Is “Sredni Vashtar” a Horror Short Story Essay Essay Example

Is â€Å"Sredni Vashtar† a Horror Short Story? Essay Paper â€Å"Sredni Vashtar† Takes a close expression into the life and interactions of and between Conradin ; his cousin and wise man. Mrs. de Ropp and Conradin’s Ferret and God: Sredni Vashtar. It can be described as a horror narrative because of its character’s description. subjects and puting. It shows the spiritual ruin of the supporter. the decease of the adversary and the deficiency of coherency in society. Saki emphasises the horror in the chief characters. including both the supporters and adversaries. â€Å"Conradin† is described as a â€Å"ten old ages old† boy. skinny and sick who â€Å"will non unrecorded for another 5 years† . It is non a nice image for a male child. and it can either do understanding or apathy. However. the fact that he has a â€Å"rampant† imaginativeness and he uses it to hedge world. intimidates the reader. The adversary is Mrs. De Ropp. a high-toned senior adult female. which is Conradin’s â€Å"guardian and cousin† . Even if she does non acknowledge it â€Å"she disliked Conradin† . which becomes obvious with some actions and inside informations she has with Conradin. such as killing his biddy and friend. We will write a custom essay sample on Is â€Å"Sredni Vashtar† a Horror Short Story? Essay specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Is â€Å"Sredni Vashtar† a Horror Short Story? Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Is â€Å"Sredni Vashtar† a Horror Short Story? Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Sredni Vashtar is a Mustela nigripes. a God and a faith. all at the same clip. It’s hard for a reader. particularly if we took into history the societal and spiritual contex. to non experience uncomfortable or intimidated with/by this character. It symbolises Conradin’s spiritual fail. it kills Mrs. De Ropp and is described as a ferocious animal. Besides it has complete control over Conradin. even that it’s non a believing person. The amah is the other human character described. She is the contact point with society and ordinary life styles. in other words world. She is described as a clumsy and â€Å"foolish† individual. who lacked importance. This shows the author’s and protagonist’s sentiment of society. Despite the fact that is non described in item. the scene has a batch of impact on the reader. First of all. the narrative is set during autumn. the horror season in most civilizations. It’s besides the clip when nature begins to decease. The Edwardian sign of the zodiac is described to hold â€Å"many windows† . which normally in literature symbolise eyes. This creates a feeling of changeless watchfulness. as if Conradin and the reader could non make anything without Mrs. De Ropp cognizing. The deficiency of item pushes the reader to utilize his ain imaginativeness to animate the old Edwardian sign of the zodiac. which can either make more fright orcut down it. depending on the reader. The â€Å"cheerless† garden with â€Å"few trees† represents Mrs. De Ropp waterless personality and decrepit physical visual aspect. which emphasises the sorrow and fright felt for the adversary. The two chief topographic points Conradin spends most clip on are his room and the toolshed. The first 1 is described as been â€Å"dark† and the 2nd been at â€Å"dusk† . Light represents hope. so Sredni Vashtar. who lives in the tool shed. besides represents hope. The chief subjects are the kids function in the high category society. how the supporters fails to carry through them and the consecuences. The reader can easy see the closed societal and spiritual positions Saki is seeking to knock: The Edwardian high category societal criterions. based on pride. terrible regulations and cold penalties and the deficiency of mundane devotedness for faith. despite which 1. The supporter contrast and wholly interrupt these regulations: Conradin hated his cousin. lost and changed his religion. did non had manners and rejected society. As we can detect â€Å"Sredni Vashta† represents divinity/God’s fail. in a societal context where faith was highly strong and of import in mundane life ; This evidently drags reader’s attending. Saki besides explores the importance of a close household. which he lacked because. merely as the supporter. he was raised in Burma by despised relations. In the narrative Conradin did non hold a stopping point and loving household so become into a troubled child. with psychological. wellness and societal jobs. The linguistic communication used to depict the supporter includes a series of techniques Saki uses to underscore specific features or do a certain consequence on the reader. For illustration the spiritual ruin: Saki describes how Conradin thinks â€Å"church service was an foreign rite† and alternatively his God was a ferret. Saki foreshadows Mrs. De Ropp’s decease with Conradin’s hen decease and with the supplications Conradin says to Sredni Vashtar: â€Å"Do one thing for me. Sredi Vashtar† This makes the readers pay attending to any inside informations and do non free involvement. every bit good as making a horror and suspense atmosphere. The contrast between the â€Å"cold afternoon† and the â€Å"warming daylight† is a hapless false belief which represents Mrs. De Ropp’s hope melting. expecting her decease. The toast is a symbolism for the pleasance decease can do. This is shown when Mrs. De Ropp tells Conradin about his friend’s decease and she offers him a toast. and when Mrs. De Ropp is killed. Conradin prepares himself a toast. The fact that is his favorite repast shows the ill outlook of the character. who celebrates his freedom but besides decease. Humor. irony and dramatic sarcasm are normally used by Saki in â€Å"Sredni Vashtar† . which develop a creepiness esthesis on the reader. For illustration the amah says after Mrs. De Ropp’s decease â€Å"Whoever will interrupt it to the hapless kid? † . this dramatic sarcasm is used to underscore the fact that society did non understood Conradin. and it’s humourous because the amah was described as a stupid character.

Free Essays on Ashland Oil Inc.

Introduction In 1987 Ashland Oil, Inc. was the sixtieth largest company in the country with revenues exceeding $7 Billion; it was also the nation’s largest independent oil refiner. A significant portion of oil supplies came from the Middle East and Nigeria under contract. In order to reduce dependence on the volatile refining industry Ashland Oil, Inc diversified into other activities such as transportation of products, chemical marketing, coal etc. Refining continued to be a corporate leader however Ashland Petroleum Company captured 30% of sales in 1987. Catastrophe struck on January 2, 1988 when a 4 million gallon storage tank owned by Ashland Oil, Inc. split apart, collapsed and spilled diesel fuel in the surrounding area. The tank had formerly been at an Ohio location where it was dismantled and moved to the facility in Floreffe, Pennsylvania for reassembly. The spilled diesel fuel breached containment dikes ran through the adjacent property and ran into a storm drain that emptied into the nearby Monongahela River. The river within minutes washed the fuel over dam locks into the Ohio River contaminating drinking water affecting residents in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio. Vast areas of river ecosystems were contaminated destroying wildlife, causing damage to private property and adversely affecting businesses in the area. Over the next three days following the spill, nearly 200 people contributed to the clean-up efforts, including (AOI) employees; the Coast Guard, Gulf Coast emergency strike force, O.H. Materials Co. of Ohio, a professional hazardous material clean-up company hired by AOI, the Red Cross, and the Audubon Society. The following day at approximately 9:00 AM the CEO and Chairman of the board at AOI, John Hall, was informed of the spill. Hall knew immediately he had an environmental problem to contend with however, he felt the major logistical problems could be handled by AOI associates who were al... Free Essays on Ashland Oil Inc. Free Essays on Ashland Oil Inc. Introduction In 1987 Ashland Oil, Inc. was the sixtieth largest company in the country with revenues exceeding $7 Billion; it was also the nation’s largest independent oil refiner. A significant portion of oil supplies came from the Middle East and Nigeria under contract. In order to reduce dependence on the volatile refining industry Ashland Oil, Inc diversified into other activities such as transportation of products, chemical marketing, coal etc. Refining continued to be a corporate leader however Ashland Petroleum Company captured 30% of sales in 1987. Catastrophe struck on January 2, 1988 when a 4 million gallon storage tank owned by Ashland Oil, Inc. split apart, collapsed and spilled diesel fuel in the surrounding area. The tank had formerly been at an Ohio location where it was dismantled and moved to the facility in Floreffe, Pennsylvania for reassembly. The spilled diesel fuel breached containment dikes ran through the adjacent property and ran into a storm drain that emptied into the nearby Monongahela River. The river within minutes washed the fuel over dam locks into the Ohio River contaminating drinking water affecting residents in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio. Vast areas of river ecosystems were contaminated destroying wildlife, causing damage to private property and adversely affecting businesses in the area. Over the next three days following the spill, nearly 200 people contributed to the clean-up efforts, including (AOI) employees; the Coast Guard, Gulf Coast emergency strike force, O.H. Materials Co. of Ohio, a professional hazardous material clean-up company hired by AOI, the Red Cross, and the Audubon Society. The following day at approximately 9:00 AM the CEO and Chairman of the board at AOI, John Hall, was informed of the spill. Hall knew immediately he had an environmental problem to contend with however, he felt the major logistical problems could be handled by AOI associates who were al...

Dactylic Hexameter

Dactylic Hexameter Dactylic Hexameter is a very important meter in Greek and Latin poetry. It is especially associated with epic poetry, and so is referred to as heroic. The very words dactylic hexameter often stand for epic poetry. Why Dactyl? Dactyl is the Greek for finger. [Note: The Homeric epithet for the goddess Eos (Dawn) is rhododactylos or rosy-fingered.] There are 3 phalanges in a finger and, likewise, there are 3 parts of a dactyl. Presumably, the first phalanx is the longest in the ideal finger, while the others are shorter and about the same length, since long, short, short is the form of the dactyl foot. The phalanges here refer to the syllables; thus, there is a long syllable, followed by two short ones, at least in the basic form. Technically, a short syllable is one mora and a long is two morae in length of time. Since the meter in question is dactylic hexameter, there are 6 sets of the dactyls. The dactylic foot is formed with one long followed by two short syllables. This may be represented with a long mark (for example, the underscore symbol _) followed by two short marks (e.g., U). Put together a dactylic foot can be written as _UU. Since were discussing dactylic hexameter, a line of poetry written in dactylic hexameter could be written like this:_UU_UU_UU_UU_UU_UU. If you count, youll see 6 underscores and 12 Us, making up six feet. However, dactylic hexameter lines can also be composed using substitutions for the dactyls. (Remember: The dactyl, as stated above, is one long and two short or, converted to morae, 4 morae.) A long is two morae, so a dactyl, which is the equivalent of two longs, is four morae long. Thus, the meter known as spondee (represented as two underscores: _ _), which is also the equivalent of 4 morae, can substitute for a dactyl. In this case, there would be two syllables and both would be long, rather than three syllables. In contrast with the other five feet, the last foot of the line of dactylic hexameter is usually not a dactyl. It may be a spondee (_ _) or a shortened spondee, with only 3 morae. In a shortened spondee, there would be two syllables, the first long and the second short (_ U). In addition to the actual form of the line of the dactylic hexameter, there are various conventions about where substitutions are likely and where word and syllable breaks should occur [see caesura and diaresis]. Dactylic hexameter describes Homeric epic meter (Iliad and Odyssey) and that of Vergils (Aeneid). It is also used in shorter poetry. In (Yale U Press, 1988), Sara Mack discusses Ovids 2 meters, dactylic hexameter and elegiac couplets. Ovid uses the dactylic hexameter for his Metamorphoses. Mack describes a metrical foot as like a whole note, the long syllable as like a half note and the short syllables as like quarter notes. This (half note, quarter note, quarter note) seems a very useful description for understanding a dactylic foot.

