Budgeting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Budgeting - Essay Example Initially, traditional budgeting acted as the only alternative for budgeting. But, in the recent phenomenon, budgeting has come up with several alternatives. It can be affirmed in this regard that traditional budgeting is often criticized as sufficient enough to support global companies in attaining their desired targets. In this regard, several budgeting processes, with new innovative ideas and broader perspectives, have been developed in order to deal with the changing business scenario (Finkler & et. al., 2008). With this concern, this paper intends to explain the problems along with the weaknesses of traditional budgeting and identifying possible strategies to overcome those problems or weaknesses. Moreover, the discussion in this paper would also emphasize the benefits that an organization can anticipate while making changes in the traditional budgeting procedure, applying the concept of ‘Beyond Budgeting’. A Brief Overview of Budgeting Budgeting is regarded as a pr ocess of making a financial plan, wherein efforts are made by the accountants or the business owners to meet the strategic goals of the organization facing minimum or no hindrances in terms of financial resource scarcity or misuse of financial resources. ... It has often been praised as a strategic tool that can broadly enhance the interrelation between the units and the departments to work together efficiently, which in turn reduces the chances of failure in sharing critical information. Budgeting process acts as a motivational aspect that again helps the managers as well as the employees to work more productively making better use of the resources available. It can be apparently viewed that most of the companies follow previous year budget plan in order to acquire a brief idea about how well they had performed and forecast a plan to overcome deficiencies in the upcoming future. This further advocates that the budgeting process needs to be formalized and quantified (Fontinelle, 2013). Failure in making proper budgeting will eventually lead towards the wastage of organizations’ scarce resources, time and manpower among others. The goals that are set by the budgeting process should therefore be realistic and idealistic in nature, t o assure greater benefits of the budget planning (Donovan, 2005). In this regard, several large scale companies may hire accountants or other professionals in order to outline the business budget, while in relation to the case of small companies, it is the owners or the officials belonging to the top management team, who are responsible for preparing budget plans (Donovan, 2005; Wallander, 1999). Problems and Weaknesses of Traditional Budgeting Cautiously planned approaches and continuous reviews of finances are few of the key concerns required to be followed in order to run a business. Budgeting, along with forecasting of financial statements, as included in the paradigm of accounting, play an imperative role in managing financial information in accordance with the

How to Write an Essay Essay Example for Free

How to Write an Essay Essay Writing a good essay is what any human being can do but writing an exemplary essay only some can achieve. Learning and comprehending what you learn is completely different then just interpreting it and not putting that hard work into work. People always struggle with the beginning of the essay and getting started. To begin an essay you must always have an introductory paragraph. This paragraph consists of a thesis statement and a tone. The thesis statement should tell a reader what you will be writing about. Your tone will help the reader understand why you’re writing what your writing and for what. In other words, are you informing the reader, or persuading, or even trying to amuse them? You want to make sure that the tone suits the topic of your essay. Now, the essay will provide us with what is next in writing an essay. Once you begin an essay with your introduction you want to keep a reader entertained with your writing. By doing this you then follow with your body paragraphs which contain from three being the very least to as many as you need. The body paragraph is your main part in the essay. These paragraphs provide the support to your introduction paragraph and also to your thesis statement. They fill the essay with details and examples. However, each body paragraph should have one topic sentence and possibly a concluding sentence. You also want to improvise by showing the writing of elements such as parallelism, definition, description, contrast, analysis, repetition, summary, amplification. Understanding your essay is also a major factor. Make sure you review your work closely and repeatedly. Although, your essay should understand you must also stay on topic, remembering to focus on your thesis statement. Your essential focus of your essay should be expressed in the thesis statement. While writing you want to provide transition between each paragraph that will guide your reader to a conclusion that will sum up the essay. Amplification in an essay is adding more detail to the word itself. Such as, â€Å"The professor gave a presentation in which he showed us different slide; music slides, text slides, illustration slides, chart slides, video slides, just too many slides.† An example of parallelism would be â€Å"Whether at home or at work, he was always busy† this element is using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance. Definition would be best defined as elucidating a word into greater detail so it could give a better view of what you’re writing about to the reader. Description could be another use of using many adjectives in your essay, describing a noun into depth. For example â€Å"The sky is remarkably beautiful today with blue skies, no clouds and the sun beaming onto your skin making you warm but not hot.† Accomplishing everything that has been instructed in the past paragraphs leads you to one last thing to do. Reviewing your essay from grammar mistakes, punctuation mistakes or lack of transition words is an important task you want to complete. You would also want to make sure that there are no run on sentences. These sentences basically are statements that have already been said. For example a run on sentence would be â€Å"Adam is a sweet boy he really loves animals.† The correct way to write that would be â€Å"Adam is a sweet boy. He really loves animals.† You want to make sure that you are able to speak to your reader as if he or she were sitting in front of you. In other words, instead of writing the essay, try talking the essay. Proofread your essay until it reads just how you want it to sound. With this in mind your concluding paragraph comes last. In the conclusion you want to recap your idea in a clear summarizing manner. You want to make sure that after your reader is finished reading the essay the message you intended to communicate was understood. You need to keep in mind that the last paragraph should be short and avoid any extra information that would discredit anything you said. One last element of writing would be the summary. The summary is the whole essay being put into account and re reading it to make sure you stayed on topic and kept the whole essay organized for your reader to understand. All you’re trying to do is make a benevolent exit, and most probably all the really important points have been made previously in your essay. However, you should not repeat your thesis either. Once you’ve done all that’s been elucidated you should have a strong essay and be able end your essay without any difficulty.

Colonial Middle Class American Life Essay -- American History essays r

Middle Class Americans American middle class life was greatly influenced throughout 1870-1917. There were many profound changes, however the American industrialization and urbanization were the most rapid and unquestionably the most important. The industrialist brought forth household names that are still around today such as Swift, Armour, Westinghouse, Pillsbury, Pullman, Rocketfeller, Carnegie, and Duke. Due to the rapid movement of industrialization, so began a movement of urbanization. Between 1860 and 1910, urban population increased sevenfold and by the 1920’s more than half of all Americans lived in cities. Along with the cities came more use of electricity, electric lights, telephones, and eventually appliances. Appliances virtually revolutionized the lives of the middle and upper class Americans, as did Henry Ford’s mass production of the Model T. Throughout these forty-seven years many middle class Americans were influenced by the ads from companies, for example Sears Roebuck & Com pany. Not only were there adds for clothing and women’s and men’s’ apparel but for automobiles, phones, and housing. There were many values, hopes, and fears Americans contemplated with as well as the advertising business’ trying to lure Americans into purchasing products by listing consequences of using (or not using) their products.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Throughout the ads that I reviewed there were many of â€Å"so called† expected consequences of using or not using the products advertised. For example, there is an ad for A ScrapBook for â€Å"Homely Women† Only that is dedicated for women who want to have unwanted facial or bodily features removed or hidden. This two-part book gives advice for ugly scars, mouths, fingertips, crooked teeth, unwanted freckles, pimples, moles, etc. The expected consequences of this product are to take a below average looking woman and turn her into an attractive woman. The slogan even read, â€Å"We dedicate this collection of toilet secrets, not to the pretty women (they already have enough advantages, without being told to double their beauty) but to the plainer sisterhood, to those that look in the glass and are not satisfied with what they see.† After reviewing this advertisement, it is obviously directed to women with low self-esteem. Thus, the consequence s being that if a woman were to use the book of remedies it will enhance her beauty and self esteem. As... ... power of credit, but there were those that struggled with payments each month. Also with all the new industries coming into effect it was putting the â€Å"little man† out of business. In turn, this brought fear for the working Americans that were trying to stay financially stable. The biggest fear that Americans had was coming forth of World War I, especially families. Women feared losing their husbands to the draft and visa versa for men. Without their husbands women would have to be the sole providers of the household and men would fear for the sake of their families health and financial income. Middle class Americans coped very well with the changing values, promising hopes, and potential fears they encountered during the turn of the century.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In conclusion to the research I have done on middle class American life, not much has changed. The advertisements are still around today, and some even have the same slogan. Credit is as large as ever, and still is increasing the purchasing power for middle class Amercians. The values of people range dramatically from each individual to another and the fears of financial stability and war still haunt every American one-century later.

