The Outsiders Essays (389 words) - A Day No Pigs Would Die, Film

The Outsiders Essays (389 words) - A Day No Pigs Would Die, Film The Outsiders A Day No Pigs Would Die Robert Newton Peck The book took place in rural Vermont with a young Shaker boy named Rob Peck. The novel was basically about this boy going through joyful and trying times in his youth, and his friendship with his pet pig named Pinky. Robert Peck was the main character, he was loving towards Pinky and he was obedient,( he knew if he wasnt, hed be in big trouble.) Throughout the book you could tell that his emotions were opening up more, now that he had a pet to love and take care of, yet he still held back some of his feelings. His father, Haven, was a good Shaker man and was a great neighbor. He cared for his son but was still stern in his own way, but he had to be, after all, he was a Shaker. Their neighbor, Benjamin Tanner, was grateful for Rob delivering The finest oxen in the county. Pinky was a gift from Mr. Tanner. To show his appreciation, he pulled out a pig from underneath his jacket and gave it to Rob. The theme of the book was traveling from boyhood to manhood and how quickly it came about. Through the short time the book took place, Rob turned from a boy into the man he is now. I think the first turning point was the death of Pinky and how he reacted towards that. The second instance was the death of his father and how he took it so well and even dug his fathers grave. When pinky died, he had a conversation that showed him turning into a man. He said, Oh, Papa. My hearts broke. So is mine, said Papa. But Im thankful youre a man. The second passage in the book describing manhood, is after Haven killed Pinky and said, Thats what being a man is all about, boy. Its just doing whats got to be done. Overall I liked this book, however, I didnt like the beginning. The author described the pain so well that I cringed as I read the passage about Apron. I even felt sad about the dog getting weaseled. The book was written well and the story was good, but Im just thankful that I didnt have to grow up that way. Bibliography none

How to write annual reports - Emphasis

How to write annual reports How to write annual reports Annual reports should be focused, well written and dynamic – and, above all, they mustnt shy away from giving a clear and accurate message. A good place to begin when you need to write one (or, indeed, any other document), is with a question. Why do you write? This isn’t as foolish a question as it seems. We all write, but the style will differ depending on the medium and the audience. Criticising government policy in a column in the Financial Times needs a certain degree of logic and rhetoric. Criticising government policy on the wall of a public convenience, however, demands a style that is less formal and more succinct. Oh, and a good-sized permanent marker. (A biro will make you look like an amateur.) Every business action – including communication – must be targeted, with a clear result in mind. Internal actions are almost always intended to improve efficiency, while external actions have three main aims: 1. to increase sales 2. to promote the brand 3. to reassure current or potential shareholders. A lot of bad business writing is born of an obsession with number three. We are so afraid of saying something that might be construed negatively that we opt to say nothing at all. Sometimes that’s fine, when your purpose is to reassure; to show that the writer and his organisation conform to preconceived notions. Like a parent saying there, there, there to a crying baby, the words themselves don’t matter. If you’re a listed company, then there are rules about what’s in your annual report and too often the summit of achievement is to get it written without attracting any attention. A simple description of the business position is all that’s called for. Here’s a middling example – neither good nor bad – from Tesco chief executive Philip Clarke: In the UK, we have an outstanding core business. It made progress in the year but some aspects of our performance can improve. Stronger sales momentum here is a key priority and I am confident that the focus and energy our new UK leadership team is bringing to the business will see a return to form in the months ahead as Tesco tries to do its bit to help customers who face pressure on their household budgets. The increasing scale and competitiveness of our international businesses are now driving strong growth in sales, market share, profits and returns, supported by the generally improving global economic environment. We have built some excellent springboards for future growth, and whilst there is still work to do, particularly in the United States, I am delighted with our performance in Europe and Asia, where I expect further strong growth this year and beyond. Taken from the Tesco annual report 2011 It uses fairly plain English to describe the situation in Tesco’s main markets in guardedly optimistic terms, while refusing to promise anything. You might point out that Tesco’s share price dropped by a quarter following publication of the results, but we expect the CEO’s spectacles to be rose-tinted. But things can go badly wrong if you try to impress your readers. Lucy Kellaway of the FT gave her award for Outstanding Services to Bunkum to Angela Ahrendts, CEO of Burberry, for this horror from the company’s annual report: In the wholesale channel, Burberry exited doors not aligned with brand status and invested in presentation through both enhanced assortments and dedicated, customised real estate in key doors. Such clichà ©-ridden jargon only invites ridicule. So how do you avoid becoming the target of mockery? What rules can you follow if you actually want to say something, to convey a message, to change minds or inspire action? Whole books have been written on this subject, but some of the basics can be summed up here. 1. Write it three times Your first draft is simply a list of the points you want to cover. Your second draft gets those points into some sort of coherent narrative. Don’t worry about it being an unreadable mess or that you’ve used the wrong word here and there. No-one will ever read it but you, although you might be surprised to find your prose is more vigorous than normal – especially if you’re the sort of executive who can speak with charisma. The third draft will tidy it up, ideally without smothering the vibrancy of the writing. Then get someone to check it and edit it. If it’s for publication, use an outside professional. 2. Avoid clichà ©s Your readers will switch off the moment you synergise an ecosystem. As soon as you leverage solutions to issues going forward, or, worse, exit a door not aligned with brand status, you are doing exactly what teenagers do when wearing the uniform of whatever subculture is cool this week. They are masking their individuality in an effort to conform. Clichà ©s are the calling cards of a mind that has stopped thinking for itself and is using thoughts that are off-the-shelf, one-size-fits-all, microwave-for-three-minutes-for-a-delicious-individual-meal. Clichà ©s are verbal clip-art, which means mediocrity. If you are familiar with seeing a word or phrase in print, don’t use it. 3. Use the right imagery We use imagery all the time, because it brings our prose to life and paints pictures in the mind. It also reveals a lot about a writer’s attitude. So, when my local health trust writes about delivering healthcare, I know that they think of healthcare as a commodity. Their language implies that the personal, human activity of caring is beneath their dignity and a long way from their thoughts. Try to use words that have literal, rather than abstract, meanings, and never forget what the word actually means. Try to picture it, and ask yourself if the picture makes sense. David Gillespie, author of the book Charisma, describes Bill Clinton as a man who does exactly what it says on the tin!; a horribly wonderful blend of mixed metaphor and clichà ©. Just try to picture it. 4. Write simple sentences Keep your sentences short and simple, but not so short that they become staccato. Keep the verb close to its subject, and always use a short word instead of a long one. When you come to cut your piece, as you almost certainly will, delete as many adjectives and adverbs as you can, starting with ‘ongoing’. 5. Use strong, active verbs Verbs are the engine of language. Nouns are the cargo; adjectives and adverbs the packaging. If you overload your prose with heavy nouns and drive them with weak verbs (‘to be’ is the weakest), then your writing will plod along like an old lady lugging twelve bags of shopping. Compare the sporting clichà © it’s a must-win game with we must win this game. The second sentence is so dynamic it almost demands an exclamation mark. Why? Compare the verbs: ‘is’ versus ‘must win’. Now compare the subjects: ‘it’ versus ‘we’. By saying ‘we’, the second speaker is taking responsibility by focusing on himself and his team, while the first speaker is looking at the game: a distant, abstract thing. The first speaker has turned the important thing – ‘must win’ – into a feeble adjective. The second speaker has made it the main verb. Above all, let your own personality come through. For more on how to write reports that yield real results, take our one-day Business report writing course. To learn more about making writing annual reports a much easier and less painful task, check out our free webinar  recording How to turn your expert analysis into exceptional reports.  Its ideal if you have to write reports to colleagues and clients as part of your day-to-day job – whether thats as a traditional written report or as a slide deck.

