Ethical Issues Surrounding Social Networking Sites

In the Skin of a lion Essays

In the Skin of a lion Essays In the Skin of a lion Paper In the Skin of a lion Paper In the novel, In The Skin Of A Lion, by Michael Annotated, Patrick Lewis is put through events and has certain expectations placed on him that greatly affect his perception and his method of handling situations that he Is placed In. Patrick Lewis Is always expected to be compassionate and affectionate towards others no matter what the situation, this leads him making some dramatic decisions in the book. He grew up in a very isolated area which always made him an immigrant towards wherever he went and this alienated him from everyone around him. Lastly, Patrick evolves a relationship with Alice Gull which exposes him to a whole new world. Their relationship changes his perspective towards the people around him and his view of the world. Michael Annotated uses the expectations placed on Patrick, his life In isolation, and his important relationship with Alice to show Patrick s journey of self discovery and the idea of adaptation and change. Michael Annotated starts the book off by introducing and expanding on a very key element towards showing Patriots self discovery and adaptation, his environment. Patrick Lewis Is born and raised In a very Isolated environment which causes him to sake some decisions and learn live lessons In a very distinctive way. From his young years, Patrick is always isolated from the world, He was born into a region which did not appear on a map until 1910, though his family had worked there for twenty years and the land had been homesteaded since 1816. In the school atlas the place is a pale green and nameless. (Annotated 10). This quote clearly states how isolated Patrick is from the world as it was not even recognized on the map. Due to his isolation he Is going to have no knowledge of the outside world causing him to be an immigrant to where ever he goes. The quote: In the way he steps from the dark house and at the doorway of the glowing kitchen says to the empty fields, I am here. Come visit me (Annotated 10) explains that due to a lack of colonization he tries to adapt and begins to call out to the insects for some colonization. Patrick is going to be the type of immigrant that is always going to be looking towards fitting in with other people. His first interaction with the outside world was Clara, his first love. He explores a new world outside his community with a companion. He Is forever hanged and was not going to give It up as he Ignores a chance to riches given to him by Smalls to leave Clara alone but that chance he did not take. He did this to maintain his first connection to the outside social world and to attempt to leave the isolation he grew up in. Furthermore, Patrick Lewis Is expected to be compassionate and kind, him following his expectations helps him meet people that are very Important in his life. Patrick met his first love, Clara, due to his caring personality and he even let her go with her first love due to him love for Clara. Another sign of his compassion was hon.. When he attended a show at the Waterworks and there he watches an actress bang her hand repeatedly on the floor. He then rushes to help the women which turn out to be Alice. His sense of compassion took over as he rushed thinking that the woman was a stranger. Also his realization of compassion was after the show where he began to talk to Alice, Compassion forgives too much, you could forgive the worst aware Why leave the power in his hands. There is more compassion in my desire for truth that your image of compassion (Annotated 123-124). In this conversation teen Alice and Patrick, Patrick realizes the expectation of compassion as being compassionate he gives people a chance to socialize with him. If he had not been compassionate he would not have even tried to mingle with the immigrants, save Aggravating, or even met Alice daughter Hanna. His compassion was plentiful that after Lices death he began to raise Hanna as his own. Above all getting to love and decipher Alice light a very bright light in Patriots life which was taken away after Clara left with Smalls. Alice introduces Patrick to see the world and its people in a different perspective. She began by making him realize his compassion towards others which opened up a lot of important things in Patriots life. Alice also taught Patrick that not all things are set in stone and you have to adapt to ever situation that you are put in. Alice says to Patrick, muff name the enemy and destroy their powers. (Annotated 124), which summarizes Lices dreams or ideals. As after Lices death Patrick goes into depression and then remembers this quote and begins to pursue Lices ideals and her dream in a very dramatic fashion when he attempts to destroy the city, mainly the rich. Therefore, Alice is a vital part of his life and he lives on through the ethics and lessons she has taught him. In conclusion, throughout the book In The Skin Of A Lion, Patrick Lewis expectations and influences help him towards self discovery. Patriots childhood in an isolated area allows him to become more self-sufficient and allows him to appreciate his companions. His compassion and kindness helps him meet important people in his life and further understand himself. Last of all, his relationship with Alice gives him a new perspective on life and teaches him some valuable live lessons.

Good Grocers, Inc Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Good Grocers, Inc - Research Paper Example The settlement may provide a cheaper alternative than court proceedings. August, Mayer & Bixby (2013) are of the assumption that court proceedings may dent the publicity of an organization if the plaintiff presents a believable argument. The organization should seek for an outside court settlement as a public relation strategy (August, Mayer & Bixby, 2013). In this case, Ms. Greene requires to be provided with benefits that are offered to employees who work on a part-time basis. The new demand would require more than the $15 per hour wage. In addition, she will be provided with additional incentives that are not provided with contractors. However, before she can be granted the request, the terms and conditions of her contract should be reviewed. If Ms. Greene knew what her contract entailed, she cannot alter the terms of the product. Emerson (2009) asserts that an employee contract binds their relationship with their employer. They further point out that the terms on a contract can only be changed when it is necessary (Emerson, 2009). In this instance, it is not necessary. The store has enough employees, and Ms. Greene supplements the three days her services are

