Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Zambia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Zambia - Essay Example The creators give invigorating thoughts on how Zambian riches could be upgraded through plan of better strategies on condition in a nation that intensely depends on copper digging for its financial pillar. The creators recognize that improvement of Zambian economy for the most part depends on â€Å"prudent natural management†. To guarantee the conservation of riches in the nation, Aongola et al underline on the need of advancing â€Å"sustainable development† in all areas of Zambian economy. The creators allude broadly to past exploration on Zambian economy and assets. This article furnished me with a more extensive point of view of Zambian characteristic assets and social, political obstructions that causes impractical use of assets. 2. Campbell, et al. Miombo forests: Opportunities and obstructions to supportable backwoods the executives. 2007. 2 June 2011. Recovered from http://www.cifor.cgiar.org/miombo/docs/Campbell_BarriersandOpportunities.pdf The creators are reg ular assets specialists, with numerous long periods of showing involvement with Universities across southern Africa. This article centers around the Miombo Woodland, broad tropical and occasional forest that covers a roughly 2.7 million Km2 across seven southern African nations including Zambia. The creators give a review of the basic job that Miombo forest play in keeping up employments of around 100 million occupants in southern Africa. The creators note, â€Å"high neediness levels in these nations have come about to overexploitation of the forest, a circumstance that compromises the biological equalization in Zambia†. This article gives a significant commitment to this paper by featuring the significance of Miombo forest assets in moderating neediness in Zambia and other southern African states. 3. Dorothy, F. An audit of monetary, administration and regular asset strategy change in southern Africa, with unique reference to the instance of Zambia. 11 Oct 2004. 1 June 2011 . Recovered from http://www.infra.kth.se/courses/1H1142/Furberg_EconChange.pdf This article centers around the monetary, administration and regular assets arrangements in Zambia. The creator recognizes absence of evenhanded and manageable financial advancement as the principle challenges that sabotage social, political and monetary improvement in Zambia. The creator characteristics the current ecological and monetary issues in Zambia to past political systems in the nation that affected â€Å"poor political frameworks and natural approaches in the country†. The article gives a reviving verifiable outline of Zambian political advancement and how it has affected abuse of normal assets in the nation to date. 4. Jumbe, et al. Commitments of the Dry Forests to Rural Livelihoods and the National Economy in Zambia. 2007. 2 June 2011. Recovered from http://www.cifor.cgiar.org/miombo/docs/ZambiaNationalCaseStudy.pdf The creators have fundamentally assessed the job of dry woods in upgr ading economy of Zambia particularly in the rustic locales. As per the creators, dry backwoods in Zambia are significant wellsprings of wood, kindling, nectar, wild organic products, customary medication, agribusiness and a significant wellspring of pay among the country occupants. This article is reviving in light of the fact that it centers around woodland, a significant non-mining asset in the Zambian economy. 5. MTENR. National Policy on Environment: Zambia. May 2005. 1 June 2011. www.mtenr.gov.zm/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc The article is the strategy report of the Zambian government on the earth and it features the vital objectives of improvement through usage of common assets. The administration services, including the travel industry, condition and characteristic resou

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Han Chinese and Starbucks Essay

Han Chinese and Starbucks Essay Han Chinese and Starbucks Essay Contextual investigation Chapter 4 Starbucks 1) In my supposition, the key components Starbucks needed to consider before opening shop in China were completely founded on a certain something; Starbucks needed to decide why the Chinese would go to a cafã ©. Since most of China’s populace is tea consumers, they needed to make sense of what they could do to bring tea consumers into a coffeehouse. One of these variables is the way that Starbucks has decided its objective market to be the youngsters in china instituted â€Å"little emperors†. They bid to these youngsters and their longing for change and advancement. Another factor Starbucks uses to further its potential benefit is the way that the Chinese need an agreeable spot outside of their little residences where they can meet with loved ones. Starbucks benefited from this by making bigger gathering zones than their North American stores. They made these regions agreeable and cool spots for the individuals to get together and have a latte. Another significant fac tor is that Starbucks has more food things on their menu, for example, duck sandwiches, and green tea cheesecake. Starbucks isn't only a beverage in china it is a spot to meet and look present day. 2) China is a tyranny so change to how a business works can occur without any forethought. One of the key things Starbucks needed to do to carry their image to China was they needed to locate a Chinese accomplice that would comprehend the political and business advertises in China. They did this by approving nearby organizations to utilize their image and the banding together with them. Starbucks began little in China purchase just getting sovereignties on the licenses, yet in 2006 they fired purchasing up shares so they could have more command over their organization. China entering the World Trade Agreement in 2001 made purchasing out their accomplices and going at the business on their own much simpler. 3) The Demographic Factor that was

Friday, August 21, 2020

Ace Your National Honor Society Essay with These Tips

Ace Your National Honor Society Essay with These Tips Entering the National Honor Society can be a students dream and requires devotion, good grades and expanding your interests into social activities, sports, and volunteering in your community. The NHS application is a sumptuous procedure and youll need to compose an appropriate national honor application essay to get accepted. This essay will generally work as a recapitulation of your academic history, your dreams, and aspirations and your future plans. It is a decisive part of the application and needs to be written super carefully, with flair and method.In fact, most chapters of NHS require an essay as part of your application for membership. The philosophy behind the essay varies; it might be a broad overview description of your academic achievements so far or work as a response to a specific question set and then insert your personal touch. Difficult as it might sound, the essay is, in fact, an opportunity to develop your full personality and convince the committee that yes, you a re worthy of their attention. This means that acing it is a big step towards your goal to be accepted at the NHS, and there are tips to help you in the process.Most chapters of NHS require an essay as part of your application for membership. The philosophy behind the essay varies; it might be a broad overview description of your academic achievements so far or work as a response to a specific question set and then insert your personal touch.Understand the philosophy behind the essayBefore even starting to write the essay structure, it is important to fully understand the philosophy behind the essay. In general, the NHS concept is based on four pillars: scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Define the criteria and prepare your thesis to meet them all. Make sure you make some preparatory notes of all your scholarships and grants, activities that would show the leader in you (i.e. captain of the school football team) and list all volunteering work you have done in the past. Remember to explain why volunteering to the specific cause is important to you and makes you passionate in your side notes-you will need them as you proceed writing the essay.Then tell your personal story-in writingYour life story is what makes you unique and the NHS appreciates personal journeys that are built with dedication and passion at a young age. Think of the essay as an introduction of who you actually are, where to do aim to go and then try to communicate it efficiently. Building the essay around a general idea will also help you focus; for example, if your passion is getting to college to acquire a Math Ph.D. then focus your writing on jour personal journey with Math in high school-your Grades, extra work assignments, and awards. If animals are your passion, volunteering in an animals shelter can show your devotion to later become a vet, so work your way around it.Introduce yourself in a professional yet unique wayPerfection is a matter of balance-and your essay should be an example of both professionalism and flair in equal doses. Dont reinvent your writing style in the process or try to experiment with writing styles that are not you. Be clever yet professional. If you are generally a funny person, add your touch with a funny intro, if your style is more academic, and then keep it simple and clean. What is important is that the style expresses your personality as much as the content and that both assist your final goal-to be accepted in the NHS.Talk in detail about your grants and scholarship achievementsThe NHS aims to include the best of the best and provide them opportunities for the future so you have to convince them you belong to the elite. Again, make a list of your grades, awards, and scholarships. Then structure a big part of your writing around them-but in detail. Speak about the grants or scholarships you won, the Physics award or about being top your class in the first semester-in this process, the more the better. Excelling in activit ies outside school is also important but keep that separate-your academic life should be your primary focus here. You can also list prestigious classes you attended or name the teachers you have worked with and helped you obtain your top grades-in this section, the more is the better.Include your non-academic achievements and activitiesThe next step in composing your essay is to include all your community or volunteer work, your activities and hobbies. Dont just list them-the idea here is to showcase your character traits and full personality. Again, the NHS is focusing on leadership, service, and character so structure them in order to meet those criteria. Where you the captain of a sports team? Did you do volunteering work at your citys animal shelter? Or participated in the theatre group at your school? Write them all down and then describe your character and qualities through them. Creativity, leadership and a collaborative manner within a team all work in your favor so dont be shy to mention your problem-solving qualities or focus on your best moments.Be sincereAcing the essay doesnt require you exaggerating on your achievementsâ€"the board members are well seasoned and can see past an essay whose focus is to impress. The key here is to be sincere-present your qualities and then mention your flaws. Make note that yes, you do have flaws but you are working to better yourself constantly. This is the kind of devotion that can make your flaws even work in favor of your application if presented correctly. Mentioning, for example, that you are a perfectionist but you are working to leave space for more creativity in what you do cannot do you harmâ€"on the contrary.Structure it appropriatelyWriting a long essay is an arduous taskâ€"what makes a great one stand out and grasp the attention of the reader is structure. Decide what the focus of the essay should be and then structure all your information accordingly. The focus can be your love for a specific class or your future aspiration to be a lawyer and what you do to help you get there. Start from academic achievements, then pass to grants and scholarships, then mention your non-academic activities. Double-check you are following the structure in a way that your essay is clear, easy to be read and that communicates your message. This uniqueness will also make you stand out from the crowd and be remembered.Introduce your paper in a clever and catchy wayAnother great tip is to introduce your paper in a clever and catchy way; pick a life incident that you feel is important and then develop the whole essay around it. A trip with the boy scouts, a school incident or you starring at the school play can work well if you find the right angle, the one that will showcase your devotion and wit. You can also write about your experience working with a particular teacher or on a particular project that you loved. The introduction is where you can both catch the attention of the reader and evolve your fu ll essay after it, so be creative. Again, balance is key, so never lose sight you are actually writing a well-structured NHS essay and not the intro of a novel so stay focused throughout your writing.Another great tip is to introduce your paper in a clever and catchy way; pick a life incident that you feel is important and then develop the whole essay around it. A trip with the boy scouts, a school incident or you starring at the school play can work well if you find the right angle, the one that will showcase your devotion and wit.Write a killer conclusionYou have written all the boring stuff, elaborated on your academic qualities and presented your community work; now its time to close the essay with a killer conclusion the board will remember. This, in fact, is the part where you can become more creative and show that you are also good at communicating your message so use whatever you feel best represents you. A school incident where you show your values or leadership qualities c an work and so can your aspiration to enter college and get the job of your dreams. More of a creative type? This is the place where you can use a famous persons saying that best represents you and elaborate on it-or a moment in your school life that has defined you.Proofread it, and then again!Proofreading is key; you just cant convince your readers you are a straight-A student with spelling mistakes, and even the smallest of them can very well ruin an otherwise perfect essay so be focused and double-check everything. Then have a member of your family, your teacher, or a professional editor to check it again for mistakes you can spot by using automatic spell correctors. A crown is different from a crowd but its hard for the spell checker to spot what you are trying to say, so be extra careful. Make sure the essay flows effortlessly and that you dont exaggerate on promoting yourselfâ€"this can be alienating and not work on your favor. Be perfect but be yourself along the way.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Gwangju Massacre in South Korea

