Representation of women in media Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Representation of women in media - Research Paper Example Most actresses, cover models and ballet dancers (Slater & Tiggemann) weigh less than the average weight of a woman since the media advocates for slender bodies. Women and young girls use diet pills to lose weight (Moffitt & Szymanski, 2011). Pictures describe many things; they display beauty, send a message or simply advertise something. Photographs are a form of communication between the photographer and the audience. Marketers use photographs to advertise their products. People use photos to store information as a form of pictorial memory (Benson & Allen, 2009). Finally, photography can be implemented as a career, which a photographer sells the photos to make money or as a passion. On the other hand, photo manipulation involves altering a photo through a computer in order to improve its look or beauty. Journalists use photo manipulation for resizing photos and cropping images. Secondly, it is also used to restore the structure of a damaged photograph. Thirdly, web designers use it for designing web layouts and navigation tools. It can be used to construct an intact website. Finally, photo shopping is a powerful animation

Team Model Essay Example for Free

Team Model Essay Forming: Roles and responsibilities not clear, everyone unknown to each other. Meeting group members. Storming : everyone has different point of views on different issues. Then they decide which one to choose. People complete for consideration. Norming : Develop a mutual plan, create guidelines in order to make rule for themselves. Performing: Achieving the goals the group has set. Adjourning: Finishes task. Tuckman’s Model of Team Formation Some overlap between the stages Tuckman’s model is linear; many others say the process he describes is cyclical. The model below takes into account movement back and forth through the stages. Small teams do seem to follow a predictable path. MODEL 2 Gersick’s Theory of Group Development Punctuated Equilibrium – (from Evolution theory) This model of team development does allow for gauging time which is a significant difference between it and Tuckman’s model. The Gersick model focuses on successive stages which are characterized by even increasing focus on task performance and completion as time becomes a factor. Each model assumes the individuals will strive for success in accomplishing the team’s set goals. The PE model is characterized by periods of stopping and re-planning when we recognize the time restrictions as we go through Gersick’s stages. Gersick’s theory they all of a sudden realize that they have a time limit. This is the difference between these two models. STAR Model Strengths- individuals in a group identify and develop strengths. Teamwork- come together and build relationships. Aligns – team leader assists group to achieve goals. Results- obtain results that are meaningful. (ACHIEVEMENT) Difference Gersick’s model: they suddenly realize that they have a deadline. Tuckman’s model has specific stages. Gersick’s model is mainly based on time. Gersick focuses more on task performance and completion Tuckman’s model is more specific and divides the group development into five distinguished stages, Gersick’s Lot of reforming of goals, sometimes 3 or 4 times. Similarities Both working towards a specific goal. Mainly all the work is done on the midway of the process.

Chemically prepared or sensitized material

Chemically prepared or sensitized material INTRODUCTION OF PHOTOGRAPHY Photography is defined as the science and art of producing an exact impression of an object on chemically prepared or sensitized material by using light. It depends on the sensitiveness of silver compound to light. The photographs are usually taken by means of a photographic camera. Camera is an instrument consisting of a light-tight box with a place for the light sensitive film at one end and covering lens or a combination of lenses by which a real, inverted and diminished image can be obtained on the other hand. This instrument called camera is so devised that lens may be moved forward and backward by screw arrangement, with a view to getting a distinct and clear image of an object, placed before the lens, on the film. While it is easy to make comparisons between the pupil of the eye and the f-stop of a camera or between the retina of the eye and photographic film .Once we get past the basic similarities of the optics of the two systems comparisons begin to rapidly break down. The eye is not only much more complex than a camera and its film but the two imaging devices function by different chemical mechanisms. The photographer the automatic exposure system of the camera regulates the f-stop opening and time of exposure of her camera to match the sensitivity of film while the iris and retina sensitivity of the eye adjust to correspond to the light level of the scene. This first installment on the chemistry of photography is intended to introduce in a simplified way the basic concepts of silver halide photography. It will not delve into the physics of optics the functioning of cameras and lenses, photographic techniques, non-silver processes, or the artistic aspects of photography. Photography encompasses many things there is a science to photography, but as a means of expression, it is ultimately an art form. There are many techniques and forms of photography which fill many books in the library and many pages on the Internet. Beyond this point, the actual taking of pictures, style, and good composition will not be mentioned again. Chemistry is an even larger subject area, encompassing all areas of life and invisible details that are often mind boggling. To couple photography and chemistry is narrower than either subject on its own, but still includes a lot of material. These pages will look at some basics, presenting only a small fraction of the information relevant to the chemistry of photography. Photography encompasses many things there is a science to photography, but as a means of expression, it is ultimately an art form. There are many techniques and forms of photography which fill many books in the library and many pages on the Internet. Beyond this point, the actual taking of pictures, style, and good composition will not be mentioned again. Chemistry is an even larger subject area, encompassing all areas of life and invisible details that are often mind boggling. To couple photography and chemistry is narrower than either subject on its own, but still includes a lot of material. These pages will look at some basics, presenting only a small fraction of the information relevant to the chemistry of photography. ABBREVIATION LIST NH4Br→Ammonium bromide. AgNO3→Silver nitrate. Ag Br→ Silver bromide. NH4NO3→Ammonium nitrate. 1, 4-dihydroxy benzene. 