Fuel of the Future Essay -- Energy Oil Crisis Shortage Essays Papers

Fuel of the Future It is obvious that this country has a knack for vast and rapid consumption of oil. Increases in greenhouse gas emissions, global warming threats and surging gas prices are just some of the warning signs. In the last two decades, this country has made great bounds in new, energy efficient technologies that have played a major role in the United States’ energy conservation efforts. â€Å"It’s not about turning off the lights or unplugging the refrigerator. It is a story about better technology. Industry and economics, not virtue or government control, are the driving forces† (Brown, 2007). New technologies in everything from simple household appliances to transportation methods have had a major impact in reducing this country’s rate of energy consumption, and more importantly its need for foreign oil. â€Å"The most important exception to this trend is in transportation. While fuel mileage in cars continues to improve, the fuel efficiency of U. S. automobiles has actually declined since the mid-1990’s. That’s because many drivers have switched from ordinary cars, to light trucks or so-called sport utility vehicles† (Brown, 2007). Vehicles and public transportation methods account for a critical portion of our nations energy tab. One way scientists have countered this problem is the development of alternative fuels, specifically the use of Hydrogen Fuel Cells. Advancements in the research and development of this alternative fuel have proven to be a vital solution to this nation’s increasingly prevalent energy crisis. â€Å"The world’s demand for energy is projected to double by 2050 in response to population growth and the industrialization of developing countries† (Crabtree, 2004). Through its react... ...uwyo.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=buh&AN=27077584&site=ehost-live 3) Crabtree, G, Dresselhaus, M, & Buchanan, M (2004, December). The Hydrogen Economy. Physics Today, 57(12), Retrieved March 16, 2008, from http://search.ebhost.com.proxy.uwlib.uwyo.ed/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=15210897&site=ehost-live. 4) Hutchinson, H (2007, December). Going for Distance. Mechanical Engineering, Retrieved March 16, 2008, from http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy.uwlib.uwyo.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=buh&AN=27761367&site=ehost-live 5) Leal, D, Velez, A, Prelas, M, Gosh, T, & Leal-Quiros, E (2006). Hydrogen Storage in Diamond Powder Utilizing Plasma NaF Surface Treatment for Fuel Cell Applications. AIP Conference Proceedings, 875(1), Retrieved March 16, 2008, from http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy.uwlib.uwyo.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=23421089&site=ehost-live.

Referral Article

In addition, when asked, current employees would eve nonchalant answers such as â€Å"l will have to think about it, I don't know. † The general structure of such a program is that there is an associated monetary bonus for the employees who refer candidates for open positions. The monetary bonus would be received after the referred employee passed a 90 day probationary window. A number of companies will actually limit the monetary bonuses received for referrals for employs too particular number per year.For the companies that do to offer a monetary bonus for employee referrals, there is an offering of products or services to be redeemed, specifically products or services that are commonly used. In regards to employee-based referrals, it seems that the process should be more streamlined and has a more concrete structure. Offering monetary bonuses doesn't seem like the best idea as it could motivate the current employees to suggest any random individual, rather that a solid qual ified one.Instead of monetary bonuses, he companies should offer training to employees. For example a rare opportunity for a class that isn't normally offered, it would encourage the employee to better themselves and the company they work for. The employee referral program is also a significant way for companies to diminish large cost ways of finding employees, such as newspaper advertisement. The word of mouth idea is at it's finest by using the current employees to recruit new ones. That is a great way to cut cost and yet get the Job done in a timely manner.

Free Essays on Lifes Values

create an image of a death camp. One can infer this though the author does not come out directly and say it. Throughout the whole story the description paints a picture of despair. In this particular situation Stella’s value become warped. Stella becomes envious of the child; â€Å"Stella wanted to be wrapped in a shawl,† (Ozick 1) like the sleeping baby Magda was. Rosa’s values however remain steadfast as she becomes fixated with ensuring the life of the child even though she is convinced that the child’s death is eminent. The main symbol that appears in â€Å"The Shawl† is in fact the shawl itself. It becomes the source of life. The shawl is described as a â€Å"magic shawl† that could â€Å"nourish an infant for three days and three nights† (Ozick 5). The shawl was a source of warmth and support for the child. Rosa also found sustenance in the shawl; with it she was able to conceal the child from the danger of the camp. Stella reveres the shawl for warmth. She began to envy the child and eventually let her greed take over. She stole the shawl from the child and the n... Free Essays on Life's Values Free Essays on Life's Values Life’s Values In Ozick’s â€Å"The Shawl† and O’Conner’s â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find,† the characters find themselves in different, trying circumstances. In these testing situations the character’s core beliefs and values they have acquired through life are shown throughout the story as well as in their horrific, climactic moment. Through symbolism, word choice and other literary devices the author displays varying life values in each of the characters. The word choice in â€Å"The Shawl† paints a bleak picture. Rosa with â€Å"sore breast† and Stella, â€Å"her knees were tumors on sticks, her elbows chicken bones† (Ozick 1) display the tragic lifestyle that the two are facing. The two main women in the story are desperately hungry and tired. â€Å"Rosa and Stella were slowly turning into air† (Ozick 6). These descriptions and words create an image of a death camp. One can infer this though the author does not come out directly and say it. Throughout the whole story the description paints a picture of despair. In this particular situation Stella’s value become warped. Stella becomes envious of the child; â€Å"Stella wanted to be wrapped in a shawl,† (Ozick 1) like the sleeping baby Magda was. Rosa’s values however remain steadfast as she becomes fixated with ensuring the life of the child even though she is convinced that the child’s death is eminent. The main symbol that appears in â€Å"The Shawl† is in fact the shawl itself. It becomes the source of life. The shawl is described as a â€Å"magic shawl† that could â€Å"nourish an infant for three days and three nights† (Ozick 5). The shawl was a source of warmth and support for the child. Rosa also found sustenance in the shawl; with it she was able to conceal the child from the danger of the camp. Stella reveres the shawl for warmth. She began to envy the child and eventually let her greed take over. She stole the shawl from the child and the n...

