Business Plan For A Loan Request - 1599 Words

September 19th, 2015 Robbie Boggs, Vice President Wells Fargo Inc. 1527 Pelham Road S. Jacksonville, AL 36265 Dear Mrs. Boggs, As we agreed during our meeting on August 15th, I am enclosing the business plan to support a loan request in the amount of $64,000 for start-up capital for my company, Sweet Peas. As we discussed, an additional line of credit is requested in the amount of $32,000, required for core stock inventory and start-up costs. Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to your reply and to the prospect of a long-term relationship with your bank. Sincerely, Cathryn Champion Sweet Peas 1 Public Square E Jacksonville, AL 36265 256-613-1518 sweetpeas.com Sweet Peas Cathryn Champion Owner†¦show more content†¦Sweet Peas is a baby boutique featuring newborn and toddler clothes with everything you need to dress your baby for any occasion. Offering trendy clothes for an affordable style from head to toe. Prices will range from $10 baby accessories to $100 customized bring-home outfits. While initially the goal is to open one boutique, expansion plans include potentially franchising the retail store and/or building a well recognized brand name. In turn, hoping to penetrate a sizable portion of the online retail market. This boutique is an upscale, stylish baby and children’s store located in downtown Jacksonville, Alabama. It is conveniently located right on the square next to a non-competitive retailer, Hannah’s Closet. There are tons of benefits to this location including free parking and Jacksonville State University foot traffic. Downtown Jacksonville is a popular destination with many places to eat, shop, and more. The Management Team: ItsShow MoreRelatedProject Analysis : Hop Hlp Project1466 Words   |  6 Pagesown office so that he can request for home ownership or loan and complete all the procedures without going to any place (HR department). Also the HR employee will benefit from this system, it will save their effort and time in collecting requests and ranking the employees according to the consistence and priority check-in age, marital status and functional class. The program itself will be managing each request with its own ranking process and it will update the request status for the employees toRead MoreA Report At The Liberty Home Equity Solutions, Inc.1069 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Æ'Operational Management – All responses to cancelled, pre-funding, and post-funding loan audit findings are analyzed monthly by the Quality Issue Research Committee and system/process changes are created or requested. The committee consists of the Operations Engineer, the Compliance Analyst, and the Quality Control Manager. The purpose is to analyze the QC findings to determine the root cause and create action plans, place IT tickets for system enhancements, and communicate defects related to the 3rdRead MoreBest 5 Ways For Debt Collection Essays612 Words   |  3 Pagesaccumulate connected with bad debts you’re supposed to be paid, nevertheless little states judge, loan companies, in addition to attorney at law charges might situations be eliminated in the event that you’re wise in addition to practical. There are few ways listed to guide you on your own in opposition to non-payment. Utilize a Promissory Note: Most of us can’t stress this enough: If you are going to loan a business or other individual some amount of cash, put in writing. It is clear that asking a friendRead MoreAnalysis Of Landsdowne Meeting1633 Words   |  7 Pagesprevious minutes from the May 9, 2017 and May 16, 2017 meetings. R. Aldrich noted a change for the May 16, 2017 minutes for New Letterman Associates loan fee should read 0.375% not .0375%. Upon motion made and seconded, the minutes were approved as amended. C. Reddick, J. Marchese and R. Anderson presented the following new residential mortgage request. Ralph and Sharon Dietze (Borrowers) are requesting a Jumbo mortgage for up to $1,440,000. Ralph Sharon Dietze are the owner/operators of LandsdowneRead MoreMonetary Development And The Federal Reserve System1630 Words   |  7 PagesMonetary development is something that everybody around the globe battles with ordinary. A great many people are unmindful in respect to what s genuinely happens in the economy as to expansion, unemployment, and loan costs; these things are all directed by a national bank called the Federal Reserve System. The arrangement that I will talk about in this paper chooses if unemployment, hobby, and swelling declines or increment is fiscal strategy. Money related arrangement chooses what value a man paysRead MoreRaising Finance1286 Words   |  6 Pagestheir expansion plans from cash flow alone. They will therefore need to consider raising finance from other external sources.  In addition, managers who are looking to buy-in to a business (management buy-i n or MBI) or buy-out (management buy-out or MBO) a business from its owners, may not have the resources to acquire the company. They will need to raise finance to achieve their objectives. There are a number of potential sources of finance to meet the needs of a growing business or to financeRead MoreTootsie Roll1154 Words   |  5 Pagesmaking a business better is something that we can and will do. Taking the Tootsie roll industry to the next level will require expanding the corporation and offering opportunities that will entice candy lovers of all ages. The physical expansion project along with the ‘taste and see’ tours will bring back the excitement of Tootsie rolls while taking the company to the next, sweet level. Purpose for Loan Request The Tootsie Roll Corporation would like to apply for a business loan for theRead MoreClarkson Lumber Company Case Study Essay869 Words   |  4 Pagesborrowed increasing amounts despite its consistent profitability? Because they have faced cash shortage trouble. Their profitability has grown for 1993 ~ 1995 period, as we can see from their I/S (e.g. Sales and Net Income, etc.). However, as its business size grows, their A/R increased, which means that it is getting difficult to collect cash. On the other hand, A/P decreased for the same period, which means that the company paid cash for A/P, resulting in critical cash shortage. Furthermore, theRead MoreCredit Score, And Why Is It Important For Your Future Success?848 Words   |  4 Pagesnumber between 300 and 850 that shows lenders the capacity of a borrower to repay loans (http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us). The FICO score was first introduced in 1989 by FICO, then called Fair, Isaac, and Company (source). VantageScore exists as a competitor of FICO score since 2006. It’s been said that capacity was reputation-based in the past -mouth to mouth- which made it hard to judge fairly a person because business’ owners and lenders used to take into account the character of a person (specificRead MoreCommercial Loans Are Not Your Average Payday Loans1734 Words   |  7 PagesCommercial loans are not your average payday loans. People who seek commercial loans have a business plan in mind; from rental properties like condominiums or duplexes, office expansions or relocations, manufacturing facilities to a local sub or pizza place. Capital is needed and sometimes lots of it! Some Commercial lending institutions include: Small Business Association (SBA) - governmental business lending. Bank of America - touted to be the number one SBA (Small Business Association) lending

The Improvement Of My Studying Strategies - 981 Words

The Improvement of my Studying Strategies Like many students I have trouble studying for classes and the many test that are assigned within the classes. I find that for some classes different techniques need to be used to get a better grade on their tests. For cognitive psychology remembering terms and concepts is essential and needed to pass any of assignments that have been given. Although I did okay on the last test I feel as if there is much room for improvement for my grades. I would like to try to retain most of the knowledge that I read and pick up in class ,however this task is easier said than done . The specific things I would like to focus on when it comes to this class is remembering the key terms used during lectures ,and being able to recall them properly during test and other situations. Being that this is a cognitive psychology class there are many techniques that I learned that can improve my way of learning and processing new information. To actually be able to get a better understanding of the cognitive concepts that i read about i must first be able to properly keep the information. One of the fundamental concepts used throughout psychology and everyday life to assist those with remembering is the concept of Chucking. Chunking is the idea that one can organize data together to improve their ability to remember the information later on. Chunking was first thought up by a man named George A. Miller who proposed that humans can only really retain 7 +/- 2Show MoreRelatedLearning Styles Essay922 Words   |  4 PagesAdjusting learning and studying strategies can be a fast easy way to improve a college grade from a B to an A. Through studies of learning styles I have been able to decipher my learning types. I am a visual learner, have an integrated brain, meaning I use both hemispheres, and ranked highest in bodily-kinesthetic and logic-mathematical intelligence. There are three types of learning styles. They are: auditory, visual and kinesthetic. An auditory learner processes information by hearing andRead MoreHow My Performance During The First Half Of The Class Essay1023 Words   |  5 Pagesdone well and what areas need improvement. What kind of learning/studying strategies will help you improve? My performance during the first eight weeks of this course has been subpar. I began strong with my reading assignments and lost focus when it came time for the exam. I knew that my first test wouldn’t go so well and that was due to my own lacking and accountability. However, my second test I gave much attention and felt I knew the material very well. Because of my first test, I doubted myselfRead MoreEssay on Team Dynamics1465 Words   |  6 Pagestime management strategies, and create a goal action plan. Part One: Personality Styles 1. Complete the Multiple Pathways to Learning Assessment on pp. 41-42 in the text Keys to College Studying. 2. Complete Steps 1 and 2 of the Personality Spectrum on p. 46 in the text Keys to College Studying. 3. Using the information in Key 2.2 on pp. 43-44 and Key 2.3 on p. 48 of the text Keys to College Studying describe your optimal learning times and optimal learning environment. My optimal learningRead MoreMy Interest On Health Policy1229 Words   |  5 PagesMy interest in health policy has emerged from the desire to empower those who have a lesser ability to change their own personal circumstances. Throughout my life, three characteristics have driven my goals and choices: (1) an appetite for travel and broad exploration; (2) an enjoyment of problem solving; and (3) a deep-seated desire for equity and justice. For as long as I can remember, it has been my goal to integrate these three core values into my career, and they have fueled me to become a moreRead MorePrinciples And Theories Of Organizational Change1046 Words   |  5 Pages Leaders play a critical role in harvesting a culture of learning to accomplish mission goals. The members guided by a shared vision and best practices to improve organizational processes. Leaders can accomplish their change vision by creating a strategy for achieving organizational goals. Incorporate principles and theories of organizational change in describing the context of an institution. If polled most would probably agree that change is good, weather in our personal lives, sports teams orRead MoreTest Taking Strategies1411 Words   |  6 PagesTest-Taking Strategies For 10 years, I was the one testing the students, teaching strategies and finding new ones to help students study. Suddenly, I found myself returning to school and the anxiety, stress, lack of time, and just all the unknowns seemed to overwhelm my life. The last couple of years I have learned to incorporate strategies that work best for me, but there is always room for improvement and strengthening. Learning, study and test taking skills are some of the most important thingsRead MoreSample Resume : Self Care1184 Words   |  5 PagesNursing School Self-care is taking a strategic measure to ensure that one is safe and stays in focus. They are personal decisions that one takes for to improve their health. In this case, my self-care is to ensure that I remain in line with the nursing school and nursing career in general, and set strategies to implement the key options that I have chosen. These include time management, , focusing more in nursing school and exercising. The field of nursing is diverse (Lever, 2010, p. 105). It requiresRead MoreDevelopment Plan For The Professional And The Academic Field1521 Words   |  7 Pagesdevelopment to improve their capacity to have their own academic program planned and which helps them to be more effective in managing and reviewing their progress; being more aware of how they are learning and what kind of teaching and learning strategies are they trying to achieve;  · recognising and making good use of their own strengths to cover and improve their weaknesses;  ·discovering opportunit ies for learning and personal development around them;  · being better prepared for both seeking employmentRead MoreReflective Review of Personal Professional Practice1538 Words   |  7 PagesReflective Review of my personal and professional practice Learning outcome: Demonstrating inclusive practice (PP1) My name is and I am the manager of a day care setting based in the north of London; in a rich culturally mixed community. I manage a 41 place centre offering full day care services for children aged 6 months to 5 years. I am responsible for the overall running of the setting including the writing of policies and recruitment of staff. I am also the settings SENCO, nominatedRead MoreSample Resume : Self Care1176 Words   |  5 PagesNursing School Self-care is taking a strategic measure to ensure that one is safe and stays in focus. They are personal decisions that one takes for to improve their health. In this case, my self-care is to ensure that I remain in line with the nursing school and nursing career in general, and set strategies to implement the key options that I have chosen. These include time management, exercising, and working fewer hours while in nursing school. The field of nursing is diverse (Lever, 2010, p.

