American Express Company Analysis

American Express Company Analysis Introduction American Express Company (AmEX) is an American multinational company that offers financial services. The company headquarters are located at the Three World Financial Center in New York. The company was founded in 1850 with the company’s logo being adopted in 1958 and it has an image of a roman gladiator.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on American Express Company Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The logo is engraved on the company’s traveler’s cheques and charge cards. AmEx forms part of the Dow Jones industrial average that is made up of 30 components. It is renowned for its credit card, charge card, and travelers cheque businesses (Grossman, 1987). The cards offered by the company make up about 24% of the dollar transactions conducted via credit cards in the United States. The company has a rich history that has made it to be ranked as the 22nd most valuable brand i n the world. The brand has an estimated worth of approximately US $14.97 billion (Grossman, 1987). The company was founded as an express mail firm in Buffalo, New York as it was a merger between Henry Wells and William Fargo. The two owned Wells Company and Livingston, Fargo and Company respectively. Another party was John Warren Butterfield who previously owned Butterfield and Company. According to Grossman (1987), the first headquarter of the company was located in a building at the intersection of Jay Street and Hudson Street. Due to less competition, the company established itself as a monopoly in the market of express shipments. At that time, the company traded in goods, securities and currency in New York only. AmEx moved its headquarters in 1874 to 65 Broadway that was considered as a New York’s financial hub. The move was also facilitated by increase in operations that brought more funds to the company (Grossman, 1987).Advertising Looking for research paper o n business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to Grossman (1987), the company experienced tremendous growth in 1890 and 1891, which forced the company to construct a ten-storey building at the side of the previous headquarters near Hudson River. The company continued to grow and in the year 1903, it had managed to consolidate assets of approximately $ 28 million. This was one position behind the National City Bank of New York i.e. in financial services providers (Grossman, 1987). AmEx purchased Broadway buildings to acknowledge the new status. The proposed building of a new headquarters’ building followed this but the plan was shelved for some time. Products and Customers American Express is renowned for its three main cards named; Green, Gold and Platinum charge cards. Other types also exist in other countries. Co-branded cards are also available which serve airlines, hotels and normal retailers. F or the airlines, the cards include; Aerolineas Argentinas, Air Canada, British Airways, Delta Airlines and Virgin Atlantic (Grossman). In the hotel industry, the clients include; Hilton hotels, and Starwood Hotels Resorts. They are also applied to hotels worldwide. The other clients include Costco, Bloomingdales, and Lowe’s, among others. The company also has a product for young people referred to as Blue and Bluebird in conjunction with Wal-Mart. Employees American Express has over 2000 as per the year 2010. The turnover rate was approximated at 7%, which is a low average. Approximately 9% of part time employers and 16% of full time employees are said to have been there for over 20 years. This led to the company being ranked as one of the best places to work at by the CNN.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on American Express Company Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Data Management Human Relati ons Any data that is held in the human relations database is private data that should be treated under Data Protection Act (1998) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (1996). The two Acts protect the privacy of people from the age of 12 to 18 years. Parents working for the company may give out their children’s information to the human relations for purposes of insurance. The information should therefore not be accessed by anyone outside the system except as required by the law (Williams 2007). The data kept in the system may include; the staffs marital status, number of children, health status of the staff and children, previous working records and current working terms. Stakeholders Access Unauthorized access to such data should be prohibited and adequate measures should be taken including use of strong passwords. However, some stakeholders may have unauthorized access to the information such as the company executives, managers and the staff to access their own profiles remotely via log in windows. However, they should not reveal the data to any other party not authorized to access the information. Logistics and Customer Relationship Enterprise System Data contained in the logistics system and customer relationship system is critical. Such data may include; state of running balances in the case of suppliers and debtors, location of the customers or suppliers, services delivered to the customers with the amounts paid, services or cards delivered by suppliers and the amounts paid, and complaints arising from all parties.