Unforgiven Directed By Clint Eastwood Film Studies Essay

Unforgiven Directed By Clint Eastwood Film Studies Essay Unforgiven is a dark and haunting film in what can be considered Clint Eastwoods finest hour. A revisionist western, set in the 1880s that serves as the final culmination of Eastwoods revisionist western trilogy, follows the journey of William Munny (Eastwood), a struggling pig farmer and widower with two young children with a dark past as a violent killer. After two cowboys scar a prostitute a reward is offered by her fellow whores for the death of the two men. Soon Munny is on the hunt and is later joined by Ned (Morgan Freeman) and the young, blind Schofield Kid (Jaimz Woolvett). The stage is set for what is perhaps the most gritty, realistic and best of Eastwoods westerns. The skilled acting performances by the cast of brilliant actors along with the directing, that only of man of Eastwoods caliber can provide, make Unforgiven stand out as the finest of Eastwood revisionist westerns (Pale Rider, The Outlaw Josey Wales). We are confronted with characters who are both capable of the kindest, and at the same time vilest, of deeds. The black hat, white hat distinction of the characters of western genres of old are thrown out the window in favor of gritty, violent, morally ambiguous characters that are much more in line with the realities of the human condition. Gene Hickman gives a superb performance as Sheriff Little Bill Dagert, both champion of law and order in his town as well as a violent sadist. William Munny provides the image of a changed man, a man who has redeemed himself. However as the film progresses the faà §ade of a changed man is lifted in a violent manner with the murder of one of the wanted men. The film carefully reveals the true nature of Munny in layers until we are confronted with the true nature of his past Ive killed woman, children and just about anything that moved at some point. He is perhaps the hardest protagonist, to warm to, and Eastwood does a great job at challenging our perspectives on film heroes. The supporting cast do a good job of adding extra weight to the film. There are no meaningless throw away characters that exist only as target practice. They all have a point and Eastwood fits them together in the story like a master watchmaker. Notable performances include Richard Harris as English Bob, a gun fighter and fierce monarchist who worked for the railroad shooting Chinamen. Bob travels with his biographer W.W Beauchamp (Saul Rubineck). Bob along with his biographer act as an amusing comment of the creation and permeation of the western myth. Morgan Freeman lends his heavyweight reputation as Williamss old gunfighter comrade Ned. Freeman does an admirable job as portraying Ned as a man past his prime and serves as an excellent reminder to William that they are not getting younger. James Woolvelt as the Schofield Kid holds up well, his character being both physically blind as well as blind to the realities of killing a man (Munny)You ever killed a man before? (Kid)Hell Ive killed at least 50 guys. He serves as a reminder of how receiving the Mark of Cain can change and destroy a man. Clint Eastwoods goal with Unforgiven was to expose the myth of the western genre; the westerns of John Wayne, Lee Marvin and even himself and to show how the west was really won. There are no fair quick draw stand offs (A man is killed while taking a crap) and killing is often a slow (and for the audience) harrowing experience. Perhaps one of the most amusing and memorable moments comes when Munny shoots the unarmed Pimp, much to Little Bills disgust Hell you just killed an unarmed man! Well he should have armed himself. Eastwood rams home the realities of killing further, a young cowboy dies slowly begging for water, he doesnt fly off his horse like so many a man in Eastwoods older westerns. Perhaps the most memorable quotes on killing come from Eastwoods character himself Its a helluva thing killing a manà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦You take away all hes had and all hes ever gonna have. In exposing the western myth Eastwood excels par excellence. The technical aspect of the film adds to the western experience in a way one would expect of an Eastwood film. The dark moody lighting contrast with the open sweeping landscapes under a brilliant blue sky. The sets and costumes are authentic and familiar to any western film buff which adds an interesting contrasts to the revisionist context of the film. All the technical brilliance comes together to suck the audience into a believable looking film. The lighting itself is well used, especially in the way that it darkens with the darkening of Eastwoods character. Music is kept to a minimal, no spaghetti style pieces blare at us during a stand off, the rain provides a much better musical score to the films finale. For the audience this film forces us to reflect on ourselves and the realities of the darkness of our souls. We are all naturally violent; the film just highlights this fact with a blow from a slug of a .44. Perhaps Eastwood is asking for forgiveness not as a character but as a director. Go ahead punk make my day has been replaced instead with a whimpering, bleeding young man begging for water. If I can think of one gripe about the film it is perhaps that it takes a little too long at making its point. Unforgiven is a brilliant film. It caters to Eastwoods core fans while at the same time attracting the more intelligent and reflective film goer. Those who enjoyed the Good the Bad and the Ugly will enjoy this film as much as the filmgoer who enjoys a serious crafted experience.