Roberto Clemente Speech Free Essays

â€Å"He gave the term â€Å"complete† a new meaning. He made the word â€Å"superstar† seem inadequate. He had about him the touch of royalty. We will write a custom essay sample on Roberto Clemente Speech or any similar topic only for you Order Now † This was a quote stated by former commissioner of Major League Baseball, Bowie Kuhn while speaking during Roberto Clemente’s eulogy. When baseball season came around in seventh grade, my coach of the Lakeland Copper Beech Middle School team, Fabrizo Morejon, explained that he wore the number 21 in honor of his childhood hero Roberto Clemente. He seemed such an advocate of this man that it gave me a strong motive to research and to find out who this man really was. When I began to read all about him, I found that his career was not just filled with spectacular baseball achievements, but even more so was all about humanitarianism, and about Clemente’s drive to help others and be a source of pride for his native country. This is something that you don’t see to often today. In a day where baseball players today make tens of million dollars annually and are virtually superstars wherever they go many players cannot be bothered with the well being of others. This instantly became a favorite hero of mine. This speech will take you through the early life and beginning struggles of his career, through his success in the major leagues, ending with his tragic death and legacy left on the world. So lets go way back, back to the 1930’s in Puerto Rico where Roberto was born. I. Early life, Getting drafted, Struggles in the majors A. From the beginning always close to his family 1. Formally Roberto Walker Clemente was born on August 18th, 1934 CLICK in a small town located in Carolina in the north east portion of Puerto Rico 2. Roberto was the youngest of seven children born to Luisa Walker and Melchor Clemente 3. His family was very poor growing up so Roberto happily spent his childhood working part time jobs pitching into the family well being B. Growing up 1. Roberto was a natural athlete from the time he emerged on the scene in his high school years a. Was a four sport varsity athlete playing football in the fall, basketball in the winter, and baseball and track and field in the spring b. Because Roberto was so good at track and field they let him just ome to the matches because practices interfered with his baseball schedule, which always came first 2. Coming directly from Roberto’s journal from high school â€Å"I loved the game (baseball that being) so much that even though our playing field was muddy and we had many trees on it, I used to play many hours every day†, this showed how much Roberto truly loved playing the game C. It wasn’t long before Roberto’s exceptional an d â€Å"superstarish† play wasn’t noticed 1. In 1954 Roberto was signed by the Pittsburg Pirates for 4,000 dollars 2. Moving to America was a major culture shock and change for Roberto a. Racial tensions existed between he and his teammates as well as between he and the local media and this really frustrated Roberto and made it tough to concentrate on baseball b. Clemente responded to the racism he faced by declaring this postgame response â€Å"I don’t believe in color†¦I always respect everyone and thanks to God, my mother and my father taught me never to hate, never to dislike someone because of their color†, this really shows his true care and respect for the nature of people in general c. Teammate Joe Black was the most import to his assimilation into American society, being the only other player to speak Spanish D. His career had a really rough beginning 1. His first season was cut short because he got into a drunk driving accident hurting his back, hitting a measly . 225 even when healthy 2. After the shaky start to his career Roberto decided to go through marine camp and become a reserve in order to get into a stronger better condition as a player Going into the marines and committing himself to baseball once again took his career for a turn for the better II. Successes A. Roberto Clemente made a strong comeback after his abysmal start to his career in his first season 1. CLICK By the start of his second season, Roberto was hitting leadoff for the Pirates playing the entire season, hitting . 314, a very respectable average 2. Helped the Pirates win a world series vs. the New York Yankees (I know it hurts to say) 3. He went to his first all star game that same season B. During the middle of his career, Roberto got married 1. On November 14th, 1964 Roberto Clemente got married to Vera Zabala back in his hometown of Carolina, of course in Puerto Rico 2. He had three children with Vera Zabala named Roberto Jr. , Luis Roberto, and Enrique Roberto C. From the time that Roberto turned his around his career he was a very consistent and productive player 1. After 1961, which was his breakout season talked about earlier, Clemente went on to win a Gold Glove and was an all star team starter, every season for the next decade, VERY CONSISTANT 2. In 1966 he won the most prestigious award in the MLB, which is the Most Valuable Player award 3. Ended his career with exactly 3000 career hits, being only the tenth player ever to do that at the time a. Many of you know this man CLICK who just got 3000 hits CLICK and was king of New York for a few days b. However, Clemente got to this feat playing in fewer games than Derek Jeter However, sometimes in life it seems that bad things just happen to the good people III. Death and Legacy A. Roberto’s life came to a tragic end, in a truly charitable way, just the way that I’m sure he would have wanted it to happen 1. When the city of Managua in Nicaragua was hit with a massive earthquake, Roberto, not even a native of that country was the first to step up and help 2. Because there were numerous rumors that the relief effort materials were being diverted by government officials, Roberto wanted to fly there himself and make sure they got the materials themselves 3. New years eve, 1972, Roberto got in a plane in attempt to personally deliver the relief materials himself, CLICK however the plane crashed just after take off killing Roberto and everyone else on board B. Today Roberto is still remembered in many different ways 1. In Pittsburgh, the major bridge leading near the stadium is named after him CLICK, along with the right field wall in the new stadium is 21 feet high CLICK and nobody is allowed to wear the number 21 in a pirates uniform in honor of Clemente 2. The MLB made an award in his name, which is an annual award given to the player who â€Å"best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual’s contribution to his team† CLICK So even though Roberto has been gone for over 35 years the Major Leagues remember him every year for his qualities not just on the field but off as well, not something that can be said by to many players I hope that through this presentation, going from the beginnings of Roberto’s life through the ups and the downs of his career and finally ending with his heroic death and legacy, everyone got a real feel for who this man really is. I did not want to stand up here and you guys think that I was just talking about some baseball player who had really good stats and hit a lot of homeruns. Because that’s not the case with this man, at all. The life of Roberto Clemente is one consisting of outrageous baseball statistics CLICK, a profound love of the game, and a desire to help others. With all of his charity work and accomplishments Roberto Clemente’s legend lives on and he continues to inspire not only Latinos, but people all over the world. To leave you all with one quote from Roberto that truly just exemplified his personality, â€Å"Any time you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don’t, then you are wasting your time on Earth. CLICK How to cite Roberto Clemente Speech, Essay examples

Business Law Liability of Business for Negligence

Question: Discuss about theBusiness Lawfor Liability of Business for Negligence. Answer: Introduction Tort Law refers to the civil wrong which results in loss or harm to one person due to unfair acts of the other person. However, if the harm or loss is caused due to act of negligence then it cannot be called as crime but it can be said that the negligence is a kind of tort occurs due to damages between the parties. Business organizations are liable and responsible for the loss and damages caused due to negligence as vicarious liability and strict liability. Organizations are liable to ensure the stakeholders safety for the unreasonable negligence and required to compensate the loss or damage. In case of strict liability that is applicable in case of personal injury, the victim is required to prove the act of negligence before claiming the compensation. If the harm is proved then the business organization are strictly liable to compensate the damages (Backof 2015). For instance, if the business organization manufactured defective products that caused harm to the consumers the organiza tion has absolute liability to compensate the amount of loss to the consumers. Actions to be Taken to Limit the Liability In order to limit the liability of negligence, the actions that can be taken is liability insurance that is undertaken to protect the potential losses from the legal lawsuits. Another action that can be taken to limit the liability is the policy on professional liability that covers the liability at the professional level. Further, Business organizations are required to complete legal formalities for the manufacturing processes and issue of shares. Organizations are required to document the business actions with respect to the relevant business decisions, business functions and content of business meetings. The business organizations are also required to maintain separate assets for business and personal purpose to maintain the expenses and other relevant charges by following the invoices and other documents (Samsonova-Taddei and Humphrey 2015). Reference List Backof, A.G., 2015. The impact of audit evidence documentation on jurors' negligence verdicts and damage awards.The Accounting Review,90(6), pp.2177-2204. Samsonova-Taddei, A. and Humphrey, C., 2015. Risk and the construction of a European audit policy agenda: The case of auditor liability.Accounting, Organizations and Society,41, pp.55-72.