2, 4-diaminophenol. C6H6OH→PHENOL. METHODOLOGY Chemical reaction. Process (propagation). Techniques. Material studied. Images. TYPES OF PHOTOGRAPHY:- BLACK WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY. COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY. BLACK WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY Black and white photography is known for its unique charm, clarity and pureness. It strikes a fine balance between information and inspiration. These features of black and white photography have made the art most appealing though it has tough competition with digital color photography in the present era. Black and white photography is generally practiced by the monochrome photographers all over the world. Monochrome photography consists of black and white photographs A large part of monochrome photography consists of black and white photographs which retained their charm long after the trend of color photography had taken shape. The prime reasons behind the prevalence of black and white photography even in the present era are comparatively lower cost and classic look of black and white photographs. It is interesting to know that all the monochrome photographs are not necessarily pure black and white. There are some black and white photographs which are produced by Cyanotype process and they display shades of blue and white. There was a process called albumen process. It was in use some 150 years ago and the black and white photographs developed with the help of this process had brown shades. (1) Preparation of a photographic film→ Photographic film is thin sheet of cellulose acetate or other polymeric support coated with the photographic emulsion. This emulsion is prepared by adding 20% solution of silver nitrate (AgNO3) to the solution of ammonium (NH4Br) containing gelatin. NH4Br + AgNO3→AgBr + NH4NO3 After the mixing, the emulsion is ripened either by keeping it at high temperature for some time or by digesting it at a lower temperature with ammonia. It is then cooled till it sets to a jelly. The jelly, like mass is washed with water to remove ammonium nitrate. Then the emulsion is applied on a cellulose acetate film is then dried and carefully packed. To the fastness of film depends upon the size the grains of (Ag Br).The larger the grain the faster the film. (2)Formation of latent image by exposure→ Photographic film is mounted in a camera and exposed few second to the image of a properly focused object. An invisible change occurs in parts of film on which light falls depending upon the shape, and intensity of the light reflected from different parts of the object. On the film, the inverted image of the object is formed. This image is called latent image and is not visible in presence of the sunlight. 2Ag Br→2Ag +Br (3)Developing latent image and preparing the negative→ The exposed film is immersed in a solution of a weak reducing agent (developer) like ferrous oxalate or alkaline solution of organic reducing agent like hydroquinone (1, 4-dihydroxy benzene) and (2, 4-diaminophenol). This developer reduces the activated Ag Br grains to Ag at an appreciable greater rate than the unexposed Ag Br according to the equation. This the (developer) act as much more rapidly upon these portions of the film where the illumination was most intense. Here the reduced silver is deposited in the form of black silver. Thus the film becomes darkest where the object was bright and vice-versa. It is called Negative. 2Ag Br+ (1, 4-dihydroxy benzene)+ 2(OH) -→2Ag+(2, 4-diaminophenol) +2H2O +2Br (4)Fixing the image→ After developing the film is till sensitive to light due to the presence of unchanged the Ag Br. There for in order to get the permanent image, it is necessary to remove unchanged Ag Br. This is done by dipping the negative in the fixed bath. This process of the removal of the excess Ag Br is called fixing. Before the fixing and after developing the alkali is removed by dipping the negative in 0-5% acetic acid for short time. Ag Br +2Na2S2O3→Na3[Ag(S2O3)2 +Na Br (5)Printing→ In this process, the negative is placed over a sensitive paper printing paper that has been coated with photographic emulsion (silver bromide with gelatin).The paper is then exposed to light for a fraction of second so that the light passes through the negative. Darker spot on the negative allow less light and dark are reversed and we get a positive. The positive is than developed, fixed, and dried to give the black and white photography. INTRODUCTION TO USING FILTER The use of filters makes the digital black and white photography really interesting and effective. Through this feature, you can easily make out how a particular color appears in a black and white photograph. While using a digital camera for taking black and white photographs, you would require a filter holder so that the filter might be attached at the time of taking the shot. You cannot see the change of tones on the viewfinder. Once you complete taking the image, you can have a preview on the screen. Filters are the addition to the ‘eyes of the camera your lens. Additive, subtractive and special effect are the three basic categories of filters. So before we move on to some advanced types and uses of filters, get acquainted. Filters can be glass or plastic:-Are used for enhancing a photo or adding special effects to the image. At the very least, any filter will act as a cover for your lens. Plain glass or transparent filters: These are primary filters that only serve as protection for your lens. They are not supposed to affect the image in any way. So it is a good idea to check this out before buying. No matter what the season or conditions you are shooting in, it is always recommended to have one of these on your lens. After all, you cant be too careful. Color filters and black-and-white photography: Color filters are best used in black and white photographs to alter or intensify contrasts. The basic filters include Red, Green and Blue along with Yellow. For instance, a yellow filter will make the outlines in an image and it background appear lighter in contrast. So if you are clicking your subject against a dark background then using a yellow filter will make the object seem lighter and brighter in contrast. IMAGES OF BLACK WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY Common Silver Halide Developers

T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land - The Most Influential Work in Modern Liter

