Historical Films: Perceptions Of The Past

Historical Films: Perceptions Of The Past The first films were made in the first half of the twentieth century and along with this the first historical films were made. These include The Passion of Joan of Arc in 1924, The King of Kings in 1927 and The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse in 1921. Even since the first historical films were made, this genre has become one of the most popular out of all types of film. Due to this, millions of people watch these films every year and therefore get their perception of History mostly from film. This poses a problem for the historian. Robert Rosenstone clearly states this, Lets be blunt and admit it: historical films trouble and disturb professional historians and have troubled and disturbed professional historians for a long time (Rosenstone R, 1995, p.45). Furthermore, William Guynn provides evidence of this, In cinema, history empties out its significance and leaves us with the cold artifice of representation (Guynn W, 2006, p.6). On the other hand, Guynn admits, For some Historians, the cinema is not entirely lost; indeed, it can be salvaged if we acknowledge that historical film is the most fictional of genres and abandon the idea of film as a vehicle of historical representation (Guynn W, 2006, p.6). What this means is that although film cannot be an instrument for representing the past, it can bear witness to the historical period in which it is produced. Most people do not study history or have only briefly studied it at a younger age; therefore film has become the primary source of knowledge for them about the past. Therefore historians are forced to accept these historical films despite their historical inaccuracy. Even if a film cannot offer the critical elements and analysis insisted on in scholarly text and even if it bends history to match the characters or the plot line and completely misses out the finer details of historical accuracy, film can stimulate the imagination and create curiosity and interest into the lives of past generations. Important ly, it can cause an interest into history which can later lead to the choice of studying it or a topic of research and enjoyment. Therefore there are a number of negatives and positives to historians from film. However one thing is clear, it is not possible for a film to be historically accurate. There are a number of reasons for this. The obvious one is that how can a film be historically accurate if no one, not even historians, have an accurate picture of a historical period. Furthermore, most historical film makes dont care whether the film is accurate of not, they prioritise making a popular film with a good story line. It is not important if a film is inaccurate, it is only important for a historian who is frustrated with the wrong facts being given out to millions of people. The reasons are many and these will be explored in detail. It is clear that a film cannot be historically accurate however a historical film has so many benefits that it doesnt need to be. History is not a pure science, it is not just open to historians alone to study therefore historians do not have a monopoly on reading, studying and conveying history. Most films are not made for historical accuracy therefore is not open to criticism from historians. Guynn believes, Historians resist approaching film because history and film are based in different sign systems that refer to the world in a radically different way (Guynn W, 2006, p.8). However historical truth on a whole is elusive and subjective just like a film set in a historical period. What is important is that no work or historical piece of writing is capable of achieving the appreciation of, for example, medieval warfare. Historical films like Braveheart however can accomplish this in minutes. This by no means claims that Braveheart is historically accurate, in fact it is incredibly inaccurate; how could William Wallace have an affair with Isabella of France when she didnt even arrive in England until three year s after his execution? Despite this however, it is clear that film can powerfully convey the foundations of historical information to millions of people. Furthermore, can a document, sculpture and eyewitness account present the excitement and chaos of chariot racing which was accomplished in Ben Hur? Similarly, in no other way can the power and magnitude of the Roman coliseum be portrayed than in the film Gladiator. In these ways, film is an incredibly valuable tool in creating history as a vision which is engaging, vibrant and real, in the sense that we can hear and see it. Guynn supports this, From this perspective, films are like any other artefacts dropped on the road of history. They bare unconscious witness to their own period, as do private letters, diaries, and accounts that were never intended to be read from the historians perspective. They provide a body of data to be analyzed and interpreted in terms of the mentality of a period, or they can, unwittingly, speak about una cknowledged realities (Guynn W, 2006, p.12). Furthermore, one can argue that there are times when film can achieve greater levels of appreciation than those possible in the written world. Rosenstone provides evidence of this, Film shows history as a process. The world on the screen brings together things that, for analytical or structural purposes, written history often has to split apart (Rosenstone R, 1995, p.57). Therefore this provides evidence that despite the fact that a film may not be historically accurate, it is incredibly effective at displaying the foundations of History in a way no other works of history can. Bringing history alive in a way which people can hear and see is arguably more effective than a historians writing. The historical story line may not be accurate however the general foundations of the period probably are and this is very important in providing people with the awareness of history in an enjoyable way. R.J Raack provides evidence to support this view, Traditional written history is too linear and too narrow in focus to render the fullness of the complex, multi-dimensional world in which humans live. Only film, with