Critique of Stuff Is Not Salvation - 871 Words

Valued Possessions vs. Insignificant Desires Anna Quindlen, a novelist, social critic, and journalist wrote an intriguing essay â€Å"Stuff is Not Salvation† about the addiction of Americans, who splurge on materialistic items that have no real meaning. The ability to obtain credit is one of the main reasons to blame for society’s consumption epidemic. However, Quindlen feels the economic decline due to credit card debt is insignificant compared to the underlying issues of American’s binging problems. Quindlen’s essay gives excellent points regarding the differences in America’s typical shopping habits. Additionally, she mentions how people acquire all this â€Å"stuff† but seem to never realize, â€Å"why did I get this?†(501). Quindlen makes her†¦show more content†¦There are plenty of examples that Quindlen gives to make her point across, that American’s spend money unwisely. For instance, in one of the examples, she mentions how every 16 months a person replaces a cell phone because it’s not as new anymore, and how toys are forgotten that eventually end up being junk (501). Quindlen then states the obvious â€Å"stuff does not bring salvation† (501). However, she lacks examples of cases where people’s wants actually provide the happiness they usually expect. Rich people, for example, have an extra sense of security because the worry and stress that belong to the poor is something the rich don’t have and don’t want. Plus, who wouldn’t want to afford desires such as not living pay check to pay check or putting their kid(s) through college? Sometimes not being able to afford these items can bring on depression or verbal abuse into a home. The reader’s would have a better understanding of the essay if she included some of these situations. Overall, Quindlen portrays her idea of happiness not being the materialistic things in life, but by the things that have true meaning. By true meaning, I believe she means items such as photographs that have a significant memory attached to it. She jokingly states, â€Å"Ask people what they would grab if their house were on fire, the way our national house is on fire right now. No one ever says it’s the tricked-up microwave they got atShow MoreRelatedIs Stuff Is Not Salvation, By Anna Quindlen922 Words   |  4 Pagessticks out in my mind, is Stuff is Not Salvation, by Anna Quindlen. Through her use of Ethos, she really brings to light how Americans have this ridiculous obsession with buying stuff. She notes how we are trying to use junk to make ourselves happier, but in the end, as Anna puts it, â€Å"The happiest families I know aren’t the ones with the most square footage† (Qtd in Perspectives pg 503). Before reviewing this article, I considered myself someone who didn’t necessarily NEED stuff, but as the assignmentRead MoreThe Philosophy Of Liberalism And M arxism Essay1390 Words   |  6 Pagesthe person torturing them by saying they believe, but this would only be to ease their suffering. He believed it would be in the best interest of the state to stay out of the religious affairs of the people. â€Å"The only business of the church is the salvation of souls and it is no concern to the commonwealth or any member in it: that this or the other ceremony be there made use of.† (A letter Concerning Toleration 1689) Locke believed in a strict separation of the church and government. We see this todayRead More How to Escape from American Consumerism and Materialism Essay2096 Words   |  9 Pagesof things brings us is always fleeting thus driving us further and further down the material path of life seeking nirvana around the next corner at the mall. Many modern philosophers have pondered this question, often giving rise to scathing critiques of consumerism as shallow; the product of a decadent and decaying culture. This is where most people turn away, not because they reject what the philosophers say, but precisely because they know it to be at least partially accurate and this is unbearableRead More Country Music in O Brother, Where Art Thou? Essay3561 Words   |  15 Pagesand spiritually unclean. His pale whiteness is something of a spectacle, which seems at odds with the way it is occasionally obscured. In one scene, the three encounter a mass baptism at a river. Delmar is the first to accept baptism as form of salvation, and by submitting to being dunked in the river, he believes he is redeemed and that his crimes have been washed away. Ironically, Delmars face continues to appear unwashed and pasty throughout the rest of the film. Though he naively believes otherwiseRead MoreFires on the Plain: Novel and Movie Essay examp le3078 Words   |  13 Pagesfor admission to the hospital yet, too ill to fight. These stragglers are rejects, as they are a burden to their respective units and failures in their respective orders striving for survival. These stragglers’ starving mouths offer a source of critique of the nation by entertaining thoughts of being capture as an American POW. From one joking straggler: â€Å"They’ll give us so much corned beef to eat we won’t know what to do with it† (Fires on the Plain). Americans believe in the world of prisonersRead MorePost Bureaucracy and the Politics7341 Words   |  30 Pageswhich these discourses have been contested and â€Å"displaced† by public sector professionals (Kirkpatrick and Lucio, 1995; Kitchener, 2000; Trowler, 2001; Doolin, 2002; Farrell and Morris, 2003; Kirkpatrick et al., 2005). A recurrent theme in these critiques is that the new forms reflect not the â€Å"end† of bureaucracy but a complex, and often highly unstable, bifurcation of the bureaucratic form which devolves operational responsibility whilst attempting to extend the controls exercised by senior managementRead Moreunethical advertising14492 Words   |  58 Pages(Xerox photocopier, Kleenex tissue, Vaseline petroleum jelly, Kotex tampons, Maxi pads sanitary napkins, Scotch Tape Clear Tape, Band-aid bandage, Visine eye drops, Q-tips cotton swabs, Rollerblades inline skates) -.