T.S. Eliot’s "The Waste Land" - The Most Influential Work in Modern Literature T.S. Eliot’s "The Waste Land" is considered by many to be the most influential work in modern literature. First published in 1922, it captures the feelings and sentiments of modern culture after World War I. Line thirty of "The Waste Land," "I will show you fear in a handful of dust," is often viewed as a symbol of mankind’s fear of death and resulting love of life. Eliot’s masterpiece—with its revolutionary ideas—inspired writers of his era, and it continues to affect writers even today. In the first two lines of "The Waste Land," Eliot says, "April is the cruellest month, breeding/Lilacs out of the dead land" (l. 1-2). Eliot shows the connection between death (emptiness) and life (fulfillment). Flowers and trees awaken and grow after the long, harsh winter months. The plants receive nutrients—and life—from the decayed remains of past vegetation. Yulisa Maddy’s No Past No Present No Future begins with the same ideas of new life beginning out of death. Joe Bengoh, after witnessing the fire that destroys his house, mumbles, "My parents dead?" (3). His callous words hardly conceal his true feelings of contempt for his parents. Joe’s suppressed jubilation is apparent in his next few thoughts. He thinks that, after the tragic death of his parents, Father O’Don will surely accept him at the mission house. In an attempt to make himself look troubled and distraught, Joe sticks his finger into his mouth and then rubs his eyes. Joe "kept on d oing this until his eyes went red and felt as if he had been crying" (6). Joe ends up being accepted to the mission house, and he becomes inseparable from his new friends, Ade John and Santigie Bombolai. Joe’s new, positi... ...ecognize these changes in his work. The works of Ernest Hemmingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald follow Eliot’s, and America’s, ideas and trends. Hemmingway’s A Farewell to Arms (1929) also deals with World War I and the modern ideas toward sex. Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (1925) portrays the alcoholism and sexual promiscuity of the Jazz Age. In No Past No Present No Future, The "Brothers Three" use alcohol and drugs quite frequently, and they all tended to sleep around as well. The revolutionary ideas described in Eliot’s "The Waste Land" influenced many great writers in the past and continue to have an impact on authors today. Works Consulted Bible, The. New International Version. Zondervan: Grand Rapids, 1996. Eliot, T.S. The Waste Land, Prufrock and Other Poems. Mineola, NY: Dover, 1998. Maddy, Yulisa Amadu. No Past No Present No Future. Oxford: Heinemann, 1996. T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land - The Most Influential Work in Modern Liter T.S. Eliot’s "The Waste Land" - The Most Influential Work in Modern Literature T.S. Eliot’s "The Waste Land" is considered by many to be the most influential work in modern literature. First published in 1922, it captures the feelings and sentiments of modern culture after World War I. Line thirty of "The Waste Land," "I will show you fear in a handful of dust," is often viewed as a symbol of mankind’s fear of death and resulting love of life. Eliot’s masterpiece—with its revolutionary ideas—inspired writers of his era, and it continues to affect writers even today. In the first two lines of "The Waste Land," Eliot says, "April is the cruellest month, breeding/Lilacs out of the dead land" (l. 1-2). Eliot shows the connection between death (emptiness) and life (fulfillment). Flowers and trees awaken and grow after the long, harsh winter months. The plants receive nutrients—and life—from the decayed remains of past vegetation. Yulisa Maddy’s No Past No Present No Future begins with the same ideas of new life beginning out of death. Joe Bengoh, after witnessing the fire that destroys his house, mumbles, "My parents dead?" (3). His callous words hardly conceal his true feelings of contempt for his parents. Joe’s suppressed jubilation is apparent in his next few thoughts. He thinks that, after the tragic death of his parents, Father O’Don will surely accept him at the mission house. In an attempt to make himself look troubled and distraught, Joe sticks his finger into his mouth and then rubs his eyes. Joe "kept on d oing this until his eyes went red and felt as if he had been crying" (6). Joe ends up being accepted to the mission house, and he becomes inseparable from his new friends, Ade John and Santigie Bombolai. Joe’s new, positi... ...ecognize these changes in his work. The works of Ernest Hemmingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald follow Eliot’s, and America’s, ideas and trends. Hemmingway’s A Farewell to Arms (1929) also deals with World War I and the modern ideas toward sex. Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (1925) portrays the alcoholism and sexual promiscuity of the Jazz Age. In No Past No Present No Future, The "Brothers Three" use alcohol and drugs quite frequently, and they all tended to sleep around as well. The revolutionary ideas described in Eliot’s "The Waste Land" influenced many great writers in the past and continue to have an impact on authors today. Works Consulted Bible, The. New International Version. Zondervan: Grand Rapids, 1996. Eliot, T.S. The Waste Land, Prufrock and Other Poems. Mineola, NY: Dover, 1998. Maddy, Yulisa Amadu. No Past No Present No Future. Oxford: Heinemann, 1996.

Definition of Humanities Essay

The dictionary definition of â€Å"humanities† is the languages and literatures of ancient Greece and Rome; the classics. A second definition I retrieved was those branches of knowledge, such as philosophy, literature, and art, that are concerned with human thought and culture; the liberal arts. So basically it’s a combination of art, literature and history. To me humanities are the study of culture and myths. It explains how different cultures communicated through story telling and old hymns. I believe humanities can be used to understand how the past effects the way the world operates in the present day. The culture which we have was shaped by the past. Facts, findings, and literature of even thousands of years ago have changed our world today. It’s important to know your past can allow people to understand our present. The study of the humanities can also be used to realize different views of life and history. Studying facts of the past helps to understand literature of the past. Poetry was another form of expression 4 those who didn’t want 2 sing or tell stories. There were different types of poetry there were some poems that rhymed from line to line and others that were just written out as a thought. According to the â€Å"Humanities in the Modern World, humanities attempts to navigate what we value or we despise, what we to do or what limitations hold us back. To me humanities will elaborate on how different cultures passed down traditions from generation to generation. From those traditions different family values and expectations were set for parents, children and every body to live by. Without these specific traditions people cannot decipher what is wrong and what is right and have no idea how to adjust to change in the present and future. Humanities seem to be interesting and hopefully I’ll get a better view from this class.

