Macbeth - Conflict Essay -- essays research papers

"Conflict is central to the dramatic development of any play." Prior to deciding whether or not conflict is central to the dramatic development of MACBETH, one must consider all the dramatic factors that contribute to the Shakespearean play. The gradual decline of the protagonist , the role portrayed by characters and the order in which the events occur, greatly influence the direction in which the development of the play takes place. After reading the text MACBETH, by Shakespeare and viewing the film version, directed by Roman Polanski, it is logical to see that ambition and the deceptive appearances of what really is, is central to the dramatic development of MACBETH. Initially MACBETH is seen as a great soldier, a fearless fighter who has loyally defended his King against a treacherous rebellion. However, he is corrupted by evil in the form of three witches and their supernatural prophecies, and by ambition, not so much his own at first but by Lady Macbeth's ambition for him to murder Duncan, thus attaining the crown of Scotland. In Act I, Scene I three witches plan to meet MACBETH upon a heath. They announce the major theme of the play: appearances can be deceptive. "Fair is foul, and foul is fair." MACBETH's affirmation of this is reciprocated in Act I, Scene III, when he echoes the witches words, "So fair and foul a day I have not seen." Factors that are apparent in both the text and visual of MACBETH are the symbols and imagery used by Shakespeare and Polanski. Due to the different language modes used in both versions of MACBETH, the audience must themselves visualise the images in the text, since the main language mode is reading and can therefore interpret the images quite differently in comparison with Polanski's MACBETH. The main language mode in the film is viewing and listening, so the audience does not have to interpret the images for themselves because it has already been done for them, which enhances the audience's response and emotions to the dramatic development of ambition and deceptive appearances. In the written text, Shakespeare emphasis's the hidden reality through the use of dramatic techniques of imagery and symbolism. There is a constant use of light and dark imagery which is used by the protagonist , MAC... ...s his evil actions continue, increasingly violent. His conscience, on the other hand, before and after the murder of Duncan, is unstable. A further exhibition of conscience can be seen in his nightmares, the immediate realisation that he has 'murdered Sleep'. Insecurity is present initially, and is intensified by MACBETH's actions. Shakespeare indication of this the soliloquy of MACBETH before the murder of the King: "If it were done, when 'tis done, then 'twere well It were done quickly†¦.." (Act I, Scene VII) Encompassing all the evidence that has been presented and after reading and viewing Polanski and Shakespeare's renditions of MACBETH it is logical to come to the conclusion that ambition and deceptive appearances is central to the dramatic development of MACBETH. Without ambition MACBETH would not have pursued his path to become King of Scotland so viciously. Deceptive appearances is the key to this play because without hiding reality all the evil enfolding this play, all the intentions of protagonist and the other characters would have been revealed. Without the centralisation of these themes, MACBETH would have been altered and the plot would be non-existent.

Heroun and the Sea of Stories

Haroun and the Sea of Stories is a magical realism novel in which elements of Salman Rushdie’s imagination are put together to demonstrate the importance and significance of storytelling. Through the story, Rushdie conveys to the reader what his notion of good story elements are. One of these elements is a story’s ability to possess antithetical relationships. Haroun and the Sea of Stories contains many symbols alluding to the value of complementary elements of a story; these symbols also being a representation of these values in life.One of the initial contrasts we encounter is in Rashid Khalifa’s two titles. Those who are opposed to his story telling have bestowed upon him the name, â€Å"The Shah of Blah. † The others, who enjoy Rashid’s stories, refer to him as â€Å"The Ocean of Notions. † (13) The less flattering of the two titles denotes disdain for Rashid because of the belief that he is a man who is a source of useless tales and endl ess revelry in his storytelling. The latter brings forth connotations of admiration of boundless imagination and creativity.Such dissimilarities are bound to occur with a man of Rashid’s interest. These titles are fairy different, but they complement each other in a certain way that makes Rashid’s character slightly more complex. If he was a character who was met with universal respect or contempt, then he would not be as dynamic, ergo less interesting. Another major aspect of the story that demonstrates this notion is the relationship between the Chupwalas and the Guppies.In the beginning each group had its own way of living, which they believed to be the most respectable. Then on page 191, after Khattam-Shud has been defeated the Guppies and the Chupwalas live together in a peace where â€Å"Night and Day, Speech and Silence, would no longer be separated into zones by Twilight Strips and Walls of Force. † Prior to this, each group was a sovereign entity, keepi ng to their traditions without much success. Then, when the barriers were broken, they were able to appreciate each other’s corresponding differences.The light and dark as well as the silence and the speech accompanied each other and made for a more vibrant society. Through examples like these, Salman Rushdie was able to portray the value of antithetical elements in stories. His examples showed that opposing ideas can fuse sometimes and create a more diverse concept. Rashid’s names showed that he was a very imaginative story teller, but sometimes he was not aware of how people could view his perception of reality and this creates a multifaceted character in which people can show more interest.The relationship between the guppies and the chupwalas was an illustration of the harmonization of two juxtaposing concepts and how different ideologies come together to create a much more fascinating society. All of these models can be carried over to the world of storytelling, w here the story is much more entertaining when there is a slew of events that are totally different in occurrence and tone, but these events make for great amusement.

