Ford Pinto Essays - Subcompact Cars, Sedans, Station Wagons

Ford Pinto Fords Pinto case problem Ethics Case: The Value of Life 1) No, Ford did not approach the question of redesigning the gas tank to make the car safer versus waiting another year allowing the foreign market to dominate subcompacts. First their goal to maximize profits was their only priority. They did not consider the stakeholders involved and when they did come into consideration, they were analyzed against profits. One has nothing to do with the other. Their goal should not have been a race to make the most affordable subcompact car. Their focus should have been to make the most affordable but safest subcompact. They were aware of the dangers associated with the rush production from the crash tests, whereas, only three cars passed because they had gas tank modifications. 2) Ford had a social and ethical responsibility to their customers to stop production once the danger were apparent and take the necessary measures to eliminate them by redesigning the gas tank. There shouldnt have been an option to proceed. Their analysis of expected costs and social benefits was a cheap attempt to justify or make (cents) of what they were considering. Knowing very well the outcome would be in their favor. It is never appropriate to knowingly jeopardize peoples lives. That is a criminal act. Their actions were socially irresponsible, ethically, and morally wrong. They did not consider their own reputation nor did they consider that they represented America in the industry. Would you like it if your country were known for cheap parts or deadly parts? 3) It would have made a difference if the 11dollar savings had been passed on to the customers because they wouldve kept their reputation and integrity in tact and possibly gain customers that were not considering the vehicle. A rational customer would not have chosen to save 11dollars to drive a car at risk of dying. It sounds as though they thought they were doing a community service. It is exactly the same as making air bags optional. Seat belts are not optional. Theyre crucial to survival in the event of an accident. No one would buy a car at a savings without such safety items. However, these items are visible and known to be present and working properly. It is our assumption as a customer that the operations were tested thoroughly and the car we drive is safe. Ford would have been a very responsible and respected company to acknowledge and admit error in their design. 4) Yes, Ford should have been found guilty in the Ulrich case. They clearly concealed information about the harm that might have resulted from their actions. It is the same as firing the gun the kills someone. Their negligence was the bullet. 5) As a financial manager at Ford, I am obligated to protect, enhance and promote the profits of the organization and the decisions I make will reflect my social responsibility. First I would identify the goals of the organization and the steps taken in the past to maintain and create wealth. I would examine the past profits with the decision to introduce the Pinto to illustrate expected return and or risk in the return. When recognizing the foreign competition as a threat to profits, I will reiterate our customer loyalty, brand status, and integrity, whereas the foreign market has questionable quality and a not so great reputation. To have knowledge of the gas tank dangers and continue production will discredit our standards, jeopardize profits and lead to expensive legal fees. My final decision would be to redesign and we will come back to make financial plans after weve figured the costs for redesigning. Social Issues

History of Easter Bunny in Canada

History of Easter Bunny in Canada Introduction Easter bunnies are very common in Canada during Easter. As the parents celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, children enjoy the Easter bunny gifts, â€Å"egg search,† and â€Å"egg roll† games during Easter (New moon rabbit rescue 2012). However, it is not clear if people know the exact meaning of all the actions that take place during the Easter celebrations in Canada.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on History of Easter Bunny in Canada specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This paper will give a thorough exploration of the Easter bunny in Canada. It will give the symbolic meanings of the bunny and its eggs, and the historic aspect of all the actions that occur during Easter celebrations in Canada. History of the Easter bunny Easter bunny is pre-Christian folklore that involved rabbits and hares. The two animals were associated with eggs that are fertility symbols. Ancient Canadians related Easter bunnies to a goddess of spring and fertility. Therefore, Easter bunnies played a significant role in the rebirth of spring in April. It is clear that rabbits do not lay eggs; however, the Canadian folklore had an unusual notion that rabbits could lay eggs that had a symbolic meaning and hide the