Levendary Cafe Case study Essay

Introduction Levendary Cafà © has grown from a small restaurant that offers soup, salad, and sandwiches in Denver to a multibillion quick casual chain that operates 3500 stores around the U.S. The founder of the Levendary Cafà ©, Howard Leventhal managed to establish a strong market position for the Levendary Cafà © in the U.S and succeeded in creating a $10 billion business model. The Cafà © has two important elements that differentiate it from its competitors, which were offering nutritious soup, salads, and sandwiches, as well as, providing exceptional service for their guests in a genuine, and friendly manner. The company’s philosophy is satisfying customers’ needs by trying to make an impact on their life and look for the long run profit as encouraged by founder, Howard Leventhal to his staff. After 32 years of experience operating in the U.S domestic market and after a slowdown in the company’s domestic growth, the company considered expending its operation internat ionally, more precisely in China, a promising market that had shown  a strong annual GDP growth of 14.5% in previous years, as well as, the arisen number of middle class income. The responsibility of overseeing the China operation was given to Louis Chen, a Stanford MBA graduate, after a two-year contract agreement between Leventhal and Chen in September 2009. A year and six months into the two-year term contract, Mia Foster was named the new CEO of the Levendary Cafà © in February 2011. The public press viewed the new CEO as being inexperienced in the international market in addition to some doubt about Foster’s ability to build a multi-national brand. Louis Chen opened the first store in Shanghai in, January 2010; the first location was in a high traffic business area. Within a year Louis Chen was able to allocate 22 additional locations for the Levendary Cafà ©, due to his strong knowledge of the country’s geography and his ability to speak both English and Mandarin Chinese. However, after a review of China’s operation by the new CEO, Foster was not happy with the way the operation was managed in China, she noticed that the accounting report was not formatted in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). This was the turning point in the relationship between Foster and Chen, who had not met face to face. The new CEO decided to look more closely into the China operation and planned a trip to China to meet with Chen for the first time. Identification of Main Issue The case presented a number of main issues that Levendary Cafà © faced during the expansion into the Chinese market. From the case the main issue was identified as: the Levendary brand image is not consistent in the United States and China because there is a lack of communication between the parent company and subsidiary. The contributing factors to this were the management styles, the lack of standardization, the cultural differences and the limited experience in the foreign market. These issues have been detailed below. Management style The Chinese operation lacks close mentoring and evaluation by former CEO Leventhal, who gave too much freedom to Chen with a very hand off management style. â€Å"Do right by the concept† was the expression that Chen had as a guideline for how to strategize for the China operations. As a result, Chen  was providing little information to Denver headquarter about how the operation is managed in China, which differs from Foster’s management style who appears to be more demanding than the former CEO. There was no clear strategic plan for the operation in China, when Chen was asked about a plan he mentioned that he had no plan. Standardization Foster is more process driven and valued standardization, she believed that the China operation should align with Levendary Cafà © standards in the U.S in terms of reports, and look and feel of the Cafà ©. However, Chen had a different approach where he was trying to open as many stores as he could in a short period of time, paying little attention to the U.S standardized business model. The issue of standardization clearly was another challenge between Denver headquarters and Chen, as he insists in pushing what he thinks is right and resist what headquarter is asking him to do. Cultural Difference Whenever a company is entering a new market it has to take into consideration the cultural differences between countries. Based on the case study analysis, the difference between the two countries in terms of eating out habits and eating preferences seem not to be understood by the Denver headquarter. Denver headquarter believes that it can enforce the same business model applied in the U.S to its stores in China, regardless of local preference. In addition, Foster seems to lack knowledge about the Chinese culture because she was not familiar with the market in China, as she had no experience working internationally. There was a lack of cross-cultural communication between Chen and Foster; even though, Chen had experienced both cultures while studying abroad in the U.S. Limited experience in the foreign market There was a lack of international market experience since the China market was the second market, Levendary Cafà © entered aside from a partnership in Dubai. Due to this lack of experience Leventhal trusted Chen with implementing the needed actions to grow a successful franchise in China. Leventhal entrusted Chen with this given his strong knowledge of the market in China. Leventhal did not understand that entering a foreign market would  take more than knowledge on the country; it would also take strong communication and management skills. Analysis and Evaluation Operational Analysis The operational analysis will cover the company’s internal strengths and weaknesses as well as their external opportunities and threats. The SWOT analysis will be on Levendary Cafà © U.S. operations. This report will also look at problems with standardization in the China operations. Levendary Cafà © has gained much strength over its 32 years of business (Bartlett & Han, 2013). The company has created brand recognition around the United States with its 3,500 cafà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s (Bartlett & Han, 2013). There is good brand consistency across all 3,500 cafà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s due to standardization of the Levendary product. Each cafà © has a similar design and atmosphere and offer the same core products. Levendary Cafà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s standardization has allowed the company to franchise their product and resulted in expansion across the United States. Currently, two-thirds of the company’s cafà ©s are franchised (Bartlett & Han, 2013). Each region also offers different menu items fr om one and other, on top of the core menu items. For example, fewer soups are offered in the southern regions of the United States (Bartlett & Han, 2013). This adds to the company’s strong business culture of â€Å"delighting the customer† and creating a personalized experience for each customer (Bartlett & Han, 2013). Levendary Cafà © detailed and strict operating standards, policies and practices has allowed for tight control of store level expenses and close monitoring of operations (Bartlett & Han, 2013). The founder, Howard Leventhal, is an entrepreneur who wasn’t afraid to take risks (Bartlett & Han, 2013). His willingness to take calculated risk led to the company using organic grains in its bread and hormone-free naturally raised meats (Bartlett & Han, 2013). Levendary Cafà © became part of the growing trend of consumers wanting healthier and more natural menu options. 