The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara - Essay Example It resulted in loss and injury of 51,000 men. The characters of the book include General Robert E. Lee (commander of the Confederate army), General James Longstreet (General Lee’s second in command); and Union Colonel Joshua L. Chamberlain (the participant of the fighting on Little Round Top, one of the most popular divisions of the Battle of Gettysburg). On June 29, 1863, Longstreet meets a spy, who tells him that the Union army is moving, which surprises him because he thinks that General Stuart is supposed to follow the Union army. He thinks it appropriate to catch the Union army from north. The Confederates move south-east in Gettysburg. Colonel Chamberlain finds out that there are a hundred new mutineers from the Second Maine, out of whom six join his Twentieth Maine after his speech. The Union army, under supervision of General Buford, arrives in Gettysburg to find out the Confederates already present there. Buford positions nearly 200 soldiers along the hills to confron t the Confederates, because he thinks it easier to fight from the top. George Pickett and many other Generals meet Longstreet in the Confederate camp. General Lee is irritated at the absence of General Stuart. On July 1, he meets Longstreet who tells that he wants to confront the Union army from south-east, to come between them and Washington D.C. Lee refuses. The Confederates attack the Union army at Gettysburg. Buford keeps back the Confederates with the help of General Reynolds, who gets killed. Lee arrives and finds the battle going on, and orders his Generals to attack the Union army from south. Chamberlain’s troops also move in the north of Gettysburg. The union army retreats to the hills and sets up cannons. Longstreet is perplexed at Lee’s decision, and is angry at General Ewell’s move of making the Union forces retreat in hills. The Union army blames Buford for the retreat. Chamberlain is still moving in the north of Gettysburg on July 2, where he meets an escaped slave. Lee approves of Ewell and Early’s plan to attack two flanks of the Union. He moves his forces toward the hill, where the Unions had already come down. Lee attacks, and the result is a scene of carnage from both sides. Chamberlain reaches the little Round Top. His troops run short of bullets. They scream and frighten the Confederates away, making the Unions possess the Little Round Top. Lee gets angry at Stuart when he arrives. Lee sets a new plan of attacking the middle flank of the Unions. He orders Chamberlain’s troops to take position, on July 3. Longstreet tries to convince Lee to leave the plan, but all in vain. He gives Pickett the charge of attack. The Confederates attack the Unions. Chamberlain is safe, though his troops are in the center. The attack is of less harm to the Unions, who attack back with cannons, causing the Confederates much loss. Confederates retreat, and the gory battle ends (Bailey). Shaara’s attempt at describing eve nts made this book the top best-seller (Wilson and Fischer 492). I loved reading the book, and appreciated the way the writer has conveyed the correct sequence of events. The way of writing is subtle yet imaginary, and I can feel myself present at the place of war while reading. The tone is expressive, and the style of writing, with which the chronological order of events has been presented, is lucid. While synopsis, I

Analysis of Indias Automotive Industry

Analysis of Indias Automotive Industry INDIAN AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY The automotive industry is one of the largest industries worldwide and in India as well. The automotive sector is a vital sector for any developed economy. It drives upstream industries like steel, iron, aluminum, rubber, plastics, glass and electronics, and downstream industries like advertising and marketing, transport and insurance. The automotive industry can be divided into five sectors:- Passenger Cars. Multi- Utility Vehicles (MUVs). Two- and Three- Vehicles. Commercial Vehicles Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) / Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicles (MHCVs). Tractors. We will be looking at the Passenger car industry in India. Despite a head start, the passenger car industry in India has not quite matched up to the performance of its counterparts in other parts of the world. The primary reason has been the all-pervasive regulatory atmosphere prevailing till the opening up of the industry in the mid-1990s. The various layers of legislative Acts sheltered the industry from external competition for a long time. Moreover, the industry was considered low-priority as cars were thought of as unaffordable luxury. HISTORY OF INDIAN AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY Initially, in the post-liberalization period, the automotive sector, especially the passenger car segment, saw a boom, derived primarily from economic vibrancy, changes in Government policies, increase in purchasing power, improvement in life styles, and availability of car finance. The passenger car industry was finally deregulated in 1993. However, the automobile industry, which contributed substantially to the industrial growth in FY1996 failed to maintain the same momentum between FY1997 and FY1999. The overall slowdown in the economy and the resultant slowdown in industrial production, political uncertainty and inadequate infrastructure development were some of the factors responsible for the slowdown experienced. In FY2000, the sector experienced a turnaround and witnessed the launch of many new models. Two things that stunted growth of this industry in the past have been low demand and lack of vision on the part of the original equipment manufacturers (QEMs). However, the demand picked up after the liberalization of the regulatory environment, and global QEMs- who enjoy scale economies both in terms of manufacturing and research and development (RD) entered the Indian market. This has resulted in a big shift in the way business is conducted by suppliers, assemblers and marketers. PASSENGER CAR INDUSTRY IN INDIA: HIGHLIGHTS Passenger car sales are expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8% over the period FY2004-2007. The six broad segments in the car market today are- Mini, Compact, Midrange, Executive, Premium and Luxury. In the medium term, growth in the Indian passenger car industry is expected to be led largely by the Compact and Mid-range Segments. The critical success factor has changed from price to price value. In terms of engine capacity, the Indian passenger car market is moving towards cars of highest capacity. With the launch of new models from FY2000 onwards, the market for MUVs has been redefined in India, especially at the upper end. Currently, the higher-end MUVs, commonly known as Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), occupy a niche in the urban market. With the success of SUVs, the line of distinction between passenger cars and MUVs in the Indian market is getting increasingly blurred. Domestic car manufacturers are now venturing into areas such as car financing, leasing, and fleet management, and used-car reconditioning /sales, to complement their mainstay-business of selling new cars. During April August 2006, the passenger car sales in India at 332159 units, marked a growth of 5.3%over the previous year. The growth in the domestic sales of passenger cars was led by strong growth in volumes reported by compact and mid size segments. While