Workers Participation In Management Management Essay

Workers Participation In Management Management Essay Workers participation is a system where workers and management share important information with each other and participate in decision taking. Workers participation in management is an essential ingredient of Industrial democracy. The concept of workers participation in management is based on Human Relations approach to Management which brought about a new set of values to labor and management. Workers participation in management implies mental and emotional involvement of workers in the management of Enterprise. It is considered as a mechanism where workers have a say in the decision-making. It is a process by which authority and responsibility of managing industry are shared with workers. Objectives of Workers Participation in Management: Economic Objective: Workers participation in management aims at increasing productivity of labor by improving cooperation between employer and employees. Productivity is sought to be increased by improving job satisfaction and industrial relations. Social Objective: Under participation, industry is considered as a social institution in which each and every worker has a vested interest. The purpose of participation is to ensure human dignity and to get the workers a respectable status in the society. Psychological Objective: Workers participation in management seeks to bring about a change in the attitude of the workers. Through participation, they will consider themselves an integral part of the industry rather than mere working hands. Participation provides the employees an opportunity to express themselves thereby satisfying their non-economic needs. It provides them a sense of belonging, pride and accomplishment. Importance of Workers Participation in Management: Workers Participation in Management provides the following benefits: Mutual Understanding: Participation brings the two parties closer and makes them aware of each others problems. As a result, a better understanding and mutual trust can be created between employer and workers. Higher Productivity: Cooperation between management and labor helps to increase production and profits of the industry. Participation improves employee motivation and job satisfaction which in turn help to increase their efficiency. Higher productivity leads to lower costs per unit and greater profits which are beneficial to all. Industrial Harmony: Workers participation in management helps to reduce industrial disputes and to improve workers loyalty. Continuous dialogue between management and workers improves peace in industry. Industrial Democracy: Workers participation in management ushers in industrial democracy which is necessary for political democracy. Need for outside intervention between employer and employees is eliminated and workers are freed from exploitation. Less Resistance to Change: Workers often resist change due to fear and ignorance. When workers participate in the decision making, they come to understand that change is ultimately in their own interest. They become more able and ready to adopt themselves to technological and other changes made to improve the competitive position of the company. Creativity and Innovation: Participation encourages workers to think and take initiative. Their talent and ability can be capitalized; highly competent employees can be spotted and given prevention. Forms / Methods of Workers Participation in Management: Suggestion schemes: Participation of workers can take place through suggestion scheme. Under this method workers are invited and encouraged to offer suggestions for improving the working of the enterprise. A suggestion box is installed and any worker can write his suggestions and drop them in the box. Periodically all the suggestions are scrutinized by the suggestion committee or suggestion screening committee. The committee is constituted by equal representation from the management and the workers. The committee screens various suggestions received from the workers. Good suggestions are accepted for implementation and suitable awards are given to the concerned workers. Suggestion schemes encourage workers interest in the functioning of an enterprise. Works committee: Under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, every establishment employing 100 or more workers is required to constitute a Works Committee. Such a committee consists of equal number of representatives from the employer and the employees. The main purpose of this committee is to provide measures for securing and preserving amity and good relations between the employer and the employees. Joint Management Councils: Joint consultation is the process whereby employer consults the workers either directly or through their representatives and seeks their opinion on various issues while retaining to him the right of taking final decisions. Joint consultation is a popular form of popular participation in management. These councils consist of equal number of representatives of the employers and employees, not exceeding 12 at the plant level. The council discusses various matters relating to the working of the industry. This council is entrusted with the responsibility of administering welfare measures, supervision of safety and health schemes, scheduling of working hours, rewards for suggestions etc. Work directors: Under this method, one or two representatives of  workers are nominated or elected to the  Board of Directors. This is the full-fledged and highest form of  workers participation in management.  