81% of Americans over the age of 50 have become more conscious of what they eat (Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada, 2010). Levendary Cafà © target market is white-collar professionals and upper-middle-class women (Bartlett & Han, 2013). Their choice to shift towards healthier menu options is meeting their target markets change in tastes. A fully scaled test kitchen and food science  laboratory also allows the company to meet the changing tastes of their consumers (Bartlett & Han, 2013). The food team, which includes highly trained chefs from the Culinary Institute of America, is responsible for the test kitchen and laboratory, as well as conducting quality checks across all 3,500 cafà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s (Bartlett & Han, 2013). Levendary Cafà © has a good organizational structure. Each knowledgeable and highly experienced member of the management team knows their responsibilities and who responds to them. There is a clear power structure. Finally, Levendary Cafà © has a strong training program for their retail employees called Operating Tools and Learning (OTL) (Bartlett & Han, 2013). OTL sets operating standards and provides employees with materials to enhance their learning (Bartlett & Han, 2013). All these strengths have resulted in Levendary Cafà © being a successful business in the United States. Levendary Cafà © also has internal weaknesses. The U.S. operations are beginning to slow and investors are losing confidence in Levendary Cafà © (Bartlett & Han, 2013). This is one of the reasons the company chose to expand into China. However, there is no separate international division from the Denver Headquarters and the new CEO, Mia Foster, lacks international management experience. Although Levendary Cafà © personalized touch has led to repeat business, it is also considered a weakness because it slows down the speed of service. Currently, there is a lack of brand recognition in China for Levendary Cafà ©. Finally, financial reports from China are being submitted in their own format and the U.S. operations are then â€Å"massaging† them to apply the U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) (Bartlett & Han, 2013). These are all weaknesses for Levendary Cafà ©. Every company faces external opportunities and threats. As domestic business for Levendary Cafà © is beginning to slow, the company must look at opportunities to continue to be successful. Firstly, Levendary Cafà © is part of an emerging category in the restaurant industry called the â€Å"quick casual†. Another opportunity is to expand internationally. Other than the expansion into China, Levendary Cafà © is experimenting with a licensing deal in Dubai (Bartlett & Han, 2013). Some potential threats for Levendary Cafà © are the rising food costs and shifts in food trends. Food costs are beginning to rise due to a variety of factors such as climate change and a rise in oil prices (Oxfam Canada). A cha nge in food trends is a potential threat for any restaurant. If a restaurants’  product does not meet consumer’s tastes, then revenues will decrease. Levendary Cafà © will need to look at their external opportunities and threats. Levendary Cafà © China operations has three areas that need to be standardized: look and feel of the restaurant, menu options and accounting practices. Firstly, all 23 restaurants have a different design and atmosphere. The first location to open was similar to Levendary design standards, but the second location in Shanghai was a takeaway counter with no seating (Bartlett & Han, 2013). Denver Headquarters should understand that they cannot put the same restaurant that is in the U.S., in China. There should be extensive market research conducted on design and atmosphere that would be successful in China. Another option is to follow what Cafà © Coffee Days did in India. Cafà © Coffee Days offers three different formats of stores, ranging from a smaller grab and go coffee shop to a larger cafà © with areas to sit down. Levendary Cafà © could have different formats for restaurants; however each format would have a similar atmosphere to help standardize the brand in China. Secondly, menu options are vastly different across all 23 locations. For example, the Shanghai Koreatown offers dumplings with an average check of $2 (Bartlett & Han, 2013). The Beijing Embassy location offers sandwiches and soups with an average check of $10 (Bartlett & Han, 2013). Some menu items were offered at all locations, such as the chicken sandwich. A solution to standardize the menu is to do something similar to the U.S. operations. All locations would offer the same core menu items, but each region would have some different menu items that vary from one another. Chefs that have been trained in China and educated on different regional tastes should help create the core menu items and the different regional items. The final area that must be standardized is accounting practices. The current financial reports are being sent to the U.S. and massaged to meet U.S. GAAP (Bartlett & Han, 2013). All enterprises in China are required to use the Chinese Accounting Standards (CAS) such as the Accounting System for Business Enterprises (ASBE) (China Briefing, 2014). ASBE has similar standings to the U.S. GAAP and the International Financial Reporting Standards (China Briefing, 2014). An international financial analyst should be hired in order to deal with both China and the U.S. financial reports and audits. Financial Analysis A financial analysis of the U.S. and China operations provided information on Levendary Cafà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s current financial status. The income statement for China can be seen below. In China, their food and paper cost is at 51%, which can be attributed to their high number of food options on the menu and the lack of distribution system set up. Once a core menu is created and more locations begin to open, Levendary Cafà © will be able to take advantage of economy of scale and lower food and paper cost. China also has a high occupancy cost at 24%. This could be a result of having to pay extra to get the better locations. In addition the Chinese real estate market is very high meaning that any location is very expensive. During the time of the case study the Chinese real estate was going through a â€Å"golden decade† (Ranasinghe, 2014) which can demonstrate the higher occupancy cost that the Chinese division occurred compared to the United States. The pre-opening expenses (12%) also contributed to the loss of income in the first year for China. After the first year of business, China had a loss of $143,620. China operations also have a lower marketing expense. Marketing is generally not a large expense in China because the local population listens more to radio advertisement, which are cheaper, and rely on word of mouth. Income Statement- China The financial statement of the U.S. operations, which can be seen below, shows that Levendary Cafà © generally follows industry standards. Their food and supply cost are slightly lower than industry standards. Generally, food and supply costs are about 29% of total sales, but Levendary Cafà © food and supply cost are at 24% of total sales. Occupancy costs for Levendary Cafà © are about 4% lower than industry standards. Levendary Cafà © spends more on marketing then industry standards, about 2% higher. Income Statement- United States Cultural Analysis **The above information was sourced from The Hofstede Centre Website (Hofstede Centre, 2010).