Women s Rights Of Women - 894 Words

Before the turn of the 20th century, women’s rights were almost non-existent. Throughout the history of the world, women of all cultures have held very few rights and are of slim mention in history. And over a century later, society seems to attack women from a different angle, through objectification in modern advertising. Nearly everywhere imaginable, there are advertisements. They put words and images together to get the attention of consumers. The initial impression from an ad is that the advertisers are just trying to sell their products, but in many cases there seems to be a concealed message. â€Å"Sex sells† is a slogan that many advertisers live by. Therefore, they use unrealistically perfect women and men in their ads. Frequently those beautiful women and men are seen as a reward if you were to buy their product. â€Å"It is hard to believe that in 2013 any company still feels the need to sell their products through images of sex rather than promoting quality , performance and environmental standards†(Reader). The quality and usefulness of a product should be the key point in the advertisement, not an unreasonable incentive of being more attractive. In 2002, a Brazilian jewelry store called Natan Jewelry placed an ad in a magazine. The initial reasoning for the ad is to sell an engagement ring, but the ad hooks a man’s attention in a twisted way. The ad shows two pictures, both are of a woman’s legs. In the first picture, it simply shows a woman sitting down with her legsShow MoreRelatedWomen s Rights Of Women Essay1455 Words   |  6 Pagesa myriad of women have expressed through outlets such as public assemblies, literature, and speeches. There have been three waves of the women’s movement, each targeting a variety of issues within each era. The third wave was in 1995, where Hillary Clinton spoke in Beijing, China, claiming that women’s rights were the same as human rights, that every aspiring girl deserved the civil liberties that every man was given around the world. Moreover, the movement had shifted towards women in developingRead MoreWomen s Rights Of Women1265 Words   |  6 Pagesstands in the way of women being equal to men? Journalist Carlin Flora suggests the following, â€Å"While not all claims to humanity are universal and no one context, culture or continent can truly represent all peoples, the following three examples from very different contexts, cultures and continents show that some violations of women’s human rights are universal. In particular, it is still the case the world over that a woman’s reproductive rights, which impact on her right to life, are still seenRead MoreWomen s Rights Of Women881 Words   |  4 PagesTwenty –first century ladies are discovering it a daunting task to keep up both sexual orientation parts as an aftereffect of the women s activist development. They are presently assuming liability for both the supplier and the nurturer, battling like never before to acquire and keep a superior personal satisfaction. Woman s rights has supported in equivalent vocation opportunity, battling to get ladies acknowledged into the employment advertise, and what initially began as ladies strengtheningRead MoreWomen s Rights Of Women Essay1647 Words   |  7 Pagesthe early 1920’s, women thought they had achieved the unachievable. They could finally work, keep their earned wages, marry whomever they please, and even vote. After reaching their goal and fighting vigorously, women could taste equality and the freedom they deserved. While women still have the right to work in today’s society, women are not exactly treated equal in the workplace. Regardless of the past and the extreme measures taken to ensure equal opportunities for both men and women, there are manyRead MoreWomen s Rights Of Women1590 Words   |  7 Pagesthe 1920s, women were ignored in every aspect of their life. From politics, to social situations, women were constantly looked at as lesser. The 20s was a decade of women ready to fight for their rights. From gaining social freedoms, to getting political rights, the 20s wa s the first decade of feminism. Many women played key roles in the fight for women s rights through speeches, marches, and much more. The women that fought for their rights in the 1920s completely changed how women live their livesRead MoreWomen s Rights Of Women1230 Words   |  5 PagesWomen’s suffrage has stretched from the 1800’s to present day, as women have struggled to have the same civil and constitutional rights as men in politics and be appreciated as equals in the workforce. Groups of women known as suffragists questioned the customary views of women’s roles. Eventually our nation has evolved and realized that male-controlled societies suppress women’s rights. From the beginning steps taken in 1850 to 2013 with women earning combat roles in the military, women’s rolesRead MoreWomen s Rights Of Women1206 Words   |  5 Pagesto speak of women and the role of women in this election, the subject of women is tiresome but necessary in a world where gender is still existent as an obstacle for most. I cannot identify what woman is. I am basing my definition from our modern understanding of woman, our general view, and the popular experience. People are using younger women voting for Bernie Sanders as proof of gender’s irrelevant in this election, that women have achieved their rights. Even if women ‘have rights now’ it doesRead MoreWomen s Rights Of Women1393 Words   |  6 Pages Women all over the world are being treated different than men. Iran is one of the places that women are being treated the worst. From restrictions to punishments, women in Iran are being treated with no respect, and that is not okay. Women’s rights activists have tried to get it to change, and have traveled to many places to try and get more people to join their movement. There are many issues with women not having the same rights as men. One of the main problems is that they are treated lessRead MoreWomen s Rights Of Women1272 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout history, women have fought a strenuous battle for equal rights. Many men, and even some women, all over the world believe that women do not share the same value and importance to society as men do. On September 5, 1995, Hillary Clinton spoke at the 4th World Conference on Women, on behalf of women all over the world. Clinton raised awareness on how women s rights are being violated and why it is important to recognize women s rights as equal to everyone else’s rights. Even today, in 2016Read MoreWomen s Rights Of Women1052 Words   |  5 PagesThe family has traditionally been the basic unit of Chinese society where women have long been charged with upholding society s values in their roles as wives and mothers. Especially in the Qing Dynasty, women were required to balance society s i deals with the reality of raising a family and maintaining a household. Throughout the imperial period and into the beginning of the twentieth century, the relationship among family members was prescribed by Confucian teachings. The revered philosopher

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Naturalism As A Genre Of Naturalism - 1627 Words

Naturalism as a genre depicts commonplace happenings dictated by powers larger than humans, such as nature or society. As Phillip Barrish puts it, â€Å"Literary works †¦ traditionally identified with naturalism depict characters whose lives are controlled or ‘determined’ by immense, impersonal forces that the characters themselves can barely understand, let alone effectively resist† (116). Obviously, not all naturalist literature is created equal; different authors choose to focus on different aspects of the genre. Specifically, this study will be exploring the differences between divergent interpretations of naturalism: the first, a story controlled by the forces of nature, and, the second, a story manipulated by the power of societal structures. First, let’s take a closer look at these two branches of naturalism. The naturalism based in nature involves both the nature of the human body, including things such as hunger and death, and the influences of the natural world itself, such as hurricanes and snowstorms. This varies significantly from the form of naturalism that roots itself in the authorities of society such as the economy and social class limitations. While these two subdivisions of naturalism are perceivably unique from one another, Barrish explains that â€Å"naturalist writers frequently blur together the natural and social orders† (116). That is to say, there is a fine line between the two that is repeatedly smudged by authors. Jack London’s â€Å"To Build a Fire† andShow MoreRelatedNaturalism As A Literary Genre1367 Words   |  6 Pagessignificance of naturalism as a literary genre in American literature. Merriam Webster’s definition of Naturalism is as follows: A theory that art or literature should conform exactly to nature or depict every appearance of the subject that comes to the artist’s attention, specifically a theory in literature emphasizing the role of heredity and environment upon human life and character development. Naturalism went from being a movement in the 19th and 20th century to the literary genre it is today.Read MoreNaturalism : The Great. Who Has Read American Literature1368 Words   |  6 PagesNaturalism the Great Anyone who has read American literature will know of the significance of naturalism as a literary genre in American literature. Merriam Webster’s definition of Naturalism is as follows: A theory that art or literature should conform exactly to nature or depict every appearance of the subject that comes to the artist’s attention, specifically a theory in literature emphasizing the role of heredity and environment upon human life and character development. Naturalism went fromRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Last Exit On Brooklyn By Hubert Selby Jr.1295 Words   |  6 Pagesrough environment, or refusing to face reality and simply go through life inebriated as a way to easily distract themselves from the judgment and disapproval. Classifying this novel to one genre has proved to be a tough task, and two debatable genres to have come up is that of naturalism and moral satire. Naturalism depicts the novel and characters as how they are, which is born into their environment which would make them victims to it due to lacking control of the outcome of their life. Moral SatireRead MoreSimilarities and Differences Btw Realism and Naturalism in the Red Badge of Courage and to Build a Fire1644 Words   |  7 PagesSimilarities and Differences between Naturalism and Realism Both Naturalism and Realism were the genres of literature that appeared after the Civil War in the United States. The Realism and Naturalism first originated in Europe as a response to the Romanticism and Napoleonic War. People suffered from their misfortune and got depressed from the situation on which nothing had left but misery after the war. Likewise, in America, Realism and Naturalism came out in response to the miserable war, the CivilRead MoreEssay about Is Thà ©rà ¨se Raquin a Naturalist Novel?1870 Words   |  8 Pagesdisplay the traits of the genre. Zola may be responsible for many of the conventions that one would associate with Naturalism and so naturally you could extend this logic to argue that his work defines the genre. To the modern reader, Thà ©rà ¨se Raquin appears anything but naturalistic with a dramatic, fast moving plot that boasts murder, adultery and revenge that almost becomes synthetic in places. However, for the sake of this essay, I must decide upon a firm definition for Naturalism, in its correct historicalRead More The Power of The Sea-Wolf Essay982 Words   |  4 Pagesaround the turn of the century. London also brings into play literary naturalism, in which human beings are characterized as just another species in nature, subject to all of Her cosmic forces. The Sea-Wolf fits almost perfectly the archetypal pattern of an initiation story. Depth and interest are added to The Sea-Wolf by successfully integrating these three elements -- the combination of two popular genres, literary naturalism, and the initiation story. One of the characteristics common to mostRead MoreVarious Emerging Literary Genres During the 1900s Essay1191 Words   |  5 Pageseveryday problems all open to the interpretation of a middle-class, predominantly feminine audience. American realists also penetrated beneath the surface to engage with the underlying energies of men, women, and society in the Golden Age† (16). Naturalism in American fiction aimed at a detached, scientific objectivity in the treatment of natural man. It is attune with the philosophy of Determination. It means man is controlled by his instincts or passions, or by his socio-economic environment. AccordingRead MoreLiterary Analysis - the Law of Life Essay1113 Words   |  5 PagesENG 353 September 29, 2011 Literary Analysis Naturalism was a literary movement that took place from the 1880s until the 1940s. It used realism as a mechanism to suggest that social conditions, heredity, and environment had a monumental impact in changing or defining human character. Naturalism exposes the dark areas of life and how they affected people, such as sex, violence, disease, prejudice, abandonment, disease, and even death. Naturalism, in short, is a need to return to the earth. (WilliamsRead MoreKings Gothic Naturalism1677 Words   |  7 Pageswider audience is to present it in a different and less monotonous way. â€Å"[O]ne of the signature traits of Naturalism seems to be the ease with which it combines in hybrids with other forms† (Crow 123). Master of Horror Stephen King illustrates this concept in his novel, The Shining (1977), by intertwining the deterministic elements of Naturalism with Gothic and Horror. Combining these genres may seem to be a marriage of complete opposites, but what lies dormant on its own thrives in the pairingRead MoreEssay Stephen Crane’s â€Å"Maggie: A Girl of the Streets†1289 Words   |  6 Pageswrite about everyday life. After realism came naturalism, a form of writing similar to realism, but with more pessimism. One of the reasons for this pessimism stems from free will and the question of whether people possess it or not. In realism, it is definitely true, while in naturalism it seems less so, but the options are often less than ideal. Because choices do exist for characters, free will is still there, which indicates that natural ism is a derivative form of realism. In Stephen Crane’s

