Marketing Plan of FORD MOTOR

Marketing Plan of FORD MOTOR Executive Summary The main objective of this assessment is to accomplish a detailed marketing plan of the Ford Motor Company within the perspective of the international automotive industry. In doing so, the paper would focus on epitomizing an appropriate company profile of Ford Motor, considering the financial overview of the company, formulating a SWOT Analysis, reviewing the current marketing situation of Ford along with a BCG matrix, and creating a comprehensive competitive review of the industry.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Marketing Plan of FORD MOTOR specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Furthermore, the paper would illustrate the potential marketing strategies of the company with consideration of the marketing research, brand positioning strategy, brand-positioning map, target market, and marketing mix. To conclude, the appraisal shall focus on assembling applicable recommendations together with an apposit e conclusion. Introduction Presently, globalization has transformed the pace of the entire global commercial structure and the business environment influencing every sphere of the international trading issues both optimistically and pessimistically. The positive affects of globalization include the fact that together with many other industries, the automobile industry has also become open to the whole world and this has resulted in the business of Ford Motor to reach the market to a far-reaching level. Widely extensive international market means increasing sales and consecutively, higher annual profit margins for the motor company. However, despite of so many benefits that Ford Motor is receiving, a major issue that remains with the impact of globalization on the company is that the firm now requires a quite high amount of expenditure on carrying out its marketing activities. Company Profile Bloomberg Businessweek suggested that Ford Motor Company, one of the globe’s biggest vehicle manufacturers, started its journey in the twentieth century with brands that comprise of Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury (1). It is important to note that Ford runs in two main parts, namely, Automotive and Financial Services the Automotive sector consist operations of North America, South America, Europe, Asia Pacific Africa and Volvo; on the other hand, the Financial services consist operations of Ford Motor Credit Company and Other Financial Services. Ford is a multibillion-dollar automobile manufacturing business based in the United States with excellent trends as one of the largest industry players, which provides quality products and services to customers all throughout the globe; the company has over 5,000 Dealer Communication Network, such as FordStar, a largest interactive distance-training network in the world.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Fin ancial Overview Being such a giant player in the global automotive industry, Ford Motors possess a strong financial position enough well built to compete with the market leaders of the industry. According to Bloomberg Businessweek (1), year over year, Ford Motor has observed revenues shrivel from $129.2 billion to $105.9 billion, although it was capable to raise net income from $2.7 billion to $14.8 billion; reduction in percentage of sales, general, and administrative costs from 16.58-12.46 percent was a key-component in the bottom line growth in the face of falling revenues. The following table shows the five years financial review of the motor company for a better understanding of the Ford’s financial position: Determinants of Financial Position FY 2006 FY 2007 FY 2008 FY 2009 FY 2010 Revenues $143,249 $154,379 $129,165 $105,893 $27,592 Total Revenues $160,065 $170,572 $145,114 $118,308 $29,893 Cost of Goods-Sold $145,066 $142,667 $121,737 $99,934 $24,233 Gross -Profit $6,970 $20,431 $14,908 $12,583 $4,750 Total General-sales and Admin-Expenses $19,148 $21,132 $21,414 $13,194 $2,654 Other Operating-Expenses $19,148 $21,132 $21,414 $13,194 $2,654 Operating-Income $-12,178 $-701 $-6,506 $-611 $2,096 Net Interest-Expense $414 $-650 $-1,110 $-1,306 $-344 Earnings of Discontinued-Operations $16 $41 $9 $5   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   _ Net-Income -$12,613 -$2,795 -$14,7660 $2,717 $1,687 Table 1: Financial Overview of Ford Motors Source: Self-generated from Bloomberg Businessweek (1) On the other hand, increasing rates of oil and gasoline prices, taxation rates, fluctuated global demand for manufactured car, and rising competitive pressure through domestic production intensity, recession’s effects, and the economic conditions of the automotive industry as a whole are notable to put external impacts over the financial position of Ford Motors. During the global financial downturn, the company suffered a loss of $6.3bn, and ca rried out 2600 job cuts; the company cut salaried employment costs by 10 percent by lowering compensations of the white-collar employees and sold off Jaguar and Land Rover for $2.bn to Tata Motors.