** By completing a cultural analysis on the two countries, United States and  China, it was easy to determine how the key issue, being communication, came about. Geert Hofstede identified five different dimensions that demonstrate how â€Å"values in the workplace are influenced by culture† (International Business Centre, 2014). The different dimensions that Geert Hofstede identified are: Power Distance, Uncertainty Avoidance, Individualism vs. Collectivism, Masculinity vs. Femininity, and Long Term Orientation vs. Short Term Orientation. Through using these five dimensions one can evaluate how each culture approaches these dimensions and how it influences them in the workplace. The score beside each dimension determines how much value they place towards each dimension. It is interesting to note that on only one dimension, Masculinity vs. Femininity, the two countries have a comparative score. It is with these differences that communication issues between the two countries can be seen. Power Distance The Power Distance Dimension looks at the relationship that people hold with others in that country. China scores very highly on this dimension as people value their superiors and do not act outside of their ranking in society. In regards to the case study it is confounding that Chen is unobservant of his superiors power being Mia Foster. In the case Chen is continually rude to Mia and questions her authority. This can be attributed to two different factors. The first of which is that Chen was originally hired by Howard Leventhal therefore Chen believes that Mia is not his superior. Leventhal gave Chen freedom to expand the Levendary business into China with little guidance or instruction. To have a new CEO enter the business Chen will not feel the need to respect Mia, as he still believes his true superior is Leventhal. In addition Chen, while he is from the Chinese culture, had many experiences and training in the United States. Therefore it can be seen that Chen was of American culture and acted as such. The United States had a low score on the Power Distance so while Chen is with the Chinese branch of Levendary he still has the American cultural values. Uncertainty Avoidance Uncertainty Avoidance looks at the way that culture embraces uncertainty. With a low ranking in the Chinese culture it is evident that this country looks at laws as flexible. This is seen in Levendary China as the standards between all the restaurants vary and are different from the brand standards that are seen in the United States Levendary stores. In addition the difference in accounting practices can be seen. The China division was very lenient about their reporting of finance to the US Division. Individualism vs. Collectivism This dimension looks at how individuals think and act, if it is for the greater good or if it is for their own well-being. The Chinese culture looks out for the group when making decisions. This is demonstrated in the case when Chen disrespects Mia Foster. He previously considered Leventhal to be his group and when Mia takes Leventhal’s position then he does not recognize her as an insider. This results in his mistrust of Mia and her authority within the Levendary Cafà © company. Masculinity vs. Femininity The Chinese culture has high ranking in this and is seen through Chen’s demeanor. He is very competitive and is eager to be successful. This is seen through his urge to keep his position with Levendary China and the fast pace in which he opened the stores in China. In addition his actions of being very abrasive with Mia Foster is because he feels threatened that she is trying to take over his position with Levendary. He had never had his business interfered before by anyone from the Denver Headquarters so he put his back up when Mia started to interfere with how he was running his operation. Long Term Orientation vs. Short Term Orientation Long Term and Short Term Orientation looks at how a culture is prepared for the future. The Chinese culture is very focused on planning for a long-term future. This dimension demonstrated the American culture that Chen must have picked up on his time in America. With his time managing the Chinese division of Levendary, Chen was very short sighted and opened up a large amount of stores in a short period time. Instead of formulating a business plan, which would encourage growth for the future of the business, Chen did not have one and was simply opening businesses when he found an available location. Parent Company vs. Subsidiary In this case, the parent company would be Levendary Cafà © U.S. operations and  the subsidiary would be Levendary Cafà © China operations. In terms of restaurant size, U.S. restaurants range from 2,500-4,000 square feet. China restaurants are smaller in size; they range from 500-1,500 square feet. These results in less staff needed for China restaurants, approximately 13-20 staff members. The U.S. restaurants need about 24-26 staff members. The larger U.S. restaurants are able to accommodate more customers; they usually have 84-120 seats and can serve anywhere from 560-3,210 guests per day. Due to smaller size, China restaurants have a maximum of 80 seats currently and can serve 260-430 guests per day. In terms of menu options, the only item that is offered in both the U.S. and China is the chicken sandwich. The Suburban U.S./Denver restaurants make more revenue and have a larger square footage then the China restaurants. However, the China restaurants have higher average revenue per square foot. Restaurants in Beijing make $537.33 revenue per square foot and restaurants in Shanghai make $576.00 revenue per square foot. The Suburban U.S./Denver restaurants make $531.50 revenue per square foot. A chart can be seen below which clearly details the difference between the parent and subsidiary company. Alternatives and Recommendations Alternatives Mia Foster is left with a very difficult decision at the end of the Levendary Cafà © case study. As the new CEO of the company she has to make a decision that will result in profitability for the company and chose an action plan that ensures long-term success for the business. As such that are a variety of alternatives that Mia Foster will have to chose from in order to move forward with the company. The following list presents the many alternatives that should be considered: 1. Shut down all operations and solely focus business in the United States. The China division stores look and feel vary from what the Levendary Brand is trying promote in their US Division. In order to continue with the stores in China then restoration will need to be completed to all the stores. Mia Foster will need to determine if the China division profits are worth the renovations and continuation of Levendary China. 2. Fire Louis Chen and hire a new manager for the China Division. Louis Chen has proven hi mself as a capable entrepreneur and someone who is  knowledgeable of the Chinese retail market. However he lacks communication skills, which was noticeable through the expansion of 23 Levendary shops in China that do not fit with the brand image. Chen is also extremely confrontational and may not be the best fit with the new CEO, Mia Foster, as he already had built a rapport with Howard Leventhal, the previous CEO. If Louis Chen cannot properly function and communicate with the US Levendary division then he may need to be replaced by someone with a fresh perspective on the business. 