Basketball Is More Than Just A Sport - 1378 Words

Daniel Cooper AP English Mr. Cohen 9-24-14 Senior Project Basketball is more than just a sport Dwayne Wade was born January 17, 1982 in Chicago, Illinois. Most people see Wade as just an NBA star who has a lot of money, but most people don’t know the full story of what he has been through in his life and how he got to the NBA. When Wade was born, his parents separated a short while after and custody was given to his mother. Then because of the crime in Chicago and financial issues Wade had to move with his father. This is where Dwayne Wade began to play basketball and found out that he was really good at it. He was a star on his high school varsity basketball team then moved up to the college and was unable to play for his first two years because of his grades. For these two years that Wade couldn’t play he still practiced with the team and continued to work on and improve his game. In 2003 Wade entered the NBA draft and was selected to play with the Miami Heat where he made himself an All-star and still is an a ll-star today. People who play basketball are affected in many positive ways by it. African-Americans that come from low-income families and dangerous neighborhoods often play basketball. Young African Americans see playing basketball as a ticket to a better life and a cheaper education. Black students receive more athletic scholarships than any other race. In 2008 African Americans received twenty three percent of all athleticShow MoreRelatedSpeech About Basketball759 Words   |  4 PagesJoelle Greif Writing- 3 December 19, 2017 The World of Basketball As I watched the basketball game I could hear the ref blowing his whistle every 10 seconds. I could smell the salty sweat dripping from the players forehead. Basketball is a fun and hard core sport that you can play with your friends, and against your peers. Today you will learn about how basketball is appealing, a both gender sport, good for your health, has great history, and will have a great future. Read MoreMen And Women Should Be Offered The Same Opportunities948 Words   |  4 PagesGENDER AND SPORTS (redo title) Men and women should be offered the same opportunities. Men dominate the sport industry: men participate more in sports, viewers tune in more to men sports, and men playing sports is more acceptable. At a young age, boys tend to be push to participate more in sports or bond with their father over sport. On the other hand, young girls are motivated to dance or cheer- graceful activities and bond with their mothers through shopping or activities geared toward femalesRead MoreOutline Of Figueroa s Framework1621 Words   |  7 Pagesequity, equality in sport and in general physical activity. Figueroa’s framework is constructed over 5 different areas which are all used to investigate ways in which inequities challenge the area of sport and physical activity. All of the levels connect and contribute to shaping the overall joint effect. They show the different functions that reinforce, create, remove and eliminate barriers within a sport. Current status of basketball through PLC The current status of basketball participations throughoutRead MoreHow Basketball Is A Sport Essay1505 Words   |  7 Pagescool is defined is basically something that one cherishes or has passion for as it could vary from playing sports to having a pet rock. Playing basketball is cool because it is a sport for anyone who has passion for the game as each player holds a different position on the court allowing a team to function well. Not only is basketball a sport for anyone, it also acts as a stress relief. Basketball allows individuals to be put in a relaxed state of mind allowing their minds to clear up from the stressRead MoreThe Similarities and Differences Between Professional Football and Basketball847 Words   |  4 PagesThe Similarities and Differences between Professional Football and Basketball Elbert L. Hereford COM/170 - ELEMENTS OF UNIVERSITY COMPOSITION AND COMMUNICATION I 11/27/2012 Daniel Gleason Thesis There are several similarities and differences between basketball and football as sports. The competitive nature of games calls for the society to express itself in these types of physical activity. Both of these activities require a finish goal where one team loses or wins in return giving theRead MoreBasketball Is The Better Sport1133 Words   |  5 PagesBasketball is the better sport! For many years they have been many debates on which sport is the better one. For me basketball is better because of the skill required to play it. While playing basketball you don’t always have to be the biggest guy or girl on the court. Notice I said girl, girls can’t play football but they can play basketball. Football is a very rough sport it’s a contact sport meaning you have to make contact with the ball carrier, when playing basketball you don’t have to worryRead MoreSimilarities Between Soccer And Soccer1155 Words   |  5 PagesBasketball vs Soccer Essay Basketball, a sport that many people enjoy. A sport where two teams face off to see which one is better. A sport that uses their hands to guide a ball towards the hoop. Soccer, a sport that many people also enjoy. A sport where players use their feet to guide a ball towards the net. Two different, but same sports. Although many people might not think of it, there is a lot of similarities and differences between basketball and soccer The first difference that these two sportsRead MoreComparing Basketball And The Basketball Association826 Words   |  4 PagesNBA Basketball is one of the most popular sports played and watched nationwide and global. Shooting, dribbling, crossing someone up, and even dunking has caught the eye of many people around the world. Many basketball players start at young age playing at a local recreation or YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) to build their skills and IQ of the game. This sport also consists of two genders: male and female. One of the top associations in American sports today is The National Basketball AssociationRead MoreBasketball Essay1317 Words   |  6 PagesSince its conception in 1891, the sport of basketball has always been a catalyst for excitement that never ceases to amuse its viewers. It not only excites those participating in the sport, but also manages to innervate those who watch from the comfort of their couch. This surge in energy continues to persuade even the most indolent individuals to join in a friendly game of basketball every once in awhile. Basketball has long be en praised as an elegant sport because of its focus on accuracy, precisionRead MoreSpeech On The Game Of Basketball1118 Words   |  5 PagesII. Specific Purpose: To inform the class on how to shoot a basketball. III. Central Idea: The game of basketball has greatly changed since it was invented, but one thing remains constant: You need to know how to shoot a basketball. Introduction I. Open with Impact: The game of basketball is a multimillion-dollar industry and is an easy sport to play. The sport has gained worldwide popularity because it can be played competitively or just for fun. II. Thesis: The original concept of the game is surprisingly

Music Should Be Free Essay Example For Students

Music Should Be Free Essay In a similar case, Danger Mouse mixed the vocal from Jay-Gs The Black Album and the beats from the Battles The White Album to create The Grey Album. As a result, the original artists sued Danger Mouse and all of Grey Album was forfeited. Some people think using other peoples music to create new works is unacceptable because it is an individually owned creation. If anyone should use it for making profit, it should go to the original artist. It is argued that art should always be original, and if artists plagiarism others works, it destroys the original work. We will write a custom essay on Music Should Be Free specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now But I believe that artistic borrowing should be acceptable when artists use it to create something new. It can be considered as a way to modernize old works. Some people argue that art should be individually owned and considered as a product for making money, but I believe that art should be created for arts sake. People become greedier and greedier each day. Hundreds of years ago, famous musicians such Schubert and Mozart died in poverty even though they created huge amount of now world-famous art. They would rather keep their works for themselves to enjoy than ailing them for money. For example, Beethoven only wrote one opera in his entire musical life, but he edited it several times. If he did not take his work seriously and only wanted to show people his most perfect work of his, he would have created more operas. In modern times, Negatively said, Culture is more than commerce. It may actually have something to say about commerce. It may even use example of commerce to comment upon it (149). An Album is a physical production of peoples idea or culture, but nobody can own an idea or culture. If people believe art is made or profit, it will always be a production for money. However, we should respect the musicians and their spirit that creating art is solely for arts sake. Artistic borrowing is acceptable only when it is not used for profit making. They do earn money from selling album, but it does not mean they can always earn revenue from the music. Their purpose can be very simple, which is showing people their work and sharing their creativity. Some may consider artists borrowing as an act of stealing, but I would say that people have already begun borrowing other artists works at long time ago. Just like an inventory, music is the creation and the belonging of the inventor. If people create a similar music without permission, they will be considered as thieves. However, the history of artistic borrowing tells us that the thought that borrowing equals stealing is wrong. For example, in the 19th century? the Romantic Era of music? Burlier wrote a theme called id ©e fixed (fixed idea), which is dedicated to his wife, Harriet by Beethovens #9 symphony. Similarly, Chopin converted all of Beethovens symphonies into piano music. But Beethovens descendants never sued Burlier and Chopin because they used Beethovens idea and melody without his permission. We should inherit our ancestors social aspect about the artistic borrowing and accept it. Some people believe that artistic borrowing is unacceptable because art should always be original and unique, but I believe that artists borrowing and reframing music can create completely original music, and it still is a creation of something new. It is true that borrowing others existing product to contribute to ones own work might save time, and that it may also implies that the artists who borrow existing arts re lazy. But they still do spend time on combining their idea with others to create a new style. For instance, Danger Mouse deconstructed the records, The White Album and The Black Album, and he went through every pitch that instrument made because he wanted to change the music to his own style (Par. 19). Also, Burton did not make money off his Grey Album, but lost thousands of dollars because he was unable to work while creating the Grey Album (Par. 28). Additionally, Negatively occupies itself with re-conceptualizing captured fragments to create something entirely new Negativisms First Press Release 150). Just because those artists borrowed some part of others creations does not mean that their arts should be unacceptable to the public. They are still willing to devote time and effort on the work Just to show people their new creation. Some people criticize that the act of artistic borrowing could destroy the original work, but I think it can be a way to modernize old work. Sometimes, borro wing music can cause a negative impact to the audience, but it does not mean that the borrowing of music destroys the original music. .u8cc9288999f0db6b410f576c5365553e , .u8cc9288999f0db6b410f576c5365553e .postImageUrl , .u8cc9288999f0db6b410f576c5365553e .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u8cc9288999f0db6b410f576c5365553e , .u8cc9288999f0db6b410f576c5365553e:hover , .u8cc9288999f0db6b410f576c5365553e:visited , .u8cc9288999f0db6b410f576c5365553e:active { border:0!important; } .u8cc9288999f0db6b410f576c5365553e .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u8cc9288999f0db6b410f576c5365553e { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u8cc9288999f0db6b410f576c5365553e:active , .u8cc9288999f0db6b410f576c5365553e:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u8cc9288999f0db6b410f576c5365553e .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u8cc9288999f0db6b410f576c5365553e .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u8cc9288999f0db6b410f576c5365553e .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u8cc9288999f0db6b410f576c5365553e .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u8cc9288999f0db6b410f576c5365553e:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u8cc9288999f0db6b410f576c5365553e .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u8cc9288999f0db6b410f576c5365553e .u8cc9288999f0db6b410f576c5365553e-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u8cc9288999f0db6b410f576c5365553e:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Importance of Music in George Orwells EssayFor example, the music Negatively borrowed included some curses and rude language (Siss Double Trouble 139). 1. 12 did not use this kind of negative language/material before, but it does not mean this kind of music should be prohibited. Modern people might enjoy listening to this style of music because it expresses and agrees with what they think of their currently unsatisfied situations. Similarly, a Chinese band, S. H. E, used the same melody of Mozart Symphony #asss first movement, and then changed the symphony into a vocal song. Before, the Symphony #40 only can be played by the instrument, but now it can also be sung thanks to the band. Therefore, artistic borrowing is acceptable because it can reformat the old works to be more flexible as well as helping reminding the younger generation of the old, classical music. We should accept the behavior of artistic borrowing. The music market or the record companies should not focus so much on how the music can make profit. It is meaningless to let music always be original. And there is hardly any ways for original music to be ruined.

