The Internal Morality of Chinese Legalism Essay Example for Free

The Internal Morality of Chinese Legalism Essay Abstract It is widely held that there are no indigenous roots in China for the rule of law; it is an import from the West. The Chinese legal tradition, rather, is rule by law, as elaborated in ancient Legalist texts such as the Han Feizi. According to the conventional reading of these texts, law is amoral and an instrument in the hands of a central ruler who uses law to consolidate and maintain power. The ruler is the source of all law and stands above the law, so that law, in the final analysis, is whatever pleases the ruler. This essay argues, to the contrary, that the instrumentalism of the Han Feizi is more sophisticated and more principled than the conventional reading acknowledges. It suggests that, by examining the text of the Han Feizi through the lens provided by American legal theorist Lon Fuller, we can detect an explicit articulation of what Fuller called the internal morality of law. The principles of this morality are elaborated and their importance explained. In this way, the Han Feizi is retrieved as a significant reference point for thinking about legal reform in China today. I am indebted to Liang Zhiping and David B. Wong for comments on an earlier draft, and to William P. Alford, as ever, for his guidance in thinking about law and legal institutions in China. Introduction The rule of law is now commonly regarded as an obligatory step to establishing China’s rightful place in the global community. Yet it is widely believed that there are no indigenous roots for the rule of law ideal; it is an import from the West. The Chinese legal tradition, rather, is rule by law, as elaborated most fully in ancient Legalist texts such as the Han Feizi. The distinction between rule by law and rule of law has many dimensions. Of central importance is the relationship of law and morality. Although no canonical formula exists for the rule of law, a moral ideal lies at the core, however it is specified. In rule by law, in contrast, at least according to the conventional understanding, law is amoral and an instrument of power. A typical statement is offered by Burton Watson, the respected translator of Han Fei’s work in English: Legalism, Watson says, â€Å"professed to have no use for morality whatsoever† (and similarly for religion and ceremony). It focused on a single problem: strengthening and preserving the state.1 In this regard, Watson follows Arthur Waley, who said that members of the â€Å"school of law† (fajia) â€Å"held that law should replace morality.† Instead of the term â€Å"school of law,† which he regarded as too narrow, Waley referred to members of the fajia as â€Å"the Amoralitsts .†2 It is because of this alleged amoralism that Randall Peerenboom can write a 670page book on â€Å"China’s long march toward [the] rule of law† and barely mention Han Fei. Peerenboom expresses the conventional view: for Han Fei, law is one instrument in the ruler’s toolbox for sustaining strong centralized control. Since the ruler is the source of all law, and stands above the law, there are no limits or effective checks on the ruler’s arbitrary power. â€Å"In the final analysis, law was what pleased the ruler.†3 This view of Legalism is reinforced by a particular reading of Chinese legal history during the period of the Three Dynasties, China’s bronze age. Liang Zhiping, the eminent legal scholar, claims that the predilection for rule by law, in Han Fei and other Legalists, has its roots in the way law emerged initially in China, namely, as an instrument by which a single clan exercised control over rival clans. â€Å"[W]ithin a system tha t was inherently unstable †¦ [l]aw was seen as the will of the rulers and an instrument of suppression; its primary manifestation was in punishment.† Hence, the choice of rule by law was the product of an extended and unique cultural development. â€Å"[T]he legalists merely developed to its extreme the ancient legal model, ‘[y]ou who obey my orders shall be rewarded before my ancestors; and you who disobey my orders shall be put to death before the spirits of the land.’†4 These two conceptions of law and legal institutions—rule by law and the rule of law—are familiar in the West, although rule by law now has few, if any, advocates. But one needs to go back only to John Austin, the influential 19th century English legal theorist, for systematic elaboration of rule by law. Western theorists, indeed, might be tempted to look at Chinese Legalists through the lens of Austin, since his work enables us to see a systematic body of thought in the Han Feizi. However, this lens, I shall argue, brings some elements of the Han Feizi into sharp focus only at the cost of distorting others. Western theorists need a corrective lens, which is provided by Lon Fuller. In assessing Austin’s account, Fuller’s approach is most helpful because it offers an internal critique, showing that denial of a compelling connection between law and morality is inaccurate to the theory itself. Fuller’s account does not rest on a semantic analysis of â€Å"law† but on a pragmatic appreciation of legal order as a form of governance. Out of this appreciation, the practical connection—the interaction and mutual dependence of law and morality in the everyday work of lawmakers and other collaborative participants in the creation of legal order—emerges even in rule by law properly understood. Thus, Fuller shows how the moral core of the rule of law is present in the generic use of law in society. The moral core of the rule of law—the thin theory, as it is often called— encompasses two key ideas: (1) While law is an instrument of political power, law also constrains power. Hence, law and power are, to some degree, opposed. (2) While law channels political power, law also enables power to be rightly exercised. Hence, law is a source of legitimation for the exercise of power. How is political power constrained and yet also rightly exercised? The rule of law ideal is that these conditions are met if it is truly the law that governs legal subjects, not the wishes of specific individuals or groups. The ideal is a government of laws, not persons, so the moral core (in a word) is impersonal governance. My thesis is that Han Fei’s text, the Han Feizi, displays this moral core and thus connects law and morality. I shall argue, indeed, that the Han Feizi advocates a purer form of the rule of law than is offered by many Western theorists. Chinese Legalism did not be gin with the Han Feizi, but it is generally regarded as the most sophisticated exposition of the theory. I believe it is more nuanced than generations of commentators have acknowledged. It is important to emphasize that my interest is with the rule of law as a legislative, rather than judicial, ideal. This focus is appropriate for the Han Feizi, since it contains no explicit judicial theory (although it has definite implications, as we shall see, for the work of judges). That means that the vision of law in the Han Feizi is incomplete. On the other hand, most Western theorists neglect the legislative ideal, and many mistakenly believe that judicial independence (or the separation of powers) is sufficient for establishing the rule of law. I shall suggest that, at least for the legislative ideal, worthy indigenous Chinese sources for the rule of law exist. Contrary to Watson and Peerenboom, I argue that the Han Feizi intends to link law and morality. But I should say from the beginning that this essay is not an attempt to recapture Han Fei’s conscious motives or point of view. It is an attempt to retrieve a text for contemporary understanding and use. Admittedly, this effort runs the risk of literary misprision—willful, not to say creative, misreading. But recovering the rich history of Chinese legal thought seems to me worth that risk. It is often said, with good reason, that successive Chinese emperors followed the Legalist template set out by the Han Feizi. If it turns out that the Han Feizi carries a different message from the one it is usually taken to convey, the imperial history may have to be re-examined to determine when it followed the template and when it did not.5 [I] Rule by law: Han Fei and John Austin The conventional reading of the Han Feizi pictures law as an instrument in the hands of the ruler. This could mean different things. Instrumentalism is sometimes construed to mean that rulers use law only if and when it suits their purposes; it is employed (or not) at the ruler’s discretion to achieve the ruler’s own desires or ends. In this construction, law does not have any special pride of place, and certainly nothing beyond a fortuitous connection to moral value. On any particular occasion, if a ruler fails to realize his or her will by the use of law, an alternative instrument of governance could be deployed. Let’s call this ad hoc or strategic instrumentalism. This is not rule by law, as I understand it. Rule by law meets at least one and possibly two conditions missing from ad hoc instrumentalism. Most importantly, the commitment to rules—fixed standards of general applicability—is not ad hoc; they are the ruler’s chosen mechanism of governance. Thus, the commitment to rules is deliberate and firm, and the instrumentalism is consistent and principled. This commitment, we shall see, introduces a variety of self-imposed constraints on lawmaking and secures the connection between law and morality. Second, the rules promulgated are not necessarily intended to serve the lawmaker’s personal desires or ends. They may serve common ends, or they may permit (or enable) subjects to pursue ends of their own. In that event, we move from a minimal to a morally robust instrumentalism. If the rules facilitate the pursuit of ends other than those of the lawgiver, principled instrumentalism transitions into the rule of law. Although the Han Feizi is conventionally read as committed (at worst) to ad hoc instrumentalism or (at best) to a consistent but minimal instrumentalism, I shall argue in section III that many of the essays that make up the Han Feizi advocate a robust principled instrumentalism. For this reason, it will be helpful to examine first a systematic statement of the minimally instrumentalist view. John Austin is more clearly committed to minimal instrumentalism, because his aims were more academic—to elaborate a systematic theory—whereas Han Fei wished to provide practical advice to rulers. A consideration of Austin enables us to grasp what coherence the minimally instrumentalist view has. Like Han Fei, Austin aimed to be a realist about law, to examine actual facts in the world. That led him to trace the existence of law to the exercise of power. Accordingly, the proper understanding of law is genetic. In the strict sense, law is a command—a wish expressed by a determinate person or body possessing supreme power in an organized and independent society, backed by the credible threat of a sanction (i.e., pain) in the event of noncompliance. Why does the credible threat of a sanction make a law binding? Austin was a voluntarist about law as he was in theology. The duty to obey a command rests not on its conformity to an independent moral standard but simply on its emanating from a preponderant power. To have a duty to act is to be compelled to act. â€Å"[I]t is only by the chance of incurring evil, that I am bound or obliged.