The Bush Doctrine and the Iraq War: Neoconservatives vs. Realists – Review

I intend to review â€Å"The Bush Doctrine and the Iraq War: Neoconservatives vs. Realists† by Brian C. Schmidt and Michael C. Williams. The reason for choosing this article for review is simply because of its relevance today throughout the Middle East and how the American foreign policy is drastically changing the dynamics of the world. Schmidt and Williams use the elements of the neoconservative Bush Doctrine to show the direct contrast between realists and neoconservatives. The authors use the Bush Doctrine as an anchor to demonstrate realists’ anti-war views as the Bush Doctrine â€Å"provided the key rationale for the Iraq War. This is the main theme of the paper and the authors express this throughout the paper in a fascinating, enthralling fashion. The previously supported neoconservative project has been fatally wounded through its invasion of Iraq. The Bush Doctrine does in fact â€Å"represent an abrupt and unprecedented shift in American foreign policy. â⠂¬  The United States of America had been the most influential nation in the entire world (â€Å"land of opportunity†), with its huge military force and dominate economic position, but with this doctrine came a wave of unexpected anti-Americanism.Schmidt and Williams make reference to Morgenthau and his struggles to â€Å"to convince American foreign policy officials of the dangers of conceptualizing the national interest in universalistic moral terms. † I agree with his mind-set that the Iraqi invasion was â€Å"national-suicide† and bruised the image of America worldwide. His vision that spreading democracy would result in disaster may have been pessimistic but was completely accurate. American realists were right from the offset; they believed that it was â€Å"unnecessary and counterproductive to invade Iraq. † And in hindsight they were extremely correct.However they failed to â€Å"steer America away from the road to war. † If all the eviden ce was weak, vague, and â€Å"baseless† , why did realists fail to persuade the public that the invasion would prove to be disastrous? This is what Schmidt and Williams set out to solve. One of the most chilling yet accurate quotes of the article is: â€Å"their wisdom only taking flight at dusk—when most of the damage has already been done. † It was important to publish these ideas to demonstrate how gullible the American public (and even Congress) were in following the Bush administration to war and to ensure that this aggressive strategy is never repeated.It was also important to publish this article to illustrate the future implications of the Iraqi war on the U. S foreign policy. Schmidt and Williams use different methods throughout the article to reach their conclusions. They state and evaluate the arguments that realists adopted in order to defer America from invading Iraq. They also demonstrate the tactics used by neoconservatives to undermine and defeat realists in the lead up to the war in Iraq. The authors engage in these different methods to reach conclusions as to why realism ultimately failed in the Iraqi debate.The subjects in this article are visibly neoconservatives and realists. It is clear from this article that neoconservatives and realists share a very different outlook. One of the most accurate yet sombre quotes is: â€Å"As Mearsheimer sees it, realism quickly unravels the neoconservatives' faulty logic and explains the current reality of the Iraq situation. † This statement oppresses me as it was too late to materialize and fight against the decision to invade Iraq. The authors draw on John Ikenberry and his belief that terrorists â€Å"â€Å"cannot be deterred because they are either willing to die for their cause or able to escape retaliation. This is a brilliant quote used by Schmidt and Williams in this article as it shows the apparent ruthlessness of these ‘terrorists’. They use elements o f the Bush Doctrine to demonstrate the tactics used by neoconservatives to persuade the American public towards supporting the invasion of Iraq. Drawing on these elements is a very intriguing technique and draws the reader in. The authors point out from the offset that the Bush Doctrines goal was for the United States â€Å"to preserve its hegemonic position for the indefinite future. † This is a brash statement demonstrates neoconservative’s belief in a unipolar America.By referring to the Bush Doctrine in this article the authors demonstrate the idealistic notions of neoconservatives and their belief that America â€Å"leadership as a prerequisite for an orderly and peaceful world. † The authors use a brilliant quote to depict the neoconservatives ultimately naive and unipolar view that ‘one-size fits all’: â€Å"American hegemony is the only reliable defence against a breakdown of peace and international order. † The authors cleverly repro duce a metaphor used by Mearsheimer: â€Å"Wilsonism with teeth† which brilliantly depicts neoconservatives’ absolute belief in unilateralism and America being the sole superpower.It captured my attention as a reader drawing me in to the article. Schmidt and Williams make reference to Walt’s argument: â€Å"how can other states be comfortable and secure when U. S. decisions affect all of their interests, and when the United States is strong enough to act pretty much as it wishes? † This is a brilliant rhetoric question which draws the reader in. Through the use of rhetoric question the author’s emphasis their point that the United States do in fact pose a huge threat to the rest of the world. The authors use impeccable language to express their point that neoconservative and realist views are in direct contrast.Alliteration (‘p’ repetition) is used in the following sentence which, in my opinion as a reader, draws the audience in becaus e of its dramatic and memorable effect: â€Å"Rather than a prescription for peace, as most realists maintain, neoconservatives view balance-of power politics as both unnecessary and a hindrance to achieving American national interests, while America's preeminent position in the world obviates the need for traditional balance-of-power diplomacy. † Schmidt and Williams state that realism â€Å"lacks any view beyond narrowly strategic material calculation, narrowly pragmatic judgment, or pluralist competition. I agree with this statement, realists to carry a very pessimistic, strategic view. This is not suitable in modern politics due to globalization. In my opinion the major weakness of the article is that Schmidt and Williams fail to give a solid resolution to the problem and how to restore America’s image abroad and how to improve the future of the US foreign policy. In the conclusion Schmidt and Williams ask the all-important question: â€Å"can realism make its an alytic positions politically powerful? † In my opinion the answer is yes but only if realists develop their ideas to suit the modern world today.Traditional realism has most definitely surpassed, however, following the full failure of the Bush administration, realists will be called upon in order to guide the American foreign policy and restore its pride and glory that took centuries to build. In my essay I reviewed the article â€Å"The Bush Doctrine and the Iraq War: Neoconservatives vs. Realists† by Brian C. Schmidt and Michael C. Williams. I decided to illustrate the main theme at the start of my essay and explained why I thought it was important that these ideas were published.I followed by explaining the author’s methodology and described the basic results from their research. I proceeded by declaring the articles strengths and weaknesses, particularly focusing on the writing skills used by Schmidt and Williams. Finally, I reviewed the conclusion. I found t his article particularly interesting and thought provoking. I have always been exposed to the heroic attributes of America because of the propaganda media broadcasted; however, Brian C. Schmidt and Michael C. Williams illustrate a quite unbiased view of the nation and the possible future implications of the U. S foreign policy.

Breakthroughs in Modern Deep Sea Treasure Hunting

Modern deep sea treasure hunting and/or modern marine archaeology have benefited greatly from two technical breakthroughs: (1) side scanning sonar and; (2) remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). These two breakthroughs have made the largest financial impact on the profession than any other modern breakthroughs in the same field. Before side scanning sonar and ROVs were developed for practical use, deep sea treasure hunting professionals and marine archaeologists have to contend with human limitations on the vast three-dimensions of the sea.Two dimensions involve covering the length and width of the water surface or coastline (Smith). The third involves exploring the depths. The first two dimensions challenge the luxury of time. Unlike sunken cities (â€Å"Port Royal†), shipwrecks have occurred in random places over a very wide area. Tracking the exact location of sunken ships could take years through the investigation of historical records (Handwerk), (Australian Broadcasting Corp oration [ABC]), sample dives and other traditional methods. Moreover, since shipwrecks have occurred at random periods in history (Burke), pinpoint accuracy is an issue (â€Å"Outer Continental†).Deep sea explorers need to choose one shipwreck from a choice of many (Barrett). UNESCO estimates that there are more than 3 million shipwrecks in the world (Raja). Exploration costs a lot of money too. Bills fetch as much as â‚ ¬500 Thousand (â€Å"Italy†) or even US $6. 25 Million (Reuters) for one shipwreck alone. Hence, most deep sea explorers try to get financial backing from investors (Dennis) and concentrate their resources on just one shipwreck. With side scanning sonar, deep sea exploration companies can now cover larger areas at shorter periods of time.Odyssey Marine Exploration for instance covered 3,700 square miles and detected 2,100 possible shipwrecks in a period of less than four months (â€Å"Outer Continental†). Compare this with Mel Fisher’s 16-year search of Nuestra Senora de Atocha, a 1622 Spanish galleon wreck off the Florida Straits (Illingworth). Maybe even with Howard Collingwood’s use of archival research and a translator of historical texts as preliminaries to his cesium magnetometer scan of his target coverage (â€Å"Interview†). The third dimension challenges the forces of nature.Divers have to contend with these: (1) great water pressures; (2) strong undersea currents; (3) murky and sometimes polluted waters; (4) hostile sea creatures like sharks, eels, and crabs; (4) razor-sharp corals and other hard, pointed objects under the sea; and (5) moving heavy debris under water (â€Å"Port Royal†). In this dimension, ROVs have already accomplished many great things. The deepest deep sea treasure recovery has been made by ROVs at a depth of 170 meters (Reuters). ZEUS, a ROV, visually inspected 400 possible shipwrecks in a record-time of four months (â€Å"Outer Continental†).Moreover, wi th James Cameron’s filming of the Titanic (â€Å"Florida†), ROVs have been popularized and have become most financially-rewarding, Hollywood-style (â€Å"Master†). ROVs did not only address the forces of nature and provided safety to divers, ROVs also provided a new kind of treasure to deep sea professionals—royalty income from films. Works Cited Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). â€Å"Australia. † ABC Regional Online – Australia 14 July 2005. . Jordan 2. 7:17. Barrett, Helen. â€Å"Australia. † 24 Hour Museum – UK 17 July 2005. . Jordan 2. 7:17. Burke, Alan. â€Å"Massachusetts. † Gloucester Daily Times – USA 26 July 2005. (article no longer available). Jordan 2. 7:9. Dennis, Jan. â€Å"Dreams of Sunken Treasure Lure Ex-Hostage Back to South America. † Associated Press 26 Sep. 2004. . â€Å"Underwater. † â€Å"Florida. † Jacksonville Business Journal – Flordica, USA 27 Sep. 2 005. . Jordan 2. 7:9. Handwerk, Brian. â€Å"North Carolina.† National Geographic News – USA 12 July 2005. . Jordan 2. 9:10. Illingworth, Montieth M. â€Å"The Treasure Hunters: Before You Invest in a Search for Sunken Treasure, Find Out What You are Diving Into. † Cigar Aficionado Online. 1995. 6 Jan. 2006. . â€Å"Interview with Treasure Hunter. † CNN. com – Transcripts. Video transcript aired on 20 June 2004. CNN. 6 Jan. 2006. â€Å"Italy. † ANSA – Rome, Italy 27 Sep. 2005.. Jordan 2. 9:14. Jordan, Brian, MAC. Marine Cultural and Historic Newsletter 2. 7, Silver Spring, MD: National Marine Protected Area Center, July 2005. —. Marine Cultural and Historic Newsletter 2. 9, Silver Spring, MD: National Marine Protected Area Center, Sep. 2005. â€Å"Master of the Deep. † New Scientist – Interview. . â€Å"Underwater. † â€Å"Outer Continental Shelf and International Waters. † Tampa Bay Business Journa l 26 Sep. 2005. . Jordan 2. 9:12. â€Å"Port Royal – The Sunken City. † Book Review. 6 Jan. 2006. UK: AquaPress . Raja M. â€Å"Shipwreck Salvors See Treasure for the Taking. † Asia Times Online 17 Sep. 2004. . â€Å"Underwater. † Reuters. â€Å"Norway. † MSNBC – USA 20 Sep. 2005. . Jordan 2. 9:15. Smith, Helena. â€Å"Greece. † The Boston Globe 11 Sep. 2005. . Jordan 2. 9:13.

