The Theory Of The Unitary Executive Essay Example for Free

The Theory Of The Unitary Executive Essay The theory of the ‘unitary executive’ posits that the constitution vests all executive power in the executive. Thus it is a breach of the constitution for other arms of the executive to try and limit the powers of the president in his execution of his duties. Attempts by Congress to limit the ability of the president to prosecute the war on terror should be seen in this light. President Bush established the Department of Home land Security in the aftermath of the 9/11 bombings and most of the executive orders he has made since then have taken advantage of this theory. He has been able to consolidate a lot of power in the executive and is at the risk of becoming a dictator. In the process of establishing security safeguards the, executive has trampled on the rights of the citizens. The executive has appended signing statements to a number of bills that congress has passed that in essence would have limited his authority. An example of this is the bill H. R. 986, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 , which the president signed a statement saying that he will construe the provisions on the law in accordance with the theory of the unitary executive. This in effect circumvents any limitation the bill placed on his administration spending funds on national security. Cheney’s law shows how the vice president was instrumental in helping the executive to amass more powers by using the constitutional tools at his disposal. By invoking the principle of the unitary executive, the president was able to have his way on such blatant violations of the constitution like the torture and detention of prisoners of war on Guantanamo Bay. Wiretapping of people’s phones without a judge’s warrant was allowed on the basis of mere suspicion that one was a member of a terrorist organization. The sweeping powers given to the department of Homeland Security made it possible for any suspect to be picked up, tortured and detained all in the name of maintaining security and winning the war of terror. Cheney and David Addington interpreted the law in their own way so as to fulfill their objectives. They had the audacity to present the view that the president had the authority to ignore international agreements like the Geneva Convention because the constitution of the US allowed him to. This buildup in presidential powers was not without controversy and many people in the Justice Department disagreed with the assertions made by Cheney and his advisors. The illegality of the actions being taken was tantamount to usurping the constitution and overturning international law. Under normal circumstances there should have been an investigation into the president’s conduct but because the administration intimidated people citing the 9/11 terrorist attacks, few people stood up to challenge the blatant misuse of presidential powers. Taking advantage of Ashcroft’s illness, the White House appointed its point man, Gonzales, to the post of attorney general. He quickly overruled any objection his office had concerning the extrajudicial measures that Bush had put into place to fight the war on terror. This action will frustrate the prosecution of individuals who may have committed crimes in the name of unitary executive mandate. I believe that the new administration should repeal a number of the executive orders made by Bush concerning the war on terror and a commission be appointed to look into the excesses committed by fronting presidential powers that do not explicitly exist under the constitution.

The past on the present Essay Example for Free

The past on the present Essay She sits very primly and waits for her sisters return. Williams also tells us that she has had a troubled past, and has trouble with alcohol: Ive got to keep hold of myself, said to herself after she drinks some whiskey from a drinks cabinet, then wipes her glass as if to show that she hasnt drunk any, as if wanting people to think of her as pure and untouched. Her trouble with alcohol is reflected several times through the play, as she drinks a lot, while pretending not to do so. This shows us that she has something to hide from her friends and family. And she is also very nervous, probably since shes in new surroundings, as she jumps when the cat screeches. It is interesting how Williams uses music and sound effects to support the scene, like the Varsouviana or the cat screeching. In this case, this accentuates the tension and nervousness in Blanche, and shows the audience that she is close to a nervous breakdown. Blanches long monologue to her sister is a sign to us of her mental breakdown, exhibiting to us her increasing burden over the years. She seems to be overly selfish, by implying that she was some sort of angel, when she knows shes not: I did not lie in my heart, a line that is uttered later in the play to Stanley. Blanche paints a very grim picture of her dying relatives, but this morbid recollection gives us an idea of her suffering and sorrow in the past at Belle Reve. Belle Reve, in French, literally translates as Beautiful Dream, and this beautiful dream was shattered for Blanche. Another way that Williams dramatises the past is through the taking apart of Blanches trunk by Stanley. We can establish that Stanley believes that the Du Bois were extremely well off, shown by the high-class accessories that Blanche owns: The treasure chest of a pirate! We realise that Blanche used the stuff in her games of seduction in her home town, but only as the play progresses, and we also realise that these games dont work on Stanley, since he isnt taken in by her wiles, as he later says, Some men are took in by this Hollywood stuff, some men are not. Even though Blanche is not the topic of conversation, we can deduce that Stanley is directly referring to her. When Williams first introduces the boy, Allen, we are left in thought, since he tells us nothing other that the boy and Blanche were married, and that he died. But when Stanley rips open a stack of Allens poems, we are shown Blanches history all in a rush. She says that I hurt him the way you would like to hurt me, but you cant. This is directed at Stanley, and shows the audience that Blanche not completely stupid, and knows that Stanley is out to break the bond between herself and Stella. She even refers to herself, indirectly, unbeknown to Stanley, when saying that Belle Reve was lost piece by piece through epic fornications, or to her male relatives and ancestors. Williams could be suggesting that women were victims at Belle Reve, while the men were the rulers, which also relates to Stanleys old-fashioned ideas about the superiority of men. The Poker Night is very significant, since it shows the audience the complete contrast between Blanche and Stanley and his gang. We know that Blanche is portrayed dressed in white, while the men all flaunt bright, primitive colours. The brightness shows the men as full of life and zest, as compared with a sombre and pure white, as worn by Blanche. And when Mitch talks to Blanche, she is reluctant initially to open up to him, but when she does, she tells him everything about her past, about the boy, and Belle Reve. This slow opening up is symbolic, since it shows that Blanche is closed up at first, until she thinks she can trust someone. Blanche is always taking baths, since she still believes herself to be unsullied and pure, and wants to maintain this. She thinks that by bathing, she can get rid of the dirt that she collects on herself while in contact with Stanley, i. e. all his slandering against the Du Bois family name, and whom she believes to be lower than herself. But even she knows that everything she does is a fai ade, as she herself sings, Its a Barnum and Bailey world, Just as phony as it can be-But it wouldnt be make-believe if you believed in me!, which is contrasted by dialogue between Stella and Stanley, when Stanley takes apart her story. Even Blanche realises that she is living a lie, but doesnt think that anyone else realises that, and that she can continue living in her dream world. Williams tells us that since Blanche couldnt deal with the death around her at Belle Reve, she turned to sex, to the kindness of strangers. She has always relied on this to get her through, to make sure that she has a warm bed to sleep at night. But her past association with many men have given her a reputation in her home town, and this is dramatised by the gradual decay of her mental facilities, as she realises that her act doesnt work any more on men. So unless she finds some permanent shelter, she will be left without anyone who will acknowledge her, everyone needs to be acknowledged. A Streetcar Named Desire is a very interesting play, in which the playwright, Tennessee Williams, successfully dramatises the influence of the past on the present through the use of music, stage directions and the actions of the characters.