Sociology - Caribbean Families free essay sample

There are various types of Caribbean family forms. The emergence of the different family types was largely due to historical influences that shape Caribbean civilization; such as racial diversity, ethnicity, social class, African cultural retention, legacy of Plantation slavery, and culture of poverty (Herskovits, Lewis, Clarke, Smith). Caribbean society has grown into an international mixture of different races and ethnic groups that construct their reality in the Caribbean. This mixture has resulted in a unique social system which can be describes as plural, polarized, politicized, problematic, but still some what plantation society. Smith (1962a: 244) states the most important for an understanding of the functioning of these systems being (1) a mating system characterized by marriage and consensual unions, and (2) households headed by persons of either sex. Each of these attributes, which are characterized by two dimensions, can differ quantitatively from community to community. For example, in some communities the percentage of consensual unions is high, in other communities it is low; or, to select the other attribute, the percentage of female household heads is high in some communities and low in others. We will write a custom essay sample on Sociology Caribbean Families or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Theorists such as Melville Herskovits (1958) credit African cultural retention and some of the social institutions and social dynamics of the African societies for certain types of Caribbean family forms. He noted that: It goes without saying that the plantation system rendered the survival of African family types impossible, as it did their underlying moral and supernatural sanctions, except in dilute forms. Only where negroes escaped soon after the beginning of their enslavement, and retained their freedom for sufficiently long periods, could institutions of larger scope such as the extended family or the clan persist at all; and even in these situations the mere break-up in personnel made it unlikely that some manifestation of European influence should not be felt†¦Yet, on the other hand, slavery by no means completely suppressed rough approximations of certain forms of African family life. Even in the United States, where Africanisms persisted with greatest difficulty, such family organization as existed during slave times in terms of the relationship between parents and children, and between parents themselves, did not lack African sanctions†¦. Certain obligations of parents to children operative in Africa no less than the European scene, were carried over with all the drives of their emotional content intact. (p. 139) African cultural retention, as put forward by Herskovits, though modified could be seen in Caribbean family forms. For example, â€Å"the African custom of polygamy was transformed into „progressive monogamy? , that is multiple successive relationships instead of simultaneous unions. This argument was rebuffed by Franklin Frazier who stated that African culture was destroyed upon arrival on plantations. For him the family structures that emerged were a result of their life on the plantations and their inability to accurately imitate their slave owners. Frazier goes on to show that the polygamy that was practiced in African society was institutionalized. The father in each polygamous unit was committed to all his wives and children and they generally lived in the same location. This is different from the family unit based on visiting union in which the fathers were very marginal to each family unit, and the units were sometimes spread over wide geographical areas.

Legalizing Marijuana Essay Example For Students

Legalizing Marijuana Essay To the AIDS or cancer patient, it is the plant that fights nausea and appetite loss. To the nutritionist, its seed is second only to the soybean in nutritional value, and is a source of cooking oil and vitamins. To the paper or cloth manufacturer, it is the plant that provided much of our paper and clothing for hundreds of years and produces four times more fiber per acre than trees. To the environmentalist, it is the plant that could greatly slow deforestation, restore robbed nutrients by other crops, and help prevent erosion. And according to Lonnelle Aikman, Preliminary indings show the drug may prove effective against glaucoma and asthma, and control such side nausea in cancer treatment (158). Unfortunately, to most people in this country, it is a useless plant when it comes to economic or medical value. Marijuana should be legalized in the United States. In technical terms, hemp, cannabis, or for the average American, marijuana, it is used only for recre! ational purposes. I think marijuana is a plant that could save the world. In this paper I hope to reverse prejudices, relieve ignorance, and inform people of the known and potential therapeutic uses of this remarkable plant. As of today the nation stands behind three basic ideas of what to do with marijuana; legalize marijuana, make it legal only as a prescription drug, or keep it as it is, illegal. People who are pro-marijuana, argue that marijuana is considerably less harmful than tobacco and alcohol, the most frequently used legal drugs. Furthermore marijuana has never directly caused anyones death. People who side with the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes believe that the ends justify the means. But the people who want to keep it illegal think that the medical uses do not outweigh the harmful side effects. Before deciding whether marijuana should be legal or illegal, one needs to know some basic facts. Lester Grinspoon, M. D. and James B. Bakalar note most botanists agree that there are three species of marijuana; Cannabis sativa, the most widespread of the three, is tall, gangly, and loosely branched, growing as high as twenty feet; Cannabis indica is shorter, about three or four feet in height, pyramidal in shape and densely branched; Cannabis ruderalis is about two feet high with few or no branches (1). They also say that Cannabis has become one of the most widespread nd diversified of plants. It grows as weed and cultivated plant all over the world in a variety of climates and soils (1). Marijuana was first cultivated in China around 4000 B. C. It was mainly used as a sedative and analgesic, but today it is commonly used for the high or the euphoric feeling it causes. The most active ingredient in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannibinal commonly referred to a! s THC, which wasnt discovered until the 1960s. Marijuana is illegal today because of the Marijuana Stamp Tax Act passed in 1937. This act prohibited the use, sale, and growing of marijuana. It was made illegal because no one understood why smoking marijuana made people feel the way they did, and because it was associated with Indians and other so called immoral people. Today marijuana is illegal because research has shown some intoxicating effects. Such as hallucination, anxiety, depression, extreme variability of mood, paranoia and schizophrenia lasting up to six hours. Raphael Mechoulam says, Although cannabis causes initial restlessness, excitement, and sometimes boisterous, impulsive behavior, pacing and dancing, the main picture is of reduced physical activity apart from speech (316). Physical effects include reddening of the eyes, dryness of the mouth and throat, a moderate increase in heart rate, tightness in the chest, drowsiness, unsteadiness, and uncoordinated muscular contractions. Marijuana buffers ! the central nervous system, but is not known to produce a considerable amount of tar in the lungs. .u98b592d8cd1e8aa419f039a4e66cdf2e , .u98b592d8cd1e8aa419f039a4e66cdf2e .postImageUrl , .u98b592d8cd1e8aa419f039a4e66cdf2e .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u98b592d8cd1e8aa419f039a4e66cdf2e , .u98b592d8cd1e8aa419f039a4e66cdf2e:hover , .u98b592d8cd1e8aa419f039a4e66cdf2e:visited , .u98b592d8cd1e8aa419f039a4e66cdf2e:active { border:0!important; } .u98b592d8cd1e8aa419f039a4e66cdf2e .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u98b592d8cd1e8aa419f039a4e66cdf2e { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u98b592d8cd1e8aa419f039a4e66cdf2e:active , .u98b592d8cd1e8aa419f039a4e66cdf2e:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u98b592d8cd1e8aa419f039a4e66cdf2e .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u98b592d8cd1e8aa419f039a4e66cdf2e .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u98b592d8cd1e8aa419f039a4e66cdf2e .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u98b592d8cd1e8aa419f039a4e66cdf2e .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u98b592d8cd1e8aa419f039a4e66cdf2e:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u98b592d8cd1e8aa419f039a4e66cdf2e .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u98b592d8cd1e8aa419f039a4e66cdf2e .u98b592d8cd1e8aa419f039a4e66cdf2e-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u98b592d8cd1e8aa419f039a4e66cdf2e:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: FOREIGN TRADE POLICY AND THE IMPACT ON AGGREGATE E EssayAlthough marijuana has not been proven to be physically addictive, its use can be psychologically addictive. These are the negative effects of marijuana, and the primary reasons why domestic people, doctors, and politicians want to keep marijuana illegal. Supporters of legalizing marijuana state that some legal drugs are just as bad. For example, alcohol has many of the same side effects of marijuana. Alcohol buffers the central nervous system and is known to kill brain cells. A joint of marijuana is known to produce more tar than a cigarette, but on the average marijuana users do not consume enough marijuana to surpass the tar build up of a person who smokes a pack of cigarettes a day. June Crown and W. D. M. Paton state that Further, one should realize that different cannabis smokers select different levels of ntoxication (18). In addition, both alcohol and cigarettes have been proven to be chemically addictive and yet they are legal. As of late 1990, there were about twelve people who had permission to smoke marijuana for its medical value. Are these the only people who can benefit from marijuana? Not according to Harvard researchers who surveyed 2,430 oncologists; of the 1,035 who responded nearly 50% said that they had suggested smoking marijuana to at least one of their patients, despite the fact that it is illegal, and that they would prescribe marijuana if it were legalized. When Kenny and Barbara Jenks, of Panama City, Florida, developed AIDS, the only thing that made them hungry and decreased their nausea were several hits of marijuana each day. Neither of them had ever been marijuana smokers before, but everything their doctor prescribed for them failed. In March of 1990, twelve police officers put a battering ram through the door of their mobile home, took their two 10-inch marijuana plants, and arrested the couple. The Jenks retaliated, and nine months later became two of a handful of legal marijuana smokers in the United States. For the last ten years the government has sparingly dispensed marijuana to a minute portion of the population to receive it legally on an experimental basis for the treatment of glaucoma and nausea related to cancer chemotherapy. At the peak of the Drug Wars in the late 1980s the Department of Health and Human Services began receiving dozens of applications from AIDS patients, for whom marijuanas hunger inducing effects was the only thing that separated them from life and death. As they lost weight and strength, they found it more and more difficult to sustain the will to live. Instead of seeing the demand, Health and Human Services quickly shut down the program this past year, only allowing the select group already benefiting from marijuana to continue. Helping people in need wasnt worth endangering the reputation of the War on Drugs. They thought that the use of marijuana, even as a medicine would send the wrong message to people. Although there is much talk about the legalization of drugs among the state government there is very little talk about it on the national level. Instead of legalizing it the government has tried to come up with alternatives to marijuana se. They now offer a drug called Marinol, a spherical brown pill containing an artificial version of one of marijuanas working ingredients. Marinol is produced solely by Unimed Inc. in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. The pill sells for about five dollars a tablet, and was sanctioned in 1985 to battle the nausea associated with cancer chemotherapy. In the book, Marijuana, the Forbidden Medicine, it states that retching (dry heaves) may last for hours or even days after each treatment, followed by days and even weeks of nausea. Patients may break bones or rupture the esophagus while vomiting. Furthermore, many patients eat almost nothing because they cannot stand the sight or smell of food (25). .u283cc4a4042fc634e60602f0207e0d79 , .u283cc4a4042fc634e60602f0207e0d79 .postImageUrl , .u283cc4a4042fc634e60602f0207e0d79 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u283cc4a4042fc634e60602f0207e0d79 , .u283cc4a4042fc634e60602f0207e0d79:hover , .u283cc4a4042fc634e60602f0207e0d79:visited , .u283cc4a4042fc634e60602f0207e0d79:active { border:0!important; } .u283cc4a4042fc634e60602f0207e0d79 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u283cc4a4042fc634e60602f0207e0d79 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u283cc4a4042fc634e60602f0207e0d79:active , .u283cc4a4042fc634e60602f0207e0d79:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u283cc4a4042fc634e60602f0207e0d79 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u283cc4a4042fc634e60602f0207e0d79 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u283cc4a4042fc634e60602f0207e0d79 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u283cc4a4042fc634e60602f0207e0d79 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u283cc4a4042fc634e60602f0207e0d79:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u283cc4a4042fc634e60602f0207e0d79 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u283cc4a4042fc634e60602f0207e0d79 .u283cc4a4042fc634e60602f0207e0d79-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u283cc4a4042fc634e60602f0207e0d79:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Hardships of Southern Sharecropping EssayIn the past year the FDA approved it as a h! unger stimulant for AIDS patients suffering from the enormous weight loss of this wasting away syndrome. Some patients lose up to thirty pounds in a single month. Marinol works because it duplicates delta-9-tetrahydrocannibinol (THC), the chemical in marijuana that gives people a high. But, due to the fact that a person is taking the dosage of the THC in one concentrated amount, and not at intervals like smoking marijuana, it hits a person like a brick. Besides, it may not even contain the medicine that suffering people need and want. Since there was a sudden need for a marijuana substitute, THC was the most researched, so synthetic THC is what was approved by the FDA. In contrast, patients do not want to get high necessarily, they just want relief. When people hear the phrase, legalization of marijuana, they only think of the people smoking it for a high, not for using it as a medicine. People should not smoke marijuana for recreational purposes, rather for the medical value. It should be used by those people whose last alternative for relief is marijuana. These people who are ill should not be punished by suffering. Prescription drugs are not to be taken unless prescribed by a doctor. So in fact, we are not legalizing a drug, only introducing a new weapon for fighting illnesses. I hope to have alleviated some of the hostilities towards marijuana. Its uses go far beyond just getting high. It can be used to make paper, therefore saving many trees, clothes, and most importantly for medicine. Although I do not condone smoking marijuana as a recreational drug, I feel that its positive aspects would greatly assist us in the present as well as the future.

