How does J B Priestley create atmosphere and tension in Act I of An Inspector Calls Essay Example

How does J B Priestley create atmosphere and tension in Act I of An Inspector Calls Essay J. B Priestleys play, An Inspector Calls, includes many techniques to create tension. Written in 1945, but set before the first world war, irony is present as Priestley subtly mocks the audience, as he uses Birling to explore the faults of capitalism. In 1946, when the play was first performed, the stereotypical spectator to the post-war play would have been those typically of Birlings societal class. In contrast to his own personal beliefs, Priestley creates Birling to be a strict capitalist, common to the period in which the play was set. Dramatic irony is established as the audience know the outcomes of Birlings ignorant predictions in Act I Scene I. Priestley wrote the play to show the divisions between the classes before the war, and the general middle class persons disposition; ignorant, impatient, and selfish. Priestley manipulates stage directions, such as lighting, props and setting to create tension. As an example of this, in the primary scene, as the Inspector enters, the lighting is brighter, as though the family are under spot light interrogation. Characterisation, the integration between characters and how we perceive them, as well as the language they use, can create tensional suspense by revealing only elements of an individuals personality at a time. This is also aided by the actions and gestures performed by the specific character. Act I Scene I depicts the family having, what seems like, an ordinary family party. An Inspector visits them to enquire about a young girl that committed suicide, and it rapidly becomes evident that the entire family will be involved somehow. We will write a custom essay sample on How does J B Priestley create atmosphere and tension in Act I of An Inspector Calls specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on How does J B Priestley create atmosphere and tension in Act I of An Inspector Calls specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on How does J B Priestley create atmosphere and tension in Act I of An Inspector Calls specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The interview stretches from Birling, to Sheila, and is about to commence on Gerald, when the act is left on a cliff hanger. In contrast to the reality of the Birlings family life, the initial lighting is intimate and soft. This also conflicts with the characterisation of the individuals, as Mrs Birling is described as a cold woman, and suggests that she doesnt assimilate with the surroundings. The lighting is stressed to be pink and intimate, as Sheila and Gerald are seemingly passionately in love. The celebration is kept to a minimum of family, and the lighting can reflect the care and affection shared between all on set. As the Inspector enters the room, the lighting becomes brighter and harder. This could suggest the Inspectors strong will and determination to succeed in his case. This seems to create an uneasy atmosphere, as Birlings selfishness contributes to his lack of enthusiasm in aiding the Inspector in his job. The opening stage directions and setting of the scene establishes the wealth of the family, but also uncovers the atmosphere of societal tension. The descriptions of the characters, Birling being a portentous man, provincial in his speech, Mrs Birling simply being a cold woman suggests that it is her that is the societal superior. The pressure of society on people of the Edwardian era is evident as the wealth of the family is constantly reinforced; the Birlings house is depicted as a large suburban house. The cigar box present in the opening settings is also an indication of wealth. The furnishings and general atmosphere of the house is described to be heavily comfortably, but not cosy and homelike. This is intimidating for any potential visitors like the Inspector, though he doesnt seem fazed, and tension is created through juxtaposition, as the words comfortable and cosy, typically used as synonyms of one another, are used in contrast with each other. The creation of Inspector Goole is mysterious from the beginning, as the name Goole is a homophone to the word ghoul. The audience instantaneously perceives the Inspector as fake or unreal. This use of language device could also initiate an air of secrecy about him, which is added to by the fact that the picture of Eva Smith is never shown to the audience, and is only visible to one character at a time. Through this, he adds pace and tension to the play, which creates intrigue for the audience. The stage directions of the moment that the Inspector enters say that he creates at once impression of massiveness and solidity. Although he is not especially tall or prominent, the Inspector has a sense of intensity about him, making him intimidating. The audience can tell from this that tension will be created between the characters of Birling and the Inspector, as they are, for different reasons, mutually intolerant of time-wasting; both the Inspector and Birling wish for the interrogation to be over quickly, as the Inspector wants his information and Birling wants to resume his celebratory evening. Tension is built up between the pair when Birling persists in cutting in to the Inspector. Additionally, whereas Birling is acquiring an angrier tone throughout the interview, the Inspector has a steady ambience all the way through. Birling has an entirely different relationship with his son-in law