the share of mini and executive segments declined in the period under study, the share of other segments increased. For instance, the share of compact segment in the domestic car sales increased from 59.7% in April August 2005 to 64.9% in April August 2006, mid size segment from 20.5% to 22%, and the share of Premium segment was stagnant at 0.7% in the same period. New variants launches, easy availability of finance at relatively lower interest rate and price discounts offered by the players have played an important role in driving the sales growth in the domestic passenger car industry. KEY DEMAND DRIVERS Traditionally, disposable income was perceived as the key factor driving passenger car demand. But over time, other factors that are known to have an impact on demand have emerged. These include the need for greater mobility, non- availability of public transport services, availability of cheap finance, development of the used-car market, introduction of new technologically superior models, increasing levels of urbanization and changing consumer profiles. The credit for growing the Indian Compact Segment, and in fact, the Indian Passenger car industry goes partly to the Korean manufacturers (HMIL and the erstwhile Daewoo) and the Indian player Tata Motors. The HMIL Santro was launched in September1998 and created a sensation on account of its aggressive pricing at Rs.2, 99,000. The Santro became successful as HMIL had got the price -value equation just right. While Daewoos Matiz picked up only seven months after its launch, the Santro was selling more than 3000units a month only 2 months after its launch. HMIL had infact, planned its entry into the Indian market with the 1495cc Accent but later opted in favour of the smaller car. At the time the Santro was launched, both the options available in the segment- Fiat Uno and the Zen-had been around in the Indian Market for quite some time and lacked novelty. Santro was not only cheaper but also incorporated a multi-point fuel injection (MPFI) system that offered superior fuel economy to Zens carburetor system. The Matiz was launched in November 1998. Its 800cc engine immediately encouraged comparisons with Maruti 800. The initial launch price of Matiz at Rs. 3, 55,000 was significantly higher than the Santros Rs, 2, 99,000. Given that the Matiz was smaller than the Zen and the Santro, the initial impact was not so strong. In May 1999, Daewoo launched stripped-down variants. The launch of the cheaper versions saw the sales of Matiz reaching almost 2000 units in May 1999 and recording an average monthly sale of 3123units in FY2000. However, the financial crisis faced by the parent, Daewoo Motor Corporation affected the performance of the Indian subsidiary (that was reporting net loss and had significant borrowings). Subsequently, the Indian subsidiary halted production. MUL now has 4 cars in the Compact Segment: the Swift, the Zen, the Alto and the Wagon R. In terms of market share, Zen steadily lost share in FY2000 to its competitors. Despite this, there is no denying that the Zen is one of the bigger success stories in the Indian car market. With 3 models, MUL is the market leader in the Compact segment. The Alto arrived in India when there was little room for man oeuvre in a crowded compact segment. It was launched in 2 versions, the LX and the VX. The base version is priced competitively with the deluxe version of the Maruti800, while the higher-end version competes with the based versions of the Zen and the Wagon R. The 1061cc Wagon R is available in four manual transmission variants (LX, LXi, VX and VXi) and one automatic transmission variant (AX). Since its introduction in February 2000, Wagon R has been selling in the 1500-3000units per month range as against 5000-8000units per month range for the Santro. The presence of the already well-established Matiz and the Santro meant that the novelty factor did not work too well for Wagon R. However 2005 has been a revolutionary year for Maruti since its new Launch Swift has been a huge success in the market and the most demanded car as well. The other cars in the compact segment to have made an immediate dent in the market with their launch are the Palio of Fiat India and the improved version Indica V2 of Tata Motors. Indica was the third largest selling car in FY2002 in this segment, after Santro and Zen. On the other hand, Palio was launched at the time when the passenger car industry was witnessing a slump but the model cut across the barriers and was able to create a market for itself. However, the success of this model was short-lived and the sales declined thereafter. Nevertheless, launches of new variants (such as the diesel version) helped sales recover marginally. The size of the compact segment has increased as a result of the high growth rate attained by the models in this segment. The changing price-value equation, coupled with the declining interest rates and easy availability of finance, has prompted consumers to move towards the compact car segment from the mini segment. The high rate of growth achieved by the compact segment has attracted the attention of other players also; including GM. GM has entered the compact segment with the launch of its Opel Corsa Sail in May2003. FUTURE OF CAR MARKET IN INDIA The Indian automotive market offers tremendous opportunities due to a strong GDP growth, increased urbanisation, an expanding middle class, an upward migration of disposable incomes and availability of easy financing options. The Indian automotive industry is dominated by two-wheelers, while cars account for about 10.7 percent of the total industry. The potential for growth is enormous. The Indian Governments Automotive Mission Plan 2006-2016 states that the Indian passenger car market is expected to reach 3 million by 2015, making India as one of the top 10 car markets in the world. India is also expected to remain as the second-largest two-wheeler manufacturer, the largest tractor and three-wheeler manufacturer and the fourth-largest truck manufacturer in the world by 20151. The main considerations driving customer preference are mainly reliability and economy. GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT AND SUPPORT STILL LIKELY IN THE FUTURE Post-liberalization, the government has made specific attempts to reduce barriers and controls, such as allowing 100 percent foreign direct investment in the automotive sector and reducing customs tariffs on automotive components. The government has also set an ambitious target of increasing the revenue turnover derived from the automotive sector from about 5 to 10 percent of the GDP by 2016. The emphasis in the future is expected to be on exports of small cars, multi-utility vehicles, two-wheelers and components. With regard to emission norms for passenger cars, the government has proposed the implementation of Euro-IV emission norms from 2010 onwards, which is likely to lead to an increase in car prices. According to Avik Chattopadhyay Deputy General Manager, Marketing, of Maruti the Indian government is expected to continue the process of reforms even in the future. The Indian passenger car industry is dominated by the small car segment, and more specifically the compact car segment, both in terms of growth rates as well as contribution to total passenger car sales. Due to the fact that India is a low-income market, the dominance of small cars is expected to continue even in the future. Tata Motors, a leading Indian OEM, has plans of launching a small car at USD 2,326 