The basic idea behind this method is that  the representation of workers at the top-level would  usher Industrial Democracy, congenial employee-employer relations and safeguard the workers interests. The  Government of India introduced this  scheme in several public sector  enterprises such as Hindustan Antibiotics, Hindustan Organic Chemicals Ltd etc. However the scheme of appointment of such a  director from among the employees failed miserably and the  scheme was subsequently dropped. Co-partnership: Co-partnership involves  employees participation in the share capital of a company in  which they are employed. By virtue of  their being shareholders, they have  the right to participate in the  management of the company. Shares of the  company can be acquired by workers making cash payment or by way  of stock options scheme. The basic objective of stock options is not to  pass on control in the hands of  employees but providing better financial incentives for  industrial productivity. Shop councils: Government of India, on the 30th of October 1975 announced a new scheme in WPM. In every Industrial establishment employing 500 or more workmen, the employer shall constitute a shop council. Shop council represents each department or a shop in a unit. Each shop council consists of an equal number of representatives from both employer and employees. The employers representatives will be nominated by the management and must consist of persons within the establishment. The workers representatives will be from among the workers of the department or shop concerned. The total number of employees may not exceed 12. Workers Participation in Management in India: Workers participation in Management in India was given importance only after Independence. The workers participation in management is not new even though it got encouragement only after independence. In 1920, Mahatma Gandhi observed Employees should not regard themselves as sole owners of mills and factories of which they may be legal owners. They should regard themselves trustees. Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 was the first step in this direction, which recommended for the setting up of works committees. The joint management councils were established in 1950 which increased the labor participation in management. Since July 1975 the two-tier participation called shop councils at shop level and Joint councils were introduced. Workers participation in Management Bill, 1990 was introduced in Parliament which provided scope for upliftment of workers. But still in India, workers participation is not given so much importance because of some of the reasons. These reasons could be discussed below. Reasons for Failure of Workers Participation in India: Some of the reasons for the failure of Workers Participation in India can be are as follows: Employers have by and large resisted workers participation in decision-making. They feel that workers are not competent enough to take decisions. There is no clear evidence to convince managers that participative management will really lead to higher productivity and profitability. Lower level needs of workers are not fully satisfied. Therefore majority of Indian workers are not motivated enough to assume decision making responsibility either directly or through their representatives. Workers representatives who participate in management have to perform the dual role of workers spokesmen and co-managers. Very few representatives are competent enough to assume the two incompatible roles. Generally trade union leaders, who represent workers, are also active members of political parties. While participating in management they give priority to political interest rather than the interests of the workers. Schemes of workers participation have been initiated and sponsored by the government. There has been a lack of initiative on the part of both the employers and the trade unions. The focus has been on participation at higher levels. As a result rank and file of workers are not involved in decision making on matters directly affecting them. In India, labor laws regulate virtually all terms and conditions of employment at the work place. Workers do not feel the urge to participate. The unwillingness of the employer to share powers with the workers representatives, the disinterest of the workers and the perfunctory attitude of the government towards participation in management act as stumbling blocks in the way of promotion of participative management. Measures for making Participation effective: Employer  should  adopt a  progressive  outlook. They should  consider  the industry as a joint endeavor in which  workers have an equal say. Workers should be provided and enlightened about the benefits of their participation in the  management. Employers  and workers should agree  on the  objectives  of the  industry.  They should recognize and respect the rights of each other. Workers and their  representatives should be provided education and trainingin the  philosophy and process of participative management. Workers shouldbe made aware of  the benefits of participative management There should  be effective communication  between  workers  and management and effective consultation of workers by the management in decisions that have an impact on them. Participation  should  be a continuous  process.  To begin  with, participation should start at the operating level of  management. A mutual co-operation and  commitment to participation  must be developed by both management and  labor. Modern scholars are of the mind that the old adage a worker is a worker, a manager is a manager; never the  twain shall meet should be replaced by managers and workers are partners in the progress of business. Thus the above given are some of the measures to improve upon the failure of workers participation in India.

political ideology Essay -- essays research papers

Position Paper: Political Ideology   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Upon entering my first semester at Southern Nazarene University I could not have told you my political ideology. I knew what my opinions, observations, expectations, and ideals were, but did not know the proper ideology that would define them. Through several courses that I have taken, I have become more informed as to the role that I would like to see the government take throughout society as a whole and in the economy. Upon reading the section of ideology in American Government and Politics Today: the Essentials I learned that the correct term for my ideology is right-wing Conservatism. I would like to see the government take action if necessary in the economy, yet let capitalism and the economy regulate itself if possibl...