The Man Who Was Almost a Man Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

The Man Who Was Almost a Man - Term Paper Example Throughout the story, Dave is seen to be a frustrated young adult since people never took him as a man as he wanted and acquiring a gun was a way of getting power and would demand respect using it even if it would mean killing a man. â€Å"The first movement he made the following morning was to reach under his pillow for the gun; in the gray light of dawn he held it loosely, feeling a sense of power could kill a man with a gun like this (Wright 75).† â€Å"Kill anybody, black or white, and if he were holding his gun in his hand, nobody could run over him; they would respect him (Wright 75).† However, instead of gaining the respect he was demanding, possession of the gun led him into more trouble and ruined his respect greatly. Some of the factors that were making Dave feel less of a man was the fact that his mom was waking him up every morning in order for him to go and work in the plow fields. To make the matter worse, she would go ahead and keep Dave’s money for him for she still felt that Dave was an immature young boy. Moreover, Dave is seen to be uncomfortable with the treatment he was getting at the field, claiming that he was not being respected as a man. All these factors pushed him to purchase a gun, which he bought from the olds man Hawkins’ store (Wright para20-23). However, Dave had to beg his mom like a little baby so as to be given some money to buy the gun, to a point of deceiving her that the gun would be for his father. Finally, the mother gave in on the conditions that Dave would be bring it straight back to her immediately he buys it as well as ensure that he return it to her every night before going to bed. A critical analysis of this story shows a complete failure by Dave to make himself recognized by the society as a man. A man is a male individual who possess qualities like strength, courage, fortitude and most importantly honor or respect among other

Business forecasting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Business forecasting - Essay Example Budgets do not simply indicate the upcoming period’s expenses and revenues, as competition in the market place increase, companies have recognized the need to accurately predict their future operations’ outcomes and the related resource requirements. Budgeting involves use of forecasting techniques, it is an organization-wide process and is central in strategic planning. Effectiveness of the budgeting process depend on the accuracy of forecasts, reliability, simplicity, and cost effectiveness, this accuracy can be enhanced by use of various techniques, using more than one method of forecasting, and obtaining enough and more accurate data (Rasmussen 2003, p. 113). Where budget forecasts fall far from actual outcomes for the period, it is likely that poor decisions on future projections are made and management may end up lacking trust in budgets made while the whole organization may suffer poor planning. Poor budgeting forecasts results from poor budgeting tools lack of s taff training on forecasting techniques, too little time allocated in making correct projections. Correct budget forecasts makes financial planning and execution of operating activities like staffing, inventory management, marketing plans, and performance easier. Budget forecasting is used in making different types of budgets including purchase of raw materials, inventory levels, adjusting incentive plans and staffing levels. Budget forecasting is central in project planning and costing, financial outlays and staff.

