Strategic Management Study Guide Essay Example

Strategic Management Study Guide Essay STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT TEST 2 (Chapters 3, 4, and 6): STUDY GUIDE †¢Know definitions and be able to recognize examples of concepts †¢Test will be multiple choice, 45-50 items †¢Bring scantron sheet and #2 pencil Additional free student study resources available including an interactive quiz from the publisher at: http://highered. mcgraw-hill. com/sites/0078029317/student_view0/chapter1/chapter_quiz. html Chapter 3: Assessing the Internal Environment †¢What is value chain analysis? How is it useful for understanding competitive advantages? Strategic analysis of an organization that uses value-creating activities. It is useful for understanding the building blocks of competitive advantages. †¢In the value chain, what are the 5 primary activities? Which 4 activities are support activities? Primary- inbound logistics, operations, outbound logistics, marketing and sales, and service. Support- general admininistration, human resource management, technology development, and procurement. †¢Relating to primary activities, what specific activities are associated with inbound logistics? Operations? Outbound logistics? Marketing and sales? Service? Inbound logistics- receiving, storing, and distributing inputs of a product. Operations- all activities associated with transforming inputs into the final product form. Outbound logistics- collecting, storing, and distributing the product or service to buyers. Marketing and sales- activities associated with purchases of products and services by end users and the inducements used to get them to make purchases. Service- actions associated with providing service to enhance or maintain the value of the product. †¢What is a Just-in-time inventory system? were designed to achieve efficient inbound logistics. Parts and deliveries arrive only hours before they are needed. †¢Relating to support activities, what specific activities are associated with procurement? Technology development? HR management? General administration? Procurement- purchasing inputs used in the firm’s value chain, including raw materials, supplies, and other consumable item s as well as assets such as machinery, laboratory equipment, office equipment, and buildings. Technology development- development of new knowledge that is applied to the firm’s operations. We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Management Study Guide specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Management Study Guide specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Management Study Guide specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer HR management- activities involved in the recruiting, hiring, training, development, and compensation of all types of personnel. General administration- general management, planning, finance, accounting, legal and government affairs, quality management, and information systems: activities that support the entire value chain and not individual activities. †¢How has Walgreen’s used information systems to be a sources of competitive advantage? Introduction of a computer based prescription management system- automates telephone refills, store to store prescription transfers, and drug reordering. Also provides information on drug interactions and frees up pharmacists from administrative tasks to devote more time to patient counseling. †¢What are the two levels of interrelationships among value-chain activities? 1. Interrelationships among activities within the firm 2. Interrelationships among activities within the firm and other stakeholders. †¢What is resource-based view of the firm? Perceptions that firms’ competitive advantages are due to their endowment of strategic resources that are valuable, rare, costly to imitate, and costly to substitute. What are the 3 types of firm resources? Tangible, Intangible, and Organizational Capabilities. †¢What are the 4 kinds of tangible resources? Financial, physical, technological, and organizational. †¢What are the 3 kinds of intangible resources, Human, Innovation and Creativity, and Reputation. †¢What examples of organizational capabilities? Ex. Outstanding customer service. Excellent product developm ent capabilities, innovativeness of products and services. Ability to hire, motivate, and retain human capital. What are the four criteria that a firm’s resources must possess to maintain a sustainable advantage? 1. Resource must be valuable in the sense that it exploits opportunities and/or neutralizes threats in the firm’s environment. 2. It must be rare among the firm’s current and potential competitors. 3. It must be difficult to imitate. 4. Must have no strategically equivalent substitutes. †¢How can the following four resource characteristics help sustain a competitive advantage based on inimitability: physical uniqueness, path dependency, causal ambiguity, and social complexity? 1. Inherently difficult to copy. 2. Resources are scarce because they were acquired through a unique series of events. 3. Costly to imitate because competitor cannot determine what the resource is and/or how it can be re-created. 4. Costly to imitate because the social engineering required is beyond the capability of competitors, including interpersonal relations among managers, organizational culture, and reputation with suppliers and customers. †¢Substitutability can take which two forms? 1. Substitute a similar resource that enables it to develop and implement the same strategy. . Very different firm resources can become strategic substitutes. †¢ See exhibit 3. 7 – what are the implications for competitiveness based on differing characteristics of a resource or capability? The less valuable, less rare, easier to imitate, more substitutes, the less competitive advantage. †¢What are the four factors that help explain the extent to which employees will be able to o btain a proportionally high level of a firm’s profits? 1. Employee bargaining power. 2. Employee replacement costs. 3. Employee exit costs. 4. Manager Bargaining Power. What are the two approaches to use when evaluating a firm’s performance? Financial ration analysis and taking a broad stakeholder view. †¢What is financial ratio analysis? How can historical comparisons, industry norm comparisons, and competitor comparisons each serve as useful reference points? 1. Technique for measuring the performance of a firm according to its balance sheet, income statement, and market valuation. 2. Provides a means of evaluating trends. 3. Assesses relative performance. 4. Gain valuable insights into a firm’s financial and competitive position. What is the balanced scorecard? Why is it useful? a method of evaluating a firm’s performance using performance measures from the customers, internal innovation, and learning, and financial perspectives. Provides managers with a fast, but comprehensive review of the business (operations measures that drive the future financial performance). †¢What are the four key perspectives of the balanced scorecard? 1. Customer perspective- measures of firm performance that indicate how well firms are satisfying customer’s expectations. 2. Internal business perspective- measures of firm performance that indicate how well firms internal processes, decisions, and actions are contributing to customer satisfaction. 3. Innovation and learning perspective- measures of a firm performance that indicate how well firms are changing their product and service offerings to adapt to changes in the internal and external environments. 4. Financial perspective- measure of firm’s financial performance that indicate how well strategy, implementation and execution are contributing bottom-line improvement. †¢What are the limitations of the balanced scorecard? Lack of a clear strategy, limited or ineffective executive sponsorship, too much emphasis on financial measures rather than nonfinancial measures, poor data on actual performance, inappropriate links of scorecard measures to compensation, inconsistent or inappropriate terminology. Chapter 4: Recognizing a Firm’s Intellectual Assets: Moving Beyond a Firm’s Tangible Resources †¢What is the knowledge economy? An economy where wealth is created through the effective management of knowledge workers instead of by the efficient control of physical and financial assets. How has the emphasis shifted between intangible and tangible resources as a result of changes in the competitive environment? Shifted from tangible resources such as land, equipment, and money. Efforts were more directed toward the efficient allocation of labor and capital. Now intellectual and information processes create most of the value for firms in large service industries. †¢What is the market va lue of a firm? What is the book value of a firm? What does the difference between the two values represent? In what types of firms does this difference tend to be the greatest? Market value- the value of a share of its common stock times the number of shares outstanding. Book value- is primarily a measure of the value of its tangible resources: total assets- total liabilities. The difference between the two represents the firm’s intellectual capital ( a measure of the firm’s intangible assets). In firms where knowledge and the management of knowledge workers are relatively important contributors to developing products and services and physical resources are less critical, the ratio of market to book value tends to be much higher. †¢What is intellectual capital and how can it be increased? Intellectual capital= market value of firm-book value of the firm. To increase: attract and leverage human capital effectively through mechanisms that create products and services of value over time. †¢What is human capital? Social capital? Explicit knowledge? Tacit knowledge? Human capital- the individual capabilities, knowledge, skills, and experience of a company’s employees and managers. Social capital- the network of friendships between talented people both inside and outside the organization. Explicit knowledge- knowledge that is codified, documented, easily reproduced, and widely distributed. Tacit knowledge- knowledge that is in the minds of employees and is based on their experiences and backgrounds. †¢How is new knowledge created? Through the continual interaction of explicit and tacit knowledge. †¢How has employee loyalty to the company changed relative to loyalty to the profession? Knowledge workers place professional development and personal enrichment above company loyalty. †¢What is a first critical step in the process of of building intellectual capital? What are the other processes organizations use to build human capital? Hiring talented individuals, developing them to fulfill their full potential to maximize their joint contributions. Retain the best and brightest. †¢Why do many companies use employee referrals for new hires? Incentive bonuses paid to the referrers are cheaper than what they would have to pay headhunters to find candidates, plus the current employees would find good candidates because they are putting their reputation on the line for them. †¢What strategies are used to develop human capital? Encouraging widespread involvement, Transferring knowledge, monitoring progress and development, and evaluating human capital. How as the importance of evaluating human capital changed in recent years? Collaboration and interdependence are vital to organizational success. Individuals must work collectively. Traditional past systems evaluate performance from a single perspective. †¢What is 360 degree feedback? Superiors, direct reports, colleagues, and even external and internal cus tomers rate a person’s performance. †¢What are the 6 benefits of diversity in a firm’s workforce? 