Shakespeare- Othello and The Merchant of Venice Essay

Shakespeare- Othello and The Merchant of Venice - Essay Example At this stage, the audience witnesses the theme of hypocrisy. Lago accepts the whopping sum of money from Rodriguez and pretends to hate Othello, his master. The two plan on reporting Othello to Brabantio, Desdemona’s father who decides to go and attack Othello on claims that he abused a fairer. The play gets engrossing as the wishes of Rodriguez to take Desdemona as her wife does not succeed. Before the set date, for the attack Lago reports the incident to Othello; faking that Rodriguez is responsible for calling Brabantio. While handling the matter, the duke calls for Othello to go and handle the Cypress. Brabantio, annoyed of the incident, comes with Othello to the Duke and accuses him of bewitching her daughter, Desdemona. The two profess their love before the king, and the argument is dispersed (Shakespeare & Rāghava, Act 1). On the other hand in the drama, the Merchant of Venice, the play narrowly escapes becoming a tragedy. The drama classification appears external, causes of occurrence more real than supernatural. The play is performed, at a time where Venice city was termed the greatest. The Mediterranean sides were isolated and left in isolation. The scene then retaliates to Belmont, which means beauty. The dominant theme in the play is the value of life compared to the value of property. The play later on disintegrates into two settings: the scene at Venice and the scene at Belmont The relationship between the two scenes is that both accomplish a means to an end. The theme of prejudice is also evident when the Jews hate the Christians. Shylock hates Antonio and determined to kill him. The opportunity presents itself, when Antonio risks his life for Bassanio, his friend, who needed the amount to help him woe Portia, a Belmont, Beauty in style. The return of the money almost turns into a tragedy as Antonio ship failed to return and the debt is still due (Shakespeare et al, Act

Luxury Brands, Why People Spend a Lot of Money to Buy Luxury Goods Essay

Luxury Brands, Why People Spend a Lot of Money to Buy Luxury Goods - Essay Example People buy luxury items because they can afford it. This is the only way to show their richness to people. Luxury brands are obviously made for such people who want to prove that they are rich and they can pay any cost for their favorite things. People and fashion celebrities buy the branded goods of Louis Vuitton, Christian Louboutin and Gucci to wear robust and durable products. Louis Vuittan is footwear giant and fashion people spend a lot of money on branded products to show richness. Alexandra says, â€Å"I love the process, the quality, and the craftsmanship involved behind most good luxury products. Some people think luxury goods are very expensive and overpriced. Expensive, yes, overpriced not always.† (Alexandra 2010) Now the one more reason is export of branded items. Branded companies like Hermes, Gucci, Adidas and Nike are manufactured and used in economically strong countries. When these goods are imported by the third world countries, these goods become very expe nsive after inclusion of different taxes. Louis Vuitton is world leader in footwear collections. Other brands in competition are Prada and Alexander Wang. The very important factor behind buying the branded items is that people buy emotion, luxury, image and status linked to brand of their choice. Manufacturer keeps the interest of buyer in mind and makes items to fulfill needsof people. Inflation and difference in currency rates is also influencing factor in offering the different rates of single brand at different places of the world. Brands like Louboutin and Jimmy Choo have a big name on social media. These two are the most visited brands on the internet. Because they claim that they do not only sell shoes, they also sell the lifestyle. This is the lifestyle which convinced people to go for such stylish shoes. When Smith was asked about his interest in buying luxury brands, he reported, â€Å"Luxury brands have valid prices because they offer the best quality and whenever one u ses a brand, it speaks of its quality. They never get weird and out of fashion. They are always in fashion.† The imprecision of the bags has proved that it is one of the most desirable bags since Hermes named it after British actress Jane Birkin in 1984, the prices of these products starts from about $9,000 to about $34,000 for a crocodile skin bag (Goldsmith 2008). People pay large amounts for buying Hermes bags because of already discussed reasons. Hermes bags are good looking and are made of very fine material. Costly and finished leather is used in making of these bags. Companies depend on good labor and material. Just for making the name of brand known to people Hermes bag making is free of any shortcuts. Tonello said, â€Å"The bag has become the iconic 'it' bag, the symbol of ultimate luxury, because of its inaccessibility to the general public† (Goldsmith 2008). Another beauty of Hermes bags is that these are hand made by highly skilled people. Quantity is decid ed and then bags are made according to decided quantity. No extra bags are manufactured in a year. Making of certain number of bags depends upon the availability of skilled labor. Variety of colors and styles are used in molding the leather in a very good looking bag. This fascinates the people and they become bag lovers by paying the high costs. When

How did Slavery become a powerful Institution in America Essay - 1

How did Slavery become a powerful Institution in America - Essay Example Lastly, all nations desired conquest for exploring new opportunities. The European rivalries that existed in the New World were an accumulation of conquests that were desired by the imperialistic nations in Europe. From the dawn of the 15th century, European nations such as Portugal, Spain, Netherlands and France begin to establish their dominance. In the 18th century, the British and French fought for dominance over the "New World". These nations desired conquest because of power, wealth, and opportunities. The civil war was one of the bloodiest war fought that continues to leave a dark impression throughout the course of the US History. It is impossible to point just one factor that justified the actions of the Civil War Soldiers. However, it was evident that the growing demand led many plantation owners for suitable land. Additionally, the growing demand for cotton was overwhelming. Moreover, this huge boom in agricultural economies in the Deep South was detrimental as it caused huge divisions and expansions which created a huge movement of slaves. Conducive research indicates that the growing demand for cotton led many plantation owners further west in search of suitable land. Moreover, the invention of the  cotton gin  by Eli Whitney enabled south to be more prosperous via cotton. As a matter of fact, this invention was crucial as it revolutionized the cotton industry by increasing fifty-fold the quantity of cotton that could be processed in a day. It was clear that this mechanization changed the efficiency of how cotton was produced, which meant that the American labor force needed expansion. This caused a greater influx of slave labor. First and foremost was the fact that the Soldiers in North wanted to keep the nation united. The notion of South’s separation from the Union was an idea that the North clearly could not digest. In addition, Lincoln’s

Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethics Essay - 3

Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethics - Essay Example In its effort to ensure the entrusted corporate social responsibility a modern day corporate must ensure fulfillment of its duties towards the social, moral and environmental aspects of its surroundings. The chances of a possible gas disaster at Bhopal that ultimately broke out during December the 2nd and 3rd 1984 were rooted long back in the early half of the 1970s. In those eras India was a country dying for foreign investment as with its infrastructure of that time it managed little of it and that mostly owing to Soviet Friendship. To attain this much-awaited foreign investment goal the Indian government approached Union Carbide to set a plant at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh that will be producing pesticides such as Sevin. Sevin was certainly to have an intermediate product Methyl Isocyanide (MIC) that was immensely toxic. The possibility of a disaster owing to the production of such a toxic material was overlooked. The Union Carbide considered two potentials of the place, cheap labor and lands the most helpful input a chemical company can hope for to start with. What the eminent strategists of the concerned company overlooked was whether the place is ready enough for such a plant. The answer to this question was a certain no and that owing to a couple of factors. First of all cheap labor does not always translate to skilled labor rather mostly stands for the opposite and Madhya Pradesh was one of the backward states of India in terms of technical know how. Both of these together had sown a seed that eventually became a poisonous tree; swallowing millions of lives. In simple terms, corporate balance sheet emerged victorious over the social accounts and that one-day yielded poisonous gas in a huge amount that shocked millions of innocent inhabitants of Bhopal and almost no one was held accountable for that. 1) Mr. Warren Anderson: the puppet master.  When a business body unleashes a catastrophe then the topmost officials or authorities are bound to be held responsible. This was no exception for Union Carbide as well.