The Consumers Decision

The Consumers Decision Introduction Consumers are individuals or groups that drive the economy by purchasing goods and services. Consumer behavior tries to explain why, how and when people do not buy or do buy products and services (Schiffman Kanuk, 2010, p. 12). As a matter of fact, it blends both aspects of sociology, psychology, social anthropology and economics.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Consumers Decision-Making Process specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In a broad perspective, consumer behavior tends to give us a better understanding of various consumer demographics and behavioral variables. Consumer behavior tries to give us a good insight on the influence of groups and the society on a given consumer. These groups can be friends, family and reference groups (Schiffman Kanuk, 2010, p. 12). On the other hand, a consumer plays the roles of being a payer, user and buyer. Discussion Consumer behavior Consumer behavior can be further understood by looking at various buyer characteristics. This can be motivations, attitudes, personality, perceptions, lifestyle and knowledge. Most of these consumer actions are directed towards the satisfaction of needs and wants. A consumer can not make a decision unless he/she has been influenced to do so. This can emanate from either internal or external influences. Internal influences can be psychographics and demographics that are further reinforced by individual characteristics (Nigel, 2007, p. 21). External influences on the other hand, can be locality, culture, family, sex, social class or lifestyle. These aspects have an impact on the overall consumer decision. Behind the noble act of making purchases by consumers, there lies a decision process. Consumer decision making process This brings us to the consumer decision making process that goes through various stages. These include; problem recognition, information search, alternative evaluation, decision and then post decision evaluation (Nigel, 2007, p. 28). Problem recognition is where a consumer sees a significant difference between his two states (actual and ideal) These individual notions are got from personal expectations and aspirations. In addition, consumers will know what is ideal through reference groups, culture and effective marketing. This will lead them to the next stage of information search that may be either internal or external.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Internal information search can be done by recalling experiences and feelings. Feelings are mostly a recollection of brands and products. Information about evaluation and attributes can also be recalled (Sandhusen, 2000, p. 32). On the other hand, external search revolves around information that is sourced from outside sources. By doing this, consumers will be engaged in an ongoing sea rch and pre-purchase. These external sources can be media search, independent search, retailers’ search and internet sources. Consumers engage in external search because of their ability, motivation and opportunity to process information (Schiffman Kanuk, 2010, p. 12). After this stage, consumers have to evaluate various alternatives. This is done by identifying alternatives and a good evaluative criterion. In addition, it involves the identification of brands which ends up with the rating of various product alternatives. After this has been done, consumers are now free to make decisions. This is done by the selection and purchase of product alternatives. These decision rules can be either compensatory or non compensatory (Sandhusen, 2000, p. 39). Finally, the decision making process ends with post decision evaluation. This means that consumers will have to evaluate products as they use them. In the end, we will have dissatisfied and satisfied consumers. Consumer behavior ha s in most occasions been influenced by various circumstances. These circumstances revolve around the purchase of a given good or service. It should be understood that there are various factors that influence a given consumer behavior (Joshi, 2005, p. 16). These can be; cost of goods or services, number of alternatives considered, degree of information search, length of time to make a decision and the level of consumer involvement. In a broad perspective, they can be grouped as social, cultural, individual and psychological factors. The impact of digital revolution on consumer behavior This brings us to an important aspect of the impact of digital revolution on consumer behavior. It is undeniable that the internet (digital revolution) has changed the way people (consumers) obtain information about potential purchases. This therefore means that technology is changing their lives as consumers. Digital revolution has redefined marketing with more emphasis being laid on one-to-one market ing. This is aimed at attaining customers, selling more products and making profits.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Consumers Decision-Making Process specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Digital revolution has enhanced the customization of products and services (Bigne, 2005, p. 34). This means that promotional messages are being done in a different way that has never been seen before. In addition, it has enhanced relationships with distinct customers. As a matter of fact, there are various changes to the business environment as a result of digital revolution. These changes have increased consumer power and access to information. Because of this, consumers are more informed about products. Since producers and manufacturers have access to various consumer patterns and preferences, more products and services are being offered. This is because digital revolution has increased and widened the market (Bigne, 200 5, p. 39). In addition, consumers have access to interactive and instant exchanges. This has redefined the normal and traditional behavior that they were used to. In this case, consumers can order for goods online and pay electronically. This evolution (to consumer behavior) has been enhanced by web connection and mobile phones. The internet and digital revolution has changed the way consumers obtain products. A notable impact has been felt from the way consumers make purchases all over the world. Digital revolution has been characterized by the emergence of a one stop shop for all products and services. This has almost killed the traditional market place. Consumers can now access a variety of goods and services at the click of a button without any problem (Bigne, 2005, p. 39). This has ultimately changed their general behavior as consumers. Increased access to information means that consumers are in a better position to make informed decisions. This can be done at their own time an d convenience without any major concerns. Marketers on the other hand are in a better position to gather information about consumers. This enables them to devise new approaches to consumer behavior. In the long run, the general consumer patterns and behavior are altered. The most significant impact of digital revolution on consumer behavior can be seen in the purchase of goods and services (Joshi, 2005, p. 18). This is characterized by e-shopping carts and numerous electronic pay services. Definitely, this gives a new definition to the general consumer behavior. In addition, consumers have learnt to adapt to the ever- changing electronic market. This means that they have embraced e-shopping in their daily lives. Digital revolution allows and offers a responsive user friendly purchasing experience. In this case, consumers can get more value for their money as they purchase products and services. As much as digital revolution has had a positive impact on consumer behavior, there are v arious concerns that need to be attended to.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There is an argument that the social aspect of shopping is being eroded (Bigne, 2005, p. 76). This is because some people enjoy talking to shoppers and sales staffs. Therefore, the social reward aspect of shopping does not exist in digital and online shopping. In addition, web access is still a problem to most consumers. This implies that low penetration of e-commerce in these areas will limit their use. There is need to deal with security concerns that have been brought about by digital revolution (Bigne, 2005, p. 98). Conclusion Digital revolution continues to have a big impact on consumer behavior. As a matter of fact, it has enhanced the customization of products and services. This means that promotional messages are being done in a different way that has never seen before. In addition, it has enhanced relationships with distinct customers. On the other hand, there are various changes to the business environment as a result of digital revolution. These changes have increased con sumer power and access to information. Because of this, consumers are more informed about products. Consumer behavior has in most occasions been influenced by various circumstances. These circumstances revolve around the purchase of a given good or service. It should be understood that there are various factors that influence consumer behavior. These can be; cost of goods or services, number of alternatives considered, degree of information search, length of time to make a decision and the level of consumer involvement. In a broad perspective, they can be grouped as social, cultural, individual and psychological factors. Reference List Bigne, E. (2005). The Impact of Internet User Shopping Patterns and Demographics on Consumer Mobile Buying Behavior. Valencia: University of Valencia press. Joshi, R. M. (2005). International Marketing. New York: Oxford University Press. Nigel, B. (2007). Marketing Research: Tools and Techniques. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Sandhusen, L, R. (2000 ). Marketing. New York: Barrons Educational Series. Schiffman, G, L., Kanuk, L, L. (2010). Consumer Behavior. USA: Pearson Education.

Odysseus & Aeneas Essays - Odyssey, Trojans, Julio-Claudian Dynasty

Odysseus & Aeneas Essays - Odyssey, Trojans, Julio-Claudian Dynasty Odysseus & Aeneas If there is any possibility that a comparison could be made with the famous journeys of Odysseus and Aeneas, it must be known that Aeneas is actually a hero in search of his own soul while Odysseus is a hero trying to find his old life and in a sense, his old soul. The Aeneid is very much of a spiritual quest, which makes it unique in ancient literature and in contrast with the Odyssey. Only Virgil admits to the possibility that a character can change, grow, and develop. In the storys earlier stages, the character of Aeneas is obviously unsure of himself, always seeking instructions from his father or from the gods before committing himself to any course of action. In the underworld he sees a perspective of the future history of Rome down to the time of Augustus, and that vision gives him the self-confidence to act on his own initiative. Comparatively, Odysseus is driven though his journey beginning with apparent self-confidence and continuing with a vengeful vigor. While reviewing the myths fantastic journey, I wondered if Aeneas was great because his fate made him great or was he great because he had the courage and determination to live up to the role fate handed him? There is a side to Aeneas, I noticed that is not very impressive, even when I could almost understand why he feels the way he does. He is sad, tired, always waiting for his father or the gods to tell him what to do. But Aeneas always fulfills his duty to his family, to his country, and to the gods, even when he is depressed. He is never selfish. He always puts his responsibility to others first. In that way, his actions throughout his journey to the underworld were somewhat different that Odysseus. In Aeneas case, he too was as great of a survivor as Odysseus. In fact, he at least matches him in the way that he is one of those people who can lose everything and still start all over again. Aeneas goes from being a victim of the Greeks at Troy to becoming a conqueror in Italy. Virgils Aeneas is the first character in Western literature who actually changes and develops. His struggles help him discover who he is and what he thinks is important. If I had to name one quality that defines Aeneas throughout his journey, it is his devotion to duty, a quality that the Romans called pietas or piety. This quality keeps him going even when he would rather forget about his fate. Ultimately, this same quality makes him accept, even welcome, that fate. Because, when Aeneas finally realizes that all his efforts will make the glorious Roman Empire possible, his love of his family and his country are fulfilled. The result is that the Aeneas we see at the end of the Aeneid is determined, sure of himself, and confident that he knows what is right. He has become a great leader who is able to impose order on people who display more selfish and unruly emotions. Odysseus, as the classic definition of his name suggests, is truly and individual who causes great trouble. Throughout the Odyssey, there are many direct and indirect circumstances in which Odysseus wreaks havoc upon others. He leaves Troy, fights at the island of Ismaros, and witnesses the sleepy life of the Lotos Eaters. He blinds and then tricks the one-eyed cannibal, Cyclopes, the son of Poseidon. Eventually, he even buries Elpenor, one of his crew members who was killed during all this trouble. Never does he begin nor end with a lack of self confidence anywhere close to the one exhibited by Aeneas at the commencement of his journey. After his first stage of havoc, Odysseus resists the song of the Seirenes, and sails between the whirlpool and the cliff, personified by the names of Skylla and Kharybdis. But his men make the mistake of eating the forbidden cattle of the sun god, Helios. So Zeus wrecks Odysseus ship, drowning all of his men. Odysseus manages to survive Skylla and Kharybdis again, and washes up at Ogygia Island where he stays eight years with Kalypso. After all that, he is still able to build a ship and set out again for Ithaka, but he becomes shipwrecked by Poseidon and swims to Skheria, where Nausikaa, King Alkinoos daughter, finds him. Homer seems to purposely intrigue us by having other characters describe Odysseus, He had no rivals, your

