Background of the Study and Significance of the Study Essay Sample free essay sample

1. 1 Background of the StudyTransaction Processing System ( TPS ) aims to better dealing procedures and automatize the handling of informations about concern activities and dealing. The survey is considered as Transaction Processing System ( TPS ) for it aims to better the current system being employed by the company and enable managing big sum of informations. Transaction Processing System is being introduced to concern houses to aids them in bettering their day-to-day dealing procedures and widens their cognition in computing machine systems that will transform their typical concern dealing into a more synergistic environment. Vasquez Pharmacy is located at # 37 Mabolo Street Pag-asa Village. Barangay Katuparan. Taguig City. It is a merchandise oriented company which offers food market points and medical specialties. Vasquez Pharmacy was freshly established on April 27. 2012. They have merely one ( 1 ) Pharmacist. in-charge of managing all the medical specialties and 2 tellers in-charge in all the gross revenues minutess. Vasquez Pharmacy is unfastened 16 hours in a twenty-four hours and 7 yearss in a hebdomad. We will write a custom essay sample on Background of the Study and Significance of the Study Essay Sample or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Customers of Vasquez Pharmacy are normally tricycle drivers and people within its scope. The shop is near to the terminus of trikes and besides to the market place.The developed system is designed to better the gross revenues dealing of Vasquez Pharmacy. The developed system is packed with characteristics that will heighten the gross revenues procedure and improved the undertakings done in the company. The developers developed the system to the company to better their manual process on their gross revenues dealing. 1. 4 Significance of the StudyThe Gross saless Monitoring System is a computerized system that manages and updates the gross revenues of Vasquez Pharmacy. It will besides automatize manual calculation of gross and disbursals every month. This proposed Gross saless Monitoring System can profit the followers: * To the Vasquez Pharmacy The system will supply them enhanced minutess and do their ain company more productive and if in instance the company expands. they are now familiar with how the system works and they can teach new employees in utilizing thesystem. The system enables direction to efficaciously process orders. manage and analyze gross revenues. †¢ Purchasing Officer/ Owner – the system will minimise their undertakings in all the major minutess of the gross revenues.†¢ Pharmacist – The system will cognize if a certain medical specialty is in the critical degree and to forestall the deficit of the medical specialty supply.†¢ Cashier/s – the system will automatize the current manual dealing of gross revenues in cashiering. * To the CustomersThe clients will profit from the system through the teller. It will better Vasquez Pharmacy cashiering minutess and extinguish the hold in paying the points purchased. * To the Developers The developers of this system heighten their accomplishments in systems development and in communicating accomplishments. Through the systems development. the developers will larn how to work in a real-world concern environment and better one’s personality. Another is to develop assurance for calling in the hereafter. * To the Future Researchers This survey will assist pupils to better their accomplishments in developing systems and present them to utilize new engineering in developing a system. It will besides be their usher in broadening such system. And besides this survey will function as a mention for those who want to better the proposed system and add characteristics to the system.

European Management Style In Bangladeshi Culture Management Essay Essay Example

European Management Style In Bangladeshi Culture Management Essay Essay Example European Management Style In Bangladeshi Culture Management Essay Essay European Management Style In Bangladeshi Culture Management Essay Essay Discuss CRITICALLY the construct of national civilization with peculiar mention to your ain state. Critically review informations from a lower limit of two theoretical accounts plus other surveies. Attempt to accommodate any conflicting informations by sing issues of cogency, age, and sampling, recognizing issues of cultural alteration. What grounds is at that place to back up the construct of a national direction manner for your state? Offer a clear decision on these issues. Reflect critically on your ain experience of direction in your state, either as a director or as a subsidiary. Measure TWO critical incidents from your experience and associate them to at least TWO appropriate direction theoretical accounts, and to theoretical accounts of national civilization. To what extent do you see your experiences typical of direction manners in your state? The two elements have equal weighting and both parts must be passed to go through the assignment. Format REQUIRED: Essay non describe manner Full Harvard citing short mention in the text and full mentions in alphabetical order by family name is a mention list at the terminal the work. Ill referenced work will neglect atomically. Word bound is 3000 words and the word count must be given on the assignment. Appendixs may be added and will non be considered in the word count but should non transcend 1000 words- theoretical accounts etc may be placed at that place. There must be clear links in the text to the stuff in the appendices. Submission will be in 12 point Arial fount with 1.5 line spacing. Spelling, grammar and punctuation will be checked electronically and visually and corrected. An electronic transcript will be uploaded to JISC by the pupil and will be checked for plagiarism. Full inside informations on how to upload will be given before entry. Submission deadline- 25/June/2010 Introduction A major challenge of making concern internationally is to accommodate efficaciously to different civilizations. Such version requires an apprehension of cultural diverseness, perceptual experience, stereotypes, and values ( Hodgett and Luthans, 2006 ) . Culture is acquired cognition that people use to construe experiences and bring forth societal behavior. This cognition forms values, creates attitudes and influences how people act ( Hodgett and Luthans, 2006 ) . The chief features of civilization that most bookmans have defined are as follows: Learned Culture is obtained by larning, cognition, pattern, experience etc. instead than familial or replete. Shared Culture is non merely for peculiar individual it is about group of people, society or organisation and signifier through interactions. Transgenerational Culture endures from coevals to coevals. Symbolic Culture is based on symbols for illustration Language can be an of import facet of civilization that helps to stand for different substances and facts. Patterned Culture is integrated and consistent within and across the people, several alterations in action takes topographic point if there needs to be changed. Adaptive Culture is adaptative, people adapt to new fortunes and environment to suit it. As a assortment of civilizations do present in the universe, for international direction, the director do necessitate to cognize about the civilization that they are collaborating with otherwise things might turn out unsuccessful. A most of import characteristic in civilization is Values that is the cardinal rule of an person in relation to their thought of what is right and wrong, good and bad, important and undistinguished, right and incorrect. These are practiced in civilization where it has contemplation on person s behavior and hence due to differences in civilization values can hold different direction systems. Followings specify about how civilization can impact direction attacks: Centralized V. Decentralized In some civilization of a society, top-level directors take of import determinations whereas others give authorization to moo, mid degree directors or active participants to take determinations. Safety vs. Risk In some topographic points, hazards can be expected and uncertainnesss are handled while, others are wholly unwilling to take hazards and face job if any uncertainness arises. Individual vs. Group Rewards In some topographic points, persons are given wagess on their assessment while others consider group wagess. Informal V. Formal processs Some topographic point follow formal processs steadfastly whereas others get accomplishments with even informal processs. High vs. Low Organizational trueness In some topographic point, people gets acknowledgment or grasp by their organisational prominence while some people in other topographic point get to cognize as their professional label. Cooperation vs. Competition in some topographic points, people are encouraged to be competitory with their co-workers whereas in some topographic points they are meant to be concerted. Short term vs. Long term Horizons In some topographic point much focal point is given on short-run net income and efficiency while in other topographic points they think about long run ends. Stability V. Innovation some civilizations does retain their stablenesss and do non accept alterations but some do alterations and accept new occurrences and invention. International directors need to understand that due to differences in national civilization requires different direction attacks and behaviors. Needs to hold effectual integrating of different civilizations and methods. They need to understand that such direction that works in one state might non work into another in certain facets. In order to understand work on cultural issues, some research workers have established theoretical accounts that are still used widely in direction development process. Followings are the amplification of theoretical accounts from two well-known research workers Greet Hofstede and Fons Trompenaars. Hofstede theoretical accounts describes about differences in behavior in varied civilization whereas, Trompenaars talks about how people relate to each other, about clip and environment. Hofstede s Model Geert Hofstede s, a research worker, identified five cultural dimensions that show people from assorted civilizations have differences in their behavior. The research has been carried out in one organisation merely, IBM that is spread within 70 states, because the differences amongst national civilizations of all employees can be identified clearly as all variables were matched in other respects, like type of work, educational degrees for similar businesss, holding strong managerial civilization, organisation construction, techniques and processs. The five dimensions are discussed below: Power Distance: The extent to which the less powerful members of organisations and establishments accept and expect that power is distributed unevenly ( Hodgett and Luthans, 2006 ) . In civilization holding low power distance, people anticipate with advisory and independent environment. They relate to each other more as peers despite of formal places. Such civilizations have level