Personal Philosophy of Nursing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Personal Philosophy of Nursing - Assignment Example The author’s personal philosophy of nursing is grounded in the theory of Virginia Henderson and her definition of nursing. Adapted from the book of Daniels (2004), Henderson’s definition of nursing is stated as: â€Å"The unique function of the nurse is to assist the individual, sick or well, in the performance of those activities contributing to health or its recovery that he would perform unaided if he had the necessary strength, will, or knowledge. The author wants to become a nurse because of the calling to serve and care for other people. She wanted to make a difference by creating a significant impact on patients’ lives and be remembered as a nurse who cared for them with passion. The author believes that this significant impact can be achieved through a holistic, patient-centered and passionate care. The author reflects and would like to live up to her personal and societal life values including human dignity, integrity, autonomy, altruism, and social justice. The author would like to be remembered as a nurse with a commitment to patients and community, a nurse who follows the footsteps of Virginia Henderson. Above all, the author values social justice or the fair and equitable allocation of resources. The author highly feels that this should be the most lived up values because quality care must be provided to all needing population regardless of who they are and what are their status in life and nurses are fully responsible for doing all the efforts to lead the patient to recovery and independence.

Financial Management and Credit Risk Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Financial Management and Credit Risk - Essay Example This can significantly both increase the interest rate that is charged to the company as well the additional strain to the company’s earnings. While the company proves to be profitable, other financial measures show its many weaknesses, especially on the part of its working capital and cash conversion cycle. By probing at the current financial standing of the company, the company’s financial position is seen. With this, the implications of the subsequent financing activities can be determined as regards the overall health of the firm. The company is then faced with a decision of whether to pursue the additional debt financing. If Butler Lumber Company is not going to avail of the financing, it has to at least address and avail of some options of financing to meet its financing need. These alternatives are explored in the subsequent portions of this case study, which include strengthening cash generation from the profitable operation of the company through better working capital management, as well as other equity financing means. Butler Lumber Company’s main line of business is in retailing lumber products within the local area of a large city in the Pacific Northwest. Mark Butler, the company’s sole owner and the president is contemplating an increase in debt financing for its expansion. Butler Lumber Company currently has an existing relationship with Suburban National Bank, where it gets its additional funding in the form of loans. However, as Mr. Butler reaches the loan limit of 250,000, he is pondering on availing additional financing for his company’s expansion with a revolving credit line of 465,000 from Northrop National Bank through George Dodge. This is in order for him to secure financing that will address his company’s shortage of funds. As the loan has not yet been approved, Butler Lumber Company’s financial position is yet to be determined by Northrop National Bank before Mr. Dodge can decide on giving the additional financing to Mr. Butler.

Readiness of Kindergarten Teachers along K-12 Curriculum Essay Example for Free

Readiness of Kindergarten Teachers along K-12 Curriculum Essay One of the major reforms in our country’s educational system is Republic Act 10157, otherwise known as â€Å"The Kindergarten Education Law† or the K to12 (K+12). This Law made the Kindergarten compulsory and mandatory entry to basic education. This Law was initiated by the Aquino administration in order to address the perceived decreasing quality of education in the country, and to meet the international standard regarding the number of years in basic education. This program will require all incoming students to enroll into two more years of basic education. The K+12 System will include the Universal kindergarten, 6 years of elementary, 4 years of junior high school with an additional 2 years for senior high school. The program is implemented and formulated along with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). The current k-12 model that had been implemented in the country is an educational landscape for basic and secondary system patterned after the United States, Canada and some parts of Australia had done it. According to Patricia  Velasco’s article, the K- 12 Curriculum envisions â€Å"holistically developed learners with 21st century skills† (DepEd Primer, 2011). This further means that every student would have an understanding of the world around him and a passion for life-long learning while addressing every student’s basic learning needs: â€Å"learning to learn, the acquisition of numeracy, literacy, and scientific and technological knowledge applied to daily life† (p. 6). The main objective of the K to 12 curriculum is to achieve the DepEd’s goal of eradicating illiteracy rate in the country. â€Å"No child is left behind. † (source). Every Filipino has the right to receive quality education in order to become an asset in all dimensions, competent, efficient, effective and productive citizen leading to a decent and comfortable living. The most interesting part concerning the K to 12 program is on its practical assistance for the poor but skillful students. For instance, the student cannot afford to go to college; he is given an option or privilege to be employed not as a professional but on technical job because his skills acquired and developed during his Senior High School can be a guarantee for his  qualification for a vocational employment. Moreover, the program aims to uplift the quality of education in the Philippines in order for graduates to be easily employed. Our country is the only country in Asia and among the countries in the world that has a 10 year pre- university program. The program also aims to meet the standards required for professionals who would want to work abroad. The system aims to fully enhance and develop the students in order for them to be well-prepared especially in emotional and cognitive aspects. Through this, graduates will be able to face the pressures of their future workplace. The K-12 aims the students to have a relevance or importance in the social and economic reality of life. The realm of their role as members of the country. Thus, this vision will be complete through an enhanced curriculum. (K-12 Kindergarten Curriculum Guide 2013) DepEd said that this is the right time to do something better for the field of education, having poor quality education. The DepEd released their stand along the reform. In stressing the need for the new system of basic education, President Benigno S. Aquino III said, â€Å"We need to add two years of our basic education. Those who can afford pay up to fourteen years  of schooling before university. Thus, their children are getting to the best universities and the best jobs after graduation. I want at least 12 years for our public school children to give them an even chance at succeeding. † (source) With the K-12 program, different arguments were formulated. Not all are in favor of the K+12 Education program. There are students complaining of the additional years and there are parents who are not in favor of the additional expenses. But it is an undeniable fact that additional years in the education system will really require more budgets not just from the government but from the  parents as well. Aside from this, students will need additional classrooms, school supplies and facilities. The program would need more qualified teachers as well. Teachers plays an important role 1 / 3 in the K-12 program because they are the ones who will teach the kindergarten pupils, especially the Pre – school teachers. Markovac amp; Rogulja, 2009, stated that the, early care main goal is to fulfill the Delors principles: â€Å"Learning to be, learning to do, learning to know and learning to live together and to live with others. † The early childhood is a time of rapid growth in all aspects of  children’s development fostered by their natural curiosity and adult support. Therefore, Preschool education is the foundation for a childs education. The skills and knowledge that a child develops in the preschool years will have a dramatic impact on a childs success when formal schooling begins as well as life success. Preschool education is important because it can give your child the edge in a competitive world and education climate. The first year of a child’s life is globally acknowledged to be the critical year for lifelong development because the pace of development during these years is  extremely rapid (National Council of Educational Research and Training, 2006 as cited in the K to 12 Curriculum Guide – Kindergarten). While children who do not receive the fundamentals during their preschool years will be taught the alphabet, counting, shapes and colors when they begin their formal education they will be behind the children who already possess that knowledge and skill set. The Pre – school teachers are supposed to have the courage and knowledge to teach the little ones. They will serve as the guide and the second mother at school. Children’s learning will greatly depend on the teachers strategies. Hence, kindergarten teachers should provide them with an engaging and creative curriculum that is developmentally – appropriate, age – appropriate and socio – cul;turally appropriate (DepEd K to 12 Curriculum guide for Kindergaten, 2012). Many new parents start hearing about K-12 since before their kids are born. However, they are not very clear about what K12 means, and why is necessary for them to start inform themselves about it as it will impact their kids’ future. What Is K12 Education? This term was coined to describe primary and secondary education. This includes kindergarten (K) all the way to the 12 grade. This extremely popular type of education is very common among several countries around the world. â€Å"K to 12† stands for kindergarten plus 12 years of elementary and secondary education. This educational system for basic and secondary education is widely adopted around the world. Early childhood education is intended to support and complement family upbringing and the main goal is to create good opportunities and conditions for each child’s well-being, create a stimulating environment for the child’s comprehensive development and learning while taking into account their age, gender and individual features. The role of early childhood care and education settings in improving children’s development has begun to be viewed with increasing importance. The recognition that centre-based childcare is associated with a host of positive developmental outcomes for children, such as increased cognitive abilities, language development, and emotional and social development (Kagan amp; Neuman, 1997; National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Early Childcare Research Network [NICHD], 2000, 2002, 2008; NICHD amp; Duncan, 2003), has led to the introduction of a new policy in Ireland that provides every three-year-old child with access to a free preschool place for one year (Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs [OMCYA], 2009). The importance of preschool learning is that first, parents must remember that preschool education is the foundation for your childs education. As Adams (2008) stressed that early childhood education is the key to building a strong foundation for a child’s educational success. The skills and knowledge (not to mention aptitude and attitude) that your child develops in the preschool years will have a dramatic impact on your childs success when formal  schooling begins as well as life success, as supported by the House Bill 5367 (2009), aimed to incorporate preschool education to basic education with the DepEd at the frontier of its implementation all over the country. This bill was in consonance with the state’s policy to provide equal opportunities for all children to avail themselves of free and compulsory preschool education that effectively promotes physical, social, intellectual, emotional simulations, let alone values formation to adequately prepare them for formal elementary schooling, second is that by actively  promoting and encouraging your childs preschool learning you will promote his or her self esteem as well. Help your child gain confidence by making learning fun and easy at this age and you will 2 / 3 help make your child an eager lifelong learner and the finally preschool education is important because it can give your child the edge in a competitive world and education climate. While children who do not receive the fundamentals during their preschool years will be taught the alphabet, counting, shapes and colors when they begin their formal education they will be behind the children  who already possess that knowledge and skill set. According to Anita Woolfolk Hoy and Megan Tschannen – Moran ,(2002), teachers’ sense of efficacy has been related to students outcomes such as achievement (Ross, 1992), motivation, (Midgley, Feldlaufer, amp; Eccles, 1998) and students’ own sense of efficacy ( Anderson, Greene, amp; Loewen, 1998). DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro stated that enhancing the competencies of pre-school teachers will have a great impact on the young learners. â€Å"We should ensure that teachers are ready for the challenge of making our young kids’ first school experience enjoyable  and giving them a positive experience that will motivate them to remain in school and complete their education. † This means that pre-school teachers are the implementers of the socially defined curriculum objectives. They help children to adapt to the society and to become its members, to develop interaction between children and different generations, and absorb the main behavioral habits and roles of the community. Also their task is to educate children to become unique subjects and persons as they truly are (Dewey, 1916; Ojakangas, 1998; Siljander, 2002) To become preschool teachers one must have the ability to deal with pupils ages 5. A preschool teacher needs to be proficient in helping children learn how to cooperate, providing fun learning activities suitable for preschoolers, keeping children safe, working as a team member with other teachers and interacting with parents. Preschool teachers need to be eager participants in childrens growth and development, as well as helping students understand how to use their natural curiosity to help make the appropriate developmental leaps in their skills and abilities. They are expected to create an atmosphere where risks can be taken and discoveries made while children remain safe. POWERED BY TCPDF (WWW. TCPDF. ORG).