Fedex Competitors Analysis and Customer Retention Strategies

Fedex Competitors Analysis and Customer Retention Strategies Introduction It is apparent from FedEx Corporation’s (FedEx) track record of success; it is clearly a leader in the industry. Ranked the world’s #1 express transportation company with 3 million packages delivered daily, FedEx surely knows what it is doing to keep the business growing and prosperous (Williams 2005). However, like most businesses these days, there are always trials and tribulations. Important decisions must be made everyday, it is critical that quick thinking and a clearly defined method of operations management must be followed to keep things running smoothly. Of course, the true test to whether or not a solid operations management flow is in place is how the company is able to deal with the unexpected. This brief will examine who makes up FedEx’s complete customer base and how the company attempts to satisfy and retain its customers. As well, the risks taken in day to day business will be evaluated coupled with the manner FedEx is able to manage the chances it must often take. Another item for discussion is the impact of sudden demand for the industry and specifically for FedEx. Finally, FedEx’s top competitors will be studied, weighing strengths and weaknesses of each company. An evaluation will be presented as to how FedEx would fair if one of its main competitors would try to win a valued client based on the strength and weaknesses outlined. The Customers As with most successful businesses, FedEx is aware that it has a variety of different customers, including internal and external. Both external and internal customers need to be satisfied with the performance of the company to keep things on track. Reviewing the importance of both external and internal customers is critical. The internal customer for FedEx is obviously its own employees. 250,000 strong in 2005 with a 27 percent growth rate from 2004 shows that FedEx is growing quickly (Williams, 2005) and that type of growth needs to be managed appropriately. To maintain employee satisfaction, FedEx offers a competitive salary, fair working conditions, and the ability to â€Å"climb the corporate ladder† if desired. Employees boast of their success at FedEx and their true delight at working for this company throughout the company website (Fed Ex Company Website 2005). Externally, there a few more customers to consider including corporate, consumer, shareholders and stakeholders. Corporate clients, including Dell and Hewlett Packard, expect their products to be delivered on time and in good condition. As well, consumer clients expect to receive their products on time and in good condition. Shareholders, since FedEx is a public company, expect profits to be up and costs to be down. Finally, stakeholders are those people affected by the corporate actions of FedEx. Are its operations interfering with something in the community? Are its airplanes breaking noise ordinances? The bottom line is that the customers for FedEx are many and their needs are different so FedEx must consider the management of its operations from many angles. The risks There are many risks that one of FedEx’s packages not to arrive at its intended destination on time including unexpected volumes, weather, misrouting, and bottlenecks at customs. Luckily, FedEx has put into place the appropriate controls to prevent a delay of any package. As mentioned earlier, in efforts to prevent the loss of clients, FedEx has adopted policies and practices that have proven successful. To address the issue of unexpected volumes and weather problems, FedEx has built in quite a bit of redundancy into its systems. Its contingency planning is superior with proactive monitoring of weather and air traffic. As well, managers stay in close communication each day to plan, always staying one step ahead of the game. Additionally, FedEx actually has multiple hubs across the world in the case that packages need to be redirected. The automation of the sorting process keeps packages that are misrouted to a bare minimum. Packages that need special customs attention are also proactively reported to local authorities so there is minimal opportunity for those packages to slow the process. Even with these modern forms of automation in place, FedEx still prides itself on providing a human touch and treating each package as a â€Å"golden package†(FedEx Company Website 2005). Of course, if packages are delayed or do not ship to the accurate address, the company runs the risk of losing clients. Corporate clients can decide to take their contracts elsewhere and consumers will lose their feelings of loyalty if FedEx does not deliver the service it promised. FedEx’s philosophy of â€Å"Absolutely, Positively, Whatever it takes† (FedEx Company Website 2005) as discussed on its website is a direct reflection of what FedEx is willing to do to get the job done. In the unfortunate case where something goes awry with a package, FedEx also wants it customers to know there is a place to go for help and someone available at the end of the line to help work through issues. Indeed, FedEx offers many online tools to track packages as well as a phone number with live support staff 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year (FedEx Company Website 2005). The effects of sudden demand The effects of an unexpected and sudden demand increase can be challenging for any company. In not managed correctly, a myriad of problems can result in the express service industry. This is a direct result of the company not being able to inventory products when the demand arises (Melnyk Denzler 1996 p.447). Specific issues that can arise when sudden demand occurs include late shipments, incorrect shipments, bottlenecks, scheduling difficulties, cost increases, and capacity issues. Externally, late or incorrect shipments affect the customer relationship and have a negative impact on future business. Internally, bottlenecks can cause major issues in making shipment deadlines. In