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (2002) should regulate the financial information. That means that financial information contained in the databases of the two departments should be accurate and should be updated regularly to reflect the current financial position (Rezaee, 2012). Stakeholders Access The Act also allows access of the data by external auditors in addition to the legitimate persons with access. The auditor should have access to the data every time he is conducting an audit. The people with access to such data include; the company executives, management, and the suppliers and debtors should also be allowed to access individual information remotely through log in windows. Financial Enterprise System The financial department is the stronghold of any business. For a large company such as American Express, the data contained in the database should be strictly regulated and protected (Giachetti, 2007). The data to be kept include; the current financial status of the c ompany i.e. the position of assets and liabilities, capital balances, daily transactions recorded separately, money held by the companies on behalf of other parties, status of running balances, and other sensitive financial matters. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (2002) should regulate the data contained in this section. The data should always be accurate and the system should allow real time updating of data i.e. if a debtor pays a debt; this transaction affects the value in the debtors account and the overall assets, therefore every figure in the affected columns should change upon payment. Stakeholders Access The controls in the system should contain controls that allow access by the auditor as required by the law. The other parties with access include; the company executives, the management and data entry officers. The executives and the management access the information for decision-making and financial planning (Giachetti, 2007). Operational, Business analytics and Intelligence At the operational, business analytics and intelligence, the data stored there should also be well guarded due to the sensitivity involved. The controls should comply with provisions of the HIPAA, FERPA and Sarbanes-Oxley. These departments hold wide range of data from financial to details about customers, employees and suppliers. The data held by these departments is vital for daily operations and also for determining how the company will react to changes in the environment. Stakeholders Access The access to the data should be granted to the company executives and the management only. These people will need this information for decision-making. Unauthorized access may expose the company’s vulnerabilities to competitors. References Carol, H. Hannum, W. (1989). Instructional Systems Development in Large Organizations. New Jersey, NJ: Educational Technology Publications Inc. Giachetti, R. (2007). Design of Enterprise Systems: Theory, Architecture, and Methods. New York, NY: CRC Pres s. Grossman, P. (1987). American Express: The People Who Built the Great Financial Empire. Washington DC: Beard Books. Rezaee, Z. (2012). Corporate Governance Post Sarbanes-Oxley: Regulations, Requirements and Integrated Process. New Jersey, NJ: Wiley Sons. Williams, C. (2007). FERPA, GLBA HIPAA: The Alphabet Soup of Privacy. New York, NY: National Association of College and University Attorneys.

SPIDE System Essays

SPIDE System Essays SPIDE System Paper SPIDE System Paper The S stands for search, it means to look 20-30 seconds ahead for information to help you travel. The P in SPIDER is to predict. You predict the actions or changes on or near the road that could increase risks. The l, stands for identify, it means that you identify objects or conditions ahead that could help you interfere with your path. The D means to decide, you decide what action to take at least 4-5 seconds ahead of time to control or decrease risks. Lastly, the E in SPIDER, stands for execute, which means to perform the actions needed. The first risk was on a Sunday morning, when me and my mom were heading to MAC Donaldson to get breakfast. We were on the corner of our street ready to turn left, when suddenly a car going like 35 miles per hour , comes out of nowhere. I thought that he was going to crash us, and that we were going to get hurt. But lucky my mom stopped the car in time, and the car didnt crash us I would of done the same as my mom to prevent an accident. The second risk I had, was on a Tuesday, in the afternoon. My dad had come to pick us up because we missed the bus. We were in the street, and from like 2 blocks away, you could see that the light was green. But all of a sudden, the light turned yellow, and we were t going to be able to pass the light before it turned red, but lucky my dad stopped quickly. On the side next to us though, the truck accelerated because he didnt want to wait, but when the other lane s turned green, the cars went and so the truck got crashed by 2 cars, Just because he didnt want to wait. I was really proud of dad because he stopped instead of going. Im pretty sure I would of done the same. The third risk I had, was on Friday, when all of my family, including me, were going to my aunts house because she had cooked us dinner. So we were on a long street that had a speed limit of 20 miles per hour. My dad was following the speed limit, but the car in front of us was t. I guess that he or she was really inpatient because that person had decided to go faster, even though he or she knew that there were uniqueness if you went faster. At the end of that street there was a police officer checking the speed limit of each car with some type of gun. When the officer saw that the car in front of us was speeding, he stopped the car and gave that person a ticket. It was really good that my dad had decided to keep the limit because first, we decreased many chances of an accident. Second, we didnt get a ticket. I would have done the same as my dad, or even went a little bit slower, Just to make sure. SPIDER System By Malaysia

THe importance and influence of Asia Pacific Business and their Essay