Irony in Lord of the Flies :: essays research papers

The Lord of the Flies initiates an ironic structure from its first chapters that becomes evident by the end of the book. Both Ralph and Jack’s attitude are different in the beginning of the novel to the way they turned out in the end. It is ironic how the most optimistic or hopeful situations in the book turn out catastrophic and society only falls apart more. On the surface the story implies that it is the boys’ age and inexperience that causes them to create such a corrupt society, however, on the contrary, there is an exaggerated respect for the ‘adult world’ as you consider the reason why the boys are on the island in the first place. Sardonic events lead to an even more ironic ending where their ultimate rescue is a result of two ironic incidences, the fire and the acceptance of the boys onto the ship by the naval officer. The author uses irony throughout to show how such innocent boys despite their best efforts can turn savage, through the events that unfold that lead them into anarchy. Ralph and Jack’s image of what life on the island would be like and how they would go about it was very different in the beginning of the story to the end. Ralph begins saying ‘This is our island. It’s a good island. Until the grown ups come to fetch us we’ll have fun.’(p:45). It is ironic how this optimism is shattered by the end of the novel and events turned out so badly as though it were almost foolish to think they’d have fun from the start. Jack also makes a surprisingly ironic turn in the novel where his ideas appear civilized and orderly in the beginning, ‘We’ll have rules! Lots of rules!’(p:44) however he is the one who becomes the leader of the savages and provokes fear of the beast. It is ironic how the most optimistic situations turn out terribly, in an almost mocking way. Piggy is doomed from the start, they savagely hunt and kill pigs, torturing them and enjoying it. It is the beast within each boy that kills Piggy, as it is the beast within that eats away at any civilized instincts. Ralph wishes, ‘If only they could send a message to us. If only they could send us something grown-up †¦ a sign or something’(p:117).

Functions of Management Essay

Most businesses are guided through some type of philosophy that may increase in profit and to ensure the business success and growth according to (Bateman & Snell 2007). This paper will demonstrate the following four functions of management; planning, organizing, leading and controlling. These types of functions must be performed by the management teams depending on the level of industry, title or the amount of obligations or task within the company. The four types of functions will define the roles and responsibility of each team. This paper will explain those four functions and how they currently apply in my workplace. First function is planning, this type defines as being able to set some type of goal or deciding the course of action, it is developing rules and regulations, developing plans on both the organizations and people that actually work in it as well as forecasting on what the future holds for the company. For example, in my current company that I work for Vynapse LLC, I was recently promoted to become the new Project Manager. The company just recently moved its biggest account from one of our locations in Windsor to our Napa office. As a Project Manager it is my responsibility to ensure that the process of the move on this account will run smoothly as it can be and to ensure that this happens I will need game plan to get this account into our building. This is just an example of what a planning function would be. Second function is organizing, this type defines the identity of the jobs that are required to be done, which means hiring the right team, being able to establish departments and delegating or pushing authorities to subordinates and establishing communication according to (Bateman & Snell 2007). As a Project Manager moving this account to our facility, I now have the responsibility to hire an entire crew for operations for instance, developing a whole department of Inventory, Customer Service and a warehouse team. As a Project Manager I would need to be organized and ensure all these steps happen in a timely manner especially having a deadline of when the move will take place. Third function is leading, this type of defines on influencing other people to ensure the job gets done, it is maintaining morale, managing conflict and the key as always is communication. As the new Project Manager it is my role to be that example or have that leadership to show my team that I am able to managed this account and that the process will run smoothly without it having to fall through the cracks. The key to leading is having that communication with my team members especially for the new team I will be hiring. I want to be that example and show that I am able to do the job in a timely fashion. Fourth function is controlling, this type defines the performance standards. No matter how the project can be really difficult, I still have to set standards for every task. As a Project Manager, I have to be sure that I set standards and ensure that for any performance that may happen during the process of the movement to our location that I may be able to solve any of the issues that may come towards me. Learning to have the control in the workplace is such an important aspect because you always want to set that goal or that standard towards your fellow employees or coworkers. In closing, â€Å"Controlling Function of Managment,† 2011 management is such an important role in the business world. Understanding the key roles of each function of planning, organizing, leading and controlling will help an individual to become a better manager. As a new Project Manager to the company, it is very challenging, but at the same time understanding or knowing these four function has helped me to ensure that the account that is being transferred to our location will help me to become a good manager. References Management: The New Competitive Landscape (7th ed.) T.S. Bateman and S.A. Snell McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2007 New York, NY. Controlling Function of Managment. (2011). All about economics, (1), 5. Retrieved from http://www.sayeconomy.com/controlling-function-of-management/