addition, without appropriate notice, staffing can be off and there can be inadequate human resources available to meet the unexpected demand. Directly, if staff needs to be scheduled at the last minute, there is a good chance that overtime wages will be required and costs can skyrocket. Finally, capacity issues are created by the unexpected demand and lack of equipment to actually transport the additional packages. Overall, to regulate unexpected demand, the operations manager needs to focus on mastery of forecasting coupled with having a flexible base of resources (Melnyk Denzler 1996 p.448). Luckily, FedEx is well positioned with its contingency plans. Like David Rebholz, executive vice-president of FedEx’s US operations and systems states â€Å"Ninety percent of the package flow is predictable – but that other 10 percent can really throw you†. All FedEx, like any other company, can do is have the procedures in place to manage that 90 percent perfectly and have the contingency plans to deal with the other 10 percent when it happens. The Competition According to a recent article in the World Trade publication (The Big Three: UPS, FEDEX and DHL 2005 p.20), FedEx, UPS, and DHL are referred to as â€Å"the big three† in the express service industry. Another formidable competitor in this market space is TNT Logistics. To consider what type of threat each one of these competitors may pose to FedEx, it is important to review each of its competitor’s strengths and weaknesses as well as their market positions. Specifically, it is important to analyze each company’s history, leadership, market presence, and potential for future growth. UPS History The United Parcel Service (UPS) began in 1907 as the American Messenger Company and has continued to grow and flourish every since (UPS Company Website 2005). The company’s ability to continually reinvent themselves to fit the markets needs has kept them at the top of its game. Leadership Michael Eskew, the current Chairman and CEO for UPS, has been at the helm in his current post since 2003. Although relatively new in this leadership role, he has served with the company since 1972 as a faithful and forward thinking employee. Ninety percent of the company is owned by managers, employees, founders, and families. This ensures that those with a vested interested in the company are represented from the front lines to upper management (UPS Company Website 2005). Market Presence UPS has established itself as the largest package delivery company in the world. To grow its express delivery services, it recently purchased Overnight and is also committed to provide its customers a full line of supply chain management services. Potential for future growth As mentioned, UPS has a strong history of positioning itself for growth during times of change and shifts in the marketplace. Last year, employee growth was 8.2% and Net Sales Growth was 9.2% (Williams, 2005). DHL History Thirty Five years ago in 1969, DHL Worldwide Network took shape as the â€Å"low cost delivery service† as it entered the marketplace and attempted to carve a niche for itself as the low cost provider. Since then, the company has been working hard to gain new customers and convince them that with lower costs, quality need not be sacrificed (Hannon 2005). From the start, DHL has committed itself to providing what it customers need. As early as the 1970s, the company realized that the globalization of trade was playing a key factor in the current business climate and adapted itself to be able to provide the services required for success in the international arena. Leadership Dr. Klaus Zumwinkel, current Chairman of the Board, is leading the way to establish DHL as a premier service with the highest quality at competitive prices (DHL Company Website 2005). Market Presence Ranked as the world leader in cross border express deliveries, DHL is spreading its wings to capture even more of the delivery services market. Setting its sights on winning more of the ground delivery business, it recently acquired Airborne. In addition, DHL seems to be stepping it up a notch in focusing on its human touch for customers as Karen Johns reports, â€Å"customers say we are much more responsive, flexible and human to deal with (Hein 2005).† Potential for future growth Another company that seems positioned as ready for growth, DHLs net sales grew by 21.6 percent last year while the employee count grew by 7% (Williams 2005). TNT History Thomas Nationwide Transport (TNT) began back in 1946 as the first express delivery service. In the 80s, the company began to offer more logistical services as they understood the market demand for it. In the 90s, the company also began to offer supply chain solutions and looked to establish themselves as innovators in the total supply chain arena (TNT Company Website 2005). Leadership Dave Kulik, Group Managing Director, is at the forefront of leading the company with new ideas in the supply chain and express delivery services industry. Leadership in the company seems to embrace advancement from within and reflects a true commitment to employee growth through many initiatives, including â€Å"Investors in People† ( TNT Company Website 2005). Market Presence Although TNT offers only about 1/6 the sales numbers of its major competitors like DHL, UPS, and Fed Ex, their customer list is impressive. A key to TNTs focused success is the targeting of specific industries. Their client list includes big users such as BMW, GM, and Proctor and Gamble (TNT Company Website 2005). Potential for future growth Although TNT appears to be flexible in adding new products and services to offer its client base, it does not seem to be as aggressive in earning additional market segments as some of its competitors. However, for the last six years, the company has recorded 22% revenue growth each year (TNT Company Website 2005). In addition, back in 2004, TNT launched a $115 billion, six-year improvement program to keep its business up to speed (Keane 2004). FedEx History Frederick W Smith had