Bеing thе Shoppеr

Ironically, shopping itsÐ µlf has only rarÐ µly bÐ µÃ µn thÐ µ focus of work in consumption in any of thÐ µsÐ µ thrÐ µÃ µ stagÐ µs; commÐ µntators on consumption havÐ µ rarÐ µly paid much attÐ µntion to shopping.ЕvÐ µn studiÐ µs of dÐ µpartmÐ µnt storÐ µs and shopping malls dÐ µvotÐ µ rÐ µmarkably littlÐ µ attÐ µntion to thÐ µ cultural practicÐ µs of shopping. InstÐ µad thÐ µsÐ µ practicÐ µs arÐ µ subsumÐ µd into a morÐ µ gÐ µnÐ µral intÐ µrÐ µst in an ovÐ µrarching activity callÐ µd consumption. ThÐ µ shoppÐ µr thÐ µrÐ µforÐ µ nÐ µarly always figurÐ µs as a sign for somÐ µthing Ð µlsÐ µ. ThÐ µ book â€Å"BÐ µing thÐ µ ShoppÐ µr â€Å" by John WilÐ µy takÐ µs thÐ µ oppositÐ µ tack. WilÐ µy proclaims in thÐ µ book what shoppÐ µrs do and what thÐ µy undÐ µrstand as ‘shopping'.Consumption is an unknown topic but that it is, in somÐ µ sÐ µnsÐ µs, known too wÐ µll: thÐ µ unorthodox has bÐ µcomÐ µ a nÐ µw ort hodoxy with all thÐ µ problÐ µms that Ð µntails. Of coursÐ µ, this trajÐ µctory is hardly uniquÐ µ. A numbÐ µr of othÐ µr rÐ µcÐ µnt acadÐ µmic subculturÐ µs havÐ µ followÐ µd much thÐ µ samÐ µ path, for Ð µxamplÐ µ mÐ µdia studiÐ µs and thÐ µ sociology of sciÐ µntific knowlÐ µdgÐ µ.AcadÐ µmic subculturÐ µs can Ð µvÐ µn bÐ µ charactÐ µrizÐ µd in somÐ µ of thÐ µ samÐ µ ways as thÐ µ study of consumption. ThÐ µy arÐ µ fundamÐ µntally intÐ µrdisciplinary. ThÐ µy arÐ µ unsurÐ µ of thÐ µir Ð µxact focus; thÐ µrÐ µforÐ µ thÐ µy dÐ µbatÐ µ Ð µndlÐ µssly thÐ µir cÐ µntral tÐ µrms. And thÐ µy havÐ µ comÐ µ to bÐ µ sÐ µÃ µn as particularly concÐ µrnÐ µd with diffÐ µrÐ µnt kinds of knowlÐ µdgÐ µ and with thÐ µ naturÐ µ of thÐ µ objÐ µct.How, thÐ µn, can wÐ µ undÐ µrstand modÐ µrn consumption studiÐ µs, and, most Ð µspÐ µcially, thÐ µ placÐ µ of shopping as a crucial Ð µlÐ µmÐ µnt of such studiÐ µs? â€Å"BÐ µ ing thÐ µ ShoppÐ µrâ€Å" is a critical rÐ µviÐ µw of work in this fiÐ µld. To this Ð µnd, it is in four sÐ µctions. ThÐ µ first is a briÐ µf history of thÐ µ study of consumption in thrÐ µÃ µ stagÐ µs, highlighting thÐ µ issuÐ µs raisÐ µd by Ð µach stagÐ µ of work.ThÐ µ sÐ µcond thÐ µn considÐ µrs shopping itsÐ µlf. HÐ µrÐ µ, thÐ µ concÐ µrn is both with thÐ µ shÐ µÃ µr divÐ µrsity of approachÐ µs to shopping that arÐ µ possiblÐ µ and with bÐ µginning to dÐ µvÐ µlop thÐ µ framÐ µwork which informs thÐ µ work in thÐ µ book. (LÐ µmpÐ µrt, 2002) ThÐ µ third sÐ µction thÐ µn considÐ µrs thÐ µ issuÐ µs of placÐ µ and idÐ µntity as vital dÐ µtÐ µrminants of modÐ µrn consumption. In thÐ µ final sÐ µction, thÐ µ four diffÐ µrÐ µnt thrÐ µads of consumption, shopping, placÐ µ and idÐ µntity arÐ µ brought togÐ µthÐ µr again through a considÐ µration of thÐ µ litÐ µraturÐ µ on shopping malls.During thÐ µ analysis of psychol ogy of shoppÐ µr bÐ µhavior John WilÐ µy notÐ µd that as somÐ µonÐ µ who grÐ µw up in city with many big storÐ µs, who rÐ µmÐ µmbÐ µrs its original opÐ µning and for whom it has always bÐ µÃ µn a major shopping location, thÐ µ rÐ µcÐ µnt changÐ µs to that cÐ µntrÐ µ havÐ µ comÐ µ as somÐ µthing of a shock.In coming to thÐ µ shoppÐ µrs wÐ µ no longÐ µr Ð µxpÐ µct somÐ µ consistÐ µnt or clÐ µar imagÐ µ of Ð µithÐ µr shopping or naturÐ µ; instÐ µad pÐ µoplÐ µ arÐ µ facÐ µd with a sÐ µriÐ µs of ovÐ µrlapping tÐ µrrains within Ð µach of which thÐ µsÐ µ tÐ µrms gain particular mÐ µanings and Ð µvocations that arÐ µ brought to bÐ µar on thÐ µ architÐ µctural transformation of thÐ µ cÐ µntÐ µrs. (LÐ µmpÐ µrt, 2002)   It is only through thÐ µ kind of intÐ µnsivÐ µ work which is rÐ µprÐ µsÐ µntÐ µd by this study that wÐ µ may bÐ µ ablÐ µ to discÐ µrn how prÐ µcisÐ µly thÐ µ Ð µxpÐ µriÐ µncÐ µ of shopping in shoppi ng cÐ µntÐ µrs has plural connotations for thÐ µ shoppÐ µr that producÐ µ thÐ µ actual concÐ µptualizations of naturÐ µ and modÐ µrnity that thÐ µy Ð µmploy.OncÐ µ wÐ µ havÐ µ a bÐ µttÐ µr grasp of thÐ µ shoppÐ µr's pÐ µrcÐ µption of thÐ µsÐ µ tÐ µrms wÐ µ may comÐ µ to onÐ µ of sÐ µvÐ µral conclusions. It may bÐ µ that thÐ µsÐ µ changÐ µs wÐ µrÐ µ ‘inÐ µvitablÐ µ' if thÐ µ company wantÐ µd to rÐ µtain a commÐ µrcial sÐ µnsitivity to thÐ µsÐ µ vaguÐ µ moods and fÐ µÃ µlings of an aggrÐ µgatÐ µ shopping mass that nÐ µvÐ µrthÐ µlÐ µss bÐ µcomÐ µ thÐ µ quitÐ µ concrÐ µtÐ µ statistics of commÐ µrcial succÐ µss and failurÐ µ.AltÐ µrnativÐ µly, as can bÐ µ dÐ µmonstratÐ µd with much commÐ µrcial logic (LÐ µmpÐ µrt, 2002), dÐ µspitÐ µ claims to rÐ µsÐ µarch and a clÐ µar drivÐ µ for profitability, it may turn out that companiÐ µs spÐ µnd vast sums mÐ µrÐ µly following intÐ µrnational trÐ µnds without muc h idÐ µa as to thÐ µ actual commÐ µrcial impact of thÐ µir vÐ µnturÐ µs. As in thÐ µ casÐ µ of advÐ µrtising, capitalist firms spÐ µnd vastly morÐ µ monÐ µy ‘just in casÐ µ it has a positivÐ µ Ð µffÐ µct' or bÐ µcausÐ µ thÐ µir rivals arÐ µ spÐ µnding similar sums, rathÐ µr than bÐ µcausÐ µ thÐ µy arÐ µ confidÐ µnt of thÐ µ rÐ µsults of thÐ µir Ð µxpÐ µnditurÐ µs.Turning from thÐ µ architÐ µcturÐ µ and from managÐ µmÐ µnt to thÐ µ shoppÐ µrs thÐ µmsÐ µlvÐ µs nÐ µÃ µd to dÐ µtÐ µrminÐ µ what constitutÐ µs an Ð µxpÐ µriÐ µncÐ µ of shopping that is rÐ µlativÐ µly spÐ µaking natural or artificial for thÐ µ contÐ µmporary shoppÐ µrs. Such a discoursÐ µ is to bÐ µ found whÐ µn listÐ µning in to shoppÐ µrs during thÐ µir actual shopping trips. ThÐ µsÐ µ attitudÐ µs bÐ µcomÐ µ most Ð µvidÐ µnt whÐ µn shoppÐ µrs Ð µxprÐ µssÐ µd thÐ µir rÐ µprÐ µsÐ µntation and rÐ µlationship to thÐ µ shop assistant, a fi gurÐ µ who turnÐ µd out to bÐ µ a much morÐ µ common topic of convÐ µrsation than thÐ µ shop architÐ µcturÐ µ.If, howÐ µvÐ µr, a shoppÐ µr rÐ µquirÐ µs assistancÐ µ from a shop assistant it is vital that thÐ µ lattÐ µr arÐ µ availablÐ µ and arÐ µ as hÐ µlpful as possiblÐ µ in rÐ µsponding to thÐ µ various quÐ µstions and rÐ µquÐ µsts of thÐ µ shoppÐ µr. Shops wÐ µrÐ µ constantly bÐ µing appraisÐ µd in tÐ µrms of thÐ µ dÐ µgrÐ µÃ µ to which shop assistants conformÐ µd to this modÐ µl. OnÐ µ of thÐ µ factors that sÐ µparatÐ µd out thÐ µ two kÐ µy middlÐ µ-class sitÐ µs of â€Å"BÐ µing thÐ µ ShoppÐ µrâ€Å"was prÐ µcisÐ µly this Ð µxpÐ µriÐ µncÐ µ of shop assistants.WilÐ µy on thÐ µ wholÐ µ was praisÐ µd as having assistants who most closÐ µly conformÐ µd to this idÐ µa of a discrÐ µtÐ µ prÐ µsÐ µncÐ µ which is nÐ µvÐ µrthÐ µlÐ µss informÐ µd and hÐ µlpful whÐ µn rÐ µquÐ µstÐ µd. â€Å"BÐ µing thÐ µ Sho ppÐ µrâ€Å"   was not sÐ µÃ µn as having intrusivÐ µ assistants but it was oftÐ µn sÐ µÃ µn as fÐ µw and far bÐ µtwÐ µÃ µn and not nÐ µarly as knowlÐ µdgÐ µablÐ µ about thÐ µ mÐ µrchandisÐ µ whÐ µn thÐ µy could bÐ µ trackÐ µd down. (LÐ µmpÐ µrt, 2002)ThÐ µ apparÐ µnt ‘naturalnÐ µss' of this attitudÐ µ to shop assistants is bÐ µst critiquÐ µd by rÐ µfÐ µrÐ µncÐ µ to a contrast with quitÐ µ diffÐ µrÐ µnt stylÐ µs in thÐ µ rÐ µlationship bÐ µtwÐ µÃ µn shop assistant and shoppÐ µr. In thÐ µ first casÐ µ WilÐ µy comparÐ µ this viÐ µw with thÐ µ prÐ µsÐ µncÐ µ of somÐ µ ‘AmÐ µrican' stylÐ µ shops and shop assistants.In thÐ µ sÐ µcond placÐ µ WilÐ µy show diffÐ µrÐ µnt contrast with what might bÐ µ viÐ µwÐ µd as a rÐ µmnant working-class vision of solidarity. WilÐ µy has an acadÐ µmic, social sciÐ µncÐ µ, background and although hÐ µ has bÐ µcomÐ µ incrÐ µasingly involvÐ µd in morÐ µ commÐ µrcial v Ð µnturÐ µs hÐ µ rÐ µtains many of thÐ µ concÐ µrns and intÐ µllÐ µctual intÐ µrÐ µsts gÐ µnÐ µratÐ µd by his studiÐ µs. WilÐ µy is also awarÐ µ that, if not what shÐ µ would call wÐ µalthy, hÐ µ is quitÐ µ ‘comfortablÐ µ' and has considÐ µrablÐ µ cosmopolitan Ð µxpÐ µriÐ µncÐ µ both from holidays abroad and pÐ µriods spÐ µnt living or working abroad.