organisational construction and be given to be decentralized. The people frequently can be found of extremely qualified and the salary scope between upper and lower degree places is normally narrow. By contrast, in civilization with high power distance, inequalities in the thick of people are normal and considered necessary. The environment is more bossy or paternalistic and the subsidiaries accept the domination from their upper hierarchal places. Such civilizations have tall organisational construction and be given to be centralized and frequently will dwell of people of less qualified and the wage bet ween upper and lower degree is normally broad. Uncertainty Avoidance: The extent to which people feel threatened by equivocal state of affairss and have created beliefs and establishments that try to avoid these ( Hodgett and Luthans, 2006 ) . It deals how people are discerning about any unfamiliar enterprise and how they handle or minimise uncertainness. In civilization with high uncertainness turning away, people follow definite conventions and officially planned activities, maintain exact Torahs and regulations, directors prefer non to take hazards, have strong belief in experts and their cognition, be given to be less ambitious and prefer non to alter current employer. They are more emotional and have subjective feeling of jitteriness. By contrast, in civilization with low uncertainness turning away, it is to be followed unwritten, flexible conventions and do insouciant activities, they are more likely to follow few regulations, directors take hazards, have strong belief in Renaissance mans and common sense, be given to be really ambitious and prefer to alter employer often. They are less nerve-racking and more unconcerned, brooding and comfy about uncertainness and being encouraged to utilize their ain thoughts and take up liability for their activities. Individuality and Bolshevism: Individuality is the inclination of people to look after themselves and their immediate household merely ( Hodgett and Luthans, 2006 ) . In such civilization, people are expected to look after oneself and 1s immediate household. Their individuality is based on single and they normally develop or formalized their ain single character and make up ones mind their associations. Belief exists in single judgements and has emotional independency from organisations and besides accent is on single enterprise and achievements. The relationship between employee and employer is a contractual on shared benefit. Collectivism is the inclination of people to belong to groups or collectives and to look after each other in exchange for trueness ( Hodgett and Luthans, 2006 ) . In such civilization, people act more cohesively into groups or extended households and give part without holding any purpose in return. Their individuality is based on societal system and belief exists in-group opinions and has emotional dependences of the person on organisations and besides accent is on favor to organisations. The relationship between employee and employer is evident in ethical nomenclature. Masculinity and Femininity: Masculinity is a civilization in which the dominant values in society are success, money, and things ( Hodgett and Luthans, 2006 ) . In such civilization, people tend to hold importance on money, repute, patterned advance and challenge instead than preservation of the environment. They are expected to be single determination shapers. Work forces are more likely to be self-assured, motivated, determined and strong, on the other manus, adult females are more likely to be caring, soft and expression after life. There is high occupation force per unit area on equity, fighting and accomplishments in the workplace and industrial confliction is common. Directors are frequently decisive and command employees public presentations. By contrast, Femininity is a civilization in which the dominant values in society are caring for others and the quality of life ( Hodgett and Luthans, 2006 ) . In such civilization, people tend to hold more importance on teamwork, gr oup determinations and on the preservation of the environment. They are expected to be modest, stamp and concerned with relationships. There is low occupation force per unit area on equity, competency and quality of work-life and does non hold industrial confliction. Directors give freedom and wagess to employees on their activities. Long-run Orientation and Short-run Orientation: In long-run orientation, activities have value that can hold an consequence on finding, doggedness, economic system and humiliation. In short-run orientation, activities have an consequence on normative statement, stableness, regard for tradition and reciprocation of good wants, favors and gifts. Trompenaars s Model Fons Trompenaars, another research worker, identified seven dimensions in which five describes about how people relate to each one another and sixth one is clip that describes how civilization can be laid accent on yesteryear, nowadays or hereafter and last one is environment that is related to nature. His research has been carried out over 15,000 directors from 28 states, showing 47 national civilizations. The seven dimensions are as follow: Universalism vs. Particularism: Universalism is the belief that thoughts and patterns can be applied everyplace in the universe without alteration ( Hodgett and Luthans, 2006 ) . In universalism civilization, people tend to concentrate more into formal regulations instead than relationships. They keep adhere to their concern contracts and do determinations without situational considerations, which sometimes are referred to difference of sentiments and incompatibilities. By contrast, Particularism is the belief that fortunes order how thoughts and patterns should be applied and something can non be done the same everyplace ( Hodgett and Luthans, 2006 ) . In such civilization, it is the other manner around, people tend to concentrate more into relationship than on formal regulations. Peoples amend the understandings or take determinations sing situational fortunes as to them the concern contracts do non hold much significance. Individualism vs. Communitarianism: In Individualism civilization, people tend to prosecute in ain personal accomplishments and take for granted a great trade of single duty. On the other manus, Communitariantism refers to people sing themselves as portion of a group ( Hodgett and Luthans, 2006 ) . In such civilization, people take determinations that seemingly referred to group and success accomplishment in groups and presume duty together. Impersonal V. Emotional: Neutral is a civilization in which emotions are held in cheque. ( Hodgett and Luthans, 2006 ) . In such civilization, people do non demo show their emotions in order non to hold hinderance on their judgements. By contrast, Emotional is a civilization in which emotions are expressed openly and of course. ( Hodgett and Luthans, 2006 ) . In this civilization, people express their emotions honestly. They portion smilings, joy, defeat, and salutations, show enthusiasm. Specific V. Defuse: Specific is a civilization in which persons have a big public infinite they readily portion with others and a little private infinite they guard closely and portion with merely close friends and associates. ( Hodgett and Luthans, 2006 ) . In such civilization, people tend to acquire invitation on public infinite. They are normally unfastened and extravert and their personal and professional life are strongly detached. Defuse is a civilization in which public infinite and private infinite are similar in size and persons guard their public infinite carefully, because entry into public infinite affords entry into private infinite every bit good. ( Hodgett and Luthans, 2006 ) . In this civilization, people are non invited to public infinite. They are normally introvert and their professional and personal lives are connected to each other. Achievement vs. Ascription: Achievement is a civilization in which people are accorded position based on how good they perform their maps. ( Hodgett and Luthans, 2006 ) . In such civilization, people tend to achieve position, place or power based on their accomplishments, cognition and accomplishments. On the other manus, Ascription is a civilization in which position is attributed based on who or what a individual is. ( Hodgett and Luthans, 2006 ) . In this civilization, people attain position based on age, gender or person familiarities. Time: It has two attacks, consecutive and synchronal. In consecutive civilization, people tend to make one activity one at a clip. ( Hodgett and Luthans, 2006 ) . They adhere to their assignments and follow programs and agenda purely. On the other manus, in synchronal civilization, people tend to make more than one activity at a clip. ( Hodgett and Luthans, 2006 ) . Their actions are non entitled to agenda or hold definite clip to keep. Agendas are less important than relationships. Environment: It has two orientation, internal-orientation and external-orientation. In internal-orientation civilization, single is responsible for commanding fortunes and non comfy in altering state of affairss whereas, in external-orientation civilization, person is non responsible for their actions and are more flexible in compromising and comfy in altering state of affairss. National Culture of Bangladesh National civilization is revealed to be built-in what people frequently take for granted from their legal residence environment ( Edensor, 2002 ) . The survey of national civilization gives a synoptic thought of local values/ shared significances, political system, religion/philosophical beliefs, economic prosperity, linguistic communication and instruction system ( French, 2007 ) . The below Hagiographas is about the perceptual experience of natural civilization of the People s Republic of Bangladesh. It is a state situated in Southern Asia with an country of 144,000 sq kilometer and is bordered by Bay of Bengal in South, by India in north, west and east and by Myanmar in sou-east. It has emerged as free state after Independence War in 1971, which the state still prides of and besides about other values and beliefs, like Bengali New Year, National Mourning, Martyr Day, International Language Day etc. It has a civilization of mixture of full music, dance, folks, play, art, trade, literature, doctrine, faith, festivals, jubilations etc. The state does hold population of around 140 1000000s with blend of assorted faith Muslim, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and others. It has parliamentary democratic authorities. The province linguistic communication is Bangla followed by English, the 2nd linguistic communication, which is widely used in different concern sector s, instruction etc. Harmonizing to UN Development Programme ( UNDP ) 2008 figures, the literacy rate is at 52.5 per centum. Has agricultural production, natural resources, exports and imports concern. From the perceptual experience of The Central Intelligence Agency ( 2010 ) of USA, Bangladesh has attained about 6 % GDP growing rate. For the last twosome of decennaries, labour force has increased even more due to rapid growing of population and