What to Expect in an Online Class

Evolving web technology has made it possible to take a class or even earn a degree from a major university without ever sitting in a classroom. Some students take online courses as part of traditional degree programs. For example, I teach several of my undergraduate courses as both traditional on-ground classes and online classes. Online classes hold some similarities with traditional on-ground courses, but there are also many differences. Depending upon the school, program, and instructor you choose, your online class may entail synchronous asynchronous elements. Synchronous elements require that all students log in at the same time. An instructor might provide a live lecture using a web cam or might hold a chat session for the entire class, for example. Asynchronous elements do not require that you log in at the same time as other students or your instructor. You might be asked to post to bulletin boards, submit essays and other assignments, or participate with other class members on a group assignment. Communication with the Instructor occurs through: E-mailBulletin boardsChat roomsInstant messageVideo conference (like Skype)Telephone (sometimes) Lectures are taught through: Web conferencesTyped lecturesTeleconferencesBulletin boardsText chatStreaming audioRecorded lectures Course participation and assignments include: Discussion board postsEssay assignmentsConstructing web pagesCreating blogsCollaborating on wiki pagesTests (conducted online) What you need: Computer capable of streaming video and multitaskingPrinterHigh speed internet (no dial up!)Basic computer skills: Internet surf, downloading media, search, emailSelf-discipline and motivationRegular blocks of time Most online universities offer demonstrations for online courses on their web sites, which allows you to preview the virtual learning experience beforehand. An orientation class may be required by some schools, in which you will meet the instructors, staff, and other students. You will also learn about the technology used, available tools that are needed to get started, and resources available to online students, such as library facilities. Many online degree programs have residencies that require that students come to campus for one or more days every year.