Triple Constraint of Project Management

Triple Constraint of Project Management What Is The Triple Constraint Of Project Management? A project can be described as a temporary endeavour that is geared towards accomplishing a unique and desired product, service and/or result. For the project to be successful in attaining its objectives, triple constraint management is imperative. The management involves schedule (time), scope (performance) and budget (cost) management (Marchewka, 2009, p. 15-18). Describe Each Of Triple Constraint Management Elements: Time: Project is a temporary endeavour; hence it must have a definite time frame, involving a definite beginning and estimated completion date. Some projects may have immovable date by which the project must be complete while others may be flexible. In time frame, there are some issues that will have specific deadlines. For example, be complete on or before 29th March 2010. Some will have more urgency, like â€Å"soonest possible,† while others will have lesser urgency like â€Å"take your time†. The phases that should be involved in project time frame include: when to define project goal, when to plan, when to execute the plan, when to close and finally when to evaluate the project (Marchewka, 2009, p. 15-18). Budget: Every project operates within a definite budget, which is also known as project cost management. The cost management provides an assurance that the budget of the project is developed as well as completed as approved. The budget should cater for equipment capital, consumable supplies, daily cash expenditure, personnel payment which include team allocated resources and the overhead cost. The budget should also have miscellaneous allocation for unexpected mishaps and requirements. The budget is limited to every item in the entire project (Meredith, 2009, p. 10, Marchewka, 2009, p. 24-26). Scope: Every project should have a total of all deliverables that are required for project completeness. Project scope includes the details of all the products, and services and the expected results. The scope details all the works that must be completed in order to achieve the goals of the project. The project scope explains what is to be done, why it going to be done, how its going to be done, the people who will be involved in doing it, the duration for doing it, the cost for doing it, what man go wrong and the response to it, and measures to evaluate the success of the project (Marchewka, 2009, p. 18-20). Why It Is Important To Manage Them Both Separately And Together Through The Life Of A Project? Its notable that projects have a very big percentage of resources directed to human resources. The labour cost makes the total budget increase immensely. Scope schedule and budget have to remain in a sort of equilibrium so as to support a specified project goal. Separate management on the other hand enables each element to offer its best, without hoping that the others will balance out the equation. For example time element will not hope that the scope will be adjusted to accommodate lateness and scope will not await adjustment of budget to allow for a divergent scope (Marchewka, 2009, p. 14-17). Why Is It Important To Align Projects With Business Strategy? A project is a temporary endeavour that is aimed at achieving some unique and desired product and/or services to accomplish the purpose of the project, while on the other hand a business strategy is the pattern or plan which integrates an organizations primary goals, policies as well as activities into a cohesive whole. Business strategy pulls together while giving meaning to all that an organization does. A business strategy that is well organized facilitates the organization of all resources to become a unique and viable force that is based on the competencies as well as the shortcomings of the business organization on projected changes activities by competitors and the environment (Marchewka, 2009, p. 3). Its imperative to align a project with the business strategy as accomplishment of many business or organizations objectives are being achieved through projects. There are many projects that fail to advance the overall vision of a business simply because they were not in line with the goals of the business. In other words they fall outside the business stated mission hence irrelevant to the business. Its therefore important for every project to start by analysing the overall objective of the organization so as to direct the project towards achieving the minor goals as well as the major goals that do not divert from the mission of the project (Meredith Mantel, 2009). Alignment of a project to a business strategy enables the project planners to evaluate the cost of the project versus the total business capability to host the project. Rationality is applied in tabling or arguments of the effect of such a cost in relation to the business strategy. In a situation where the budget of the project surpasses the business capital base, the imbalance may lead to debts to the business consequently destabilizing the balance of the business (Meredith Mantel, 2009). Alignment of a project to the business strategy facilitates lowering of the cost of learning the project. This is because there are many types of equipment that would be required in the project but they are readily available in the business. The establishment of project will therefore not start from scratch. There are some human resources that can also be drawn from the business; people with a bit of experience hence will not require too much training in running the affairs of the project (Cadle Yeates, 2004). When a project is aligned to a business strategy, it will be exempted of many challenges as compared to a project that is not aligned to any strategy. The argument is that many challenges that a project goes through in the initiation process are similar to challenges that were faced in launching of many businesses, so by the time a project is established within the business strategy, many hills of challenges will be levelled (Cadel Yeates 2004). What Criteria Would You Suggest For Ranking The Projects? Project selection can be defined as a process by which evaluation of proposed projects is done and then deciding to implement some set of the projects in order to achieve the overall objective of the organization. Evaluation selection technique is employable in any area that requires one to make choice between alternative choices. When my organization is faced with a challenge of so many projects that are tabled for its investment, its imperative to choose the projects that we will invest in from the list. Some of the criteria that have been tabled by Meredith and Mantel (2009, p 41) for project selection and ranking include: Realism, capability, flexibility, easy to use, cost effective, and easy to computerize. I would choose realism criterion. This module reflects an organizations reality is decision making, organizations resources, organizations limitations, cost, time and implementation factors. How Would You Ultimately Decide Which Projects To Select? The selection of the project to invest in will be based on Project Portfolio Process (PPP). The project that I would select must support multiple of the organizations goals while at the same time cross reinforcing other important projects. This means a project should not be solely geared towards achieving its objectives without giving a thought on the overall mission of the organization. I would evaluate all the projects to understand which projects are likely to