Notes on Religion

Cremation is more important than burial in which religion? a. Buddhism b. chrlstlanltyc. Hinduism d. Islamoc 2 The dominant branch of Islam is a. Druze b. Eastern Orthodox c. Shiited. Sunni00 3. From the Russian Revolution to the tall ot the communist government, what was the policy of the government towards religion? all churches were closed b, the old church was replaced by Eastern Orthodoxc. churches remained open but played a limited role d. youth were encouraged to attend so that the could be Indoctrinated Into 4.Animists believe that a, people should complete God's creation of the Earthb. Inanimate objects and atural events have spirits c. people should make complete use of the Earth's resources natural disasters are preventableO[7 5, The world's largest ethnic religion is a. Buddhism b. Christianityc. Hinduism d. IslamC0 The world's largest universalizing religion Is a, Buddhismb. Christianity c. Hinduism d, IslamC? 7. Which is not an ethnic Asian religion? a. Buddhism b. Conf ucianism c. Shintoism d. DaolsmL]L] 8.Lutheranism Is an example of a Christian branchb_ denomination c. religion d. sectnn 9. What policy did the British follow in India? a. they divided India into two countries they forced all of the Hindus to migrate c. hey turned the problem over to the united Nationsd. they encouraged the abolishment ot the caste system00 10. Worship in Hinduism is most likely to take place a, In a holy shrine b. as part ofa pilgrimage'c. at home d. In a pagodaClD 11, The belief in the existence of only one god is a. anlmlsm b. osmogonyc. monotheism d. solstlceoc 12 Roman Catholics are clustered In the LJ_S_ southwest primarily because of migration ofa. Roman Catholics from Latin America b. Roman Catholics from the northeast U. S. c. Roman Catholics trom Ireland d. Protestants to the northCC 13. Hinduism's caste systema_ assigns everyone to a distinct class decrees the ilgrimages which should be taken c. is a substitute for the lack of a holy book d. identifies a family's important deities0C 14. A universalizing religion a.Is based on the physical characterlstlcs of a particular location on Earthb. appeals to people living In a wide variety of locations c. Is rarely transmitted through missionaries d. is intentionally developed to be a world religion0L] 15 What Is the holiest book In Hinduism? a. the Bible b. the Old Testament c. the Qurand. none of the above?0 16. The goal of the majority ot people living in Northern Ireland is toa. remain part ot the United Ireland d. Join the Irish Republican Army00

Earth from Space Essay

The American astronaut Edgar Mitchell once described the earth from outer space as â€Å"a sparkling blue and white jewel,† a â€Å"light, delicate sky-blue sphere† outlined with â€Å"swirling veils of white† amidst a â€Å"thick sea of black mystery. † Indeed, the earth in space looks like a lonely sphere with neighbors separated by vast distances other than its one moon. More importantly, one can barely recognize the subtle details of the planet’s geographical features except the wide oceans and its land mass surrounded by water. From a distance, one cannot tell for certain that in that lonely planet lived billions of people going about their own ways day and night. If there are authorities who fit the role of describing the earth in space, no other groups of people can best fit that role other than the astronauts who for at least once or for a few times were able to catch a glimpse of our planet. Aleksei Lenov, a USSR astronaut, said that â€Å"the earth was absolutely round† while American astronaut Charles Walker’s attention was immediately caught by â€Å"a panorama of brilliant deep blue ocean† with â€Å"shades of green and grey and white† upon reaching outer space. There are still countless others who had the rare opportunity to take a look at the earth from such a distance afforded by the outer space. In general, it can be said that the astronauts took much notice of the more general features of the earth, focusing on the earth as a whole and not in terms of the multitude of land and water varieties that comprise it on closer inspection. That perhaps owes up to the fact that the view of the earth from outer space barely gives the viewer a broader look at our planet. Thus, the view of the earth in space only affords us several aspects of the earth to describe. For instance, one can easily recognize the seemingly boundless bodies of water occupying the larger regions of the earth. Take for instance the prominence of the Pacific Ocean as commonly illustrated in numerous books, magazines and scientific journals. Since much of the earth is covered in water, and much of the planet’s water comes from the Pacific Ocean, it is only expected from astronauts to immediately take notice of the Pacific. Satellite images also reveal how almost a third of the earth is comprised of those vast quantities of sea water, thereby prompting observers to not fail to see the deep blue blanket of water surrounding the lands and the people. More importantly, perhaps it is only through the view from outer space are we able to see the drastic effects of every tree cut down and a whole range of rainforests razed by fires and human activities. We may not be able to recognize the massive effect of these things right from the earth, but from outer space one may not fail to acknowledge the largeness of the scale of environmental degradations which have occurred through the years. It is only from that view from the outer space that we are able to see as well the vastness of the deserts that may soon become of the forests destroyed from cutting trees for daily human consumption. Although astronauts say there are still â€Å"green† parts of the earth as the view from outer space reveals, it can hardly be denied that much of the parts of the earth have remained the same over the past years, especially when the view of the earth from the past is compared to what it is today. Indeed, the chance to view the earth from outer space is the chance of a lifetime as only a very few selected number of individuals are given that rare moment. Moments like those experienced by the astronauts give us accounts of how our planet looks like, including its more general land, water and atmospheric features which, when taken altogether, offer a comprehensive understanding of the only â€Å"living† planet in the solar system thus far. Reference Hamilton, C. J. (1997). Earth from Space. Retrieved July 4, 2008, from http://www. solarviews. com/eng/earthsp. htm