†7 Thus, whether divine or human, law makes its appearance within a relationship of domination—a superior (in power) issuing orders to an inferior (in power), where the former has the capacity to compel the latter to act by means of a threatened evil, i.e., pain. The duty is legal if it is issued by a political sovereign, moral if issued by God. Hobbes observed that the conditions for a social contract obtain if persons are of roughly equal ability, for then they acquire an equality of hope in having their respective claims satisfied. But in circumstances where a clear supremacy of power lies in one individual or body, no question as to the proper distribution of duties and rights arises. The distribution of duties and rights naturally parallels the distribution of power.8 That, obviously, is Austin’s view as well. The foundation of law is force or the threat of its use. To have a duty, therefore, in Austin’s quaint phrase, is to be obnoxious to the superior’s threat. Obnoxiousness is determined by one of two empirical facts: either the extent to which the inferior party is motivated by fear of the sanction, or the likelihood that the superior party will carry out its threat. While the pursuit of pleasure is as much an ultimate spring of human action as the avoidance of pain, the latter is more to be relied on than the former. The certainty and severity of threatened pain, in the event of noncompliance to the superior’s commands, are defining features of legal (as of moral) order. Since the definition of law stipulates nothing about the content of the superior’s wish, law may have any content whatever and still be binding. The separation of law and morality is secured: might makes right. Thus, law is imperative, preemptory, morally arbitrary, coercive, and an instrument of domination. It also, as we shall see more fully in a moment, aims above all at stability and order. By definition, Austin’s sovereign is not subject to a superior power and hence does not have any legal duties. (By the same token, the sovereign does not have any legal rights, either.) Austin formulates this point most sharply by observing that â€Å"every government is legally despotic.†9 This is a provocative way of saying that its power is legally unlimited; it stands above the law and can make, or unmake, any law whatever. It is not misleading to say the sovereign is self-legitimating, as long as we keep in mind that legitimation comes not from satisfying a standard of legitimacy but from the successful exercise of supreme power. Yet one of the virtues of Austin’s writing is that it is richer than the genetic definition of law would lead one to expect. (Failure in the legal literature to appreciate the richer analysis is the same kind of failure one finds regarding the Han Feizi.) Exploring some of this richness will help us develop a critique that illuminates the Han Feizi. Austin actually formulates three distinct definitions of law—in addition to the genetic there are formal and purposive definitions—each of which meshes imperfectly with the others. The formal definition appears when Austin stipulates that a command is a law only if it has the attribute of generality, that is, it must refer to a class of acts to be done or avoided, not a single action. Particular or occasional commands are not laws in the strict sense.11 This stipulation is sensible, since modern law typically consists of a body of standing rules, not extemporaneous orders. It shows that Austin thought of legal order as a system, or at least a set, of rules. But in relation to the genetic definition, it is completely unmotivated; nothing in the meaning of command requires it. At the same time, the implications are profound. The addition of generality represents a significant departure from personal command and toward impersonal governance. It commits the lawmaker to acting in certain ways in as yet unknown cases. And, by grouping actions into classes, it produces a degree of uniformity of treatment across persons. So, with generality, the picture of a compliant inferior following the wishes of a superior recedes to a significant degree. These implications—uniformity across persons and prior commitment in unknown cases—indicate that certain formal features of laws may have moral import, and I shall say more about them in a moment. With law understood as a self-conscious instrument of domination expressing the wishes of a (human) sovereign, it is only to be expected that Austin would stress the potential divorce between the content of promulgated laws and the requirements of morality. â€Å"The existence of law is one thing; its merit or demerit is another.†12 But if law itself, simply as a body of general rules, has moral import regardless of its content, we have taken an important step toward a robust instrumentalist account of law. The richness of Austin’s analysis is even more evident in his purposive definition. In its most general and comprehensive sense, he says, a law is â€Å"a rule laid down for the guidance of an intelligent being by an intelligent being having power over him.†13 Asymmetry in power is central for Austin, as we have seen, but intelligent guidance introduces a different dimension. Austin followed Locke in thinking of law as a human contrivance, establishing relations between rational beings. But the idea of intelligent guidance has implications Austin was hesitant to pursue. He recognized, for example, that the concept of command precludes ex post facto rules, since an utterance cannot constitute a command if the action required cannot be performed. Yet to acknowledge this conceptual point would be tantamount to placing a limit on sovereign power; an ex post facto pronouncement would not be a law, even though it possessed all the other features of the genetic definition. 14 Further, such acknowledgement would be the first step on a slippery slope. It would allow one to say that other pronouncements of the sovereign are also not laws, for instance, ones that are not clear in meaning. How could an obscure or incoherent utterance provide intelligent guidance to human conduct? Or an utterance that was not made public? Or that kept changing? These implications are precisely the ones pursued by Fuller in developing what he called the internal morality of law. Before turning to Fuller, however, we should pause to ask why Austin recoiled from the implications of his purposive definition and instead adhered to the idea of law as an instrument in the hands of a supreme person or body exercising power over others. My hypothesis is that rule by law in its minimalist variant was important to Austin for two related reasons: the fear of disorder and the uncertainty of morality. Both of these were reflected in Austin’s ambivalence about the expansion of democracy in England in the early 19th century. He saw little possibility, at least in the foreseeable future, of achieving the educational and mental improvement of the general population that he regarded as a prerequisite of democratic government. As a result, according to John Stuart Mill’s account, Austin developed an â€Å"indifference, bordering on contempt, for the progress of popular [i.e., democratic] institutions.†15 In addition, Austin believed that common moral opinion was so fractured, so full of partiality and prejudice, that ordinary people cannot be trusted to act decently. What makes government by a powerful ruler necessary and expedient is the â€Å"uncertainty, scantiness, and imperfection† of the mora l beliefs people espouse. â€Å"Hence the necessity for a common governing (or common guiding) head to whom the community may in concert defer.†16 The resonance of these passages with much of the Han Feizi, or at least the conventional reading of it, should be apparent. Lack of confidence in the capacity of human beings to govern themselves makes it necessary to have a sovereign whose will provides common directives that are easily discernible and effective. If people are allowed to follow their natural propensities, they will engage in all manner of disorderly behavior. Social order requires stable external direction by means of the threat of force. Thus, the solution to the problem of social order—Hobbes’s problem—is managerial direction (to use Fuller’s term). Without top-down control, matters are likely to get badly out of hand. The exercise of control in Austin’s case, of course, is thought of as benign. The goods of order and unity are taken for granted. The power of the superior is canvassed, not in terms of personal wishes or even class interests, but its efficacy in producing the â€Å"steadiness, constancy, or uniformity† that every society needs. Thus, Austin—like Han Fei, as I shall argue—makes sense of law in practice as an instrument in the hands of a single individual or mandarin elite with the competence and requisite disinterestedness to attend to the public need. To that extent, Austin’s theory is a pure expression of rule by law.