The Dichotomy Between Capitalism And Communism Essay

Economies throughout the world differ along varying lines, with some taking worker oriented approaches, and others pushing profit and risk into priority. The dichotomy between Capitalism and Communism throughout the 20th century can lead one to feel that capitalist nations are a unified front in how they approach economics. This is untrue, as even capitalist nations view the free market in different forms. Some may view government involvement as a necessity, others as a plague. American economics have long been dominated by this latter approach, a liberal market approach. While coordinated economies have gained strides in approval and productivity in recent years, individuals have claimed the US needs to follow the example. However, as the US most likely will retain its liberal approach for the time being, one must look at specifics to begin working on to better both the economy and its people. Therefore, industrial relations, that is, the relation between workers and their respectiv e companies, comes as the issue that can best be developed to assist the United States economic status and conditions of its workers. While the American economy stands out as the most developed and rich in the world, the workers and those contributing to this success often do not see the success firsthand. Relationships between highly profitable industries and their workers remain a contested issue, with large corporations such as Wal-Mart being regularly targeted over unfair wage practicesShow MoreRelatedThe Industrial Revolution705 Words   |  3 Pagesthat led to Karl Marx’s idea of communism as a massive grass roots reaction to the revolution’s social abuses. Firstly, the Industrial Revolution featured the construction of machines, systems and factories that allowed goods to be manufactured at a faster rate with a lower cost. The seed drill made it so there could be â€Å"a semi-automated, controlled distribution and plantation of wheat seed†(Jones 2013). Secondly, there was a great social and economic divide between the wealthy owners and the poorRead MoreThe Cold War and the War on Terr or987 Words   |  4 PagesTerrorism. During the Cold War there was more of a correlation between fighting Communism, and buying consumer goods. During the war on terrorism Americans were asked to give up some of their rights in order to maintain their safety. There is an abundance of similarities between the Cold War and the War and Terror. In Echoes of the Cold War, Elaine Tyler May says, â€Å"The war against terrorism, like the struggle against Communism, defines the enemy as a worldwide conspiracy†¦with operatives infiltratingRead MoreWorld War One And End Of The Twentieth Century1330 Words   |  6 PagesThis contracts between wars and massacres and goes forward to technology and science. †¢ This book begins with World War One and ends with the diminish of communism; this introduction gives a brief overview of the highs and lows of which the following chapter go into further detail. †¢ Hobsbawn uses his own experiences and memories to give a powerful interpretation of the simple facts of the mass slaughter, social upheaval and economic transformation of the twentieth century. †¢ Between the years ofRead MoreRussia And The Soviet Union1670 Words   |  7 PagesFrom the Beginning of the Soviet Union, the West opposed the communist nation ideologically, the capitalist West feared communism. Communism was the reason that the Soviet Union was not compatible with the Western capitalist nations. With the end of the Soviet Union and the birth of capitalism in Russia, the West believed that their eastern problem was over, although as time would tell this assumption would be incorrect. Over the next decade, Russia would exert their power over boarding nations tryingRead MoreMarx And Engels s Views On Female Oppression1309 Words   |  6 Pages Marx and Engels both contributed largely to the development of the idea of communism and class struggle and within this framework of ideas consisted an explanation of the struggles between men and women throughout history. Although Marx and Engels would classify feminist issues about female oppression over time as simp ly another aspect of class struggle, they nonetheless explained the development of female oppression using terms such as matrilieality, patriarchy, monogamy and class society. TheseRead MoreContemporary Mainstream Approaches : Neo Realism And Neo Liberalism1527 Words   |  7 Pages republican, sociological and liberal instituitonism. Commercial liberalism promotes free trade and capitalist ideals as the way to worldwide peace and prosperity. Sociological liberalism often promotes the idea of community and interdependence between states. Sociological Liberalist usually are advocates for globalization, especially when it deals with the betterment of popular culture and civil society. Neo-liberal institutionalists believe that peace and prosperity can only be achieved by countriesRead MoreThe Adventures of Mr. West in th Land of the Bolsheviks625 Words   |  3 Pagesfamine of 1921, affected the film. Also the idea of class struggle that is portrayed in the film between the charact ers and how their class is connected their actions. The amount of symbols in the film are great from the U.S flag to the peasant thieves themselves as it is warning of western/capitalist ideology. Although this film is about a gullible American it does not go into foreign relations between the nations and does not portray the United States as â€Å"evil†. This film probably went through censorshipRead MoreThe Relationship Between Iron Man And Iron Man1252 Words   |  6 PagesIron Man, a superhero, and his arch nemesis, Mandarin, are an example of the complexities the relationship between a villain and superhero contain. The relationship between superheroes and the villains they fight are vital to their storylines, but also to our understanding of humanity. Iron Man and Mandarin elucidate how the methods each employs to achieve his aims are what differentiate them as good or evil, while simultaneously showing how villains can hold sympathetic qualities or share qualitiesRead MoreThe Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin1486 Words   |  6 PagesThe Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin is a criticism of today’s capitalism by investigating what society structure would be best for human society. Le Guin uses the two models of capitalism and communism to be compared and contrasted against one another to determine which would function better and how to achieve such success. In order to depict what a replacement structure would look like; Le Guin creates two worlds to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of influence that each of these modelsRead MoreKant s Philosophy Of The State And Analysis Of Historical Summit1312 Words   |  6 Pagesdetached from its capitalist class and leads to the establishment of a classless society. Marx notes on this necessary revolution that â€Å"†¦Communism abolishes eternal truths, it abolishes all religion and all morality, instead of constituting them on a new basis; it therefore acts in contradiction to all past hi storical experience† (530). Marx’s notion of communism maintains and expands upon Hegel’s moral structure in his ideal of the state as concrete moral identity and unity. Damla Kaya