THe importance and influence of Asia Pacific Business and their implications for Australia - Essay Example Today, they are a force to be reckoned with: whether for their economical labor force or for the nuclear tests they are carrying out or the technological developments taking place in these countries. The western superpowers cannot afford to ignore these countries at any cost! A major factor that has influenced half the world's thinking, policies and decisions is the Sino-US bilateral relations. This area has been going through volatile changes as and when the political leaderships changed in both the countries. When George Bush came to power in 2001, there were rumors of a Cold War between the US and China. Serious tensions were sparked between the US and China on various issues. First, there was the issue of a collision of a Chinese fighter with an American spy plane and then it was the designation of Taiwan by the US and Japan as a "common strategic objective." China was certainly not happy with America's open opposition to lifting the EU's arms embargo on China. China was increasingly being viewed by the US as "a military competitor with a formidable resource base." The People's Republic of China (PRC) was perceived as "a military competitor with formidable resource base"5 by the US. Post the 9/11 attacks, however, there has been a subtle shift in the way the two countries view each other. China condemned the bombings in a mild tone but pledged its whole-hearted support to the US in fighting terrorism. China seemed to have taken a softer stand towards American policies and supported its war against terrorism. Beijing has supported counter- terrorism resolutions passed by the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly. China has been cooperating in the US's efforts in combating the evil of terrorism, both in its own country and at a global level. The past four years have seen sweeping changes in the bilateral relations between the US and China. By providing useful 'information' on radical Islamic groups, it has resumed intelligence- sharing activities that had remained dormant since the end of the Cold War6. While China had not been actively involved in any military action against Afghanistan, it endorsed American intervention there, thus, reflecting a softening of its attitude towards the US. China has pledged to contribute US$150 million towards the reconstruction of Afghanistan. It is also supposed to have played an important role in encouraging close ally Pakistan to support American efforts in Afghanistan. Just as significant is China's lack of resistance to Washington's forcible invasion of Iraq and removal of Saddam Hussein. The present period of improved relations between the two countries is being referred to as the 'honeymoon' period. Political analysts feel that the honeymoon period in the US-Sino relations is expected to last longer as there is a deeper combination of economic, political and strategic considerations underlying it. perceptions and motivations. With the hosting of the Olympics in 2008, it is assumed that Beijing will assume its rightful place in the world's powers. Thus, it would be eager to avoid any confrontation with America that could jeopardize its preparations for the event. China's refusal to adjust its undervalued currency, which has been pegged to the US$ since 1994 and America's ballooning trade deficit with China which

Experiment 6 Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Experiment 6 - Lab Report Example The small cost of iron nanoparticles and their ability to reduce toxic contaminants into non-toxic iron hydroxide products make iron nanoparticles application techniques preferential. I addition their installation are simple and require minimal maintenance and react with a diverse range of contaminants. The delivery method of these nanoparticle based applications are also diverse in nature and therefore can be used in dealing with many forms of contaminants either of differing concentrations or chemical and physical characteristics. From previous research, it has been observed that iron nanoparticles cause a significant reduction in the concentration of contaminants. The aim of this experiment is to analyze the change in concentration of indigo carmine dye in its reaction with iron nanoparticles. Dyes are common pollutants though not frequently recognized. From figure 1, the concentration of indigo carmine dye is observed to be relatively constant before the addition of iron nanoparticles. There is little or rather insignificant change in the concentration of indigo carmine dye before nanoparticles are introduced into the solution. From the first analysis, it was determined that the rate of change in concentration of dye in the first 60 seconds can be calculated as 0.00591 M/s. The overall change in concentration is 0.35443M. The second analysis using 0.105nm of iron nanoparticle gave a rate of change in dye concentration of0.0091M/s in the first minute with an overall change in concentration of 0.548M. Figure 2 shows a negative correlation between the changes in concentration of dye with time on addition of iron nanoparticles. The same observation was made in figure 3 where 0.42nm iron nanoparticles were used. From table 1, it is observed that the fastest rate (0.0091) in removal of dye from the solution was obtained with 0. 105 nm of iron nanoparticles. This could be contrary to expectations as 0.04nm iron particles should have

Law Conflicts Essay Example for Free