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Marketing Plan of FORD MOTOR specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to NASDAQ (1), such adverse impacts of the recession were clearly visible in the company’s revenue and consequently on its share prices; the following figure (a five years stock price graph) gives an apparent idea of how the external economic environment of the industry affected the stock prices of the company in 2008 to 2009 period: Figure 1: Five Years Stock Price of Ford Motors Source: NASDAQ (1) SWOT Analysis of Ford Motors A brief account of the SWOT analysis of this automotive company has illustrated in figure 1: Figure 2: SWOT Analysis of Ford Motor Strengths:Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Brand awareness Financial capability Experience Promotion Leadership Diversified product line Weaknesses: Increase production and operating costs Lack of experience in new market Rules and regulation Opportunities: To be market leader in automobile industry Increase Interest Development of es of Some Products Car-models The company usually launches different cars in different countries; Ford-Taunus, Ford-Scorpio, Ford-Sierra, Ford-Fiesta, Ford-Festiva, Ford-Figo, Ford-Focus, Ford-Fusion, Ford-LTD-II, Ford-LTD (Crown-Victoria), Ford-Mainline, Ford-Marauder, and Ford-Maverick are significant among those Van-models Most well known ones are Ford-Aerostar, Ford-E-Series, Ford-Econovan, Ford-Endeavour, Ford-Freestar, Ford-I-MAX, Ford-Thames-300E, Ford-Thames-400E, Ford-Transit, and Ford-Windstar SUV-models The company has considered Ford-Bronco, Ford-Edge, Ford-Escape, Ford-Everest, Ford-Excursion, Ford-Expedition, Ford-Explorer, Ford-Fiera, Ford-Flex, Ford-Freestyle, Ford-Fusi on, Ford-Taurus, and Ford-Territory to be the best SUV-models Truck-models Ford has launched countless truck-model throughout its history, which includes Ford-Mainlin, Ford-N-Series, Ford-Panel-truck, Ford-R-Series, Ford-Ranchero, Ford-Ranchero, Ford-Ranger, Ford-Ranger-EV, Ford-Super-Duty, and many more Tractor-models Ford-600-Series Tractors and Ford-Workmaster are one of the company’s renowned tractor-models; some other types comprise of Ford-Powermaster, TW10, TW20, TW30, TW15, TW25, TW35, and so on Bus-models Ford Motor’s buses has manufactured for a number of purposes, for instance, for school-transport, public transport, and for industrial uses; Ford-Transit bus/van, Ford-E 450 Super-Duty minibus, Ford-B Series, Type-C-conventional-bus, Ford MB-IV100, Ford-MBC-IV 200, Ford Specialty-Trolley, Transit-Suburban Bus, Ford-G 99 7, Ford-R-Series, Ford-rader, Ford-Hawke, Ford-ET7, Ford 19B-29B, Ford-7 2B, and Ford-ET 7-Aqualina are most widely used throughout the world Table 4: Diversified Product Line of Ford Motor Source: Self-generated Price: Ford set the prices of the products by keeping in mind about the quality and production costs of the cars. It also considers the income levels of its targeted customers. Place: Ford has hundreds of showrooms throughout the world where it does its placements. Promotion: This vehicle-manufacturing firm is recently undertaking several strategic approaches to increase its sales-configuration; its advertising strategies are now concentrating on gratifying and impressing the people who put across abhorrence over Ford’s cars. Its latest shove for inducing the customers has designed for its critics; the firm provided hundred customers a car for a period of 6 months and requested them to accomplish diverse journeys every month; at the journeys, agents used their Fiestas to distribute Meals on Wheels along with many other offering for the customers like treats to the National Guard. The customers q uested for exiting-adventures, or even for mere entertainment within the activities; in addition, after all these, Ford marketed the stories of those missions on You Tube, Flickr, Facebook, and Twitter that contributed significantly over Ford’s marketing activities.The promotional strategy of the Ford varies accordingly with changing consumer trends, demands, and other external circumstances. The company plans the promotional packages depending on the factors such as different seasons, New Year festivals, Christmas Eve, occasions like Valentines Day, Easter Sunday, Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Halloween, etc. The reason for these strategies lies behind the fact that most of the customer groups of Ford will be having a fluctuation in demand of the products offered by the company depending on these specific periods of the year. The customers more often like to buy more private-cars during festive events. During New Year, Christmas, Mother’s