Tens of thousands of students and other protestors poured into the streets of Gwangju (Kwangju), a city in southwestern South Korea in the spring of 1980. They were protesting the state of martial law that had been in force since a coup that previous year, which had brought down the dictator Park Chung-hee and replaced him with military strongman General Chun Doo-hwan. As the protests spread to other cities, and the protestors raided army depots for weapons, the new president expanded his earlier declaration of martial law. Universities and newspaper offices were shuttered, and political activity was banned. In response, the protestors seized control of Gwangju. On May 17, President Chun sent additional army troops to Gwangju, armed with riot gear and live ammunition. Background to the Gwangju Massacre The portraits of former president Park Chung-hee and his wife Yuk Young-soo. Yuk Young-soo was killed in 1974 during an attempted assassination of Park Chung-hee. Woohae Cho​/Getty Images  Ã‚   On October 26, 1979, South Korean President Park Chung-hee was assassinated while visiting a gisaeng house (Korean geisha house) in Seoul. General Park had seized power in a 1961 military coup and ruled as a dictator until Kim Jae-kyu, the Director of Central Intelligence, killed him. Kim claimed that he assassinated the president because of the increasingly harsh crackdown on student protests over the countrys increasing economic woes, brought about in part by skyrocketing world oil prices. The following morning, martial law was declared, the National Assembly (Parliament) was disbanded, and all public meetings of more than three people were banned, with an exception only for funerals. Political speech and gatherings of all kinds were prohibited. Nonetheless, many Korean citizens were optimistic about the change, since they now had a civilian acting president, Choi Kyu-hah, who promised among other things to halt the torture of political prisoners. The moment of sunshine faded quickly, however. On December 12, 1979, Army Security Commander General Chun Doo-Hwan, who was in charge of investigating President Parks assassination, accused the army chief of staff with conspiring to kill the president. General Chun ordered troops down from the DMZ and invaded the Department of Defense building in Seoul, arresting thirty of his fellow generals and accusing them all of complicity in the assassination. With this stroke, General Chun effectively seized power in South Korea, although President Choi remained as a figurehead. In the days that followed, Chun made it clear that dissent would not be tolerated. He extended martial law to the entire country  and sent police squads to the homes of pro-democracy leaders and student organizers to intimidate potential opponents. Among the targets of these intimidation tactics were the student leaders at Chonnam University in Gwangju... In March 1980, a new semester began, and university students and professors who had been banned from campus for political activities were allowed to return. Their calls for reform — including freedom of the press, and an end to martial law, and free and fair elections — grew louder as the semester progressed. On May 15, 1980, approximately 100,000 students marched on Seoul Station demanding reform. Two days later, General Chun promulgated even harsher restrictions, closing down universities and newspapers once more, arresting hundreds of student leaders, and also arresting twenty-six political opponents, including Kim Dae-jung of Gwangju. May 18, 1980 Outraged by the crackdown, about 200 students went to the front gate of Chonnam University in Gyungju early on the morning of May 18. There they met thirty paratroopers, who had been sent to keep them off the campus. The paratroopers charged the students with clubs, and the students responded by throwing rocks. The students then marched downtown, attracting more supporters as they went. By early afternoon, local police were overwhelmed by 2,000 protestors, so the military sent about 700 paratroopers into the fray. The paratroopers charged into the crowd, bludgeoning the students and passersby. A deaf 29-year-old, Kim Gyeong-cheol, became the first fatality; he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, but the soldiers beat him to death. May 19-20 Throughout the day on May 19, more and more furious residents of Gwangju joined the students in the streets, as reports of increasing violence filtered through the city. Businessmen, housewives, taxi drivers — people of all walks of life marched out to defend the youth of Gwangju. Demonstrators hurled rocks and Molotov cocktails at the soldiers. By the morning of May 20, there were more than 10,000 people protesting downtown. That day, the army sent in an additional 3,000 paratroopers. The special forces beat people with clubs, stabbed and mutilated them with bayonets, and threw at least twenty to their deaths from high buildings. The soldiers used tear gas and live ammunition indiscriminately, shooting into the crowds. Troops shot dead twenty girls at Gwangjus Central High School. Ambulance and cab drivers who tried to take the wounded to hospitals were shot. One hundred students who sheltered in the Catholic Center were slaughtered. Captured high school and university students had their hands tied behind them with barbed wire; many were then summarily executed. May 21 On May 21, the violence in Gwangju escalated to its height. As the soldiers fired round after round into the crowds, protesters broke into police stations and armories, taking rifles, carbines and even two machine guns. Students mounted one of the machine guns on the roof of the universitys medical school. The local police refused further aid to the army; troops beat some police officers unconscious for attempting to help the injured. It was all-out urban warfare. By 5:30 that evening, the army was forced to retreat from downtown Gwangju in the face of the furious citizens. The Army Leaves Gwangju By the morning of May 22, the army had pulled out entirely from Gwangju, establishing a cordon around the city. A bus full of civilians attempted to escape the blockade on May 23; the army opened fire, killing 17 of the 18 people aboard. That same day, army troops accidentally opened fire on one another, killing 13 in a friendly-fire incident in the Songam-dong neighborhood. Meanwhile, inside Gwangju, teams of professionals and students formed committees to provide medical care for the wounded, funerals for the dead, and compensation for the families of victims. Influenced by Marxist ideals, some of the students arranged to cook communal meals for the people of the city. For five days, the people ruled Gwangju. As word of the massacre spread throughout the province, anti-government protests broke out in nearby cities including Mokpo, Gangjin, Hwasun, and Yeongam. The army fired on protestors in Haenam, as well. The Army Retakes the City On May 27, at 4:00 in the morning, five divisions of paratroopers moved into Gwangjus downtown. Students and citizens tried to block their way by lying in the streets, while the armed citizen militias prepared for a renewed firefight. After an hour and a half of desperate fighting, the army seized control of the city once more. Casualties in the Gwangju Massacre The Chun Doo-hwan government issued a report stating that 144 civilians, 22 troops, and four police officers had been killed in the Gwangju Uprising. Anyone who disputed their death toll could be arrested. However, census figures reveal that almost 2,000 citizens of Gwangju disappeared during this time period. A small number of the student victims, mostly those who died on May 24, are buried in Mangwol-dong Cemetery near Gwangju. However, eyewitnesses tell of seeing hundreds of bodies dumped in several mass graves on the outskirts of the city. The Aftermath In the aftermath of the horrific Gwangju Massacre, the administration of General Chun lost most of its legitimacy in the eyes of the Korean people. Pro-democracy demonstrations throughout the 1980s cited the Gwangju Massacre  and demanded that the perpetrators face punishment. General Chun held on as president until 1988, when under intense pressure, he allowed democratic elections. Kim Dae-jung, the 15th term President of South Korea from 1998 to 2003, and the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, speaks on telephone at his home in Seoul, South Korea on June 25, 1987. Nathan Benn​/Getty Images   Kim Dae-Jung, the politician from Gwangju who had been sentenced to death on charges of fomenting the rebellion, received a pardon and ran for president. He did not win, but would later serve as president from 1998 to 2003, and went on to receive a Nobel Peace Prize in 2000. Former President Chun himself was sentenced to death in 1996 for corruption and for his role in the Gwangju Massacre. With the tables turned, President Kim Dae-jung commuted his sentence when he assumed office in 1998. In a very real way, the Gwangju Massacre marked a turning point in the long struggle for democracy in South Korea. Although it took almost a decade, this horrifying event paved the way for free and fair elections  and more transparent civil society. Further Reading on the Gwangju Massacre Flashback: The Kwangju Massacre, BBC News, May 17, 2000. Deirdre Griswold, S. Korean Survivors Tell of 1980 Gwangju Massacre, Workers World, May 19, 2006. Gwangju Massacre Video, Youtube, uploaded May 8, 2007. Jeong Dae-ha, Gwangju Massacre Still Echoes for Loved Ones, The Hankyoreh, May 12, 2012. Shin Gi-Wook and Hwang Kyung Moon. Contentious Kwangju: The May 18 Uprising in Koreas Past and Present, Lanham, Maryland: Rowman Littlefield, 2003. Winchester, Simon. Korea: A Walk Through the Land of Miracles, New York: Harper Perennial, 2005.

