How does Amenabar use presentational devices in The Others Essays

How does Amenabar use presentational devices in The Others Essays How does Amenabar use presentational devices in The Others Paper How does Amenabar use presentational devices in The Others Paper Essay Topic: Film Film director Alejandro Amenabar wanted to leave the imagination to create the real horror of his film the others instead of using digital effect cinematography. But instead he uses sounds and light (or absence of light) to create a sense of unease in his films. To create the unsettled atmosphere Amenabar uses a number of cinematographic ideas that are very effective in creating a feeling of unsettlement. Examples are that he uses light and sound to inhibit viewers key senses. He uses our own childhood fears to make us feel frightened. He uses the fears of being alone to create disorder and panic by making characters feel vulnerable. He also uses our imaginations to his advantage by associating characters with other people, the old woman acting as the nanny wears dark clothes thus visualises a witch, therefore he has realised another of our childhood fears (fairytale witches and monsters). Amenabar uses the most prominent of our childhood fears and a fear many adults still withhold, our fear of the dark; with the curtains in the house all drawn the characters are plunged into darkness, making an absence of light a good way to bring horror to the film as by restricting the sense of sight a viewers imagination can only think about what the darkness could be covering. This is his idea of how to make a good film the essence of real horror is leaving something for the imagination. The second most key fear Amenabar uses against us is fear of what we dont understand (paranormal ghosts). In the film the world of the living and the world of the dead seem to be crossed over, so that the inhabitants of the house can see what they believe to be ghosts and the ghost can see them. In most films the opening sequence shows the viewer the genre of the film. Often it can also give an idea of what is going to happen in the film or what the characters are like. The others is no different the opening shows certain traits the film includes. The opening shows the viewer the religious theme of the film by starting with the sound of children reading the creation story from the bible this has the effect of warning a potential viewer that the film has a prominent religious them. In the opening sequence there is a show of different pictures most of pain and suffering. The sequence of pictures and strange music all show the signs of a horror movie. The hand that is almost made of mist opening a door in the pictures shows that there is someone there who isnt normal, it makes a point of the living and the dead occupying the same space. The broken doll shows that there is something dangerous or evil involved in the film, this again shows the genre of the film to be horror. The pictures of the two children screaming and being really frightened show the viewer that the film is about being scared and suffering. It also shows that the film is dark as there is not much or no light; this is portrayed by the use of candles and oil lamps in the opening sequence. For Amenabar to create an unsettling atmosphere he uses setting to make us feel uneasy this is achieved almost immediately with an establishing shot of the outside of the house in which the film is completely centred on. The large Victorian mansion house which in enveloped in thick mist, gives a feeling of isolation as well as making us feel uneasy this is also achieved because the house looks like one that would be in a childrens story book about ghosts. The rustic wooden beams and derelict looking features making the house seam very strange. To the viewer this establishing shot shows the films genre as a horror movie. This is due to an old gothic style mansion surrounded by mist is a very prominent object to appear in a horror film. The horror genre is again confirmed by the inside of the house. The wooden floors, Absence of light, locked doors and long staircases have all added to the anxiety the viewer feels about the film. The reason that they add anxiety is that they all restrict a sense in some way, the absence of light restricts sight, the locked doors restrict sight and ability to hear well and clearly and the wooded floors restrict the viewers ability to hear something in the silences as whenever a character moves the floors creak and crack. As director Amenabar decided to use light as a way of making a viewer feel scared or have a feeling of uncertainty of what is going on. He uses light or an absence of it to easily create a tense atmosphere which a viewer watching can even catch. Due to the main character Grace fearing that her children are photosensitive she keeps all the curtains in the house drawn and makes sure that all the light is kept to a minimum. This means that the restriction of light and sense of sight can be controlled and kept low but there is a good reason for it to be like this. Due to there being a reason for low levels of light a viewer finds it easier to feel scared and be submersed into the film without needing to wonder why it is so dark, the candlelight and lamps also cast eerie shadows which make the atmosphere tense. The expressionist lighting techniques that Amenabar uses, makes the items in rooms seem obscure and add to the ambience of the rooms and make them feel oppressive. In all movies sound plays a key role in creating a required effect and portraying feeling or emotions of the characters involved. The music in the film contributes to the ambience and feeling of unease. A good example of sound being used to this effect is the scene where Grace is outside the music room with the piano playing. The music slows down and plays in the form of a heartbeat. This is due to it being uniformed and accented every second or two. When Grace moves towards the music room door the music speeds up to show her heart racing and to portray her fear. Grace being near the music room is also a good example of Amenabars use of diagetic sound. He uses the sound of the piano in the background but over this he amplifies Graces heavy breathing as she opens the door. This makes a viewer more scared as the louder breathing shows the viewer that grace is scared and therefore makes the viewer feel frightened. A key purpose of sound in film is for it not to exist, silence in a film is almost as key to create suspense and unease as sound is. Silence in the film is used to create a sense of vulnerability for Grace as when there is no sound that means that there is no one to help Grace should there be trouble. This makes a viewer feel vulnerable and isolated; it also shows Grace to have a problem coping mentally due to her being scared of silence. The film makes use of a variety of camera techniques and cinematographic angles and movements. The main camera work is normally control by where Grace is in a room. The angles of a camera can create horror as depending on the angle or view of the camera. A viewer can see a threat when a character cant or cant see a threat when a character is screaming or running. There limiting of what a viewer sees by camera techniques and also maximising what a viewer sees by using long shots can make a viewer feel isolated or to give a viewer a false sense of security before something key in the film happens. Another aspect of camerawork is the uses of camera movement, as a sudden zoom in on something is more effective to show a frightening thing like no one playing on the piano in the music room. The director didnt use sudden zoom on the piano instead he used a slow pan across the music room ending on the piano to emphasise that there was definitely no one in the music room and the piano was playing all by itself. The impact this has on an audience is that it raises more questions which confuses and unsettles a viewer: (what was playing, how was it playing) To please an audience a horror film almost has to have a resolution. A film often tries to have a better ending to make it memorable and give a lasting impression. The Others has a unique ending. By discovering that the main characters were actually the dead ghosts and the ghosts were the living people, the viewers feeling and what they thought they knew are reversed. This confuses the viewer at first but then puts their mind at ease as they now know about all the ghosts and noises what they were and why they happened. The viewers final sight of the film is the family looking out of one of the mansion big windows in the light. Saying that this was their house and they were never going to be scared away from it. Due to this the viewers are completely happy with the film as any loose ends have been tied up and the film has finished with all the characters storylines ended and completed. I believe that Amenabar has succeeded in his ideal as he wanted to create a horror film filled with suspense and unsettlement without resorting to special effects. Therefore since The Others fits these criteria he has succeeded.