Historical Context of Writings free essay sample

A look at some writings in their historical contexts by Bernal Diaz, John Locke, Karl Marx/ Friedrich Engels, and Jules Verne. Writers such as Bernal Diaz, John Locke, Karl Marx/ Friedrich Engels, and Jules Verne wrote about some of the most important themes in world history such as colonialism, absolutism and industrial capitalism. This paper examines how their particular historical context (the 16th century, 17th century, and 19th century) influenced their ideas and how the historical context has changed over time. While doing so, the writers focuses largely on a single work of each of the above-mentioned writers, i.e., The Conquest of New Spain by Bernal Diaz; The Second Treatise of Government by John Locke; The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx Friedrich Engels; and Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne. Bernal Diaz del Castillo was a Spanish conquistador, chronicler and historian who sailed to the Americas and fought many battles under different Spanish adventurers including Hernan Cortes, the conqueror of Mexico. We will write a custom essay sample on Historical Context of Writings or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page As a reward for his services Diaz was made the governor of a Guatemalan town where he took up residence until he died. In order to repudiate an over glorified account of Cortes conquests written by his secretary Gomara (who had not even been to America), Diaz wrote The True History of the Conquest of New Spain when he was an old man of almost eighty. Although lacking a sophisticated literary style, the work is recognized as an important eyewitness account of the Spanish conquests in the Americas, and the subjugation of the native people by the Spanish colonists.

Fundamental Concepts of Industrial and Organizational Psychology free essay sample

Fundamental Concepts of Industrial and Organizational Psychology Jessica Lindsay University of Phoenix PSY 435 Facilitator: Gary Mayhew, Ed. D. July 26, 2011 Fundamental Concepts of Industrial and Organizational Psychology Industrial and Organizational (I/O) psychology is a field of psychology that â€Å"involves the scientific study of the human side of organizations and includes the application of the principles and findings of the research† (Spector, 2008, p. 4). This field consists of research psychologists, who conduct the research, and practicing psychologist, who apply the results of the research to various situations. This field started by adopting various disciplines from other fields of psychology, making it different from all of them, which is examined throughout this paper. The evolution of I/O psychology and its uses as well as the role of research and statistics will also be examined throughout this paper. Evolution of Industrial and Organizational Psychology Industrial and Organizational (I/O) psychology began about the same time the field of psychology as a science became established. We will write a custom essay sample on Fundamental Concepts of Industrial and Organizational Psychology or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Originally this field was known as industrial psychology, but when human relations became an issue within large organizations the organizational part developed. Experimental scientists were the first members of this field because they shown an interest in learning how to utilize the principles of psychology to solve problems throughout various organizations. Hugo M? unsterberg and Walter Dill Scott are known as the founders of I/O psychology (Spector, 2008). Engineering also played a role in the developmental and implementation of I/O psychology. Robert Yerkes convinced the Army during World War I to begin using I/O psychologists to help place soldiers in positions best suitable for their mental capabilities because of Robert Yerkes (Spector, 2008). I/O psychologists began to be hired throughout private organizations to help with employees and productivity problems. World War II however began the utilization between both industrial and organization, whereas psychologists not only helped with recruiting placements, but also within the training, team development, performance appraisal, and many other applications (Spector, 2008). One of the major events that occurred that shaped the field I/O psychology was the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This act changed the way that employers could both hire and treat their employees, which gave I/O psychology the chance to change employment procedures. As the United States gave rights to women, and minorities, employment procedures changed again, leaving I/O psychologists changing employment procedures again. Difference between Disciplines I/O psychology adopted many of its theories, concepts, techniques, and ideas from other disciplines (Spector, 2008). Most disciplines deal with the study and treatment of human behaviors, whereas I/O psychology concentrates on developing and applying scientific measures to the workplace. Clinical psychologists focus on a person’s emotional or personal problems whereas I/O psychologists do not, and they work with a variety of people at one time, whereas many other psychologists work with one person at a time. Cognitive psychologists focus on a person’s thought process, whereas I/O psychologists do not. Developmental psychologists focus on a person’s growth and development throughout his or her life, whereas I/O psychologists focus on enhancing workplace performance through the use of psychological research. Uses of Industrial/Organizational Psychology One use of I/O psychology is making various organizations function more effectively. I/O psychologists study work behaviors and collect research to implement new ways to become more productive. They also use the principles of psychology to help them solve stress in the workplace as well as increase job performance. Large organizations will hire I/O psychologists because of the large number of people who are employed by the organization, which can help the relationship between the employers and the employees. Colleges and universities, also hire research I/O psychologists, which many of them are professors, and their major activities include: research, teaching, writing research papers, and publishing articles within scientific journals, and mentoring students (Spector, 2008). The practice I/O psychologists also teach, and research material, but mostly apply the data discovered to solve roblems. Some of their activities include: job analysis, conduct employee surveys of feelings, conduct analysis to determine solutions to problems, design training programs, implement organizational changes, and develop psychological tests (Spector, 2008). The Role of Research and Statistics The research obtained by I/O psychologists help them to develop various training techniques that work, and develop new hiri ng procedures. Many of the experiments conducted help to understand how programs work and if those programs will be work on a scientific level. The hypothesis that these psychologists develop help them determine where to start their research. The various independent and dependent variables involved with the various problems that these psychologists come across help determine the cause of problems, and what needs to be adjusted. The research can be compiled in two types of setting, the field and a laboratory. The I/O psychologists use both settings to help understand and fix the problems that occur within various organizations. Descriptive and inferential statistics are used to summarize and interpret the results of the research. Most studies carried out by I/O psychologists require statistical methods for the data analysis† (Spector, 2008, p. 39). The statistical information discovered can tell psychologists the various correlations between variables and whether the correlation is positive or negative. This type of information is needed to develop proper procedures in the workplace. The mathematical techniques applied to solving the problems in the workplace are needed to solve those problems in a scientific manner. Conclusion Although I/O psychology adopted many aspects of its field from other disciplines it is very different from all disciplines. I/O psychology places a high standard on research and practices. The problems that are solved use scientific measures to ensure the validity and to make sure that programs will succeed. Research and statistics are also play a vital role within the field if I/O psychology. Many uses of I/O psychology have been established and many I/O psychologists are utilized in many places. Organizations depend on the work of these psychologists to make the employees happy and make the organization run smoothly. I/O psychology has evolved over the years, coming from just industrial psychology into industrial and organizational psychology. Many organizations would be at an enormous disadvantage if this field of psychology was not established. As the world and society change I/O psychology will be there to change the way organizations and such are run. Reference Spector, P. E. (2008). Industrial and organizational psychology: Research and practice (University of Phoenix Custom Edition e-text. ). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Retrieved July 22, 2011, from University of Phoenix, PSY 435 Industrial/Organizational Psychology Course Web site.

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Tata Steel Case Study Analysis Essays