Life Span Development and Personality

This paper will discuss the life span of a business man, movie producer, aviator, and billionaire, Howard Hughes. It will also explain the psychological development and personality characteristics of the young man that was raised by a financially driven father, and mentally disturbed mother. Mother and Father Howard Hughes was born in 1905 in Houston, Texas to Howard Hughes Sr. and Allene Hughes. Allene Hughes was the biggest influence on Howard junior’s life; she constantly worried about the germs and sickness that her son came in contact with. Allene Hughes suffered from the mental disorder Obsessive Compulsion Disorder (OCD). Howard Hughes Sr. spent most of his time following oil rigs and trying to improve the process of drilling into rock. In 1908/1909 Hughes Sr. invented a drill bit that would penetrate rock, which later made him a millionaire. Hughes Sr. was the owner of Hughes Tool Company. Howard Hughes Junior attended private schools in Boston, where his interest in academics were lacking, and just as his father was mesmerized by anything mechanical. Against his mothers’ wishes, Howard Junior built a bicycle with a motor, later called the motorcycle. Orphaned In 1922, Allene Hughes went into the hospital for minor surgery, but never woke up. Allene Hughes died at 39 years of age, and Howard Junior lost his mother when he was only 16. The death of wife and mother caused a tremendous amount of grief for Howard Sr. , and Jr. Life changed for them, but especially Howard Junior. His father was unable to recover from the death of his wife, and spent the next couple of years subjected Howard Junior to many women, looking for that same happiness again. In January 1924, Howard Senior was working at his desk when he suffered a heart attack and died at age 54. At age 18, Howard Junior was an orphan, and the owner of 75% of his father’s company, making him a very rich young man. Since Howard was not considered to be an adult an unable to make business decisions, he went to court and convinced the judge that he should be declared an adult so that he could run his own affairs. Soon after the judge granted his request, Howard bought all the shares to the company from his relatives, which made him the sole owner of Howard Tool Company, which made a very nice amount of money that he used as a foundation for his future fortune. In 1925 a will was made that stated upon his death, all of his money was to be put into a medical research facility. Movies to Aviation Howard was not satisfied with just running the business that his father had left him, so after his marriage to Ella Rice in 1925, they moved to Hollywood California where he would try his hand at making movies with his uncle Rupert. In the beginning of his movie career, there were two or so flops, but soon he directed the film â€Å"Two Arabian Nights† which won the Academy Award. He went on to do â€Å"The Outlaw, Scarface, and Hells Angels†. During the making of the Hells Angels movie, Hughes became fascinated with flying, and received his pilot’s license. Not only did he fly, in 1932 he founded the Hughes Aircraft Company. Later, the military would hire him to build a large plane that would carry troops overseas; this plane was called the â€Å"Spruce Goose†. In 1938 he financed the creation of the Boeing 307, and was the beginning of the Transcontinental and West Airlines, later called TWA. This was his most profitable investment, earning him $540 million. He sold the airline in 1966. He used the earnings from the airlines to form the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He used this medical facility to put all of his money into, to prevent the IRS from finding it. The End As far back as birth, Hughes was continually inventing or perfecting an invention. After many failed attempts, caused by his obsessive need to be perfect, Hughes suffered a mental breakdown. The obsessive compulsive disorder worsened, and the stress of inheriting his father’s company at an early age caused anxiety and paranoia became evident when he required phone taps, and private investigators. Like his mother he became obsessed with germs with continuous hand washing, and using napkins or Kleenex to touch objects and open doors. In 1950 Hughes was rarely seen in public. He left the United States and moved from country to country, and in 1972 Hughes Tool Company, his father’s company, was sold. His obsession to control his surroundings led him to be a bitter old recluse. He became weakened by the lack of food, and the effects of drug use. On a plane in 1976, flying from Mexico to Houston for treatment, Hughes dies at age 71. Because of his choices later in life, his body was unrecognizable and could only be identified through fingerprints. Conclusion Despite his mental disorders, Howard Hughes accomplished many great things. Best known for his production of movies, and aviation, his mental illness proved to be his undoing. Most diagnostics were done after his death; therefore there is no way of knowing if medical treatment would have helped him. Although he may have inherited OCD from his mother, it is also believed that his contraction of syphilis in 1930 also played a part in his mental stability. In 1976, Dr. Raymond Fowler, the President of the American Psychology Association, was asked to do a psychological evaluation from what he knew and read of Howard Hughes. After the long study Fowler concluded that â€Å"Hughes was not psychotic, he was just a disturbed man†. Life Span Development and Personality IntroductionThe Healer of the World – Karol Wojtyla, gave a breakthrough of acceptance in the world’s aim for peace, prosperity and unity.   His belief on religion was considered to be flexible as to believing that all people are created equal in blood, color, race or belief (Weigel, 2001).   The differences of such religions must not serve as a wall to hinder one from crossing the line of faith but rather, to give respect to the God being served and hailed.   â€Å"We all believe in one God† (Weigel, 2001), remarked the Saint.   His enthusiasm and love for humanity built a bridge which not all Popes were able to fulfill.   Criticized by some followers of Christianity, his motivation on reaching his prayers even to the extent of other religions gave a positive impact on those individuals who have long felt that Christianity, being the most dominant religion in the world, must reign over.Challenges faced by the PopeHis influence to the masses made him a negotiator in uniting the archipelagos of different countries; he had an amazing view of life, like a philosopher who cared for other people more than himself.   Death threats and vicious plans for assassination haunted his living daylights, but he remained calm, his deep sagacity of forgiveness lurked in every pore of his system, believing that people who have gone astray, must not be punished but be guided (Weigel, 2001).Environment’s role in molding his beliefThe factual argument to support such questions on why his perceptions, character and views were â€Å"godly† and unselfish can be traced with the kind of life he was raised, living in Poland, a â€Å"privacy-oriented† country armed with a raging belief on war, his quest in search for unity indulged him to do good, instead of enrolling in a realm where blood is shed (Weigel, 2001), believed that God was calling him for priesthood, to serve with gospels and not with armors.The institutions where he enrol led also played a large factor in molding his character, as human behavior stresses â€Å"the environment by which one is raised and the people surrounding the individual will most likely be the reasons of what you are today† (Freud & Strachey, 1962).   His family, friends and experiences in life are the main reasons why he possessed the highest level of concern for others.Psychological Theory in his behaviorAccording to developmental psychology, the sense of faith of a person is an acquired form of skill or ability, not an innate one.   It is an inherited acquired phenomenon; given the fact that a new-born baby at the time of birth is non-moral, non-thinking and non-aesthetic, all tantamount to innocence (Dimitrius & Mazzarella, 1991).Therefore, such character is gradually acquired through experience.   It can be then taken to assumption that a family, inclined with scriptures and rituals or of religion, will most likely raise religious offspring.However, a deliberativ e argument of such belief would disprove its validity given the fact that change is most likely to happen, since that the kind of environment which will later be experienced and dwelled upon to by the individual will make abrupt changes in his belief, adaptation would be suitable term (Freud & Strachey, 1962).   Not unless the atmosphere also tames such religiousness.ConclusionInstinct Theory and Learning Theory are evident in the life of the Pope, his belief, that he was being called portrays the first kind and his sense of mimicking priests illustrate his form of motivation in venturing to priesthood (Freud & Strachey, 1962). Such theories are the hugest well supported evidences why the Pope, possess the exceptional characteristic of a human being.   Concluding the existence and the explanations in his life clearly shows that there lived a person, influenced with humanistic theories, but utilized what he has acquired in the â€Å"godliest† way possible.References:Dimitr ius, J.-E., & Mazzarella, M. C. (1991). Reading People: How to Understand People and Predict Their Behavior- -Anytime, Anyplace (1 ed.). New York: Ballantine Books.Freud, S., & Strachey, J. (1962). The Ego and the Id. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.Weigel, G. (2001). Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II (1st Cliff Street Books Paperback Ed ed.). New York: Harper Perennial.