Facilities for Juvenile Offenders Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Facilities for Juvenile Offenders - Essay Example As part of its historical transition, it also had an increase in the counties it served, including Madison, King George, Spotsylvania, Louisa and Orange (Morris & Kristin, 2008). Opened in 1976, The Lancaster Youth Service Center originally operated as The Attention Center for Youth, providing momentary custody and sentencing services for Lancaster County youth. It had an initial 17 room capacity, plus two outdoor recreational facilities. In 1984, the Individualized Developmental Systems Approach Treatment Program was added to the centre. The introduction of the Drug and Alcohol Education Program in 1989 marked another improvement (Morris & Kristin, 2008). A second facility was opened in West Stanton in 1995 to ease overcrowding. It served youths with non violent charges. A year later in 1996, a business office wing was built to provide more space for a new Intake Center. In the same year, the medical exam room was renovated. In 2000, it was expanded to a 60-bed capacity and renamed to the current Lancaster County Youth Services Center. Over the past 30 years, the facility has grown to include an accredited school, medical screening and emergency services, counselors to help with the frustrations of detainment, and a Chaplain (Morris & Kristin, 2008). This facility initially operated under the name Oak Hill Youth Center in Laurel, Maryland. It was plagued with a poor reputation, including rats and vermin infestation. Snakes were also found in the hallways by a monitor appointed by the court (Morris & Kristin, 2008). The youths assaulted staff, and staff also assaulted them. There were rampant cases of drug and alcohol abuse, and weapons were also found inside the facility. Cases of escape were also on the rise. Following a visit organized by the juvenile justice community, Oak Hill was sued by the Public Defender Services for poor services to youth in 1985. This led to the redesigning and change of name to The New Beginnings Youth Development Center in

Book Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 3

Book Review - Essay Example Whats more important, Heckel says, is understanding how the strategies and approaches used in Alexanders time are still the same today, after you make allowances for changes in technology. "Field Marshall Mongomery thought that even in the twentieth century the fundamental principles of war had not changed since ancient times" (ix). Heckels book is designed to argue against the hero worship of Alexander the Great and to move away from the investigations of his personality in order to look more objectively at his actual accomplishments and defeats. Heckel is an appropriate person to have written such a book because he is a professor in the department of Greek and Roman studies at the University of Calgary. He has studied Alexander the Great for a long time and has written several books about him. He is also on the board of dedicated newsletters regarding this time period and he has helped with translations of ancient text about the time of Alexander the Great. This goal of providing a realistic overview of Alexanders accomplishments and their importance to todays leaders is carried through the major chapters of the book. The book is organized into nine major chapters, but they are not necessarily the chronological sequence one might expect for such a book. Heckel starts the book with a preface that explains his primary goal in writing the book and then provides an extensive timeline graph of Alexanders life and some maps that show the growth of his empire. This is finally followed by a generalized introduction to the historical figure he discusses as well as why Alexander is considered so great for todays leaders. In establishing the context leading up to Alexander, Heckel continues to relate events to similar events today. An example of this is when he says, "The extent of Persian intervention is doubtless exaggerated, but there was

The Impact of the Domestic Regulatory Environment on Competition and Case Study

The Impact of the Domestic Regulatory Environment on Competition and Corporate Strategy Development - Case Study Example Now a days, after the globalization and liberalization policies, the competition is not only from companies located with in a nation but also from firms established globally. All these factors that affect the competition and firm’s strategic management plans would be further influenced by domestic regulatory environment. The domestic regulatory environment includes the government policies that aim at social and economic justice, tariff structure in different services and technical regulations that aim at enhancing the growth rate. The influence of external environment and government polices on the corporate strategic options was well established (Venkatraman and Prescott, 1990). Though it was proved that the role of management positively influences the company’s performance, still the constraints caused by the domestic environment may result in negative growth rate (Thomas et al., 1991). This may happen at higher intensity when the domestic regulatory environment discou rages the products of the company by putting environmental safety norms. The government policies may also aim at bringing welfare state of the society for which the companies may be asked to follow the steps fulfilling the social obligations which in turn negatively influence the firm’s performance (Bryer, 1982). ... Similarly, the companies which are involved in fruit juice making may get huge benefit if the government policy encourages the export environment by giving tax concessions. At the same time, the companies that are involved in electronic goods may incur losses if the domestic environment encourages the imports from other nations at a cheaper price. Hence, the private or corporate business firms must have dynamic strategic management development options which provide higher adaptation compared to its competitors in the market (Teece et al., 1997). The element of diversification gives remarkable edge to the corporate houses in making flexible adjustments in response to any domestic regulatory environment. The advantage of mixing several products that suit the customer needs in terms of competitive edge and firms performance was well established (Simmonds, 1990). Those firms which concentrated only on one product have higher risk due to change in domestic regulatory environment. These fi rms may respond well to the technical regulations laid down by the government from time to time, but they fail in their competitive ability and adjusting to the new tariff structure in the market and to the regulations related to social and economic justice in the society. The companies which have strong and dynamic strategic development / management team strive well in the market as they predict the new changes in domestic regulatory environment and hence they respond faster to the changes with highest competitive ability. The corporate houses must respond to the domestic regulations as early as possible to reduce the losses and to capitalize the new situation

Will online education replace traditional education Essay

Will online education replace traditional education - Essay Example Some people argue that online education will replace the traditional classroom mode of learning as this form of education is cheaper to run and can reach more people at a particular time. Similar to most of the issues in education presently, economics are at the centre of the discourse, but the online courses are relatively expensive as they need a considerable and supported network. The instructors that are conversant with this mode of learning along with the students that enrol for it have to change their learning to involve a computer screen only. There are certain positive attributes that are associated with online learning including the fact that they can inspire peer-to-peer learning, partnership between various regions and the capability to easily get involved in an exciting and new discipline. On the other hand, these online courses do not always motivate practical and beneficial criticism as limited interaction takes place between the instructors of the course and their students coupled with huge disparities in regard to digital literacy. These characteristics every so often seem to be associated with the form of online course that an individual is taking. There are online courses that teach through broadcast, and this are the ones that are associated with most of the negative attributes. The ones that use a connectivist medium of instruction are typically associated with more practical attributes. Regardless of the mentioned distinctions, all the online courses have some common characteristic that is privilege. This means that the student taking the course must be able to access a steady and reliable internet connection, a good computer, enough time to engage the learning material as well as literary expertise that will allow them to participate in the sessions. This things are not available to everyone and the people that can easily access them come from

Unit 5 DB Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Unit 5 DB - Research Paper Example Most of the gases occur naturally in the air while others are due to human activities. They include carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. Global warming is real. This is due to the release of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that cause the earth temperature to rise. Of all the greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere, carbon dioxide occupies the large percentage of emission (Hogue, Johnson & Kemsley, 2013). This is mainly due to the burning of fossil fuels in electrical powered generation and industrial production. There is evidence that global warming is true and continues to take place. This is seen at the speed in which ocean level is rising. This is because global warming results to warming water that then increase water capacity. The increased water volume is also due to melting of glaciers. The melting of glaciers continues to be reported in Greenland and West Antarctica (Conservation International, 2012). Increased water volume has negative consequences for islands in the Caribbean and low-lying coastal areas Sound science is a term used when defending an argument on an issue. This term is used to indicate that individuals in a case have facts on their side (Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 1999). This term has helped in supporting the theory of global warming, as there is evidence that it is affecting people in different parts of the globe. There are various ways to reduce carbon emission. They involve the use of nuclear energy as a source of electricity, reliance on geothermal and wind power, planting of trees, and reduction of fossil fuel