Wind Power Cluster in Denmark

Microeconomics of Competitiveness Final Report The Danish Wind Energy Cluster Warsaw School of Economics – 13th January 2010 1. IntroductionPage 2 PART I: DENMARK 2. Country BackgroundPage 2 3. Performance of the Danish EconomyPage 3 2. 1 Trade 2. 2 Budget and Fiscal Policy 2. 3 Gross Domestic Product and Productivity Growth 4. Cluster composition in DenmarkPage 5 3. 1 History of Cluster Policy in Denmark 3. 2 Today’s Context 5. The Business Environment in Denmark – National DiamondPage 8 5. 1 Factor Conditions 5. 2 Demand Conditions 5. Related and Supporting Industries 5. 4 Context for Firm Strategy, Structure and Rivalry 5. 5 Government – the Influence of Macroeconomic Policies 5. 6 Institutions for Collaboration PART II: THE DANISH WIND ENERGY CLUSTER 6. Historical Development of the ClusterPage 13 6. 1 Wind Energy in Denmark before the 1970s 6. 2 The Danish Wind Energy Cluster in the 1970s – The First Hesitant Beginnings 6. 3 The Danish Wind Ene rgy Cluster in the 1980s 6. 4 The Energy Policy of the Danish Government since the 1980s/1990s 6. 5 The Cluster of Modern Wind Turbines since 1990 7. Description of the Wind Energy ClusterPage 20 7. 1 Vestas: World’s no. 1 Turbine Manufacturer 8. Wind Energy Cluster – Cluster DiamondPage 22 8. 1 Factor Conditions 8. 2 Demand Conditions 8. 3 Context for Firm Strategy, Structure and Rivalry 8. 4 Related and Supporting Industries 9. Strategic Issues Facing Denmark and the Wind Energy ClusterPage 28 10. Policy recommendations for the appropriate constituenciesPage 30 11. ConclusionPage 31 Bibliography Required Disclosures 1. Introduction This paper gives an insight into the Danish economy and business environment. Furthermore, it describes the cluster composition in Denmark and how the policies towards clusters have changed in recent years. The core of the paper is the comprehensive analysis of the wind energy cluster in Denmark where the cluster is analysed with the use of Porter’s diamond model. Lastly, identification of strategic issues facing Denmark and the wind energy cluster will be presented and policy recommendations given. PART I: DENMARK 2. Country Background Denmark is located in Northern Europe between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea and has Copenhagen as its capital. Its population consists of approx. 5. 5 million inhabitants whereof 9. 1% is immigrants and their descendants. The official language is Danish, but the level of English proficiency is very high. The Danish constitution was codified in 1848 and today the country is governed by a parliament consisting of 179 members. The election period is four years but the prime minister can call an election at any time. Furthermore, Denmark has a constitutional monarchy with Queen Margrethe II as the head. The Queen is apolitical and only functions a representative for Denmark. Denmark joined the EU in 1973 and has always seen it as a good place for economic cooperation, but Danes have been more reluctant towards the political integration resulting in Denmark staying out of the Euro. Denmark is known for its Scandinavian welfare model, which ensures a high level of re-distribution through taxes. The model includes among other things the â€Å"flexicurity† system, which will be elaborated later (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark). 3. Performance of the Danish Economy Danish economy can surely be described as a modern one, oriented primarily at services. In terms of its resources, the economy depends to the greatest extent on human capital, which translates into a more labor-related approach towards business. With over 5. 5 million citizens, Denmark maintains a record low level of unemployment, roughly 2. 1%. All those indicators contribute to a pretty high standard of living. For this reason Denmark was ranked 16th globally in the Human Development Index, which reflects several aspects, such as live expectancy, knowledge and education standards measured by literacy rate and standard of living. . 1 Trade Denmark has a high social support for free trade. Over 76% of the population perceives globalisation as a positive phenomenon (Time). Danish basic trading partners are the countries from European Union (70%), followed by the United States. Denmark’s high involvement in global trade is reflected in the ranking of trade per capita, placing the country on the 9th place globally, with the result of $17. 5 thousand of trade per cap ita (World Fact Book). Danish major export markets are illustrated in the table below. Table 1: Danish major export markets in 2008 (Million DKK) |Germany |Sweden |UK |US |Norway |Netherlands |France |Italy |Finland |Spain | |103. 4 |85. 2 |48. 5 |35. 2 |32. 3 |26. 0 |26. 0 |18. 0 |15. 7 |15. 0 | Source: Danish Exporters As far as exported goods are concerned, the principal products are food, industrial instruments and machinery. Furthermore, Denmark exports chemical products, furniture and pharmaceuticals. In terms of imports, raw materials and semi-manufacturers, as well as consumer goods prevail. 3. 2 Budget and Fiscal Policy Over several previous years Denmark has been recording budgetary surpluses. However, at the same time the country is facing a debt at the level of 43 billion DKK. Because of extremely low unemployment rate, the government has to be very cautious in increasing their spending, as it may translate into dramatic overheating of the whole Danish economy (due to salaries’ increases). Under such conditions, the debt is expected to fall by 2015. Budgetary expenditures are financed primarily through high tax burdens. Denmark is by many described and perceived as a welfare state, which ensures many various social aids for its citizens. One of the most famous elements of the welfare safety net is tax-funded healthcare and unemployment insurance. In addition to this, Denmark has a well developed pension system, embracing all citizens from the age 65. In order to finance expenditures, the fiscal system assumes almost a 50% tax rate, which is by far the highest one in the world (OECD Tax Database). 3. 3 Gross Domestic Product and Productivity Growth Denmark has a high level of GDP PPP per capita, which places the country on the 16th place globally. Moreover, according to IMF data, the country holds a strong 5th position in the world in terms of its nominal GDP per capita (World Economic Outlook Database). The difference can be easily explained by a relatively high level of prices in comparison with other benchmarking countries. Denmark has been facing a gradual GDP growth for several years, which was disturbed by the global economic crisis. The crisis caused mainly an increase in the unemployment rate and drop of private consumption. In addition to this, Denmark suffered under a significant decrease in exports, which naturally translated into problems with trade balance. Although it is clear that such conditions affected GDP growth, economists claim that Denmark has already embarked upon the recovery path. Table 2: Summary of Danish GDP per capita PPP in USD Year |2002 |2003 |2004 |2005 |2006 |2007 |2008 |2009 | |GDP ($) |29637 |30305 |31766 |33528 |35672 |37163 |37304 |36725 | |% change |1. 73 % |2. 26 % |4. 82 % |5. 55 % |6. 39 % |4. 18 % |0. 38 % |-1. 55 % | Sources: Index Mundi report on Danish Economy (2009) In spite of sound economic growth in the preceding years, the country is perceived to have a strong underlying problem with its future development. It is projected that Denmark will have fourth-lowest productivity growth among OECD countries in the following years (Index Mundi, 2009). As well as this, heavy governmental transfer payments create an unhealthy situation for other parts of the economy. Therefore, they might also translate into an impediment in future growth. 4. Cluster Composition in Denmark Denmark is by far one of the most interesting countries from the perspective of clusters. It was among the first ones to introduce certain clustering policies and since that time it has been quickly developing in terms of the final composition. The country – due to its success – was also included in Porter’s Ten-Nation study about the connection between international competitiveness and the existence and strength of clusters (Yettin, et al, 1992). 4. 1 History of Cluster Policy in Denmark The history begins in the early 1990s, when the Danish government decided to implement first steps aimed at development of the cluster concept. The analysis, which was carried out at the beginning of the process, indicated several areas for further cluster development. These were: food products, IT, bio-health and construction. They were firstly defined as so-called Mega Clusters and then narrowed down in the late 1990s. At that time ‘real’ clusters were defined, e. g. industrial design, aluminium processing or biotech. Despite these efforts, the government was still choosing to proceed with an industrial policy, rather than a cluster-oriented one. The situation changed in the 2000s with the introduction of regional initiatives. That assumed strategic decisions being undertaken on the regional level, rather than on the central one. Thus, Denmark nowadays lacks a vivid clustering policy on the national level. However, at the same time there are numerous regional initiatives that contribute to the process. All in all, the shift from governmental planning to the decentralized system proved to be worth the effort, as it significantly supported the development of a sound clustering structure in the country. 4. 2 Today’s Context Clusters in Denmark emerge exclusively on the regional level. The country is divided into 5 administrative regions and 98 municipalities. Local authorities are the trigger for respective cluster policies. Their ideas can be implemented independently or be supported by special agencies, namely the National Agency For Enterprise and Construction, The Danish Forest and Nature Agency, the Danish Agency for Science Technology and Innovation and the Danish Council for Technology and Innovation (Cluster Observatory). Apart from that, the policies involve also third parties in the emergence process, which are companies, research- and educational institutions and distributors of technological knowledge. Their cooperation is expected to result in a long-lasting relationship, as well as knowledge creation. As far as certain clusters are concerned, the 17 regional growth environments were established in 2001. Depending on the geographical location of the region, the main clusters were assigned to specific places. They are illustrated in the table and figure on the next page. Table 3: Summary of Main Danish Clusters |Growth environments commenced in 2001 |Growth environments commenced in 2002 | |Furniture & Wood |Fishing | Wind energy |Foods | |Technology & IT |Sub-suppliers | |Biotechnology |Stainless steel | |Manufacturing |Offshore | |Horticulture |Transportation | |- |Aluminium | |- |Robot technology | |- |Event economy | |- |Finance | |- |Seed-growing | Source: Nordic Innovation Figure 1: Denmark Exports Portfolio by Cluster [pic] As far as challenges ahead are concerned, Denmark still has certain areas for improvement. First of all, the country has to put a strong emphasis on knowledge creation and development of competence environments. As most initiatives are planned and carried out on the regional level, such environments could serve as knowledge centers enabling cooperation of various players and clusters as a whole. Thus, it creates a huge responsibility for respective authorities to move a step ahead towards building a sound network and cooperation on the higher level. 5. The Business Environment in Denmark – National Diamond Analysis By using Porter’s â€Å"Diamond Model† as a framework the competitive strengths and weaknesses of the Danish business environment will be analysed. First it is nalysed how Denmark is performing on the four factors: Factor conditions, demand conditions, related & supporting industries and context for firm strategy, structure and rivalry. Then it will be analysed how the Danish government influences the different factors through macroeconomic policies and institutions. Lastly, it will be described how institutions support collaboration between the business environment, universities and the public sector. 5. 1 Factor Conditions Denmark is ranked no. 6 on infrastructure in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook. Especially the basic and technological infrastructure is high whereas the scientific infrastructure in Denmark only reaches a place as no. 15. With regards to education Denmark is ranked as no. 1. University and management education meet the needs of a competitive economy and the business community. Moreover, training of employees is a priority for companies which ensure that labour become more specialised and stay up to date on innovation and developments within their area. Even though, it looks like there is no finger to put on education in Denmark there are several future challenges. In the future Denmark must raise the contribution of human capital to productivity growth (OECD, 2009). With regards to the labour market there has been a slowdown in labour productivity and a strong growth in wages, which makes Danish labour relatively more expensive. The growth in wages has been reinforced by effective exchange rate appreciation. While the demand for labour is weak during the crisis there is still a need to raise labour supply in the future. A need that the Danes probably cannot fulfil and it may therefore be necessary to attract foreign highly-skilled labour. The current crisis has made it harder to lend money and the credit conditions in Denmark are tight at the moment (OECD, 2009). 5. 2 Demand Conditions An example of how the character of the home demand has helped build competitive advantage is the environmental awareness of Danish consumers. This has led Denmark to be competitive within for example water pollution control equipment, but also many other products related to the environment (Dess, et al. , 2004). The Danish consumers tend to be relatively demanding and quality-conscious. Furthermore, they like to boycott products if they somehow get bad news about the products (Agri-food Trade Service). This can pressure companies to meet high standards and prod them to innovate and upgrade (Porter, 2008). The challenges for demand conditions at the moment are the diminished household wealth and the rising employment, which decreases the Danes’ purchasing power. It is hard to say whether the demand conditions in Denmark create a good environment for businesses. It will be highly dependent on the specific business area. 5. 