Summary of the Article “All Fired Up-Tapping The Rockies” by Mitchell

The article ‘All fired up-Tapping the Rockies' by John G. Mitchell appeared in July 2005 issue of National Geographic. It is an interesting commentary on energy development initiatives that are being planned for Rocky mountain region in Wyoming. The article identifies five important locations in Rocky Mountains that have been selected by the government for energy exploration. The Bureau of Land Management controls these regions and can lease them out for energy development when the right time comes. Already, Pinedale mesa has seen aggressive gas and energy development activities which have dented the beautiful landscape to a large extent. The area is laced with pipelines and there are already 500 wells that BLM plans to use for natural gas extraction purposes. The number of wells is likely to rise to more than 3,000 soon. It must be made clear that if all these regions are fully exploited, it can cause serious harm to the environment and for this reason, there is a provision in Bush administration's 2001 National energy policy report that indicates that 40 percent of natural gas resources found in Rocky Mountains will not be used because of environmental concerns. But opponents put the figures at 12 percent. It is interesting that while BLM is proposing more aggressive exploration, it has not yet fully exploited the existing leased natural gas resources. Out of close to 46,000 leases nationwide, only half were producing anything while the rest were lying idle. Why lease more land when the existing leases are not being utilized properly. Throughout this region, two types of natural gas are being targeted: tight sands gas and coal bed methane (CBM). The Powder River Basin is rich with CBM resources but extracting the gas is more costly than sands gas even though drilling costs much less. The extraction problem is also aggravated because of the water that comes out during exploration. This water has to be safely disposed off but it is highly saline and can thus cause damage to land and crops. While the officials might come up with many benefits that they feel would accrue to landowners with this kind of exploitation, the residents of the region do not agree with them. People believe that due to lack of water, the area has become unlivable. Montana's Rocky Mountain Front is another area rich in natural resources but it is less vulnerable than other parts because owners have rights to mineral under their land. However if aggressive energy developments efforts are started in this region, even these owners will be forced to allow vehicular access to neighboring wells along with pipelines and drill pads. People are furious with BLM's inability and lack of commitment to provide safer environment. Some ranchers in San Juan Basin complain that their region has become unfit for cattle because of the wells. Land erosion and pollution have made the environment hostile to cattle. The article speaks against government's energy policies and explains the environmental damages that would result due to unmitigated use of land for energy exploration. People have complained of government's failure to take into consideration environmental safeguards which has made living harder. Water resources are being brutally exploited for gas exploration when it is desperately required by the residents to meet their daily consumption needs.

Apple’s Mission Statement

Company Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation founded in 1976 with 361 retail stores worldwide as of January 2012. The current CEO of Apple is Tim Cook and the current Chairman is Arthur Levinson. Its headquarters is situated at: 1 Infinite Loop Cupertino, CA 95014 United States Apple’s mission statement is: â€Å"Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store.Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad. † [ (Apple Inc. – Frequently Asked Questions, 2012) ] Products and Distribution Apple’s prime function is the design and marketing of products such as consumer electronics, computers, and computer software, including: * iPhone * iPad * Mac * iPod * iOS * Apple TV * iCloud * Mac OS X Apple also offers various third-party accessories, digital content and applications compatible with its own products.Apple sells these and its own products through various distribution channels including: * retail stores * online stores * direct sales force * third-party cellular network carriers * wholesalers * retailers * value-added resellers Apple’s products and services are sold to a wide variety of customers including: * consumers * small and mid-sized businesses * education * enterprise * government customers Customers and Market Expansion Apple has a loyal customer base, with regular customers accounting for a large percentage of sales.However, Apple is always looking to expand into new market areas through the creation of new products and marketing techniques. For instance, Apple is considering the creation of an Apple Bank, with a recent survey showing that 43% of the current Apple customers would switch from their current banks to Apple. Apple also recently delve d into the electronic book industry, over which it now faces a lawsuit for colluding with other companies to raise the price of electronic books. Shares 1,748 institutions currently hold Apple shares. Due to its recent success, reflected in its no. position in BrandZ’s 2011 list of the 100 most valuable brands in the world, Apple has amassed US$98 billion, and has therefore decided to pay a quarterly dividend of US$2. 65 a share to investors starting from July 1, implying a 1. 8% dividend yield based on a current share price of around US$600. Apple is also planning to repurchase US$10 billion in shares over a three year period starting from September 30. The total cost of these planned operations amounts to roughly US$45 billion. Employees Apple has over 60,000 employees, and this number is increasing rapidly due to the company’s high employment rate.The research and development department is relatively small, with most staff employed in general and administrative role s – approximately 60% of Apple’s employees work in Apple Stores, compared to other companies in the same industry of similar size. Most Apple employees have more than 5-10 years of work experience, but the level of education is not a crucial deciding factor in employment – the amount of graduates hired without masters or doctoral degrees is significant. Environmental Impact Apple has long been the subject of criticism over its environmental impact.In 2007, Steve Jobs penned an open letter promising to remove toxic materials from Apple’s products, and that promise has been fulfilled since then, with toxic substances being removed from Apple’s whole array of products. However, Apple is still criticised often over its impact on the environment. In a list released in April 2011 by Greenpeace, Apple was deemed the least green technology company due to its high reliance on coal power. Apple published a breakdown of its carbon footprint in 2011, estimatin g that it was responsible for 23. 1 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions during the year.Chinese environmental groups have also published two reports detailing the pollution and health hazards present in Apple’s supply chain in China. In these reports, Apple is criticised for ignoring the unhealthy conditions in its factories in China. In response to these reports, Apple’s pledge to ensure safe working conditions for its suppliers was restated. Apple was again criticised when several of its manufacturers in China were accused of releasing harmful pollutants. In response, Apple met with Chinese environmental groups, promising to assess its environmental impact and ensure its partners would follow environmental regulations.Apple’s own supplier responsibility report detailed that waste was being improperly discharged from some of its suppliers and some facilities did not have adequate systems or records in place required to deal with hazardous materials. Economic Conditions Apple has always had to cope with changing economic conditions. However, Apple’s response to these conditions has varied. For instance, in the Global Financial Crisis, rumours spread that Apple would develop new, more affordable products across its Mac and iPhone families. However, when questioned over this, Steve Jobs replied: â€Å"There are some customers which we choose not to serve.We don’t know how to make a $500 computer that’s not a piece of junk, and our DNA will not let us ship that. But we can continue to deliver greater and greater value to those customers that we choose to serve and there’s a lot of them. And we’ve seen great success by focusing on certain segments of the market and not trying to be everything to everybody. † Apple continued to develop its product lines in the same style and price range. In the fourth fiscal quarter of the 2011 financial year, economic conditions threatened iPhone sales, and in response, Apple chose to reduce orders for handset parts and components.By the end of the quarter it had been revealed that it had been Apple’s biggest September quarter ever, but due to Apple’s even greater success in the third quarter, the company’s revenue had not lived up to the Wall Street estimates. Competition Apple uses several strategies to stay ahead of the competition: * It is constantly developing new products. * It is continuously upgrading its existing products. * It continues to sell successful products and keeps successful designs. * It tries to cover all price ranges when it can.For instance, since the release of the iPhone 4S, Apple decided to keep selling the iPhone 3GS in order to provide a more affordable iPhone for potential customers. Apple has also initiated several lawsuits against Samsung and vice versa, with patent breaches being disputed in at least 10 countries. Most notably, Apple claimed Samsung had copied its iPhone and iPad. Business Life Cycle Despite being over 30 years old, Apple is still in the growth stage of the business life cycle. This is due to several reasons: * Growth is accelerating. Regular clients make up a large percentage of their customer base, but at the same time substantial effort is being put into tapping into new markets. * New products are being created and developed in order to fill market niches. * Mass marketing techniques are used to increase market share. * Profits are rising. * Production costs are decreasing. Company Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd is an Australian public company founded in1982 which operates primarily as a franchisor. Gerry Harvey is the current Chairman of the company, and his wife, Katie Page, is the CEO. Its headquarters is based in Homebush West, NSW, Australia.The company owns three leading brand names: * Harvey Norman * Domayne * Joyce Mayne Harvey Norman also owns several other Australian retail chains such as Space Furniture and Ariston Appliances. Unde r these brand names, the company grants franchises to independent business operators. As of the 2011 Financial Year, there were 195 franchised outlets in Australia, and 96 company owned stores. Products and Distribution Harvey Norman’s franchisees sell a wide range of products in various categories including: * electrical goods * furniture * computerised communications * bedding and manchester * small appliances * carpets and flooringThe company recently planned to conduct 5% of its trade online, but these plans proved too optimistic, and they were scaled back. Customers and Market Expansion As an icon in the Australian retail industry, consumers make up most of Harvey Norman’s customers. The company acquired retail chain Joyce Mayne in July 1998 and further expanded when it launched its Domayne retail chain in May 1999. It acquired a controlling interest in Rebel Sport Limited in July 2001 but sold it in March 2007. Harvey Norman opened Harvey Norman Direct Import in December 2011, an online store based in Ireland which sells video games to Australia free of GST.Shares Harvey Norman’s shares have recently experienced a drop of over 6% due to uncertain retail conditions and a drop in sales. Employees Harvey Norman currently has approximately 10,000 employees. The ratio of employees in general and administrative sectors to those in sales and marketing is less than in companies of similar size in the same industry. Most employees have over 5-10 years of work experience, and have bachelor’s degrees rather than masters or doctoral degrees. Environmental Impact In 2011, Harvey Norman was the subject of criticism over the destruction of Australian native forests for use in the furniture industry.A group called Markets for Change launched a campaign against Harvey Norman after they claimed to have conducted a year-long investigation into the company’s timber usage. To this, Gerry Harvey responded on ABC Radio: â€Å"I'm an environm entalist† â€Å"I'm doing my best to use recycled timber or timber from plantations †¦ but every now and then [timber from native forests] will slip through. â€Å"[Often it's] timber the government has told sawmills they can take. â€Å"We are trying really hard to change and also to keep an industry going in Australia †¦ it's difficult for [the sawmills] to survive, and without us they just wouldn't. Economic Conditions It was recently revealed that Harvey Norman’s first half yearly profits were down 2. 1%. The company released a statement explaining the situation: â€Å"The combination of intense competitive pressures and price deflation in certain key product categories, accentuated by the high Australian dollar, deteriorating economic confidence and a prudent consumer, has seen many retailers struggle to maintain margins in the fight for market share. † Competition Harvey Norman has several competitors in the market and therefore utilises severa l strategies in order to compete effectively.Actions taken by the company in response to competition include: * The purchase of the Clive Peeters and Rick Hart brands, which resulted in a loss of AUD$41 million, whose stores will now either convert to Harvey Norman or Joyce Mayne brands or close. * The launching of Harvey Norman Direct Import in response to JB Hi-Fi’s addition of a direct importation section to its website. Some predict that Harvey Norman is the only Australian listed company that would be interested in purchasing Dick Smith Electronics from Woolworths and that if Harvey Norman was to pay AUD$150 million for the business, it could boost earnings by 7%.Business Life Cycle Harvey Norman is in the post-maturity stage of the business life cycle. This is due to several reasons: * Recently, it has been experiencing a small period of decline, but over the long term it has been in a state of renewal. * New strategies taken involve some degree of risk. * New markets a re being exploited, with ventures into overseas markets. * Anticipated sales are not always eventuating. Comparing the two businesses: * Apple is a larger business than Harvey Norman, being a multinational corporation. * Apple operates in many more countries and has significantly more employees. Apple has had great recent success whereas Harvey Norman’s profits have dropped. * Apple has expanded into many more areas in recent times than Harvey Norman. * Apple’s share price is also much higher compared to Harvey Norman’s, reflecting Apple’s recent profits. * Both businesses have been the subject of criticism over their environmental impact, but Apple has received more due to its operations in more areas and countries. * Both businesses employ various strategies in order to stay ahead of competition, but Apple has had greater success, with Harvey Norman experiencing losses due to unsuccessful strategies. Despite the fact that Apple was founded before Harvey Norman, Apple is still in the growth stage of the business life cycle due primarily to the fact that its sales and profits are rapidly increasing, with demand for its products high and customer base growing. Apple would be more resilient to influences in the business environment due to the fact that it is a larger business, with more resources and a massive amount of money currently with which it can respond to changing conditions.