eggs in the gardens. The colored eggs coincided with the blooming flowers during spring. Canadians associated the hares that could reproduce without losing their virginity with the Virgin Mary who conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. The shape of an eggshell resembles a stone of a tomb. Therefore, the fact that a bird hatches from an egg with life is similar to the resurrection of Jesus from the tomb. Jesus’ resurrection is a clear indication that there is eternal life for true believers. In 325 A.D., Emperor Constantine ordered that Christians must celebrate Easter between 22 March and 25 April of every year, and the Canadians adopted the culture. The first egg- laying rabbit emerged during the 1700s, and the Catholics were engrossed with the colored eggs. At the commencement of the Ash Wednesday, eggs were forbidden. Canadian Catholics could not take eggs during the Fast Lenten period. After fasting for the 40 days before Easter, the Catholics ought to take a heavy breakfast. During this period, the Catholics thought it would be wise to eat the colored eggs in addition to other energy giving meals that would provide them with the liveliness to celebrate for the whole day.Advertising Looking for research paper on canada? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Traditional believes about the Easter bunny Just as Santa Claus judges whether children are good or bad during Christmas, the Easter bunny evaluates the obedience levels of children during Easter. According to the legend, the bunny carries colored eggs, candies, and toys in a basket and rewards obedient children in the night b efore Easter. In Canada, the Easter bunny folklore plays a great role in reshaping the character traits of notorious children. The parents threaten the children that the Easter Bunny would punish them if they do not change their ill characters. Good mannered children anticipate receiving chocolate bunnies and buddies during Easter. Diligent Canadian parents always promise Easter bunny treats to children who have extemporary performance in schools, which brings the motivation to work hard. The Easter bunny Canadians recognize rabbits and hares as the Easter bunnies. Rabbits and hares are related, but the hares have long hind legs and small ears. Rabbits are some of the animals with the highest reproduction capacity; therefore, they symbolize the reproductive spring season (â€Å"Holidays,† 2014). Spring is a season associated with the rebirth of vegetation, which survives until it is withered by the strong summer rays. In ancient days, a Canadian who bumped into a rabbitâ€⠄¢s foot would have high sexual potency, good luck, and financial prosperity. The Easter bunny was the main egg supplier in the ancient days. To catch the attention of the Easter bunnies, children would build attractive nests for the bunny. Boys used their caps to build their nests, which they hid in secluded places. Similarly, the girls used their bonnets to construct the nests and hide them in the gardens for the bunny to place the colored eggs. The children would then summon the rabbit through whistles and charmed recitations to have the eggs. Essentially, the children believed that the Easter bunny was able to distinguish the good children from the bad ones, and only the good children would receive the colored eggs as gifts. Moreover, godparents, who were very common in Canada, would always reward their godchildren with decorated eggs as a symbol of blessings. The Easter egg Religious scholars indicate that the ancient Canadian believers thought that the world was an egg, which broke into two to bring everything that exists. The believers supported their hypothesis by the fact that almost every creature on earth came into being because of some fertilized egg. Therefore, the egg is an immortal symbol that plays a great role in guaranteeing the existence of forthcoming generations (Ternieden, 2012).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on History of Easter Bunny in Canada specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The bunny is believed to have carried the eggs in a basket while distributing the eggs to the obedient children. The basket has a symbolic meaning of life, as it was able to save the life of Moses. Although baskets are not weighty, they are strong enough to carry heavy things that are useful in one way or another. Coloring the eggs was a way of keeping the evil spirits away. Therefore, painting the eggs would always help in convincing the evil spirits to depart from a person and stop bringi ng bad luck. The prettily painted eggs would attract the hallowed spirits that would bring good luck. The common jellybeans in Canada during Easter represent the ancient bunny eggs. Initially, the jellybeans were soft and chewy. However, the manufacturers have added a sugar shell coating on the jellybeans to add flavor. Currently, the jellybeans come in different sizes, colors, and different flavors to meet the demands of the consumers in the