Tata Steel Case Study Analysis Essays Tata Steel Case Study Analysis Paper Tata Steel Case Study Analysis Paper Introduction The Tata Group is a very large group of businesses that dominate markets in India. The organization has established itself as a leader in markets such as the airline industry, hotel, software, investment, and steel industry. There is a long history of corporate responsibility within the group, and it is no surprise that all Tata companies have adopted a Tata Code of Conduct as well as many international standards. Tata Steel is one of twenty-eight major corporations within the Tata Group. Founded in 1907, it is the largest private sector steel company in India. Operations are spread across the country, with the steel manufacturing unit at Jamshedpur, and other manufacturing and mining activities situated in the states of Jarkhand and Orissa at eight locations. The Tata Group headquarters is based in Mumbai, Maharastra. This paper provides an overview and analysis of the accounting problems that Tata Steel is faced with after acquiring a foreign company. Company Profile Tata Steel, incorporated in 1907 by Shri Dorabji Tata, is Indias largest private sector steel company belonging to the Tata Group. The company manufactures finished steel, both long and flat products like hot and cold rolled coils and sheets, galvanized sheets, tubes, wire rods, construction re-bars, rings and bearings. The company markets its products in brands like Tata Steelium, Tata Tiscon, Tata Pipes, etc. The company is among the lowest cost producers of steel in the world. Its main plant is located in Jamshedpur, having a manufacturing capacity of 5 MTPA (million tonne per annum) while its processing units, captive iron ore and coal mines are located in the states of Orissa, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Gujarat and West Bengal. With its head office located in Mumbai, the company functions through a network consisting of trading arms and operation and projects sites spread across countries in the continents of Asia, Europe and America. Apart from Steel there are six Strategic Business Units or divisions for Bearings, Ferro Alloys and Minerals, Rings and Agrico, Tata Growth Shop, Tubes, and Wires. It operates in more than 20 countries and has a commercial presence in over 50. In the past few years, Tata Steel has invested in Corus (UK), Millennium Steel (renamed Tata Steel Thailand) and NatSteel Asia (Singapore). With these, the company has created a manufacturing and marketing network in Europe, South East Asia and the Pacific-rim countries Problem Tata Steel Faces Tata Steel is faced with a very serious, and somewhat complex, problem. The company has global ambitions. By that I mean the company wants to establish itself as a power and contender in the global marketplace. Tata Group acquired UK based Corus Group, a well established steel company in its own right, by way of a $12. 1 billion deal. The deal was partly funded with a $6. billion dollar loan that was primarily denominated in Euros. The currency in which the Corus Group earned most of its revenues was Euros. It made sense for the Tata Group to fund the deal in Euros in order to avoid exposing the debt to currency risk. The problems that the Tata Group would face due to this deal brought about an issue that the organization really did not have much experience in dealing with. Because of the currency denomination issues with this dea l, the Tata Steel would have a liability of over $600 million on its financial books. Although, the reality of the situation is that Tata Steel has a sound and balanced financial structure and accounting practices. Because of international accounting laws that India and the Tata Group have adopted, on the books it looks as if Tata Steel is carry more liabilities or debts than it really is. This is significant because an investor or shareholder would look at the company’s financials and think that the organization is not as financially stable as it really is. Tata Steel used Indian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (IGAAP) to prepare their financial statements. IGAAP merged with the global accounting system known as the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The problem with this is that by IFRS standards the merger, or natural hedge, was not recognized. IGAAP and IFRS both mandated that foreign currency loans be denominated in the borrowing company’s home currency for accounting purposes. This created a reporting problem for Tata Steel when in reality there was no financial problem with the deal. SWOT Analysis of Tata Steel Strengths Global position in steel industry Tata Steel is one of the most prosperous and profitable steel companies in the world. The acquisition of Corus and other global steel companies have bolstered Tata’s position in the marketplace and made it one of the top steel companies in the world. Corporate governance Tata Steel has had a very good record for corporate governance. It has set the benchmark in global corporate governance principles of accountability, transparency, and equity for others to follow. Tata Steel has been consistently receiving prestigious awards at both the national and the international arena. The company was awarded the Best Governed Company Award in 2006 for corporate practices presented by Asian Centre for Corporate Governance. Brand value The Tata Steel brand, owing to its highly ethical and a socialistic approach to business, has made its name synonymous to trust. The acquisition of Corus made Tata Steel an even more reputable and powerful company. Tats Steel was a well known brand even before the acquisition of Corus. The addition of Corus makes Tata Steel one of the most well known and productive companies in the world. Innovation of Tata Steel Tata Steel has the lowest operating cost for steel manufacture in the world. Further it has displayed effective means in adopting an eco-friendly and sustainable approach towards the manufacture of steel thus proactive measures are undertaken to ensure the employees health and productivity through ergonomically designed work stations and by protecting them from occupational hazards. Adaptability to the fast changing global business environment Tata Steel has displayed immense agility in the recent past during the global financial crisis. Its virtuosos of various fields have adopted various methods like lowering production and even shutting down steel plants due to the lack of demand, managing the balance sheet efficiently etc. The company has 70% of its procurement of raw materials for its operations in Asia through long term contracts and so its margins can be shielded from the nuances of the volatility of the financial markets. Management Team Tata Steel has a highly credible management team who has displayed their skills in expanding the company through various innovative methods. The company has successfully acquired Nat Steel of Indonesia, Millennium Steel of Thailand and more importantly UK based Corus. The company’s virtuosos of finance have been able to find innovative ways to tackle the company’s debt and keep the bottom line in the green zone despite lower demand and a lot of accumulated debt. Weaknesses Debt burden Tata Steel has a total debt of $9. 8 billion USD on its books, much of it from the Corus acquisition. The company plans to refinance $6. 5 billion of its long term debt. It has an unfavorable debt to equity ratio which means the assets of the company are largely financed through debt. With the steady increase in inflation most countries are beginning to tighten credit and liquidity in the money markets. As a result of inflation increases, interest rates are on the rise as well. An increase in interest rates means an increase in the company’s liabilities. This will further add to the degradation of Tata Steel’s balance sheet. Conservative accounting practices India has very conservative accounting standards. The system works within the country but lacks flexibility and adaptability when it comes to reporting differences in currency. Because the Tata Group has global aspirations, the company must deal in various currencies when doing business with global companies. The problem lies in the rules governing the accounting practices within India. All foreign currencies must be converted to the home countries currency when reporting on financial statements. Technology Many steel companies have implemented different technologies into their plants to make production and productivity more efficient. There is a new fluorescent x-ray technology that some companies have adopted. Tata Steel is lacking in this area. Tata Steel has failed to adopt new technology to lower cost, improve production, and improve employee safety standards. Procurement philosophy of its subsidiaries The largest subsidiary of Tata Steel, Corus, has high exposure to spot prices and a higher operational gearing among the larger European steel companies. Hence it has the risk of volatility associated with pricing, one of the key elements in determining profitability of a commodity company. Opportunities Competitive position Tata Steel is the second largest producer of steel in India and the sixth largest producer in the world. Over the years Tata Steel has been acquiring various steel companies around the world, the latest being Corus. There is a lot of room for Tata to grow and further establish itself as a perennial power in the global marketplace. Technological advances Tata Steel has shown immense integration abilities in the past. With the acquisition of Corus it has been able to integrate the high end technological knowledge into its production facilities. The company has also been able to produce high quality steel at lower prices and significantly improve its operating margins. Infrastructure opportunities India has geared up for rapid expansion in the field of infrastructure. The Government of India (GOI) has earmarked Rs. 1, 70,000 crore for infrastructural spending for the fiscal year 2010- 2011 and the trend is set to escalate up to the fiscal year 2025 when India is slated to become the third largest economy in the world. Further many private players either independently or by undergoing public private partnerships (PPP) has also come into the fray. The consumption of steel has been steadily increasing with the rapid investment in the infrastructure and real estate projects. The annual steel production of India has touched 200MT and according to governments steel policy is expected to touch around 250 MT by 2013-2014. The demand for Indian made steel is escalating overseas out of the 200 MT of steel currently produced in India around 50% of it is exported. In the first six months of the fiscal year 2009-2010 the Indian steel export almost doubled to 9. 3MT from 4. MT in the same period the previous fiscal year. The country’s iron ore exports during April-October 2009 period grew 20 per cent over the year ago period to 53 million tons. Accounting practices India’s accounting regulations does a disservice to many of the companies who operate globally. Because of the reporting regulations, Tata Steel has a liability on its balance sheet that realy doesn’t exist. The currency conversion rules hinders Tata Steel from putting together a balance sheet that reflects its actual holdings and activities. Tata Steel has an opportunity to help change the accounting standards in India to allow companies to report their financial activities accurately so that shareholders will have an accurate view of the financial position the company is in. Demand for steel The demand for steel is on arise both domestically and internationally as a result of the enhanced focus upon infrastructural development. Secondly with other steel projects of international giants POSCO, ARCELOR MITTAL stalled due to land acquisition problems the prices of steel are slated to soar. In the month of April 2010 the steel prices were increased by Rs. 2500/ton and this is just the brink of the U-Shaped economic recovery and the prices are slated to rise further in the near future. Acquisitions In the aftermath of the financial crisis various mineral assets are available globally at a price which is just a fraction of their prime value. The government of various countries has been putting up coal blocks under the hammer. Tata Steel has been very active in the asset acquisition space and has bagged various coal blocks in Asia, Africa etc. which is essential for its security of raw materials. Threats International competition Companies like the Indian Steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal’s Arcelor Mittal and Posco have landed on the shores of India. These are amongst the largest steel producers in the world and have a high chance of eating into the market share of Tata Steel. Indian market is also plagued with cheaper Chinese made steel which is ubiquitously available and is significantly digging into the market-share of all Indian steel makers including Tata Steel. Down Economy Tata Steel has a very large debt of 9. 8 billion USD on its books and has a huge interest burden. With the volatility of the financial markets and the tightening of credit and liquidity by the banks, interest rates are slated to go up and would further increase the interest burden of the company. Regulatory issues in India The government of India has chalked a strict norm for the clearance of a plant through environmental impact assessment (EIA). To get clearance from the concerned authority demands more than eight months thus leads to delay and project cost escalation. Albeit the governments’ steel policy has been pro industry in order to increase the steel capacity at a brisk pace.

Hydrocephalus essays

Hydrocephalus essays Hydrocephalus is a build-up of cerebrospinal fluid, known as CSF, in the brain. CSF is produced in the choroids plexus and it is usually transported through the ventricles in the brain. It is also found outside the brain and in the spinal canal. Hydrocephalus occurs when the CSF is blocked or when there is excess fluid in the brain. This condition causes pressure on the brain that leads to the swelling of the ventricles. The ventricles are then pushed against the skull causing tissues to either be damaged or destroyed. Hydrocephalus can be congenital, caused by a birth defect, or acquired, caused by a trauma to the brain. In most instances, heredity is not a factor for acquiring hydrocephalus. Although it mostly occurs in young children, hydrocephalus may be present in adults and the elderly. The signs and symptoms of hydrocephalus vary depending upon the age of the person, when the problem developed, the cause of the condition, and the damage that occurred to the tissues due to the swelling of the ventricles. In infants, the primary sign of hydrocephalus is enlargement of the head. Other symptoms in infants include lethargy (sleepiness), vomiting, decreased mental functions, et cetera. Some symptoms in older children and adults are headaches, vomiting, vision changes, decreased coordination, or mental aberrations such as confusion. There is no known cure for hydrocephalus, but the condition can be treated and kept under control. Treatment of hydrocephalus involves the surgical insertion of a shunt, a flexible tube with a one-way valve. To allow the excess CSF to drain back into the bloodstream and to decrease pressure on the brain, the shunt is inserted into the ventricular system of the brain. There are some problems that can occur with shunting such as obstruction of the shunt or an infection. Complications occur with 25% to 60% of all shunt procedures. Antibiotics are used at the sign of an i ...

The Internet Provider ASA Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Internet Provider ASA - Essay Example This engages the validation of users oriented on their recognition and programmed recommendations like passwords. In order for the organization to have access to the server inside, management will be forced to offer a lot of protection. This is because it is technical and likely straightforward. The security of the DMZ firewall will have the servers of the firm normally placed to give the highest quality of security. A system administrator will have to be accountable for making and sustaining this protective surrounding (Whitman & Herbert, 2011, p. 288). The advantages of the implementation of this system would be cutting off client-confronting ad partner-confronting material to a breakup border network. Material issuing could also be computed (Whitman & Herbert, 2011, p. 288). If the material in the border network is consisted or dishonored due to internet access, the incorporation of the material in the corporate network is sustained. A leading merit of this architecture is that outside customers are not conscious of the fact that their requirements are actually handled by an internal server (Whitman & Herbert, 2011, p. 288). This way, the solution of a web proxy server is brought about as an advantage. One of the prevailing disadvantages of the implementation of this server system to the management of the firm is the need of more hardware to sustain two separate server farms. Another disadvantage is a great data visual projection (Whitman & Herbert, 2011, p. 288).