Thames tunnel (london) Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

Thames tunnel (london) - Research Paper Example The tunnel measures 11m (35 feet) wide 6m (20 feet) high and 396 m (1,300 feet) long (Teape 6). It runs a depth of 23 m (75 feet) below the surface of River Thames when measured at high tide. In early 19 century, there was no land that could connect the South and north banks of the Thames and to connect the expanding docks on either side of the River. The port of London the main hub of across the entire British Empire and the business worldwide. Any bridge constructed was supposed to allow ships that had masts over one hundred feet tall to be sailed under them yet there was no available technology if the Tower bridges lifting bascules to early engineers (Will 15). It could not be possible for a horse to pull a cat that was loaded up through a steep hill up to 100 feet into the air at a gentle slope. The approach ramps needed to be very long, which made in impractical. This pressing need so Engineer Ralph Dodd develop a tunnel to between Tilbury and Gravesend in 1799 (Teape 6). This first attempt did not succeed. Later (1805-1809) a group of Cornish miners being led by Richard Trevithick made another attempt of digging a tunnel upriver between Limehouse/Wapping and Rotherhithe. The equally encountered difficult conditions and failed. As Cornish miners, they were used to dealing with hard rocks. They needed to modify the methods they used in digging hard rocks to enable them to deal with quicksand and soft clay (Teape 8). There was also the problem of the flooding of the initial pilot tunnel. It was reported that after 1000 feet of the total 1,200 feet became flooded, the Thames Archway project was abandoned. It measures 2 to 3 feet by 5 feet, and was intended to be used for a passenger’s use. The failure of this early project made engineers to come to a conclusion that constructing an underground tunnel was impractical. However, Marc Brunel , the Anglo-French engineer, could not agree to this.

Social and Cultural Impact on the Carnival of Rio de Janeiro Essay

Social and Cultural Impact on the Carnival of Rio de Janeiro - Essay Example â€Å"Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil is home to the world's most famous carnival, and what many people consider to be the world's biggest and best party. The basis of Rio’s Carnival is the samba schools, which social clubs are named after the famous Brazilian samba dance† (Richard 2011). Samba schools are found in various places of Rio de Janeiro, and competition between them is fierce. Members work all through the year to make the best floats, themes, costumes, and dance performances. â€Å"Education and rehabilitation are among the primary responsibilities that these samba schools undertake† (About Rio Samba Schools: Understand Overview of Samba Schools 2011). During the four day carnival, schools parade and struggle against each other in the Sambadrome, a building that can hold nearly 60,000 spectators. Millions of people get involved in merry making all through the city, especially on Rio's famous beaches, Copacabana and Ipanema. â€Å"Rio de Janeiro and the carn ival the two attractions are inseparable. Although the carnival in Rio is very commercial nowadays, it still is the carnival in Brazil, even though there are more authentic celebrations held elsewhere. Five days of samba and partying make the event as famous over the world as the World Cup or Olympics. Rio de Janeiro is also an attraction worth of seeing† (Tourism in Brazil Essay 2012). Social Impact on the Carnival of Rio De Janeiro: Rio de Janeiro is remembered for its strange natural beauty and excitement of popular culture. â€Å"Carnival has a different effect on each person, but it was created just with one objective for everyone, and that is to have a lot of fun, to forget our routine life, worries, responsibilities and to adventure at least once in our lives, because this experience no one will ever forget† (Kathyvargas 2004). The city is also marked by tremendous differences, reflecting a high degree of social disparity. The gap between the poor and the rich an d their close geographic nearness, characterized Rio. â€Å"Rio de Janeiro has major social problems, in the same neighborhood, such as Gavea for example, there is a difference that has developed over 60 years. Opposing realities are seen within a few meters of each other. On one side we have the upper class, with its mansions and high levels of education, and on the other side groups who in poor conditions, living in shacks, without even a basic education† (Social Problems in Rio De Janeiro 2012). This chasm of disparity makes many other impacts in the day-to-day city life. Crime, violence, police corruption, drug trafficking, deficiencies in health, inefficient transportation systems defective and education form the crux of Rio’s daily routine. The city has high levels of crime, particularly homicides. â€Å"Between 1978 and 2000, almost 50,000† (The Top 10 Most Dangerous City Breaks 2012) citizens were killed in Rio, the majority of victims being affected by stray bullets, and drug trafficking. There is a huge burden of teenage homicides, the age for the majority at risk in the drug gangs for and those who endure most from police fighting. â€Å"In 2010, Rio received 800.000 visitors during carnival which represents an R$ 950 million industry for the city† (Carnival of Rio De Janeiro 2012). Urban violence is an increasing problem that that has influenced every

Wilma Rudolph An Olympic Medalist Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Wilma Rudolph An Olympic Medalist - Essay Example She won two individual events, the 100 and the 200 meter dash, and also anchored the women's 4x4 team. Not only breaking records, Rudolph also broken gender barriers in several events. She won numerous awards, including The struggles Wilma had to overcome began when she was four, and diagnosed with polio. The doctors told her mom there was no hope of Wilma ever being able to walk, but she helped Wilma fight through the disease. She massaged Wilma's legs every day and also taught her brothers and sisters how to do it. Her mother Blanche, "drove her 90 miles roundtrip to a Nashville hospital for therapy"( http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00016444.html). By the age of 8 Wilma was able to walk with the help of a brace. Eventually, she was able to walk and even play basketball without the help of any additional support. She was so good, she was encouraged to start track, and in her senior year of high school she qualified for the Olympic Games, where she won a bronze medal. (http://gardenofpraise.com/ibdwilma.htm). She also thought that she had a greater calling, and after winning all those gold medals, she retired at the age of 22, and became of inspirational track coach. She also formed the Wilma Rudolph Foundation to help children learn about "discipline and hard work."( http://gardenofpraise.com/ibdwilma.htm). Wilma died in 1994.

Von Mangoldt function Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Von Mangoldt function - Essay Example There are various functions that relates to the Von function. Some of the functions that relates to the Von function is the mobius function, the divisor function and the phi function amongst others. In number theory, the phi function φ(n), is a part of the arithmetic function that counts the n totatives, that is, the positive integers that are less than or equal to n that are mainly prime to n. If n is a positive integer, then φ(n) is the integer number k in the range 1 ≠¤ k ≠¤ n for which the biggest common divisor gcd (n,k)=1. The totient function refers to a multiplicative function that means that where two numbers n and m are relatively prim, then φ(mn)  =  Ãâ€ (m)φ(n). The Euler’s product formula states A divisor function is also a part of the arithmetic function linked to the integer divisors. When denoted as the divisor function, it states the integer divisors number. It comes out as a remarkable identities involving relationships with the Eisenstein series and Riemann zeta function of modular forms. A linked formula is the divisor summatory function that like the name is the sum exceeding the divisor function. The Von function is related to the divisor function through the summatory function. The subsequent chebyshey function ψ(x) is the summatory function associated with the von Mangoldt function: There are various aspects that surround the Von function. Many questions have been asked as to whether the Von function is multiplicative. The von function is one of the most significant arithmetic function that cannot be classified as additive or multiplicative. An arithmetic function a is said to be completely additive if a (mn) = a (m) + a (n) for all the natural numbers m and n. An arithmetic function is attributed to be completely multiplicative if a (mn) = a (m) a (n) for all the natural numbers m and n. Two whole numbers n and m are referred to as comprise if their greatest common divisor equals 1, meaning that there