New Media Artists on the Internet :: Internet Net World Wide Web Media

New Media Artists The enormous success and popularity of the Internet and new media as a whole have changed society in many ways. Artists have begun to use new media to deliver their works. As the artists use new media such as the Internet, the medium in which the work is delivered has become part of the artwork itself. In old media the book in which a story was printed is not part the literary piece of art. Ed Falco’s â€Å"Self-Portrait as Child with Father† and Olia Lialina’s â€Å"My Boyfriend Came Back From The War† are examples of McLuhan's message that the medium is the message. Both artworks are examples of new media art as defined by Lev Manovich in â€Å"The Language of New Media†. The introduction of new media art forms have changed the role of the artist, as the medium of digital art has now become the message itself making the individual ideas, perspectives, and narratives of the artist less important to the artwork as a whole. Marshall McLuhan is one of the first to articulate some of the social consequences of the great technological advances of the 20th Century. In his book â€Å"The Medium is the Message† from 1964 he introduces the idea that with the use of the new media as forms of communication it is the medium itself that is the message and he explains that, â€Å"This is merely to say that the personal and social consequences of any medium†¦result from the new scale that is introduced into our affairs by each extension of ourselves, or by any new technology† (Liu 1). The message will therefore change according to the medium. As we will see with new media art, the message would clearly be different if Ed Falco’s â€Å"Self-Portrait as Child with Father† was read linearly in a traditionally printed book than when experienced in its actual online non-linear presentation. Olia Lialina’s â€Å"My Boyfriend Came Back From The War† is presented similarly as a n online non-linear artwork. These artworks are interactive in the sense that the reader must click on links to read the story, or using a traditional turn the reader must click the link to virtually turn the page. Since there are multiple links at the same time the different pages are read at different times and in different order from reader to reader. It is therefore the case that no two readers of the artworks will have the same experience and opinion about them.

A Minor’s Right to Confidentiality Essay

In August of 1996 congress passed the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) patients began to see an improvement in the access and consistency of the health insurance coverage. It was not until April 14, 2003 that the privacy portion was passed protection personal health information. Many states have individual laws that were already in place to protect the health information of patients. HIPAA was not intended to eliminate the state law but to cover that which was not addressed by state laws. The state law will prevail providing it is more stringent than the HIPAA policy. In general, the passing of the HIPAA gave patients additional information and greater access to personal medical information while protecting that same information from inappropriate disclosure. Some of the protected information that has raised controversial concerns is regarding a minor’s right to privacy and parental access. Minor’s Rights versus Parental Rights HIPAA rules regulate the authorized individuals that legally can obtain a person’s private health information. HIPAA recognizes parents and guardians as â€Å"personal representatives,† which permits authorization and access as appropriate with the regulations. The guidelines provide that person that has legal authority over another adult or emancipated minor shall be considered the personal representative and afforded such authority as relevant to the law. The second part addresses unemancipated minors and parents or guardians, shall be regarded as personal representation and give the appropriate authority for decisions regarding a patients PHI (Mary Beth Kirven & Daniel J. Hall, 2003). There are exceptions as with any rules and those exceptions are as follows: 1. The minor consents to such health care service; no other consent to such health care service is required by law, regardless of whether the consent of another person has also been obtained; and the minor has not requested that such person be treated as the personal representative. 2. The minor may lawfully obtain such health care service without the consent of a parent, guardian or other person acting in loco parentis, and the minor, a court, or another person authorized by law consents to such health care service. 3. A parent, guardian, or other person acting in loco parentis assents to an agreement of confidentiality between a covered health care provider and the minor with respect to such health care service (Mary Beth Kirven & Daniel J. Hall, 2003). These exceptions provide for a minor, the ability to keep only specific health information as confidential from any individual which the minor chooses. In the state of Michigan, this information is protected only if for treatment of pregnancy, HIV or venereal disease and substance abuse (FindLaw, 2011). Benefits could be made by adding contraception to the protected information in the HIPAA policy as well in an effort to protect minors that reside in states that have no laws or public policy that address such issues. Teens have a right to conceal medical information only regarding pregnancy or infection of a sexually transmitted disease or actively addicted to drugs, which will then allow the privilege of privacy. This teaches teenagers that poor decision making will be rewarded with the opportunity to make more decisions. Promiscuous Adolescent Behavior Since the early 1970’s adolescent sexual activity has been in the public eye, the actual rate of activity had not changed, it only become more obvious. The average age of marriage was increasing along with the estimated life expectancy. The population was simply waiting longer to get married but not waiting to have sex. The media have placed these topics to the front of this nation with the various stories that seem to glamorize both sex and teen pregnancy. The United States is a nation that has sex everywhere, most entertainment media and many marketing tools use sexuality to attract the consumer and sell the products. Society needs education and accessibility to counter balance the exposure that is forced upon them from marketers in an effort to keep the sexual content to a minimum and to have the ability to see beyond the sexual nature of the actual products’ uses and its benefits’. Speculation is that the awareness created through these controversial television series (Teen Mom, 16 and pregnant) has contributed to the decrease in teen pregnancy. According to Women’s Health and Health Care Reform, â€Å"The United States continues to have the highest teen pregnancy rate of developed countries (Chavkin, Rosenbaum, Jones & Rosenfield, 2010).