Howie day- Collide free essay sample

I have recently heard that many people think of Howie Days song collide is a break up song. That is completely incorrect. This song is actually a song to his girlfriend about something nice. Even though our world isnt always nice, there are people that dont make everything about hate and anger. This song is about him REALLY loving his girlfriend and her soon finding out that she loves him just as much. Yeah, that is the exact opposite of what people were thinking. I know that the first time you listen to it, it sounds like he is saying that she broke up with him but shes going to realize that they are meant for each other. That would almost be correct except for the small fact that it isnt what the song is about. He is simply saying I love you and I have never felt like this before. We will write a custom essay sample on Howie day- Collide or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Soon enough, you are going to realize that you feel the same way. This misconception simply proves that many people are pessimistic. Everyone automatically thinks the worst of everything. We automatically think this is a sad, depressing, and possibly anger filled song. The truth is that this is a sweet song about a guys true love for a girl that he isnt afraid to express. That isnt bad or negative, that is actually good and sweet. I know that our world has a lot of bad things in it but that doesnt mean that EVERYTHING in the world is bad. Its like walking down a street, there might be a thug or a thief but everyone else isnt like that. In this case, there are songs that are sad, depressed, emotional, and anger filled but that does not make every song that you hear just like those songs. This song has a fun beat and is really nice. So this is just proving that not everything in the world is bad even though people might expect it to be

Nursing scholary paper essays

Nursing scholary paper essays Mr. G, an advanced resident in Sunnybrook, who has swallowing problem, was fed breakfast by a nurse in the dining room. He seemed fatigue and fell sleep 5 minutes after feeding. I observed the nurse shaking his shoulder with her hand and speaking in loud matter: Wake up, open your mouth, hurry up. Values are important because they influence decisions and actions, including nurses ethical decision making.(Kozier,2002, P71) Here we can see that Mr.G felt tired and wanted to sleep rather than having breakfast. For the nurse, she felt upset and believed that proving nourishment at breakfast is fundamental to caring. Also, the breakfast is beneficial for him. It gives him energy and promotes his health. The nurse believes she is responsible in providing care for him and she has considers the safety issue in order to prevent his choking if he falls asleep during breakfast. A right is a claim or privilege to which one is justly entitled, either legally or morally. (Keatins Neil B,2000,P264) For Mr.G, he has the right to be treated with courtesy and respect. The nurse spoke loudly: wake up, open your mouth hurry up. This treated him like a child. He has the right to agree or refuse participation in any health care, once he knows the consequences of any of these decisions. However, he is responsible to work as a partner in the health care team and to follow the safety standards of the nursing home, to give his caregivers accurate information about his health and needs. For the nurse, she has the right to express her thinking and carry out the care in agreement with the patients and respect for the clients. She is responsible for providing, facilitating, advocating and promoting the best possible care for clients, seeking assistance and taking responsibility for errors including verbal, emotional and unprofessional behaviors toward clients. Therefore, sh e cant touch the cl...

Strategic Management at Nokia Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Strategic Management at Nokia - Coursework Example Strategic thinking is defined as â€Å"an intent-driven approach to a strategy based on critical theory and supported by a complex cluster of cognitive capabilities that are distinct and different from strategic planning†. It can be clarified further as a cognitive process that is quite different from the strategic planning process and can stand independently as a formally created planning process. It depicts itself differently irrespective of being generated by an organization, team or an individual (Grundy and Brown, 2002). The main purpose of strategic thinking is problem-solving and leading a rigorous process of challenging, exploring and examining the underlying premises of the strategy and at the same time, generating new options for creating a sustainable, innovative and winning strategy. Strategic thinking is imaginative, inclusive and based on critical-reflective process. The positioning of future competitive advantage for the organization is the heart of every strate gy. In this regards, strategic thinking should reflect this essence. Strategic thinking is the process that helps in driving the strategy. Positioning the future competitive advantage signifies that competitive advantage of an organization erodes with time and strategic thinking is required in this respect for continuously strengthening and developing it. In an organization, the executives, the policymakers and senior line managers are seen to exhibit strategic thinking. A similar situation is also observed in the case of Nokia. The smartphone strategy implemented by the CEO of Nokia, Stephen Elop is a manifestation of strategic thinking. This strategy change was necessary for the organization since it was facing a decline in its market share caused by the fierce competition in the smartphone segment. Nokia experienced profound changes after initiating the smartphone strategy and has marked the end of an era. Moreover, the CEO of Nokia had correctly found that the present battle in the smartphone segment was not about the devices but the ecosystem. In this context, the CEO of Nokia had shown strategic thinking and had foreseen the future. Thus, the company ended up merging with Microsoft as both of them has positioned themselves to construct a competitive and viable mobile ecosystem.

Gustav Klimt Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Gustav Klimt - Research Paper Example In most cases, the most fundamental subject that he focused on was on the female body. According to most of his paintings, Klimt’s works possess frank eroticism. This paper will discuss the theme of love that is evidently portrayed in several paintings by Gustav Klimt. As stipulated above, Klimt has made a vast contribution in visual arts and film studies, in relation to his paintings. In 1897, he was one of the founding members of the Vienna Secession. This group aimed at providing the young and upcoming artists to show case their talent and bring works from other artists to Vienna. In fact, this group encouraged all styles including naturalists, symbolists and realists (Kallir 1995, 23). In 1894, Klimt was commissioned to come up with three paintings that were supposed to be used for decorative purposes in Vienna University. When he completed the paintings, several critics highlighted that the material was pornographic. In the paintings, he had altered symbolism and traditio nal allegory to a new language that was rather disturbing. Therefore, the paintings, which were supposed to be used in decorating the ceiling of the Great Hall in the university, were destroyed because of the public outcry. Afterwards, during the late 1890s, he painted several landscapes. According to some of his works, it is also notable that nature was a prime subject to Klimt (Kallir 1995, 15). ... 1 Some of the most common paintings that reveal this theme include â€Å"The Kiss†, â€Å"Love†, â€Å"Fulfillment† and â€Å"Death and Life†. The Kiss that was painted by Klimt around 1907 is known for its gilded style (Klimt Museum 2012). During this period, Klimt was 45 years, and he was living together with his mother and his two unmarried sisters. He was known as a man with a vicious sexual appetite. Sources confirm that Klimt had fathered at least three illegitimate children. Therefore, he had a fascination with eroticism and love. This painting presents a couple with their bodies entwined and embracing. The couple is adorned in robes that are decorated in a unique style, which is influenced by organic forms of Art and Craft and the linear constructs of Art Nouveau. In this painting, the couple is positioned at the boundary of a patch of flowery field. The male figure in the picture is dressed in a robe with black and white rectangles that are placed on a gold leaf that is also decorated using spirals (Kallir 1995, 17). The male figure in the painting also has a vine crown on his head while the woman’s hair is sprinkled with flowers. The woman’s tight-fitting dress has oval motifs. Her face also dazzles forming a halo-like circle that extends to her chin in what seems like a necklace. There are various individuals who claim that the female figure in this painting is a model who was known as Red Hilda. According to several critics, this is the most popular painting from Klimt. This painting is composed of conventional oil paint that also includes gold leaf layers which give the painting an evocative appearance. Also, in this painting most critics claim that Klimt had a perverted thinking (Neret 1999, 20).

Engineering management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Engineering management - Essay Example Dyson adds that failure is part of making progress because people do not learn from success. When he started from humble idea, it got more interesting and audacious because he had an opportunity to experiment what can work and what cannot work. This can also be taken to mean that he is a very patient mogul, a trait that is very essential in entrepreneurship and innovation. Dyson is also a risk taker, and that is the reason he is so successful in innovation. He explains that innovation is about people trying to improve the way things work, but warns that big corporations are under competition from small innovative enterprises because they are not ready to undertake immense risk. His excellence in innovative is also evident when he explains that there is a lot of competition in terms of ideas but the ones who enjoy the fruits of their innovation are the ones who come up with the best ideas. Question 2 His management style is democratic or laissez-faire. This approach means that he has given his employees a freedom to contribute their ideas and try to implement them if they are found to be useful. This style is very effective in allowing the subordinates to develop their talents and make best use of them. As such, his employees are given a lot of opportunity to work without close supervision, which is very important in such an industry, which depends a lot on innovation. He has made a lot of efforts not to act as an owner who is isolated from his work force. He says that he spent a lot of time interacting with innovative people rather than being in his glass office. He made sure that even the people who were not engineers were doing things that were creative, something that went a long way in fostering innovation in this organization. H also spend time motivating his workers, for example by encouraging and praising them so they can continue adopting the difficult route instead of just doing what is straight forward. For this management style to work in its optimum , he ensures that team members are fully inspired to work to the best interest of the company. Question 3 Organizational structure is the manner in which organizations are set up, in order to achieve their goals. There are three major types of organizational structures, including matrix, divisional and functional. Functional structure Functional structure is organized according to the purpose of each section of the organization. For example, the organization may have different departments such as sales department, marketing department, and production department. This structure mostly suits small businesses in which case each department can rely on the skills and experience of its staff. However, the fact that different departments works as distinct bodies creates a communication barrier along their boundaries. Divisional Structure Divisional structure is common in companies that operate over a wide geographical area or that the companies that have smaller entities operating under th e umbrella group, typically dealing with different market areas or types of products. For example, an engineering company can be organized divisionally, with divisions such as compressor division, engine division, parts division, as well as different divisions to serve different geographical regions. Although communication under this structure is difficult because employees are working in separate divisions, it is generally effective because it allows specific and rapid meeting of needs. Maintenance of different divisio