Swot Analysis and Weaknesses Essay Example for Free

Swot Analysis and Weaknesses Essay SWOT Analysis is an effective way of identifying your Strengths and Weaknesses, and of examining the Opportunities and Threats you face. How to use tool: To carry out a SWOT Analysis, write down answers to the following questions. Where appropriate, use similar questions: Strengths: * What advantages do you have? * What do you do well? * What relevant resources do you have access to? * What do other people see as your strengths? Consider this from your own point of view and from the point of view of the people you deal with. Dont be modest. Be realistic. If you are having any difficulty with this, try writing down a list of your characteristics. Some of these will hopefully be strengths! In looking at your strengths, think about them in relation to your competitors for example, if all your competitors provide high quality products, then a high quality production process is not strength in the market, it is a necessity. Weaknesses: * What could you improve? * What do you do badly? * What should you avoid? Again, consider this from an internal and external basis: Do other people seem to perceive weaknesses that you do not see? Are your competitors doing any better than you? It is best to be realistic now, and face any unpleasant truths as soon as possible. Opportunities: * Where are the good opportunities facing you? * What are the interesting trends you are aware of? Useful opportunities can come from such things as: * Changes in technology and markets on both a broad and narrow scale * Changes in government policy related to your field * Changes in social patterns, population profiles, lifestyle changes, etc. * Local Events A useful approach to looking at opportunities is to look at your strengths and ask yourself whether these open up any opportunities. Alternatively, look at your weaknesses and ask yourself whether you could open up opportunities by eliminating them. Threats: * What obstacles do you face? * What is your competition doing? * Are the required specifications for your job, products or services changing? * Is changing technology threatening your position? * Do you have bad debt or cash-flow problems? * Could any of your weaknesses seriously threaten your business? Carrying out this analysis will often be illuminating both in terms of pointing out what needs to be done, and in putting problems into perspective. You can also apply SWOT analysis to your competitors. This may produce some interesting insights! Example: A start-up small consultancy business might carry out the following SWOT analysis: Strengths: * We are able to respond very quickly as we have no red tape, no need for higher management approval, etc. * We are able to give really good customer care, as the current small amount of work means we have plenty of time to devote to customers * Our lead consultant has strong reputation within the market * We can change direction quickly if we find that our marketing is not working * We have little overhead, so can offer good value to customers Weaknesses: * Our company has no market presence or reputation * We have a small staff with a shallow skills base in many areas * We are vulnerable to vital staff being sick, leaving, etc. * Our cash flow will be unreliable in the early stages Opportunities: * Our business sector is expanding, with many future opportunities for success * Our local council wants to encourage local businesses with work where possible * Our competitors may be slow to adopt new technologies Threats: * Will developments in technology change this market beyond our ability to adapt? * A small change in focus of a large competitor might wipe out any market position we achieve The consultancy might therefore decide to specialize in rapid response, good value services to local businesses. Marketing would be in selected local publications, to get the greatest possible market presence for a set advertising budget. The consultancy should keep up-to-date with changes in technology where possible. Key points: SWOT analysis is a framework for analyzing your strengths and weaknesses, and the opportunities and threats you face. Â  This will help you to focus on your strengths, minimize weaknesses, and take the greatest possible advantage of opportunities available. SWOT analysis becomes a USELESS exercise if it is not extended TOWS where * the strengths are used to capitalize on opportunities and to counter threats, * the weaknesses are minimized using opportunities and both weaknesses and threats are avioided Carrying out a personal SWOT Analysis is an important step in finding life and career direction. Case Study-SWOT Analysis Wal-Mart Strengths * Wal-Mart is a powerful retail brand. It has a reputation for value for money, convenience and a wide range of products all in one store. * Wal-Mart has grown substantially over recent years, and has experienced global expansion (for example its purchase of the United Kingdom based retailer ASDA). * The company has a core competence involving its use of information technology to support its international logistics system. For example, it can see how individual products are performing country-wide, store-by-store at a glance. IT also supports Wal-Marts efficient procurement. * A focused strategy is in place for human resource management and development. People are key to Wal-Marts business and it invests time and money in training people, and retaining a developing them. Weaknesses * Wal-Mart is the Worlds largest grocery retailer and control of its empire, despite its IT advantages, could leave it weak in some areas due to the huge span of control. * Since Wal-Mart sell products across many sectors (such as clothing, food, or stationary), it may not have the flexibility of some of its more focused competitors. * The company is global, but has has a presence in relatively few countries Worldwide. Opportunities * To take over, merge with, or form strategic alliances with other global retailers, focusing on specific markets such as Europe or the Greater China Region. * The stores are currently only trade in a relatively small number of countries. Therefore there are tremendous opportunities for future business in expanding consumer markets, such as China and India. * New locations and store types offer Wal-Mart opportunities to exploit market development. They diversified from large super centers, to local and mall-based sites. * Opportunities exist for Wal-Mart to continue with its current strategy of large, super centers. Threats * Being number one means that you are the target of competition, locally and globally. * Being a global retailer means that you are exposed to political problems in the countries that you operate in. * The cost of producing many consumer products tends to have fallen because of lower manufacturing costs. Manufacturing cost has fallen due to outsourcing to low-cost regions of the World. This has lead to price competition, resulting in price deflation in some ranges. Intense price competition is a threat. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is the worlds largest retailer, with $256.3 billion in sales in the fiscal year ending Jan. 31, 2004. The company employs 1.6 million associates worldwide through more than 3,600 facilities in the United States and more than 1,570 units . . . Case Study-SWOT Analysis Starbucks Strengths * Starbucks Corporation is a very profitable organization, earning in excess of $600 million in 2004.The company generated revenue of more than $5000 million in the same year. * It is a global coffee brand built upon a reputation for fine products and services. It has almost 9000 cafes in almost 40 countries. * Starbucks was one of the Fortune Top 100 Companies to Work For in 2005. The company is a respected employer that values its workforce. * The organization has strong ethical values and an ethical mission statement as follows, Starbucks is committed to a role of environmental leadership in all facets of our business. Weaknesses * Starbucks has a reputation for new product development and creativity. However, they remain vulnerable to the possibility that their innovation may falter over time. * The organization has a strong presence in the United States of America with more than three quarters of their cafes located in the home market. It is often argued that they need to look for a portfolio of countries, in order to spread business risk. * The organization is dependant on a main competitive advantage, the retail of coffee. This could make them slow to diversify into other sectors should the need arise. Opportunities * Starbucks are very good at taking advantage of opportunities. * In 2004 the company created a CD-burning service in their Santa Monica (California USA) cafe with Hewlett Packard, where customers create their own music CD. * New products and services that can be retailed in their cafes, such as Fair Trade products. * The company has the opportunity to expand its global operations. New markets for coffee such as India and the Pacific Rim nations are beginning to emerge. * Co-branding with other manufacturers of food and drink, and brand franchising to manufacturers of other goods and services both have potential. Threats * Who knows if the market for coffee will grow and stay in favor with customers, or whether another type of beverage or leisure activity will replace coffee in the future? * Starbucks are exposed to rises in the cost of coffee and dairy products. * Since its conception in Pine Place Park, Seattle in 1971, Starbucks success has lead to the market entry of many competitors and copy cat brands that pose potential threats. Starbucks mission statement is Establish Starbucks as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world while maintaining our uncompromising principles while we grow. Understanding TOWS Matrix Why use the tool? TOWS Analysis is an effective way of combining a) internal strengths with external opportunities and threats, and b) internal weaknesses with external opportunities and threats to develop a strategy. How to use tool: To carry out a TOWS Analysis, consider the following combinations: Strengths/Opportunities: Consider all strengths one by one listed in the SWOT Analysis with each opportunity to determine how each internal strength can help you capitalize on each external opportunity. Strength/Threats: Consider all strengths one by one listed in the SWOT Analysis with each threat to determine how each internal strength can help you avoid every external threat. Weaknesses/Opportunities: Consider all weaknesses one by one listed in the SWOT Analysis with each opportunity to determine how each internal weakness can be eliminated by using each external opportunity. Weaknesses/Threats: Consider all weaknesses one by one listed in the SWOT Analysis with each threat to determine both can be avoided. Case Study- Application of the TOWS Matrix to Volkswagen Volkswagen (VW) was chosen because it demonstrates how a successful company experienced great difficulties in the early 1970s, but then developed a strategy that resulted in an excellent market position in the late 1970s. The TOWS Matrix shown in Figure 1 will focus on the crucial period from late 1973 to early 1975. The external threats and opportunities pertain mostly to the situation VW faced in the United States, but a similar situation prevailed in Europe at that time. Weaknesses and Threats (WT) A company with great weaknesses often has to resort to a survival strategy. VW could have seriously considered the option of a joint operation with Chrysler or American Motors. Another alternative would have been to withdraw from the American market altogether. Although in difficulties VW did not have to resort to a survival strategy because the company still had much strength. Consequently, a more appropriate strategy was to attempt to overcome the weaknesses and develop them into strengths. In other words, the direction was toward the strength-opportunity position (SO) in the matrix shown as Figure 1. Specifically, the strategy was to reduce the competitive threat by developing a more flexible new product line that would accommodate the needs and desires of the car-buying public. Weaknesses and Opportunities (WO) The growing affluence of customers has resulted in trading up to more luxurious cars. Yet, VW had essentially followed a one-model policy which presented a problem when the design of the Beetle became obsolete A new model line had to be introduced to reach a wider spectrum of buyers. In order to minimize the additional costs of a multi product line, the building block principle was employed in the design of the new cars. This allowed using the same parts for different models that ranged from the relatively low-priced Rabbit to the higher priced Audi line. Another weakness at VW was the rising costs in Germany. For example, in 1973 wages and salaries rose 19 per cent over the previous year. Similarly, increased fuel costs made the shipping of cars to the United States more costly. This situation favored setting up an assembly plant in the United States. However, this also created some problems for VW because it had no experience in dealing with American organized labor. To overcome this weakness, VWs tactic was to recruit managers from Detroit who were capable of establishing good union relations. Strengths and Threats (ST) One of the greatest threats to VW was the continuing appreciation of the Deutsche Mark against the dollar. For example, from October 1972 to November 1973 the mark appreciated 35 percent. This meant higher prices for the buyer. The result, of course, was a less competitive posture. Japanese and American automakers obtained an increasingly larger share of the small-car market. To reduce the threats of competition and the effects of the unfavorable exchange rate, VW was forced to build an assembly plant in the United States. Another strategy for meeting competitive pressures was to build on VWs strengths by developing a car based on advanced-design technology. The result of this effort was the Rabbit, a model with features later adopted by many other car manufacturers. The oil crisis in 1973-1974 not only caused a fuel shortage, but also price rises, a trend that has continued. To meet this threat, VW used its technological capabilities not only to improve its engines (through the use of fuel injection, for examples), but also to develop the very fuel-efficient Diesel engine. This tactic, which was congruent with its general strategy, helped improve the firm’s market position. Strengths and Opportunities (SO) In general, successful firms build on their strengths to take advantage of opportunities. VW is no exception. Throughout this discussion VWs strengths in research, development, engineering, and its experience m production technology became evident. These strengths, under the leadership of Rudolf Leiding, enabled the company to develop a product line that met market demands for an economical car (the Rabbit, successor to the Beetle), as well as the tastes for more luxurious cars with many available options (Scirocco and the Audi line). Eventually the same companys strengths enabled VW to plan and build the assembly facility in New Stanton, Pennsylvania. Thus, YW could benefit from substantial concessions granted by the state government to attract VW which, in turn, provided many employment opportunities. In another tactical move, VW manufactured and sold small engines to Chrysler and American Motors. These companies urgently needed small engines for installation in their own cars and revenues from these sales improved the financial position of VW.