† The alternative is that adolescents may feel more comfortable with the ability to obtain appropriate supplies and education, both of which have become more accessible because of state and federal laws. Legal Entanglements Unfortunately, a recent attempt was made by Indiana Republican Representative Mike Pence, offering an amendment to eliminate the Title X program. This â€Å"Pence Bill† is an attempt to prevent programs such as Planned Parenthood from obtaining federal funds for any reason (Miller, LaVaute & Heritage Media, 2011). The primary focus of this amendment was the use of pro-life tax-payers money to fund and promote abortion. A debate over this is still ongoing now at the national level, yet here locally there are still health clinics providing the necessary services to many adolescents, including prenatal care when needed (Miller, LaVaute & Heritage Media, 2011). The controversy over the abortion service is the main factor in the attempt to remove the funding. â€Å"According to Planned Parenthood, abortions that are performed in its clinics make up less than 3 percent of its services. There were 332,278 abortion procedures performed in 2009. There were also 830,000 breast exams, a nd nearly 4 million were tested and/or treated for sexually transmitted diseases (Miller, LaVaute & Heritage Media, 2011).† Public Policy Public policy is the only protections that adolescents have to depend on. It will allow protection from both diseases and unwanted pregnancy, and this is limited to only specific minors in the State of Michigan. HIPAA does not pre-empt this policy as it is more stringent in some states than the HIPAA law, this is one limitation to the policy. An excerpt in the Guttmacher Institute report on public policy indicates, â€Å"Although the public remains ambivalent, professional organizations familiar with the scientific evidence uniformly support the provision of reproductive health care to minors on a confidential basis. Public policy developments at the state and federal level, however, suggest that teenagers’ access to confidential services will remain under attack in the months and years to come (2005).† Conclusion History has proven that children will continue to have sex and contract disease and become pregnant; therefore laws protecting the privacy of reproductive health can actually diminish the barriers and increase access to protection for many patients. Planned Parenthood has played an intricate role in providing access to education and protection for millions of adolescents. Removing the funding for programs such as this also reduces access to education, treatment and supplies, resulting in increased diseases and increases in unwanted pregnancies that subsequently lead to a higher poverty rate. Ideally abstinence is the preferred method to prevent unwanted pregnancy and disease, however, reality shows that this is generally not the practiced method. Protection for adolescents is needed in all societies to promote responsibility and growth for every individual. It is a mature and responsible decision to pursue the protection and education that is needed even when access is limited. Laws are passed to protect mankind, not adults or parents or any one population; laws are created to protect any person that needs protecting, including minors. References Chavkin, W., Rosenbaum, S., Jones, J., & Rosenfield, A. (2010). Women’s health and health care reform [The key role of comprehensive reproductive health care]. Retrieved from http://www.mailmanschool.org/facultypubs/womenshealthcarereform.pdf FindLaw. (2011). Michigan medical records law. Retrieved from http://law.findlaw.com/state-laws/minors-and-the-law/michigan/, http://law.findlaw.com/state-laws/minors-and-the-law/michigan/ Guttmacher Institute. (2005, November). Teenagers’ access to confidential reproductive health services [The Guttmacher report on public policy]. Retrieved from http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/tgr/08/4/gr080406.html Mary Beth Kirven, E., & Daniel J. Hall. (2003, June). Health insurance portability and accountability act of 1996 [Applicability to the courts: an initial assessment]. Retrieved from http://www.ncsconline.org/WC/Publications/CS_PriPubHIPPA96Pub.pdf Miller, J., LaVaute, G., & Heritage Media. (2011, March). Washtenaw county: Young and pregnant [Part 1: Prevention]. Retrieved from http://www.heritage.com/articles/2011/03/01/life/doc4d6d5ec57105e610360187.txt?viewmode=fullstory

Procter & Gamble: A Company with Global Operations

Procter & Gamble (P&G) is a leading manufacturer of personal and home care products. P&G is an international company that operates in 40 different countries. This paper will examine the environmental factors that affect how effective P&G’s global marketing efforts are. These factors known as environmental forces include social and economic forces, as well as technological, regulatory, and competitive forces.Any business operating internationally is impacted by these environmental factors which affect how the company will market its product. Understanding how these forces impact its operations will help P&G understand the interworkings of the economy both globally and domestically and the trends that currently impact its marketing efforts, which will help P&G, create and successfully implement its marketing plan. Operating Globally:In this day and age, globalization has allowed companies to operate internationally. According to Panayotou (2000), â€Å"Globalization is an on-go ing process of global integration that encompasses economic integration through trade, political interaction, information technology, and culture. Globalization brings people, culture, and information together. Globalization has helped P&G operate globally because it lowers trade barriers and increases the dependence between countries for goods and services, which means there is a bigger market for the goods that companies like P&G offers.Globalization came about as countries saw that other countries could produce products better and cheaper than another country could (comparative advantage), so countries began producing what they had an advantage in and selling it to other countries. This trading of products became an accepted practice and eventually spurred economic growth. This caused countries and  businesses to begin operating in the global market because it allowed companies to tap into this greater demand and new market for goods and services, which would expand their custo mer base and profit potential. Procter & Gamble: The Importance of Demographics & Physical InfrastructureP&G knows that when operating globally the company needs to market its product, and this means you have to have a clear understanding of the market of people that will be using the product. This means understanding the people and their different cultures. Every country has a different