3. Hire a management firm to manage the China Division of Levendary. It is apparent through the case study that the US Division of Levendary has not been able to communicate in an effective manner with an international branch of their company. The Hofstede Dimensions that were listed above demonstrates the cultural differences that separate the two branches of Levendary. With no cultural training Mia Foster and the US Division are not communicating properly with Louis Chen. An alternative to the situation would be to hire a management firm to look after the China division. A management firm with International experience would be a solution to the communication problem because they would understand how to conduct business while ensuring good communication. 4. Create a separate division of Levendary for the China stores. The Levendary stores in China are off brand from the original concept that is seen through out the United States. This is largely due to the fact there is limited communication because the key players in the United States and Louis Chen in China. In order to fix this problem it would be wise to bring the structure that works so well in the United States and duplicate this order in China. With 23 stores in China, Levendary will need a separate branch in China, as it will provide structure to that side of the business. With more supporting players in China, asides from Louis Chen, then Levendary will be able to maintain the brand and in addition, more supporting managers will ensure that communication is maintained between the US Division and the China Division. 5. Make a joint venture with TATA Group to expand into China. The TATA Group is a â€Å"global enterprise headquartered in India, and comprises over 100 operatin g companies, with operations in more than 100 countries† (TATA, 2015). TATA has operating companies in China and as such they will be able to reduce the large operating costs that Levendary China is currently experiencing. As noted in the Analysis and Evaluation section, the operating  costs are very high. Entering into a joint venture with a company who has established infrastructure will help eliminate these costs and allow Levendary to increase their profits for the first couple of years. In addition the joint venture will allow Levendary to be partnered with people who are culturally aware and possess cultural intelligence. 6. Replace the US Division Chief Operating Officer, Nick White. It was easy to identify that communication was a large issue between the US and China Division Levendary. It is easy to target Louis Chen as the main culprit of this issue as he was combative and disrespectful to Mia Foster. However the blame can also be placed onto the COO of the US Division, Nick White because he was responsible for keeping communication with China and overseeing the brand image in China. Nick White clearly let this responsibility go and as a result the China Division does not reflect the US vision for Levendary. If someone has to answer for the mistakes that were made in China than perhaps it should not be Louis Chen but instead it could be Nick White. Recommendation After evaluating all of the above alternatives for Mia Foster and Levendary Cafà © to pursue it was decided that the best alternative would be number 4, create a separate division of Levendary for the China stores. This alternative includes renewing the contract for Louis Chen and brings more managers to China to help grow Levendary in the China market with the vision and brand image of the US Division. Levendary in the United States can contribute a large portion of their success to their hierarchal structure as it allowed for proper communication and good reporting methods. If Levendary China were to create a China Division then it would allow for better communication between the United States and China and Chen would have the support he needs to ensure the brand image is seen between all stores. Action Plan In order to properly implement the alternative that was stated above, an action plan is needed. The action plan is detailed below through three different stages. The Short Term Plan looks at what the business should do in one years time, the Medium Term plan looks at what the business should do in two to three years time and the Long Term plan encompasses a five year  outlook. This is detailed below: Short Term: 1) The first critical step that needs to be taken is to ensure that proper communication starts immediately between Mia Foster and Louis Chen. If the two parties were to sit together and put all of their issues out then they can sort their current problems. Starting with good communication between Foster and Chen will ensure that it continues into their future business dealings. 2) Renew the contract with that Louis Chen has with Levendary China. Louis Chen has proven to be a valuable asset with Levendary Cafà © as he knows the retail market and is passionate about the work that he is doing. While it is arguable that Chen did not complete his work in a successful manner, he was with out support and was given little direction and free reign from the former CEO, Leventhal. With support and proper structure Chen should be able to work within these constraints. Therefore it can be seen that his contract should be renewed for another term with the stipulation that Chen will be working underneath other Levendary managers in China. 3) Denver Headquarters will need to create a business plan for their operations in China. With 23 locations currently in China they will have to decide which locations needs renovations and if all 23 should be maintained. By restructuring the current operations in China, Levendary Cafà © will have a more focused plan that will allow for the China operations to strive. If the Denver Headquarters were to work with Chen and use his knowledge of the China market than they can collaborate and develop a structured business plan. 4) Once a proper business plan has been developed Chen will need immediate support in China. By creating a separate China Division Chen will have the support he needs to standardize operations and reinvigorate the Levendary brand. Managers with cultural training should be placed into the new China Headquarters. Chen will be a regional Vice President however a new top manager will be placed in this division who will be above Chen on the hierarchy and will be the direct contact between itself and Denver. Medium Term: 1) Standardize operations all throughout the China Division. This includes a standardized brand image through all stores and a consistent menu. As with all locations in the United States there are set menu items in all locations  with special items according to the region. Levendary China will need conduct market research that will allow them to understand menu staples that should be available in all locations. In addition regional specialties should be included on the menu. 2) In addition to the standardization of restaurant practices the accounting practices will also need to be redeveloped. As per Chinese law all foreign business enterprises must follow the Chinese Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (China Briefing , 2013). Levendary China must follow â€Å"Accounting Standards for Business Enterprises† (China Briefing , 2013) and the Denver Headquarters should hire an international auditor who can then transfer all numbers to follow the US GAAP. 3) Monitor the new business plan for Levendary China and ensure that it is being properly followed and that brand standards are being maintained. Long Term: 1) Mia Foster should monitor and evaluate China operations on a constant basis. This will ensure that communication is kept to a high standard and that the brand image remains constant. 