Will online education replace traditional education Essay

Will online education replace traditional education - Essay Example Some people argue that online education will replace the traditional classroom mode of learning as this form of education is cheaper to run and can reach more people at a particular time. Similar to most of the issues in education presently, economics are at the centre of the discourse, but the online courses are relatively expensive as they need a considerable and supported network. The instructors that are conversant with this mode of learning along with the students that enrol for it have to change their learning to involve a computer screen only. There are certain positive attributes that are associated with online learning including the fact that they can inspire peer-to-peer learning, partnership between various regions and the capability to easily get involved in an exciting and new discipline. On the other hand, these online courses do not always motivate practical and beneficial criticism as limited interaction takes place between the instructors of the course and their students coupled with huge disparities in regard to digital literacy. These characteristics every so often seem to be associated with the form of online course that an individual is taking. There are online courses that teach through broadcast, and this are the ones that are associated with most of the negative attributes. The ones that use a connectivist medium of instruction are typically associated with more practical attributes. Regardless of the mentioned distinctions, all the online courses have some common characteristic that is privilege. This means that the student taking the course must be able to access a steady and reliable internet connection, a good computer, enough time to engage the learning material as well as literary expertise that will allow them to participate in the sessions. This things are not available to everyone and the people that can easily access them come from

Parable of the soils Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Parable of the soils - Research Paper Example The apostles questioned Jesus why He talks in parables, upon which, Jesus explained that there is deeper meaning in parables, and that it is the apostles’ duty to look for its meaning and understand. Jesus gave them the privilege to understand what he says while the people gathered around him do not. At this point, it would seem Jesus put a line between his apostles and unbelievers because it is not yet their time to know the mystery of God. The parables add up to the knowledge of believers but will not do any good to those who do not believe in God. The unbelievers although they see and hear still do not appreciate and do not accept Jesus so they do not receive any blessing from God. In the parable, Jesus explained to his disciples that the seeds are the Words of God. The seeds that fell on the streets are the Words of God sown on the hearts of people who quickly forgot about them when they were tempted by the devil, and thereupon cannot be saved. The other seeds are sown to the hearts of people who gladly received the words of God, but it stayed on their hearts only for a short time. Soon enough, the seedlings withered and died when they faced trials in life and eventually lost their faith in God. The other seeds that fell on the grass are the people who listened to the Words of God, but later on forgot about it because they fell on the traps of riches and pleasures of life and because of these they forgot their covenant with God. Taken in the context today, the four soils mentioned in the parable refer to the kind of soil of our heart. The first soil is the wayside heart hardened by meaningless day to day problems that even the Word of God cannot penetrate. In this scenario, we see hatred, war, drugs, recklessness and social problems that have no time for religion. The second soil is those hearts deadened by perverse and indifferent attitude. Third, we have a soil that has been hardened by constant

Iraq War Was Wrong Essay Example for Free

Iraq War Was Wrong Essay The Iraq war was a horrible thing. It caused many things to happen. I’m against going to war with them because there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq as the US government claimed. One of the main reasons listed by George W Bush for the war was to secure Iraqs chemical and biological weapons, which did not even exist. Secondly, there were no terrorists in Iraq, and Iraq had no connection to Sept. 11. We should have focused our resources in Afghanistan where the real terrorists were. Thirdly, we were underprepared for the occupation of Iraq and couldnt deal with the insurgency that followed. And lastly, the war was a huge waste of resources which the US gained nothing from. The United States lost over 1,040 American soldiers fighting in this war that we got nothing from. The war has hurt our country economically greatly. Over $151.1 Billion has been out towards the war. I feel since from this outcome that we shouldn’t have gone to war with them. It’s a hard thing to put our country through. Iraq was attacked by the United States in the year of 2003. The US went to war with Iraq, because on either the administration or disinformation, and the started reason have changed over the time. The main reason given by the administration of George W. Bush was that Saddam Hussein the leader of Iraq was engaged in having nuclear weapons. Many thought that Hussein might use these weapons to attack against The United States. One of the main reasons for the attacks on Iraq was to disarm them of any weapons of mass destruction that they have. This makes sense to prevent future terrorist attacks, but no weapons of mass destruction were in Iraq. Iraq did use weapons of mass destruction in the 1980’s but not since then. Almost all of Iraqs weapons of mass destruction were destroyed or otherwise made unusable in the 1990s. Also, Saddam wanted to stay in power. Using weapons of mass destruction would mean a sure end to his power. This calls into question whether or not invading Iraq was justified because the Bush administration should have known that weapons of mass destruction in Iraq were effectively contained. Because Iraq is effectively contained, it was no longer an imminent threat to the United States or any other countries anymore. Saddam Hussein had never threatened to attack the United States or to use weapons of mass destruction offensively. Sure, Iraqs surrounding countries such as Kuwait and Iran hated Saddam Hussein, but they were not afraid of him. They knew that Iraq was the weakest country in the region. Iraq had been weak and under control since the Gulf War and has not troubled its neighbors. If Iraq is not a threat, there was no reason to be attacking them. Iraq was not involved in the September 11th attacks. So why did we go to war with them? Since, the war had continued, because the forces of the US were attacked by Iraqi guerillas. The US supported a new democratic government within Iraq, which was opposed by various Islamic groups that held power in the country. The US attempted to control the flow of oil from Iraq, one of the largest petroleum producers in the Middle East.