Pythagorean Theorem Definition

Pythagorean Theorem Definition Definition: It is believed that the statement of Pythagoreans Theorem was discovered on a Babylonian tablet circa 1900-1600 B.C. The Pythagorean Theorem relates to the three sides of a right triangle. It states that c2a2b2, C is the side that is opposite the right angle which is referred to as the hypoteneuse. a and b are the sides that are adjacent to the right angle. In essence, the theorem simply stated is: the sum of the areas of two small squares equals the area of the large one. You will find that the Pythagorean Theorem is used on any formula that will square a number. Its used to determine the shortest path when crossing through a park or recreation center or field. The theorem can be used by painters or construction workers, think about the angle of the ladder against a tall building for instance. There are many word problems in the classic math text books that require the use of the Pythagorean Theorem. Also Known As: a squared b squared c squared. Or c2a2b2Alternate Spellings: PhythagorasExamples: See full visual

Strategic Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 2

Strategic Management - Essay Example The result was the evolution of the company as the largest low cost international carriers. The company has shown rapid and consistent growth from the time it was launched. The project aims to put forth the strategic interest in expanding operations in the Chinese market. In this regard, it analyses the overall strategic environment in which the company operates. This has been elaborately presented with the help of PESTEL analysis and Porter’s Five Forces Model. Based on the analysis, the strategy has been designed for the company. This has been done using the Ansoff Matrix and the Nine Strategic Windows. Finally, the overall evaluation of the strategy has been given as per the company’s objectives. Company Mission and Vision The company does not present or publish a formal mission or vision statement. However, as per, Michael O’Leary’s public statements the company aims to simply continue being â€Å"the largest Low Cost Leader in the European airline in dustry† (Box & Byus, 2005, p.3). ... The state has also been effective in making the transition. In fact, it has economic links with many of the cities in the United Kingdom and has the involvement of the relevant Chambers of Commerce in this regard. The overall political condition is one that promotes entry of industries into the market. The sectoral delegations are administered and organized by the â€Å"Department of Trade and Industry† (Chinese Marketing and Communications, n.d.). The China Council is considered to be the most important â€Å"clearing house for trade and investment opportunities in China† (Chinese Marketing and Communications, n.d.). It provides information comprehensively for the promotion of trade and investment activities. Economic China’s economic condition also looks favorable for the airlines industry. This is because the economy has undergone restructuring which has resulted in efficiency gains and this has added to the GDP growth substantially. The economy has remained i n the path of a rapid growth trajectory since the beginning of 2011. As per the 12th Five year plan, China emphasizes on the growth of its domestic consumption and makes the economy less dependent on exports. The country especially promotes foreign investment in strategic emerging sectors (Central Intelligence Agency, 2011). The company would have to cope with the fuel expanses which have been growing across all corners of the world. The company has already undergone major losses as well as offset of its revenue growth arising from high cost of fuel. The fuel rising expenses of fuel Ryanair since 2005 has been shown in the following figure. Figure 1: Ryanair fuel expenses as a portion of total operating expenses: 1Q05 to 2Q09 (Source: Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation,

Analytical Comparison and Contrast Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Analytical Comparison and Contrast - Coursework Example Here, the artworks, ‘The Blue Boy’, an oil painting by Thomas Gainsborough, and ‘Pinkie’, a portrait by Thomas Lawrence, are made use to compare, under the subject: Two artists’ conceptions of a single theme. Thesis statement: Analysis of similarities and differences between two Artworks to attain an inference on the same by considering the artists, the viewers, and related facts in history or society (special references to the artworks: ‘The Blue Boy’ (portrait), by Thomas Gainsborough, and ‘Pinkie’ (portrait), by Thomas Lawrence). Analysis The analysis of the artworks ‘The Blue Boy’( See appendix -1) by Thomas Gainsborough, and ‘Pinkie’( See appendix -2) , by Thomas Lawrence is based on the following factors like the artists, assessment as a viewer, and other related facts in history or society, and strictly based on similarities and differences. I. Artists A. Similarities One can easily identify a number of similarities between Thomas Gainsborough and Thomas Lawrence. The following are some important similarities. First of all, the first names of the artists (Thomas Gainsborough and Thomas Lawrence) are similar. Besides, both the artists made use of the same medium to express their creativity (say, oil and canvas). Both the artists were British citizens, who primarily focused in portrait painting. Within their lifetime, they were considered as noteworthy portrait painters in Europe. As pointed out, they made use of oil and canvas as their medium, which was most suitable for portrait painting. Both the artists transformed their personal interest (say, drawing/painting) into their career as painters. B. Differences There exist a number of differences between Thomas Gainsborough and Thomas Lawrence. The following are some important differences. Thomas Gainsborough was born in Sudbury. On the other side, Thomas Lawrence was born in Bristol. Thomas Gainsborough’s father wa s a weaver by profession, but Thomas Lawrence’s father was an inn keeper. Before becoming a landscape painter, Thomas Gainsborough was a landscape painter. James Ernest Thorpe states that â€Å"The Blue Boy was often thought of as Gainsborough’s greatest painting† (435). Later, he turned to portrait painting. But Thomas Lawrence was genuinely interested in portrait painting. Thomas Gainsborough completed the painting ‘The Blue Boy’ in the year 1770, but the portrait ‘Pinkie’ by Thomas Lawrence was completed in the year 1794. Thomas Gainsborough married Margarett Burr and had children. On the other side, Thomas Lawrence was forced to be a lifelong bachelor. Besides, he was forced to lead an unhappy personal life. Thomas Gainsborough’s portrait painting helped him to keep himself away from economic problems. On the other side, Thomas Lawrence was forced to face economic problems in his life. II. Assessment as a viewer A. Similariti es When one tries to assess the artworks ‘The Blue Boy’ and ‘Pinkie’, one can easily identify a number of similarities. Some of the most important similarities are pointed out below. First of all, both the works are portraits of youngsters booming with energy. The medium made use by the painters is similar, i.e. oil and canvas. Both the paintings are presently owned by The Huntington (museum/ art gallery) in California. Both the paintings are from England and are considered as best examples for portrait painting in Europe. Besides, both the artworks are considered as showpieces at The Huntington. As these portraits are exhibited in the same gallery, most of the viewers consider that these works are completed by the same painter. The position of the youngsters (models) in the portraits is helpful for the viewers to have clearer look on their faces. Both the works give