has reached a entire sum of 72.5 million and rate of people without occupation is 2.5 % ( Khan, 2010 ) . In Bangladesh, the concern is normally set up with cross-cultural direction and is maintained really traditionally and cautiously. Such direction persevere grade of formality and shows regard and dainty with self-respect to seniors, older people, person from high authorization or authorities functionaries. Hierarchical construction in direction system is maintained more in public sector than in private concern. Peoples with higher rank or from top-level direction have more privilege, i.e. harmonizing with Hofstede dimensions of civilization directors have high power distance. Bangladesh has a civilization of low hazard and low alteration tolerant. The intercultural capablenesss and dispositions for uncertainness or hazard are low. New programs are studied and analyzed with consciousness to do certain whatever hazards they found are good defined and understood. In instance of any alterations, the new proposals are supposed to be stabilized and accepted by the people. Intercultural apprehension is important for hazard well influenced by the effects of failure for both single and organisation. Harmonizing to Hofstede s cultural dimensions Bangladesh has low uncertainness turning away. By and large, directors or person from upper degree have paternalistic attitude towards their employees to some extent and they take determinations while the subsidiaries are meant to follow. The civilization is slightly towards bossy attack. Top-level authorities functionaries of the state take determinations and handed over to the directors to put to death the process. Normally, the determination shapers seek advice from the experts before taking any measure. They merely inquire for subsequent information instead than looking for consensus. Harmonizing to Hofstede s theoretical account Bangladeshi s directors are more individualistic instead than collectivized. Bangladeshi directors tend to see long-run determination doing instead than short-run. And besides they have respects for civilization, tradition and concern about communal duties. Other issues like faith, linguistic communication, vicinity and reciprocated of gifts are kept into consideration in such civilization. Harmonizing to Hofstsede s theoretical account, Bangladeshi direction is less long-run orientation and high short-run oriented. Most Bangladeshi directors do their concern depending on statics, experiences and empirical informations, while others believe in inherent aptitude, religion and chance. Generally, in such civilization, emotional looks are shown, ever posses good nature to others, conceal defeat or irritation. Harmonizing to Hofstede s theoretical account Bangladeshi director has features of Femininity. In Bangladesh, societal traffics tend to be more demanding, autocratic, paternalistic, bossy, inequality determination devising processs, trueness, motive and commanding in direction attitude. Relatively, in West, tend to hold advisory or equality decision-making processs, self-interest, aggressive personality, competence, individuality in direction attitude. European Management manner in Bangladeshi civilization BV Ltd. is an offshore package development and Information Technology confer withing house, since 2001 that has aspiration of bring forthing quality concern solutions for the planetary market. It is situated in Dhaka and is a joint venture between BG, a stock market listed taking company from Denmark and MD Group IT company from Bangladesh. It develops package, desktop/web based merchandises and applications and performs IT Consultancy in assorted Fieldss for many concerns in Europe and other parts of the universe and hence it has established successful bonding with European clients by supplying qualitative services. It defines itself by stressing cardinal focal point on supplying best services to valued clients. Bing an employee for twosome of old ages as Assistant General Manager, I have experiences of the direction section that ever guarantee smooth operation of the organisation and therefore successful completion of all undertakings in peculiar. The company is working with the province of art in Dhaka but is managed by lasting locally based European Chief Executive Officer. Since it has standing clients from Europe, BV believes to put a tradition where the European manner of covering concern will be a common thing. The company thinks that achievement can merely be achieved when quality calling chances along with installations are made available to the employees. They give high penchants on Human Resources, extended preparation by European experts, long-run employee partnership, Corporate Social Responsibility, both locally and internationally, during employments development procedure. The direction civilization of the company is rather similar to European manner, i.e. the top-level direction maintains friendly and professional relationship with the employee, preserve equality and presume them to be independent, proactive and self-motivated. It has a reasonably comprehensive and decentralised direction manner with less hierarchal relationship and is expected to hold common regard instead than one of to the full dedicated single trueness. The employees ever worked together and believe in teamwork. Since they belong from high educational background and/or holding old experiences, it was rather easy to accommodate such direction manner even though there were cultural differences with the top-level direction. Of class, the Chief executive officer does the general determinations and the subsidiaries are supposed to follow them. And others agenda, planning and order of flow of work are implemented by the team-lead among employees, where all the engagement, part of though ts is taken as input for developing a undertaking. During coactions with European clients, both the director and the full group of the undertaking do meetings and hence can able to concentrate more on the clients demands. Since there is a close dealing with the clients, no jobs can be seen to take topographic point while describing or updating clients outlook. This direction manner has been developed by the CEO in order to hold close connexions with the clients and tried non to hold any hierarchal degree in between so that plants would travel in fast gait, speedy determination devising, giving authorization chances, effectual while carry throughing client s demands and the Chief executive officer can hold clear focal point on subsidiaries undertakings. Employees expect and react to encouragement undertaking related leading with better public presentation and entire satisfaction as they gain assurance and accomplishment while director moves frontward within a democratic manner. The Chief executive officer of BV pays attending and gives values to the Bangladeshi civilization, tradition and behaviours and has achieved a better direction even in different culturally environment. He observed Bangladeshi civilization behaviours in a non-judgment manner and adapt liberally to a varied scope of effectual system, concern methodological analysis and societal environment. Despite of diverseness from backgrounds he has succeeded to work together efficaciously as a squad. Harmonizing to Hofstede s theoretical account, the CEO of BV follows the direction manner that is of Low Power Distance, Low Uncertainty Avoidance, Femininity, Collectivism and Long-term orientated features. Decisions Bangladeshi people are reasonably much adaptable and sociable in any environment and in any civilization. They know how to collaborate regardless of the fact that whether the company has level or tall organisational construction, whether it has centralized or decentralized direction. In Bangladesh, people follow reasonably formal concern etiquette. New coevalss learn cultural moralss and rules, spiritual values, linguistic communication in the class of socialisation with people, which in bend, aid to set up attitudes, develop passions and do cognizant about their societal individualism of being a Bangladeshi. Besides, instruction besides has major advantage in the facet of edifice 1s individuality. Nevertheless, the new coevalss are the people who contribute in political relations, entrepreneurships and economic prosperity of the state. Word count: 3523 Mentions: Arvind V. Phatak, Rabi S. Bhagat A ; Roger J. Kashlak, International Management Managing in a Diverse and Dynamic Global Environment, 2005, McGraw Hill Bangladeshi, Culture A ; Society, ( 2008 ) , IPTU Available from: lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.iptu.co.uk/content/bangladesh_business_cult.asp gt ; , [ accessed: June 18, 2010 ] Bangladesh Location A ; Size, ( 2010 ) , Encyclopaedia of Nation Available from: lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Asia-and-the-Pacific/Bangladesh.html gt ; , [ accessed: June 16, 2010 ] Bangladesh: History, Geography and Culture, ( 2008 ) , Fact Monster Available from: lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0107317.html gt ; , [ accessed: June 16, 2010 ] Hofstede, Greet ( 2009 ) , Greet Hofstede Cultural Dimensions, Itim international. Available from: lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.geert-hofstede.com/ gt ; , [ accessed: June 18, 2010 ] Hodgetts, Luthan A ; Doh, International Management Culture, Strategy and Behaviour, 2006, McGraw Hill Intercultural Management Bangladesh, Kwintessential Available from: lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.kwintessential.co.uk/intercultural/management/bangladesh.html gt ; [ accessed: June 18, 2010 ] Khan, Rafayet, ( Apr 15, 2010 ) , National Culture of Bangladesh, Scribd. Available from: lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.scribd.com/doc/29984322/National-Culture-of-Bangladesh-French-model gt ; , [ accessed: June 16, 2010 ] Workman, Daniel, ( Jan 23, 2003 ) , Trade Culture Dimensions, Suite101 Available from: lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //internationaltrade.suite101.com/article.cfm/trade_culture_dimensions gt ; , [ accessed: June 18, 2010 ]