Urban American Indian Youth Essay Example for Free

Urban American Indian Youth Essay Abstract This study focused on how a non-targeted group minority youth might or might not benefit from a prevention intervention focused on other cultural groups. The study specifically evaluated the effects of an evidence-based drug prevention curriculum with a sample of urban American Indian youth in the southwest U. S. , most of whom self-reported multi-ethnic heritages. This research examined the developmental trajectory of drug use for these youth, and compared it with the trajectory of youth from other racial/ethnic groups at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and two follow up time periods. Results indicated that alcohol and marijuana use increased from pre-intervention across subsequent time periods for all youth. The drug use of the American Indian youth in the treatment group increased on certain measures. They reported a steeper trajectory in the amount and frequency of alcohol and marijuana use compared to the youths in the treatment groups with other racial/ethnic identifications. Implications of these findings for the development of culturally grounded prevention programs for multi-ethnic, urban American Indian youth are discussed. Culturally specific, school-based drug prevention programs have been receiving increased attention in recent years. These programs are based on the premise that infusing youths culture into the content and format of the prevention message will reduce adolescent drug use (Kandel 1995). One such program, Keepin it R. E. A. L. , has achieved this by creating the curriculum from the developmental and cultural realities of Mexican American youth from the southwest United States (Gosin et al. 2003). To date, the program has been developed for and evaluated with primarily Mexican American youth (Kulis et al. 2005). Research has assessed the differences in program effectiveness by acculturation level among Mexican/Mexican Americans (Marsiglia et al. 2005) but has not closely examined the residual effects of this program among other minority youth populations (i. e. , the programs effects on non-targeted minority youth populations). In what ways might this program impact the drug use of minority youth who are not Mexican American? How might these effects compare with the treatment effects of the program for Mexican American and European American youth? Drug Prevention Programming for American Indian Youth There have been substantial efforts in recent years toward the development of drug prevention programs focused on American Indian youth. For example, Marlatt et al. (2003) described the development of the Journeys of the Circle Project, which is a culturally congruent life skills course targeted toward Northwestern American Indian youth. Similarly, Schinke et al. (2000) implemented and evaluated a culturally tailored life skills intervention with American Indian youth from 10 reservations in North and South Dakota, Idaho, Montana, and Oklahoma. Aside from the research conducted by Schinke and colleagues, however, the majority of prevention efforts with American Indian youth have not been rigorously evaluated for efficacy (Beauvais and Trimble 2003; Hawkins et al. 2004). Beauvais and Trimble stated that most of the prevention research with American Indian youth has focused largely on commentary and recommendations and not on the science of prevention (p. 397). However, while there are relatively few evaluation studies focused specifically on drug use and American Indian youth, there have been ongoing efforts related to culturally specific drug prevention programs for minority youth in general. Related to this research is the debate as to whether prevention programs need to be culturally grounded, that is, developed from the cultural values and variability inherent within each culture, or if they can be culturally adapted, that is, modified from universal prevention programs originally developed for non-Hispanic European American populations (Hecht et al.2003). Each of these approaches has implications toward the fidelity and fit of prevention interventions (Castro et al. 2004). Further, culturally focused prevention curricula range in ethnic specificity; some are highly specific (e. g. , Hecht et al. 2003) while others are more broadly targeted for minority youth (e. g. , Botvin et al. 1997). In sum, there is much left to learn about the degree of cultural specificity required for positive prevention effects with minority youth. The Keepin it R. E. A. L. Curriculum Keepin it R. E. A. L. is a culturally grounded, video-enhanced prevention intervention that was developed and normed from the narratives of Latino, African American, and Euro American youth (Gosin et al. 2003), and validated with teacher and student feedback (Gosin et al. 2003. ; Harthun et al. 2002). It has been identified as a Model Program by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA; U. S. Department of Health and Human Services [DHHS] n. d. ), which is a designation given by the organization to effective programs that have been evaluated using rigorous standards of research. The 10-lesson curriculum was designed for use with middle school students (6th, 7th, and 8th graders), and draws from a variety of theoretical frameworks, such as communication competence theory (Spitzberg and Cupach 1984) and ecological risk and resiliency theory (Bogenschneider 1996). The curriculum situates these frameworks within the unique geographic and cultural contexts of Latino, African American, and European American youth in the southwest United States. The primary focus of the program is on teaching drug resistance skills using four strategies: refuse, explain, avoid, and leave (Hecht et al.2003). Refuse consists of statements of saying no to substance use offers, while explain consists of more elaborate reasons for refusing these offers. Avoid refers to avoiding situations where drugs and alcohol might be present, and leave refers to leaving the environment once the youth encounters substance use (Hecht et al. 2003). The cultural specificity of the program components is based on prior research, which found ethnic differences in common communication styles, competencies, and norms (Hecht and Ribeau 1984; Hecht et al.1990) and drug use contexts (Gosin et al. 2003). Based on this research, three versions of the curriculum have been developed: 1) A Latino version, which primarily reflects Mexican American and Mexican values (e. g. , familismo, or family orientation), 2) A Non-Latino version, grounded primarily in European American and African American values, and 3) A Multicultural version, which combines half of the lessons from the Latino version and half of the lessons from the non-Latino version (Hecht et al.2003; Kulis et al. 2005). An example of an objective from the Latino version of the curriculum is for the student to recognize what he/she does affects his/her community, group, and family, while an objective from the Non-Latino version is for the student to recognize what he/she does may have favorable or unfavorable consequences on his/her own future goals (Gosin et al. 2003, p. 128). The in-class curriculum was supplemented with a media campaign, consisting of television, radio, and billboard advertisements that reinforced the four strategies (refuse, explain, avoid, and leave) and follow-up booster activities such as school assemblies, poster projects, murals, and essay contests (Kulis et al. 2005). Research evaluating the curriculum found that the use of alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana increased over time for students who received any version of the intervention and students in the control group; however, the increase was significantly less for students in the intervention group (Hecht et al.2003). This effect was particularly salient for alcohol use (Gosin et al. 2003; Hecht et al. 2003). Further, the intervention students perceived significantly smaller increases in their peers substance use compared with those in the control group (DHHS n. d. ; Hecht et al. 2003). Past research suggests differential effects of each version of the program, with the Latino and Multicultural versions of the intervention providing more benefits to Mexican/Mexican American students (Gosin et al.2003; Kulis et al. 2005) and the overall sample (Hecht et al. 2003). However, while versions of the curriculum that incorporated aspects of culture (the Latino and Multicultural Versions) were found to impact a wider array of substance use and attitudinal outcomes in the desirable direction than did the Non-Latino version, tests of strict cultural matching of program content with the students racial/ethnic backgrounds did not produce statistically significant differences (Hecht et al.2003; Kulis et al. 2005). In other words, these studies did not find that Mexican/Mexican American students receiving the Latino version of the curriculum demonstrated better overall outcomes than those receiving other versions of the curriculum. This finding is significant, because it provides support for prevention programs that broadly target minority youth, rather than those that are ethnic-specific. Subsequently, the strength of culturally grounded prevention programs may lie in their ability to reflect regionally-specific multicultural environments, rather than specific ethnic groups. In order to examine this hypothesis, we chose to examine the programs efficacy with another predominant minority cultural group in the southwest U. S. To date, no studies of Keepin it R. E. A. L. have examined the residual effects of the program among youth who were not Latino, African American, or Euro American. Perhaps this programs strength lies in its ability to integrate multiculturalism into drug prevention, defined as the inclusion of cultural values from all groups participating in the prevention program (Green 1999), rather than its cultural specificity related to drug use prevention. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the curriculum on urban American Indian youth of the southwest in order to examine this hypothesis more closely. The study presented here involved a reanalysis of data that was previously reported (Gosin et al.2003; Hecht et al. 2003; Kulis, et al. 2005; Marsiglia et al. 2005). However, this study differs from previous studies because it tests the generalizability of the culturally enhanced versions of the curriculum with American Indian youth. This is accomplished through the use of growth curve modeling to examine the developmental trajectory of drug use among youth who participated in Keepin it R. E. A. L. While previous evaluations of the Keepin it R. E. A. L. curriculum support its efficacy with specific groups of racial/ethnic adolescents (Hecht et al. 2003; Kulis et al.2005; Marsiglia et al. 2005), the current study suggests that the program may have limited effectiveness in curbing the drug use of American Indian youth. Despite the current studys limitations, our findings have implications for the development of culturally grounded prevention programs in schools, reservation, and non-reservation communities for American Indian youth and for other minority youth populations. Our findings suggest that American Indian youth may require drug prevention curricula that are specific to their developmental and cultural realities. In order to effectively address drug use among American Indian youth, prevention researchers and specialists may need to focus on creating and/or modifying drug prevention programs in order to address the daily traditions, cultures, and values of American Indian youth. References 1. Beauvais, F. , Trimble, J. E. (Beauvais, F. , Trimble, J. E. (2003). The effectiveness of alcohol and drug abuse prevention among American-Indian youth. In Z. Sloboda W. J. Bukoski (Eds. ), Handbook of drug abuse prevention: Theory, science, and practice (pp. 393-410). New York: Kluwer. 2. Botvin, G. J. , Epstein, J. A. , Baker, E., Diaz, T. , Ifill-Williams, M. (1997). School-based drug abuse prevention with inner-city minority youth. Journal of Child Adolescent Substance Abuse, 6, 5-19. 3. Castro, F. G. , Barrera, M. , Martinez, C. R. (2004). The cultural adaptation of prevention interventions: Resolving tensions between fidelity and fit. Prevention Science, 5, 41-45. 4. Hecht, M. L. , Marsiglia, F. F. , Elek, E. , Wagstaff, D. A. , Kulis, S. , Dustman, P. , Miller-Day, M. (2003). Culturally grounded substance use prevention: An evaluation of the keepin it R. E. A. L. curriculum. Prevention Science, 4, 233-248. 5. Kandel, D. B. (1995). Ethnic differences in drug use: Patterns, paradoxes. In G. J. Botvin, S. Schinke, M. A. Orlandi (Eds. ), Drug abuse prevention with multiethnic youth (pp. 81-104). Thousand Oaks: Sage. 6. Gosin, M. , Marsiglia, F. F. , Hecht, M. L. (2003). keepinit R. E. A. L. : A drug resistance curriculum tailored to the strengths and needs of pre-adolescents of the southwest. Journal of Drug Education, 33, 119-142. 7. Kulis, S. , Marsiglia, F. F. , Elek, E. , Dustman, P. , Wagstaff, D. A. , Hecht, M. L. (2005). Mexican/Mexican American adolescents and keepin in R. E. A. L. : An evidence-based, substance use prevention program. Children and Schools, 27, 133-145. 8. Marlatt, G. A. , Larimer, M. E. , Mail, P. D. , Hawkins, E. H. , Cummins, L. H. , Blume, A. W. , et al. (2003). Journeys of the circle: A culturally congruent life skills intervention for adolescent Indian drinking. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 27, 1-3. 9. Schinke, S. P. , Orlandi, M. A. , Botvin, G. J. , Gilchrist, L. D. , Trimble, J. E. , Locklear, V. S. (1988). Preventing substance abuse among American Indian adolescents: A bicultural competence skills approach. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 35, 87-90. 1. 1. Beauvais, F. , Trimble, J. E.