Management Accounting Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Management Accounting - Assignment Example Vision matched the idealism of TC's founders (students of a great drama teacher). Vision also reinforced the mission "to entertain our audiences with plays produced from the Canadian and international repertoires, and to develop the theatrical community." Mission and vision are summarised in Principles that combine artistic excellence, financial stability, and organisational sustainability. Objectives are clear, developed and refined with inputs from everyone (Board all the way to customers). Annual strategic and budget planning sessions inspire commitment to TC's purpose, core values, and vision. TC is in a creative business and has a system in place to get inputs from the creative/production side, including inputs to the budgets and planning system. However, there is no clear answer to "how does TC create value for customers" beyond the sentimental ones (tradition, legacy, culture, etc.). TC has to think of a better answer to the question, because this would help solve its revenue-generation problem. McCabe had an ambitious performance goal: increase subscribers threefold. Backed this up with performance standards, codes of conduct, and incentive systems to motivate, inform, and align staff with the organisation's objectives. Sales teams were given freedom to be creative within limits, and titles changed from "ticket clerks" to "customer service teams". However, strategic boundaries seem incomplete. The case lacks details on defined market position, which affects the theatre's capacity to generate sufficient revenues to cover costs and wipe out deficits. TC has to define what business it is in, who competitors are, whether pricing strategies are competitive, and how to generate loyalty amongst customers. Of course, there are idealistic supporters ready to contribute cash to bridge deficits, but unless TC develops a plan to widen its market base, it cannot sustain profitability. And whilst it evaluates its current customer base, it needs to find ways to target new customers, new age groups (below the present 40 to 65 age group), develop the right pricing for each, and develop new materials to compete with other providers in the market (how can TC compete with video games, peer group activities, extreme activities, etc.). TC has to look to the future, instead of only learning from the past. Related to this is the need to determine which amongst its existing customer groups (the 45-60 years age group is one generation!) are profitable, and whether it can increase their numbers or generate higher profits from those who can afford to pay more. TC may be too concerned with survival, but it has to learn to cut down its level of risks using its accounting system to identify where profitable and sustainable opportunities exist. Interactive Controls (Monitoring, Key Uncertainties) TC has internal control systems, a way of monitoring sales and expenses, getting the

Incremental analysis + decision making Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Incremental analysis + decision making - Essay Example According to the article, the company has decided to focus on the key geographical areas such as Canada where it has brand recognition. This is a desperate move for the company to help get customers to jump-start its handset business (Rao et al 2008). The report aims at establishing key internal factors as well as external factors that are likely to pose the strongest impact on the course of actions of Blackberry Ltd. It then provides a recommendation based on the SWOT and PESTEL analyses and central issues in the article. The company is likely to succeed in the Canadian market because it has positioned itself well. It has targeted a market for which it still strong brand recognition (Ligaya, 2014). The relatively friendly political climate in Canada and other surrounding North American countries have helped the Smartphone industry to flourish (Rao et al 2008). The Smartphone users have been on the increased, and it is believed that they are soon going to overtake feature phone user. Such a situation is likely to contribute to the success of the new product launch. The company is likely to face a difficulty in adhering to strict regulations regarding hygiene and safety standards in the country. It will have to spend a substantial amount of money to ensure that they limit the usage of toxic contents, recycling and energy usage. In addition, the country has high tax rate levels which are likely to reduce the profits of the company (Ligaya, 2014). The strategies adopted by BlackBerry Ltd. in the launch of its Passport Smartphone in Toronto have positioned it well to tackle both the internal and external factors on the horizon. First, the company has a target a geographical location where it has strong brand recognition. This is likely to help it attract more customers considering that it is moving out of restructuring phase. Secondly, the company is also planning to introduce Classic so as to be able to appeal to masses in order

Duchamp, Segal, Rauschenberg, Warhol, Oldenburg, Lichtenstein Assignment

Duchamp, Segal, Rauschenberg, Warhol, Oldenburg, Lichtenstein - Assignment Example The paper "Duchamp, Segal, Rauschenberg, Warhol, Oldenburg, Lichtenstein" discovers the famous artists of the 20th century. Marcel Duchamp and was interested to put art back to the service of the mind. He distanced himself from the traditional artistic methods and paintings, relying on seducing the view through irony and verbal witticism instead of relying on the aesthetical appeal as other artists did. George Segal was a Jewish. He is known for â€Å"Pop Art† movement. His technique was however different form pop art due to closely relating his work to human values and personal experiences. He chose to deal with places that were familiar to him, rather than the elegant topics. His artistic work led to creation of close up drawings of human expressions and was known for his humanistic passion. Robert Rauschenberg was an American born in Texas and studied pharmacology. His unique artistic style involved the use of newspapers to make long silk screens cardboards, and early Egypt ians which is a series of wall reliefs and sculptures constructed from used boxes. He also made a lot of prints on silk where he made colorful silk walls and floor works. Rauschenberg later began to use his black and white photographs and was more recognized for the  ¼ Mile or Two Furlong Piece that was conceived to be the longest artwork in the world portraying his unique photographic techniques and horology of his imagery. Claes Oldenburg was born in Stockholm in 1929, but his family settled in Chicago in 1936.