The World Is Flat Executive Summary Essay Example for Free

The World Is Flat Executive Summary Essay The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman is best described as an expos © of the realities of the present day business world and of the effects that certain advances in technology as well as political upheavals have had on capitalism during the past three decades. The flattening of the world is a metaphor used to describe an increasing interconnectivity among the citizens of the world. This increase in interconnectivity is ascribed to several events such as the fall of the Berlin wall, and most prominently, the advent of the internet. The point is stressed that for companies to survive in todays environment, they must keep pace with the constant advances in technology that are making previous ways of doing business no longer competitive. It is also noted that it is becoming less important that a company be subservient to a particular nation state. Outsourcing to countries where labour is cheaper such as India, will save companies money, establish business practices in foreign countries, and, ironically, produce better results. As a result we are left with he same capitalism as before, but Just a different (and ever changing), and much wider playing field. Its shocking to learn how backward the United States of America has become. To think that the country responsible for setting the pace of modern day capitalism has been able to educate its population so poorly is a troubling reflection of our value system. To quote the text, In China today, Bill Gates is Britney Spears. In America today, Britney Spears is Britney Spears and that is our problem. America is no longer motivated. Our youth have become lazy underachievers who will certainly be left at the bottom of the food chain where the upper rungs will be occupied by todays hardest workers who come from todays poorest countries. That is of course unless Americans have a drastic change in mentality. Unfortunately, I believe what will happen is that as a nation we will end up underpaid (or simply paid what we are worth) or unemployed. Essentially, being Ame rican is no longer a valuable thing. We are becoming worthless. As a nation we are apathetic to issues that are most mportant to the survival of our country; instead, we would prefer to focus our energies on fguring out how much pot Lindsey Lohan smokes and whether such and such a celebrity beats his wife or not. It is because of this media induced epidemic that I foresee an increasingly slimmer portion of the US population benefiting from globalization. The rest I see as being indefinitely underpaid if paid at all. The most important lesson to take away from this book is the importance of hard work. Also, it is very important to realize how to benefit, in business, from this hanging world and to adapt as quickly as possible to its parameters. It is those who are best equipped to adapt that will be able to stay afloat financially. The importance of networking also cannot be overlooked. Not only is networking in general going to be more and more important; with whom you network, and how you communicate with each other could make the difference between a successful business and a failure. Those who plan to adapt the best must establish vast and purposeful networks. Furthermore, in business we have to continue think globally, and we have o think about long term benefits. In America we have trouble thinking beyond the snort term. ts probably not uncommon to tind a businessman trom the other side of the world whose long term goals include the prosperity of generations underneath him, In America people increasingly dont even have their own prosperity in mind. So not only is it time to take into consideration our own prosperity, but it is also time to ensure that the generations that succeed us will also have the ability to prosper. Eric Snoddy

Review of A Cinderella Story Essay -- Cinderella Story, movies,

Many traditional fairy tales have been remade into Hollywood movies. The fairy tale of Cinderella has been produced in movies many times like Ever After (1998) and A Cinderella Story (2004). A Cinderella Story (2004) has an interesting storyline, cast, themes, and appeals to teenagers and young adults. The movie begins as Sam narrating how she is in a far away kingdom with a beautiful little girl with her â€Å"weirdo† father. Then Sam clarifies that this was not â€Å"long ago† and â€Å"not a really far away kingdom;† they are in the San Fernando Valley. Growing up in the San Fernando Valley was like her kingdom. Even though she was raised by her father, she never felt like she was missing out on anything. Her father tries to exposes her to girly things like make-up and fashion. Her dad owns a diner in the San Fernando Valley which Sam loves called Hal’s Diner. All the staff was like her family. When Sam celebrated her 8th birthday at Hal’s Diner, they want for her to wish for something, but she does not wanted anything because she has amazing friends, the diner family and the coolest dad. Sam’s dad thinks that she needs only one thing to be happy, a mother; so he decides to marry Fiona who had two daughters, Brianna and Gabriella. Sam th inks that as long her dad was happy she would be happy (A Cinderella Story). One night, Sam loses her best friend, her father, in a devastating earthquake. She is left to live in an attic with her stepfamily, and soon realizes her stepfamily is evil. Fiona and the step-sisters take over everything the house, the diner and her. They make Sam do all the housework for them. Fiona treats Sam like a slave; Fiona wants Sam to do the chores including cooking for them, and does not allow her time to even study! Sam... ...nagers who comment on A Cinderella Story said, â€Å"This movie was a Great movie! If you have a knack for watching teen love stories this would be your movie. When I first watched this movie I was dying to have it. This movie shows that even though life can be bad you always have the chance to stand up for yourself and become something great and achieve your dreams† ( Ebert) Although critics were not very kind to the movie, many people really liked it. The movie went beyond my expectations, and I loved it more than other movies. A Cinderella Story has an interesting storyline, cast, themes, and appeals to teenagers and young adults. The movie was very interesting to me as a young teenager. I recommend all teenagers to review this movie because when you lose someone that in life was very important no matter what you should keep on with your life and purest your dreams.