the vision for FedEx while attending Yale back in 1965. His dream became a reality in 1973 when the company first became incorporated (Journal of Business Strategy 1988, pp.15-21). Leadership FedEx’s original founder is still the CEO, Chairman, and President of the company. Since the beginning, Smith has positioned FedEx as the industry standard setter and has given all others a bar to reach for in terms of overall performance. Market Presence FedEx is the #1 express transportation company in the world and continues to grow and diversify. Its recent purchase of Kinko’s has helped to expand its retail presence as well as the supply chain management services it can provide to its customers. Potential for future growth FedEx has enjoyed exponential growth each year since the beginning and has always been able to manage the growth with ease. Last year alone, FedEx supported an 18.8% boost in sales and a jump in employees of 27.7% (Williams 2005). How does FedEx measure against the Competition? After review of FedEx and its main competitors, it is interesting to consider what may happen if one of its competitors would try to win clients from its customer base. Cleary, FedEx is a strong player in its field but the competition is fierce. In a competitive bid against its foes, FedEx would need to go on the offense, highlighting all of its attributes that make it stand out above and beyond. The best sales pitch is always a positive one, focusing on your company’s strengths rather than bad mouthing the competition. In an effort to keep important client relationships, FedEx could highlight the following: It’s original visionary and founder is still at the helm and directing the company that is still considered the industry standard setter. FedEx is the #1 express transportation company with sales revenue growth of 18.8% over last year, and net income growth 72.9% over last year (Williams 2005). FedEx’s commitment to do â€Å"Absolutely, Positively Whatever it takes† to keep the customer satisfied. It’s positive track record in the industry and ability to adapt to meet the growing needs of its client base (i.e. the purchase of Kinko’s). The commitment FedEx has to not only deliver on time but to treat each package like a â€Å"golden package†. In the case that questions arise regarding a delivery, there is always live support staff ready and available to field phone calls from consumers. Of course, packages can always be tracked on line. A competitive price offered for a competitive service with high quality standards. It appears that FedEx and UPS are both making plays to meet the end customer’s needs from both ends of the spectrum. FedEx got its start with the idea to guarantee delivery of overnight packages anywhere in the US. UPS, however, ramped up as a company focusing on ground deliveries. Both now are trying to get a piece of the other’s pie, and both are attempting to do it through acquisitions (DNS Retailing Today 2005, pp35-37). Many analysts and recent articles have placed FedEx and UPS in a direct competition for each others market space. In the article â€Å"Can FedEx Deliver More Than UPS?†, it is reported that both companies are projected to do very well but there is a belief that FedEx will do better (Tsao 2005). Specifically, the more positive outlook for FedEx has much to do with their expansion into ground deliveries where margins are higher. Conversely for UPS, it is looking to expand into a market with lower margins. Conclusion After review of FedEx’s specific customer base, the risks that it takes, the problems of sudden demand, its rivals, and a possible scenario of stolen customers, it is evident that FedEx is well positioned for success in the future. Existing competition in the marketplace will continue to put pressure on FedEx to provide high levels of service at a competitive rate. Overall, Fed Ex is well positioned to serve as an industry leader. References DHL Company Website 2005, http://www.dhl.com. ‘Federal Express Spreads its Wings’ 1988, Journal of Business Strategy, vol.9, issue 4, pp.15-21. Retrieved on October 28, 2005 from Business Source Premier Database. ‘FedEx and UPS deliver much more than mail’ 2005, DSN Retailing Today, vol.44, issue 10, pp.35-37. Retrieved on October 28, 2005 from Business Source Premier Database. FedEx Company Website 2005, http://www.fedex.com. Hannon, D 2005, ‘DHL to focus on quality, not low-cost in US market’, Purchasing, vol.134, issue 12, p.113. Retrieved October 28, 2005 from Business Source Premier Database. Hein, K 2005, ‘DHL Delivers Message: We’ll Serve You Better’, Brandweek, vol. 46, issue 32, p.4. Retrieved on October 28, 2005 from Business Source Premier Database. Keane, A 2004 ‘TNT Express Growing Plans’, Traffic World, vol. 268, issue 26, p.30. Retrieved on October 28, 2005 from Business Source Premier Database. Melnyk, S Denzler, D 1996, Operations Management; A Value-Driven Approach, William Schoof. Slack, N Chamber, S Johnston, R 2004, Operations Management, 4th Edition, Prentice Hall. Terrill, C Middlebrooks, A 2000, Market Leadership Strategies for Service Companies, NTC Business Books, Lincolnwood, IL. ‘The Big Three:UPS, FEDEX and DHL’ 2005, World Trade, vol.18, issue 8, p.20. Retrieved October 28, 2005 from Business Source Premier Database. TNT Company website 2005, http://www.tntlogistics.nl. Tsao, A 2004 ‘Can FedEx Deliver More Than UPS?’, Business Week Online, 9/10/2004. Retrieved October 28, 2005 from Business Source Premier Database. UPS Company Website 2005, http://www.ups.com. Williams, R 2005, ‘Hoovers DHL Worldwide Network S.A./N.V Corporation Overview’. Retrieved October 28, 2005 from http://www.hoovers.com/dhl. Williams, R 2005, ‘Hoovers Fed Ex Corporation Overview’. Retrieved October 28, 2005 from http://www.hoovers.com/fedex. Williams, R 2005, ‘Hoovers TNT Logistics Holdings B.V. Overview’. Retrieved October 28, 2005 from http://www.hoovers.com/tnt-logistics. Williams, R 2005, ‘Hoovers United Parcel Service, Inc. Overview’. Retrieved October 28, 2005 from http://www.hoovers.com/ups.