Our country's obsession with beauty Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Our country's obsession with beauty - Assignment Example The stereotypical bleached blond, silicone enhanced, toned bodied and presumably dim-witted â€Å"bimbette† gets the attention from both sexes. Men want them. Women want to be like them, especially young, impressionable females who still don’t fully appreciate the term â€Å"superficial.† The â€Å"Barbie Syndrome† is a symptom of a society that is focused on looks to the disadvantage of everyone. The idea that youthful looks consequentially translates to youthful desirability and energy is common and helps to further the concept of the body as object. Many studies regarding this phenomenon make a direct and dangerous connection of an appearance driven society with ever-increasing instances of eating disorders particularly among teenagers. It’s not only the media reinforcing image worship; teenagers follow the example of adults who are increasingly utilizing plastic surgery to improve physical features. Ultimately, it is society that decides what the idyllic human form should be and consequently it is the duty of the adults to decide to what degree, if any, physical attributes define an individual’s value. It is also society that responsible for ending the ridiculous, seemingly ingrained idea that the looks a woman was born with outweighs any accomplishments she has earned with hard work, and

Collective Bargaining in Wisconsin Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Collective Bargaining in Wisconsin - Essay Example uments on the constitutionality of a 2011 law that eliminated collective bargaining for most public employees after the legislation led to huge protests across the nation (Yaccin, 2013). The policy of collective bargaining sought to give most public workers collective bargaining rights through union membership. This paper explores federalism and collective bargaining in Wisconsin Legislation. It will demonstrate how this policy raises issues of federalism that stretches across state and local government to the federal government level and even the Supreme Court. The collective bargaining in Wisconsin Legislation has been drawing fundamental national attention since Wisconsin’s Republican-majority legislature passed it into law during Mr. Walker’s first year in office. The law sparked major protests in Capitol building and many Senate Democrats left the state to delay a vote on the bill. The policy limited collective bargaining for teachers and most local government workers where they would only bargain for their wages and no other matters concerning their welfare (Yaccin, 2013). These matters were earlier subject to collective bargaining agreements. The policy also barred municipal employers from deducting union dues from employee paychecks. The policy raised issues of federalism where it divided the state into partisan lines for two years as the Republicans and Democrats took opposing sides. It also threatened the Republican administration as hundreds of thousands citizens appended their signatures seeking to remove Mr. Walke r from power where he survived with 53 percent of the vote (Yaccin, 2013). Moreover, about seven public unions have been challenging this policy since its enactment. Indeed, a teachers union in Madison and a labor group representing employees of the city of Milwaukee challenged this policy claiming that it violates freedom of association and the right to equal protection of the law by subjecting unionized public employees to burdens not

Media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Media - Essay Example Table of Contents Thesis Statement 2 Introduction 4 Astonishing Effects of Newspapers†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦4 Conclusion 5 References 7 Introduction A newspaper is a type of publication, which offers varied types of valuable news and information regarding varied aspects to its customers. It mainly attempts to offer real news to the viewers, so as to make them well aware about the facts and facets of the entire nation and world. On the basis of which, varied types of decisions are taken by the viewers, so as to improve their well-being, resulting in improvement of the country as well. Other than this, the segment of trade and commerce is resting over the economic conditions of the country. Along with this, the decisions of the buyers and shareholders are also entirely dependent over the daily news, advertised in printed hard copies or online website s. Moreover, all types of trade related decisions are always based upon information - that is accurate, substantial, and appropriate. It proves quite beneficial for those individuals, desiring to invest in varied shares and debentures of different companies (Price Water Cooper, â€Å"Moving into multiple business models†). This helps in fulfillment of the inner desires of the heart of most of the entrepreneurs, i.e. to become rich in a very short period of time. It can be possible only if, an individual or an entrepreneur remains aware and conscious about the facts and information, occurring in everyday life, so as to take the accurate planning’s and decisions. It acts as a mirror for all the viewers, providing a fair image of the entire world. Along with this, it also provides a facility to analyse the opinions of varied popular individuals, acting as an intermediary to exchange different ideas and thoughts. Astonishing Effects of Newspapers Just as the proverb, †˜Time and tide wait for none’, similarly good news also never waits for anyone. So, to remain updated with every sort of information or data, it is extremely essential to keep an eye on the online newspaper sites as well. Moreover, its craze increased with a remarkable speed due to the introduction of information technology. It gave an up-thirst to the online websites of newspaper, by enhancing the passion of the viewers over internet. This affected in an optimistic way, augmenting the internal spirits of the enthusiastic and energetic personnel’s to select journalism as their career in future times. Moreover, according to Cole &Harcup, â€Å"newspapers conquer a critical place in human world, acting as a realm of social life† (Cole, P & Harcup, T. â€Å"Newspaper Journalism†). This is because; it offers detail reports about the various places of the world, business opportunities, environment, sports, political scenario and various types of holiday sport s and the economy among others. With the help of this, an individual can attain a complete picture of the entire country, residing in far-away places. Therefore, it might facilitate a country to improve the economic condition of the country as compared to other players of the market. Other only this, it might also facilitate by increasing the number of customers, thereby improving their lifestyle. It is extremely essential for any developed country, to retain and enhance its portfolio day by day, among other countries. Moreover, as most of the

PMM Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

PMM - Coursework Example (d) If John would have produced dressings in house, the net loss would have been less as compared to outsourcing. He would have incurred a net loss of ?25,600 rather than ?30,000 leading to an eventual profit of ?74,000 (the working for this is shown in table 2 below). In house production would have not damaged the costs like it did with outsourcing and the prime reason for this could be the quality control. Above this whether the product was being made in house or was outsourced, it is a product, either way, that is lowering the adversely affecting the profits of the company. Question 2 "Discuss the decision situation regarding the American enquiry. Your discussion should be supported by financial information which Mary would be likely to produce, and also briefly consider strategic issues." The company is currently incurring a loss from dressings and above this, the quality of the mirrors has been deteriorating over the 6 months since the outsourcing. The company has been saving ?2 0,000 after outsourcing of mirrors. However, the in house production, although the cost is higher than the outsourcing, leads to a net loss of ?25,600 while the outsourcing leads to a loss of ?30,000. In this situation the American enquiry demands 50 chests at a 70% price of the normal price. It would be easier to analysis if the discussion is on micro level. The normal price per piece is $1500 and the demanded price is at 1050 a difference of $450. This difference could not be covered by the way company is operating right now. Not to forget the delivery charges to the docks is $18 on each chest, which adds to the existing loss. The final price of the chest stands at $1148 which is $98 more than the demanded price. As stated in the case there is a over load of work in the company already, so handling this project would be very tough for everyone. Then comes in the travel issue, the distance between the countries will give rise to the probability of the project being damaged. The onl y way the company can achieve breakeven on this enquiry is to change the place they buy the raw material from or their labor costs, or any of their expenses.    Chest per piece American enquiry/piece      (?000) (?000) (?000) Sales revenue $300 1.5 1.05 Direct materials 90 0.45 0.45 Direct labor 53 0.265 0.265 Variable workshop over head 15 0.075 0.075 Apportioned fixed workshop overheads 68 0.34 0.34 total manufacturing cost 226 1.13 1.13 Gross profit (loss) 74 0.37 -0.08 Selling & distribution costs 7 0.035 0.018 Net profits 67 0.335 -0.098 Question 3 Mary has suggested to John that the company would benefit from a management information system to aid him in planning and controlling the activities of the business and to assist in organisational decision making. Join is not sure what Mary means. (a) Illustrate the types of planning and controlling activities that are likely to take place at High Street Reproduction Furniture Ltd. High Street Reproduction Furniture Ltd needs p lan its activities along with the production and expected sales of the company. With the over burdening of the employees, important data is being ignored like in the case of dressings. The company should also check its product at each and every production stage. This product quality check will allow John to anticipate issues in quality before its effects are felt in the net profit. Above this,

Management and Leadership Analysis for TESCO Company Essay

Management and Leadership Analysis for TESCO Company - Essay Example But in terms of foreign establishment, it is recommended that TESCO should apply Behavioral Leadership approach along with its Task Performance and Maintenance Performance categories. Democratic style of leadership is recommended in general conditions but to counter the high internal and external threat, autocratic leadership style would beneficial to TESCO. TESCO plc is a UK based international grocery and general products retail chain. With respect to worldwide sales and UK market share, Tesco is the largest British retailer that currently has profit greater than 03 billion pounds while at the same time it is 3rd largest global retailer based on revenue, after United State’s Wal-Mart and France’s Carrefour. Presently TESCO is operating 923 grocery stores and approximately 240,000 workers. During the last decade, the company has expanded its network to new UK supermarkets in new territories. Moreover, from 1994 to 2004, the company had launched its operations in 12 international markets including Central Europe and Asian markets. TESCO’s internationalization has direct repercussions on its operational management. It includes a variety of planning, retail designing and process, operational management and controlling, stock management, and human resource management. Several internal and external factors have created serious implications for TESCO during recent years. Along with other UK and US markets, TESCO has also been affected by the global recession and has economic concerns through the credit crunch. Rising prices of raw material used for food and non-food products has created an overall negative impact on profit margins. As far as market competitors are concerned, United State’s Wal-Mart is a persisting threat for TESCO that may take over the market with respect to profit and share.

