Saturday, August 31, 2019

Coal Industry in India Essay

The coal industry in India witnessed its inception in 1774. However, it took almost a century for this industry to rise above its infancy and proclaim its actual arrival around the second half of the 19th century. What followed was the story of remarkable growth albeit with its share of ups and downs down the line. The flipside of this account of prosperity has not, however, escaped the scrutiny of historians. The oppressive attitudes of the coal-producing lobby and the miners’ miserable conditions have time and again found their place in prevalent labour historiography. Intriguing themes, for instance, production relations, migration of labour, manipulation around the recruitment of labour, workers’ resistance movements and debates around women and child labour have further enriched the discourse. This project aims to add a new dimension to this ongoing debate. The prime objective of this study is to unearth the history of hygiene issues at workplaces in the coalfields of Raniganj and Jharia districts in eastern India and of hygiene in their adjacent regions in eastern India, 1901 and 1973. The expansion of the industry was not without its adverse effects on human as well as natural resources. This project thus, has as its focus the health of the miner as well as the health of the mineral, i.e. coal, with its attendant thrusts on industrial hygiene and mine technology. Going beyond the colonial time-frame, this study also attempts an investigation into miners’ working and living standards in the first quarter of postindependent India. Moreover, a parallel will be drawn between miners’ living conditions at collieries of eastern India and those of Natal in South Africa. It will be interesting to look into two diverse pictures in these different colonial settlements. As far as labour legislation and methods of mining are concerned, a comparative study with Britain is on the cards. The first research question that this study aims to address is the health of the miners. Engaged in hazardous underground mining activities, the miners were exposed to serious and fatal accidents. The collapse of roofs and the sides was the most common form of accidents. Next in importance were accidents in haulage routes and shafts as well as explosions. The pertinent question is what played the pivotal part in those cases of accidents: was it the miners’ lack of mining knowledge, was it the subordinate officials’ paucity of proper supervision or was it the lack of adequate attention of the mine-owners and mine-managers to the workers’ safety concerns? In his report of 1912, the Chief Inspector of Mines coined categories of accidents for example those due to misadventure, due to the fault of the deceased, due to the fault of the fellow workmen and due to the fault of the subordinate officials (sirdars). The newly-formed categories singled out â€Å"managerial fault† as a distinct category which consisted of accidents fewer in number in relation to others. The intention was clear. It was to hold the miner primarily responsible for his misfortunes. But the colliery owners and managers hardly provided them with the proper training in the mining principles. It was only in 1909 that a book on mining practices was proposed to be brought out in Bengali. This is not to forget that a large chunk of miners used to migrate from regions outside Bengal like the Central Provinces. The principal reason for ascribing responsibility to the miners was to not have to pay compensation in case of permanent disablement or death. The case was just the reverse in Britain. The scope of the Workmen’s Compensation Act of 1923 was broadened for the Indian coal miners only after independence. True, some of these accidents pointed to the responsibility of the miners like in cases of pillar-robbing or drinking while working, but even when managerial fault was indicated, the penalty was minimal. The management even failed on a number of occasions to report cases of serious and fatal accidents without delay. Besides, any attempt at protective labour legislation in the coal industry was hampered by fierce opposition from the coalproducing lobby consisting of both Europeans and Indians. Issues related to the regulation of involvement of women and children underground, maternity leave, restriction on hours of work etc. found stern protesters in the colliery-owners. The government was hardly in a position to frustrate the claims of their close collaborators. This story of the colonial government-capitalist class nexus will help us go beyond the traditional nationalist versus imperialist historiographical framework and highlight the complexities of the issues involved in the question of governmental legislation to ensure higher safety conditions in mines. Increasing number of accidents in Indian collieries was often ascribed to the prevalent methods of mining which were often termed as â€Å"faulty†. This brings us to the next crucial question i.e. the health of the mineral. The usual mining method that was followed in Indian coal mines was the bord and pillar system. Coal was cut into pillars but the co-existence of small pillars and large galleries augmented the risk of collapse as well as that of loss of significant amount of coal. We can draw a parallel with the standard method of mining in Britain which was called the panel system. I t was a system where isolation of workings was possible. Every outlet was hermetically sealed that left solid ribs of coal of varying thickness between panels which used to be cut into pillars and immediately extracted. This method was often recommended for the Indian situation. The relevant question in this context is the supposed shortcomings of the bord and pillar system. Was the panel system practicable in Indian conditions? Furthermore, Miners were often accused of improper ways in which they handled the cutting and extracting