Investigating the rates of reaction of Sodium thiosulphate and hydrochloric acid :: GCSE Chemistry Coursework Investigation

Investigating the rates of reaction of Sodium thiosulphate and hydrochloric acid Using my preliminary experiments I decided on using the following apparatus: - A conical Flask - A piece of White Paper marked with a black cross - Dilute hydrochloric acid - Sodium thiosulphate - Water - Measuring cylinder We must produce a piece of coursework investigating the rates of reaction, and the effect different changes have on them. The rate of reaction is the rate of loss of a reactant or the rate of formation of a product during a chemical reaction. It is measured by dividing 1 by the time taken for the reaction to take place. There are four factors which affect the rate of a reaction, according to the collision theory of reacting particles: temperature, concentration (of solution), surface are (of solid reactants), and catalysts. I have chosen to investigate the effect concentration has on a reaction. This is because concentration is the most practical to investigate as it would take longer to prepare a solid in powdered and unpowdered form, and it is difficult to get accurate readings due to the inevitabilities of human errors, and as gas is mostly colourless it is difficult to gauge a reaction changing the pressure, and if a substance is added to give the gas colour, it may influence the outcome of the experiment. Also temperature is difficult to sustain and be made exact for all the experiments. Similarly the use of a catalyst complicates things, and if used incorrectly could alter the outcome of the experiment. All other factors however must be kept constant while we are varying the concentration. Both the sodium thiosulphate and the Hydrochloric acid are soluble in water, so the concentration of either can be changed. However I have chosen to vary the sodium thiosulphate as it is available in larger amounts, and various concentrations are prepared. I will time how long it will take varying concentrations of Sodium Thiosulphate to react with the Hydrochloric acid so that the solution when placed above the white paper with the black cross is so reacted that one cannot see the cross through the opaque liquid. In order for my findings to be valid the experiment must be a fair one. I will use the same standard each time for judging when the X has disappeared. I will make sure that the measuring cylinders for the HCl and thiosulphate will not be mixed up. The amount of HCl will be 5 cm3 each time, and the amount of thiosulphate will be fixed at 20 cm3. Also room temperature will be used as the temperature as it is practical and will not need to be monitored.

Possession in The Exorcist Essay -- The Exorcist

Being Possessed The idea of possession can frighten many people. What horror movie producers and directors that go into this field are counting on is that they can use it to frighten their viewers. The Exorcist and The Exorcist Beginning both are centered on the act of exorcism. Both demoniacs in the films are women though their fates are polar opposites. The exorcisms are also shown in different lights. This is done through special effects as well as lighting and music. The first film in the series stays with a cut and dry method of keeping mainly to the exorcism itself; however, its prequel focuses more on fancy special effects and stimulating music. The newest addition to The Exorcist series also adds in the usual Hollywood love story present in most films in our time. Prequels tend to also serve the purpose of story building, regardless of how new it is. In this case it has the duty of creating and explaining the character of Merrin. The success of both The Exorcist and The Exorcist Beg inning was not only due to the story line, but also the mystery of it as well as its acceptance in society and the church. The exorcism itself, such as the effects and the overall focus on it were portrayed differently within The Exorcist and The Exorcist Beginning in accordance with the view from society in general and their expectations on how a movie should be done. The rite of exorcism dates back many centuries. It is a practice not only practiced in Christianity but in Pagan religions as well. The main difference between the two is that Pagan exorcists rely on their own power to expel the demons rather then the Christians drawing their power directly from God to do the job (Baker, 137). This power was given to the Christia... ...new technology back then. Movies have now been mandated by the movie making industry to take on new twists, however. The Exorcist Beginning, being the prequel to the first of the series, had to pull something new to get the viewers it needed for success. Therefore, Harlin put in the notorious love story to add a special little twist to our emotion. This in conjunction with the development of Merrin, puts the actual exorcism out of the spot light. Thus, showing how movies have been changed over time with the change in wants from society. As their wants for a good movie change, so must the actual film to acquire success. The Exorcist and The Exorcist Beginning both followed the expectations of society for their respective filming eras to become very successful movies, having their success fueled by the mixed views and conceptions of both the church and society.

Chapter Notes on Confucius Lives Next Door by T.R. Reid :: Confucius Lives Next Door Asia Essays

Chapter Notes on Confucius Lives Next Door by T.R. Reid Chapter 1: THE OTHER MIRACLE 1) Japan still has the largest foreign currency reserves in the world even after years of recession. This fact was important because later it was explained that everyone in Japan had money and that it was more equally distributed than in the east. 2) East Asia has been extraordinarily successful. They have the safest streets, the strongest families, and the best schools in the world. This statement was important because it showed how this country surpassed other countries especially America. It also showed how safe it was for children to walk around by themselves even when it is at nighttime and with far distance. 3) It is shameful and humiliating in Japan if a couple gets a divorce. Shows how Japan?s high emphasis on morals impacts everyone on a daily basis. 4) Confucius was a big influence and explained the region?s low rates of crime and family breakdown and relatively high level of economic equality and social civility. Shows how Confucius teaches individuals of both high and low birth to strive for success in their lifetime. Chapter 2: EASTERN FLAVOR 1) Baskin Robins in Japan is the biggest ice cream chain in Japan. Also the Thirty-one in the name is pronounced ?Satay-wan? since the Th. is not pronounced in the Japanese language. Interesting to state this because they also say San-kyu instead of Thank You. San-kyu also means 3-9, which gives them their most thankful day of the year March 9. It?s just interesting to point out. 2) Kentucky Fried Chicken was the most successful food chain in Japan. Showed how Japan easily accepts and institutes foreign markets and ideas without hesitation or humiliation. They adapt so well to the outside world. 3) Stealing was very shameful so a mountain bike that was not locked would be considered very safe in the streets. Showed their high standards and respect for others which has contributed to many successes in Japan. 4) There is a different language for greeting somebody who stands above you in hierarchy and a whole different language for ordinary conversation. This shows how language plays a role in Japan by the maintenance of the hierarchical structure of the society.