its ability to juxtapose images and sounds, with its quick cuts to new sequences, dissolves, fades, speed-ups and slow motion, can ever hope to approximate real life, the daily experience of ideas, words, images, preoccupations, distractions, sensory deceptions, conscious and unconscious motives and emotions. Only film can provide an adequate empathetic reconstruction to convey how historical people witnessed, understood, and lived their lives. Only film can recover all the pasts liveliness (Raack R, 1983, p.417). As stated previously, there is no doubt that written history and film history possess different strengths and weaknesses. What is important however is that written history and history in film are experienced in different ways. Rosenstone states, The most serious problems the historian has with the past on the screen arise out of the nature and demands of the visual medium itself (Rosenstone R, 1988, p.1173). Furthermore Rosenstone believes, The historical film must be seen not in terms of how it compares to written history but as a way of recounting the past with its own rules of representation (Rosenstone R, 1995, p.3). Critics point to the lack of essential historical information in films and the finer details of history. What historians are basically referring to is the lack of footnotes. However these historian critics are attempting to judge these historical films by inappropriate standards. It is not realistic analysis of how viewers watch films. They dont care about finer deta ils missing, they probably dont notice. Furthermore, the director does not put first these finer historical details but instead a good story line which an audience will want to watch. Historians may not like the view audiences create for themselves of a historical period however they should think positively and believe that the viewer is being informed of the foundations of a historical period and becoming aware of it. If anything, the fact that the film misses out the finer details creates lose ends which the viewer can then explore further. This can create an interest in history and cause a future study or interest in it. Critics of film history also repeatedly state that the films over personalise however this is from the experience of a historian. The filmmaker over personalises to create a story however this makes the film historically inaccurate. It is almost impossible to make a good film with a good story line historically accurate as films are focused on particular people p ersonally and their feelings of love, hate, anger etc. However history focuses on people personally only to the extent to which their personalities or actions are portrayed by another person and this is not a reliable viewpoint to get an accurate picture of an individual as opinions of a figure can differ from person to person. Therefore as films are deeply personal, this overwhelms the senses and the viewer becomes personally attached. This in itself is a strength and a weakness depending on who is watching it. Clearly a historian, who is aware of all the facts of the person or time period, wouldnt believe it as the historian has their own perspective on the person taken from a document and writings. However the viewer of the film will have a different view. There is no way of knowing in detail what, for example, Elizabeth I was like personally however Shekhar Kapur portrays his view in the film Elizabeth. Therefore this is evidence to prove that no one knows personally what histor ical figures are like therefore films are beneficial to providing viewers with a visual representation and this is the directors view on the figure. Rosenstone provides a balanced view on why historians distrust a historical film, The overt answer: Films are inaccurate. They distort the past. They fictionalize, trivialize, and romanticize people, events, and movements; they falsify history (Rosenstone R, 1995, p.46). However Rosenstone goes on to state, The covert answers: Film is out of the control of historians. Film shows that we do not own the past. Film creates a historical world with which books cannot compete, at least for popularity. Film is a disturbing symbol of a post literate world in which people can read but wont (Rosenstone R, 1995, p.46). This is further evidence to prove that despite inaccuracy of historical films, they are very beneficial to raising awareness for a historical period. Similarly to Rosenstone, Marc Ferro provides a balanced viewpoint on historians vi ew of historical film. Marc Ferro is the most influential French historian in the neglected field of history and film and Guynn states, Ferros approach is well articulated and worth following in some detail (Guynn W, 2006, p.8). Ferros argument begins with a negative thesis, It is easy to think that film is not suited to represent past reality and at best its testimony is valuable only for the present; or that, aside from documents and newsreels, the reality it offers is no more real than the novels (Ferro M, 1988, p.47). However Ferros principal thesis on the viewpoint is very positive. He argues that film can become a rich resource of information on the period in which it was made. Ferro believes that historians have neglected film almost entirely, film does not enter the historians mental universe (Ferro M, 1988, p.47). Therefore this is evidence to prove that not all historians believe that historical film is completely useless and that it can be very useful to the study of hist ory as it brings it to life. Despite the fact that historical films are never completely historically accurate, they can be incredibly useful in teaching. This includes primary school, secondary school and even university teaching of history. A class discussion of the accuracies and inaccuracies in a film can be quite valuable. For example, for all the criticism which Braveheart faced from historians, it does include some realistic parts on medieval warfare and tactics. Furthermore, the vast battle scenes and accurate medieval executions bring this historical period to life. Therefore for a class which is learning about thirteenth century England or Scotland, the watching of Braveheart can be useful, especially in a discussion