incur the greatest cost to the organization. As argued by Meredith Mantel (2009, p. 72) such a project should be in a position to deliver equally high returns; otherwise the project should not be adopted. A project that I would propose for investment in must not bring about excessive baggage to the organization, those projects which are likely to incur excessive risk should be eliminated. Such projects include those that are likely to overload an organizations resources. Meredith Mantel (2009, p. 71-72) argued that a project to be selected should be in position to balance the resources to the needs. If a project requires too many resources than its ability to overcome the needs in the organization, it shall have to be rejected. At the same time the project should be in a position to balance the short term, medium term and long term returns, an imbalance would lead to rejection of the project. Olsen (2001, p. 34) pointed of the essence of doing a cost benefit analysis for whichever project is tabled for adoption. I would ensure that all the projects tabled are critically evaluated to assess whether they are worth investing the resources of the organization in. The project that I select must also be realistic as pointed out by Meredith Mantel (2009) on criteria for selecting the most viable project. A project must be based on an organizations limitations realities. The project should not surpass an organizations resources, or capabilities. For example if our organization is work a million dollars, its not realistic to invest in a multi-billion dollars project rest we drain the other projects. In other words a project that we select must be within our organizations policies. Meredith and Mantel (2009, p. 41) have argued that every viable project should be flexible. The project that we select should be flexible enough to allow for adjustments and modifications where necessary. The project should not be fixed such that even if something else crops up in the project cycle, it can not be changed to be aligned with the new cycle. I would therefore try to evaluate the project prior to its adoption to see all the loose ends and examine what are the possible effects to the overall aims of the organization. Computerization is a very essential component in this age (Meredith and Mantel (2009, p. 42); hence the project should be easy to computerize. Computerization allow for easy storage of data, retrieval and project evaluation. The data of the project stored in a computer can easily be managed and distributed to other stake holders consequently enhancing effectiveness in project management. 4a. briefly describe what happens in each of the five projects management process groups: Five process groups define the appropriate project management process by king of work that ought to be done. But the process groups overlap between and within the project phases as output of one process group turns to the input of the following phase. Initiation: At this stage, the process group signals the genesis or the start of project or a phase. A set of processes of project management defines how the project would be conducted and the way the first methodology phase will be initiated. Approval of business case takes place (Marchewka, 2009, p. 80-81). Planning: Planning of entire project (phase to phase) takes place; the planning involves scope, activity, and resources planning. It also includes cost estimation, procurement planning, and schedule estimation. The planning is in line with project size and complexity; necessary for every phase, though not demanding initial planning (Marchewka, 2009, p. 81). Executing: Involves integration of resources (human and material) in carrying out the planned project activities. Project management processes like risk management, quality assurance and team development perform a significant supporting role (Marchewka, 2009, p. 81). Monitoring and Controlling: This process group permits for measuring and managing progress to projects scope, budget, schedule, and quality objectives. The manager and the team keep an eye on variances between actual results and hoped for results. It also includes scope control, schedule control, change control, quality control and budget control (Marchewka, 2009, p. 81). Closing: closing process group avails a set of accepting the products or services of the project which brings the project to an orderly close. The stake holders ought to verify satisfactory completion of all deliverables before the project sponsors accepts contract closure. All the deliverable should be agreed upon and agree to the terms of project completion. Resources are free to be reassigned and all accounts settlement be done. Evaluation of the success or failure of project is done (Marchewka, 2009, p. 81). On Which Processes Should Team Members Spend The Most Time? The execution stage is the most important stage in a project management group. At this stage whatever was planned for is implemented so that the desired outcomes could be attained. At this stage the integration of people and other resources is very important as it leads to the end product. The success or the failure of a given project is highly dependent on the interaction between the two resources. It takes the longest period because it involves employing the plans from the initiation stage in turning a low material into a finished product. The absence of this stage means fiasco of the project (Marchewka, 2009, p. 81). What Are The Main Tasks Undertaken During Project Integration Management? Project integration coordinates all the other eight knowledge areas of a project hence its considered as the most important knowledge area. It involves putting all the pieces of a project together in a cohesive manner to get the project done in fewer resources hence cheaper and fast while meeting the set objectives. In involves project charter development, preliminary scope statement development, project management plan development, manage and direct execution of the project, monitoring and control of project work, integrate change control and closure of the project (Marchewka, 2009, p. 84). Development Of Project Charter: ItS The Backbone Of The Project; Project Can Not Be Started Without It. It Authorizes The Project. Preliminary scope statement development: it outlines project deliverables. It contains the details that will be used in project planning. Project plan development: it explains how the implementation of the project will be done. Its an imperative tool in day to day pursuit of the project goals and objectives. Direction and management of project execution: Integration of project process takes place. The completion of project scope is done. Control and monitoring of project work: resources are expended consequently facilitating accomplishment of project goals and objectives. Integrated change control: Needful for documentation, review, and decide upon of proposed changes as change is inevitable in a project cycle. Close the project: facilitates administrative and contract closure. Close project process is paramount for termination of every project (Marchewka, 2009, p. 84). References Marchewka, 2009, Project management process: developing the project charter and baseline project plan, John wily and sons, San Francisco. Meredith Mantel, 2009, Project management: A managerial Approach, 7th Edn, John wily and sons, San Francisco. Olsen, 2001, Introduction to IS Project Management, McGraw Hill, New York. Cadle Yeates, 2004, Project Management for Information, Systems, 4th edn, Prentice Hall, New Jersey.