Social Networking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Social Networking - Essay Example Individuals of all ages indulge in the activities and attractions offered by such websites. Social networking websites have a very vast effect on the individual using it. I have been using social networking websites since the last four years. Social networking has both positive and negative effects on the education, personal development, interpersonal skills, relationships and psychological aspects of the individual. Social networking web has emerged as a remarkably significant form of communication and socializing amongst the youth. Some utilize the social networking for playing their favorite online games, while others use it for communicating with their friends through pictures, videos and chatting. Human relations are another aspect that is affected by the social networking usage. This aspect has its own flaws and positive points that can affect the individual using the websites. Human beings always show a deep interest in the nature and personalities of their friends and peers. They are curious about their activities, pastimes, current incidents, feelings and opinions. People are always in an effort to â€Å"know more† about the people around them and intrude in their private information. Social networking web has given an opportunity to the users to display their personal information, feelings and life events on the internet. Thus, they also get an equal chance of viewing and interfering in other people’s information as well.

Internal factor Evaluation on Michael Kors Company Essay

Internal factor Evaluation on Michael Kors Company - Essay Example Michael Kors Holdings Ltd has currently made the headlines in the best performing stocks in America, catching the attention of the financial analysts and the investors. In addition to its growing market share, the company has recorded high profits and a high stock price. This means that there are various things that the management of the company is doing right, which its competitors are missing. This paper will evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of Michael Kors’ company as part of its internal factor evaluation in relation to the above ratings. Strengths Michael Kors’ company, a highly profitable company, has high revenue turnover as a result of increased sales volume. According to (Caplinger web), the fashion designer company has increasingly invested in its trendy fashions targeting the high end markets, which have in the recent 10 years translated into high profits for the company. The profitability of the company has been translated into high stock prices that ha ve jumped up to 60% in the current financial year. In comparison to the competitors, the company’s profitability performance is exemplary. While other companies in the design industry such as the biggest rival coach are making profits, the company’s management has maintained a high profitability trend in the market. Michael Kors has taken the advantage of the fashionable conditions in most parts of the design market to maximize on its profitability levels. The high demand for fashion wear in the North market has made the company pitch tent in the area, strategically placing most of its retail chain shops. Strategically placing its operations in the high end markets with a high demand for the products, the company has tapped into the potential markets and drawn more customers into its shops. Sales from the region have been high as revealed in the company’s financial reports that indicate a higher performance in comparison to that of the industry. To maximize in i ts profits, market diversification and production of clothes, Michael Kors has invested $88.2 million to fund its operations. This has translated into high profits for the company, as the current results reveal. Increased investor confidence in the company has subsequently drawn more capital investment into the company. Profitability ratios of the company can attest to this trend, with the Pre-Tax Margin of 27.98, which is higher than that of the industry which is at 16.35 (Marder web). Financial ratios of the company indicate growth, high profits and increased market share by the company. The company has maintained a constant growth trend in the past 10 years. Recently after going public, the company’s has been tremendous. Against the average sales of the industry, the company has registered incredible growth rates in its recent financial statements. While the industry’s total sales were at 15.5%, the company registered sales of up to 70.4% in growth (Caplinger web). Michael Kors Company has a wide market share in terms of its customer base. The increasing growth of the company’