contemporary world. Easter in Canada In Canada, the Easter celebrations are highly respected, and the country has a federal statutory holiday during the period. Essentially, the holiday commences on Good Friday and proceeds to Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. Canadians celebrate Easter on the first Sunday after seeing the full moon. The earliest date during which the full moon can appear is 22 March, and the latest date is 25 April. The full moon marks the beginning of Easter where Christians mourn on Good Friday because of the death of Christ, and they celebrate on Easter Sunday as Jesus resurrects. Although people celebrate Christmas more than they celebrate the Easter holidays, strong Christians will always consider Easter as more important than Christmas as Easter proofs that Jesus overcame death. Christians fast for 40 days during the lent period just like Jesus fasted. Satan had the privilege of tempting Jesus, and in the same manner, Christians are tempted to sin and give up on the wearisome lent period. Easter comes after the lent period of prayer, repentance, and fasting. During the lent period, Canadian believers can be tempted to consume banned eggs. Commercialization of the Easter bunny Lately, Canadians have commercialized the Easter holidays. Businesspersons have always identified the Easter Holidays as periods during which they can sell tons of chocolates in the form of Easter eggs and Easter bunnies. Painters also make massive profits by painting egg carvings and selling them during Easter. Jellybeans mold s, baskets, and marshmallow chicks are very popular in retail stores at the commencement of the spring season.Advertising Looking for research paper on canada? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Sure enough, the purchases of such items are very high during that season. Some people opt to buy pet bunnies to carry the joy of the Easter bunnies to their homes. Majority of the Canadian parents find fun in purchasing egg paint kits and doing the paintings with their children, while others dye hard-boiled eggs using beet juice. During this period, petting zoos become popular, and children have the opportunity to feed bunnies and play around with them. Interestingly, the Black children experienced some form of segregation, which leads to the creation of the national zoos in Canada. While the White children played the egg roll game while at the White House, the Black children mourned because the White House was a restricted zone for the Black children. The famous national zoos in Canada were built to compensate for the segregations of the black children. Currently, there is numerous jewelry made to resemble the Easter Bunnies and Easter eggs. Sculptures and carvings are common in m any religious buildings across Canada to represent the Easter bunnies. The eggs are carved with names of the beholders, the commemoration dates, and some favorite bible verses. The sculptures have different designs, depending on the desires of the owner. Family get-togethers and massive celebrations during the Easter weekend mark the climax of the Easter bunny holidays in Canada. Families find it worthwhile to reward their relatives with sculptures, carvings, and all kinds of gifts that have some resemblance of the Easter bunnies and eggs. In ancient days, the decorated Easter eggs were presented as gifts to the proprietors, pastors, bell-ringers, lovers, and even to the gravediggers. Therefore, the culture of presenting jellybeans as gifts in the contemporary world has some ancient history. Ancient children felt most appreciated when rewarded with the decorated eggs just as the current children feel great when prized with chocolate jellybeans and rabbits. Interestingly, chocolate r abbits are very common during Easter celebrations in Canada, and the Easter bunny obligates the children to eat the ears first before proceeding to the rest of the body. Commemorates of the Easter bunny Many Canadians strive to employ all strategies to sustain the Easter memories in their children. The commonest hide and seek game plays a great role in commemorating Easter. Mostly, children visit their grandparents to have family get-together moments. At that time, the numerous grandchildren have a good time playing and socializing with one another. On the night before Easter, the parents and the children decorate hard-boiled eggs. Older kids display the skills gained in the previous season, while the young kids learn new skills of decorating the eggs. The children also have the opportunity to listen to tales of the Easter bunnies from their grandparents. When the children have gone to sleep, the â€Å"Easter Bunny† hides the decorated eggs and chocolate eggs all over the com pound. In the morning, children search for the eggs and collect them in a basket. The child who manages to collect more eggs than the others do emerges as the winner. The grandparents would then prepare egg salad sandwiches for their grandchildren before they depart for their