Explaining behaviour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

Explaining behaviour - Essay Example The field of psychology is trying to groom personalities keeping in view that our actions are reflective of our thoughts. Human behaviour is a set of actions that a particular person exhibit as a reaction to the given state of affairs. In real life man can conclude by reasoning from self evident principles. Amazingly even after decades of advent of psychology, many theorists presented theories explaining behaviour yet they fail to present a standardized theory applicable to all individuals. This lack of harmony encountered by behaviourists concerning the behaviour problems signifies the complexity faced in the identification of behaviour problems and planning for intervention. Behaviour refers to the actions of an organism in relation to its environment. However (Papatheodorou, 2005) said that there is not a single definition of behaviour which can fully satisfy the people working with children. Everyone’s perspectives of understanding behaviour are different. Over the period of time many theories evolved trying to comprehend human behaviour in various aspects. A brief overview of the popular ones’ are discussed as follows: Behaviour in terms of biological perspective is the outcome of various biological principles such as genetics, evolution and brain activity. Our brain relates to perceptions, thinking, and other aspects of abnormal behaviour. Behaviour is largely understood as the result of electrochemical activities that take place within our nerve cells. (Gerrig J, 2007). Intervention means exerting an influence to modify current state of affairs. In order to treat the symptoms of mind disorders and emotional disturbance drug therapy is used which include regular use of prescribed medications for treatment. (www.minddisorders.com) Behaviourist perception is that ‘personality is a collection of learned behavioural patterns’. It continues to lay stress on objective observations

Memo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 3

Memo - Essay Example The insurer has a duty to defense before a court of law. Insurance companies lose the right to defense only when there is conflict of interest. Insurance companies do not compensate the insured automatically before thorough analysis of the real cause of the losses which call for compensation. According to Devine (2006), the insurance company has a duty and a right to defend itself basing this on the principles governing the insurance contracts as stipulated in insurance law. Mr. and Mrs. Turner entered into an insurance contract with Youngston Company when they took a cover against any liability that arises other than injuries resulting from discharge, release, dispersal or escape from pollutants. These clauses specified the kind and extent of losses to be compensated whenever such specific liability arises. The policy language excluded losses suffered due to discharge, dispersal, release, or escape of pollutants. From the excerpt, we noted that the child became ill because of too mu ch lead in the body system. Insurance company should defend itself basing this on the language of the cover i.e. the cover would not cover any liabilities resulting from losses suffered due to escape of pollutants. In addition, the company is not liable for the losses suffered by a third party. During inception of the insurance contract, neither Mr. and Mrs. Cavanaugh nor any other person who rented the apartment, was mention in the contract. Since, the child belongs to the third party; the insurance company has a duty to defense based on this. However, the insurance policy issued by the company did not specify exactly the boundaries of compensation. The exclusion language did not mention the specific pollutants which will be covered by the policy. In addition, the policy cover did not specify whether the company should compensate any damages suffered by the third party. It is therefore the decision of the court to

Casestudy of banks R us Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Casestudy of banks R us - Case Study Example Strategic performance directly influences strategic goals; hence, it is even more critical to an organization’s success. On the other hand, operational performance management is defined as the alignment of all business units / functions of an organization to accomplish core business aims of an organization. Organizational performance is measured against standard rates of effectiveness, productivity, efficiency, regulatory compliance and other such indicators. Banks R Us had primarily focused on deposits, withdrawals, and loan facilities by creating brand loyalty. It thrived by providing a low fee as well as a highly personalized realm of banking services. Nonetheless, the low profit margins prevented large-scale growth for the bank. However, with escalated financial competition and emergence of Internet banking, the strategic performance of Banks R Us deteriorated. This is evidenced by a downfall in market share and operating profits. Thus, new strategic goals and plans are be ing established in order to enhance strategic performance once again. The new strategic goals are two-fold: to widen the current customer base by provision of a variety of financial products and to reduce transaction costs for all customer segments. Strategic goals can be accomplished through successful strategic performance. The success of strategic performance lies entirely upon improvement in operational performance. ... As more and more customers are provided customized services, the inflow of cash to the bank is expected to increase. In addition, the introduction of Internet banking as currently servicing 80% customers is unprofitable; hence, strategic performance is poor and needs improvement in this area too. Moreover, strategic performance needs to be focused on changing the previous image of Banks R Us as a transactions processor of cheques and deposits to a novel image of an excellent financial advisor. The basic contention is to make the bank as attractive as possible to existing customers as well as potential customers. The bank lacks ‘good advertising, good location, and word of mouth’ as quoted by general manager of operations, Pamela Andrews. Therefore, strategic performance should take the marketing aspect of banking into account. Banks R Us needs to transform the perspective of customers of not being a ‘logical source for products like managed funds, superannuation fu nds, insurance and financial advice’. Operational performance should involve advertising through various channels, employment of financial product specialists and provision of advisory services to build customer confidence and alter the previously held image. Industry data has revealed the existence of two market segments. The first are interested in the lowest priced personalized services of standard financial products such as savings, loans and withdrawals. Market statistics suggest that Banks R Us’ strategic performance is appreciable in this segment; however, slowly they need to encourage these customers towards Internet banking for reaping even greater profits. The other market segment comprises of customers interested in purchasing all kinds of

Eschatology Religion and Theology Research Paper

Eschatology Religion and Theology - Research Paper Example It is also good to look at the Hebrew’s approach to afterlife, and finally a conclusion can be drawn. According to the traditional definition, eschatology means the doctrinal teachings of the "last things". Eschatology relations involve the relations of individuals (including resurrection, death, judgment, as well as the afterlife). It also explores man’s relationship with the world. In the latter respect, the doctrine of eschatology tends to be restricted, at times, to the absolute destruction of the world. The biblical usage is not warranted by the restrictions of eschatology. The "last days" may imply the end of the current order, or "hereafter." Eschatology, according to the Greeks point of understanding, as drawn from the Theological Terminology Dictionary, entails studying about the end times. It further integrates the second appearance of Jesus Christ, the rapture, the millennial kingdom of Christ Jesus, the battle of Armageddon, the ultimate judgment of Satan to gether with his false prophets and angles, and the new earth and the new heaven. National Eschatology The hope of national resurrection is expressed earlier compared to the individual resurrection. In the vision of the dry bone, God showed Ezekiel that the divine breath has the potential of breathing new life into the dead, thus featuring a national resurrection: "These bones are the whole house of Israel" (Ezek. 37:11). â€Å"Isaiah 26: 19 promises a national resurrection.† "Thy dead shall live, their bodies shall rise". Resurrection for the individual first is explicit as put in (Dan. 12:2). Martyrs persecution under Antiochus Epiphanes offered a powerful assurance upon the resurrection hope. Therefore, belief in the resurrection of the righteous, at least, was adopted as part of Orthodox Judaism, in exception to the Sadducees. The Sadducees claimed to be the champions of religion of the old-time contrary to Pharisaic innovations. Having attained there is a sharper distinct ion existing between the wicked people and the afterlife fortunes of the righteous, in Gehenna or heaven (Paradise) respectively. According to the significant teaching of the "day of the Lord", (Amos 5:18 - 20), the Israelites have been rebuked because of their anxiousness for it. The day would neither bring light nor joy though that was their hope. It would rather bring mourning and darkness. Because Yahweh is absolutely righteous, the intervention for vindicating His action must include the righteous judgment wherever it appears, particularly amongst His chosen people, who obtained exceptional opportunities and got to know His will. Individual Eschatology in the Old Testament Afterlife existence is much contemplated in the Old Testament. Jesus indeed revealed that immortality was implicit in humans’ in relationship to God: the LORD God is God of living and not of the dead (Luke 20:38). However, the featured implication was unappreciated in Old Testament. Perhaps in response to the cultic practices of Canaanites regarding the dead, the Old Testament puts little emphasis concerning the afterlife. Sheol could be regarded the underworld as the place where the dead would dwell as shades; their past (former) status as well as character are less accounted for there. The praises made to Yahweh, which used to engage so much of pious activities of Israelite on earth, would remain unsung in Sheol, which would popularly be thought to apply outside the jurisdiction of Yahweh (Isa. 38:18; Ps. 88:10 - 12). In the book of Psalms, (Psalms 73 and 139) there is an assurance that the presence of God will not be deprived unto those who chose to walk with God, in their death. Job

Symbolism in Hemingway's Cat in the Rain Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Symbolism in Hemingway's Cat in the Rain - Essay Example A knock at the door brings the maid with a cat in her hands which the hotel owner asks her to bring to American wife. This short story of Hemingway clearly illustrates one chapter of marriage life which is enriched through the use of symbolism. The story starts with the beautiful description of the place outside the couple's hotel with the view of the sea and the picturesque panorama that artists cannot resist to paint. After this, Hemingway starts to build the situation where the couples are-"rain dripped from the palm trees (Hemingway 1)," "motor cars are gone (1)," and "empty square (1)"-which are all in contrast to the previously depicted beauty of the place. This description can be seen as Hemingway's illustration of the husband and wife. When they first got married, everything seems to be so well between them. However, they are now faced with the hardship of making their relationship work because of their individual differences which is further portrayed in the succeeding paragraphs. Hemingway's use of cat which is "trying to make herself compact that she would not be dripped on" (2) can be directly linked to the emotional suffering that the woman is going through. It should be noted that like the cat, she is battling the coldness of her husband and is trying to make him understand what she wants.

