The last king of Scotland Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The last king of Scotland - Essay Example Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy), a young Scottish doctor, happens to be in the closest circle of Amin’s followers. In the beginning of the film, Nicholas is inspired by passionate speeches Amin gives at every occasion. People believe Amin hoping that he will lead Uganda to success. Nicholas also sees a prospective leader who can change the country and make it prosperous. Amin produces the same impression on his foreign partners. It is revealed that he comes to power with the help of British ambassadors. Amin promises people that he will take care of them. Ironically, he is aimed at taking care of his life. Uganda’s budget is spent on posh cars, palaces and parties Amin organizes for his friends. He likes people who flatter him. He likes British because he served in the British Army. He has the best cars, modernized hospitals, fashionable clothing while people die from starvation. Amin is an eccentric leader; his personality has something comic and frightening in it. His closest followers have to laugh when he is laughing. His reactions are unpredictable. He likes different medals and titles to such an extent that he claims that he is the last king of Scotland. His tyranny is represented not in politics only but in his relationships with his wives. One of the children of his third wife Kay (Kerry Washington) is epileptic. However, Amin does not allow keeping him in the hospital. He insists that his wife has to lead isolated way of life in order to fact this shameful fact from other people. General Amin is afraid of being killed. He suspects all people that they can poison his food or stand him up. He believes nobody. People who can express their opinion are not appreciated in Amin’s palace. It is the reason why Nicholas is excluded from Amin’s friends circle. His opinions become too humiliating for Amin, who wants to be the best. Nicholas becomes one of the prisoners of Amin’s regime. He is not allowed to leave the

Criminology 11 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Criminology 11 - Research Paper Example Certainly to a victim of crime the sentencing phase is the most critical part of the justice system. The Canadian system incorporates the input of the victim whenever practical to do so. In this way the sentencing process focuses on addressing the damage inflicted by the offender’s actions and its impact on the victim and to society, instead of focusing exclusively on the punishment aspect. If the person accused of a crime either pleads or is found guilty, the court has many options. Prior to sentencing the judge generally requests a pre-sentencing report which provides information regarding the accused party’s realistic prospects for rehabilitation. It also assesses the potential threat to the community they present. While preparing the report, the parole officer usually contacts the victim to establish the nature and significance of the physical, psychological, financial and material harms they suffered. (â€Å"Victims,† 2011). The Canadian government reformed the Criminal Code in September 1996. Included in these comprehensive reforms is sentencing guidelines that promote reparations for the various injuries inflicted on victims and the community. In addition, the sentencing guidelines are meant to teach the offender a sense of responsibility and appreciation of the hurt caused to the victim(s) and to society. Both of these objectives demonstrate the restorative nature of the sentencing phase in the Canadian system of justice. However, this rethinking of sentencing procedures does not replace but adds to the traditional objectives of sentencing such as deterrence, denunciation and rehabilitation. The addition of restorative sentencing in 1996 was referred to as a â€Å"watershed marking the most significant reform to the law of sentencing in Canada’s history† by the Supreme Court of Canada when considering the Gladue decision. (â€Å"Making,† 2012). The high court

Climate Change And The Kyoto Protocol Politics Essay

Climate Change And The Kyoto Protocol Politics Essay The Kyoto Protocol under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international agreement that serves to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2% by 2012. The Protocol was adopted on December the 11th, 1997 in Kyoto, Japan and then kicked off on 16 February, 2005. This lengthy timespan was as such due to the terms agreed upon in Kyoto, stating that at least 55 parties had to ratify the agreement and the total combined emissions of the ratifying parties had to equal at least 55% of the global production of greenhouse gases. The official rules as to the implementation of the Protocol are called the Marrakesh Accords as they were agreed on at the 7th Conference of the Parties (COP7) in Marrakesh, 2001. All parties that sign and ratify the protocol are committed to reduce emissions of Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous oxide, Hydrofluorocarbons, Perfluorocarbons and Sulphur hexafluoride. Should the participant countries fail to reduce their emissions to target levels, they are required to engage in emissions trading (the buying of credits from other participating countries that are able to exceed their targets in order to offset the emissions so that the collective target of reduction by 5.2% can still be reached). Under the Protocol, countries have to monitor and keep exact records of trades carried out. They also are responsible for monitoring the progress towards their emission targets and a compliance system is put in place to ensure that parties meet their commitments as well as helping them do so should they have problems. The Protocol is designed to assist countries to adapt to the Negative effects of climate change and it facilitates development and distribution of means that could help counter act the impacts of climate change. The Kyoto Protocol is a crucial movement towards a global fight against the reduction of Greenhouse gases. As of September 2011, 191 countries have signed and ratified the protocol with the United States being the only nation to have signed but not ratified the protocol. The Bali Action Plan The Bali Road Map, formulated in 2007 at the Bali Climate Change conference, consists of a number of