Law Conflicts Essay Situational Analysis on Children in Conflict with the Law and the Juvenile Justice System Atty. Sedfrey Candelaria; Atty. Aleli Domingo; Amanda Roselle Abrera; Geo Carbonell; Ma. Victoria Cardona and Tricia Oco Adhikain Para sa Karapatang Pambata (AKAP) of the Ateneo Human Rights Center, Ateneo Law School and United Nations Children’s Fund, 1998. E-mail: [emailprotected]/ [emailprotected] The Philippine Senate, through Resolution No. 109 dated July 20, 1990 ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) paving the way for the Convention’s implementation at the domestic level. This afforded children the set of protective rights related to the juvenile justice system under Articles 37, 39, and 40. The Philippine Government submitted its compliance commentaries on these provisions in its Initial Report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child in 1993. In response, the CRC committee submitted the following principal concerns: †¢ need for national legislation to conform with the convention †¢ need for efficient mechanisms to monitor the situation of these children in conflict with the law †¢ need for compatibility of the present juvenile justice system to the principles and provisions of the convention and other international standards The development of a situational analysis on children in conflict with the law and the juvenile justice system is deemed necessary to guide policy-makers in implementing effective programs and procedures to protect the rights of the child. Purpose of the Research Last May 7, 1997, a consultative meeting was conducted, with representatives from the five pillars of criminal justice: law enforcement, prosecution, courts, correction and the community. The main purpose was to gather more data and to validate initial observations  and analysis on the status of juvenile justice administration in the Philippines. The objectives of the research were therefore constituted as follows: †¢ To analyze data and existing studies on children in conflict with the law; †¢ To assess the current situation of the administration of juvenile justice in light of the principles and relevant provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (e.g. Articles 37, 39 and 40); and †¢ To recommend practical and achievable steps toward reforming the juvenile justice system. Methodology The research team reviewed the data covering 1993 to 1997 on various aspects of the juvenile justice process. This was derived from existing studies, surveys or reports prepared by a number of groups concerned with children in conflict with the law. These materials were supplemented by actual interviews and responses to questionnaires sent to selected institutional respondents. A series of dialogues with judges of designated courts for children’s cases were also conducted from April to June 1997. Findings The data reveals that while there are Philippine laws, rules and regulations applicable to children in conflict with the law, prosecution and trial procedures in general do not make distinctions between adult and youthful offenders facing charges before the courts. As regards the profile of the Filipino child in conflict with the law, findings show that the youthful offender is: usually male; between the ages of fourteen (14) to seventeen (17) years; an elementary graduate; a middle child from a low-income family with four (4) to six (6) members; charged with property related crimes (robbery and theft); and, exposed to drugs or gang influence. The experience of a number of youthful offenders with the various stages of the juvenile justice process reveals occasional neglect and insensitivity by duty holders. Analysis The following is a brief analysis of the three sub-sections pertaining to the legal framework and processes, institutional framework, and the narrative and statistical report. It will underscore the strengths as well the gaps of the Philippine juvenile justice system as these affect the rights of children in conflict with the law. The discussion of the Philippine legal framework and processes tend to confirm the state of legislative reform in this country, particularly in regard to juvenile justice, as observed by the Committee on the Rights of the Child. It further affirms that while there are laws protecting the rights of children in conflict with the law, Philippine legislators have yet to seriously consider reviewing existing laws. In terms of priority, existing jurisdiction of designated courts over juvenile and domestic relations cases, including cases of youthful offenders, needs to be enhanced by passing legislation on the creation of child and family courts. In line with this reorganization, procedural rules applicable to these courts will be necessary. Therefore, findings of this report on the conduct of court proceedings involving children clearly support: †¢ a move towards restructuring the jurisdiction of some lower courts ; †¢ a set of procedural rules in the handling of children’s cases; and a set of clear-cut criteria for appointment of judges to a specialized child and family court. Various surveys and studies reveal an interesting finding on the average age of youthful offenders to be mostly male and between fourteen (14) andmseventeen (17) years of age. Indeed, this is rather significant in light of the observation of the Committee on the Rights of the Child that Philippine substantive law on the age of penal responsibility is quite low (below nine (9) years). Socio-cultural factors, however, must be closely considered when reviewing the present standard contained in our penal laws and the Child and Youth Welfare Code. Other substantive rights, such as, the constitutional guarantees of an accused are adequately covered by existing laws. The application and practice of these rights in favor of children facing the justice system do not seem to be monitored effectively by the key institutions of the juvenile justice system. An example is the lack of quantitative and qualitative data from the enforcement and judicial sectors concerning compliance with the constitutional and CRC standards on the rights of the youthful offenders at the apprehension, investigation, and trial stages. Selected incidents of violations of the rights of some children arrested, investigated and tried before the courts, as narrated in this report, tend to suggest that there may be more of these incidents in practice occurring at various stages of the juvenile justice process. Non-observance of the CRC standards may be attributed to inadequate training and lack of sensitivity of some law enforcement personnel, prosecutors and even judges in handling of cases of children in conflict with the law. Given the limits of the existing procedural system dealing with youthful offenders, police, prosecutors and judges have sufficient discretion occasionally to ensure that the procedural laws aim at diversion measures rather than passively allow an investigation or judicial process to proceed. It has been emphasized in the said report that every measure be taken to avoid placing the child within the often stressful environment of litigation. Sometimes, this is even aggravated by the protracted delays in the disposition of cases contrary to conventional standards of speedy justice. A more disturbing reality is the unfortunate condition faced by most detained and sentenced youthful offenders in public jails and similar institutions.  