The Ethical Dilemma of Gambling in Pro Sports - 1660 Words

Gambling in professional sports is an ethical dilemma that needs to be examined from all angles before making a decision on whether to bet or not. Gambling has been a part our society for thousands of years, dating back to the original Olympic Games in Greece. Depending on where you live, there will be different laws regarding the rules of gambling. The story of Pete Rose shows a good example of what can happen to a sports manager that bets on his own team and others in his sport. In this case, there will be a situation where someone is faced with an ethical dilemma and they must go over all options before making a decision. Before betting on a sports team, one must look at all alternatives to betting and the consequences that come with each one. After this, a choice must be made regarding the ethical dilemma. This decision must be looked at from the legal side of things, as well as your own gut feelings towards your choice. You also must ask yourself how you would feel about it if y ou told the world what your decision is. The code of ethics of sports managers can also play a role in the decision making process. An ethical theory called utilitarianism will also be a way of looking at how and why the decision was made. By covering all these topics, it will assist in making the decision for an ethical dilemma. According to Frixo.com (2014), for as long as there has been matches with winners and losers, there has been betting. However, when it comes to popularizing andShow MoreRelatedEthical, Morality, Or Survival : Dilemma Of A College Athlete?1462 Words   |  6 PagesEthical, Morality, or Survival: Dilemma of A College Athlete? Collegiate sports brings in over $6.3 billion a year to universities all over the country. The college coaches are compensated up to seven figure salaries to head the programs. College athletes are not paid one dollar for their contribution for the revenue being brought in to the universities as a result of their performance. There is a strong argument that could be presented by the student athletes and an equally strong case that couldRead MoreHockey Players Are Pretty Good People1536 Words   |  7 PagesSo this brings up my first point and ethical dilemma; is it right for the NHL to put their players in this town? One can argue that is not the responsibility of the NHL to control the actions of their players, however, is it a good idea to even present the opportunity for a millionaire athlete to be tempted by this excessive town, that is Las Vegas? Generally, hockey players are pretty good people, including professionals playing in the NHL, or instance; P.K. Subban, current Nashv ille Predator, andRead MoreMinding the Business of College Athletic Programs7955 Words   |  32 PagesNews Introduction Be a sport, young people are admonished. Play fair. Play by the rules. Everywhere in the developed world, sports are raised high up on social pedestals as redeeming activities that characterize the best of the human spirit, fair competition, and physical achievement. Society welcomes athleticism due largely to anticipation of the wholesome and upstanding values with which it is associated. Character is said to be built through participation in sports. While certainly thereRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesBalance Work–Life Conflicts 21 †¢ Creating a Positive Work Environment 22 †¢ Improving Ethical Behavior 22 Coming Attractions: Developing an OB Model 23 An Overview 23 †¢ Inputs 24 †¢ Processes 25 †¢ Outcomes 25 Summary and Implications for Managers 30 S A L Self-Assessment Library How Much Do I Know About Organizational Behavior? 4 Myth or Science? â€Å"Most Acts of Workplace Bullying Are Men Attacking Women† 12 An Ethical Choice Can You Learn from Failure? 24 glOBalization! Does National Culture AffectRead MoreFundamentals of Hrm263904 Words   |  1056 PagesPrinted in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Brief Contents PA RT 1 Chapter 1 Chapter 2 UNDERSTANDING HRM The Dynamic Environment of HRM 2 Fundamentals of Strategic HRM 28 PART 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 THE LEGAL AND ETHICAL CONTEXT OF HRM Equal Employment Opportunity 56 Employee Rights and Discipline 84 PART 3 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 STAFFING THE ORGANIZATION Human Resource Planning and Job Analysis 110 Recruiting 132 Foundations of Selection 154 PARTRead MoreExploring Corporate Strategy - Case164366 Words   |  658 Pagesââ€"  PAGE NUMBER IN THE BOOK 605 608 619 625 629 652 662 667 677 685 694 708 712 718 727 733 740 746 CASE Ministry of Sound – rapid growth but a questionable future in the music industry. Pharmaceutical Industry – global forces at work in the ethical pharmaceutical industry. TUI – competitive forces in the travel industry. HiFi – how can small players survive changing markets? Amazon (B) – latest developments in a successful dot.com. Formula One – developing the capabilities for competitive successRead MoreHuman Resources Management150900 Words   |  604 PagesIdentify the three different roles of HR management. Discuss the three dimensions associated with HR management as a strategic business contributor. Explain why HR professionals and operating managers must view HR management as an interface. Discuss why ethical issues and professionalism affect HR management as a career field. ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  3 HR TRANSITIONS HR Management Contributes to Organizational Success More effective management of human resources (HR) increasingly is being seen asRead MoreCase Study148348 Words   |  594 Pagesis very informal. Accounting and sales management are done manually. Rituals and routines. 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Memo on Communication Audit Findings for Juniors and Colleagues