in 20083. This is expected to convert a lot of two-wheeler prospects into passenger car customers. This is also expected to lead to other OEMs launching similar products/reducing prices and the creation of a new segment (below even the mini-car segment). Rural customers are also expected to be likely target segments for this car. The four-wheeler market (including commercial vehicles) is dominated by Asian OEMs, with American OEMs occupying only about three percent of the market. Hence, resurgence from the American OEMs seems likely in the future. Recently, the American OEMs have a lso announced their plans for capacity expansions however, the main difficulty is their lack of expertise for making fuel-efficient, small cars. General Motors (GM), in order to circumvent this, has recently announced the launch of a Daewoo small car (known as the Spark) in India in 2007. The used-car market is also expected to grow in the future, especially considering the fact that the ratio of used-car sales to new-car sales is about 1:1 in India this is less than the global ratio of 2:1. The major OEMs, including Maruti, Hyundai, GM, etc., have already decided to enter this market as used car dealers. Increased market share for fuels other than petrol is expected in the passenger car segment, especially considering the rising prices for petrol. Diesel is expected to capture about 35 percent of the market share in 2010, the current share being 30 percent. Maruti and Hyundai, two major gasoline players, have announced their plans to enter the diesel market as well. LPG as a fuel is also gaining popularity as it is cheaper than petrol and requires less maintenance and conversion costs as compared to CNG. Research work on bio diesel as a fuel for the future is also underway. The Indian manufacturing may go through periods of overcapacity as the vehicle capacity estimations are about three million passenger cars in the next five years. A recent trend observed is the sharing of manufacturing facilities for example, a deal between Maruti and Nissan, wherein the former is expected to produce cars on its assembly lines labeling them as Nissan. The use of Aluminum in automotives is expected to increase especially since this helps in boosting fuel economy, performance and safety, while reducing emissions. The use of electronics in manufacturing is also expected to increase. INDIA: THE SOON TO BE SMALL-CAR HUB Small cars constitute about 78 percent of the domestic demand, making India the third-largest producer of small cars after Japan and Brazil. Therefore, the government has decided to launch a programme to make India a small car hub in the future a recent reduction in excise duties from 24 percent to 16 percent exclusively for small cars being an initiative in this direction. The major players not present in this segment have also drawn up plans for entering this segment in the near future. Players with expertise in small car, such as Maruti and Hyundai, have formulated plans for ramping up production capacities. It is likely that with the small car volume increase (both due to domestic volumes and exports) in the next decade, domestic players, such as Tata Motors, would become strong global players. COMMERCIAL VEHICLES TO CONTINUE STRONG GROWTH This segment has shown strong growth over the last 5 years (at CAGR of over 20 percent), and the growth is likely to continue in the future as well as this is mainly dependent on economic progress and road-network availability, both of which are growing at a fast pace in the country. According to the National Highway authority estimations, the growth of highways is expected to proceed at a CAGR of about 6 percent during 2006-2015, in contrast to a growth of about 1.2 percent during 1951-1995. The future is also expected to witness more product sophistication with increasing power to weight solutions especially for the truck segment. Multinationals have already made an entry in the segment with MAN, Daimler Chrysler and Volvo already present in the market. INDIA FIRMS VENTURING ABROAD Manufacturing occupies about 60 percent of the total direct overseas investments by Indian companies in various sectors. The Indian automotive companies, including both Indian OEMs and well as component manufacturers, have been investing mainly in the domains of forging and casting, particularly in European countries. So far, the industry has witnessed 16 acquisitions (five in 2005). The collapsing auto ancillary industry in these regions makes the deal extremely affordable for Indian companies, providing them market access and brand enhancement opportunities in a new region. Indian companies are also investing in emerging Asian economies such as China to establish a new sourcing base in the region. Global automotive players: sourcing parts outsourcing RD base to India The auto component exports sector is expected to show a strong growth with an estimated CAGR of 34 percent by 2014. All the leading OEMs in the world are already sourcing components from India, mainly in steering systems, casting products and electrical, such as motors and wiring, harnesses. The Indian automobile industry has four major segments commercial vehicles (CVs), passenger vehicles, three wheelers, and two wheelers. The market share for each of these segments of the Indian automobile industry, for the year 2003-04. According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) , the Indian passenger vehicle market has three categories passenger cars, multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs), and utility vehicles (UVs). The passenger car market is further divided into various segments based on the length of the car (Refer to Exhibit II for a detailed description of the lengthwise classification of passenger cars. The Indian automobile industry was a highly protected slow-growth industry with very few players till the opening up of the Indian economy in 1991. Low manufacturing costs, availability of skilled labor, an organized component industry, and the capability to supply in large volumes attracted global auto majors to set up their operations in India after the ope ning up of the sector. For example, Fiat and DaimlerChrysler started outsourcing their component requirements to India. 100 percent Indian subsidiaries of global players, like Delphi Automotive Systems and Visteon, exported components to other parts of the world. Macroeconomic factors like government regulations, low interest rates, and availability of retail finance played an important role in the rapid development of the automobile industry in India during the late nineties (Refer to Exhibit III for an understanding of the impact of the Union Budget on the Indian automobile industry over the years).. The leading Indian manufacturers are aggressively aspiring to become Tier-I suppliers the OEM: aftermarket ratio in exports has changed from 35:65 in the last decade to 75:25 at present. According to a Government of India estimate, there are 400 large firms in the organized sector and about 10,000 firms in the unorganized sector. The entry of more foreign companies in the sector is expected to lead to greater regulation, pruning of the spurious market and the unorganized players ceasing to be stand-alone companies, and entering into either contract manufacturing or becoming ancillary units. India is also showing an increasing prowess in automo tive design and development. Global MNCs, such as GM, Ford, Delphi, Visteon, etc., have already set up their RD centers in India. The main advantage of these centers is the low development costs it takes 1/5th of the costs to develop or engineer products in India as compared to global rates. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The present study of the marketing strategy of the Maruti Suzuki (Pvt.) Limited revolves around the following broad objectives: To study the evolution and growth of the Maruti Suzuki (Pvt.) Limited in the context of the automobile revolution in India; To study the growth strategy of the Maruti Suzuki (Pvt.) Limited and the marketing methods followed by it in this regard. To study the small car revolution in India and the contribution of the Maruti Suzuki (Pvt.) Limited to it. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY RESEARCH DESIGN DATA SOURCES. Determining the sample size and the period of the required research. Designing the research tools. Defining the objectives of the research work. PRIMARY DATA Questionnaire. Survey. Personal Interview Discussion SECONDAY DATA Newspapers Journals Magazines QUESTIONNAIRE DESIGN Questions chosen are open ended as well as close ended; and objectives behind choosing such question is availability of data SAMPLE DESIGN Sample unit: DD Motors Wazirpur, Mayapuri, Okhla, Competent Motors Moti Nagar Extent: 8 Weeks Sample Size: 59 MARUTI SUZUKI Very often, there is an analogy drawn between the state of the great Indian roads and the pace of economic development in the country. Needless to say, its not a very pleasing comparison. So the average Indian customer who rides the roads of India is naturally extremely cautious when it comes to investing in a vehicle. Only those rough and tough enough to survive the potholes and nightmarish surfaces can pass muster. In such a scenario, a foreign company launching a car in the Indian market was bound to be looked upon with skepticism and suspicion, more so, if it had South Korean origins. South Korean companies were perceived not to be quality oriented. The failure of Korean companies like Lucky Gold star (later to be re-launched as LG, which is another marketing success) and the bad word of mouth for Daewoo led to this perception. MARKET PRESENCE In the late 1990s, car manufacturers like Ford, General Motors, and Fiat were faring miserably in the Indian market. Maruti had a market share of a whopping 79 per cent in the passenger car segment. Daewoo and Telco were creating hype over the impending launches of their cars Matiz and Indica, respectively. In such a scenario, the top management of Hyundai Motor India Ltd, which has South Korean origins, had a tough decision to make. It was a big gamble to go ahead with the launch of the small car -Santro. The Hyundai management stuck to a simple strategy launch a quality product in the most promising segment. With the latest technology and price it aggressively. In the pre-launch period in late 1997, the company commissioned market research project to understand the, Indian consumer psyche and specify a benchmark for the pricing policy. The results of this survey and the actions taken thereafter had a bearing upon the success of the product later on. The Indian consumers showed an immense dislike to the shape of Santro. One consumer even likened it to a funeral hearse. A second important result was that Hyundai is an unknown brand with almost zero brand equity amongst Indian consumers. The company immediately undertook the initiative of reshaping and customizing the car for the Indian customer. The tall rear end was reduced and made more aesthetically appealing. The Santro was all set for the Indian launch. MARUTI-MARKETING GENIUS Here came the most important aspect of the launch the marketing strategy. This was a factor that could make or mar the success of the Santro. Hyundai tied up with the advertising agency Saatchi and Saatchi, who hit upon a novel strategy. Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan was roped in to be the brand ambassador. A three-pronged strategy was designed to attract the consumer: Educate Indian Consumers about Hyundai Create hype and expectations about the Santro Explain the virtues of the Santro The TV Press Campaign broke in June 1998. The initial TV spots and the press campaign showed Shah Rukh Khan being approached by a Hyundai official to advertise the Santro. Shah Rukh was not convinced about Hyundai and he was shown to ask all questions a normal Indian consumer is expected to ask. What is Hyundai? Why should I advertise for the Santro? Will it match customer service expectations? What about dealer networks? How can an international car meet the requirements of Indian roads? As the campaign went through all of these questions, the Hyundai official answered Shah Rukh Khan. By the time the car was actually launched, Shah Rukh Khan proclaims, he is convinced. He declares that he is now ready to advertise the Santro since he is certain that the Santro is the car for India. This high profile campaign backed by some very innovative media buying, which went for maximum coverage with the minimum budget, broke all grounds in terms of creating consumer expectations and hype in t he market. Along with the Advertising Campaign, the Sales Team worked burning midnight oil in creating the dealer network across the length and breadth of the country. The wide dealer network would prove to be invaluable in ensuring that the Santro would be available to anyone who wants to buy it. An important pre-requisite for the dealer network was a fully functional workshop area with imported international standard equipment and engineers trained in Hyundais parent training centre in South Korea and localized training provided in the Chennai Plant. RANGE OF PRODUCT SERVICES The race for Indias small-car market has begun. But only those among the big four who get all their strategies right will win this unforgiving contest. The prize: not just the largest automobile segment, but also survival in this market. Theyre lined up for the last lap. With Market India becoming a minefield for the worlds largest auto-makers, the Formula I have become brighter than the red lights that have stopped them in their tracks so faronly the small car will enable endurance. Bumper-to-bumper, therefore, the combatants are accelerating towards the small-car segment. Amounting to 60 per cent of the Rs 14,500-crore automobiles market, and hitherto monopolized by the Rs 8,454-crore Maruti Udyog with its Maruti 800 and Zen, its the final frontier between survival and extinction. So far, accustomed as they are to the priorities of the customer in the developed markets, the global auto-makers have taken many wrong turns in India. Only now, after many knocks, crashes, and repair job s, are they back on track, heading towards their destination. But neither the road nor the end-point of their journey is wide enough for all of them. At a projected 6-lakh unit by 2000, demand for cars is still 25 per cent less than the number of F-150 pick-up trucks sold by the $153.62-billion Ford Motor Co. in 1997. But the importance of India on the world auto map is strategic. With an estimated total capacity of 58 million units a year, the global auto industry is racing far a head of the demand of 45 million units. Markets in North America, Europe, and Japanwhich account for 74 per cent of the demandhave become saturated. Global car-manufacturers will need to plant their feet in a low-cost, young, stable market to sell their products to create a global supply-base for cars and components. The first wave of manufacturers simply failed to make