Asboville tells the story of JB, a sixteen year old verging on delinquency Essay

Asboville tells the story of JB, a sixteen year old verging on delinquency. After warnings about stone-throwing, keying cars (scratching a key on the car body work) , breaking windows and making children’s play parks a no go zone for the under 14s and the over 17s alike, he is caught vandalising property. He is served with an ASBO, his likeness is pasted up on posters all over his estate, and he is sent to live with his uncle in a quiet seaside town. His punishment is to work at painting the beach huts. At one hut each day, it will take JB the entire summer. However is-this what it is always going to be like for JB? Or is there a ray of hope? The book opens on the estate where JB, Scooby, Carla and Dicko are kicking around. We also learn that ‘JB’S court case was just two days away. ’Already the book has started off with in a negative state. In addition his behaviour is like the other teenagers in this novel, he doesn’t think about consequences until it’s too late. In chapter two JB is on the train, heading to Haycliffe. He’s missing his friends. There’s a moment where JB stares out of the window at the backs of houses and eventually sees a reflection of himself. He doesn’t like what he sees. ‘JB punched the window. A blast of pain shot up his arm.’ Furthermore he feels that they are making an example of him. ‘Stuck the ASBO on him. Made an example of him.’ JB takes a taxi to Lowes Field where his Uncle lives. He sees the town from the taxi and the driver complains about how the place has changed. Eventually they arrive at a broken down caravan park and JB is left there in the place that is to become his home. Even when he moves to the beach it seems broken and unfriendly, also the driver of the taxi feels sympathy for JB when he gives the driver ‘a tenner out of his pocket and handed it over†¦ then gave JB a fiver back. â€Å"Looks like you need it,† he said.’ This shows that he knows what lies ahead for JB is going to be difficult. This further proves that this novel is pessimistic In chapter seven JB is starting to make changes as JB is introduced to his new life of painting beach huts. There’s a brief flashback to an event in his childhood and then we’re back on the beach again. He challenges his uncle briefly and is defeated. Boredom sets in. This shows a slight change from vandalism to work that helps himself rebuild. ‘†its’ only a beach hut!† his uncle turned to face him â€Å"never `only`, jay. Not when it’s your living.†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ This shows that his Uncle is trying to teach him. This shows a ray of hope for JB. In chapter eight it seems as that ray of hope is short lived as JB has joined up with a new gang. Our first meeting with Moey’s gang. JB hides from them as they kick a tin of paint over his newly painted huts. Later they return and make fun of him. They argue about tagging. A short look at life on the estate with nobody taking responsibility and then JB thinking of his friends as another day comes to an end, his mobile silent and lifeless.’ The gang of lads passed by the crack. One of them spotted the tin of paint on the trestle. The fattest took a run at it, kicked it into the air.’ JB’s life gets harder as this gang will make things difficult for JB. After that on chapter eleven JB meets Sal for the first time. She asks his name. He tells her. She mentions the ships ’graveyard and then she’s gone. Sal becomes the mystery girl and therein lays the attraction. Sal tells us a little more about the ships ‘graveyard; how her friend Emma found it by accident; how her father doesn’t believe in its existence. ‘JB got a look at her now, curled brown hair hanging in front of her eyes, legs long and tanned. She was beautiful.’ This shows a great ray of hope as JB has made a new friend and has someone to talk to. However Sal has problems with her dad. To add in chapter twelve JB finds the gang at the Lifeboat Memorial on carnival day. He meets Moey and the girls, including Moey’s girlfriend, Lisette, for the first time. Moey infiltrates the parade and causes trouble with one of the lifeboat men who forces the gang to disembark and disperse into the alleyways. They arrive at the harbour where Moey demonstrates his nerve by lighting a banger and holding it in his fingers until the very last second. JB does the same. It’s a test of his nerve, a challenge. The noise from the bangers attracts the same man from the parade and once again he moves them on. Moey offers JB some cannabis. JB refuses to begin with but, in the end, he takes it on credit. After he’s left the gang he thinks about throwing the cannabis into the sea, but keeps it just in case. JB is being influenced by the gang, mostly Moey, to do bad things. ‘When it was JB’s turn he lit the banger and watched it burn while the gang watched him.’ This is supporting that this novel is pessimistic. In chapter fifteen Sal visits JB at the beach huts. JB lies about his age. It’s clear that there’s a connection between them. This is giving a ray of hope for not only JB but Sal also as JB has something positive has happened to him. Five chapters after that a new social worker arrives at the caravan park. His name is Tristan Bellows. He’s unsympathetic, the opposite of Swallow, and reminds JB of the rules he must follow. Next in chapter 21 JB’s positive luck ends as JB and Sal have an argument. She tells him what people think of his uncle and why. A clue to his uncle’s past. We learn that somebody made a hoax call to the lifeboat station on the night of the storm. JB is visited and questioned by the police. They discover the body of Sal’s father. JB stops Moey and his gang from torturing a kitten. Moey accuses him of making the hoax call. ‘† what like you? Making a hoax call and killing you girlfriend’s dad?†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ This supports the fact that this novel is pessimistic; however in chapter twenty six on his way back to the caravan, he’s confronted by some of the members of Moey’s gang. They accuse him of making the hoax call. He stands up to them. This shows there is a ray of hope for JB as he starts to make changes. In addition he meets a smell boy on the beach and he made a new friends, someone who he can talk to and ‘He felt strangle relaxed with the boy’. This shows he has made a new friend and this novel may have a ray of hope. In chapter thirty-four, after completing the final hut and silently delivering some lyrics to Sal, JB spots two police cars at the caravan and Moey’s gang on the beach. Forced to make a choice, he approaches Moey’s gang who are sitting around a camp fire and to follow (in chapter 35) the first real climax to the novel. JB and Moey face up to each other. JB wields a knife. Moey’s gang scatter. JB takes up a flame from the fire and sets the beach huts alight. This is pessimistic and good at the same time as JB has realised that Moey was doing wrong and tries to stop him however the way he tries to stop him is negative, with a knife. Finally in the last two chapters JB sneaks back to the caravan then resolves to stay and face his punishment. JB’s decision is to stand and hold his ground. This is an important moment, for as we are well aware, there was a time when all he’d think of doing was running away. This is a major sign that JB has changed his ways and offers a ray of hope. And in the last chapter two months have passed. JB and his family have moved to a new house on the edge of the town. Sal calls from university. JB takes his phone to the beach where he lets Sal listen to the sound of the waves. They promise to see each other the following Christmas. This is where we know that JB has changed. So far my argument has been biased going towards the pessimistic side of the book however there aren’t many up’s to the book. This novel was over all negative and JB faced hard challenges to overcome, however in the end there is a ray of hope for the characters as once JB had stopped running away from things, like the police and real life he got back on track. Over all Asboville is a negative book from the start but towards the end offers a ray of hope to its characters.