Strategic Analysis of ZARA Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Strategic Analysis of ZARA - Essay Example Per se, Zara has many risks imposed by such factors as rival promotional competence, the ability of consumers to dictate pricing among retailers, and even responsiveness (or lack thereof) of suppliers that are critical to meeting the two week lead time from design to delivery. The report identified that Zara requires acknowledgement of market forces that can potentially impede brand sustainment and growth in sales. These forces include ongoing negative publicity for allegations of unethical business practices, the competence of competitive rivalry especially related to marketing philosophies of rivals, and even macro-economic issues related to foreign currency exchanges. All of these factors influence Zara’s strategic position and direction. Findings indicate recommendations that include more proactive efforts at promoting corporate social responsibility, changing trading currency from the Euro to the American dollar, conducting more market research studies on consumer target groups, and working to build an internal culture focused on ethical behaviour. These recommendations will assist Zara in sustaining a positive brand reputation and building equity that can translate into future revenue gains through diversification efforts. CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction......................................................................................... 2.0 Competitive forces and industry audit............................................. 2.1 PESTLE Analysis..................................................................... 3.0 An internal strategic audit.................................................................. 4.0 Public relations crises at Zara........................................................... 5.0 Recommendations for improving future business position........... 6.0 Conclusion........................................................................................... References 1.0 Introduction Zara is a leader in providing what is referred to a s fast fashion products in the retail environment. Fast fashion is defined as the ability of the company to rapidly replenish inventories in the sales environment in a lead time of two weeks or less. Accomplishment of this strategy entails aligning all elements of the value chain that are necessary to achieve competitive advantage. This report highlights Zara’s industry environment, the competitive pressures and threats of the firm’s operating environment, and proposes recommendations for future business improvement. 2.0 Competitive forces and industry audit The retail industry in most developed countries is very saturated, meaning that international markets are inundated with a variety of retail competitors. Zara is currently most impacted by competitive forces from H&M, The Gap and Benetton, which are competitors that offer similar fashion products at reasonably similar pricing structures. Because of this saturation and presence of like rivals, Zara must be ever-awar e of the changing market forces that have the ability to improve business position or severely hinder its performance and profitability. Porter (2011) describes five forces that impact whether or not a business can adapt or find positive market position in its operating markets. These include threat of substitutes, buyer power, supplier power, rivalry between competitors, and the risk of new market entrants by competing retail organisations. All of these forces influence business strategy development as well as responsiveness of Zara in attempting to outperform competitors. Zara faces very little in its sales markets in relation to substitutes. Substitutes are defined as replacement products that can serve as surrogate products for consumers. In the fashion industry, except for like products

What Makes a Good Team Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

What Makes a Good Team - Essay Example Mergers and acquisitions of organizations pose significant restructuring and leadership challenges. As the Head of Department of recently merged organizational groups, I would expect repercussions that seriously impact team cohesiveness. In fact, mergers often become the breeding ground, where shared vision, beliefs and values, can undergo dramatic upheavals. This can trap the newly formed teams in a storming phase. The team members may begin questioning the way the combined firm would look, act and feel; it may not resemble the firm they've cherished, the one they helped build (Taylor, 2002). This can hurt the team morale. It's also true, that virtually in all cases of organizational mergers described in literature, there has been conflict that affect one, or a few associates in a significant way, to the point that it may be in their interest to leave the organization. Facing the Challenge As the Head of Department, I need to realize that the team must coalesce seamlessly for a common vision and purpose. I also need to appreciate that the team cohesion is a function of task, and social cohesion. Establishing a shared commitment and organizational goals; along with a positive bond amongst team members, requires clear and honest communication. The stages for team development described by Blanchard, and adapted effectively in the Toyota (Licker, 2004), provides a simple framework that could be useful in the current situation:- 1. Orientation: Provide the group a strong direction, clarity in mission, rules of engagement, and tools that team members may use. 2. Dissatisfaction: The team members continue to need direction (structure) and also social support to overcome social dynamics that may result into dissatisfaction. 3. Integration: The group obtains clarity of roles amongst team members and begins to exert control over the team processes. The challenge is for the group to learn about roles, goals, norms and team structure. 4. Production: The group performs effectively with little task or social support. The alternative team development model is that of, Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing as proposed by Bruce Tuckman in 1965. The Plan I would address this situation with a three phase focused plan viz., initiation, development, and production. 1. Initiation: Breaking the ice with a weekend workshop in formal and informal settings. The workshop would provide opportunities for the group to mix with each other; work in small groups to discuss, deliberate and recognize the strengths of the group; interact amongst the groups to understand and deliberate on goals and mission; highlight the weak spots of apprehension and brainstorm to find ways of overcoming them; share the best practices of their respective parent units; and above all, have fun with

Marketing Analysis for Indian Restaurant

Marketing Analysis for Indian Restaurant Aim and vision The main aim is to provide customers with authentic Indian food laced with the captivating taste and nutritional values of traditional Indian herbs and spices served in a traditional Indian (Punjabi) sitting to give the complete feel of incredible India, at the prices which dont make people think twice. The target customers are large number of Indian student and families in the area with the aim of taking locals into our food by capitalizing on the growing popularity of traditional Indian food. The main focus of our mission statement is to satisfy our customer by offering traditional Indian food and also provide quality service in the form quick home delivery service. Being a high class community, most of the people in Hatfield are working in offices from 9 to 5. In order to attract these customers we will provide competitive prices to attract customers from competitors. Introduction We will start food business with the name of DELI-SIOUS which will be traditional foods. For the location of our business we are choosing Hatfield which is one of the City of Hertfordshire County. We chose this business because according restaurant guide there was an opportunity available for Indian traditional food restaurant in the region of Hatfield. To gain this opportunity I made a marketing plan for investors to cash this opportunity. (Restaurant guide) In the preparation of this report both primary and secondary data is involved. Primary data was collected from local people of the Hatfield by using questionnaires and interviews. While secondary data were collected from Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) and also related books, journals, websites regarding marketing. To analyse the external and internal environment we used Swot analysis as a tool to know about the market. I have also research related sources regarding my marketing plan such as trip advisor, restaurant guide and mintel international group Ltd. Financial overview We have a small business loan of  £50,000 provided by two business partners, which have to be paid back in instatements in coming three years. In first year of our business we dont have to pay any installments and after first year we have to pay installments on the interest rate of 5.6%. There are three profitable opportunities available in the region of Hertfordshire country, which are: Opening a retail premises Starting a landscape gardening business Launching a virtual office support service From the above opportunities we have chose restaurant business, according restaurant guide there is an opportunity available in Hatfield for Indian food. The allocation of resources will be discussed in the action plan. In the first year of our business which is 2010, our expected profits will  £5000 and in 2011 we will expect more then  £7000 because of increasing sale by 40% in 2011. We further aim that our expected profit in 2012 will be more then  £10,000 because of increasing sale by 40%. To achieve these profits we will capture the market with the help of differentiation strategy. Our expected sales in 2010 will be  £30,000, we will increase our sales in 2011 by 40% our expected sales will be more 42,000. We further looking to increase our sales in 2012 by 40%, as a result our expected sales in 2012 will be  £59,000. We have an objective to capture 15% market share by the end of Dec 2015. Market overview Hatfield is located in the County of Herefordshire originally Bishops Hatfield, is in the Welwyn Hatfield district of Hertfordshire, in the south of England. Hatfield is 20miles (32km) to the north of London and separated from the city by the Green Belt. The town has excellent transport links with the nearest airport at Luton only 14miles (23km) away and Stansted airport also within easy reach. Most nearest cities are St.Albans, Luton, Hemelhempstead and Welwyn Garden city. We can target the people of nearest cities such as Luton, St.Albans and Hemelhempstead because people from these cities have a job in Hatfield. Our high target customers will be students and staff of Hertfordshire University. (AAroutefinder.com) In Hatfield there are 17 restaurants are working but they are not offering Indian traditional food, in order to cash this opportunity I have a marketing plan for investors to invest in this restaurant. As for people living standard is concern in Hatfield, majority people belongs to middle and high class having income per year from  £25,000 to  £40,000. (Restaurant guide) According Hertfordshire county council in 2001 census the population of Hatfield has expanded over 28,000 and still growing. Due to high competition in the market challenges can be faced in the market. Competitors created barriers for new entrants but we can enter in the market with the help innovative ideas and competitive prices. (Hertfordshire County Council) Market Research According to McDonald (2007:366) Market Research is a logical, objective collection and analysis of data about a particular target market, environment and also competition, It always incorporates some form of data collection and could be secondary research or primary research which is directly collected from a respondent. It can be classified either as external or internal. The main purpose of the market research project is to achieve an increased understanding of the subject matter. In the preparation of this report both primary and secondary research