3 Related and Supporting Industries As mentioned, cluster focus on a regional level has increased and several local initiatives have been established (Nordic Innovation, Cluster Observatory). The continuous focus means that cluster development have good conditions and this could also be an indicator for a high level of related and supporting industries. Though, it is hard to give a general picture about related and supporting industries in Denmark. The fact that Denmark geographically is a small country could lead to the thought that the small scale market is not big enough to get suppliers to locate in Denmark. 5. 4 Context for Firm Strategy, Structure and Rivalry One of the main advantages for companies located in Denmark is the co-operative labour-employer relations and the so-called â€Å"flexicurity model†. When rights and forms of governance are developed on the Danish labour market both trade unions and employers’ associations are important players. Trade union density is about 74% and the density of employers’ associations is about 52%. The trade unions and the employers’ association agree that the â€Å"flexicurity† model is an advantage for the Danish labour market and the business environment. â€Å"Flexicurity† refers to the flexible Danish labour market and the high level of social security. The policy was first introduced in Demark in the 1990s as a response to high unemployment rate. First steps of implementation were undertaken in 1994 and concerned in-depth reforms of labor market, aimed primarily at reduction of structural unemployment, as well as introduction of solid welfare schemes. Companies can easier adjust to up and down turns in the economy because of easy hiring and firing as well as work time and wage flexibility. Trade unions accept this flexibility because its members are protected by the state, which provides them with high unemployment benefits and access to health services, education, etc. (Jensen, 2008). Owing to the â€Å"flexicurity† model, Danish economy cherishes now a low level of unemployment, as well as low social exclusion rates. However, the policy requires a trade-off of high fiscal burdens for citizens. Economic slack, weak exports and reduced investment in R&D means that local rivalry could be on a standstill (OECD, 2009). 5. 5 Government – the Influence of Macroeconomic Policies Government through its policies must ensure an environment where businesses can gain competitive advantage. In order to ensure a functioning capital market during the crisis the government has given guarantees to banks and its customers as well as capital injections. This has improved the capital market and given better access to capital for businesses. Because of the slow growth the Danish government has launched a â€Å"Growth Forum†, which will address the issue of productivity growth and how it can be improved. Another policy which helps creating good factor conditions for the Danish business environment is the strong labour market policies, which offer activation and training for unemployed as well as supplementary training for employees. In this way unemployed stay in touch with the labour market and it is ensured that their skills are up-to-date when businesses need them. Furthermore, labour market policies try to support international recruitment and to keep people on the job market longer before they retire to boost labour supply, which will be in high demand after the crisis. Fiscal policy has boosted disposable income and demand by a major tax reform, which means tax cuts for households. Moreover, the government has released the funds from a special compulsory pension saving programme, which give households further liquidity (OECD, 2009). Furthermore, the interest rate is now the lowest ever at 1. 15 %, which are good news for the households with a mortgage loan (Guardian, 2010). In 2006, the Danish government introduced a globalisation strategy for Denmark, which established a lot of new initiatives within education, research and development, entrepreneurship and an innovate society. One of the aims of the strategy is to make Denmark more ready and open for global business (Globalisering, 2006). Furthermore, in 2009 the Danish government has launched several measures to encourage a â€Å"green growth† recovery from the financial crisis. The initiatives include among others â€Å"green transport†, improved environmental performance of the agricultural sector and a home repair and renovation incentive to save energy (OECD, 2009). These strategies, policies and initiatives create a better environment for companies to compete in. Figure 2 pic]Source: Team analysis 5. 6 Institutions for Collaboration There are several institutions supporting and working together with Danish businesses. Universities like the IT University of Denmark, Technical Univer sity of Denmark and Copenhagen Business School work actively with companies, trades and industries (ITU, DTU, CBS). Furthermore, the Confederation of Danish Industries as a representative for many industries also has close ties to different business schools and universities (DI). â€Å"Invest in Denmark†, a part of the Danish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, helps foreign companies to locate in Denmark and create joint ventures with Danish companies (Investindk). Moreover, several knowledge centers like â€Å"Innovation Center Copenhagen†, â€Å"Mind Lab† and â€Å"Innovation Lab† work together with companies to innovate and upgrade technology and business in Denmark (Innovation Lab). PART II: THE DANISH WIND ENERGY CLUSTER 6. Historical Development of the Cluster 6. 1 Wind Energy in Denmark before the 1970s Due to the Denmark’s large coastline, the climate is characterised by consistent and relatively strong winds. The absence of other natural sources than wind influenced Denmark to take a pioneer’s role in starting an effort to implement wind technology as basis for electrification and to experiment with it (Vestergaard et. al, 2004). The first windmill in Denmark was mentioned 1259 in Flong. The modern wind energy utilization has a tradition that covers more than 100 years of research in meteorology and wind turbine manufacturing. In 1891 Poul La Cour, a Danish professor in natural science at the Askov Folk High School, and a team of scientist built the first wind turbine funded by the Danish government. La Cour was drawing on the results of two contemporary Danish engineers and scientists. H. C. Vogt and J. Irminger participated together with the American P. S. Langley in formulating modern theory on aerodynamics and lift drag with the purpose to experiment with wind power to product electricity (Vestergaard, et al. , 2004). In 1918 a fourth of all Danish rural stations (120) used wind turbines to generate power. After the World War I the Danish interest in wind Energy waned, because of the sufficient supply of fossil fuel. The machines were rapidly outdated – in 1920 only 75 turbines were left (Andersen, 1999). By the 1930s Denmark was ahead of many other countries in the wind turbine industry and turbines became traditional in the Danish countryside. La Cour gave courses at the Askov Folk High School so that it became possible to study wind energy for Danish „wind electriciansâ€Å". Soon La Cour and one of his students became the most prominent manufacturers in Denmark. However at that time there was still no real international competition. One of the students in wind energy was Johannes Juul who attended La Cour? s courses in 1904 and later worked as chief engineer for a power company, SEAS. Juul started an R&D programme in wind energy utilization. This R&D effort formed the basis for his design of a modern electricity wind turbine built in 1957, which is today well known as the 200kW Gedser machine. The Gedser machine was installed in 1959 and was in operation until 1967 (DWIA, 2008). 6. 2 The Danish Wind Energy Cluster in the 1970s – The First Hesitant Beginning In the 1970 there was an awakening green movement in the Western countries. This was encouraged by the first and second oil crisis in 1973 and 1979. Denmark which was enormously dependent on imported oil pursued an active policy of energy savings, increasing self sufficiency, and diversification of energy sources until the mid 1980s. Since then, energy policy has increasingly promoted the use of renewable energy to ensure environmentally sustainable economic development (Krohn, 2002). This increasing political focus on environmental protection and sustainable development provided the framework for the development of the Danish wind energy sector. The practical and technical development in the 1970s was first carried out by few entrepreneurs, tradesmen and people with high ideals about renewable energy. Christian Riisager was a carpenter from west Jutland. In the mid 1970s, he was one of the first who successfully designed a turbine to be marketed and connected to the grid. The turbine was a 15kW turbine which generated more electricity than the household could consume, the excess electricity went into the grid. The Riisager turbine was the basis for modern wind turbines with high towers and three blades. Riisager produced more than 70 turbines and later he established the firm Wind-Matic (DWIA, 2008). Karl Erik Jorgensen also started to make wind turbines in the mid 70s. In 1978, he teamed up with Henrik Stiesdal, a young student and worked on a three-blade turbine. In 1978 they developed a 30 kW turbine with an enhanced safety system. Vestas, which manufactured agricultural machines at that time, bought the turbine on a license and started in-house production and development of wind turbines (DWIA, 2008). While these innovative designs of small machines appeared politicians began to take interest in the new development. Partly because of the energy supply crisis, partly as a reaction to the popular opposition to nuclear power in Denmark. An incentives programme in the form of capital grants for installation of wind turbines (30% of installation costs) was established in the end of the 1970s and was dropped in 1989. In 1977 the Risoe National Laboratory which was originally established to research in nuclear power formed its entrance to wind turbine R&D. A measurement programme co-funded by the US department of energy was carried out by the Risoe National Laboratory (Andersen, 1999). Risoe also draw on a tradition on boundary layer meteorology and wind climate studies. The Technical University of Denmark continued the studies of aerodynamics and wind tunnel experiments, so that their research on wind climate, model laws, terrain roughness, and shelter effects formed the scientific platform for Risoe? s work on the Danish and European Wind Atlas which was initiated in the late 1970s. Risoe National Laboratory also occupied the approval job for different types of wind turbines (Andersen, 1999). In order to ensure that the government supported turbines also had a certain quality and safety, legislation on type approval for wind turbines was established. Today more than 100 scientists and engineers are working for the institution which has an important department in wind energy with considerable interactions with the wind energy community worldwide. Risoe? s work on turbine safety has been important in ensuring the reliability of modern wind turbines (Krohn, 2002). On May 4th 1978 the Association of Wind Turbine Owners was formed, and the first Wind turbine guild or cooperative was established in 1980. 6. 3 The Wind Energy Cluster in the 1980s The Gedser wind turbine itself was built and financed by the power company SEAS. In the early 1980s Danish power companies took early interest in wind energy and in large wind turbines and built two experimental machines, one pitch regulated and one stall regulated, of 630 kW each. But the cost of energy from the large turbines was so high that series manufacturing was not even envisaged (Krohn, 2002). Riisager's and other manufacturer’s success motivated some manufacturers of agricultural machinery to enter in the growing turbine manufacturing sector which provided promising commercial possibilities. Among these companies were Vestas, Nordtank, Bonus (now Siemens Wind Power), Nordex, and later Micon (Krohn, 2002). The Danish Wind Industry Association, a non profit association, whose purpose is to promote wind energy at home and abroad, was founded in 1981. Manufacturers soon became members of the association so today there are more than 220 members across Denmark. The condition of receiving the 30% construction subsidy from the government was that the turbine had been approved by the new test station for small turbines set up by the Risoe National Laboratory. The Role of Risoe National Laboratory so changed from being that of a controlling entity to a more technology-mediating unit. In 1982 the test station issued the first combined load paradigm, which established that all wind turbine components had to be dimensioned for twice the load compared to the traditional norm. The result of this policy was that the Danish wind turbines gained the reputation for being reliable and robust (DWIA, 2008). The Wind Energy Department of Risoe National Laboratory became worldwide known for its expertise with tight connections to the Technical University of Denmark and also increasingly connections with Aalborg University (electricity aspects). Gains of productivity thanks to the European Wind Atlas in the years 1980 – 1985 could be realised by better sitting of wind turbines. The Danish type approval certification scheme has been a very dynamic tool to foster better design procedures in wind turbine manufacturing companies. It has also been important in winning the confidence of professional investors worldwide (Krohn, 2002). In the early 1980s the State of California began a programme of supporting wind energy development. Danish manufacturers having the longest track record had already developed several generations of successively larger machines in small series. The California market expanded dramatically, allowing an enormous volume of production of wind turbines. The Danish manufacturers supplied thousands of turbines to the USA from 1982. Bonus, Vestas and Nordtank all participated in the wind boom launched in California until the market came to an abrupt halt in 1986. The problem was that manufacturers had become dependent on a single market. When the California wind programme ended in 1985-1986, a large number of the 20-odd manufacturers went bankrupt because they had few alternative markets for their products (Krohn, 2002). The economic collapse in the industry caused an elimination race in the following years. All the small manufacturers disappeared or were taken over by Vestas, Bonus, Nordtank, Micon and Nordex. Thus began a long haul for the remaining manufacturers, who then tried to broaden their market base to include several countries (DWIA, 2008). 