decisions that that according to the UNFCCC, represent the various tracks that are essential to reaching a secure climate future. The Bali Road Plan incorporates the Bali Action Plan which charted the course for a new negotiating process designed to tackle climate change. All nations at the conference in Bali acknowledged that there is conclusive evidence of global warming and that it is crucial that humans make every possible effort to reduce the risks of the possible severe impacts that climate change could have. The outcome that was reached recognized that there was a need for deep cuts in global emissions and that the emissions of developed countries must fall by 10-40% by the year 2020. The Cancun Agreements Settled on December 11 at Cancun, Mexico, the Cancun agreements represent vital steps to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and building a sustainable future. The objectives of the agreements included: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions over time so that the global average temperature rise is kept below 2 degrees. To encourage participation of all countries in reducing the emissions with proportionality to each countries responsibilities and capabilities. Ensure international transparency of the actions taken by countries. Making sure that global progress towards the long term goal is reviewed on a regular basis. Mobilizing the development and transfer of clean technology to boost efforts to counter climate change. Provide funds in the short and long term to enable developing countries to take greater and more effective action against climate change. Assist vulnerable people in the world to adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change. Protect the worlds forests which are vital to reducing levels of Carbon dioxide and increasing the levels of oxygen. Establish effective institutions and systems which will ensure that these objectives are implemented successfully. (Note: all objectives adapted from http://cancun.unfccc.int/what-governments-will-do-in-2011/ ) The agreements were aimed to move the international action on climate change and global warming forward by primarily bringing countries greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets under the UNFCCC process. COP17/CMP7 COP17 refers to the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Framework Convention on Climate Change, while CMP7 refers to the 7th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the parties to the Kyoto Protocol. The COP meets annually to assess and discuss progress in dealing with climate change. They make decisions and adopt resolutions which are all filed in the reports published by the Conference of the Parties. The 17th conference of the parties (COP17) was held in Durban in December 2011. Its purpose and aim was to build on the agreements that were reached during COP16 in Cancun and to establish a new climate change regime. Being a developing country, South Africa would like to see a balance between climate and development initiatives as well as global action that ensures that temperature increases are kept below 2degrees Celsius. Another aim was to have countries design institutions to provide developing countries with adequate and efficient climate support. South Africa also planned on showcasing the way in which climate change affects a developing country as well as the responses it has implemented. At the conference in Durban all goals were eventually reached and decided on with the nations agreeing on: Adopting a universal agreement on climate change A framework for the reporting of emission reductions for developed and developing countries. An urgent support package for developing nations that are suffering the most under the effects of climate change. The package is to include an agreement to form a green climate fund. Canadas withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol On 13 December 2011, Canada withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol stating that it did not represent the way forward for them. It seems that Canada has never stood fully behind the Kyoto Protocol as rather than cutting their emissions by 6%, they were headed for a rise of 16-30%. They stated that should they have decided to remain in the protocol, it would have cost them $13.6 billion in fines or penalties seeing as they failed to reach their target. The Canadian government stated that this would result in a severe blow to their economy and could result in either a mass loss of jobs or approximately an additional $1600 per family in tax so as to accumulate the money to be used for emissions trading with nations that exceeded their targets in order to offset the amount so that Canada could in theory have reached their target. Instead the government ducked out early to avoid any cost and slammed the protocol by stating that it fails to include the worlds two largest greenhouse gas emitters being China and the United States. They said that the protocol only serves to harm hurt Canadas competitiveness and overall it proves ineffective at reducing global emissions. The decision was met with disappointed emotions all over, with environment critic Megan Leslie saying that pulling out only saves Canada from having to report on its failures, she went on to say, What this is really about is the fact that our government is abdicating its international obligations. Its like were the kid in school who knows theyre gonna fail the class, so we have to drop it before that actually happens. Elizabeth May, a life long environmentalist and green party leader went on to say that it is unnecessary and that an agreement could most likely have been easily reached. She is quoted as saying, This is not just big, this is disastrous for Canada, and Im embarrassed to be represented by this government. According to Environment Minister Peter Kent, Canada will now look forward to a more global deal that will incorporate all nations in the fight against climate change and reducing carbon emissions. Canadas withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol means that it is now really only the Europeans that are staying with the Protocol. Canada has now taken a similar stance to the Americans by aiming only to reduce carbon emissions without restricting their growth as a country. As Greenblog states, their withdrawal doesnt change