culture. Culture tells a story about where people come from, who they are, and what is socially acceptable. Culture affects the way people perceive the world around them, and this means it will affect the way products should be marketed. A significant part of our culture is our background, characteristics, and demographics.Demographics provide vital information about a country’s people. Information about a country's demographics help P&G to determine the right people to market its products to and how to appeal to them in its marketing plan. P&G manufacturers and sells its products world-wide including nations outside North America, Western Europe, Japan and Korea where there is a growing demand for its products. These countries represent places with high populations of people who are aging and take care of themselves, which means they need basic household items which P&G manufacturers such as detergents and grooming products.P&G is well- positioned in the industry segments and markets in which it operates. P&G’s success is a result of its ability to adapt its marketing mix to the standards and culture of the country in which it operates. It does this by having a good understanding of the country’s demographics and its physical infrastructure which help facilitate the development and operations of its companies. A countries physical infrastructure helps marketers determine how products will go from the manufacturer, to retailers, to the customer. Going Global: The Effect of Trade Practices and AgreementsTrade is an integral part of any country’s grow th and stability. Trade is fostered by global economic interdependence and gives counties access to a  wider array of products and services. Over the past decade trade has become global; trade negotiations have expanded to include more countries and are now regulated by international agreements and the World Trade Organization (Boundless, 2013). Trade has created a global economic interdependency. Global economic interdependence illustrates the ideal that no country is completely self-sufficient. â€Å"There is a need for trade among nations for goods and services as well as the resources needed to survive and grow in the global economy† (Nebraska Department of Education, 2013, para1).This means that decisions made in one country will directly affect what happens in another country making countries more susceptible to economic problems. Although, trade increases a country’s wealth trade also leads to inequality which is why countries have trade agreements. Trade agre ements are negotiated by each nation who has their own interests’ in-mind, which means some level of protectionism to protect industries that are essential to that nation (Boundless, 2013). Costs of Operating Globally: Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977Any company with international operations is susceptible to a number of risks. These risks include complying with U.S. laws affecting operations outside of the United States, such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The Foreign Corruption Act was developed to eliminate the potential of bribery to foreign officials, thwart money laundering, and reduce corruption and restore confidence in the business system.When operating internationally, companies must abide by several laws and legislation on the local, national, and international level. This is because the company conducts business with other nations and this means abiding by the laws, rules and customs which govern the business transaction between the two nations. Furthe rmore, companies must also take into account that political systems directly influence international relations between nations.This is because each country has it own laws and acceptable business practices. As well as its own political system that determines what a company can do when trying to conduct business in that country. When conducting business with different countries it is important to be aware of its political systems as it determines where products can be marketed and  what laws must be abided by (Chavis, 2013).TechnologyTechnology changes the way companies operate and conduct business. Technology allows companies with international operations to achieve success by allowing them to be innovative. Technology helps companies improve its equipment and manufacturing processes and anticipating consumer acceptance. On a global perspective, technology allows companies to go outside the traditional confines of selling a product and enables them to sell their products virtually anywhere. Technology has influenced every aspect of business from increasing efficiency to providing access to information and changing how companies communicate with their customers. Social Responsibility, Ethics, & Legal Obligations:To be profitable companies must understand that there is more to staying in business than earning a hefty amount of money. Companies must also consider the social implications of their operations. This is especially important for companies operating in the global market because a damaging reputation can impact its sales domestically and internationally. Any company looking to stay in business must abide by the laws and legislation of the company in which it is operating. For example, P&G is subject to tax regulations in the United States and multiple foreign jurisdictions, and it is their responsibility to be aware of any changes in the laws and regulations of these countries.In business, social responsibility and ethics go hand in hand. A company tha t seeks to have a positive impact on society is usually a company that seeks to operate responsibly and in doing so the company upholds the highest moral and ethical standards. Ethics help ensure that companies use good business practices in its operations and help companies fulfill its social responsibility to help improve the lives of its people.For P&G social responsibility and ethics drive the company. P&G is in the business of â€Å"providing products and services of superior quality and value that improve the lives of the world’s consumers, now and for generations to come† (P&G, 2013, para.2). P&G believes that by being socially responsible, and ethical its â€Å"consumers will reward P&G with leadership sales, profit and value  creation, allowing our people, our shareholders, and the communities in which we live and work to prosper† (P&G, 2013). ConclusionInternational companies understand that success is not just creating an appealing marketing campaig n. To be successful companies have to plan extensively and have a good understanding of the global market. To market a product internationally companies must examine and plan for the environmental factors that influence how effective their global marketing efforts are. In doing so, the company will effectively reach its new market of customers and create a unique position in the minds of its customer which creates brand loyalty, generates sales, and increase profit potential.