The Impact Of Technology On Customers Essay Example for Free

The Impact Of Technology On Customers Essay Customer is the most important component of any business. The globally popular slogan customer is king or customer is god indicates the importance of customers to businesses. Hence, if the organizations are hugely customer centric in their approach, they are rightly so. Customer centricity refers to the orientation of a company to the needs and behaviors of its customers. Any pivotal functional change being considered to be incorporated by the decision makers of an organization is always first studied for its impact on the current and expected customers of the company’s products. One of the most common form of change that companies usually bring in their organization is the up-gradation of the existing technology used by the company. Post Industrialization era , technology has become one of the most important feature of an organization. It is one of the hot topics among the business world. More and more business enterprises , large or small, are trying to incorporate the latest available technology into their operations. This notion is substantiated by the fact that the popular business firms now have a separate technology sections, and information systems departments as a very critical component of the organization. The importance of the whole information technology field is that it is designed to make people and organizations more faster, knowledgeable, efficient, and profitable. A key advantage of the information systems is to be able to simplify organizational structures. In fact firms with well-developed management information systems lend themselves to a move towards flat structures. Irrespective of the complexity of the system or the size of the organization, the incorporation of new technology or information systems will accompany change by and large in the entire organization. The importance of information technology and its impact on the organization is emphasized by Nadler, who states perhaps the largest single influence on organizational architecture and design has been the evolution of information technology. [Gerstein, p. 5]. The mode of implementing the new technology can be either indigenous or it can brought at a suitable price from another company selling the technology. In the former case need for co-ordination is only one sided (within the organization) but in the later type a very well coordinated relationship has to be maintained with the enterprise selling the technology as well as within the organization so that the training and the transition process is smooth. The implementation of information systems and technology in general can be a boon to an organization by being part of a transformation that results in fundamental improvement. Although in the beginning their may be some repulsion towards acceptance of the new technological change but with proper managerial support and education they can be certainly overcome. Nonetheless, the efficiency gained from technology and associated information systems will generally serve as the precursor to eventual acceptance of the change. The benefits of improved coordination and increased supervision even replace the need for tall, hierarchical organizations. In fact firms with well-developed management information systems lend themselves to a move towards flat structures. One author warns that de-layering is not right for every organization and should not be done indiscriminately. (Nelson, p. 56) The impact of new technology and information systems does not limit itself only to the organization its also hugely influences firms relationship with suppliers or customers. As the new technologies and information systems are adopted by the firms, the technology level of the firm is emerging as an important variable of inter-organizational relationships. The influence of technology levels on the customer-supplier interactions is explicit. Drawing on the marketing and social exchange literature, a set of research propositions in terms of major characteristics of interaction processes with the customers is part of the process. The technology implementation process must view the customer as both the purchaser and user of the new technology. With this perspective, demand evolves not just through compositional changes but also through how customers evaluate and use a technology. These components of demand progression emphasizes how competition shifts in an industry and the effects of disruptive technological changes. On systematic analysis of the demand evolution and its influence on industry competition with respective to the technology it can be observed that customers tend to study the market thoroughly before making a choice. Demand evolution in terms of customers is switching from valuing different product features to price as the products satisfy their functional thresholds (or preferences). Adner and Levinthal 2001] A process in which customer understanding and technological development co-evolve as customers and the technology move from an uncertain, generalized understanding of the technology to a more determinate and specified interpretation [Clark (1985]. The customer, evolves in ways that are interrelated to firms innovating a new technology. The source of competitive advantage lies in the interplay between firms adapting and the environment selecting. Creative and strategic management of how customers understand and use a technology should be an important competitive factor in the industries. Customers can change how they value a technology through learning new uses, then firms have an incentive to re-engage in product innovation after technical standardization. Customers may interpret the technology differently or may adapt it to their local conditions and requirements, generating variety in how users actually deploy products. Moreover, as customers use new products, they may learn new ways of using the technology, which affects their future purchasing and deployment decisions. In order to educate the customer about the new technology being used and its after effects it is very important that the customers are correctly informed and educated about it by the company and its public relationship department. A triangular relationship exists between communication channels, companies, the customer. The choice of communication technology is the key to building a successful brand relationship with any given existing or prospective consumer. This decision of promoting the technology however also needs intervention of the marketing department in order to creatively bring the brand to market. This allows the sale of the technology along with the product it is associated with. Once of the significant trends in consumer marketing is the advent of multi-channel marketing of products and services. This is exactly where the communication technology comes into picture. Given this the new technology, channels of