Making Profits with a Twist †Auntie Anne’s Pretzels

This is a good attitude to have when beginning a business, because it promotes solid values that the business will be based on, even after it succeeds.   It also remembers the people in the community, the customers.   A company will survive and thrive if customers feel cared about and welcomed to the business.   Customers are the livelihood of the business, and it’s important to care about them in the store, and outside it. However, conflicts may arise.   A business may not have enough money to keep itself going, much less give to the community.   A business that suddenly does not give to the community could cause criticism.   It can be difficult to make any profit when a decent chunk of money is going to the community.   A company may take on more than it can really handle when it promises this.   Depending on the size of the community, people may feel they are more involved in the business than they are, resulting in the business not being taken seriously, and possibly failing. 4. How do the advantages and disadvantages of franchise compare to other forms of business? A franchise is a great business for someone who wants to go into business for his/herself, does not have the drive to build a business from scratch (as a franchise company already has a reputation and doesn’t need to build one), and wants the financial backing and security that comes with being a part of an already established business.   The franchisee has corporate support, materials and recipes (in the case of a restaurant) provided.   The only thing the franchisee needs to do is the day-to-day managing, and making some decisions about what products to carry, pricing, etc. However, this also leads to a lack of freedom.   In a traditional start-up business, a person does not have any backing besides his or her own money and possibly reputation as a person in the community.   The company is far more likely to fail (franchises usually don’t fail).   But, the person has the freedom to make any business decision he or she chooses.   He or she can take the business in a new direction, offer or stop offering any products or services, and do anything at all.   There is absolute freedom for a sole proprietorship.   A partnership shares the financial risk, and has some limit on freedom (decisions made equally between all partners), but the business doesn’t arrive â€Å"ready made† like a franchise does. It ultimately depends on what experience a person wants to have – security in business, or freedom to do as she/he pleases. Works Cited McHugh, McHugh, and Nickels.   Understanding Business. Seventh edition.   New York: McGraw-Hill Company, 2004.

A Case Study on Tesla Motors

A CASE STUDY ON TESLA MOTORS Cost/Benefit Analysis In concern, every determination that has to be made requires thorough rating. And one of the most convenient and straightforward methods to make this is through Cost/Benefit Analysis. In CBA, an appraisal of the entire value of all the benefits of a certain undertaking is compared to that of the value of the costs that are needed in order to recognize such undertaking ( Watkins, n.d. ) . In order for the assessor to come up with a better angle of comparing, these values must be expressed into a unvarying unit of measuring. Normally, in calculating CBA, the values of the cost and benefits are converted into their pecuniary value. Once all the costs and benefits of the undertaking have been taken into consideration, comparing may be done. If the value of the benefits outweighs that of the costs, it means that the undertaking is a worthwhile enterprise. The following point of rating would be the computation of the break-even point – the clip at which the benefits of the undertaki ng pay off the costs ( Hill, 2012 ) . It would be most preferred to hold a shorter payback period. By and large, CBA helps concern people to make up one's mind whether or non to set about a peculiar undertaking. It allows them to border the best and appropriate undertaking aims. Furthermore, CBA can be used to fix the necessary resources every bit good as develop before and after steps of the project’s success. For illustration, the move to advance more ecological operations and procedures for the company may necessitate a Cost/Benefit analysis to find the chance of its realisation. As the corporate universe is going more and more aware of the effects of Climate Change, companies are looking to implement environment-friendly patterns in their offices. The same holds true for immense fabrication companies. CBA allows the companies to measure likely additions and losingss that these actions may convey. Tesla Motors: A Case Study in Environmental Impact Background and Operations of Tesla Motors Leading the coming of a more sustainable transit system and its inventions, Tesla Motors has established rather a repute in the automotive industry. Since its constitution in 2003, the company has grown to be the biggest maker of electric autos in the market. It has contributed more than 50,000 autos in roads all over the universe as of today ( Tesla Motors, n.d. ) . Its chief end is to make a transit system that is more environment-friendly and sustainable. Electric autos are charged at place and do non necessitate refuelling of gasolene unlike the autos designed by other makers. Quite expectedly, these zero-emission autos were non easy accepted in the market as they were deemed impractical, non to advert consumers were non truly impressed with their instead tacky design. Fortunately, Tesla Motors was able to toss that equation. By let go ofing their trailblazer electric athleticss auto for the high-end market, the Tesla Roadster, they were able to capture the attending of auto partisans and alter the face of the green auto market. After let go ofing the Roadster, Tesla pushed for more infinite in the industry by let go ofing their luxury saloon, the Tesla Model S in 2012. More and more consumers are looking to purchase electric autos because of the inventions that were done by the company. In fact, reserves for their following theoretical account releases are already stacking up. There is much expectancy for the Tesla Model X and Model 3 releases. How Green is a Tesla Green Car? The really intent of an electric auto is to advance energy invention ; and Tesla Motors’ end is to accomplish this without doing any negative impact on the environment. However, a new engineering such as the advanced green auto production can non be made to go through without being exhaustively criticized by the populace. Green autos are, by rule, more environment-friendly than the conventional fuel-based autos. The procedure, by which it is being manufactured, on the other manus, says otherwise. Furthermore, green autos do run on electricity. But, how is electricity being processed? Does it non come from coal and crude oil excessively? All things considered, is a Tesla green auto viridity after all? The company admits that the grade of being environment-friendly of their autos – take the Model S for illustration, largely depends on where and how frequently the auto is being driven. In the US, each province has a different mix of energy beginnings that fundamentally goes into their grid. In other words, a â€Å"cleaner† beginning of electricity makes a Model S a more environment-friendly auto. By and large, it is still cleaner than the internal-combustion design of their rivals in footings of emissions-per-mile ; sing the efficiency of battery-powered autos in change overing stored energy into a utile signifier ( Oremus, 2013 ) . Tesla Motors and the Campaign for Environmental Sustainability Tesla Motors have established its run to advance a greener personal conveyance system through its electric vehicles ; but how does it impact the environment in the industrial context? Are its procedures and operations considered as environment-friendly? The company is really much aware of the fact that they are indirectly let go ofing C emanations through power workss – sing that electricity is the chief power beginning of the vehicles. This is the ground why Tesla moves to advance the absolute remotion of indirect C emanations by utilizing Supercharger Stations that merely uses grid electric power from solar panels ( Walsh, 2014 ) . Furthermore, Tesla is teaming up with SolarCity to supply electric auto proprietors an option to bear down their autos utilizing solar panels in their several places. This is like hitting two birds with one rock. By extinguishing the demand for coal-based electricity beginning, they are indirectly cut downing C emanations in the ambiance ; and they are advancing the usage of renewable energy beginning at the same clip. Tesla is fundamentally work outing the world’s dependance on gas. Through their radical inventions in electric vehicle engineering, they have addressed an issue that has been thought as an improbableness for many old ages. By doing more convenient accommodations in their electric autos, and at the same clip turn outing that electric autos are so effectual, Tesla has convinced more consumers to sponsor their merchandise. The company is winning more and more conflicts as they advance into bigger ventures. In order to provide to their turning consumer demands, Tesla is constructing their very foremost Gigafactory. Panasonic will be a immense investor in this undertaking, along with Tesla’s other major spouses. The best thing about this gigafactory is the company’s program to run it chiefly on air current and solar energy. Nevada is the perfect site for the mill because it is where the biggest solar power works in the universe is located. Tesla does non merely function as a leader in electric auto engineering, it is besides going a theoretical account for other companies to see more environment-friendly procedures. Coal excavation and processing has created many environment-related issues and are still doing jobs in many topographic points around the universe. If Tesla becomes successful in extinguishing the demand for non-renewable beginnings of energy in order to bring forth electricity, it can alter the face of the car industry everlastingly. Not merely will it dramatically cut down the C emanations that are released to the ambiance, it will besides extinguish the issues that are brought about by the processing of electricity that is coming from natural resources. Tesla Motors and the Competitive Industry Of class, Tesla Motors is non the lone company that has entered the green auto market. Even though the industry for green autos is non that large compared to the conventional car market, it can be said that competition is non excessively slack. In fact, Toyota, Ford, Nissan, and Honda are considered as the biggest rivals for Tesla. Audi, Volkswagen, and BMW are looking to fall in the green auto industry shortly. And these are reasonably immense companies. Can Tesla maintain its topographic point in the industry without being squeezed out by elephantine auto makers? What is its competitory advantage? Unlike the remainder of the car makers, Tesla is 100 % in the green auto industry. Therefore, their focal point is merely within that market. Research and development is entirely dedicated for this intent, leting the company to make better inventions. Besides, Tesla has about 5-year caput start over the other companies. While other companies are still constructing their green auto designs, Tesla is already smoothing its ain. The hereafter of the automotive industry is tilting towards the use of renewable beginnings of energy. This fundamentally means that other companies who are on the other side of the industry are at a immense disadvantage. Oil is about to run out ; but solar power is limitless. Sooner or subsequently, they will hold to switch to a more sustainable beginning of energy. Tesla Motors and the Future of Green Car Technology At the minute, Tesla’s precedence is to maximise its production in order to run into the demands for the Model S and Model X in the market. They are holding problems in run intoing client demands with their very limited production. But the populace can rest assured that Tesla will non halt making better inventions for their merchandises. Once the gigafactory has been installed, Tesla’s following focal point will be on the development and betterment of machine-controlled driving engineering. As a affair of fact, the company’s CEO, Mr. Elon Musk has announced the release of their partially self-driving vehicle by 2017 ( Boyadjis, Rassweiler, & A ; Brinley, n.d. ) . As the engineering for zero-emission autos advancement, the issues sing the car companies’ impact on the environment is being addressed bit by bit. Someday, there will come a clip when vehicles will entirely depend on solar power – among other renewable energy beginnings. It may non wholly work out Global heating, but it will assist the universe get at that place one measure at a clip. Mentions Boyadjis, M. , Rassweiler, A. , & A ; Brinley, S. ( n.d. ) . Object moved. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www.ihs.com/articles/features/tesla-motors.html Hill, R. ( 2012, September ) . Attention Required! | CloudFlare. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_08.htm Oremus, W. ( 2013, September 9 ) . How green is a Tesla? Electric cars’ environmental impact depends on where you live. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2013/09/how_green_is_a_tesla_electric_cars_environmental_impact_depends_on_where.html Tesla Motors. ( n.d. ) . About Tesla | Tesla Motors. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www.teslamotors.com/about Walsh, T. ( 2014, November 1 ) . Investing in Socially Responsible Companies: Tesla Motors Inc. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/11/01/investing-in-socially-responsible-companies-tesl-2.aspx Watkins, T. ( n.d. ) . An Introduction to Cost Benefit Analysis. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/cba.htm

How does the legalization of marijuana affect Americas economy and Research Paper