homes. The whole scenario brings so much fun to the children who will long for the subsequent Easter holiday. The entire scenario that is very common in Canada keeps the culture ongoing as every generation has an opportunity to have a contemporary overview of the Easter bunny. Some parents who do not have an opportunity to take their children to their grandparents â€Å"roll eggs† with their children. The parents set up the game in a ramp, and they give some few eggs to every child. Every player would have an opportunity to roll the eggs down the ramp. Due to the oval shape of the egg, the eggs roll in a curvy way as they go downwards. The whole aim of the game is hitting another player’s egg and owning it. The child who manages to hit as many eggs as possible emerges as the winner. Moreover, the owner of the last intact egg is guaranteed a championship reward. Essentially, the Canadians associate the egg rolling game with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. They associate the emergence of the rabbit from its burrow with the rising of Christ from the tomb on the Easter Sunday, whereas, the rolling eggs represent the rolling of the stone that covered Jesus’ tomb. Easter bunnies and Easter eggs in the contemporary world In the ancient days, Canadians used dyed and painted hard-boiled chicken eggs during Easter. However, in the contemporary world, people have adopted the custom of substituting chicken eggs with chocolate and plastic eggs. Some Christians dye their Easter eggs with red color to recognize the blood that Jesus Christ shed on the cross. Green decorations represent the new plantations at the onset of spring. An egg painted in white represents purity that is obt ained after the repentance and forgiveness of sins. Yellow is a color that portrays the glowing sunlight that is experienced on the onset of the spring season. Purple-colored eggs symbolize the union of love as people repent with much pain. Essentially, Canadian Christians recognize purple as a royal color, as priests wear purple robes during Easter to display their nobility. For unknown reasons, purple dye was extremely expensive in ancient days. While the other dyes were affordable to ordinary Canadians, only the kings, priests, and the wealthy people could afford to buy the purple dye. Conclusion As evident from the discussions, every happening in the contemporary world has some history. Indeed, every action that Christians do during the Easter celebrations in Canada has some meaning behind it. The rabbits and their symbolic eggs have played a great role in maintaining the Christians’ believes. Moreover, the games associated with the bunny and the eggs play a great role in commemorating Easter and bringing fun to the children. Easter Sunday has always been a joyous celebration in Canada, and the celebration is likely to undergo several evolutions in the forthcoming generations. References Holidays: What do rabbits, chickens, and the moon have in common? Easter. (2014). Canadian Newcomer Magazine. Web. New moon rabbit rescue, Canada: Rabbits for Easter. (2012). Web. Ternieden, J. (2012). Why eggs and bunnies represent Easter. Web.

Environmental Analysis HTC Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 17

Environmental Analysis HTC - Essay Example Hence a strategic plan has been suggested in this study which could address this particular issue concerning the organization. The strategic implementation plan has also been recommended which can help HTC revive its position in the market and lead to increased revenue generation and profitability in the long run. This study entails formulating a strategic plan for HTC Corporation. The company engages itself in the business of designing, manufacturing and marketing Smartphone that is based on the Android operating system developed by Google and Windows operating system developed by Microsoft (â€Å"Company Profiles for HTC Corp (2498)†). The strategic plan and its implementation process have been discussed after analyzing the internal and external environmental factors affecting the organization. Environmental analysis of HTC Corp. refers to the various internal and external factors having an impact on the business activities carried out by the company. SWOT analysis can be used as an effective strategic tool to analyze the internal and external factors associated with the organization (Williams, Champion, and Hall 108). The primary objective of using the SWOT analysis is to uncover the opportunities, strengths, threats, and weaknesses of the company. The SWOT analysis of HTC Corp. is presented below: A. Strengths: The research and development (R & D) capabilities of HTC is immense. The company has been involved in investments related to enhancing its R & D capabilities on a consistent basis since its inception. A significant portion of the revenues generated by the company accounts for R & D investments made by the company. Moreover, R & D professionals constitute most of the employees working in the organization.