of coal. Here again the question of their lack of access to any kind of training becomes vital. Moreover, the never-ending demand for higher productivity often forced the workers to work in the abandoned part of mines, a practice that had its inevitable effects on both the health of the miners and that of the mineral. What was more surprising was most of the coal mines in Raniganj and Jharia were run without any proper plans of the mines. Frequently, both seams were worked simultaneously with the working of the one being above the working of the other. This caused the workings to be unstable resulting in loss of a huge quantity of coal. The practice of lease was such that the demarcation line between two neighbouring collieries often turned out to be indistinct. It was noticed that instead of leaving barriers untouched as intended, the work was continued up to or even over the boundary. A thin barrier was dangerous for it was liable to suddenly give way under water pressure. The question of exhaustion of coal and the need for its conservation leads us to the next important research problem i.e. the evolution of mine technology. Sand-stowing is one such safeguard that ensures safety in workplace as well as conservation of coal. The institution of the Coal Mines Stowing Board and the subsequent Coal Mines Safety (Stowing) Act of 1939 was, however, intended to guarantee only protection against accidents at mines. It was only after independence that adequate attention was paid to conservation of coal with the Coal Mines (Conservation and Safety) Act of 1952. The Coal Mines Stowing Board was replaced by the Coal Board in 1951 in an attempt to function more effectively during the period under review. On the other hand, the persistent problem with the safety management at Indian collieries was that none of the appliances, tools and materials required for combating fire, gas, or water in collieries was kept at any of the mines in the Raniganj and Jharia coal fields. A number of large collieries adopted safety lamps in place of naked lights to avoid the danger of explosion but they were not regularly examined before being taken into the workings. Mine owners or managers often failed to post notices specifying limit s of timber withdrawal for each seam or district of a seam or the maximum intervening distances between props or other roof supports at the working places. Even for winding purpose, makeshift appliances like haulage ropes were used in place of winding ropes on a number of occasions, thus inviting unfortunate consequences. The mine authority, nonetheless, had the miners to blame for their technological deficiencies. Even the Chief Inspector of Mines had some interesting and often contradictory remarks to make regarding the use of machinery by Indian miners. On the one hand he thought that the cheapness of Indian labour prevented use of machines while on the other he found comfort in the saying that, â€Å"Handling a miner’s tool was more of a matter of skill than was generally supposed†¦.and the Indian coal miner was clumsy with his weapons; but when doing work to which he and his forefathers had been accustomed [e.g. loading or carrying material] he was capable of showing good results.† But the fact that the Indian miner could be induced to abandon the tools of his forefathers was seen is most Indian collieries where English shovels were commonly used, and where the pointed crow bar was replaced by double pointed picks. Hence the question of availability of mine and safety technology, and more importantly, that of the proper application of technologies in possession turns out to be the critical imperatives. Even attempts at introduction of new technology often drew severe flak from various quarters. Coal commissioners were suggesting the extension of the boiler act to colliery districts. The steam boilers which were in use in collieries required the fitting of a second safety valve to all boilers, second one preferably to be of the lock-up type. The Indian Mining Association took up the matter and protested strongly against any such intervention. They were of the opinion that the danger of accident had been sufficiently minimized without the precaution. Furthermore, mere introduction of certain apparatus was not enough e.g. Jeffrey Company’s electric coal-cutter was introduced at some collieries. But it was not successful on account of difficulty of repair and removal of the machine. Moreover, mechanical coal cutters were more suited to Longwall method as in Britain than to the bord and pillar system that was adopted in Bengal. However, introduction of machinery like Welsh ovens for coking purposes in the Giridih coal field was hugely successful although the usual practice elsewhere was predominantly open ovens. Thus the issues involved in the adoption of mining technology is required to be studied in close association with the safety of the miner and the conservation of the mineral in order to get an overall picture of the question of industrial hygiene in the Raniganj and Jharia coal-fields. A study of occupational hazards is incomplete without an investigation into occupational diseases (for instance; Pneumoconiosis, ankylostomiasis, lungs’ diseases etc.) and diseases that affected the workers’ habitation. Our understanding of the question would be furthered by exploring the disease management policy of the mining authorities. Workers’ huts or â€Å"dhowrah† were not initially part of the colliery districts but later on became integral division of the districts. As far as workers’ housing arrangements were concerned, the official version of the â€Å"comfortable† brick hut was constantly clashing with the workers’ version of the â€Å"squalid† mud hut. The miners’ perception of hygiene and sanitation formed the principal subject matter of the official critique. True, the miners fell short on the counts of their health and hygiene standards, but the real problem