has been conducted to collect the data. Market research enables the business to know about the challenges, barriers and need of the target customers in the market. Market segmentation Kotler (1997) states that market segmentation is the classification of portions of the market that is different from one another. Due to segmentation firms will be able to satisfy the need of the target customers We will segment the market into different parts, such students, young couple, and local community people. We will provide special offers to the students on Tuesday in order to attract them. Mostly students and young couples like spicy food we will offer spicy food to them. We will also offer coffee and tea to target the people working in offices and also entertain them with a soft music. Market segmentation of DELI-SIOUS Restaurant Market segmentation of DELI-SIOUS can be vegetarian, non-vegetarian and target market of DELI-SIOUS will be students and staff of Hertfordshire University, young couples and local community of Hatfield. Some cities like St.Albans and Hemelhempstead and Welyn Garden city are near to Hatfield so we can also target these cities as well. To attract Indian community customers we will offer vegetarian food (for Menu see Appendix). We will target local community of Hatfield by offering Chilies food because they prefer these foods, To target students we will offer special discounts on Tuesday, to target families we will offer free kids food. SWOT analysis In order to achieve goals and objectives and overcome problems, practitioners suggest strategic tools in the form of porters forces and swot analysis. According to Alison (2004) SWOT analysis is a strategic planning tool that helps in identifying external factors (i.e. opportunities and threats) for, and internal factors (i.e. strengths and weaknesses) that need to be considered for determining where a business should be going in the future and how to you overcome upcoming threats . On other hand David (2007) argues that Swot analysis indicating the smart objectives by analysing both internal and external factors in the business environment. SWOT analysis for DELI-SIOUS: Strengths: The location we will select is very attractive because its near to St.Albans and most people are coming from St.Albans to Hatfield. Opportunity available in the Hatfield town for traditional food, only few restaurants are offering traditional food. We have highly qualified and experienced staff to satisfy the need of the target customer by offering quality food and service. We will offer reasonable prices to attract customers from competitors, moreover price catering to every section of society. (www.restuaantguide.com) Weaknesses: We have some weaknesses such as we will be new in the market and to overcome this weakness we will focus on the promotions and also by using networking. We will be restricted to resources but we looking to get loan from bank by the end of Dec 2010. Opportunities: Open chain of restaurants To make restaurant a multi cuisine to expand customer. By offering traditional food we can easily attract customers from our competitors. Threats: High competition in the market, which can be a threat for our restaurant and also some barriers created by competitors for new entrants. But we can overcome this threat with the help of innovative food such as traditional Indian food. Recession can also be a threat for our restaurant, to overcome this threat we will offer reasonable prices as compare to our competitors. Gap analysis for DELI-SIOUS Restaurant In 2010 our expected sales will be  £30,000 and we plan to increase by 25% by 2011, which means our sales in 2011 will be  £42,000. We further aims that we also increase our sales by 25% by 2012, which means our expected sales in 2011 will be  £59000. From the above graph it is quite clear that between 2010 and 2012 we have a gap of  £29,000. In order to overcome this gap, we need to adopt marketing strategies in the form of penetration strategy and differentiation strategy. By adopting penetration strategy we will penetrate in the market with the help of an effective advertisement and also by offering quality traditional Indian food to our target customers. After penetration in the market we will adopt differentiation strategy to differentiate our business from competitors by offering competitive services and prices. By adopting these strategies we can create a competitive advantage in the market. In our restaurant we will have 25 seating capacity, to reach 2010 target sales we expect 40 to 55 customer per day. In 2011 we expect 55 to 80 customers each day and in 2012 we will further expect 80 to 110 customers each day. Smart objectives According to Croft (1994) objectives play a vital role in the making the marketing plan successful. He further suggest strategic tools in the form of Swot analysis, Porters five forces and Pest analysis as an environmental analysis which have to be conducted to control overall marketing plan. By clarifying the task employees will be motivated to reach the given targets and as a result overall performance of the organisation can be improved. These objectives should be smart, measureable, specific, realistic achievable and timed. Smart objectives for DELI-SIOUS Restaurant Survival Objectives: The most significant objective of our business will be to penetrate into the restaurant market as well to promote our restaurant in Hatfield with the help of efficient advertisement by offering traditional Indian food and excellent customer service to our target customers. After penetration we need to focus on increasing the sales and market share. Profitability objectives: our profitability objective is to reach 15% return on capital employed by Dec 2012 because we have a loan of  £50,000 provided by business investors; we need to pay installments after one year. Promotion objectives: To increase awareness of the restaurant in the market with the help of networking and effective advertisements. Market share objectives: we have an objective to increase our market share by 15% by the end of Dec 2015. Sales objectives: We aims to increase our sales by 40% by end of Dec 2011 and we will further increase it 40% by end of Dec 2012. In 2009 our focal point will be the survival and penetration in the market by adopting penetration strategy. Strategy to achieve objectives To reach the given objective 1st we need to adopt Penetration strategy to achieve our most vital objective which can be survival objectives. Which can be possible by adopting penetration strategy and to make this strategy successful we will focus on the advertisement such as advertising restaurant in the local newspaper, distribution of leaflet in the local community and most important to use social and business networking. By using this strategy we will promote our business in the target market to attract the target customers. We will offer reasonable prices as compare to our competitors as a result our restaurant will be differentiated from competitors. After penetration in the market we will focus on achieving sales and market share objectives by increasing the sales and market share. We can achieve these objectives by adopting Differentiation strategy. By using this strategy we will differentiate our restaurant from competitors by offering traditional Indian food with Indian them e to our target customers and excellent customer services. Marketing Mix for DELI-SIOUS Restaurant Product: Projected Meal 1: Vegetarian Mixed Platter According to our mission statement we will more focus on the traditional Indian food such as herbs and spices. With the help of traditional food we can easily attract customer to creative a competitive position in the market Confirming to health standards. Free and quick home delivery service. Price Proposed price for Meal1:  £15.95 Currently due to recession customers demand for discounts from restaurant, by offering reasonable prices we can meet their demands. Special price offers for students on Tuesday. Special price offers on advance table booking. Place Proposed location: Hatfield e will make our restaurant more attractive with the help of an effective furnishing. In our restaurants customers will feel a theme of India by enjoying the Indian traditional food. We have 50 seating capacity, we plan to increase in 2011. Promotion We will promote our restaurants with the flyers, leaflets and advertising in the local newspapers. We will offer special deals to students of university as a tool of promotion. We will use our networking to promote our restaurants in the local people by arranging event in the local community. Resources Allocation Loan provided by the investors is  £50,000 for the coming three years with a rate of 5.6%. In order to utilise this capital in a best possible way we will use  £13,000 on the hiring the building and  £9,000 will be used for the building refurnishing. While  £24,000 will be use as working capital and 8% of the budget will served on the promotions of the restaurant which is  £4000. Total salary of the employees will be  £6,800 per month which can be subtracted from working capital. For details see appendix. Monitoring All the operations such as advertising, finance, raw material, of our business will be supervised by manager. All the subordinate are responsible to report to the manager on daily basis and manager is responsible to report to the business owners. Purchasing of inventory will be done on a weekly basis to minimise the warehouse cost. Risk and Contingency plan and strategy Currently one of the high risks to our business is the recession many businesses are falling down and unemployment has increasing rapidly in the UK. In Hatfield there is high competition in the market between rivals and creating barriers for entrants in the market. One more risk to our business is the substitute products such as University restaurants and forum. (Financial times) In order to overcome the above risks to our business we have a contingency plan and strategies. To overcome the recession risk we will offer discounts to our target customers. To overcome the second risk to our business we will adopt cost leadership strategy by reducing the cost we will be able to compete with our competitors. To overcome the risk regarding university restaurants forum we will offer special deals to the students in order to attract them. References Croft, M. J.(1994) Market segmentation. 2nd edition. Published by Routledge. David F R. (2007) Strategic management concepts and cases (12th edition), Pearson international edition. De Wit, B Meyer, R (2004) Strategy Synthesis (Resolving Strategy Paradoxes to Create Competitive Advantage), (3rd edition)Thomson Business Press Jobber, D. (2004) Principles and practice of marketing, 4th edition. Berkshire: McGraw Hill. Luther, W. M. (2001) The marketing plan. 3rd edition. Library of congress cataloging. McDonald, M. (2007) Marketing Plans, 6th edition. Oxford: Elsevier. Restaurant guide available online at [http://www.restaurant-guide.com/uk+south-east+hertfordshire+hemel-hempstead.htm] {Date accessed 8th Dec 2009} Stanley, P. (1993) International marketing. 2nd Edition. Chartered Institute of Marketing. Rieple, A. (2001) The strategic management of organisations, Prentice Hall Route planner available at [http:www.theaa.com/route-planner] {Date accessed: 2nd Dec 2009} Trip Advisor, Visiting Hatfield, [Online], and www.tripadvisor.com {Date accessed: 7th Dec 2009} Up My Street, Neighbours in Hertford, [Online], Available: www.upmystreet.com {Date accessed: 5th Dec 2009}