Progress and Prospects of Indian Engineering Goods Exports

Progress and Prospects of Indian Engineering Goods Exports INTRODUCTION The importance of exports to economic development has been well documented in empirical as well as theoretical literature. A number of studies have examined how exports are beneficial for economic development of an economy. A common point among them is that, exports may lead to greater capacity utilization, economies of scale, incentive for technological improvement and efficient management due to competitive pressure abroad. The interest in the relationship between exports and economic growth has led to emergence of two schools of thought, namely export led growth (higher export leads to higher economic growth). Although India has been following an import substitution strategy for long, exports promotion has always got the attention of the policy-makers and planners. Export promotion strategy became more pronounced in India particularly after the new economic policy (NEP) of 1991. It is a fact that although Indias share in world exports is less than 1 per cent today, its share in total GDP of the country is more than 11 per cent which is a substantial percentage that can play an important role in ushering faster economic development to the country. Exports from India constitute agricultural and allied commodities (10.10%), ores and minerals (5.29%), manufactured goods (73.40%) (Such as engineering goods, gems jewellery, chemical products and so on), crude oil and petroleum products (8.5%) and others (2.64%). Engineering industry has significance to the economic development of the country. Engineering goods industry constitutes the prime mover of industrial growth in Indian economy as it has played a pivotal role in industrial resurgence of India since the advent of independence, especially after the adoption of the Mahalanobis capital goods oriented strategy from the second plan onwards. The following facts highlight the very significance of the Indian engineering industry in Indian economy. The engineering goods industry enjoys 30.5 per cent weight in the index of industrial production, 29.9 per cent share of total investment in all industry, 33.5 per cent share in the value of output of all industry, 37.1 per cent share in valued added by all industry. 30.6 per cent share in employment of all industry, and 62.8 per cent share in number of foreign collaborations (EEPC). Further more, recently it has emerged as a major exporting sector and also provides technical know-how and consultancy services to a number of African and Arabian states. As per the data available for the year 2004-05, engineering industry has emerged as the single largest item of total Indian exports pushing aside gems jewellery export which had been dominating Indian export basket as the single largest item for some time now. Thus engineering industry is reckoned as an engine of economic development and one of the dynamic sectors of the Indian economy. DISTINCTIVE CONTRIBUTION TO THE EXPORT EFFORT Indian engineering exports have shown phenomenal growth over many years and are making a distinctive contribution to the overall export effort. The up trend in the export of engineering goods during half a century of our independent existence is a reflection of the progress achieved by the engineering industry over the years. Engineering industry is now exporting an increasingly wide variety of light, medium and heavy engineering goods. Engineering goods exports have grown by leaps and bounds from a mere Rs 5.16 crore in 1956-57 to an impressive and all time high of Rs. 73,800.39 crore in 2004-05. Thus they have grown over many hundred folds in Rupee terms. They have been among the most dynamic elements of Indias exports, and have accounted for the largest increment (in constant prices) of Indias exports during 1960-61 2004-05. Besides, there has been a marked shift in the commodity composition as well as direction of engineering exports over the years. Developed market of the west now accounts for about 40 per cent of the total engineering exports in 2004-05 as against the 9 per cent in 1960-61. The progress of export of engineering goods vis-a-vis total exports from the country for select years can be better judged from Table 1 Table 1 ENGINEERING EXPORTS VIS-À-VIS TOTAL EXPORTS (in Crores) Rs. Crore Year Total Exports Engg Exports % share of Engg Exports to Total Exports 1956-57 977 5.16 0.5 1960-61 1,011.65 10.31 1.0 1970-71 1,535.16 115.76 7.5 1980-81 6,710.70 874.17 13.0 1990-91 32,552.00 4,245.00 13.0 1996-97 118,817.32 17,481.75 14.7 1997-98 130,100.65 19,580.14 15.04 1998-99 141,603.53 18,444.47 13.10 1999-00 159,288.92 22,154.23 13.91 2000-01 201,684.93 30,887.95 15.31 2001-02 209,729.06 33,193.99 15.83 2002-03 255,799.55 43,625.94 17.05 2003-04 294,143.23 56,802.83 19.31 2004-05 356,795.46 73,800.39 20.68 2007-08 133926.23 2008-09 173801.7 Increase in 2008-09 by 29.77% (Source: Ministry of commerce and industry) DGCIS, KOLKATTA. The figures in Table 1 indicate that engineering goods exports have shown commendable performance on the export front over the years and it is steadily increasing over time. The percentage share of engineering exports in total exports increased from a mere 0.5 per cent in 1956-57 to a respectable 15.3 per cent in 1992-93 and again to 20.68 per cent in 2004-05, emerging as an important and single largest item of export basket in India. All these are a reflection of increased acceptability of Indian engineering products in developed countries market, aggressive marketing strategy, entry into new markets and promotional role of engineering export promotion council and more liberal policies of the Government especially after 1991. Average Annual Growth Rate Engineering exports have been registering a much higher annual average growth rate than total exports during the decades of 1960s, 70s and 90s. The average annual growth rate of engineering as well as all Indias exports is depicted in Table 2. TABLE 2 AVERAGE ANNUAL GROWTH RATE Period Total Exports Engg. Exports 1956-57 to 1960-61 1.15 19.3 1961-62 to 1970-71 4.64 29.71 1971-72 to 1980-81 16.36 23.99 1981-82 to 1990-91 17.10 16.8 1991-92 to 2000-01 20.083 29.35 2001-02 to 2004.05 17.00 25.59 From Table 2 it is clear that engineering exports had registered an impressive growth rate of 29.71 per cent during 1961-61 to 1971 to 72 which marginally declined during 1971-72 to 1981 to 82. However, engineering exports sharply declined to 16.8 per cent during 1981-82 to 1990-91. This slowdown in engineering exports is accounted for by stagnation of engineering exports during the early 1980s, especially the negative growth rate of -4.78% in the year 1985-86, which was an offshoot of industrial recession on developed countries and near completion of construction activities in Middle East. However, the position improved since 1985-86. Then onwards, engineering exports have grown at a faster rate. Economic liberalization of 1991 was a major boost to the engineering exports. It has opened new vistas, opportunities as well as challenges. A few factors that gave fillip to the development of Indian engineering exports under new regime are: adoption of export policy resolution, conferring priority to exports, recognition and concession to export houses and EPZ, liberalization of imports, relaxation of investment and licensing policies, priority to software and hardware technology parks and so on. It is to be remembered that although there has been a quantum jump in the all India exports after liberalization of 1991, there has been a large slowdown in all India exports since 1995-96. After reaching peak annual growth of 20 per cent in 1995-96, it had slipped to low growth rate in 1997-98 and 1998-99. This slowdown in total exports has in fact affected engineering exports also evident from the figures for 1996-97 and 1998-99. This slow down can be explained by slow growth rate of world export demand, South East Asian financial crisis and consequent overvaluation of Indian Rupee, reducing exports to these countries which account for nearly 15 per cent of the total Indian engineering exports and also reducing the competitive edge of Indian engineering exports in the world market, since some of these countries are major competitors of Indian engineering exports. However, total exports exhibited a sharp turn around since 1999-2000. Bulk of the rise was contributed by a volume increase in exports. This acceleration in exports reflected buoyant global demand coupled with improvement in world commodity prices in 2000 and the revival of world trade following the Asian crisis. Besides various export facilitating measures announced by the Government, significant gains in selected sectors like textiles, engineering goods, electronics goods, chemicals, leather leather manufactures, ores minerals and petroleum products also contributed to this strengthening of exports. The exchange rate of Rupee remained relatively stable in real effective terms during 2000-01 suggesting a broad retention of the competitiveness of Indias exports in global market. ITEMWISE DISTRUBITON OF COMPOSITION Engineering exports now consist of a wide variety of items such as iron steel, machine tools, machinery instruments, manufacture of metals, project goods, Ferro alloys, aluminium products, transport equipment, residual engineering items, management technical services. During the initial period, Indias engineering exports consisted mainly of steel, pig iron based items, consumer products like casting, buckets, drum, tubes, trunks, hand tools, builders hardware, lock, pad lock, steel furniture, aluminium, brass copper utensils, electric fans and batteries. However, over the years there has been substantial diversification in the export of engineering products, especially after the mid seventies. A close look at the change in composition of engineering exports during 1960-61 to 1996-97 highlights the forward march of engineering industry exports. Table 3.a and Graph 1 depict the changing composition of Indian engineering exports during 1960-61 to 1996-97. TABLE 3.a CHANGE IN COMPOSITION OF ENGINEERING EXPORTS (1960-61 TO 1996-97) (US$ Million) Items Year (1960-61) % Share Year (2007-08) % Share Capital Goods 2.70 12.46 1,370.83 32.69 Primary Metals 6.69 30.85 1,406.56 33.54 Non-ferrous Metals 2.89 13.33 309.53 7.38 Consumer Durables 9.40 43.35 928.03 22.13 Management Consultancy Services 0 0 177.54 4.23 Total 21.68 100 4,192.49 100 GRAPH 1 Table 3.b exhibits the percentage of share of major engineering goods, as per the latest data available for 2004-05 TABLE 3.b SHARE OF ENGINEERING GOODS Sr. No. Engineering Goods % Share 01 Machinery and Instrument 21.30 02 Manufacture of Metals 20.00 03 Transport Equipments 17.2 04 Iron Steel bar and primary and semi finished iron steel 22.14 05 Electronics 10.7 06 Non-ferrous metals 4.6 07 Aluminium products 1.10 08 Ferro Alloys 1.11 09 Project Goods 0.29 10 ‘Machine tools 0.98 11 Residual engineering goods 0.42 From table 3 it is understood that there has been marked shift and significant changes in the composition of the engineering exports in last four decades. The most significant change has been in the export of capital goods whose share in total engineering exports increased from 12.46 per cent in 1960-61 to 32.69 per cent in 1996-97, which is a symptom of the marked progress by engineering industry. Thus, capital goods sector presently occupies a pride position. The primary steel which accounted for 30.85 per cent in 1960-61 has marginally increased to 33.54 per cent in 1996-97. On the other hand, the share of non ferrous metals has come down from 13.33 per cent to 7.38 per cent. More significantly, the share of consumer durables has declined from 43.35 per cent in 1960-61 to 22.13 per cent in 1996-97. Lastly, the management and consultancy services that account for zero percentage in 1960-61 has started making its presence felt by contributing around 4.23 per cent in the year 1996-97 . All these show the increasing significance of capital goods exports as well as management and consultancy services, while the significance of non ferrous metals and consumer durables have been reduced. DESTINATION OF INDIAN ENGINEERING EXPORTS Indian engineering products are exported to a large number of developed and developing countries of the world. A close look at the destination of Indian engineering exports shows that there has been substantial diversification in the destination of exports. Up to 1980s, the major destinations of Indias emerging exports were Asia and Africa. However, in the early eighties, the trend has changed substantially with share of Europe, Australia and North America increasing substantially. During the eighties, East European countries emerged as a big market for Indian engineering products, whose share has declined after the disintegration of erstwhile Soviet Union. Fortunately, this shortfall has been compensated by larger exports to developed countries. Region wise / Country wise export of Indian engineering goods between 1956-57 and 2004-2005 is shown in Table 4 and Graph 2. TABLE 4 DESTINATION OF ENGINEERING EXPORTS : REGIONWISE (1956-57 TO 2004-2005) (Rupees Crore) Region 1956-57 1990-91 1998-99 2004-05 Asia 3.76 (73.9) 975 (27.9) 5681 (30.8) 22041.68 (29.87) Africa 1.2 (23.3) 351 (10.0) 1410 (7.64) 3195.21 (4.33) Europe Zero 1410 (40.3) 4017.07 (21.7) 16680.99 (22.60) N. America Zero 40.00 308.34 (1.67) 834.82 (1.13) Total (incl. Others) 5.16 (100) 3500 (100) 18444.14 (100) 73800.39 (100) Note:- Figures in the brackets show percentage shares Table 4 reveals that there is a steady decline of Indian engineering exports to Asia and Africa from 96.2 per cent in 1956-57 to 34.20 per cent in 2004-05. At the same time, engineering exports to Europe and North America which were less than once per cent in the mid fifties now account for 39 per cent. This is a pointer to the diversification of market for Indian engineering products and growing acceptability of our products in he developed world. The important countries that account for the major chunk of our engineering exports in 2004-05 are: USA (16.4%), UAE (6.60%), UK (5.23%), China (4.80%), Singapore (4.52%), Germany (4.2%), Italy (3.76%), Sri Lanka (2.67%) and Belgium (2.65%). These countries account form more than 50 per cent of Indian engineering exports. Estimate of Indias Exports of Thrust Products in Thrust Markets (Unit: US$ Mn.) Thrust Markets 2004-05 2009-10 Country Imports India Exports Indias Est. Share % India Exports