Business overview of Primark Stores Limited

Business overview of Primark Stores Limited Primark Stores Limited is an Irish clothing retailer. Its stores are located in various regions like United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Germany, Portugal, The Netherlands and Belgium. Primark stores day by day increasing its number of new clothing stores, with Two hundred and seven stores overall distributed in seven major regions: one hundred -five in the United Kingdom, thirty-eight in Ireland, eighteen in Spain, one in Netherland, one in Belgium, two in Germany and two in Portugal. The company also positions itself as marketing fashionable at competitive prices. Arthur Ryan and his collaborator Micaela Mitchell open its first clothing store in Dublin Ireland in 1969. After various success in clothing business, great profits and gross income led them to open stores in local and regional areas. It acquired various locations in different business centers within its local and regional areas which eventually generate more profits and income. Primark is known for selling clothes at very competitive prices in the market. Its success is based on sourcing supply, making clothes with simple designs and fabrics and targets young, fashion-conscious individuals ages 35 below, offering them simple yet high quality clothes and apparels. Hence, these successes brought significant changes on Primarks retail business. Success after success by opening new stores every year the relevance of global trends and consumers demands on lifestyle made Primark Store Limited reinvent its business scheme and management structure. http://www.primark.co.uk Primark Overview Primark Stores Limited is an Irish clothing retailer. Its stores are located in various regions like United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, The Netherlands, Germany, Portugal and Belgium. The company positions itself as marketing fashionable at competitive prices. It is a great place to go for stylish, trendy clothes without the expensive price tag. Whether its on the go or for something which can make up to look like a high street find. It has 207 branches in UK and Europe by November 4, 2010. These are as follows; Ireland 38 Spain 18 UK 145 The Netherlands 1 Portugal 2 Germany 2 Belgium 1 Total 207 The clothes in Primark are fashionable and trendy. Womens Wear: Party dresses, Work or holiday clothing, Lingerie, Accessories and Foot wear Mens wear: Casual or formal clothes, everyday essentials and footwear Childrens Wear: Fashion or essentials products for girls, boys and baby wear. Jewelry: Jewelry is the favorite part; it includes childrens mini jewelry and adults jewelry. The prices are very reasonable. Everybody can afford those prices very easily. Home: Bed sheets, towels, curtains, duvet covers and pillows Other Items: Other items include bags, belts, purses etc. Style, quality and affordable prices all rolled into one at Primark. The original clothing store was established by Arthur Ryan and his collaborator Micaela Mitchell in Dublin Ireland in 1969. After various success in clothing business, great profits and gross income led them to open stores in local and regional areas. Primark employs simple managerial operation on its stores structure. Every store has its own manager who is responsible in overseeing the status and business operations. Managers are given the power and control to manage the store within his/her point of responsibility. Assistant and deputy managers are also assigned to control and manage the store in smaller or larger branches. Within the store, there are different subdivided departments in which a manager is assigned like senior department managers and junior department managers who are in charge for individual departments. Moreover, under management, there are supervisors in charge of staff on a sales floor, on different departments like stock room staff, customer service staff, customer service desk, cashiers who work on the tills, cash office staff and staff responsible to look after fitting rooms. Source: www.primark.co.uk PRIMARK OBJECTIVES AND AIMS To provide good quality products for the public; we want the public to realise we are a good company and just because our products are cheap, it doesnt mean that they are rubbish. We will achieve this by having our products made by people that know what they are doing and test them to check that they are good quality. To sell goods at reasonable prices; We want the public to have a wide range of options to them, so we offer them good quality products at reasonable prices; This will be achieved by looking at other stores, selling similar products, and making our prices lower than other places. To be friendly and helpful towards customers and staff; The public need to think that we are a friendly company; this will make them want to come to our store if they feel welcome. We will achieve this by greeting customers as soon as possible and making those feels welcomed. To treat everybody the same; The public need to feel like we treat everybody the same. The people with less money will be treated the same as people that have lots of money. This will be achieved by making everyone in the store feel individual; we will make everyone feel like they are special . http://www.blurtit.com/q2904588.html November 8, 2010. 18:53 Definition of the Market The METRO cash and carry business lies in the Monopolistic Competition. There are few sellers and each has its own specialization and it charge the prices according to the product quality and characteristics. There is no entry or exit barrier in this market. Even five more cash and carry businesses are allowed by government to open their branches in Pakistan. Market Focus and Segmentation Segmentation METRO segmentation of customers is mainly concerned with the two factors, Retailers, and professionals of every sector and kind. Segmentation We design the proper segmentation of the METRO Cash and Carry: Geographic Region South Asia Country Pakistan State Punjab City Lahore, Islamabad Demographic Occupation HoReCa Income Level Minimum Rs.20000 Economic factor Inflation, reduced Productivity Psychographic Social Class Working Class (Retailers and Professionals) Buying Habits Convenience Perception High Quality with low price Personality Profit Conscious Behavioral Benefits Shopping at one place, Customer Care Usage rate weekly Occasion Regular Loyalty status Strong customer relationship Readiness Stage Desirous source (www.metro.pk) Targeting The targeting strategy of METRO cash Carry depends upon the segmentation. METRO carries the differentiated market targeting strategy. They take the whole customers as a market and carry out the marketing strategy same for the whole. At this time METRO cash and carry is concerning with the differentiation strategy. They can also come up with the focus strategy for the retailers so that they think that METRO cares them and conducting a major portion of business just for the retailers. It will convince and internally force them to come to METRO just to admire its services and respect to the retailers. Is it a focussed strategy? Yes in the sense that all their customers are users of databases. No in the sense that they are all different sizes and sectors. Also -WellData do not sell the software applications licenses. They can, and do, sometimes sell hardware but this is as a convenience for their customers. Is it a differentiation strategy? Yes in the sense that they are looking specifically at wholesalers and retailers. Yes as their approach to the core function is fundamentally different to the rest of the marketplace (no fail). Yes as they have a key Business Ready report for customers before the start of the working day. Yes as all technical staff are employed and not contracted. On balance this seems to be a differentiated approach Is it a cost leadership strategy? Possibly. Because they always believe in low prices. . METRO portrait the image of this cash and carry whole sale departmental store as the lower prices with the high quality and availability of everything at a same place. You just visit it and you can get every thing what you can think to buy. Based on the above , very simple, observations, the metro cash carry strategy would fall somewhere between the differentiation strategy and the focussed strategy. In terms of Bowmans Strategy Clock the picture is clearer. Metro fall clearly into the Differentiation strategy. Premium Priced or not? The question of price premium is open to further discussion. Although this next section should really be covered in the analysis of Metro cash carry under Porters five forces model. Quantix will open the proposition with a low price and low added value service. If the customer buys into this it is a relatively simple matter to upsell the customer to more expensive, but more added value, services. 1 Low price/low added value Likely to be segment specific 2 Low price Risk of price war and low margins/need to be cost leader 3 Hybrid Low cost base and reinvestment in low price and differentiation 4 Differentiation (a) Without price premium. Perceived added value by user, yielding market share benefits (b) With price premium. Perceived added value sufficient to bear price premium 5 Focused differentiation Perceived added value to a particular segment, warranting price premium 6 Increased price/standard Higher margins if competitors do not value follow/risk of lo losing market share 7 Increased price/low value Only feasible in monopoly situation 8 Low value/standard price Loss of market share Internal Review SWOT Strength Weakness à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The company has over 207 stores around the euorope and of those 145 stores are located in the UK. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Primark has very organised business structure. which provides good quality services to their customers. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ It offers a range of job opportunities and employees more than 30,000 people. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ It provides a high street quality clothes at reasonable prices to customers. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Primark is part of the ETI (Ethical Trading Initiative) which focuses on workers rights, their production of goods and bringing businesses together to work on labour rights issues. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Primark provides clothing for childrens, men and womens of all ages, it also provide some home accessories. A research company TNS who rank Primark as UKs second largest clothing retailer by terms of market share. Primark has very affordable and competitive prices. Mainstream market product quality. Stores in High Street locations. It has clear focus on the target market. A strong consumer proposition has been developed for the Primark brand and embodied in the line Look Good, Pay Less. It has 28 days refund policies. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Primark facing child labour in india and bangladesh for producing their embroidred clothes, although it is member of ETI (Ethical Trading Initiative). Due to these negative reports they stop working with three big organizations in India. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ It has poor working conditions and not properly giving their workers their full rights. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Primark has problem with advertisement because the company does not advertise their products and this gives their competitors the advantage over them. Employees overwhelmed by the amount of work to be done. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Primark purports less value on ethical matters. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Exploitation of the employees and abuse on labour force. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Poor working conditions. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The primacy of autocratic and rigidity on standard structures. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Child labour. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The primacy of autocratic and rigidity on standard structures. Opportunity Threats à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Primark expanding their business to opening more new stores in the UK and in euorope. And has now opened 17 stores in Spain to battle along its competition like Zara. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Primark now has an opportunity to share their high quality products and services overseas. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ It provides a high quality clothes to fashion conscious people in UK and Euorope. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Primark is a parent company for ABF. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Primarks energy consumption in Great Britain is sourced against the green power generated and sold into the grid by sister company, British Sugar. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Primark shares many of its suppliers with its competitors on the high street. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Primarks are in great competition with other companies such as Zara and HM which is their big threat. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The other threat is that will it match the needs of the customer in terms of fashion and uniqueness? à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ As the Primark do not advertise for their products while their competitors do. This can be a threat for Primark for not advertising. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Financial crisis- credit crunch. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Cheap quality product. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The primacy of autocratic and rigidity on standard structures. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Increasing competitive pressure: matalan, peacock, H M. Marketing Strategy It is a great place to go for stylish, trendy clothes without the expensive price tag. Whether its on the go or for something which can make up to look like a high street find. Who are existing/potential Customers? People from all ages and sex belongs to all classes such as lower middle to high class is Primark potential customers. They buy product on regular bases. What are their current/ future needs? People want to buy fashionable and trendy clothes. How can we satisfy these needs? Primark can satisfy their customers by providing them good quality clothes on affordable prices. Why Should Customers buy from Us? Customers buy cloths from Primark due to their high quality fabrics, fashionable designs and due to affordable prices. Also clothes are available for all ages and sex. External Review PEST Political Factor Primarks business operations are the aid of government policies and regulation for example providing proper working environment for their workers. Primark is part of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) to deal with workers and to improve their working conditions. Primarks energy utilization in UK is sourced against the green power generated and sold into the grid by British Sugar. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Primark is a British clothing retail that promotes an ethical approach to people in factories ad farms worldwide to improve living standards in countries with vulnerable conditions such an India and Bangladesh. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Primark constantly implement training and work programmes to ensure that its follow the strict code of conduct of the company. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Primark Better Lives Foundation provide financial help to young people in developing countries. Economical Factors Primark more focus on young Consumers especially the under 35 of age. Every year Primark is expanding their business by opening new stores in UK and moved its business around Europe. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Primark offers to customers quality of merchandise at a affordable value for money. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Primark has a high percentage of customers loyalty. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The retail contribute to the economy in developing countries, this provide employment. Social Factors It is a great owner for Primark by receiving several awards for being value retailer of the UK. It now operates from 5.4 million sq ft of selling space, which gives it the advantage of providing more goods and services and also can display more items which consumers can see to buy their favorite product. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Primark adapts to the cultural issues in developing countries such as local attitudes, government and legal requirements. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The clothing retail base its strategies on trust and transparency to the benefit of the people. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ In collaboration with the community, Primark has specific recruitment programmes to reach a wider group of people such as Job Centers, Universities, local communities, also, flexible hours this brings an effective and friendly workplace. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ In addition, Primark has a home working policy for those whose prefer to be at home. Technological Factors In Primarks bid for world class, cutting edge management of its ethical auditing Programme, it has signed a deal with BSI Management Systems for the provision of Entropy Software. Primark did investment in Entropy Software which is a key part of Primarks ethical trade strategy, allowing all supplier audits, non-conformances and remedial actions to be managed through the Entropy Software platform, with much greater global visibility and management control. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ In general retailers as Primark take risk in developing new technologies by importing and exporting technologies from abroad, as focus on quality, cost and functionality, investing huge amounts of capital in manufacturing processes and aiming at high volume production. This process open new opportunities in developing countries and retailers can use it effectively. Porters five forces model Porters five forces developed by Michael E. Porter of Harvard Business School in 1979. Give a framework for environmental audit but tends to focus on the single, stand alone, business or SBU (Strategic Business Unit) rather than a single product or range of products The threat of new entrants The threat of new entrants is LOW for Primark because of the high cost setup. Power of the Supplier Primark does not rely on one big supplier rather they have number of smaller ones. And so here the bargaining power of suppliers is LOW with Primark. Bargaining Power of the Buyer Competitive rivalry Competitive rivalry is HIGH in case of Primark as there are number of similar size players in the market with offering similar product and due to high cost on exit (Exit barrier). Threat of the Substitutes Threat of substitutes is HIGH because other company are offering similar products with low price and now it is very easy for customer to switch from one product to other as they have become more choosey. Bargaining power of Buyers: Degree of Buyers power is HIGH, as there are multi players in the market and now customer are more sensitive towards the price so they visit every shop and then make decision and the switching cost is also not too high. The bargaining power of buyers in this case is very high because of the multi players in the market. There are attractive substitutes available to the buyer even in the form of keeping the same cell phone number but changing the service provider. It makes very difficult for the market players to retain their customers. I think the brand loyalty can only be created through superior marketing campaigns and service. Bargaining power of suppliers: This is a type of industry where, at least in present times, the bargaining power of suppliers is at the low level because of the nature of inputs for the business. Moreover, with the deregulated and friendly environment given by the government of Pakistan, the industry has become more competitive and quality services driven. Threat of substitute products: Although the cell phone subscribers are more than 95 million now, still the threat of substitute products is high for the industry. Buyer inclination to substitute and price-performance trade off are the most important to consider in determining the threat of substitutes. Actually, just the subscription of cell phone service is not enough for a company to get optimal profits but the real challenges is that how many existing customers are using the service regularly for incoming as well as outgoing calls. The quality of service is the parameter. Threat of New Entrants: Threats of new company like Zong is also there. Which offers very attractive packages to customers. There can be some more companies in future who can enter in this industry. Product Life Cycle Where do Primark fit in terms of the Boston matrix? Ansoff Matrix (Product/Market Matrix) Source: http://tutor2u.net/business/strategy/ansoff_matrix.htm Same Product Same market (Market Penetration) This is the least risky of all the routes. It fits well with the results of the customer profile analysis which shows that the WellData customer base contains significant numbers of large companies who are also national or Global in their nature. By focussing on the existing customers and cross selling or up selling, WellData have the opportunity to tap into a market segment that already likes what they do and where the strength of internal customer references should work favourably on their behalf. Same Product New Market (Market Development) This is a more risky approach as it involves WellData being able to clearly identify a new market segment in which to operate. Given the difficulty in identifying a clear segment in which they already operate, the danger is that the chosen segment is hard to define, hard to identify and hard to quantify. In addition WellData have no Brand name outside their existing area of operation and in this aspect would face the same barriers to entry outlined in Porters analysis above. New Product Same Market (Product Development) For WellData this lies between Market Penetration and Market Development in terms of Risk. They are already established in their own market place and have a good reputation amongst their existing customers. An area of relatively simple product development is the move to desktop support. This is a function that WellData already carry out for some existing customer and which lies within their functional capabilities. They can simply offer the extended service to existing customers as an upgrade to the current services. New product New Market (Diversification) This is a high risk approach and is not one that would be simple to bring about in Metro. The move away from current skill sets and current markets would place a burden on Metro that they are unlikely to want or be able to afford. Recommendations From the four directions above the Market Penetration and Product Development offer the lowest risk. The markets for the services (Database Admin and Configuration, and Desktop Support) are sufficiently large to allow for customer acquisition without enormous marketing expenditure. Marketing Management Process Analysis/Audit where are we now? Currently WellData is a problem child. They have a small market share in a growth market. In order to grow they need to attack their existing account base and cross-sell and up-sell. Their sales revenue is just above a million and the ambition is to be a dominant player in the IT Support market place. To achieve this they have to focus their activities in areas where their strengths (technical expertise and a low cost base) can be brought to bear. Product Strategy Market penetration and Product development are the two key directions for WellData. The ease of access to the market and the related nature of the services opens up new areas to WellData without the risk of massive investment in either people, marketing expense or new technology. Generic Strategy WellData are transitioning from a focussed/differentiation strategy to one of cost leadership/ differentiation without a price premium. In Bowmans terms this would be a hybrid strategy. Such a strategy is designed to attract market share. Pricing Strategy Pricing strategies need to be rethought in order to counter the tactical threat from Quantix. WellDatas all you can eat buffet approach has been effectively countered with the Menu of the Day approach from Quantix. The 4 Ps MARKETING PRICE PRODUCT PLACE PROMOTION Product Style for men With a range of brands from Cedarwood State to DenimCo, Primark has the fashion for all occasions. With everything from formal suiting and footwear to a more casual look in denim and T-Shirts. We have everything to put your look together and its all available in your nearest Primark store. Clothing Our Butler Webb range will cater for all of your formal needs, with cotton shirts, silk ties and a premium suiting range. Within our Backswing section we offer a full range of sportswear styles, from golfwear to ski-wear. Accessories Every fashion-conscious man needs to top off his outfit with the perfect hat, scarf, wallet or bag. Find everything you need for accessorising your look in our mens accessories range. Footwear From formal shoes for that special occasion to our canvas shoes for a more casual look, the Primark mens footwear range will take you from formal sophistication to street-savvy in no time. Womenwear Primark prides itself on providing its customers with up-to-the-minute fashion at affordable prices. Our aim is to ensure you get the right look within our stores, so if youre looking for the latest fashion in clothing, accessories, footwear or lingerie, look no further than your nearest Primark store Clothing With everything from the latest styles to the essential items that keep you looking chic, Primark has it all. Skirts, trousers, cardigans, dresses, jackets and much more. Lingerie Fun, flirty or functional its all at Primark. And of course its affordable lingerie with the quality that you hope for. Accessories Complete your look with the latest trends in accessories from bags to bracelets and everything in between. Footwear Diamonds may be a girls best friend but shoes come a close second. At Primark we have an entire range to fulfil your inner fashionista and put the finishing touches to your outfit. Everybody knows kids grow fast, so keep them in fashion at affordable prices at Primark. Your nearest Primark store has everything you need, whether you are a bouncing baby or a fashion-conscious teenager. Girlswear Every girl wants to look her best and at Primark we make no exception for the younger ladies. Boyswear When you think of boys, you think young and fun. At Primark we think the same and we ensure that all of our boys clothing is not only young and fun but also practical and affordable. Babywear Dress your bundle of joy, whether a boy or girl, in great baby basics to fashionable outfits. Everything your heart desires and your baby needs can be found in your nearest Primark store. home At Primark we know that Home is where the heart is, so if youre re-decorating or just want to add something a little special from fragranced candles to velvet throws, check out our homeware products to bring that little bit extra to your home. Youll find sumptuous bed linen that can keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter, including complete bed sets, duvet covers, two-pack hollow-fibre pillows and 100% cotton percale sheets. We have a range of duvets available in single, double or king sizes. For the bathroom you can buy cotton towels in 11 colours and two-pack reversible bath mats. To enhance the pampering you deserve, we also have candles, all delicately fragranced in seasonal scents and colours. And you can give your living room that feeling of class with products from our range of cushions and throws including cottons, chenilles and velvets. www.primark.co.uk Place Ireland 38 Spain 18 UK 145 The Netherlands 1 Portugal 2 Germany 2 Belgium 1 Total 207 Price Price Tops-  £3-7 Bottoms-  £5-6 Denim-  £12 Bags-  £5 Purses- £3 Belts-  £2 Jewellery- £1.50-2.00 Promotion Social Networking Much has been made of the emergence of social networking as a modern phenomenon especially amongst the young. However it is increasingly the case that modern legislation is preventing suppliers from communicating with potential customers unless the customer has already agreed (Telephone Preference Service, Corporate Telephone Preference Service, Mail Preference Service, Data Protection Act etc). This clear Catch-22 is forcing suppliers down two, increasingly expensive and unproductive routes. Google Adwords Media advertising Social Networking (Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Myspace etc) offers a new route to potential customers that is currently still open to businesses. Although these routes are not free, they are still novel enough to attract attention and be considered as a user friendly/personal route to market. However these routes are not without challenges of their own. The time and human resource required creating and, even more importantly, maintaining these pages on a daily or hourly basis is a considerable investment in its own right. E.G. A Facebook page is free. Facebook adverts operate on a pay per click basis (similar to Google). Although these adverts can be targeted to specific job titles the actual number of people who will be targeted is still small as many Facebook users do not include their job title in their profile. A combined approach of Twitter and Facebook seems to work well and have little external cost. IE Twitter an update (Windows 7 etc) and link it to Facebook. This gives two opportunities to get your name out to interested parties without massive expense. RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS Primark can easily expand and diversify, giving its rivals a competitive environment with substantial financial power.<