Mass Media Creates Rather Than Reflects Social Reality Media Essay

Mass Media Creates Rather Than Reflects Social Reality Media Essay The modern society is surrounded by different types of media that present multifarious information. This is done in a gratuitous manner whether with or without the consent of the audience. It has been argued by some that the medias role has extended from the conventional reflection of societal values to the creation of new values. This is a complex and controversial matter though. However, this articles final stand is that the media is an amplifier of underlying societal values. Some of the content is distorted, even though one cannot down play the inherent significance of the medias belonging to the society (Lull, 2000, p. 37). The media has rapidly developed with the advent in information technology. It has become easier to access information in contemporary times than it was some few decades ago. This has been through smart gadgets and technologies such as phones, and the internet, and social networking sites such as Facebook, My Space, and Tweeter among others. Virtually everything is going e, from e-mails to e-newspapers. This has made it so easy to communicate; you could easily speak your mind and even show the world what youve got through YouTube (Kuerschner, 2006, p.11). When one is sitting in their living room to watch music videos from MTV, different interpretations arise, but one thing is common-MTV clearly displays the way music has developed. MTV has generally been a symbol of those who are young and jaunty. The music, the lifestyle of rap stars, rock stars, pop stars have liberally set new criterions, which are earnestly followed by the young. MTV has increased its presence in oriental countries; this has been observed as an invasion from the West and a destruction of conventional values. There has been a creation of new styles of walking, talking, clothing, and consequently thinking for the young oriental minds. For example, MTVs era in Japan is quickly associated with the birth of the rebellious Japanese adolescents. However, it is sincerely wrong to believe that the MTV itself creates reality from nowhere or to conclude that the MTV is responsible for all changes in the contemporary technologically advanced Japan. The MTV has actually been s uccessful in the western world, and then in the rest of the world simply because it has continued to support and magnify the values that are inherently held and nurtured by these societies. The contemporary society is more liberal, more spontaneous, and more rebellious; this may be as a result of industrialization, and the media serves as an amplifier of such values. If the modern media would instead assume a more conservative figure, the expected result would be its extinction. (Connell, 1995, p. 9) Information has a significant effect on people lives. For example watching the world cup can make one to experience a gamut of emotions, a sense of delight, nervousness and even resentment at the same time. Watching movies can take someones mind away from reality; this may bring inspiration to do act in a certain way. Therefore, information has created a myriad of avenues to the society but at the same time the society has become heavily dependent on these avenues (Newbold et al., 2002, p. 31). The film making industry is another noteworthy example. Several changes have occurred in this industry and the modern filming industry has witnessed radical changes in the physical appearance of actors and actresses. Main actresses have become symbols of beauty. Modern movies depict beauty as tall and slim. More evidence can be seen from the modern posters and magazine covers display of images of women. The social appetite and taste for the woman body have really changed over time. The figure of a man is displayed as tall and well built (Parenti 1990, p. 6). The media has significantly propagated a certain type of beauty. Think about it this way, what if the media starts to promote short and fat model of beauty, would it be successful? This question may receive more No than yes, this means a doubt in the ability of the media to create the beauty that is not inherently held by the society. Another example is watching a movie of the hero robbing a bank with striking ingenuity; this ins tills negative messages into the masses (McGillion, C., 2003, p. 33). Generally stealing is wrong, but the hero of the movie walks out free, and goes to have fun without any conscience. Such movies create negative values that are against the principles of honesty (Barr, 2000, para.2). However, the media plays a significant role in presenting facts and realities say from newspapers on development, finance, justice, poverty, e.t.c, which are real reflections of what is happening in the society (Newbold, 2002, pp. 219). The values and mentality of the society is displayed as a whole rather than as an individual. Renowned scholar James Curran argued that The conviction à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ that the media are important agencies of influence is broadly correct. However, the ways in which the media exert influence are complex and contingent (p. 158). For example the way the media has reported on terrorism has really instilled fear in the minds of people (Cozens, 2006). The loathing of terrorism has on the other hand turned others into pacifist. The media is arguably the most important form of expressing views and it is itself a medley of individuals and societys views (Fiske 1989, p. 127). With all these said, some view the media as being liberal but a closer analysis reveals otherwise, the owners of media outlets are not liberal themselves. Media outlets are businesses that are kept afloat by advertising revenues. It is true that some media outlets do a good job of being impartial. But when a TV station backs a political candidate who is sponsored by business heavy weights it must pay the price (Kalathi, S, 2004, p.40). Money of course directly buys influence as a result it affects how media covers a certain event (Price, 2002, p. 13). It is a medium for the ruling class to perpetuate their power, wealth and status (Barr, 2000, p. 17). Therefore, the media in this sense does not reflect reality (Curran, 2002, p. 45). Conclusion The thesis of this paper is that the media does play a role in creating reality from underlying societal values. Thus, the media cannot create values of its own. The article puts the relative advantage and disadvantage of the power of the media in creating reality, with an emphasis on the way the society has inherently allowed this to happen.

Competitive Advantage Of Vodafone Over Other Telecom Players Marketing Essay

Competitive Advantage Of Vodafone Over Other Telecom Players Marketing Essay INTRODUCTION A Company is said to have a competitive advantage if it can sustain a profit that exceeds the average of the industry .According to Michael Porter there are two basic types of competitive advantage:- Cost Advantage:-when a company is able to deliver the same benefits as provided by their competitors at a lower cost. Differentiation Advantage:-when a company delivers benefits that exceeds the benefits provided by their competitors. There are 4 generic business strategies in order to gain competitive advantage over others. The four strategies are described in the figure shown below. Differentiation Cost COST LEADER DIFFEREN TIATION LEADER leader Broad DIFFERENTIATION FOCUSER COST FOCUSER Narrow Strategy Differentiation In this strategy one or more criteria used for selection by buyers in a market are chosen and then a business plan is used to uniquely meet those criteria. Mostly companies come up with plan that associates with charging a premium price for the product that often reflect the higher production costs and extra value-added features provided to the consumer. Differentiation is about charging a premium price that more than covers the additional production costs, and about giving customers clear reasons to prefer the product over other, less differentiated products.(David Jobber) Vodafone came up with differentiation strategy when they launched I phone service, even though they were charging their customer more than their competitors but they still got the edge over others by offering free Vodafone to Vodafone calls for life time calls and better network strength compared to other competitors. Strategy Cost Leadership In this strategy companys main objective is to be lowest cost producer in the industry. If the achieved selling price can be at least equal (or near)the average for the market, then the lowest-cost producer will (in theory) enjoy the best profits. This strategy is usually associated with large-scale businesses offering standard products with relatively little differentiation that are perfectly acceptable to the majority of customers. Occasionally, a low-cost leader will also discount its product to maximize sales, particularly if it has a significant cost advantage over the competition and, in doing so, it can further increase its market share. Vodafone has started Home Cell tariff for its Metro Digital service. In this offer off-peak calls from a specified location (such as office) for 5 pence (8 cents) a minute were provided. By launching this they have clearly scored a cost advantage over others like O2,3,orange. Strategy Differentiation Focus In this strategy company aims to differentiate within just one or a small number of target market segments. The special customer needs of the segment mean that there are opportunities to provide products that are clearly different from competitors who may be targeting a broader group of customers. The important issue for any company adopting this strategy is to understand that what customers really needs and wants in other words that there is a valid basis for differentiation and that existing competitor products are not meeting those needs and wants. Vodafone introduced One Net, a hosted fixed and mobile voice service for SMEs . this move is regarded as to be very effective move for Vodafone as Vodafones model is to charge per user, per month and claims the total One Net solution can be 15%-20% cheaper than SMEs pay for typical services currently. Strategy Cost Focus In this strategy a company seeks a lower-cost advantage in just one or a small number of market segments. The product will be basic perhaps a similar product to the higher-priced and featured market leader, but acceptable to sufficient consumers. Out of these 4 strategies differentiation and cost leadership strategies operates in broad range of market to get a competitive advantage over other competitors .By contrast, differentiation focus and cost focus strategies are adopted in narrow market to gain edge over others. Why do so many people choose Vodafone? First of all Vodafone operates in all 3 segments of market i.e they have targeted low level ,middle level and high level market which not only make it open to large market but also gives a competitive advantage over the other major telecom players . Secondly they have put in large investments on strengthening their network so that their customers can make more calls more places and there on they can have an advantage over others by winning costumers confidence over quality and reliability of their services . Thirdly they have reduced their effective cost by approximately 5 times in last the 3 years so that they can provide better value for money to their customers which in turn gives them a edge over other telecom giants. And of lately they have kept a focused on customers services in order to maintain high standards of customer satisfaction. In addition to above points Vodafone understands the change in market requirements with time and have always tried to come up with new innovative idea to attract more and more costumers for example:-of lately they have understood the need to penetrate in business organizations for which they have started 3 new plans which are as follows:- For small business:- This plan concentrates at those costumers which are sole traders or those who are running a family firm or those who are working in a growing enterprise because it offers business phone and accessories at great value price for calls ,e mail and mobile broadband. For medium sized and large sized business:- This plan concentrates at organization more than 100 to 1000 employees .This aims at providing low call cost and flexible working with in a integrated network. This plan also aims at transforming the business communication with solutions that makes communication more agile and more productive than ever before. For Public Sector:-Vodafone has been working with public sector for more than last 20 years as they are approved supplier in OGC(Office of Government Commerce) frame work. Vodafone has transformed the public service delivery by providing more flexibly and efficient working solutions. Besides targeting the business sector they have also started new services on which none of their competitor has focus on yet, like disability services .They were quick enough to notice the increasing complexity in technology and introduced new phone which are easy to use which in turn has opened a all new market for them ,for those who like their things to be simple or are disabled this offer by Vodafone is very lucrative. VODAFONE MARKET SHARE v NUMBER OF CONNECTIONS 2005 2006 2006 2007 2008 2009 Total United Kingdom 67,680,000 67,437,525 68,066,300 70,626,527 74,375,797 76,067,605 3 (Hutchison) GBRHU 3,358,000 3,473,925 3,386,000 3,633,527 3,883,597 4,410,105 O2 (Telefonica) GBRCN 15,981,000 16,340,600 16,814,300 17,751,000 19,075,200 20,416,500 Orange GBROR 14,858,000 14,958,000 14,951,000 15,097,000 15,756,000 15,850,000 T-Mobile GBRME 17,158,000 16,361,000 16,730,000 16,734,000 17,124,000 16,675,000 Vodafone GBRVF 16,325,000 16,304,000 16,185,000 17,411,000 18,537,000 18,716,000 Contract United Kingdom 22,100,360 22,113,120 22,546,152 24,096,237 26,883,502 30,578,828 3 (Hutchison) GBRHU 1,880,480 1,945,398 1,953,462 2,164,714 2,435,002 2,993,888 O2 (Telefonica) GBRCN 5,502,000 5,686,200 5,873,800 6,298,000 7,015,000 8,698,500 Orange GBROR 4,977,430 4,891,266 4,731,000 4,970,000 5,722,000 6,298,000 T-Mobile GBRME 3,439,000 3,248,000 3,611,000 3,821,000 3,861,000 4,109,000 Virgin Mobile (Virgin Media) 435,700 712,300 Vodafone GBRVF 6,301,450 6,342,256 6,376,890 6,842,523 7,414,800 7,767,140 Prepaid United Kingdom 45,579,640 45,324,405 45,520,148 46,530,291 51,243,295 51,306,777 3 (Hutchison) GBRHU 1,477,520 1,528,527 1,432,538 1,468,814 1,448,595 1,416,217 O2 (Telefonica) GBRCN 10,479,000 10,654,400 10,940,500 11,453,000 11,388,000 11,718,000 Orange GBROR 9,880,570 10,066,734 10,220,000 10,127,000 10,034,000 9,552,000 Tesco Mobile 1,800,000 T-Mobile GBRME 13,719,000 13,113,000 13,119,000 12,913,000 13,263,000 12,566,000 Virgin Mobile (Virgin Media) 3,987,500 3,305,700 Vodafone GBRVF 10,023,550 9,961,744 9,808,110 10,568,477 11,122,200 10,948,860 Vodafone has second largest market share in UK telecom market .As per the details shown in the table above total number of connection provided by Vodafone(19,114,000) are second largest, next to O2 (21,299,300).Vodafone is planning to buy T-mobile which would give them sole market share of around 40% after which they will be the market leaders by far leaving O2 behind(financial times).Table shown below compares all the network provider on basis of number of connections provided in last 5 years of time spam .From which we can easily interpret that Vodafone in UK is second largest network at the moment and as per their plan if the T-mobile take over by Vodafone takes place they are going to the largest network in UK market leaving other telecom players far behind them.