Tata Motors Hbr Case Profitability of the Nano Essay Example

Tata Motors Hbr Case Profitability of the Nano Essay Example Tata Motors Hbr Case Profitability of the Nano Essay Tata Motors Hbr Case Profitability of the Nano Essay Memorandum To Chairman, Tata Motors Ltd Issue Profitable Production of the Nano Issues A primary issue Tata must consider is the current and future profitability of the Nano. In order to determine if their strategy of entering the small car market is feasible, the influences on the industry must be evaluated. If evaluation of the industry indicates that future profitability is in question, the company must consider canceling the project, or focus on areas where Tata can influence the industry to improve the likelihood of profitability. Analysis Profitability/Feasibility One must consider the sensitivity to prices and the affordability of the car to the primary target market (India). Case Exhibit 3 estimates that 21% of households have income levels high enough to be considered part of the target market (ie: families that may own a motorcycle or small car), with almost all (98%) residing in the $4000-$10000 income bracket. Even at low gros margins, the Nano would be 22% of household income for those families that make $10000 annual income. Although 40 million households are estimated to be in the $4K $10K income bracket, it can be expected that a small number of these will be earning $10,000. Therefore, the target market can be considered greatly reduced, and their price sensitivities very high. However, as discussed, it can be assumed that these households already have a motorcycle, and approx 2 million could switch to a cheap car. In the analysis of Case Exhibit 6 there is no reference to Labour or SGA costs for the Nano. When these are estimated (general and admin costs assumed to be negligible due to Tata’s current operations of vehicle production), the cost of the Nano rises to a point where $2200 (USD) per unit price will not be profitable. If the 24% Post Manufacturing Tax remains (p. 18), a promotional budget is included (assumed to be 20% of per-unit sales up to first 250,000 units), and labour cost/unit is included (Appendix Exhibit 1), the sale price of the Nano must rise to approximately $2600USD (Appendix Exhibit 2). Also, current profitability is a poor indicator for future profitability. A rise in raw material price will mean a rise in price of supplies (eg: steel). The already near-zero profit margins will diminish without an increase in selling price. Industry/Strategy Tata is entering a new market, and a careful analysis of the competitive forces in India must be carried out (see Appendix Exhibit 3 – Porter’s Five Forces). Considering rivalry, Tata is the leader on price. This gives them a very important competitive advantage in a highly price-sensitive market. Although market share has large potential for increasing, the threat of new entrants increases the rivalry over the coming years. The advantage for Tata lies in sourcing low-cost inputs through a unique supply chain. The supply chain is supported by inputs from suppliers in close proximity to the Tata facility, and is characterized by a high number of suppliers competing with one another for the Tata business. There are many input substitutes available with a relatively low purchasing cost. This places Tata in a strong position over suppliers and allows them to manufacture cars at a low cost. The competitive force of the buyer can be considered low for the Indian market. Since the Nano will be the cheapest car available, it may be the only option for many car buyers and there will be few substitutes available until foreign competitors can establish a similar low-cost structure. The buyer gains leverage with very high price sensitivity, essentially in the form of affordability. The barriers to entry are in favour of Tata. They can realize economies of scale in terms of increasing their capacity for vehicle production, their efforts in promotion, labour and material inputs, and distribution facilities. These will be difficult barriers to overcome for new entrants, and high (or increasing) average costs may keep competitors from entering. The government taxation policy also serves as a barrier to profitability for manufacturers. A high threat of substitutes will be a competitive force against Tata, as consumers opt for the popular and cheaper options of motorcycles or public transit. In terms of car substitutes, however, Tata has the advantage of lowest cost. Ethical Considerations An ethical consideration is whether Tata’s values are in the right place and, if so, are they truthful? The Chairman proclaims the Nano is â€Å"the people’s car†. However, will an increase in cars really have a positive effect on the productivity and quality of life of the average Indian? Despite the Nano’s low emissions, pollution will increase with a dramatic increase in cars. Also, congestion will have a negative impact on urban centres, and the quality of the car is not suitable for rural roads. If the Chairman’s values really are with the interests of the people, the resources for the Nano could be redirected to efforts in improving infrastructure and mass transit systems. Recommendations Based on the assessment of current and future profitability, I am recommending Tata move forward with production, but maintain as narrow a margin as possible to establish early market penetration and brand equity. The goal of $2200USD selling price is unprofitable and unrealistic. Even at the selling prices described