Question: Discuss about theMemo on Communication Audit Findings for Juniors and Colleagues. Answer: This is to inform you all that the authority of the company recently took the initiative to conduct a communication audit. A communication audit is a set of procedures used to establish the internal and external communication faults and strengths. Through auditing, our company is able to understand its communication practices and how well our target-market is informed about our company. The purpose of the audit specifically was to know how well the current communication is working and what efficient and cost-effective processes could be initiated for future communication. The audit serves as a gateway to evaluate our goals and objectives of the company, with regard to the efficiency, reach and gratification of our prevalent communication strategy and achievement. Just for those who are unaware, there have been increased concerns and complaints about our communication to clients, juniors, colleagues, and seniors of this company. Sufficient and appropriate communication audit evidence is urgently needed by the management to make decisions. Important to note, the audit will be independent from any compromise, and this is for the purposes of relevance and reliability in forming a sound opinion about our communication criteria. It is apparent that external communication processes, such as marketing and promotions of the products are effective and cost-effective. However, there are a few problems that were brought to light by the auditing, including: Employees not choosing the appropriate means of communication for the context and the audience. Inappropriate means of communication may damage our relationships with customers, loss of productivity and increased conflicts among the employees. The internal organizational communication network is limited and partial, with some groups being left out. This is inauspicious since the outcome is always lack of transparency to an organization, whereby the company will not grow well and may lead to an ineffective team. Inter-organizational meetings are unproductive. They lead to a low outcome in performance by the employees whereby, communication will be limited. This is the reason as to why organizational conflicts exist. There remain enormous gaps in the communication process due to the ineffective inter-organizational meetings. In solving these problems, members are encouraged to employ the following approaches. To begin with, the members are required to check on their ways of communication amongst themselves and even the audience. Additionally, the medium for communication should be chosen appropriately. The members need to prioritize communication in this organization and are also encouraged to create some communication guidelines for the organization. For example in marketing and promotion of products, employees are encouraged to use blogs, tweets, podcasts, video conferencing, face to face channels which may include social events and gatherings, and speeches. Employees should also provide feedback promptly regarding the inquiries of the clients. Furthermore, the communication network should be reconsidered, and all groups are incorporated. There is need to use social collaboration platforms that will ensure that employees get access to a single platform for communication. Additionally, employees are required to use the online forum which will enhance sharing of information among themselves and responses to be given accordingly. This will enable efficient communication flow in the company. Finally, inter-organizational meetings should begin with immediate effect. Employees should avoid using grapevine communication which is unreliable. There is need to allow for turn-taking while communicating in the meetings and also respect given to every member's grievances. This will provide all employees with a noble chance to contribute towards the growth of the company through airing out views and issues that could be making the company fail. In summary, the memo is to bring to your attention the main problems affecting the internal communication process. All employees are supposed to be enlightened of all these problems with the various actions and steps to be undertaken in order to curb these problems. Consequently, all employees are requested to come up with other ways to boost communication in Data Solutions Company both in Brisbane and its constituent offices in Melbourne and Sydney. Please understand that we are prudently notifying you in order to increase the productivity of our company. Therefore, employees are requested to comply with the memo positively for the betterment of ourselves and the organization at large. If all the actions are put in place, each one of us will have his or her place in the organization, and none will feel left out. Thank you for your cooperation and please direct any point of concern to my office. You can also call on my office line for further clarifications. Help desk 020-075 Email: info@datasolutions.org References Alsop, R., Nicholson, P., Miller, J. (2009). Generation Y in the workforce commentary.Harvard Business Review,87(2), 4349. Alvesson, M., Willmott, H. (2002). Identity regulations as organizational control: Producing the appropriate individual.Journal of Management Studies,39, 619644. Ballard, D. I., Seibold, D. R. (2003). Communicating and organizing in time: A meso-level model of organizational temporality. Management Communication Quarterly,16(3), 380415. Ballard, D. I., Seibold, D. R. (2004). Communication-related organizational structures and work group temporal experiences: The effects of coordination method, technology type, and feedback cycle on members construals and enactments of time.Communication Monographs,71(1), 127. McCann, R. M., Giles, H. (2006). Communication with people from different ages in the workplace: Thai and American data.Human Communication Research,32, 74108. Miller, K. (2009).Organizational communication: Approaches and processes(5th ed.). Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Pasieka, S. A. (2009).Exploring the changing workforce: Understanding and managing the generation of Millennial workers. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Northcentral University, Prescott Valley, AZ.