1. Cost argument- firms with more effective management in diversity will have a cost advantage over those that are not. 2. Resource acquisition argument- firms with excellent reputations as prospective employers for minorities will have an advantage in the competition for top talent. 3. Marketing argument- for multinational firms this will be useful. 4. Creativity argument- less emphasis on conformity to norms of the past and diversity of perspectives will improve the level of creativity. 5. Problem solving argument- people with different perspectives have a better shot at solving complex problems than those who all think alike. 6. Organizational flexibility argument- greater flexibility leads means better reactions to environmental changes. What is network analysis? Closure relationships? Bridging relationships? Analysis of the pattern of social interactions among individuals. †¢How can effective social networks be advantageous to an individual’s career? Private information now available. Access to diverse skill sets. Power. †¢What is groupthink? tendency in an organization for individ uals not to question shared beliefts. †¢What are intellectual property rights? What actions can be taken to manage intellectual property? Intangible property owned by a firm in the forms of patents, copyrights, trademarks, or trade secrets. What are dynamic capabilities? The ability to sense and seize new opportunities, generates new knowledge, and reconfigure existing assets and capabilities. Chapter 6: Corporate-Level Strategy: Creating Value Through Diversification †¢What is corporate-level strategy? What two related issues does it address? a strategy that focuses on gaining long-term revenue, profits, and market value through managing operations in multiple businesses. Acquisitions and mergers. †¢How is related diversification different than unrelated diversification? What are the potential benefits of each? Related diversification- a firm entering a different business in which it can benefit from leveraging core competencies, sharing activities, or building market power. Unrelated diversification- a firm entering a different business that has little horizontal interaction with other businesses of a firm. †¢Be familiar with the classifications of Exhibit 6. 2 3M was using exorbitant rebates to retailers, which pushed them into a â€Å"monopolistic position† and courts ordered 3M to pay 68. 5 million dollars to another tape company. †¢In related diversification, what is meant by economies of scope? Cost savings from leveraging core competencies, sharing activities, or building market power. †¢What is a core competency? What are the three criteria for assessing if a core competency creates value? Firm’s strategic resources that reflect the collective learning in the organization. 1. Must enhance competitive advantage by creating superior customer value. 2. Different businesses in the corporation must be similar in at least one important way related to the core competence. 3. Must be difficult for competitors to imitate or find substitutes for. †¢What are sharing activities? What are the two payoffs associated with sharing activities. -Having activities of two or more businesses value chains done by one of the businesses. -1. Cost savings -2. Revenue enhancement †¢In related diversification, what is market power? Firm’s ability to profit through restricting or controlling supply to a market or coordinating with other firms to reduce investment. †¢What is pooled negotiating power? the improvement in bargaining position relative to customers and suppliers. †¢What is vertical integration, in its associated risks and benefits? an xpansion or extension of the firm by integrating preceding or successive production processes (occurs when a firm becomes its own supplier or distributer). Pros- secure supply of raw materials or distribution channels. Protection and control over assests and services required to produce and deliver. Access to new business opportunities and new forms of technology. Eliminating the need to deal with a wide variet y of suppliers and distributors. Cons- costs and expenses associated with increased overhead and capital expenditures. Loss of flexibility resulting from large investments. Problems associated with unbalanced capacities along the value chain. Additional administrative costs associated with managing a more complex set of activities. †¢What 5 issues should be considered in making vertical integration decisions? 1. Is the company satisfied with the quality of the value that its present suppliers and distributors are providing? 2. Are there activities in the industry value chain presently being outsourced or performed independently by others that are a viable source of future profits? 3. Is there a high level of stability in the demand for the organization’s products? . Does the company have the necessary competencies to execute the vertical integration strategies? 5. Will the vertical integration initiative have potential negative impacts on the firm’s stakeholders? †¢What is the transaction cost perspective? A perspective that the choice of a transaction’s governance structure such as vertical integration or market transacti on, is influenced by transaction costs, including, search, negotiating, contracting, monitoring, and enforcement costs, associated with each choice. †¢What is unrelated diversification? What is a parenting advantage? A firm entering a different business that has little horizontal interaction with other businesses of a firm. Parenting advantage- the positive contributions of the corporate office to a new business as a result of expertise and support provided and not as a result of substantial changes in assets, capital structure, or management. †¢What is restructuring? What are the three types of restructuring? The intervention of the corporate office in a new business that substantially changes assets, capital structure and management. 1. Asset restructuring 2. Capital restructuring 3. Management restructuring What is portfolio management? Method of assessing the competitive position of a portfolio of businesses within a corporation, suggesting strategic alternatives for each business, and identifying priorities for the allocation of resources across the businesses. †¢What is the Boston Consulting Group’s (BCG) growth/share matrix? What are the 4 quadrants in the matrix? What are the suggested strategies associated with each of the quadrants? What are the limitations of the BCG matrix? Each of the firm’s strategic business units is plotted on a two-dimensional grid in which the axes are relevant market share and industry growth rate. 1. Stars-competing in high growth industries with high market shares, long term growth potential and should continue to receive substantial investment funding. 2. Question marks- competing in high growth industries with but have weak market share, resources should be invested to enhance their competitive positions. 3. Cash cows- have high market shares in low growth industries. Have limited long run potential, but represent a source of current cash flows to fund investments into starts and question marks. 4. Dogs- have weak market shares in low growth industries, weak positions and limited potential. Most recommend they become divested. Limitations of BCG matrix- 1. the only compare based on two dimensions. 2. View them as a stand-alone entity, ignoring common business practices and value creating activities that may hold promise for synergies across business units. 3. The process becomes largely mechanical, substituting an overly simplified graphical model for the important contributions of the CEO or other managers experience. †¢What are the three primary means by which a firm can diversify? 1. Through acquisitions or mergers 2. Pool the resources of other companies with their resource base, commonly known as a joint-venture or strategic alliance. 3. Diversify into new products, markets, and technologies through internal development. †¢What are the benefits and potential of mergers and acquisitions? 1. A means of obtaining valuable resources that can help an organization expand its product offerings and services 2. Can provide the opportunity for firms to attain the three bases of synergy—leveraging core competencies, sharing activities, and building market power. 3. Can lead to consolidation within an industry and can force other players to merge. Cons- competing firms can often imitate any advantages realized from the MA. there can be cultural issues that may doom the intended benefits from the endeavors. †¢What is a divestment? The exit of a business from a firm’s portfolio. †¢What is a strategic alliance? Joint venture? How do they differ? What are their potential advantages and downsides? Strategic alliance- a cooperative relationship between two or more firms. Joint venture- new entities formed within a strategic alliance in which two or more firms, the parents, contribute equity to form the new legal entity. A strategic alliance is a cooperative relationship. A joint venture is a special case of alliances where both firms contribute equity to form a new legal entity. Pros- Reducing manufacturing or other costs in the value chain. Developing and diffusing new technologies. Cons- many fail to meet expectations. Without proper partner, a firm should never consider it. Little attention is often given to nurturing the close working relationships and interpersonal connections that bring together the partnering organizations. †¢What is internal development? What are its potential downsides? -Entering a new business through investment in new facilities, often called corporate entrepreneurship and new venture development. -It may be time consuming, firms may forfeit the benefits of speed that growth through mergers and acquisitions can provide. †¢How can managerial motives erode value creation? They may often act in their own self-interests (CEOS). â€Å"growth for growth’s sake†, excessive egotism, and the creation of a wide variety of antitakeover tactics. †¢What is meant by growth for growth’s sake? Egotism? Manager’s actions to grow the size of their firms not to increase long-term profitability, but to sever managerial self-interest. -Manager’s actions to shape their firm’s strategies to serve their selfish interests rather than to maximize long-term shareholder value. †¢What are the antitakeover tactics of greenmail, the golden parachute, and poison pill? Greenmail- a payment by a firm to a hostile party for the firm’s stock at a premium, made when the firm’s management feels that the hostile party is about to make a tender offer. (sort of like a bribe)