lies with the alternative settlement that the nexus of colonial government and mine authorities provided. The one room tenement with common latrine facilities did not turn out to be a more hygienic alternative to the previous mud hut. Here, we can draw a parallel between the colli eries of Bengal and those of Natal in South Africa. A large number of Indian miners started migrating to Natal around the first decade of the 20th century because of better working and living conditions there. The question of health and hygiene standards of the adjacent colliery districts is worth exploring, too. Outbreak of diseases in the neighbourhood had its decisive effect on the workplace hygiene. A mere rumour of outbreak of Cholera in the vicinity used to result in widespread desertion of collieries and its surroundings by the miners, thus having disastrous effects on the production process. Hence, a detailed study on the connections between colliery hygiene of the areas under study and that of the wider region becomes essential. This connection was all the more evident in the post-independence period. The civil hospital of Dhanbad had a number of seats reserved for the colliers of Jharia mines. The mines used also to gain a great deal from the water supply scheme in the neighbourhood or for the purpose of supply of electricity. Systems of water supply, sewerage systems, sanitary measures, and disease policies in the adjacent areas undoubtedly had their impact on workplaces and the other way round. Furthermore, coal mining and its impact on the wider environment induced the government to formulate public health measures in tune with the necessities of the coal mining industry as well as with the requirements of the adjoining regions. These two linked and often conflicting aspects will be explored through the story of dilemmas, preferences, strategies and decision-making at the government level. Particular attention to the functioning and implementation of various safety measures at collieries in post-colonia l India forms the conclusive part of this project. Was the working and living conditions of the coal mine workers improved in any way in the immediate post-independence period? What was the status of labour legislation in relation to workers’ health and safety concerns? Apparently the colliers were better placed with the growing effectiveness of the Workmen’s Compensation Act. Women miners gained significantly from regular functioning of the Mines Maternity Benefit Act of 1941. Jharia and Raniganj Mines Boards of Health looked in better shape in postindependence years. Particular attention must be paid to the activities of the Coal Mines Labour Welfare Fund. Establishment and proper functioning of central and regional hospitals of Jharia and Raniganj were regulated under the auspices of this fund. Dispensary services like the one at Bhuli in Jharia improved a lot as well. We can also come across instances like spraying operations to prevent Malaria or B.C.G. vaccination to combat Tuberculosis or the setting up of the mo bile laboratory teams in the Jharia and Raniganj coalfields which point to improvement in the condition of health and hygiene in colliery districts. Working of the Coal Mines Pithead Bath Rules, 1946 and of the Mines Creche Rules, 1946 must be mentioned. Especially, provision of crà ¨ches demands particular attention in relation to women labour. They had a place for their children to be taken care of while they were busy working. Despite such favourable proceedings, miners’ wretchedness was far from being reduced. A remarkable increase in opencast mining with its associated dangers furthered the misery of the miners. Added to this were dissatisfactory mining conditions e.g. slaughter mining, violation of mine safety laws etc. The result was nationalization of Coking coal mines in 1972 and that of non-coking coal mines in 1973. Health and hygiene related themes in Indian coal mines during the colonial and postcolonial period have not found a substantial space in existing scholarship. The only work that stands out is an article by Colin Simmons (1976) where he devotes himself to the study of coal mines accidents, workplace safety and labour legislation. His other works are also of seminal importance particularly for the understanding of the nature of the labour force and ownership of colliery land. As to issues relating to practices of landleases and tenancy rights, the work of Dietmar Rothermund (year) is intriguing indeed. Rakhi Raychowdhury (1996), in her work on the women labour of eastern Indian coal mines, has a chapter devoted to matters concerning work schedule, rest and leave and accidents. While Dilip Simeon’s principal focus was production relations (1997) and labour movement (1999) in Jharia coalfields, he gave some attention to the safety concerns of Indian collieries. (1999). He even addressed the post-colonial situation. But a detailed study on industrial hygiene in relation to coalfields awaits scholarly attention. In the process of tracing the growth of coal industry in India, A.B. Ghosh(1977) referred to lists of accidents in coal mines and also to some examples of technological evolution but he made no attempt to derive a connection between accidents, safety issues and introduction of technology which this project intends to address. Deepika Basu’s (1993) occasional mention of health issues in coal and other mines is meant to broaden the understanding of the growth of the working class in India. Kuntala Lahiri-Dutt’s (2001) concern over water problems, sewerage systems etc. gives us a fair idea about the gradual process of urbanization in the Raniganj coalfields. She has also established a relation between growing mechanization of coal industry and decreasing importance of women labour. But the connection between mechanization and safety issues remains to be explored. It is a principal aim of this proposed project to analyze the same