a splash in India. They were revving up for a growth that never happened. Their entry reasoning: since India had been a small-car market for years, it was only a matter of time before it enlarged to ac commodate bigger, luxury cars. That the logic was flawed has now become evident. India is still a small-car market for anyone who wants both revenues and profits. Not surprisingly, Ford (which launched the 1,300-cc petrol and the 1,800-cc diesel Escort in 1996), the $178.17-billion General Motors (which entered with the 1,600-cc Opel Astra in 1996), and the $72-billion Daewoo Groups Rs 963.37-crore Daewoo Motors (which launched the 1,498-cc Cello in 1995) are limping at the starting-block. None of the 3 has managed to chalk up sales of more than 18,000 units a year. Even Maruti Udyoga joint venture between the $12.12-billion Suzuki Motor Corporation of Japan and the Government of Indiahas been unable to grow the luxury segment. At 18,000 units in 1997-98, its 1,300-cc Esteem luxury cars sales fell by 28 per cent. Explains B.V.R. Subbu, 43, Director (Sales Marketing), Hyundai Motor India: Traditional mid-car buyers are turning to small cars; they are waiting for new technologies. Within 8 months of the 1,468-cc Citys launch in January, 1998, the $48.87-billion Honda Motor has sold 4,180 cars in the Indian market, which is more than the combine d sales (3,317 units) of the Astra and the Escort. But despite Hondas initial success, the luxury-car segment has platitude, and there seems to be room for just one player. In the past 3 years, the segment has shrunk in value, dashing car-makers hopes of rebuilding their futures in India. Naturally, the only safe haven that remains is the small-car segment, which is 2.45 lakh units in size. And the only segment expected to grow at 15 per cent a year for the next 5 years. The new millennium cannot but belong to the small car. However, economics of upstream manufacture will only ensure survival. Sophisticated downstream skills are essential to make inroads into the tough Maruti Udyog territory. COMPANY POLICIES BUILDING STRATIGES But strategies, like cars, must feed on volumes. And how much is the sub-compact segment likely to yield in 1998-99? Maruti Udyog expects the sales of the Zen to cross the 1-lakh-unit mark. Assuming that at least a third of the small-car owning populationthis includes customers who have been using the Maruti 800, say, for at least 3 yearsgraduates to a sub-compact, which means a market for at least another 1 lakh car. Even if the 2-lakh mark is not breached in the next 5 months, 1999-2000 will be the Year of the Upgrade, the economy permitting. This is why the second wave is focused on the small segmentfrom the mini to the sub-compact to the small car. On that relatively stable bandwagon is perched the goliath, Maruti Udyog, 2 newcomersthe $28-billion Hyundai Motor of South Korea and the Rs 7,450.34-crore Telcoand one revitalized company, Daewoo Motors. By drawing on their intrinsic strengths, each is evolving a unique strategy to overtake competition. BT test-drives the strategic re sponses of the second wave and assesses their chances of survival. In less than two decades, India has ascended the ladder of global competitiveness and improved its business environment for investors through a consistent focus on economic reforms. Even more creditable is the fact that this growth comes on the back of an ever-strengthening social infrastructure supported by vibrant democracy. India today is the hotbed of entrepreneurial activity. Wealth creators and world-beaters are visible in sectors after sector. Indias economy has more than doubled in real terms since reform began in 1991. Consumer demand, increasing three to five times faster than the economy, reflects the aspirations of a vibrant, growing and young middle class; India is home to 20 per cent of the worlds population under the age of 24. With more than 200 television channels offering a window to the world, Indians are perhaps the most rapidly evolving consumers across the globe. Successful economic reforms, favorable media disposition and an overall positive economic scenario h ave placed a spotlight on the country. Indian companies are making overseas acquisitions, capital markets are booming, FIIs are pumping money in, FOREX reserves are a record high and the political economy has gained credibility in the global investor community and world media. Innovative products, innovative processes, innovative manufacturing methods are enticing foreign investors and multinationals to India. What is `India for the world? It is a millennia-old civilization. It is also the worlds premier IT services provider. The worlds back office a global R D hub. Emerging small-car hub. Repository, arguably, of the worlds largest number of engineers, doctors, accountants, and so on. To bring it all down to a single idea India is ready with vario

The Torment of a Lifetime - Original Writing :: Papers

The Torment of a Lifetime - Original Writing The dining room door was left ajar; he could smell all the different aromas spilling through. He wasn't hungry, he settled for a cup of coffee. The coffee awoke his taste buds and realised that he could eat a breakfast. Unexpectedly he heard his name being called out over the tannoy, to go to the medical wing without delay. He thought it was just another routine medical examination, which all other staff dread. He stood before the door. He let out a loud sigh entered the room and marched his way to the grubby desk and announced himself. He was asked to sit down and wait for someone to call his name to proceed with his examination. The chairs were all stained and torn; they were in need of urgent replacement. His attention was fixated on a magazine about the Ancient Romans; he picked it up and began to read it. The noise suddenly ceased, leaving the tick-tocking of the clock not difficult to hear. He nervously waited, as he knew what was about to come. He began to hear faint footsteps gradually getting louder and closer being stomped in a rhythmic, ridiculed taunt. He felt like he was being harassed. This reminded him of a part in Jurassic Park. His eyes widened, a million and one thoughts running through his head. He knows what happens next. He has to get out. Within seconds the door that had a placard saying 'Medical Staff Only' burst open ricocheting off the adjacent wall. He flew back his chair in anticipation of what was about to happen, out emerged six examiners, accompanied by clipboards that were placed officiously against their chest. His nerves are at rock bottom, ticking away with each tick of the clock. The door slammed shut as he stumbled back through. Once strength and power surged throughout his veins, his body was completely drained, like air sucked out from a balloon. His body has encountered the extreme in the past but nothing to the torturing treatment that he had

Why Harry Potter Should Be Taught in School