Mitochondria, Chromosome, and Plant Structures Assignment

Mitochondria, Chromosome, and Plant Structures - Assignment Example The outer membrane can fuse with Endoplasmic Reticulum to form Mitochondria associated ER- membrane that helps in calcium signaling and lipid transfer. b) The intermembrane space is the region between the outer membrane and the inner membrane. Due to the permeability, of the outer membrane, the concentration of sugars and ions in the intermembrane space should be similar to that of the cytosol (Stansfield 89). The main function of this compartment is oxidative phosphorylation. c) The inner membrane contains a lot of proteins that perform different function. It has a very high protein to phospholipid ratio of 3:1. The proteins in this compartment include ATP synthase that produces ATP in the matrix, transport proteins that control the passage of metabolites in and out of the matrix and those that are involved in oxidative phosphorylation. d) The cristae are numerous compartments in the inner mitochondrial membrane. It is studded with enzymes such as ATPsynthase and cytochromes (Stansfield 92). Their function is to expand the surface area of the inner mitochondrial membrane to facilitate for better production of ATP. e) The matrix is a component of the mitochondria that is enclosed by the inner membrane. It contains most of protein in a mitochondrion. This compartment is important in the generation of ATP. There are numerous enzymes, mitochondrial DNA and mitochondrial ribosomes contain in the matrix. 2) Chromosomes are well arranged structures of DNA and protein found in the cells of most living organisms. During the life of a cell, chromosomes elongate and are easily visible under a microscope. Before a cell divides through mitosis, each chromosome duplicates during the S phase of cell cycle. a) On the onset of mitosis, the duplicate chromosomes condense into short structures called dyads. The chromatids condense to about 5 Um in the metaphase. The chromosomes assemble on the metaphase plate that is equidistant to the poles (Stansfield

The real estate market in Hong Kong and suggested public policies Essay

The real estate market in Hong Kong and suggested public policies - Essay Example Hence, it is certainly inevitable that a subsidized public housing program will bear significant effects on households, the economy, and society (Feng 2010, p. 3). The account of subsidized housing policy in Hong Kong has witnessed multiple twists and turns over the decades with divergent outcomes. Frequently, the changes brought unanticipated consequences with some leading to disastrous consequences. Some of the core problems detail that property tenure and occupancy rights in Hong Kong remain erratic in which there are four critical categories of housing tenure; private sector owner occupiers, private sector renters, subsidized public tenants, and subsidized public sector owner occupiers (Lam 2000, p.397). The Hong Kong economy is credited for its legendary resilience since, despite several momentous setbacks such as Great Proletariat Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), incidents of financial and banking rises, and significant oil crises, the Hong Kong economy has remained fairly stab le with no registered negative economic growth (Lam 2000, p.398). However, the financial crises of the 1997 and 2008 had a negative impact on housing and led to a substantial industry’s downturn. ... In April 1954, the government established a semi-independent body, Hong Kong Housing Authority, to render long-term improvements in the living environment, especially for the low income families. The initial low cost housing was constructed in 1958, in North Point and featured independent facilities (Yung 2008, p.6). This marked the earliest form of Resettlement Building with a total of 11,000 units of public rental housing built from 1958-1968 by the society. 1970-1985 In Oct 1972, the government announced an ambitious housing program to avail decent living accommodation to close to 1.8 million citizens in one decade. Starting from 1978, Housing Authority launched several schemes including Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) Private Participation Scheme (PSPS), plus other loan schemes. From 1973 to 1982, close to 220,000 flats were constructed (encompassing HOS and PSPS), which housed close to 1 million people (Keung 1985, p.24). 1985-2000 In 1987, the launch of Long Term Housing Strategy p ursued in aid all the families to acquire suitable and affordable housing. The emphasis in this case changed from the provision of public rental units to sponsorship of homeownership among citizens as part of long-term solutions of housing problem. The strategy speeded up the expansion of HOS and PSPS and facilitated enhanced utilization of a private developer’s resources, besides the introduction of Home Purchase Loan Scheme (Yung 2008, p.7). In the Ten-year Housing Plan, (1997-2006), the housing authority oversaw the construction of more than 85,000 flats per year with public housing flats accounting for 50,000 flats. From 1997, families living in public rental

Crisis And Issues Faced By Toyota Business Essay