issues in the light of the themes of health and hygiene. In her case study on Kolar gold mines, Janaki Nair (1998) writes extensively on accident related issues in the work place and the process of sanitation outside the workplace, mainly in the workers residence. Nair, however, views these themes within the Foucauldian paradigm of â€Å"surveillance and resistance†. Anti-plague measures or sanitizing efforts of the mining authorities was, according to Nair, an intrusion into the private life of the mine workers. She saw in the sanitary zeal of the persons concerned an extension of the â€Å"barrack like discipline† (even though mines cannot be considered barrack like structures) of the workplace to the territory beyond. This project will attempt to move beyond such stereotypical formulations and instead attempt in-depth analyses of the questions raised that will be based on solid empirical research informed by an awareness of the theoretical issues involved. The work has been conceptualized in a manner that it will pull toge ther issues that have been dealt with in discrete, scattered contexts. As far as historical works on Indian public health system are concerned, we are familiar with a significant body of literature about public health systems of major cities like that of Calcutta (Kabita Ray, 1998), and of Bombay (Mridula Ramanna, 2002). A discussion on public health systems of industrially-rich regions is supposed to be first of its kind. Mark Harrison (1994) pioneered a comprehensive account of the system of public health in India starting from disease management in military garrisons to vaccination policies, preventive measures against plague in wider regions. The mining sector however has not featured in his work. Industrial hygiene and in this case, health and hygiene issues in collieries and in their adjoining regions is an unexplored arena. The proposed research aims to combine specifically two kinds of historiography within the span of its methodology. One is the historical literature on mines and the other is the historical accounts of science, medicine, techn ology, and of public health systems in India. While works on mines have overlooked aspects of hygiene and technology, the history of science, medicine and technology has yet to incorporate the industrial sector or industrial hygiene within its orbit. This endeavour, therefore, proposes to fill in the void in the existing historical literature by combining elements of both these fields of research. On another level, this discussion on industrial health and hygiene will seek to include within the scope of its analysis the role of extra-economic factors in the understanding of the working classes in India. Last but not least, a comparison with the coal mines of Britain and South Africa follows from the logic of the analysis of the factors affecting the Indian collieries which I have discussed before. In its attempt at juxtaposing global phenomena, this venture treads the path shown by Peter Alexander (2004). This research thus seeks to situate the post-colonial situation of eastern Indian coalfields within the global context. Such a work is also of relevance to current global concerns that seek to foreground the question of safeguarding the environment in the context of the global-capitalist hunt to maximize profits from commercial ventures. Primary Sources The Coal Mines Labour Welfare Fund Act, 1947/ Act No. 32 of 1947.Delhi. The Coal Mines Safety (Stowing) Rules. Delhi, 1939. East India Railway: the Coalfields of Bengal and Chota Nagpur Served by the East India Railway. Calcutta, 1926. First Report of the committee appointed to investigate the dangers arising from coal-dust in Indian Mines. Govt. of India, Department of Industries and Labour. Calcutta: 1924. (Simpson Committee). Indian Mines Act. By W.H.Pickerink and W.Graham, 1907. Papers Regarding Legislation for the Regulation and Sanitation of Mines in India. Govt. of India: Department of Revenue and Agriculture. Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Govt. Printing, 1896. Report of the Chief Inspector of Mines in India under the India Mines Act, VIII of 1901. Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Govt. Printing, (1901 onwards). Report o the Coalfield Committee. Calcutta: Govt. Printing, 1920. Report of the Coal Mining Committee. Delhi: Manager of Publicat ions, 1937. Report of the Indian Coal Committee, 1925. Reports on the Production and Consumption of Coal in India. Report on the Inspection of Mines in India. Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Govt. Printing, (1894-1900). Rules Framed by the Govt. of Bengal under Section 30 of the Indian Mines Act, 1923 (IV of 1923) applicable to Coal Mines and Mines other than Coal Mines, Corrected up to 30th June, 1940. Second Report of the committee appointed to investigate the dangers arising from coal-dust in Indian Mines. Govt. of India, Department of Industries and Labour. Calcutta: 1929. (Simpson Committee). Special Rules for Coal Mines under Section 21 of the Indian Mines Act, 1901 (VIII of 1901), 1918. Third and Final Report of the committee appointed to investigate the dangers arising from coal-dust in Indian Mines. Govt. of India, Department of Industries and Labour. Calcutta: 1932. Journals and Bulletins Bulletins of Indian Industries and Labour: ï‚ · ï‚ · Indian Factory Legislation: A Historical Survey. By A.G.Clow. 1926. Reduction of Hours of Work in Mines, 1932. Bulletins of the Department of Industries, Bengal: ï‚ · Catalogue of the Indian Manufacturers (compiled in the office of the DirectorGeneral of Commercial Intelligence), 1911. Secondary Sources Alexander, Peter and Halpern, Rick, ‘Introduction: Comparing Race and Labour in South Africa and the United States’ in Journal of Southern African Studies, Volume 30, Number 1, p. 5-18, March 2004. Alexander, Peter, ‘Race, Class Loyalty and the Structure of Capitalism: Coal Miners in Alabama