on the accuracies and inaccuracies. Furthermore, despite the fact that Gladiator is centred on a romanticized plot that is not real, it displays rich glimpses of the Roman period. Several of the characters are portrayed realistically, and while not all historians would agree with the archi tectural specifics of the reconstruction of the great city of Rome, the resulting grandeur is certainly effective at illustrating how superior the city was compared to the rest of the world in the period. Another fine example is the film The 13th warrior, this film has a number of historically accurate scenes which are taken from historical manuscripts. The face washing of the Vikings and the ship burials are taken directly from the tenth century works of Ibn Fadlan. Furthermore, The 13th warrior includes references to Beowulf. Therefore a discussion on the films relationship with Beowulf and the way in which modern people perceive the Vikings is useful and could possibly lead students towards the interest of medieval literature and history. Elements of historical accuracy can be found in many historical films and the appreciation of these accuracies in class discussion can be very rewarding. Can a film be entirely historically accurate? The answer to this question is no. However there is no doubt that a film can contain elements of historical accuracy therefore be extremely beneficial to the study of history. It is also clear though that a student of history can never rely on films alone. It is certainly obvious that the library is not about to be cleared out of the way by video or cinema. Evidence of this is that film history only started in the twentieth century however the study of history has been going on for hundreds of years prior to this. Therefore only in the twentieth and twenty first centuries have films become a possible primary source for the past therefore this is evidence to prove that it is not necessarily necessary. The real question to ask is what can historians potentially learn from film, as a secondary source, that written works cannot tell them? Film brings alive a historical period, it is easy to learn something when you can see it or imagine it cl early. Film can be classified as a historical resource and historians should be making the most out of every resource. There is no doubt also that the combination of historical films and written history could be a highly stimulating way of learning and teaching history. It can teach important skills which are essential to history for example, becoming more critical in the analysis of sources of historical information. Therefore is it clear to sometimes set aside the written world and allow the drama of film to stimulate students of history and to view it as a dynamic medium which can be appreciated for it complexity and its application to the present. Historical film, as a production which portrays the past during the present can be an enjoyable and informative way of participating in history despite the fact that films are not entirely accurate. Ron Briley makes an important case on appreciating historical film, Whether educators approve or not, young people are going to attain a g reat deal of historical information through film. Accordingly, it behoves teachers to provide their students with the intellectual tools and media literacy to deconstruct and interpret film (Briley R, 2006, p.5). Therefore it is clear that historical films should not be ignored or dismissed in the teaching of history as they can beneficial. Historical film adds a spice to history; it is good to sometimes change from reading through books, documents and manuscripts but instead to visualise and hear history. Therefore despite the fact that a film cant be entirely historically accurate in the view of historians, it can be accurate in the sense that it can be extremely beneficial to the study of history as well as creating a new enjoyment and interest in it.

Good Style is a Reflection of a Writer Making Good Choices :: Writing Style Styles Essays

Good Style is a Reflection of a Writer Making Good Choices When putting pen to paper or typing on a keyboard in order to write something, a writer makes decisions. These decisions will result in what will be the writer’s finished work and will unintentionally reflect what the writer knows about writing style. In just trying to convey his or her ideas, a writer will follow rules of grammar and spelling as well as various advice accumulated through formal and informal education. If the writer has a good understanding of what they’ve learned, it will come out in their writing. After reading William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White’s The Elements of Style and Joseph M. Williams’ Style: Toward Clarity and Grace, I’ve learned that style is the culmination of many factors. Beginning in elementary school, people learn the basic, concrete rules of grammar. These aren’t so much elements of style as they are the foundation of writing. While necessary, a person can have perfect grammar but poor style. Many of the rules mentioned in the first chapter of Strunk and White, such as, â€Å"The number of the subject determines the number of the verb,† (9) are those that remain fairly rigid. If a writer didn’t follow this rule, and the number of subject and verb didn’t match for instance, the mistake would be glaringly obvious to the reader. Williams also discusses this toward the end of his book in a section titled â€Å"Real Rules.† Here, he includes rules such as not using double negatives and not substituting adjectives for adverbs (180). These rules are the building blocks of writing and that is why a writer would be looked down upon if he or she were to break them. Therefore, when writers break rules like thi s, it is usually to make a point by doing so. After these concrete rules, one begins to learn rules that are a little fuzzier in their application. These are rules that should be followed but can be broken given the right circumstances or if it is done systematically. For instance, Rule 14 in Strunk and White states, â€Å"Use the active voice.† What this means is using active verbs as opposed to inactive ones to prevent boring the reader.