The Plant Location Puzzle free essay sample

Ann felt that her strategy of keeping all the parts of the company in the same location, while unconventional, had contributed greatly to cooperation among various departments and, ultimately, to the company’s growth: EDC had become the largest and most profitable bicycle company in the United States. Yet her manufacturing vice president, Sean Andrews, was now urging her to build a plant in China. â€Å"Look at the number of companies here,† he had said that morning, as they helped several other EDC staffers stack brochures on the exhibit table and position the company’s latest models around the perimeter of their area. Manufacturing heads rarely attended trade shows; in fact, this was Sean’s first, but he had wanted to attend, and Ann had supported his interest. â€Å"There are too many players in this market,† he had said. â€Å"I’ve been saying this for two months now, and you know the forecasters’ numbers back me up. We will write a custom essay sample on The Plant Location Puzzle or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page But if they weren’t enough to convince you, just look around. The industry is reaching the saturation point here in the States. We have to break into Asia. † â€Å"Leave it alone, Sean,† Ann had replied. â€Å"I know this is something you’re pushing; you’ve said so in the past. But let’s set up a time to talk about it in detail later. This isn’t the time or the place. † Now, three hours later, with the show in full swing, Ann understood why Sean had been compelled to speak up again. Having all their competitors in the same room at the same time was a powerful visual reminder of how the industry had changed. She thought about what Sean had said about the U. S. market. In 1992, EDC’s sales and earnings had hit record levels. The company now produced almost 30% of the bicycles sold in the United States. But U. S. mass-market bicycle sales were growing by only 2% per year, while the Asian market for those same bikes was nearly doubling on an annual basis. And Eldora could not competitively serve those markets from its U. S. manufacturing facility. Two of the largest bike manufacturers in the world, located in rapidly growing Asian markets, enjoyed a significant labor and distribution cost advantage. She stopped at a mountain bike display set up by a fast-growing, young bike company. Mountain bikes with front suspension were the latest trend—the added support and cushion allowed riders to better absorb the shocks inherent in off-road riding without slowing down or losing balance. Most of these bikes were still prohibitively expensive. But Eldora, too, had an entry in this product category, retailing for about $190, and Ann was proud of it. For years, the company had concentrated its efforts on inexpensive bicycles, which retailed through mass merchandisers for between $100 and $200. Eldora’s prices were slightly higher than other low-end competitors’, but large retailers were willing to pay the premium because EDC had consistently been able to offer many state-of-the-art styles and features with quick, timely deliveries that competitors building overseas couldn’t match. One of the reasons the company had been so successful was that Boulder, Colorado, was a bicyclists’ mecca. Eldora employees at all levels shared a genuine love of bicycling and eagerly pursued knowledge of the industry’s latest trends and styles. Someone was always suggesting a better way to position the hand brakes, or a new toe grip that allowed for better traction and easier dismounts. And Eldora never had a shortage of people willing to test out the latest prototypes. Another reason was that all marketing staff, engineers, designers, and manufacturing personnel worked on one campus, within a 10-minute walk of one another. Ann had bet big on that strategy, and it had paid off. Communication was easy, and changes in styles, production plans, and the like could be made quickly and efficiently. Mountain bikes, for example, had gone from 0% to more than 50% of the market volume since 1988, and Eldora had met the increased demand with ease. And when orders for cross-bikes—a mountain/road bike hybrid that had enjoyed a spurt of popularity—began to fall off, Eldora had been able to adjust its production run with minimal disruption. EDC had also benefited from its foray into the high-end market (bicycles retailing for between $400 and $700) 12 years earlier. One of Ann’s first moves as CEO had been to enter into a joint venture with Rinaldi, a high-end Italian bicycle manufacturer that at the time was specializing in racing models. As part of the agreement, EDC had begun importing Rinaldi bikes under the brand name Summit and selling them through specialty bike dealers. Similarly, Rinaldi had begun marketing EDC bikes in Europe. That arrangement had had lasting rewards: although racing bikes were no longer very popular, EDC’s offerings had taken off. About 20% of EDC’s sales were now made outside the United States (primarily in Europe and Canada) through this and other agreements.