Dante Alighieri Essay -- Poet Poetry Dante Biographies Essays

Dante Alighieri Dante Alighieri was the first and best Italian poet and wrote mainly on love and religion. His Divine Comedy is considered the greatest book of the last millennium. George Steiner said, "Dante’s totality of poet form and philosophic thought, of local universality and language, remains unrivaled. At a time where the notion of culture and of European culture in particular, is somewhat in doubt, Dante is the sovereign underwriter. His are the solutions beyond logic† (Twito 5). On June 5, 1265 Dante was born Durante Alighieri, Dante was a nickname, in Florence, Italy. His family was of decayed nobility with some pretensions to power (Giles 1). He was taught the classics and scholastic Christian literature, and wrote much poetry when he was young, consisting mainly of love lyrics in the style of Guido Guinizelli and Guido Cavalcanti. This style that used poetical art not only to speak about love, but to celebrate it, he called Stilnovo which means â€Å"new style† (Giles 2). He fell in love with a woman named Beatrice, who was also called Bice di Folco Portinarti by some, whom he met only twice in 1274 and 1283 at the age of nine and eighteen respectively. His love was a transformation of courtly love popularized by the Provencal literature of minstrels, troubadours, and the such. To Dante, Beatrice symbolized divine grace and supreme beauty. He wrote La Vita Nuova about her, and she was his guide through Purgatory in La Divina Commedia (Auerbach 1). Because Beatrice died in 1290, Dante married Gemma di Manetto Donati even though he didn’t completely love her. They had between three and seven children together (Giles 1). Dante, who was in the Guelph party, was deeply involved in the issues and events of his day, which reflected in his writing. He was a member of the Florentine cavalry that routed the Ghibellines at Campaldio in 1289. In 1300 he became one of the six priors, or governors, of Florence (Mojana 56). At the beginning of the thirteenth century, political life was factionalized into the Ghibellines, who represented the old imperial aristocracy, and the Guelphs, a party that was originally bourgeois and looked to the pope as a political power rather than a spiritual leader. At the beginning of the 14th century, the Guelphs held most councils in Italy. The Guelfi split into two groups, t... ...s to understand or accept† (Benfell 7). 1 Dante’s life spanned the troubled years of the late Middle Ages. He influenced Longfellow, Tennyson, Victor Hugo, and T.S. Elliot (Benfell 15). Dante’s vision was born not so much from a literary intent as from an authentic experience of action and thought, illuminated in a moment of grace. Along with William Shakespeare, he is one of the towering figures of western literature (Cooksey 35). Works Cited Auerbach, Erich. â€Å"Dante Alighieri.† Grolier Encyclopedia Online 11 Oct 2000 Available: http://go.grolier.com Benfell, V. Stanley. â€Å"Prophetic Madness: The Bible in Inferno.† MLIV Jan 1995: v110 n1 p195 Online Internet Oct 00 Available: http://rac.galegroup.com/itar/infomark/199/241.htm Cooksey, Tina. â€Å"The Divine Comedy: Hell, Purgatory, Heaven.† Library Journal 1Sep. 1997: 181-183 Giles, Mary E. â€Å"Dante Alighieri.† Great Thinkers of the Western World 1999 ed. Lansing, Richard H. â€Å"Dante Alighieri.† World Book 1999 ed. Mojana, Beeky M. â€Å"Dante† Benet’s Reader’s Encyclopedia. 1987 ed. Twito, Dao Dante Alighieri on the Web 8 May 1997 Online Internet 9 Oct 2000 Available: http://www.geocities.com/1kurio/

America Must Join the International Community Essay -- Politics Politi

For the past century, Americans have viewed the United States as standing as a symbol of strength, freedom, and prosperity. Recently, however, this symbol of higher society has been directly attacked by those who strongly disagree with the values projected by the United States. This is one of the first times that the stance of America has even been questioned. The answer to this is scattered in many places and divided into two different categories-- where the people of America stand as citizens of a country under attack, and were America as a nation stands in global respects. The people of America have been taught and expect to have the right to trust their government. The Constitution and governing institutions are set to serve the people and their rights. However, in past situations of war, American citizens have been deceived and blatantly lied to. In 1964, President Lyndon B Johnson officially declared war on Vietnam. The action that directly influenced this declaration is known as the Tonkin Gulf Incident. A US destroyer was attacked and sunk in the international waters of the Tonkin Gulf. President Johnson conveniently left out information to Congress and American citizens and called this attack unprovoked and used it as an excuse to launch full-scale mobilization. He eagerly exploited symbolism and patriotism while deceiving the American public as well as Congress. The government continued to hide details of how devastating the progress and causalities were throughout the duration of the war. Most Americans today still wonder what went on during Op eration Desert Storm during the late 1980's and are mostly let in the dark about incidents in Kosovo. It is hard to leave your immediate future in the hands of a government t... ... back us militarily, and now it is America's turn to recognize these nations as economic and cultural equals. The United States has always been the first nation to assist others when times of need. Never before have these favors been asked for reciprocation. This constant requirement to help others in need has also helped Americans to build egos and look upon the country as indestructible. Having to ask other nations for support is a humbling experience for the United States and will be an important agent in assisting the incorporation of America into the global network. As devastating as these past events have been to the confidence of the American people, perhaps the catastrophe can be used in a positive way. This attack was an indirect call on Americans to open their eyes and look toward the rest of the globe and open their arms to the international community.