An Internal Analysis Of Starbucks Marketing Essay

An Internal Analysis Of Starbucks Marketing Essay The internal analysis of Starbucks will consist of an organizational analysis strategy analysis and a business model analysis. 4.1. Organizational Analysis The corporate mission of Starbucks, along with its vision statement and business model are crucial in determining where Starbucks wants to go as an organization. The Starbucks mission statement is: to inspire and nurture the human spirit one person, one cup and one neighbourhood at a time (Starbucks, 2011). To deliver on its mission, Starbucks executes some core principles. Firstly, Starbucks commits to the finest coffee. Starbucks is not only concerned with quality for the end consumer, but also ensures coffee beans are purchased in an ethical manner that will improve the lives of the farmers. Secondly, Starbucks deems their employees as a crucial resource and asset. Starbucks guarantees perfect coffee to their customers, which can only be delivered by high engagement of staff (Starbucks, 2011). Thirdly, the third place experience provided by Starbucks gives customers a gratifying atmosphere of human connection and a sense of belonging (Rice, 2009). The products and services that Starbucks offer are critically important to Starbucks achieving differentiation in the market by way of constant product innovation (Kelly, 2006). Starbucks currently offers more than just quality gourmet coffee. Starbucks is proud of its customer service and is dedicated to ensuring that each customer enjoys each trip to Starbucks (Starbucks, 2011). Other services include the third place experience atmosphere and onsite coffee service. The third place experience is what Starbucks refers to as the third location that consumers will relax and enjoy drinking coffee beverages (Rice, 2009). Starbucks also offers free Wi-Fi to everyone at its store locations to entice customers to stay longer and work or surf the web while they enjoy their coffee (Starbucks, 2011). The organizational analysis evaluates the key characteristics of the organization. Starbucks aims to nurture the human spirit around the globe by offering the finest coffee in a friendly and inviting atmosphere. It promotes product innovation and customer service through a decentralized leadership style that emphasizes distributed decision-making and information-sharing. The quality of a company is judged by the symbiotic fit between its strategy and organizational structure, yet consideration is also placed on whether the firms strategy and structure meet the demands of the external environment (Hannan, 2011). The next section will give a detailed analysis on Starbucks strategy. 4.2. Strategy Analysis The strategy analysis consists of three parts: marketing strategy analysis, operations strategy analysis and international expansion strategy analysis. Marketing strategy The first part is about Starbucks positioning strategy. A positioning strategy aims at positioning rival companies into strategic groups. These strategic groups consist of industry members that have similar goals and positions in the competitive industry (Piercy, 2008). These groups are placed on a strategic group map to analyse how industry firms are positioned. Firms in the coffee industry will be mapped based on price and quality of their products versus product line breadth. The size of the circle representing each firm on the strategic group map is symbolic proportional to the size of the firms share of total group revenues. The coffee beverage strategy group consists of quick-service restaurants and specialty coffee shops. The major players in the strategy group are listed in the following table. The firms are divided by breadth of products offered to the market, industry related sales, and percentage of sales relative to rivals. The data listed in table x are used in constructing the strategic group map. Diagram 7: Strategic Group Map of Coffee Industry Green Mountain Price/ Quality Source: Williams (2007) Competitors of Starbucks can be divided into two different categories: direct and indirect. The direct competition would include firms that manufacture and produce hot drinks (Datamonitor, 2010). These firms are the retailers of ready-to-drink coffee and tea products, quick-service restaurants, and supermarkets. Also, in this category are the large multinational companies that produce ground coffees and instant coffees (Datamonitor, 2010). The indirect competitors are comprised of firms producing energy drinks, caffeinated soft drinks, and energy shots. Starbucks close competitors include other specialty coffee shops, doughnut shops, and restaurants. Starbucks holds a dominant position in the specialty coffeehouse market and has no single clear rival in the sector. Its closest specialty coffeehouse competitor is Caribou Coffee with 440 stores in the US. Its most intense specialty coffeehouse competition is dispersed among the thousands of independent or small-chain coffee shops around the nation and the world. Two of Starbucks stiffest quick-service restaurant rivals are McDonalds and Dunkin Donuts. McDonalds followed its 2009 strategy of competing against Starbucks through expansion of McCafe locations into more stores both domestically and internationally (Liu, 2009). Nevertheless, there are big differences between their core customers. Privately owned Dunkin Donuts is another major competitor, with nearly 5,000 stores in the US. Following Starbucks footsteps, Dunkin Donuts will look to expanding globally, especially in the Asian markets (Dicarlo, 2004). Although Dunkin Donuts retail footprint also overlaps largely with that of Starbucks, its customer experience is much more similar to the coffee-to-go model rather than the third place to work and relax model. Consequently, it is likely to compete more directly with McDonalds than with Starbucks (Dicarlo, 2004). Starbucks is an industry leader in both product innovation and product offering. Most other firms take a follower position and simply copy successful Starbucks products at lower prices. This is a favourable position for Starbucks. The strategic group map shows Starbucks as the leader in both price/quality of product offerings as well as the breadth of products offered. The white space on the map is possible openings for existing firms or new firms to move into. These would be high priced, low breadth offering positions, or low cost, high breadth offering positions. The second part analyses Starbucks competitive strategy using Porters Generic strategies framework. As a whole, Starbucks implements a broad differentiation strategy. It provides high quality coffee and a unique experience in accessible locations, which makes it stand out among all the coffee providers. VIA, the new instant coffee line, straddles broad differentiation and cost leadership strategy. Though it will be a low cost and convenient alternative to Starbucks regular coffee, Starbucks coffee is still unique from other products in the market. Providing in-store gifts and brewing utensils is the focused differentiation strategy; it was designed for coffee lovers, especially Starbucks loyal fans. Diagram 8: Starbucks competitive strategy Competitive Advantage Uniqueness Low cost Broad Target Narrow Target As a whole VIADifferentiation Cost Leadership In-store brewing utensils/ gifts Differentiation Focus Cost Focus To differentiate it from rivals, Starbucks convinces customers that it provides more than a cup of coffee and associates its brand image with a sense of community activism. Moreover, Starbucks acts as a social responsible company to strengthen its differentiation strategy. It promotes ethical sourcing, environmental stewardship, and community involvement. Starbucks also prides itself on the innovation of new products, which further differentiates it from its competitors. However, with the customer base becoming more sophisticated and differentiation indicators adopted by ordinary coffee firms, Starbucks advantage on the differentiation strategy may fade away (Piercy, 2008). The third part is about Starbucks brand building strategy. Its marketing strategy has focused on word-of-mouth advertising and building the brand cup by cup, letting the high quality of their products and services speak for themselves (Starbucks, 2010). For years, this unique marketing strategy has played an important role in making Starbucks Coffee Company a success. In 2010, two-thirds of all coffee was sold in supermarkets. Starbucks coffee sold in supermarkets featured distinctive, elegant packaging and the same premium quality as that sold in its own stores. This new change requires Starbucks to create a new way to build its brand. Therefore, the Starbucks marketing strategy has expanded to create a community around their brand. On its website, individuals are encouraged to express their experiences with Starbucks history, and the company strives to personally join in the discussions. Operations management Strategy Starbucks has positioned itself as a provider of ethical premium coffee products and pleasant, luxurious meeting places for people. So, its prices are relative high and it competes on a unique value proposition. Commitment to the best quality and high ethical standards are evident in every step of the supply chain, from bean procurement to service (Jennings, 2009). Starbucks supply chain starts from bean sourcing. To ensure compliance with its rigorous coffee standards, it controls coffee purchasing, roasting and packaging, and the global distribution of coffee. Starbucks pays over the market price for its beans in order to procure premium beans. Besides acquiring the highest quality coffee, the ethics of paying a fair price for coffee producers provides an ethical aspect to the value proposition (Rubin, Dierdorff and Brown, 2010). Starbucks also has the expertise to secure top-notch coffee beans to supply the companys growing needs. All this allows Starbucks to serve coffee that is of superior quality compared to competitors. As part of its sourcing strategy, Starbucks entered into fixed-price purchase commitments in order to secure an adequate supply of quality green coffee beans and to limit exposure to fluctuating coffee prices (Starbucks, 2010). When satisfactory fixed-price commitments were not available, the company purchased coffee future contracts to provide price protection. Nonetheless, there have been occasions in years past when unexpected jumps in coffee prices put a squeeze on the companys margins and necessitated an increase in the prices of its beverages and beans sold at retail price. However, by this approach, Starbucks can smooth costs and avoid price hikes in the stores that would have a devastating effect on the companys image. Starbucks deems store operations as an important part of strengthening the companys reputation and image. The company formed a group to create a store development process to ensure that each store conveys the appropriate image and character. Then, the information and operating system of Starbucks allow it to communicate information throughout the organization to increase the quality of decisions and efficiency in value-chain activities (Gamble Thompson, 2011). Starbucks also tries to develop the companys brand through its specialty operations with third parties outside the traditional coffeehouse. This includes Licensed Stores, Packaged Tea and Coffee, Branded Products and Foodservices Operations. In 1997, Starbucks began entering into a limited number of licensing agreements for store locations in areas where it did not have the ability to locate its own outlets. For example, Licensed Stores with Marriott Host International and Aramark Food and Services put Starbucks stores in airport locations and on university campuses. Starbucks received a license fee and a royalty on sales at these locations and supplied the coffee for resale in the licensed locations. International Expansion Strategy Starbucks international expansion started in 1995 and its international expansion strategy is to provide licenses or create joint ventures with reputable local companies, which are equipped with retailing know-how in the target country (Garza, 2010).. This strategy is built upon the growing reputation of the Starbucks brand and the ability to identify attractive store locations. The international expansion strategy is also supported by centralized buying, standard contract development and fixed fees for certain items, and consolidated work under contractors with good cost-control practices (Alberto, 2011c). Starbucks product supply is also a key in the successful expansion. As reported by the Wall Street Journal (2006), the Starbucks Corporation is expanding at a very high rate and focusing on China. This company has aggressively campaigned to become the leading coffee in the United States and after attaining this, it has made further steps to considering global leadership. The expansion and growth of Starbucks has been well known, especially by its desires to venture in emerging economies. Currently, the Starbucks Corporation is downsizing in the US as a result of the economic downturn in this country and its increasing global expansion. In 2008, this company closed more than 600 coffee shops across the US. Since the need for international coffee has increased, Starbucks is opening up 1,000 coffee shops across the world especially in Asia. Starbucks expansion strategy was well thought out: the strategy target was in the Asian Pacific, far away from Europe and Latin America where coffee shops competition is very strong. As the diagram below shows, the revenue from the US market is shrinking and the operating income of the EMEA market became negative in 2010 and 2011, while the market of China and the Asian pacific shows good potential. Therefore, China is Starbucks largest target, as it is expected to be the biggest growing market over the next two year s (Starbucks, 2011). After the global economy recovery, Starbucks is planning to open an average of more than one store each day. Starbucks continues to close domestic stores that have already saturated the market, and replace them with international stores abroad. Total revenues ($ Million) Starbucks is able to enter into Asian markets and China in particular by targeting Chinas middle class and bringing new lifestyles while maintaining coffee and other beverages as affordable luxuries. Barraclough (2006) reports that the Chinese are known for their increasing preference for coffee and hence Starbucks is able to convince more customers to take coffee. American products and lifestyle are highly admired by the Chinese and Japanese, and hence consumers there adopt American trends and products easily and quickly. This indicates that Starbucks is making use of the Chinese culture to enter into Chinas market (Haoting, 2009). However, the rapid international expansion also has negative effects. First of all, too many new locations established would exert an adverse effect on customer service. Therefore, the customer experience may degrade. Secondly, some retail stores opened even before the local supply chain was fully built up, leading to bad customer perceptions towards Starbucks coffee and food. Thirdly, the strategy of closing down US locations to offset new growth abroad results in reducing the convenience factor in the US market. Many American customers have to drive a long way to buy a cup of beloved Starbucks coffee. As mentioned previously, the convenience is one of most important parts of its value proposition. Last but not the least, the large number of stores is a huge asset or liability, depending on how one assesses the situation. If there is a strong economy and people have disposable income, then it is an advantage to have abundant stores to generate revenues. On the other hand, the vast n umber of stores will become a huge financial liability during economic downturns. Therefore, now Starbucks, led by Schultz, advocate the disciplined expansion of store bases and focus on real, sustainable growth. 