Strategic Business Planning Management And Decision Making

Strategic Business Planning Management And Decision Making The term strategy has found a limited definition arising, principally, from military origins. This definition has been expanded into the business context where many authors have argued strategy in terms of quantitative and qualitative processes. However, it continues to defy a singular, definitive definition. In order to understand strategy, we must look beyond its military antecedents and identify strategy as a life process. Different possible definitions of strategy are: Strategy is the direction and scope of an organisation over the long term, which achieves the advantage in the changing environment through its configuration of resources and competences with the aim of fulfilling stakeholder expectations. Strategies are developed in order to achieve the goals and objectives of the organisation. Aconsistency of direction based on a clear understanding of the game being played and an acute awareness of how to manoeuvre into a position of advantage. Strategy is not just a notion of how to deal with an enemy or set of competitors or a market. It draws us into some of the most fundamental issues about organizations as instruments for collective perception and action. Scope and nature of strategic business management and planning: Scope and nature of strategic business management and planning is a widespread topic and it is hard to list down every aspect of it. I am using JSW model to describe some of the key aspects of strategic business management and planning: The organisations long termdirection: no specific timescale is envisaged but one should think in terms in excess of one year and more probably of several years. The scope of an organisations activities: This will include both the overall roles and purposes the organisation accepts for itself and the activities it undertakes in pursuit of them. For commercial organisations and for many not for profit organisations too, strategic planning will be about gaining some kind of advantage in competition. Strategic decisions are affected by the values and expectationsof organisations stakeholders. Stakeholders are people who have a legitimate interest in what the organisation does. Characteristics of strategic business management and planning: Using JSW model as an reference, some of the key characteristics of strategic business management and planning are: Decisions about the strategic planning are likely to be complexsince there are likely to be a number of significant factors to take in to consideration and a variety of possible outcomes to balance against one another. There is likely to be a high degree of uncertaintysurrounding strategic planning, both about the precise nature of current circumstances and about the likely consequences of any course of action. Strategic planning and management have extensive impact on operational decision making, that is, planning and decision at lower levels in the organisation. Strategic planning affects the whole organisation and requires processes that cross operational and functional boundaries within it. An integrated approachis therefore required. Strategic planning and management are likely to lead to changewithin the organisation as resource capacity is adjusted to permit new courses of action. Changes with implications for organisational cultureare particularly complex and difficult to manage. Key strategies of British Airways are: Be the airline of primary choice for long haul premium customers: So people will want to fly with us at any time they can. We will carry on to come up with great stuff such as the new business class seat on long haul and a restyled First cabin. Deliver a incomparable service for customers at every touch point: By training crew, on the ground and in the sky, in world-class warmth and customer service. Customers can check-in from their mobiles or PDAs. Grow our survival in key global cities around the world: To render the best global connectivity for our customers. In addition toour new long haul service from London City to New York JFK, our network depth will strengthen with more flights to Dubai and Johannesburg and a return to Saudi Arabia. Build on our leading stance in London: The worlds biggest aviation market. Ensuring Heathrow remains a world classhub is vital to give us a powerful London base to cater the largest international long haul markets. We will obtain new slots, support plans for athird runway and work with BAA to improve baggage and terminal conveniencesat Heathrow. Meet our customers needs and improve profit margins through new revenue streams: By coming up with profitable supplementary services that offer customers great value and re-enforce our brand. Our aspire is to grow our mileage business and further revenues from third-party engineering, in-flight sales and a new online retail website. On ba.com we have now launched a variety of great value hotel and car hire options packaged with our flights. The decisions we are taking now will establish how strongly we materialize from the downturn. The airline industry is in a period of unprecedented change and we have developed a clear strategy for our business. In order to become the principal global premium airline, we necessitate to look at the way we work as well as what we are doing as a business. For that rationale, along with our five key strategies, we have launched a three-year change programme Compete 2012 correlated to our sponsorship of the London 2012 Olympics. This programme is being progressively rolled out across our business to revive our culture and will reform the way we work. Need of strategy in global environment: Todays environment is very much dynamic. Organisations are in a constant exercise of realigning themselves to the needs of the environment. Defined and thorough strategy plays a vital part here. Especially for a globally operating organisation like BA, it could be a matter of success or failure. Managers must be aware that markets, supplies, investors, locations, partners, and competitors can be everywhere. Successful businesses will take advantage of opportunities wherever they are and will be prepared for downfalls. International strategy is the continuous and comprehensive management technique designed to help companies operate and compete effectively across national restrictions, For example, some companies form partnerships with companies in other countries, others acquire companies in other countries, others still develop products, services, and marketing campaigns designed to appeal to customers in other countries. Some rudimentary aspects of international strategies mirror do mestic strategies in that companies must determine what products or services to sell, where and how to sell them, where and how they will produce or provide them, and how they will compete with other companies in the industry in accordance with company goals. Generally, a Company develops its international strategy by considering its overall strategy, which includes its operations at home and abroad. We can consider four aspects of strategy: (1) scope of operations, (2) resource allocation, (3) competitive advantage, and (4) synergy. Besides the fact that well defined strategic business management and planning processes bring structure, control and consistency to the overall decision making of the organisation but we (the company) should also consider that the formal decision making model discussed above may distract managers attention from controlling actual process as making strategic plans is not the same thing as managing the process. A split may also develop between the people responsible for planning and those responsible for implementation. Particularly in large organisation like ours (BA) the planning system may be too complex and extensive for even quite senior managers to understand the way it works. Over-formal planning systems and over-rigid control can hamper innovative thinking. As the national and international environment is always in a constant move so one can say that there is no one best planning and management model. Now a days the environmental factors and most importantly the customer are in a greater power than before that influences the overall structure, strategy, planning and management processes of the organisation. Prescriptive and Emergent (Mintzberg) strategies: In real world, 100% intended or prescriptive strategies does not get realised. Some intended strategies fail as predicted environment keeps changing. Emergent strategies arise in response to unexpected changes in the environment and may be better than intended strategies. Hence, organisations should keep some room for emergent strategies alongside the formal process i.e. Rational model. Following diagram is a snapshot of how a mix of prescriptive and emergent strategies get realised in the practical world: Different levels of strategy and their relationship with each other: (Hofer and Schender) Strategic business management and planning can be formulated on three