2) Once operations in China find their place in the market, Levendary China should appoint a Chief Franchise Officer who will develop franchise opportunities in China. This will allow more stores to be built and the brand to have more exposure with less of a expense put on the company. 3) A re-evaluation of their foreign expansion should be completed. The company should decide if they would like to find other potential foreign markets where they could continue the growth of Levendary or if they should focus directly on their domestic growth. Additional Questions 1. As it relates to the case, explain what this passage implies: An old mentor had once told Foster that there were three types of managers in a new business’s evolution to greater scale: the go-getter, the local baron, and the professional manager. All three types could be entrepreneurial in spirit, but not all were equally well suited for the various stages of a business’s growth. Chen was clearly a go-getter who had evolved to become a local baron. The question in Foster’s mind was whether he could transition to become a professional manager. Before answering the question of whether or not Louis Chen can become a professional manager, it is important to  identify the characteristics of one. The discussion in class brought to light that a professional manager is someone that has an understanding of the long term goals of a company, understands the value of standardization among all locations and understands the value and importance of brand image. A professio nal manager should also be educated and trained; furthermore, this individual needs to assume the role of middleman and understand top management’s goals and relay this information to his employees while collecting their feedback. Lastly, the class discussion brought to the surface that a professional manager should have extensive core knowledge on how the company should operate. Further research has shown that a professional manager should know how to plan, organize, lead and control all the efforts of his/her employees to complement the company’s values and standards (Sandeep, 2013). Howard Leventhal chose Louis Chen for his role because of Chen’s energy and enthusiasm. On a personal level it reminded Leventhal of himself at a younger age. Howard had told Chen to establish a strong market position as a base to eventually franchise outlets throughout China with the instructions to â€Å"do the right thing by the concept† but was given the freedom to operate the restaurants as he saw fit (Han & Bartlett, 2013). To enter the market in China Chen said himself â€Å"We just have to be flexible†¦Chinese eat few dairy products, so we should downplay our cheese soup†¦most people arenà ¢â‚¬â„¢t familiar with turkey, but they love chicken, so we’ll adapt the menu just as we do in the States† (Han & Bartlett, 2013). Chen believed that Levendary could succeed if it adapted its food and concept. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a go-getter is a person who works very hard and who wants very much to succeed (Encyclopoedia Britannica Company). Chen demonstrated the characteristics of a go getter as he opened up the first Levendary Cafà © only three months after returning from Denver. This location was a corner ground floor location in a new high-rise office building and the concept of the restaurant was prominent and luxurious. This restaurant was positioned as casual dining with table service and higher prices than local fast food concepts (Han & Bartlett, 2013). This location proved to be a hit among the white-collar employees working in the building. Because of competition Chen was forced to move quickly to purchase locations for the remaining restaurants and in the first year managed to secure prime locations for good prices and grow the chain to  23 restaurants. Then Chen demonstrated he was a local baron with his in depth knowledge of the Chinese market and was familiar with the neighborhoods in Shanghai and Beijing; his real estate knowledge was a major asset for the Levendary brand. He said it himself that he wa s in the trenches running 23 restaurants that he had built by reading market needs and sending opportunities (Han & Bartlett, 2013). Based on the information collected from the case it does not appear that Chen could develop into a professional manager. Because Chen wasn’t given any direction, he took it upon himself to change the concept, the look and feel and the menu items of Levendary Cafà ©. However, the way he handled Mia Foster and her colleagues from Denver and based on the definition of a professional manager Chen can’t develop into a professional manager and Levendary should look for someone to lead the China team while he continues to focus on the 23 restaurants that he has already built. Chen also became very defensive when Mia tried to communicate with him and based on the definition of a professional, he should be open to listen to their suggestions and input and adapt them to Levendary in China. If Chen had the instincts of a professional manager he would have taken it upon himself to contact his colleagues in Denver to update them on the progress he was making in China and should have taken the standards and values of Levendary Cafà © and applied them in China because that was his responsibility. To become a professional manager Chen would have to see the value of standardizing all the restaurants; however he did provide a great platform for the future growth of Levendary in China and should be kept on the team with certain responsibilities and be made aware of the expectations from Mia Foster. Works Cited Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada. (2010). Health and Wellness Trends : U.S. Market. Ottawa: Government of Canada. Bartlett, C., & Han, A. (2013). Levendary Cafe: The China Challenge. Boston: Harvard Business School. China Briefing . (2013, February 5). China GAAP vs. U.S. GAAP and IFRS. Retrieved February 10, 2015, from China Briefing: http://www.china-briefing.com/news/2013/02/05/china-gaap-vs-u-s-gaap-and-ifrs.html China Briefing. (2014). Retrieved February 10, 2015, from China GAAP vs. U.S. GAAp and IFRS:

Most people living in the eastern United States are not

Most people living in the eastern United States are not Most people living in the eastern United States are not aware of a great pollution problem confronting the western United States each winter. The problem is the snowmobile. During the winter in the western and northwestern United States, roads are often closed due to inclement winter weather forcing inhabitants to use snowmobiles. Snowmobiles are able to move quickly and effortlessly through snow. Therefore, it is a popular winter transport in this area of the country. Snowmobiling is a popular sport as well throughout Canada and is consistently growing in the northern United States. It also is very popular in the colder regions of Europe. Many environmentalists contend that snowmobiles are a threat to wildlife, plant life and air quality. In addition, snowmobiles are very noisy machines and are generally used in rural areas disturbing the peaceful out-of-doors.A typical snowmobile includes: two short skis in the front, a wide track belt, if you will, toward the rear, throttle cable, carburetor, fuel filter, manual starter, storage compartment, bogie wheel set, fuel tank, brake shoe, muffler, 2-cylinder engine, and a steering column.Lower Yellowstone Falls closeup. Yellowstone Natio...