Bell Rock Lighthouse Essay

5 WHERE THE MIND IS WITHOUT FEAR I. (i) The words ‘mind is without fear’ mean that one does not have any fear of oppression or compulsion. The poet is talking about the minds of the people of his country. He says so because his country was under the subjugation of the British, who perpetrated all sorts of oppression on his countrymen. (ii) The words ‘the head is held high’ mean to have self respect. The head is bowed down because of exploitation and oppression of the Indians by the British. It needs to be held high with pride and dignity which characterised the Indians before India was reduced to the status of a subjugated nation. (iii) By the words ‘Where knowledge is free’, the poet wants to say that in his country everyone should have the freedom to acquire knowledge without any restriction. The restrictions imposed on the spread of knowledge include the prejudices based on wealth, caste and religion. Further, the British imposed restrictions on the basis of the ruler (the British) and the ruled (the Indians). They curbed the freedom of speech and expression by putting restrictions on the Press. (iv) Due to the restrictions imposed on the spread of knowledge, people remained glued to their outdated customs and traditions and could not think rationally. (v) A sonnet is a poem of fourteen lines divided into an octave (the ?rst eight lines) and a sestet (the last six lines). The octave presents an idea, raises an argument, makes a proposition or poses a problem, whereas the sestet gives a solution to the problem posed by the octave. The poem ‘Where the Mind is Without Fear’ comprises an octave, in which the poet talks about the wonderful qualities his countrymen must achieve to make their country free and heaven-like. Since this poem is only a part of the complete song in his Nobel Prize winning work, Gitanjali, we can say that this poem is a part of the complete sonnet. II. (i) According to the poet, the narrow domestic walls or divisions based on caste, class, colour, religion, creed, region and superstitions break up the world into fragments or mutually exclusive compartments. (ii) The narrow domestic walls refer to narrow local divisions created 6TEACHERS’ HANDBOOK (ICSE POEMS) by prejudices like caste, colour, creed, region and religion. They are called ‘narrow’ by the poet because they are based on age- old customs and traditions and not on the basis of rational thinking. (iii) The narrow domestic walls can harm the nation by creating divisions among people and thereby, undermining the unity and  integrity of the nation. (iv) The poet wants to say that his countrymen should be able to express themselves truthfully without any fear. He feels so because his countrymen at that time did not have freedom of expression as various restrictions were imposed on the freedom of speech and the Press by the British. (v) Examples of alliteration are: (a) Where the world (b) Where words (vi) The poet shows that he has a religious outlook by praying to God to let his country awake to a blissful heaven of freedom. III. (i) ‘Tireless striving’ means to work hard without getting tired to achieve perfection. The poet wants his countrymen to achieve  the highest goals, i. e. , freedom at all levels — political, religious, spiritual, moral and intellectual. (ii) Reasoning allows a person to have clarity of thoughts without being restricted by narrow domestic walls such as caste, colour, creed, religion, region and superstitions. That is why it has been compared to a clear stream which is free of all impurities. (iii) ‘Dreary desert sand of dead habit’ is a metaphor. Through this metaphor the poet wants to say that his countrymen should work for perfection in everything and should not be led astray from their goal in the dry desert of dead habits, i.e. , in a place where outdated customs and traditions are followed. (iv) According to the poet, the hurdles in achieving perfection include the outdated customs and traditions based on irrational thinking rather than sound reasoning and scienti? c thought. (v) The ? gure of speech in the third line of the given extract is a ‘metaphor’. For explanation refer to answer (iii) above. (vi) This poem by Rabindranath Tagore is taken from his original volume called Naibedya, which bears the title ‘Prarthana’, i. e. , prayer. In this poem, the poet prays to a universal father-? gure, i. e.  , God to let his country awake to a blissful heaven of freedom. Thus, the poem is a song of prayer. 7 IV. (i) ‘Thee’ refers to God. (ii) The mind of the poet’s countrymen is to be led forward to the ‘heaven of freedom’, i. e. , to an ideal state where there is total freedom at all levels — political, religious, spiritual, moral and intellectual. (iii) The phrase ‘Heaven of freedom’ means an ideal state, where the poet wants the Almighty to lead his countrymen to. The three qualities required to be able to attain the heaven of freedom include: (a) there is no oppression and people can hold their heads high in self-respect. (b) there are no prejudices based on caste, colour, creed, religion, region and superstitions. (c) people should work tirelessly to attain perfection in everything by following scienti? c thought and rational thinking, without being led to follow obsolete traditions and customs. (iv) ‘Father’ in the above extract is a reference for God. He will awake the country by leading the poet’s countrymen to a heavenly state where there are all kinds of freedom and where they can hold their heads high in self-respect, without any fear of oppression or compulsion. (v) The poet prays for his country to attain all kinds of freedom —  political, religious, spiritual, moral and intellectual. And only then it will attain the blissful heaven of freedom, an ideal state where his countrymen would be able to hold their heads high in self-respect, will not have a blurred vision based on prejudices and work tirelessly to attain perfection in every sphere of life. I. (i) The Inchcape rock is referred to in the extract. The rock lay hidden in the sea off the east coast of Scotland. It sometimes remained hidden under sea water during the high tide. (ii) The words ‘surge’s swell’ mean the sea-waves moved up and down and rose high due to the in? uence of tides. The warning  bell refers to the bell placed on the Inchcape rock by the Abbot of Aberbrothok, to give a warning to the sailors about the danger from the rock. The warning bell was placed on a buoy and during high tides the movement of waves made the buoy to ? oat and in turn rang the bell and warned the sailors. THE INCHCAPE ROCK 8TEACHERS’ HANDBOOK (ICSE POEMS) (iii) The Rock was said to be perilous because many ships had been wrecked by it when it remained covered by sea water during a high tide. Sir Ralph’s ship struck against the Inchcape Rock and drowned in the sea. (iv) The Head monk of a monastery or church is known as an  Abbot. The mariners blessed the Abbot Aberbrothok because he placed a bell on the Inchcape Rock, which gave a warning to the mariners about the perilous rock and thus, saved them and their ships from drowning. (v) A ballad is a long narrative poem that tells a story. It is a heightened narration that uses narrative technique like rhyme and ? gures of speech. The two elements of ballad in the given extract are the following: (a) The rhyming pattern followed in this extract is aabb (Swell- Bell; Rock-Aberbrothok). (b) There is a repetition of consonant sound at the beginning of words (alliteration) to facilitate narration: 1. †¦.. surge’s swell 2. †¦.. then they II. (i) Sir Ralph was a rover or a sea pirate. He was a wicked and jealous man. (ii) The pleasant day in the spring season made the Rover sing. But the real reason was that in a such calm atmosphere he would be able to carry out his wicked plan of defaming the Abbot of Aberbrothok by cutting off the bell from the Inchcape Rock and thereby, loot the wealth from the shipwrecks. The given lines mean that the Rover’s heart was extremely joyful but his joy was due to his wicked plan. (iii) The Rover saw the buoy of the Inchcape Rock like a dark speck on the green ocean. He asked his sailors to lower the boat and row him to the Inchcape Rock. (iv) The Rover wanted to go near the Inchcape Rock to cut off the warning bell to spoil the fame and reputation of the Abbot of Aberbrothok, who has placed the bell there and to loot the wealth from the shipwrecks. (v) The Rover was in a joyful mood in the extract. His joyful mood is re? ected in the extract by his act of whistling and singing. At the end of the poem, the Rover was in a mood of despair and frustration. 9 III. (i) The boatmen rowed the boat to the Inchcape Rock. (ii) The Rover cut off the bell from the Inchcape Rock. He did so out of jealousy and self-interest. He wanted to spoil the fame and reputation of the Abbot of Aberbrothok, who has placed the bell there. It would also allow him to easily loot the wealth from the shipwrecks, caused by the Inchcape Rock. (iii) The Rover’s act of cutting the bell from the Inchcape Rock led to the collision of his ship with the rock and ? nally, the drowning of the ship with the Rover. (iv) After performing the wicked deed of cutting the bell from Inchcape Rock, the Rover said that from then onwards the mariners who used to thank the Abbot would no longer thank him. (v) The Abbot of Aberbrothok had kept the bell there. The bell was placed on the ? oat because the movement of the ? oat during the high tide would make the bell ring and warn the sailors of the danger from the rock. (vi) The sailors, passing by earlier, blessed the Abbot of Aberbrothok for placing the warning bell on the Inchcape Rock and thereby, saving them from the perilous rock. IV. (i) The Rover sailed away from the Inchcape Rock. He became rich by looting the wealth from the ships that struck against the Inchcape Rock. (ii) After amassing wealth, the Rover was sailing towards the shore  of Scotland. (iii) When the Rover was sailing, there was a thick haze over the atmosphere and no sun in the sky. There were strong winds and darkness all around. The weather conditions predicted that ?nally the Rover would meet his end in the sea. (iv) The Rover was a wicked man who was jealous of the fame and reputation of the Abbot of Aberbrothok. That is why he carried out his wicked plan of cutting off the warning bell on the Inchcape Rock, placed there by the Abbot. He was a robber who became rich by looting the wealth from the shipwrecks. (v) The Abbot was a kind and compassionate man, who placed a  warning bell on the Inchcape Rock to forewarn the sailors about the danger to their ships from the perilous rock. The Rover, on the other hand, was a jealous and wicked man, who cut off the warning bell on the Inchcape Rock to defame the Abbot and to loot the wealth from the shipwrecks. V. (i) When the Rover and his sailors were