communications are evolving at a speed that no one can keep up with. Organizations are using direct channels such as the Internet, catalogue channels and other channels such as brick-and-mortar environments, either to seamlessly integrate their offerings across all channels or to use these different channels to segment consumers and implement differential marketing strategies. Revolutionary innovation of the technology like e-mail, e-commerce, Internet and websites, cell phones and laptop have opened up a new world of marketing communication. A fundamental change has occurred and marketers need to rethink their promotional strategies. Today the customer has the opportunity make a suitable choice, by accessing the website or sending an e-mail. All relevant information must be made accessible and user friendly so the customers are easily able to acquire what they seek. Many market research companies are now-a-days using the wireless devices and interactive voting systems to obtain an instant feedback from their customers. These wireless devices are also used for dynamic promotion and pricing – for example electronic coupons as consumers shop, quantity discounts, auction pricing for certain items or bidding against other shoppers are common strategies of obtaining high end immediate response of their product. Interactive voting is one of the most successful revenue generating Interactive TV applications. Voting can be used to encourage the first time users to interact with programs and advertising, thus helping viewers become familiar with Interactive TV. Voting changes the dynamics of the viewer’s experience from a passive, one-way communication to a two-way exchange that draws in the audience by allowing viewers to interact with and influence the program. Thus, it has been proven that the use of advanced technologies to complement the more traditional channels can lead to much more efficient and effective market communication techniques at significantly reduced cost. The technological development and its incorporation first in the organization and then finally impacting the customers of the business has been explained below with two actual examples. The foundation for the purpose of this research has been created by a prospective study to explore the impact of application of e-commerce on the Iranian insurance industry. In order to fulfill the purpose of this study, a frame of reference has been emerged based on a vast literature review. With the focus at quantitative research as a general approach and descriptive research as the type of research in this study, a structured questionnaire was used as the data collection instrument. To accomplish this, a survey of 258 people (in almost all active insurance companies in Iran) has been carried out. The respondents from almost every department within the targeted insurance companies were randomly chosen. We have focused on the perception of insurers regarding the subject of study, and thus, the perception of other stakeholder such as insurance agents/brokers and even their customers have been suggested for future research, due to limitation and demarcation of this research. This dissertation has been organized in the seven chapters. An introduction this study, problem statements and research questions were presented in chapter one. The second chapter was devoted to literature review. The emerged frame of reference was provided in the third chapter and our research methodology was discussed in the fourth chapter. Data presentation and analysis were done in accordance with the research questions and the frame of reference in chapter five and six, respectively. Finally, in the last chapter findings and conclusions were drawn by answering the research questions. With respect to the findings, we conclude that the Iranian insurance companies were positively looked at e-commerce and its application in their companies. Their attitude and views toward e-commerce was positive so that they found that e-commerce would be an opportunity rather than a challenge or even a threat for insurance industry. They highly believed that e-commerce would affect on insurance companies and, thus, their companies should embrace e-commerce. Lack of skilled staffs in e-commerce application and scarcity of IT experts were the most infrastructure requirements which they found that the Iranian insures were suffering from. Whereas they were well equipped with hardware and networking as well as general and professional insurance software required in e-commerce applications. Lagging of other supportive sectors (e. g. , e-Banking and Telecommunications), lack of appropriate legislation and regulation (e. g. copy right, digital signature), low Internet usage and fewer users, traditionally attitudes and views over the companies and scarcity of skilled staffs were the five top major obstacles which would hinder the Iranian insurers to embrace e-commerce. E-commerce is potentially applicable to marketing and sales as well as RD with respect to insurance value chain. On the other hand, as far as insurance products concern, auto (motor) insurance, marine and aviation, life insurance and fire insurance were highly perceived to suitabl e to e-commerce (sale online). Finally, the Iranian insurance companies were chiefly believed that in the case of e-commerce application they would get these top five benefits: brand and image promotion (as a pioneer and modern company), extended corporation with partners (specially in the reinsurance cases), lower invest for establishing the sales and after sales services network, cost reduction in value chain management (e. . product/service development) and decentralization and no restrictions imposed by national borders [Aarabi and Bromideh, 2006] Information technology was also a core element of the turnaround of Union Pacific Railroad. The overall goal was to eliminate layers of unnecessary middle management, increase their efficiency, and improve customer service radically. Accomplishing this goal would not have been possible without the technology implemented in their revised, centralized operations. All customer service functions were consolidated into one National Customer Service Center in St Louis, where customers could b e given up to the minute information on their shipments and UPs schedules. This in turn, is made possible by the worlds largest computer controlled dispatching facility located in Omaha, Nebraska. In this facility, a 100 yard long screen displays all of the railroads trains and 10,000 miles of track and constantly monitors the movements of each by means of electronic sensors on the train cars [Kupfer, p. 142] Their success at implementing this technology along with the other accompanying changes, both formal and informal, enabled UP to make a dramatic turnaround. From this discussion and the examples given, it is apparent that technology is a critical element of organizational transformation and customer decisions..