6. 4 The Energy Policy of the Danish Government since the 1980s/1990s In 1985 the Danish government decided that nuclear power should not be an element of future energy supply. Beside the 30% subsidy of the construction costs for wind turbines which endured until 1989 the government began, since the mid 1980s, to push an active agenda with the aim to implement renewable and diverse energy sources (Meyer, 2007). In a 15 year plan for large scale implementation of wind-generated electricity countrywide the government pronounced the country’s goal of meeting 10 per cent of Danish electricity consumption by wind in the year 2005, implying an installed base of 1,500 MW of installed wind capacity (Sharman, 2005). Danish government had very wide ranging powers for regulation of utilities. These regulations took many forms, including energy efficiency and demand-side management measures. Integrated Resource Planning was an integral part of the procedure through which the power companies obtained permission to install new generating capacity. Other measures included price and accountancy controls. The government had ordered the utilities to install 400 MW of wind power on land to date. The first two orders of 100 MW each were already issued in 1985 and 1990. The latest onshore order for 200 MW to be completed before the year 2000 was issued in 1996. In 1998 a new order was issued for 750 MW of offshore wind power. The Danish energy plan â€Å"Energy21† from 1996 set up a target of even 4000 MW of offshore wind power in 2030 (Krohn1, 2002). To avoid disagreements between utilities and wind power producers over conditions for grid connections and tariffs, the Danish government introduced in 1992 regulations about the feed-in tariff, which was fixed at 85% of the utility production and distribution costs (Meyer, 2007). 6. 5 The Cluster of Modern Wind Turbines since 1990 In the early 1990s Vestas, Bonus (now Siemens), Nordtank, Micon and Nordex represented the wind turbine manufacturers in the Danish cluster. Most of them had a track record of more than 10 years. The size of the wind turbines grew enormously in a perpetual race to develop renewable energy which was capable to compete with the conventional technologies in terms of electricity output and price. At the beginning of the 90s, the average wind turbine had a capacity of 200-300 kW, which had grown to 1-2 MW in the late 90s. Successful domestic turbine manufacturers became world leaders in the wind turbine production (DWIA, 2008). A service sector to maintain and repair installed equipment developed. The industry left, after further consolidation, two large manufacturers in Denmark, Siemens Wind Power A/S (owned by German Siemens AG) and Vestas Wind Systems A/S and several businesses which are involved in the industry and organised in the Danish Wind Industry Association. In 1991 the Vindeby offshore wind park opened and in 1995 the wind farm at Tunoe Knob, equipped by Bonus and Vestas. The offshore market played a more and more important role for the cluster and 95% of the offshore installed turbines are of Danish origin (DWIA, 2008). In 2001 Danish wind turbine companies had a market share of 50% of the world market (Krohn, 2002). The percentage of electricity provided by wind power rose from less then 5% in 1995 to almost 20% in 2003. The total installed base of wind power was some 1,100 MW at the end of 1997. This made Denmark to the third largest wind power country in the world. All turbines were produced domestically. In 1997 there were 10,000 people employed in the wind power sector, a number that grew up to 23,500 in 2007. In 2006 the Danish Wind Industry Association created the Talent Factory to improve the career opportunities among engineering students (DWIA, 2008). More than 80% of the 6,300 wind turbines in Denmark were owned by energy co-operatives, or individual farmers. 150,000 Danish families owned wind turbines or shares in wind co-operatives in 2002 (Krohn, 2002). 7. Description of the Wind Energy Cluster Today Denmark hosts some of the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturers. Vestas Wind Systems, a truly Danish company is situated in Denmark (Vestas). Furthermore, German Siemens Wind Power and Indian Suzlon have established their global head quarters in the country (Siemens, Invest in DK1). Also German Nordex (formerly Danish) and Spanish Gamesa have established respectively offices and R centres in Denmark (Nordex, Gamesa). These are big global players; In 2008 Vestas counted for 19% of the world market, Gamesa for 11% and Nordex and Siemens 7% respectively (EcoSeed). Other smaller manufacturers are Norwin A/S, Wincon A/S and Gaia Wind Energy A/S. There is a strong branch of associations connected with wind energy and among them are the Danish Wind Industry Association (www. windpower. org), Danish Energy Industries Association and Danish Wind Turbine Owners’ Association. In 2007, wind energy in Denmark produced about 7,173 GWh. This corresponded to 19. 7% of domestic energy supply or to the consumption of about 2. 03 million Danish households, compared to 16. 9% in 2006 and only 1. 9% in 1990. In 2007, wind power capacity accounted for 3,124 MW (i. . 24. 1% the total electricity capacity), 424 MW being offshore wind turbines. In 1990 wind power capacity was 343 MW (Energy Statistics, 2007). Projections by the Danish Wind Industry Association estimate an increase of the yearly instalment of new c apacity of about 17% by 2011, reaching more than 200,000 MW. As far as offshore turbines are concerned, 7,600 MW are expected to be installed by the same year (EREC). Wind turbine manufacturing, maintenance, installation and consultancy services account for some 16,000 jobs in Denmark, while component supplies and installation of these Danish turbines currently create another 8,000 jobs worldwide. The global job creation of Danish wind turbine companies are substantially larger than these figures indicate: only about 9 billion DKK (1. 2 billion EUR) is due to turbines manufactured in Denmark. The rest are manufactured in Germany, Spain, India, Italy, and the U. S. , i. e. in countries where there is a substantial home market (Krohn, 2002). 7. 1 VESTAS: World’s no. 1 Turbine Manufacturer As Vestas is the world leader on the global market for wind energy and one of the key drivers of the Danish wind energy cluster a short description of the company will be given. Vestas was founded in 1898 by H. S. Hansen, a blacksmith, in Denmark. He and his son manufactured steel windows for industrial buildings. In 1945, his son established the company VEstjysk-STalteknik A/S, whose name was shortened to Vestas. In 1979, Vestas delivered the first wind turbines. Vestas have installed over 39,000 wind turbines in 63 countries on 5 continents. In 2008, Vestas installed a new turbine every three hours worldwide, generating more than 60 million MWh a year. Vestas has developed from a pioneer in the industry with a staff of around 60 people in 1987 to a global, hi-tech and market-leading company employing more than 20,000 people. Vestas reached revenues of EUR 6,035 million with operational margin of 11. 1% in 2008 and they got global market share of 19% (5,581 MW). Vestas’ core business comprises the development, manufacture, sale and maintenance of wind turbines. Their expertise in modern energy covers more than just wind turbines. They specialise in planning, installation, operation and maintenance. Their competencies cover everything from site studies to service and maintenance. Vestas is distinguished by a high degree of vertical integration. At the same time, production and sourcing are carried out as close to the market as possible. In 2008, Vestas opened the world’s largest research and development centre for wind energy in Aarhus (Denmark) which will house more than 900 employees (Vestas). 8. Wind Energy Cluster – Cluster Diamond Now Porter’s Diamond model will be used to analyse the competitive strengths and weaknesses of the Danish wind energy cluster. 8. 1 Factor Conditions Factor conditions important to the wind energy cluster are the natural resource in form of wind conditions and the scientific base as well as human capital within the field of wind energy. Denmark has relatively modest to good average wind. Onshore wind resources are highest in the Western part of the country, and on the Eastern islands with coastlines facing South or West. The country has very large offshore wind resources and large areas of sea territory with a shallow water depth of 5 to 15 m, where sitting is most feasible. These sites offer higher wind speeds (Krohn1, 2002). The relatively good wind conditions have been an advantage in the past when the wind energy cluster was growing and still operated primarily in the home market. As the operations have gone global the Danish wind conditions are not so important anymore. In stark contrast to Germany, Sweden, the USA, Canada, and the UK, publicly financed R projects played a relatively minor role in initiating the early development of the Danish wind turbine industry. The early stimulus came in the form of investment grants, supporting market development for small scale privately owned turbines. Later, the Danish Government and the EU have financed a significant number of basic research projects, and given some support to development projects (Krohn, 2002). One of the reasons for Suzlon to establish its global headquarters in Denmark was exactly the specialised knowledge the country possesses. The chairman of Suzlon declared: â€Å"Denmark is global leader in know-how for wind-energy. That is why our global head quarter will be here. † (Invest in DK1). On the educational front, the universities offer specialized wind engineer educations and the research centres offer various training courses targeted especially at the wind energy industry, for instance the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) – Wind Master Education; Aalborg University – Wind Master. Engineering College of Aarhus (IHA) has developed a specialisation in wind turbine construction with the main focus on mechanical components (DWIA, 2008). Risoe Wind Energy Department, University of Aalborg and University of Aarhus have jointly established a knowledge centre – Danish University Wind Energy Training (DUWET) which offers a research based supplementary education for employees in the wind industry. DUWET collects wind energy knowledge and research and offers courses and specialist training for anyone in the industry. A consortium consisting of the research centres Risoe National Laboratory, Danish Hydraulic Institute (DHI), The Technical University of Denmark (DTU), and Aalborg University form a national power centre within wind energy research and thus a vital part of the wind energy cluster. Therefore, the scientific base for the wind energy cluster is highly developed and provides the cluster with highly skilled labour. 8. 2 Demand Conditions Denmark is somewhat unique among wind turbine markets, since the market really grew out of a popular interest in alternative generating technologies, partly in opposition to the use of nuclear power, partly as a result of the energy supply crisis in the late 1970s, when oil prices skyrocketed due to OPEC action and political and military unrest in the Middle East. The well-organised Danish wind turbine owners have been a very important driving force for debugging and improving Danish wind technology in its earlier years (Krohn, 2002). Private individuals, either as members of wind energy co-operatives, or as owners of a wind turbine (farmers) account for more than 80% of the 5024 wind turbines in Denmark (DWIA, 2009). This number shows the strong interest of Danes in wind energy and their support for building new wind farms. The Danish home market is what created the modern Danish wind industry originally, and gave it the testing ground to sort out both wind technology and manufacturing technology. The openness and interest of the Danish consumers have definitely supported the demand in the early years of the cluster and pushed its development. Today few wind turbines are set up in Denmark compared to the world market and the local demand has lost some of its importance. 8. 3 Context for Firm Strategy, Structure and Rivalry Danish energy policy has indirectly played an important role in fostering the commercial success of the Danish wind industry. The Danish energy policy for renewable energy has been a model for many markets in the world. In countries as close as Germany, France or Spain and as remote as China or Argentina Danish support schemes for renewable energy have been copied and/or adapted to local circumstances. Danish long-term energy planning such as â€Å"Energy 21† has been widely quoted throughout the world. One of the basic reasons why wind energy has such a prominent place in Danish energy planning is the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Kyoto Protocol Denmark has to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by 21% in relation to 1990. The targets apply from 2008 to 2012 (COP15). More than one third of that target is being met using wind energy to replace coal-fired power generation (Krohn3, 2002). Thus, the Danish policies give good conditions for renewable energy companies. Denmark has introduced feed-in tariffs for renewable energy plants connected prior to 21 April 2004. Renewable energy plants receive the spot market price plus a subsidy to provide a guaranteed price of 8. 1 eurocents/kWh, applicable for 20 years from date of connection. Renewable energy facilities connected after 21 April 2004 are getting production incentives. Wind plants receive the spot market price plus a 1. 3 eurocents/kWh production incentive which will be applicable for 20 years from the date of connection. Moreover, additional subsidies of 1. 6 eurocents/kWh are provided for new facilities that replace decommissioned wind turbines 450 kW and smaller (Porter, 2006). The Energy Agreement of 21 February 2008 contains an objective of increasing the percentage of renewable energy to 20% of the gross energy consumption by 2011. In the projection, the renewable energy share in 2011 is 20. 