The image of the ideal wife in early modern Venice in art and text

1. The image of the ideal wife in early modern Venice in art and text. The Republic of Venice otherwise known as La Serenissima had a reputation for its security and political unity. It had a reputation for its ‘unsullied liberty, unwavering religiousity, social harmony and unfailingly peaceful intentions. ‘1 Art was used throughout the city to show and teach social and political virtues and expectations, according to Muir ‘artistic patronage became an arm of government. In consideration of this it was also a way of social propaganda, as high ranking members of the scuolas including the Dukes and Doges could depict them selves performing virtuous acts, thus promoting their reputation in the eyes of the republic. Venetian art depicting women at home gave a portrayal of what was expected from women in a domestic environment, and by their husbands. There was a strong family ethic within Venice promoting civic unity and strength, which was paramount in the running of the state. The images were all made how society expected the wife to be and what stereotypes were imposed upon women. All images of women were depicted through the eyes of men, and how they wished for others to perceive their household. Women were expected to provide their husbands with an heir to the household, their only other material contribution being a dowry which would add to the prestige and worth of the family name. Virtues such as faith, chastity and fecundity were required of a woman to contribute to the success of a household. A good wife would add to the familial reputation and allow for a higher social status for the man. If one originated from a good household he was a more stable member of the Venetian community which prided itself on unity and regulation. As the women were an essential component to the running of the household and domesticity there were often confined to running of a successful household. Wider more worldly concerns of the running of the republic were left to the patriarchal ruling of the state, as the women had absolutely no political power. Within the household women were separated from the men within the living space. Venetian writers advised that the mistress of the household should have their room separate from their husbands, but linked, and placed furthest away from the entrance of the household. 2 The domestic spaces of women and men were extremely separate. ‘The male servants never go into the women's apartments when they do not know for certain if there are daughters or marriageable damsels in the house, and likewise the young female servants do not appear, or do so rarely, in the apartments of their masters but they serve in the apartments of their mistresses†¦ and they go there through very secret staircases. Two ladies on a Terrace by Vittore Carpaccio (ca. 1500) is a demonstration of the literal differences in the spaces between men and women. The painting is divided into two halves, both gendered by traditional symbology. It is an allegorical representation of women and virtue as they are surrounded by symbols that support that. Two dogs represent fidelity; a peacock wanders through the painting showing the virtues of redemption, vanity and purity. The women represented are of a high social status as they are shown in the fashions of the time of women of a high social ranking. A Venetian bride is identifiable by her pearl necklace, and could possible be seen as the mother of the young boy in the picture. The allegorical symbols that surround her show what would be expected of her in marriage. The metaphorical representation of the separation of the two highly gendered worlds of the men and women lies in the inclusion of the balcony in the scene. Various symbols are placed on this division connecting the two worlds. Two turtle doves perched on the balcony show how the relationships between the men and women are linked by love and a union of two halves. The vases containing lilies and myrtle also act as symbols of purity and marriage. A little boy climbing between the gaps in the balcony shows a transition and connection between the two halves of the painting. Children up to a certain age were placed in the care of their mothers and the female servants, as the woman were expected to fulfil the role of nurturing the child. However, the little boy is growing up and obviously on the path to adulthood as he moves across to the world of men. In contrast to the domestic scene of the two women on the balcony, the men are out doors, in the background hunting a juxtaposition of the two worlds. This supports what Scamozzi was saying about the expectation of the women to stay in doors within the domestic space maintaining the household, and being in charge of the upbringing of the children. Piero della Francesca painted portraits of his patron Federigo da Montefeltro Duke of Urbino and his wife Battista Sforza (c. 1470). The subjects of the paintings are placed in such a way that they are facing each other, showing their faces in profile allowing us to see their costume. The couple are in traditional Venetian dress, showing their prestige and social status. His wife is shown in the fashion with her string of pearls and elaborate headdress, and he in the expensive clothes of a duke. The portrait of Sfora Battista demonstrates how a wife who had fulfilled her duties, with all of the virtues of ‘Two Ladies on a Terrace,' is honoured. Sfora Battista was married to the Duke of Urbino in 1460 at the young age of thirteen. After bearing him six daughters she died shortly after the birth of their first son and heir in 1472 at the age of 25. The portrait is therefore a posthumous portrait, allegedly based on her death masks or perhaps a previous portrait. 