much for the fight against reducing carbon emissions as Canada was never really a part of it seeing as their emissions have increased by 20% rather than decreasing. The blog states that future UN negotiations will certainly become even more polarized and the mistrust created will surely delay, or in worse case even sabotage, efforts to secure a global climate deal for 2020 and beyond. But one thing that is painfully clear now is that a legally binding climate deal does not guarantee countries wont ignore or walk away from their commitments. Their statement is easy to agree with because Canada has now made use of their legal right to walk away. They are now the first country to leave the Protocol and there is no reason why they cant now be joined by more countries. As the Blog states, this opens up a whole new side to the case involving possible instability and distrust between nations which will need to be overcome should the fight against climate change be successful. Countries not in favour of the Kyoto Protocol USA- the USA is not in favour due to the fact that the Protocol does not take into account emissions from developing countries which according to the USA will soon match their own emissions. Australia has not ratified the protocol saying that- it will not ratify the Protocol until the USA does and until developing countries are included. Canada has left the Protocol. Source 1 gives a clear indication of the Participants and the nations not in favour of the Protocol as of 2012. Source 1 Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Kyoto Protocol participation map 2010.png Kyoto Protocol participation map as of February, 2012 Green indicates countries that have ratified the treaty (Annex I II countries in dark green) Brown = No intention to ratify[1] Red = Countries which have withdrawn from the Protocol.[2] Grey = no position taken or position unknown South Africas position on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol The South African Government have taken a stance on climate change that incorporates the fact that the poor will be most severely affected by it even though they have contributed the least to its causes. Due to Africas high level of poverty, they are thus most vulnerable to the effects of Climate Change. The government believes that Climate change is a global problem, which requires global solutions, which can only be attained through the cooperative efforts of all nations and not by a single country working on its own. The government set objectives which are outlined in the National Climate Change Response White Paper. These objectives can be briefly understood as being: To help and support all South Africans affected by Climate Change and to respond to the impacts of it in doing so. To work together with all nations in the international effort to lessen and end the effects of climate change. South Africa agrees with global scientific opinions which have stated that it is vital that the average global temperatures dont rise any more than 2 degrees so as to avoid possible social and environmental consequences. As a signatory of the Kyoto Protocol, South Africa contributes its fair share in the fight to lower the global amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted. However they are classified as a developing country and hence they are not subjected to the more demanding commitments placed on developed countries. South Africa has taken an interesting approach toward the greenhouse gas reduction efforts by stating that they believe these efforts should work in tandem with an approach that empowers the poor thus ensuring human dignity while lowering greenhouse gas emissions. This furthers their initial beliefs of he fact that the poor population on the African continent have contributed the least yet suffer the most. The media has not made much of Africas position on the Kyoto Protocol. What we can however gather from previous sources is that nearly all African countries have signed and ratified the treaty. All countries in Africa are also classified as developing, and hence they are subject to less demanding targets for their emission reductions. What we have also learnt is that Africa, because of its poverty, is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and hence it is in the continents best interest that all countries support the global problem of climate change so as to lessen the effects it has on Africa as a continent. Africa should be of a similar belief as South Africa, which is that the poor have contributed least to climate change yet they suffer the most. With this belief, the continent will go a long way to the fight against both poverty and climate change. Somerset College and Climate Change In my opinion there are two main areas of Somerset College that may lead to high carbon emissions. The first area is very direct as it relates to the transport the school uses as well as the vehicles that bring students to and from school everyday. Somerset College sees hundreds if not thousands of cars pass through its gates daily and these cars are responsible for releasing carbon monoxide gases into the air. Not only does it harm our environment but it contributes to a high amount of carbon emissions that affect climate change. The second area involves Somerset Colleges Administration and printing system that is responsible for printing many hundreds of pages of paper for school and admin purposes on a daily basis. This indirectly affects climate change as paper is made from trees that produce oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from the air. In this way, carbon emissions wont decrease and hence it makes the school indirectly responsible for letting out carbon emissions. Somerset College have however started moving towards a greener future by printing less and less paper and making everything electronic. They also dont make use of air conditioners and instead use fans. Electricity to certain parts of the school is provided by solar panels and the school has implemented bus services to lessen the amount of vehicles on the property. They have also installed new hot water geysers around the school that reduce energy consumption by nearly fifty percent when compared with the old ones. The school also has an eco-club which ensures that the school is always striving to do what is best for the environment.