5% (Energy Statistics 2007). Improvement of incentives to encourage the installation of wind turbines is among the initiatives which will follow up the political accord of 21 February 2008. The new act comprises the framework for overall local government planning for wind turbines and a guarantee fund of DKK 10 million to subsidise the funding of local wind turbine guild preliminary investigations etc. and a model for local co-ownership. In connection with onshore wind turbine planning, the government will enter into an agreement with the National Association of Local Authorities in Denmark on municipal planning for 75 MW each in 2010 and in 2011. In addition, work is being done on establishing a payment scheme which will cover neighbours to onshore wind turbines for losses in property values as a result of wind turbine installations. The continued expansion of offshore wind turbine facilities will make an important contribution to achieving renewable energy targets. The work of offering two offshore wind turbine farms of 200 MW each or possibly one farm of 400 MW started in 2008 with a view to commissioning in 2012. In addition, work started on the updating of the offshore wind turbine action plan, which examines the location of new farms, the possible adjustment of the tender model, considerations of previous building maturity and open doors with payment as onshore turbines. Subsidies for new wind turbines will be increased to 25 oere/kWh for 22,000 peak load hours and 2. 3 oere/kWh in balancing costs and 0. 4 oere/kWh for the â€Å"green fund† (Energy Policy Statement, 2008). Rivalry can hardly be explained on a local level anymore as the wind turbine manufacturers have gone global and are operating all over the world today. In the earlier stage of the cluster, rivalry on the Danish market was tense – resulting in many take-overs and mergers and ending with one single true Danish company, Vestas. 8. 4 Related and Supporting Industries The background of the Danish turbine manufacturers was different from wind power companies in the U. S. , Sweden, or Germany. Names like Boeing, Lockheed, Westinghouse, MBB, and Siemens indicate a strong background in aircraft and generator manufacturing. Interestingly, however, practically all of today's remaining larger wind turbine manufacturers have a machinery manufacturing background rather than an aircraft background. Although modern wind turbine technology resembles helicopter technology, the operating requirements are very different (Krohn, 2002). A number of industrial enterprises have developed important businesses as suppliers of major components for wind turbines. LM Glasfiber A/S is the world's largest producer of fibre glass rotor blades for wind turbines, with an employment of more than 1,000 people. Danish manufacturers of electronic wind turbine controllers likewise have a very large market share worldwide. DanControl Engineering A/S, Mita Teknik A/S and DWC A/S produce controller and communication systems. Svendborg Brakes A/S is a leading vendor of mechanical braking systems. Also Danish subsidiaries of large international industries such as Siemens, ABB, SKF, FAG, etc. have developed businesses in the wind power industry (Danish Energy Authority, 2002). Other industrial service enterprises have created important businesses in servicing the wind power industry. For example companies are specialised in providing cranes for installations of wind turbines; providing transport of turbines, towers and blades domestically and for export. Service and maintenance of the more than 6000 wind turbines in Denmark is carried out by the manufacturers’ own service departments. But also a handful of independent service companies have been established for instance DWP Molleservice A/S and DanService A/S. Moreover, there are also specialised service providers like banks (Ringkoebing Bank has specialized in financing wind power projects), insurance companies, engineering and management consultancies (Andersen, 2003). The major Danish consultancies in wind energy utilisation are BTM Consult Aps, E Data, Tech-wise A/S, SEAS Wind Energy Centre, WEA ApS and Tripod ApS (Danish Energy Authority, 2002). Figure 3: Cluster Diamond [pic] Source: Team Analysis 9. Strategic Issues Facing Denmark and the Wind Energy Cluster Denmark is at the moment the leading centre within the field of wind power. However during the recent years a significant change in technology and markets has taken place. Denmark is faced with the challenge to maintain its leading position in spite of growing competition from firms operating in lower cost countries, especially China. The wind energy cluster and the political system must assume a proactive position towards this change to ensure that Denmark will strengthen its position as unique value creator. Denmark must provide the most effective wind power that ensures its best integration in the accumulated energy system, so that Denmark in the future can still provide wind power technology to energy systems with a large proportion of wind power. The industrial environment is built on a foundation which consists of a significant effort in research and education as well as innovative development focused on environmentally sustainability. This field of wind power is influenced by cooperation and knowledge-sharing to find technological development tracks. Nevertheless this foundation has been weakened regarding the cooperation within the industry, new technological tracks within the industry and education and recruitment. The Danish research-environment has a leading position within a number of areas, but great challenges in step with the rapid development of international markets put a lot of pressure of the Danish knowledge centre to hold on the talented researchers and students. In order to maintain the unique Danish position, an extraordinary effort must be put in. The strategic issues are focusing on both, development of the wind power industry by improving wind turbines and effectiveness of wind power, and the improvement of the knowledge centre regarding research and education. As innovation and demonstration focusing on the testing of windmills has previously been one-dimensional there are strategic issues to mentioned, that recommend an accumulated strategy for esting and demonstration of components and turbine parts, wind turbines and wind farms and wind power plants in the energy system, so that the facilities cover the whole value chain. Creating one strategy for the whole value chain with sub-strategies for each of the three dimensions would strengthen the integration and the competitiveness of the wind power industry. Another important issue regards the research effort. The long-term university research and education should be strengthened by prioritisation of fundamental or generic technologies that are part of the development of wind turbines and power plants. This also considers the whole value chain, so from turbine part until integration of the wind power into the electricity supply system (e. g. urbine design, blades, wind loads and sitting, integration into electricity supply system and offshore technology). Including a roadmap and measurable criteria for every area, this strategy could be developed by using the existing research environment as a basis and build on the efforts from previous research. Especially offshore technology research should be strengthened and framework conditions for cooperation between research institutions and industry. This could b e provided through common guidelines for the frames of cooperation. Following these recommendations, Denmark will be prepared to face the current challenges. 10. Policy recommendations for the appropriate constituencies National and regional authorities As Denmark faces now serious challenges in terms of the development of their cluster structure, it is essential that respective authorities undertake significant steps in order to prepare the environment for sustainable growth. First of all, it is worth mentioning that authorities have to actively participate in funding of regional growth environments. As well as this, they should encourage and support the emergence of appropriate initiatives, especially in those regions, where other constituencies have already been mobilized. Clusters in Denmark have proven to be a sufficient and effective tool in innovation policy and therefore it is necessary to sustain and improve their presence. Next, authorities have to focus on building sound economic framework, in order to create investment-friendly environment. As inflow of capital is inextricably connected with Denmark clustering strategy, it is necessary to maintain an incentive-oriented structure of attracting new investors. That step is also crucial in case the authorities are unable to further finance certain projects. Therefore, respective responsibilities have to be shifted to private sector. Companies and trade associations With the emergence of clusters, companies are starting to play increasingly more important role. They should – along with trade associations – be able to clearly formulate their needs and be able to influence the authorities to implement them. As well as this, it becomes their responsibility to focus more on investments in innovation. That is why it is necessary for respective companies and supporting associations to work together in creation of competence and knowledge centers. Universities As far as academic involvement is concerned, universities specializing in certain arts should play a supportive role in development of clusters. It has proven to work in the past, as Copenhagen Business School provided companies with field research and required theoretical frameworks. Therefore, the ties between academic and business world have to be tightened, so as to achieve a 360-degree cooperation of all the constituencies involved in projects. 11. Conclusion In this paper I analysed Denmark and its wind energy cluster. Denmark has a very stable and solid economy, but also faces some serious challenges in increasing productivity growth and educating and attracting human capital. Denmark’s heavy tax burden might be a hindrance. The wind energy cluster is by the end of its growth stage in its life cycle and now needs to innovate to keep growing. As focus in the cluster has moved from manufacturing to R the cluster face the challenge of ensuring the best conditions for the scientific base to keep the wind companies in the country. A strategic and coordinated effort is needed. Bibliography Agri-food Trade Service: www. sea. agr. gc. ca/eur/4586-eng. htm (07. 12. 09) †¢ Andersen, P. D. (1999) Ph. D. Review of Historical and Modern Utilization of Wind Power, Department Publication, Risoe Wind Energy Department †¢ Andersen, P. D. (2003) Sources of experience in wind energy technology, Ph. D. , January 2003 http://www. iset. uni-kassel. de/extool/Andersen-Sources_of_Experience. pdf (12. 01. 10) †¢ CBS: http://uk. cbs. dk/for_companies (10. 01. 10) †¢ COP15: http://en. cop15. dk/ (12. 01. 10) †¢ Cluster Observatory: Country Report: Denmark (2007) http://www. clusterobservatory. eu/upload/Policy_Report_Denmark_20080116. pdf (09. 01. 0) †¢ Danish Energy Authority (2002) Wind Energy in Denmark Status 2001 http://193. 88. 185. 141/Graphics/Publikationer/Forsyning_UK/Wind_Energy_in_Denmark170402. pdf (12. 01. 10) †¢ Danish Exporters: http://www. danishexporters. dk/scripts/danishexporters/export. asp (11. 01. 10) †¢ Dess, et al. (2004) Strategic Management: Creating Competitive Advantages, McGraw Hill Professional †¢ DI: http://di. dk/English/AboutDI/Pages/confederation. aspx (10. 01. 10) †¢ Doing Business 2010 by the World Bank †¢ DTU: http://www. business. dtu. dk/Research. aspx (10. 01. 10) †¢ DWIA (2008) Denmark – Wind Power Hub, Danish Indus try Association http://www. windpower. org/download/378/profilbrochure_2008. pdf (12. 01. 0) †¢ DWIA (2009) Facts on production, number and capacity, Danish Wind Industry Association †¢ DWIA1 (2009) Past and present – successful developments followed by stalemate, Danish Wind Industry Association †¢ EcoSeed: http://www. ecoseed. org/en/general-green-news/green-business-news/green-business-news/833-global-market-share-in-wind-turbine-manufacturers-unveiled (12. 01. 10) †¢ Energy Policy Statement (2008) The report of the minister of climate and energy pursuant to the Danish Act on Energy Policy Measures †¢ Energy Statistics 2007, Danish Energy Agency †¢ EREC: Renewable Energy Policy Review Denmark †¢ Gamesa: http://www. gamesacorp. com/en/where-are-we/contacts-by-countries/wind-turbines-manufacture (12. 01. 0) †¢ Globalisering, 2006: Government Strategy for Denmark in the Global Economy, June 2006 http://www. globalisering. dk/multimedia/ Globalisering. pdf (10. 01. 10) †¢ Guardian, 2010: Denmark trims key rate to 1. 15 pct to curb crown (07. 01. 10) http://www. guardian. co. uk/business/feedarticle/8888123 (10. 01. 10) †¢ IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook (2009) †¢ Index Mundi report on Danish Economy (2009) †¢ Innovation Lab: http://www. innovationlab. dk/en/node/723 (10. 01. 10) †¢ Investindk: http://www. investindk. dk/visArtikel. asp? artikelID=9663 (10. 01. 10) †¢ Invest in DK1: http://www. investindk. com/visCase. asp? artikelID=13171 (12. 01. 10) †¢ ITU: http://www1. itu. k/sw69583. asp (10. 01. 10) †¢ Jensen, C. S. (2008) Employment Relations in Denmark – Explaining Flexicurity, paper presented at the 103rd American Sociological Association Congress in Boston †¢ Krohn, S. (2002) Danish Wind Turbines: An Industrial Success Story, Danish Wind Industry Association http://guidedtour. windpower. org/media(483,1033)/Danish_Wind_Turbine_Industry,_an_industrial_su cces_story. pdf (12. 01. 10) †¢ Krohn1, S. (2002) The Wind Turbine Market in Denmark, Danish Wind Industry Association †¢ Krohn2, S. (2002) Wind Energy Policy in Denmark: 25 Years of Success – What Now? Danish Wind Industry Association †¢ Krohn3, S. 2002) Wind Energy Policy in Denmark Status 2002, Danish Wind Industry Association †¢ Meyer, N. I. (2007) Learning from Wind Energy Policy in the EU: Lessons from Denmark, Sweden and Spain, European Environment, 17, 5, pp. 347-362 †¢ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark: Factsheet Denmark http://www. denmark. dk/NR/rdonlyres/916BAEE6-AFB8-4720-B118-03366AB1154A/0/DenmarkOverview. pdf (12. 01. 10) †¢ Nordex: http://www. nordex-online. com/en/company-career/addresses-international. html (12. 01. 10) †¢ Nordic Innovation: Clustering in Denmark and Danish Cluster Policy (2004) http://www. nordicinnovation. net/_img/denmark_backgrounder. pdf (09. 01. 10) †¢ OECD (2009) OECD Economic Surveys: Den mark, volume 2009/19,