different levels: Corporate level. Tactical or business level. Operational level. Corporate level strategy makers analyze the common needs of business units and add impact to the whole system in addition to individual development of participating business units. Issues with reference to the introduction of new products or growth into new markets or segments are all a part of this strategic level. Corporate level strategy forms the stem of the strategic decision tree and the management has to be wholly responsive of its implications as well as the sensitivity of all succeeding strategies, no matter at what level. It is of prime substance that corporate level strategy is entirely associated by and large with the vision of the business and the values and prospect of stakeholders. Business or tactical level strategies are in essence position strategies whereby businesses safe for themselves uniqueness and spot in the market. The endeavour here is to augment the business value for the corporate and stakeholders by increasing the brand understanding and value professed by the customers. The third level of strategy is the operational level which chiefly is concerned with successfully implementing the tactical decisions prepared at Corporate and business unit level through optimal consumption of resources and competencies of the business unit. A methodical understanding of the three levels of strategy makes their strong co-dependence and non-hierarchical nature obvious. All strategies have to be in absolute harmonization with each other since the accomplishment of one is inseparably related to the other. So as a substitute of being in a top-down order, the inter-connecting can be visualized as a triangle with the three corners indicating the three levels. Visions, missions and objectives: The two organisations which are to be contrasted and compared are British Airways (for Profit) and Oxfam (Not for Profit). Vision: Vision means the category of intentions which are broad, all-intrusive and forward-thinking. The corporate success is reliant on the vision set by the top management. A vision is the image that a business must have of its objectives before it sets out to reach them. It describes ambitions for the future, without specifying the means that will be used to achieve those desired ends. Vision of British Air : The Vision focuses on employees and customers à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.it emphasizes BAs desire to be the worlds global airline. Vision of Oxfam UK : Oxfams vision is that diverse communities of people living in poverty will exercise their rights to a decent and secure standard of living in developed society. Mission : A mission statement is an organizations vision converted into written form. It makes tangible the managements view of the direction and purpose of the organization. Mission of British Airways : To be the undisputed leader in world travel for the next millennium. Mission of Oxfam : The main areas of Oxfam mission focus are poverty alleviation, action against violence, making people exercise their rights, removing gender inequality and preventing and reducing environment damage. Objectives : Objectives give the organization a clearly defined target. Planning can then be made thereafter to achieve these targets. This is helpful in motivating the employees. It also allows the business to measure the progress towards to its stated aims. Objectives of British Airways : The main objectives of British Air revolve around the following key areas: Employee satisfaction and retention Customer Satisfaction Being more effective as an international carrier as compared to other airlines. Making efficient use of resources. Using methods that are environmentally friendly. Making the airline more competitive in terms of fares while at the same time focusing on profitability. Objectives of Oxfam : The main objectives of Oxfam address the following: Creating programs for people to make them exercise their rights. Taking measures to reduce environmental damage. Creating awareness among women and thus working towards gender equality. Taking practical measures against the use of violence. Methodology for creating Vision, Mission and Objectives: The methodology used would be: Vision: Based on the views of the management to create a certain image of the airline in the long-term and how the founding members/key stakeholders want to see the organization in future. Mission: It will be based on the vision and the methodology used will depend on the need for to stand out amongst the airline industry. Objective: The Objectives will be decided comparing the performance of other airlines and the key steps / indicators required to translate the vision in to tangible results. Methodology for creating Vision, Mission and Objectives: Vision: This will be decided according to the core principles on which a charity like Oxfam is founded. The factors considered would be the environment in which the charity operates and the people affected by its activities. Mission: This area is decided according to the aims of the key stakeholders and the different areas on which Oxfam focuses including poverty reduction, disaster relief and development projects around the world. Objective: The objectives will be set for the short or long term and the performance measures for the charity taking into consideration the main areas of operations as well as the likely hurdles in attaining a particular goal. Strategic business management and planning method: Strategic Business Management and Planning Method of the organization : One of the main methods used is the SWOT Analysis and the PEST analysis. It takes into account the likely impact of the steps taken by British Air to meet its objectives taking into account the competitors as well as the global conditions existent in the world of travel and transport. This will focus on the main areas which can have a direct impact on the running of the airline including the fuel prices , customer satisfaction, competitor fares etc. Strategic Business Management and Planning Method of the organization : The methods used for a non-profit like Oxfam would be different as they will focus on key achievement areas in its global relief and humanitarian efforts rather than profitability. A key method might be the Value for Money (VFM) process. The likely areas taken into account during these methods might include the amount of donations received, the number of people served and the effectiveness of the work undertaken by Oxfam. The influence of corporate governance and regulations: Influence of Corporate Governance and Regulations: British airways has to take into account different areas of corporate governance including the performance of the board and the regulation concerning the executive pay, the roles and duties of chairman and the chief executive , regulation concerning the functioning of board committees, shareholder accountability , environmental regulation. Influence of Corporate Governance and Regulations: Oxfams corporate governance procedures will take into account the requirement for directors and trustees and adhering to a code of conduct(based on the Nolan Committee Principles of Standards in Public Life),also looking into possible conflicts of interests . The specifications of the memorandum of association and the key charitable aims of the charity. Relevance of visions, missions and objectives: Many organisations never explore their reasons for being in business. They are so involved in day-to-day actions they fail to see the bigger picture. So what is the significance of having an articulated Vision, Mission and Objectives? It starts with establishing your core values. Core values are things that drive an organisation. They are the driving force of an organisation. They are fixed and do not change over time. Once the core values are established, the next step is the Vision, a long-term goal. It can be something minute or something that is huge. The Mission flows from an organisations Vision. A Mission is important because it embraces the commitment of an organisation to staff, customers, and the community at large. It may define the company ethos, core beliefs of the owners, service levels, quality, excellence, training and commitment. Setting objectives is the stage that comes next in the process. It is important because it shows how an organisation delivers on the promises made by its Mission. If there is clarity in both the Vision and Mission, it is easy to decide on the objectives. Objectives can be set for each key area of the business along with a time-line for completion. Objectives may be corporate, product, market, sales, financial, operations, or staff related or any combination of these.As can be seen, this is a trickle down system with higher level aspirations that flow down to every level of the business and become the glue that holds everything together. The benefits of having a vision, mission and objectives are clear and unambiguous. Every step that an organisation takes is in pursuit of its articulated end game.