Despite clearly stated guidelines, laws and policies regarding the treatment of detained and sentenced juveniles, there exists a startling disregard for a most basic standard. Such is the segregation of children from adult offenders inside detention centers or jails. This continues to stand out as a sore thumb in our review of existing practices on this issue. The objectives of the juvenile justice system could easily be eroded by this situation of youth offenders in detention or those serving sentence. Neither do most physical facilities and development opportunities for detained or sentenced children adequately meet the standards set by the CRC and related U.N. guidelines. The budget allocated by the government for food and other basic necessities hardly promotes the standard to meet all the requirements of health and human dignity. Rehabilitation programs through (non-institutional) community-based services are being resorted to more often by DSWD. This is a move towards the right direction. However, support services are needed in the form of financial assistance, education, and employment for the returning youthful offender. Conclusions One of the remarkable contributions of the CRC to the issue of juvenile justice is the emphasis made on the impact of societal conditions on the growth and development of a child. Several factors contribute to a child’s transformation either into an accomplished member of society or one who finds himself or herself in conflict with the law. Within the context of duties and responsibilities, it may be argued that those with the primary right and duty in the rearing of a child deserve the unqualified support of the State authorities and institutions through the creation of an environment conducive to the wholesome development of a child. This research has confirmed that the situation of children in conflict with the law was better understood when viewed not only within the limited context of the commission of the crime itself. Instead, it focused more directly on the failure of some duty-holders to provide for an environment  that can promote the fullest potential of a child. A convergence of circumstances more often places the child in a situation leading to the commission of a crime. A dysfunctional family relationship, poverty or peer influence create conditions which may push the youth towards conflict with the law. In the Philippine juvenile justice system, the child generally enjoys guarantees distinguishable from adults. However, the judicial process itself, consisting of the criminal procedure and the rules of admissibility of evidence, does not provide an exclusive mode of conducing trial. The juveniles, as accused before courts of general jurisdiction, are designated to a juvenile and domestic relations court. There is a general impression that the revival of exclusive child and family courts may be contribute towards effective management of cases of youthful offenders. The experience of some Filipino youthful offenders with the justice system has been characterized occasionally with neglect and insensitivity by a number of judges, prosecutors and private lawyers, notwithstanding the well-entrenched judicial guarantees. This is not to overlook, however, the recent efforts of inter-agency task forces aimed at raising awareness of the legal profession on the conditions of children in conflict with the law. Society’s attitude towards returning youthful offenders or those in community-based rehabilitation programs is crucial in successfully reintegrating these children. The present report underscores the vulnerability of those youthful offenders staying in â€Å"closed† institutions and prisons. Recommendations After careful analysis and investigation of the situation of children in conflict with the law and realizing the many gaps of the Philippine juvenile justice system, the following recommendations were drawn: †¢ Law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges, court social welfare officers, public attorneys and legal aid groups should be given orientation seminars  on international human rights instruments and child-related laws with emphasis on juvenile justice †¢ Government agencies and institutions engaged in defending youthful offenders should coordinate their efforts in providing protection to these children by establishing a common monitoring system covering the various stages of the juvenile justice system process. †¢ Specialized juvenile and domestic relations courts should be created. †¢ Support programs for streetchildren and other similarly vulnerable children should be increased as preventive measures. †¢ More facilities exclusively for children who are detained and sentenced should be constructed to prevent mingling with adult offenders. †¢ Community awareness of and involvement in non-institutional rehabilitation programs and services should be enhanced. †¢ Non-governmental organizations engaged in multi-disciplinary outreach programs with children in conflict with the law should form a network to maximize extension of assistance of these children. †¢ A comprehensive review of existing laws and procedures on juvenile justice in light of the CRC and other international standard-setting instruments affecting children in conflict with the law should be undertaken for purposes of law reform.