Safe Distances :: Personal Narrative Religion Papers

Safe Distances Evolution at its most basic is the process by which a species puts barriers between itself and extinction. Anytime a species finds a way to increase its individual organisms' ability to reproduce, it has put a little extra distance between the species and total annihilation. For example: the peacock's elaborate tail, which ensures his success in propagating his genes, also makes him an easy catch for predators. One might imagine that the peacock could simply have invested in a foreign sports car to attract the opposite sex. I was 15 the first time I made my own blood run. I was sitting in the crowded closet, feeling that iron-in-my-stomach sensation that had been with me more and more since my grandmother had died, since my father had started screaming so much, since my feelings for school had gone from run of the mill adolescent angst to extreme boredom, frustration, outrage over the absurdity of it all. I would sit some nights like a toddler in the darkness of my closet, morosely rehashing my grievances against life, lost in a forest of sweaters and skirts. I would brood, and think and will myself not to cry until the effort became too great and I'd give in and wring my hands and rain tears on my sneakers and sandals and sensible dress shoes in silence until the iron had dissolved enough that I could stand straight again. The Hebrew's relationship with God starts out as extremely simple and extremely personal. God chooses his favorites with frightening randomness, picking otherwise unremarkable second sons to succeed their morally ambiguous, but also chosen, fathers. God's actions in Genesis are often inexplicably random, even petty. God forbids his first human creation to eat a certain apple, and then puts a whole tree full of the forbidden fruit right in front of them. When they finally give in and taste test what they shouldn't have, Adam and Eve are banished from paradise and consigned to death. God's actions here seem cruel and unfair, or at the very least, unfathomable to human minds. We can't help but feel a little outrage and confusion over the events of Genesis. Why wasn't Lot's wife allowed to look back (19:26)? Why did God just up and slay Er (38:7)? How could Cain be allowed to live after killing his brother (4:15), when God was willing to kill all the children on earth with one gigantic flood in order to cleanse the earth of sin (6:13)?

Negotiation Simulation Essay

ISLAND CRUISE Introduction In this exercise you will participate in a negotiation about a cruise ship and its rights to visit a tropical island. You will role-play this negotiation as either the director of the cruise ship or the mayor of the island. The issues to be discussed during the negotiation include the number of visits per year that the ship can make, the length of individual visits, and the volume of passengers allowed to disembark from the ship on each day when it visits. This simulation provides a rich context for a business negotiation in which economic, cultural, and ecological factors all come into play. Background Information The Island Queen is a privately owned and operated luxury cruise ship. Cruise ship passenger demand has steadily fallen over the past few years due to the poor economy, fear of worldwide terrorism, and recurring cases of the Norwalk virus on cruise ships. Norwalk-like viruses, which have afflicted hundreds of passengers on several cruise ships, cause diarrhea, stomach pain, and vomiting. The Island Queen’s operations department has decided that adding a new exotic destination to the standard 16-day itinerary will help stimulate passenger demand. While many islands in the region are possible candidates, Tropical Island is its first choice due to the island’s reputation as an exotic and pristine locale. Tropical Island Tropical Island is part of a chain of lush Pacific islands in one of the most remote spots on earth. At 10 miles wide by 38 miles long, the island is not large. However, it is home to an extensive array or rare and endangered  plant and animal species, many found only on Tropical Island. The traditional rural and native culture of the island has remained relatively unchanged over time, earning it the nickname â€Å"The Last Unspoiled Island†. The island is a wonderful combination of rain forests, desert lands, waterfalls, and black-and whitesand beaches. Weather on the island is pleasant year round, with maximum daytime temperatures ranging from 88 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer (May to October) to 80 degrees in the winter (November to April). Night-time temperatures rarely fall below 60 degrees. As a result, the island’s tourism, though considered minimal, remains almost constant year-round, at about 70,000 visitors per year. Approximately 60 percent of the island’s 7,000 residents have true Pacific Island ancestry. This makes Tropical Island the only one in the region where true natives are the majority. These natives continue to practice the region’s old traditions while trying to minimise the influence of the rampant commercialism found on other islands. The two closest islands are more than 25 miles away and are far more commercialised than Tropical Island. MGB225 – Negotiation Simulation 3 (Assessed) – Island Cruise Compared to the other islands in the region, Tropical Island is a quiet and pristine world of breathtaking beauty, where one can easily escape to peaceful solitude or participate in a myriad of outdoor activities. In addition, prices on the island are generally lower than on surrounding islands. As a result, many visitors are actually repeat customers, re-immersing themselves in the idyllic lifestyle they know they will find on the island. Typical island activities include surfing, kayaking, fishing, and hiking. Snorkeling and scuba diving are especially spectacular due to the abundance of giant sea turtles. The island is also home to the longest barrier reef in the region, which stretches 28 miles. Guided hiking tours of the island’s extensive rain forests allow visitors to learn about the flora and fauna unique to the region. For the less sure-footed, guided mule rides down the  highest oceanfront cliffs in the world offer dramatic views of the unspoiled coastline. With only one movie theatre, one public restroom, and no stoplights, the island takes pride in its lack of development. A weekly Saturday morning farmer’s market offers a vibrant taste of the rich local heritage. In addition, the island’s macadamia nut farm, coffee plantation, and