Living in the

Torso's City 3 eye characteristics: average individual incomes decreased by 20% or more between 1970 and 2005 relative to the Toronto average individual income Neighborhoods comprise about 39% of the city neighborhoods Key issues deterministic-planning a lack of regard for the post-colonial and immigrant experiences of the families that live there large concentration of poverty and lives lived amid crowded high-rise buildings and housing projects the constant surveillance and media representations of violence perpetuated by the City of Toronto Police, Housing Corporation, and media outlets Defining the Ghetto (A first approach) The 40% criterion: â€Å"an area in which the overall poverty rate in a census tract is greater than 40 percent. The ghetto poor are then those poor, of any race or ethnic group, who live in such high-poverty census tracts†¦ Visits to various cities confirmed that the 40 percent criterion came very close to identifying areas that looked like ghettos in t erms of their housing conditions. Moreover, the areas selected by the 40 percent criterion corresponded closely with the neighborhoods that city officials and local census urea officials considered ghettos†¦ Let is important to distinguish our definition of ghetto tracts based on a poverty criterion from a definition based on racial composition.Not all majority black tracts are ghettos under our definition nor are all ghettos black. Arrows and Bane 1991:239-241) Defining the Ghetto (A second Approach) â€Å"the ghettos' of space and group-specific institutions all four major ‘elementary forms' of racial domination, namely, categorization, discrimination, segregation and exclusionary violence† (Loci Yucatan: Urban Outcasts, 1995) â€Å"the hypertext' Is moreover defined by the â€Å"physical dilapidation, social decay and stunning depopulation† that has further led to a â€Å"collective demutualization† and â€Å"absent presence† of the state ( course reading) What researchers find in Torso's inner city Schools?Violence and Cultural Complexity This is where the documentary intervenes: The film looks into how violence is based on a logic of reciprocity (code of honor) and how this logic/dynamic can be interrupted It assumes/demonstrates how former actors of violence (gang leaders) take on a new role as interrupters of violence It lows insights into people's aspirations and dimensions of everyday life (resilience and where alternatives originate) What needs to be discussed Does the film reproduce an ‘ecology-centered' discourse or does it allow for seeing the cultural complexity of violence in a broader perspective? The Interrupters (Documentary) Dir. Steve James Film about â€Å"violence interrupters† in Chicago â€Å"who use their own personal experience and street credibility to work in the communities† (film synopsis) Discuss along with L. Waistcoat's article (same context)

Ideal Student Essay

Quote: I realized that the only purpose to revolution is to be able to love who you want, how you want, when you want and where you want†¦ Idle student: An ideal student is someone who is thirsty for knowledge. Such a student will not be distracted in class. After all that is what every teacher desires.This thirst for knowledge will ensure that she is attentive and is committed to learn all that she can about a particular subject so that she can understand it fully. An ideal student will also have certain other distinguishing qualities. She will have well – defined goals in life and her effort will be to do whatever it takes to achieve these goals. For instance, if you ask her what she aspires to be, she will have a ready answer. And she will have a good reason for what she aspires to be. She will also have a clear vision of what is necessary to attain her goal. An ideal student will respect her teachers but will not be afraid of them. She will have the courage to admit her ignorance and ask for advice and direction if she needs it. She will not be the kind of person who accepts things blindly and learns by rote. She will try to grasp concepts and if she finds it difficult, will have the confidence to approach her teachers for more information. She will be active in many things for she understands that one should have a well – rounded personality. She will have character more than anything else for it is character that makes a person’s destiny. She will compete only with herself and if someone seeks her help in class, will show no hesitation in giving it. An ideal student will observe discipline. She will be punctual and properly dressed. She will not absent herself from class for silly reasons and will do her homework daily. She will be neat and tidy and observe decorum in class. Children are the wealth of a nation.A Nation that produces a generation of talented and hardworking youth marches ahead on the path of progress.However creating quality citizens is no easy task and cannot be achieved overnight.The first step for that is to produce ideal students in our schools. These ideal students would go on to become ideal citizens. Who is an ideal student.? There isn’t one definite answer to that because there are many qualities that together define an ideal student.The most important quality of an ideal student is that for him. the foremost duty of his school life is to study.He studies regularly and works hard to improve his  performance in each exam. But his objective of studying is not to only score good marks or secure a high rank.Beyond that he has a thirst for knowledge , an interest to learn more about everything he observes. Apart from studies, an ideal student actively gets involves in other activities. He is good in arts and sports and regularly participates in intra and inter school events.He is an active member of various clubs in the school and helps in organizing events. But participating in competitions and winning events is not the only big thing in life, and an ideal student knows that very well.Virtues like kindness, compassion,respect , sincerity, honesty, politeness are equally important in todays world, and these qualities are found in abundance in an ideal student. He treats his parents, teachers and elders with respect, and speaks politely to everybody. In times of crisis for his friends, he is the first person to stand by them. He never boasts of his achievements and never gets depressed by his failures. He is always cheerful and maintains a positive approach to life.He spreads hope and happiness wherever he goes. In short his conduct is admired by everyone. An ideal student is a voracious reader. He reads the newspaper regularly and is well aware about the events and happenings in various parts of the world. He also reads magazines, noels and short stories.he has an excellent grasp of the language and is very good at communicating things to others.Last but not the least, an ideal student loves his parents and family members very much and does as much as he can to help them and to keep them happy. He never wastes his parents’ hard-earned money and believes that knowledge is the biggest wealth he can acquire.An ideal students grows up to be an asset to his family, his society and the country.If only all our schools couls produce more and more ideal students, our country could achieve tremendous progress and become the envy of the whole world..