My Philosophy of Education Essay -- Philosophy of Education Statement

My Philosophy of Education All children can learn. This has been a philosophy of mine ever since I won a contest in fourth grade. All fourth graders were asked to submit a saying a that was going to be put on our school flag. To my surprise, I won and that was what made me realize just how true that statement is. However, that philosophy can be broken up into five components. The first being the purpose of education. Second, the nature of knowledge. Third, the nature of the student. Next, the method used in teaching. Last, but of course not least, the curriculum that is taught in schools. I feel the purpose of education is to create a better person as well as a better society. In today’s society, people need an education more than ever. If a person has an education , they will have better job security which means they will not be as likely to lose their job to technology. Technology gets better by the day. Jobs that required manual work fifteen years ago are now being done by computers or machines. Car factory assembly lines is a good example because the machines can now put the parts together. Another good example is in libraries, when people used to check out books they would have to fill out a card and write down all kinds of book information. Now however, the librarians simply scan the book. I do not know, nor do I want to know how it would feel to have a nonliving â€Å"thing† take your job. This could cause a person to have some serious mental downfalls which brings me to Rousseau. I agree with him when he said people should be able to ma ke their decision and have the right to choose to be good, physically fit, and happy. These three things are so important when it comes to bettering a person. The nat... ... After graduation, I hope to get a job that will give me the opportunity to make these ideas reality. I know that after a few years of teaching I will make a lot of changes as well as adjustments. Seeing the varieties of teaching styles through my co-workers will give me different ideas on teaching. I eventually would like to be able to join groups of with other teachers and professionals that will allow me to learn more about teaching. Well, there you have it. My philosophy of education. I am aware that there are many ways of teaching and I am going to be very open minded about other teachers philosophies and not criticize them. The variety of people is what makes the world go ‘round and that is why all teachers have a different way of teaching. However, I feel that the importance of these five components need to be stressed throughout all classrooms. My Philosophy of Education Essay -- Philosophy of Education Statement My Philosophy of Education All children can learn. This has been a philosophy of mine ever since I won a contest in fourth grade. All fourth graders were asked to submit a saying a that was going to be put on our school flag. To my surprise, I won and that was what made me realize just how true that statement is. However, that philosophy can be broken up into five components. The first being the purpose of education. Second, the nature of knowledge. Third, the nature of the student. Next, the method used in teaching. Last, but of course not least, the curriculum that is taught in schools. I feel the purpose of education is to create a better person as well as a better society. In today’s society, people need an education more than ever. If a person has an education , they will have better job security which means they will not be as likely to lose their job to technology. Technology gets better by the day. Jobs that required manual work fifteen years ago are now being done by computers or machines. Car factory assembly lines is a good example because the machines can now put the parts together. Another good example is in libraries, when people used to check out books they would have to fill out a card and write down all kinds of book information. Now however, the librarians simply scan the book. I do not know, nor do I want to know how it would feel to have a nonliving â€Å"thing† take your job. This could cause a person to have some serious mental downfalls which brings me to Rousseau. I agree with him when he said people should be able to ma ke their decision and have the right to choose to be good, physically fit, and happy. These three things are so important when it comes to bettering a person. The nat... ... After graduation, I hope to get a job that will give me the opportunity to make these ideas reality. I know that after a few years of teaching I will make a lot of changes as well as adjustments. Seeing the varieties of teaching styles through my co-workers will give me different ideas on teaching. I eventually would like to be able to join groups of with other teachers and professionals that will allow me to learn more about teaching. Well, there you have it. My philosophy of education. I am aware that there are many ways of teaching and I am going to be very open minded about other teachers philosophies and not criticize them. The variety of people is what makes the world go ‘round and that is why all teachers have a different way of teaching. However, I feel that the importance of these five components need to be stressed throughout all classrooms.