day, Father’s Day the numb er of people visiting the Ford Showroom raises for which reason depending on the type of festival or occasion, Ford sets special offers; for instance, special promotional packages that include discount-vouchers, money-off coupon codes for great discounts, and many other packages for clients as well. These offers will help the company to gain competitive advantage over the competitors by augmenting sales during these special periods of the year. This strategy benefits the company by generating an interest among the new Ford customers for being loyal in order to gain full advantage of the promotional packages, which in turn, would raise the profit margins of the company together with the advertising campaigns. Recommendation As the car manufacturing companies are showing positive attitude to save the world from global warming, they are producing environment friendly products. The competition is becoming high day-by-day among the companies; therefore, Ford Motor should launch new envir onment friendly brands considering purchasing power and attitude of the customer. To hold its existing global market share, the company needs to amplify its annual budget for RD to introduce quality products and develop technology. The rationale of this recommendation is the competitors of Ford offer differentiated environment friendly products at comparatively low price. As Ford has corporate social responsibility, it should consider safety issue more carefully; otherwise, brand image of the company would be destroyed. As a result, Ford always should remember the consequence of Ford Pinto the oldest model of the company, which was the cause of the accidental death of several people. That model also collapsed only for the safety problem; so, it should offer quality products to protect the passenger from accidents, save the money of customers, and reduce other problems. Conclusion Being one of the most popular brands in world, Ford has always concentrated on serving its customers wit h highest level of satisfaction. In so doing, it has undertaken countless marketing strategies throughout its history. Additionally, during recession, due to financial-losses, it fell behind in terms of marketing activities. However, Ford is recovering from this by undertaking numerous development-policies through which it has expected to lead the market in future. Bloomberg Businessweek. FORD MOTOR CO (F:New York). 2010. Web. Ford. Annual Report 2009: One Ford. (2009). Web. NASDAQ. Ford Motor Credit Company (F) Stock Charts. 2010. Web. https://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/f/stock-chart

Pterodactylus Facts and Figures

Pterodactylus Facts and Figures Name: Pterodactylus (Greek for wing finger); pronounced TEH-roe-DACK-till-us; sometimes called pterodactyl Habitat: Shores of Europe and South Africa Historical Period: Late Jurassic (150-144 million years ago) Size and Weight: Wingspan of three feet and two to 10 pounds Diet: Insects, meat and fish Distinguishing Characteristics: Long beak and neck; short tail; wings of skin attached to three-fingered hands About Pterodactylus Pterodactylus is a case study in how confusing it can be to classify 150-million-year-old animals. The first specimen of this pterosaur was discovered way back in 1784, in Germanys Solnhofen fossil beds, decades before before naturalists had any conception of the theory of evolution (which wouldnt be scientifically formulated, by Charles Darwin, until about 70 years later) or, indeed, any grasp of the possibility that animals could go extinct. Fortunately, in retrospect, Pterodactylus was named by one of the first academics to grapple with these issues, the Frenchman Georges Cuvier. (See a gallery of Pterodactylus and Pteranodon pictures and 10 facts about pterodactyls.) Because it was discovered so early in the history of paleontology, Pterodactylus suffered the same fate as other before-their-time dinosaurs of the 19th century like Megalosaurus and Iguanodon: any fossil that remotely resembled the type specimen was assumed to belong to a separate Pterodactylus species or a genus that later wound up being synonymized with Pterodactylus, so at one point there were no less than two dozen named varieties! Paleontologists have since sorted out most of the confusion; the remaining two Pterodactylus species, P. antiquus and P. kochi, are pretty much beyond reproach, and other species have since been assigned to related genera like Germanodactylus, Aerodactylus, and Ctenochasma. Now that weve sorted all that out, exactly what kind of creature was Pterodactylus? This late Jurassic pterosaur was characterized by its relatively small size (a wingspan of only about three feet and a weight of ten pounds, max), its long, narrow beak, and its short tail, the classic body plan of a pterodactyloid, as opposed to a rhamphorhynchoid, pterosaur. (During the later Mesozoic Era, some pterodactyloid pterosaurs would grow to truly enormous sizes, as witness the small-plane-sized Quetzalcoatlus.)