Crisis And Issues Faced By Toyota Business Essay This group project analyses the crisis and issues faced by Toyota Motor Corporation in late 2009 due to reports citing sudden unintended acceleration because incorrect floor mat placing and faulty accelerator that saw 9 million of their vehicles recalled worldwide. With these factors, we will look at what started the crisis and how it could have been prevented and solved. We will also put in a few of our recommendations that may help the crisis from happening again. COMPANY INTRODUCTION In 1933, being a division of Toyoda Automatic Loom Works was when Toyota started. The founder of Toyota was Kiichiro Toyoda, the son of Sakichi Toyoda. Under Kiichiro Toyoda, Toyota focused mostly on the production of automobiles. In his travels to Europe and the United States in 1929, Kiichiro Toyoda investigated various automobile production and begun his research on gasoline-powered engines in 1930. With the encouragement of the Japanese government, Toyodo Automatic Loom Works started to research and develop automobile production in hopes to increase sales of domestic cars. Toyota Motor Corporation was established as an independent and separate company in 1937. Toyota was committed to truck production for the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. The trucks had a simple design such has having one headlight in the middle of the hood. Today, Toyota is the seventh largest company in the world with production facilities in 28 nations around the world. Worldwide, it is also the second largest manufacturer of automobiles. In June 2006, Toyota had 52 overseas manufacturing companies in 27 countries outside Japan. Toyota markets vehicles in more than 170 countries and regions. ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE The type of organizational structure adopted by Toyota Motors Corporation is divisional structure. Divisional Structure is made up of separate business units or divisions. Each of the divisions has a division manager who has authority over the unit and is responsible for performance. DESCRIPTION OF THE ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE Toyotas organizational structure is divided into four levels namely the Chairman, President, Executive Vice President and Senior Managing Directors Toyota Motors Corporation is headed by Fujio Cho, the Chairman of the Company. The President, Akio Toyoda, reports directly to the Chairman and has authority over the executive vice president. Each of the Executive Vice Presidents has different areas of responsibilities and has authority over their senior managing directors. These senior managing director report directly to the Executive Vice Presidents. Executive Vice President, Yukitoshi Funo is responsible for the operation in Asia, Oceania, Middle East, Africa and Latin America with the help of Senior Managing Director, Akira Okabe who is the chief officer (division manager). Executive Vice President, Atsushi Nilmi assumes responsibility over strategic production planning, production engineering and manufacturing. He oversees the operation in North America and China with the help of Akira Sasaki, Senior Managing Director, who is the chief officer (division manager) for the China operation group. Yoshimi Inaba is the Chief Officer for the North America operation group. Satoshi Ozawa will assume responsibility over Operation in Europe with the help of Senior Managing director, Yoshimasa Ishii who is the chief officer for the Europe Operation group. The organizational structure adopted by Toyota is relevant to the organization. As Toyota focus is very much on quality, dependability and value, the organizational structure of Toyota has enabled it to focus on both result and quality. The organizational structure also allows the headquarter staff to focus on long term strategic planning and improvement to product. DIAGRAM ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE COMPANY CULTURE One of Toyotas culture is outcome orientation. The organization has â€Å"strong beliefs in quality, dependability and value†which brings about the second culture of attention to detail. The organization depicts attention to detail by adopting â€Å"standardization of work in the manufacturing process. As the manufacturing processes are standardized, Toyota was able to focus their attention on the detail which helps to ensure quality.† 4This is in line with Toyotas culture of outcome orientation. The third culture is team orientation. â€Å"Toyota organized its workforce into teams and each team member is responsible for quality inspection, problem solving and generating ideas†4 for continuous improvement. The last culture of Toyota is innovation and risk taking. Throughout Toyotas history, the company has come out many types of motor vehicle. As the company involves itself in a certain level of risk taking, it has become one of the leading creators of motor vehicle. However, some of the Toyotas culture may be responsible for the crisis that happens in 2009. Because of standardization of work, the process of manufacturing gets repeated over and over again, making the job seem boring. This will cause the worker to lose concentration which resulted in a lapse of quality. The culture of continuous improvement may also have caused the crisis. As the company focuses on continuous improvement, they try out new ideas that have not been fully explored. For example to make a thing a certain way to improve the vehicle further, however, they fail to see that the improvement made to the vehicle might cause a problem. For this instance, the improper installation of the floor mat that result in the accelerator getting stuck and causing tragedy. In conclusion, Toyota still has a strong culture which has enable the company to become one of the most reputable companies for quality. THE CRISIS In late 2009, Toyota Motor Corporation saw 9 million of their vehicles recalled due to reports that several vehicles experienced unintended acceleration. The sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) was the main crisis that Toyota faced; causing a chain of reaction that resulted in a series of other problems. Sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) occurs when the vehicle accelerates from a stationary position without the drivers intention or control. The reasons for it happening vary from driver error to faulty car parts. However, in Toyotas case, it was assumed that due to a trapped accelerator pedal when the drivers floor mat was incorrectly placed that caused the SUA. This assumption initiated the first recall on 2 November 2009. 