- these must provide the stuff of fantasy to the holder of an advertising budget. The most common method for measuring the impact of mass media advertising is the use of the rating point (rp) or the more accurate target rating point (trp). These measures refer to the percentageRead MoreAsk the Dust by John Fante13686 Words   |  55 Pageslotion, cigarettes, candy, a watch, a lamp, new paper, ties, a robe and slippers, he bathes and enjoys his new possessions. When his new clothes arrive from the May Company, they also send along his old clothes, which he had asked be sent to the Salvation Army. Arturo tries on his new suit, but everything feels and smells foreign, itchy, stiff and str angling. He feels hogtied and like a buffoon, and wonders if this could really be the creator of The Long Lost Hills. The smell of his new lotions suddenlyRead MoreVampire Diaries61771 Words   |  248 Pagesthem. Elena felt her cheeks cool as she selected her lunch and went to join them. She wouldnt let Caroline upset her; she wouldnt think of Caroline at all. I got it, said Frances, waving a piece of paper as Elena sat down. And I have some good stuff, said Bonnie importantly. Elena, listen to this. Hes in my biology class, and I sit right across from him. And his name is Stefan, Stefan Salvatore, and hes from Italy, and hes boarding with old Mrs. Flowers on the edge of town. She sighed. HeRead MoreHistory of Pakistan18783 Words   |  76 Pagesappearance was in 1899 at the annual session of Anjuman Himayat-i-Islam in Lahore when he presented the poem, Nala-i-Yatim. At initial stages Dr Iqbal was a nationalist by ideas and his poetry contained verses like Tarana-i- Hind. His poetry was a critique of the existing societal conditions. Being educated from Europe, he knew all weak aspects of the Western culture. He criticized capitalism, materialism and lack of spiritualism. IQBAL- Focus on the conditions of the Indian Muslims Islam can salvage

Iago and Angelo as the Hypocrites of Shakespeares Othello

Few plot elements inspire such an emotional reaction in readers as does hypocrisy. Not only do readers feel genuine anger at the actions of the hypocritical character, but they also feel deep sympathy for the Hester Prynnes of the stories they read. This tandem of anger and sympathy is a powerful tool for an author to use to draw readers into his or her tale, because creating an emotional response in one’s audience is the best way to make them identify with the story. The response of the readers to these situations is a fascinating one. Perhaps the reader remembers a time when s/he was the victim of a two-faced action. Perhaps stories about hypocrisy evoke a sense of moral outrage or awaken a sense of justice in the reader. Perhaps the†¦show more content†¦Othello has chosen Michael Cassio as his lieutenant, leaving Iago in a lower duty. This bit of history, disguised as background information the story, is really the crux of the whole play, arriving all of the action in the five acts to come. It is superficially important to the story in that it drives Iago’s future actions. However, it is fundamentally important to the idea of hypocrisy because it is the main hypocritical premise on which he acts. Simply put, Iago is upset because he has been passed over for military promotion- a promotion to lieutenant, which would have effectively made him Othello’s right-hand man. One would naturally assume that such an office would require intense valor, amity, and most of all, loyalty. However, he has come to hate Othello for passing him over. It is obvious here that he has no loyalty or amity, despite the valor he may have shown in past battles. Effectively, he criticizes and turns on Othello for not thinking him loyal enough, activities which fundamentally prove his disloyalty. No truly loyal person would develop the resentment and hostility which have taken root strongly in him. This is integral, because it establishes immediately that Ia go is a hypocrite. He has been overlooked for a position which he thinks he should have gotten because of his loyalty, but the criticism

Ap Gov Free Essays