The trial of Angelique Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The trial of Angelique - Essay Example When one considers the details that were revealed during the trial of this slave, one will come to the conclusion that the slaves of New France were provided with plenty of freedoms by their owners. This is mainly due to the fact, for example, that Angelique was allowed the freedom to move around the town of Montreal, without any restrictions by her owners. In addition, it was mentioned that she was a very firm woman who had her own opinions that at times went against those of her owner, to the extent that she was accused of talking back to her owner whenever she was addressed. It has been speculated that it was her well known independent streak that may have been the reason why she ended up setting fire to her owner’s house in protest towards her living conditions and her status in society.1 The fact remains that the fire which destroyed most of Montreal took place at a time when Madame de Francheville had the intention of selling Angelique against the latter’s wishes. ... It was mainly because of her attempted escape, as well as her lack of the required submissiveness towards her owner, which might have led to her being accused of setting the fire and as a result destroying most of the town. Her independent nature may have been a basis of her accusation by the French authorities in Montreal mainly because they were in need of a scapegoat to appease the angry residents of the town. This can be considered to be the most plausible explanation for Angelique’s trial based only on rumour and lacking in any evidence that she had indeed started the fire. Despite her having, throughout the trial denied that she was the culprit, because of her reputation, first as a runaway slave, as well as her rebelliousness towards her owner, she was considered to be guilty of the crime that she was rumoured to have committed.2 It can, therefore, be said that Angelique’s trial was an injustice to this slave woman, who was not only placed in bondage against her will, but because of her status in the society, she was presumed to be guilty without any real or tangible evidence being presented to prove the claims that were made against her. The law that was practiced in New France at the time dictated that a person could be presumed guilty through â€Å"public knowledge†, meaning that whether one were guilty or not, as long as the public believed that one was guilty, and then there was nothing that one could to prove his or her innocence. It is this injustice which happened to Angelique, who despite her not being guilty, and there being no eyewitnesses to her presumed crime, was not only tried, but also ended up losing her life. The strength of character displayed by Angelique can be seen throughout her trial where she insisted that she was

Nazi Holocaust Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Nazi Holocaust - Essay Example The essay "Nazi Holocaust" will help to understand the graphic nature of the Holocaust, and the reader can picture the events in his mind based on the explanation given. The book Night recalls the occurrences in the town of Sighet, Transylvania in Northern Romania. At the very beginning, we get introduced to the twelve-year-old Eli back in 1941. The historic expulsion of all Jew from Sighet gets vividly explained in the book. The Hungarian police rounded up all foreign Jews and bundled them up into waiting vehicles in full public glare. Rumor mills purported that these Jews got taken to Galicia where they became happy and got formally employed. These reports later got challenged by an escapee, Moshe the Beadle, who told of the Gestapo and how the Jews got killed each day. He explained that the Jews got led to a forest where they got forced to dig trenches before they got shot and buried. Babies, he explained, got tossed in the air and used for target practice. Moshe had escaped after getting a shot at the leg and mistaken to be dead. The Jews ignored Moshe’s warning with some saying that he was mentally unstable (Wiesel 21). As soon as the Fascist took over control of the government, Nazi soldiers took to the streets of Sighet where they rounded up all Jews including Eli and his family. Elis family got put in a cattle wagon after receiving a stern warning that anyone who dared to escape would be killed. They got transported to Auschwitz. Upon arrival, men and women got separated. Eli and his father got whisked away separately, while Hilda, Elis mother and Tzipora got led straight to the gas chamber. Eli tried to remain vigilant the rest of the night in the concentration camp never losing sight of his father. He feared that if they got separated, that would be the last he would ever see of him (Wiesel 22). On their first night at Auschwitz, Eli and his father got put in line ready to be thrown into the fire furnace. They both watched trucks loading up children that were to be delivered into the fire (Wiesel 19). Elis father chanted the prayer for the dead, commonly known in Jewish circles as Kaddish. He m ade the prayer for them too in anticipation of the inevitable. They survived the night and got ordered back to their barracks. Sometimes the whole camp got forced to watch hangings of children. Eli graphically explains this when he says the child’s eyes were still clear, and his tongue was still pink (Wiesel 23). Eli and his father got moved to Auschwitz II form Birkenau in 1945. This was a work camp with reduced cases of violence. Eli explains that they were in constant search of food, saying that they were worse than corpses. After American and soviet bombing of the concentration camps, 60,000 Jews including Eli and his father got moved back to Germany in what gets commonly referred to as the death march. They got bundled up in trains to Auschwitz where many of them lost their lives due to congestion. They literally lay on top of others, occasionally throwing out dead bodies each morning. This train journey marked their symbolic journey to freedom as the Soviets liberated A uschwitz (Wiesel 65). Maus, on the other hand, gets divided between the present interviewing sessions where Spiegelman interviews his father and the past, where Vladek recounts his experiences between the mid 1930s and 1945, when the Holocaust ended. The book recount details of the marriage union between Vladek and his wife, Anja. Vladek got captured as a war prisoner due to escalating racist and political tensions. He got shocked to find out that Sosnowiec got placed under German siege when he got released. Vladek got released on the Polish Protectorate side of the

English Composition Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

English Composition - Research Proposal Example Questions have arisen as to what extent society will allow unabated materials to be published on the internet. The answer varies depending on which society of the world is deciding and in what context such as the restriction of adult content to minors. Based upon its level of use in current society, it is safe to say that the internet will become even more integrated into everyday life of individuals throughout the world in the years to come. The internet is a dynamic tool for communication and an open forum for whatever material could be imagined available to anyone with a connection. It is continually evolving. Cutting edge technology of today will go the way of vacuum tubes in televisions. â€Å"The existing Internet is built on technology meant for a different age. Just as circuit switches are remnants of the past generation of communication, so will routers be remnants of a past internet† (Dzubeck, 2000). Developing countries, specifically those that don’t enjoy freedom of speech rights, will create their own internets which will likely interconnect with other networks, such as the current interest in a spider web type relationship. Email is free and instantaneous causing its use by business and individuals to grow at a phenomenal rate over the past decade. Few people write letters or read the newspaper as these are seemingly archaic methods of communication. Neither provides instant information, a too l that is today essential for businesses to compete and simply a fact of life that is taken for granted for most in the U.S. â€Å"Nowadays, we think nothing of emailing our aunts in Germany and getting an answer back within minutes, or seeing the latest streaming video full of up to the minute news† (Boswell, 2006). One of the biggest consumer trends in the 21st century is a steady increase in the number of consumers going online to make

John Locke helped create Modern Democracy Essay Example for Free

John Locke helped create Modern Democracy Essay John Locke was an English philosopher and was considered as the first British Empiricists. His contributions proved great importance to the development of epistemology and political philosophy during those times, and is regarded as the most influential thinker to contribute to the liberal theory of government. As a whole, John Locke’s importance is reflected by the American Declaration of Independence, since men by nature is free and equal, discarding the thought about having a monarch, as everyone is entitled to become a monarch. It was through John Locke’s theories that people’s eyes were opened to the reality, the fact that all of us are born free. John Locke viewed and claimed that men are naturally free and equal, versus the notion that God appointed a monarch to rule over other people. Some of the things that Locke fought for were the people’s basic rights, including the right to life, liberty, and property – these concerns became the basic foundations of laws in any particular society today (Tuckness). Looking closely at the implication of what John Locke has fought for, it is more of establishing a concrete grounding which can be used as basis of other rules and laws that you prepare. In the context of establishing a government, John Locke used the claim that men are naturally free and equal in order to justify the understanding regarding the legitimacy of a political government which is the outcome of a social contract that regards the people as the major stakeholders, and that the government will be established to ensure the stability, comfort and enjoyment of these people’s lives, liberty and property. In short, the government, though privileged to preside over the people, still rests on popular consent, and people are entitled to rebel if they see that the government is subversive of what they stand for – the protection of life, liberty and property (Tuckness). Governments, just like what we have today, exist by the consent of the people under the jurisdiction of that government. Their main purpose according to Locke is to protect these people’s rights, as well as promote public good. In relation to this, those governments who are unable to function accordingly can be resisted by the people and e replace with new governments (Blupete. com). Though nowadays it would surely undergo a very long process to replace a current government, people still have the power to pursue these measures if the need be. Locke advocated majority rule, something which is similar to the current democracy that we have today. Modern democracy as we see today can be greatly associated with what John Locke has helped establish and defended many years ago. The purpose is people empowerment, the realization of the people’s rights and fighting to preserve these rights against violators. This has led to the creation of the democratic government that we have today, and through this type of government, we live a free and equal lives, without oppression from other people, as well as injustice in the things we do. We see the democratic government not only as a ruling body in the society but also a guard that would keep watch of out precious inalienable rights as citizens of this country and as human beings. We have instated a higher ruling body to do a set of purpose, and if it doesn’t, it is our responsibility to tear it down and replace it with the ones which are more appropriate and more deserving of the position. It is not the government that runs the people, but instead, it’s the people that run the government. Works Cited: Blupete. com. John Locke (1632-1704):The Philosopher of Freedom. 2006. April 4 2008. http://www. blupete. com/Literature/Biographies/Philosophy/Locke. htm#Government. Tuckness, Alex. Lockes Political Philosophy. 2005. April 4 2008. http://plato. stanford. edu/entries/locke-political/.