How does the legalization of marijuana affect Americas economy and patients who need marijuana for medical purposes - Research Paper Example This discussion explores ways in which legalization of the drug affects America’s economy and patients who need marijuana for medical purposes through answering the following question. One of the arguments that have been fronted in advocacy for marijuana legalization is the potential economic benefits that the move could offer at macroeconomic level. Bradford (1) reports economic effects that two states in the United States, having legalized marijuana, could benefits. Professional opinions among economists support this. According to estimates, Colorado and Washington are likely to expand their revenues by a total of $ 550 million and estimates from similar sources indicate an annual expansion of the United States economy by about $ 14 billion. Legalizing marijuana and levying fee for dealership is another significant benefit to the government as a source of revenue and this has proved successful in Mendocino county of California. This is good news especially because the nation is facing problems of budget deficit that the additional revenue can remedy. In addition to the direct benefits that legalizing marijuana could offer, it would also reduce government expense s that are associated with enforcement of marijuana laws. According to data from the year 2007, the nation spends as high as $ I billion dollars on incarcerating convicts on marijuana charges and a change in the law would save the expenditure that can be used in other utilities, especially on investment expenditure for economic development. Reports by economists estimate that the government spends about $ 13.7 billion in enforcing current marijuana laws and legalization would save this amount that could be used in funding social or investment projects. The savings also include potential tax revenues that the legalization could derive. Price reduction is another potential economic benefit

Voter Participation in Elections Research Paper

Voter Participation in Elections - Research Paper Example Age and Citizenship are usually among the criteria used in most of the countries where a bar is set as a limitation for ones right to vote. In the past few decades, voter’s turnout had been increasing but recently, the turnouts have gone down in most of the world’s conventional democracies (Franklin, 2004). Decline in the poll turnout is sometimes considered posing a problem in many countries. The problems range from economic to cultural, demographical to technological. Institutional factors are also part and parcel of a failed voter’s turnout (Milner, 2007). The political class has in most cases carried the blame on the topic of low turnout. This is because whenever they are elected to public office, they don’t do enough to ensure that they fulfill the will of the people. This is much time is as a result of matters of corruption due to the lack of transparency in their leadership. Repeated lack of transparency and accountability, and massive corruptions in the government elective office even after the change of leadership from time to time demoralizes the voters and them, therefore, don’t see the need of participating any more in the subsequent elections. Therefore, the voter’s turnout decreases with time. If some reforms concerning the holders of political institution are not taken to consideration, the voter’s turnout will continue to diminish year after year, from one election to another. Declining participation in elections results to some of the more common problems affecting the majority of the citizens of modern democratic federal Government. The shortage experienced can also be associated to a bigger problem on health of its democratic system which results from a deteriorating turnout in major decision making polls of a country. If the social and political forces that are driving turnout down are of a long term, the problem of low voter participation

Monet and his painting Water Lilies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Monet and his painting Water Lilies - Essay Example This essay tells us about the painting, â€Å"Water Lilies,† by Claude Monet, a great masterpiece, which carries several elements of expression to the spectator. More important, this particular painting uses different techniques and ideologies to make a statement within the society and the culture which Claude Monet was in. The different concepts which Monet used in this particular painting were a part of a series which was able to show a true reflection and impression of nature as well as the shifts which were occurring during Monet’s time. However, it is the aesthetics that Monet uses in this piece that allows it to become a masterpiece and which has allowed it to stand out from a variety of paintings for a longer time frame. The painting of â€Å"Water Lilies† is one which shows Claude Monet’s personal philosophies and which reflects the time frame. This particular painting was a part of a series of water lilies which were painted from 1906 to 1926. The others are placed in various museums throughout the world. The brush strokes that are used with this specific painting are thicker in texture and include wider and long strokes that create the reflection of the leaves, water and the look of the lilies. This is combined with the shading which is created through the use of the oil paints, specifically which can be seen in the layers of the piece. The shading of the painting is not from light and dark, but instead comes from a darker and lighter mixture with each of the colors used. Content The content that is used by Monet is of the water lilies that are by a specific water body. The piece works as an Impressionist piece, which was used commonly by Monet as one which was defined by a glance or look at a specific scene at a given time. The impression which was left with the main look was what was painted, as opposed to manipulating or changing the textures that were with the piece of work. The impression is important to note because i t defines elements that are not a part of the main expressions which an artist is trying to convey. Instead, the expression and message is sent through the natural scenery and the moment which is caught in the painting. It is this natural setting that is able to capture specific characteristics and relay a given message to the audience (Werner, 3). The Impressionism in this piece comes from looking at the water lilies and seeing the reflection and movement of the water. When looking at this piece, it can be seen that the impression was left with the water lilies, which stayed still in the water and which are seen by the layers of paint and color. The brush strokes of the water lilies are smaller and move upward, which creates a sense of stillness with the subject. The reflection of the leaves are seen with several layers of shading and with long brush strokes, which makes the eye move from one end of the canvas to the other. The portrayal of the water moves in the same way, which ma kes the water look like it is swaying or moving forward. Even though the water lilies are only on the right hand corner and left hand bottom corner, the changing brush strokes cause the eye to see the lilies as constant and not moving, despite the changing reflections and movement of the water. The content then leaves an impression on the natural elements and the characteristics, which show the lilies as a constant in the continuous changes of the water. Iconography The icons which are presented from the water lilies become important with this picture as well as the other subjects of water lilies which

Frontier Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Frontier - Essay Example Turner paints the slavery struggle as just an incident that has a lot of meaning to the American history during the expansion of the westward. Slavery was more rampant just before the end of civil war, but did not become of exclusive importance. This effectively portrays the slavery struggle as an insignificant factor in American history. The most significant impact of the frontier on American history, which Turner unconvincingly contends is the promotion of democracy. A complex society is precipitated by the wilderness, into a kind of primitive organization based on the family. The tendency is anti-social. This produces hostility to control. The tax-gatherer for instance is viewed as a representative of oppression. The same conditions, according to Turner help in explaining the difficulty of forming a strong government in the period of the union. The frontier individualism has from the beginning, therefore promoted democracy. For example, â€Å"the frontier States that came into the Union in the first quarter of a century of its existence came in with democratic suffrage provisions, and had reactive effects of the highest importance upon the older States whose peoples were being attracted there† (Turner 5). Turner concludes that the non-geographical elements of the frontier nevertheless evidently continue with the current phase of globalization that is essentially Americanization. Indeed, Turner reckons that the frontier is the line of most rapid and effective Americanization. According to Turner, another example of how the frontier promoted democracy is given of western New York that forced an extension of suffrage in the constitutional convention of that State in 1821 (Turner 5). In that regard the Turner’s thesis is not convincing because the impetus appears a new wave in the American imperialism’s history. Despite being perceived as an encouragement to the overseas expansion of the United States and promotion of democracy, it does

A documented position paper Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

A documented position paper - Assignment Example This is kept going by strong ICT systems and processes that provides real-time information that links all stakeholders. The company’s international freight partners – DHL provide worldwide reach and specialized support. Also, Primark has made reasonable moves to limit reputational and ethical risks that come with operation in foreign markets around the world. This is done through strong monitoring mechanisms and corporate social responsibility. Primark is a UK-based clothing manufacturing and retail entity that originally founded in Dublin Ireland in 1968 (Primark Website). Today, Primark has over 200 outlets in Europe and North America. The company’s fundamental corporate strategy is based on an integrated global supply chain system through which the company designs its product in the UK and USA, sends the outlines to factories in developing countries like Bangladesh, Turkey and India where they are sewn and export it to the UK for onward distribution to Primark outlets around the developed world. This paper posits that Primark’s Global Supply Chain Management system is the firm’s primary cause of competitive advantage. In order to achieve this end, the paper will draw on evidential sources to show that the company saves a lot of cost by locating its manufacturing units in the developing world and sells them to consumers at high prices in the developed world. The integration of ethics and reputation i s the main means through which the company retains its continuous cost leadership system through the Global Supply Chain Management (GSCM) process. The global textile industry has gone through a major reformation after the Cold War ended (Kunz and Garna 3). This is due to the apparent trend towards the elimination of barriers towards international trade and the major disparities that exists in different parts of the world due to the differences in costs and values. The rational producer will seek to minimize costs and maximize sales revenue. Hence,

Small Business Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Small Business Plan - Essay Example The tag line or the mission statement of the hotel will be â€Å"Wish it, Dream it, Do it!† â€Å"Wish it† means consumers whose desires are the hotels external pursuit (Yoo, Donthu & Lee, 2000). â€Å"Dream it† mean consumers’ desires will be the hotels ultimate goal. â€Å"Do it† means the actions of the hotel will prove everything. The NAIS number of the hotel business will be 721111. The approximate annual revenue in the first year that the business is expecting to generate is $ 73,000 projecting the hotel to operate successfully. The business plan proposal for the theme hotel will include feasibility study, financial planning and marketing plans for opening this new venture (Brown, 2001). The Dream Paradise Theme hotel will be built on the parking lot 2 which is near to the Ontario place. The Ontario place will reopen to public by 2016 and this is the main reason the place is most suitable to choose (Nissim & Penman, 2001). Moreover, another reason for selecting the area is that most of the hotels are situated in the downtown area. When the consumers look at these hotels, they might face difficulties in decision making (Der Foo, Wong & Ong, 2005). However, this theme hotel will have special theme rooms and a proper location to attack tourism. The hotel will offer its customers various themed rooms to its customers and according to the demand of the customers Dream Paradise theme hotel will design its rooms. The hotel has decided to categorize its hotel rooms into primary rooms, silver rooms and gold rooms. The primary room will be designed as per the demands of its customer groups (Mason & Stark, 2004). Themes for kids will be like frozen, hello kitty, Disneyland and Legoland, etc. The themes for teenagers are angry birds, Sea world, Cars, Harry Potter, Star Wars, etc. Themes for adults will be of popular movies, countries and sights, etc and lastly, the

The extra credit Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The extra credit - Essay Example There are negative effects of these externalities in production for instance; industrial pollution causes the marginal social cost (MSC) to curve higher than the private marginal cost (MPC). The externality for this discussion will be sea pollution by water vessels. Sea pollution occurs due to oil spillage from ships and sea vessels on transit, especially in cases of accidents or leakage. Other forms of pollution by the sea vessels are from discharging domestic wastes into the sea when the vessel is in transit. Passenger ships are the main dischargers of domestic effluent into the sea such as kitchen wastes and waste from sanitation areas. Other pollution may be from chemicals, and garbage from the sea vessel that find their way into the water during transit. Scrapping of old ships on beaches may also pollute the water is the scrap metal, paints, and pieces find their way into the water. However, most of the sea pollution comes from people living near the beaches, when they dispose chemicals, soil, oil, and rubbish into the sea. Disposal of Bunker oil from cargo ship is very dangerous and toxic to the sea creatures and is very difficult to clean sea pollution is bad for the society as it destroys the marine ecosystem by killing the aquatic plan ts organisms. There are some policies to control sea pollution in various countries such as government intervention through regulations, which include taxing polluters and forcing the polluters to compensate the affected. International regulations to prevent marine pollution from ships aim at preventing and lowering ship pollution. Port waste management under Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels highlights the requirements for all vessels to give a prior notice to the port on the waste onboard. The vessels should also offload the waste at the port and pay for waste discharge facilities. All ships of between 150