Project Management: Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony

Project Management: Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony 1. Executive Summary The project plan is for the the forth coming Common wealth games scheduled to be held during the months of July August in 2014, in Glasgow. The official handing over will take place on the 14th of October 2010,when Delhi in India will handover officially to the city of Glasgow in Scotland, thus appointing Scotland as the Host country for the 2014 Common Wealth Games. It is to be noted that this event will be the largest multisport event ever to be held in Scotland Thus this report includes only of the opening ceremonys Schedule plan, resource allocation and the cost to be effect. 2. Project Introduction scope The recent growth of multi sports as an industry around the world means that the management can no longer be commercials. Events such as the commonwealth games, have a large impact on their communities and, in some cases, the whole country. Thus it is a must to keep in mind throughout the planning process that this is the first time the country is hosting such and event and it shall have an impact to the country. This is a service based scheduling project according to that the initial concern which I will propose will have the following scope which is needed to be completed to be successful in this events opening ceremony. Events Prepare the Events list Find the Human resource by events Find the Items the need in each resource (Dress, Transport and etc..) Analyze the risk and exciting of event with professionals Find the time of event execution Check the events identification (Traditional,etc) Security Check the security availability in the location need to be allocate Prepare high security zone in VIP guest Facilitate the vehicle parking Opening ceremony All task Analyzing Location Guest Prepare the chairs and audience resource Entrance and Exit point Guest area allocation Food and beverage invitation Schedule Time table Event list preparation Allocate Resource to events Allocate time to each and Every time /prepare schedule Media Invite an media Provide a food and beverage Supply the technical need (internet, power) Facilitate an location in ground area Physical resource Electricity Event Items Professional support 3. Objective To find all resource on time: Accurate time estimation is vital in project management. The two main reasons for estimating time is vital as: Time estimates drive the setting of dead lines for delivery of project and also the determination of pricing of projects and its profitability can be estimated. Thus finding all resources on time is very essential to carry on the project without delay as timing is important in an event like this as it has international criticism later on. To allocate funds according to budget Allocation of funds according to budget is a vital aspect, as it is an important tool needed in running a business in a proper manner. The allocation of funds should be done in such away that each responsible person can run the area smoothly without any interruption. To schedule all ceremony event on time without any delay Scheduling all events without a delay is very important as any delay occurring can cause disruption and run to high criticism. Prior to the main event rehersaling of the event should be done. When the rehersaling is done each aspect should be rehearsed without leaving out any event. Thus the above could be avoided. Reduce events errors Facilitate all participant to good service A specialized committee should be allocated the above task, of looking into the needs of the participants and giving them the best service. It is a must to keep in mind this is the event of the participants rather than the spectators. Allocation of physical force is a must to keep the reduction of the above. 4. Measure of Successful level and Recommendation for Each task /Plan and out comes Design/plan Execution Initiation Testing 1. Event activity design 2. Design Dress 3. Allocate the physical resource (music, Dress, Light) 4. Train the persons 5. Task allocate (Sub con) 1 proposal submission 2. Get quotation form 3rd party 3. Prepare the schedule 4. Find the resource 5. Evaluation and selection 1 .Events Activity test with time 2. Physical resource test 3. Schedule test with time 4Recovery test (Disaster) 1 Fixed the date time for each activity events 2. Fix all resource on time (physical human) 3. Execute according to tested schedule Opening Ceremony 1. Schedule monitoring and evaluating report 1 .Events Activity test Report with Reasal 2. Physical resource test Report 3. Schedule test with time test report 4. Recovery test plan (Disaster) 1 proposal Acceptance 2. Budget Approval 3. Schedule and Activity and Event Report 4. Resource Supplier report 1. Design Aspect of event and activity (Document and Demos) 2. Design Dress (Dummy) 3. Allocate the physical resource (music, Dress, Light) Demonstration 4. Train the persons plan and schedule 5. Resource plan and resource requirement 5.1 financial requirement analyses 5.1.1 Budget for the opening ceremony Overall opening ceremony should be allocated in 800 million. In Glasgow 2014 Common wealth Games committee, (Reference in: organization committee Budget allocation document) According to allocated overall budget allocation in 800 Million we will propose our proposal profitability of our plan would be quite satisfactory. 5.2.1 Variable cost breakdown and overall total This allocated budget should be dividing via the major Task event wise. This variable cost breakdown is based on the already allocated budget. Here is the variable cost breakdown: (All the values based on Millions) ÂÂ   Variable cost breakdown ÂÂ   Task/Event Actual cost Allocated cost Staff cost 100 100 Events cost 200 250 Media cost Entertainment 25 25 Security 50 55 Location Guest 10 15 Food Beverage 100 120 Transport 150 160 Total 635 755 Analyzing of the cost estimation: Here graph is explained all the variance in allocated cost and actual cost variance. 1 .Staff cost is fixed as I will explain it further in the organizational chart how the staff should be allocated in the project. After analyze I will fix the cost. 2. Event cost is variance because some creative events, equipments and rehearsal cost should vary, that the main reason to increase an additional 50 for it. 3 Media cost should be fixed. There should not be any risk for it 4. Security, food and transport cost should add some additions .because these are depended on the guest and humans to be involved their activities. Finally analyse all the expenditure additionally allocate a 120 Million for the risk factor wise. This should be variance cost for this. 5.1.3 Revenue breakdown and overall total Since the ceremony revenue is coming in as fallowing category based. Ticketing Suwannees and Advertisement Ground banners and Advertisement Sponsors Additionally in country has non profitable benefits on tourism. Total estimation is all the earnings should be 130 Million. Finally revenue should be in 175 Million. 5.2 physical requirement analyses Physical resources Allocation: Location its resource Allocation of resources will be predicted according to the requirements. Initially we analyze the location and its requirement. Location already decides and its resource should be available. Only need to identify repair and reconstruction points of it. After initial assessment all the reconstruct part and modification done by government .that mean I am not going to put its cost and allocation, Because its up to commonwealth standard achieving through the under supervisor on government and Olympic committee. Ceremony Entertainment and Events Other Ceremony entertainment and cultural and traditional events some expectation in physical equipment items, this is contributing with the one of sub contractor and service provider. Already that ceremony entertainment and event design committee proposal send to sub contractors to get quotation from them. Its basically going under the allocated budget. Because initial easements already done by entertainment and event committee. Services and Supply All other services should be contracted out to sub party. All sub contactors and their services should be evolved by physical resource evaluation committee. Food, transport, security, Entertainment an equipment supliers, electricityetc All these suppliers have to submit their proposal under evaluation committee satisfactory. Standards and Quality of services: This part should be maintained by the commonwealth country sports comate members. Their already provide the standards which have to be maintain for us. Evaluation committee evaluate all these under maintain of these standards. 