Airbus Strategic Management

Airbus Strategic Management Introduction Airbus is an international aircraft manufacturing company with its head quarters situated in Blagnac, France. It is a subsidy of European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company N.V. (EADS) which owns 80% of the company and the remaining 20% is owned by BAE Systems plc (LSE: BA.).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Airbus Strategic Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The company has three other operational bases in Europe situated in Germany, Spain and in the United Kingdom. The company has a pool of 57,000 workers distributed in sixteen branches and sub branches. In 2009 the company started construction of a branch in Tianjin (China); the branch is only producing minimal products and making repairs. It is estimated to be a full brown company by the year 2012. In its investments the company has subsidies and sub -subsidies to companies in United States, Japan, China, and India (McIntyre, 1982). Half o f the worlds airplanes are thought to have been made by the company. It’s credited for having made the world’s largest airplane A380 and the fly-by-wire airliner. The success of the company has been credited to technological advancement which has resulted in production of highly efficient airplanes. When the company was incorporated it was a consortium of European aviation. It later diverted to plane construction where it competes with companies like Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, and American Lockheed. All its major competitors are situated in United States of America. The company was established at the era where globalization had raised the need for air transport as countries trade increased. The decision to have an airplane manufacturing company was the decision that was considered by the governments of Germany, France, and United Kingdom in 1967. In 1970, the company started it operations with Groupement dInteret Economique  as the major supporter of the company fina ncially. The English name for the group is Economic Interest Group or GIE. The name Airbus was the common name for planes which were large in the period and thus the company adopted the name. The first aero plane by the company was called Airbus A300 (Airbus official website, 2010). This report is divided into three parts where the first part takes a look at strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the Airbus Company; the second part, looks at the external environment of the company and gauges the level of participation that the company have in the competitive industry. The third part will be recommendations on the measures that the company should implement to remain competitive. The first part will also have a section which analyses current trends in global airline industry.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Current position The company boasts being the world’s largest aero plane manufacturer and specializes in large planes. It has made the world’s largest aircraft. Among the competitors of the company are Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, and American Lockheed. To remain competitive, the company has ensured that it makes products which are responsive to people’s needs. There are different approaches that the company takes in its business. These include; Making planes on order The company takes orders from different companies, countries organizations and individuals to make different models. It gives customers the freedom to choose the level of technology that they want implemented, however the suggestions made by customers should be in line with the company’s policies. Making planes and having them in its show room for sale The company has a show room where it portrays its products for sale to its target market. It also acts as the place where the available technology and models are displayed to the custom ers. Undertaking various researches and testing these products The company maintains a research and development team which is mandated with the task of advising the company on the demands of the customers. They are the ones who are given the mandate of surveying the market and interpolating the competitor’s technology. There is a wave to low fuel consumption jets and planes which require modern technology; airline is aware of the changes in technology and it’s aligning its ways to the move. The company is making large planes to ensure that their customers enjoy from economies of scale. The jumbo planes are sold mostly to national airlines of different countries and small size planes target private airline companies and individuals who buy planes. Some military forces from different countries contract the company for planes for various purposes. When this is the case there is collaboration between engineers from the military and the company. They then aim to make plan es which are responsive to the needs of the force. When making war planes, specifications and controls that are required in the planes are made in consultation with concerned parties.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Airbus Strategic Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Some technology adopted by the company is a â€Å"first† in the industry and thus it calls the operators of the planes and the company to join hands and offer training services. In the effort to remain competitive the company borrows from other companies and improve the technology. The move to venture in China was seen as a strategy to tap Chinese high technology. Other than making fuel efficient planes; the company makes planes with different features to meet the demand of the market. For example, there are planes which are more comfortable, some planes have high security feature and their size varies. This is to ensure that all the ma rkets are well catered for. Current issues in Airplanes business As technology advances, the transport sector is not left behind; there have been numerous developments in plane technology. Good and efficient transport is the back bone of trade and by extension economy. Other than the internet, the other development that has made the world a village is transport; more so air transport. This mode of transport has come with good things; however there are some problems that are associated with this means of transport the most serious being safety. How safe are the passengers? Are their lives safe? Are they psychologically troubled and how comfortable are they? In the recent past, there has been plane crashes in some parts of the world with the latest plane accident occurring on June 23, 2010 in Quebec, Canada and involved a Beechcraft A100 King Air model. The pilot of the above plane had reported that the plane had a problem and when trying to land, the plane exploded. There were seven people aboard and all of them died in the inferno. January 25, 2010 – there was another plane crash involving an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737-800 after taking off from Beirut airport. All the 90 passengers and crew on board perished. On May 20, 2009, An Indonesian C130 military transport plane crashed a few miles from Iswahyudi air force base in East Java. There were 110 passengers and crew members. 98 people were killed including two people who were not in the plane. Terrorism is another problem that air plane transport is faced with. Terrorists have for long targeted planes; this has left the passengers and crew’s lives endangered. Numerous deaths have occurred as a result. For example, in September 11, 2001, an attack of the world trade centre was made possible because the terrorist were able to use a plane for the attack. This brings in another angle to the discussion involving this means of transport; not only is it dangerous to the people aboard the plane but al so to those on the ground. The attack resulted in deaths of over 3000 people both on the ground and those aboard. In 2009, there was a threat of attack to an American plane where a Nigerian student had entered the plane with a bomb; though the attack was not carried out, there was a huge panic all over the world about the safety of passengers. Air rage is another problem that is on the rise in the recent past. More and more passengers are becoming victims of attack as well as lack of comfort as they board planes.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More SWOT Analysis Strengths Airbus strength is built on the strong brand name that is internationally recognized. There is a wide recognition of its products in all parts of the world. The strength of the company is undoubtedly engineered by its internal managerial mechanisms. In order to have a competitive edge in selling its product and services, it will be advisable for the company to take the advantage of its ability to compete favourably with equal players in the market. Airbus is able to adopt different modalities and outreach programs of reaching out to its consumers. In a market mostly controlled by the efficiency and the affordability of the products as well as quality, it will be an open strength for the company to explore more on innovations. In retrospect, strategic marketing plan should be in a position to explicitly document the various channels that can be used by the company to allocate more resources towards improving quality. Weaknesses There is no one company that is perfect; there is always an area that offers a weak point. One of the weak points that the company will undergo through are internal while others are from the external environment. Weaknesses refer to stumbling blocks that may deter the company from progressing towards a particular direction. One of the weaknesses is attitude that customers have upon new things introduced in the market. When discussing the concept of strategic market planning, we discover that resources are vital for an organization to effect significant changes. Another area of inevitable weakness is an expansion plan which entails diversifying the level of the company activities. This may take different forms. A critical look at geographical expansion depicts a glaring possibility of other stringent market uncertainties. Right at the onset, strategic planning will demand strategic resources, both human and financial, to make any significant move. Besides, implementation of the proposed market research will require mutual consent from all the affected divisions in the company. This will not only consume time as decisions are being made, but a lot of uncertainties abound