kite factory provide abundant opportunities to explore the island’s unique character. Dining options cover the full spectrum from inexpensive eateries to extravagant gourmet feasts, complete with traditional native entertainment. In addition to tourism, major industries on the island include fishing, farming, and retail sales. With the collapse of the sugar and pineapple industries in the 1990s, the island has moved to replace these once dominant industries with more diversified aqua-culture and agriculture. Tropical Island is governed by an autonomous council. Residents elect a mayor, who serves a three-year term with a two-term limit, and an eight-member island council with two-year terms. The island council, with current mayor Gil Egan as its representative, is responsible for making all decisions regarding the island community. Decisions are made by majority vote of the council. The mayor performs the function of â€Å"tie-breaker† when necessary. There are five public and two private schools on the island serving 2,000 students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Residents seeking a college-level education typically move off the island for the duration of their studies. These students rarely return to live permanently on the island. This has been a major concern of the islanders, who wish to reduce the loss of native residents. Therefore, construction of a local community college is under consideration. Current means for tourists to access the island include small aircraft and small sea vessels. There are also two inter-island flights per day between Tropical Island and the surrounding islands, with each flight carrying about 50 passengers. On any given day, about 200 tourists arrive or depart  Tropical Island, with a total of 500 tourists on the island at any given time. Electric cart rentals are available at the airport for transportation around the island. Marine ecological studies performed on Tropical Island by the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization Agency indicate that for each day a cruise ship operates in Tropical Island’s sensitive coastal waters, at least two weeks of undisturbed marine environment must be maintained afterward to avoid permanent ecological damage. Each additional day of operation requires two additional weeks of recovery. The ecosystem, however, is not able to sustain more than five consecutive days of abuse. These figures assume no intentional damage to the ecosystem, such as removal of coral or wildlife as a result of cruise ship-related tourism. During the time that a cruise ship is anchored near the island, and for four days following its departure, local residents are advised not to fish or swim within a two-mile radius of where the cruise ship had been anchored because of potential health hazards. The island’s only natural harbour is the best location for anchoring cruise ships. Unfortunately, this two-mile-wide bay is also the island’s most productive fishing spot. The Island Queen At 971 feet in length and weighing 91,000 tonnes, the $400 million Island Queen is the largest cruise ship ever to service the Tropical Island region. It accommodates 2,200 passengers and 1,100 crew members. Operation of the Island Queen is handled through Island Queen, Inc., a private corporation. Captain Stuart (Stu) Bing is the director of cruise ship operations for the Island Queen. While he has sole responsibility for negotiating all contracts governing the vessel’s operation, he ultimately answers to the CEO and the board of directors of Island Queen, Inc., regarding all corporate matters. With 10 distinctive restaurants and 14 separate lounges and bars, the Island Queen has a venue for the most discriminating guest. Passengers who desire the excitement of gambling will enjoy the lavish Grand Casino with its glass  elevators, floating staircases, stained glass domes, and ocean view windows. The magnificent Riviera Deck, adorned with sparkling pools, bars, hamburger grill, ice cream bar, gymnasium, and spa, is the perfect spot for outdoor activities and food. The Island Queen sets a new standard for luxury cruise ships with its unique alternative 24-hour dining in the panoramic Horizon Court, two theatres, computerised golf, and a library featuring â€Å"listening chairs† for music and audio books. Industry standard venues and amenities such as buffet meals, theatres, and gyms are included in the price of the cruise. Dining in the more exclusive restaurants and some personal services such as massages and beauty treatments are an additional expense billed separately to the passenger. The standard Island Queen cruise is 16 days and 15 nights. The itinerary consists of five days sailing to the island region, six days visiting various tropical islands, and five days returning to its home port. An island visit generally involves passengers disembarking at 8am and returning to the ship by 8pm. On more popular islands, the ship will remain in port for two days. At these ports, passengers may elect to spend the night on the island, but they must return to the ship by 8pm the following evening when the ship sets sail for the next port. Island Queen, Inc., has provided luxury cruises to the island region for over 20 years, but Tropical Island has never allowed cruise ships to visit. For economic reasons, Tropical Island is now considering offering exclusive visitation rights to a cruise line company. Though other cruise line companies are vying for the right to add Tropical Island to their itinerary, the Island Queen is the most luxurious prospect. An agreement with the Island Queen is expected to provide greater income per tourist for the island than an agreement with any of the other cruise lines because of the Island Queen’s wealthier clientele. During one-day port visits, about half of the ship’s passengers typically disembark. As the length of stay increases, fewer passengers disembark per day. Those who remain on the ship are an important revenue source as they continue to patronise onboard facilities including the casino, shops, and  restaurants. Island disembarkation agreements are negotiated in increments of 100 passengers. Thus an agreement for 500 passengers per day would include any number of visitors up to 500. There are currently no island visits longer than two days because this would not leave enough time to visit all the other popular ports. However, a visit longer than two days is certainly possible given sufficient demand. Because there is no suitable deepwater dock on Tropical Island, cruise ships will have to anchor in the ecologically sensitive coastal waters surrounding the island. A smaller vessel must then make multiple trips ferrying passengers back and forth between the ship and the island. The island’s harbour area is considered the best location for anchoring cruise ships due to its proximity to the main island community. Tropical Island and Island Queen Concerns Large cruise ships, like the Island Queen, can severely impact the local marine ecology during their stay. According to one environmental group, typical cruise ships â€Å"produce massive volumes of waste, including sewage, nonsewage wastewater or gray water, ballast water, oily bilge water, air  pollution, solid waste, and hazardous waste, each of which may harm sensitive marine ecosystems like the island’s through the addition of harmful pathogens and chemicals, or the introduction of alien species.