A Growing Anger :: essays research papers

A Growing Anger   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"A Poison Tree† by William Blake describes the growing anger in a man because of his hatred for an adversary. Blake compares the growing of anger to the growth and the budding of a tree. Blake also makes allusions to the story of betrayal by Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden when they eat from the sacred tree.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the poem, the narrator is describing his constantly growing anger towards his adversary, which Blake compares to the growth of a tree. Just as a tree needs sunlight to grow his anger needed a source of energy which happened to be his foe who he hates with a passion. The anger grows uncontrollably, although he tries to trick his feelings and pretend to be happy but still his anger grows. It grows until it reaches the point where an apple sprouts up from the tree, which his adversary will eat and ultimately die from, thus giving the tree its â€Å"poison† in the dangerous fruit. Blake’s poem also follows the same story line as the story of Adam & Eve eating the fruit and getting kicked out of the Garden of Eden. In the poem the adversary sneaks into the garden and steals an apple, which he does not know has been spawned by the hatred of the narrator. The foe proceeds to eating the fruit, which causes him to die under the tree he stole the fruit from. Just as in the story, Satan in the form of a serpent sneaks into Eden and tempts Eve into eating the sacred fruit which she knows not to eat. She does eat from it and takes it to Adam for him to eat from and consequently God throws them out of Eden for disobeying his commands.

The Crucible: Evil And Greed In Man :: Essay on The Crucible

The Crucible: Evil and Greed In Man High personal, acquisitions, evil desires and massive greed took part in shortening the fuse of the chaotic corruption of the Salem witch trials. Amidst the quiet and peaceful period of the Puritan era in America, not everything seemed as they were. Disorder and sin heightened the animosity and deteriorated the very center of a solemn and strong virtuous society. The Puritan belief in the basic evil of man is evident in Arthur Millers The Crucible through the actions of Abigail Williams and Reverend Parris. The main character who first brings forth this ruckus is Abigail Williams. Her desire directs towards John Procter, a married man, and she does anything to win his heart. She even tries to put a hex on his wife, Elizabeth Procter. When Betty awakens and confronts Abigail, about the spell, "You did, you did! You drank a charm to kill John Procters wife" (Miller 19). This quote allows the reader to become aware of the severity of Abbys ruthlessness. Her loathing of Mrs. Procter goes to such great lengths that she would go beyond the point of extremities. An example of her demonic acts, is when she mutilates her stomach with a sewing needle and claims it to be Elizabeth Procters voodoo spell. "and struck two inches in the flesh of her belly, he draw a needle outshe testify it were your familiar spirit pushed it in." (Miller 71). From this, it can be conceived that she would disastrously knock down any obstacle to get what she wanted. Another character who brings greed upon themselves is the Reverend Parris. He uses his high social status as a priest as an excuse to obtain that of which he considers is a requirement for such a prestigious man as he believes to be. In an argument between Reverend Parris and Giles Cory, Giles disagrees on Parris having ownership of the chapel house and the amount of money he gets for his services. "Mr. Cory, you will look far for a man of my kind at sixty pound a year!" (Miller 28). His selfish self-centered ways are so perverse that he would take advantage of the Lord for his own prerogative. Reverend Parriss voracity overtakes him so much that it consumes him into callow motives. In a quarrel between John Procter and Reverend Parris, John brought up past preachings of Reverend Parris repeatedly demanding things of small detail. "But Parris came, and for twenty week he preachin nothin but golden candlesticks until he had

Art as Expression Essay -- Art

Artists are central to cultural, political and social discourses in the world. They are here not only to inspire us, but to provoke us as well. Four artists that broke social, political and cultural barriers were, Rene Magritte, John Heartfield Jackson Pollock and Otto Dix. While the artists were involved in different movements, each one made revolutionary statements with their works. Artists have a responsibility to use their works as a weapon to the status quo and to break these cultural and social barriers. Rene Magritte and John Heartfield were important figures to the Surrealist movement. Surrealism was a movement that developed after World War II and as a result, society was requesting art that was of the ‘norm’ to give the world a sense of stability. As a reaction to this request, the artists helped influence the Surrealist movement. It is often described as rebellious, idiosyncratic, dream-like and emotional. Maggritte’s thought-provoking pieces, and Heartfield’s anti-war messages all sent a strong message to society. Rene Magritte was a Belgian surrealist painter who was known for painting thought-provoking works that require viewers to question the most mundane aspects of life, including familiar objects such as a tobacco pipe. Magritte wanted his viewers to question the perceptions of reality and if art has the ability to truly represent an object. He believed that even the best artists could not paint an object, because it would always only be a representation of that image. If an artist drew an apple, it was only a representation of an apple, because the viewer could not eat it. In 1929, Magritte painted â€Å"The Treachery of Images†; at first glance appears to be an advertisement of a tobacco product, but underneath t... ...uld be considered: what would the art world look like now if no artist took a risk to express his or her political and social ideologies? Would artists just be creating art their society wants? Would there be any rebellion? Pollock would have painted with a paintbrush, Magritte would not have questioned our perceptions of reality and Dix and Heartfield would not have questioned the motives of politics. It is critical for artists to push these limits, no matter the criticism they will endure. The power behind the arts has been its ability to be a vehicle for expression and it should continue to do just that. Works Cited Foster, Hal. Art since 1900: Modernism, Antimodernism, Postmodernism. 1st ed. New York: Thames & Hudson, 2011. Print. Foster, Hal. Art since 1900: Modernism, Antimodernism, Postmodernism. 2nd ed. New York: Thames & Hudson, 2011. Print.

My Heritage Essay

My heritage is something that I am immensely proud of. The origins of my heritage began along the Andean region of South America. The depth of my culture is represented through Ecuador’s musical and gastronomical roots. My family strictly follows a strong religious background which has influenced my life greatly. Besides cultural gastronomy and religion, the celebration of holidays is very important to my family as well. Therefore, there are many different factors that my heritage is composed of. One part of my heritage, that I particularly enjoy, is the music and cuisine which pertains to my culture. Ecuador has a wide variety of music ranging from Incan tribal music to current traditional Ecuadorian music. Every time a song is played, it tells a different story, allowing the listener to visualize and experience the rhythm first hand. Among the many plates Ecuador has to offer, a few in particular have been established as my favorites; one of them is called â€Å"Locro†, which is a thick soup made from potatoes, cheese, and meat. Locro is usually served with a light salad, topped off with cilantro and avocado. The aroma emanating from this culinary concoction sends my mind into a state of euphoric tranquility. Therefore, the combination of these two can make any event a moment to savor. In addition to the music and the food, religion plays an important role in my heritage as well. Catholicism is the dominant religion in Ecuador, and the religion with which I was raised. The Roman based religion has a high influence amongst my people. I remember during my childhood how important it was to go through my religious sacraments. As a Catholic, going to church with my family every Sunday was a never broken tradition. Although I am respectful of all religions, my religion has played an important role and has allowed me to flourish. Among the many rituals that are practiced within the Catholic religion, we show a significant amount of respect to Catholic holidays. Holidays are a very important ceremonial event which is glorified amongst my family. Once a year, my family gathers together for a much acclaimed event, the birth of Jesus Christ. To some, this day is known to be filled with folktales about a gift giving Santa Clause hidden in the North Pole. In my family, we are  taught from childhood about the son of God, Jesus Christ, and the many miracles and sacrifices he had to endure for us. Another part of this tradition was attending midnight mass to show respect for the birth of baby Jesus. This religion and its holiday are not only pertinent to the country of my origin but also a large part of what I consider to be my heritage today. In conclusion, my heritage is drawn from different factors all of which depend on the types of influences that are present in a person’s life. The parts of my heritage which I consider important include the gastronomical and musical roots of Ecuador, Catholicism, and lastly the celebration of an important religious holiday. These combinations have had a substantially large influence on what I consider my heritage today.