Good Style is a Reflection of a Writer Making Good Choices :: Writing Style Styles Essays

Good Style is a Reflection of a Writer Making Good Choices When putting pen to paper or typing on a keyboard in order to write something, a writer makes decisions. These decisions will result in what will be the writer’s finished work and will unintentionally reflect what the writer knows about writing style. In just trying to convey his or her ideas, a writer will follow rules of grammar and spelling as well as various advice accumulated through formal and informal education. If the writer has a good understanding of what they’ve learned, it will come out in their writing. After reading William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White’s The Elements of Style and Joseph M. Williams’ Style: Toward Clarity and Grace, I’ve learned that style is the culmination of many factors. Beginning in elementary school, people learn the basic, concrete rules of grammar. These aren’t so much elements of style as they are the foundation of writing. While necessary, a person can have perfect grammar but poor style. Many of the rules mentioned in the first chapter of Strunk and White, such as, â€Å"The number of the subject determines the number of the verb,† (9) are those that remain fairly rigid. If a writer didn’t follow this rule, and the number of subject and verb didn’t match for instance, the mistake would be glaringly obvious to the reader. Williams also discusses this toward the end of his book in a section titled â€Å"Real Rules.† Here, he includes rules such as not using double negatives and not substituting adjectives for adverbs (180). These rules are the building blocks of writing and that is why a writer would be looked down upon if he or she were to break them. Therefore, when writers break rules like thi s, it is usually to make a point by doing so. After these concrete rules, one begins to learn rules that are a little fuzzier in their application. These are rules that should be followed but can be broken given the right circumstances or if it is done systematically. For instance, Rule 14 in Strunk and White states, â€Å"Use the active voice.† What this means is using active verbs as opposed to inactive ones to prevent boring the reader.

Good Style is a Reflection of a Writer Making Good Choices :: Writing Style Styles Essays

Good Style is a Reflection of a Writer Making Good Choices When putting pen to paper or typing on a keyboard in order to write something, a writer makes decisions. These decisions will result in what will be the writer’s finished work and will unintentionally reflect what the writer knows about writing style. In just trying to convey his or her ideas, a writer will follow rules of grammar and spelling as well as various advice accumulated through formal and informal education. If the writer has a good understanding of what they’ve learned, it will come out in their writing. After reading William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White’s The Elements of Style and Joseph M. Williams’ Style: Toward Clarity and Grace, I’ve learned that style is the culmination of many factors. Beginning in elementary school, people learn the basic, concrete rules of grammar. These aren’t so much elements of style as they are the foundation of writing. While necessary, a person can have perfect grammar but poor style. Many of the rules mentioned in the first chapter of Strunk and White, such as, â€Å"The number of the subject determines the number of the verb,† (9) are those that remain fairly rigid. If a writer didn’t follow this rule, and the number of subject and verb didn’t match for instance, the mistake would be glaringly obvious to the reader. Williams also discusses this toward the end of his book in a section titled â€Å"Real Rules.† Here, he includes rules such as not using double negatives and not substituting adjectives for adverbs (180). These rules are the building blocks of writing and that is why a writer would be looked down upon if he or she were to break them. Therefore, when writers break rules like thi s, it is usually to make a point by doing so. After these concrete rules, one begins to learn rules that are a little fuzzier in their application. These are rules that should be followed but can be broken given the right circumstances or if it is done systematically. For instance, Rule 14 in Strunk and White states, â€Å"Use the active voice.† What this means is using active verbs as opposed to inactive ones to prevent boring the reader.