†1 There are, however, international environmental standards under which cruise lines must operate. These standards, set forth in international conventions, create strict guidelines for all commercial vessels, including passenger vessels, to prevent ship-generated pollution for oil, garbage, and waste .2  Still, the island community has strong reservations about allowing cruise-based tourism because of the industry’s dismal record of environmental compliance and poor enforcement of laws regarding ship pollution. There is also concern that a sudden increase in tourism will adversely affect the social makeup of the quiet rural island. Environmentalists point to small islands and towns in Alaska and the Caribbean whose local lifestyle, culture, and economy become crowded out by foreign visitors. The island council’s community plan defines its primary economic focus as agricultural industries. Tourism is to be limited to a level that will not adversely affect the community’s traditional, social, economic, and environmental characteristics. An agreement between the Island Queen and Tropical Island must take into account the impact it will have on the traditional lifestyle and customary rights of the native inhabitants. The main reason cruise ship companies have been hesitant to add Tropical Island to their itinerary has been the lack of island infrastructure to support the needs of a typical cruise ship visit. Too many cruise tourists descending upon the island all at once may overwhelm existing island facilities, resulting in an unpleasant experience for everyone. The fact that there is only one public restroom on the island is enough to dissuade even the most optimistic tour operator. Limiting the number of tourists disembarking will help preserve the island’s natural character and benefit the cruise ship since remaining passengers will spend their money on board the ship. Conclusion Traditional island culture and mores, as well as island law, forbid council members, and Mayor Gil Egan as their representative, from accepting any form of financial incentives, such as bribes, from the cruise lines to gain commercial access to Tropical Island. A respectful and mutually beneficial relationship between Tropical Island and the Island Queen is desirable. Any agreement between Tropical Island and the Island Queen should take into account the current economic environment, existing resources and infrastructure, expected tourism income for both parties, and any damage to local ecology and native culture resulting from added cruise line tourism. International maritime law requires that any agreement between the parties remain in force for six years following its adoption, so it is important to consider anticipated trends with any agreement since renegotiating in the  near term will be very difficult, if not impossible. CONFIDENTIAL ROLE INFORMATION FOR CAPTAIN STUART BING (From the Island Queen, Inc. Board of Directors) As the director of cruise ship operations for Island Queen, Inc., the Board of Directors has authorised you to negotiate with the mayor of Tropical Island, Gil Egan, to secure exclusive anchoring and disembarkation rights to the island. In order to add Tropical Island to the standard 16-day Island Queen cruise, you must remove a current port from the itinerary. This is not a problem because one port is no longer popular among passengers due to recurring outbreaks of a particularly virulent strain of Hansen’s Disease (Leprosy) on the island, which has afflicted a number of previous passengers. You are aware that one of your competitors, Island Maid, Inc., has made inquiries to Mayor Egan regarding access to Tropical Island. However, this is a smaller company with an older, less luxurious ship. More importantly, its clientele are mostly middle-class retirees on fixed incomes, who would typically generate less revenue per tourist for the island. On 16-day cruises, an island visit typically lasts only one day. The ship anchors by 8 am, and leaves the same day at 8 pm. Visits to especially popular islands may last two days. Since Tropical Island will be new and unexploited, it is expected to quickly become very popular. An island visit of more than two days is quite rare, but would be a valuable option for the future. While not the most important consideration, you want to be sure people have enough time to really appreciate this beautiful island and feel the cruise was unique and worthwhile. Regardless of the length of a port visit, at most only half of the passengers  disembark per day. Remaining passengers are an important revenue source for the ship because they continue to patronise the ship’s casino, shops and exclusive restaurants. This is fortunate, because the ferry to the island can only accommodate about 1,100 passengers per day. Thus, there is little value in negotiating daily disembarkation rights for more than this quantity. If a port does not draw more than 200 passengers per day, it is removed from the itinerary in favor of a more popular destination. It is critical for you to negotiate a deal that allows you to have the ideal number of passengers disembark – not too many, nor too few. In fact, this is the most important issue for you. The Island Queen is the only one of Island Queen, Inc.’s vessels licensed to operate in the Tropical Island region. Because it takes about two weeks to prepare the ship for another voyage after a two-week cruise, the maximum trip rate is 12 trips per year. Therefore, there is no benefit to negotiating an agreement for more than 12 visits per year. Because demand fluctuates based on the season, economy, and travel fads, the number of visits to the island per year is not