string(495) " and why we need it †¢ Roots of American Government; Where did the ideas come from\? †¢ American political culture and the characteristics of American democracy †¢ Changing characteristics of the American people †¢ Ideology of the American public †¢ Current attitudes toward American government Chapter 2-The Constitution †¢ The origins of a new nation †¢ The first attempt at Government: the articles of Confederation †¢ The miracle at Philadelphia: Writing the Constitution †¢ The U\." AP UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS SYLLABUS: C (American Government: Continuity and Change. ) INTRODUCTION: Advanced Placement (AP) curriculum is designed to give students an analytical perspective on government and politics in the United States. Students will study both general concepts used to interpret U. We will write a custom essay sample on Ap Gov or any similar topic only for you Order Now S. politics and examine specific examples. The AP Government course requires students to learn facts and concepts and understand typical political processes. The course will require students to master historical and analytic skills, including; chronological and spatial thinking, historical research and interpretation. Students will evaluate viewpoints presented through major print and electronic media, understand statistical data and analyze trends related to significant political events. Emphasis is placed on applying problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, interpreting graphs and tables, organizing information, evaluating information, and communicating orally and in writing. The course aims to help the student to participate effectively and democratically in the American political society COURSE OBJECTIVES: This course explores the political theory and everyday practice that direct the daily operation of our government and shape our public policies. The express purpose of this course is to prepare students to take the AP Exam for U. S Government and Politics. The course is for all intents and purposes taught on a college level and it requires a substantial amount of reading and preparation for every class. The objectives of this course go beyond a basic analysis of how our government â€Å"works. † Students will develop a critical understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the American political system, as well as their rights and responsibilities as citizens. In addition to described content, the course will also work to refine important skills. They include analyzing data and writing and presenting written and oral arguments. In order to help students master the ability to write a good political science essay the course will concentrate on the instruction of several essential skills: †¢ Effective writing style The ability to make arguments †¢ The ability to evaluate critically and to compare scholarly works †¢ The ability to synthesize political science data †¢ The ability analyze, interpret, and respond to stimulus-based data including charts, graphs, cartoons, and quotes The course will cover a large amount of content. The study of American Governme nt is both historical and contemporary. Therefore, it is essential that students remain aware of what is happening in the world. It is suggested that regular reading of newspapers and news magazines as well as the regular viewing of news broadcasts be maintained throughout the course. COURSE STANDARDS: 1. Students explain the fundamental principles and moral values of American democracy as expressed in the U. S. Constitution and other essential documents of American democracy. 2. Students evaluate the scope and limits of civil rights and obligations as democratic citizens, the relationships among them, and how they are secured. 3. Students evaluate the fundamental values and principles of civil society (i. . , the autonomous sphere of voluntary personal, social, and economic relations that are not part of government), their interdependence, and the meaning and importance of those values and principles for a free society. 4. Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U. S. Constitution. 5. Students summarize landmark U. S. Supreme Court inter pretations of the Constitution and its amendments. 6. Students evaluate issues regarding national, state and local elective offices. 7. Students analyze and compare the powers and procedures of the national, state, and local governments. 8. Students evaluate the influence of the media on American political life. 9. Students analyze the origins, characteristics, and development of different political systems across time, with emphasis on the quest for political democracy, its advances, and its obstacles. 10. Students formulate questions about and defend their analyses of tensions within our constitutional democracy and the importance of maintaining a balance between the following concepts: ajority rule and individual rights; liberty and equality; state and national authority in a federal system; civil disobedience and the rule of law; freedom of the press and the right to a fair trial; the relationship of religion and government. TEXTBOOK: O’Connor, Karen, Sabato, Larry J. American Government: Continuity and Change 8th edition. Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, NJ, 2006. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS: Matthews, Chris . Hardball. How Politics is Played Told by one who Knows the Game. Free Press; 1st Touchstone Ed edition (November 2, 1999) Woll, Peter. American Government: Readings and Cases. Longman; 14th edition 2004. The Enduring Debate-Classic and Contemporary reader. C-Span in the classroom. Cnn. com/SPECIALREPORTS http://www. nytimes. com/learning/index. html – on-line current events quiz Primary Source Documents as selected by the instructor from the 100 Milestone Documents collection at the NARA website http://www. ourdocuments. gov/ Articles from: NY Times, Congressional Quarterly, Wall Street Journal, Christian Science Monitor and other sources Collegeboard. com/ap website and various test preparation books. Quia. com- flashcard activities for key terms in each chapter Yahoo. com/briefcase- PowerPoint presentations for each chapter Teacherweb. com – provides all assignments as documents for student downloads. Also provides essential links for informational research, etc. Access for this syllabus. Summer Reading: †¢ Select one book from list of current political viewpoints and issues with lit log. †¢ Collect 8 articles from Op/Ed section of various newspapers. †¢ Watch and write four reviews of political shows: Hardball, Meet the Press, Washington Journal, etc. †¢ Oral book report for chosen book. Unit I: Foundations of United States Government (8 Weeks) Objectives: What is the purpose of government? What was the founders’ view of the purpose of government and the role of the citizen in the American Republic? How does the Constitution underpin the U. S. government? What was the impact of the enlightenment thinkers on the development of the U. S. Constitution? In which ways did the framers deal with the following: pluralism, popular sovereignty, republican ideals and elite theory. Students will explore American political culture and characteristics of American democracy. Reading: Text: O’Connor-Foundations of Government Chapters 1-6 Chapter 1-The Political Landscape †¢ Origins of American Government: What it is and why we need it †¢ Roots of American Government; Where did the ideas come from? †¢ American political culture and the characteristics of American democracy †¢ Changing characteristics of the American people †¢ Ideology of the American public †¢ Current attitudes toward American government Chapter 2-The Constitution †¢ The origins of a new nation †¢ The first attempt at Government: the articles of Confederation †¢ The miracle at Philadelphia: Writing the Constitution †¢ The U. You read "Ap Gov" in category "Essay examples" S. Constitution The drive for ratification †¢ Methods of Amending the Constitution Chapter 3-Federalism †¢ The roots of the federal system: Governmental power under the constitution †¢ Federalism and the Marshall Court †¢ Dual Federalism: The Taney court, slavery, and the Civil War †¢ Cooperative Federalism: th e New Deal and the growth of national government †¢ New Federalism: returning power to the states. Chapter 4-State and Local Government †¢ The evolution of State and local governments †¢ State government †¢ Local government †¢ Grassroots power and politics †¢ Relations with Indian nations State and local finances Chapter 5-Civil Liberties †¢ The First Constitutional Amendments: the Bill of Rights †¢ First Amendment guarantees: Freedom of religion †¢ First Amendment guaranteed: freedom of speech, press, and assembly †¢ The Second Amendment: the right to keep and bear arms †¢ The right of criminal defendants †¢ The right to privacy Chapter 6-Civil Rights †¢ Slavery, abolition, and winning the right to vote, 1800-1890 †¢ The push for equality, 1890-1954 †¢ The Civil Rights Movement †¢ Other groups mobilize for rights †¢ Continuing controversies in civil rights. Assignments and Activities: Readings on Locke and Hobbes-internet sources The ACLU: Freedom Files-video segment AP United States Government and Politics; Origins of Constitutional Principles and Rights. Chapter 1 Canon, Coleman Mayer. Constructing the Government: The Founding of the Constitution Federalist Papers 10 51 Lanahan Reader; Alexis de Tocqueville: Democracy in America Learning About Rights and Responsibilities- Washington Post Shay’s Rebellion Can the People Be Trusted to Govern Themselves? PowerPoint: Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Montisqueu PowerPoint: teacher-all chapters. Put on-line Constitutional Power Grab Constitutional Numbers Document-Based Activities-Due Process-Using the Internet to Study Civil Rights and Liberties/Miranda Rights. Canon: The Enduring Debate, Debating the Issues: Racial profiling and fighting Terrorism Standard Deviant Government: video Origins of government, types of government, monarchy, oligarchy, aristocracy, direct democracy, indirect democracy, Components of American Democracy, popular consent, popular sovereignty, majority rule, individualism, Socratic Seminar based on Woll reading Assessments: Chapter essays with short essays PowerPoint-Philosophers impacting development of the Constitution Government Treasure Hunt-online activity Citizenship Test Fish Bowl Activity-peer evaluation Federalist # 10 Writing Assignment Timed unit essay. Collegeboard rubric Cornell notes Unit II: Institutions of Government (7 weeks) Objectives: Students will understand the three major branches of government and how they are organized. They will also learn how they function as separate branches, controlled by a system of checks and balances. Students will understand the interdependency of these branches to stabilize the powers within each branch. Students will also be able to recognize the evolving government and how the U. S. Constitution has been interpreted to allow these changes. Reading: Text : O’Connor-The Constitution, Chapter 7-10 Chapter 7- Constitution †¢ The Constitution and the legislative branch of government †¢ How Congress is organized †¢ The members of congress †¢ How members make