and the Transvaal, 1918-1922’ in Journal of Southern African Studies, Volume 30, Number 1, p. 115-132, March 2004. Basu, Deepika, The Working Class in Bengal: Formative Years, Calcutta, 1993. Ghosh, A.B., Coal Industry in India: A Historical and Analytical Account, Calcutta, vol. 1, 1977 & vol. 2, 1990. Guha, B.P., Wage rates in the Indian coal mining industry, Priya, 1973. Harrison, Mark, Public Health in British India: Anglo-Indian Preventive Medicine 1859-1914, Cambridge, 1994. Lahiri-Dutt, Kuntala, Mining and Urbanization in the Raniganj coalbelt. Calcutta, 2001. Nair, Janaki, Mines and Millhands: Work Culture and Politics in Princely Mysore. New Delhi, 1998. Ramanna, Mridula, Western Medicine and Public Health in Colonial Bombay, 18451895. Hyderabad, 2002. Ray, Kabita, History of Public Health: Colonial Bengal, 1921-1947.Kolkata, 1998. Raychowdhury, Rakhi, Gender and Labour in India: the Kamins of Eastern Coalmines, 1900-1940. Kolkata, 1996. Rothermund, Dietmar, ‘Tenancy Legislation for Chota Nagpur: the Emphasis on Executive Protection’ in Zamindars, Mines and Peasants: Studies in the History of an Indian Coalfield and Its Rural Hinterland, edited by Dietmar Rothermund and D.C. Wadhwa. New Delhi, 1978. Simeon, Dilip, The Politics of Labour Under Late Colonialism. Workers, Unions and the State in Chota Nagpur, 1928-1939. New Delhi, 1995. ibid. ‘Coal and Colonialism: Productions Relations in an Indian coalfield, c. 18951947’ in â€Å"Peripheral† Labour? : Studies in the History of Partial Proletarianization, edited by Shahid Amin and Marcel van der Linden. Cambridge, 1997. ibid. ‘Work and Resistance in the Jharia Coalfield’ in Contributions to Indian Sociology, vol. 33, no. 1-2, p. 43-75. 1999. Simmons, Colin, ‘Working Conditions, Accidents and ‘Protective’ Labour Legislation in the Indian Coal Mining Industry in the Pre-Independence Period’ in Bengal Past and Present, pt.1 (N.K. Sinha Memorial Vol.), p. 185-200, 1976. ibid. ‘Recruiting and Organizing an Industrial Labour Force in Colonial India: the Case of the Coal Mining Industry c. 1880-1939’ in The Indian Economic and Social History Review, vol. xiii, no. 4, p. 455-485 , 1976.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Leading to the Modern Woman

I have read numerous things that say men are the superior gender but after all of this research and learning the stuff that I have, I think that women are the superiors. Women have learned to overcome a lot of obstacles through the years and have come out for the better. We are still improving the rights of women, we have come a long way and will keep moving forward. Neal, R. S. Working -Class Women and Women's Suffrage Labor History, No. 12 (May 1967) up. 16/34 ASTOR database) This Journal entry talks about the emancipation of women.The Journal states that historian says â€Å"It was during the industrial revolution moreover, and largely one because of the economic opportunities it afforded to working-class women, that here was the beginning of that most important and most beneficial of all social revolutions of the last two centuries, the emancipation of women. † I think this Journal will help with my paper because women found a way to get over the obstacles in their lives a nd being emancipated was one of the first obstacles. Tyler-McGraw, Marie, Parlor Politics: Women and Reform. 890-1925, Page 260 of 260-264 ASTOR database) The Journal of American History, Volvo 78, No. 1 None, 1991) This Journal is about and exhibition at the Smithsonian Museum. This exhibition links female dominated areas such as the parlors, tenement rooms, and the talented houses. This exhibition is good for my research because it covers the thirty-five year period of women reform. Johnson, Karen A. The Journal of African American History, Volvo. 91, No. 1. The African American Experience in the Western States (Winter, 2006) up 4-22, Undaunted Courage and Faith: The lives of Three Black Women in the West and Hawaii in the Early 19th Century.ASTOR database) Three African American women are written about in this article. These three women talk about how African American women participated in movements for politics, ideological and social currents. They also talk about how this chan ged lives for African American people and other westerners. I chose article for one of my references because I think African American women had a rough life. When they were able to move onto their own land and prosper, they showed spunk and showed they were not giving up. Golden, Claudia, D.The Role of World War II in the Rise of Women's Employment, The American Economic Review, Volvo 81, No. 4 (Seep, 1991) up 741-756 ASTOR database) I found this article interesting. It talks about the sass's is the break with the past that war actually women needed. A lot of women that entered the work force during the stopped working at the conclusion of the war. There are some statistics in this article that I also found interesting in my research McCarty, Mary A, A Strange Stirring: The Feminine Mystique and American Women at the Dawn of the asses by Stephanie Cocoon (review) Journal of Social History, Volvo. 6 No. 4 summer 2013, up 1068-1070 This Journal is a review of the book The Feminine Mys tique by Betty Friedman. The book talks about â€Å"the problem that has no name†, the beliefs that undermine women's intellectual capabilities and kept them in the home as housewives. Friedman wrote this book in a time when the average woman first married in her teens and if they were in school 60 percent of them dropped out to marry. I find this book a good reference because it talks about an important part of women's history.This is the 50th anniversary of this book, I am going to the library tomorrow to find it. I think it will be interesting to see how she wrote about it all and how times have changed. Patton, June O. Review: Essay Review l: African American Women, Civil Rights and Black Power, Sisters in the Struggle: African American Women in the Civil Rights- Black Power Movement by Betty Collier-Thomas, V. P. Franklin ASTOR database) This is a review of the original article (l am looking for it tomorrow at the library well).It explores the civil rights activities of black women's organizations before 1950. There are several African American women covered and I find that they are influential to our history. Atwater, Deborah, F. Editorial: The Voices of African American Women in the Civil Rights Movement, Journal of Black Studies, Volvo 26 No. 5, Special Issue: May 1996, up 539- 542 I picked this article in my research because I think that learning about our history room people that actually experienced it is the best way to learn it.