Wal-Mart and Nordstrom

Wal-Mart and Nordstrom are well known companies and established brands listed on Fortune 500 list. Wal-Mart caters almost all needs of its customers from grocery to clothing while Nordstrom operates in fashion retainging industry. It keeps collection of more than 500 brands in its store. Wal-Mart Wal-Mart is the largest retailer in America. These discount stores became part of American’s life in 1960s. At present it is operating in 15 countries, it employs more than 1.8 million associates worldwide. The number of stores is nearly 6,500 stores and serves more than 176 million customers per week. The â€Å"most admired retailer† according to FORTUNE magazine has just completed one of the best years in its history: Wal-Mart generated more than $312.4 billion in global revenue in the fiscal year ended January 31, 2006, establishing a new record and an increase of 9.5 percent. The company earned almost $11.2 billion in net income in fiscal 2005.[1] Wal-Mart has gone through considerable changes through the year 2003-04. Wal-Mart had increased its advertising budget by $434 million between 2003 and 2004. The mission of Wal-Mart has been to provide good jobs, good works, and citizens and do good investments in 2004. The vision of Wal-Mart has always been to provide customer each and every product at the lowest price. Wal-Mart focused on cost cutting by its strategy on the merchandise mix and various operations. It utilized its database for consumer and requirement analysis. This helped it to understand the demand pattern of various products and helped in inventory management to make products available when customer wanted it most. The marketing activities revolve around the equation People+ Price+ Product=Value. Company’s promotional strategies are not limited to a particular source. Company has utilized all the traditional and modern channels to reach its customer with its best offers. Wal-Mart adopts simple price promotion strategy in all its strategies. Its website is colorful attractive and displays various products and offers in each of its web page. Wal-Mart uses billboards and signboards which are placed at the public places and the places with high visibilities. The pamphlets and print materials are used for both in side the store promotion as well as outside the stores. Nordstrom Its one of the largest fashion retail stores in US. Its annual revenue is $7,722.9 million. It is ranked 8th in the general merchandiser group of fortune 500 companies. â€Å"Today, Nordstrom has grown from one downtown Seattle shoe store into a nationwide fashion specialty chain with renowned services, generous size ranges and a selection of the finest apparel, shoes and accessories for the entire family. The company's philosophy has remained unchanged for more than 100 years since its establishment by John W. Nordstrom in 1901: offer the customer the best possible service, selection, quality and value.† This claims to provide branded clothes in the best minimum prizes. It adopts various promotional strategies for the promotion of its store. These strategies include electronic medium such as internet and computers, events and programs and printed materials. Events like designer clothes events, in store beauty events, sales events and many others. The web presence of the Nordstrom’s website is elegant. It also works as a platform for the promotional strategies. Currently $ 5 shipping campaign is going on this website.   Its webpage has various attractive pictures creating interest about the products as well as self promotion of the company. It has its own e-catalogue which list all its product and accessories for the information and shopping purpose. Each of the company uses almost all kind of promotional tools to reach their target consumers and other stake holders. The use of web pages in both the cases has been different with similar objective of attracting consumer and selling. However the e-catalogue of Nordstrom and images used in the website is more urban and attractive. Wal-mart tries to attract mass and it is evident from its website presentation. Nordstrom conducts various events as one of its most important promotional strategies. Reference: Kotler, Philip, Marketing Management, Prentice-Hall Inc. New Jersy, 10th Edition, 2000 Nankani, Economic Growth in the 1990s: Learning from a Decade of Reform retrieved on 22 January 2007   from http://www1.worldbank.org/prem/lessons1990s/chaps/01-Ch01.pdf Serres, Chris Target vs. Wal-Mart, Is Target Corporation Any Better for Workers? May 22nd, 2005 retrieved on 22 January 2007     from http://www.reclaimdemocracy.org/walmart/2005/target_better.php http://investors.target.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=65828;p=irol-newsArticle;ID=233786;highlight=accessed on 22 January 2007 http://www.sathguru.com/Note_on_Retail_Industry.pdf accessed on 22 January 2007 http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/snapshots/957.html accessed on 22 January 2007 http://about.nordstrom.com/aboutus/companyhist/companyhist.asp accessed on 22 January 2007 [1] http://walmartstores.com/GlobalWMStoresWeb/navigate.do?catg=5

Evil Hour in Columbia by Forrest Hylton Essay

Forrest Hylton in his book Evil Hour in Columbia, describes the historical background of Columbia in the context of the re installation of Alvaro Uribe as the president. He emphasizes how the current government has a nexus with the drug cartel. How the current government uses systematic displacement, murder and terror to further the interest of the drug interest group and capitalists interest. When Alvaro Uribe Velez became the president of Columbia on 7th August, 2002, the outlaws became powerful. Uribe’s father has suddenly found wealth, power and influence in the mid 1970s as a political broker. Uribe Sierra was connected to the influential family that joined the upwardly mobile contrabandists to form the infamous Medellin cartel. When he attended a meeting of the drug cartel at Napoles, he was removed from the post as a mayor of Medellin. When his father died in 1983 and left behind a huge debt Alvaro Uribe took charge. As the governor of Antioquia, between 1995 and 1996, formed close alliances with Pedro Juan Moreno Villa, the main importer of potassium permanganate a chemical important for the manufacture of cocaine. Forrest Hylton explores the conflicts that are currently harming Colombian lives, property, communities and region. Hylton shows a sense of hurry, a rush to convey how control, property and power have been appropriated by a few powerful persons who have used the weapons of terror, subjugation and financial depredation to maintain their position. Forrest Hylton systematically builds the case against Alvaro Uribe. He traces Uribe’s record as the governor of Antioquia. He is reputed to have supported the anti-guerilla militias who rendered homeless 200,000 peasants. In the banana export enclaves there was a spate of murders when he became the governor. The author’s plea reaches desperation when Alvaro is elected for the second term on May 28, 2006. The author is hurt by the jubilation of the US state and other allies at the election of Uribe. He feels an urgency to convey his apprehensions to the reader. It seems that Hylton is perturbed by the re election of Uribe because of the negative impact on the society and economy of Colombia. Hylton’s plea is well intentioned. He does not want the social struggles to continue, he does not want a state that supports the narcotic carte, he does not want to support the amalgam of the government and illegal perpetrators or crime nor does he want the exploitation of the majority of the people of Colombia. He is making a plea for an end to the exclusionary social fabric that is supported by the capitalist countries. Â  One of the reasons why Hylton makes a plea is that Colombia is a country where normal forms of confrontation and struggle are difficult. Trade unionism is perilous; in 2006 alone there were 70 deaths of trade unionists. A large number of workers who show opposition are killed. The killings of the worker leaders have been engineered by military and paramilitary forces. Capitalist’s interests are held culpable for dispossessing the Colombians of their land and property (Hylton 35). The modus operandi is to displace people from mining regions and appropriate their property. According to Hylton the effect of this domination on the economy is disastrous. Sixty four percent of the population lives below poverty line. A large proportion of the population cannot afford food, health requirements of the population are not met and employment is scarce. Health care and education is available only to the elite. On the other hand the US government depreciates the Columbian society for having a ‘tendency towards violence’. Hylton feels that such explanations are unjust as neither history supports such explanations nor does the behavior of people in neighboring countries give credence to these claims. The Columbian model Hylton feels has been adapted in Iraq and Afghanistan and may be adapted in different countries that use counter terrorism. Hylton chronicles his account from 1848 when there was popular political system and Colombia was one of the leading Atlantic democracies. He describes in great detail the century and half since then and the downturn from that point and the resistance against the negative forces. His book is a plea for a socially mindful political system, a documentation of the futile attempts to do so and the growth of officially backed narcotics alliance and its ‘paramilitaries’. Hylton is trying to draw the attention of the world on the brutal acts of repressions, the wasting of the Columbian agricultural system and the proliferation of coca for the production of cocaine. To sum, Hylton in his book Evil Hour in Columbia points out the social and economic frustration of Columbia with the election of Uribe. He feels that this will perpetrate a regime that is backed by and controlled by the drug lobby on one hand and the capitalists on the other hand. He points out that Uribe has a despicable past. In the past his government has caused displacement of peasants and murders. His installation as the president causes apprehension that Columbia is doomed to another period of exploitation, deprivation and poverty. Reference: Hylton, Forrest, Evil Hour in Colombia, Verso London and New York, 2006.