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Farmers Union Iced Coffee, Advertisement - 975 Words

Farmers Union Iced Coffee was launched in 1977 by a group of dairy farmers who were creating a new recipe for the Royal Adelaide show. The milk beverage is Australia’s largest selling flavored milk and each year Australians consume in excess of 27 million litres of the beverage each year. There are a few ideas and issues that are raised in the text that I can point out. I think that the idea of having an ad about the worlds history and issues while showing normal every day Australians playing out the roles and then able to hide the real message is a sensational advertisement. The general idea in any advertisement is to try and increase the sale and popularity of a product. I have probably seen the Farmers Union ad a thousand†¦show more content†¦The Alternative reading would be getting the ad for its real backgrounds meanings which are disguised through normal looking people, but representing world wide issues. Someone would have to be pretty switched on throughout the adverts between their programs to pick it up. I do not think someone could have figured out each event the first time they saw the ad, it would probably take someone a few times to see the ad then work it all out. The use of intertextuality in the advertisement of Farmers Union shows Australian tradesmen and hardworking sweaty men drinking it while they are working. It would give the message that this sort of beverage is for big, strong and tough men and is not for the light hearted. 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Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Oil/Gas Pipelines Opportunities and Challenges Free Essays

Oil has become the most in-demand product in the world. It has become the center of round-table discussions, and never that a single day passed without it being on the news. Decrease in its supply could mean the downfall of nations, especially the industrialized ones. We will write a custom essay sample on Oil/Gas Pipelines: Opportunities and Challenges or any similar topic only for you Order Now This was evident in three world oil crises in 1973, 1979, and a brief one in 1990, which reversed the flow of money, making the oil-producing countries in the Middle East the vital force that could change the direction of the future of the world. Their cut-offs in production led to the creation of policies and rules on consumption, saving, and independence from oil. A nation, controlling the production, selling, and over-all management of oil, is assured of a significant posting in any field of the world’s lifestyle, but most importantly in politics and economics (Tanter, 2007). To become something like this, a nation should invest in ways on how to transport oil from its sources to its consumers, like the creation of networks of pipelines. Research and development projects have been carried out and continuously be done to meet the challenges in connection with oil and gas pipelines. One of these is the continuing drive to discover more oil and gas reserves locked under the earth or offshore. There are still many places in the planet that need to be explored. Even the most extreme environments should be included, like what they did to the North Sea. Designing and manufacturing pipes will still emerge as one of the important factors in the realm of oil and gas pipelines. Through the years, designs have been continuously improved to accommodate several factors like environment, and the nature of oil and gas. Researchers now consider the direct relationship of the size of the diameter of the pipe with the flow capacity of the product. Moreover, they also examine the expansion and contraction of pipes during the transportation of oil and gas due to significant temperature change, which could result to cracks, collapse tensions, and other similar effects. Materials will continuously be tested to determine the best for pipes. Though steel is already being used, improvements are still being done to test durability. Stresses and fractures, especially offshore projects, should be accounted for to minimize the percentage of failure. Cathodic protection against corrosion should be upheld to the highest level to assure the survivability of the pipes throughout the project. Terrorism attacks on pipelines will remain one of the most feared human phenomena. This is due to the fact that whenever pipelines are bombed or attacked, industries are affected. With this, countries should strengthen their monitoring schemes to ensure the safety and zero attack on their pipelines. Keeping with the laws of nature and environment also poses great challenge to companies engaged in oil and gas pipelines. Discovery of new sites for extraction will always encounter similar scenario with the trans-Alaska crude pipeline project, which was delayed for nine years, because the construction of pipelines was attached to environmental issues (Kennedy, 1993). Environmentalists will still be around the corner to watch the movements of oil companies. A greater challenge is on the side of politics and regulation. Better policies and laws covering the construction of pipelines, and transportation of oil and gas should be enacted to cover threats and possible failure-causing movements, especially in explorations crossing two different countries. Faster approval of laws should be done to maximize the economic potentials of the discovered oil and gas reserves. The greatest challenge could be the offering of affordable price of pipelined products to consumers. Companies must take note that the advancements they make with pipe designs and manufacturing, and the entire pipeline construction and transportation project, should go at par with the purchasing power of consumers, who are directly affected by any oil price hike. Since the drilling of the first commercial oil well in 1859 in Pennsylvania, the evolution of pipelines has gone a long way, though remaining as the most economical way (Kennedy, 1993). Oil and gas pipelines are efficient, using only 4% of the energy content of the transported product. This is far better in comparison with other modes of transportation like water, rail, and trucks (Dykesteen Frantzen, 1991). Higher levels of technology give way for the development of better pipes and more sophisticated pipeline networks. These could yield higher efficiency rate and better service for the people, who basically need the product in their everyday living. The construction of country’s own pipelines could spell independence from importing oil and gas from foreign countries. This could also alleviate problems on oil crisis, and cut-off on importation rate. This could consequently clip the country to economic prosperity because of the removal of the burdens of oil importation. Pipelines transport oil, and natural gas from extracting wells located in the different parts of the globe, including the most hostile areas like Alaska and Siberia. These products are then refined, and prepared for consumption by all citizens in all corners of the world. These products when properly used could continuously fuel the economic progress of any country involved with it. References: CBC News Online. 2006. The price of oil – in context. Retrieved 29 June 2007. http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/oil/. Dykesteen, E K Frantzen. 1991. Multiphase Fraction Meter Developed and Field Tested. Oil Gas Journal. 18 February 1991: 50. Kennedy, JL. 1993. Oil And Gas Pipeline Fundamentals. 2nd ed. Oklahoma: PennWell Books. Tanter, R. 2007. Pipeline Politics: Oil, Gas and the US Interest in Afghanistan. Znet. Retrieved 29 June 2007. http://www.zmag.org/tanteroil.htm. Tobin, J. 2006. Additions on the Capacity of the US Natural Gas Pipeline Network: 2005. Energy Information Administration, Office of Oil and Gas. Retrieved 29 June 2007. http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/natural_gas/feature_articles/2006/ngpipeline/ngpipeline.pdf. How to cite Oil/Gas Pipelines: Opportunities and Challenges, Essay examples