Free Essays on Utilitarianism

According to J.J.C. Smart, utilitarianism is a theory that all actions are judged by their consequences. The following paper will deal with two forms of utilitarianism: 1) extreme utilitarianism, and 2) restricted utilitarianism. J.J.C. Smart outlines the various aspects of each of these forms of utilitarianism in his paper, Extreme and Restricted Utilitarianism. These aspects will be discussed in the current paper. The differences between the two forms of utilitarianism will also be discussed. Within his paper, J.J.C. Smart poses some very valid challenges towards utilitarianism. This paper will outline these challenges and propose some possible rebuttals from John Stuart Mill. Extreme Utilitarianism According to Smart, an extreme utilitarian believes that general rules are simply rules of thumb that we use in order to avoid having to figure out the possible consequences of our actions at every step. Smart also states that an extreme utilitarian will direct his behaviour according to the rules of morality. The examples Smart provides are â€Å"do not lie†, and â€Å"do not break promises†. Use religion as an example. Most religions follow fairly strict rules and/or commandments. These rules are followed because the consequences of not following them would not benefit the majority of people. It is the current author’s belief that most religions follow extreme utilitarianism. In Smart’s paper on utilitarianism, he discusses the frequency of actions and decisions being made in a hurry. Smart used the example of a person drowning; however for the sake of change, imagine a different example. You are driving down a fairly deserted road. You see a stranded motorist on the shoulder of the road. There is no time to make a decision, after all if you wait to long, you’ll have passed the motorist. Trusting his instincts, according to Smart, the extreme utilitarian would stop to assist the motorist. But now consi... Free Essays on Utilitarianism Free Essays on Utilitarianism Utilitarianism. Explain Bentham’s version of Utilitarianism. Utilitarianism is the belief that the value of a thing or an action is determined by its utility (usefulness). A system of ethics proposed by Jeremy Bentham puts forward the view that ‘good’ can be defined as the ‘greatest happiness for the greatest number.’ According to Utilitarianism, in its various forms, there is no ultimate or absolute goodness, but, Bentham said that the best thing to do in a given situation is to find a course of action that will provide happiness to everyone. Right and wrong according to utilitarianism, are relative to the people involved and the things which give them pleasure. Bentham believed that whatever people did in a day would be judged on whether or not it benefited people in society. He also believed that everyone had an equal right to happiness and everyone was equal irrespective of what types of person they were. The basis of this is Hedonism which means ethical principle holding that only what is pleasant or has pleasant consequences is mostly good. There are four points to hedonism which are; Psychological hedonism – people do seek happiness – so do what will make them happy, ethical hedonism – you have a duty to be happy therefore you ought to be happy, egotistical hedonism – do what makes yourself happy and altruistic hedonism meaning do what makes others happy. Bentham never really sorted out the distinctions or made them clear. He probably wanted it to be altruistic because he was concerned with social laws. He suggested a way of measuring happiness which is called the Felicific Calculus which is a method of working out the sum total of pleasure and pain produced by an act, and therefore the total value of its consequences. When determining what action is right in a given situation, we should consider the pleasures and pains from it, in respect of their Duration, Certainty, Spin off, Purity, ... Free Essays on Utilitarianism According to J.J.C. Smart, utilitarianism is a theory that all actions are judged by their consequences. The following paper will deal with two forms of utilitarianism: 1) extreme utilitarianism, and 2) restricted utilitarianism. J.J.C. Smart outlines the various aspects of each of these forms of utilitarianism in his paper, Extreme and Restricted Utilitarianism. These aspects will be discussed in the current paper. The differences between the two forms of utilitarianism will also be discussed. Within his paper, J.J.C. Smart poses some very valid challenges towards utilitarianism. This paper will outline these challenges and propose some possible rebuttals from John Stuart Mill. Extreme Utilitarianism According to Smart, an extreme utilitarian believes that general rules are simply rules of thumb that we use in order to avoid having to figure out the possible consequences of our actions at every step. Smart also states that an extreme utilitarian will direct his behaviour according to the rules of morality. The examples Smart provides are â€Å"do not lie†, and â€Å"do not break promises†. Use religion as an example. Most religions follow fairly strict rules and/or commandments. These rules are followed because the consequences of not following them would not benefit the majority of people. It is the current author’s belief that most religions follow extreme utilitarianism. In Smart’s paper on utilitarianism, he discusses the frequency of actions and decisions being made in a hurry. Smart used the example of a person drowning; however for the sake of change, imagine a different example. You are driving down a fairly deserted road. You see a stranded motorist on the shoulder of the road. There is no time to make a decision, after all if you wait to long, you’ll have passed the motorist. Trusting his instincts, according to Smart, the extreme utilitarian would stop to assist the motorist. But now consi...