in Appendix Table 2, Tata will still be the leader in cost competitiveness. They should therefore implement a higher selling price. As was described in the competitive forces model, Tata must retain its â€Å"First Mover† position. To accomplish this, Tata needs to continue to keep their suppliers in a technology development and low-cost race, and ensure an increase in car manufacturers does not provide the suppliers with greater competitive force. Finally, international market share is a requirement, as the Indian market will quickly become diluted. Tata can distribute in their currently occupied markets of Southern and Eastern Europe, and can also use this opportunity to raise prices to increase margins to cover the narrow margins in India. Before Tata can establish itself in other developing countries, the profitability of the business model must first be proven in its home country. Word Count: 1012 Exhibit 1 |Labour Costs / Car | |Cars per year |250000 | |Number of Employees |2000 | |Employees as Percentage of Cars Produced |0. % | |Average Employee Salary | $5,500. 00 | |cars / employee / year |125 | |Labour Costs / Car | $44 | Exhibit 2 Nano Costs (adapted from Case Exhibit 6 Making the Nano)-in USD |24% Post Man Tax |16% Post Man Tax | |(INR:USD=45:1) | | | |Total Parts / Supplies | $1,477 | $1,477 | |Labour / Car |$44 |$44 | |Post Manufacturing Tax | $533 | $355 | |Sales Tax $89 | $89 | |Total Variable Cost per Unit | $2,144 | $1,965 | |SGA / Car (20% of Costs per Unit) | $429 | $429 | |Total Unit Cost | $2,572 | $2,394 | |Selling Price (Gros Margin Target 5. 5%) | $2,714 | $2,526 | |Selling Price (Gros Margin Target 2. 5%) | $2,637 | $2,454 | Exhibit 3 [pic]

Marketing Is Easy to Define Outline Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Marketing Is Easy to Define - Outline Example This paper stresses that marketing is considered as a process that would help identify products or services that would entice consumers through employing strategies that utilize business development, sales and communications. In essence, it is a process that entails businesses to establish strong consumer relationships and build value towards the business' consumers. Marketing is a process utilized to determine consumer markets, satisfy them and retain them. In that regard, it is important to identify the concept of customer satisfaction. In retrospect, as a means to achieve organizational goals, a business must be able to identify the needs and wants of the target market and in accordance with this, provide customer satisfaction. Apart from establishing good relationships, creating value towards the customer, this would be beneficial towards the business as well. This paper makes a conclusion that marketing can be defined as a constructive analysis of a business' customers, competitors and a company, which would be integrated into an understanding of what segmented markets are, assessing the profitable groups, effectively positioning products and services, which is then subsequently followed on the delivering what is required in product positioning and promotion. In effectively positioning a product, a marketing strategy must be employed. Through implementing appropriate brand and advertising techniques by means of various communication tools and instruments, marketing measures can be delivered.

Critically analyse the recommendations for hydration during endurance Literature review

Critically analyse the recommendations for hydration during endurance events and discuss the role of sports drinks in relationship to health and performance - Literature review Example The ability of the athletes to keep their body temperatures within some given boundaries even when temperatures surrounding them are very different is known as thermoregulation (Snell et al., 2010). If the body of the human body fails to maintain the average temperatures at any given time and the temperatures rise above the standard rates, the result is a condition known as hyperthermia (Geesmann, Mester and Koehler, 2014). The condition usually happens when the human body is exposed to constant temperatures of 55 degrees Celsius. The opposite of hyperthermia is hypothermia and it occurs when the body is exposed to low temperatures for an extended period. It is very fortunate that sports science has gone a step ahead to find out the ways that regular ingestion of fluids is important for the performances of the athletes. During the actual sporting activities, hypohydration tends to impair the ability of the body to regulate heat that leads to increased heartbeat rates and body temperatures. The exertion that is perceived increases making the athlete to experience more fatigue than in normal situations (Cox et al., 2006). The requirements of fluids by individual athletes vary between exercise situations and the loss of fluids is affected by genetics of the athlete, the body size and fitness. In addition, the environment and exercise intensity where the exercise is being carried out affect the loss of water from the athlete’s body. It is natural for sweat loss to increase as the exercise intensity increases (Cox et al., 2006). The functioning of the athlete’s mental capability is lowered during this period and it normally leads to negative implications for motor control, concentration and decision-making. There is also slowed gastric emptying that leads to stomach discomforts. The effects sated always lead to the impairment of the exercise performance (Wilson et al., 2006). Hypo hydration affects almost all the types of exercises