The Style of Beowulf Essay -- Epic Beowulf essays

The Style of Beowulf  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   Ursula Schaefer in â€Å"Rhetoric and Style† gives an overview of the history of criticism of style:    Examination of the poem’s rhetoric and style started out with investigating common Germanic features. On the other end of the scale, attention was given to a possible Latin influence on the poem’s style. Recently, there have been reconsiderations of authochthonous traditions linked mainly with the analysis of larger narrative patterns (105).    Beowulf ‘s stylistic features will be examined in this essay, along with the perspectives of various literary critics.    T. A. Shippey in â€Å"The World of the Poem† expresses himself on the subject of a point of style in the Old English poem Beowulf: â€Å"The poet reserves the right to say what people are thinking; he does not, however, regard this as ultimately important† (39). It is true that the reader is forced to draw conclusions, from the words and actions of the characters, about the thoughts of the characters. This is one of the many preferences of the author which contribute to the style or â€Å"how† writers say what they say (Abrams 303).    Joan Blomfield in â€Å"The Style and Structure of Beowulf† takes note of two important features of the poem’s style – the irony and the tendency to antithesis:    This tendency to antithesis, frequently verging on paradox, and the constant play of irony are but stylistic manifestations of those movements of the poet’s thought which shape the very stuff of the poem (Blomfield 58).    Antithesis abounds: The poem has a reference to the burning of Heorot included in the description of its first glories, and the prediction of family strife with Ingeld while yet all is well in ... ...oks, 1977.    Donaldson, E. Talbot. â€Å"Old English Prosody and Caedmon’s Hymn.† Beowulf: The Donaldson Translation, edited by Joseph F. Tuso. New York, W.W.Norton and Co.: 1975.    Magoun, Frances P. â€Å"Oral-Formulaic Character of Anglo-Saxon Narrative Poetry.†Ã‚   In TheBeowulf Poet, edited by Donald K. Fry. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1968.    Schaefer, Ursula.   â€Å"Rhetoric and Style.† In A Beowulf Handbook, edited by Robert Bjork and John D. Niles. Lincoln, Nebraska: Uiversity of Nebraska Press, 1997.    Shippey, T.A.. â€Å"The World of the Poem.† In Beowulf – Modern Critical Interpretations, edited by Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1987.    Tharaud, Barry. â€Å"Anglo-Saxon Language and Traditions in Beowulf.† In Readings on Beowulf, edited by Stephen P. Thompson. San Diego: Greenhaven Press,1998.      