Indias Est. Share % Key Thrust Markets North America USA 313.703 990 0.32% 2.359 0.36% Canada 54.333 25 0.05% 56 0.07% Mexico 12.955 30 0.23% 65 0.36% Europe Germany 116.342 261 0.22% 619 0.27% France 69.292 71 0.10% 172 0.14% UK 84.428 418 0.5% 934 0.61% Italy 48.551 134 0.28% 277 0.32% Asia China 49.345 446 0.90% 1.836 0.80% Japan 24.49 93 0.38% 261 0.58% Thailand 10.173 133 1.30% 278 1.45% UAE 9.313 321 3.45% 1.155 4.43% Singapore 5.016 114 2.27% 322 2.71% Sub-total: Key Thrust Markets 797.941 3.037 8.330 Other Thrust Markets 95.477 326 0.34% 880 0.46% Grand Total: Thrust Product Exports to Thrust Markets 893.418 3.362 0.38% 9.210 0.49% Indias Exports of Thrust Products in other non-thrust markets 1.460 3.809 Indias Exports of Thrust Products to the World (Thrust + non-thrust markets) 4.822 13.019 Est. Total Exports of Engg. Products from India 13.296 27.415 Share of Thrust Product Exports to Thrust Markets in Indias Engg. Exports 25.29% 33.59% ENGINEERING SERVICES THE EYE OF OPPORTUNITY Indian IT industry was evolving -from a low-cost, back office, destination into a preferred supplier of high-end engineering services. And firing the imagination of the Indian IT industry is the huge market opportunity that makes a compelling business case for companies to seriously evaluate the engineering services domain. With the market potential for outsourced engineering services estimated at between $ 7 and 12 billion, Indian vendors have barely scratched the surface. The value of work currently undertaken by these players is estimated to be a mere $ 400-500 million, according to Nasscom. Demystifying engineering services In simple terms, engineering services augment or manage processes associated with the creation of a product or service, as well as those associated with a product or asset. This not only includes design elements of the product or services itself, but also infrastructure, equipment and processes engaged in manufacturing or delivering them. Engineering services outsourcing is the practice of sourcing some or all of a engineering services find applications in verticals such as automative, aerospace, minerals and metals, FB, plastics and paper. â€Å"Newer verticals are likely to emerge strongly in near future. These include utilities, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment. Showing the way Four categories of stakeholders are seeking to exploit the opportunities thrown up by the engineering services market. Engineering services is not just design. Engineering services offers end-to-end services, including conversion, drafting, modelling for product definition, modelling for analysis, product design, analysis, prototyping, testing and validation, tooling and even limited manufacturing of prototypes. PLM refers to the entire product life cycle management after production to see if there are bugs or errors. The errors are then removed. Industry estimates peg the market potential for process engineering, asset management and industrial embedded systems at over $5 billion, taking the total outsourced / offshore market potential to a whopping $ 12 billion. Automative design accounts for a bulk 65-70 per cent of the market, followed by aerospace at 15 16 per cent, and electric/electronic machinery design at 10-12 per cent. Other key vertical segments considered good targets for outsourced engineering services include utilities and pharmaceutical companies. The biggest opportunity within engineering services is the automative segment where the potential offshore outsourceable components close to $ 4. 8 billion. This is followed by aerospace segment with a market potential of $1 billion, construction and heavy machinery space where the potential stands at $ 800 million. The opportunity in the medical segment is about $ 300 million. India leads the outsourcing market when it comes to auto-sourcing with 24 per cent of auto manufacturing giving it the thumbs up for outsourcing. Bigger automotive markets such as China and Mexico lag behind at 15 per cent and 13 per cent respectively, while other locations such as Brazil, Thailand and Philippines corner less than 10 per cent, of the actual outsourcing markets. Opportunities and challenges India is a significant player in the overall offshorable outsourcing market for engineering services in the Asia-Pacific region today, China and Taiwan could emerge as formidable rivals in coming years. Indias advantage lies in its reputation and ability to deliver technology services to global customers at great value and high speed. India also has a tremendous pool of engineering and scientific talent, which can be tapped for the sector. Access to cutting -edge technology through global alliances with product companies, availability of prototyping and testing facilities, and sourcing domain skills through collaboration with the domestic industry are some of the advantages Indian vendors will have. Engineering services involves significant investments in software and design tools, making more investment intensive than vanilla IT services Some areas of application Product Engineering The services offered extend from the early stages of idea generation, through engineering analysis and design, virtual simulation, documentation and conversion, prototyping and production, testing, knowledge based engineering and PLM solutions. Process Engineering Process engineering entails the use of computational tools and techniques at the plant design stage to optimise expenditures Capital or Operational and achieve efficient production of products and services. Plant automation Plant automation broadly comprises engineering design and development of automation systems that facilitate the management and execution of day-to-day production activities and their associated information to be shared across the organisation in real-time for analysis and decision purposes. Specific services offered include Control System Integration; Process and Production Optimisation; Manufacturing Execution Systems. Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) Traditionally asset management services have been restricted to managing the life-cycle cost of assets. However, technology now enables integration of maintenance activities and functions with plant control systems, MES, CAD/CAM, ERP and SCM. Today, EAM services comprise product implementation, monitoring and maintenance, process assessment and re-engineering, interface development and system integration. EAM helps companies manage physical assets production plants, capital equipment, vehicle fleets, and facilities complexes over the complete asset life cycle. In conjunction with powerful reporting and analysis, EAM capabilities enable you to reduce operating costs, better manage capital expenditure, and improve asset utilisation. PROBLEMS OF ENGINERING EXPORTS So far as the paper has dealt with a general scenario of the engineering goods exports that does not mean that engineering goods exports are free of problems. Like any other item of export, engineering goods are also facing a number of problems, prominent among them are discussed below. Stiff Competition Indian engineering exports have been facing stiff competition from other countries. China, Mexico, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Korea which have emerged as the fastest growing engineering export countries provide formidable challenges and fierce competition to Indian engineering exports. And recently, the South East Asian financial crisis which was under way since mid 1997 had put our exports at receiving end due to overvaluation of Indian Rupees, curtailment of Indian import by these countries (this is because 15% of total engineering exports is accounted for by these countries). Therefore, it has reduced the competitive edge of Indian exports in the world market. However, recently there has been tremendous improvement in export performance. This may be attributed to the revival of South East Asian economies, increase in the world export demand, etc. Technological problems Technological competitiveness of Indian engineering goods sector is low. Some of the Indian exporters are still at disadvantage in International market vis-a-vis their counterparts in terms of product design, finish, specific features, performance and raw materials substitutes. India can be product of having the second larges scientific and technical manpower in the world. But his advantage due to high availability of quality engineers and scientists is lost partly due to brain drain and partly due to stagnation of skill sets of scientists and engineers within India. Although Indian firms are capable of achieving high levels of precision, they are unable to provide high quality products due to lack of supporting process, technologies such as precision measuring, material engineering and process control. High cost of Industrial Inputs The engineering industry mainly uses raw materials of domestic origin. The raw materials price index has risen faster than the machinery price index. It is difficult of engineering manufacturers to pass on the rise in prices to the consumers thereby impacting their profitability. Similarly the quality of raw materials is also not up to the international standards and it in turn affects the quality of final products. Barriers Another major problem is protectionism by developed countries. Developed countries have always tried to block the products from developing countries through barriers both tariff and non tariff. Recent hike in the tariff of Indian steel by the US is a case in point. This will definitely affect the steel exports from India. Infrastructural Bottlenecks A recent study by CII and World Bank has found that although India has the advantage of cheap labour, this advantage is nullified by infrastructural bottlenecks. Infrastructural bottlenecks are the major problem hindering both domestic and exports production. The quality of infrastructure (transport, communication, and power) is poor, thus affecting competitive delivery schedule and increasing operating costs. The delivery time of locally made engineering goods in many cases is 1.5 to 2 times longer than in industrialized countries. Companies tend to lose orders on delivery schedule. The inland transport is slow although the rail road density is the highest in the world. The cost of electric power is comparable to that in other nations, but reliability is poor. Overall infrastructure inadequacies are estimated to translate into 5 per cent cost disadvantage of Indian engineering manufacturers vis-à  -vis foreign manufacturers. High Transaction Cost The export transaction costs for Indian engineering goods industry are among the highest in the world. Heavy transactions costs not only increase the prices of the final export products, but also result in inordinate delay in export fulfilment, thus affecting export competitiveness. According to available studies, total cost of transaction of engineering goods in India works out to be around 10 per cent of total export earnings. STRATEGY FOR EXPORT PROMOTION In the light of the discussion of numerous problems faced by engineering exports, it is necessary to evolve a scientific strategy, which should aim not only at consolidating the gains achieved so far but also in promoting higher exports of engineering products. Formulation of such strategy will enable engineering industry to sustain the extreme competition in international market. Various measures envisaged under this strategy are listed below: Engineering EPZs and SEZs There is strong need for establishing separate engineering exports processing zones and export oriented units. A few engineering items with highest potential have to be selected for development in these special processing zones. The locations of the export processing zones are to be identified where there is a large concentration of these items. We have already established general export processing zones as well as agricultural export processing zones. Establishment of separate zones for engineering products will enable them to overcome the problems of infrastructure and raw material shortage. In addition it can attract more foreign direct investment into the production and export of engineering products. Technological Up gradation Up gradation of technology and modernization of plant and equipment are prime requirement for export oriented units. New industrial policy (1991) and various announcements there after as well as export import policy provide a number of incentives such as automatic permission for foreign technology agreements in high priority industries, no permission needed for hiring of foreign technicians, foreign testing of indigenously developed technologies, liberal import of capital goods, raw materials and components, liberal import of second hand capital goods with a minimum life of 5 years without license etc. Further, a number of other steps like offering these units a deferred payment facility for purchase of capital goods and machinery (as this would reduce much of the burden of modernization), partnership with technical institutions like IITs for product adaptation and technological up gradation, accreditation of testing laboratories in India by overseas agencies to enable them to offer test inspection certificate / marking of products etc. can be thought of. Selectivity approach While most of our competitors export a few selected products, we have concentrated on too much products. For instance, China, Mexico, Korea, Hungary, Czechoslovakia which have emerged as fastest growing engineering export countries, it is observed that 85 per cent of engineering export were contributed by fewer product categories as compared to that of India. In 2002, the number of categories contributing to 85 per cent of engineering export for these countries was Mexico 10, Hungary 13, Korea 18 and China 20 while that of India was 26. Facing numerous problems due to lack of raw material and infrastructural deficiencies, most of engineering units can hardly match overseas requirement in terms of technology, quality and cost. In the light of the above, we must concentrate on selected or thrust products and give them a full policy package and incentives and other contemporary inputs required for exports production. The Engineering Export Promotion Council Strategy Paper for growth to engineering exports from 2005-06 to 2009-2010 prepared by A. F. Ferguson Co. had identified 19 engineering products as thrust products for export development. These include : commercial vehicles (luxury buse