decisions †¢ The law-making function of congress †¢ Congress and the president †¢ Congress and the judiciary Chapter 8- The Presidency †¢ The roots of and rules governing the office of the President of the United States †¢ The constitutional powers of the president The development and expansion of presidential power †¢ The presidential establishment †¢ The president as policy maker †¢ Presidential leadership and the importance of public opinion Chapter 9-The Executive Branch and the Federal Bureaucracy †¢ The executive branch and the development of the federal bu reaucracy †¢ The modern bureaucracy †¢ How the bureaucracy works †¢ Making agencies accountable Chapter 10-The Judiciary †¢ The Constitution and the creation of the federal judiciary †¢ The American legal system †¢ The federal court system †¢ How federal court judges are selected †¢ The Supreme Court today Judicial philosophy and decision making †¢ Judicial policy making and implementation Additional Readings Resources: Advanced Placement: U. S. Government Politics, 2: Why Great Men Are Not Chosen President. Lanahan Readings. Pork: A Time-honored Tradition Lives On Canon. Enduring Debate. Checking and Balancing â€Å"All the President’s Men† PBS- Presidents series (segments from modern day presidents. ) PBS-Supreme Court Assignments and Activities: Cornell Notes-study guides for each chapter Creating a Bill/defending and promoting position State of the Union essay analysis. -video of speech -span or whitehouse. gov Essay- student selected case. Supreme Court Case Analyses Standard Deviant Video; all three branches C-span in the classroom: three branches of government Writing/debating a bill Supreme Court Justice report. Cornell notes/per chapters Survey: politicalcompass. org with evaluation Assessments: Unit II Essay Exam-Collegeboard rubric-timed response Essay. In response to the State of the Union Research: landmark Supreme Court case Multiple Choice Exam w/short essays Chapter tests with short essays. Cornell notes Unit III: The Electoral Process (8 weeks) Objectives: Students will analyze political parties with regard to the mechanisms that allow citizens to organize and communicate their interests and concerns. Students will focus is on the historical evolution of the US party system, the functions and structure of political parties, and the effects they have on the political process. Explore the historical evolution of the U. S. party system. Compare the functions and structures of political parties, and their effects on the political process. Reading: Text: O’Connor-Political Behavior, Chapter 11-16 Chapter 11- Public Opinion and Political Socialization What is public opinion †¢ Efforts to influence and measure public opinion †¢ How political socialization and other factors influencer opinion formation †¢ Why we form political opinions †¢ How public opinion is measured †¢ How polling and public opinion affect politicians, politics, and policy Chapter 12- Political Parties †¢ What is a political party? †¢ The evolution of American party democracy †¢ The function s of the American parties †¢ The basic structure of American political parties †¢ The party in government †¢ The modern transformation of party organization †¢ The party in the electorate Third-partyism Chapter 13 – Voting and Elections †¢ The purpose of elections †¢ Kinds of elections †¢ Presidential elections †¢ Congressional elections †¢ Voting behavior †¢ Reforming the electoral process Chapter 14 – The Campaign Process †¢ The structure of a campaign †¢ The media and campaigns †¢ Campaign finance †¢ Bringing it together: the 2004 presidential campaign and election Chapter 15 – The Media †¢ The evolution of journalism in the United States †¢ The U. S. Media today †¢ How the media cover politicians and government †¢ The media’s influence on the public †¢ The public’s perception of the med ia Government regulation of the electronic media Chapter 16 – Interest Groups †¢ What are interest groups? †¢ The roots and development of American interest groups †¢ What do interest groups do? †¢ What makes an interest group successful? Additional Readings and Resources: Hardball American Polity:Kurtzman-Spin Cycle-† â€Å"Outfoxed†-DVD Assignments and activities: Chapter reading Cornell Notes Hardball Dialectic Journal Nominations, Primaries, and Elections Simulation Socratic Seminar based on Hardball Survey: Political opinion Research any interest group/political power Unit Essay-timed writing-collegeboard rubric. Chapter tests with short essays. Cornell notes Assessments Chapter tests with short essays Unit essay: timed writing using Collegeboard rubric Propaganda PowerPoint project Chapter reading Cornell Notes Political Party website analysis/oral report The Living Room Candidate website campaign commercial analysis Political Party guest panel Socratic Seminar, Woll reading Unit IV: AP Review (4 weeks) Final dates to be determined In-class exercise: AP released exam multiple choice with immediate discussion and feedback regarding â€Å"why this answer? This will establish a diagnostic baseline for ongoing AP exam review. Students will Research/Write out Answers to 35 Previous U. S. Government Free Response Questions. Teacher Follow Up with Rubric/Answer; Discussion; Teacher Created Review Exercises. Current Event/AP Outline Matrix Practice Test-65 Question released M/C and