Multicultural Psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Multicultural Psychology - Essay Example This discussion will review the Native American’s present life situation, specifically how casinos built on the reservations and alcoholism are affecting their culture. In addition, it will discuss the various factors and realities of Native American assimilation into white culture and review the possibilities for the future outcomes. Indian Reservations as they are commonly referred are not located near economically prosperous locations. Rather, they were intended to be and the vast majority remains well isolated from white society in terms of more than just distance. It is hardly surprising that from the beginning, the indigenous peoples of America have displayed decidedly observable cultural differences which persist more than a century after the reservations were established. The reservations were formed in the late Nineteenth Century following the preceding racial genocide with its survivors, in most instances, forced to relocate to what to them were foreign lands. Those that survived the mass displacement, the ‘Trail of Tears’ as an example, found themselves in unfamiliar territory, a daunting proposition for a people whose survival was entirely dependent on understanding every aspect of familiar territory. Native Americans were rightly resentful and developed strong prejudices that still exist through their descendents today. This resentment along with the isolated logistical circumstances of the tribal people acts as strong motivation for them to cling to their cultural heritage which, by necessity, implies a natural separation from ‘white’ culture. Geographic remoteness predestines economic isolation which has been physically and psychologically devastating for reservation inhabitants. With little means by which to be self-sufficient, many have become dependent on federal government assistance for the basic necessities of life. â€Å"Welfare dependency on

Extended Self and Consumerism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Extended Self and Consumerism - Essay Example For example, some of us are focused on personal comfort and buy cars; some other people want to collect money or some trifles to satisfy their aesthetic desires, needs and wants. It is possible to claim that Oscar Wilde's main characters were often considered about their appearance to the greatest extent. These ideas are relevant to the modern context, because they underline that people appreciate their appearance and buy the objects of art, luxury or jewelry just to look good. In other words, people create their own images by means of different products and objects. To correlate the principles of consumerism with our daily behaviors in the market, it is necessary to have a strong theoretical background and up-to-date empirical material. The works by Belk (1988) and Goffman (1990) are illustrated by blogs of the consumers in the Internet. Consumerism and Blogs Belk claims that "if involuntary loss of possessions causes a loss of self, one of the primary reactions following such loss should be an attempt at self-restoration. This phenomenon has been observed in psychoanalysis and has led to the hypothesis that, along with body loss, object loss is the fountainhead of creativity" (Belk, 1988). Therefore, we can claim that the things we own reflect our inner stability. We are well-balanced personalities in case we feel all right and feel our ability to buy a thing or object we want. It sounds like individuals are not complicated individuals. We do not need much, but we want much. Now, when there is a perfect opportunity to share your aspirations with the global community, we are pleasantly sharing this opportunity and use this chance perfectly. When we buy pets, very often we subconsciously chose those breeds, which will look like us. We extend our selves in our dogs; we want to become their masters and parents at the same time. In one blog post there was a commentary about a similar nature of a dog and a master of a dog: "We spend money on our dogs,  pampering them with fancy collars and toys.   Investing in our pets has become a part of being a pet owner, and it speaks of our morals as pet owners.   If someone refuses to take their sick pet to the vet it’s similar to declining to take a child to the doctor" (The Extended Self). From this perspective pets are associated with our desire to nourish ourselves, or extended part of us as much as we want.    On the basis of several blog posts by Chinese consumers we will talk about correlation between the extended self and intentions of buyers to get some products or goods. A purpose of modern blogs can be considered as a means for consumer culture promotion. Cyberspace is a modern plane for promotion of desires and interests of the customers in some goods. Blog is a unique means for self-expression online. It is a kind of a modern diary, which can include up-to-date photos and music. Incomes and urban consumer culture is being developed at a full pace in China. Of course, it is mo re natural of women to update their information about blogs if they talk about their purchases. Thus, "Jessie† updates the world on her blog about new additions to her private closet, and discusses her favorite possessions ranging from a pair of Converse shoes to Abercrombie shirts. She writes about what she already has and laments what she could not afford to have" (Xin Zhao, Belk 2007). On the one hand, this girl does not have any problems and she can

C200 Exam Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

C200 Exam - Assignment Example 2. Urging the TFG leadership to reach out to traditional and moderate Islamists, including individuals formerly affiliated with the now-defunct Council of Islamic Courts, and moderate groups not previously incorporated into the Council of Islamic Courts. 4. Continued leverage of U.S. assistance programs to support new and expanded programming in the areas of security sector reform, employment and income generation of high-risk youth, and activities providing quick-impact peace dividends in strategic geographic areas. 2. Absence of functioning institutions in Somalia for over 15 years, the rebuilding of law enforcement, judicial, health, education, and other services which will largely be starting from scratch and will require significant external assistance. 1. Early fulfilment of the deployment mission which is a key element in instilling in the Somali people confidence that the peace process is underway and fully supported by the international community. 2. Offering support to the deployment of the African peacekeeping mission, and in particular the Ugandan contingent which requires support with strategic transport, equipment procurement, and other logistics. 3. Assisting with force generation by training and equipping African contingents deploying to Somalia through the African Contingency Operations Training and Assistance (ACOT A) program by The United States government. 4. Encouraging the TFG to facilitate the development of a civilian police force a along with the formation of a unified military representative of all of Somalia’s clans. The TFG efforts will further be supported by the deployment of a stabilization force to Somalia, which will provide a secure environment in which a political process can be moved forward and effective security institutions be developed. 1. Promoting the commitment of the Somali Diaspora to support financially the development of