Analysis of Direct Costs Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Analysis of Direct Costs - Assignment Example Direct Labor: is the labor or employees who convert materials into the company’s products. The cost of direct labor can be traced directly to the finished products.† (Horngren, Harrison, & Oliver, 2009). All other costs charged under the categories Overhead Costs and General and Administrative Costs are indirect costs. These include indirect labor, repair, maintenance, utilities, rent, insurance, property taxes and depreciations. Direct material cost is the cost of significant materials that are used in the manufacturing of a product or that are used up in providing a service. Direct material costs are specifically identifiable to the contract. FAR regulations also provide provision for trade discounts, refunds, credits for scrap, salvage, and returns to vendor, to be adjusted to the direct material costs. Priced Bill of Sales, has detailed list of all materials needed to produce the required product or service is used for estimating the direct cost. To analyze estimated costs of materials, the factors in review focus are: Are the items quantities and costs of materials correct? Are making or buying decisions are appropriate? Is the material purchased efficiently and competitively? (Murphy, 2009). Direct labor cost is cost of labor specifically identified with a particular contract that a company is doing. Following are three types of direct labor: Labor directly associated with the work being produced, labor readily identified with a particular objective such as a contract, and labor important enough to warrant identifying and measuring so we can keep up with its cost. In general approach to analyze direct labor cost is to examine each element of proposed cost. The contracting officer should usually request analysis of cost or pricing proposals by asking requirements logistics, or other appropriate personnel to review and assess the need for the number and kinds of

Griffith's theory of fracture Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Griffith's theory of fracture - Coursework Example Ceramics and Metals have different atomic structure and ionic bonding. Ceramic materials have both ionic and covalent bonds. Ionic bond is the one that keeps them brittle. Ionic bond is lose and no definite direction.The positive and negative ions are arranged and are held together by attraction created by each other of different charge. When stress is applied, ions slide past each other then goes to different directions; ions of the same charge bumps and trying to repel each other; causing the atoms to spread. The material then breaks. In metals, the atomic structure consist more positively charged ions on a flow of negatively charge electrons. The electrons allows the positive charge ions to slide and roll past each other without breaking the bond when a certain stress is applied. This causes the metal to be tough. 2) Glass in general has a low tensile strength. This lies entirely with the fact that glass is a solid lacking crystalline structure or namely amorphous solid. Amorphous solid has a moving structure of molecules and are not compact, this results to having a low tensile strength than of other solids. However, there are methods of somehow improving glass’s tensile strength, strengthening them. One is by soaking the glass into a bath of potassium nitrate solution on an about 400 to 450 degrees Celsius having. Potassium nitrate has larger molecule structure than of a common sodium nitrate molecule in the surface of the glass. The process will now replace the sodium nitrate on a glass by the potassium nitrate in the bath solution, leaving the glass having a thick layer and a hard wedge. This is called â€Å"chemical strengthening†. Another one is called â€Å"heat strengthening† where a glass surface is heated for about 1100-1500 degrees Fahrenheit then suddenly cooled. After suddenly cooling, the glass molecules compresses, thus having a thick and compressed layer than before. 3) Griffith’s equation steps directly not to the strength of a material but the fracture in it and how hard can it withstand a force before it collapses. Fracture is the propagation of a crack or a flaw across loaded or force-applied segment. Toughness is the property of a material to withstand fracture. Now glass has literally low resistance to fracture than steel has. In Griffith’s equation, you would get stress over strain or Young’s modulus of a material first then that you will determine its toughness. A glass generally has only 50-90 GPa. Its ability to resist fracture is very low compared of steel which has a stress over strain ratio of around 190 to 210 GPa. This makes steel as a more preferable material than glass. 4) Elastic deformation by definition is reversible. Meaning, the material will return to its original state when stressed and bending stress is no longer applied. Uniform plastic deformation is an irreversible deformation where the material strains uniformly upon stress. The material will not ret urn to its original state rather it cracks or ruptures when certain stress is strong enough for the material to withstand. Local plastic deformation or also known as â€Å"necking† differs from uniform plastic deformation by means of the strain applied. It is a mode of tensile deformation where relatively large amounts of strain localize disproportionately in a small region of the material. The localised portion of the material where there is a decrease in local area became the basis for â€Å"neck†. 5) In rubber elasticity the polymer chains of an elastomer coils at random at a relaxed state. On extension, the chains are stretched out, and their conformational entropy is reduced. This is the reason why a rubber material, when suddenly relaxed from extension, snaps back. This is the basis in an elasticity modulus of a material. The material is highly elastic when its stiffness and extension are balanced together. Stiffness is an extensive property of a material to resi st deformation. The high the stiffness can be the high the material’s extensions. 6) Thermosetting resin has a composition

MKTG Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 10

MKTG - Essay Example This association is based in the United States but not only does it have members in this country, but it also has members in another forty eight countries and many of these are some of the largest companies and nonprofit organizations in the world. Direct Marketing Association’s work is not only done at a local level, its marketing campaigns are also done at a regional, national, and international level and this is one of the reasons that this association is one of the most successful of its kind worldwide. The professionalism of its staff enables it to compete effectively against other associations and in fact, it gives it an edge over them. The level of its competitor associations in the marketing business just helps to show the top quality of work that is done at Direct Marketing. This is an association, which any competent organization in the world would aspire to join; this is because it would be a guarantee of its success in the present and the future. Marketing Pilgrim was established as a site where marketing professionals could be able to find jobs that they wanted in marketing companies. This site has over the years since its founding became one of the most popular marketing job boards online. Because it is a leading site in marketing, this is where most companies and other institutions go to when they need to acquire people in marketing and academics in the same field. The Marketing Pilgrim site ensures that its clients stay up to date with the current marketing knowledge, training, and tools, which not only enable them to succeed in their careers, but also helps them obtain information of value and worthwhile connections. This site continuously innovates and develops according to the changes in the marketing scene in the world and it does this for assisting its clients keep up to speed of things so that they do not lose any opportunities if there are any