5.3 Human resource requirement analysis We get divide in major in all HR resource in two categories. One is Project staff and organizing committee other one is out sauce persons who are the consult of the Events and activities. All the outsource consultants are working with us a part time. 5.3.1 Work break down structure Opening ceremony Food and Beverage Resource Events Activity Location and Ground Requirement Decoration Physical resource Furniture Traditional Dance Human resource Event items Events Actors Creative Dance Power Music items Music Dancers Water Lightning relevant Event Area special feature Ground Decorate Singers Musicians Power supplier Security Ground suppliers Designers This work break down structure should be view ad all Major activity tasks have to do in this ceremony process. This may provide a series of work brak downstrcture for planning and all implementation Events in ceremony. Each and every circumstance of the ceremony project and objectives this should be evaluated. This is providing a benchmark by which quality for the project process can be assessed and level can be successful. 6. Scheduling and Time plan 6.1 Recommended timings from October 2014 to the opening ceremony We are plan out to start as 15th of Arial 2014 in the project. We can finalize it 20 the July2014. If it can be execute 23 July 2014 to on word. Execution plan is 2 days final set up preparation .and Ready for final execution on opening ceremony on 23rd July 2014 6.1.1 Gantt chart and Key Milestone 6.1.2 Risk Analysis in Time Frame We decide to finish all the work and ready for ceremony in 1st 20 the July2014. That mean we handle finally 3days risk mitigation on the final execution. And other thing is most of the activity task going on par rally. Not depend on other task .that plan should be mitigate the time risk of the project. And other thing in Resource evaluation and physical resource allocation we get finish mid of September. Lighting, music, ground setup, activity basic set up. That is very impotent to reduce the Technical risk and the man power risk and also can mitigate the Disaster recovery in the ceremony time. 7. Task and Person allocation 7.1 Task and allocated Team Structure 7.2 Organizational Breakdown structure Project manager Supply manager Program manager HR manager Coordination manager Admin coordinator HR supply assistant Event and Activity Designer Resource finder Evaluation Committee Coordinator Service supply assistant HR coordinators Media coordinator Security Coordinator Physical resource supply assistant Project manager Food Beverage coordinator Secluded and Time maker Physical resource coordinator Additionally have a consultant on the ceremony event and activities as fawning professionals Artifact and designs Lighting Sounds Dancing and songs 8. Work procedure 8.1 Procurement management approaches The Procurement management plan should be defined to clearly identify the all task and the responsibilities for Procurement from the beginning to the end of the project .The project manager will work with the project team, contractors, supply department, and other key players to manage the Procurement activities. In order to our team structure all the managers (program, HR, Coordination and supply) responsible for their department wise activities to beginning to end of this project. Every department should be submitting their request as fallowing format. Supply manager have to be responsible to check with purchasing for each and every Items and service. Item/Service justification needed by/ date ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   Authorized to approve purchases for the project team: Project manager : warnapriya wijesundara Supply Manager : Lasantha balasuriya Purchasing officer : nalin weerasingha 8.2 Contractors and subcontractors managing Then first step in the contract approval process is to determine what items or services will require Procurement from outside. Then each and every department managers need to request what are they need service and items from project manager. Manager will evaluate it with an head of department managers and suplymanager the call to get quotation from out side vendors. And also need to finalize this with evaluation committee members with Olympic committee member in commonwealth. Vendors must have as fallows: Before start all the contractors should be need to register in the government ministry of import and export and construction in Scotland. Vendors have to submit their proposal include their service, cost and Items and their history of customers. All the Item and service need to up to evaluation committee standard. 8.3 Standard of maintain sub contractors Evaluation for Each project This section will explain the evaluation for the each and every service with vendors. Based on the following decision criteria Procurement manager, project manager, Purchasing manager and the international committee member evaluate all service and Items: Here is the area as we get evaluate: Ability of the vendor to provide all items by the required delivery date Quality Cost Expected delivery date Comparison of outsourced cost versus in-sourcing Past performance 9. Conclusion To conclude this proposal this project based on organizing the opening ceremony on Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games we will estimate all based on as initially 800 Million Dollars. After revenue analyzing we will think to take a 135 Million. As our suggestion is it can be done 755 Million. Our risk factor is 120 Million. The 120 Million is vary on the Glasgow 2014 Common wealth Games evaluation committee suggestion and request. This shows that the ratio of profitability of our plan would be quite satisfactory.

A Comparison of the Ideals of Bronte in Jane Eyre and Voltaire in Candi

The Ideals of Bronte in Jane Eyre and Voltaire in Candide      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Subjective novelists tend to use personal attitudes to shape their characters. Whether it be an interjection of opinion here, or an allusion to personal experience there, the beauty of a story lies in the clever disclosure of the author's personality. Charlotte Bronte and Voltaire are no exceptions. Their most notable leading characters, Jane Eyre and Candide, represent direct expressions of the respective author's emotions and impressions. In their stories, Bronte and Voltaire create fictional settings and imaginary scenes. However, through the psyche of their leading protagonists, Bronte and Voltaire genuinely portray their own inner world   they are their own subjects. While the novels Jane Eyre and Candide are in no manner outright autobiographies, they are extremely similar in that the experiences and beliefs of Bronte and Voltaire serve to characterize Jane and Candide. A careful examination of both works reveals that Jane and Candide evince the contrasting i deals of Bronte and Voltaire in various spheres.    As individuals, Voltaire and Charlotte Bronte could not have been any more different. They lived in opposing eras, had unlike backgrounds, and espoused divergent philosophies. While Candide, which some consider the epitome of the eighteenth century Enlightenment, uses satire to achieve its goals, Jane Eyre uses extensive descriptions to take the reader on a psychological roller coaster through the mind of its leading character. Analysis shows that the two authors will seldom agree on many issues. However, by the end of both novels, Jane and Candide have become very much alike. Answering the question of how this transformation occurs necessitat... ...the attainment of happiness with a simultaneous discovery of a personal identity. Jane Eyre and Candide are not only fictionalized versions of their creators, but also the very epitome of modern mankind. They look to their hostile surroundings and inside themselves to find answers to life's questions. In their struggles, we share their agony. In victory, we share their triumphs.    Works Cited Berg, Maggie. Jane Eyre: A Student's Companion to the Novel. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1987. Blom, Margaret. Charlotte Bronte. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1977. Bottiglia, William. "Candide's Garden". Voltaire: A Collection Of Critical Essays. Ed. William Bottiglia. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1968. 87-111. Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. New York: Penguin Books, 1997. Voltaire. Candide. Trans. Lowell Bair. New York: Bantam Books, 1959.   