Gerald, though. Birling is almost sucking up to Gerald, as he and Geralds father are in the same business. He even states that Gerald could have done better for himself than Sheila. This shows some cracks in the family unit, and reveals Birlings desperation for success. Sheila and Geralds relationship also sparks some tension within the household. Its is obvious that their relationship lacks the bonding and trust it should possess, seeing as they are engaged. Sheila says Now I really feel engaged on receiving the ring, suggesting that she didnt feel like that before. This is also collaborated when Sheila mentions last summer, when she didnt see Gerald much. He says he was on business, to which she replies Thats what you say. Gerald goes on to admit his guilt near to the end of the act, but insists that that the Inspector doesnt have to know about it. The Inspectors intelligence goes further than he is currently letting on, which Sheila is aware of, so she replies (laughs ysterically) he knows Youll see. Youll see. The Inspector creates an atmosphere in the house, by simply doing his job, and exposing the faults of each individual character. He identifies Sheilas temper and jealousy when he reveals the story of Sheilas involvement in his case. He also uncovers Geralds infidelity, separating the fantasy from the reality in terms of the perfect, high class family. It seems as though the family members are exploring each others personalities as much as the Inspector is, which creates an uneasy atmosphere, as they all discover something about the others that they wish they hadnt. The timing of Inspector Gooles arrival is also atmospheric. Just as Birling is telling Gerald that a man has to look after himself and his own, the Inspector appears to show him the result of people living that way; a girl loses her job twice and kills herself. The audience can also perceive how the characters react to the photo, and to themselves, as a further indication of the personality of the character, and their involvement in the suicide of the girl. Subtle hints given by Priestley also play a part in producing atmosphere and tension. From early on in the play, the atmosphere seems slightly false or forced, just as when Birling informs Gerald that he is too good for his daughter. Gerald replies that both he and he parents are very happy with the engagement, therefore it is interesting for the audience that Lord and Lady Croft did not attend the engagement party. It is also obvious from the first act that Eric is nervous about something, as he is drinking quite heavily, and what little he does say, is irritable. The simile like bees in a hive is used to describe Birlings contempt for equality; the imagery symbolises everyone working together and being the same as one another. Bees also sting, so this is suggesting that he thinks equality and working together can have a negative effect. Birling continues by calling a socialist society nonsense, also proving his disdain for equality. This could create tension between the characters and the audience. Language devices are used to explore tension in Act 1. Dramatic irony is a dominant device, present throughout the act. It is established as the audience know the outcomes of Birlings ignorant predictions in Act I Scene I. Declarations that the Titanic was unsinkable and that in his opinion, there is no chance of war were dissimilar from the reality, as the audience would have already experienced. This gives the audience an advantage and gets them more involved. Structure of the play adds slight tension, but also realism, to the text, as people dont always wait for the other person to finish. Birling practises this frequently, for example, when he cuts off the Inspector to reinforce his innocence. Birlings monologue also tells the audience a lot about him, as he shows his stupidity and ignorance throughout. Birling attempts to show his knowledge in his speech, along with his importance, but the outcome has the completely opposite effect, as the audience merely think him ignorant. The climax aids the tension of the act by leaving a cliff hanger and creating suspense. The Inspector says Well? to Sheila and Gerald after they have had a discussion outside, and discovered Geralds deceitfulness. It was almost as if the Inspector knew what they were discussing, and was waiting for them to uncover it themselves. This adds to the atmosphere because it seems like the Inspector knows all that he needs to, he is simply trying to make the family realise that just because they have money, doesnt mean they are any different to anyone else of a lower class. In conclusion, J. B Priestley uses many techniques to create atmosphere and tension in Act I Scene I. Stage directions are used by, for instance, Birling, as he shows his true character by interrupting others and possessing an angry tone. Lighting is used to symbolise the change of mood and presence, adjusting to the new balance of characters onstage. The Inspector himself brings a number of unanswered questions with him, some unconnected to his case, with his name and manner. The language and actions also contribute to the shift of atmosphere in the scene, by revealing extensions of each character bit by bit. Subtle hints from Priestly, alongside the climax of the scene, bring additional tension and suspense, as the audience can get involved with whats going on. The details of the scene are what really consume the audience, enveloping them with interest and intrigue, so they can perceive events how they wish, to generate tension of their own.