Grace Farrow Scott English 1301. 18 October 31, 2012 Why Harry Potter should be read in college classes. â€Å"Happiness can be found in the most darkest of places, if only one remembers to turn on the light. † – Albus Dumbledore. (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban). The most dynamic series of books and movies of all time is Harry Potter. I, like many other students, am taking both high school and college classes at the same time. In doing so I have a lot of homework.The one book I have found that I and many others read in the very little spare time we have, is Harry Potter. Many people say that Harry Potter is â€Å"bad† because it has witchcraft throughout the story line. Many say that it is a series written for younger adults. Many people say that the settings, characters, and plot lines in Harry Potter are unrealistic and childish. Many books such as The Hobbit, several works of Shakespeare, and the classics such as Dracula, Frankenstein, and Gulliver' s Travels are unrealistic but are required reading in many college classes.Harry Potter covers much of the same ground as the classical stories, and the students would be more interested in reading the story instead of just the Sparknotes. Harry Potter is one of the most read and talked about series of all time. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows alone had 8. 3 million copies sold the first day of its release, not including the pre-orders. Mine was pre-ordered so it was not counted in that figure. Four hundred and fifty million dollars, is the amount of money the books have made just from their respective release dates put together.Harry Potter is a major world wide phenomenon. From 2001 to the present day researchers have found that â€Å"Children who had previously read short chapter books were suddenly plowing through more than 700 pages in a matter of days. †, (moviefone. com). Harry Potter has been beneficial to my generation as we have grown up. Now many colleges are incorporating the Harry Potter books into their lessons. This is helping many students understand more of what they learn in class because the topics are interesting.Also â€Å"Colleges and University professors from all over have begun teaching the literature of J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series in the classroom. And for those who grew up reading the seven book series, professors are finding that students are able to better understand and appreciate the classic literature of Charles Dickens,† (Mugglenet. com) according to a Washington and Lee University English professor. A generation that enjoys reading long books, talking about books with other students, and better appreciating classical English Literature with the likes of Shakespeare and Charles Dickens.While it is interesting that college students themselves are still reading the books, what is most surprising is how readily universities are embracing the books and incorporating them into courses. I know that i f my college professors decided to incorporate Harry Potter into the literature that my class reads, I would be more apt to read and interact with discussions in class because it is fun and interesting. Right now English classes read books like Beowulf, Hamlet, and Macbeth, these books are classics and should be read but not only these books should be read in the classroom.Books such as Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Hunger Games are books that interest young adults, and should at least be incorporated so the students will want to participate. Many students in both high school and college say that Harry Potter brings them a nice break from all of the books they have to read for school. The students still like the fantasy elements in Harry Potter. High school and college students can understand the challenges that Harry had to go through during his school years.Even though the books have very unrealistic angles, like magic and wizardry, young adults can still understand what he is g oing through. The loss of his parents, the hidden love between Ron and Hermione, and the teachers that Harry does not like, and then the ones that do not like Harry. The unrealistic magical way that Harry gets through his problems offer an escape for those people reading the book, who are going through the same problems as Harry. Harry Potter has no age limit- my parents read them, my sister read them, and my niece is reading them.If you have not already read them, do so. Harry Potter offers romance, action, and magic, it is the book for all audiences. The next time you find yourself in a book store just pick the first one up. They are amazing. And who knows you might find it in your literature classes next semester. Rowling J. K. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Askaban New York: Scholastic, 1999. Print. â€Å"Harry Potter Numbers Trivia. † Moviefone. com. 13 July 2007. Web. â€Å"Harry Potter in Literature. † Mugglenet. com. 02 February 2012. Web. Why Harry Potter Should Be Taught in School Grace Farrow Scott English 1301. 18 October 31, 2012 Why Harry Potter should be read in college classes. â€Å"Happiness can be found in the most darkest of places, if only one remembers to turn on the light. † – Albus Dumbledore. (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban). The most dynamic series of books and movies of all time is Harry Potter. I, like many other students, am taking both high school and college classes at the same time. In doing so I have a lot of homework.The one book I have found that I and many others read in the very little spare time we have, is Harry Potter. Many people say that Harry Potter is â€Å"bad† because it has witchcraft throughout the story line. Many say that it is a series written for younger adults. Many people say that the settings, characters, and plot lines in Harry Potter are unrealistic and childish. Many books such as The Hobbit, several works of Shakespeare, and the classics such as Dracula, Frankenstein, and Gulliver' s Travels are unrealistic but are required reading in many college classes.Harry Potter covers much of the same ground as the classical stories, and the students would be more interested in reading the story instead of just the Sparknotes. Harry Potter is one of the most read and talked about series of all time. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows alone had 8. 3 million copies sold the first day of its release, not including the pre-orders. Mine was pre-ordered so it was not counted in that figure. Four hundred and fifty million dollars, is the amount of money the books have made just from their respective release dates put together.Harry Potter is a major world wide phenomenon. From 2001 to the present day researchers have found that â€Å"Children who had previously read short chapter books were suddenly plowing through more than 700 pages in a matter of days. †, (moviefone. com). Harry Potter has been beneficial to my generation as we have grown up. Now many colleges are incorporating the Harry Potter books into their lessons. This is helping many students understand more of what they learn in class because the topics are interesting.Also â€Å"Colleges and University professors from all over have begun teaching the literature of J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series in the classroom. And for those who grew up reading the seven book series, professors are finding that students are able to better understand and appreciate the classic literature of Charles Dickens,† (Mugglenet. com) according to a Washington and Lee University English professor. A generation that enjoys reading long books, talking about books with other students, and better appreciating classical English Literature with the likes of Shakespeare and Charles Dickens.While it is interesting that college students themselves are still reading the books, what is most surprising is how readily universities are embracing the books and incorporating them into courses. I know that i f my college professors decided to incorporate Harry Potter into the literature that my class reads, I would be more