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Jane Austen Quotes Essay Example For Students

Jane Austen Quotes Essay The following is from The Explicator, a subscription journal available through Herrick’s research databases:Jane Austens irony is endlessly challenging to those of us who like to grasp just how an author achieves distinctiveness and who then want to tell others what we think we have found. No slight part of her ironic effect stems from her use of the free indirect style (style indirect libre), as Graham Hough,(FN1) among others, has shown. The quote below is from Studies in English Literature, another journal available through Herrick’s research databases:If Mariannes later walks at Cleveland do receive a faintly satirical treatment, it is not because she seeks out the nocturnal sublime, but because she cultivates it at the expense of prudenceand even then the judgment hinges on the issue of degree. After all, even the poets of sensibility contemplate the effects of rain from a distance, as when, in the Ode to Evening, William Collins takes refuge in a hut. Here’s a little Jane Austen biography stolen from the Gale Group:Jane Austen was born in 1775 at Steventon, in the south of England, where her father was rector of the parish. She was the seventh of eight children in an affectionate and high-spirited family. In 1801 she moved to Bath with her father, her mother, and her only sister, Cassandra. Here’s the beginning blurb from a paper available at www.megaessays.com. Unfortunately, I didn’t want to pay $15 to see the whole essay. Jane Austen has attracted a great deal of critical attention in recent years. Many have spoken out about the strengths and weaknesses of her characters, particularly her heroines. Austen has been cast as both a friend and foe to the rights of women. English Essays

Thursday, April 2, 2020

Social problem of football Hooliganism Essay Example

Social problem of football Hooliganism Paper Ever since football has been a sport, there has been the social problem of football Hooliganism. Football hooliganism refers to destructive behavior that is performed by football fans and is widely considered to be unruly and destructive behaviour. Actions such as fighting, vandalism and intimidation are carried out by football fans participating in football hooliganism. The behaviour is often based upon rivalry between different teams and conflict may take place before or after football matches. In this question I am going to be describing football hooliganism, explaining the theories behind it, what studies support the theories, evaluating these theories and then subsequently using alternative theories to explain how football hooliganism occurs. The key issue we studied in the social approach was football hooliganism; we looked at what it is, who gets involved, why is it such key issue in society and how can Social Psychology be used to explain why football hooliganism occurs. It is a substantially large issue society because the football hooligans believe that they’re above the law as they feel they can do it without any repercussions. There are many explanations of why football hooliganism occurs, but one we have looked at is Social Identity Theory. This theory states that just the simple act of grouping will lead to conflict, between in-groups and out-groups. When a person enters a football stadium and chooses to sit with a certain group of people (home fans or away fans), they are categorising themselves into that in-group, and the fans that are in the opposite side of the stadium are the opposition team, and then they become the out group. This is called social categorisation. We will write a custom essay sample on Social problem of football Hooliganism specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Social problem of football Hooliganism specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Social problem of football Hooliganism specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The second stage of Social Identity Theory is called social identification, and this occurs is when the people in the in-group find commonalities between each other. For example, in the context of football hooliganism, this is where they notice they are wearing the same shirts or colours as others around them. They then link their self-esteem to that of the in-group. They find differences between themselves and the fans in the out-group as they are wearing different shirts or colours and they subsequently realise that the out-group have different interests to them and they notice that they are people they do not wish to associate with. The final stage of Social Identity Theory is Social Comparison; this occurs when the people in the in group start to compare themselves with those in the out-group, and this forms out-group denigration and in-group favouritism happens. Out group denigration is the act of prejudicing [having a positive or negative opinion on someone based on little or no knowledge on them] someone or a group of people, or through discrimination, which is where they act on this opinion. In-group favouritism refers to the fact that under certain conditions people will preference and have affinity for one’s in-group over the out-group, or anyone viewed as outside the in-group. This can be expressed in evaluation of others, linking, allocation of resources and many other ways.people will do anything in order to boost the self esteem of themselves and the in group, by making the out group look bad, and this is achieved by either. In football this occurs when the in-group are chanting songs about the team they support in order to make them seem better than the other team; even if their team doesn’t win, they start chanting to make them seem better, and may even start fighting because they feel they need to win something. Social Psychology, in my opinion, can be used to understand, prevent and stop football hooliganism to some extent, as Social Identity Theory helps explain why football hooliganism occurs. For instance, Social Identity Theory states that when people enter a stadium, they choose to sit with people that also support the team they have come to the stadium to, and, furthermore, choose this group of people are their in-group. This is an example of Social Categorization.