4 She was a good wife and fulfilled all of her duties sometimes acting as regent when the Duke was away. She was a pious woman and the portrait was painted in her honour. There are various aspects of the works that support this. She is placed on the dexter side5, however there is a claim that Federigo de Montefeltro had a facial deformity on the right hand side of his face, and was therefore always painted showing his best side. Apart from this, there are other aspects of the portrait that are Sfora Battista's favour. According to what was considered fashionable at the time her skin was very pale with hardly any shadowing. The pale sky is tonally very similar and brings out the pale colouring of her skin, emphasising its purity and clarity. In contrast to smooth texture of her skin the folds of the white cloth at the back of her head and the pearls hanging from her neck and the rest of her accessories are very detailed. The fact that our attention is drawn to her jewellery and clothing make us focus on her high ranking and social status. The two paintings come as a pair, however are linked and made whole by the contiguous background, and the matching triumphs painted on the other side. The backgrounds are subtly gendered in their content. Behind the woman there are small images of households. Behind her husband images of boats, similar to the background of Carpaccio's painting, showing more male activities. The honouring of his wife continues on into the thematic content of the Trionfi, which was painted in order to celebrate the virtues of a couple. Allegorical representations show Sfora Battista as a chaste woman, as her chariot is pulled by unicorns,6 and she is accompanied by the virtuous figures of Charity, Hope and Faith, who sit at the front of the carriage. Chastity and modesty stand behind Sfora at the back. She is surrounded by all of the virtues required in a perfect wife. Federigo is also shown wearing armour, surrounded by virtues that would show his status as a great ruler. However, as much as he is shown as a great ruler it is obviously the importance of his wife that adds to his success, as the two portraits are equal in content and importance of the subjects. Veronese's depiction of the mistress Guistinia Guistiniani Lady of the Barbaro Villa is a further celebration of a good Venetian wife. With a dowry of ten thousand duckets she brought fortune and a good name, and bore her husband four sons. Marcantonio Barbaro worked in conjunction with the architect Palladio, and the artist Veronese in creating the villa in Maser, with an ‘interdependance of themes that refer metaphorically to family, State and Church. These themes were mainly expressed through the artistry of Veronese's frescoes that are featured through out the villa. Symbols of eternity and the elements which are featured in other frescoes of the household contribute to an allegory of Love throughout the household. A collegue of Marcantonio Barbaro, Bendetto Varchi, speaks of the importance of love in a household: ‘Love still binds with firm friendships the villas and cities; it governs the marital knot and deticates its laws to faithful friends where all good resides. ‘ The goddess of Love herself surrounded by the other Olympian gods looks down on the mistress of the household Guistiniana and her son, who looks out to greet visitors into the house, reiterating her power in the household. An allegorical symbol of fecundity is above her reminding us of her fulfilled duty as a wife by providing a son and heir to her husband. Her status as a mother as well as mistress of the household is repeated and emphasised by the fact that one of her children is standing on one side of her and one of her servants on the other. An empty space in the group suggests the absence of Marcantonio Barbaro as the master of the household. The boy is separated from the two women in the image indicating a social gender difference, similar to that of Carpaccio's ‘Two Ladies on a Balcony'. Although he is tied to his mother at the moment in time, due to his young age, in time he will have to separate and become an absent influence, moving from the domestic world of his mother in the villa, to the outside world of men. In the interior world of the Villa Barbaro Guistiniana is clearly in control as she is placed high, like the gods depicted in the fresco, giving her a divine authority over the household, and the realm of her visitors below her. The iconography that surrounds the mistress of the household from her divine positioning ‘alludes†¦ to terrestrial love and concord, expressed in the nuptial rites of men and more particularly in Marcantonio's marriage to Giustiniana. ‘9 According to Reist a depiction of Juno, Hymenaeus, and Venus could be seen as a representation of a matrimonial scene along with the father of the bride. Other scenes also refer to the success of the household, with allegorical representations referring to the Villas wine production. The symbolism all refers to the gods and cosmos placing their blessings upon the villa Barbaro its wealth, and the fruitful union of Guistiniana and Marcantonio. The Miracle of the Speaking Infant by Titian shows a wife depicted in a negative attitude. The image depicts a Venetian noble woman unfairly accused by her husband of adultery – a unforgivable sin to be committed by a woman, as they were expected to be pious and loyal. During the time women who committed