Pollution in the USA

Pollution in the USA One of the most eminent problems is pollution and other forms of environmental worsening. While this problem is everything but new, and in reality tends to weaken in the most urbanized countries, the innovation is its global growth, leading to such problems as the global warming. The USA is the worlds leading polluter. The USA has the largest cars and the largest roads to all other countries. This is an inconceivable occurrence to the rest of the world, where car accumulation and gasoline use are instantly equated with pollution and capriciousness. In Europe, knowledge is raised by most governments of the pollution and side effects of burning fuels and heavy taxes are obligatory on these in order to furnish public transportation, dead set against pollution solutions and substitute fuel methods such as LPG and electric power-driven cars. Can the USAs government really maintain to hold its version of dictatorship and free enterprise at the expenditure of every human on the planet? The American Government under President G. Bush was just about put in power solely by money from huge oil companies, but something needs to change. The world sees our restriction of pollutant emissions vital and required that we do this. The USA seems to think that it is not viable and expensive and isnt going to do it! We must reduce pollution, it doesnt matter how expensive it is. It has to be done. The world sees Americas unwillingness with repugnance and dismay. The USA has some environmental issues sorted, like domestic waste discarding. During the 1970s and 1980s the USA made itself obligatory in the campaigns to prohibit the discharge of ozone gases; thanks to its help the hole in the ozone layer is gradually closing, finally. The USA polices the worlds military nations, keeping check on their artillery and intentions. It does not do the same with matters of universal health or pollution. The USA is by far the worlds leading polluter and is also the country that is seen as slightest vigorous in combating world pollution. Failure to approve the Kyoto Protocol is a serious error and much of the world is left in astonish and dismay that the USA ignores these problems. Comprising over 70% of the Earths exterior, water is unquestionably the most valuable natural resource that exists on our planet. Without the seemingly very useful mix comprised of hydrogen and oxygen, life on Earth would be absent: it is vital for everything on our planet to nurture and flourish. Even though we as humans know this fact, we ignore it by polluting our rivers, lakes, and oceans. Then, we are slowly but surely harming our planet to the point where organisms are dying at an incredibly frightening rate. As well as to blameless organisms dying off, our drinking water has become significantly exaggerated as is our ability to use water for leisure purposes. In order to fight water pollution, we must be aware of the problems and become part of the solution. According to the American College Dictionary, pollution is defined as: to make foul or unclean; dirty. Water pollution occurs when a body of water is negatively affected due to the accumulation of large amounts of resources to the water. When it is out of condition for its intentional use, water is considered polluted. There are two types of water pollutants that exist; point source and nonpoint source. Point sources of pollution take place when harmful substances are emitted straight into a body of water. The Exxon Valdez oil spill best illustrates point source water pollution. A nonpoint source delivers pollutants in some way through environmental changes. An example of the type of water pollution is when fertilizer from a field is passed into a stream by rain, in the outward appearance of run-off which in turn affects aquatic life. The equipment exists for point sources of pollution to be monitored and synchronized, even though political factors may make matters worse matters. Non point sources are much more complex to control. Pollution that arises from nonpoint sources accounts for a greater part of the contaminants in steams and lakes. There are many causes of pollution, some including, but not limited to, sewage and fertilizers that contain nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates. In surplus levels, nutrients over encourage the growth of aquatic plants and algae. Extreme growth of these types of organisms as a result clogs our waterways, use up dissolved oxygen as they decay, and obstruct light to deeper waters. This in turn, proves very harmful aquatic organisms as it affects the respiration capability or fish and other invertebrates that dwell in water. Pollution is also caused when slit and other poised solids, such as soil, wash off plowed fields, construction and logging sites, urban areas, and eroded river banks when it rains. Pollution in the form of organic objects enters waterways in many unusual ways, such as sewage, as leaves and grass clippings, or as runoff from farm animals feedlots and pastures. Pathogens are another type of pollution that proves very harmful. They can cause many illnesses that vary from typhoid and dysentery to slight respiratory and skin diseases. These pollutants come in waterways through unprocessed sewage, storm drains, septic tanks, runoff from farms, and mainly boats that dump sewage. Despite the fact that they are microscopic, these pollutants have an incredible affect evidenced by their capability to cause sickness. Three preceding forms of water pollution exist in the forms of petroleum, radioactive substances, and heat. Petroleum frequently pollutes water bodies in the form of oil, ensuing from oil spills. These significant unintentional discharges of petroleum are a vital cause of pollution alongside shore lines. In addition to the supertankers, off-shore drilling operations add a large share of pollution. One educated guess is that one ton of oil is spilled for every million tons of oil transported. Its equal to about 0.0001 percent. Radioactive substances are formed in the type of waste from nuclear power plants, and from the industrial, medical, and scientific use of radioactive supplies. Precise forms of waste are uranium and thorium removal and decontamination. The final form of water pollution is heat. Heat is a pollutant because of the raise in temperatures, which cause death in many aquatic organisms. These decreases in temperatures are caused when a release of cooling water by factor ies and power plants take place. Oil pollution is an increasing problem, mainly devastating to coastal wildlife. Small quantities of oil extend hastily across long distances to form deadly oil slicks. The chief sources of water pollution can be classified as municipal, industrial, and agricultural. Municipal water pollution consists of waste water from homes and business establishments. For several years, the most important goal for treating municipal wastewater was simply to diminish its substance of suspended solids, oxygen-demanding materials, dissolved inorganic compounds, and harmful bacteria. In current years, nevertheless, more stress has been placed on humanizing means of discarding of the solid residues from the municipal management process. The important methods of treating municipal wastewater fall into three stages: primary treatment, as well as grit removal, screening, grinding, and sedimentation; secondary treatment, which entails corrosion of dissolved organic matter by resources of using biologically active sludge, which is then filtered off; and tertiary treatment, in which complex biological methods of nitrogen removal and chemical and physical methods such as granular filtration and activated carbon assimilation are working. The management and removal of solid residues can account for 25 to 50 percent of the funds and operational costs of a management plant. The distinctiveness of industrial waste waters can fluctuate significantly both within and among industries. The shock of industrial discharges depends not only on their combined characteristics, such as biochemical oxygen demand and the amount of suspended solids, but also on their substance of specific inorganic and organic substances. Three options are accessible in controlling industrial wastewater. Control can take place at the point of cohort in the plant; wastewater can be pretreated for expulsion to municipal treatment sources; or wastewater can be treated entirely at the plant and either reused or discharged str aight into receiving waters. Agriculture, as well as profitable livestock and poultry farming, is the starting place of many organic and inorganic pollutants in surface waters and groundwater. These contaminants take account of both residues from wearing away cropland and compounds of phosphorus and nitrogen that somewhat originate in animal wastes and viable fertilizers. Animal wastes are high in oxygen challenging material, nitrogen and phosphorus, and they over and over again harbor pathogenic organisms. Wastes from viable feeders are controlled and predisposed of on land; their main threat to natural waters, as a result, is from runoff and leakage. Control many entail settling basins for liquids, some degree of biological treatment in aerobic or anaerobic lagoons, and a range of other methods. Ninety-five percent of all fresh water on earth is ground water. Ground water is established in natural rock formations. These formations, called aquifers, are vital natural resources with many uses. Nationally, fifty-three percent of the inhabitants rely on ground water as a supply of drinking water. In rural areas this number is even more elevated. Eighty-one percent of the society water is reliant on ground water. Although the 1992 Section 305(b) State Water Quality Reports indicate that, overall, the Nations ground water quality is good to excellent; many local areas have experienced significant ground water contamination. Some examples are leaking underground storage tanks and municipal landfills. Without a doubt, the problems connected with water pollution have the capability to disturb life on our planet to an enormous extent. An independent governments purpose is to protect people, its populace, and the populace of the world. In industrial countries it is the Governments job to keep commercialism in order and protect people from disparity, domination and worldly practices of big business. Some people have been required to wonder if the American government can still be considered to be working for the welfare of the people anywhere in the world, or if it is without a doubt merely the worlds largest corporation.