Sugar and its Influence on the World essays

Sugar and its Influence on the World essays In the beginning of Sidney Mintzs book, Sweetness and Power, there is an engraving by William Blake that depicts three ethnically contrasting, naked women. The woman in the middle is a Caucasian European, and on both sides of her are women representing Africa and the early Americas, thus hinting to the fact that Europe was undoubtedly dependent on Africa and the Americas between 1000 and 1800 CE. Europe depended immensely on the Americas for the vast amounts of natural resources and wealth that resided in the region. American soil was a land of opportunity begging to be harvested by the hungry Europeans. Now that Europe had come across an abundant land of riches, it needed laborers to reap its economic benefits. Thus, Europe turned to Africa and slave trade was born. From 1441-1870 CE eighteen million slaves were traded and nine million of them died in the process (Lecture, The Slave Trade). Without the Americas and Africa the wealth and riches that Europe acquired would have been virtually non-existent. Europeans sent slaves from Africa to the new world to harvest the most valuable, and pertinent resource in the history of our world, sugar. The native indians of the area were also made into slaves, and they relentlessly mined and produced silver, gold, and other precious metals. Then the finished products were sent back to Europe to be traded and sold. Due to this new world system, Europes economy boomed and thrived. William Blakes illustration correlates directly to the vast importance of sugar and almost everything else in the history of our world, because everyone was interdependent on each other, and this inevitably attributes to the idea of intricate world systems. The world between 1000 and 1800 CE was entirely connected and world systems dominated. There was trade, mercantilism, agriculture, and eventually a successful money system, but none of it would have ex...

Establising Integrity and Anticipating Ethnical Challenges Essay

Establising Integrity and Anticipating Ethnical Challenges - Essay Example Participant observations can be considered observations that reveal only the public persona, while the responses of the interview will be intended to reveal the under layers of a relationship. While the public personal can indicates some of those layers, the responses in the interview will hopefully establish a more realistic picture. The concept of the â€Å"shared† construction cannot be ignored as participants are eager to give answers they hope the interviewer is looking to hear. The analysis of the interview will have a built in challenge that seeks to glean unprompted insight from questions that will undoubtedly prompt certain types of responses. When writing about the interviews, it will be important to have a previous concept of which answers will more often be the result of prompting. The anticipated participants will be approached through contact with religious institutions who recommend couples whose marriages appear to have been long lasting. It is anticipated that content couples will be willing to share their experiences. The culture of the religious institution usually creates a culture of people who want to share their experiences. In approaching religious leaders to recommend couples, these â€Å"gatekeepers† are more than likely to recommend those they believe to be content, creating a probability of finding the right couples to interview about a romantic relationship. It will be essential for couples of both male and female gender be approached in order to have a balanced interview. This study will not be using couples in a homosexual relationship because this dynamic is influenced by the culture both within and outside of that configuration. This would be beyond the scope of this particular study. The political, social, and cultural influences would change the focus. Consent will be obtained through a simple form. The purpose of the study will be openly

Brunswick Distribution Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Brunswick Distribution - Case Study Example Factors attributed to the current crisis vary. Brunswick Inc faces numerous challenges associated with marketing, finance, and operation. They include; 1) retailers’ interests to buy directly from manufacturers 2) growing direct competition from other distributors 3) manufacturers’ rigid attitude to credits 4) retailers’ delayed payments and 5) issues related to giving and taking orders. Bradley Pulaski, the vice president of operations suggests expanding the service area across the Midwest because according to him, the company still gets service requests from potential customers of that region. However, it demands the construction of a new warehouse as distribution from the current facility will cause delayed deliveries. Bradley’s proposal would cost a total $12 million for property, plant, and equipment. In contrast, Mariana Jackson, the vise president of logistic thinks that providing timely service is the vital part in order to retain the existing customers. It involves empowering the distribution system with web-based technology like call center and integrated information backup. He envisages that the improved system would make distribution more cost effective as it can save up to 16% in shipping expenses and 16% in labor expenses annually. Finding both options inappropriate to the situation, Alex Brunswick determines to use a 12% cost of capital as discount rate when making financial decisions. Among the three options, Mariana Jackson’s suggestion seems more relevant to the case. If the firm’s information system is enhanced, it can avoid unnecessary delays in customer service and deliveries. Pulaski’s option flaws as it doubles company’s financial burden. Since the company is unable to give timely delivery, expanding its coverage to Midwest will cause more troubles. In the same way, Alex’s decision is also not a sufficient strategy. Two things are