apt to read and interact with discussions in class because it is fun and interesting. Right now English classes read books like Beowulf, Hamlet, and Macbeth, these books are classics and should be read but not only these books should be read in the classroom.Books such as Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Hunger Games are books that interest young adults, and should at least be incorporated so the students will want to participate. Many students in both high school and college say that Harry Potter brings them a nice break from all of the books they have to read for school. The students still like the fantasy elements in Harry Potter. High school and college students can understand the challenges that Harry had to go through during his school years.Even though the books have very unrealistic angles, like magic and wizardry, young adults can still understand what he is g oing through. The loss of his parents, the hidden love between Ron and Hermione, and the teachers that Harry does not like, and then the ones that do not like Harry. The unrealistic magical way that Harry gets through his problems offer an escape for those people reading the book, who are going through the same problems as Harry. Harry Potter has no age limit- my parents read them, my sister read them, and my niece is reading them.If you have not already read them, do so. Harry Potter offers romance, action, and magic, it is the book for all audiences. The next time you find yourself in a book store just pick the first one up. They are amazing. And who knows you might find it in your literature classes next semester. Rowling J. K. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Askaban New York: Scholastic, 1999. Print. â€Å"Harry Potter Numbers Trivia. † Moviefone. com. 13 July 2007. Web. â€Å"Harry Potter in Literature. † Mugglenet. com. 02 February 2012. Web.

Care and Administration of Medicines

Candidate's Name: Company: Date: Please write your name, in the blocks provided, as clearly as possible. The date should be written in the AD/MM/HAY format. This will ensure your certificate has the correct spelling and date. V. 021 1 @ Redeemer Publications Limited 201 1 Care & Administration of Medicines Index Page 2 Unit One Introduction & Legislation Pages 3 – 6 Unit One Questions page 7 Unit Two What are Medicines / Methods of Administration Pages 8- 13 Unit Two Questions Page 14 Unit Three Prescribing & Monitoring pages 15- 17 Unit Three QuestionsPage 18 unit Four Policies & Procedures / Administration pages 19- 25 Unit Four Questions Page 26 N. B: We are aware that official practice is to use the terms â€Å"service users† or â€Å"people using this service† to describe those receiving care. We prefer the term â€Å"client' and use it throughout our training package. Key: worksheet important example 2 please note unit One Introduction As of February 2006 nearly half of all nursing and care homes were failing to meet the minimum standard Of safe handling Of medicines. The principles for the safe handling of medicines do not vary depending on hype of care offered, people cared for or size of business.Your home, and you, have a duty of care to properly handle medication and to support your clients to take their medicines safely The majority of people living in care homes take some kind of medicine. Some will be administering their own medication; others may take medicines that can only be administered by trained doctors and nurses. As a care worker you will need to be familiar with the medicines taken by your clients and you may even be trained to administer a number of them; you should be aware of issues concerning their control and must have knowledge of your home's own policies and procedures.As a career you are most likely to be administering medicines that are taken by mouth, inhaled or applied to the skin; you may also receive sp ecific training to use suppositories and to carry out certain types of injection. Clients requiring medicines that cannot be administered by you should, unless they are clandestineness be treated by doctors and / or nurses. This course is designed as an introduction to the care and administration of medicines. It will make you think about the type of destined used in your Care home and the reasons for their use; it will also look at how they need to be controlled and administered.Medicines can be highly dangerous substances and as such must be carefully controlled. It is essential that only competent staff administer medications and that there are suitable in-house policies and procedures for the safe storage and use of all medicines in the home. Staff administering medications must have received appropriate training that must include: Basic knowledge of how medicines are used and how to recognize and deal with problems in useThe principles behind all aspects of the homes policy on medicine handling and records Administration of medication must be carried out by a designated, appropriately trained member of staff and should be witnessed by a second designated, appropriately trained member of staff. 3 In essence the members Of staff responsible for the administration Of medication should have enough knowledge and experience to carry out the task safely and efficiently. All staff must receive in-house training on policies and procedures relevant to their workplace. This may form part of the induction programmer and must be updated regularly.Health and social care Act 2008 Regulation 13 Health and Social Care Act 2008 (regulated activities) Urge lotions 2010 (OUTCOME 9: Management of medicines) ‘The registered person must protect service users against the risks associated with the unsafe use and management of medicines, by means of the making of appropriate arrangements for the obtaining, recording handling, using, safekeeping, dispensing, safe administrati on and disposal of medicines used for the purposes of the regulated activity. ‘ Managers must: Make sure a person-centered approach is taken regarding medication Manage riskFollow relevant guidelines Promote rights and choices Us port clients appropriately Ensure staff are competent Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 Appropriate measures must be taken to ensure the safety of all staff and anyone who may be affected by work practices. Medications are hazardous substances therefore their use must be risk assessed and safe procedures should be implemented. Adequate training must also be available. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 2002 Medicines can cause ill health if they are given in incorrect amounts, administered by the wrong method or given to the wrong person.Clients, staff and even visitors may be at risk. 4 Employers must: Ensure correct storage of medicines Provide information sheets about the hazards associated with each type of medicine Provide appropriate per sonal protective equipment e. G. Gloves Employees must: Handle medicines according to in-house policies Make themselves aware of associated hazards use personal protective equipment where provided Safe administration of medicines is a vital part of care homes' responsibilities for their clients' welfare. Both over and under medication can be signs of career abuse and willful or accidental neglect.Clients should receive appropriate medication whether they are self-administering or dependent on staff; you must also be able to account for all medication received in the home. You must be able to demonstrate that all medications have been stored, used and disposed of appropriately, failure to do so could result in investigation and, where necessary, prosecution. Medicines are hazardous substances and may have a high value, in-house policies and procedures must protect against misuse, abuse, theft and accidental harm.As it is important for you to encourage your clients' independence effor ts would be made to support them in controlling their own medication. Decisions as to who is able to do this will be made jointly between the client, their family, doctors and care staff; there should be ongoing monitoring of the situation to prevent clients suffering if they become more forgetful or fail to recognize the importance of taking their medication. It may be considered an invasion of privacy to check up on clients each time they are supposed to have taken medication. Monitoring should be discreet and appropriate.Clients who are able to self-administer must be provided with a lockable rawer or cupboard for safe storage of their medicines; in case of problems occurring there must be a fall back policy to allow care staff to access this drawer or cupboard with the client's permission. Any clients who are mentally able to choose are free to buy their own remedies for minor ailments, they should be supported to do this and encouraged to discuss options with the pharmacist. It is important that staff take care of the needs of other, less independent, clients when they suffer from complaints such as coughs, colds and headaches.The home may keep a tock of over the counter treatments from a list that has been compiled with the assistance of clients' Gap's and the pharmacist, policies must exist for their safe administration and there should be procedures in place for recording their receipt, storage and use. 5 Complementary or alternative treatments may only be used with the informed consent of the client or a person authorized to speak on their behalf. Advice should be sought from the pharmacist regarding the possibility Of reactions between these remedies and any prescription medicines being taken.Some personal control over medication is better than none at all, so for example if a client suffering from arthritis is unable to open containers staff should be able to provide help but medicines may still be retained in the client's own room. A client may be able to apply creams but decide to let staff administer tablets etc. Clients who become forgetful or lack understanding may be given 24 hours medication in a compliance aid. 6 1 . Give two examples of hazards associated with medicines. 2. 2. If you are going to administer medication what training should you have received? . What does self-administration mean? 4. In your opinion why is it important to encourage and support solidification's? 5. Who is responsible for the administration of medication in your workplace? 7 What are Medicines? Dictionary Definitions: Medicine – 1. Any substance used to treat or prevent disease or illness, esp.. Taken internally. 2. The science or practice of treating or preventing illness esp.. Using prepared substances rather than surgery. Drug – 1 . Any substance used in the treatment of disease 2. Any substance taken (esp.. Illegally) for its affect on the mind 3. Anything craved for There are ore than 5,000 substances that can be classed as medicines; the definition of medicine as something that can treat or prevent disease may be applied to prescription drugs, over the counter remedies, herbal preparations, vitamin and mineral supplements and even foods. Think about the sort footings that you use for medicinal purposes; how do you deal with headaches, what if you're feeling a bit down? Do you take anything to keep you healthy? Do you use anything that might be considered ‘alternative' such as herbal remedies? How do you know that the medicines which you use are safe?Development of Medicines Originally all medicines came from natural, mainly plant, sources; today with advances in science and technology conventional medicines are a mixture of refined plant sources and chemical compounds. Chemists are constantly trying to create new substances that will be more effective in treating and preventing illness. Below are some examples of medicines derived from natural sources with comments concerning their use and p otential problems : 8 Aspirin made from willow bark and used for pain relief, as an nondiscriminatory, to reduce temperature and to lower blood pressure.Aspirin thins the blood and an cause stomach ulcers. Morphine made from poppies it is used for pain relief and sleep induction. Morphine is highly addictive and may cause serious breathing problems. SST John's Worth used for a variety of reasons including as an anti-depressant it can cause diarrhea, may turn skin yellow and has been suspected Of increasing depression in certain individuals. Attainment a cancer treatment made from yew tree clippings. Penicillin a type of mould used as an antibiotic that can cause serious allergic reactions.As the above list shows ‘natural' remedies are no less effective than chemical impounds nor are they any safer. As new medicines are developed they are rigorously tested often over a period of six to ten years, if shown to be medically effective and safe to use the Committee on Safety of Medi cines (SCM) will approve them for marketing. Classes of Medicine While some medicines can only be obtained from a pharmacist, others are more readily available. Care must be taken with all medicines but some are more strictly controlled than others.SSL – General Sales List -? these medicines can be purchased in all kinds of places including grocery stores and garages. These products are unlikely to cause harm if taken according to instructions but their quantity may be limited as, for example, happens with painkillers (e. G. Paramedical) which are sold in boxes of 12 with restrictions on the number of boxes that can be bought. P – Pharmacy medicines – also known as over the counter (ETC); these may only be sold in a pharmacy under the supervision of a pharmacist.The pharmacist, or staff, will check the suitability of the medication by asking questions about the patient, their health problem and any Other medicines they may be taking. POMP – Prescription O nly Medicines – medicines that are expensed by a pharmacy in accordance with a prescription written by a doctor, dentist or specially qualified nurse. CDC – Controlled Drugs – prescription only medicines which have certain properties, such as addictiveness, which mean that stricter controls are necessary. How do Medicines Work?Even with today's increased knowledge scientists are still unable to say exactly how all drugs work, however, loosely speaking effects can be split into three main categories; those that replace chemical deficiencies, those that interfere with cell function and others that act against invading organisms and abnormal cells. 9 1 . Replacement of chemical deficiencies Examples: vitamin injections insulin hormone replacement When the body cannot properly produce its own chemical requirements they may be given artificially.The downside of this approach is that artificial supplements may reduce the body chances of producing its own in the future and in cases such as the use of vitamin tablets and injections the effects may not be as beneficial as if they were achieved through a healthy diet. 2. Interfering with cell function painkillers These types of medication either block the action of hormones or slow them r, alternatively, they block the transmission of messages through the nervous system.