Emergence of Global Markets (BUS 250) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Emergence of Global Markets (BUS 250) - Essay Example Technological developments have been immense over the years in all sectors. There are a number of advantages and disadvantages. This essay aims at understanding the effects of technological developments. Technology can be a rather empowering at times but often can also be very frustrating. The computer related technology is becoming one a very important part of the society, and the usage of these technologies has increased a lot over the past few years. With the introduction of Internet there has been a great improvement in the overall lives of many. Internet has infiltrated almost every aspect of life, making it a necessity rather than a luxury. The internet has to a great extent provided a strong ability for globalization. As discussed, the technological developments have been immense over the years in all sectors. The technological developments over the past few years have been immense in almost every field. These developments have been clearly noted a transformation in the commun ication, transport and travel industries and has also led these industries towards a converging harmony. The technological development has been able to push and force attention to the isolated ‘Third World’ Societies into contact with the products of modernity and globalised products. As mentioned earlier, the access to higher and more advanced technology has led to the ability for the industrial activities to flow easily within the markets. It has also provided a chance to allow for better and more flow of finances across the industries. Also it allows for hampering the national government controls. This in simpler terms means that the companies are able to now take on a different approach. Instead of providing customized items, companies have now led to developing more standardized products to meet the global standards. The focus is to provide

New York Times Essay Example for Free

New York Times Essay The newspaper serves as the first draft of history and is the most important source of primary documents in which historians use in order to better gauge exactly what were the concerns and motivations of a specific age. In 1900, America was celebrating a new century although there was little to celebrate. The Boar War in South Africa was taking far too long and costing far too many money and lives in what was perceived to be an invincible British Empire. A massive explosion in West Virginia killed dozens of miners and in China, the Boxer Rebellion; a Chinese nationalistic movement in which all foreigners were sought after and either expelled from the country or killed, was causing international headaches for America and President McKinley. The December 24, 1900 issue of the New York Times, the most prestigious newspaper in the country, detailed many of the aforementioned events as well as the smaller stories which never did make the history books but were vitally important for those who were involved. As 1900 was coming to a close and moving into what would be the bloodiest century in human history, the readers of that day, saw a world with no shortage of pessimistic news and depressing facts about the state of their world. In the backdrop of the Christmas season, the concern of the people of New York, as detailed in this issue of the New York Times, were detailing the hatred and strife which much of the world, and especially New York City had, in the day before Christmas.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The most important international issue of this day was the Boar War.   America would remain neutral in this war but with British soldiers deep in the heart of South Africa and fighting a war, the details commanded a position on the front page. The headline in the top left corner of page 1, â€Å"Boars Take British town,† detailed the pursuits of the British army in relation to the Boar War, which was ending its second year with no sign of victory. The war would continue from 1899-1902 and cost more lives and money than would ever have been conceived and historians marked this as the beginning of the end of the British Empire.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There were other important issues of the day. One issue which the people of New York were talking about that day was the firing of District Attorney Garnier by then governor Theodore Roosevelt. This story was seen on page 1 of the Times as well as a detailed editorial on page 6 of the paper. Theodore Roosevelt was seen as a free thinking Progressive Reformer who had no use for patronage, nor public opinion dictating his actions. He was one of the most unique Presidents this country ever had served in the White House. These aspects came through when Governor Roosevelt, under the idea that Garnier: â€Å"that he did not acknowledge the telegram of the governor directing attention to these officers†¦ and allowed his assets to interfere with the prompt trial of election cases.†[1] In other words, Garnier’s association with Tammany, the political force of the Democratic Party in which graft and patronage ran rampant, could not be separated from the demands of this office. In the election of 1900, it was asserted that Garnier had done little or nothing to stop the election tampering which the Republicans asserted had occurred. Governor Roosevelt believed this to be the case and promptly fired Garnier.   The New York Times, in their editorial, criticized this move, through the professed to be no friend of Garnier. â€Å"We think that the people’s rights and not Garnier’s are infringed by the action of Governor Roosevelt and are forced to condemn that action as a blunder in the nature of a crime.†[2] Tammany, since the days of Boss William Tweed, had been under a suspicion of grafting politicians and Roosevelt, always the reformer, sought to free New York City from the patronage which he felt was choking the lifeblood from the city. Tammany had been a source of patronage for decades and it sometimes served as the only source of employment for immigrants who were being ignored by the establishment. However, Tammany always ran under a cloud of suspicion for corruption and the reform candidates of that age, sought to starve Tammany of patronage. It is also interesting to note that since Governor Roosevelt was causing so much trouble, for both the Democrats as well as the Republicans, that he was placed on the Republican ticket as President McKinley’s Vice President in 1900 only a few months earlier as a way to silence him. Little did they know that the assassination of President McKinley in September 1901, propel Roosevelt onto the world political stage for the next 7  ½ years.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The newspaper also details the stories which never did make the history books. There are many one or two paragraph stories which served as life changing for those involved but which were quickly forgotten in a day or two by the rest of the public. One such story is of five year old Marie Horen who went into convulsions when she drank a bottle of whiskey as she copied what she had seen her father doing. She was rushed to the J. Hood Wright Hospital where her condition was deemed serious. Another story involves nine year old Nathan Roth who was shot in the head by one who the paper deemed crazy. He was shot in the head and the bullet exited the right eye of the boy. The boy was pronounced dead and the defendant, John Galletus, a father of three and one who had attempted to shoot others, was captured and sent away.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another negative aspect of this day in New York History was the number of fires that were reported. There was listed, sixteen fires that had occurred. One of these fires ripped through a tenement in which it was reported that there presumed to be, a number of victims but as the records of those living in these tenements were sketchy at best, it seems as though the exact count will never be known. It has been suspected that a number of these fires, especially the ones in which barns were being set ablaze, was suspected of being done by a group of sixteen years from the many notorious gangs which New York City housed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It was also reported that Andrew Carnegie, the steel magnate, one who had originated from Scotland and had made his fortunes in steel, donated $20,000 for the assembly of a new library at the all black Tuskegee School in which Booker T. Washington founded and led. During these last years of his life, Carnegie sought o give away millions of dollars in the construction of libraries all across the country; from the large cities in America, to the small towns. He had earned his money through the ruthless exploitation of capitalism and now sought to right his wrongs and become a philanthropist and give money to support a new school at Tuskegee. This occurred at a time when only four years later, calls of treason arose from the South when President Roosevelt invited Booker T. Washington, a leader in the African American community to lunch in order to discuss the issues of the day concerning African Americans. It was reported that the entire building would be built from the hard work of the students themselves; a practice which had been adhered to when the school was first built. This speaks to the social culture of the day and is in contrast to the arrest of Ed. Johnson, a â€Å"dark† man who was suspected of kidnapping a woman. The story states, on page 1, that Mr. Johnson had been identified by a child witness as not having been the suspect but which did little to dissuade the authorities to immediately free Mr. Johnson.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Since this issue was dated Christmas Eve, there is also a religious aspect to this day as millions of Christians in the city were set to celebrate the birth of Jesus. This aspect of loving one’s neighbor which is seen more often around Christmas time than any other, was seen in a large advertisement which detailed the Salvation Army’s feeding of the poor as well as the performance of a passion play. These plays were designed to detail the last hours of Jesus before he was hung on the cross. These plays have served as a popular and touching aspect of the Christmas Season but which have become more popular during the Easter season. In this spirit of alms giving, the New York Protestant Episcopal Society was also feeding Christmas dinner to the poor. However, with New York City containing a large Jewish population, it was stated by the prominent rabbis of the city, that the Jewish people can enjoy this Christmas season, the joy and fulfillment which their fellow New Yorkers are experiencing this Christmas season but that Jews should be careful not to blend their appreciation for the enjoyment of others, with their own sense of faith, which it was stated, â€Å"has fundamental and final differences between Judaism and Christianity.†[3]   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   1900 was an important and event-packed year. Reading the newspapers, specifically the New York Times, serves as a reminder that ever day, there occurs events, large and small, important and socially irrelevant, that occur every day and which are important to the people it affects. In a city as large as New York City, there still occurs individual interest stories like the death of nine year old Nathan Roth or the case of five year old Maggie Enloin who went into convulsions after drinking a bottle of whiskey after seeing her father do the same. These stories occur every day, in every part of the country, as well as the world. Many times, they are not reported but in this day, December 24, 1900, the editors of The New York Times, felt that the tragic death of a nine year old to street violence, or the burnings of tenements on the Lower East Side, as well as the involvements of the Boxer Rebellion, the Boar War or the issues of patronage and corruption within the Tammany machine, all fell under the definition: â€Å"All the news that is fit to print.† This day in American History as well as New York History, saw a wide array of human interest stories, coupled with heavy issues and the larger questions of: â€Å"What role will political patronage serve in the city and how much damage can Governor Roosevelt make before he assumes the Vice Presidency? Are the problems of the tenements to only being reported or sill any actions are made to help the poor and to help them rise above their circumstance? Can the deaths of innocent children be reconciled in a city who believes that it is on the cutting edge of the country’s reforms? Also, to what degree, if any, will America get involved in the issues overseas such as the Boar War and the Boxer Rebellion and how their outcomes will affect America’s relations with these countries. The December 24, 1900 issue of the New York Times, had contained within its twelve pages, a wide array of stories from all walks of life and on all levels of importance. Many of the above mentioned people are to be remembered, when they are remembered at all, in the pages of the newspaper: the first draft of history. WORKS CITED The New York Times.   December 24, 1900 (Twelve Pages) [1] Governor Roosevelt’s Error The New York Times.   December 24, 1900 pg. 6 [2] Governor Roosevelt’s Error. The New York Times.   December 24, 1900 pg. 6 [3] The New York Times.   December 24, 1900