Â  Pterodactylus is often depicted as flying low over the coastlines of western Europe and northern Africa (much like a modern seagull) and plucking small fish out of the water, though it may also have subsisted on insects (or even the occasional small dinosaur) as well. On a related note, because it has been in the public eye for well over two centuries, Pterodactylus (in the abbreviated form pterodactyl) has become pretty much synonymous with flying reptile, and is often used to refer to the entirely different pterosaur Pteranodon. Also, for the record, Pterodactylus was only remotely related to the first prehistoric birds, which descended instead from the small, terrestrial, feathered dinosaurs of the later Mesozoic Era. (Confusingly, the type specimen of Pterodactylus was recovered from the same Solnhofen deposits as the contemporaneous Archaeopteryx; its important to bear in mind that the former was a pterosaur, while the latter was a theropod dinosaur, and thus occupied an entirely different branch of the evolutionary tree.)

Careers in Finance Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Careers in Finance - Assignment Example Cooperate finance professionals must integrate perfect mastery of management structures to withstand global business challenges such as competition. Negotiation skills are equally necessary for corporate finance professionals. Some companies prefer centralized functions for corporate finance functions. Professionals should expect to work in an environment of shared services. Professionals should be team-oriented to work best in environments of decentralized services. Corporate finance professionals serve in a challenging work environment that demands high proficiency levels. Global nature of operations for most companies makes it disadvantageous to operate as a corporate finance professional. Investment banking job entails advising companies and governments issues regarding financial securities. It aids investment by performing the following functions to the investors; help the investors to purchase securities, manage their financial assets, trade securities, and provide financial advice to them. One must offer concrete explanations on matters concerning financial security to the companies, government, or potential investors (Careers in Business 1). A career in money management involves analyzing market trends in the sectors as the stock market. Success of money managers depends on the choice of technique employed. Some successful money managers employ use of simple intuition while other uses quantitative techniques. Besides the aforementioned techniques, success in money management requires unique skills, discipline, acceptance of defeat, and broad-mindedness. The main operational fields available for money managers involve corporate bonds, agency securities, mortgaged-backs, or market stocks. Choice of a starting point in investment management may be a difficult task and an individual needs to identify the best money managers. The best starting points are insurance companies, bank trust, and state and local pension

Employee Engagement in Sainsburys Supermarkets Dissertation

Employee Engagement in Sainsburys Supermarkets - Dissertation Example The Nature of Employee Engagement Increasingly, employees have been faced with more, and more exacting, demands by their employers in the workplace. As a result, employee health and satisfaction have suffered as work life has proceeded to encroach upon personal and family life. Employee health and satisfaction have begun to deteriorate, fostering an escalating cynicism and mistrust by the employee against the firm. In return, corporations have given little in return, rendering most jobs staid and frustrating, something employees would have resigned from long ago were it not for the paycheck. According to Flade, more than 80% of the workforce in the UK have expressed a lack of commitment to their jobs, resulting in an untapped reservoir of potential energy that organizations could, with the proper approach, tap to improve productivity while fostering greater employee satisfaction. When employees are unhappy about their jobs, their disinterest and apathy become a hindrance to their smooth and competent performance on the job, and may impact negatively on the firm’s productivity and profitability. It is for this reason that employee engagement, has been developed as a tool for the proper and productive motivation of employees. Kennedy and Daim state that employee engagement is taken by many to signify the â€Å"management of discretionary effort†. Employees are so situated that they would choose to act in furtherance of their organization’s goals, because their own goals are identified with it.