Employment and Natalie Essay

Natalie Attired worked at Biddy’s for one year when she was fired for getting a sleeve tattoo on her upper right arm. Natalie was fired because Ms. Biddy claimed that she her appearance was disturbing the clients while they were trying to eat. There is no employee manual or written policy about employee conduct. Natalie while for unemployment in July 2010 but was denied because she was terminated for â€Å"misconduct.† Biddy’s has been in for over 20 years and is run by Biddy Baker, age 60. Biddy evaluates her waitress’ performance every three months. Questions Presented: Was Natalie’s tattoo in fact a distraction to the customers in the restaurant? Were there any guidelines in place that would in fact tell Natalie that she was in violation of the dress code? Did Ms. Biddy talk to her employee about how she wants there to present themselves while at work? Brief Answers: Two customers complained that Natalie’s tattoo was distracting. There were not any guidelines or employee handbook that stated was acceptable or not acceptable. Ms. Biddy did evaluate her employees every 3 months but in the evaluations she did not state how she wanted her employees to present themselves. Rules that Apply: According to the New Mexico Statutes Annotated,  § 51-1-7  § 51-1-7. Disqualification for benefits A. An individual shall be disqualified for and shall not be eligible to receive benefits: (1) if it is determined by the division that the individual left employment voluntarily without good cause in connection with the employment. However, a person shall not be denied benefits under this paragraph: (2) if it is determined by the division that the individual has been discharged for misconduct connected with the individual’s employment. Also in 555 P.2d 696 Supreme Court of New Mexico. Zelma M. MITCHELL, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. LOVINGTON GOOD SAMARITAN CENTER, INC., Defendant-Appellant. No. 10847.Oct. 27, 1976. ‘misconduct’ . . . is limited to conduct evincing such willful or wanton disregard of an employer’s interests as is found in deliberate violations or disregard of standards of behavior which the employer has the right to expect of his employee, or in carelessness or negligence of such degree or recurrence as to manifest equal culpability, wrongful intent or evil design or to show an intentional and substantial disregard of the employer’s interests or of the employee’s duties and obligations to his employer. On the other hand mere inefficiency, unsatisfactory conduct, failure in good performance as the result of inability or incapacit y, inadvertencies or ordinary negligence in isolated instances, or good faith errors in judgment or discretion are not to be deemed ‘misconduct’ within the meaning of the statute. Analysis: According to the definition of misconduct as stated above Ms. Attried did not in fact get fired for misconduct she did in fact get fired because Ms. Biddy felt her tattoo was a hinder to her business. In Natalie’s evaluations she was evaluated as a good employee who just needed to learn a few things to get her job skills up to par. Nowhere is it stated that she did anything to make her employer have to take negative action against her. She was always on time for work, she was pleasant with the customers, and she usually gets all the orders. Conclusion: Natalie was wrongly denied her unemployment benefits because she does not fit the criteria to be denied because of misconduct. She did perform her job to the best or her knowledge and there was no handbook to ensure that she was wrong about getting the tattoo. If Ms. Biddy wants her employees to conduct themselves a certain way she should provide guideline to ensure that they in fact know what is expected of them. Natalie should be able to receive her benefits and should have them backtracked to her original file date of unemployment.