Case Study Proposal for Coca Cola Amatil Sydney †Blowfill Technology Essay

Subject: Case Study on Coca- Cola Amatil (Australia) I am pleased to submit â€Å"A proposal for the Blow fill technology Packaging Project†. The material described in the attached proposal used the most relative and advance data on implementation of blow fill technology by Coca Cola Amatil. Of the particular interest are the state of the art technologies that are used by the organization to improve the supply chain and make environment friendly. The proposal explains the need to work on analyzing the crucial issues faced by the organization while implementing this technology. Please have a look at the case study proposal and in case you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact. Yours truly, Niranjan R Balikai Project summary The case study would work on analysing, the implementation of blow fill technology at Coca Cola Amatil. Based on the current information, implementation of this technology will reduce the risks associated with quality. The contamination of bottle can be avoided. The use of blow- fill technology at CCA lead to cost reductions along with reduction in carbon footprint at CCA by eliminating the empty bottle storage, transport costs and raw material rise PET resin which was previously used to manufacture bottles. The most important point of focus in this case is to analyse the benefits that CCA derives from implementation of blow fill technology and to examine the extent to which this technology could be used as a means to stay ahead in these competitive times. Therefore, a comprehensive analysis of the costs and benefits of blow fill technology at Coca Cola Amatil and extensive insight on management at CCA would be required for this project. INTRODUCTION Introduction to Company Coca- Cola Amatlil (CCA) is known as one of the largest bottlers of the various non-alcoholic, ready to drink beverages in the region of Asia Pacific. CCA is one of the world’s top five bottlers of Coca- Cola. The organization has an employee base of more than 15,000 people and maintained access to around 265 million customers among which 700,000 are active customers. CCA is known to have operations in five major countries and these countries include Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Fiji and Papua New Guinea. The company works on manufacturing as well as selling and distribution of a well-diversified product portfolio. This portfolio includes water, coffee, carbonated soft drinks, fruit juice, energy drinks, flavoured milk and even ready to eat fruits and vegetable products are packaged by CCA (CCA, 2013). Coca- Cola Amatil is involved in the selling and distribution of some of the premium spirits portfolio of the Beam Global Spirits along with premium wines, which takes into account products like Makers Mark and Canadian Club. Coca- Cola Company owns around 30% share of CCA and there are two directors sitting among the eight member board of directors at CCA (CCA, 2013). Coca Cola Amatil head office is located in Sydney. CCA is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. The company has a market capitalization of more than $8 billion and the company is among one of the top 50 Australian listed companies (CCA, 2013). Coca Cola Amatil reported a net profit after tax of almost 558$ million in the year 2012 before significant items. This profit observed an increase of around 5% from 2012 (Annual repo rt, 2012). Introduction to Technology CCA decided to open two new â€Å"blow fill† technology lines for production facility in the year 2011. The â€Å" blow fill† technology represented around 35$ million investment in the Coca Cola Amatil South Australian operations which in turn enables the organization to design and manufacture their own PET beverage bottle by utilizing less raw material. Blow fill technology was considered as one of the single largest capital investment made in the history of CCA and this new technology was analyzed to bring change into the entire nature of the manufacturing in the business of CCA (Coca-Cola Amatil, 2011). The attached file in the appendix Coca-Cola Amatil (Aust) Pty Ltd  Australian Packaging Covenant Action Plan provides the benefits and time associated with the implementation of blow fill technology at Coca Cola Amatil. CCA views that by introducing this technology, the organization was enabled to redesign the entire small carbonated soft drink and the water PET bo ttle range. This technological innovation brought some major benefits to the organization, which are very good for Coca Cola Amatil, the customers of the company, and the communities in which they operate. Some of the major benefits include significant savings in cost, production efficiency gains and the increase in shelf life of the product and the product stacking ability (Coca-Cola Amatil, 2011). BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY & PURPOSE OF PROPOSAL Coca Cola Amatil vertically integrated their manufacturing operation in order to enable the PET bottle self-manufacture and to manufacture the preforms and PET caps. There are various investments made in warehouses and production facilities by CCA. However, the largest piece from the Project Zero which is known as the largest of the capital project