Contemporary Chinese female art and artists Essay Example for Free

Contemporary Chinese female art and artists Essay Introduction In the 1990s, China adopted western feminism and it influenced and rapidly raised the Chinese feminism concept. There were many themes of exhibition focused on female art and female artists, an example of this is the â€Å"Chinese Women Art Exhibition†1 â€Å"Chinese Women Art Exhibition† in 1998, the Frauen museum (Women’s Museum), Bonn, Germany â€Å"Ã¥ Å Ã¥ ¤ ©Ã©â€šÅ -ä ¸ ­Ã¥Å"‹å ¥ ³Ã¦â‚¬ §Ã¨â€" Ã¨ ¡â€œÃ¥ ±â€¢Ã¢â‚¬ , é‚ ±Ã¨  Ã§ ­â€"åŠÆ', Ã¥ ¾ ·Ã¥Å"‹æ ³ ¢Ã¦  ©Ã¥ © ¦Ã¥ ¥ ³Ã¨â€" Ã¨ ¡â€œÃ¥ Å¡Ã§â€° ©Ã© ¤ ¨, Ã¥ Æ'Ã¥ ±â€¢Ã¨â€" Ã¨ ¡â€œÃ¥ ® ¶Ã¦Å"‰ä ¸ ­Ã¥Å"‹, æ ¸ ¯Ã¥  °Ã¥ Å Ã¦ µ ·Ã¥ ¤â€"å… ±Ã¨ ¨Ë†25ä º º. in 1998 and the â€Å"Century Female Art Exhibition†2 â€Å"Century Female Art Exhibition† in 1998, the China National Art Gallery, Beijing, China â€Å"ä ¸â€"ç ´â‚¬,Ã¥ ¥ ³Ã¦â‚¬ §Ã¨â€" Ã¨ ¡â€œÃ¥ ±â€¢Ã¢â‚¬ , Ã¥ â€¡Ã¦â€" ¹Ã¨Ë†Å¸Ã§ ­â€"åŠÆ',ä ¸ ­Ã¥Å"‹èâ€" Ã¨ ¡â€œÃ§  â€Ã§ © ¶Ã©â„¢ ¢Ã¦â€"‡åÅ'â€"èâ€" Ã¨ ¡â€œ,Ã¥ ¤ §Ã¥Å" °Ã¨ ³â€¡Ã§â€ ¢Ã§ ® ¡Ã§ â€ Ã¦Å"䎪 Ã¥â€¦ ¬Ã¥  ¸Ã¤ ¸ »Ã¦Å' ,Ã¥ ±â€¢Ã¨ ¦ ½Ã§  »Ã¥ ±â€¢(é™ ¶Ã¥â€™ Ã§â„¢ ½Ã¤ ¸ »Ã¦Å' ),èâ€" Ã¥â€œ Ã¥ ±â€¢(Ã¥ ¾ Ã¨â„¢ ¹Ã¤ ¸ »Ã¦Å' ),Ã¥ ¤â€"Ã¥Å"˜å ±â€¢(ç ¾â€¦Ã© ºâ€"ä ¸ »Ã¦Å' ),ç‰ ¹Ã¥ ±â€¢(è ³Ë†Ã¦â€" ¹Ã¨Ë†Å¸Ã¤ ¸ »Ã¦Å' )四個éÆ' ¨Ã¥Ë†â€ .Ã¥ ±â€¢Ã¨ ¦ ½Ã¨ ¨ ­Ã§ «â€¹Ã¤ ¸â€°Ã¥â‚¬â€¹Ã§ Å½Ã©  â€¦:æâ€"‡åÅ'â€"èâ€" Ã¨ ¡â€œÃ¥ ­ ¸Ã§ ¤ ¾Ã§ Å½(ç  ²Ã§ Å½Ã¨â‚¬â€¦:Ã¥ ¡Å¾Ã¥ £ ¬Ã¨â€" Ã¨ ¡â€œÃ¥ · ¥Ã¤ ½Å"Ã¥ ® ¤,劉è™ ¹,èâ€"݊ ¿ Ã§â€˜â€¢,æžâ€"Ã¥ ¤ ©Ã¨â€¹â€",æ ¢ Ã¦ ´ Ã© Ë†) æ‰ ¹Ã¨ ©â€¢Ã¥ ® ¶Ã§ Å½(ç  ²Ã§ Å½Ã¨â‚¬â€¦:Ã¥ §Å"æ  °,Ã¥ ­ «Ã¨â€˜â€º,æžâ€"Ã¥ » ¶,æâ€"‡é ³ ³Ã¥â€žâ‚¬,æ Å½Ã¨â„¢ ¹) æ” ¶Ã¨â€" Ã¥ ® ¶Ã§ Å½(ç  ²Ã§ Å½Ã¨â‚¬â€¦:Ã¥ ¤ Ã¤ ¿Å Ã¥ ¨Å",Ã¥ ¾ Ã¦Å¡ Ã§â€¡â€¢,Ã¥ ¼ µÃ¦ º «Ã¥ ¸â„¢,Ã¥ ­ «Ã© ¼Å½Ã§Å½â€°,Ã¥ ¾ Ã¨â„¢ ¹) in 1998. Only female artists could participate in this category of art exhibition. Although the exhibitions revealed the importance of women art in modern Chinese art, there was no specific description to define the quality of female art and female artists. From this it can be asked: What is Chinese female art and is it a category in the making of the modern and contemporary Chinese art? Contemporary Chinese art frequently referred to as avant-garde art, sustained to expand ever since the 1980’s as an improvement of contemporary, post-Cultural art developments. During this period, China opened the economic door to world and western influence poured into Chinese culture; bringing the concept of feminism in China. Furthermore, Chinese artist were also released from the control of extreme political condition, and female artists were set about to re-create their own image, contributing to a gradual awakening of women’s consciousness. Indeed, it is in this newly awakened consciousness that Chinese female art in contemporary world can be delineated. In this paper, I would like to discuss how three generation groups of female artists (1980s, 1990s, and overseas) present their works and how they express their female quality through those art pieces. Finally, I also would like to bring out the concept and definition of quality of female art in contemporary Chine se art. The ’85 New Wave Art’ movement brought about many young female artists who devoted themselves to approach the woman’s nature of body and also found new ways to present the attention on the female subject. Female artists alongside male artists, expressed their own attitudes towards contemporary China. In the beginning stages of this period, women artist paid little attention to their own expression through maintaining with the large scale influence and borrowing from modern western art. However, the nature of contemporary art developed so that the concept of women’s artistic consciousness started to emerge. After 1989, neo-expressionism brought new stage in China. Artists, both male and female, started to focus on the essence of human spirit and also emphasized on rational and critical concepts. Women’s consciousness began to emerge and women began to explore their own experience and find an appropriate way of expression in contemporary Chinese art. Most female artists pursued to define the essence of women’s consciousness or confirm women’s consciousness itself. They promoted freedom from traditional male-dominated society and pursued women’s equal position with men. Many women art exhibitions were also held in this period, and female art and female artists began to be paid attention. Since the 1980s, not only local Chinese female artists came about to give rise to Chinese women’s art, but some overseas Chinese female artists also worked to this end. They created the works through different experiences and feelings in looking for the essence of women’s consciousness. These artists mostly left China after the Cultural Revolution, prior to the social changes in China. They have their unique ways to present their ideas and expressions, like looking back to Chinese history and pursuing the art essences that they need. With differences in personal backgrounds and generations, female artists in all these three groups have varying and unique ways in presenting their art through different content and influence. But to Chinese female artists, the intention is to express their female touch and feeling in a changing Chinese society in which the women’s gender role is constantly changing and reshaping. In their art, females in these three groups share not only expressions and feelings based on their female sensitivity but also their observations to social concern. In the following sections, I choose three contemporary Chinese female artists, Hung Liu, Yu Hong, and Cui Xiuwen, and define the quality of female art through their works. Traditional female role in China Most literature focuses on Chinese culture and history with key stresses on the function of language, geography, philosophies, and art. On the other hand, women are missing in almost all fields. Chinese civilization’s culture and arts are male-dominated and male-oriented. Chinese art, whether primordial or contemporary, is art that instigated in or is practiced in China mostly by Chinese male artists. The arts of a society mirror man’s values and attitudes. Women were always portrayed as objects of observation by men. Moreover, according to I-Jing, â€Å"women are more naturally aligned with the spiritual and emotional bodies, which are more non-linear and spatially oriented (all those yin qualities); while men are more naturally aligned with the mental and physical bodies, which are more linear and temporally oriented (all those yang qualities).†3 Malin, David. 2006. Creating Sacred Space. Bodymath.com. http://www.bodymath.com/articles/archives/Feb06_Creating_Sacred_Space.pdf (February, 2006) Yang is mostly considered more important than yin, and is regarded as of secondary importance. This makes gender roles have typical stereotypes with women always portrayed with weakness and sickness. Chinese women had been confined to the family, at the mercy of their husbands for thousands of years. History and tradition have stifled women’s voices. In China, women lived within a society dominated by men, where women were not authorized to involve themselves in the public field and consequently were not integrated in historical descriptions. For example, in the Forbidden City, women were not allowed to walk in some public spaces because those spaces were symbolized as the male’s power and authority. â€Å"No woman ever took part in the grand ceremonies staged before the Hall of Supreme Harmony, which were supreme demonstrations of male ruling power.†4 Wu, Hung. Beyond Stereotypes: The Twelve Beauties in Qing Court Art and the â€Å"Dream of the Red Chamber†. Writing Women in Late Imperial China, ed. Ellen Widmer Kang-I Sun Chang, 315-316. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 1997. Undertakings by Chinese women highlight the custom of foot binding succeeded from late Song to Ming Dynasties and even sustained to several indications into the 20th century. Foot binding has an effect to a degree in all classes of Chinese women and at a certain point, persuaded women to have bound feet and to dwell in the private sphere of their homes. Having bound feet was directly correlated to Chinese art in modern times. Contemporary Chinese women role The year 1976 marked a shift in political, economic, and cultural policy, a shift that erupted out of the self-imported isolation of three decades and opened China up to the outside world. Western influence started to come into China and brought many new concepts to strike Chinese society. During the 1980s, the western feminism also began to influence and raised rapidly women’s consciousness. â€Å"By the mid-1980s, though, the plethora of newly founded womens magazines explicitly discussed womens problems at work and in the family. The pages of China Womens News were filled with exposà ©s and denunciations of discrimination faced by women. Feminist outcries began to appear with some regularity in print. This recognition of gender inequality also found expression in the emergence of separate womens organizationsschools, professional societies, and womens studies groups.†5 Hershatter, Gail Honig, Emily. Feminist Voices. Personal Voices: Chinese Women in the 1980’s. 308. Stanford, CA:Stanford University Press, 1988. Women became aware of their unequal state in society and began to pay attention on female issues. In 1990s, new modern women images emerged. Women focused on individual characteristic and pursued their confidence and profession. The new women were as strong and intellectual as men or better, and they could even afford more of what they desire without anymore having to depend on men and be at a lower statute in society. â€Å"Metropolis ran a special feature on women of talent in its November 1999 issue. One illustration show a confident woman pointing to the screen of her laptop computer while a male colleague with furrowed brow struggles to comprehend what he sees. An article entitled â€Å"Thirty Traits of the Talented Woman†6 â€Å"Thirty Traits of the Talented Woman† explains that the woman should be intelligent, sharp-witted, well-informed, knowledgeable, well-spoken, and has good taste; she is independent, self-respecting, and conscious of women’s equality; she if principled but gentle, with a good sense of humor, and easy to get along with. She is understanding, generous, and sensitive to the feelings to others, but not suspicious. She is a doer-straightforward, efficient, and self-controlled. She is a bit of a rebel but not confrontational. While she may be attractive to men, her attraction is based on personality, not beauty. Her life is well-balanced; love is never her only concern. Dadushi (Metropolis) 14 (November 1999): 102-103 lists her characteristics.†7 Julia F. Andrews and Kuiyi Shen. The New Chinese Woman and Lifestyle Magazines in the Late 1990s. Popular China: Unofficial Culture in a Globalizing Society. Ed. Perry Link, Richard P. Madsen, and Paul G. Pickowicz, 151. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2002 New modern women were portrayed as beautiful and intellectual individuals. They could stand in the same level in society with men. Contemporary Chinese female artists and works Contemporary Chinese female artists use a lot of ways to express and convey their feelings and this is done effectively in their image. Basically, there are five important themes involved in their works to describe their voice and thought. First, female artists usually use their sensitivity to express women’s touch through body and gesture. Body and gesture presentations help artists to voice their opinions and feelings accompanied with their understanding of being women. Cui Xiuwen8 Cui Xiuwen, born in Heilongjiang, China, 1970. She graduated with MFA from the Central Academy of Fine Art, Beijing, China in 1996. Cui Xiuwen’s works have consistently engaged themes of sexuality and gender. Her paintings show the blurred boundary between public and private, and the relationship between history and memory. She uses a wide range of media and subject matters to explore the messages she wants to pass, bringing disturbing insights to bear on those issues. , her series works, â€Å"Lovers† (1999), she creates bold and sensitive relationship and intimate activity between man and woman. In the piece, she reveals both heterosexual and homosexual features, and presents a nervous sexual interaction that hints at Paul Cezanne’s colors. In â€Å"Lovers 5† (1999), strong and intense orange color background emphasizes the two human figures in the front when having sex, and also marks the nervous and excited atmosphere between them. While seeing this painting, the feeling is along with two figures through position, activity, and touch. This is primary human nature and human form however is heterosexual or homosexual. â€Å"†I create themes about gender, not themes about sexuality,† she explains. â€Å"I focus on human beings, only the human form in the world. If you want to know what it is to be human, you have to gain an insight into the relationship between man and woman.†Ã¢â‚¬ 9 Ma, Maggie. The Colors of Cui Xiuwen. Artzine: A Chinese Contemporary Art Portal. http://www.artzinechina.com/display_vol_aid168_en.html Yu Hong’s10 Yu Hong, born in Xi’an,China, 1966. 1995 earned MFA from the Central Academy of Fine arts, Beijing, China. Simple and realistic are the two best words to describe her works. Initially, Yu Hong’s paintings combine highly realistic portraits wit unreal surroundings and colorations, suggestion a sense of dislocation from the world. She presents her world and experience through works without any extraordinary images or ideas. Though paintings often represent a tranquil feeling, they depict the significance of life. Her early work, â€Å"Nude† (1988) was against masculinity appropriation of the spectacle of woman’s body in the Cultural Revolution. She portrays realistically, woman’s naked body, smooth and soft pose which present the touch and quality of female. Yu Hong reverses the traditional must-be female image. She depicts naked woman body in front only with red high heel shoes. â€Å"Chinese pictures of the human body, clothes or semi-clothed, (in a furtive pornography [of specifically erotic pictures]), are-to Western eyes-meager, schematic and inadequate†.11 Angela Zito Tani E.Barlow.The Body Invisible in Chinese Art?. Body, Subject Power in China. Chicago: The university of Chicago Press. There were no naked body images in traditional Chinese pictures, but here Yu Hong presented the naked woman body to represent the true nature and beauty of human form intended   against masculinity of the body and tradition. Another type of presentation, like Hung Liu’s12 Hung Liu, born in China on the eve of the Cultural Revolution, 1982 earned her MFA in mural painting from the Central Academy of Fine Art, Beijing, China, immigrated to the United States later on and also earned MFA in visual arts from University of California, San Diego. She is interested in looking at how women existed in Chinese history for long time. Her works are touched with the painful reality of women’s status on China. As a Chinese woman and immigrant in the United States, Hung Liu chooses different ways to identify herself through looking back the Chinese history and portraying female issue on art work. Her paintings are based on late 19th and early 20th century Chinese photographs. Some were taken by foreign tourists, while others were taken by the Chinese. Often, the pictures are of beautiful young prostitutes. In traditional Chinese society, prostitutes belong to the low social class and disdained by people. But, indeed, they play an important role during that period, especially for photograph art and portrait paintings. In her work, â€Å"Odalisque† (1992), she creates a monumental altar to an anonymous woman, a turn of the century Chinese prostitute. Hung Liu reclaims a place in history for the Chinese prostitute by transforming the small photograph into large scale painting. â€Å"To the painting, with their flattened surfaces, Liu attaches wooden altars, on which she sets small jade-colored vases of glass flowers or tiny embroidered shoes for bound feet. Like the lacquer panels and the lifeless glass flowers, the prostitutes are mere decorations, passive, powerless, and empty in a culture that traditional counted emptiness as a female virtue.†13 Kim, Elaine H.1996. â€Å"Bad Women†: Asian American Visual Artists Hanh Thi Pham, Hung Liu, and Yong Soon Min. Feminist Studies, Inc. http://www.jstor.org/pss/3178131 The traditional Chinese clothing of the woman contrasts with the ornate, Western design of the sofa upon which she reclines and the flowered, Victorian-style backdrop. In addition, her gaze turns to the viewer and marks us conscious of viewer’s role as outside observers. The painting recalls the western artist, Edouard Manet’s painting, â€Å"Olympia† (1863). She touches a moment that registers the encounter between a past China and the trope of the prostitute, sexuality as commodity advertised through the relation of displayed body to the gaze of that Western technology, camera. â€Å"â€Å"I don’t want their stories to be forgotten; I don’t want them to disappear without a trace.† 14 Kim, Elaine H.1996. â€Å"Bad Women†: Asian American Visual Artists Hanh Thi Pham, Hung Liu, and Yong Soon Min. Feminist Studies, Inc. http://www.jstor.org/pss/3178131 As she says, she intends to document the anonymous women in history. Hung Liu’s painting combines western aesthetics with Chinese subject matter (prostitute), a cross-cultural blend that communicates her unique sense of beauty and emotion to the viewer through extraordinarily skillful handing of paint. Second, family and growing background are the significant influences to female artist when creating their works. Their works sometimes are revealed the images about family or childhood memory, and even extend to related personal expression and concern. Yu Hong, â€Å"Witness to Growth† (1966-2006), in which Yu Hong uses her own family photographs to create a self-portrait for each year of her life, and portraits for each year of her daughter’s life. The idea and composition of paintings dwell deeply in her concerned questions: What is the social expectation to female role in our society? How do these expectations build up the life of a woman? In this series of paintings, she not only narrates the story in how growing process, but also how society changes a woman’s life. Yu Hong discards an enthusiastic and rational thinking, but returns to the history by an imperturbable and objective manner instead. Yu Hong chooses a newspaper or magazine spread to complement each image of painting, and makes connection between private and public area of her own life. â€Å"Witness to Growth†(1995),a painting of herself aged twenty-nine years old, Yu Hong’s daughter lying on her body, family burden (role of mother) and society change (modern woman) bring heavy pressure and make her rethink the meaning of gender role and seek the balance between those roles. Next to the painting, artist places a contemporaneous China 1995 newspaper depicting â€Å"women waiting for job opportunity†. Chinese economy was flourishing rapidly during this period, and it also brought extremely competition in working position. Many women lost jobs, and many young girls lost opportunity of education. Society change quickly marked negative effect to female and deprived of their chance. At this time, western feminism came into China; women began to pursue their equality to men in society and also look for their female identity. This feminism trend aroused women to think about their roles between family and society as mothers and working women. In contrast, one year-old Yu Hong’s daughter, she seemed a new generation is growing. A new age is coming. The painting engages the juxtaposition of the weight of contemporary China’s history with the simplicity of life in its purest, most uncomplicated state of being. Here is a relatively quiet life lived in the midst of an almost constant political, cultural, and economic maelstrom. Yu Hong provides the necessary retreat into ordinary that enables the progression of life through the juxtaposition of the photograph and painting. Cultural Revolution was a significant historical event, especially rooted in people who grew up during this period. Hun Liu’s stunning reproductions of historical photographs of Chinese life, which address the cultural collisions she faced while coming of age during the decade of the Cultural Revolution in China. Personal items such as photographs were forbidden during Cultural Revolution, and her family destroyed most of their family photos out of fear. As a result, Hung Liu creates her paintings from anonymous photographs of historical China, particularly with reclaiming the lost histories of nameless women, has been strongly influenced by the losses she and her family suffered. Many of her paintings depict restrictive Chinese Cultural Revolution Scene and express her voice to against this history. Hung Liu’s painting, â€Å"Three Graces† (2001), the source photographs for this painting depict women in paramilitary uniforms in heroic poses, shown from below to give the appearance of greater height and stature. These fighters for Mao’s cause carry primitive rifles as they march forward to engage in the revolutionary struggle. During the Cultural Revolution, young students and young people were mobilized by Chinese government, called â€Å"red guards† or â€Å"Hong Wei Bing†. The Hong Wei Bing traveled throughout China, going to schools, universities, and institutions, spreading the teaching of Mao. They aimed to attack the old society (old ideas, cultures, manners, and customs) with violence, but indeed they followed blindly by government’s propaganda. And the Cultural Revolution also put young intellectuals and artist like Hung Liu into the rice fields to be â€Å"re-educated† by peasants. Hung Liu chooses plain clothes worn by the women in the original photographs with flowers, painted in the traditional Chinese style. The drips of oil paint that enliven the painting’s surface are a part of Western praxis with its reference to the personifications of beauty, charm, and grace. As she says, â€Å"â€Å"The oil washes and drips hat seep through my paintings contributes to a sense of loss while dissolving the historical authenticity of the photographs I paint from. Color is a way of making contact with subjects that are fading into the gray tones of history.