Understanding the Atkins Diet Essay -- Health Nutrition Diet Exercise

Understanding the Atkins Diet   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Atkins diet is strictly regimented with a carbohydrate controlled and protein abundant regime. It is because of the promotion of protein consumption that the Atkins diet represents significant health risks. The diet requires strict adherence to a protein rich plan in order to achieve the desired results. The potential health problems resulting from this diet could be seveer simply because too much protein raises saturated fat levels. Such levels can lead to heart disease, osteoporosis, or kidney disease. The Atkins diet is examined below in relation to these health risks in order to evaluate the damage that it represents.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Atkins diet proceeds in a set of phases. As guidance, the way these phases are presented indicates the potential for unhealthy consequences. The first phase of the Atkins diet allows the dieter to eat three meals a day. The dieter can à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“eat liberally of combinations of fat and protein in the form of poultry, fish, shellfish, eggs and red meat, as well as pure, natural fat in the form of butter, mayonnaise, olive oil, safflower, sunflower and other vegetable oils...à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ (Atkins.com). This is the only place in the diet description where animal protein consumption is addressed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The second phase of the diet requires an à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“incrementally increasing of the dieterà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s carbohydrate intake... and this may be as low as 25 grams or as high as 50 grams if you are exceptionally activeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ (Atkins.com). However, it is still recommended that the dieter keep protein and fat as the mainstay of the nutritional regimen. This statement does not state whether the dieter should, for example, eat extra lean turkey or ... ... tailor his/her diet in order to lose weight while maintaining a healthy level of cholesterol as well as a healthy heart and kidneys. Such guidelines, however, are clearly not within the agenda of an à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“all the meat you can eatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ dietary program.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Because there are no guidelines for protein in take, the dangers posed by over consumption of protein are ignored by the Atkins diet plan. The requirement encouraging over consumption of meat proteins clearly promotes known health risks. These health risks are widely recognized by the medical community. Avoidance of elevated levels of protein consumption is clearly an important part of a life style that is healthy for the heart, bones, and kidneys. It is more than unfortunate that the Atkins program promotes such a dangerously unbalanced diet. The healthy choice is to avoid the Atkins diet.