undertaken by Coca Cola Amatil is on the 450$ million investment on PET bottle manufacture also known as blow fill which is likely to get functional in all the major manufacturing operations of the group most likely in 2015 (Trevor, 2012). This investment made by CCA meant to reduce the PET resin in the environment equal to around fifty thousand trucks off the road and the truck loading reduced to almost 7 minutes which was actually 25 minutes leading to stock accountancy from 80% to now 98% (Trevor, 2012). Coca Cola Amatil works on continuing high levels of automation in their supply chain like including various automated guided vehicles along with artificial intelligence, advanced robotics and various other technologies to provide benefits in the future. The investments in technology made by CCA in their supply chain shows that these investments were instrumental in turning the company in the 90’s characterized at that time as a low technological organization to now as a profitable and customer centric consumer goods business. The question here is to understand that whether investment in blow fill technology would enable Coca Cola Amatil to achieve competitive advantage in these challenging times. If not then is this technology only makes contribution to the business in terms of cost saving and supply chain improvement. Statement of the problem in company Coca Cola Amatil sees packaging of their products as one of the most valuable resource and not as waste. One of the examples is that every single PET bottle is considered as a resource and they are recycled to make other products. Coca Cola Amatil recognizes that they are required to work on sustainable packaging and responsible recycling making an important contribution to the environment. That is one reason that the company main a huge investment in Blow Fill Technology that allows them to product light weighting PET bottles. Making an investment in a technology to this extent enables the organization to reap major benefits including cost saving and production efficiency. However, the point of concern is that whether investing in blow fill technology enabled Coca Cola Amatil to stay ahead of the competition. This case would explore the entire implementation of blow fill technology to identify the critical issues faced by Coca Cola Amatil during the implementation of this technology . Along with that, this case would analyze the benefits that Coca Cola Amatil achieved by implementation of Blow Fill technology and whether blow fill technology would enable the firm to remain competitive in these challenging economic times where the competition is tough and investment of this scale need to deliver significant outcomes. Proposed solutions Coca Cola Amatil aims to implement blow fill technology in all the major manufacturing plants. For this reason, it is extremely for the organization to work on utilizing this technological innovation in a manner that would enable them to achieve a competitive edge and at the same time provide business with benefits like costs saving and reduction in raw material. Therefore, the case would enable CCA to discover the path that they can work on in order to use this technology as a means to stay competitive ACTIVITIES OF IMPLEMENTATION The following flow chart provides a clear picture of the list of activities that are to be performed in a systematic order to complete the case study within the identified period. Activity/ Week| Week 1| Week 2| Week 3| Week 4| Week 5| Week 6| Week 7| Week 8| Week 9| Research background on company | | | | | | | | | | Literature search & Developing Questionnaire| | | | | | | | | | Visit to the Plant| | | | | | | | | | Conducting Interview| | | | | | | | | | Analysis of Primary and Secondary Data| | | | | | | | | | Conclusion | | | | | | | | | | Writing Case Study| | | | | | | | | | Final editing, formatting, and compiling| | | | | | | | | | CONCLUSION This case study would examine the implementation of blow fill technology in one of the significant technological firms Coca Cola Amatil. The case in itself provides the reader with a thorough insight into the implementation of one of the most important technologies and the critical issues faced by Coca Cola Amatil while implementing the blow fill technology. Along with that while analyzing the blow fill technology as a means to achieve a competitive edge, this offers the reader with an understanding as to how an organization can utilize their existing resources to remain competitive in these extremely challenging times. BIBLIOGRAPHY * Annual report (2012). Available at : http://ccamatil.com/InvestorRelations/AnnualReports/2012/CO27_CCA%20Annual%20Report%20-%20A4_220313_FIN_LR_single.pdf[ Accessed 1st April 2013] * Coca-Cola Amatil (2011) . Coca-Cola Amatil Unveils $35 Million Investment In Bottle Self manufacture. Available at : http://ccamatil.com/InvestorRelations/md/2011/Coca-Cola%20Amatil%20unveils%20$35m%20investment%20in%20bottle%20self-manufacture.pdf[ Accessed 31st March 2013] * CCA (2013). Company Overview. (online). Available at : http://ccamatil.com/AboutCCA/Pages/CompanyOverview.aspx [ Accessed 3rd April 2013] * Clarke, T. (2012) Big companies count on technology for supply chain future ( Sydney morning herald). Available at :

What Dog are You?