Free Response essay Selected Topics: See Units of Study TEACHING STRATEG IES This is a large lecture course and, as such, the teaching strategies used focus on giving students opportunities to analyze and respond in class, to write mini-essays of 50 words or so reacting to provocative statements, and o do short role-play simulations. Instructions are given throughout the course on the following: †¢ Essay organization diagram for free-response questions †¢ Essay tasks for AP Exam free-response questions †¢ List of directive terms used in free-response questions †¢ Reminders for answering timed essay questions †¢ Essay frame †¢ Generic free-response scoring guidelines STUDENT EVALUATION Quizzes are given on the reading assignments. Occasional outside-of-class assignments may also count as daily grades. Test formats are objective (multiple choice), free-response questions (Essay Exams). Most objective tests consist of 60 to 65 multiple-choice questions and a 25-minute essay question, and are timed to approximate the time allowed on the AP Exam. Homework is accepted before students begin to take the unit exam. The homework consists of unit terms and/or outlines; questions about readings, notations, and/or assigned primary and secondary sources; charts that pertain to the unit and applicable historical maps, diagrams or political cartoons. Well-completed terms and course themes demonstrate a student’s effort and most students find this to be indispensable in maintaining a high grade point average. The unit exams are a requirement of the AP Government and Politics course. A final semester comprehensive exam for all material covered will be given at the end of the term. The AP Government and Politics exam is comprehensive, covering material from the entire semester. Students who are enrolled in the course are expected to take the AP United States Government Exam. Class time and after school reviews are held prior to the AP Exam. In addition, many students participate in informal study group review sessions. How to cite Ap Gov, Essay examples

Business Plan for Fast Track Couriers †A complete Case study

Question: Discuss about theBusiness Plan for Fast Track Couriers. Answer: Introduction Rapid changes in the business environment and emergence of globalization forces companies to plan in advance regarding expansion of the business in terms of launch of new products or services or geographic expansion. The business plan facilitates in proving information regarding business and performance objectives. Besides this, it also emphasizes on the estimated costs and income of the business generated from a given expansion. The following paper emphasizes on the business and communication plan of the Fast Track Couriers that operates in New South Wales region[1]. Background Fast Track Couriers is operating in the New South Wales region from past 15 years. It has built a good reputation in the market in the past 12 years. 80% of the customer base of the company is composed of small and medium sized businesses. The sales and profits of the company has increased by 5% on an average every year[2]. Business Products and Services The company deals with delivery of small, medium and large sized packages across Sydney due to which it has a strong goodwill in the market[3]. Marketing Activity The market for Fast Track Couriers is limited to New South Wales regions. The company promotes its products and services by the use of different promotional activities such as sales through telephone, internet listing, direct sales and mail outs. The company also receives feedbacks from customers through telephone follow up. This has resulted in an increase in the customer satisfaction rate. This action leads to increase in the retention rate of existing customers to 87%[4]. Business Operations The main motive of the business from the strategic point of view is to increase its business profits through expansion of its delivery routes beyond regional New South Wales in next three years. Besides this, the company also planned to start delivering its services to regional New South Wales within a year. The company also planned to increase its sales in next three years by 40%. In addition to this, the success of the company relies on the presence of small and experienced team. Besides this, it also has strong relationships with its customers as it provides services at reasonable low cost. The company has a small team of male employees who are provided with the opportunity to participate in different development programs. In addition to this, these employees are highly motivated due to which the company achieve success[5]. In addition to this, there are 20 male drivers with an age ranging from 25 to 65 years. Management and Organizational Structure Fast Track Couriers is a family owned business in which three family members compose the management board and have an authority to approve all the business decisions. The organization is composed of a managing direct who is responsible to take decisions related to day to day operations, Besides this, a logistics manager is responsible for scheduling of the trucks and drivers. Under logistics manager, there are 20 truck drivers. Along with this, there are 5 employees that oversee human resources, sales, administration and accounts[6]. Proposal In the present scenario, the company