A Descriptive Analysis of Nigger: The Meaning of a Word by Gloria Naylo

A Descriptive Analysis of Nigger: The Meaning of a Word by Gloria Naylor What is the rhetor’s purpose? In the essay â€Å"Nigger: the meaning of a word† Gloria Naylor discusses the essence of a word and how it can mean different things to different people in a myriad of situations. Depending on race, gender, societal status and age Naylor outlines how a word like ‘nigger’ can have different meanings within one’s own environment. Naylor discusses how a word can go from having a positive to a negative connotation merely due to how it is spoken and by whom. Naylor shares a personal experience with her audience as she describes the first time she really â€Å"heard† the word ‘nigger’. A young white boy in her third grade class spit it in her face. Naylor states, â€Å"I didn’t know what a nigger was, but I knew that whatever it meant, it was something he shouldn’t have called me.† (Naylor 460) Naylor writes about her own personal experience and is obviously biased. This, while powerful, can also be seen as a limited view of the subject. Her audience only understands thorough her eyes and her experiences. Naylor is trying to educate her audience by sharing a personal experience. I think she wants her audience to sit back and think about the words they use and how others may use them and how this can affect others. Naylor wants her audience to understand how she was affected not only by a young boy but also by how she didn’t really think about the word ‘nigger’ until the moment it was used to hurt her. She is striving to make her audience think about the words they use and hear and how the context these words are immersed in can change the meaning of them. Who composes the target audiences? To be a part of Naylor’s target audience one must have obviously had experience with language and how people use it. She is targeting those who have heard and/or used the word â€Å"nigger† before. Naylor wants her audience to take on her experience and be empathetic towards her. She doesn’t do this in a seemingly pathetic way, as she seeks no pity. She outlines her experience and wants her audience to understand her view and how this view came to be. What roles or personas does the rhetor assume? Naylor assumes the role of an educator in her writing. She assumes a persona of a young girl experiencing a new way of understanding a word. ... ... She uses a conversational tone that adapts nicely to the audience. I say this because draws the reader in and he or she easily understands and accepts her experience. Naylor uses her experience to exemplify her point and to offer validity. One is drawn in by her experience as a young girl, and her evolution of understanding. Naylor makes her audience think about what it would be like to really â€Å"hear† a word for the first time, to look back and realize you had heard the word many times in a different context. What strategies are used? The language used by Naylor is common, as she doesn’t use large words one has to look up to understand. She writes in low style which is effective for her argument. This use of languages conjures an almost friendly relationship with her audience, like she is sitting down with you over a cup of coffee discussing how context can change your understanding of a word. She is sharing a part of her life and experience with the audience in order to shed light on her argument. Works Cited: Naylor, Gloria. â€Å"Nigger: The Meaning of a Word† Ed. Goshgarian, Gary. Exploring Language. Ninth Edition. Toronto: Longman, 2001. Pages 460-462

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas – John Boyne Summary Bruno is a nine years old boy, who lives with his father, mother and his twelve years old sister Gretel in Berlin during the second world war. His father is commandant for the German army. One day, when Bruno came home from school, the family’s maid Maria is packing his belongings. They move to a new home, because of his fathers’ work. Their new home’s called Out-With. Immediately when the Family arrive at Out-With, Bruno gets homesick.He misses his friends, his grandparents and especially his old home at Berlin. From a bedroom window Gretel and Bruno see many people, all in the same grey-white striped pyjamas. Out-with and the people in the pyjamas are separated by a huge fence. When Bruno asks his father who this people are, his father says they aren't really people. When Bruno walks along the fence (exploring), he sees a boy sitting on the other site of the fence. The Jewish boy is called Schmuel and h e has exactly the same age as Bruno. They become friends and Bruno