The Impact of Negro Spirituals on Todays Music Essay -- Exploratory E

The Impact of Negro Spirituals on Today's Music I believe that it would be difficult for someone to make the argument that Negro spirituals have not been influential in the field of music, much less the realm of gospel music today. However, church members often do not make the time to reflect on the heritage of a hymn or song to realize the meaning that the particular piece has carried with it through the decades, even centuries. With this in mind, I am going to look at the history of the Negro spiritual and then at specific hymns in the 1991 Baptist Hymnal, published by Convention Press, to see just what impact the Negro spiritual has had on today's church music. I believe that we will find that these songs have had a significant affect on our music, and that without it, we would not have many of the hymns that are now considered standard church music. An important observation regarding African music comes from Richard Jobson in The Golden Trade or a Discovery of the River Gambra [Gambia] and the Golden Trade of the Aethiopians. Although published in 1623, we learn a lot about the nature of African music when we read: "There is without a doubt, no people on the earth more naturally affected to the sound of musicke than these people; which the principal persons [that is, the kings and chiefs] do hold as an ornament of their state, so as when wee come to see them their musicke will seldome be wanting" (qtd. in Southern 4). By understanding that music was of utmost importance to the original slaves, we understand how the reverence of music was handed down through the many generations of slaves on the plantations. It is apparent that music was the highest form of expression for Africans, as well as... ...ital Schomburg African American Women Writers in the 19th Century Works Consulted Fisher, Miles Mark. Negro Songs in the United States. New York: Russell & Russell, 1968. Forbis, Wesley L. The Baptist Hymnal. Nashville: Convention Press, 1991. "God's gonna trouble the water: The essence of African American spirituality." U.S. Catholic. Nov. 1995. ProQuest. Online. 3 Aug. 1998. Maultsby, Portia K. Afro-American Religious Music: A Study in Musical Diversity. The Papers of the Hymn Society of America. 35. Springfield: The Hymn Society of America, n.d. Southern, Eileen. Readings In Black American Music. New York: WW Norton, 1971. ---. The Music of Black Americans: A History. New York: WW Norton, 1971. Thurman, Howard. Deep River and the Negro Spiritual Speaks of Life and Death. Richmond: Friends United Press, 1975.

The Golden Age

Many parents and lawmakers argue that enforcing a law against physical discipline such as spanking would be much too difficult to enforce. It would essentially be placing police in everyone's living rooms as they would need to investigate all cases of spanking, no matter how minor. Police officers already have their hands full dealing with adults who beat, torture, and severely abuse their children. (spanking should not be illegal) Parents are not stupid, they know the difference between abuse nd spanking and can safely punish their child without falling into the classification of child abuse.This is a valid argument, law enforcement really couldn't investigate every claim of corporal punishment. However by making spanking illegal it would be easier to get help to children who are abused. Most of the time spanking isn't severe enough to cause harm to the child. But in some cases where the parent is under a lot of stress or under the influence of drugs or alcohol spanking can and does cause harm to the child, not Just physically but emotionally as well.By making it illegal it gives law enforcement the opportunity to uncover cases of real abuse when before they couldn't investigate because it was Just spanking. Not knowing to what degree of force is being used against the child. Many parents and lawmakers argue that enforcing a law against physical discipline such as spanking would be much too difficult to enforce. It would essentially be placing police in everyone's living rooms as they would need to investigate all cases of spanking, no matter how minor.Police officers already have their hands full dealing with adults who beat, torture, and severely abuse their children. (spanking should not be illegal) Parents are not stupid, they know the difference between abuse and spanking and can safely punish their child without falling into the classification of child abuse. This is a valid argument, law enforcement really couldn't investigate every claim of corporal pu nishment. However by making spanking illegal it would be easier to get help to children who are bused.Most of the time spanking isn't severe enough to cause harm to the child. But in some cases where the parent is under a lot of stress or under the influence of drugs or alcohol spanking can and does cause harm to the child, not Just physically but emotionally as well. By making it illegal it gives law enforcement the opportunity to uncover cases of real abuse when before they couldn't investigate because it was just spanking. Not knowing to what degree of force is being used against the child. stress or under the intluence ot drugs or alcohol spanking can and does cause abused. Most ot the time spanking isn't severe enough to cause harm to the child every claim ot corporal punishment. However by making spanking illegal it would be child without talling into the classification ot chil d abuse. This is a valid argument, should not be illegal) Parents are not stupid, they know the ditt erence between abuse officers already nave their hands tull dealing witn adults who beat, torture, and force is being used against the child.