going towards the shore of Scotland, the weather was bad, with a thick haze over the atmosphere, no Sun in the sky and strong winds. THE INCHCAPE ROCK 10 TEACHERS’ HANDBOOK (ICSE POEMS) (ii) The words â€Å"the breakers roar† mean the roaring of the sea waves, i. e. , the sound made when the sea waves break on the  shore. The breakers roar normally signify a high tide when the sea waves surge up and down with a great force. (iii) The sailors wished that they could hear the Inchcape Rock. The ringing of the bell would have indicated the presence of the perilous rock and thus saved the ship from colliding with it. (iv) The sailors could not see any land on the way to Scotland’s shore because of bad weather. There was a thick haze in the atmosphere and total darkness in the absence of the Sun in the sky. Sir Ralph was optimistic that the weather would improve by night when the moon would rise in the sky. (v) In the absence of the Inchcape Bell, no warning sound was heard by the sailors and the vessel struck against the Inchcape Rock. VI. (i) They could not hear any sound due to the absence of the warning bell on the Inchcape Rock, which the Rover had cut off. If the sailors had heard the normal expected sound of the warning bell from the Inchcape Rock, they would have saved the ship from striking against the rock. (ii) (a) the swell is strong: there are strong waves in the sea. (b) They drifted along: They moved slowly towards the shore. (iii) The vessel struck against the Inchcape Rock. It was a shivering  shock because the ship collided with the rock and the waves from all sides began to engulf it. (iv) Sir Ralph was in a state of despair and shock when he realised that his ship had struck against the Inchcape Rock. In his frustration, he pulled his hair and cursed himself. Sir Ralph’s ship struck the very rock from which he had removed the warning bell and sank in the sea. (v) Sir Ralph was a sea pirate. He was a wicked and jealous man. He used to loot wealth from the ships that fatally crashed against the Inchcape Rock. But when the Abbot of Aberbrothok placed a warning bell, he cut off the bell to defame the good Abbot  and put the other helpless sailors into trouble. However, he got caught in his own trap of mischief when his ship struck against the Inchcape Rock and sank in the sea alongwith him. (vi) The moral conveyed through this poem is—As you sow, so shall you reap. The Rover cut off the bell from the Inchcape Rock, but his own ship struck against the very Rock because of the absence of any warning sound and sank in the sea. 11 VII. (i) The Rover could hear the sound of his sinking ship, which seemed to him like the sound made by the Inchcape Bell. The sound was dreadful because there was no chance of surviving  the shipwreck. (ii) The sound of the Inchcape Bell was a forewarning of the danger from the perilous rock to the sailors and was thus life-saving. The dreadful sound, on the other hand was that of the sinking ship that signalled the end of Sir Ralph. Therefore, it appeared to be like a funeral bell being run by the Devil himself. (iii) The Devil below was ringing his knell mean that the sound which Sir Ralph was hearing appeared to him like the sound of the Inchcape bell. But actually the sound was that of the sinking ship. (iv) Sir Ralph, the Rover cut off the warning bell, which the Abbot of  Aberbrothok had planted on the Inchcape Rock as a forewarning to the sailors. But Sir Ralph’s own ship struck against the very rock due to the absence of any forewarning sound and drowned in the sea with Sir Ralph. Thus, the evil that Sir Ralph plotted for the Abbot and the other sailors, recoiled on him. (v) The Inchcape Rock is a ballad comprising adventure, valour and jealousy. Sir Ralph, the pirate, went on an adventure trip on the sea with his sailors. He had the valour to take the risk of cutting off the bell from the Inchcape Rock, which the Abbot of Aberbrothok had placed there to warn the sailors. He did this wicked act out of jealousy as he could not accept the popularity of the good Abbot and wanted to defame him. He also did so because of sel? sh motive as he used to make wealth by looting money from the ships that crashed after striking against the Inchcape Rock. I. (i) The merchants are in the bazaars of Hyderabad. They are selling their goods in the market. The words ‘Richly displayed’ mean that the goods to be sold in the market have been beautifully displayed by the merchants to attract the buyers. (ii) The goods on sale in this market included crimson and silver  turbans, purple brocade tunics, mirrors framed in brownish yellow colour and daggers with handles of jade. (iii) The poet begins the stanza with a question to elicit an answer from the vendors about the goods they are selling. This pattern IN THE BAZAARS OF HYDERABAD 12 TEACHERS’ HANDBOOK (ICSE POEMS) of question-answer is used to bring out the splendour of the traditional bazaars of Hyderabad. The poet has used repetition as well as lyrics full of vibrant and colourful images to describe the scene. (iv) (a) Mirrors with panels of amber mean the mirrors having frames of brownish and yellow colour. (b) Scabbards of gold for the king mean sheaths of gold for the King to keep his swords in. (v) The King and his nobles are the likely customers of tunics of purple brocade and daggers with handles of jade. (vi) The visual imagery is stimulated by mentioning the various hues of colours in this stanza like silver, crimson, purple, amber and jade. II. (i) Chessmen are the pieces deployed on a chessboard for playing the game of chess. Ivory dice refers to small cubes made of ivory, having six sides numbered by dots from one to six. These are used to play games. (ii) Saffron, lentil, rice, sandalwood, henna and spices are sold by  weight, whereas chessmen and ivory dice are sold by numbers. (iii) The sellers of various goods in the bazaars of Hyderabad are referred to as vendors and merchants. The sellers, who go about from place to place with their goods for sale are called the pedlars. (iv) Food items included saffron, lentil and rice. Cosmetic items included sandalwood and henna and the recreational items included chessmen and ivory dice. (v) The senses of sight are stimulated in this extract by the various colours of the items like saffron, lentil, rice, sandalwood, henna and various spices. The sense of taste is produced by the mention  of staple Indian food like lentil and rice and spices. III. (i) The jeweller’s shop is referred to in the extract. ‘Girdles of gold’ mean ornamental belt made of gold worn round the waist by the dancers. ‘Scabbards of gold’ refer to the sheaths of gold for the king to keep his swords in. (ii) The items of gold on sale included ornaments like wristlets, anklets, rings, belts of gold worn by the dancers and sheaths for swords used by the kings. The gold jewellery reveals that both the owners and the buyers belonged to the wealthy sections of the society. 13 (iii) Bells were tied to the feet of blue pigeons as ornaments as well  as identity marks. Sheaths of gold were used by the kings, girdles (belts) were used by dancers and wristlets, anklets and rings were used by other people. (iv) â€Å"Frail as a dragon-? y’s wing† means as delicate as the wings of a dragon-? y. Frail is an apt description for describing the delicateness of the bells tied to the feet of blue pigeons. (v) The poet has described the Indian goods at the Indian bazaars for two reasons: (a) to depict the splendour of Indian bazaars which beckon the customers with their sounds, scents and goods. (b) to extoll the Indians to buy Swadeshi goods and boycott  foreign goods. IV. (i) The fruits included lemons, pomegranates and plums, whereas the musical instruments included sitar, sarangi and drum. (ii) The poet asks the musicians what musical instruments they are playing and asks the magicians what they are chanting. (iii) Spells for aeons to come mean the magical spells used by the magicians to charm everyone till eternity with their chanting. (iv) The whole poem is Indian in context and presentation as it depicts the beauty and vibrance of a traditional Indian bazaar. The landscape, the characters, the images and the background is typically Indian — such as: (a) the mention of dresses worn by Indians such as turbans and tunics. (b) the gold ornaments worn by Indians like wristlets, anklets, rings and girdles. (c) the musical instruments played by Indians like sitar, sarangi and drums. (d) the food items like lentil and rice and spices and fruits like lemons, pomegranates and plums. (e) the use of fresh ? owers on both happy and sad occasions. (v) The magicians are present in the bazaar for chanting magical spells to charm the customers. (vi) The panoramic view of the Indian bazaars presented in the poem with its hues of colour, sounds, smells and sights has appealed  to me the most because it gives a glimpse of the Indian culture, society and prosperity. IN THE BAZAARS OF HYDERABAD 14 TEACHERS’ HANDBOOK (ICSE POEMS) V. (i) The poet has highlighted the occupation of simple folks in India like the merchants, pedlars, vendors, fruit sellers, goldsmiths, musicians, magicians and ? ower girls. (ii) The ? owers are used on happy occasions like wedding for making garlands for the bridegroom and to decorate his nuptial bed. The ? owers are used on sad occasions such as death to pay the last respects by placing ? owers on the dead bodies or the graves. (iii) Crowns, chaplets and garlands were used for making garlands for the bridegroom and for decorating his nuptial bed. (iv) ‘Tassels of azure and red’ mean ornamental threads of sky-blue and red colour tied at one end to make garlands and nuptial beds for the bridegroom. (v) â€Å"To perfume the sleep of the dead† mean to place sheets of freshly gathered ? owers on the dead bodies or on the graves, which give pleasant smell. I. (i) The soldier boy was sitting underneath a tree during the war because he was fatally wounded and could not get up. (ii) The soldier was sitting calmly because he was fatally injured  during the war, was thirsty and could not get any help from anybody around. (iii) The soldier asked the narrator to come near him because he was thirsty and needed a sip of water. (iv) The battle had been long and hard can be discerned from the deep craters in the earth and the number of dead bodies of the soldiers, which the narrator could see lying all around. (v) In the above extract, the poet wants to convey the horrors of war and the agony of the soldiers, who ? ght it out on the battle? eld. II. (i) The narrator has been referred to by the soldier as ‘Sir’. He was on the battle? eld at that time. (ii) The soldier, according to the narrator, ‘smiled as best he could’ to hide his pain and suffering from him. It shows the spirit of a soldier, who gives up his life for his country, with a smile on his face. 15 (iii) The soldier wanted â€Å"A sip of water† because he was thirsty and fatigued for he had fought a long and tough battle throughout the night and was fatally wounded. (iv) The soldier could not take any rest because he had been ? ghting continuously day and night against the enemy. It tells us about the horrors of war and pain and suffering the soldiers