that important to you. As long as each trip is profitable (which it will be if the right number of passengers disembark) you will be satisfied with your agreement. Desert Island is another island in the region that you are considering if you cannot negotiate an acceptable agreement with Tropical Island. While Desert Island is not nearly as pristine and breathtaking as Tropical Island, it does have some redeeming qualities. Like Tropical Island, Desert Island is one of the least commercialised islands in the region and there are currently no cruise ships visiting it. Since the mayor of Desert Island wants cruise tourism to play a significant role in the island’s economy, you expect he will be very accommodating regarding the volume of cruise tourism permitted, but he will probably not grant exclusive visitation rights. Unfortunately, Desert MGB225 – Negotiation Simulation 3 (Assessed) – Island Cruise Island has less tourism infrastructure than Tropical Island and few financial  resources to remedy this situation. Your business development department has indicated that it is realistic to expect an agreement with Desert Island for monthly two-day visits of 700 passengers. But, the desolate nature of the island will preclude it from ever attracting enough demand to justify more than just a one-day visit. Since international maritime law makes it nearly impossible to renegotiate agreements for six years from their effective date, you must be careful to ensure that any agreement is flexible enough to accommodate both current and future anticipated passenger demand. Evaluation: In order to evaluate the viability of adding Tropical Island to the ship’s itinerary, the Board of Directors has developed the following guidelines to help you understand their concerns regarding the various options. Your objective is to negotiate the most beneficial agreement for the company. Comment Because of the logistics and expense of adding Tropical Island to the ship’s itinerary, it is not viable to schedule less than three visits per year. This would also not provide enough opportunity for expansion should passenger demand exceed expectations. Planning fewer visits per year with more passengers per visit could be a solution. However, the island’s limited  infrastructure precludes allowing an excessive number of passengers to disembark per visit. If enough passengers were permitted extended stays of two or more days on the island, this option might be acceptable, because it could accommodate anticipated passenger demand for the island. Increasing the number of allowed visits will increase the value of an agreement, because it provides you with greater flexibility to meet current and anticipated passenger disembarkation demands. The maximum trip rate is 12 trips per year. While current demand may not warrant a trip every month, it is valuable to have this option in order to meet potential future demand. Comment While most port visits are currently only one day, market research indicates that passenger demand for Tropical Island will probably exceed the capacity that the island can reasonably accommodate in a single day. The option of a two-day port visit to Tropical Island should meet our anticipated requirements for the next six years considering the island’s limited infrastructure. While these options provide additional flexibility, they are not especially valuable because we do not expect passenger demand to justify such extended port visits. MGB225 – Negotiation Simulation 3 (Assessed) – Island Cruise Issue #3: Number of passengers on shore per day (in increments of 100 passengers) Passengers Comment 100-200 300-600 700-1000 This level of disembarkation is very restrictive and would require a longer visit many more times a year in order to accommodate anticipated demand levels. The idea of many passengers remaining on the ship to provide additional revenue is tempting. However, if passenger demand were this low, we would remove the port from our itinerary since it is obviously not an attractive destination. While less restrictive, these options are still not ideal considering our anticipated passenger demand. Such a small allocation would require multi-day visits at the expense of other ports. Until we have actual experience with the demand created by Tropical Island, it would be foolish to lock ourselves into such low numbers. Typically, about 700 passengers disembark per day during a two-day port visit. However, these levels would not support anticipated demand for single-day visits. 1100 This would be the most valuable option because it should be sufficient for all anticipated levels of demand for the foreseeable future. 1600-2000 This level of disembarkation has some value since it provides additional flexibility. However, there is little value in negotiating such a large  number at the expense of the other two issues, since it is not realistic to expect we will exercise this right in the foreseeable future. About half of our passengers typically remain on-board during port visits to patronize casinos, spas, restaurants, and other revenue centers. This provides a valuable source of income for the ship and we want to maintain this level of ship-board activity. Also, such a large number of passengers disembarking onto the island will likely degrade the facilities making the port less enjoyable for future passenger visits. 1200-1500 These options provide additional flexibility, yet experience shows it is rare for more than half of our passengers to disembark on a given day for a one-day visit. The Board of Directors requests that you negotiate an agreement providing a realistic and flexible path to meet anticipated demand, while accounting for current economic conditions, and the island’s lack of infrastructure to support expanded cruise tourism. An acceptable agreement would include monthly two-day visits for 1,100 passengers. Negotiating such an agreement can be expected to ensure your promotion to commodore, and earn you a coveted seat on the Island Queen, Inc. board of directors. If you are unable to secure an agreement with Mayor Egan that adequately addresses our corporate interests, then you are authorized to pursue a dialog with the mayor of Desert Island in order to secure an agreement more beneficial to Island Queen, Inc. Note: Negotiations must be based solely upon information provided in this simulation and no external sources. At the completion of your negotiation, please fill out one negotiation summary worksheet per negotiating pair and return it to your instructor for discussion.