Views of Barack obama vs. Hillary Clintons. Essay Example for Free

Views of Barack obama vs. Hillary Clintons. Essay Barack Obama and John Edwards, Mrs. Clinton’s are two main rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination. They are both running outsiders/ agents of change. Both Clinton and Obama say they would change a number of things if elected as presidents. They argue that tax, health, gun control and war in Iraq are their key issues to be looked at. Mrs. Clinton argues that change can only be a word without strength and experience to make it happen. There are various similarities and differences in the way they view change if they are to be presidents of the USA. We will view the following key issues that are more important for the people of the USA. Issue on The Economy. Democratic presidential front-runner Barack Obama and challenger, Hillary Clinton are both zipping on the economy as the campaign moves to big industrial states full of losses and foreclosures . Since the economy in the USA seems to be declining it’s important that this question in seriously looked at by all the democratic parties. They are both saying they want to bring a complete transformation to the US economy that almost the whole world depends on. Clinton says the economy is not serving the middle class urging that for the past four years productivity has risen and wages have declined she said I quote â€Å"America did not build greatest economy in the world because we had rich people; we built the greatest economy in the world because we built the America middle class†. Both of them want to repeal President George W. Bushs tax cuts, provide economic liberation to the middle class and increase regime spending on health care and education. Both embrace free trade to an incomplete extent, and say of helping those who lose out because of globalization. Clinton presents herself as a problem-solver, stressing cooperation between business and government, calling to diminish sponsorship in especially Washington. She attacks obama claiming that she has action not words and that she has policies and experience to rebuild the manufacturing base in the US and look at mutual interests, she will crack down on unfair trade with countries like china by reviewing all existing trade liberalization bargain. She is seemed wanting to resolve issues on energy, infrastructure investment, health care and values that built the U. S. economy. She wants to bring United States challenges globally back to its fundamentals. Barack Obama says they should invest in infrastructure projects like roads, bridges and airports and also plan to create green-energy jobs he says that he wants to major focus going forward, that from Obama’s economic adviser, saying he speaks about the brake of the economy in the short run, and what investments in terms of occupations, technology and workforce dexterities needed for the future. Since Obama received major votes from the lower income voters he is really looking forward to see that the economy favors them in terms of creating better jobs for them and improving their lifestyles. They are repeatedly conflicting over the economy which is becoming the central point of debates ahead. As for the differences Clinton is offering targeted tax cuts while Obama wider middle-class tax relief. Issue on Health care. Both Obama and Clinton are looking forward for means and ways and ways that we improve the health standards for the Americans especially the low-income people. They are suggesting ways of seeing that public health care is improved. Democratic presidential candidate senator Hilary Rodham Clinton (NY) has explained he widespread monetary enclose than has a proposal to broaden health insurance to all U. S. residents she was telling insurance companies not to distinguish of any sick person. (Washington Post reports (weisman/Kornbult, Washington Post, 2/15). She was warning against drug companies and insurance. Finally she was for diminution in health costs make them more affordable and try craft more jobs for the Americans that will have a strong built-up base in America. She is recommending ways of helping workers in their late fifties and early sixties to buy Medicare and also wants to promote medical information machinery