Music in renaissance society Essay

The Renaissance was all about rediscovery. The term itself â€Å"renaissance† actually means rebirth. The period represented a time that was rich in personal expression and innovation. As society transcended with the times, so did many aspects of daily life, including music and arts. In fact many of the popular hymns of today came from the Renaissance period. One such masterpiece is â€Å"Ave Maria†, composed by Josquin Desprez (Fuller). â€Å"Ave Maria† reflected many social traits of the time it was composed. It also reflected the type of music that was developed during the Renaissance. It is no wonder why Josquin Desprez is recognized as the most successful composer of his time. Through the music he created, he was able to showcase the real essence of his time. During the Renaissance period a number of different types of music emerged. Aside from the popular Mass music played in churches, the period introduced Motets, and also saw the beginnings of secular music. Since the Renaissance was all about personal expression, it was natural that many different forms of music were created. At the same time because it was about this time that printing was first invented, the spread of music became much easier. Copies of different compositions were easily produced allowing for more people to hear them in different parts and stages. One of the most popular music innovations of the Renaissance period is the Motet. It is a type of music that uses pervasive imitation that simply means the blending of different vocal ranges into one harmonious combination. The Motet highlights vocals more than instruments, a distinct trait of Renaissance music. The Renaissance was essentially a time when composers began putting focus on the emotions that were derived from the lyrics of the songs. Vocals were emphasized more than the instruments. People began relating more to music because of the meaning and message different compositions relayed. The Motet can also be considered a musical revolution at that time because most of the Motets presented new complexities unknown to music prior to the Renaissance. They also attract a personal connection between the composer, the performers, and the listener. â€Å"Ave Maria† by Josquin Desprez is one of the most popular Motets that were composed during the Renaissance period. This Desprez masterpiece remains one of the most played hymns in churches today. This Motet is comprised of four distinct voices, a very rare choral work even today. In fact â€Å"Ave Maria† is considered one of the most outstanding Motets of all time because of this characteristic. Interesting enough this musical trait essentially depicts the culture of that time. It showed how people were starting to truly celebrate their individuality without completely losing their connection with the rest of society. While the Renaissance period ushered in many new ideas, people during that time remained traditional when it came to things concerning religion. â€Å"Ave Maria† is essentially a prayer set to music. In fact many of the popular music that rose during this period were church music. This spoke of how people gave high regard to religious practices and the church. Josquin Desprez wrote the quintessential Renaissance music in â€Å"Ave Maria†. From its deliberate and serene sound to its harmonious weaving of voices, and a theme that celebrated the times, it is one of the most important pieces of music of the period. It reflected the culture change that was going on with its groundbreaking style of music. It was also very loyal to the things people held in high regard during those times. And while it was a product of musical mastery, â€Å"Ave Maria† became one of the most influential music of the Renaissance period because of its enduring message and meaning that connected well with the people. Work Cited Fuller, Richard. Renaissance Music (1450-1600). 2010 January 14. Retrieved June 7, 2010 from http://www. rpfuller. com/gcse/music/renaissance. html

Competitive Strategy Southwest Airlines Essay

The domestic US airline industry has been intensely competitive since it was deregulated in 1978. In a regulated environment, most of the cost increases were passed along to consumers under a fixed rate-of-return based pricing scheme. This allowed labor unions to acquire a lot of power and workers at the major incumbent carriers were overpaid. After deregulation, the incumbent carriers felt the most pain, and the floodgates had opened for newer more nimble carriers with lower cost structures to compete head-on with the established airlines. There were several bankruptcies followed by a wave of consolidation with the fittest carriers surviving and the rest being acquired or going out of business. Analysis of the airline industry To determine the profitability of the airline industry, we will do an industry analysis using Porter’s five-forces framework. This industry analysis will help us in understanding the size of the Potential Industry Earnings (PIE), and how much of this th e different participants can extract. Rivalry among competitors There is intense rivalry among different airlines. In the pre-deregulation days, airlines competed mostly on things like service, meals and in-flight movies etc., since prices were mandated by the Civil Aeronautics Board. In the post-de-regulation era, this rivalry has taken on the form of severe price competition, with airlines ruthlessly undercutting each other with fare promotions. There are a number of airlines making the airline industry fairly crowded. Even though the 3-firm concentration in 1992 was 50%, and the 8-firm concentration was 92%, the fact that the airlines competed on price made the industry much more competitive than the numbers might suggest. The service the airlines sell (air transport) is pretty homogenous, and there is not much product (in this case, service) differentiation. The major differences between the services offered by different airlines include the total time spent on an airplane and the number of connections. While time-sensitive business travelers may prefer shorter, direct flights, most leisure t ravelers don’t see this as a big differentiator when the price is factored in. Buyers (both business as well as leisure travelers) have low switching costs and there is very little relationship-specific investment that travelers make. Although the airlines made an effort to create customer loyalty by offering frequent flyer programs, most of the competitive advantage this provided was quickly eroded by almost all airlines offering such programs. Moreover, leisure travelers are motivated to shop around for the best price. The airline industry is also characterized by very high fixed costs. The majority of the operational costs (labor, landing fees, cost of aircraft etc.) are fixed regardless of how full the planes are, and the marginal cost of adding an extra passenger is almost negligible (just the cost of food plus an insignificant amount of extra fuel). Thus, on the margin, every extra seat sold contributes directly to the bottom line. This motivates airlines to undercut each other till price approaches marginal cost. Intense competition also lead to excess s eat capacity in several markets. This, combined with periods of declining demand because of macro-economic factors, and the high fixed costs and low marginal costs make the airline industry very price competitive. Things like access to Computer Reservation Systems and innovative pricing coupled with yield management were competitive advantages for a little while before they become a staple of being in business as an airline. Entry Entry into the domestic airline industry is relatively easy since there are no significant barriers to entry. Inputs such as aircraft maintenance, food service, ground services, reservations etc., could be outsourced. Airplanes could be leased, thereby defraying large initial capital investments, and rights to use gates could be leased at market rates. The minimum efficient scale was not very high since airlines could choose to compete in a few markets, and costs were more or less proportional to the number of flights offered and the number of markets the airline wanted to operate in. The main consideration for profitable entry seemed to be the ability of airlines to fill their airplanes above the breakeven point. In an industry fraught with price competition, brand identity and reputation did not have significant value either. In the airline industry, exit costs are not very high either. Planes could be easily redeployed to other markets, or sold off, and gates and landing rights could be sub-leased to other carriers. Substitutes There are a number of substitutes to air travel, especially over short distances. These include taking other modes of transportation such as driving, taking the train etc., or not traveling at all. The use of technology (like WebEx, NetMeeting, video-conferencing etc.) that facilitates remote virtual collaboration is becoming a good substitute for business air travel as well. Supplier Power The primary inputs to the airline industry include airplanes, labor and fuel. There are only two major manufacturers (three at the time of the case – Boeing, Airbus and McDonnell Douglas) for large commercial aircraft. This, along with the relationship specific investment t hat the airlines make in the form of trained mechanics, existing stock of aircraft etc., is likely to give the aircraft manufacturers some supplier power. A mitigating factor for this supplier power is the lumpy nature of aircraft sales, where there are a few high-value orders placed by airlines with deliveries spanning several years. Labor such as pilots, cabin crew, ground personnel, gate agents etc. are typically unionized and have some bargaining power. However, many airlines especially in the post-deregulation era have used the threat of Chapter 11 bankruptcy to re-negotiate unfavorable labor contracts. Aviation fuel is a commodity and its prices are determined largely by market forces and geo-political factors. Buyer Power The power that airline customers have varies based on the options available to them and the origin-destination city pair. As the General Accounting Office report in 1989 found, fares were 27% higher in monopoly or duopoly hubs than at competitive airports. Sophisticated yield management techniques and competitive pricing have allowed airlines to extract significant consumer surplus in smaller remote markets whe re travelers don’t have much choice and for direct long-haul flights that are preferred by business travelers. Even though there are pockets where some airlines have pricing power, the overall airline industry in characterized by significant buyer power stemming from the intense price competition among airlines. Industry profitability Exhibit 1 provides a summary of this industry analysis. As highlighted by the preceding analysis, the domestic US airline industry is not very profitable. Even though the Potential Industry Earnings seem high (given the volume of air travel and the higher willingness to pay and inelasticity of demand of business travelers), airlines are not able to capture much of these potential earnings. Several factors including intense price competition, excess capacity, high fixed and low marginal costs, along with low barriers to entry and exit, moderate supplier power and significant buyer power contribute to low industry profitability. Southwest’s success for twenty years In spite of a rather gloomy industry outlook, Southwest Airlines has managed to be successful for over twenty years. Southwest has outperformed its competitors by pursuing an operational model that is very different from the traditional larger carriers. Southwest was able to create a differentiated product in an industry dominated by undifferentiated offerings. Southwest took a simple, no-frills approach to flying with no meals and no assigned seating. It flew out of secondary airports where landing fees and costs of operation were much lower. These secondary airports also typically had less traffic so passengers could get to and from the airport with greater ease. Southwest broke the hub-and-spoke model and instead opted to fly frequent flights point to point. By avoiding the hub and spoke model, Southwest did not have to make the massive infrastructure investments that a lot of its competitors had to make. Not having to wait for feeder