visits Schmuel every day.After one year at Out-With, Bruno’s mother wants to go back to Berlin because she thinks Out-With is an unsafe place for children to grow up. Bruno doesn’t want to go back to Berlin because of Schmuel. When he went for the last time to Schmuel, Schmuel tells him his father is gone. Bruno wants to help Schmuel to search and explore for his father. He changes into the striped pyjamas. Bruno and Schmuel go into the camp. When they are exploring, suddenly they went on a march. They marched to a long room and the frond was suddenly closed. Bruno doesn’t know it is a airtight room.Nothing more was ever heard of Bruno after that. Relationships Gretel – Bruno Bruno calls his sister Gretel ‘The Hopeless Case’. She always thinks Bruno’s stupid, because he’s ‘only’ nine. Gretel is twelve years old and she thinks she’s very smart, old and wise. Bruno is a little scared of Gretel. When Gretel becomes a little older, she gets more serious and stops teasing Bruno. Schmuel – Bruno Schmuel and Bruno are very good friends. In the end of the book, Bruno calls Schmuel his best friend. Bruno goes every afternoon to the fence to talk with Schmuel. They can’t play, because the fence separate them.Their friendship is also strange, because Schmuel hates all the soldiers who live with Bruno. Bruno doesn’t know what the soldiers (and his father) do to the Jewish people. Father – Bruno Bruno doesn’t really know what his fathers’ Job is. He only know his father wears the most beautiful uniform of all the soldiers. The year after Bruno went to the airtight room, his father goes back to the place where the clothes of Bruno were found. He discovers a gap in the fence and he knows immediately what happened to Bruno. On that moment, he regretted about everything what he have done. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas – John Boyne Summary Bruno is a nine years old boy, who lives with his father, mother and his twelve years old sister Gretel in Berlin during the second world war. His father is commandant for the German army. One day, when Bruno came home from school, the family’s maid Maria is packing his belongings. They move to a new home, because of his fathers’ work. Their new home’s called Out-With. Immediately when the Family arrive at Out-With, Bruno gets homesick.He misses his friends, his grandparents and especially his old home at Berlin. From a bedroom window Gretel and Bruno see many people, all in the same grey-white striped pyjamas. Out-with and the people in the pyjamas are separated by a huge fence. When Bruno asks his father who this people are, his father says they aren't really people. When Bruno walks along the fence (exploring), he sees a boy sitting on the other site of the fence. The Jewish boy is called Schmuel and h e has exactly the same age as Bruno. They become friends and Bruno visits Schmuel every day.After one year at Out-With, Bruno’s mother wants to go back to Berlin because she thinks Out-With is an unsafe place for children to grow up. Bruno doesn’t want to go back to Berlin because of Schmuel. When he went for the last time to Schmuel, Schmuel tells him his father is gone. Bruno wants to help Schmuel to search and explore for his father. He changes into the striped pyjamas. Bruno and Schmuel go into the camp. When they are exploring, suddenly they went on a march. They marched to a long room and the frond was suddenly closed. Bruno doesn’t know it is a airtight room.Nothing more was ever heard of Bruno after that. Relationships Gretel – Bruno Bruno calls his sister Gretel ‘The Hopeless Case’. She always thinks Bruno’s stupid, because he’s ‘only’ nine. Gretel is twelve years old and she thinks she’s very smart, old and wise. Bruno is a little scared of Gretel. When Gretel becomes a little older, she gets more serious and stops teasing Bruno. Schmuel – Bruno Schmuel and Bruno are very good friends. In the end of the book, Bruno calls Schmuel his best friend. Bruno goes every afternoon to the fence to talk with Schmuel. They can’t play, because the fence separate them.Their friendship is also strange, because Schmuel hates all the soldiers who live with Bruno. Bruno doesn’t know what the soldiers (and his father) do to the Jewish people. Father – Bruno Bruno doesn’t really know what his fathers’ Job is. He only know his father wears the most beautiful uniform of all the soldiers. The year after Bruno went to the airtight room, his father goes back to the place where the clothes of Bruno were found. He discovers a gap in the fence and he knows immediately what happened to Bruno. On that moment, he regretted about everything what he have done.