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Strategic management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Strategic management - Essay Example They are accountable for the success of the organization. For instance, managers offer objectives and vision of the managerial goal, and plan to execute the goals. Strategic managers are also in charge of plans and policies of an organization (Expansion Management, 2009). Any organization should have the strategic management branch, which sets up mission for the company. Managerial activity encompasses information about the organization and functioning. Strategic management is a particularly crucial responsibility accomplished mostly by a single individual, and in most cases, the future success of an organization depends on the strategic management. The strategic management process is based on the transformation of working process of where the organization is at presently, and where it wants to be after some time. Transformation process is based on the people within the business, and should be by two way process where every person in the business is involved in executing the set goal s and objectives (Samsung, 2009). Samsung Electronics is a multinational electronics company in South Korea with its headquarters at Suwon. The company is a flagship subsidiary of the Samsung group, which forms the largest information technology company in the world with the highest revenue. The company was established in 1969 for manufacturing of black and white television sets, 5-business decisions, and Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM). Samsung electronics has sales network and assembly plants in 61 countries worldwide with 221,000 employees. The company forms the largest mobile phone company in the world by unit sales in 2011. The company has the highest world market share in memory chip and has an established position in the tablet market (Samsung, 2009). Strategic management in Samsung Electronics The past few years in Samsung Electronics have been an immense advancement with different technologies taking the limelight like the liquid crystal display over cathode ray tube (C hiu et al. 2006, p. 143-165). In this paper, the strategies employed the liquid crystal display (LCD) and the dynamic random access memory (DRAM) are analyzed (Samsung, 2009). Samsung Electronics in LCD market Lee Kun-hee changed the strategy in Samsung group in 1993 from the imitating cost-leader to differentiator role through concentrating and downsizing the engineering, electronics and chemical industries. In 1995, the company had already developed the LCD technology and achieved considerable market. Since then, the company has achieved a flagship with the revenues increasing consistently over the years. The company has the highest global share in LCD (Moon, 2009). The strategic management in LCD is applicable to both internal and external environments, which are further subdivided into sections. External Environment in Samsung Electronics Company (LCD) External environment encompasses both the industry and the environments that are used in assessing the strategic position of the Samsung Electronics Company. The macro environment entails all the external factors that affect planning and performance in the company. These include the social factors, technological factors, political factors, economic factors, environmental factors and legal

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Romantic Period Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Romantic Period - Essay Example Beethoven, probably the most famous composer in all of history, is more difficult to place. His first compositions are unmistakably Classical in style. However, his later works, which includes the majority of his most celebrated compositions, is just as unmistakably Romantic. Music from the Romantic Era is characterized by more heavier, graver textures with intrepid dramatic distinctions. Very extremely emotional, this style of music gave more liberty in arrangement and design for the composers to work on. It expressed a more penetrating personal manifestation of emotion in which imagination, creativity and a pursuit for adventure play a significant role. Romantic music is not as dependent on repetition as it was did in the Classical period. The music frequently directly told a story. In the Romantic era, music developed philosophical or poetic implication. Antiquity, folktale, history and striking cultures were observed as likely sources of vision and

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Case Study Strategy Development in the Global Automotive Industry Essay