has allocated two drivers per truck for the purpose of loading and unloading of the heavy packages from it. But it is proposed that for the purpose of elimination of the two drivers per truck, the company will install an automatic lift gate on the truck at a cost of $10000 per truck. This will lead to allocate only one driver to one truck. The company also planned to purchase 10 new trucks for using the existing drivers at regional routes at a cost of $60000 per truck inclusive of installation of an automatic lift gate[7]. Financial Background Particulars Amount in $ Estimated Amount in $ Sales 17 million 22 million Cost 15.0465 million 16.0865 million Operating Cost 2.3 million Administrative Cost 0.1 million Loan Repayments 0.26 million Labor costs 0.0535 million 0.0535 million Total Cost 15.0465 million 17.76 million Net Profit $1.9 million 3.2 million Risks There are several risks associated with the business. There is an occurrence of large number of workplace injuries and drivers have a low employee engagement scores due to presence of pay issue. Although, there is a presence of low turnover of drivers in the company, several disputes occurred in the organization related to pay and other initiatives. In addition to this, there is a shortage of organizations in the industry that provide deliveries in the regions of New South Wales. Besides this, the company does not have strong financial position and a large experience in the industry due to which it lost contracts. The other reason behind it is that the company does not provide delivery services in Central West, Newcastle and Wollongong. The company is unable to meet the market demand in an effective manner. This results in the loss of some of its potential customers[8]. Licensing There is a requirement of attaining licenses for the truck drivers as without license trucks cannot deliver the products to customers. This has a significant importance as without a license business operations does not carried out in a smooth manner[9]. Conclusion It can be concluded that Fast Track Couriers is expected to get a growth in next three years. It mainly deals in the delivery of heavy packages in the regions of New South Wales. It lost its contracts and potential customers due to the reason that it does not provide delivery services in some parts of New South Wales. It can also be concluded that the company has a family owned business with three members at the level of management. In addition to this, an automatic lift gate is also fitted in the trucks which results in allocation of one driver per truck. Communication Strategy The key stakeholders of the company include head office employees, truck drivers, supervisors and HR and Logistics manager. E-mails are a source used to communicate the important and relevant information to head office employees. Besides this, newsletters are provided to drivers on a monthly basis for providing information related to the business operations of the company. In addition to the information regarding the policies and procedures are provided in the manuals which are kept in each truck. Besides this, copies of the manuals are circulated among office based staff to provide information regarding the policies and procedures carried out by the company. Along with this, a GPS system is fitted in the trucks in order to locate their locations for each pick up and drop off[10]. Along with this, drivers get information related to the details of the deliveries from the PDA system fitted in the trucks. This system also records the start and end of the job which is sent to the head office for the purpose of completion of the reporting regarding productivity. This change is not received by the drivers in a well manner as they believe that the officials of the company do not trust them but as the time passes they enjoy the work environment. Along with this, the logistics manager leaves the drivers to complete their assigned work. In addition to this, in the past the HR managers and supervisors motivate them to take active participation in different organizational activities[11]. Introduction of new technologies and internet for the purpose of communication of the relevant information to different stakeholders in a convenient manner due to which they can make instant decisions. This facilitates in improving the productivity and performance of employees and drivers. In addition to this, it also facilitates in minimizing the occurrence of human errors. It also helps in increasing the commitment and loyalty of the employees and members of the organization. Besides this, technologies like GPS and PDA helps in establishing communication between head office employees and truck drivers. Along with this, it also facilitates in communicating the information among truck drivers[12]. Bibliography Books Bennett, Braun , The Business Plan (Lulu.com, 2005) Finch, Brian, How to Write a Business Plan (Kogan Page Publishers, 2013) Blackwell, Edward , How to Prepare a Business Plan (Kogan Page Publishers, 2008) Zaharuddin, Harmaizar, Business Plan Analysis for Mini Market (Diskon 40% - 50%, 2009) Pinson, Linda, Anatomy of a Business Plan: A Step-by-step Guide to Building the Business and Securing Your Company's Future (aka associates, 2008). Abrams, Rhonda M., The Successful Business Plan: Secrets Strategies (The Planning Shop, 2003).