Sunday, March 8, 2020

Outline Of The Oklahoma City Bombing Essays

Outline Of The Oklahoma City Bombing Essays Outline Of The Oklahoma City Bombing Essay Outline Of The Oklahoma City Bombing Essay How it shook the illusion held by many Americans of a nation safe from the political unrest and terrorism outside its borders (an illusion that would e shattered for good on 9/11). Addressing an argument from the opposing viewpoint (Not all Muslims were punished due to the stereotypes of Muslims being terrorists) A FBI had agents working on Foreign Terrorist Cases B. How the U. S. Punished Muslim states C. Racial and Racist punishment 1. In terms of the racial and racist representation of the terrorist, even when the police sketches of the two anonymous white male suspects (later identified as McVeigh and Nichols) were made public, not all white males came under suspicion, nor were they demonic, interrogated at airports, questioned about their patriotism or made o account or apologize for their religion (Will be inserted into paper) lb. The because of my thesis A. How the view of terrorist changed among U. S. Citizens B. Domestic Terrorists involved in major bombings 1 . In light of these events and warnings, why did the public, media and law enforcement officials immediately suspected Muslim terrorists for the attack? The choice of target was also significant and indicated domestic as opposed to international terrorism. (Will be inserted into paper) How Muslims caused bombings was focused upon greatly A. The differences in memorial and punishments B. An example of how this was done ( the Oklahoma City Bombing) 1. In the hours and days following the bombing, the media and law enforcement authorities focused on the Muslim terrorists they believed were responsible, including a Muslim Oklahoma City resident detained at Heathers Airport in London. (will be inserted in paper) C. How Muslims were hunted for in search of explanations to the bombings 1. On April 20th, one day after bombing, another Oklahoma City resident, Iraqi refugee Shari al-Mimosa, was attacked in his home as retaliation for the bombing (Will be inserted into paper) Conclusion: Due to the Oklahoma City Bombing, it was brought to the U. S. Citizens minds t hat to terrorize the United States you dont have to be a Muslim or a foreign enemy. It can be done by anyone in the world. HTTPS://caw. Oxford. Due/writing-tools-thesis-generator. HTML http:// www. Academia. Due/1929038/ 1 1 _and _ After Dad. Org/combating-hate/domestic-extremism-terrorism/c/the- significance-of-o Oklahoma-city-bombing. HTML Thesis Statement Guide Results Thesis Statement Model #1 : Sample Thesis Statement happily thoughts towards terrorism; Terrorists are commonly NOT Muslims or foreign enemies Thesis Statement Model #2: Thesis with Concession Notice that this model makes a concession by addressing an argument from t he opposing viewpoint first, and then uses the phrase even though and States the writer s opinion/main idea as a rebuttal. Even though Not all Muslims were punished by the U. S. , Due to the Oklahoma City Bombing, U. S. Citizens are corrected of their stereotypical thoughts towards terrorism; T rigorists are commonly NOT Muslims or foreign enemies. Thesis Statement Model Thesis with Reasons Here, the use of because reveals the reasons behind the writers opinion/ main idea. Because U. S. Citizens were not questioned of their motives until the first American terrorist bombing. Before then Muslims were doubted, questioned, and hated for all motives whether g DOD or not. , Due to the typical thought of Muslims being the ones to bomb buildings in the U. S. Many people showed hatred to all Muslims until an American terrorist, Timothy, had bomb De the Federal Building in Oklahoma City. And Timothy McVeigh and John J. Manager were both American Terrorist Bombers that were involved in major city building bombing gas.. Thesis Statement Model #4: Thesis with Concession and Reasons This model both makes a concession to opposing viewpoint and states the reasons/arguments for the writers main idea. While Not all Muslims were punished by the U. S. , Due to the Oklahoma City B numbing, U. S. Citizens are corrected of their stereotypical though ts towards terrorism; Terror risks are commonly NOT Muslims or foreign enemies. Because U. S. Citizens were not q questioned of their motives until the first American terrorist bombing. Before then Muslims were doubted, questioned, and hated for all motives whether good or not. , Due to the typical thought of Muslims being the ones to bomb buildings in the U. S. Many people showed h tater to all Muslims until an American terrorist, Timothy, had bombed the Federal Building g in Oklahoma City. , and -frothy McVeigh and John J. Manager were both American Terror sit Bombers that were involved in major city building bombings.. Remember: These thesis statements are generated based on the answers pro vided on the form. Use the Thesis Statement Guide as many times as you like. Your ideas a ND the results are anonymous and confidential. When you build a thesis statement that word KS for you, ensure that it addresses the assignment. Finally, you may have to rewrite the hisses statement so that the spelling, grammar, and punctuation are correct. Thesis Statement Guide: Sample Outline Use the outline below, which is based on the five-paragraph essay model, who en drafting a plan for your own essay. This is meant as a guide only, so we encourage you t o revise it in a way that works best for you. Introductory paragraph Start your introduction with an interesting hook to reel your reader in. An in transduction can begin with a rhetorical question, a quotation, an anecdote, a concession, an in tittering fact, or a question that will be answered in your paper. The idea is to begin broadly and gradually bring the reader closer to the main idea of the paper. At the end of the intros auction, you will pretentious thesis statement. The thesis statement model used in this exam peel is a thesis with reasons. rigorists are questioned, and hated for all motives whether good or not. , Due to the typical City. , and Timothy McVeigh and John J. Manager were both American Terror Paragraph #1 First, Due to the Oklahoma City Bombing U. S. Citizens are corrected of their SST erotically thoughts towards terrorism; Terrorists are commonly NOT Muslims or foreign enemies. Because LLC S. Citizens were not questioned of their motives until the first Aimer ICANN terrorist bombing. Before then Muslims were doubted, questioned, and hated for all motives whether good or not.. Notice that this Assertion is the first reason presented in the thesis statement . Remember that the thesis statement is a kind of mapping tool that helps you organize your ideas, and it helps your reader follow your argument. In this body paragraph, after the Ass erection, include any evidence-a quotation, statistic, data-that supports this first point. Explain what the evidence means. Show the reader how this entire paragraph connects back to the thesis statement. Paragraph #2 Additionally, Due to the typical thought of Muslims being the ones to bomb b alluding in the U. S. Many people showed hatred to all Muslims until an American terrorist, It mouthy, had bombed the Federal Building in Oklahoma City.. The first sentence of the second body paragraph should reflect an even strong gear Assertion to support the thesis statement. Generally, the second point listed in the thesis s tenement should be developed here. Like with the previous paragraph, include any evidence-?a quotation, tactics, data-that supports this point after the Assertion. Explain what the eve dance means. Show the reader how this entire paragraph connects back to the thesis state meet. Paragraph #3 Finally, the most important reason Due to the Oklahoma City Bombing, U. S. Chi tizzies are corrected of their stereotypical thoughts towards terrorism; Terrorists are co molly NOT Muslims or foreign enemies. Is Timothy McVeigh and John J. Manager were both American Terrorist Bombers that were involved in major city building bombings.. Your strongest point should be revealed in the final body paragraph.

Thursday, February 20, 2020

What does the surviving evidence from Pompeii suggest about the ways Essay

What does the surviving evidence from Pompeii suggest about the ways in which Pompeians spent their time - Essay Example Vesuvius to have been recorded. In 1748, it is when staid excavations start and since then, it has been a tourist trap. Besides, all learning institutions are teaching of this city, with each and every other individual having the desire to make a visit. The historian might be better positioned in eloquently waxing how Pompeii is a city â€Å"frozen in time† as well as how the eruption turned out to be a blessing in disguise to the generation of the present time. On the contrary, the Romans had a totally different view of the destruction of Pompeii and the neighboring cities. In their viewpoint, this eruption was among the worst ever natural disaster to have ever occurred in the history of the world. It is believed that things would have been worse (Cooper 1). Despite the fact that modern day newspaper stories report that twenty thousand people passed on during this eruption, the exact figure of the people who lived there is hardly known. The 20,000 figure is seemingly the most common figure availed, but other sources have the same figure 10,000 lower. Either way, the agreeable guess figure is that over 35000 people died and in Pompeii alone, between 1600 and 2000 were trapped in the eruption. What remains is the surviving evidence to tell us how the situation was like (Cooper 1). The surviving evidence presents us with one of the very best glimpses of what the everyday life was like in a Roman city. Being a resort town as well as a center of commerce, the surviving evidence depicts how the rich in the society had come to this town so as to free themselves from the hassles of living in Rome, and ships put into the Bay of Naples from all corners of the globe. In addition, the surviving evidence presents both the aura and the prosperity of e njoyment that seems to have been in prevalence (Maiuri and Battaglia 652). These two (the prosperity and the aura of enjoyment) have hardly been shared in any other of the workaday towns. From this evidence, we are lured to believe that hardly was there peace and harmony in Pompeii. By the virtue of there being an excess of the rich in the society it is probable that there was a big-me/little-you division with the ordinary town folks. Tis same scenario was in Rome and from the judgment of how things are as regards to what was left, the inhabitants of Pompeii undeniably knew very well how to enjoy themselves (Gore 556). It is worth noting that historians may not be totally certain of the number of days in each of the Roman Months. The thought of these historians is that the roman months just resemble ours, though there is enough uncertainty for any given date to be off by a couple of days. The surviving evidence also testifies that the Pompeians rose up early in the morning, as is th e case with the present Romans. Besides, it can be told from the very first glance that they were respectable middle class persons. If this was not the case, there would have been an evidence of a slave waking then up and probably helping them dress. This may actually sound somewhat strange since the Pompeian’s’ clothes, from the surviving evidence, were unpretentious in the extreme (Harris 56). For each and every Roman national, irrespective of whether poor, middle class or rich, tunic was the main piece of clothing. Having been made of wool, the tunic was simply a two-square piece cloth sewn together, with holes having been left for the arms and the head. From the surviving evidence, the tunic- having been as wide as it was broad hung loosely on all but the heftiest frame. Moreover, the cut had been made in such a way that the excess clothe did form sleeves of a sort, with its appearance resembling a long shirt dropping somewhere between the calf and the

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Organizational Buyer Behavior Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Organizational Buyer Behavior - Essay Example A corresponding product specification is either developed or searched. Then Comes the step of searching for a supplier who can provide goods and / or services for the requirement. The suppliers are then sought for proposing the solutions for the needs of products or service. Based on Proposals a Supplier is selected. An Order routine is finalized. Performance is reviewed. Buying Center: There are often multiple decision makers involved in organizational purchases. This requires that the marketer is aware of the needs of the various Players involved in making decisions. Users: A user is the end consumer of a product. Influencers: An influencer is someone who has influence over what is purchased. Deciders: A decider is someone who ultimately has authority if or what to purchase. Buyers: A buyer is someone who arranges the transaction. Gatekeepers: A gatekeeper could include anyone in the organization who can control the flow of information. Factors influencing Industrial Buyer Behavior (Telecommunication) There are various factors which influence the Buyer Behavior. Following are the factors which primarily influence the selection of a Supplier for leading telecom companies in Telecommunication market: 1. Data on reliability of the product : Proof of reliability about the suppliers company and its transmission products is of utmost importance. 2. Technical capability: the kind of technical capabilities to accommodate future product developments and enhancements also plays an important role in deciding about the supplier. 3. Ease of Maintance: Most of the Telecom companies require pre usage steps to be done by the network providers (suppliers of the network) and therefore might have significant amount of... 4. Ease of Operation and Use: The supplier should be well equipped to provide the Know-how on operations and use and should also have inbuilt people and technical resources to accommodate any operations related request.