Wemmicks character analysis Essays

Wemmicks character analysis Essays Wemmicks character analysis Paper Wemmicks character analysis Paper Wemmick is a clerk at Mr. Jaggers office. In this book, we get introduced to Wemmick during the second stage of pips life, in page 157. Wemmick is a very important character in the story as he greatly helps the protagonist, pip after he goes to London. He is the person who gives pip the money allotted to him by his benefactor, whenever required and furnishes him with his basic needs. Interestingly Wemmick has two different distinct personalities. One surfaces when he is at his work place and the other when he is back at home. Wemmic himself tells pip about this in page 192. He says, The office is one thing and private life is another. When I go into the office, I leave the Castle behind me, and when I come into the Castle, I leave the office behind me. At his work place we come across Wemmick as being very stern and unruffled. This characteristic in him can be seen in page 157, pip says, We found a new set of people lingering out side, but Wemmick made a way among them by saying coolly yet decisively, I tell you all, its no use; he (Mr. Jaggers) wont have a word to say to one of you and we soon got clear of them and went on side by side. In the page 157 again, pip describes Wemmick, while at work as a, dry man, rather short in stature, whose expression seemed to have been imperfectly chipped out with a dull edged chisel. Wemmick never seems to be bothered by the common din and the chaos around his workplace. He had an exceptionally calm disposition. This characteristic in him can be observed in page 158 where pip says, he wore his hat on the back of his head, and looked straight before him: walking in a self-contained way as if there were nothing in the streets to claim his attention. His mouth was such a post office of a mouth that he had a mechanical appearance of smiling. We had got to the top of Holborn Hill before I knew that it was merely a mechanical appearance and that he was not smiling at all. While this was the sterner, more coarse nature of Wemmick, back at home, he was much more concerned about various things and was very friendly. Wemmicks caring and concerned characteristic can be seen in page 238. Talking about his father he tells pip, He is in wonderful feather. Hell be 82 next birthday. I have a notion of firing eighty-two times, if the neighbourhood shouldnt complain and that cannon of mine should prove equal to the pressure. This also goes to show how much he loved his father. Wemmicks friendly nature surfaces when he at his home. This can be witnessed in page 192 where pip recalls, The interval between that time and supper, Wemmick devoted to showing me his collection of curiosities. And in page 193 he says, wemmick was up early in the morning, and I am afraid I heard him cleaning my boots. After that he fell to gardening and I saw him from my gothic window pretending to employ the Aged and nodding at him in the most devoted manner. Our breakfast was as good as supper and at half past 8 precisely we started for Little Britain. By degrees, Wemmick got dryer and harder as we went along, and his mouth tightened into a post office again. At last we got to his place of business and he pulled out his key from his coat collar, he looked as unconscious of his Walworth property as if the Castle and the drawbridge and the arbor and the lake and the fountain and the Aged had all been blown into space together by the last discharge of the Stinger. Wemmick cared a lot for pip. Eventually he becomes a good friend and adviser to Pip. His importance in the story is truly realized in page 334, where he saves Pips life by sending him a note cautioning him not to go home.