adultery could be deprived of their dowries,10 and the disapproval of her community, thus depriving her of her means to survive socially and financially. According to Venetian law the offence could be punishable by death, the woman's honour only being salvageable by her family, or kin, as it was their reputation that was effectively being tarnished by their association with the woman. Finally the child born of this situation was considered the lowest of all society, a mere bastard ‘contaminating the lineage. ‘ According to the myth, St Anthony asks the child who his father is. By a miracle the child responds by pointingg out his father in the crowd thus saving his mother from a terrible fate. The scene could be seen as an attempt to put women in a better light, as she has been wrongly accused, supported by no one apart from her child. In reality she is a good and faithful wife, and should be loved and honoured by her husband accordingly. Visually we are made to sympathise with the woman, as her side of the story as a victim is portrayed to us first, as the painting is read from right to left. The woman is depicted with two other women, one holding her own child so that she can directly be compared to the woman who is having her child taken away from her, making us more sympathetic to her case. Titian is effectively campaigning for the necessity of the mother in the family life, as the painting is ultimately in support of the accused wife. Women in Venice were an essential part in the running of the household and family life. Good wives were celebrated for their virtues, which were specifically expressed in portraits and representations of domestic scenes. Veronese shows a wife being honoured for her contribution to the family name, whereas Titian shows a wife disgraced for not performing her familial duties. However in both cases the importance of the women in the nurture and domestic environment is demonstrated in both images. Masters of the household who had wives that would effectively add to the prestige of their family ranking and lineage honoured their wives through their portraiture, thus making eternal the contribution and importance they had to the family.

BUSINESS STRATEGY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

BUSINESS STRATEGY - Essay Example Buyers – the buyer power is high as there are several competitors that have entered the segment. Threat of new entrants – is low because of the high capital involvement in research and development. Substitutes – as people have become health conscious, and have increased knowledge of nutrition, they would not opt for something that is low cost. Competitive rivalry - They are better positioned than the competitors to understand the trends in the world; the only company with big nutrition business and a big food business. This suggests that Nestle enjoys a comfortable position in the industry because of its high bargaining power with the suppliers, and low threats from competitors due to its investment in technology and innovation. The consumers too are less likely to migrate because of lack of availability of substitutes. The industry is attractive as most forces are weak. 3. Value chain Any person, process, product or brand that adds value to a product or service constitutes a value chain (Mascarenhas, Kesavan & Bemacchi, 2004). Adding value is the strategic means to adding value and achieving competitive advantage. The value chain model helps to analyze each individual activity and assess its contribution. In-bound logistics - they produce locally, use less packaging and produce the unit size to local needs. Operations –They use state-of-the-art machines and innovative design for their products and packaging. Roasting and grinding is also based on expert technology; overall sustainable practices. Out-bound logistics – they can reach the products to the consumers quickly in multiple forms. Where necessary they replace the tradition models of delivery through local carts or even use local kiosks for display. They also have distribution... Nestle enjoys a comfortable position in the industry because of its high bargaining power with the suppliers, and low threats from competitors due to its investment in technology and innovation. The consumers too are less likely to migrate because of lack of availability of substitutes. The industry is attractive as most forces are weak. Any person, process, product or brand that adds value to a product or service constitutes a value chain (Mascarenhas, Kesavan & Bemacchi, 2004). Adding value is the strategic means to adding value and achieving competitive advantage. The value chain model helps to analyze each individual activity and assess its contribution. Inbound logistics - they produce locally, use less packaging and produce the unit size to local needs. Operations –They use state-of-the-art machines and innovative design for their products and packaging. Roasting and grinding is also based on expert technology; overall sustainable practices. Outbound logistics – they can reach the products to the consumers quickly in multiple forms. Where necessary they replace the tradition models of delivery through local carts or even use local kiosks for display. They also have distribution channels in department stores or standalone exclusive boutiques. Marketing and sales – they do not go for volumes in sales but value or quality. Service - They offer service 24x7 and delivery takes place within 48 hours. The value chain demonstrates that Nestle attempts to maximize value in each element of the chain – be it in people, product or process.