sponsored Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist(R-Tenn). With Senator Barack Obama 76% of people with health concerns about health costs and 72% have concerns about prescription drug exposure and the safety and eminence of care. He says that most of the health insurance companies are doing well so he does not encourage on more people taking insurance covers but rather improve in their services to people. There are great controversies between the two candidates on health issues. Obama criticizes Clinton’s health care plan for requiring everyone to purchase an insurance cover saying his plan. While Clinton mandates health-care coverage Obamas plan doesnt have a mandate on any of the health care issues. Issue on America at war. There are no differences when it comes to the war because of the candidates seem t o be against this war especially the Iraq war, though Obama seems to be the more outstanding candidate who is more against this form of war. According to Washington times politicians like Clinton and McCain voted for the Iraq war that should have never been authorized and remunerated. In Barack Obama’s interviews and speeches oppose the war from the start even now. He really wants peace between the two countries because it has really taken too many resources especially precious lives and billions of dollars a week than would have been used for other development projects like building collapsed schools and bridges; roads and buildings; that would have invested in child job guidance and care; or even making health care affordable. He has taken clear and unswerving antiwar position on the Iraq war He has emerged as the antiwar candidate constantly lashing home his point. Obama says the cause of the war is due to Bush’s mismanagement, poor administration and because he did not want to be disappointed. Obama’s stand is stable and definite against the war. He says the problem can be solved by dialogue with Iraq. (Bbc. co. uk) Hillary ways she was against starting the war she does not have a strong position on the war in Iraq. First she has never voted against the war nor does she give any suggestions to end the war. Issue on tax reform Both Barrack Obama and Hillary have similar thought on wounding down or reducing costs of taxes for the residents of U. S. , but Obama does not seem to have better stratagems to accompany his in realizing his goals like Hillary Clinton has. Hillary has a plan of cutting down taxes for the middle class people. Another ample plan to end the housing catastrophe with a moratorium of foreclosures and a freeze in finance rates for at-risk homeowners. She plans on redirecting millions of dollars to oil company proceeds to alternative energy research to find solutions to the energy crisis and create about 5 million jobs. Contrary Barack Obama has no plans of putting a suspension on home foreclosures, he is for the Dick Cheney’s energy bill that will give huge tax breaks to oil companies and to raise Social Security taxes y billions and billions of dollars. Issue on guns Control On this final issue both Barrack Obama and Hillary have similar opinions on the use and control of guns. Obama proposes these principles on the issue of guns. He says there should be a ban in the sale or transfer of all varieties of semi-habitual weapons; there should be an increase in the state of curbs on the attainment and tenure of firearms; and makers are required to provide child safety locks with firearms. Hillary says there should be entirety bun of all guns in America. She further continues to say that they need to stand compact on behalf of gun control legislation, laws that will keep guns off children’s hands, scandalous and mentally unstable people. Finally she says that she has a strong believe that all Americans as a nation should fight to keep off guns off people not authorized to have guns. To conclude the Democratic candidates have similar views but different interpretations so as to be better presidents for the United States’ most powerful country. They are both challenging one another positively with their ideas and innovations that they are better than the other all for the betterment of the nation and themselves. All of them want U. S. to be the best place for the world that the rest of the world may learn by example for them.