Mktg577 – Week 6 Case Study

I. Statement of the Problem The analysis is based on the merger and acquisition between E. T Kearney and EDS. E. T Kearney is the largest management consulting group while EDS is a technology firm. The company’s merged to form a new defining entity that could combine the synergies of both firms in the quest for improved efficiency. The merger created a cultural shock which created problems that are associated with organizational culture change . In this paper, we analyze the merger and acquisition as well as the recommendations for better performance of the newly created entity. II. Summary of the FactsThe acquisition of the management consulting firm A. T Kearney by an information technology firm EDS marked a significant move by such a technology firm in acquiring one of the best management firms in the corporate world. EDS bought A. T Kearney for a total of $300 million in liquid cash and contingency payments as well as a stock incentive provision of seven million shares. Th e total amount was more than $600 million. The merger between the two firms was good as a result of the synergetic as well as complimentary industry, geographic as well as functional strength. The acquisition of A.T Kearney by EDS was one of EDS grand vision of becoming a â€Å"Defining Entity†. III. Analysis An analysis of the case reveals that the merger and acquisition greatly impacts organizational performance and organizational culture. Our analysis covers the effects of mergers and acquisition on an organizational performance, success factors in M&A as well as organizational culture change and resistance that take place in a merger and acquisition. The strategies of a successful M& A For A. T Kearney by EDS to merge successfully, there is a need for the process to be conducted smoothly. From the A. T Kearney by EDS case, we ealized that the integration of the firms that has been acquired should be carried out as an ongoing process that must be initiated prior to the clo sing of the deal. During this period of acquisition negotiation as well as its subjection to regulatory review, the management of the companies that are involved in the merger must work together in drawing up a clear and proper integration strategy. Ravenscraft and Scherer (1987) indicated that even if a thorough investigation is carried out before the merger, some of the problems might never reveal themselves until at such a time that the deal has already been done.The integration management of the new entity must be appropriately recognized as a very distinct business function having an experienced manager who is especially appointed to oversee the integration process. Should uncomfortable changes such as restructuring and layoff be necessary, it is crucial that the management of the newly formed entity to announce as well as implement these as soon as possible. This is necessary in order to avoid resistance to organizational change. The aim of such swiftness is to avoid the vario us uncertainties as well as anxieties that may demoralize the company’s workforce in the newly formed entity.Another important lesson that we can learn from this case is that it is important to integrate both the practical as well as business of the company’s workforce as well as their cultures. An optimal strategy is the one that involves the degree to which the cultural difference can exist between the various organizations can retain their own culture as well as identity as indicated by Appelbaum et al (2000). The merger between the two companies created synergies as well as completely new services like CoSourcing.Cultural shock is noted in the study to be one of the main challenges that could have resulted as a result of the acquisition. A. T Kearney feared that there would be a mass exodus of most of its excellent and professional staff. The potential loss of clients was also envisioned. Organization culture is a term that is used to refer to the collection of val ues, policies ,beliefs and attitudes is an important as well as critical element of all organizations (Mullins,2010). Armstrong (2009) indicated that change is the only thing which is constant in any organization.The work of Kotter (1990) however noted that organizations are in a state of constant flux. The fact that organizational change is inevitable is a constant element of all organizations that seek to adapt to new challenges as well as approaches (Mullins,2010). The significance of organizational change is captured by Sloan (1967) when he indicated that market situations like the dynamic nature of the product and services coupled with the dynamic nature of the market itself can bring down a given business entity if the given entity is not ready for the culture change.The work of Kanter (1992) defined organizational change as the behavior of the organization to a certain degree or another. Organizational change has strategic and structural consequences within a given organizati on. This is because it involves the process of dismantling as well a restructuring of the various structures within a given organization. Several problems can arise due to organizational change (Czerniawska,2005). Organizational change is a very critical and yet very inevitable process ofan organization’s structure. It can create a lot of pressure from the workers as well as management as a result of fear of the unknown.Senior and Fleming (2006 ) noted that organizational change may affect the general operations of the company as well as business functions. The forces that result in organizational change The work of Mullins (2010) indicated that there are several factors that can trigger organizational change. Thy may include uncertainty in the corporate economics, competition as well as globalization. The work of Kanter (1999) identified certain factors that may trigger organizational change. They include; information technology, globalization as well as consolidation all of which are relevant in this case.One of the major arguments for mergers and acquisitions is the notion that â€Å"synergies† do exist, allowing the two firms to work more effectively as one than they would when separate. Such synergies enables the firms to fully exploit economies of scale, rule out the duplication of activities, share managerial expertise, and raise larger revenues (Ravenscraft and Scherer 1987). Unfortunately, research depicts that the foreseen gains often fail to materialise after a merger (Hughes 1989). ‘Horizontal' mergers (between organizations operating at the same level, in the same industry) can be motivated by the quest of dominating their industry.In theory, bodies like Britain's Competition Commission should not allow any tie-up that may bring about monopoly capable of misusing its powers. However, the decision to prevent such acquisitions and mergers are always controversial and politicized. Different authors have claimed that mergers are un likely to effect monopolies even in the absence of such rules and laws, as there is lack of attestment that mergers have led to increased concentration of market power (George, 1989), though there can be exceptions within certain industries (Ravenscraft and Scherer, 1987).In given instances, companies have derived tax advantages from mergers and acquisitions. This has however been  Ã‚  disputed by Auerbauch and Reishus, (1988), who argued that tax considerations do not play an active role in encouraging companies to merge. Corporations on the other hand pursue mergers and acquisitions as a means of diversification, allowing them to explore new markets and distribute their risks. A firm may also seek to acquire another in belief that its target is undervalued, and therefore a†bargain† good enough to generate high returns for the acquiring firm’s shareholders.These acquisitions are encouraged by desires to build empires parent firms's managers (Ravenscraft and Sch erer, 1987). Most of the time , acquisitions fail to generate returns for the acquiring company due to the fact that they bought it at a price higher than its value. Having been over-enthusiastic while buying, the  Ã‚  buyer may later discover that the premium paid during  Ã‚  the acquisition for the shares (winner's curse) eliminates all advantages made from the acquisition (Henry, 2002).However, it must be noted that even a deal that is financially sound may turn out to be disastrous, if it is implemented in a means that does not take into account the organization’s staff and the difference in corporate civilizations. Extreme contrasts may exist in the attitudes and values of the two firms, specifically if the emerging partnership is international. A merger or acquisition becomes a stressful process for the people involved: retrenchments, reorganization, and the imposition of a new corporate culture and identity brings about uncertainty, anxiety and hatred amongst a com pany's staff (Appelbaum et al,  Ã‚  2000).Research has proven that a firm's productivity may drop by 25 to 50 percent  Ã‚  during a large-scale change; demoralization of the firm’s workers is the main reason for this (Tetenbaum, 1999). The companies’ attention are often paid to short term legal and financial goals rather than the implication of such mergers and acquisitions on corporate identity and communication, factors that may eventually prove to be important in the long run due to their effect on the workforce's morale and productivity (Balmer and Dinnie,  Ã‚  1999)Huczynski and Buchanan (2001) indicated that organizational change can greatly affect organizational performance. It might however be necessary to change the culture of agiven firm in order to enhance its performance. It is therefore necessary for the process of organizational change to be managed well as well as controlled so as to realize the results that are desired (Hayes,2007). The reality of an organizational change is noted by Calvello & Seamon (1995) to be very painful since might cause resistance and lower the morale of the employees. IV. RecommendationsIn order for the change process to be seamlessly smooth, EDS must involve itself in changing the culture of the organization in a continuous and yet overlapping fashion. The resilience of the employees must be fostered. The company must therefore concentrate its efforts in the the creation and fostering of resilience of the employees. It should therefore create acultural neutral zone. This is to say that some time must be set aside to allow the workers to effectively focus their synergies so that they may effectively cope with the organizational changes as well as uncertainties.The other alternative is change leadership. The newly created entity within EDS must embrace the process of change leadership and acknowledge it as a important element of organizational success. The most crucial element that an organizational leader can supplement in ana changing organization are conviction, confidence and passion as noted by Kanter (2009). The change process must be incremental. Strategies for a successful merger and acquisition Tetenbaum (1999 presented seven strategies that can be employed for a successful merger and acquisition to be realized.They included a close involvement of the human resource managers in the process of acquisition. The building of an oreganizational capacity through the paying of close attention to the process of employee retention as well as recruitment, ensuring that the process of integration is properly focused on the effect that is desired, careful management of the cultural integration, quick completion of the acquisition process, effective communication as well as the development of a clear and yet standardized plan of integration. V. ConclusionThe merger between A. T Kearney and EDS is a clear example of the importance of proper management of organizational culture chang e. It is therefore crucial for merger and acquisitions to be carried out with a consideration of the possible culture shock that may affect the level of organizational performance. References Appelbaum, Steven H. , Gandell, Joy, Jobin, Francois, Proper, Shay, and Yortis, Harry (2000), â€Å"Anatomy of a merger: behavior of organizational factors and processes throughout the pre- during- post-stages†,  Management Decision, Vol. 8, Numbers 9 and 10 Balmer, John M. T. , and Dinnie, Keith (1999), â€Å"Corporate identity and corporate communications: the antidote to merger madness†,  Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. 4 Number 4 1999. Calvello, Mike and Seamon, Dan. (1995). Change Management Through Transition Teams: The Carolina Power & Light Solution. Performance Improvement, v34 n4 pp 16-19. Czerniawska, F. (2005). From bottlenecks to blackberries: How the relationship between organisations and individual is changing. Managing consultancies org anisation. , 8-16. George, Kenneth (1989), â€Å"Do we need a merger policy? â€Å". In  Mergers and Merger Policy Henry, David (2002), â€Å"Mergers: Why Most Big Deals Don't Pay Off†,  Business Week, October 14, 2002. Huczynski, A. and Buchanan, D. (2001) Organizational Behaviour. 4th ed. England: Prentice Hall. Kanter, R. M. (2009). Supercorp: How Vanguard Companies Create Innovation, Profits, Growth, and Social Good. New York: Crown Business. Kanter, R. M. , Stein, B. A. and Jick, T. D. (1992). The Challenge of Organizational Change. New York: Free Press Mullins, L. J. 2010) Management & Organizational Behavior: 9th Ed. U. S. A. : Pearson Prentice Hall Ravenscraft, David J. & Scherer, F. M. (1987),  Mergers, Sell-offs and Economic Efficiency. Washington, DC: The Brookings Institution. Senior, B. and Fleming, J. (2006) Organizational Change (3rd edn), Essex, Pearson Sloan,AP. (1967). My years in General Motors Taylor Cos, Jr. (1994) Cultural Diversity in Organizati ons: U. S. A. : Berrett- Koehler Publishers, Inc. Tetenbaum, Tony J. (1999), â€Å"Beating the odds of merger and acquisition failure: seven key practices that improve the chance for expected