Apartheid, Globalization, and South Africa Essay -- Outsourcing, Offsho

Introduction In 1991 President Frederik Willem de Klerk of South Africa succumbed to the pressures of international economic sanctions, officially repealed the apartheid laws and called for the drafting of a new constitution. Just three years later, Nelson Mandela became the President of South Africa in the country’s first multi-racial election. Apartheid’s end may never have come, however, were it not for the improved efficiency of communication between states, the increased economic interdependency between those states, and the emergence of international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) that make national borders all but invisible and chip away at Westphalian sovereignty. The existence of such factors allowed for International Organizations (IOs) such as the United Nations to call state governments’ attention to the crimes against humanity committed in South Africa each day, and it allowed those governments to act effectively. Yet the Black, Coloured, and Asian pe ople of South Africa are not singing globalization’s praises. In point of fact, historically globalization has done far more harm than good to the natives of South Africa. Globalization is by no means a fundamentally new phenomena but rather a thickening of preexisting networks of interdependence. (Keohane and Nye 2000). After the industrial revolution in Europe and the surge in international trade in the mid 1800s globalization soon took hold of South Africa. The discovery of diamonds in the territory in approximately 1900 increased the land’s value significantly as it could be exploited by the colonists to generate substantial monetary gains. Following the Boer War with English invaders thirsty to share in the profits of the mineral rich land, the ... ...tiglitz suggests, the supranationals need to remove conditionality from their loan agreements and pay closer attention to the domestic needs of the countries they aim to help. Superpowers like the United States need to practice what they preach, and stop protecting their own markets while plundering others. (Stiglitz, 2001) Only this fused effort of dedication and hard work by the ANC with increased aid from IOs based on less one-sided terms will pave the way to sustainable equality in South Africa. The plateauing environmental degradation is an example of this process. In this case, South Africa observed a shift from sharp degradation to the â€Å"sustainable development† they sought. Sovereignty has been all but lost in South Africa in the past decade, and its people and land suffered. Its gradual restoration will pave the way to recovery and eventual prosperity. Apartheid, Globalization, and South Africa Essay -- Outsourcing, Offsho Introduction In 1991 President Frederik Willem de Klerk of South Africa succumbed to the pressures of international economic sanctions, officially repealed the apartheid laws and called for the drafting of a new constitution. Just three years later, Nelson Mandela became the President of South Africa in the country’s first multi-racial election. Apartheid’s end may never have come, however, were it not for the improved efficiency of communication between states, the increased economic interdependency between those states, and the emergence of international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) that make national borders all but invisible and chip away at Westphalian sovereignty. The existence of such factors allowed for International Organizations (IOs) such as the United Nations to call state governments’ attention to the crimes against humanity committed in South Africa each day, and it allowed those governments to act effectively. Yet the Black, Coloured, and Asian pe ople of South Africa are not singing globalization’s praises. In point of fact, historically globalization has done far more harm than good to the natives of South Africa. Globalization is by no means a fundamentally new phenomena but rather a thickening of preexisting networks of interdependence. (Keohane and Nye 2000). After the industrial revolution in Europe and the surge in international trade in the mid 1800s globalization soon took hold of South Africa. The discovery of diamonds in the territory in approximately 1900 increased the land’s value significantly as it could be exploited by the colonists to generate substantial monetary gains. Following the Boer War with English invaders thirsty to share in the profits of the mineral rich land, the ... ...tiglitz suggests, the supranationals need to remove conditionality from their loan agreements and pay closer attention to the domestic needs of the countries they aim to help. Superpowers like the United States need to practice what they preach, and stop protecting their own markets while plundering others. (Stiglitz, 2001) Only this fused effort of dedication and hard work by the ANC with increased aid from IOs based on less one-sided terms will pave the way to sustainable equality in South Africa. The plateauing environmental degradation is an example of this process. In this case, South Africa observed a shift from sharp degradation to the â€Å"sustainable development† they sought. Sovereignty has been all but lost in South Africa in the past decade, and its people and land suffered. Its gradual restoration will pave the way to recovery and eventual prosperity.

Sociology and Coffee

Writing Assignment #1 Coffee is a beverage that is globally consumed, but also a product that has different values in different parts of the world. The role coffee plays in society differs around the world, from the farmers who grew the crops to the people who constantly consume them. Social theoretical perspectives are capable of showing the different roles coffee has in different societies. Symbolic interactionism, functionalism, and Marxism are three theories which show coffee’s role sociologically.These theories show how coffee affects people physically, how it affects them emotionally, how it leads them to have interactions, how it connects different parts of society, and how it’s economically controlled by a select few. Symbolic interactionism is a social theoretical approach established by George Mead, which emphasizes the importance of symbols and language in understanding the social world. This theoretical theory first allows us to derive the symbolic meanings coffee has on society. Coffee is often viewed as a beverage for energy.It’s often drunk in the morning for means of getting drive after one has woken from sleep, or during the day when one is having a tiresome day, or sometimes after the consumption of alcohol to sober up. All these symbols can be used to identify the nature of coffee consumption within society. These symbols can lead to the social interaction, which George Mead said, involved the exchange of symbols. People can understand a person’s state of mind and mood when they see them drinking coffee, because coffee is capable of symbolizing certain moods.When people see one another drinking coffee before conversing, in Mead’s theory, it’s the exchange of symbols, in this case how one is feeling at that moment. After understanding one another, the people then can start talking in the manner in which they want to. Functionalism is another social theoretical approach which emphasizes the study of soc ial activity as society functions as a whole. In the case of coffee, this involves the chain of events that take place, starting with the coffee as a form of a crop all the way to it reaching the consumer.This gives us a clear understanding of society’s role in the production and consumption of the beverage, and the important role each one plays. Coffee is consumed around the world, but the wealthy nations consume far more than anyone else, even than the countries which produce the coffee. Functionalism advocates moral consensus, which is the maintenance of equality within society. In the case of coffee though, the wealthy countries have completely forgotten about equality and often economically oppress the countries which produce the coffee.People within these wealthy countries simply demand their coffees and have forgotten about the lengthy process coffee takes to get to them. In the functionalism of coffee, everyone plays an important part and it’s possible the disa ppearance of one group can lead to the collapse of the whole chain. Yet coffee has led to divisions being created as well as conflicts arising, all due to the wealthy and powerful creating policies that only benefit them and their associates. Functionalists stress to people to understand everyone’s importance within society, and to oppose those who seek to create social ranks.Marxism is also another social theoretical approach which emphasizes political reform but basically leads to more conflict. Marxists are often open to these changes in policy for their own advantages, in order to get more for their respective groups. Coffee is a valuable product on the world market and is often an issue of conflict over who receives more. The wealthy countries, through their power and shared ideologies, are able to dominate this area of the market and retrieve more coffee for themselves.When these groups with extensive powers come together with similar values, they legitimize their hold on the product of coffee. Similar to how the colonial powers dictated the route of coffee, these powerful groups with similar ideologies, will be able to control the market and decide if and how much coffee other countries will receive. This will cause rank division and ultimately lead to class conflict among nations. The powerful groups actually prefer these conflicts though, because it enables them to show their strength and have a stronger say in the coffee market.The sociological nature of coffee consumption can be defined through three theoretical methods. The first is symbolic interactionism and involves the observation of coffee as a symbol within society. Coffee can be regarded as an energy beverage, since it allows consumers to go on when tired. The second is functionalism and involves the chain of events which lead coffee from the farms around the world to the consumer. Coffee goes through a lot of steps to reach consumers around the world, but most are not aware of the lo ng journey it experiences.The third is Marxism and involves the groups, mostly the wealthy, who are in favor of changing policies to receive more coffee and dictate the market due to their wealth and similar ideals. The countries which produce the coffee as well as other poor countries which demand coffee are often oppressed financially by the wealthy that control all the influence in who receives the coffee. Coffee is no longer seen as a beverage but as a pile of money to the people who control its value on the market.