Fostering Ethical Behavior Essay Example for Free

Fostering Ethical Behavior Essay Ethical conduct in today’s work environment is extremely important as it not only affects the climate of the workplace but can also make a major impact on the output of the employees who work for you. As Kreitner and Kinicki state, â€Å"Improving workplace ethics is not just a nice thing to do; it also can have a positive impact on the bottom line† (Organizational Behavior, 2009, p. 25). But the discussion on how to foster more ethical conduct can oftentimes be a tricky question to answer. First, my firm belief is that you have to start from the top of an organization and work down. If a CEO or upper level manager acts unethically in his/her practices then how can you expect another employee to not react in the same manner? â€Å"Managers are potent role models whose habits and actual behavior send clear signals about the importance of ethical conduct. Ethical behavior is a top-to-bottom proposition†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Organizational Behavior, 2009, p. 25). Secondly, an organization should maintain a strong and respected code of ethics that all employees would be required to adhere, train and reinforce in the workplace. Unethical behavior to get ahead can be a poison to any organization. â€Å"Behavior that is reinforced tends to be repeated, whereas behavior that is not reinforced tends to disappear. Ethical conduct too often is ignored or even punished while unethical behavior is rewarded. † (Organizational Behavior, 2009, p. 25). It should be the number one goal of any top management to foster a working environment where ethical behavior is rewarded and I feel that leading by example from the top down will result in a positive outcome in the workplace.