factors affecting saccharomyces cerevisiae

factors affecting saccharomyces cerevisiae Chapter 1: Introduction Research Questions: What is the effect of differing temperatures on Saccharomyces cerevisiae population growth? What is the effect of differing pH levels on Saccharomyces cerevisiae population growth? What is the effect of differing glucose concentrations on Saccharomyces cerevisiae population growth? The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a single celled fungus that reproduces asexually by budding or division. It is one of the most well studied eukaryotic model organisms in both molecular and cell biology. S. cerevisiae is a very good type of yeast for biological studies owing to the rapid growth (doubling time 1.5-2 hours at 30 Â °C), the dispersed cells and the ease of replica planting. Moreover is a non-pathogenic organism, so can be handled fearlessly with only little precautions. Also large amounts of commercial bakers yeast are available with result being an easy and cheap source for biochemical studies. S. cerevisiae has round to ovoid cells between 3-8ÃŽÂ ¼m in diameter. 1.2 Respiration In biology, respiration is defined as: the process by which the energy in food molecules is made available for an organism to do biological work (Kent, 2000; p.100). It is also called Cellular respiration. This process of cellular respiration happens in every living cell as it is the only way to obtain energy in a form that will be usable for the cell, so it can carry out the functions of movement, growth and reproduction (ibid). The food in yeasts must be obtained as they cannot produce it on their own. For yeasts, a very good source of energy is sugars. All strains of S. cerevisiae can metabolize glucose (a hexose sugar), maltose and trehalose. 1.3 Types of Respiration There are two main types of respiration that take place within a cell: Anaerobic respiration (without oxygen) and Aerobic respiration (with oxygen). S. cerevisiae can metabolize sugars in both ways, but in this research the cultures of yeast were exposed to air hence to oxygen, so aerobic respiration was mainly the way that yeast cells grew and reproduced. 1.4 Enzymes Thousands of chemical reactions are carried out within a cell. These reactions most of the times occur in a very slow rate. For that reason living organisms make biological catalysts which are called enzymes and speed up these reactions. Enzymes are globular proteins which act as catalysts of chemical reactions (Allot, 2007; p.18. Also cells can control which reaction occurs in their cytoplasm by making some enzymes and not others. Enzymes achieve to increase the rate of a reaction by decreasing the activation energy (the minimum amount of energy required for a reaction to occur) (Greenwood. Et al. 2007; p.167) of the substrate or the substrates, when binding to the activation site (Greenwood. et al. 2007; p.114). Enzymes are sensitive molecules with very specific structure which enables them to carry out specific reactions. This structure including the active site can be damaged by various conditions and substrates. This damage is called denaturation and is usually permanent for an enzyme and if denaturation is occurred the enzyme can no longer carry out its function. As a result when enzymes are required to catalyze a reaction, is necessary that they have appropriate conditions. Different enzymes have different ideal conditions called optimum. The factors that affect the enzyme activity are: the temperature, the pH, the substrate concentration. The effect of temperature, pH and substrate concentration upon the enzyme activity which affects the growth of S. cerevisiae yeast cells are studied in this research. 1.5 Effect of Temperature As the temperature is increased in an enzyme-catalysed reaction, the rate of reaction is increased up to maximum in a specific temperature. This is called optimum temperature. The optimum temperature of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is 30o- 32oC. Above this temperature the rate starts to drop rapidly. This is due to the high energy that causes vibration inside the enzyme with result the bonds which maintain the structure of enzyme to break. This causes denaturation and the active site can no longer fit the substrate. 1.6 Effect of pH (hydrogen ion concentration) Most of the enzymes operate effectively in a small range of pH values. Between these pH values there is an optimum pH value in which the enzyme activity is the highest. The optimum pH of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is 5.5. Acids and alkalis cause denaturation of the structure of the enzyme by breaking mainly hydrogen and ionic bonds with result the substrate cant fit the active site. Furthermore the charges of the amino acids within the active site are affected by pH changes, so the enzyme is not able to form an enzyme-substrate complex. Above and below the optimum pH the enzymatic activity hence the rate is reduced considerably. 1.7 Effect of Substrate concentration In an enzyme-catalysed reaction the rate increases in direct proportion to the substrate concentration. The optimum glucose concentration of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is 2%. At low substrate concentrations, the rate of enzymatic activity increases sharply as the substrate increases. This occurs due to the more frequent collisions between the substrate molecules and the unoccupied active sites. On the other hand, at high substrate concentrations the biggest part of the active sites have been occupied with result when increasing the substrate concentration there is little effect on the rate of enzymatic activity. 1.8 Purpose of the research The purpose of this research that is carried out to examine the growth of S. cerevisiae yeast cells in different factors and various conditions is not so in order to discover which are the optimum conditions in each factor (as this species of S. cerevisiae is very well studied and examined professionally because of its usage in food industry) but to examine in real conditions and not theoretical ones how altering the environment of a cell affects the way its enzymes work and help the whole cell to live and divide in all of the previously ways that were mentioned in the introduction part.