Monday, January 27, 2020

IKEA Competitive Positioning

IKEA Competitive Positioning This report critically analyses the competitive position of IKEA which has led to its success and failures over the past five decades. IKEA has been well known for its low price concept and wide range of furnitures. IKEA has grown enormously and now operates in 55 countries. This report analyses the external environment of IKEA by using the PESTEL Analysis. The analysis shows that political factor plays most important role while other external factors such as economic, socio-cultural, legal, environmental and technological contribute to some extent in determining the expansion and success of IKEA. The resource and capability of IKEA is analysed by using the Michael Porters five force analysis. The study shows that IKEA has to dominate in all the five areas to succeed in future. The report also studies that marketing mix used by IKEA in different countries which have had a major part in IKEAs success. IKEA is committed to satisfy its customers. For customer satisfaction IKEA has worked hard to understand the needs of their customers. This report also examines the customer perception and the IKEA philosophy leading to happy and satisfies customers. The strengths and weaknesses of IKEA as well as opportunities for expansion and threats from competitors are revealed by conducting the SWOT analysis. Finally the causes that could lead to the demise of IKEA are discussed along with its future. Table of contents Page no. Introduction 4 PESTEL Analysis 4 Resource and Capabilities 6 Marketing Mix 8 Customer Perceived Values 10 SWOT Analysis 12 IKEAs Future 13 Conclusion 14 References 15 Introduction The economic slowdown has had a negative impact on most businesses world over. Despite the slowdown IKEA plans to open stores in china and world over. The business was started by entrepreneur Ingvar Kampard who had the idea of selling things cheaper than the market price. Thus IKEA came into existence in 1943, when he was just 17 in the small village of Agunnaryd in Sweden. Furniture was introduced in the IKEA product range in 1947 and there after IKEA designed its own furniture. After opening its first store in Almhult in 1958(IKEA, 2009), Ikea has expanded its business worldwide and now operates in 36 countries around the world. Its sales for 2008-09 were 21.2 billion euros and had 127,800 employees. IKEAs success in the retail industry is due to its vast experience which spans over five decades in the retail market. Ikea also achieves product differentiation and cost leadership by its unique concept of selling furnitures in kits that are assembled by customers at home .IKEAs visio n is to create a better every day life for many people (IKEAs Annual report 2009). Macro Analysis (PESTEL Analysis) Political/Legal According to Scherrer (2003), changes in political and legal environment adversely affect the market place as well as the sale and distribution of a product. The political factors include the nature, level of corruption and stability of the government. While the legal factors include import laws, taxation, employment law, competition law, health and safety laws. Europe accounts for large part of IKEAs business with 82% of its sales coming from there (IKEA, 2009). This is because the governments in Europe are been stable, encourage foreign trade and favorable taxation policies. IKEA relocated its Group management, finance and treasury departments to Leiden in the Netherlands from Denmark. This move can be attributed to the favorable government policies in Netherlands that benefited the company over and above any other country in Europe and even Sweden. Globalization influenced IKEA to enter the Chinese furniture market much later after the import control rules were relaxed and governm ent opened up property markets. According to Miller (2004), heavy import taxes have hit IKEA; thus IKEA has been having difficulty in setting a price which good for the customers and the company. IKEA plans to relocate production of many items in china. One the other hand IKEA has no plans of entering Indian markets due to its strict licensing laws for the foreign owned companies. Economic According to Scherrer (2003), economic growth of any country is reflected by its economic climate which influences its plans for expansion. IKEA has no plans on expansion into underdeveloped and developing countries like India. The economic conditions do not favor its business strategy as the buying power of the customers is low. Thus IKEAs main market is Europe where every ordinary person including students can afford to buy an IKEA product. IKEA faced massive problem in china due to its economic condition as it became a luxury furniture brand in the Chinese mind and not many could afford its products. Socio cultural Scherrer (2003) states that consumer preference; purchasing patterns and conditions under which products can be sold are affected by the socio cultural changes. IKEA had to adapt to the cultural environment to expand its business in china. It had to get the Chinese customers to adapt to the do-it-yourself (DIY) concept. As labor is cheap in china, the DIY notion has not taken hold in china as in the western countries where customers know they save money by assembling the furniture Technological IKEA uses technology to stay ahead of the competition by producing furniture cheap and quality furniture. IKEA also uses technology by marketing and selling its products online. Thus IKEA is able to market its products to far many homes and increase its sales considerably. According to Rowley and Slack (2003), a new technology known as kiosk is used by IKEAs customers to view their choice of sofa covered in various fabrics available in that range. Environment IKEA is committed in using resources in an economic and careful way. (IKEA 2009, social and environmental responsibility). IKEA has been offering compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs) which can last up to 10 times longer and use 80 percent less energy than incandescent. IKEA is also committed in reducing the use of plastic bags and there by has introduced the Blue Bag which is cheap, reusable and durable. Resource and capabilities Resource and capability is illustrated by Porters Five Force Model Supplier Power Buyer power Rivalry Substitute Threat of Entry Michael Porters Five Forces Model Power of Suppliers Power of Customer/Buyer IKEA does not enter into actual production but has taken further steps thus keeping the suppliers in an even tighter grip. These suppliers are not only dependent on orders from IKEA but are also in direct financial debt to IKEA, because IKEA has paid for the assembly of their machinery. Hence IKEA has the buyers power to pressurize its suppliers to reduce manufacturing costs anyhow. To reduce the supplier power, IKEA has more than 1300 suppliers in 53 countries with majority of its products from Europe (64%), followed by Asia (33%) and North America (3%) (IKEA, 2009). Competitive Rivalry According to Hopkins (2008) there is more competitive pressure if there are more rivals in the industry. The number of rivals for IKEA is limited in Europe which is where major revenue is generated, as they are able to restrict competition due to their cost leadership and product differentiation. Apart from the competition IKEA faces from UK based BQ (the largest DIY retailer in Europe and third largest in the world) in china; its biggest worry is that it is facing competition from many international and Chinese chains who are copying its products. Many stores in china have IKEAs catalogue in their stores and they tell customers that they can reproduce the same furniture at a lower price. IKEAs online catalogue makes it easy to view and copy. Threat of Substitute Furniture made with wood can only be substituted by furniture made with plastic. But wood is bio degradable which is the reason wood is preferred over plastic. Threat of new Entrants Pass, Sturgess and Wilson (1994) state that it is difficult for entrants with unknown products to win viable market share as customer loyalty exists with the existing firm. IKEA enjoys loyalty from its customers which has been built up by huge and continuous investment in making its products better and cheaper. There is high barrier for entry set by IKEA which makes it almost impossible for a new entrant with unknown and untitled products to win a viable share of the market. Marketing Mix According to Armstrong and Kotler (2006), modern marketing consists of a major concept know as marketing mix. A firm needs get its marketing mix which includes product, price, place and promotion (the 4PS) right to get the response it wants from the target market. Marketing Mix Intended positioning/ Target Customers Product Variety Quality Design Features Brand name Packaging Services Price List price Discounts Allowances Payment period Credit limit Place Channels Coverage Assortments Locations Inventory Transportation Logistics Promotion Advertising Personal selling Sales promotion Public relations Source: Armstrong and Kotler (2006) Marketing an introduction. New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc Product Product strategy forms the first of the 4PS of modern marketing strategy. Product includes goods as well as services the company wants to sell. IKEA has large range of products for almost everything that is needed at home. IKEA is positioned itself as a company which sells quality goods at affordable price. In terms of service, IKEA encourages the concept of DIY but makes technical help available for its customers when needed. This makes IKEAs products different from other products available in the market. Price According to Myers, Caustic and Diamantopoulos (2002) it is difficult to price products in the international markets as the competition increases. IKEAs adopts low price strategy which is achieved by keeping the costs low between then manufacturers and customers. IKEA can also sell its products cheap because it makes bulk orders. IKEA plans to lower its prices in china by 27% to increase its sales. This is possible as china produces 30% of its products. Also large proportion of its raw materials also comes from china. IKEA also offers payment and credit options for its customers. Place IKEA has been able to reduce its costs by locating its shops in the suburbs of the cities. In china it has opened its store in shanghai city knowing that only 20 percent of visitors in shanghai have their own cars. Promotion IKEA promotes its products by advertising on TV and newspapers. It also markets and sells its products online. Broachers and catalog are printed which have the latest offers and the new products for convenience of customers. IKEA is also involved in helping NGOs like UNICEF. This creates a good company image in the customers mind. Customer Perceived Value According to Eggert and Ulaga (2002), customer perceived value (CPA) comprises of three elements, the multiple components of value, the subjectivity of value perceived and the importance of competition. The difference between benefits and costs of an offering perceived by the customers can be stated as customer perceived value. According to Heinonen (2004), organisations cannot only focus on process and outcome of service delivery which are easy to manipulate. Managers have to put in effort to consider the temporal and spatial elements in service. IKEAs warehouses are open for customers to test and select the furnitures. Thus IKEA has been able to create value by providing an arena where customers can perform services at their own convenience. IKEA Philosophy IKEA philosophy is to increase customer perceived value by delivering extraordinary customer service. IKEA reduces perceived sacrifice for its customers by offering them a remarkable experience through their new designs, high quality and low cost furnitures. IKEA maintains its low prices by reducing its shipping costs, inventory costs and also by their DIY concept. IKEA PHILOSOPHY Source: Bernhard Schindlholzer, the Customer Experience Labs (2008) IKEA is able to maintain its focus on being easier, cheaper and faster. It is also able to provide excellent customer service by its cost cutting and process optimization techniques. SWOT Analysis Strength According to Lee and Ko (2000), the internal as well external customers should be considered while determining the strength of an organisation. IKEA is able to maximize productivity and minimize waste generation as maintains complete control over production process. All the steps in the production process from forestry saw milling and board manufacturing to furniture is handled by the industrial group of IKEA which is called Swedwood. IKEAs own design group makes sure that their products match the trend of the market. The design group also co-ordinates with the industrial group and vise versa to effectively convert the design into furnitures. IKEA has been a long term partner of UNICEF supporting UNICEFs programs benefiting children and their opportunities for learning and development in Asia, Africa and Central and Eastern Europe. IKEA has also been working with UN to abolish child labor. By fulfilling its corporate social responsibility and repeated customer satisfaction, IKEA has been able to build a strong brand image and thus enjoys enhances customer loyalty all over the world. IKEA was ranked 41st among the best global brands around the world in 2006. Weakness IKEA has to depend on sub contracted manufacturers as it has limited manufacturing capabilities, which makes it difficult for IKEA to coordinate and control quality standards in some regions. IKEA may also face competition from the subcontractors as they may manufacture their own line of products. IKEA products are also easy to replicate which the reason it is facing competition in china from the local suppliers. These suppliers in china are able to copy the IKEA products and sell at a cheaper cost. Opportunity Lee and Ko (2000) state that opportunities are present every where such as changes in government policies, social patterns and even technology. Asia accounts for small part of IKEAs business with only 3% of its sales generated from there. IKEA senses an opportunity to make its mark in Asia. IKEA plans to cut prices in china considerably and open new stores. IKEA can also expand by using e-commerce to its advantage. By using innovative technology IKEA can reach customers in parts of the world where it does not have a store. Threat The major threat to IKEA is distinct demand in different regions. In a vast country as china, IKEA has to adjust to the living style and culture which differ from one part to the other. IKEA plans to expand despite the business being hit by the global recession. IKEA will have to be cautious of the decisions it takes for its future in these difficult times. IKEAs Future IKEA success can be attributed to its ability of turning problems into opportunities. IKEA has been able to globalize and compete with local products in diverse markets due to its vision and business idea. IKEA is finding out ways to reduce costs in china and also plans to open 10 more outlets by 2010. IKEA expects china to be the second largest furniture consumption market by 2014 only after USA. Therefore, IKEA has streamlining its resources in Asia-Pacific and will moved its purchasing, financial, operation, security and other functional departments from Singapore to Shanghai. Rowley and Slack (2003), a new technology known as kiosk is used by IKEAs for customer convenience. Thus by using better technology like kiosk, IKEA will be able to satisfy more and more customers and will keep growing. IKEA has to constantly look out for new and innovative ways to reduce costs and improve quality to stay ahead of the competition. IKEA has to be in control of the huge expansion it has planned. Inability to reduce costs and inability to be in control of expansion could lead to the demise of IKEA. Conclusion Analyzing IKEA by PESTEL analysis reflects the external factors that IKEA has to counter to achieve its goals. IKEA has to deal with different external factors like taxation policies, government rules and regulations, exchange rate in different countries. IKEA product prices vary from country to country largely due to the external factors. IKEA has adopted a unique marketing mix which has resulted in the enormous growth of the company. IKEA has been so successful because it has been able to change its marketing strategy to suit the culture of the country. Most of IKEAs business comes from Europe but now its expanding in Asia. To be successful in the highly competitive Asian and especially Chinese markets, IKEA will have to adopt new strategies which suit the cultures of these markets which is different from the western culture. IKEAs plan of expansion in China could be quite risks as they have not been able to make their mark in the Chinese markets as they have been able to make in Europe. Moreover, IKEAs business has been hit by the financial crisis world wide; it could be strategic for IKEA to focus on increasing their sales in the existing stores than expansion in China.