Best Character Analysis Nick Carraway â€The Great Gatsby

Best Character Analysis Nick Carraway –The Great Gatsby SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Nick Carraway is The Great Gatsby’s narrator, but he isn’t the protagonist (main character). This makes Nick himself somewhat tricky to observe, since we see the whole novel through his eyes. How can you watch the narrator? This difficulty is compounded by the fact that Nick is an unreliable narrator – basically, a narrator who doesn’t always tell us the truth about what’s happening. In this post we will explore what we objectively know about Nick, what he does in the novel, his famous lines, common essay topics/discussion topics about Nick, and finally some FAQs about Mr. Carraway. Article Roadmap Nickas a character Nick's background Actions in the novel Character Analysis Quotes about and byNick Nick as a narrator Nick as a character FAQ clarifyingconfusing points about Nick Quick Note on Our Citations Our citation format in this guide is (chapter.paragraph). We're using this system since there are many editions of Gatsby, so using page numbers would only work for students with our copy of the book. To find a quotation we cite via chapter and paragraph in your book, you can either eyeball it (Paragraph 1-50: beginning of chapter; 50-100: middle of chapter; 100-on: end of chapter), or use the search function if you're using an online or eReader version of the text. Nick Carraway's Background Nick grew up in the â€Å"middle West,† (what we call the Midwest), in a wealthy family that was â€Å"something of a clan† (1.5). His family made their money from a wholesale hardware business his grandfather’s brother began after sending a substitute to fight for him in the Civil War. Nick attended Yale, like his father, and then fought in WWI. Upon his return, he found the Midwest incredibly boring and so set off for New York to become a bond salesman: â€Å"I enjoyed the counter-raid so thoroughly that I came back restless. Instead of being the warm center of the world the middle-west now seemed like the ragged edge of the universe- so I decided to go east and learn the bond business† (1.6). Of course, we later find out that Nick’s also getting away from a woman who expects that they’re getting married, but Nick downplays this fact in his narration, which is one of our clues to his dishonesty. To see how Nick's background intersects with the stories of the other characters in the novel, check out ourGreat Gatsby timeline. Nick's Actions in the Novel This is a summary of everything Nick does during the novel, leaving out flashbacks he hears from other characters. (For a complete summary of the plot, check out our book summary!) At the beginning of The Great Gatsby, Nick Carraway takes up residence in West Egg, in a small house next to Gatsby’s enormous mansion. The year is 1922, the stock market is booming, and Nick has found work as a bond salesman. In Chapter 1, he is invited to his cousin Daisy Buchanan’s home to have dinner with her and her husband Tom, an old college acquaintance of his. There he meets Jordan Baker, Daisy’s friend and a professional golfer. In Chapter 2, while hanging out with Tom he ends up being dragged first to George Wilson’s garage to meet Tom’s mistress Myrtle Wilson, and then to the apartment Tom keeps for Myrtle in Manhattan. They invite over a bunch of friends and a drunken party ensues. Nick witnesses some of Tom’s ugliest behavior, including his physical abuse of Myrtle. In Chapter 3, Nick is invited to attend one of Jay Gatsby’s famous parties. There, he finally meets Gatsby, and also sees Jordan again. After seeing Jordan again at that party, they begin to date, and also does his best to win over her old Aunt, who controls her money. Once he starts dating Jordan he vows to stop sending weekly letters to the woman back in the Midwest. (Though, in typical Nick fashion, he never confirms that he stops sending the letters.) He also mentions a brief affair with a woman in his office that he lets fizzle out. After meeting Gatsby in Chapter 3 they begin spending time together. In Chapter 4 they drive to Manhattan together. At first he’s pretty wary of Gatsby and his story. This wariness of Gatsby is compounded by Nick’s poor (and very anti-Semitic!) impression of Meyer Wolfsheim, one of Gatsby’s associates. Later in Chapter 4, Nick meets up with Jordan in the plaza hotel and she tells him about Daisy and Gatsby’s romantic history (which she heard all about at the previous party). Nick agrees to arrange a meeting between Daisy and Gatsby, which occurs in Chapter 5. In Chapter 6, Nick goes to Gatsby’s house and witnesses an awkward exchange between Gatsby, a couple named Sloane, and Tom Buchanan. The trio had stopped by Gatsby’s house and Gatsby misreads how serious they are about having dinner together. Later, Tom and Daisy attend one of Gatsby’s parties. Tom is immediately suspicious about where Gatsby gets his money while Daisy has a bad time, looking down her nose at the affair. Gatsby confides in Nick afterwards that he wants to repeat his past with Daisy. In Chapter 7, Nick is invited along to a lunch party at Tom and Daisy Buchanan’s house, along with Gatsby and Jordan. Gatsby is hoping Daisy will tell Tom that she never loved him and is leaving him for Gatsby, but starts to feel nervous doing that in Tom’s house. Daisy is anxious as well and suggests they all go to Manhattan. Nick rides to Manhattan with Tom and Jordan, in Gatsby’s yellow car. They stop by the Wilson’s garage, where he learns that George has discovered Myrtle’s affair, but not the man she is cheating on him with. In Manhattan, the group rents a room at the Plaza hotel. A bunch of secrets come out, including the fact that Tom knows Gatsby is a bootlegger. Daisy tries to say she never loved Tom but can’t stand by the statement, Tom, satisfied he’s won, tells Gatsby to take Daisy back home in his yellow car while he drives back with Nick and Jordan. Perhaps the least subtle car in the history of cars. On the way back, they come along Myrtle Wilson’s death scene: she has been hit by the yellow car. Later that night, Nick stays outside of the Buchanans’ house while waiting for a cab back to West Egg, too disgusted with their behavior to go inside. He sees Gatsby waiting outside – he wants to make sure Daisy is alright. Meanwhile, Nick spots Tom and Daisy inside looking like co-conspirators. In Chapter 8, Nick goes to work but can’t concentrate. Jordan calls him to say where she’s staying, but he’s disgusted she doesn’t seem shaken by Myrtle’s death and they fight and break up. Nick later spends time with Gatsby in his mansion and learns his whole life story. The next day, Gatsby is shot and killed by George Wilson (and George kills himself). In Chapter 9, Nick struggles to arrange a funeral for Gatsby, which in the end is only attended by Gatsby’s father and Owl Eyes. Disgusted with the morally lawless life in the East, he decides to retreat back home to the Midwest. Key Nick Carraway Quotes In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since. "Whenever you feel like criticizing any one," he told me, "just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had." (1.1-2) The first lines establish Nick as thoughtful, thorough, privileged, and judgmental. This line also sets the tone for the first few pages, where Nick tells us about his background and tries to encourage the reader to trust his judgment. While he comes off as thoughtful and observant, we also get the sense he is judgmental and a bit snobby. To see more analysis of why the novel begins how it does, and what Nick's father's advice means for him as a character and as a narrator, read our article on the beginning ofThe Great Gatsby. When I came back from the East last autumn I felt that I wanted the world to be in uniform and at a sort of moral attention forever; I wanted no more riotous excursions with privileged glimpses into the human heart. Only Gatsby, the man who gives his name to this book, was exempt from my reaction- Gatsby, who represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn. (1.4) Another quote from the first few pages of the novel, this line sets up the novel’s big question: why does Nick become so close to Gatsby, given that Gatsby represents everything he hates? It also hints to the reader that Nick will come to care about Gatsby deeply while everyone else will earn his â€Å"unaffected scorn.† While this doesn’t give away the plot, it does help the reader be a bit suspicious of everyone but Gatsby going into the story. Every one suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known. (3.171) This is likely the moment when you start to suspect Nick doesn’t always tell the truth – if everyone â€Å"suspects† themselves of one of the cardinal virtues (the implication being they aren’t actually virtuous), if Nick says he’s honest, perhaps he’s not? Furthermore, if someone has to claim that they are honest, that often suggests that they do things that aren’t exactly trustworthy. Suddenly I wasn't thinking of Daisy and Gatsby any more but of this clean, hard, limited person who dealt in universal skepticism and who leaned back jauntily just within the circle of my arm. A phrase began to beat in my ears with a sort of heady excitement: "There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy and the tired." (4.164) Nick’s interactions with Jordan are some of the only places where we get a sense of any vulnerability or emotion from Nick. In particular, Nick seems quite attracted to Jordan and being with her makes a phrase â€Å"beat† in his ears with â€Å"heady excitement.† If there are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy, and the tired, it would appear Nick is happy to be the pursuer at this particular moment. "They're a rotten crowd," I shouted across the lawn. "You're worth the whole damn bunch put together." (8.45) This line, which comes after Myrtle’s death and Tom, Daisy, and Jordan’s cold reaction to it, establishes that Nick has firmly come down on Gatsby’s side in the conflict between the Buchanans and Gatsby. It also shows Nick’s disenchantment with the whole wealthy east coast crowd and also that, at this point, he is devoted to Gatsby and determined to protect his legacy. This hints to us that our once seemingly impartial narrator is now seeing Gatsby more generously than he sees others. Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter- tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . And one fine morning- - So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past. (9.153-4) This is Nick’s conclusion to his story, which can be read as cynical, hopeful, or realistic, depending on how you interpret it. You can read in detail about these lines in our article about the novel’s ending. Nick Carraway Character Analysis Nick is the narrator, but he is not omniscient (he can’t see everything), and he’s also very human and flawed. In other words, he’s an unreliable narrator, sometimes because he’s not present for a certain event, other times because he presents the story out of order, and finally because he sometimes obscures the truth. (It takes most students two reads of the novel to even catch the fact that Nick has a woman waiting for him back in the Midwest.) Because of his unreliable narrator status, the central questions many teachers try to get at with Nick is to explore his role in the story, how the story would be different without his narration, and how he compares to Gatsby. In short, you often have to analyze Nick as a character, not the narrator. This can be tricky because you have to compare Nick’s narration with his dialogue, his actions, and how he chooses to tell the story. You also have to realize that when you’re analyzing the other characters, you’re doing that based on information from Nick, which may or may not be reliable. Basically, nothing we hear in the novel can be completely accurate since it comes through the (necessarily) flawed point of view of a single person. The best way to analyze Nick himself is to choose a few passages to close read, and use what you observe from close-reading to build a larger argument. Pay close attention to moments, especially Nick’s encounters with Jordan, that give you a glimpse at Nick’s emotions and vulnerabilities. We will demonstrate this in action below! Pictured: the rose-tinted glasses Nick apparently starts to see Gatsby through. Nick as the Narrator These first questions analyze Nick's role as a narrator. Why Is Nick the Narrator and Not Gatsby? Since Nick gives a roughly chronological account of the summer of 1922, we get to see the development of Gatsby from mysterious party-giver to love-struck dreamer to tragic figure (who rose from humble roots and became rich, all in a failed attempt to win over Daisy). If Gatsby was the narrator, it would be harder for Fitzgerald to show that progression, unless Gatsby relayed his life story way out of order, which might have been hard to accomplish from Gatsby’s POV. The novel would have also been a much more straightforward story, probably with less suspense: Gatsby was born poor in South Dakota, became friends with Dan Cody, learned how to act rich, lost Cody’s inheritance, fell in love with Daisy, fought in the war, became determined to win her back, turned to crime. In short, Fitzgerald could have told the same story, but it would have had much less suspense and mystery, plus it would have been much harder to relay the aftermath of Gatsby’s death. Unless the point of view abruptly switched after Gatsby was shot, the reader would have no idea what exactly happened to Gatsby, what happened to George Wilson, and finally wouldn’t be able to see Gatsby’s funeral. Plus, with a narrator other than Gatsby himself, it’s easier to analyze Gatsby as a character. Nick is very observant, and he is able to notice things about Gatsby, like the way he misses social cues, subtle shifts in his mood, and even smaller details like his arresting smile. We probably wouldn’t have seen these facets of Gatsby if Gatsby himself were telling the story. Finally, since Nick is both â€Å"within and without† the New York elite, he is an excellent ticket in to the reader – he can both introduce us to certain facets of that world while also sharing in much of our shock and skepticism. Nick is just like the â€Å"new student at school† or â€Å"new employee† trope that so many movies and TV shows use as a way to introduce viewers into a new world. With Gatsby as narrator, it would be harder to observe all the details of the New York social elite. Is Nick Carraway an Unreliable Narrator? In many ways, Nick is an unreliable narrator: he’s dishonest about his own shortcomings (downplaying his affairs with other women, as well as his alcohol use), and he doesn’t tell us everything he knows about the characters upfront (for example, he waits until Chapter 6 to tell us the truth about Gatsby’s origins, even though he knows the whole time he’s telling the story, and even then glosses over unflattering details like the details of Gatsby’s criminal enterprises), and he’s often harsh in his judgments (and additionally anti-Semitic, racist, and misogynistic). As a reader, you should be skeptical of Nick because of how he opens the story, namely that he spends a few pages basically trying to prove himself a reliable source (see our beginning summary for more on this), and later, how he characterizes himself as â€Å"one of the few honest people I have ever known† (3.171). After all, does an honest person really have to defend their own honesty? However, despite how judgmental he is, Nick is a very observant person, especially in regard