People With Substance Abuse Problems

People With Substance Abuse Problems Why People Develop Problems with Substances   Psychological and sociological theories as to why people develop problems with substances and their application vary; some theories relate to genetics others to the environment. Most Theories focus on particular features of the rate of drug use: Illicit drugs, Alcoholism, Addiction, The drug experience-how and why people use them, Individuals, Society, Career. Social learning is just one of the theories that try to explain the use of substance misuse. A degree of difference is found in societys attitudes and behaviours. Learning depends on priority, intensity, time and involves practice, motivation, attitude, and meaning. (Edwin Sutherland 1939). Thinking about different theories on behaviour can help us to understand why and how some people have substance problems, for example, Behavioral theories: behavioural psychology or behaviourism is based on all behaviours being learned through conditioning. Cognitive theories:focus on internal thoughts such as motivation, attention, decision making and problem solving. Developmental theories: think about learning, development and growth. Humanistic theories: look at human beings being basicaly good. Personality theories: looks at the behaviours, thoughts and feelings that make each person an individual. Social psycology theories: focus on explaining social behaviours. (Psychologist World) Applying these theories can assist in understanding why some people depend on substances while others do not. Looking at society as a whole does not give a clear picture as to why some people develop substance dependency. If you look at different areas of society you start to see deprived areas, poverty, unemployment, peer pressure, boredom or pressures from work, family history or a pre-disposition to substance problems as well as the environment that a person is brought up in could influence someones substance dependency. If a child is born to a mother that is dependant on drugs or alcohol then the child may be born with a predisposition to that specific dependency, if a child is raised in an area where drugs and alcohol are freely available then they could be pressured by peers to consume the available substances. This is seen commonly among teenagers when they start to experiment with new things and where peer pressure to be the same as everyone else can entice a young person to start taking a substance to please or maintain relationships with peers. This can lead to long term dependency that can continue into adult hood especially if the child has a predisposition to substances or has an addictive tendency, causing the cycle to continue. Societys attitude towards alcohol problems has been largely accepted as the Scottish way of life according to the 2004 Scottish social attitudes survey carried out by the Scottish government. Cultural Attitudes Every person in Scotland has a part to play in reviewing their attitudes and behaviours, and contributing to the debate about how we collectively address these problems. (Carolyn Churchill, 2010) Alcohol problems are estimated to cost Scotland around  £3.56 billion per year in NHS, social work, police, emergency services, and the wider economic and human costs. Alcohol misuse not only affects the health and wellbeing of individual drinkers, but also have a major impact on family relationships, the wider communities as well as society as a whole. (Alcohol Focus Scotland) Through using these services society is trying to reduce the amount of substance abuse within Scotland. This is however an uphill struggle and until attitudes change it will be left to the medical profession, police and emergency services and the social work department to fire fight the problems within the Scottish communities. Social justice is concerned with equality of justice, not just in the courts, but in society as a whole. This idea stresses that people have to have equal rights and opportunities from the poorest to the wealthiest in society deserve equal chances and opportunities. New legislation may assist the problem however it is the attitude of the individual that will ultimately start to change the attitude of society as a whole. Criminal Justice law changed in 2010 this gave courts more flexibility in the way they were able to sentence people that passed through the courts. This now allows courts to look at ways of reparation without using short term imprisonments. Statutory Orders are those non-custodial sentencing options available to all Sheriff Courts in Scotland. This allows greater choice of sentance for the sherriff. Using Social Enquiry Reports, Community Service Orders, Probation Orders (including those with a requirement of unpaid work), Probation Orders with a Requirement of Unpaid Work, Supervised Attendance Orders, Drug Treatment and Testing Orders, Restriction of Liberty Orders, Statutory Throughcare, Voluntary Assistance and the Throughcare Addiction Service, Home Circumstances Reports, Diversion from Prosecution and Bail Information, the sheriff can now look at the crime and the persons background and apply a decision/sentence that is proportionate to the crime. (Criminal Justice Act 2010) Safer and stronger communities are at the heart of Scottish Government policy. Communities that people are proud to belong to, where they feel safe and have confidence that justice and