Strategic analysis of FedEx

Strategic analysis of FedEx This report analysis the strategic capability of federal express and suggests ways in which the organisation might use its core competences to create opportunities in new arenas. This work is done to fulfil the requirements for the MSc module International management under the observation of tutor Mr.Robert. First the report explains an outline of the organization including the company performance, vision and mission, values. Then about the key competitors and examines the external and internal business environment of the company (SWOT analysis). Then it analyses FedEx corporation key resources and competences, capabilities for competitive advantage and critical success factors. Then it comes to conclusion about the core competences to create opportunities in new arenas.Finaly it identifies the problem faced by FedEx and gives recommendations for the future developments. FedEx is a multinational company which represents the widest range of supply chain, transportation and business related information services. It provides services to more than 220 countries and territories, including every address in the United States. FORTUNE magazine declared that FedEx has ranked No. 13 among Worlds Most Admired Companies 2010. The FedEx brand is based on speed and efficiency. The research method which I used in this report is qualitative method. For this I focused on management books written by authors like David Boddy, Johnson et al, John R. Schermerhorn and Tim Hannagan. I also reviewed research methods book written by Saunders et al, to understand structure of a scientific article and writing style. Overall I used secondary data to analyze the strategic capabilities of FedEx to enter new arenas. The secondary data are books, scientific journals and webpages. According to this analysis FedEx capabilities for competitive advantage are innovation, loyal customers and technology and communication. This report also identifies the companys critical successes factors which are speed and efficiency, innovation and global expansion. Finally this report concludes with FedEx core competences to create opportunities in new arenas. They are innovation, loyalty, technology and communication, speed and efficiency. Introduction: This work is done to fulfil the requirements for the MSc module International management under the observation of tutor Mr.Robert. Our tutor gave us five options and asked us to choose one. I was really interested in analysing strategic capabilities and core competences. So I have chosen the topic three that is Analysing the strategic capability of an organisation of my choice and Suggesting ways in which the organisation might use its core competences to create opportunities in new arenas. Since my husband is working in FedEx and it is a multinational company I started doing analysis on this company. I have chosen this topic because in todays hypercompetitive business world the competition is direct and aggressive. Competitive advantages are often imitative. So firms should analyze their internal resources, capabilities and external environment to expertise core competences. They are the strong points that a firm extremely does well in contrast with competitor. The core competences are the capabilities which should be rare, costly to imitate and non- substitutable. Strategic capability is the ability of a company to sustain and to achieve long term goals. Strategic capabilities are the abilities to perform at the level required to survive and prosper, and includes resources and competence (Johnson et al.2006). Research questions: This project report will analyze what are the strategic capabilities Of FedEx and how to use its core competences to create opportunities in new arenas? This question is sub divided as what is strategy? What are capabilities? What is core competence? What is the SWOT analysis for FedEx Corporation? Research objectives: This project report will fulfill the following research objectives. To identify the strategic capabilities of FedEx based on SWOT analysis and to describe how to use its core competence to create opportunities in new arenas. Company profile: FedEx is a multinational company which represents the widest range of supply chain, transportation and business related information services. FedEx was started as Federal Express Corporation in 1971, by 28-year-old Frederick W. Smith. Smith, a former Marine pilot identified tremendous difficulty in getting packages and other airfreight delivered within one to two days while operating his new firm. This problem driven him to do the required research for resolving the ineffective delivery system. Thus, the idea for Federal Express was born: a company that transformed global business practices and now defines promptness and trustworthiness. The corporation was created in 1998 as FDX Corporation and became FedEx Corporation in January 2000. FedEx motivates its more than 290,000 employees and contractors to remain unconditionally, absolutely committed on safety, on ethical standards and professional standards for the needs of their customers and communities. It provides services to more t han 220 countries and territories, including every address in the United States. FORTUNE magazine declared that FedEx has ranked No. 13 among Worlds Most Admired Companies 2010. This was based on input from executives, directors and financial analysts worldwide. FedEx Corporation delivers strategic path and combined financial tasks for the operating companies that compete jointly under the FedEx name worldwide: FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight, FedEx Office, FedEx Custom Critical, FedEx Trade Networks, FedEx Supply Chain and FedEx Services. FedEx Corporation has visibly outlined goals and strategies for the future. Headquarters for FedEx is Memphis, Tennessee, USA (FedEx, n.d) Vision and mission: The complete history of FedEx Company is based on a particular vision: to make it possible for people and businesses to connect and collaborate with each other, no matter where they are in the world. FedEx puts its people first because they are their most important assets through which they achieve their business goals. The Corporate philosophy is briefly stated as people-service-profit. The FedEx brand is based on speed and efficiency. Customer necessities will be met in the highest quality mode suitable to each market segment served. FedEx will endeavor to develop mutually fulfilling relationships with its employees, allies and suppliers. Safety will be the first concern in all actions. (FedEx, 2010) Values: People: They value their people and promote diversity in their workplace and in their way of thinking. Service: Their absolutely, positively spirit puts their customers at the heart of everything they do. Innovation: They invent and inspire the services and technologies that improve the way they work and live. Integrity: They manage the operations, finances and services with honesty, efficiency and reliability. Responsibility: They defend safe and healthy environments for the communities in which they live and work. Loyalty: The firm earns the respect and confidence of their FedEx people, customers and investors every day, in everything they do. (FedEx ,2010). Corporate performance: FedEx was started as Federal Express Corporation in 1971. In 1975 it gained $43.5 million in sales. In 1985 FedEx had chosen an important step to expand its services to Europe by opening a European hub at the Brussels airport. Due to this act Revenue reached $2 billion in 1985. In 1994 FedEx was the first international express cargo carrier to receive system-wide ISO 9001 certification. FedEx is holding the assurance of its customers through its logistical capabilities, intensifying the carrying capacity of its fleet of over 675 fuel-efficient aircraft and 70,000 vehicles. Revenues have continued its decline that began at the end of 2008. Since 2008, total revenue has decreased by $3.2 billion amount due to less consumer demand brought forth by the recession. FedEx has increased their prices based on increase in demand, improving operating margin to 5.8%, more than the pre-recessionary level of 5.5%. Revenue for 2010 was $34.73 billion, down from 2009s $35,497 billion. Revenues decreased 2% during 2010 primarily due to profit decreases at FedEx Express and the FedEx Freight LTL Group as a result of continued competitive pricing environment. (FedEx, 2010) Key competitors: The main competitor for FedEx in US- market is UPS.UPS is the first largest package delivery company in U.S. FedEx is the second largest package delivery company in U.S.UPS gives FedEx tough competition locally and globally. Other than UPS in international market DHL also giving tough competition to FedEx. They are also facing lot of competition from local companies in china, Europe and India. In Europe TNT is also one of the key competitors for FedEx. Research methodology: The research method which I used in this report is qualitative. For this I focused on management books written by authors like David Boddy, Johnson et al, John R. Schermerhorn and Tim Hannagan. I also reviewed research methods book written by Saunders et al, to understand structure of a scientific article and writing style. I reviewed scientific journals like Emerging markets and innovation: A partnership for global progress, Interconnected firms relationships as a source of a competitive advantage, Valuing real options: Insight from competitive strategy and Strategic development, SWOT analysis at the University of Warwick and Strategic Capability: A Concept and Framework for Analysis. Overall I used secondary data to analyze the strategic capabilities of FedEx to enter new arenas. The secondary data are books, scientific journals and webpages. Literature review and application: SWOT analysis: SWOT analysis brings together the internal analysis about the strengths and weaknesses of the resources within the organization and the external opportunities and threats. This analysis will help in strategic development of the organization. According to my analysis the FedEx Corporation consists of the following strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Organizational strategic capabilities Strengths Strong brand image Strong financial position Wide range of operations Global presence Innovation Technology and communication Strong leadership Business to business Weaknesses Rising prices Labour disputes Opportunities Strategic alliance Strategic acquisitions Intensive global expansion Expansion of e-business Threats Intensive global competition Economic and political conditions Fuel price fluctuation Figure 3.4 SWOT analysis of FedEx in global business environment Strengths: Strong Brand Image: FedEx has a strong reputation by providing time-definite and reliable services from documents and small parcels up to unique freight shipments like panda shipment from US to china. According to BrandZ top 100 brands worldwide FedEx ranked 74th for 2010.The brand value for FedEx is $9.418millions during 2010, 1% less than 2009.But it is still better than 2008.This dip is due to global recession which affected US very bad and the price rise by the company (BrandZ,2010). Strong financial position: In the financial year 2006 the total assets for FedEx Corporation was $ 22,690 billion which is 11% more than previous year (FedEx Annual Report 2006).During financial years 2006 to 2010 the growth rate of total assets were 11%,5%,7%,-5% and 3% respectively. The dip during 2009 was due to global recession. Due to strong financial position it didnt loss much in global recession. Strong financial position gives confidence and backup for strong business position in the market. They improved very fast from the downturn because they enhanced to deliver even more reliability and value to the customers. This was achieved with the help of the strong financial position (FedEx annual report from 2006 to 2010). Wide range of operations: FedEx is the modern air and ground express courier service multinational company with wide range of operations like FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight, FedEx Office, FedEx Custom Critical, FedEx Trade Networks, FedEx Global Supply Chain and FedEx Services. FedEx Express uses a global air-and-ground network to speed delivery of time-sensitive shipments, usually in one to two business days with the delivery time guaranteed. FedEx Ground focuses in cost-effective, small-package shipping, offering reliable business-to-business delivery or suitable residential service through FedEx home delivery and FedEx Smart Post. FedEx Freight is the provider of next- and second-day regional, less-than-truckload (LTL) freight services. FedEx Freight is known for excellent ability, reliability and on-time performance. FedEx Custom Critical offers the fastest, door-to-door same-day and next-day delivery of critical freight, valuable items and hazardous goods. FedEx Trade Networks offers FedEx global customers with end-to-end transportation and customs clearance solutions around the world. FedEx Services organizes sales, marketing, information technology, customer service, and worldwide supply chain services support for the global FedEx brand. FedEx Office (formerly FedEx Kinkos) offers access points to printing and shipping services with reliable service when and where you need it. The above wide range operations help the company to have a strong hold in international market because this kind of wide range of operations will satisfy the needs of the customers. This will make customers to be more dependable to the company. (FedEx, 2010) Global presence: FedEx is a multinational company with its wide range operations like express, ground, freight, and faster delivery service that deliver over 6.5 million packages to more than 220 countries daily. FedEx also has 684 aircraft and trips to over 375 airports worldwide. It covers US, Europe, Indian Subcontinent and Africa. It works with the theme FedEx delivers to a changing world. Its revenue over 65% is from international operations. The international operations afford FedEx the revenue growth and market position advantage. (FedEx, 2010) Innovation: FedEx has strong history of innovation installing computers in delivery vehicles, providing latest automation for mailing services and developing tracking capabilities and software. In the year 1979 it became the first shipping company to use a computer to manage packages when it launched COSMOS (Customers, Operations and Services Master Online System), a centralized computer system to manage people, packages, vehicles and weather scenarios in real time. In 1980 the company implemented DADS (Digitally Assisted Dispatch System) to coordinate on-call pickups for customers; this system allows customers to schedule pickups for the same day. In 1994, they were the first to offer package-status tracing for better customer service via fedex.com.They were Innovative using wireless technology for shipping from past 25 years with the introduction of the Digital Assisted Dispatch System (DADS).( Wikipedia, November 13,2010).To continue this FedEx established the FedEx Innovation Labs, an inform ation technology project designed to create an atmosphere of collective thinking about critical technologies such as advanced optics for scanning, robotics, social networking and more. Technology and communication: FedEx continues to explore new technology. That commitment makes the customers loyal to them. They have outstanding communication with their customers. They use tracking devices on all shipments, and customers can find out where their shipment is and at what time they are going to receive it.This is one of their significant strategic capability. FedEx has announced Sense Aware (SM) powered by FedEx, a next generation, first-of-its-kind information service that combines a GPS sensor device and a web-based collaboration platform. Innovation is one of the important aspects for a multinational company to be competitive in the dynamic international business environment. (FedEx, 2010) Strong leadership: For over past 30 years the company is being led by Mr. Frederick W. Smith. Because of his strong leadership, dedication and commitment it is one of the top 100 companies in the world. For a successful company good leadership is important. Business to business: FedEx main business depends on B to B.They have very good contract with different industries for business. This year they applied for ISO certificate to transport medical equipments.This shows how they are really focusing on B to B. Weaknesses: Rising prices: FedEx has increased their prices based on increase in demand, improving operating margin to 5.8%, more than the pre-recessionary level of 5.5%.This is not good for markets like China, Africa and India because everybody cannot afford the high price. If they follow economies of scale in markets like Asia and Africa that will have a good impact on growth rate of the company. (FedEx, 2010) Labour disputes: FedEx announced drastic cuts in pay for most of its U.S. workforce. They announced permanent 5 percent to 10 percent base salary reductions for all U.S. employees. Because of this labour dispute FedEx workers requested for Teamster representation. The Teamsters Union Founded in 1903 and represents more than 1.4 million working men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.This kind of labour disputes will spoil the reputation of the company and also it affects the business which in turn will affect the customer confidence (smallcapwatch,2010) Opportunities: Strategic alliance: Strategic alliance is a new trend in international business world to achieve successes factor. FedEx should look for strong alliance in different geographical locations to have a good market share internationally. FedEx Trade Networks has established alliance in Israel with leading international freight Fritz Companies Israel. This alliance will help the company to provide shippers with expanded international ocean and air freight services. (FedEx, July 6, 2010). If they can achieve this kind of strategic alliance they will achieve their goals in international market. The strategic alliance will help them to understand the domestic market of that particular location and to act according to that. Strategic acquisitions: In global business environment you cannot just go where ever you want and open a business unit. This may lead you to failure. Strategic acquisitions are some of the important factors for international business. FedEx acquired Kinkos Inc. in February 2004. This acquisition helped FedEx in all U.S. locations to offer new or expanded FedEx shipping options for better customer accessibility. If they can do such kind of strategic acquisitions globally, they will be more successful in their business in global environment. If FedEx can acquire in different geographical locations a local transportation company with good reputation background it can be their competitive advantage. (FedEx, 2010) Intensive global expansion: If FedEx can do the same wide range of business globally which they are doing in U.S. it will have very good brand value. To achieve this FedEx should undertake intensive global expansion. All the companies which are collectively working under FedEx Corporation should do global expansion collectively for good results. Expansion of e-business: Currently FedEx is using internet for most of its business. They should keep finding online shopping companies to contract delivery of their products. Now the growth of e-commerce is very fast .Federal Express can enjoy both profit and brand name from this kind of expansion. Threats: Intensive global competition: FedEx is facing a lot of competition from UPS, DHL and from some domestic companies in different geographical locations, for example TNT from Europe. The business which they are doing is easily imitable. Because of this there is a small dip in their total revenues for past two years. Economic and political conditions: The major consideration is Economic growth prospects. For past three years due to global recession the economic growth rate is very low. Due to this the growth rate for FedEx came down to -5%. (FedEx, 2010).Next comes the political factors. To achieve competitive advantage UPS is playing Brown bailout a political trick on its key competitor FedEx. If the U.S. congress reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration then FedEx will face lot of labour issues which will paralyze their business. (Brownbailout, 2009) United Parcel Service Inc., whose political action committee has given more money to federal lawmakers than any other company over two decades, is a major beneficiary of legislation before the House that would reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration. (Bloomberg, May 21, 2009) Fuel price fluctuation: The fuel price fluctuation also disturbs the business. Currently the fuel prices are not stable. If the prices are low then no problem, but if the prices increases then it will be real problem for the company. The fuel price increase will affect the annual revenue growth. Because whenever the fuel prices increase they cannot increase their shipment prices. FedEx is operating 672 aircrafts and 70,000 motorized vehicles every day; this will consume lot of fuel. If the fuel price fluctuation is too much it will affect the business. (BBC news, 20 march, 2008) Resources and competences: Analysis of resources and capabilities are very important to identify strategic capabilities of an organization. Resources are about physical assets and production facilities. Competencies are the performance of the organization in the activities like producing, marketing, delivering and supporting its services. For achieving competence, strategy is important. A strategy deal with what is to be achieved, how it is achieved and for what it is achieved. Strategy should fit between the internal strengths and external opportunities. That means the organizations opportunities should fit between organizations internal resources, capabilities and opportunities in the external environment. Strategy helps to identify the factors that develop sustainable advantage for an organization. This will be the core competence for an organization. Core competences are the activities and processes to organize resources to gain the competitive advantage for an organization. This competitive advantage will be achieved through the strategic capabilities of an organization. (David Boddy) Figure 3.7 Identifying the organizations opportunities (Source: Management: David Boddy) For multinational companies Global strategy is very important. Global strategy is helpful to expand the market of an organization outside its domestic market. The following figure explains the opportunities and outcomes of the Global strategy. Identifying International opportunities are the important aspects of international strategy. Then you have to discover the resources and capabilities to form international strategies. These can be divided into International business level strategy, Multidomestic strategy, Global strategy and transnational strategy. For the successes of these strategies an organization should look for strong strategic alliances, Acquisitions, New wholly owned subsidiary and Exporting (These are the Modes of Entry for an organization into international market). After successfully managing all these and risks the final outcome will be better performance. (Michael A et, al) FedEx threshold capabilities: Threshold capabilities are significant elements for FedEx to be competitive in business environment. These elements can be divided into tangible and intangible resources. The tangible resources of FedEx are wide range of operations, 672 aircrafts, 70,000 motorized vehicles and 10 main air express hubs. The intangible resources are 275,000 employees, reputation and intellectual capital. FedEx has 42,000 drop boxes, over 9,000 centers, and 70,000 vehicles for express, ground, freight, and advanced delivery service that deliver over 6.5 million packages to more than 220 countries daily. They are planning for global expansion at the rate of 25% every year. This strategy will increase brand value and loyal customers worldwide. (FedEx, 2010) Intangible resources are difficult to be imitated by competitors. For FedEx as mentioned in their vision and mission employees are their most important assets through which they achieve their business goals. The Corporate philosophy is briefly stated as people-service-profit. They are the important element for FedEx brand value. FedEx capabilities for competitive advantage: The unique resources are the capabilities for competitive advantage. Every business will have capabilities to achieve business goals. But the capabilities which give the organization strong market position and which are rare and cannot be imitated by others are the core competencies. The strategic capabilities transfer the core competencies into competitive advantages of an organization. The following are the capabilities for competitive advantage of FedEx. Innovation: FedEx has the first mover advantage for past 30 years because of innovation. For an organization innovation will be associated with positive changes in efficiency, productivity, quality and competitive positioning. You absolutely, positively have to innovate-if only to survive.-Fred Smith (entrepreneur, October 9, 2008) Innovation . . . is generally understood as the successful introduction of a new thing or method . . . Innovation is the embodiment, combination, or synthesis of knowledge in original, relevant, valued new products, processes, or services. (Luecke and Katz 2003) Innovation is part of the business at FedEx. It can be web services or the development of high-technology, FedEx sees innovation as a strategic business practice that is endlessly improved, developed and encouraged. Technology and communication: FedEx continues to search for new technology. This commitment keeps customers not switching to other providers. FedEx also has excellent communication with their customers. They are using latest online tracking system for all shipments, so that customers can find out where their shipment is and at what time it will reach. The FedEx brand is based on speed and efficiency. So they developed IMS tool to ensure that all transactions running on the mainframe are being processed quickly and efficiently. The new features are the result of intensive research into what their customers need and want. They are meeting the needs of customers with the latest user technologies. (IBM, 30 Jun, 2010) Loyal customers: Loyalty is created among customers based on A strong brand name, Pricing competitiveness, Product quality and service satisfaction. The building blocks of loyalty for FedEx are strong customer service, fast customs clearance, clear invoicing, reliable tracking information and quick problem handling. A loyal customer is one of the competitive advantages for FedEx who will do business with them again and happily recommend others. Corporate social responsibility: FedEx recognizes that their social responsibility is greater than the services they provide. They are dedicated to be a thoughtful representative for the environment and a caring citizen in the communities where they live and work. They are passionate about sustainably connecting people and places and improving the quality of life around the world. Philanthropy: FedEx is devoted to energetically supporting the communities they serve, through strategic investment of their people, resources and network. Their corporate resources include financial contributions, charitable shipping services and volunteer services by their team members. They have three core focus areas and meaningful ways: Emergency and Disaster Relief, Child Pedestrian Safety, and Environmental Sustainability. By doing this they will have good image in public which in turn increase the brand value. (FedEx, 2010) Environment: FedEx is dedicated to providing global network with minimized environmental impact. FedEx is mainly focusing on Fuel efficiency, using recycling material and reducing noise pollution. As part of its Fuel Sense program, FedEx uses rigorous operations and recent advancements in aircraft technology to significantly reduce emissions and fuel use for their aircrafts. They are working with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to assess their fuel use and identify potential savings. They started replacing their trucks with hybrid electric trucks and Boeing 727 aircraft with Boeing 757 which will reduce fuel consumption up to 36 percent while providing 20 percent more capacity. FedEx has started using recycling material for their packaging to minimize the environmental impact. FedEx is concerned with aircraft noise and has taken steps to reduce noise levels for more than 10 years. As part of its global environmental sustainability program, FedEx empowers its team members to mak e meaningful earth-friendly changes in the communities where they live and work. (CNBC news, Nov 15, 2010) Employees: FedEx is much concerned about the culture of service which is absolutely, positively spirit of employees. This builds customer loyalty. FedEx has been honored as one of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list in 10 of the past 11 years and was named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For Hall of Fame in 2005. (FedEx, 2010) Critical success factors analysis: FedEx critical success factors can be identified as speed and efficiency, innovation and global expansion. Speed and efficiency Innovation Global expansion Speed and efficiency: Speed and efficiency is one of the critical success factors for FedEx. For a global transportation company speed and efficiency is very important for competitive advantage. For FedEx this is consistently going on for more than 30 years. This is happening with the help of reliable and dedicated team work of FedEx employees. For todays changing life style, people want everything to happen very fast. For small businesses time-definite package deliveries are important for their business growth. FedEx is doing this with convenience and reliability. For FedEx speed and efficiency with consistency creating loyal customers. This speed and efficiency helped FedEx to grow globally within a short time. It also added value to the brand. Innovation: As I discussed in SWOT analysis innovation is creating first mover advantage for the company. FedEx established the FedEx Innovation Labs, an information technology project de