Dogs are one of the few animals that are considered as pets and are usually domesticated by man. These canines are usually groomed to become guards or simply a home-buddy and best friend. Others spend time, efforts and money to teach their pet dogs certain tricks and abilities. Dogs, in general, are friendly and kind to their master/s while aloof and sometimes can pose threat to strangers. In current times, dogs are associated with their masters in terms of attitude, physical appearance, and abilities. In these regards, I would like to take into account the breed Saluki and its similarities to myself. Saluki, pronounced as Sa-loo-key, is a pure breed that can be traced as far back as 3 500 B. C. The relevance of this claim can be identified through an inspection of paintings found inside the Egyptian pyramids and tombs. It also regarded as special and at some places worshiped in the Middle East regions (Brown, 1968). Murawski elaborated that Saluki plays a significant role for the Egyptians. It is revered and is known as ‘el hor’ or ‘noble one’ There is even a tradition that when a saluki died, the family that owns it shaved off their eyebrows. It is also known as Persian greyhound or gazelle greyhound (O’Neil, 2007). Saluki is originally used by the Bedouin tribe to hunt for gazelles. Gazelles, by the way, are considered as the quickest of all antelopes (Murawski, 2001). This illustrates that Saluki’s are fast runners. According to dogbreedinfo. com, Saluki’s run at top speed of 40 mph. In Bitain and some parts of Europe, Saluki is prized for their hunting skills to bring down an agile hare (Hom, 2008 ). Saluki is usually compared or at times confused as greyhound. This is due to the fact that both are ‘gazehounds, hunting by sight and have similar body type (Allsen, 2006)’. Both of them exhibit features such as ‘long legs and deep chest which are built for speed and endurance (Allsen, 2006 )’. The difference between the two breeds is their ears. Allsen, (2006), described that greyhounds are known for their pricked and short ears that differ from saluki which are pendulous and long and at time feathered or has longer furs. I can relate myself with Saluki in terms of temperament. Saluki’s are sensitive which highly demonstrates my perceptive side. I am critical of another person’s emotion/s and of what other people think. I always take into consideration other people especially when they will be affected by decision/s. Saluki is also even-tempered, that is they do not get mad easy. Although, I sometimes get mood swings when really irritable circumstances are present, I usually try to understand the logic behind things before reacting. This attitude could reflect being even-tempered since I do not react easily when triggered by heated or annoying events. Other characters of saluki includes being gentle and affectionate (Burke, 2005). In my opinion I am not really an aggressive type when in comes to my friends and families. However, like a Saluki, I seldom show my affection. I am barely a demonstrative type. Thus, people often think I am taking them for granted when in fact I just don’t want to show my emotional side. Burke (2005) elaborated that Saluki are happy in the company of other Saluki. Well, this seems to generally portray my own temperament. For one I only make friends with people who have common traits with me. One cannot be close and happy with someone you cannot connect anything about. I am a magnanimous and generous type of person especially to friends. I am also sincere to my friends and family. When something wrong happens to anyone of them there’s this natural tendency in me to retaliate. Saluki, according to O’Neil (2007) is ideal for active people. They are recommended outdoors due to their running skills and instinct. They are basically inactive indoors. This means they are quiet, clean and enjoys as much attention, just like a cat (Burke, 2005). I think I am very much the same since I am really quiet at home but a bit more active outdoors. In the outdoors I am a bit more talkative. I can express myself more freely with friends than family members. I enjoy camping and swimming outdoors most specifically in places I haven’t been. Camping makes me feel refreshed and free. Saluki is known to be a good watchdog (Burke, 2005). Although, of course I am not a watchman or a guard, I often watch other people and, as mentioned above, reflect on their possible position regarding a certain issue. It is not as though I am trying to learn mind reading. It is simply taking into account what their views would be and how I will or can be affected by them. As explained, Salukis are prominent hunters. They are known as hunter millennium ago and they are still used to hunt in some Middle East countries up until today. Despite their non-aggressive nature towards humans, dogbreedinfo. com explained that it is Saluki’s natural instinct to kill or chase non-canine animals. Thus, it is recommended that obedience training are needed to keep their hunting instinct under control. Well, I don’t possess such hunting instinct myself. But I believe I am not an obedient type either. I believe that humans are embedded with their capacity to reason and think for themselves. Thus, at times it is simply hard to follow everything that your parents or elders say. There are occasions when I disobey rules but I guess it is normal for people to do things this way. It is like testing the limits of my ability and luck. My favorite sport is soccer which is like hunting in the sense that the goal is to get the ball. Somehow, I am also a fast runner but not as fast as the Saluki, I mean, I cannot outrun a gazelle but I am confident that my running skills are good enough especially in the soccer field. In the soccer game, the Saluki abilities reflected my own since I also need to be watchful and to try to get hold of the ball as much as possible. Physically, Saluki has thin body type with long legs. Basically I am also medium built. Although I am not as thin as Salukis are. Brown quoted Morrow in commenting that ‘Saluki’s look as if they undergone 7 weeks of famine’. I don’t really look like that. But at least I am not a fat type of guy or a muscle builder type. I also don’t have long legs; I guess my legs are normal for my height. Saluki’s has feathered fur in the ear area which somehow resembles my curly hair, according to my friends. My friends and family agree that I do resemble some of Saluki’s attitude although I do not look so much like a Saluki. My abilities do resemble some of those portrayed by Saluki such as good running skills. Nevertheless, I am not as thin as Saluki and I am not so much as a hunter type. I believe that I best display Saluki’s abilities in the soccer field. I enjoy the outdoors as much as Saluki does. Trying to relate myself to a dog is something that uncovers my inner self. In doing this essay I did amazing discovery regarding some parts of my attitude that are too blatant for me to pay attention to. A dog indeed resembles some human abilities and a certain type of dog can be appropriate for certain types of person. As for me, I guess a saluki is not a bad match. I prefer saluki than a shiatsu or a poodle, that’s for sure.