Different Types of Bridges Essay -- miscellaneous

Different Types of Bridges The quest for travel has always been one that man has tried to conquer. First, he traveled on foot, and then developed methods of transportation such as boats, but one of the first obstacles that he had to overcome was getting across rivers, waterways, and canals. Today, bridges have become a part of everyday life; hence without them, people would have a much more difficult time going from one place to another. In the United States alone, there are more than half a million bridges (History of Bridges 1). Although bridges have been in existence since ancient times, they were not first made by man. Nature actually made the first bridges by toppling logs across streams. This was considered the first beam bridge as the flat rocks were used to support the log. Then, the water eroded the rocks and eventually a stone bridge was formed. The ancient Romans built arched bridges because they needed roads and bridges to connect the sections of their empire. The original swing bridge, from which the suspension bridge was produced, was a simple vine that swung people over the water. From these beginnings, men created four main types of bridges. To begin with, beam bridges, also known as girder bridges, are one of the easiest and simplest types of bridges to build. In ancient times, people used to make these bridges out of granite. Beam bridges can be made by putting a wooden plank over an area needing to be crossed. To get across larger areas, piers or supports can be fabricated up from the river bed to hold up a couple of beams. The piers of the girder bridge have constant pressure on them. Therefore, the beams, which are usually made out of concrete or steel, have a lot of strength so they do not crumble due to the heavy load. Many beam bridges are made of pre-stressed concrete. This concrete has steel rods inside of it, which help resist tension. When the weight pushes down on a bridge, the top of the beams are pressed together creating compression, while the bottom edge is stretched and causes tension. Beam bridges are not practical in cities with a lot of high rises, because the bridge has very low clearance. The bigge st limitation of the girder bridge is its length. The farther apart the piers are, the weaker the bridge gets. Beam bridges are good to use on spans of up to two hundred feet ( How Bridges Work 1). A bridge of greater... ... long way (Bridges 3). A cable-stayed bridge is used to cross medium lengths, which are approximately five hundred feet to two thousand eight hundred feet (Bridges 3). The cable-stayed bridge requires less cable than a suspension bridge, and is much faster to build in comparison to suspension bridges. Cable stayed bridges are supported by stave towers. These towers are ‘A’ shaped, and absorb almost all of the bridge’s compression. Unlike suspension bridges, cable stayed bridges only have two towers and do not need any anchorages. Now that man has overcome the obstacle of getting across rivers, canals, and waterways efficiently, it is now time to perfect these human creations so no more mishaps happen. Even though people keep hearing about collapsing bridges, they still use them because it has become a part of their everyday life style. Without bridges, people would have a difficult time getting from one place to another. It could be done by means of a ferry or other boat, but that is time consuming and a real pain in the neck because once a person gets across the river or canal, they would have to walk everywhere. So, without bridges, things would not be the way they are today.

Analysis of the Guiness Trust LTD Business Plan Essay -- essays resear

For any successful business such as the Guinness Trust one needs to have a business plan, which normally comprises of a 5 year plan detailing their operating plans. The plan details where you are now, where you want to be and your plan for growth. In short this is a blue print of the steps needed to build any business. A business plan is often required to obtain monetary funds, whether from investors or local government. Potential investors will look at the strength of the plan before your business is considered for investment, they will be looking for a plan which indicates a healthy return of profit. With good business plans instilled, investors will want to join any successful business such as the Parchment Housing Group Ltd which joined as part of the Guinness Trust Group. This plan also helps to structure the financial side of any business, but essentially it helps to raise funds if required. The plan is not just for banks and investors but is a guide post for employees. It al so demonstrates to people that you are worth supporting and communicates to staff and other interested parties in what direction you are heading. Guinness Trust Business plan stated how they were able to focus their efforts, set objectives, what its priorities are, stated their vision, what their core values are and set which way the company was heading. It also enabled it to set realistic targets that allow some flexibility without deviating away from their core objectives. The Guinness trust have sound and comprehensive plans which includes the Strategic Plan , the five year action plan, environmental plan ,construction clients charter action plan and the national action plan. With these plans they are able to sustain a viable business which... ... hardly in companies and nobody had ever heard of e-mails, let alone mobile phones, internet or the company intranet. Present Day companies need to be aware of the latest technologies to be able to stay in competition, and possibly improve their products. Lastly legal constraints which all though not part off the PEST analysis but is part of PESTLE and SLEPT analysis I feel its still just as important as the rest of the categories of PEST. Factors such as changes in law and regulations are such issues that companies need to be aware of and to anticipate in which changes may affect the way they perform. Looking at the business plan of the Guinness Trust Ltd they have more than just covered the basic contents of a business plan when you read it, it leaves you in no doubt that they have covered every aspect that might be asked of them from any future investor.

Bead Bar Network

In a world where competitive edge can hinge on the breakthrough technologies that makes a business run smoothly, Bead Bar is an anomaly. This is because Bead Bar is still using paper based system and this is where Stan’s BJR Consulting will come in. This paper is about the best way Bead Bar can transition into a modern technology run business. BRJ Consulting’s main focus would be to assess the information technology needs of Bead Bar specifically on network technology.To begin with the analysis of Bead Bar, we would have to discuss their background and why they came to the point of needing information technology experts to study their operations. From the needs assessment, we will discuss the best recommendations on the network technology that Bead Bar can put into action to ensure that their company needs and objectives are met. Background In 1998, Bead Bar was started as a small business by Meredith S with the first concept store at New Canaan, Connecticut.Meredith wa nted a store, which she called a studio, wherein customers can create their own bead jewelries with an array of beads, accessories and tools to help them work creatively in a cozy environment. The store will provide the necessary equipment on site and the customers will just have to buy the beads and accessories such as wires and string that they will use. As a result, the customers’ creativity in making their own bead jewelry will be fostered and the company will sell their products.Of course, for customer who has no time to think their own designs, much more to create it will also have an array of designs and products to choose from. They can also choose a particular design which would be made for them by the stores trained employees. The Bead Bar is composed of three divisions namely the studios, franchises, and Bead Bar on Board. The Studio Division, headed by Susanne S. , manages the six Bead Bar studios in different locations. Aside from the Bead Bar studios, they also have franchises are managed by their Franchise Division headed by Leda H.The current franchises of the company are at Kansas City, Missouri; Chicago, Illinois; Los Angeles, California; Seattle, Washington; and Miami, Florida. The franchise division sells a complete beading supply package to businesses that want to open their own bead studio. Bead Bar on Board division which is headed by Mitch is a special bead bar designed for cruise ships. The bar is portable and can be placed on deck or in a lounge. The cruise ships employees also purchase their supplies through the Bead Bar. Currently, Bead Bar has 6 studios, five franchises and Bead Bar on Board.They have a roster of 15 full-time employees and 20 part-time employees. As of their last financial reports, they recorded $1. 