Case Study Strategy Development in the Global Automotive Industry - Essay Example Even as the automobile industry continues to grow, it is evident that the market is becoming more competitive by the day, and this has forced many manufacturers to reduce their costs of production, look for new markets, reduce the time for the production for development of a new product, also there has been the need to form mergers and alliances with other business partners and create more newer and innovative design and content. Thus the companies are giving more to its customers for less. With the need for ‘basic’ cars rising within the American and European markets there has been very little room for profits hence the profit margin has been small. Automobile industries have realized that one of the answers to improving profit margins is partnering, and this has led to the sharing of architectures and components. The merger of the automobile companies has forced consumers to choose from an ever reducing market. This has been brought about by three main factors; strong brands are increasingly important, manufacturers need to enter difficult markets and the cost of technology keeps rising. The best example of a merger is that of Daimler-Benz’s acquisition of Chrysler. The Daimler Benz company pulled off what seems to be the biggest takeover in history when it acquired Chrysler Corporation, which is the smallest of the three biggest American automobile companies. This acquisition brought together several companies such as Jeep, Mercedes, Chrysler and Dodge Truck. Through this the company has produced savings from buying and purchasing, staff recruitment and finance. Sharing of the different aspects of the two companies is increasing as the two companies continue to come together. It seems that the Daimler Chrysler company seems to have stopped trying to blend the two companies, thereby reducing the chances of the company becoming a super-giant automobile company. It is a well known fact that Chrysler has the most productive and efficient

Monday, August 26, 2019

Can a well-supported public broadcast system still offer something of Essay

Can a well-supported public broadcast system still offer something of value Can content regulations begin to disentangle the m - Essay Example Such assumptions thrive on the notion that the promotion of the government agenda forms part of the policies of the public broadcast systems. However, case analyses have shown that public broadcast systems can still achieve a high degree of proficiency in delivering value in the ways that uphold professionalism and balance. Certain universal thresholds must be met in order for the public broadcast systems to achieve the element of objectivity and trust from the multiple stakeholders. Despite favorable policies and adequate funding, public broadcast systems have to engage with certain fundamentals that relate with the establishment of principles and attitudes that attune with the core values of media and broadcasting (Crook 54). The need to protect the truth and achieve objectivity in reporting enjoins these systems to bind their practices under certain obligations that cover the interests of all stakeholders. Impartial reporting requires the adoption of a range of policies that effec tively connect with the fundamentals of business as understood under the framework of change and development. Cases abound where public broadcast systems have resisted the pressure to conform into objects of manipulation by the government. Professionalism entails the upholding of the interest of the majority while still defending the rights of the minority. Well-supported public broadcast systems in parts of the world have played important roles in criticizing negative policies (Crook 19). These systems have demonstrated a capacity to keep checks on public systems despite the fact that they draw much of their financial support from such systems. For instance, public broadcast systems in the United States have been instrumental in providing critical analyses on matters of national importance. Such matters have included policies on homeland security, approaches adopted on the global war against terrorism, government policies on spending, and other factors that involve a range of issue s that connect with matters of national importance. In these roles, the broadcast systems have faulted the government on certain flaws in its approach. Such an approach to the practice of broadcasting restores balance, objectivity, impartiality, and professionalism in the field of practice. Public broadcast systems have provided forums for parties with varying perspective without regard to affiliations or stakes. Within the aspect of professionalism, including multiple parties in the determination of processes often aligns with the need to foster understanding and inclusivity across the board. Such strategies are meant to respond to the diverse nature of the society in ways that represent the interests of all. Such an approach offers value in the practices of the public broadcast systems in the sense that they avoid the temptation of sectional appeasement and deliberate misrepresentation of issues. In order to avoid the temptations of bias and prejudicial treatment, public broadcast systems should establish the margins of influence and cooperation in ways that protect the principles of professionalism and journalistic standards as understood within a universal scope. Content regulation plays an important role in determining the performance of the media in a variety of respects. Most significantly, regulating the content of media

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Federalist and anti Federalist debates Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Federalist and anti Federalist debates - Essay Example The American Federalist proposed the Articles of Confederation, later altered and ratified on June 21, 1788 into the Constitution of the United States of America, as America’s first constitution (Rose, 2010). The Federalist Party, founded by Alexander Hamilton, became the first major political party founded in resistance to the Anti-Federalists who fought for the small national government without national debt (Rose, 2010). The debate for Federalism is whether to choose a large state that controls smaller states which allows homogeneity through separation of powers or a small state that has each power without being controlled and overruled by a central or large state (Follesdal, 2010). I believe that we are still facing some of the challenges today especially determining composition, distribution of powers and power sharing. Until this day, I think there are still challenges to boundaries of the units of each member, allocation of powers to executive, legislative and judiciary, and especially the influence each state can contribute in the central government. A famous and insightful Anti-Federalist named Robert Yates, delegate to Constitutional Convention and a New York judge, withdrew in the Convention saying that it was exceeding its powers and instructions and the Supreme Court would soon become a source of over-reaching and unlimited federal powers (Galles,