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Putting an End to School Violence †Is Zero Tolerance the Solution? :: Argumentative Persuasive Essays

Putting an End to School Violence – Is a Zero Tolerance Policy the Solution? There are very few people today who are unaware of the violence in schools. As college students we live in a world that is desperate to find prevention methods against violence. That makes this issue important to today's college students, considering the fact that we are the generation that could have been involved and directly effected by a school shooting like Columbine. Is this how we want our school systems to be when our children enroll? A school is defined as "an institution for teaching and learning". However, today's educational institutions include punishment, violence, and misbehavior. When we find ourselves glued to the television because of another school shooting, obviously something needs to be done about violence in schools. Unfortunately, the solution causes creates more problems. Schools around the world have recently adopted revolutionary solution and prevention methods. The controversy over school violence prevention is not "yes we should or, "no we shouldn't", because you will probably be hard pressed to find someone who thinks we shouldn't get involved. The debate lies in the method we use to prevent and solve school violence. The zero tolerance policy is one suggestion to implement punishment in schools. The zero tolerance policy is strict and devises rules for students and faculty alike. It is a policy that doesn't ask questions when a rule is broken which often results in suspension and expulsion. The policy also addresses the possession of weapons, drugs, and alcohol. Many schools have adopted this policy and have observed both positive and negative results. If the zero tolerance program is installed in the educational system, schools must decide when and how it should be enforced. This is a very complex issue and when open to debate you see three approaches to it. First, advocates of zero tolerance policies concentrate on positive changes in school security, ways of punishment, and change in student behavior. Those who oppose the policies argue that zero tolerance should be eliminated due to its lack of rationale and logic. Finally, the opposing viewpoint criticizes the zero tolerance policy for being too extreme and inappropriate for schools. The first group, those who favor the policy, dwell on school improvement due to zero tolerance. One positive change is reinstated safety in schools giving students, parents, teachers, and the community a breath of relief. Advocates of this positive change believe that schools should be a place of learning without safety concerns.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Semester Reflection

