profit per unit. This will enable them to leverage their costs and resources so that they can focus on operational efficiency through systems such as just in time. Corporate Parenting Role There are a number of ways in which Kraft has and could take up the corporate parenting role in respect to Cadbury. Firstly Kraft has made a hugh leap in restructuring their organisational structure, which means that decision making is no longer highly decentralized. This has enabled Kraft to be in more control over its business activities. In order to succeed in the global environment an organisation such as Kraft needs to make sure that they have the right people in the right place at the right time so that they can operate efficiently and effectively. The role of a corporate parent (headquarters) is to reinforce and implement parenting skills so that it can manage and add value to its business units. The main emphasis is so that the company can perform better compared to if it was working individually. The corporate parent can therefore make certain decisions about the portfolio of the business so it can manage global operations more efficiently. This two way process is vital because if a certain business unit or a corporate parent is not adding value to the business a decision is likely to be made by management to sell or break off a certain business section. Kraft has chosen a synergy manager approach because it enables them to manage synergies across both business platforms so that Kraft is able to manage costs and organisational resources effectively by aligning key targets which must be achieved by certain business units. As this will enable them to create synergy because two companies working together will create more value and therefore Kraft will have the opportunity to market and distribute both brands for the price of one. Kraft has estimated that around $672 million worth of expenses would be saved by working together with Cadbury. Good brand management is also an important aspect in any organisation, therefore if Kraft wants to prosper it must emphasise on knowledge management so that it can grasp and share its knowledge skills and core competencies with Cadbury. Kraft can coach and aid Cadbury in making the right decisions about product expansion in areas in which Kraft   have extensive knowledge and experience. Furthermore they can help Cadbury to develop their capabilities by enabling them to improve their skills at the same time as helping them to improve on their weaknesses.   Furthermore, they must effectively communicate across borders and be willing to combine research and development activities, sharing of plant and machinery, new innovative ideas market research e.g. consumer insight, talent, experience or skills. On the other hand, Kraft should avoid adding management costs and bureauc ratic complexity because it is likely to hinder business performance. Conclusion An effective business strategy will always enable an organisation to thrive and prosper. By focussing on such strategic factors Kraft is able to accomplish their goals and objectives. Kraft is fully aware of the critical success factors which apply to them and those which apply to the industry. They use their capabilities and resources so that they can invest in those areas of the business which are critical for its long term success and by doing so they gain competitive advantage over others. They have paid particular attention towards their customers, as they claim to help people to live and eat better. By providing those products which customers actually want for instance on the go snacks. Therefore, one can say that it is essential that Kraft should manage their resources and capabilities if they want to succeed in the global arena. I believe that product innovation is a vital survival tool which Kraft has implemented within its business process as they are always introducing new products into the market.

Issues of Our Times International Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Issues of Our Times International - Essay Example In this paper I will be examining the MDGs in terms of success or progress, success stories and failures with the aim drawing the lessons learnt. In the MDGs the world identified eight major challenges facing nations of the world especially in the developing world and embarked on an ambitious plan to reduce if not eliminate them. Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger across the world, achieving universal primary education and promoting gender equality and empowering women for the f8irst three MDGs. Significant progress has been seen in this area as by 2012 the world targets had been achieved. Reducing the rates of child mortality and improving maternal health care are two goals that still require a lot of effort especially in the poorest nations. The last three goals i.e. ensuring environmental sustainability, fighting diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and others, and developing global partnerships for development are the other goals on which some remarkable progress has been made but more is required in order to meaningfully influence lives. On a larger perspective and basing on available statistics, there has been some significant progress overall but with the 2015 deadline just around the corner the world may miss on the targets in some of the goals. In the first goal of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, the goal was set at halving the proportion persons living on $1.25 and below around the world. The target was achieved in 2008 mostly as a result of rapid economic expansion in the emerging economies of Asia. Persons in extreme poverty as well as poverty rates have gone down in all regions and the working poor have reduced significantly. Attaining universal primary education as a target has also seen significant effort, enrollment stood at 90% in 2010 as compared to 82% in 1999. Though encouraging the rate is slow and the goal may not be attained by 2015.over a half of those children out of school are sub-Saharan Africa,

ART Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 23

ART - Essay Example The artist has reflected light over the leaves by painting them yellowish green. The distance between one tree and the next has been made prominent by lending a lighter shade of green to the leaves of the nearby trees and a darker shade of green to those in the distance. From the apparent purplish blue sky and the chandeliers hanging along the way, it seems that the time of the day captured in the picture is evening that is soon to transform into the night. While one can see even without the chandeliers for the time being, they would be a must to enhance the vision once the sky turns any darker. This picture makes me feel like being in the middle of a forest. It feels like the beginning of a story. There is a lot to tell depending upon how one interprets the destination that the pathway leads to. The pathway might just end in a steep slope offering no further land to continue the movement, or it might just slide downward as the trees on the side indicate thus leading the audience to an unknown destination. As the audience of this picture, I feel welcomed into the world of endless imagination of the artist. I feel like the artist has provided me with a direction and has left it upon me to choose to what length I go in that direction. It is like the a rtist has handed over the tools to me but at the same time, deters from becoming the controlling force so that I use those tools in whatever way I want. The effect of the picture on me as an audience is empowering. I feel like the artist is questioning me where I would go from there, showing me the picture. It seems to be just the start of a journey in two ways; firstly, the pathway seems to have just started and it is for the audience to decide where it ends, and secondly, the sky is purplish blue indicating evening while the lit candles in the chandeliers indicate the preparations of the night when the sky would be darker. So the moment captured in the