5million annual revenues. As we can see, the studios and franchises are scattered in different states. This resulted into several inefficiencies in their operations such as lost orders, incorrect invoicing and de lays in fulfillment and delivery. One of the things that Meredith realized is that these inefficiencies can be mitigated with the implementation of the right system into the company.Further, with the onset of globalization, Meredith believes that it is the right time for Bead Bar to use the advantages of computer technology to become more competitive. She knew that digitization would help the company simplify its processes; facilitate the processing of its orders without the need for lost invoices and help in the overall operations of the company. Bead Bar would also need to look into different strategies such as their supply chain management and pricing strategies. Additionally, Meredith may like to explore other market options such as an online store to widen their customer reach.Meredith realized that there are huge possibilities for Bead Bar once it has the appropriate information technology in its arsenal. Recommendations Overview After the information technology needs assessme nt made by the consultants, it was noted that there are many things that would have to be procured to help Bead Bar’s system to competitive. First, there was no mention of any hardware that Bead Bar has but the basic assumption would be that the head office has computer peripherals that helps them in their administrative work.For example, top management executives probably have their own desktop where they make their reports specifically for Meredith as the president and owner. Julia R, as Bead Bar’ Chief Financial Officer, needs a computer to keep track of the finances of the company as well as make the necessary reports and financial documents that the company needs for its operation. Miriam, as head of Marketing and Sales, probably has a database of inventory of the company’s stocks in order to know what products are moving and what products are not so that she can make the necessary promotions to sell these.In the same way, Rachel, as head of operations and purchasing should also have access to the same inventory database so she can forecast her stock procurement and see what product should be replaced and ordered. Jim, as head of human resources would also have a system for his personnel file, which will include the database of compensation and benefits for each employee. Assuming that each critical unit of the company has its own computer peripherals, the next stem is to determine how each computer is connected to form a network.A network is defined as â€Å"two or more computers that are connected with one another for the purpose of communicating data electronically. Besides physically connecting computer and communication devices, a network system serves the important function of establishing a cohesive architecture. This allows a variety of equipment types to transfer information in a near-seamless fashion† (Encyclopedia Britannica). There are two kinds of network that would be applicable for Bead Bar. First is Local Area N etwork or LAN.These link computers and other peripheral devices such as printers, copiers, etc. As such, the computers within the headquarters of Bead Bar can be interconnected through LAN. The second type would be a Wide Area Network which users connected to LAN can tap into. Wide Area Networks or WAN consists of â€Å"computers connected to a wide-area network and often connected through public networks, such as the telephone system. They can also be connected through leased lines or satellites† (Webopedia). WAN is needed by Bead Bar so that all stores are interconnected with each other.This is especially important for the inventory and marketing database of the company. When stories have access to real time data regarding stocks, decision making in their level will be easier. Network Topology There are different kinds of network topologies that are available for businesses to connect them to their operations network. I recommended that a mesh network topology be used for B ead Bar. .In this topology, there would be alternate ways for nodes to communicate when there is a breakdown on other nodes or if a cable fails.However, this can be expensive to install, as it will involve many of cabling. Mesh technology is often used in conjunction with other topologies such as star, ring or bus topology which is useful for a business that uses LAN. For a WAN architecture, most employ mesh routing. An example of a network which uses mesh topology is the internet. I recommend that a partial mesh network topology be employed for Bead Bar. A partial mesh is organized similarly to a full mesh topology but some nodes will only be connected to one or two network which Bead Bar deems to be the most important. Bead Bar Network The central aim is to observe the business processes and the business organization in place and prove ones analytical skills to understand how the business can be enveloped using a computer network infrastructure for making communication swift and successful sharing of information. The proposed network would entail better communication and save the organization on costs for facilitating one process to get the job done.The departments concerned would be able to capture and share effectively valuable business information so as to remain synchronized with the latest events and take decisions accordingly saving time and costs.Introduction Bead bar concentrate in producing beads jewellery for the customers. They are organized into three divisions’ namely studios, franchises and bead bar on board which demands to be brought to the same page for synchronization of activities. The proposed network design and the appropriate topology which would be an advantage to the firm for ensuring communication and sharing information to keep in synchronization with the current prospects of the business.The following sections would take up the various network topologies to make the communication feasible and possible with regard to all the physical and network barriers. The network design would provide enough architecture which would give a clear picture of the interconnection of devices and the departments to facilitate the sharing of business information. The final segment discusses the pros and cons of the proposed topology in subject. Background information of Bead Bar: Bead Bar is departmentalized into three divisions namely studios, franchises and bead bar on board.The current circumstance is incapacitated to link among them and thus creates inconsistencies in information sharing and knowledge about the company as a whole, at any given point of time. A computer network would make possible the process of getting the entire job done for every customer within an affordabl e time than usual. It would make sure that information regarding ones choice and preferences would be catered and stored for future benefits. The network would enrich the communication among the divisions which in turn would assist greater workability and functionality in operation.Recommendation overview: The network proposal for the Bead Bar could be surrendered into LAN and WAN. The internal network within the divisions would have a LAN network; however the inter-department contact would be made feasible using WAN as they are geographically separated. The LAN network would make sure to connect the personnel of the particular department itself and the swift communication would be an outcome of it. For the LAN network, switches and hubs are used for connecting the particular division itself and for WAN routers are used for interconnecting each other.Explanation of the Network Design: The three divisions of the company are interconnected using the network cable in a wired network us ing both LAN and WAN. Using LAN, the computers are interconnected within the same premises so that all the employees are able to communicate on demand. The head office possess central server where all the information is stored pertaining to all the departments in their database. The other premises are networked using the LAN technologies. The switch is two layered and used to take care of the storing and forwarding mechanism Tanenbaum (2003).Using WAN the network connections are using the public data services and get connect to internet and using VPN technology, using login credentials. Network Topology: The LAN technology follows a star topology with connecting hubs. The interconnecting devices facilitate the use and sharing of information. Star topology promotes the efficient use of network resources. Advantages of the architecture: †¢ Having a star topology takes less expensive in relation to mesh topology.†¢ In a star, every device needs only one link and one I/O port to inter-connect with a number of other devices (Forouzan, 2003). †¢ The installation and configuration of the star topology is quite easy and makes possible the effective use of time and need. †¢ The cabling requirement is less in compared with other technologies and any additions, deletions and movement involves only one connection between that device and hub. †¢ Quite robust in nature; if one link fails the other connections do not cease to operate. This factor also enhances the fault identification and fault isolation mechanism.†¢ As long as the hub is in working condition, the monitoring of links are possible to detect link problems and bypass defective links. †¢ A WAN is used for connecting to the internet so as to get connected with the other departments across geographic locations. †¢ VPN technology is used to so that their develops a secured channel through which the user of the network can establish a secure connection for communication. It wo uld possess proper login credentials for accessing information and makes sure that its encryption technology debars any tapping and illicit use of information.†¢ The database server would be responsible for storage of all data and information centrally and all the users access the information using their credentials. †¢ The VPN technology makes sure that only authorized users are enabled to access information pertaining to the specified department and others would be debarred from the very system. Drawbacks of the architecture: †¢ The VPN technology is quite expensive to implement and manage. †¢ The expensive nature of the wireless switches and hubs is quite a disadvantage.†¢ The use of internet as a resource to map their requirements would take lesser cost and make efforts to create a virtual company but security measures must be a challenge to the organization in question. Conclusion The primary objective to inter-connect has been taken into description an d the network topology has been elaborated to give shape to the entire network for interconnecting the various divisions in the company. The network architecture for the firm and the drawbacks are carefully noted and examined for their feasibility and cost factors.The long term evaluation is made and it can be concluded that taking care of the network advantages would benefit the firm in the long run to achieve the amount of customer satisfaction in the long run. Furthermore the topology would be able to manage its resources and make a distinct move towards the very nature of their being. Further up gradations to the network can be managed effectively so that they are taken care for growth and envelopment of their future plans. References/ Bibliography Forouzan A. Behrouz (2003). TCP/IP Protocol Suite, second edition. Tata McGraw Hill. Tanenbaum, A. S (2003). Computer Networks, Pearson Education.