Contrast and Stand in Contrast To

Contrast and Stand in Contrast To Contrast and Stand in Contrast To Contrast and Stand in Contrast To By Maeve Maddox The other morning I read an article about a man who has built a wonderfully detailed scale model of the Sultana, the steamboat that was the object of the greatest maritime disaster in US history. Note: On April 27, 1865, three of the Sultana’s four boilers exploded, killing nearly 2,000 people. Horrible as it was, the event received very little coverage because it occurred while the national press was occupied with the assassination of Lincoln (April 14) and the search for his assassin. (Booth was captured and killed on April 26.) Here’s the odd usage that caught my attention: His [the model-maker’s] attention to the details falls in contrast to the relatively little coverage that newspapers gave the Sultana’s explosion when it happened 150 years ago. It was the first time I’d encountered the phrase â€Å"to fall in contrast to.† The idiom â€Å"to stand in contrast to† is quite common. It means, â€Å"is strikingly different from.† For example: Struggling world economy stands in contrast to U.S. Detroit tent city stands in stark contrast to resurgent downtown The expression â€Å"stands in contrast to† is well represented on the Google Ngram Viewer, but â€Å"falls in contrast† makes no showing at all. I looked online to see if anyone else was using the strange construction â€Å"falls in contrast to.† Sure enough, I found examples: Clare’s ball dress is a classic example of non-habitual clothing; as she is not used to wearing it, it falls in contrast to her ordinary self through clothing. - 2007 book on fashion. The cheerful, hand-clapping sing-along falls in contrast to the more aggressive new singles from the band- Music review. This [humility of the matriarch] falls in contrast to the typical image of the patriarch, whose tool for survival is to consistently appear aggressive and dominating. - Review of True Blood. I found more examples in a variety of contexts that included fine dining, public transportation, golf equipment, and religious doctrine. Writers who wish to convey the information that one thing is extremely different from another can do it without using a noun phrase at all. They can use contrast as a verb: The commissioner’s latest observation that New York needs to hire at least 1,000 more cops contrasts with his earlier statements that 35,000 were enough. Orange contrasts with blue and harmonizes with red. Note: The word contrast is pronounced differently according whether it is used as a noun or as a verb. The noun is pronounced with the accent on the first syllable: /KON-trast/. The verb is pronounced with the accent on the second syllable: /kon-TRAST/. Some of the sentences above can be improved by replacing the â€Å"falls in contrast to† with â€Å"stands in contrast to† or by using contrast as a verb: Clare’s ball dress is a classic example of non-habitual clothing; as she is not used to wearing it, it contrasts with her ordinary self through clothing. - 2007 book on fashion. The cheerful, hand-clapping sing-along stands in contrast to the more aggressive new singles from the band- Music review. This [humility of the matriarch] contrasts with the typical image of the patriarch, whose tool for survival is to consistently appear aggressive and dominating. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:45 Synonyms for â€Å"Food†"Have" vs "Having" in Certain ExpressionsWriting a Thank You Note

War and The Human Psyche essays

War and The Human Psyche essays The experience of war places stresses on the human spirit that can scarcely be imagined in peacetime. Dilemmas that can be largely avoided in time of peace must be faced in a time of war. Concern for ones own physical safety is often at odds with concern for the wellbeing of ones countrymen. The dictates of the mind often fight the dictates of the emotions. In such a tug of war situation, where practical and moral factors align themselves in strange and ironic patterns, it is hardly surprising that individuals respond in highly divergent ways. In this paper, the dangers that war poses to the human psyche will be considered and an attempt will be made to account for the some of the variability that can be seen in the way in which individuals respond to these threats. An examination of two books suggests that certain character traits help inoculate people in time of war, better enabling them to withstand the assaults of war. It also suggests that the absence of certain traits makes people vulnerable when they are placed in threatening circumstances. In examining two literary works: The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis and The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje three character traits that were necessary in order to ensure spiritual survival were clearly shown. These traits were faith, courage, and loyalty. In the course of this paper, special attention will be given to the character traits described above. The significance of their presence or absence in the personalities of a number of literary characters will be considered. In The Screwtape Letters, Lewis portrays an anonymous English protagonist struggling to maintain his spiritual integrity against the assaults of temptations of Hell during World War Two. In The English Patient, Ondaa tje portrays a group of characters, brought together by their circumstances, reacting to what the author portrays as the tidal wave of war. The importance of faith...

TEXT Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

TEXT - Article Example In order to implement this marketing concept, the target market is identified first and segmentation is carried out on the basis of psychographics, geography, behavior and finally the product mix is applied to satisfy and build long term customer relationships. Product mix is comprised of four P’s of marketing namely product, pricing, placement and promotion. A product could be any physical product or a service that meets the demands of the customers. Pricing is carried out on the techniques of marketing skimming or penetration so that market share is grabbed by the company by setting initially higher and lower prices respectively. Distribution of products to the customers involves a supply chain of activities where the raw materials are provided by the supplier, assembled at the manufacturer’s plant, stored in the warehousing and then sent to the retailer for making it available for customer’s purchase. In order to create awareness among the customers about the product/service the company offers, techniques of advertising, personal selling and maintaining public relations are regarded significant. Customer relationship management is considered vital for any organization’s success because satisfied customers yield more profits. Every product has to go through a cycle where is it first introduced in the market, then it sees a phase of growth where the focus is on generating sales, then the product stabilizes or becomes mature in the market and generates good profits. Lastly, when competition becomes intense or the marketing efforts to maintain the product’s image fails, it goes through the declining

Case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 75

Case Study Example This a big problem because when such data is shared and introduced over a network it usually becomes easy for an attacker to gain delicate information like credit and debit card numbers, passwords that is previously stored in our operating systems. Another issue that comes is that the operating systems provided by Windows do not supply dependable firewalls to prevent the hacking of our operating systems. And another problem is the security policies provided by the Windows operating systems. The security standards that are already provided are not good and the safety policy settings and the password schemes are not strong and are quite vulnerable. The data encryption by the Windows operating systems is also not good and is quite feeble and also there are no tough encryption schemes or standards in place. (Gibson, 2011) These issues and problems can become a problem for us as the information of our company, the company’s employees and the company’s customers are at a risk and if any information is leaked than it might become a problem for us and disrepute our company. I have a got a few good ideas that can make the company overcome these issues and problems with ease. Windows has already faced such problems in the past and has up graded there latest operating systems overcoming these problems and issues. There latest server version Windows Server 2008 RC2 includes many solutions for such problems. These solutions and upgrades are very impressive and I have already tested them with my own self and believe that the company should also upgrades it’s operating systems and servers in to this current operating thus making the company’s, it’s clients and its employees important data to be secure. The upgrades in the server include the Server Manager for managing security components. This upgrade provides help for managing, installing and configuring server roles and the features that are