†Ã¢â‚¬ 15 Going Away, Coming Home: 80 Blessings from Oakland Artist hung Liu. Port Of Oakland. http://www.museumca.org/press/pdf/Liu%20fact%20sheet%20fnl.pdf Through this revolutionary background, Hung Liu had experienced a deep touch. This painting not only looks for the memory of girls’ but also expresses Hung Liu’s feeling of the Cultural Revolution through the image and drip. Third, artists look for identifying women’s importance and missing recognition of social status because women in society are always ignored and made to play an unimportant role. Indeed, they are actually as significant as men in our world. Hung Liu’s paintings often narrate identity and story issues. She documents in her art the forgotten lives of anonymous people, especially those of women. She tries to recall their erased identity from society and appear their stories and meaning of existence back. Her work, â€Å"We have Been Naught We Shall Be all†(2007), a series of three canvases edged by bands to mimic widescreen film format, those works are inspired by Daughters of China (1949), a Ling Zifeng film based on the heroic actions of a group of women officers and soldiers during the Sino-Japanese War. Hung Liu’s empathetic response to the final moments of the women, as they carry a wounded comrade into the river to draw away enemy fire from the Chinese Resistance fighters, brings to the fore the theme of personal sacrifice. The images of women are taken by realistic presentation, Hung Liu bases on original photographic image of film. She reserves women’s face without any color and intends to keep their original identify and recall their heroic dignity, accompanied by respect. The paintings from left to right, it seems catching the moment and movement when women carrying the wounded body toward the front. Hung Liu uses the yellow color on three canvases, the background of left painting is coloring yellow, yellow is on wounded body and women’s figures of central canvas, and only little yellow color on right canvas. Moreover, yellow symbolizes the sharp memory. Hung Liu arranges the yellow on three canvases perfectly along with women’s action and moment. This presents a balance between image and time. Her art work is concerned about what has been lost in transit between female and history. Hung Liu desires to give those nameless women place in history, and she would like to identify those women as significant heroes in our society. As Hung Liu’s concept, Yu Hong creates the â€Å"She† series to portray the spirit and lives of women. The meaning of â€Å"existence† in our world is then recorded. Different career women have also played different roles to show their importance. â€Å"She-security guard†, Yu Hong arranges one photographic image picked by security guard aside with one oil painting made by her. The photographic image is taken in front of the museum in her leisure time. Security guard wears white shirt with likely smile. In the photo, she raises her hand and poses â€Å"YA†. Contrary to the next, the painting shows her working place. She wears yellow ochrecolor uniform and concentrate on her job with highly respect. The light is the parking light seems leading us to take a glance on her working place and tries to understand her work. Artist organizes this placement purposely and intent to show the importance of security guard in society. Yu Hong depicts the portrait image to let audience snoop security guard’s life between working place and personal life. She is the individual with singularity; no one can replace her in this career position. Yu Hong still presents her realistic style on paintings, and she intends to record different modern female in different levels of life. As she says, â€Å"If life can move slower, people can notice and pay attention in every detail and experience. I wish life could be freed from the restraint, so the essence of real life could be discovered. †16 â€Å"我å ° ±Ã¦Ëœ ¯Ã¥ ¸Å'æÅ"›ç”Ÿæ ´ »Ã§ ¯â‚¬Ã¥ ¥ Ã¦â€¦ ¢Ã¤ ¸â‚¬Ã© »Å¾, 這æ ¨ £Ã¤ º ºÃ¥â‚¬â€˜Ã¥  ¯Ã¤ » ¥Ã¥ ¾Å¾Ã¥ ® ¹Ã¥Å" °Ã§â€Å¸Ã¦ ´ », æ… ¢Ã¦â€¦ ¢Ã¥Å" °Ã© «â€Ã¦Å"Æ'. 我æ ³ ¨Ã©â€¡ Ã§ ´ °Ã§ ¯â‚¬,我å ¾Ë†Ã¥ ¸Å'æÅ"›ç”Ÿæ ´ »Ã¨Æ' ½Ã¥ ¤  Ã¦â€š  Ã§â€ž ¶Ã¤ ¸â‚¬Ã¤ ºâ€º, 這æ ¨ £Ã§â€Å¸Ã¦ ´ »Ã§Å¡â€žÃ¦Å" ¬Ã§Å"Ÿç‹€æ…‹æ‰ Ã¨Æ' ½Ã§Å"Ÿæ ­ £Ã¨ ¢ «Ã¤ º ºÃ¥â‚¬â€˜Ã§â„¢ ¼Ã¨ ¦ ºÃ¢â‚¬ . Enjoy the Life-Yu Hong. Febay.com. http://www.febay.com.cn/magazine/ArticleShow.asp?ArticleID=18433 (April, 2007) Yu Hong represents the reality of space on woman’s personal life and working life, elegant skills on portrait image, and female sensibility on woman’s experience. She also represents an inner desire of a female artist be responsible and conscious of women’s social status. Fourth, the present reality of sadness and pain of Chinese women who are suffering under a cruelly male-dominated world illustrate the image to challenge traditional patriarchy. In the works of Hung Liu, she has examined foot binding, practiced in China from the Song Dynasty until the beginning of the twentieth century. Many Chinese women’s feet were bound from birth to artificially confine their growth, distorting them into small, twisted fists that were sexually attractive to men. The painful, deforming practice of foot binding was used to make a Chinese woman walk in an extremely difficult way, but their mincing steps were considered delicate and lovely. Bound feet left women handicapped, which also ensured that they remained subservient. Moreover, it stressed the value of appearance while making a virtue of hiding one’s pain and suffering, making it a combination of esthetics and cruelty. In one piece of her work called â€Å"Bonsai† (1992), Hung Liu placed a photograph next to an anatomical line drawing showing the cross-section of a human body flanked on either side by Chinese characters. The only decipherable physiognomic attributes in this figural drawing are the heart, what appears to be a spine, and a suggestion of intestinal organs. What are most astonishing observations about this drawing are the absence of legs and the egg shape of the figure that almost mirrors the contour of the woman in the photograph. By placing these two images within the same interpretive context. Hung Liu has reinforced the notion of the woman’s incapacitated movement. Woman’s physical movement had been limited by the mutilation of her feet in the same way that a tiny bonsai tree is confined to restrict its growth. She had been bound by Chinese societal and cultural practices as an object of male gratification. Hung Liu shows the Chinese aesthetic tradition with cruel reality in male- dominated society. She also presents how unfair beauty standards were to women in the long period. As a Chinese woman, the piece would make a you think about your grand grandmother or grandmother suffering this pain in order to satisfy men’s taste and standard. Her art work is concerned about what has been severed from the surroundings. She touches the sadness and painful reality of women’s status in China. As a woman, she uses her sensibility to depict and voice for women’s gender role. From her paintings, not only narrate stories but also represent true reality in our society. The young artist Cui Xiuwen creates bold, sensitive caricatures of works as â€Å"Intersection Series† in 1998. In the piece, she records the full front side of a man’s naked body and dressed a young girl holding a rose. The painting is also done in connection with Cezanne’s colors and narrative story-telling and nervous relationship between female and male. Cui Xiuwen colors the girl’s dress and dog on green color. Green color symbolizes the protection from fears and anxieties connected with the demands of others (men). The rose is represented as girl’s pure virginity which is inviolate. Girl’s face also reveals innocence. On the contrary, man’ genitals are bit off by girl’s dog, blooding through his underwear. His extremely fearful and shocking face shows on his face with opened mouth and big eyes. In traditional Chinese society, patriarchy dominates the world and power. Genitals are the symbol of patriarchy. Cui Xiuwen boldly challenges to patriarchic society and tries to reverse the social position between female and male. In traditional Chinese art, art is confined to the men society. Women always played being viewed characters; men played viewer roles, but here, the artist breaks traditional art concept and reverses art presentation. The reversal shows Cui Xiuwen’s stance on the feminism. She makes up fictional story image to express her own challenging patriarchic desire. Intensive and extraordinary color and story throw a huge stone to the eyes of the audience. This also brings new dispute to contemporary Chinese society. Finally, concern about female and social issues, the year 1976 marked a shift in political, economic, and cultural policy, a shift that opened China up to the outside world. Afterward, society is changing rapidly. There are more and more social issues emerged such as teen-age crime and pregnant teen-age girl. Social value shifts to wrong path. Artists see this situation and use observations to bring the problem and question to audience. Yu Hong, she approaches new art presentation on â€Å"Figure and Ground†. The works portrays some young girls practicing gymnastics. Images seem simple, but paintings neatly summarized a sophisticated thread of thought the artist has been developing over the years, and they express that thought in a way that ties the works visually to certain aesthetic principles found in traditional Chinese painting. As a group, paintings represent a fresh vision and a new level in artist’s oeuvre. Each painting in the series depicts from one to three girls against a blank ground, bent into contorted positions as they practice gymnastics. Yu Hong bases the paintings on photographs she took at her daughter’s gymnastics class. The girls wear black leotards in addition to some combination of tight black pants, black and white striped shirt, and black slippers. â€Å"As the artist has said, the paintings â€Å"are all about girls doing artistic gymnastics. People, especially girls, have to change themselves to suit society.† The images are a simple but highly effective metaphor for the place of young girls in contemporary society.