fairness will prevail, where people take responsibility for each other and for their own actions. (People and the Law) Youth justice is closely connected to Getting it Right for Every Child which underpins the principals of agencies involved with young people. Getting It Right For Every Child is the Governments policy for addressing the needs of all children and it provides the framework within which public agencies can work better together with a focus on improving outcomes for children. Building the capacity of families and communities to engage in activities that support children is central to this approach. The Early Years and Early Intervention Framework being developed jointly by the Scottish Government and CoSLA will ensure a strong focus on what needs to be done to ensure that all children, including the most vulnerable, get the best start in life. (The Road to Recovery) Youth justice is about intervening at an appropriate time with a plan and a good framework for the intervention. Multi agency co-operation is needed for this to work effectively using a range of procedures and practices dealing with young people who are putting themselves and/or others at risk or offending. Scotlands childrens hearing system was initiated by a change to the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 and is now part of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 and is at the heart of youth justice. Since its introduction children under the age of 16 are only considered for prosecution in an adult court if the crime they have committed is deemed to be very serious such as murder. The hearing system deals with children and young people who are in need of care and protection as well as those who have displayed offending behaviours. Youth justice traditionally worked with children from the age of 8 to 16 but has recognised the need to start preventative work with younger children to support them in the transition from children to adults in a more positive way. In recognising this youth justice introduced several preventative measures including restorative justice in schools, safer school partnership, and positive activities for young people, targeted youth support and targeted mental health in schools. The government also introduced the Youth Justice Re-investment Pathfinder Initiative this allows local authorities to act as Pathfinders to develop ways locally of reducing offending and re-offending without a custodial sentence. Assessing, Planning and Intervention Getting It Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) is a good place to start when assessing the needs of children and their families. GIRFEC takes a holistic view of the child GIRFEC has an integrated, common approach to gathering information about a childs well-being. It uses three tools, the Well-being Indicators: identify record and share concerns, and take action as appropriate My World Triangle: Triangle helps practitioners gather relevant information to look at the strengths and pressures affecting a child and their family. The triangle is deliberately offered from the childs view to reinforce the Getting it right for every child principle that children should always be kept at the centre. The Resilience Matrix: help organise and analyse information. All children can be: Confident Individuals, Effective Contributors, Responsible Citizens and Successful Learners. To achieve this all children need to be Safe, Healthy, Active, Nurtured, Achieving, Respected and Responsible and Included. These are known as the wellbeing indicators and are remembered by the acronym S.H.A.N.A.R.I. (GIRFEC) Doing a GIRFEC assessment takes a multi agency view where social work, health and education professionals have a part to play in the assessment process. An assessment should be appropriate, proportionate and timely, once an assessment is done a more holistic picture about the needs of the children and the family has been obtained allowing the practitioner to plan a course of action for the children and family. Through careful planning strategies and interventions can be put into place to allow the children and family to move forward. All interventions and strategies need to be consensual so the whole family need to be involved in the planning and decisions made to ensure their commitment to the action plan. Intervention strategies will vary depending on the family and the problems they are facing. Using evidence based practice the best relevant information based on the best practices in the field of social work, health and education will achieve the most desirable outcome for the fam ily, this also allows for the assessment and intervention to be transparent and informed. The Key Capabilities document has four headings which together form the Key Capabilities in Child Care and Protection: Effective Communication, The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) codes of practice describe communicating as being done in an appropriate, open, accurate and straightforward way. Knowledge and Understanding, this includes keeping up to date with relevant legislation, being accountable, using professional judgment and knowledge based social work practice, working effectively as a professional. Professional Confidence and Competence include, carrying out duties accountably, using professional judgment and knowledge based social work practice. Values and Ethical Practice, Work at all times within the professional codes of practice, ethical principles and service standards that underpin high quality social work practice, by applying these to any assessments or interventions it is possible for the practitioner to take an non-judgemental and anti discriminatory approach to the clients