especially on the verdict of the company. Opportunities and Threats Opportunities and threats are external forces that a company has minimal control over. These are outside factors which may work to the benefit or danger of the company. Opportunities for the company are dependent on both the internal and external assessment criteria of the company’s profile of operation. Similar to the weaknesses discussed above, the company can still optimize on the various opportunities available to bring about sustainable growth through effective competition. Some of the underlying opportunities for this company in regard to the macro environment are the diversification of its activities. In striking for the right opportunities, the company will have to analyze its main market rival. The strategies being employed by the competitor sh ould be critically assessed and evaluated for necessary counter action. In addition, the general plan of the competitor in a bid to control the market is a vital toolkit which this company can use to estimate the competitive edge of the market. Internal/External Analysis of Business Objectives Airbus is affected by the internal and external forces. The success that it has is dependent on how well it is going to overcome challenges posed by internal and external forces. To explain the forces, we will consider five porters model forces. In 1980, Porter developed a structure for analyzing the nature and extent of competition within an industry. His argument was that, in every industry, there are at least five competitive forces which establish the nature of competition within that industry. These five forces are discussed below: Threat of new Entrants Bargaining Power of Buyers Threat of Substitute products or Substitutes Rivalry among Existing competitors Buyer’s Bargaining Power The success of a business is dependent with the buyers. They are the customers of a business. They shape the kind of products that a business makes. Buyers have the ability to determine which products will move first and which will not. It is through buyers that a company realizes its competitive advantage in the market. In plane manufacturing business, there is need to produce quality goods which are responsive to the needs of their customers. In plane industry, there is a strong shift to have a move to low fee planes. This is an area the company should ensure it has made fuel efficient planes and big enough that passengers can enjoy economies of scale. Supplier’s Bargaining Power To create awareness of the kind of services that a company produces, there is need for marketing campaigns. In plane making-its main business, the Airbus should ensure that there is national and international awareness of activities that take place. The company needs to employ good strategie s to ensure that customers are aware of the existence of the products; it is by doing this that it can command more business. When quality products are well known by the customers, they are likely to be more accepted. Sales team should ensure that it makes the best targets and market segmentation. Competitive Rivalry in the Industry Within an industry, there are businesses which compete with one another for the available market share. These businesses either specialize in the production of similar products or differentiated products. In plane manufacturing, there are a number of existing companies which include Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, and American Lockheed. There are also new entrants in the business. Threat of New Entrants Airbus enjoys the largest plane making in the world; this does not mean though that there are no threats to its operations. The threat of new entrants to an industry depends on the number of entry barriers available. The higher the entry barriers, the fewer th e number of competitors will be in the industry. These barriers include: capital costs of entry, legal constraints, and access to distributing channels. Threat of Substitutes The company is competing internationally and thus there is the threat that someone may decide to use another country’s products instead of those of Airbus. A substitute product is a product that meets the same needs as those met by a product produced by another company. The extent of the threat from a particular substitute will depend upon two factors; namely, willingness of buyers to switch to substitute products and the degree to which the value and performance of the substitute can compete with the industry’s product (Alter) Managerial decision-making is the process through which managers arrive at the alternative solution to a given challenge facing an organization. The success of an organization is dependent on the quality of decisions made by its managers. One of the major attributes that ma ke a good manager stand out is his or her decisiveness. The quality of decisions made by a manager is reflected in the performance of his or her organization (Wheelen Hunger, 1998). Defining the problem The first step in making a good decision is defining the challenge that calls for a decision to be made. There are problems that require either a â€Å"no† or a â€Å"yes†, others require an urgent solution and others can wait for a certain period of time for alternative solution to be arrived. Generally to have a job well-done, it is of great importance that people involved start from the beginning. Decision making is not an exemption. In this stage, a good context of the problem is grasped. It is only after getting the correct understanding of the problem that he/she can make a good decision. Gathering data In this stage the manager should gather all relevant data and facts. It is from the facts and data that he develops various alternatives of choices that can be us ed to solve the problem at hand. The statistics will also be the ones that will support the final decision. There are various methods of collecting data; they include researching, brainstorming, and experimentation. It is the manager’s duty to choose the right method to adopt because different problems call for different methods. Depending on the problem, the people to be consulted differ. However, an effective manager should ensure that he/she consults those who matter and those who know. Consultation assists in making a more informed decision and assists in generating more alternatives of choice. Their opinions and viewpoints should be considered in the final decision making, but the manager should always keep in mind that it is his/her responsibility to come up with the right decision (Williams, 2001). Choosing the best alternative After taking time and pondering over the issues; time taken depends on the urgency of the decision, he/she chooses and implements the best alte rnative. At the initial stage a lot of support of the decision is required to ensure that the whole organization or the departments concerned have adopted it effectively. It is not always that a decision made bring the expected results; thus feedback from the people on the ground and the general performance of the business should be sorted, so as areas that need improvement are recognized. In-case an area that needs improvement has been recognized, it should be addressed appropriately (Bridge Dodds, 1975). Today, the world is regaining from the world economic crisis that started in 2007. Every economy is trying to position itself to effectively recover. The crisis has already affected economies with a large number of them having a negative economic growth. There is hope that recovery will be attained. Different businesses have been affected in different angles. The transport business is one of the many that have suffered. Alongside the difficult economic situations, the airlines ar e facing stiff competition among themselves. There are different airlines that have developed strategies that have negatively affected the other players. There is a reduced business in some to the extent that there is likelihood that they may opt to merge with others so as to make them profitable. Almost all the airlines are struggling to keep afloat; there has been high bankruptcy in both the United States and Europe. The sector is affected by both the aftermath of gulf war and the global financial crisis. Airline business is one of the tricky businesses that entry is easy but quitting the industry is hard. There is the breaking down of the traditional pricing model; the model was offering for control of price wars in the airline market. The emergence of low cost carriers was on the rise. They charge as low as the half of the traditional costs. The major question that the sector is facing is what the future holds for it. The costs are not going down but on the rise. The cost of fue l is on the rise, the expectation of the customer in terms of services expected, the meals have become expensive, and the general expenses are on the rise. Of late there is the terrorist attack that is continuously reducing the goodwill of airline companies. The sector is facing challenges especially those companies that do not have a large capacity to compete with the leading carriers. The level of technology is another area that is contributing to the â€Å"unfair† competition. This is because of the new high tech facilities/ aero planes that are consuming fuel in an efficient way. The invention has made them able to charge lower prices and give good service, at the expense of the old models without this facility. There are also the jumbo planes that are capable to carry a large number of people, and thus they enjoy economies of scale. The prices charged are lower than the small planes. The concept of free trade is another way of doing business that has made the business to develop ways that they are going to fight their competitors. This has left the control of the airlines on the hands of individuals. When the control is on the individuals, then the dominant companies are more likely to develop measures that are going to negatively affect the small players (Congressional Research Service, 1992). Recommendations Airline industry is undergoing a rapid change. Airbus Company is affected by the trend and the way forward is ensuring that the company embraces efficiency in its processes. Efficiency in a business has numerous benefits to the business. It gives a business competitive advantage; to attain efficiency, there is need to ensure that all business processes are adequately addressed. Airline Company should borrow a move that was first implemented by Motorola in 1981 when the electronic