Indias movie industry

Indias movie industry Motion pictures came to India in 1896, when the Lumià ¨re Brothers Cinematographed unveiled six soundless short films in Mumbai. This was just one year after the Lumià ¨re brothers (inventors of cinematography) had set up their company in Paris. The first Indian on record to make a movie was Harishchandra Sakharam Bhatvadekar (nickname: Save Dada). He made one short film on a wrestling match at the Hanging Gardens in Mumbai and another on the playfulness of monkeys. Both these shorts were made in 1897 and were publicly exhibited for the first time in 1899 using Edisons projecting kinetoscope inside a tent which the film maker had himself erected. Indias first feature film named King Harishchandra was released in 1913. It was made by Dhundiraj Govind Phalke (nickname: Dadasaheb Phalke, 1817-1944). This was a silent movie. By 1920, film making had taken the shape of an industry. The first talkie made in India was Alam Ara (produced by Imperial Film Company) released in 1931. Until the 1960s, film-making companies, many of whom owned studios, dominated the film industry. Artistes and technicians were either their employees or were contracted on long-term basis. Since the 1960s, however, most performers went the freelance way, resulting in the star system and huge escalations in film production costs. Financing deals in the industry also started becoming murkier and murkier since then. Current position India has the worlds biggest movie industry in terms of the number of movies produced (around 800 movies annually, mostly in the Hindi language. Tamil, Telegu, Bengali and Malayalam are the languages in which most of the non-Hindi films are made). Today, the technology of film-making in India is perhaps the best among all developing countries though the films themselves remain mostly repetitive in storyline and content. Superior movies, in thematic and creative terms, are made in many developing countries with less sophisticated technologies. According to unofficial estimates available in January 2001, the Indian film industry has an annual turnover of Rs. 60 billion (approximately US$1.33 billion). It employs more than 6 million people, most of whom are contract workers as opposed to regular employees. The above statistics cannot however be used to calculate the movie industrys share in the GDP or employment generation. This is because a vast proportion of the turnover takes place outside the legal economy. Though Indias overall entertainment industry is taking on professional colours (with the rise of TV production companies), Indias movie industry per se remains highly informal, personality-oriented and family-dominated. Until the late 1990s, it was not even recognised as an industry. Even though it has since been recognised as an industry, banks and other financial institutions continue to avoid the industry due to the enormous risks involved in the business. Two banks, Canara Bank and Indian Bank, have reportedly lost heavily by financing films. However, the prospects of bank financing and risk insurance are becoming brighter, albeit at a slow rate (as explained further down this report). As a result, the financing of films in India often remains shrouded in mystery. Surprisingly, however, the oft-murky world of film industrys finances has not tainted the film industrys perception in the general public eye or in the governments attitude. Even though many famous people from the movie industry have risen to positions of political and social responsibility, including seats in federal and state parliaments, none of them have cared to reveal or have been under pressure to reveal the truth about the industrys finances. Some developments in the years 2000 and 2001 including the arrest of a leading financier, Bharat Shah for his alleged links with a fugitive gangster have not yet brought to public knowledge the inside economics of the industry. The rot or financial amorality of Indias film industry seems to have set in since the 1960s. Until the 1960s, film producers would get loans from film distributors against a minimum guarantee: this meant that the distributors had to ensure that the film was screened in cinemas for a fixed minimum period. If this minimum guarantee was fulfilled, the producers had no further liability. Profit or loss would be the destiny of the distributors. (There are exceptions, however. Indias most celebrated film-maker, the late Satyajit Ray, is known to have pawned his wifes jewellery to part-finance his first film). Star System: The financing pattern, centered on distributors, is suspected to have changed since the 1960s when the studio system collapsed and freelance performers emerged. This gave rise to the star system in which actors and actresses ceased to have long-term contractual obligations towards any studio or film production firm (such as the now defunct Bombay Talkies, New Theatres and Prabhat Studios). Rather, they began to operate as freelancers commanding fees in proportion to the box office performance of their recent films. This increased costs of film production since the more successful actors and actresses hogged major proportions of the producers budget. In the changed system, distributors would pay 50 per cent of the film-making cost leaving it to the producer to get the rest from other sources. The other sources are: conventional moneylenders (who lend at an interest rate of 36-40 per cent annually); non-conventional but corporate resources, promissory note system (locally called hundi system): this is the most widely prevalent source, and underworld money: about 5 per cent of the movies are suspected to be financed by these sources. Film production thus became a risky business and the relationship with usurious money-lenders strengthened over the years. As at the start of 2001, a reasonable budget film in Hindi could cost US$1.75 million. A low budget Hindi film can be made for even as low as Rs. 15 million. A big budget Hindi movie can cost in excess of US$30 million. The bigness of the budget is attributable mainly to the high fees paid to stars, celebrated music directors, high-end technologies and expensive travel costs to shoot in exotic locations worldwide. At the time of writing, it is believed that stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan are paid Rs. 20 million (US$440,000) per film.In contrast, script writers and film editors remain poorly paid. In an interview, Indias so-called superstar Amitabh Bachchan (whose wax statue stands at Madam Tussauds in London) attributed the lack of strong storylines to the poor money paid to writers. India has a National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) which finances some films. A few film makers, who would find it hard to obtain finance from the regular sources, have been financed by the NFDC. However, NFDC cannot be considered to play a central role in the film industry because it finances too few films which, too, are not of the type that has made the Indian film industry so vibrant. It however goes to the NFDCs credit that, without it, some of Indias best film makers wouldnt have got a break in the industry. Another shortcoming with the NFDC is that it funds films only at the production stage while ignoring the just-as-important marketing stage. The film industry is currently losing unestimated volumes of revenue due to competition from local cable operators who illegally beam newly released movies into the drawing rooms of their subscribers. Future Of The Industry This is not intended to be a scare story, however. As mentioned above, the overall entertainment industry in India is taking on professional colours and this will change the culture of the film industry too. Some film production companies, such as Mukta Arts, have made public share issues, thus keeping out of the world of murky financing. The Film Federation of India is actively seeking to make film financing a viable proposition for banks. It is likely that films would also be insured to offset possible losses for banks. The granting of industry status to the film industry will eventually allow overboard financing of films, though this will result in production of fewer films than at present. Stricter enforcement of copyright law will help the film industry in its fight with cable operators. Foreign entertainment companies, with steady revenue streams, can do good business if they invest in Hindi and other Indian language films.Despite high risks on a per-movie basis, the risk spreads out across a number of movies. Animation industry Animation is a word that has practically stormed the film industry these days. Everyone, right from the 8-year old kids to 80-year old granddads, loves to watch an animation flick. Have you ever wondered what animation exactly is and how did it come into existence. Animation is basically the rapid display of a sequence of images, of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions. The display is so rapid that it creates an illusion of movement in the viewers. The phenomenon of persistence of vision is the main basis behind the development of animation. Background of Animation The earliest instance of animation dates back to the Paleolithic times, when attempts were made to capture motion in drawings. The cave-paintings of that time depict animals in superimposed positions, drawn with an aim of conveying the perception of motion. Persistence of vision, the basis behind animation, was discovered by Ptolemy, the Greek astronomer, in 130 AD. Fifty years later, in 180 AD, an unknown Chinese inventor created an early animation device, which we later came to know as the zoetrope. Phenakistoscope, praxinoscope and the flip book are the other early animation devices, which were invented during the 1800s. All these devices made use of technological means for the purpose of producing movement from sequential drawings. However, it was the introduction of motion picture films, in the late 1890s that gave a boost to the concept of animation. There is no single person who can be credited with the