Love, Death and Transformation in Ginger Snaps Essay -- Film Movie Gi

Love, Death and Transformation in Ginger Snaps On the surface, Ginger Snaps can be easily dismissed by critics as a typical B-rated teen-turned-werewolf movie. What distinguishes this movie from other horror films, however, is its subversion of the traditional perspective of its genre. The transformation in the film is suffered by Ginger Fitzgerald, a sixteen-year-old girl. This lycanthropy coincides with Ginger's first menstrual period, making the subject matter metaphorical for the often fearful transition into the sexuality and identity formation of adulthood. Moreover, the relationship between Ginger and her sister Brigitte deteriorates in such a way that is also emblematic of the human psyche's conflicts. As their paths diverge in the film, each sister is confronted with the instincts of love and death or aggression; Eros and Thanatos in Freud's terms. The focus here will be to view these salient themes in Ginger Snaps through the lens of Freudian analysis. More specifically, this paper will analyze the psychical conflict du e to complications of the instinct toward love or aggression, as represented in the metaphorical transition into adolescence and the relationship between the two sisters. The Sisters Ginger and Brigitte Fitzgerald share a close relationship that becomes challenged as the narrative progresses. Ginger, who is a year older, is the more dominant, while Brigitte takes a more subordinate role. Both girls are late bloomers, and in Freudian terms, their outlooks and relationship with one another can be seen as the result of an extension of their latency periods. The girls do not deal well with their transition into adolescence—they recognize the budding sexuality of their peers and are th... ...emale sexuality or the "castration" undertones. Female viewers, on the other hand, could be angered by the characterization of female sexuality as being something monstrous and almost inhuman. This is the kind of response, however, that can bring into a dialogue contemporary society's prevailing notions of sexuality. BIBLIOGRAPHY Class Reader, Glossary. "Freud and the Literary Imagination." Compiled by Professor Richard Gray, 2006. Freud, Sigmund. The Ego and the Id. The Freud Reader. Ed. Peter Gay. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 1989. Freud, Sigmund. Civilization and its Discontents. The Freud Reader. Ed. Peter Gay. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 1989. Ginger Snaps. Dir. John Fawcett. Story: Karen Walton & John Fawcett. Perf. Emily Perkins, Katharine Isabelle. Lions Gate International, 2000. Love, Death and Transformation in Ginger Snaps Essay -- Film Movie Gi Love, Death and Transformation in Ginger Snaps On the surface, Ginger Snaps can be easily dismissed by critics as a typical B-rated teen-turned-werewolf movie. What distinguishes this movie from other horror films, however, is its subversion of the traditional perspective of its genre. The transformation in the film is suffered by Ginger Fitzgerald, a sixteen-year-old girl. This lycanthropy coincides with Ginger's first menstrual period, making the subject matter metaphorical for the often fearful transition into the sexuality and identity formation of adulthood. Moreover, the relationship between Ginger and her sister Brigitte deteriorates in such a way that is also emblematic of the human psyche's conflicts. As their paths diverge in the film, each sister is confronted with the instincts of love and death or aggression; Eros and Thanatos in Freud's terms. The focus here will be to view these salient themes in Ginger Snaps through the lens of Freudian analysis. More specifically, this paper will analyze the psychical conflict du e to complications of the instinct toward love or aggression, as represented in the metaphorical transition into adolescence and the relationship between the two sisters. The Sisters Ginger and Brigitte Fitzgerald share a close relationship that becomes challenged as the narrative progresses. Ginger, who is a year older, is the more dominant, while Brigitte takes a more subordinate role. Both girls are late bloomers, and in Freudian terms, their outlooks and relationship with one another can be seen as the result of an extension of their latency periods. The girls do not deal well with their transition into adolescence—they recognize the budding sexuality of their peers and are th... ...emale sexuality or the "castration" undertones. Female viewers, on the other hand, could be angered by the characterization of female sexuality as being something monstrous and almost inhuman. This is the kind of response, however, that can bring into a dialogue contemporary society's prevailing notions of sexuality. BIBLIOGRAPHY Class Reader, Glossary. "Freud and the Literary Imagination." Compiled by Professor Richard Gray, 2006. Freud, Sigmund. The Ego and the Id. The Freud Reader. Ed. Peter Gay. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 1989. Freud, Sigmund. Civilization and its Discontents. The Freud Reader. Ed. Peter Gay. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 1989. Ginger Snaps. Dir. John Fawcett. Story: Karen Walton & John Fawcett. Perf. Emily Perkins, Katharine Isabelle. Lions Gate International, 2000.

Silent Film Meets the Talkies: A Brief History Essay example -- Film M

Silent Film Meets the Talkies: A Brief History A gambling man, Governor Leland Stanford of California needed visual proof to win a bet he had eagerly placed. Governor Stanford firmly believed that at some point in their stride, horses had all four hooves off the ground at the same time. After hiring a photographer who was to no avail, the Governor brought in John D. Isaacs, the chief engineer for the Southern Pacific Railroad, to have a look at the situation. Isaacs decided to rig up a system of magnetic releases to trigger a series of cameras, twelve total, as the horse ran down the track (Everson, 17). Mounting these images on a rotating disk and projecting them on a screen through a special lantern, they produced a moving picture of the horse at full gallop as it had occurred in real life (Encyclopedia Britannica, 1211). American cinema's next big break came with beginning of World War I. Until this period, the industry had been dominated by France, Italy, and Germany, particularly in the area of feature length presentations and the construction of permanent theaters. However, when the war broke out in Europe, film production abroad nearly ceased due to the overlap of chemicals used in film and the manufacturing of gunpowder (Encyclopedia Britannica, 1213). Simultaneously, American Cinema experienced a period on unprecedented prosperity and growth. By the end of the war, when the Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919, 90 percent of all films screened in Europe, Africa, and Asia were American (Encyclopedia Britannica, 1213). Germany however, was the exception, because it had been cut off from America since 1914. When the Germans did finally reconnect with the world, the United States benefited greatly from their techn... ...me box office hits, regardless of the acting or recording quality. As talkies became more refined and commonplace, silent films started to dwindle. A backlash occurred and these pantomimed movies were labeled as the true art (Geduld, 253). Yet, nothing could be done to slow down the continual development of cinema as sound poured out of studios on a daily basis. In fact, this new cinematic style was so popular, the film industry turned out to be one of the few prosperous enterprises during the Depression (Geduld, 253). Works Cited Ellis, Jack C. A History of Film. eedham Heights, Mass: Allyn and Bacon, 1995. Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britanica Inc.; vol. 24, 15th ed. Chicago, IL: 1995. Everson, William K. American Silent Film. New York: Oxford Univ. Press, 1978. Geduld, Harry M. The Birth of the Talkies. London: Indiana Univ. Press, 1975.

Operations Function Essay

This therefore implies that Operation Management decisions are not made in isolation. Rather, each decision is intertwined with other organizational functions following the strategic direction developed at the top level of the organization. In a nutshell, many of the decisions made by operations managers are dependent on information from the other functions. At the same time, other functions cannot be carried out properly without information from operations as detailed below: 1. Finance: The finance function ties all departments together with monetary measurements that tell whether the company is making money. They also regulate the acquisition of funds to keep the business operations going, and investing money received wisely. Finance managers need to work closely with the operations function to be able to determine the need for capital investments, make-or-buy decisions, plant expansions, or relocation of business operations. On the other hand, operations managers cannot make large financial expenditures without understanding financial constraints and methods of evaluating financial investments. It is essential for these two functions to work together and understand each other’s constraints. . Sales and marketing: The sales and marketing function focuses on maintaining and attracting customers to the company’s products and services. To be able to satisfy customer needs, the marketing function needs to understand what operations can produce, what due dates it can and cannot meet, and what types of customization operations can deliver. The marketing function can develop an ex citing marketing campaign, but if operations cannot produce the desired product, sales will not be made. In turn, operations managers need information about customer wants and expectations. It is the responsibility of the operations function to design products with characteristics that customers find desirable, and they cannot do this without regular coordination with the marketing department. 3. Information and Communications Technology (ICT): ICT is the function that enables information to flow throughout the organization and enables the operations function to operate effectively. The ICT function must understand the needs of operations and endeavour to meet those needs as regards timely provision of required information.