Mirror by Sylvia Plath, Analysis

In the Poem ‘Mirror’ by Sylvia Plath, there is a continuing theme of change. In the beginning the changes are simple, like the acts of day turning to night, but at the end we see the life changes of a woman in particular. Through the use of metaphor and personification in the poem, Plath creates images of water, reflections, and colors as having human characteristics to emphasize the strong theme of change throughout the poem. From the beginning of the poem, we see that it revolves around water. We find out that the mirror is â€Å"unmisted† and â€Å"swallows† everything. We see that by the end of the poem, a girl is drowning and a fish is rising to take over her. In the poem water is both a reflecting surface and an actual lake. So, water, in this poem, is both clear and mysterious. In line 2 the word â€Å"swallow† is used as a metaphor for reflecting. The word makes us think of water, which can itself swallow things, taking them beneath its surface. In lines 10-11 we find out that the mirror is a lake, shifting from the silver of a mirror to the silver of clear water. After that we see that a woman is searching the reaches of the water for who she really is. Later on in line 14, the tears of the woman are another form of water, and she is physically interacting with the water of the lake by stirring it up in her hands. In lines 17-18 the young girl is drowning, and the old woman is rising. It seems most likely that the water is a metaphor for time, or aging. (Shmoop Editorial Team) From silver to pink to moonlight, this poem uses colors and light to give the reader images as they read about a mirror. In line 1 the color gives the major clue that the speaker is not a person, but a personified mirror. Since this is the first line, we think of the color silver throughout the poem whenever we think of the mirror. In lines 7-8 the mirror is silver, but now we get the image of the pink wall, that the mirror most often reflects. Later in line 8, we find out that this speckled pink wall is like part of the mirror's heart, which leads us to think of the color red. In line 9 we get our first glimpse of darkness, which separates the mirror from the pink wall. The mirror also mentions that faces play a part in this separation. Later in the poem we hear that, the candles and the moon are liars, and that the light that they provide is false. The mirror's declaration personifies the candles and the moons, giving them human qualities, like the ability to lie. (Shmoop Editorial Team) In a poem about a mirror, we can expect a lot of reflections. Plath only uses the word â€Å"reflect† once, though. Instead of just repeating this word again and again, she uses personification and metaphor to get her point across. The emphasis on reflections in this poem shows the importance of appearance to the woman in the poem. Line 2 is also an example of personification because mirrors don't see or swallow anything but Plath's poem makes this character so believable that we have to remind ourselves that mirrors don't have eyes or mouths. In line 6 the metaphor is that the mirror is reflecting the opposite wall, not â€Å"meditating on† it and the personification is that mirrors don't meditate, but people do. In lines 7-8 we have another example of personification used to create a metaphor for reflection because mirrors don't see and they don't look. In line 11 the mirror is a lake, and a woman is searching its waters to learn something about herself. The woman is treating her reflection in the water as if it could reveal something about herself, and not just her appearance. (Shmoop Editorial Team) In line 13 Plath used the word reflect but not without some personification. The mirror is providing an accurate reflection, as if it takes pride in what it does, or as if it has some loyalty to this woman that is constantly looking at herself. In lines 18-19 we see reflections physical power; however this power is only a figurative. There is a young girl and a figurative old woman in the waters of the lake. This line takes reflections from being about present appearances and makes them about past and future appearances, all through the metaphor of drowning and rising in the waters of the lake. By this evidence through the poem in its entirety, the theme clearly stands out in the poem; and the use of metaphor and personification give abundant evidence that the poem is directed toward a theme of change.

Use Linked In account for high business development

Use Linked In account for high business development Linked In recommended for business The connectivity of Linked In is very big. It has connected around 260 million members in about 200 countries globally. This website lends an apt platform for similar individuals to connect, share and discuss various ideas. It is true that social media sites aim for associating Individuals. But at the same time, various account holders are making use of Linked In account for rapid business development. Linked In tips for workability of businessThe Linked In is a type of social media which gives help to job workers as well as businessmen. A good understanding is required to promote business successfully in the current scenario. Some good tips as well as ideas for making use of Linked In are listed below: 0 Showcase yourself as a nice businessman In current profile. It does not mean that you have to state about your current profession In the profile. With business details, mention full Information ab out personal details In your profile.If anyone wants to ilk to you, they would peep out in your profile first. You should make your profile in such a way that you look as a very decent and authentic businessman. Choose recent photograph as your display picture. 0 Make use of Linked In for taking out leads. This website consists of millions of users as well as It provides good chance to connect with various professionals or similar people who can get profit from using various services or products. How to use Linked In to pick up fresh leads?.When you get request from someone, take benefit of It. Visit profile in detail as well as find out their requirement. Give them information regarding activity or business with the help of mail and send welcome mail to your connected friends. 0 Watch out people who would benefit you in business. Add people of similar background. When you visit someone's profile then they would know and will tend to vaults your profile also. This may lead to adding connection with that individual. 0 Always post valuable information. Keep strict time schedule for your postings.By costing fascinating content, you could create interest among users. Write Intelligent comments on other's posts. Ask your connections to comment on your posts too. Value friendship then you can promote your business easily. Many business people have active accounts and you can find good prospects for your website design in Jasper business too. There is a website design company in Jasper known as Efforts Unlimited which has been developing websites and has been doing website promotion like SMS with the help of social networking sites like face book,

Triple Talaq

Triple Talaq, which is also, know as talaq-e-biddat (Instant divorce) and talaq-e-mughallazh (irrevocable divorce). This is a form of Islamic divorce, which is practiced by Muslims in India. Triple talaq allows any Muslim man to legally divorce his wife by stating the word (Talaq) three time in any form like oral, written or can be in electronic form. As women and society are getting educated Triple Talaq has become subject of controversy and debate. Because it is not only being violated by some of the men in society but is also has questioned on issues of justice, gender equality, human rights and secularism. This debate has involved Government of India and the supreme court of India. We live in country, which is constitution and gives right to every citizen to life freely. Every citizen of India has right to Equality, which is first one. Right to freedom where every citizen has right to speak and express themselves. Right against exploitation where every citizen has right to speak if they are exploited with something. Right to freedom of religion, India being multi religious and culture citizen has right to follow any culture they want. Equal and educational rights where citizen has right to get educated equally no matter from what cast gender or sex they belong to and know what's right and good for them and raise voice for the same. Last but not the least Right to constitutional remedies where every citizen has right to raise voice and take it Supreme Court for justice. And talking about this issue it is seen that amongst 6 of the rights that every citizen of India holds hardly any of them is practiced completely. And the victims of this is none another but MUSLIM women of the country. Talking about Islam In the words of prophet Mohammad,† Of all the lawful things, divorce is the most hated by Allah.† The fundamental issues is the by default right for talaq is only granted to man, it get mandatory for woman to make a clause in her marriage contract that even she can decide to end the marriage. Which is known as Talaq-e-Isma.But because of lack of knowledge or from pressure of her own family a woman cant do that, which give whole and soul power in the hands of her husband which is sometimes just taken for granted. Why can they not live the way they want? Why do the have to fear man they get married to and give them power to decide if they want marriage or not? Why should they suppress under them? When they have a bright future and this doesn't always mean not getting married, but even they can have power to decide, even they can grow and stand above or with men in the society. And the biggest question is HOW MANY WOMEN IN INDA ARE AWARE OF THEIR ISLAMIC RIGHTS? This has led man to by default have all the power and for women there are *terms and condition applied. ReferenceAishwarya Krishnan. 2018.  List of Fundamental Rights in Constitution of India: Supreme Court Rules Privacy as a Fundamental Right | Buzz News, India.com. [ONLINE] Available at:  https://www.india.com/buzz/list-of-fundamental-rights-in-constitution-of-india-supreme-court-rules-privacy-as-a-fundamental-right-2424171/. [Accessed 11 October 2018].Feminism In India. 2018.  A Woman-Friendly Nikah-Nama And Muslim Women's Right To Divorce | Feminism In India. [ONLINE] Available at:  https://feminisminindia.com/2017/04/27/nikah-nama-muslim-women-divorce/. [Accessed 11 October 2018]Feminism In India. 2018.  What Does The Quran Actually Say About Triple Talaq?. [ONLINE] Available at:  https://feminisminindia.com/2017/08/23/quran-triple-talaq/. [Accessed 11 October 2018].The different methods of Islamic separation – Part 2: The different types of Talaq. 2018.  The different methods of Islamic separation – Part 2: The different types of Talaq. [ONLINE] Availa ble at:  http://www.familylaw.co.uk/news_and_comment/the-different-methods-of-islamic-separation-part-2-the-different-types-of-talaq#.W78g7C9L2u4. [Accessed 11 October 2018].

QUSTIONS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

QUSTIONS - Essay Example Before long, Google earned its popularity as it soon became the biggest search engine in the world. Google’s business model is also based on innovation. Its brand became on the most popular brands in the cyber world. It was quick to expand its services to include: Google Maps, Google Earth, Froogle, Google Scholar, Google Books, and similar products (Spencer). In maintaining these two business models, Google is sure to stay at the top of the world’s internet products. Google has posted significant growth in revenues during its 2008 first quarter. It generated revenues of $5.19 billion for March 2008 which is 42% higher than its March 2007 figures. It also posted 3.7 billion revenues from advertising commissions. It had a net income of $1.31 billion with $4.12 per share – up from the year 2007 $1 billion worth of profits and $3.18 per share (Perez, p. 1). With the internet world and its competitors growing at phenomenal rates, Google’s capability of generat ing profits has been sorely tested; but it nevertheless still managed to register significant return of investments for the past several years. Most of the company’s profits come from the pay-per-click text ads; being the best provider of this type of ad has helped to boost its profit growth (Perez, p. 2).