and there issues. Assessment of the Key Issues Affecting this Family Dean has already been involved in a previous incident involving alcohol where he had assaulted Sandra and her brother in front of the children while he was under the influence of alcohol. Dean has been working with the social worker in an attempt to rectify his relationship with Sandra. Through getting drunk and losing control he has committed a serious offence Dean needs help with his problematic drinking, aggression and anger management as his actions will have a lasting effect on the children and Sandra. Resilience varies from child to child some children do not develop any problems either as children or adults. Families being together in harmony and good social networks are just two of the ways a child builds their resilience however the issues faced by Nathan and Jordan are numerous, they may have to take on responsibilities far beyond their years which effects their education and peer relationships, they may suffer physical and psychological health issues, domestic violence and child abuse, there are concerns regarding anti social behaviour increasing the risk of aggression towards others, hyperactivity or conduct disorders, emotional and attachment disorders and neglect. Building resilience in this situation will need a good level of self esteem, confidence and self efficiency as well as the ability to adjust to change and problem solving skills. There are implications for the childrens safety and welfare which may become a child protection issue. Dean and Sandra are in crisis which would imply that a short piece of intervention work could be used to rectify this situation. Working with Dean and Sandra on new skills to avoid this type of situation and setting achievable goals and supporting them they should be able to continue to work on their relationship as they were before this incident happened. As a longer term intervention such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy could be a useful tool in this situation, by getting Dean to think about his own thoughts, emotions, physical feelings and actions may assist Dean at looking at his behaviours thoughts and feelings differently and try to take a more positive look at how he can deal with similar situations in the future. This is about getting Dean to view situations in a more positive way therefore being able to handle the situation in a more positive way. This work is not a quick fix for Deans behaviours and he needs to want to take part for it to work. Sandra should be included in part of this therapy as she seems to be one of the objects of Deans anger as does Sandras brother. (PSYCH) Dean would also benefit from working with people who have experience in substance related problems such as his GP or a voluntary group. Dean would have to be in agreement with these strategies for them to work. Giving Dean options allows him to take charge of the situation and enables him to move forward at a pace he is comfortable with. If Dean is working voluntarily towards resolving his alcohol, anger and aggression issues it may help his assault case when it goes to court. The impact on the family will be minimized if dean and Sandra are working together to tackle this situation and work through the problems they are now facing as a family unit supporting each other and the children to a mutually beneficial outcome for the family and wider society. Words 2274 Case Study The role of the social worker in criminal justice From 1 February 2011 a Social Enquiry Report will be called a Criminal Justice Social Work Report. When a sheriff or judge wants to know more about an accused persons background, they will ask for a Criminal Justice Social Work Report. If a person is likely to be going to jail for the first time, the court must have a report. The report provides the court with the information needed to decide the most appropriate way to deal with offender. A Criminal Justice Social Work Report is written by a social worker, who contacts you by letter and asks you to attend an interview. The social worker will ask for information about your, current circumstances, personal and social history, previous offences, and current or previous supervision. At the end of the interview the social worker will explain to you what sentencing options are available to the court.

Walt Disney Analyses

Analysis of The Walt Disney`s Strategy PESTEL SWOT STRATEGIC ANALYSES â€Å"Fiscal 2011 was a great year financially and strategically, demonstrating the strength of our brands and businesses with record revenue, net income and earnings per share,† said Disney President and CEO Robert A. Iger. â€Å"We are confident the Company is well-positioned to deliver long-term value for our shareholders with our focus on quality content, compelling uses of technology and global asset growth. † According to the PESTEL analysis, the Walt Disney Company has been shaped mainly with respect to social, economic and political.First, it is politically shaped because the government and lobby groups have an important role in establishing policies, requirements and competition rules. Furthermore, the local governmental rules are crucial in establishing foreign ownership for subsidiaries or business units. Alongside with the political factors, both the economic and social factors influence t he group`s profitability and activity because customers and economic conditions are closely related. For instance the financial crisis of 2007 brought serious economic downturns that affected most of the activities at Disney 11 parks.The group is also dependent on oil prices, inflation and interest rates that might affect exchange rates. Social trends influence the company strategic