Procurement Strategies Review

Competition is fierce in today’s world and a business must work smarter versus harder. Many big name chain stores have achieved success but none like that of Wal-Mart. The following is a review of the Wal-Mart customer and his or her expectations of its procurement process. An additional review of how these expectations affect Wal-Mart’s strategies, policies, and procedures at both the domestic and global level is also included. Customers Internal An internal customer is anyone you count on or rely upon to complete a task or a function or to provide you with information so that you can get your job done†¦ and anyone who counts on you to complete a task or function or to provide them with information so that they can get their job done† (Earl, 2004, para. 3). In Wal-Mart’s distribution centers, the individual stores are the internal customer. Each department within a store counts on store management to make certain orders are places and received timely. Store management counts on the employees to keep the individual department in order for the external customers. Wal-Mart’s external customers are almost exclusively the public. Through Wal-Mart’s three operating branches, Wal-Mart stores, Sam’s Club, and Wal-Mart International, the organization focuses on supplying its customers with merchandise ranging from produce to tires at a bargain price. This is the expectation of the customer, to receive the best product at the lowest possible price. Wal-Mart is capable of procuring material at reduced costs and passing these savings to its customers. Wal-Mart’s unique ability to force concessions from suppliers further reduces costs and delivers the demands of their customers, more products for less cost. Procurement expectations Wal-Mart’s procurement expectations from suppliers are some of the strictest among retailers. The Global Procurement division was created to manage Wal-Mart’s global suppliers by creating supplier partnerships, sourcing new products, and managing the supply chain. As Wal-Mart continues to grow, the sustainability of the company and the environmental issues are important to the current and future criteria suppliers must follow. Suppliers are expected to follow Wal-Mart’s move in reducing waste and potential harmful products on the environment. Suppliers are also expected to be knowledgeable of their industry to meet customer quality and price expectations. Influence on strategies and policies Domestic The customers are the biggest influence Wal-Mart faces when developing its strategies, policies, and procedures domestically. Wal-Mart brings these low prices to customers in two main ways. If a supplier cannot meet Wal-Mart’s expectations, Wal-Mart then finds another supplier that will. The second method Wal-Mart uses to keep its prices low is through the low wages of its employees. When Wal-Mart opened its doors in the 1970s, 70% of its workforce was made up of women (Kaufman, 2009). Wal-Mart knew loyalty of its employees was important to the longevity of the organization. To reach that loyalty Wal-Mart replaced benefits such as health care, pensions, and higher wages for fancy titles like associate and broadcasted an open door policy (Kaufman, 2009). Global The retailing giant has declared its desire to give the customer products at the lowest cost possible, with the fastest lead times, and best quality. Wal-Mart has not wavered in its determination to do exactly what it envisioned. The company is using the Global Merchandising Centers (GMC) to promote sourcing of Wal-Mart brands, and aligning of merchandising efficiencies. â€Å"By realigning our resources, leveraging our scale and restructuring our relationship with suppliers, we will enable our businesses around the world to offer even more competitive pricing on merchandise and to provide our customers a clear and compelling assortment of better quality products at lower prices† (Purchasing b2b, 2010, para. 5). Wal-Mart’s process Wal-Mart has a very large procurement operation as the leading retailer in the world. Wal-Mart had a contract with a third party procurement firm in Asia. The firm used suppliers that would mark-up merchandise and resell that merchandise to Wal-Mart. The company has reduced costs, lead times, and eliminated the middleman mark-ups. In 2002, Wal-Mart began to buy directly from the manufacturer to procure a better price. According to Stundza, (2006), â€Å" Wal-Mart has global procurement and supplier alignment teams responsible for identifying new suppliers, sourcing new products, building partnerships with existing suppliers, and managing the global supply chain of Wal-Mart’s direct imports. Figure 1: Wal-Mart’s Procurement Process Conclusion Wal-Mart is the leader in its industry and continues to grow in popularity among the consumer. The reason for its growth in popularity is its promise to deliver quality products at low prices. Wal-Mart can influence its suppliers in a way that ensures a low price on the products it sells. Wal-Mart expects its suppli ers to follow its lead in giving the customer what he or she expects and will continue to grow in consumer popularity as a result. References Earl, D., (2004). What is internal customer service? Donna Earl Training, Retrieved from http://www.donnaearltraining.com/Articles/internalCustomerService Kaufman, L. (2009, August 11). Wal-Mart's Backward Business Revolution. Forbes.com. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/2009/08/10/wal-mart-business-strategy-labor-opinions-book-review-wal-mart.html Purchasing B2B (2010). Walmart revamps global sourcing strategy. Retrieved March 13, 2010, from http://www.canadianmanufacturing.com/purchasingb2b/news/industrynews/article.jsp?content=20100201_085202_9480 Stundza, T., (2006, Nov). Wal-Mart goes green BIG TIME. Purchasing. Retrieved on March 13, 2010 from http://www.purchasing.com/article/218384-Wal_Mart_goes_green_BIG_TIME.php