flights at hub airports, along with the 15-minute turn-around time of aircraft allowed Southwest to better utilize its fleet by keeping its planes in the air for a longer time (11 hours per day as opposed to the industry average of 8.5 hours per day). Southwest also owned only one model of aircraft – the Boeing 737, and was therefore able to achieve economies of scale in stocking components, and training mechanics. All of these measures gave Southwest the lowest cost per Available Seat Mile of 7.1 cents. As a consequence, Southwest had a much lower break-even point than it’s competitors and was able to make money even at lower load factors. With this unique operational model, Southwest not only kept costs down, but also provided customers just what they were looking for – cheap, efficient, timely transportation with high-quality service from a cheerful, motivated staff and without having to wait for connecting flights at hub airports. Southwest offered the lowest prices to price sensitive airline passengers for whom cost was a significant decision criterion. Southwest’s culture Herb Kelleher leveraged one of Southwest’s key resources- its employees to create a set of organizational capabilities, which in turn gave Southwest a competitive advantage. Kelleher institutionalized a culture of having fun while working, and inspired a deep sense of loyalty to the company fr om his workforce. Southwest’s workforce is 90% unionized, but owns 11% of the company. This led to compatibility in incentives between Southwest and its employees. Southwest’s employees did a variety of jobs in contrast to the other major carriers where employees had designated jobs and were reluctant to do anything beyond their strictly defined duties. Having a motivated workforce helped Southwest turn an aircraft around in a record time of 15 minutes. The beauty of Southwest’s operational model was in how each of their steps reinforced the other. A simple, no-frills approach with short haul flights and standardized equipment leading to lower costs, which in turn lead to lower fares in an industry which was extremely price competitive. A well-compensated, highly motivated workforce whose incentives were aligned with those of the company also ensured that things were operating at peak efficiency. A huge part of Southwest’s success in the 20 years since its inception can be attributed to this simple, but remarkably effective model. Threats to Southwest’s continuing success Threats to Southwest’s continuing succ ess include the threat of entry from other low-fare airlines and spin-offs from major airlines that seek to imitate Southwest’s model. With the airline industry bleeding with red ink, the government might step in and start reregulating the industry. In general, regulation and price-setting by the government interferes with free market forces, and breeds inefficiency by creating misaligned incentives and dead-weight losses. Any such re-regulation and government mandated prices would severely hurt Southwest. Other threats to Southwest include the loss of its existing competitive advantages. In particular, any event that triggers the loss of employee morale might lower the operational efficiency at Southwest and erode its cost advantage. Southwest’s go-forward strategy Southwest has designed its strategy around its most important resources and capabilities. It should thus limit its scope to those activities where it has a clear competitive advantage. Southwest should try to grow by replicating its success to new markets and achieving greater economies of scale and organizational learning. Southwest should not try to change its model and try to compete with other traditional airlines by flying long-haul flights and setting up hubs. Doing so would dilute Southwest’s focus and prevent it from leveraging the competitive advantages that have served it well for over two decades. In order to continue to succeed and grow, Southwest has to be able to sustain and build upon its existing competitive advantages. Southwest must focus on making its resources and capabilities (that give it a huge competitive advantage) durable, difficult to identify / understand, and hard to transfer and replicate. Durability: Southwest must focus on making its capabilities more durable than its resources. The airline industry is notorious for its back-to-back boom and bust cycles, and long-lasting advantages such as brand recognition and reputation just do not exist in this industry. Thus, Southwest must constantly focus on making its existing first mover and other advantages durable by keeping its employees motivated and keeping its focus on offering simple, no-frills air travel. Transparency: This refers to the speed with which other firms can imitate Southwest’s strategy. While running an airline is not rocket-science, Southwest does seem to have cracked the code in terms of figuring out the right mix of operational procedures and employee motivation to run a successful profitable airline. To enhance its competitive position, Southwest must focus on capturing and codifying its learning so that its formula for success is harder to identify and understand. Transferability and Replicability: Southwest must focus on making its capabilities less transferable and replicable. Thus, even if a competitor were to acquire the same resources (airplanes, employees etc.) that Southwest has, its capabilities must be hard to transfer and replicate. Southwest has created a unique organizational routine, and has acquired the ability to motivate its people to operate with consistently outstanding cost efficiencies and high levels of service. To build on this, Southwest must continue to focus on its core competencies, reinforce its core values and must continue to align the incentives of its employees with those of the company. In an industry with cut-throat competition and limited profit-making potential, Southwest has successfully pursued a resource based approach to creating sustainable competitive advantages. To continue to succeed and grow, Southwest must focus on identifying and filling resource gaps and continue to offer a differentiated product by exploiting its past organizational learning and its unique characteristics.