title of the Creator of animation. This is because when animation was developed, many people were involved in the same thing at the same time. J. Stuart Blackton was the first person to make an animated film, which he called Humorous phases of funny faces. For the purpose, he used to draw comical faces on a blackboard, one after the other, and film them. In 1910, Emile Cohl came out with the first paper cutout animation. The development of celluloid, around 1913, made animation much easier to manage. While talking about the history of animation, three names that are definitely worth mentioning are those of Winsor McCay of United States Emile Cohl and Georges Melies of France. Émile Cohls Fantasmagorie (1908) was the first animated film that was made using traditional (hand-drawn) animation. Georges Mà ©lià ¨s, a creator of special-effect films, was the first person to use animation, along with special effects. He was the one who gave the idea of stop-motion animation. McCay also created a number of animation films, with the most noted ones being Little Nemo (1911), Gertie the Dinosaur (1914) and The Sinking of the Lusitania (1918). In fact, many people take Sinking of the Lusitania to be the first animated feature film. However, it was Walt Disney who took animation to an entirely new level altogether. In 1928, with the premiere of Steamboat Willie, he became the first animator to add sound to his movie cartoons. Walt Disney achieved another milestone in 1937, when he produced the first full length animated feature film, named Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The year 1955 saw Art Clokey producing Gumby, a stop-motion clay animation. Introduction of computers marked a step further in the concept of animation. In 1951, an MIT student Ivan Sutherland created a computer drawing program, Sketchpad, further giving a boost to animation. With time, computer started gaining an increasing importance in the field of animation. Movies like Star Wars relied on computer animation for many of its special effects. In 1995 came Toy Story, produced by Walt Disney Productions and Pixar Animation Studios, the first full length feature film animated totally on computers. Since that time, animation and computer have gone hand in hand, creating new milestones with time. Technology development has prompted a number of low cost hubs with powerful computer animation platforms to emerge in Asia. India is fast becoming a preferred destination for Animation outsourcing and is steadily overtaking the traditional players in the field like Philippines, Korea Taipei. Its boom time in the Indian animation industry, pegged at approximately US$ 300- $350 million in 2005. Cities like Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Thiruvananthapuram are fast emerging as the countrys major animation hubs. The big studios have set up world-class, state-of-the-art facilities equipped with hardware and software like SGI, 3DMax and SoftImage, SFX and processing motion capture facilities. Indias biggest advantages are its cost effectiveness and good quality. The total cost for making a full-length animated film in America is estimated to be US$100 million to US$175 million. On the other hand, in India, it can be made for US$15 million to US$25 million. According to NASSCOM, the animation sector grew by over 20% in 2004. Studios spread across the country are doing animation work like cartoon characters and special effects for clients around the world including Walt Disney, Imax, Warner Brothers and Sony. Some of the other companies are outsourcing animation for commercials and computer games. Some of the prominent animations outsourcing companies are: Toonz Animation India is based in Thiruvananthapuram and has to its credit the successful series The Adventures of Tenali Raman. The team here is also working on a full-fledged feature film called Tommy and Oscar which is a 2D /3D combo project. This is apart from completing work for the Italian producer Rainbow Productions; a 2D television series called Will o the Wisp (26 X 6 min) for Animoon Plc, United Kingdom and a big-budget 3D television series for major a US broadcaster. This company has tied up with First Serve International to form First Serve Toonz. Pentamedia Graphics, Chennai is a subsidiary of computer software company Pentafour. It is best known for its animated 3D film using the motion capture technique, Sindbad: Beyond the Veils of the Mists. Maya Entertainment, Mumbai has been doing outsourced work for a while now and has done the special effects for The Mummy and Stuart Little. It is also working on animating short films starring a character called Wabo, to be used by the United Nations to educate worldwide audiences on the importance of fresh drinking water. UTV Toonz, Mumbai is the animation division of UTV Software Communications and is one of the top ranking studios dealing in flash as well as traditional animation. It has bagged a US$10 billion deal with an American company for outsourced work. Other assignments for international clients include like two Dutch deals to produce a musical cartoon series called ClubNow! and a fantasy series The Donz; a project with Cinegroup of Canada for the images for a sci-fi series. They are also working with companies in Scotland and Luxembourg for the development of series like Clootie Dumpling and Snow Queen. It will also be working on Kong: The Next Generation for New York-based BKN New Media. Heart Entertainment, a 2D animation studio is yet another big name in the animation sphere, which is doing a lot of outsourced work. Among the animation featured in its portfolio are Warner Brothers Histeria, Tommy Nelsons Crippled Lamb and Little Dogs on the Prairie. It also has to its credit some work done for Walt Disney. Padmalaya Telefilms, Mumbai is a unit of Indias largest listed media firm, Zee Telefilms. It is expected to make 104 cartoon episodes for US$ 14 million and distribute Mondos library for US$ 15 million. It has also inked some deals with British animation companies like Mallard Media and Ealing Animation. Nipuna Services Ltd, a division of Satyam Computer Services, has recently bagged a project worth US$ 8 billion from 4K Animation GmbH, a German animation company. This assignment is among the biggest deals struck by an Indian BPO in the animation space. It is also doing significant work for a New Zealand based company called Applied Gravity. The work includes animatronics models for New Zealand Theme parks as well as an animatronics dog for Animal Planets series K9 to 11. Jadoo Works, Bangalore is working on an animated film series Lord Krishna and the crime caper Bombay Dogs. It has done work for US animation studios like Wild Brain and Guardian Angel Animation (GaGa). Crest Communications, Mumbai, is a leading 3-d animation company and does a lot of work for American Studios. It came into limelight in 2002, when it won an Emmy for animation production work done for the animated series Jakers: The Adventures of Piggley-Winks. It is also to work on three features for Lions Gate Family Entertainment. Crest is also expected to produce and release Sylvester and the Magic Pebble based on the story by William Steig the creator ofShrek. Silvertoon Studio, Mumbai, is engaged primarily in subcontract work for U.S., French, and British studios, using digital ink, paint and compositing system. The Animation Industry in India though a late starter, is considered as one of the fastest growing segments of the entertainment and media industry. The Animation Industry in India gained significance as an outsourced destination for animation work due to low cost, skilled labour as its many advantages. In the recent past Indian animation companies and animation studios have been moving up the value chain to create their own intellectual property rights with Hanuman, Roadside Romeo, etc. and partnering with international studios to produce animated properties for the global audience. Though a majority of the work done by the animation industry in India is outsourced work, this is expected to change in the future with increased demand from the domestic entertainment industry. The Indian animation industry in 2007 was estimated at USD 0.31 billion and is expected to grow at CAGR 24% to reach USD 0.94 billion by 2012. (Source:Ficci-PwC Entertainment and Media report 2008). The Indian animation industry in 2007 was estimated at USD 0.31 billion and is expected to grow at CAGR 24% to reach USD 0.94 billion by 2012. (Source:Ficci-PwC Entertainment and Media report 2008) 1.2 Introduction to pestle analysis PESTLE Analysis is a simple, useful and widely-used tool that helps you understand the big picture of your Political, Economic, Socio-Cultural, Technological Legal and Environmental. As such, it is used by business leaders worldwide to build their vision of the future. It is important for these reasons: First, by making effective use of PESTLE Analysis, you ensure that what you are doing is aligned positively with the powerful forces of change that are affecting our world. By taking advantage of change, you are much more likely to be successful than if your activities oppose it; Second, good use of PESTLE Analysis helps you avoid taking action that is doomed to failure from the outset, for reasons beyond your control; and Third, PEST is useful when you start operating in a new country or region. Use of PESTLE helps you break free of unconscious assumptions, and helps you quickly adapt to the realities of the new environment. How to use the tool: PESTLE is a simple mnemonic standing for Political, Economic, Socio-Cultural, Technological, Legal and Environmental To use this tool, follow this three stage process: Brainstorm the relevant factors that apply to you; Identify the information that applies to these factors; and Draw conclusions from this information. The following factors may help as a starting point for brainstorming (but make sure you include other factors that may be appropriate to your situation): Political: Government type and stability Freedom of press, rule of law and