Research on retail market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Research on retail market - Essay Example The first reason for this option emerges from the fact that my Company is new in the ICT market and due to limited financial resources Sole proprietorship provides the best option as a result of: Its simplicity; it is operated under a simple set up that involves fundamental business requirements for instance; the nominal costs associated with the initial stage of development are relatively low as compared to other business vehicles such as partnerships and incorporation. Another reason emanates from the fact that Sole Proprietorship requires only the payment of licenses and other basic operational fees for commencement of its activities. The third most imperative reason for taking this form of business operation is to ensure that I develop my management skills in ICT management. Sole Proprietorship provides the platform that will facilitate may career development in the field of ICT business. This occurs due to the fact that I will be responsible for all the activities conducted in the business hence improving my managerial skills. Consequently, this form of business operation would create a favorable ground for the development of my new business since cases associated with other forms of business vehicles like complex taxation processes will be avoided. That is, sole proprietorship cannot be differentiated from its original owner hence the method of taxation on such business is less complicated as compared to partnerships and incorporation. Moreover, other negative facets that may arise due to mismanagement that are usually experienced in partnerships and incorporation are also prevented. For instance; poor productivity that may arise due to poor modus operandi of one of the partners that lead to law suit are prevented in sole proprietorship. Sine the owner of sole proprietorship is responsible for all its management issues, much effort is

Environmental ocean hcom Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Environmental ocean hcom - Essay Example In result, these pollutants indirectly affect humans and other animals that depend on marine resources (â€Å"Ocean Pollution†). One manifestation of an indirect effect of pollutants to humans is beach closings. Beaches that have unsafe levels of bacteria and chemicals are mandated to be closed due to health and environmental concerns (â€Å"Beach Closings). As reported by the Natural Resources Defense Council‘s (NRDC) 2009 annual survey, it has reached a massive amount of 18,000 reports of beach closings (â€Å"Beach Closings†). The causes of beach pollution includes Urban water run-offs, Boat wastes, Beach goers, Leaking sewage pipes and Malfunctioning sewage treatment plants, Wildlife and Pet Wastes, and Agricultural Discharges and Runoffs (â€Å"Beach Closings†). According to Marinelife.about.com, marine pollution affects not just the fishes that shelter in the ocean but also the creatures that feed on these animals. When there are less marine animals for the predators to eat, then there will be more competition for food within that species affecting all organisms in the food chain (à ¢â‚¬Å"Marine Life†). Another effect of marine pollution is the climate change. It largely affects the agricultural croplands and food production making the prices of food to rise. Food crisis is a possibility if this continues (â€Å"Climate Change: Food

The Corporate Governance Model and Corporate Social Responsibility Assignment

The Corporate Governance Model and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Practices of Walmart - Assignment Example This research will begin with the statement that it will be instantly approved if one states that the concept of corporate governance has existed since the existence of any form of organization. The idea of corporate governance serves as a model that encompasses the means through which organizations prepare their conduct of business conduct. Over the recent past, the term corporate governance has come to the vanguard of public attention largely due to the ongoing issues related to governance that have cropped up both at the national level as well as the economic level where it concerns the organization. At the same time governing bodies have also stated the importance of considering the needs and determinants of the society while conducting business. As has been mentioned by Adrian Cadbury, the best way of explaining social responsibility is to state that the sustained prevalence of organizations is supported by a mutual accord between the organization and the community. Sir Adrian C adbury has also argued that the core meaning of the agreement between the business and the society is that organizations should not go after achieving their immediate profit making objectives by compromising with long-term needs and requirements of the community. Therefore it can be seen that corporate social responsibility has gradually become an integral aspect of the mainstream corporate governance. The US being a free market economy has proven to be one of the most favorable business locations for not only the home country organizations but for companies based in other countries as well. However, the institutional and regulatory environment can become very daunting for the businesses that have been established here. The last two decades have been witness to various catastrophic events that not only questioned the integrity of the companies which were involved in those events but also highlighted the loopholes that existed within the US institutional environment. The WorldCom and Enron failure, as well as the financial crisis in 2007-08, revealed the ineffectiveness of the US institutional environment. It is after the unfolding of such catastrophic incidents that the US regulatory and governing bodies decided to make manifold changes in their institutional framework.

Relationship between natural environment, social development, and Essay

Relationship between natural environment, social development, and economic progress - Essay Example He argues that the modern world’s inequalities trace its origin to many centuries ago. He notes that archaeological discoveries and histories show that different continents were experiencing different rates of development from 11, 000 B.C. to A.D. 1500, thus resulting to inequalities that were experienced in A.D. 1500, and to a greater extent in modern times (Diamond 1). He observes that while many Native American peoples and Aboriginal Australians remained Stone Age hunter and gatherers, many Eurasian peoples and most peoples of the sub- Saharan Africa and Americas gradually developed metallurgy, complex political organization, and agriculture (Diamond 2). Environmental/ external conditions are critical for development; this assertion is greatly evident in Diamond’s discussion on Papua and its inhabitants. The inhabitants of Papua were mostly hunters and gatherers and had the simplest technology compared to most people of that time. They did not have shields, specialized stone tools, and could not start fire among other characteristics of â€Å"underdevelopment†. The environment that they lived in seemed to be the main reason leading to their situation at that time. They did not have contact with the rest of the world since the bridge that was initially linking them to the land had been severed. Prior to the coming of Europeans in the mid- seventeenth century, they were completely isolated from other humans. To make the matter worse, Papua inhabitants were not just isolated but they were also the smallest of the human population in the world (Diamond 9). As such, accumulation of innovations could not happen thus inhibit their development. Furthermore, Diamond is of the opinion that man inspired the collapse of civilizations as evidenced by Easter Island. His opinion is informed by the argument that the Europeans invaded Easter Island for slaves, in addition to spreading

Section of a reasearch paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Section of a reasearch - Research Paper Example As the TACO restaurant wants maximum exposure for its Street Tacos, it should set a reasonable price with the sole purpose of getting maximum exposure and space for its Street Tacos in the given market demand for that product. It can happen when the demand for a given product is elastic and the reasonable price will lure the customers in great number to purchase it, resulting in increased revenue to the restaurant. Other reason of using penetration pricing strategy is the possibility of economies of scale. The reason of using this strategy could be the fear of competitors and a restaurant wants to go ahead with its first mover entry (Pricing Strategy 2010). Penetration tactic is used for entering the generic market where competition is high; economies of scale are possible. It can decrease the demand of competitor restaurants’ Street Tacos. At the same time, the TACO restaurant will get another advantage from the penetration pricing by getting a ready market by inducing customers to try other menu items (Pricing Strategy 2010). For the TACO restaurant it is more important to capture the maximum market share first and then introduce other tactics by offering unique features like no other restaurant is offering. It can add a touch of distinctness by not putting beans and rice sides on the tacos and charging the same rate, as other restaurants are charging. In stead of rice and bean sides, customers can order some more items on the menu, which could be a more satisfying experience. The TACO restaurant should at the same time offer its customers the choice of separately ordering bean and rice sides to the Street Tacos while not letting the price increase in comparison to other restaurants selling tacos with bean and rice sides. Those customers will be tempted to save some dollars who don’t want their Street Tacos with bean and rice sides. This is a sort of

In your professional judgment, what is an example of an outstanding Term Paper

In your professional judgment, what is an example of an outstanding strategic decision or what is an example of a failed strateg - Term Paper Example Include the source(s) of your information within your contribution in the sentences. Be very specific. Use  single  space block form for your contribution with double spacing between paragraphs.   In explaining the strategic approach that you consider a success or a failure, you should answer the following questions:   1. Which of the stages of strategic management in action (page 30 of Coulter) initiated the success or failure of the strategy? Was it a good/bad idea from the beginning?   2. What does the organization perceive as its competitive advantage (page 31 of Coulter)? How was this affected by the strategy in question?   3. What driving force or which driving forces of the new business environment (pages 36-44 of Coulter) assisted or helped defeat the strategy in question?   4. How did external opportunities and threats affect the success or failure of the strategy in question (Chapter 3 of Coulter)?   You may decide to choose a public organization (e.g. unive rsity such as Northwest or a public hospital center). Whether you choose a for-profit organization or a not-for-profit organization, explain the situation clearly and completely as possible. Refer to the Coulter text in your explanation.   This particular instance, the focus was on to find inquisitive insight about a strategy decision that a company had to implement in order to survive in the fast-paced environment of the corporate world. One of the interesting issues relating to this was the decision of Blue Cross Blue Shield demanding a hospital to cut its overhead cost. Without prior knowledge and being subjective, one would think that the insurance company is at fault. However, one cannot make that judgment without understanding the complexity of the issue at hand. Blue Cross Blue Shield was faced with a dilemma. As an insurance business, the company must made essential strategy decisions that impact its future growth. In this particular scenario, the company did benchmark tes ting and determined that the rate the hospital charges the company is too high within the hospitals at its region. Blue Cross determined that the hospital should cut its cost by 10% through any means possible. This is partly due to the fact that the company was losing money as it had an obligation to pay its patient’s premiums. Undoubtedly, the hospital responded by adequately cutting its costs. This was beneficial for both companies as it not only build a solid relationship and enabled the companies to diminish unnecessary costs. Moreover, it enabled Blue Cross Blue shield to give better discount rates to hospitals, doctor groups, members and enabled them to compete in a very competitive environment. If the company did not make the strategic decision, it would have given hospital the leverage to go in a market and attract another insurance company. Since Blue Cross Blue Shield targets large groups, it seemed sufficient for the company to challenge the traditional rates of th e hospital. If it failed to do so, it would have lost a small majority of its members in the network which would have made the company suffer in overall long-term profits. Strategic decision making is defined as set of alternate decisions that affect key factors which impacts the success of an organization’s strategy. Strategic decisions differ from Tactical decisions because tactical decisions are based on day to day implementation which requires several steps to reach a particular strategy. Blue Cross Blue s

Compensation & Benefits Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Compensation & Benefits - Essay Example Incentive compensation and benefits play an important role in making a company achieve higher levels of employee productivity. Compensation is one of the major motivating sources behind employees’ productivity and if a company offers attractive benefits for its employees as a result of their individual performances, the employees become motivated and inspired to do more for the company. Therefore, we can say that employee productivity directly depends on the compensation and benefits being offered to them by the company. Companies use compensation and benefits programs for various reasons. Some of the major reasons for implementing compensation plans include hiring and retaining talented employees, increasing moral of the employees, encouraging the performances of the employees, achieving quality in every business activity, encouraging employees’ loyalty with the company, reducing the turnover, and making the employees satisfied with the company. These were some of the reasons of why companies design and implement different kinds of compensation and benefits programs for the employees. There are some important factors, which need to be considered while designing and implementing a proper compensation and benefits plan in a company. These factors play an important role in the successful implementation of a compensation plan. If a company wants to develop a compensation plan for its employees, it needs to take into consideration these factors in order to get desired results from the plan. If any of these factors is overlooked, the compensation plan will not be able to produce expected results for the company. Some of those factors include organization’s culture, statement of plan’s objectives, linking performance to organization’s goals and objectives, needs and demands of the employees, discrimination, employees’