industry had high competition. Motorola named the approach as Six Sigma. Despite the fact that the project had been innovated to be used in the company; it has sprea d to businesses in United States and other places in the world. It has also been incorporated in management syllabuses. When Airbus implements a six sigma procedure, it ensures that there is efficiency in all processes in a business; it uses scientific methods like data analysis to make decisions in a certain area. The process aims at attaining specializations in areas of interest in a way that the end result will give an overall efficiency in an organization. It creates special infrastructure and labels the users of such processes as â€Å"Belts†. There are â€Å"green belts† and â€Å"black belts† among others. After developing a certain route of efficiency, it lays down steps that must be followed to all people who are working in a particular area. The steps are regarded as the path of efficiency. The path minimizes wastes in all aspects as it aims at realizing the areas of defect. Improvement of a prevailing procedure follows after that has been attained. Th e management tool analyses any derivative from perfection and offer management with an overview of the areas that they need to look into for a full efficiency. The management system assumes that if Airbus has more than 3.4 defects, then the said company has a problem that need to be addressed. This is in the areas of fuel consumption level set by the company; comfort of the planes as per the required level of the company and how fast the company meet its customers’ needs. The method acknowledges that there is no 100% efficiency level; however it is of the option that the highest attainable efficiency should be sought. It is of the opinion that there are some areas in an organization which can be improved to attain full efficiency. Airbus should works with the following objectives in mind. Ensuring customer satisfaction;- this is attained through continuous improvement of processes other than processes there is the customer care that they receive from staff it should guarante e satisfaction. Defect- failing to deliver what the customer wants the management tool ensures that there is complete satisfaction of customers by quality products free from defects. Process- internal processes needs to be looked at to ensure that there is efficiency in production processes What the customer sees and feel; stable operations- Ensuring consistent, predictable processes to improve what the customer sees and feels; and design for six sigma- designing to meet customer needs and process capability The general way that the Airbus company management tool follows can be defined as Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control. All the processes that Airline adopts when manufacturing products should be interpolated and ensured to be efficient. The initial stage of a six sigma if for management to agree and understand the need to develop a six sigma management tool when the decision has been reached it requires them to understand the prevailing condition. The first step in m aking a decision to implement six sigma management systems is defining the challenge that calls for an attention. They are involved in asking which areas require the change. Why is the change important? Generally to have a job well-done, it is of great importance that people involved start from the beginning. Decision making is not an exemption. In this stage, a good context of the problem is grasped. It is only after getting the correct understanding of the problem that he/she can make a good decision. Concerns of customers are noted, the trade of profit is analyzed. Since company A has been operating well then there has been an almost immediate change, it means there is a place where there are defects. These defects maybe in processing, in advertising, pricing or even distribution, it is the tapes of management to realize where. The next stage is for Airbus research team to gather all relevant data and facts. It is from the facts and data that he develops various alternatives of c hoices that can be used to solve the problem at hand. Customers who have complained may be called to give more details, production targets reviewed compare the company with other companies in the same industry, consider data from published and unpublished sources. The statistics will also be the ones that will support the final decision. There are various methods of collecting data; they include researching, brainstorming, and experimentation. It is the manager’s duty to choose the right method to adopt because different problems call for different methods. When adequate data has been collected, then the company has a base to make the right decision. After Airbus has understood the deficit in its production and depending on the problem, the people to be consulted differ. However, an effective manager should ensure that he/ she consults those who matter and those who know. Consultation assists in making a more informed decision and assists in generating more alternatives of ch oice. Their opinions and viewpoints should be considered in the final decision making, but the manager should always keep in mind that it is his/her responsibility to come up with the right decision. After taking time and pondering over the issues; time taken depends on the urgency of the decision, he/she chooses and implements the best alternative. At the initial stage a lot of support of the decision is required to ensure that the whole organization or the departments concerned have adopted it effectively. It is not always that a decision made bring the expected results; thus feedback from the people on the ground and the general performance of the business should be sorted, so as areas that need improvement are recognized. In-case an area that needs improvement has been recognized, it should be addressed appropriately (Heppenheimer, 1995). Certainly a decision to have a six sigma tool of management will change a number of things in an organization; the following are some of thing s that the management of six sigma should expect in Airbus Company; organizational structure; this is the way an organization set up is, it may be affected by the change about to come Addition/removal of another department; some departments may prove unworthy and as the source of inefficiency, they may be script. On the other hand, there may be need to develop a monitoring department which will be mandated with the task of overseeing the entire process removing procedural barriers to experimentation and change; these may be bureaucratic processes, some employees may be sucked, some deployed in other departments, and an additional employees may be required These are processes that involve top management to be fully involved and understand the trend and effect of the process. When all is set then next step is moved into. The last stage is control of the implemented project. When controlling there is an already set path through which processes should follow. They should start from so mewhere heading to another area. When under control, there is need to have a well defined personnel’s who have been recognized to have a certain efficiency level in an area, they should be empowered to conduct their duties. If there was a department that was scrapped, then any effects as a result should be understood and addressed Effectively project management plans are developed to ensure that the project sustainability has been attained. Though it is the final stage, it carries a lot of weight since it oversees that every process in the organization has been fully upgraded. It is not a onetime process but is a continuous one. Feedback is of importance and considered for further decision making. The following are some of the tools for this work quality control process charts, control charts, and standardization practices. Time and again there may be possibility that the Airbus Company devise better ways of doing things and this should not be locked out of the system. There is no most efficient system but it is unique to a particular organization and industry. All managerial departments should actively participate in this process for example, the human resource department is given the mandate of ensuring that adequate employees are available at all times in the organization; it has both quantitative and qualitative aspects. Qualitative means the right number of employees and qualitative means employees with right skills (McGuire, 1997). Critical factors define the path that Airline takes in attainment of its mission and vision. When the business is set to go there are things that must be done to ensure that all is well for the attainment of the set goals and objectives. In an information system case the critical success factors are the number of users who are going to use the system and the system will offer them assistance in the work that they are doing. At the same time there is the issue of market accessibility and the need for more market share as a result of the improvement. When developing an integrated system, there are the funds that go to the project and the benefit that the company is going to get as a result. When this is analyzed then the final result should be a benefit to the company. The duration that the program will be used in the company should be analyzed to ensure that it will be good enough for the company to have reaped benefits out of the investment. Customer satisfaction is another goal that the system should bring on board, since the entire development is aimed at creating a better experience to a company’s customers. References Airbus. (2010) Airbus. [Online] Available from:  https://www.airbus.com/ . Bridge, J., Dodds., J. (1975) Managerial decision making. London. Taylor Francis Congressional Research Service. (1992)  Airbus Industries: An Economic and Trade Perspective. U.S. Library of Congress. Heppenheimer, T.A. (1995)  Turbulent Skies: The History of Commercial Aviation. New York. J ohn Wiley. McGuire, S. (1997)  Airbus Industrie: Conflict and Cooperation in U.S.E.C. Trade Relations. New York. St. Martins Press. McIntyre, I. (1982)  Dogfight: The Transatlantic Battle Over Airbus. New York. Praeger Publishers. Wheelen, L., Hunger, J. (1998) Strategic Management and Business Policy: Entering 21st Century Global Society. Massachusetts. Addison Wesley Williams, S. (2001) Making better business decisions: understanding and improving critical thinking and problem-solving skills. London. Sage