Government Regulation and the Competitive Environment for Business - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 10 Words: 2954 Downloads: 4 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Economics Essay Type Analytical essay Did you like this example? Business Strategy Introduction: The study of government regulation and the competitive environment for business is related to/useful to all those who study business. All business candidates need to understand how the competitive environment will impact their employers and businesses. Government rules define the edges/borders of the law-based framework within which the company conducts its business (Chou, Lee Chung, 2004). Believability and well-supported summary four major pieces of laws (and law making) all together known as the (related to preventing one company from becoming too powerful) Laws. Oligopoly markets are seen as the concentration of power in fewer hands in the short run and the concentration of wealth in fewer hands in the long run. The market structure needs regulation for a decrease in market externalities and also a a healthy and (able to last/helping the planet) growth of its own (Chou, Lee Chung, 2004).On the contrary in a natural Mo nopoly market the single largest player (monopolist) is the price setter and her actions could lead to exploitation of consumers. This is why the need for government intervention in the monopoly market is enhanced. However the economic regulations always come at a cost and there might still be a chance of market failure because regulators tend to have imperfect market information. Good regulatory intervention in the in the natural or legal monopolies must work towards developing per barriers to entry (so that a single firm can sustain scale economies) and constrain prices in a way to constrain prices ( so that the monopolist earns fairly reasonable profits only). Credible and well-supported discussion of the intended purpose of social regulation as it applies to all market structures Explain the major functions of the three primary federal and state regulatory commissions that govern industrial regulation (Chou, Lee Chung, 2004). Process of Strategic Planning: The strategy bu siness units of the company are used to focus on the market segment and the products being offered in the company. They are used to analyze the competition the company faces, the marketing plan it has adopted, as well as the level of satisfaction offered to the customers. The company has divided its SBUs on various fields, which include product based, competitor based, market based, as well as customer based. These SBUs help in ascertaining the profitability of the company, and they also help in identifying most of the factors that influence the performance of the corporation. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢All the companyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s products are being placed on the matrix at their appropriate place. First, it is important to understand how a BCG matrix works. It is a tool used for evaluation of the strategic position of the portfolio of the business brand. After analyzing the products, one is able to determine whether to invest on some of the products, and by what level he should invest in those products. There are four divisions: stars, question marks, cash cows and dogs. Cash cows are those products which have very high earnings, and they are stable in the market. The cash flow experienced here is high and stable, and the best strategy for such products is investing them to maintain the current status or even harvesting. Stars are used to show products that give the company low earnings, are stable and the earnings are growing. The cash flow for stars is neutral and the strategy to be adopted is to support these products for their growth. Question marks are products which have low earnings, but they are unstable in the growing level. Their cash flows are negative, and the best strategy for such products is to invest if they have potential, but the company can as well sell them. Dogs have low earnings and are very unstable. Their cash flow is neutral, and at times negative. Such products are the reasons for low profitability or even losses. The most effective str ategy to adopt here is divesting. Formulating a New Strategy: To formulate a new business strategy, letà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s take an example. IKEA keeps costs low by using minimal staff in the stores, however, they do offer an excellent customer service throughout the store with strategically located information towers as well as assistance in the inventory storage. The company has several competitors, which include Argos, DFS, Habitat, Homebase, Staples, Next, BQ, and Debenhams. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Future investment decisions Depending on the position the products occur in the matrix, the company will make various decisions regarding investments. Those items that fall under cash cows will trigger several investment decisions such as product diversification, product development, divestiture and retrenchment. Those products that fall under stars will include decisions such as market penetration, product development, and market development, horizontal and vertical integrati on. Those falling under question marks will engage decisions like market development, market penetration, divestiture, and product development. Finally, those products falling under dogs will face investment decisions such as divestiture, retrenchment of workers and liquidation. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Assessment from the matrix Since there are more items in the cash cow column and fewer items in the dogsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ column, the company can be viewed as strong. Despite being at its market penetration stage, it has been able to compete favorably, and this has made it make reasonable profits. From the matrix, the following strengths and weaknesses can be deduced: Company Strengths: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢It has a powerful brand image. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢It has a wide range of products and styles. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Stylish Swedish designs. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s cheap and affordable. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢It has a flat packaging design (reducing storage, shipping, labo r and makes transportation easier. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢IKEAà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s facilities have a friendly atmosphere and layout. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ IKEAà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s facilities are equipped with a restaurant and daycare center. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢IKEA has long-term relationships with the suppliers. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢IKEA has a high profit margin. Company Weaknesses: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Assembling furniture yourself may be unattractive to certain consumers. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢There are very few locations. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Swedish designs may not appeal to all markets. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Advertising doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t appeal enough to the young target market. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Furniture is not built to last a lifetime. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Matrix showing the products of IKEA STARS Bed frames Desks Mirrors Childrenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s IKEA (Crib mattresses, Changing tables, Childrens tableware , Highchairs, Baby toys, Childrens beds , Toys, and Storage system) Ba throom storage (Sinks, Cabinets, Faucets, Bathroom storage, and Bathroom accessories) Storage furniture (Racks and stands) QUESTION MARKS Electronic oven Cooking/ Eating (Cooking accessories,Knives, Mixing and measuring tools, Frying pots and pans, Bake ware ,and Kitchen utensils) Kitchen cabinets and appliances Lighting TV and Media furniture CASH COWS Rugs Textiles DOGS Bed spreads Decoration (Vases, bowls, pictures, frames and candles). Beds and Mattresses (Full, Queen and King Beds) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Each SBU can be assessed in terms of sales and market share on the IKEA Company. Product Range There are about 10,960 products in the total IKEA product range. Each store carries a selection of these products depending on store size; however, the core range is the same world wide. The IKEA product range is wide in function and style. Customers can find everything they need to furnish their home, from plants and living room furnishings to toys and whole kitchens. No matter which style the consumer is looking for IKEA has something for everyone. Initially, the company did not customize the services and products to local markets keeping its operations and products standardized around the world. The standardized approach of internationalizing has minimized the costs, which is a success factor for IKEA. IKEA works to ensure that products and materials are adapted to minimize any negative impact on the environment, and are safe for customers from a health perspective. IKEA strives to use renewable and recyclable materials in their products. By 2012, IKEA had more than 24.7 billion EURO in annual sales with a growth rate of 9.5% in comparison with the prior year. This increment was experienced mainly in China, Russia, Poland, U.S., and Germany. That year, the top five selling countries were: Germany, 14%; U.S.A., 12%; France, 9%; Italy, 6%, and Russia, 6% (IKEA, 2012). The company has 139,000 employees with more t han 330 stores in 40 countries and has 27 distribution centers in 16 countries (IKEA, 2012). These distribution centers facilitate the management of the supply chain more efficiently ensuring an appropriate distribution system within suppliers, stores, and customers. In 2012, IKEA had 1,084 home furnishing suppliers in 53 countries. The IKEA website contains about 12,000 products and is the closest representation of the entire IKEA range. During 2012, IKEA introduced more than 2,000 new products and improved the quality of the merchandise. More than 690 million people visited the IKEA stores and the website had more than 1 billion visits. They opened 11 stores in 9 countries and they plan to continue expanding. InterBrand, a research firm that analyzed the worth of IKEAà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s brand, assigned it a value of $11.9 billion in 2012. Strategic Evaluation and Selection Approaches Businesses large and small now compete in a truly global economy. To be successful in anothe r country it is essential to understand and appreciate the cultural differences that exist. Business practices and ideas that work well here in the United States may not necessarily be expected to do so in other cultural environments. If you were considering an expansion of your current business into an Asian country, what cross cultural challenges might you encounter? Considering of expanding into Asia, China comes across as the strikingly obvious choice. The predominantly socialist and capitalist economy has grown into a so called capitalist market. The country is the most populous around the globe and is the largest among emerging markets. Despite a growing resemblance between the inherently socialist economy of China and the American market economy there are a lot of cross-cultural barriers to entry in the way of a Successful deployment to China. Various overt and covert aspects of the Chinees culture differ predominantly from the American market. Starting from religious b eliefs and moral values at individual and group levels to the marketing orientation there are visible differences. Moreover the linguistic barrier is also there which highlights the difficulties arising from connotations and implications of everyday words that differ in each language. Culturally speaking , Chinees people are more focused towards a family oriented culture, are closer their parents, love to extend their families and are more modest and hard working when compared to Australian nationals. On three out of four Hofstede dimension Power distance, Uncertainty Avoidance and collectivism, the Chinese people score high against US consumers. On the other hand US consumers are more individualistic and Masculine (Chou, Lee Chung, 2004). The FTC puts out its mission by investigating issues raised by reports from consumers and businesses, pre-merger notification filings, congressional inquiries, or reports in the media. These issues include, for instance, false advertising and other forms of fraud. FTC investigations may pertain to a