to other people, their body language, and social situations. For example, in Chapter 6, Nick immediately senses Gatsby isn’t really welcome at the Sloanes’ house before Tom says it outright. Nick is also able to accurately predict Daisy won’t leave Tom at the end of Chapter 1, after observing her standing in the door with Tom: â€Å"I was confused and a little disgusted as I drove away. It seemed to me that the thing for Daisy to do was to rush out of the house, child in arms- but apparently there were no such intentions in her head† (1.150). If only Jay could have seen Daisy’s intentions so clearly! We also come away with a very clear understanding of the messy climax (Myrtle’s death at the hands of Daisy in Gatsby’s car, George Wilson’s psychological decay and murder/suicide of Gatsby), since Nick tells the events from his point of view but also from Michaelis’s, who owns a coffee shop near George Wilson’s garage. In short, Nick delegates to another narrator when he knows he doesn’t have enough information, and makes sure the reader comes away with a clear understanding of the fundamental events of the tragedy. In short, you shouldn’t believe everything Nick says, especially his snobbier asides, but you can take his larger characterizations and version of events seriously. But as you read, try to separate Nick’s judgments about people from his observations! Is Nick Actually the Hero of the Story? A hero, or protagonist, is generally the character whose actions propel the story forward, who the story focuses on, and they are usually tested or thwarted by an antagonist. So in the most traditional sense, Gatsby is the hero – he drives the action of the story by getting Jordan and Nick to reintroduce him to Daisy (which leads to the affair, confrontation in Manhattan, the death of Myrtle, and then the murder-suicide), he goes up against an antagonist of sorts (Tom), and the story ends with his death. Gatsby’s story is thus a cynical take on the traditional rags-to-riches story. However, some people see the protagonist as also the person who changes the most in the course of a story. In this case, you might argue that since Nick changes a lot during the novel (see below), while Gatsby during the story itself doesn’t change dramatically (his big character changes come before the chronology of the novel), that Nick is in fact the protagonist. Nick’s story is a take on the coming of age narrative – he even has an important birthday (30) in the novel! Basically, if you think the protagonist is the character who propels the action of the story, and someone who has an antagonist, it’s Gatsby. But if you think the protagonist is the person who changes the most, you could argue Nick is the hero. Nick as a Character We never get a physical description of Nick, so don't blame yourself if your mental image of him is bland and amorphous like this fellow. How Does Nick Change Throughout the Novel? Nick starts out naà ¯ve and hopeful about his summer, and his future in New York more generally, as revealed through his narration (this optimism about his own life is mixed up with his sharp, snarky characterizations of others, which remain mostly the same all through the novel). And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees- just as things grow in fast movies- I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer. There was so much to read for one thing and so much fine health to be pulled down out of the young breath-giving air. (1.-12) (emphasis added) As the summer goes on, he meets someone wildly more hopeful than he is – Gatsby, of course – and he begins to be more cynical in how he views his own life in comparison, realizing that there are certain memories and feelings he can no longer access. Through all he said, even through his appalling sentimentality, I was reminded of something- an elusive rhythm, a fragment of lost words, that I had heard somewhere a long time ago. For a moment a phrase tried to take shape in my mouth and my lips parted like a dumb man's, as though there was more struggling upon them than a wisp of startled air. But they made no sound and what I had almost remembered was uncommunicable forever. (6.135) (emphasis added) Finally, after the deaths of Myrtle, Gatsby, and Wilson, as well as the passing of his thirtieth birthday, Nick is thoroughly disenchanted, cynical, regretful, even angry, as he tries to protect Gatsby’s legacy in the face of an uncaring world, as well as a renewed awareness of his own mortality. "I'm thirty," I said. "I'm five years too old to lie to myself and call it honor." She didn't answer. Angry, and half in love with her, and tremendously sorry, I turned away. (9.125-6) After Gatsby's death the East was haunted for me like that, distorted beyond my eyes' power of correction. (9.127) On the last night, with my trunk packed and my car sold to the grocer, I went over and looked at that huge incoherent failure of a house once more. On the white steps an obscene word, scrawled by some boy with a piece of brick, stood out clearly in the moonlight and I erased it, drawing my shoe raspingly along the stone. (9.150) In short, as much as this is a novel about Gatsby’s failed dream/love for Daisy, you could also argue it tells the story of Nick’s loss of hope and innocence as he enters his 30s. How Does Nick Feel About Gatsby? Why Does He Come to Like Him so Much? Nick goes from initially taken with Gatsby, to skeptical, to admiring, even idealizing him, over the course of the book. When he first meets Gatsby in Chapter 3, he is drawn in by his smile and immediately senses a peer and friend, before of course Gatsby reveals himself as THE Jay Gatsby: He smiled understandingly- much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. It faced- or seemed to face- the whole external world for an instant, and then concentrated onyouwith an irresistible prejudice in your favor. It understood you just so far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself and assured you that it had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey. (3.73) In Chapter 4, Nick is highly skeptical of Gatsby’s story about his past, although he is somewhat impressed by the medal from â€Å"little Montenegro† (4.32). He looked at me sideways- and I knew why Jordan Baker had believed he was lying. He hurried the phrase "educated at Oxford," or swallowed it or choked on it as though it had bothered him before. And with this doubt his whole statement fell to pieces and I wondered if there wasn't something a little sinister about him after all. (4.24) He also seems increasingly skeptical after his encounter with Meyer Wolfshiem, who Nick describes very anti-Semitically. When Wolfshiem vouches for Gatsby’s â€Å"fine breeding,† (4.99) Nick seems even more suspicious of Gatsby’s origins. In Chapter 5, as Nick observes the reunion between Gatsby and Daisy, he first sees Gatsby as much more human and flawed (especially in the first few minutes of the encounter, when Gatsby is incredibly awkward), and then sees Gatsby has transformed and â€Å"literally glowed† (5.87). As Nick watches Gatsby blossom in Daisy’s presence, I think Nick himself is won over by Gatsby. Notice how warm Nick’s description is: But there was a change in Gatsby that was simply confounding. He literally glowed; without a word or a gesture of exultation a new well-being radiated from him and filled the little room (5.87) In Chapter 6, Nick honestly and frankly observes how Gatsby is snubbed by the Sloanes, but he seems more like he’s pitying Gatsby than making fun of him. It almost seems like he’s trying to protect Gatsby by cutting off the scene just as Gatsby comes out the door, coat in hand, after the Sloanes have coldly left him behind: Tom and I shook hands, the rest of us exchanged a cool nod and they trotted quickly down the drive, disappearing under the August foliage just as Gatsby with hat and light overcoat in hand came out the front door. (6.59) By Chapter 7, during the confrontation in the hotel, Nick is firmly on Gatsby’s side, to the point that he is elated when Gatsby reveals that he did, in fact, attend Oxford but didn’t graduate: I wanted to get up and slap him on the back. I had one of those renewals of complete faith in him that I'd experienced before. (7.221) As the rest of the novel plays out, Nick becomes more admiring of Gatsby, even as he comes to dislike the Buchanans (and Jordan, by extension) more and more. Why exactly Nick becomes so taken with Gatsby is, I think, up to the reader. In my reading, Nick, as someone who rarely steps outside of social boundaries and rarely gets â€Å"carried away† with love or emotion (see how coldly he ends not one but three love affairs in the book!), is admiring and even somewhat jealous of Gatsby, who is so determined to build a certain life for himself that he manages to transform the poor James Gatz into the infamous, wealthy Jay Gatsby. On the last night, with my trunk packed and my car sold to the grocer, I went over and looked at that huge incoherent failure of a house once more. On the white steps an obscene word, scrawled by some boy with a piece of brick, stood out clearly in the moonlight and I erased it, drawing my shoe raspingly along the stone. (9.150) Gatsby’s fate also becomes entangled with Nick’s own increased cynicism, both about his future and life in New York, so he clings to the memory of Gatsby and becomes determined to tell his story. Is Nick Carraway Gay? At first, this might not seem plausible – Nick dates Jordan during the book (and also admits to a few other love affairs with women) and at one point confesses to being â€Å"half in love with [Jordan].† So why do people think Nick is gay? First of all, consider the odd moment at the end of Chapter 2 that seems to suggest Nick goes home with Mr. McKee: "Come to lunch some day," he suggested, as we groaned down in the elevator. "Where?" "Anywhere." "Keep your hands off the lever," snapped the elevator boy. "I beg your pardon," said Mr. McKee with dignity, "I didn't know I was touching it." "All right," I agreed, "I'll be glad to." . . . I was standing beside his bed and he was sitting up between the sheets, clad in his underwear, with a great portfolio in his hands. "Beauty and the Beast . . . Loneliness . . . Old Grocery Horse . . . Brook'n Bridge . . . ." Then I was lying half asleep in the cold lower level of the Pennsylvania Station, staring at the morning "Tribune" and waiting for the four o'clock train. (2.128-136) Nick’s narration is confused and sporadic as he was quite drunk after the party. However, what we do see – the elevator boy chiding him to â€Å"keep your hands off the lever† (hint hint wink wink nudge nudge), shortly followed by Nick saying â€Å"I was standing beside [Mr. McKee’s bed and he was sitting up between the sheets, clad in his underwear†- seems to pretty strongly suggest a sexual encounter. And in a novel that is so short and carefully constructed, why add this short scene unless it’s supposed to help us understand Nick? Some people see that scene as a confirmation of Nick’s sexual preference, or at least an indication he’s attracted to men as well as women. However, since this was the 1920s, he couldn’t exactly be out and proud, which is why he would never frankly admit to being attracted to men in his sober narration. So instead, as the theory goes, his love for and attraction to for Gatsby is mirrored through a filter of intense admiration. So, using this reading, The Great Gatsby is narrated by a man suffered from unrequited love. Do you have to take this reading as fact? Not at all. But if you’re curious you can check out a fuller write-up of the â€Å"Nick as gay† reading and decide for yourself. Final Questions These are questions students often have about Nick after reading the book, but ones that don’t always come up in classroom discussions or essay topics. Read on if you still have unanswered questions about Nick! Also, be sure to let us know in the comments if you have more questions about Nick! What’s Going on With Nick and Jordan’s Relationship? Do They Actually Like Each Other? Nick says in his opening narration that most people in the east have earned his â€Å"unaffected scorn,† so it’s confusing to see him cozy up to Jordan in the next few chapters (1.4). However, keep in mind that scorn is earned over the course of the novel, and Nick writes the opening narration looking back at everything. So before the tragic conclusion, Nick actually is strongly attracted to Jordan and hasn’t yet realized that her attractive skepticism actually means she can be callous and uncaring. Our quote above from Chapter 4, as Nick finds himself attracted to the â€Å"hard, clean, limited† Jordan, illustrates that strong initial attraction. But post break-up, do they still feel anything for each other? Their break-up scene is really helpful to analyze to answer this question: "Nevertheless you did throw me over," said Jordan suddenly. "You threw me over on the telephone. I don't give a damn about you now but it was a new experience for me and I felt a little dizzy for a while." We shook hands. "Oh, and do you remember- " she added, "- - a conversation we had once about driving a car?" "Why- not exactly." "You said a bad driver was only safe until she met another bad driver? Well, I met another bad driver, didn't I? I mean it was careless of me to make such a wrong guess. I thought you were rather an honest, straightforward person. I thought it was your secret pride." "I'm thirty," I said. "I'm five years too old to lie to myself and call it honor." She didn't answer. Angry, and half in love with her, and tremendously sorry, I turned away. (9.130-136) Jordan, for her part, seems to admit to having genuinely liked Nick when they break up at the end and was quite hurt. And Nick, for once, is a mess of emotions: â€Å"angry† and â€Å"half in love.† So despite Nick’s earlier proclamation that everyone from the east coast is the object of his â€Å"unaffected scorn,† it would seem his attachment to Jordan is a bit more complicated: he’s disgusted by some of her behavior and yet still feels a strong attraction to her, strong enough that he’s angry and sorry during their break-up. Of course, if you subscribe to the â€Å"Nick loves Gatsby† theory you could chalk much of this scene up to repressed desires, especially Nick’s comment about not wanting to lie to himself. Why Does Nick Say â€Å"You’re better than the whole damn bunch of them†? This statement officially marks Nick’s disillusionment with the East Coast, old money crowd. Remember that this line comes after the car accident, and the scene in the hotel just before that, so he’s just seen Daisy and Tom’s ugliest behavior. Nick is proud of the statement since it was one of the last things he ever got to say to Gatsby. What can be a bit harder to spot is when exactly Nick’s earlier distrust of Gatsby morphed into respect. I argued above it begins in Chapter 5, when he watches Gatsby’s reunion with Daisy and sees Gatsby transformed and enraptured by love. What’s Next? Nick sets the stage in Chapter 1 by first explaining why he can be trusted as a narrator. Read our summary of Chapter 1 for more analysis as to why Nick’s opening makes him a bit suspicious as a narrator. Want to read more about Nick and Jordan’s relationship? Curious as to why they get together despite their differences in background? Read about love, desire, and relationships in Gatsby for more on their relationship. Did Fitzgerald see himself as more of a Carraway or a Gatsby? Read our history of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s life for more on the man behind the book. 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