Partytime Equals a Lifetime - Original Writing :: Papers

Partytime Equals a Lifetime - Original Writing Tears roll down my cheeks as I lay staring at my bedroom ceiling. Memories of the previous week, still haunting me. The distorted image of his face appearing everytime I close my eyes, the smell of his breath still tickles my nose, the thumping of the base still bangs in my head as I can feel the weight of his body pressing against me. Even the hairs on my arms stand to attention as I remember my 17th birthday party. The alcohol concoction that my best friend Kelly handed to me from my dad's overtowering cupboard; burnt my throat as I swallowed! The taste of the sharp, acidic solution that created this burning sensation, that I know believe was whisky; passed my lips more times than I remember. Everything then turned hazy! My stomach began to churn. Colours blurred. The room began to spin. The music became one humongous buzz. I stumbled to the stairs. Slumped on the stairs, head in my hands I struggled to breathe. A tall dark shadow was then cast over me. Confused, I slowly raised my head. Twinkling in the light the figures belt buckle stung my eyes. Blinking to refocus, a bright white shirt caught my eye, blending perfectly with the figures pale skin. Two dark brown eyes stared right at me like needles piercing my skin. Immediately I became agitated and rose to my feet. The room began to spin again! My breathing shuddering as the contents of my stomach was churning like a boiling cauldron. Loosing my balance I fell forward. The figure reached out and prevented me from hitting the floor, at the time I was so appreciative; I just wish I had fallen now. A couple of bruises would be nothing compared to the torture I'm suffering from now! After not receiving any bruises but still in the stranger's arms, my feet left the floor. Quite relieved to not have to try and balance anymore I didn't think to complain. I just gently floated upstairs and

The Analysis of Kaiser and the War by Simon J. Ortiz

Simon J. Ortiz is a Native American who was born on May 27, 1941 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He belongs to the Acoma Pueblo tribe. He is considered as one of the most respected Native American writer. He grew up in the Acoma village of McCartys and spoke his native tongue of Keresan with his family. Ortiz’s father was a railroad and a wood carver. As a member of the Acoma Pueblo tribe, his father was tasked to preserve the tradition and religious beliefs of the clan (Wiget, 1994, p. 115)Simon J. Ortiz went to the McCartys Day School and then to St. Catherine’s Indian School in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In school, Native Americans were prohibited to speak their native language. Ortiz had a difficult time assimilating with the new culture he was exposed to. He began to write in his diary his experiences and create short stories. He channeled his energy to read books (p.117)While studying away from his family, Ortiz can’t bear his loneliness and returned to his hometown . He enrolled at the Albuquerque Indian School. The school is a vocational school which taught the students plumbing and mechanics. Ortiz learned metal and woodworking. After graduating from Grants High School in Grants, New Mexico, Ortiz worked at Kerr-McGee uranium plant. His experience at the mining plant inspired him to write his work, â€Å"Fight Back: For the Sake of the people, for the Sake of the Land† (p.123)Through an educational grant, Simon J. Ortiz was able to attend Fort Lewis College and he majored in Chemistry (p.125).Simon Ortiz’s Career PathOrtiz served the U.S. Military for three years. Fresh from the army, he enrolled at the University of New Mexico. He pursued his passion for writing and he was able to write his life experiences as a Native American. In 1968, he became a fellow at the University of Iowa. â€Å"In 1982, he was made an editor at the Pueblo of the Acoma Press. In 1988, he was tasked to be an interpreter for the Acoma Pueblo tribe and the following year Ortiz became the First Lieutenant Governor for the clan† (p.130)Throughout the years, Ortiz was recognized and given numerous awards for his literary works. He received the Pushcart prize for his work â€Å"From Sand Creek: Rising in This Heart Which Is Our America†. He was also given the Lifetime Achievement Award for his work â€Å"Returning the Gift† (p.133)Literary ThemesSimon J. Ortiz presented issues common to people particularly the plight of his Acoma Pueblo tribe. His work discusses themes of â€Å"alienation, colonialism, Native American struggles, the environment and the effects of technology† (Native American Literature, 1985, p.178)â€Å"Kaiser and the War†We can not divorce the life of the author from his art because his life experiences have a profound influence on his literary works. A case in point is Simon Ortiz’s short story, Kaiser and the War.The story revolves around a man who had little knowledge of the English language;   Kaiser, the protagonist opposed the idea of being enlisted in the U.S. Military Service. As a result, he escaped to the Black Mesa Mountains while being pursued by the county sheriff and the draft board agents. As I see it, Kaiser avoided the draft because he feels that the war is senseless. Like most Native Americans who mostly lived in their communities,   he does not feel an affinity towards mainstream America. So, why would he go to war? His flight for avoiding the draft is the only way he could free himself from the dictates of the Americansociety. It is a   sense of freeing himself physically and spiritually.. It is also a way of expressing his desire to return to his roots and his essence as a human being.   