single company or an entire industry. If the results of the investigation reveal unlawful conduct, the FTC may seek voluntary compliance by the offending business through a consent order, file an administrative complaint, or initiate federal litigation. Traditionally an administrative complaint is heard in front of an independent administrative law judge (ALJ) with FTC staff acting as prosecutors. The case is reviewed de novo by the full FTC commission which then may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals and finally to the Supreme Court. A summary of cases heard since 1996 indicates that the commission has never upheld an administrative law judges decision to dismiss a complaint. After adverse results in which the independent administrative law judges have ruled against the FTC (Schering Plough and Rambus), there has been a move towards FTC commissioners being appointed as ALJ (Commissioner Rosch in Inova Health). Un der the FTC Act, the federal courts retain their traditional authority to issue equitable relief, including the appointment of receivers, monitors, the imposition of asset freezes to guard against the spoliation of funds, immediate access to business premises to preserve evidence, and other relief including financial disclosures and expedited discovery. In numerous cases, the FTC employs this authority to combat serious consumer deception or fraud. Additionally, the FTC has rulemaking power to address concerns regarding industry-wide practices. Rules promulgated under this authority are known as Trade Rules. In the mid-1990s, the FTC launched the fraud sweeps concept where the agency and its federal, state, and local partners filed simultaneous legal actions against multiple telemarketing fraud targets. The first sweeps operation was Project Telesweep in July 1995 which cracked down on 100 business opportunity scams. In 1984, the FTC began to regulate the funeral home industry in order to protect consumers from deceptive practices. The FTC Funeral Rule requires funeral homes to provide all customers (and potential customers) with a General Price List (GPL), specifically outlining goods and services in the funeral industry, as defined by the FTC, and a listing of their prices. By law, the GPL must be presented to all individuals that ask, no one is to be denied a written, retainable copy of the GPL. In 1996, the FTC instituted the Funeral Rule Offenders Program (FROP), under which funeral homes make a voluntary payment to the U.S. Treasury or appropriate state fund for an amount less than what would likely be sought if the Commission authorized filing a lawsuit for civil penalties. In addition, the funeral homes participate in the NFDA compliance program, which includes a review of the price lists, on-site training of the staff, and follow-up testing and certification on compliance with the Funeral Rule. One of the Federal Trade Commissions other major focuses is identity theft. The FTC serves as a federal repository for individual consumer complaints regarding identity theft. Even though the FTC does not resolve individual complaints, it does use the aggregated information to determine where federal action might be taken. The complaint form is available online or by phone (1-877-ID-THEFT). Implementing a Specific Strategy: The FTC has been involved in the oversight of the online advertising industry and its practice of behavioral targeting for some time. In 2011 the FTC proposed a Do Not Track mechanism to allow Internet users to opt-out of behavioral targeting. Comparison Of US and Chinese market: 1. Product: The product portfolio decision for Chinees market will need a through involvement of local designers, engineers and marketers to add a local touch to the product that is acceptable to the host country. Mobile phones and telecommunications equipment are in high demand in the emerging market. 2. Price: An aver age Chinese consumer is generally price sensitive, risk averse and is brand cautious when shopping for the new products compared to their Australian peers. Also, Chinese consumers are more price conscious than European consumers and the final buying decision is a group one and since price is a prime determinant of the decision to buy the pricing strategy (especially retail price is likey to be effected by the matter . Skimming the market with high price is only possible for stronger brands of International recognition. The retail price will have to be ranged at a mid market range in order to gain attention of the market (Chou, Lee Chung, 2004). 3. Promotion: The marketing promotions and communications will be adapted keeping in view the religious and moral susceptibilities of Chinese people. The telecommunication market is already Americanized as mass advertising campaigns can be tailored to meet the mindset of the local population (Chou, Lee Chung, 2004). 4. Place: The d istribution channels in the Chinese market are normally constrained. Most of the power is concentrated in the hands of few regularized distributors. For example the power in the cellular telecommunications market of the county sticks in the hands of the three state lead companyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s. As a new entrant alliance with an established local distributor will be more beneficial instead of setting up an own distribution channel. Making unauthorized payments and giving inappropriate gifts to corporate personnel are two emerging ethical issues in the global companies. Gift give away and charitable donations have very different connotations in Chinese culture. Similarly, making of unauthorized payments is sometimes not viewed as a matter of utmost suspicion in Asian countries like China. where trade is based on a foundation of personal relationships and corporate liabilities assumes the shape of a social responsibility. s mutual trust instead of contractual liabilities. A globa lly applicable code of conduct is a must for any ethnocentric or multinational organization. Moreover, apart from these and other few issues, most of the ethical issues have taken a global dimension in the global world of todayà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s day and age. Governance should provide a firm ethical culture to facilitate employees to better handle the ethical dilemmas with confidence. This ethical climate, has deeper beliefs, values and assumptions compared to the corporate culture. (Chou, Lee Chung, 2004). 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