4.3. Value chain analysis Michael Porter (1998) states that acquiring competitive advantages can be done through an analysis of the companys value chain. Companies can attain competitive advantage when the value chain is optimised by coordinating these activities to create value for its products or services that exceeds the costs of performing the value activities (Porter, 1998). In other words, a company can create additional value without necessarily increasing costs. A companys value chain system can be classified into two categories; (1) the primary activities, which involve the physical creation of the products, marketing and delivery system, and after sale service and support activities; and (2) the secondary activities, wherein company infrastructure and inputs allow the primary activities to take place (Porter 1998). When these activities are already defined, the value chain system can be analysed in order to aid the development of a strategic goal and gain competitive advantage or, in our case, to understand the current downfall in the Starbucks business model. Below is the current value chain of Starbucks with international and technological developments. The upstream value chain allows the development of new products that suit international markets better, e.g. green Tea Latte in Starbucks Japan. The downstream is the online storefront customization, which allows customers to order online and create new drinks etc. The newly-added mobile app could locate Starbucks locations and order drinks. Product Distribution Bean and Ingredient Selection Local Adjustment Product Development Take-home products Online Storefront Customization Mobile Apps Storefront Starbucks value chain creates additional value for its products, which the customers are willing to pay for. Hence, the customer is not reluctant to pay above-market prices for Starbucks coffee. In fact, its customers are not looking for the price of the coffee but they are seeking for the quality of the products and the brand image that the company offers. For a company to achieve or maintain competitive advantages and add value to its products or brand, it is necessary to link these activities and optimise the companys value adding activities (Porter, 1998). In the case of Starbucks, as stated earlier, its value activities were at first effective in the co-ordination between its primary and secondary activities. For example, the setting up of stores was well planned. Each location was carefully studied, taking consideration of irrelevant details such as traffic flow, density of people and demographic characteristics of an area, and careful selection of personnel to be deployed in each outlet (Clark, 2007). These aimed to deliver good quality coffee products and exude an ambiance of luxury and comfort for its consumers (Clark, 2007). However, gaps in the value chain activities occurred in recent years. An example is the rapid expansion in several locations across Asia. The company failed to maintain the companys brand image of luxury and exclusivity. The company rapidly expanded by opening an average of a store per week, which resulted in the downgrading of the Starbucks experience that its customers have been looking for (Velta, 2008). In fact, the customers have not seen any noticeable improvements in their experience (Jennings, 2009). Analyst Andrew Barish also commented that Starbucks operations have slipped and longer lines, more complexity and less-than-stellar looking assets could be causing a modest decrease in sales in this challenging consumer environment (Moore, 2007). As a result, Starbucks strategic competitiveness is slowly disintegrating and its rivals are eating up some of its customer base (Rushe, 2006). 4.4. Business model analysis The business model concept is defined as the value a company offers to customers and the architecture of the firm and its network of partners for creating, marketing, and delivering this value in order to generate profitable and sustainable revenue streams (Osterwalder and pigneur, 2002). It also consists of a narrative of both how the business works and how it makes a profit. Schindehutte and Allen (2009) developed a framework in order to define the core competencies of a business model from an entrepreneurial perspective. The most important component of the framework is concerned with value creation. Starbucks creates unique value through great customer experience and interactive service. The unique value proposition of Starbucks is best described by Howard Schultz: The idea was to create a chain of coffeehouses that would become Americas third place, a place where people could go to relax and enjoy time with others, or just be by themselves. Starbucks enhances the coffee experience for the customers by creating a relaxed environment within the store whilst offering consistently rapid and on time delivery. Many companies pursue a resource-based strategy which attempts to exploit company resources in a manner that offers value to customers in ways rivals are unable to match (Piercy, 2008). Starbucks customer value proposition is also based on its unique resources and capabilities. Starbucks capitalizes on intangible resources like brand power and image as a high quality coffee provider to attain its objectives. Starbucks also utilizes its immense human capital and expertise in product innovation, location selection, and its marketing ability to stand out as the premier coffee brand. Particularly, Starbucks utilizes technology extremely well, e.g. the heavy use of internet capabilities, social network marketing, rechargeable payment cards, and even new mobile apps help to ease and speed up the payment and ordering. Moreover, Starbucks has other competitive advantages based on its skills and specialized expertise, and valuable alliances (Piercy, 2008). Starbucks has a skill set in creatin g and introducing innovative products into the market. These skills give Starbucks a competitive advantage to be an innovation leader, but not a copycat follower. It is essential to differentiate itself from rivals in the coffee industry. Last but not the least, Starbucks has abundant free cash flow and physical assets to fund and drive its strategic initiatives. Without these physical assets, Starbucks would not be able to aggressively expand in the market or fund further product research and development. Another important component of the business model is the firms core competence. Core competencies are defined as a proficiently performed internal activity that is central to a firms strategy and competitiveness (Piercy, 2008). The core competency can also lead to sustainable advantages. To be a sustainable advantage, the core competency must be hard to imitate or copy by rivals (Piercy, 2008). For Starbucks, its core competency can be defined as high quality coffee and products at accessible locations and affordable prices, providing a community the coffee drinking experience. Its sustainable advantage resides in the intellectual capital of defining and leading the market. Starbucks stands out as a leader, mainly because of its good business model that can generate innovative products that consumers desire. Starbucks is able to leverage its resources, both tangible and intangible, to create competitive capabilities and core competencies to form its business model. Starbucks achieves this by utilizing its human capital and expertise to constantly strive for excellence in product innovation. Furthermore, Starbucks is able to internally fund its growth strategy from sound financial performance. However, Starbucks needs to take more efforts to innovate its business model. Specialty coffee shops copy or adopt the Starbucks model, which leads to Starbucks competitive advantage shrinking and this poses a serious threat to the company. In addition, the gap between customers expectations and perceptions of Starbucks is bigger. Many customers are not satisfied with Starbucks offerings as they were before. They think Starbucks charges a premium for coffee and experience, but actually it falls behind its promises. This may be because customers become more demanding while Starbucks ability to innovate value offerings is weak. Therefore, to keep its popularity and consistent growth, Starbucks needs to innovate its value-adding activities so as to innovate its business model. SWOT Analysis A SWOT analysis is a powerful tool to evaluate a firms resource strengths, its competitive deficiencies, the opportunities that exist in the market, and the external threats to the organizations future well-being (Gamble and Thompson, 2011). The strengths of Starbucks come from an internal origin and are designated as helpful to Starbucks reaching its target objectives. The weaknesses of Starbucks are categorized as operational areas and activities that reduce Starbucks being able to achieve strategy execution. Starbucks needs to leverage these strengths to overcome their weaknesses and realize potential opportunities. Threats are areas of concern in the external environment that can affect how Starbucks, and the coffee industry as a whole, will do business. Diagram x: SWOT Matrix for Starbucks Internal External Strengths* Weaknesses* à ¢- Brand image is extremely important to Starbucks. à ¢- Good ambiance and convenience are two of the foundations that Starbucks grew on. à ¢- International Markets offer lower risk investment and innovation opportunities. à ¢- Cheap alternatives like McDonalds threaten the convenience factor. à ¢- Founders of premium coffee and an industry leader à ¢- Product diversification à ¢- Excel in product development à ¢-  Valued and motivated employees, good work environment à ¢- Strong financial foundation à ¢- Lack of internal focus (too much focus on expansion) à ¢- Self-cannibalization à ¢- Overdependence on the US market à ¢- Aggressive expansion leads to managerial or financial problems (e.g. customer experience is watered down) à ¢- Pricing is relatively higher than customers expectations Opportunities* S-O Strategy W-O Strategy à ¢- Co-branding with other famous brands à ¢-  Increasing need of premium coffee in emerging markets à ¢- Rising awareness on CSR issues à ¢- Capturing new markets (retailing) and new consumer groups à ¢- To increase market share in emerging markets à ¢- To make full use of cross-broad marketing à ¢- To revamp brand image and work on brand extension à ¢- To be a more socially responsible brand à ¢- To coordinate and adjust expanding speed à ¢- To innovate its business model so as better deal with new challenges à ¢- To think about new ways to differentiate itself à ¢- To integrate distribution channels Threats* S-T Strategy W-T Strategy à ¢- Stiffening competition à ¢- Possible saturation in the coffee market à ¢- Volatility of coffee price à ¢-  Blamed by green lobby and ethical lobby à ¢-  Recession would affect customers willingness to spend à ¢- To consider further vertical integration à ¢- To consider creating a sub-brand to provide less pricey coffee à ¢- Continue to use fair trade coffee as ingredients and pay more attention to environmental and ethical issues. à ¢- To shrink product lines and wash out less favourable products à ¢- To provide customized products and combinations à ¢- To close down less profitable locations *Source: Dataminitor and http://www.businessteacher.org.uk/business-resources/swot-analysis-database/starbucks-swot-analysis/ Being a leader in the coffee industry, Starbucks is powered by its constant product innovation, customer service aptitude, ability to expand globally. Apart from the basic strategies used by Starbucks, the external environmental conditions and the internal characteristics of the Starbucks organisation present a favourable condition for growth. Even though Starbucks profit has declined in the previous year, due the growing intensity of competition and the economic crisis aggravating the situation, Starbucks is still the dominant player in the specialty coffee sector through its years of experience and brand reputation. Thus, the company can use this position to leverage itself and put pressure onto its competitors. Nevertheless, strategic change is the call for Starbucks. Perhaps, it is the time for the company to revisit its existing business models, practices and strategies and to examine whether these models still conform to the conditions of the market. Since market conditions cha nge as evidenced by current events and the continuing globalisation of markets, the company may need to reform its strategy. The PSETEL and Porters five-force analysis show that coffee firms are very sensitive to the macro environment. The overall competitive pressures are moderate and firms can be successful if they are efficient and effective in the execution of strategies execution. Starbucks achieves its mission through a decentralized leadership that emphasizes distributed decision making and information sharing to promote product innovation and customer service. One concern about Starbucks organizational culture is that Starbucks over relies on Schultzs talented leadership. Schultz was able to turn the company back by several strategic moves, but without Schultz and his leadership capabilities, Starbucks may have fallen into a disaster. Overall, it might be a pitfall for Starbucks; Schultz is to Starbucks what Jobs is to Apple. The SWOT analysis of Starbucks reveals that the strength of Starbucks lies within their strong financial performance. The weakness of Starbucks is an over reliance on the saturated U.S. market with a declining market share as a result of intensified rivalry in the marketplace. This weakness can be overcome by utilizing Starbucks strong finances to realize the present opportunities to expand into emerging markets. Overall, Starbucks has maintained a competitive advantage since it created its original blue ocean of bringing quality, bistro-style coffee choices to the masses. The key issues facing this firm were its attempts at massive expansion and creating new value innovation. The aggressive expansion could cause the company to become over exposed and adversely affect its ability to change. In order to enhance sustainable growth, it needs to focus on its core competencies. Facing fierce competition with McDonalds and other coffee chains, Starbucks needs to create new value innovation by enhancing the customer experience and investing in online content and interactivity. Rather than creating more new products, it is better to enhance the connection with their loyal customers and to differentiate it from its rivals. 6. Recommendations Viable recommendations must be able to solve Starbucks greatest issues. One is the increasingly saturated US market and another is the need to penetrate attractive foreign markets. Furthermore, degrading customer perception must be prevented both in the US and overseas. Here, a great challenge is how to re-establish a positive customer attitude towards the company in the US and retai