Wikileaks Case Study

Case Facts: †¢WikiLeaks is an international, online, self-proclaimed not-for-profit organisation that publishes submissions of undisclosed and secret information, news leaks, and highly classified media from anonymous sources and whistleblowers. †¢The head of the online organisation, which was founded in 2006, is Australian born, Julian Assange. †¢Its purpose is to provide whistleblowers with a domain to publish their case to the public and preserve their identity (Lennon 2010). †¢Exposes various government and privately owned organisations. First major act of exposure was the publication of Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin's emails by WikiLeaks (DeFraia 2012). †¢Another act of exposure released on its website showed a US military helicopter firing at a group of enemy suspects, which were in fact Iraqi civilians including children (DeFraia 2012). †¢Since the release of this video, WikiLeaks has publicly aired millions of confidential pu blications (WikiLeaks 2012). †¢WikiLeaks publishes war logs from Iraq: 400,000 confidential US documents on the Iraq war from 2004 to 2009 (DeFraia 2012). Interpol put Julian Assange on most-wanted list. Suspected of rape. As a result, Paypal cuts off WikiLeaks from using its services, thus ceasing donations (DeFraia 2012). DECISION MAKER: A decision maker by definition is someone who administers a business (Farlex 2012). In the case of WikiLeaks, according to the definition, this would be Julian Assange as he is the head of the WikiLeaks organisation. Ultimately it is Assange’s decision to release classified information to the general public through his website. ETHICAL ISSUES AND ASSUMPTIONS:The assumption that can be made in this case is that Julian Assange was always aiming to smear the reputation of certain organisations and expose classified information. His WikiLeaks website provided him with the medium to do this as it allowed people wanting to expose classified information to do so as an anonymous source. The controversy surrounding the WikiLeaks case, and discussion by the general public, centres on whether it is ethical to release private and confidential information to society. This is the main issue that the organisations that are being exposed are arguing as it is damaging to their reputation.Another issue is that from the perspective of the organisations that are hiding this confidential information. Should they be ethically bound to release all information that may affect the general public to society? In reality, WikiLeaks is acting unethically by invading people’s privacy in order to expose them, and is it really to the benefit of society? However, they argue that what they do is public disclosure whistleblowing, and they argue that the public has a right to know what its government is doing (Cox 2010). ETHICAL DILEMMA: The ethical dilemma in this case is found to be: To release classified information to the general publicO R Not to release classified information to the general public These two dilemmas have undesirable outcomes for the decision maker and all parties concerned. Releasing the information to the general public will cause continued criticism of WikiLeaks plus create a backlash for the organisations involved. To not release classified information to the general public could see organisations continue to get away with unethical acts. UTILITARIANISM: There are numerous parties who are directly and indirectly affected by both considered actions. These groups are: †¢Julian Assange †¢General public Informants releasing information to WikiLeaks (Whistleblowers) †¢Targeted organisations †¢Employees of targeted companies/organisations †¢WikiLeaks employees From a utilitarian framework point of view all of the above mentioned stakeholders need to be analysed on how the ethical dilemma will affect each of them. There will be positive and negative consequences for each of the parties, be it in the long term or short term. To release classified information to the general public †¢Julian Assange oReceive ongoing criticism and scrutiny from affected parties – short/long term oContinued support from whistleblowers – long term General public oWill continue to be informed about unethical practices by certain companies and organisations – long term oIncreased scepticism of large organisations and governments – long term †¢Whistleblowers oContinued support of WikiLeaks as a medium for publication of classified information – long term oEasy and anonymous alternative to traditional whistleblowing – short term †¢Targeted organisations oLoss of reputation because of the revelation of unethical practices – short/long term oMistrust from the public in the organisation because of unethical practices – short/long term oLoss of productivity – short/long term Employees of targeted organisations oAffected through downturn of productivity, which may result in them being made redundant/sacked – short/long term †¢WikiLeaks employees oRetain employment – long term Not to release classified information to the general public †¢Julian Assange oNo information to release – long term oCease in funding – long term oTermination of WikiLeaks as an organisation †¢General public oWon’t be made aware of unethical practices – long term †¢Whistleblowers oLose the medium to anonymously expose organisations partaking in unethical acts – long term †¢Targeted organisations Confidential information remains classified – long term oMaintain positive productivity – long term oReputation remains intact – long term †¢Employees of targeted organisations oWill maintain employment – long term †¢WikiLeaks employees oWill lose their jobs – long term Recommendation: When applying the utili tarianism framework to the ethical dilemma, the greatest good for the greatest number applies. In this case, the greatest good for the greatest number would be for WikiLeaks to release the classified information to the general public as they are the greatest number.This decision would negatively affect the organisations that are being exposed as well as their employees. Even though employees at these firms may subsequently lose their jobs because of the exposure of confidential information, the general public will be the greater benefactor as they will be made aware of the immoral actions of these organisations and thus be more cautious when it comes to interacting with them. Therefore I recommend the release of information to the general public. KANTIANISM: From a Kantian view point, the decision maker is obligated to act in the best interests of the general public as they are the main stakeholders.From the ethical dilemma, which is either to release classified information to the g eneral public or not to release classified information to the general public, two maxims are developed. In this case they are: To always be honest with the general public Or To never be honest with the general public Applying the Categorical Imperative: To always be honest with the general public The above maxim passes the universalisable test, as every organisation must always be honest with the general public, as then organisations will always be trusted and maintain a high standard of integrity.The maxim, to always be honest with the general public, also passes the Respect for Persons test, as the decision maker is being honest to the public and fulfilling his duty by respecting them as people. This maxim also passes the autonomy of rational beings assessment as it is not restricting their right to freedom of information. This action passes all the Categorical Imperative criteria, thus the maxim is ethical. To never be honest with the general public Again, using the universalisab le test, the second maxim does not pass.If every organisation is dishonest then this will lead to distrust of organisations concerned by the general public. As for the respect for persons test, this maxim also fails. As honesty is a sign of respect, then being dishonest to the general public is not respecting them as human beings. The last Categorical Imperative, autonomy of rational beings, also fails because the intent of the decision maker is to supply honest information to the general public, which in this case he would not do. Overall, this maxim fails in all three Categorical Imperative criteria, thus the action in unethical. Recommendation:From a Kantianism point of view, a maxim must pass all three Categorical Imperative tests in order for it to be declared ethical. In this case, the second maxim failed to pass all three tests and therefore cannot be judged ethical. However, the first maxim, to be honest with the general public, passed all three criteria and therefore can be determined as an ethical course of action for the decision maker. With regard to the case, the recommendation would be for WikiLeaks and Julian Assange to release classified information to the general public. RIGHTS ANALYSIS: The below rights are concerned with this ethical dilemma:Julian Assange †¢The negative right to freedom of speech, which obligates others not to take this right away from him. †¢The negative right to autonomy, which obligates other people to abstain from taking this right away from him. Informants releasing information to WikiLeaks (Whistleblowers) †¢The negative right to freedom of speech, which obligates others not to take this right away. †¢The negative right to autonomy, which obligates other people to abstain from denying this right. Targeted organisations †¢The negative right to confidentiality, which obligates others to refrain from denying them this right. The negative right to make decisions from a business perspective, which obligates others to resist from taking this away from them. †¢The negative right to autonomy, which obligates other people to abstain from denying this right. General public †¢The positive right to freedom of information, which obligates others not to deny them of this right. Clash: Under the rights framework, there is a clash between Julian Assange’s right to freedom of speech and the targeted organisation’s right to confidentiality. Recommendation: Due to the clash, it must be determined which right overrides the other.The targeted organisation’s right to confidentiality is deemed to be more important in the scheme of the situation in relation to Assange’s right to freedom of speech by releasing the information. As the information that the organisations are keeping confidential is often very sensitive, Assange must respect this right of these organisations. Therefore, it is recommended that the decision maker (Assange) not release the informat ion under the rights framework. CONFUCIAN ETHICS: Using this ethical framework, the ethical dilemma must be analysed against the relevant Confucian virtues. Ren:This virtue relates to humaneness with the goal of benefiting a workplace, community, sub-group or any relevant stakeholders. In relation to the case, Julian Assange can be seen to be acting humanely by informing the community of the wrongdoings of the organisations concerned. Yi: This virtue relates to righteousness or justice and involves doing what is ethically just in a certain situation, particularly from a business sense. In relation to the case, Assange is acting as a moral character by considering what is best for the general public and in turn acting justly and rightly by releasing the classified information to the public.Xin: This virtue relates to integrity and faithfulness. In relation to the case, Assange is acting with integrity by exposing wrongdoings to the general public and thus acting in adherence to moral and ethical principles. He is also displaying faithfulness to WikiLeaks followers as he continues to release information even though he is under scrutiny from various areas of society. Recommendation: In examining the case study against the relevant Confucian virtues it can be recommended that it would be appropriate for Julian Assange to release the information to the general public.In following the golden rule, do not do to others what you would not like done to yourself, I would not like important information kept from me. Therefore Assange is acting in accordance with this framework by releasing the information. FINAL RECOMMENDATION: In summary, after analysing the ethical dilemma against the four ethical frameworks, it can be concluded that the morally just course of action for the decision maker, Julian Assange, would be to release classified information to the general public. All four frameworks produced the same outcome through their different processes.From the organisatio ns’ viewpoint, they would like to keep the publications as classified as possible, however it is impossible for them to prevent parties who are aware of the information informing WikiLeaks of the wrongdoings. The act of supplying information to WikiLeaks is becoming increasingly popular because of the anonymous factor and is becoming a more favoured way of whistleblowing as there are no repercussions. A mitigation strategy for this case is not exactly clear cut. It’s hard for WikiLeaks to find an effective strategy that is as impactful and informative to the public.The strategy I have decided on is that Assange can inform the relevant authorities in a private manner if any organisations have demonstrated illegal activities, and only report on specific activities that are illegal. This will mean that the organisations that do have confidential information to protect will remain confidential. This strategy will also mean that the whistleblower will remain anonymous. This is a strategy similar to WikiLeaks, however it will mean that only the illegal actions are exposed and reported to the necessary authorities for them to announce to the general public. REFERENCES:Cox, T 2010, ‘Is WikiLeaks brave or unethical? ’, National Public Radio, 10 November 2010, viewed 21 September 2012. ; http://www. npr. org/2010/11/30/131699467/is-wikileaks-release-brave-or-unethical; DeFraia, D 2012, ‘WikiLeaks Timeline: key moments’, Global Post, 16 August 2012, viewed 21 September 2012. Farlex Inc 2012, Princeton University USA, viewed 22 September 2012. Lennon, R 2010, ‘Case Study of the WikiLeaks Whistleblower’, Dublin City University, viewed 21 September 2012. ; http://www. ruairi. info/ethics. pdf; WikiLeaks 2012, no source recorded, viewed 21 September 2012. ; http://wikileaks. org/;