The Caribbean Rum

The Caribbean Rum Introduction The Caribbean rum is an alcoholic drink made from by-products of sugarcane through the process of distillation and zymolysis. After getting the distillate, the ageing process takes place in oaks or any other barrel. According to Kurlansky, the Caribbean remains the biggest producer of quality rum in the world. Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Caribbean Rum specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Rum production has a long history and has undergone through several issues like colonialism of the Caribbean and globalization. This rum has diverse social and economical effects in given its deep culture amongst the Caribbean. This paper runs from history and culture, through colonialism and globalisation to economical and social effects of the Caribbean rum. History The origin of the Caribbean rum goes back to the introduction of sugarcane in the Caribbean in the 15th century by Christopher Columbus (Coul ombe 16). According to most historians, rum production was an idea of plantation slaves in Barbados who discovered that the by-products of sugarcane would be fermented into an alcoholic drink in the 17th century. â€Å"Many rum historians agree that, the first rum was made on the island of Barbados using molasses† (Broom 65). Later on, people came up with techniques of concentrating the alcoholic content of this rum and this included distillation. After its establishment in the Caribbean, the Caribbean rum spread to other places in Europe and this is how it found its way in America. Interestingly, the Caribbean rum was so popular that it tied continents together; it was the ‘oil’ of the day; â€Å"Not until oil was any single commodity so important for world trade† (Williams Para. 1). The Caribbean rum found its way to Colonial North America. However, the demand was increasing by the day thus pushing for establishment of distilleries in North America. The first distillery was established in the then Staten Island in 1664 before establishment of a second and a third one in Boston and Massachusetts after three years. Caribbean rum production became the most successful industry in that time in Colonial North America (Roueche 178). From Europe, the Caribbean rum crossed borders and entered Africa in late seventeenth century where it became even popular than in Europe. This popularity is attributed to the fact that African slaves in the Caribbean plantations were the inventors of this rum; therefore, to Africans, the Caribbean rum was a form of identity (Arkell 96). The Caribbean rum’s popularity soared and it threatened existence of other alcoholic brands world all over. For instance, production of the Caribbean rum was banned in Spain after it became a threat to Spain’s die sweet spirits (William 89). Advertising Looking for research paper on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OF F Learn More Initially, the Caribbean rum was seen as a cheap drink associated with slaves and low class people; nevertheless, with time even the elite became consumers of this brand thus posing a big threat to other European brands, which were a reserve for the elites. In this twenty first century, the Caribbean rum still exists amongst different communities all over the world. Culture As aforementioned, the culture of the Caribbean rum is deeply rooted in different communities across the world and especially in the Caribbean islands. Rum shops litter the streets of the Caribbean islands. Given the fact that this rum was invented by Africans, the deep culture of this brand found its way to Africa. Back to the Caribbean islands, people here adored rum. Slaves would drown themselves into this brand to escape the realities of slavery that faced them everyday. Slavery was inhuman and because slaves had no way out of it, they found solace in drunkenness. This establish ed the culture of the Caribbean rum in these islands especially in Barbados. Moreover, this alcoholic drink was thought to have medicinal value (Gonzalez Para. 6). Consequently, people consumed it in large amounts including children, women, youth and men. Therefore, the Caribbean rum became an important element in the culture of African slaves in the Caribbean. Moreover, this stuff brought people together as part of socialization. â€Å"Rum is at the epicentre of Caribbean culture and the economy. Practically every island organizes a tour of their rum distillery and each proclaims itself producer of the ‘best rum’ in the world† (Blue 98). This shows how this brand is deeply rooted in the hearts and culture of the Caribbean natives. People would come together to socialize and pass time whilst drinking rum. This alcoholic drink had spiritual inclinations. â€Å"In the Caribbean, rum was increasingly incorporated into local, syncretic spiritual traditions like Vod ou† (Gonzalez Para. 9). This fact stretches to contemporary African societies where traditional brews are used in spiritual matters like chasing away ghosts among other practices. Therefore, it is logical that African slaves in the Caribbean, having discovered this rum, they would attach some spiritual importance to it because it gave them identity and value. Rorabaugh posits that African slaves were so inclined to it that they had to be removed from distilleries for they would become drunk. Slaves from Muslim countries were the preferred workers in the distilleries because Islam does not encourage alcohol consumption.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Caribbean Rum specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Colonialism The Caribbean islands went through colonialism in hands of many European powers including Spain, France, the Dutch, Denmark, Britain, and the U.S. As aforementioned, Christopher Columbus was the first European to discover the Caribbean islands. Soon after his voyages entered the Caribbean, other voyages especially from Spain and Portugal started trickling in to establish their own colonies in these islands. Columbus introduced sugarcane in the Caribbean while slaves discovered rum later on. However, as different European powers started establishing their colonies in these islands, there were numerous changes. Actually, colonialism gave rise to the Caribbean rum. It is important to repeat at this point that African slaves invented the Caribbean rum. Spain’s arrival in the Caribbean islands signalled torture and death of many natives (Rouse 36). After most of the natives had died, Spain started importing African slaves and this explains how Africans found their way to the Caribbean. In the course of colonialism, numerous changes took place including different wars, which brought different impacts to the Caribbean rum as exposited below. Impact of Colonialism As a forementioned, the Caribbean rum resulted from colonialism. Without colonialism, the story of the famous Caribbean rum may be different. Therefore, to start with, one of the effects of colonialism of the Caribbean islands was and still is the introduction of the Caribbean rum. European colonialism brought the idea of plantations and now that Columbus had introduced sugarcane, most Europeans embarked on sugar plantation in these islands. â€Å"By the middle of the eighteenth century, sugar was Britains largest import which made the Caribbean that much more important as a colony† (Cross 3). This meant that production of rum persisted because it was made from this sugarcane. Even with the abolition of slave trade, sugar plantations persisted because many freed slaves were unskilled and they could only work in sugar plantations for wages (Russell Para. 7). However, at this time, rum production was still down because the British did not want to sell sugar locally; her market was back in Britain where sugar would be used for other purposes. Most of Caribbean population depended on agriculture and even many foreign investors invested in agriculture too. Sugar production was still controlled by colonial masters and rum production remained low for long time. Nevertheless, this was preparing the Caribbean islands for something better in future. The fact that colonialists were interested in agriculture especially sugar plantation, it enabled these islands to adopt the culture of agriculture; however, they did not know this was a blessing in disguise. Advertising Looking for research paper on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In 1971, Haiti became the â€Å"first he first Caribbean nation to gain independence from European powers† (Haggerty 45). Cuba followed in this series when it gained independence in 1902 while other nations gained their independence later on. Independence heralded a new beginning in the production of the Caribbean rum. After testing freedom, people had the freewill to produce rum. Formerly, people produced rum in small quantities for local consumption; however, as demand increased, large-scale production commenced. Eventually, globalisation took the Caribbean islands by storm and the Caribbean rum went international. Globalisation Globalisation saw the entry of the Caribbean rum into international markets. Even though consumption of the same had spread to Europe due to presence of Europeans in the Caribbean, it was not until globalisation became a vehicle of exposing this brandy to the rest of the world. The Bacardi Corporation is the first international company to be invol ved in exportation of the Caribbean rum to the rest of the world (Williams Para. 6). This corporation had its headquarters in Cuba before Fidel Castro ascended to power after which it moved to Puerto Rico. This movement proved instrumental because from Puerto Rico the Bacardi Corporation managed to infiltrate European markets in a better way. In contemporary times, this corporation operates mostly from Florida in the United States of America. This is how this brand found its way into the rest of the world in the wake of globalisation. Globalisation brought both positive and negative effects to the Caribbean rum (Klooster 56). Effects of Globalisation Exportation of the Caribbean rum came as good news the Caribbean people who had invested a lot in sugar farming. This brand took the international markets with storm cutting across the world. Today, the Caribbean rum is consumed in thousands of nations across the world thanks to globalisation and the Bacardi Corporation. â€Å"At the end of World War II, the US was importing more Caribbean rum than any other category of imported spirits, including whiskey† (Frost Para. 9). This America’s import was just a small portion of imports of the Caribbean rum over the years across the world. Unfortunately, globalisation has threatened the survival and popularity of this brand, which was once the most popular brand within and outside the borders of the Caribbean island. With globalisation, production of rum in the Caribbean was and is still becoming very expensive in terms of production and raw materials. Unfortunately, most countries have subsidized sugar production forcing many Caribbean nations to give up on sugarcane farming (Pack 80). If sugarcane farming or production goes down it implies that production of this rum will go down also. Globalisation has turned the Caribbean islands into tourism sites and with many people seeing better income returns from tourism, they have abandoned sugarcane farming (H ornbeck Para 9). The Caribbean rum also faces competition from other non-Caribbean rums, which are being produced at a lower cost in other countries like Mauritius; a nation located thousands of miles from the Caribbean; the origin of rum (Cooper 39). These are some of the challenges facing the Caribbean rum as it grapples with globalisation. Nevertheless, the Caribbean people are smart people and they are turning these challenges into income generating activities. Frost notes that, â€Å"there is the overall theme of the Caribbean, its islands, waters and its people, and its good looking women. That helps build brands based on tourism†¦exposing visitors to high quality and memorably-branded products helps them to take happy memories back with them and recreate them in the chill of their Northern homes† (Frost Para. 11). These foreigners are keeping up the hopes of the Caribbean rum survival. Plans are underway to import molasses to reduce production costs and this wi ll make the Caribbean rum competitive in the international market (de Kadt 38). Economical and Social effects of Caribbean Rum Economically, the Caribbean rum has been playing a vital role in the Caribbean islands. Both locally, and internationally, the Caribbean rum fetches good money for its producers. After the Bacardi Corporation started its business deals in the Caribbean, this brandy has continually fetched the Caribbean islands millions of dollars in returns. For instance, â€Å"in 2004, revenues from rum exports actually surpassed those of sugar for the first time in Barbadian history† (Sanders Para. 12). This echoes how this brand is important to the economy of these islands. Part of tourist attraction in this region is their culture in rum. People from around the world visit the Caribbean. Florestal (Para. 8) remembers twenty years ago when, â€Å"every year, my parents returned to New York from their Haitian vacation with bags full of an innocuous-looking clear l iquid†. Nothing has really changed even after twenty years. People continue to visit the Caribbean for â€Å"Come lets we fire one† (Barocas Para. 2). This means to have a drink especially in Barbados. All these people bring revenue to these nations thus improving their economy. People are making a living out of the Caribbean rum (Smith 86). In social arena, the Caribbean rum plays a crucial role. People gather to have this brand as they socialise and pass time (Boyer16). Even slaves would use it as a way of forgetting their woes. Conclusion The Caribbean rum comes from sugarcane by-products like molasses. African slaves working in sugar plantations invented the art of making rum and distillation came in later on to concentrate the alcohol content of this brandy. The culture of this brand runs deep amongst Caribbean people; actually, it has become a cultural symbol. It is important to note that the origin of this brand is colonialism after Columbus introduced sugarcan e in the Caribbean islands. Colonialism brought about large-scale production of sugarcane, which sustained production of this rum. With globalization, this brand became popular around the world; however, globalisation brought competition among other challenges that are threatening the popularity of this brand. Nevertheless, the Caribbean people are fitting this rum into globalisation to make maximum returns. Socially, this brand plays a vital key as people gather to enjoy good times together as they share the Caribbean rum. Arkell, Julie. â€Å"Classic Rum.† Prion Books, 1999. Barocas, Deborah. â€Å"The Rum Culture of Barbados.† 2010. Web. bellaonline.com/articles/art24649.asp Blue, Anthony. â€Å"The Complete Book of Spirits: A Guide to Their History, Production and Enjoyment.† HarperCollins, 2004. Boyer, John. â€Å"Caribbean Rum: A Social and Economic History, Book Review.† Journal of Latin American Geography, 2006, 14(2): 6-15. Broom, Dave. â€Å" Rum.† Abbeville Press, 2003. Cooper, Rosalind. â€Å"Spirits Liqueurs.† HP Books, 1982. Coulombe, Charles. â€Å"Rum: The Epic Story of the Drink that Changed Conquered the World.† Citadel Press, 2004. Cross, Malcolm. â€Å"Urbanization and Urban Growth in the Caribbean†. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1979. de Kadt, Emanuel, (Ed.). â€Å"Patterns of Foreign Influence in the Caribbean.† New York: Oxford University Press, 1972 Florestal, Marjorie. â€Å"Rum: The Spirit of The Caribbean.† N.d. Web. tradevoices.com/Rum-Trade-Stories.html Frost, Randall. â€Å"The Caribbean’s Rum-Soaked Brand.† 2008. Web.\ brandchannel.com/features_effect.asp?pf_id=418 Gonzalez, Edward. â€Å"Caribbean Rum: A Social and Economic History.† 2009. Web. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_7737/is_200912/ai_n52375631/ Haggerty, Richard A. (1989). Haiti, A Country Study: French Settlement and Sovereignty US Library of Congress, 1989. Web . http://countrystudies.us/haiti/7.htm Hornbeck, Fredrick. â€Å"CARICOM: Challenges and Opportunities for Caribbean Economic Integration.† 2008. Web. sice.oas.org/TPD/CAR_EU/Studies/CRSCARICOM_Challenges_e.pdf Klooster, Wim. â€Å"Illicit riches. Dutch trade in the Caribbean, 1648-1795.† New York; Oxford University Press, 1998. Kurlansky, Mark. â€Å"A Continent of Islands: Searching for the Caribbean Destiny.† Addison-Wesley Publishing, 1992. Pack, James. â€Å"Nelsons Blood: The Story of Naval Rum.† Naval Institute Press, 1982. Rorabaugh, John. â€Å"The Alcoholic Republic.† New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. Rouechà ©, Berton. â€Å"Alcohol in Human Culture.† New York: McGraw-Hill, 1963. Rouse, Irving. â€Å"The Tainos: Rise and Decline of the People Who Greeted Columbus.† New York: Vail-Ballou Press, 1992. Russell, Menard. Review of Frederick H. Smith, Caribbean Rum: A Social and Economic History. EH.Net Economic History S ervices, 2006. Sanders, Ronald. â€Å"Caribbean Rum in Grave Danger; Urgent Government Action Needed.† 2010. Web. jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Sanders-Mar-28_7508032 Smith, Frederick. â€Å"Caribbean Rum: A Social and Economic History.† Florida: University Press of Florida, 2005. Williams, Ian. â€Å"Rum: A Social and Sociable History of the Real Spirit of 1776.† Nation Books, 2005. Williams Ian. â€Å"The Secret History of Rum.† The Nation. 2005. Web. thenation.com/article/secret-history-rum