Free Essays on The Kats Meow

This well crafted story intertwines ones personal struggles with identity and the battle one undergoes while suffering through a significant personal loss. Margaret Atwood’s, â€Å"Hairball† is based around the main character Kat and her personal struggles with three major conflicts: The conflict within the society in which she lives, the conflict with her romantic interests (specifically Ger), and finally the physical conflict she faces with her own body. The story begins when Kat goes in to the doctor to have an ovarian tumor removed. When the tumor is removed it is was as†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Big as a coconut† (21) and contained red hair, â€Å"There were little bones in it too, or fragments of bones; bird bones, the bones of a sparrow crushed by a car. There was a scattering of nails, toe or finger. There were five perfectly formed teeth.† Kat names the tumor â€Å"hairball† and places it on her mantelpiece for all to see. The â€Å"hairball† seems to reflect her vulnerable nature and her need for children but the personal struggles Kat endures in a society embedded in superficiality have intern caused an emotional imbalance in her personal life. Throughout the years, Kat, an "avant garde" fashion photographer, has altered her image, even her name, to suit the circumstances and the era. Over time Kat has fashioned a seemingly strong and impenetrable exterior, but as Kat’s life begins to disintegrate we dis cover that the strong exterior is just a facade devised to protect a weak and fragile interior. From the beginning of Kat’s life, she was at odds with her environment. When she was a child she was a child, she was Katherine, a doll like representation of what her mother wanted her to be, â€Å"†¦romantic Katherine, dressed by her misty eyed, fussy mother that looked like ruffled pillows†¦Ã¢â‚¬ As a teenager she was Kathy a representation of what others wanted her to be â€Å" a bouncy round faced girl with the gleaming freshly washed hair and en... Free Essays on The Kat's Meow Free Essays on The Kat's Meow This well crafted story intertwines ones personal struggles with identity and the battle one undergoes while suffering through a significant personal loss. Margaret Atwood’s, â€Å"Hairball† is based around the main character Kat and her personal struggles with three major conflicts: The conflict within the society in which she lives, the conflict with her romantic interests (specifically Ger), and finally the physical conflict she faces with her own body. The story begins when Kat goes in to the doctor to have an ovarian tumor removed. When the tumor is removed it is was as†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Big as a coconut† (21) and contained red hair, â€Å"There were little bones in it too, or fragments of bones; bird bones, the bones of a sparrow crushed by a car. There was a scattering of nails, toe or finger. There were five perfectly formed teeth.† Kat names the tumor â€Å"hairball† and places it on her mantelpiece for all to see. The â€Å"hairball† seems to reflect her vulnerable nature and her need for children but the personal struggles Kat endures in a society embedded in superficiality have intern caused an emotional imbalance in her personal life. Throughout the years, Kat, an "avant garde" fashion photographer, has altered her image, even her name, to suit the circumstances and the era. Over time Kat has fashioned a seemingly strong and impenetrable exterior, but as Kat’s life begins to disintegrate we dis cover that the strong exterior is just a facade devised to protect a weak and fragile interior. From the beginning of Kat’s life, she was at odds with her environment. When she was a child she was a child, she was Katherine, a doll like representation of what her mother wanted her to be, â€Å"†¦romantic Katherine, dressed by her misty eyed, fussy mother that looked like ruffled pillows†¦Ã¢â‚¬ As a teenager she was Kathy a representation of what others wanted her to be â€Å" a bouncy round faced girl with the gleaming freshly washed hair and en...