had to endure on the battle? eld. (v) The soldier was having a pain in his chest because of the wound he had sustained during the ? ght on the battle? eld. Being a true soldier, who considers everything smaller than his duty for his country, the soldier called it as ‘small pain’. Further, in comparison to the soldiers, who had received larger wounds and had succumbed to their injuries on the battle? eld, his was a small pain. III. (i) The large stain on the soldier’s shirt was caused by a wound he received while ? ghting on the battle? eld. (ii) ‘warm blood mixed in with Asian dirt’ refers to the blood oozing  out from the wounds of the soldier and mixing with the dirt of the Asian soil as the war was being fought in Asia. (iii) By saying â€Å"Not much†, the soldier wanted to say that his wound was nothing in comparison to the wounds suffered by his fellow soldiers, who succumbed to their injuries. He said so because he was still alive. (iv) The soldier considered himself more lucky than his fellow soldiers because they died of the injuries sustained during the war, while he was still alive. IV. (i) The soldier was feeling weak and said that his weakness must be due to fatigue. His fatigue was caused by ? ghting day and  night on the battle? eld. (ii) The soldier smiled weakly because he had sustained fatal wounds and was in pain. It shows that though the soldier was in pain, he was trying to hide his suffering in the true spirit of a soldier. (iii) The soldier felt that he was getting old because he found himself weak and fatigued after battling it out on the warfront. (iv) The soldier felt cold despite the shining sun because the light of his life was fading, i. e. , he was about to die due to the fatal wounds that he had received on the battle? eld. (v) ‘The night exploded’ means that an explosion took place at night. As a result of the explosion the soldier got fatal wounds on his SMALL PAIN IN MY CHEST 16 TEACHERS’ HANDBOOK (ICSE POEMS) body, whereas a number of his fellow soldiers died because of the injuries sustained during the explosion. V. (i) The narrator described the soldier’s smile as the brightest that he has ever seen because the soldier wanted to express his gratitude to the narrator for providing water to him as well as to hide the pain he was enduring. (ii) The soldier was suffering from fatal physical injuries sustained during the explosion at night on the battle ? eld. Due to these injuries he was feeling physically weak and fatigued. (iii) The soldier considered it silly to be defeated by a small pain in his chest because he was a young, healthy man, full of energy and enthusiasm, who could have defeated even death. (iv) The soldier felt ashamed of himself to think about his wife’s reaction when she would see her husband, a strong and grown up man, sitting there defeated. He felt that his mother would never have imagined during his childhood that one day his son would be sitting on the battle? eld, defeated by a small pain in his chest. (v) ‘HERE’ refers to the battle? eld. The soldier was undergoing a mental pain at the thought of the reaction his wife and mother would have on seeing him sitting defeated on the battle? eld. VI. (i) The soldier felt that it was getting dark earlier than it used to be because the light of his life was fading, as he was slowly losing consciousness because of the fatal injuries sustained on the battle? eld and seeing the darkness all around him. (ii) ‘He’ refers to the soldier. He winced up at the sun with an expression of pain on his face to ? nd out why was it getting  dark so early despite the shining sun. (iii) (a) In the given line, the soldier told the narrator that before he would start his journey further, he would like to take a little rest. It signi? es the soldier’s spirit to continue his duty after taking little rest. It is also symbolic of the ? nal journey, i. e. , death, towards which the soldier was heading. (b) The narrator said â€Å"I think I must have cried†. He said so because he could not recall what was his reaction when the wounded soldier died in front of his eyes. It signi? es that the narrator was petri?  ed on seeing the horrifying death of the soldier. (iv) When the narrator pulled the soldier towards himself he felt the wound in his chest and the gravity of the pain the soldier was enduring. 17 (v) The narrator said that he had a large wound in his heart compared to the small one in the soldier’s heart because he was hurt by the suffering of the dead soldier, and felt the guilt on the part of humanity at not being able to give up war and thereby, end the suffering of the soldiers. VII. (i) The expression ‘Asian dirt’ means Asian soil and this indicates that the war was fought in Asia. The two hardships experienced by the soldier included: (a) The physical pain caused by the fatal wounds sustained on the battle? eld. (b) The emotional agony at being lonely and surrounded by dead bodies and the thought of his family’s reaction on seeing him defeated. (ii) Despite sustaining fatal injuries during the war, the soldier did not leave the battle? eld because he considered it at his duty to continue the ? ght till the end and die smiling while performing his duty in the true spirit of a soldier. (iii) The phrase â€Å"a small pain in my chest† is a refrain which is  repeated throughout the poem to emphasise the pain and suffering a soldier undergoes on the battle? eld. (iv) Yes, indeed the poem has a poignant ending. It makes the readers—(i) feel the agony a soldier endures on the battle? eld; and (ii) realise the horrors of war and the need to give up wars for the sake of humanity. (v) Small Pain in My Chest is an anti-war poem that describes the horrors of war and conveys the message to shun hatred and warfare. I. (i) The speaker wants to say that all his children, i. e. , his sons are economically well off and his two daughters are happily married. (ii) By saying, â€Å"Both have cars†, the speaker wants to convey that both his sons are well off and have a status in society. It conveys that in Indian society the worth of an individual is measured more by his ? nancial status than anything else. (iii) The â€Å"other† is a reference for the speaker’s third son. The speaker says that he is not doing â€Å"so well† because in comparison to his THE PROFESSOR 18 TEACHERS’ HANDBOOK (ICSE POEMS) other two sons, who have managerial jobs and are economically well off, he is not as successful as they are. (iv) By saying, â€Å"Every family must have black sheep†, the speaker  intends to say that in every family there is a person, who is different from the rest of the family and is an embarrassment to the family. The speaker considered his third son as the black sheep in his family because he was not as well off as his other two sons. (v) The extract shows that Indians value economic success more than academic success through the speaker’s attitude, who measures the success of his two sons by their managerial jobs and the cars they owned. II. (i) Sarala and Tarala are the speaker’s daughters. The practice of giving rhyming names to the siblings like ‘Sarala and Tarala’ is shown in this extract. (ii) The speaker says that his two daughters ‘Sarala and Tarala’ are happily married to nice boys. The speaker’s comment about the marriage of Sarala and Tarala hints at the gender bias prevalent in Indian society, which considers the success of a man by his economic status and a woman’s by getting married to a nice boy. (iii) By saying, â€Å"How many issues you have†, the speaker wants to enquire from his student about the number of children he has. He is directing this question to his former student. (iv) In reply to his former student’s remark that he has three children, the speaker says â€Å"That is good†. The speaker considers his student having three children as â€Å"good†. (v) The speaker is not against family planning. The irony in this statement is the fact that though the speaker says that he is not against family planning, yet he feels proud at having eleven grandchildren. (vi) The poem The Professor is a satire on the urban Indian way of life as it satirises: (a) the urban Indian society, which measures the success of a man by his economic success rather than his academic excellence. (b) gender bias present in Indian society which believes that woman should be happily married and con? ned within the.

The Best Gift Ever

I examined the fine metallic textures of it once again as it captivated me. It kept me pondering endlessly, and its uniqueness seemed to grow every time I glanced at it. It shone like an angel’s light as I fiddled with it about the sunlight that had already appeared before. What could be more valuable about it? I wondered again. Just moments before, I had found this on my desk. It was a gift from my mother. But as attractive as it was, it seemed that the thought behind it was the source of its beauty. The day was passing by almost too quickly as I was enjoying the warm summer outdoors. But it was not just another day today, it was my birthday. Even though I sometimes do not think much about this day, a simple gift makes this day simply different from any other. I have always preferred something simple, whether giving or receiving a gift, simple always does it. I knew that I will be receiving something from my mother. Even if it wasn’t a new car topped with the world’s most expensive rims or James Bond’s Seiko watch, I would be fine with it. I don’t ask for much, I can appreciate whatever I get. When I came home in the afternoon, lying on my desk was a white box no more than three inches in length and width decorated with a very light emboss of abstract design. I opened it carefully and discovered a beautiful metal keychain positioned almost perfectly among the padding that prevented it from damage. The four corners that were slightly etched across in a curvy manner revealed to be the most reflective part that ran throughout the other side. My fingers traced across the finest engraving of Edwardian-script that spelt my name. I took the keychain into my own hands and studied it while it reflected the alluring sunlight that found its way through the windows. Thinking about this gift that my mother had given me invited a warm and heartfelt feeling that seemed to radiate throughout my entire body. The simple but extravagant design of this gift had more to offer than just itself, and the fact that the gift was meant for me stood out like a spotlight in a crowd, belonging to the rightful person. Me. It was as if my mother put her entire heart in the gift to ensure that the world knew it was mine. It could not mean any more than that. A gift just for me. I thanked her afterwards. It is the thought of the gift that counts. I never knew how a simple key chain could mean so much. It was not the beautiful glint, the soft but solid edges or the charming way it called my name that made it seem appealing alone, but rather that with the given meaning, it seemed to complement each other like the bright stars against the dark sky. The physical features of the gift could not solely match the thought of the gift itself, but could only praise it. The shiny metal keychain had satisfied my definition of a simple but meaningful gift.