†17 Erickson, Britta. Figure and Ground: Yu Hong’s Gymnastics series. Yu Hong. Beijing, China: Loft. Although the students in Yu Hong’s daughter’s gymnastics class range in age from six to teenage, the age of the girls portrayed in Figure and Ground is narrowed to about nine to twelve. Those are the years when girls move from childhood to puberty and begin to come under the heavy pressure of society’s expectations. Teenage is a special period, and it is easy to lead a child to wrong path. Cui Xiuwen’s strength and certainty seems to have naturally transformed into a desire of the home, of having a family, and in a wish, difficult to admit but naturally inevitable, of maternity. This is what the images of her work, â€Å"Angel†, inspire. Artist approaches her own sensitive observation to current social issue related to young age girl. This work does not want to criticize a social and universal situation. It brings up the awareness and the realization of an individual as a singular feeling. Cui Xiuwen wants to express how a young mother, especially teen-age mother in China feels and what fears she has to face. She uses a young model to create strong emotions. Rows of white young girls, ghost like girls, and the same girl repeated over, and in the same state of pregnancy, but the figures are positioned at various scales, which express the different types of fear they have. Alone, staring at the horizon, scared and worried in a procession that goes from the Forbidden City and continues on what can be a highway such as the Beijing ring road o the expressway to the airport. This represents the time when society is changing, and girls are unable to go back to the prior time and have no choice but to go forwardt. They look at the front but only darkness is surrounding them. â€Å"â€Å"No longer wishing to see the outside world, reality, nor to be confronted by it or to have to deal with it†, is the artist’s explanation. Falling pregnant has distinctly different meanings and implications at different ages of woman. Both for the woman and it terms of how the external world judges the fact. Do they applaud or condemn. Cui Xiuwen asks â€Å"Can a woman choose to have a baby alone, single, because she bows to maternal instinct, and does not feel the need to be married?†Ã¢â‚¬ 18 Smith, Karen. Photo series â€Å"Angel† of 2006 and â€Å"One day in 2004†. Catalog of DF2 Gallery. Los Angeles:DF2 Gallery Cui Xiuwen brings the question to make the audience aware about the young pregnant girl’s problem rather than criticize her . She uses retrospective manner to represent the image on her works. Her works do not strike us, nor are they extraordinarily critical, but rather leave significant questions in our minds. Conclusion Yu Hong, Cui Xiuwen, and Hung Liu though are being in different generation groups; they all aim to represent female qualities and voice for women through their works. Yu Hong was brought into the world at the start of the Cultural Revolution in 1966, during which almost every aspect of Chinese life was being re-evaluated. When re-examining the historical evidence and cultural production of the period, it becomes difficult to imagine life being brought into the world during such a period of upheaval. In many cultural products that are marketed as personal memories, the political economic situation is placed directly into the foreground of the narrative, and personal details become a way of contextualizing the nation’s story. Yu Hong’s method of storytelling makes the personal much more central. Her generation, is a group existing between old (artists were trained as Russian realists) and young (artists were influence by emancipation movement) generations. Yu Hong’s works always present old tradition concept (family as central start point) and new social concept which is related to social issues. Cui Xiuwen has been called many things-avant-garde, transgressive, feminist, controversial, and even over-the-top-buts never creatively stagnant. She is born a new kind of human, who grew up in a relatively open social environment and came of age in the increasingly more globalised information age. Her paintings and later photographs are always with frank depictions of human sexuality and controversial issues, which present her ideas and feelings about the new modern society. But Hung Liu, she was born in 1948 in China. During the Cultural Revolution, she was sent to the country to work in the fields and be â€Å"reeducated†. Hung Liu studied the acceptable artistic style of Socialist Realism while in China. After immigrating to San Diego, she learned that it is important for an artist to think and that art is intertwined with, not separate from life. Her works depict the cultural mixing that takes place when an individual moves to a new country and also reality of hidden history in China. She much focuses on historical sources to present the image of reality. Three generation group of artists have their own unique presentations through their works and also are influenced on their own social backgrounds. But, female are the most important image and concepts of their commonality of works. By focusing on a female rather than on a male, three artists challenge a tradition of patriarchy. In the art pieces, the narrator (three female artists) and the protagonists (female image in works) are all women. As such, they present the viewer with a distinctively female view of the world. In historical constructions, women’s lives were generally touched only indirectly in contrast to their fathers, husbands, or brothers. Yu Hong, Cui Xiuwen, and Hung Liu show the women’s lives being immediately influenced by the external world and also their â€Å"existence† and â€Å"importance† in our society. History, society, and family have been great influences upon the development of female art in China. Because of the oppression that Chinese women have faced from a patriarchal society, female art exhibit intense emotions of sadness, pain, and revolution against the male dominated Chinese social stratification. There are many paintings, and photographs that depict the detrimental state that Chinese women were in during the more rigid periods of Chinese history. Various works of art from photos to paintings show female opposition against various Chinese traditions that have oppressed their gender for generations. Many female artists who driven by extreme emotion focused on work that mirrored their sense of retribution against male dominance. Art work that feature females â€Å"turning the tables† on men are common among more liberal female artists. There is also a lot of work that defy traditional Chinese art that is also patriarchal. Such works make use of non-conventional materials and subjects as a way to challenge the male dominated norms. This shows an image of the Chinese female artist as someone who wants to break free from an oppressive condition through the use of personal expression. The qualities linked with the use of the expression in art for them taking account of use of words importantly as the innermost artistic element, simplification, appropriation, representation of user or popular culture as well as art itself. The artists believe that art makes people realize the truth-at least the truth that is given to all to understand, and brings back eliminated women state in Chinese tradition. Chinese female artists have become more motivated to do art not only because of talent, but they convey reality and truth through art. In currently modern world, the majority is focusing on economic flourishing, globalization, and new technology. Most people have forgotten the essence of life and the simple things that make us live along with the many troubles of humanity and theses contemporary Chinese female artists, through exploring modern art are still preserving the real essence of making art and what art means to them, and the female artists also discover their own experience and find an appropriate way of expression in Chinese art. In relation to this, the female artist thus gives superior importance to the role of women in Chinese society. Many daring works aim to recognize female contribution to the family, government, and society which goes largely undistinguished in past generations. Here the Chinese female artists aim to open viewers’ hearts and minds to the true worth of the Chinese woman. Works of art that show how important Chinese women are also tend to show how much they are taken for granted. The Chinese woman artist was also found to be sensitive with the changing times. As society evolved over years of political, economic, and social change, so did female artistry change with it. In fact, female art can be concluded to be much more versatile than Chinese male art which is considered more traditional and unyielding to time. Another difference duly noted between male and female works of art in China was that females tend to express more depth and daringness in terms of depicting sensual subjects. Years of yearning for equality with their male partners have also implied years of dissatisfaction with how males see copulation rituals. The outlet of this repression can be observed with how meaningful and rich Chinese female works of sensual art are. The female artist takes her time to craft the intricate details that add flavor to a romantic scene. The female artist is able to bring out the humanity of a sensitive scene and does not confine the subject to feral lust. Instead, the focus is upon the intimateness of interaction that is not meant to sexually arouse but rather to emotionally move viewers. Lastly, the image of the Chinese female artist is one that is deeply devoted to the value of family. Influences from childhood memories can be seen in the works of many female artists and is regarded as a sense of personal beauty added to general themes. Those are the themes that provide the overall picture in which female art is framed. Chinese female art can be compared to a strong, demanding voice that echoes the grievances of an oppressed gender and outwardly shows how important it is and why people should take notice. It is forceful and bold, more than willing to reject the norms in order to convey its meaning to an internal society that it deems as largely unsympathetic to their concerns. At the same time, female art is delicate and sweet, showing not intent to please but a true expression of beauty. Lastly, it can be concluded that female art is greatly influenced by changing times and each generation of female artists have their own issues to face which are reflected in the works that they produce. Despite female art showing the capability of female artists, it is also a representation of quality artistic work. These qualities contents highly essence of female touch and voice, and also produce with strong female expression through the artworks. Female art is not only made by female artist, on contrary, it is an art with enthusiastic female quality. These five categories of female quality present the sense of female beauty and expression, artists’’ sensitivity of women, and extraordinary and skillful handling of paint. Observe the female art movement in the western society and Chinese society, there is no gap between them. In the west or China, the essence of quality of female art has maintained the same content and concept. In recently decade, female consciousness emerges and brings new concept to women. Women begin to understand themselves more and express their feelings to others. With a modern course of awareness in Chinese contemporary art in the global market, Chinese female artist are expectant that they will reach their ultimate objective; Chinese female artist must have a say. They will continue to explore and find a new way to express their art and voice for women, and the quality of female art will also get more abundant themes.