5.2 million vehicles were affected. It was later found that a mechanical sticking of the accelerator pedal caused the unintended acceleration. Another 2.3 million vehicles were recalled for that problem. 1.8 million vehicles were found to have both the problems and were promptly recalled as well. In February 2010, a recall was also made for the hybrid anti-lock brake software. Although this was a recall different from the initial incorrect placement of the floor mat, it affected Toyotas image and brand name worldwide. With the economic downturn in 2009, Toyota faced a further financial problem with the recalls of the faulty vehicles. This resulted in the numerous jobs lost and shares plummeting in value by 15%. On 28 August 2009, Mark Saylor, an off-duty California Highway Patrol Officer, was driving on the highway with his family when his car, a Lexus ES350 unexpectedly accelerated without control. Upon collision with another car, it descended down an embankment and caught fire. One of the passengers called 911 while the car was speeding at over 100mph, reporting that the car has â€Å"no brakes†. All four were killed in the crash. Reports from Toyota and local authorities showed that the Lexus may have the wrong floor mats installed, causing it to meddle with the gas pedal. (motortrend.com/features/†¦/index.html) Further complaints stated that other several vehicles also experienced the SUA. Reports showed that these vehicles had a defect acceleration pedal. The vehicles affected were the Prius, Prius Plug in, Sei and Lexus HS 250h. Following the reports of faulty vehicles, falling consumer confidence on the Toyota brand and the fact that Toyota was trying to recover from the economic crisis of 2009, the company faced declining sales and decided on the suspension of sales for models of the affected cars and closed down six factories. This resulted in the loss of more than 6000 jobs. PROBLEMS LEADING TO THE CRISIS It has been suggested that due to Toyotas rapid growth and need to be the top between year 2000 and 2009, was the root problem that lead to the faulty vehicles and subsequently, the recall. The rapid growth and building of 17 new production sites as well as the over reliance on technology caused Toyota to forgo quality checks for some of their cars. Managers must aware of fast technology like equipment, tools or operating method that are designed to make work more efficient. Wakatsuki, a former assembly worker related how Toyota tested the safety and quality of only 60% of the cars produced. In the past, every car went through stringent checks and testing. Toyota didnt look into customer complaints and acted too slow when safety complaints came in. There were suspicions that Toyota knew about the faulty vehicles as early as September 2009, however, they only acted on the problems in January 2010. The organization should demonstrate Social Responsible Actions. There are the Social Responsibility, Social Obligation and Social Responsiveness. Social responsibility mean if the corporation must admit the mistake if they done something wrong. Such as milk powder that was sold by China. As it added Melamine in the milk powder. ALTERNATIVESTO RESOLVE CRISIS The main crisis was faulty acceleration pedals. Toyota decided that the best way to rectify the problem was to have the faulty vehicles recalled for repairs and proper checking. However, the decision to recall was not made immediately when there were early reports about the problem. There were reports stating that Toyota knew of the problems in September 2009 although the recall was only initiated on January 2010. While we agree that the recall was a good solution, it would have been better for Toyota to tackle the faulty vehicles the moment complaints started coming in. The company should not have tried to hide the reports in order to save their branding. Rectifying the problem immediately would have definitely prevented further problems and possible accidents. It would have also restored consumer confidence knowing that Toyota was prompt in reporting a problem with the cars and had plans to fix the problem. It was good to know that Toyota suspended sales and productions of the vehicle models that were suspected to be faulty, preventing more complaints and declining consumer confidence. Toyota admitted that for the past few years, they have been expanding its business rapidly and this growth has proven to be too quick for them. They may have over looked the priority of safety, quality and volume. All these according to Toyota have made them become confused. 6 RECOMMENDATIONS Although Toyota were eager to expand their business and grow their production, its critical that they keep their quality and safety in check. To meet the growing demand of their cars, Toyota might choose to open a plant in a country that allows the company to save costs on production and manpower. However, they have to ensure that qualified and skilled technicians are recruited to affirm that the cars produced are of good quality and safe for driving. â€Å"The corporation must adopt Single-use Plan during this critical time. This is a one-time plan which specifically designed to meet the needs of a unique situation.