The Impact of WWII on Native Americans and blacks essays

The Impact of WWII on Native Americans and blacks essays World War Two changed the lives of millions of people throughout the world. Never before had warfare taken such a toll on humanity. For most, this war was a horrible event that did nothing but take the lives of loved ones. Nothing good could have came from such carnage. Or could it? One thing that people have learned through the generations is that in order for things to get better, they often have to get worse first. People were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for the betterment of their culture. In the cases of Native Americans and African Americans, the war proved to be a stage in which they could prove themselves to the world, and try to fight for a better life. African Americans and Native Americans had vastly different experiences during the war. A large majority of Indians made a smooth transition into the military, joining non-segregated units, unlike blacks who still had to obey local Jim Crow laws. Indians were often openly embraced by their white counterparts, and were indiscriminately called Chief by their buddies. Some would think this as a derogatory term, but the Indians took it as a positive reference to their ancestors who had been great warriors. Many whites wanted to fight alongside the Indians, for as the American Legion Magazine put it: The red soldier is tough. Usually he has lived outdoors all his life, and lived by his senses; he is a natural Ranger. He takes to fighting with gusto. Why not? His ancestors invented it.... At ambushing, scouting, signaling sniping, theyre peerless. Some can smell a snake yards away and hear the faintest movement; all endure thirst and lack of food better that average. Indians had been stereotyped for generations, and it was hard to distinguish whether or not these observations had been stereotyped as well. It is known that the Indians tried to live up to these expectations, and often exceeded them. They were integrated into the militar...

How to Calculate Mass Percent Composition

How to Calculate Mass Percent Composition This is a worked example problem showing how to calculate mass percent composition. Percent composition indicates the relative amounts of each element in a compound. For each element, the mass percent formula is: % mass (mass of element in 1 mole of the compound) / (molar mass of the compound) x 100% or mass percent (mass of solute / mass of solution) x 100% The units of mass are typically grams. Mass percent is also known as percent by weight or w/w%. The molar mass is the sum of the masses of all the atoms in one mole of the compound. The sum all the mass percentages should add up to 100%. Watch for rounding errors in the last significant figure to make sure all the percentages add up. Key Takeaways Mass percent composition describes the relative quantities of elements in a chemical compound.Mass percent composition is also known percent by weight. It is abbreviated as w/w%.For a solution, mass percent equals the mass of an element in one mole of the compound divided by the molar mass of the compound, multiplied by 100%. Mass Percent Composition Problem Bicarbonate of soda (sodium hydrogen carbonate) is used in many commercial preparations. Its formula is NaHCO3. Find the mass percentages (mass %) of Na, H, C, and O in sodium hydrogen carbonate. Solution First, look up the atomic masses for the elements from the Periodic Table. The atomic masses are found to be: Na is 22.99H is 1.01C is 12.01O is 16.00 Next, determine how many grams of each element are present in one mole of NaHCO3: 22.99 g (1 mol) of Na1.01 g (1 mol) of H12.01 g (1 mol) of C48.00 g (3 mole x 16.00 gram per mole) of O The mass of one mole of NaHCO3 is: 22.99 g 1.01 g 12.01 g 48.00 g 84.01 g And the mass percentages of the elements are mass % Na 22.99 g / 84.01 g x 100 27.36 %mass % H 1.01 g / 84.01 g x 100 1.20 %mass % C 12.01 g / 84.01 g x 100 14.30 %mass % O 48.00 g / 84.01 g x 100 57.14 % Answer mass % Na 27.36 %mass % H 1.20 %mass % C 14.30 %mass % O 57.14 % When doing mass percent calculations, its always a good idea to check to make sure your mass percents add up to 100% (helps catch math errors): 27.36 14.30 1.20 57.14 100.00 Percent Composition of Water Another simple example is finding the mass percent composition of the elements in water, H2O. First, find the molar mass of water by adding up the atomic masses of the elements. Use values from the periodic table: H is 1.01 grams per moleO is 16.00 grams per mole Get the molar mass by adding up all the masses of elements in the compound. The subscript after the hydrogen (H) indicates there are two atoms of hydrogen. There is no subscript after oxygen (O), which means only one atom  is present. molar mass (2 x 1.01) 16.00molar mass 18.02 Now, divide the mass of each element by the total mass to get the mass percentages: mass % H (2 x 1.01) / 18.02 x 100%mass % H 11.19% mass % O 16.00 / 18.02mass % O 88.81% The mass percentages of hydrogen and oxygen add up to 100%. Mass Percent of Carbon Dioxide What are the mass percentages of carbon and oxygen in carbon dioxide, CO2? Mass Percent Solution Step 1: Find the mass of the individual atoms. Look up the atomic masses for carbon and oxygen from the Periodic Table. Its a good idea at this point to settle on the number of significant figures youll be using.  The atomic masses are found to be: C is 12.01 g/molO is 16.00 g/mol Step 2: Find the number of grams of each component make up one mole of  CO2. One mole of CO2 contains 1 mole of carbon atoms and 2 moles of oxygen atoms. 12.01 g (1 mol) of C32.00 g (2 mol x 16.00 gram per mole) of O The mass of one mole of CO2 is: 12.01 g 32.00 g 44.01 g Step 3: Find the mass percent of each atom. mass % (mass of component/mass of total) x 100 And the mass percentages of the elements are For carbon: mass % C (mass of 1 mol of carbon/mass of 1 mol of CO2)  x 100mass % C (12.01 g / 44.01 g) x 100mass % C   27.29 % For oxygen: mass % O (mass of 1 mol of oxygen/mass of 1 mol of CO2)  x 100mass % O (32.00 g / 44.01 g) x 100mass % O 72.71 % Answer mass % C 27.29 %mass % O 72.71 % Again, make sure your mass percents add up to 100%. This will help catch any math errors. 27.29 72.71 100.00 The answers add up to 100% which is what was expected. Tips for Success Calculating Mass Percent You wont always be given the total mass of a mixture or solution. Often, youll need to add up the masses. This might not be obvious! You may be given mole fractions or moles and then need to convert to a mass unit.Watch your significant figures!Always make sure the sum of the mass percentages of all components adds up to 100%. If it doesnt, you need to go back and find your mistake.