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Justice and Policing in the United Arab Emirates Essay

Justice and Policing in the United Arab Emirates - Essay Example The United Arab Emirates is known to have liberal laws compared to other Arabic states. This is evident due to the fact that, women can drive and they allow people to take alcohol. In most Arab countries it is a criminal offence to drink alcohol and women are so inferior that they cannot drive. There is a dual court system, Sharia or Islamic laws and the civil law, this is also not found in other Arab countries. The Islamic courts take charge of matters relating to: family issues. The sharia law only applies when both the plaintiff and the defendant are Muslims. The civil courts are responsible for matters related to commercial, criminal or civil. The civil courts can cater for cases that involve the plaintiff and the defendant, both being Muslims, non-Muslims or a Muslim and a non-Muslim. Sharia is applied first and, if evidence required by Sharia is found insufficient, the Penal Code is used.There is an extralegal requirement for the approval of the release of every prisoner whose sentence has been completed. Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah do not conform to the federal court system that is subjected to all the other members of the United Arab Emirates. The Supreme Court that was established and the federal council had well laid structures that define their relationship. This clearly made the Supreme Court to be the final court since all decisions made by the Federal Council have to be approved by the Supreme Court for them to be the final decision

Friday, August 23, 2019

Denny's Restaurant Chain Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Denny's Restaurant Chain - Essay Example The restaurants never close except when legally necessary. Denny’s offers breakfast, lunch, dinner and salads. It was in the year 1977 that the company started its Grand Slam breakfast. In 1987, Trans World Corporation bought the Denny’s and soon, in 1991, the headquarters of Denny’s was moved to Spartanburg, South Carolina. Soon, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts bought a considerable amount of share in Trans World Corporation and then, forced the company to sell its many unimportant projects. Thus, Denny’s hotel chain became its primary business. Soon, Trans World Corporation renamed itself to Denny’s Corporation. Presently, the company trades under the symbol NASDQ: DENN. Today, the company operates through 1600 restaurants throughout 50 US states, Canada and Mexico. In addition, there are 578 Denny’s restaurants in Japan operated by a subsidiary of Seven & I Holdings, and there are seven Denny’s restaurants in New Zealand. Admittedly, the co mpany has a large number of special offers and gift programs that help keep the customers loyal and interested. One such activity is its practice of offering free meal to everyone who visits the restaurant on his or her birthday. Though this activity of promotion was dropped by the company in 1993, many individual franchisees even now continue this practice. Also, the company uses the latest technology so that every time it updates its menu, its franchisees easily manage to get the latest version in no time (Hughes Network Systems, 2011). In fact, a point that keeps the company afloat in the present diminishing economic situation is the quality and care it offers. To illustrate, the Dateline NBC conducted a thorough survey of 10 most popular dining chains in the US in the year 2004. In the survey, it was found that Denny’s had the lowest number of violations of health standards. According to the company, the reason behind this success in protecting the health of customers is the strict adherence to Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points. Though there arose many allegations of racial discrimination against the company, the company managed to improve its position and presently employs a considerable proportion of ethnic and minority staff. As of 2010, minorities represent 62% of the company’s total workforce and 41% of the overall management. In addition, 40% of all the franchisees are owned by minorities, and nearly half of the Board of Directors is minorities and women. Thus, for two consecutive years, the company entered Fortune’s ‘America’s 50 Best Corporations for Minorities’ list (Dennys.com, n.d). Like many other major restaurants that are primarily dependent on blue-collar consumers, Denny’s too has been hit by recession. For example, in the fourth quarter of the year 2008, sales fell by 6.1%. For the year, fall was 3.7%. As a result, the company stock price plunged 30.5% in a period of one year. Howev er, Denny’s was not ready to succumb to the recession. It started aggressive plans to meet the hard times. To attract the customers in the time of recession, Denny’s has adopted an aggressive strategy. The strategy is to practically give away the company. To illustrate, the company aired a commercial in February that offered free Grand Slam breakfasts to all who walk into the restaurant any time between 6 am and 2 pm, in the name Super Bowl. Admittedly, there was a rush and nearly 2 million