† Toyota may rely on new technology to help with the production of the vehicles. Although it may be cost efficient, it may not always be the best choice. Over reliance on technology was what caused the faulty acceleration pedals as Toyota took for granted the safety of the cars. Technicians would have done proper testing and safety checks have been done prior to the sale of the vehicle. There might have been some oversight by the checks done by machines. Manually checking of the vehicles would ensure that nothing is out of place. As the company is steadily growing, it should not forsake the employees welfare and health. Should employees be overworked, especially those in the production line, human errors may occur that will compromise on the quality of the car. With the recalls, technicians will be kept busy with repairs on the numerous vehicles. Overworked, fatigue will set in causing occasional human errors that may have been avoidable. Managers need to ensure that employees are given the right amount of work load and clearly explain the expectations needed for the work. Managers should also arrange a discussion with the non-managerial employees for their feedback on their work load. Should the work load be too much for the technicians to handle, Toyota can look into employing workers on a contract basis. This allows the work load to be divided equally and when things are under control, the contract staff will be relieved of their duties. Toyota should have Family-Friendly Benefits that provide a wide range of scheduling that allow employees more flexibility at work and accommodation theirs needs for work and life balance. The various teams in Toyota should practice better interaction. This way, problems faced in one team can be shared and discussed to maximize on the plans to face the problems. Toyota should also make it a point not to have any secrets or hidden agenda between teams and realize that the different teams are working towards a common goal: making Toyota a successful company. Manager needs to know the Parochialism. Managers only see things through their own eyes and from their own perspective. Different countries have different values, morals, customs, political and economic systems and laws. All these can affect the managing of the business. If a team faces consumer complaints, they must be quick to address it and not hide from the upper management and other teams. This is to prevent the problem from escalating and turning it to another crisis. This is known as Social Responsibility. When the vehicle model is a success to the consumers, the company should reward the employees for the work done. The rewards can be in monetary forms or organizing activities such as sewing classes, sports activities or a short holiday trip. This not only allows employees to distress, it also enables bonding. The recognition of good work will motivate the employees to strive harder in their job to give their best for the company. This is known as Social Responsiveness. Managers of Toyota should set Goals and develop Plans. The Traditional Goals were set by top managers and flow down through the organization and become sub-goals for each organizational area. And it must be a short-term plan with a time frame of one year to solve the crisis.

Nature and Love in the Poetry of Dafydd ap Gwilym :: Poetry

Nature and Love in the Poetry of Dafydd ap Gwilym Essay is 1550 words in length Dafydd ap Gwilym has been acclaimed as the greatest poet of the Welsh language. As Rachel Bromwhich commented, Dafydd’s life "coincided miraculously in both time and place with an unprecedented opportunity to mate the new with the old" (Brom 112). Perhaps "mate" is a more appropriate choice of words here than Rachel intended. As his poetry depicts, Dafydd tried to mate a great many things in his time; the man is immortalized as a ball of raging hormones. A self-proclaimed "Ovid’s man," Dafydd took pleasure in identifying himself with the authoritative source of courtly love, a fresh trend in Wales during his life (Summer 29). Love, specifically courtly love, was among the new themes Dafydd merged with the traditional themes like nature. Even the ancient topic of nature, under Dafydd’s molding, took on new forms. Dafydd personified elements of nature to be his trusted messengers in poems such as "The Seagull." In the "Holly Grove," nature is subtly described a s a fortress or protector of sorts. Variations of these elements of secret, protected, and secluded love mesh with images of nature throughout Dafydd’s poetry. However, nature seems to be much more than a confidant or mere factor in his search for love; Dafydd’s poems such as "Secret Love" suggest that nature is essential in this endeavor. Though Dafydd’s attempts at love are not limited to the natural realm, poems such as "Trouble in a Tavern" make it evident that only in the natural setting is Dafydd a successful lover. Elements in the poetry of courtly love express the need for a love affair to remain secret. The object of a poet’s love in these poems is typically a married woman, or unattainable by some other means. Andreas Capellanus’s The Rules of Courtly Love captures this element of forbidden love by saying, "marriage (was) no real excuse for not loving" (Cap 115-116). As Patrick Ford wisely pointed out, the need to maintain secrecy in a forbidden affair is not a new idea to modern readers. These elements of courtly love do not escape Dafydd’s poetry. His poem "Secret Love," among others, emphasizes the level of secrecy necessary in maintaining a love affair. Dafydd considers himself a learned lover, who found that "The best form of the words that work / Is to speak love in secrecy" (Sec 1-2).