Marsh's Metals Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Marsh's Metals - Case Study Example By choosing this alternative, the company can maximize their possible profit to about $51,250,000 (or more) as against selecting the alternative to sell the rhenium to Fleishman and making a possible profit of $45,000,000 (or more). Marsh’s Metals, a privately held metals broker in Prescott Florida, has acquired 10,000 kilograms1 of partially refined rhenium ore (Re) from the Niger government for $8,000 per kilogram. Bob Marsh, the owner of Marsh’s Metals, estimates that he would be able to sell all the ore for $12,000 or more per kilogram. Bruce Fleishman Jr., president of the Fleishman Refining Company based in Walla Walla (WA), who is an old friend with whom Bob Marsh has done business in the past, has contacted him about purchasing 5,000 kilograms of rhenium ore for his specialty metals company. Bruce has offered a $1,000 premium per kilogram over the normal $12,000 Bob is asking for the ore. At about the same time Huffman Smelter and Minerals from San Antonio TX called to order 4,500 kilograms of the rhenium ore for their immediate needs and are willing to pay $14,500 per kilogram for the ore. He is leaning on selling to Fleishman because he is a repeat customer at a 70% probability, but could be convinced to sell to Huffman if the monetary figures work out. Bob has two alternatives, sell the 5,000 kilograms rhenium to Fleishman or 4,500 kilograms to Huffman, and then later sell the remaining ore on the open market. Bob wants to maximize his profit by choosing an alternative. A Precision tree is constructed for the given scenario using two possible alternatives, sell the rhenium to Fleishman or to Huffman, and sell the remaining ore on the open market. The branch with the maximum Expected Monetary Value (EMV) will determine the possible alternative. Marsh’s Metals has two alternatives, sell to Fleishman or to Huffman. This

Privatization of State Owned Enterprises Research Proposal

Privatization of State Owned Enterprises - Research Proposal Example Governments in developed countries (e.g. Britain and Japan) started privatizing SOEs in the early 1980s; by the late 1980s it had become apparent that a privatization revolution would sweep the world (Young, 1987). While the bulk of privatizations during the past decade occurred in developed countries, in recent years the emphasis has shifted to developing countries (The Economist, 1993). In these countries, capital markets can hardly absorb the large amounts of privatized equity, and governments are offering to sell SOEs to western multinationals as strategic owners (The Economist, 1993; Ramamurti, 1992). In addition, these countries look to western multinational enterprises for managerial and technical know-how. This trend creates possibilities for growth and entry into countries whose economies are currently expanding faster than most developed economies. While privatization in the 1980s created opportunities for portfolio investments, the 1990s also promise the control of privati zed firms through mergers and acquisitions (Freudenberg and Bird, 1991; Nankani, 1990; Ramamurti, 1992). For these reasons, privatization is considered here to be an international management concern. Empirical research and theory on direct investment into former SOEs, unfortunately, is scant. Economists generally agree that reducing government ownership of companies improves the macro-performance of an economy, and they also expect that a competitive environment and market discipline should increase the efficiency of the privatized firm (Donahue, 1989; Hutchinson, 1991; Ramamurti, 1992; Vickers and Yarrow, 1988). Empirical research on this latter point, however, has yielded conflicting results (Cook and Kirkpatrick, 1988; Hutchinson, 1991; Parker and Hartley, 1991). Strategic management research considering the performance of the SOE after it is acquired by a private firm is missing entirely. No mergers and acquisitions work has yet considered the purchase of SOEs, nor have researchers examined the conceptual relationship between traditional mergers and the acquisition of an enterprise from the government. On the one hand, the public/private shift inherent in privatization might imply that acquisition processes work differently for privately and publicly owned firms. The strategy, structure, and culture of the public organization can be expected to differ significantly from those of private firms because of the often special missions of SOEs and distinct environments in which they may be operating (Aharoni, 1986). Since post-acquisition integration processes are determined by the historic conditions of the merging firms (Nahavandi and Malekzadeh, 1988; Shrivastava, 1986), these differences may crucially influence the success of a merger between a private firm and a newly privatized SOE. The pre-acquisition conditions of the target also influence performance (Datta et al., 1992), and thus the distinctive contingencies of the SOE can be expected to affect post-acquisition performance as well. Furthermore, the objectives of a government selling an SOE are as much political -- that is, cat ering to specific stakeholder groups, for instance current employees of the SOE -- as economic, a fact that should significantly affect the negotiations and may also determine the post-privatization performance of the former SOE. Only recently has the strategic management literature begun to examine the implications of government policy for