decisions, mainly due to demographic changes, attitudes or certain fashion cycles. According to PESTEL, technological factors decide the competitive actors in the industry because advances in technology shape manufacturing conditions and operations, can increase capacity and improve quality. Furthermore, the environmental factors affect the activity of the company due to weather conditions that can be negative for the park`s profitability, manufacturing prices and conditions. A SWOT analysisSTENGTHSIt is the largest media and entertainment company in the world and it owns 11 theme parks and various chann els Disney is one of the major Hollywood studios Disney employed 150,000 people An innovative development society: employees generate and implement ideas – fast transfer of knowledge and expertise across the marketsGlobal Standards are highly implemented and adopted Very popular brand around the globe: high brand awareness among the people through logo and popularity Strategy of differentiation with a very diversified portfolio Experience in international operations and developmentDisney has US $62, 497, 000, 000 assets Ranked 9th in the Top 100 Global Brands of 2011 | WEAKNESSESHigh operating costsInstability in decision making: change management due to unbalances among SBUsPoor management controllingSeasonality: park occupancyWorking conditions that are poor in the production fabricsNo good customer relationship management due to innovation that demands continuityThe target client is mostly children, no range of segmentationAccusation for sexual references in some of its an imations Different welfare groups protest: religion, animal (Disney Animal Kingdom)Poor management controllingReduces number of attractions: only 16 out of 11 parks. OPPORTUNITIESBusiness development for different segments and in developing marketsFollow the market trends and social onesPossibility of increase in the number of attractions due to a new segmentationReduction in Operating costsDisney Television Advertising and Disney Channel MusicDisney management and training schoolOnline development | TREATSSecurity difficulties in parks – treat of terrorismCope with the employee retentionAn increase in the competition in the industryIncrease in the competition due to technology advances and innovation both on domestic and international market Demand for innovation on the market Economic and Financial Crisis Wages and labor costs will increase | The SWOT analysis sheds light on the context of the Walt Disney Company. It focuses both on core features / competencies but also on the diversity of the corporation`s portfolio.The environment is highly competitive for the Walt Disney Company, but providing operations globally enables the existence of an efficiency related to the speed the information of knowledge travels around the company from unit to unit. This one of the most important features, and, thus strengths of the core competences Disney supports, because it reduces the operational costs. Thus, the company benefits from an intensive transfer of expertise across diverse markets. By being constantly up-dated with the new technologies and innovations and by disposing of an impressive amount of knowledge, the Walt Disney Company also benefits from continuous innovation. This is fostered also by the politics of the company that allows employees the direct participation in both generating and implementing new innovative solutions across businesses.Another important strength is the experience in international operations that sustains the brand awareness and enables the development of local knowledge, which defines synergies over strategic business units along with the existent learning curve. In terms of diversity, Disney covers a portfolio of various activities with a wide-ranging interest and this structuration protects the company from different conditions and instabilities on the markets, therefore a balanced portfolio provides security. Another important strength is the fact that Disney Corporation provides a really influent Media network that allows the company share and benefit from good image communication.For instance the ESPN Radio, the Disney Television Networks that increased group profits in the first quarter of 2011 due to strong advertising, the Toon Channel and many other entertaining shows that the group broadcasts. In terms of weaknesses, the most aggressive one is the seasonality among customers related to the objective of park occupancy, which is fulfilled only during holydays and special events. This pattern makes the activity in parks more or less dependent on the seasonality. Alongside with the seasonality, another important aspect is the unbalances that occur among its SBUs in terms of profits, cash flows and operating costs. Nevertheless, this is a cause of seasonality, but it also reflects the poor management controlling at the group level.The opportunities are very large at the size of a group as Disney Corporation and if the strategic decisions are respected the company can benefit from: new markets, increase in advertising (which is also sustained by the Segmented Results of 2011), differentiation in strategy and use of new developed technologies in order to maintain innovation. One of the main treats of Disney would be to cope with the employee retention which is strongly connected to the employee performance evaluation and the way according to which the Walt Disney Company aligns its goals / strategy with its employees` needs. As customers have a direct influence over company`s pro fitability, it is important to maintain a good communication flow and to built ways that could provide Disney strong analysis of customer satisfaction and feedback.