Atmosphere of Mystery and Suspense Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Atmosphere of Mystery and Suspense - Essay Example Focusing on films that we have covered this semester, namely, The Birds by Alfred Hitchcock,   The Birth of Nation by David Wark Griffings,   The Night of the Hunter by Charles Laughton, Sunset Boulevard by Billy Wilder, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari by Robert Wiene, Rear Window by Alfred Hitchcock, Grand Illusion by Jean Renoir, Ossessione by Luchino Visconti, The Battleship Potemkin by Sergei Eisenstein, The White Ribbon by Michael Haneke, The Song of the South by Wilfred Jackson and Harve Foster and Sunrise by Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau there is a usual similarity to be observed. All the films are not set in the current modern setting, so one has to consider the fact that directors by then had serious challenges to technical skills and machine support. Nevertheless, one respects their works and seek to know how they accomplished their goals. For any successful film quality of Choice of characters, choice and quality of sound, camera angles and movement should not be compromised. T his is based on the fact that camera angles and sound system show the actual objective of the film, its meaning and significance. The actual setting and the actual nature of the characters is also evident in the film. It is also through these three factors we understand the emotions of the authors and the intentions of the director. Though the study did not exhibit modern technology in their development, the directors did beat the midnight oil to use techniques such as soundtrack system to explain their intentions. The sound is often measured in decibels. These are units which can be detected by a human ear when changed. Therefore, the composition of all of these factors determines the quality of the film. This paper shows an analysis of the films that exist in the society. Any director worth their professional standards understands the importance of settings in film development. This is based on the fact that the setting outline the plot and other vital aspect developed into a movi e. For instance, in the film, â€Å"The Birth of a Nation (1915),† showcase the reconstruction era in America. An individual is able to understand how time setting influences the development. The strategic use of camera and sound explain the plot development. This is evident through the use of cameras looking down Sherman’s March. It is significant to explain the use of camera angles and placement since it opens the audience's mind. It also creates a level of suspense through political happenings. That is why we also view the director’s choice of sound that has the VHS and DVD formats to maintain the quality of sound. The film explains the occurrence of the American civil war primarily by the Ku Klux Klan gang. It also evaluates the effects of the death of Cameron’s brother in the war. During the painful experience, uses the direction of camera angles set strategically to capture the anguish and pain of Ben Cameroon when he receives news about his hanging . On the other hand, sound cements the director's objectives as strange mysterious sound can be heard when Ben is suffering the realization that his other family members had actually died in the war. The setting of the film actually explains that the outcome of events for instance crime punishable by murder through hanging was common in those times. The film La Grand Illusion (1937), focuses on the fate of a small group of French Soldiers after the outcome of the war. The characters were prisoners of war and were plotting an escape. The timing is during the middle of the world war II when a castle build in Western France appear in the film.        

Issac Newton Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Issac Newton - Research Paper Example There are, however, many facets to this man’s life, other than being a scientist, that are worthy to know. Perhaps that is what truly causes mankind to label an individual the â€Å"greatest.† Possessing not only scientific prowess but also religious and philosophical ponderings, Newton is still a focus of conversation in academic and theological circles nearly 300 years after his death. While people will certainly argue that Sir Isaac Newton should not be considered the â€Å"greatest,† the author of this paper will argue that he is certainly worthy of that title based on the magnitude of his scientific discoveries and the depth of his wisdom and thinking. Sir Isaac Newton, from England, made his mark on the areas of physics, mathematics, astronomy, natural philosophy, alchemy, and theology. That is quite an impressive resume to say the least. One interesting item to note when comparing Newton to other â€Å"geniuses† of the modern era is the fact that he really did not demonstrate his phenomenal abilities until after adolescence. In fact, he lived a rather normal and dull academic life through primary and secondary school. It was not until his time at Trinity College, beginning in 1661, that he began to really excel and get noticed. During this time period, academic life was dominated by the teachings of Aristotle, Descartes, Copernicus, Galileo, and Kepler. Being somewhat of a loner, Newton spent much of his waking hours devouring the teachings of these great men. This is likely when he developed such a broad academic interest. It is amazing to consider all of the various fields previously mentioned that Newton ended up excelling in. Of course, he did not just excel in them; he ended up altering and changing the face of each of these disciplines, as we know them. It was during his time at Trinity that Newton discovered the binomial theorem in mathematics. He then, during these brief four years of undergraduate work, began to devel op infinitesimal calculus. Even with these major accomplishments, amazingly he still graduated relatively unnoticed and simply returned to his family home. It was there that he spent two years engrossed in theories on calculus, optics, and the law of gravitation. Upon completing them, he was lured back to Cambridge and became a fellow at Trinity. It was in this capacity that in addition to his scientific pursuits, he became intrigued by philosophy and theology. This was likely due to the fact that in England during this time period, fellows were required to become ordained priests in addition to carrying out their academic duties (Morrison 133-135). Even though he was heavily influenced by religion and philosophy during his time as a fellow, his pursuits in the areas of physics and mathematical theory continued to dominate his time. Later in his life, however, he began to write volumes on his philosophy about religion. In fact, during the 1690s he wrote a series of religious writing s that dealt with the literal interpretation of the Bible. Some of his religious writings were published; others were so controversial that they remained unpublished. That is the nature of a genius, however. His thought process revolutionized the way in which the religious world looks at theology. Since the field of theology is slow to change in comparison to the scientific world, however, much of his work was so groundbreaking that many critics of Newton arose and countered his arguments. Finally, it