His escape to some extent provided him the option of dealing with his chaotic life.   However, Kaiser’s escape did not only alienate him even more from the society; it also alienated him from his family. Finally after years of hidi ng, Kaiser surrendered and he was sent to jail for escaping the draft. After serving his time in prison, Kaiser becomes isolated from society. From this experience, Kaiser succumbed to depression. He was unable to keep his life together after what transpired. He failed to reunite with his family. In the end, he lived alone and died a broken man.The themes of alienation and separation surround the story. In the Norton Anthology of American Literature, Nina Baym, â€Å"implies that this theme represents the Native Americans’ struggle†, (Baym, 1997, p.2778). The story also include events that transpired in Ortiz’s life like his childhood experiences in school where he had limited knowledge of the English language and lastly, his enlistment to the U.S. Military. The tale appears to link the past and the present with regards to feelings of alienation and separation (Encyclopedia of American Literature, 1998, p. 858).The Economic, Social and Political Conditions of th e Native Americans TodayTowards the 21st century, the themes of alienation and displacement thrive in the Native American communities. They are always dealing with issues and struggling to keep up with the changes in the American society.Many Native American tribes seek to be recognized by the government. There are currently ‘561 Native American tribes recognized by the U.S. government. These tribes are designated to have their own form of government, to enact laws, to establish tribal memberships, to issue license and regulate activities† (The U.S. Relationship to American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes, 2005).Today, Native American Indians continue to be a part of the American landscape and in the U.S. economy. Native American tribes established their own governments that offer services in law enforcement and disaster management. Most of the Native American tribes have their own legal system to settle disputes (Bureau of Indian Affairs, 2006).Gambling has become a big industry for the Native Americans. Most casinos operated by the Native American governments are seen profitable and has encouraged business diversification (Columbia Law Review, 2006).Sadly, most people are unaware of the plight and struggle of the Native American communities. For many Native Americans they still believe that they are still outsiders in the country and many feel that they are mistreated by the general public.Simon Ortiz used his own personal experiences from to shape his story. He tried to reach his audience by exposing the issues that surrounds the Native American community and their continued plight. His works reveal that the Native Americans want to restore their sense of â€Å"self† in order for them to fight for their rights and preserve their way of life.ReferencesA Resolution By the Native American Caucus. (2006). http//:www.turtletrack.org 8 February  2006. Retrieved on 15 December 2007.Baym, Nina. (1997). Norton American Anthology of American Lite rature. (p.2778). London:Oxford University Press.Bureau of Indian Affairs. (2006). http//:www.doiu.nbc.gov/orientation. 8 February 2006.Retrieved on 15 December 2006.Encyclopedia of American Literature. (1998). (p.858). Connecticut: Greenwood Press.Kaplan, Karen. (2005). Ancestry In A Drop Of Blood. http//:www.racesci.org. 30 August2005. Retrieved on 15 December 2007.Mixing Bodies and Beliefs: The Predicament of Tribes. (2006).Columbia Law Review.http//:www.columbia.org. 8 February 2006. Retrieved on 15 December 2007.Rock, Roger O. (1985).Native American Literature. Connecticut: Greenwood Press.The Black Mesa Syndrome: Indian Lands, Black Gold. (2006).http//:www.shundahai.org.8 February 2006. Retrieved on 15 December 2007.The Mukeman Ohlone. (2007). http//:www.mukema.org. 22 June 2007. Retrieved on 15December 2007.The U.S. Relationship to American Indian and Alaska Native Tribe. (2006). http//:www.usinfo.state.gov.8 February 2006. Retrieved 15 December 2007.ReferencesWalking A Mile: A Qualitative Study Exploring How Indians and Non-Indians Think AboutEach Other. (2007). http//:www.publicagenda.org. 7 December 2007. Retrieved 15December 2007.Wiget, Andrew. (1994). Dictionary of Native American Literature. (pp.115-133). New York:Garland Press.