levels of bureaucracy and corruption Regulation and de-regulation trends Social and employment legislation Tax policy, and trade and tariff controls Environmental and consumer-protection legislation Likely changes in the political environment Economic: Stage of business cycle Current and project economic growth, inflation and interest rates Unemployment and labor supply Labor costs Levels of disposable income and income distribution Impact of globalization Likely impact of technological or other change on the economy Likely changes in the economic environment Socio-Cultural: Population growth rate and age profile Population health, education and social mobility, and attitudes to these Population employment patterns, job market freedom and attitudes to work Press attitudes, public opinion, social attitudes and social taboos Lifestyle choices and attitudes to these Socio-Cultural changes Technological Environment: Impact of emerging technologies Impact of Internet, reduction in communications costs and increased remote working Research and Development activity Impact of technology transfer Legal World legislation changes National legislation changes Prospects Current legislation home market Future legislation European/international legislation Regulatory bodies and processes Environmental regulations Employment law Consumer protection Industry-specific regulations competitive regulations Environmental Customer values Market values Stakeholder/ investor values Staff attitudes Management style Organisational culture Staff morale Staff engagement The PEST Analysis is a perfect tool for managers and policy makers, helping them in analyzing the forces that are driving their industry and how these factors will influence their businesses and the whole industry in general. Our product also presents a brief profile of the industry comprising of current market, competition in it and future prospects of that sector. Chapter-2 Objectives of the study The major objectives of the study are: To get the knowledge about the business environment of film and animation industry. To assimilate the factors which affects any industry. To enlarge the view of doing business in the present era. Chapter-3 Research and methodology Research methodology is the theoretical depiction of the process involved in the research work. It refers to the collection of data from various sources. This term paper deals with the PESTLE analysis of film and animation industry. For collecting information I have used two types of sources i.e. primary and secondary sources. Primary sources: The primary sources of this term paper includes Interaction with my teachers. Secondary sources: The main secondary sources for this term paper includes- Site visits. Document analysis (Reports and newspapers.) Data collected from various journals. Data collected from books. Chapter-4 PESTLE Analysis of Film and Animation industry Political factors affecting Film and Animation Industry: Tax in Indiasignifies the tax paid by the Film and Animation Industry in India. The entertainment tax in India is usually applicable for large-scale entertainment shows, private festivals that are sponsored, movie tickets, video game arcades, and amusement parks among others.All activities include commercial movie/theater shows, games, amusement parks, exhibitions, celebrity stage shows, any kind of sports such as horse racing, and exhibitions. The entertainment tax department looks after the tax payable for the entertainment activities being performed in various places across the country. The entertainment tax department is located in Delhi and works under the stipulation of The Delhi Entertainment and Betting Tax Act, 1996. The organizers or proprietors of the entertainment shows are responsible for the entertainment tax in India. They collect the tax from the sponsors and deposit it to the Government of India. One of the highest revenue earning sectors from tax in entertainment industry is cinema. With every ticket, a certain amount of tax is tagged which is paid while buying the movie tickets and is included in the price of the tickets. The entry tickets to any cinematographic exhibitions have the entertainment tax included in it, which is 25-30 percent. The entertainment department is a major source of revenue for the Government of India. It also has a great contribution towards the publicity of Indian arts that portrays ancient culture and various sports. This is done by granting tax-free benefits to the same. The organizers of any entertainment shows will have to seek the permission of the Entertainment Tax Department before putting up any commercial shows. The entertainment tax in India is levied upon the organizers or proprietors depending on the kind of shows being organized. There are a range of tax schemes for various entertainment programs. These are as follows: Tax schemes designed for amusement parks Tax-paid programs Programs based on tax exempted sectors Tax programs on cable television networks Tax for various invitee programs Tax on entertainment betting Tax on video parlors To alleviate the tax generating program, a series of technologies has been introduced in the entertainment tax department. For example, the computerized ticket booking system has been incorporated for booking movie tickets along with the online data transmission in the entertainment industry. The more advanced the entertainment industry is becoming the tax rate is increasing at a proportional rate. Customers mostly look for convenience and less hazardous tasks while going for any entertainment program and so faster access would definitely attract more customers. Economic Factors affecting Film and Animation Industry: Consistent commitment to economic reform over the last decade has spurred the steady growth of the Indian economy. The emphasis on creating an enabling environment for investment and the inherent potential of the Indian economy have together pushed Indias annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate beyond 8 percent. While Indias GDP ranks eleventh in the world in absolute terms, it ranks among the top five economies of the world when assessed in terms of purchasing power parity. It is the growing consuming class with the proclivity to spend that will drive the growth of the Indian entertainment industry. Adding to this positive outlook is the fact that the average Indian is getting younger and is showing a greater propensity to indulge and entertain himself. Moreover, there are over 20 million Indians living abroad who are increasingly opting for India-oriented entertainment, as the availability of such content increases. Globally, a clutch of international films with Indian content, themes and performers are receiving wide visibility and acclaim. This broad acceptance of Indian entertainment is likely to give a further fillip to the expansion of this industry. The emergence of the Indian middle class with greater earning power and a higher disposable income is one of the key factors that will drive the growth of the Indian entertainment sector. Demographic analysis clearly shows the evidence of this growth. The consumption indicates the continued progression of people into higher income and consumption segments. As the average Indian gets richer and his more compelling needs are met, his propensity to spend on discretionary items such as entertainment increases. Further, as his consumption of various goods and services rises, companies would try to reach out to him through more marketing and advertising. Higher demand and an increased investment would result in an expansion of the entertainment industry in the years to come. As the Indian entertainment market grows, it is essential to recognize the heterogeneous nature of the market. All too often, the specific appetite of certain segments such as the rural population, women and children, is under-estimated and their financial value proposition continues to be under-recognised. Companies and businesses that have managed to differentially cater to the varying segments of Indian population have benefited. As a corollary, the entertainment sector too has begun to witness the advent of a broader set of offerings which are aimed for specific segments: e.g. television channels for children. On the other hand, the childrens films genre, for instance, has yet to grow and mature in India. There is a case for a proactive and sustained targeting of specific, niche segments of the market. In fact, given the size and potential of Indias niche segments, niche may be a word which is likely to be replaced soon. As per industry estimates, the total advertising spend in India in 2004 was approximately INR 118 billion, a growth of 13.4 percent over the last year. However, India continues to have a low advertising spend to GDP ratios compared to other economies, underscoring the untapped potential. In 2004, the advertising spend for India stood at 0.50 percent of the GDP, up from 0.48 percent the previous year. This is expected to increase significantly due to rising consumerism and growing interest from global brands attracted by this huge and expanding market. Given the increasing number of media channels that consumers are exposed to, brands will have to advertise more frequently and across more channels to generate brand recall. As television channels have multiplied and the content available has become more diverse in the last decade, their viewership has increased, niche channels have emerged targeting specific demographic segments and the cost of advertising on television has reduced. While the broadcasters can dwell on this shared optimism, they must also recognize that advertising budgets are very sensitive to economic downturns. Advertising budgets are not only easily brought down, but the productivity of such expenses is also challenged. Companies are increasingly demanding their advertising agencies to link their fees to performance indicators such as sales increments. With increasing access to state-of-the-art technologies, addressability issues are being put to test, ther