PASS Lifestyle, Leisure and Recreation Essay

Introduction: The recreation and leisure activities present in our world today are differ from what generations 100 years ago participated in. Our physical environment is changing continuously under the effect of natural, cultural and economic systems which influence people’s lifestyles. As lifestyles change, peoples’ way of spending their leisure time, and leisure activity preferences, also change. Urban open public spaces such as parks seem to lose their popularity as shopping malls have become the new leisure centres due to the increasing need â€Å"to consume† of today’s societies. Our age has the accessibility of information and convenience of abundant transport to take us the venues that we can enjoy ourselves, or free ourselves from the issues of our daily life. Information of available activities that we know today, mainly come from sources such as the internet and the television or media. Media has shaped the many lifestyles of today, via their advertising of activities and appliances. By shifting our lifestyle, some of our interests in recreation and leisure have changed over the ages. Activities that existed 100 years ago but not today: Stickball. Stickball was a street game that is immensely related to baseball which adapts to the environment it was played in. The activity only required a rubber ball and a stick of any form. This activity has gradually died out, as people started to earn more money to afford playing other sports that involved swinging at a ball. The media also helped advertise America’s Major League Baseball, which put peoples’ interest into a more popular activity. Some people believe that this activity did not actually die out as it was the origin of all bat-and-ball sports that exist today. Playing Cards and Dominoes Since people living in the early 1900s, mainly middle-aged men, gathered together at bars after their day’s work, they took attraction to group activities. Their main activities were card games which involved betting small amounts of money or a glass of beer. In their houses, Dominoes was a common family game which appealed to all age groups. In today’s lifestyle, not all people have the luxury of time to participate in these activities or have lost interest due to the introduction of personal technological devices. These devices include the popularised iPod and computers, in which people can ‘surf’ the internet to find out many leisure and recreational activities which suit their lifestyle. Activities that exist now but not 100 years ago: Shopping The availability of shopping centres has increased rapidly in the past 10 years, as the world’s economy grew, and the average earning of families increased. The shopping for recreation and leisure of today mainly refers to excessive buying of ‘wanted’ materials for interest of the buyer. This modern activity is common among females, usually in groups. It fits into the lifestyles of women who do not work on weekends, and consumes much of the day, thus the inclusion of food courts in shopping centres. 100 years ago, shopping was not popularised as income of an average household was lower, and many women had to stay home to attend to the housework. The availability of shopping centres and transport to shopping centre venues was limited during that time. Most of the time, shopping was a chore rather than a leisure activity because it involved buying needs for the family, such as food and learning materials. Extreme Sports With increased knowledge and equipment to ensure safety, extreme sports are quite popular in modern society. These activities often involve speed, height, a high level of physical exertion, and they can help isolate thoughts of current issues, help set new goals, and improve physical fitness. Some extreme sports which are available near suburban areas are: mountain bike riding, indoor or outdoor rock-climbing, body boarding and canoeing. In the 1900s, people were not aware of these activities due to the inconvenience of less media sources. Among teenagers and young adults, free running is particularly popular in city areas which have a variety of artificial environments. This activity did not exist 100 years ago because it originated from later popular movements like graffiti and internet groups. Dining Out The modern society values the bonding of couples more than the world 100 years ago. A common activity amongst couples is dining out, to create an atmosphere of romanticism. By observing the growing population, the variety of employed jobs is also growing. The food industry is one of the largest in the world, and has led to the creation of restaurants of different cuisines. Since the countries of the world are becoming more multicultural, people want to break away from eating their traditional foods. Dining out provides a solution to changing tastes, and may sometimes aid in saving time as cooking at home may take several hours when attempting to provide fine food. Activities which existed 100 years ago and still exist now: Soccer 100 years ago, soccer teams received growing groups of supporting members and fans that popularise the sport. The soccer associations of today have provided many opportunities for sport betting, employment and sponsorship to advertise brands or companies. In many schools of the 1900s and today, grassed areas were easily converted to soccer fields so that students could play this sport during or after school time. Older age groups can join soccer clinics and clubs where they can play for enjoyment at learning levels to competitive levels. Watching soccer matches is also considered a recreational and leisure activity among fan groups which follow the current soccer. Film Going out to watch movies was a leisure and recreational activity that was present 100 years ago and now. This activity is popular as many films relate to the current world affairs. This activity would not have survived if not for the extremely low pricing of cinema tickets in the 1900s. The price of tickets has inflated in our era, but this is acceptable as our average income has increased. Conclusion: From the research I have accumulated in recreational and leisure activities of 100 years ago and today, I have found out that a major factor of the changing pursuits has been the shifting of daily lifestyles. The trends originating from media has shaped the many lifestyles of our world today, which has in turn changed our interests. Another factor of our leisure and recreational pursuits is the availability of information and transport we have today that lets us do what we want. However, the popularity of early activities has declined as our society has further developed these activities, while the appeal of the activities has been surpassed by our modern trends and movements.