As the semester started, I had set my mind that I was destined to achieve a lot. During the start of the semester, I had several difficulties writing English assignments especially in terms of grammar. During the first week of the semester, I sat down, organized my thoughts and comprehended that throughout the semester, I had to achieve all that I had planned for. As a student of English, I had planned that throughout the semester, I had to improve my skills as a scholar, writer and critical thinker. Now that the semester has ended, I can reflect all the semester activities to depict how my writing skills and critical thinking skills have drastically improved. This paper presents a reflection paper of how this semester’s assignments have shaped me as a writer, critical thinker and scholar. Since the start of this semester, I have encountered many aspects of English that I can now understand. There are several ways through which I have shaped my writing skills over the course of the semester but one major activity of the semester that has helped me a lot especially in my writing and critical thinking skills is the semester writing assignments. During this semester, I got the opportunity to write several assignments. The two major writing assignments that helped me a lot in comprehending about the several aspects of writing were writing on â€Å"Obama’s acceptance speech† and â€Å"Downloading from torrent. † During these semester writings, it was quite interesting to learn the use of English writing skills under different circumstances. First, writing a paper on â€Å"Obama’s acceptance speech† instilled me with knowledge on how to analyze a speech and present the ideas and themes of the speaker. This assignment was also critical in shaping my critical thinking skills since I was able to critically analyze Obama’s speech in relation to its purpose and context. Writing this speech also enabled me acquire the skills of writing papers from first person context. I acquired the skills to use strong introductory phrases that hold the capability of capturing the reader. Flateby (p 190) argues that critical and creative writers must use descriptive words. I am now able to utilize descriptive words in my writings that are capable of creating a scenic imagination to the reader. I am also able to write a reported speech. These are writing skills that I gained after writing the paper on Obama’s acceptance speech. I believe that these are very critical skills that will help me throughout my entire course and even after my studies. Throughout the semester, I have gained skills necessary for understanding and utilizing logic while writing. I am now aware that for any writing to be scholarly, it must possess an introductory section, a body and a conclusion section. Further, I am now able to understand as well as utilize most of the basic techniques useful in pre-writing, revision and editing. Through writing the â€Å"downloading from torrents† paper, I acquired skills in word processing, sentence elements, and punctuation. Further, I developed some special skills in writing a website analysis which is a critical aspect in contemporary learning as argued by Flateby (p 182). As the semester folds, I believe that I have gained the prerequisite skills in writing and critical thinking. However, I need to improve much on some of the common problems in writing that seems to disturb me especially grammar. In regard to the development of my critical thinking aspects which cannot be depicted from my writings, I have gained several critical thinking skills from my writing assignments throughout the semester. Through writing assignments such as â€Å"downloading from torrents† and â€Å"Obama’s acceptance speech† I gained the skills necessary in summarizing a given reading using my original thoughts. When I was writing â€Å"Obama’s acceptance speech†, it was a required that one had to read and understand the speech then analyze it using own thoughts and perceptions. This helped in shaping my critical thinking aspects. As denoted by Flateby (p 190), critical thinkers must have the ability to form opinions. This is a skill that I have also gained through the semester’s writing assignments. This was acquired through writing the â€Å"downloading from torrents† assignment that required the students to form personal opinions about the website. I can now form opinions with ease as well as express it with precision and clarity through writing. Further, I am also able to deduce the premise of most writers after reading a number of scholarly writings. In deed, this semester’s assignments have shaped my writing and critical thinking skills. I am now able to understand the meaning of several written works, conduct a rhetoric examination, write opinion papers, and analyze speeches, write critical analysis papers as well as effectively reference my assignments. Though I found it challenging throughout the semester, I am now able to use several examples while writing my assignments. The semester’s activities have really paid me out. As the semester started, I had a mediocre performance but I can now ascertain that as the semester ends, I am now among the best students in the whole class. To improve my grammar in the coming semester, I aim at visiting the university English writing center where I will get help on grammar. I am also planning to enroll in a part time grammar class. Though the semester’s assignments helped me in improving my performance, I still owe it the efforts of my instructor and my fellow students who tirelessly helped me in my path to becoming a great writer, a better critical thinker and a scholar.

Friday, January 3, 2020

Subduction The Sinking of Tectonic Plates

Subduction, Latin for carried under, is a term used for a specific type of plate interaction. It happens when one lithospheric plate meets another—that is, in  convergent zones—and the denser plate sinks down into the mantle. How Subduction Happens Continents are made up of rocks that are too buoyant to be carried much farther than about 100 kilometers deep. So when a continent meets a continent, no subduction occurs (instead, the plates collide and thicken). True subduction happens only to oceanic lithosphere. When oceanic lithosphere meets continental lithosphere, the continent always stays on top while the oceanic plate subducts.  When two oceanic plates meet, the older plate subducts.   Oceanic lithosphere is formed hot and thin at mid-ocean ridges and grows thick as more rock hardens underneath it. As it moves away from the ridge, it cools. Rocks shrink as they cool, so the plate becomes more dense and sits lower than younger, hotter plates. Therefore, when two plates meet, the younger, higher plate has an edge and does not sink. Oceanic plates do not float on the asthenosphere like ice on water—they are more like sheets of paper on water, ready to sink as soon as one edge can start the process. They are gravitationally unstable. Once a plate begins to subduct, gravity takes over. A descending plate is usually referred to as a slab. Where very old seafloor is being subducted, the slab falls almost straight down, and where younger plates are being subducted, the slab descends at a shallow angle. Subduction, in the form of gravitational slab pull, is thought to be the largest force driving plate tectonics. At a certain depth, the high pressure turns the basalt in the slab to a denser rock, eclogite (that is, a feldspar-pyroxene mixture becomes garnet-pyroxene). This makes the slab even more eager to descend. Its a mistake to picture subduction as a sumo match, a battle of plates in which the top plate forces the lower one down. In many cases its more like jiu-jitsu: the lower plate is actively sinking as the bend along its front edge works backward (slab rollback), so that the upper plate is actually sucked over the lower plate. This explains why there are often zones of stretching, or crustal extension, in the upper plate at subduction zones. Ocean Trenches and Accretionary Wedges Where the subducting slab bends downward, a deep-sea trench forms. The deepest of these is the Mariana Trench, at over 36,000 feet below sea level. Trenches capture a lot of sediment from nearby land masses, much of which is carried down along with the slab. In about half the worlds trenches, some of that sediment is instead scraped off. It remains on top as a wedge of material, known as an accretionary wedge or prism,  like snow in front of a plow. Slowly, the trench is pushed offshore as the upper plate grows.  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹ Volcanoes, Earthquakes and the Pacific Ring of Fire Once subduction begins, the materials on top of the slab—sediments, water, and delicate minerals—are carried down with it. The water, thick with dissolved minerals, rises into the upper plate. There, this chemically active fluid enters an energetic cycle of volcanism and tectonic activity.  This process forms arc volcanism and is sometimes known as the subduction factory. The rest of the slab keeps descending and leaves the realm of plate tectonics.   Subduction also forms some of Earths  most powerful earthquakes. Slabs normally subduct at a rate of a few centimeters per year, but sometimes the crust may stick and cause strain. This stores potential energy, which releases itself as an earthquake whenever the weakest point along the fault ruptures. Subduction earthquakes can be very powerful, as the faults they occur along have a very large surface area to accumulate strain. The Cascadia Subduction Zone off the coast of northwest North America, for example, is over 600 miles long. A magnitude ~9 earthquake occurred along this zone in 1700 AD, and seismologists think the area may see another one soon.   Subduction-caused volcanism and earthquake activity occur frequently along the outer edges of the Pacific Ocean in an area known as the Pacific Ring of Fire. In fact, this area has seen the eight most powerful earthquakes ever recorded  and is home to over 75 percent of the worlds active and dormant volcanoes.   Edited by Brooks Mitchell