Effects of Cost Reduction Strategies

Effects of Cost Reduction Strategies 1. Background of the study The selected organization is a medium scale garment manufacturing factory located at suburb area of the country. Factory has capacity to provide employment opportunities for over 80 skilled labours. Since year 1995 factory is being manufacturing garments Shirts, Trousers, Jackets, Blouses, Night wear, Babies garments etc for local and foreign market. In order to earn profits, the factory organizes the factors of production to produce garments that meet the demand of local and foreign market. To maintain the profitability of the organization it has become necessary to reduce the cost of the product and increase the quality of the garments. For most purpose of this study is to practically preview cost reduction practice of organizations and effect of the practices in the organization. Cost reduction measures became most significant and prioritize topic in current business strategy due to the prevailing global economical crises. Cost reduction measures address questions about the efficient and effective management. A comprehensive study of practice of cost reduction measures of garment factory and effect of the measures in factory was difficult because of data limitations and managers reluctance to provide data. Inadequacy of available data makes it difficult to state precisely practice of cost reduction measures and effect of that. This is further complicated by the fact that managers hide some information purposely by thinking this information will go to their competitors. 2. Cost Reduction Techniques Cost reduction strategies helped the organization to match its capabilities with opportunities in the market place to accomplish its objectives. To maintain the profitability of the organization and to get the competitive advantage, the management has introduced some cost reduction methods during last two years. Although indirect costs are relatively small percentage of total cost, management equally introduced cost reduction measures for both direct and indirect cost sources. Revealed data proven that organization was able to save over seven millions of rupees during last year. The implemented cost reductions measures as follows, List of cost reduction approaches implemented by the selected organization Production process redesigning Waste management Overtime work reduce Staff reduce Cut off of medical insurance facility Cut off of food facility Suspension loan and salary advance facility Reduce transportation facility Electricity saving measures Cost reduce through limiting Telephone facility Reduce office maintenance cost Stationary and documentation cost reduction Introduction of new production Product development Suspension of organizations annual trip Time saving measures Cost reduces through inventory controlling. 3. Categorization of cost reduction measures 1. Product process related cost reduction approaches Cost reduction by production process redesigning Cost reduction through waste management Cost reduces through inventory controlling. 2. Employee related cost reduction approaches Cost reduction by overtime work Cost reduce by Staff reduce Staff welfare cost reduction Cut off of medical insurance facility Suspension of interest free loan facility and salary advances Cut off of food Suspension of organizations annual trip Cut off of transport facility Time saving measures 3. Administration and office maintenance related cost reduction approaches Electricity saving measures Telephone Reduce office maintenance cost Stationary and documentation cost reduction 4. Customer related cost reduction approaches Introduction of new production Product development 4. Evaluation and Analysis of Cost Reduction Techniques 1 Product process related cost reduction approaches 1.1 Cost reduction by product process redesigning To reduce cost, the organization had redesigned production process. Sequentially to optimize the all manufacturing process, Manufacturing, sample testing, procumbent handling, delivery service and repairer had been redesigned with the concern of best cost, quality, safety, customer satisfaction etc. Designers had been encouraged to watchfully specify part quality by taking into consideration the cumulative effect of part on product quality. Production time was saved by quickly assembling few parts with better quality. Parts are ease of production and commonality with other designs. This method support standardization of parts, minimum use of purchased parts, modular design and standard design features. It has reorganized the building to order and gathering customization. All parts keep available at all point of use, makes it easier for parts to be pulled into assembly which eliminate the unnecessary movements. By ordering less type of parts in large qualities it reduced material over head cost. Organization was able to reduced cost and improves flexibility by redesigning. According to the management, overtime payment amount at the same time as nearly 20% of salary during past few years. It shouldered around 5% of total direct cost. Organization was able to meet customer deadline without doing overtime works as a results of process redesigning. In order to redesign manufacturing process, organization had used expert process development team and paid them amount at the same as 9.5% of annual overtime amount. By parts keep available at all point of use, and eliminating unnecessary movements, one store helpers duty had wipe out without any effecting. Organization was able to save amount at same time as 10.5% of salary and one store helpers salary valued Rs.5, 900/- by process redesigning. This redesigning of the process ensure that how well the features work and had significantly influence on quality, reliability and how quickly new product can be introduced into the market. Consequently cost benefit of the redesigning is much higher than the overtime sav ing and one labour salary. 1.2 Cost reduction through waste managing Increase productivity by eliminating many types of waste. Such as excess inventory and unnecessary handling, time wasting, defects, reworking, material wastage. Waste materials had been sold to domestic producers at very low prices. Organization had started to produce new dresses by using west material especially for the local market instead of selling to the domestic. Theses product are providing at very cheap price and it is good opportunity for the customers. Organization was able to additionally earn at least fifty thousand per month. Because of this decision the domestic people loss their live hood. In order to save time, introduced token system for workers to minimize away from work station ( if any worker wants to go out of work station even to go to toilet or any other emergency they should get permission token from supervisor and when employee back to workstation he should immediately return to the supervisor), and get rid of unnecessary process ( Ex: reduced double stretch to one stitch in some products). To prevent unnecessary interruption organization had introduced proactive equipment / machine maintenance method. On that organization had enter in to service agreement with third party organization which cost was around Rs. Hundred and fifty thousand per annum. With this agreement, servicing organization randomly come and does necessary service to all machines without interruption to normal process. As a result of no any machine take away from process during last year where which frequently experiences early. This decision accelerates production and optimized labour consumption. To ensure the optimum use of machine tool and workstation, one piece flow lines balanced to do the required tasks at each station. This may also help to meet deadlines without doing overtime and terminate the supervisory staff. 1.3 Cost reduces through inventory controlling Inventory controlling is another important cost reduction source. Materials comprise of the 60 to 70% of the total production cost. The various techniques have been introduced to controlling inventory handling cost. Organization had removed non moving stock because non moving stock goes on adding overheads for a period of years and it becomes a blocked inventory. Organization uses classification system. This helps to reduce stock handling cost and organization was able to reduce one store helper service. Cost benefits of these techniques are particularly high. 2. Employee related cost reduction approaches 2.1 Cost reduce by stopping overtime work As it is explained by the Sri Lankan law overtime work is one and one-half times or doubles size payment. Though overtime is high cost source organization had used overtime works for provide high quality products to customers and meet their target. According to the management, overtime payment amount at the same time as nearly 20% of salary during past few years. It shouldered around 5% of total direct cost. The management has stopped over time work and payments. This decision is effected to factory and office employees. This factory had used to pay overtime payment for managerial staffs as well. Top Management has consecutively introduced flexible working hours for the management staffs to success in overtime payment suspension procedure. The organization was able to save money as at least 20% of salary due to the overtime suspension decision. As per managers, no any order or job has been delayed due to this measure and they are getting same output as they got early by working overtime. Employees ware adherent to work overtime and receive additional payment. Consequently staffs misery and labour turnover is increased in the factory. Overtime work is more costly and it significantly effect to the organizations cost structure. In other hand, Humans cannot continually work long hour and their output gradually reduces as they are tired of working long hours. Therefore cost benefit of overtime work rather low. However, organization was able to save at least money same as 20% of monthly salary. As management there is no such a big deference of output comparatively overtime work period and non overtime period. Organization was able to get maximum use of human resources during working hour. One reason for that may be by limit ed employees working hours to 8, employees may give their contribution without exhausted. Though hiring cost increased this is a good cost reduction method. 2.2 Cost reduce by Staff reduce It is observed that salary denoted nearly half of organizations cost. By redesigning production process and introducing production team concept, it was able to eliminate unnecessary job. Organization has terminated 5 labours, one office peon, two supervisors, one assistant manager and two clerks service. Organization was able to save nearly hundred and fifty thousand per month by reducing employees. This decision was a considerable damage to the high job security which was experienced by the employees during last ten fifteen years. This decision adversely effect to the employees moral and face uncertainty. Sri Lankan labour law is not a flexible law and it always facilitate the employee and it gives poor aid to employers. This organization falls to reduced staffs to protect many other employees and the organization. Terminated staffs have been paid one month salary additionally and gratuity. Some of terminated staffs have taken legal action against to the organization on their termination. Organization occurs to pay additional payments for legal officer. Though organization is able to save considerable saving on this measure, addition cost source was initiated as a result of. This situation was raised as a result of unorganized implementation. If prior approval was taken from legal authority this cost sources may not be occurred. Therefore organization was unable to success in cost as expected due to wrong implementation. High job security enhanced staff loyalty and builds a healthy and happy working environment and promoted good relationship among the staff but with this decision empl oyees experienced uncertainty. This may also a motive to increase labour turnover. 2.3 Staff welfare cost reduction Performances of the organization depend on employees enthusiasm and satisfaction with their jobs; all affect the productivity, reputation and survival of the firm. Employees are the main driving force of the organization. Organization believes that employees are their most valuable asset. To enhance staff loyalty and ensure they have an excellent working environment organization had provided verity of facilities for them. Few of them are medical insurance coverage, transport facility, pleasant working environment, Interest free staff loan facility, payment for residual leave, fifteen minis religious memorial period for every day, salary advance if necessary, annual trip and etc. All these facilities help to build a healthy and happy working environment and promoted good relationship among the staff. But organization was urged to cut off these facilities to be success in increasing market competition and global economical crises. 2.3.1 Cut off of medical insurance facility All level employees experienced medical insurance facility. They were paid all their medical expense including hospitalization charges. Medical insurance coverage helps to increase employees satisfaction and promote healthy relationship among employees and employer. Medical insurance coverage was gaining in popularity with staff grade employers and not that much popular within labours. As Sri Lanka is a country which provides free medical service to its nations cut off of medical insurance coverage is not such a big issue for the labours. But that decision was badly affected to the managerial staffs enthusiasm. Organization was able to save over five hundred thousand rupees yearly on this decision. Organization was able to save considerable amount of money which less affected to labours and significant effect to staff grade motivation. However this is a comparatively good cost reduction method of a factory. 2.3.2 Suspension of interest free loan facility and salary advances Organization had provided interest free loan for permanent employees which not more than employees one year salary. Inference period is three year. Other than to the staff loan salary advance also suspended. Management has planned to invest company money in to business promotion. This decision helps to shield the business and it helps to increase stability of the organization. Suspension of staff loan facility is not considerable affect to the managerial staff as majority of the staffs had already taken loan and managerial staffs are more secure in economically than labours. But the suspension of salary advance is badly effect to labours enthusiasm and it may also act to increase labour turnover. Cost benefit of this technique is comparatively low. It is observed that organization was unable to save considerable saving on account of. 2.3.3 Cut off of food Organization provided breakfast, lunch and tea to all level of employees. Majority of employees are poor female. This meal facility helps to maintain their body nutrition level and helped to increase enthusiasm. Some poor girls may come to work without meals and others may have to weak up early morning to prepare their meals as a result of cut off of food facility. Any employees can work on their maximum capacity if theyre mentally and physically fit. Therefore cut off of food expenses can be adversely affected to the output. Organization was able to save at least one hundred and fifty thousand and other hand it may badly affect to the employees effort and moral. Organization experiences comparatively high level of absenteeism after implementing the decision. It can be identified as not good cost deduction method to factory which employed majority female low income employees. 2.3.4 Suspension of organizations annual trip Employees are the most important resources of the factory. The annual trip is corporate team building exercises which helps individuals work better on individually and together. Getting to know each other is a great way for staff to form stronger working relationships. Staffs who are not usually working together have opportunity to bond and is good opportunity for new and shy members to get involved focused task. Further rewarding staff with a fun day out employees feel valued by the employer and more likely to be happy at working and loyal. Getting away from the everyday tasks can gives employees a fresh feeling. It helps to identify staff strength and weaknesses and it helps to provide right opportunities for staff back at the office for them to develop. Build relationship among co-workers. Additionally, staff themselves will learn more about theirs and others strengths and weaknesses. Organization saved around hundred thousand yearly but the saving benefit is comparatively low con sidering the benefit of this team building event. 2.3.5 Cut off of transport facility The organization is a medium scale garment manufacturing factory located at suburb area. Public transportation facility of the area is in very poor level comparatively to the urban area of the country. Organization had provided office maintains vehicle for managerial staffs and separate vehicles to transport workers and office staff. There was a not implemented cost reduction measure for managerial staffs transport facility. Organization has employed two buses to transport all employees including staff and workers instead of two busses and van which employed early. Organization was able to reduce transportation cost by Rs. 40,000/- per month by this decision. 2.3.5 Time saving measures It was introduced token system for workers to minimize away from work station ( if any worker wants to go out of work station even to go to toilet or any other emergency they should get permission token from supervisor and when employee back to workstation he should immediately return to the supervisor). This method more scientific and in long run this will effect to staff frustration. It was unable to save considerable saving. Cost benefit of the method is very low. It was advised staffs to warship or prays before working hour which was used to done by the staff after working hour early. By allowing memorize employees to their religion before start the duty management expected to create peaceful and harmonious working environment. This may also directs to meet costumers target without overtime work. This is good time saving method. By adjusting transport vehicle time accordingly, management was able to facilitate employees to continue this exercise. Organization was able to save 350 man hours monthly valid nearly twenty thousand without influencing to employees and devoid of harm their objective. 3. Administration and office maintenance related cost reduction approaches 3.1 Electricity saving measures The use of air conditioners within office premises has been stopped and circular had issued to all staffs by advising electricity saving measures, on that staff have been advised how they can assist to save electricity while working. (Staff switches off computers and lights when they go outside of the work station). As this factory located at damp whether area this issue is not effected to the staffs productivity. Organization was able reduce electricity bill by at least five thousand per month without effect to the output. 3.2 Telephone All telephones unites have been locked and introduced upper limit of monthly telephone charges and if it exceeded particular employee is responsible for the excess. There was no considerable deference between before and after introduced of the policy. As telephone facilities has provided to management staff and they all use that facility for the official mater. Whether limits are exceeded it all uses for the business requirements. 3.3 Reduce office maintenance cost Office and factory cleaning service providers service had stopped and assigned to office peons and helpers. Part time worker has recruited for sanitary service by paying Rs.2,000 per month. Organization was able to save twenty thousand of rupees which they paid to cleaning service organization. Due to this decision labor turnover has increased. Organization was unable to the attained that they maintained early on cleaning and sanitary facility. This is not a good cost reduction measure to the organization. 3.4 Stationary and documentation cost reduction Organization started to use Low price stationeries and strong stationary controlling methods have been introduced. Organization was able to reduce around five hundred rupees per month from this measure. 4. Customer related cost reduction approaches 4.1 Introduction of new production Factory manufacturing garments Shirts/Trousers/Jackets/Blouses /Night wear/Babies garments etc for local and foreign market. It is introduced low material and labour consumption garment to the local market. Organization has been involved in the development of garments for low-price. As revealed it is marketed low cost product with low price. This is a good opportunity for the customers. This is a good accomplishment for organization to win the customers. 4.2 Product development Organization had introduced new dresses by using west material especially for the local market instead of selling to the domestic. Theses product are providing at very cheap price and it is good opportunity for the customers. Organization was able to additionally earn at least fifty thousand per month. The organization always targeted to win the upper income level customers and they had ignored lower income group by producing high quality high price garments. With this development organization was able to catch the low income group by producing high quality garments at cheap price. Organization was able to expand the market rather than limited in to the high income customer group. 5. Conclusion The long-term practicability of an organizations business plan depends on supporting its competitive advantage. Competitive advantage is usually attained through developing new products to improve quality and reduce costs. For most purpose of this study is to practically preview cost reduction practice of organizations and effect of the practices in the organization. The selected organization is a medium scale garment manufacturing factory located at out of metropolitan city. Cost reduction strategies helped the organization to match its capabilities with opportunities in the market place to accomplish its objectives. To maintain the profitability of the organization and to get the competitive advantage, the management has introduced some cost reduction methods during last two years. Although indirect costs are relatively small percentage of total cost, management equally introduced cost reduction measures for both direct and indirect cost sources. Revealed data proven that organizat ion was able to save around one million of rupees during last year. The exercised cost reductions measures were, employee related, production process related, customer related and administration and office maintenance related cost reduction. It is observed that organization had implemented cost reduction techniques without doing proper cost benefit analysis. However revealed data proven that organization was able to save over seven millions of rupees during last year. Reducing overtime work, Staff welfare cut off, Production improvement, Introduction of new production, Production process related, Productivity increasing measures, Wastage reduction measures, Electricity saving measures have been successively accomplished the organization goal while employee reducing, office maintenance measures ineffective.