Population Decline in Russia

Population Decline in Russia Russian President Vladimir Putin recently directed his nations parliament to develop a plan to reduce the countrys falling birthrate. In a speech to parliament on May 10, 2006, Putin called the problem of Russias dramatically declining population, The most acute problem of contemporary Russia. The president called on parliament to provide incentives for couples to have a second child to increase the birth rate in order to stop the countrys plummeting population. Russias population peaked in the early 1990s (at the time of the end of the Soviet Union) with about 148 million people in the country. Today, Russias population is approximately 143 million. The United States Census Bureau estimates that Russias population will decline from the current 143 million to a mere 111 million by 2050, a loss of more than 30 million people and a decrease of more than 20%. The primary causes of Russias population decrease and loss of about 700,000 to 800,000 citizens each year are a high death rate, low birth rate, high rate of abortions, and a low level of immigration. High Death Rate Russia has a very high death rate of 15 deaths per 1000 people per year. This is far higher than the worlds average death rate of just under 9. The death rate in the U.S. is 8 per 1000 and for the United Kingdom its 10 per 1000. Alcohol-related deaths in Russia are very high and alcohol-related emergencies represent the bulk of emergency room visits in the country. With this high death rate, Russian life expectancy is low- the World Health Organization estimates the life expectancy of Russian men at 59 years while womens life expectancy is considerably better at 72 years. This difference is primarily a result of high rates of alcoholism among males. Low Birth Rate Understandably, due to these high rates of alcoholism and economic hardship, women feel less than encouraged to have children in Russia. Russias total fertility rate is low at 1.3 births per woman. This number represents the number of children each Russian woman has during her lifetime. A replacement total fertility rate to maintain a stable population is 2.1 births per woman. Obviously, with such a low total fertility rate Russian women are contributing to a declining population. The birth rate in the country is also quite low; the crude birth rate is 10 births per 1000 people. The world average is just over 20 per 1000 and in the U.S. the rate is 14 per 1000. Abortion Rates During the Soviet era, abortion was quite common and was utilized as a method of birth control. That technique remains common and quite popular today, keeping the countrys birth rate exceptionally low. According to a Russian news source, there are more abortions than births in Russia. The online news source mosnews.com reported that in 2004 1.6 million women had abortions in Russia while 1.5 million gave birth. In 2003, the BBC reported that Russia had, 13 terminations for every 10 live births. Immigration Additionally, immigration into Russia is low- immigrants are primarily a trickle of ethnic Russians moving out of former republics (but now independent countries) of the Soviet Union. Brain drain and emigration from Russia to Western Europe and other parts of the world is high as native Russians seek to better their economic situation. Putin himself explored the issues surrounding the low birth rate during his speech, asking What has prevented a young family, a young woman, from making this decision? The answers are obvious: low incomes, a lack of normal housing, doubts about the level of medical services and quality education. At times, there are doubts about the ability to provide enough food.

Participative Management Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Participative Management - Research Paper Example It term was first commercialized separately by Macgregor (theory X and theory Y), Lickert (four-model system), and Mouton (Managerial Grid) (John Schyuler, Participative Management, 1997). Semler told people in his company, Semco, to think outside their closed-up box, very soon they even forget they had a box (Maverick, 2001). The main reasons for the need of participative management is that employees should have a share in the business’s profit/loss; they should be business literates; and there should be a culture of trust and faith in the entire organization. This report discusses, the following questions regarding participative management in great detail: Participative management takes a lot of character and skill to apply. It holds the employees accountable for their work instead of just the leader. In it, no authority of any sort is given up, instead the authority is distributes in between the employers and the employees with equal transfer of responsibility. Also it certainly does not mean delayed action. Action is taken quicker and faster in participative management. Amy Mcmillan says â€Å"Participative management is not just allowing employees a part in the business decisions. This scheme can work anywhere and everywhere considering a few points are kept in mind, which include the fact that the employers should be confident and not insecure about letting-go of their stronghold and authority. This increases trust that the employees have over the managers†( Participative Management, 2011). If the organization was formally democratic or autocratic, than it takes careful strategies and studies for the change to participative management. So employees should be given a little time for adjustment. Of-age employees who have spend entire lives in the former types of management might resist this change, so managers should take

Applying PR theory and concepts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Applying PR theory and concepts - Essay Example Vodafone is the largest mobile phone operators in the world and NSPCC is one of the leading charity organizations located in UK. The objective of the PR department in Vodafone is to create a positive and favourable image of the company in the customer’s minds. This is especially applicable during times when the company launches a new product or service and communicates the message to the customers. Similarly NSPCC also undertakes different kinds of PR activities for communicating with its stakeholders. PR activities are considered especially important for the company because it is a charitable organization and makes little investments on advertisements. In such a condition, public relations are considered to be the most cost effective and authentic model of communication with stakeholders. The second part of the project mainly focuses on the different theories of public relations describing them elaborately. Moreover the applications of the theories in practice are also highli ghted along with comments about the ways it could be improved in the future. The three main stakeholder groups identified in Vodafone are its investors, consumers and employees. Maintaining proper relationship with stakeholders is considered to be of prime importance as they are the people who could affect the company’s business or who can be affected by it too. Vodafone seeks to communicate its perspectives with them and at the same time gains their feedback too. The feedback received provides information about the judgement about the sustainability priorities for the company’s strategies and also feeds into the appropriate sustainability strategies (Vodafone, 2011). In order to communicate with stakeholders the company undertakes PR activities like conducting conference calls, or meetings with investors on a regular basis. This is done with the aim of understanding