Seamus Heaneys Background and Poetry Essay -- Seamus Heaney Poets Poe

Seamus Heaney's Background and Poetry Seamus Heaney had a Roman Catholic upbringing in a rural area of Northern Ireland. How does his poetry reflect his background? Heaney's poetry is able to reflect his background by his use of language and the technique he expresses his experiences. I will cover his background into three sections: his childhood, the community and his reflections. I will start by looking at his feelings and experiences in the poem 'Death of a Naturalist'. The poet remembers the time when he was a young child. He saw the reality of what frogs were really like in the outdoors compared to what was taught in school. In school, the frogs are described like a typical teacher talking to young pupils. It is very patronising and cosy hiding the fact that they are 'rank', off-putting and sickening in certain ways. For e.g. "the dam gross-bellied frogs were cocked" and " Poised like mud grenades, their blunt heads farting". They are described as being like grenades due to their size, shape, colour and the "scary" croaking noises that the creature makes. It was a new experience for him for he had not heard the noises before," to a coarse croaking that I had not heard before". He did not feel in the right situation and it was like he had never felt like that before. During his experience, he felt insecure, anxious and self-doubting. He puts himself down for he blames himself for the "obscene threats" the frogs were giving him. His use of language is able to quickly adjust the mood from a pleasant school setting to a horrid, smelly and repellent atmosphere. Heaney understood the straightforward and simplistic teachings at school but is bewildered and scared when he approaches the frogs. The po... ... fascinated by her he knows he shouldn't be because she has done wrong. Even though he feels so deeply of this girl he realises how foolish he was by letting them carry on with the punishment; "I who stood dumb". In some cases Heaney is able to use oxymoron in order to describe how society can be a catastrophe at times. He uses the descriptive words "civilized outrage" to show this. He puts two opposite words together to form a different meaning. Hence the word "civilize" and "outrage". Heaney has experienced many tragedies in his life from "Mid Term Break" to "Punishment". He clarifies this using his own expertise of writing to create descriptive poems like these. What must be said about him is how he is talented enough to deliver what is suppose to be delivered, very effectively in order for a reader like me to have such an impact on what is said.

The Colour Purple and The Yellow Wallpaper -- Goodman L. Approaching L

For Walker the use of language is to do with an expression of self in opposition to gender oppression, of presenting self in opposition to a language which is not your own. Explain how this statement informs your reading of The Colour Purple (TCP), and The Yellow Wallpaper (TYW). In TCP, written in first person narrative, Walker uses the epistolary style of writing, giving authority to the voice of Celie and enabling the reader to accept her as having real presence and experience. In her opening letter to God, it is obvious she has no self-confidence, crossing herself out with a line through ‘I am’ (p.3 TCP). Because her mother is so ill, Celie becomes a sexual commodity for her Pa, epitomising a male dominated society, where women accepted patriarchy. This epistolary style of writing was popular in the eighteenth century novel sentiment, morally edifying the reader, with authority being given to the protagonist, in this case, Celie. ‘Celie writes to God, for lack of any living person with whom to share her troubles’ (p.155 Literature and Gender (LG). She is not able to defend herself due to her multiple jeopardy, of being a woman, being black and being uneducated. Celie is a woman who, through being raped and beaten by her ‘Pa’, is ‘taught to fear men and devalue herself’ (p.55 LG). As her letters progress, she grows in confidence within and about her own language. In an early letter to God, written when her Pa stopped her going to school after he got her pregnant the first time and her younger sister continued to go, shows how she wanted to be educated, ‘I feel bad sometime Nettie done pass me in learnin’ (p.12 TCP). Later on, she meets Shug Avery, her husband’s mistress, who helps her find conf... ...aper and uses it to ‘liberate’ herself from the normal domestic role expected of her, and from the patronising husband’s language, such as ‘What is it little girl?’ (p.353 TYW). Through her hysteria, she interprets the patterns on the wallpaper with a female language which is deliberately illogical, Emotional, non-linear, intuitive, as opposed to rational and logical. She writes, ‘There is a recurrent spot where the pattern lolls like a broken neck and two bulbous eyes stare at you upside down’ (p.351 LG). Both women are using their own language against male authority. Bibliography Goodman L. Approaching Literature. Literature and Gender. Walker A. (1983) The Colour Purple. Great Britain The Women’s Press. Audio/TV Audio Cassette 2: Women and Poetry AC2121 Audio Cassette 3: Gender and Drama AC2122 TV 2 Alcott and Woolf, Gilman, and Walker.

Obstacles in intercultural communication Essay

Introduction As industry and trade continues to spread globally and communities intermingle, the difficulty of language barriers becomes more prominent. This barrier includes not only language, but a way of thinking also. Simply learning a language does not infer that the culture of the language learned is comprehended. This can lead to major communication difficulties in all areas: intercultural marriage, working or teaching abroad, relocating to another country, and negotiating any aspect of daily life. Intercultural communication demands much more than simply speaking a language; it demands good listening skills, an open mind and the ability to step outside one’s own culture mentally. This type of learning doesn’t happen with everyone, but with some sense of adventure and the willingness to see beyond one’s own mind set, it is rewarding for both parties. This paper will look at various obstacles to intercultural communication, how they occur and suggested methods for circumventing them. Wherever we are born, our culture defines us. We may be American, but from the South, very different in culture from the West Coast. Every country has its own sections of culture, ethics, morals and dialects. When different cultures come together and attempt to communicate, even in each other’s languages, difficulties arise due to culture more than language itself. Even though nations have varying cultures within them along with a common language, the variance is not enough to cause the difficulties that arise when people of two very different cultures interact. Perceptions, values and beliefs are the root of cultural differences (Anna Jones & Xuan Quach, 2004). First of all, bridging the gap in regard to intercultural communication involves perception. People of different cultures perceive things in different ways, according to the way they were raised. Perceptions in terms of beliefs and values are learned early in life, then they become an integrated part of an individual’s way of thinking; the way the individual conducts his or her life will bring about societal consequences that are wide and varied. According to Jones and Quach, awareness of perception is the beginning of understanding. What works well for one culture may disgust or offend another, and these things may not be obvious. What is â€Å"common sense† in one culture will not be to another. Therefore, knowing another language does not introduce an individual to a culture. Culture is easy to observe, but not to define, since it is based upon perceptions. Culture is basically learned behaviors shared among people who, for the most part, share the same language and live in the same place (Richard Brislin, 2002). Culture is passed on from generation to generation not specifically through overt teaching and learning, but through familiarity and repetitive exposure. Culture is person-made behaviors, collectively. Contributors to culture may be climate, topography, economics and technology (or lack of it), but is people that make the culture around these external factors. An individual from a technologically advanced culture would have some amount of difficulty understanding an individual from a Third World culture, and vice-versa. The individual from the ease of high-tech life will have difficulty understanding the slower and less frenzied ways of a low-tech individual. In this case, we can compare Americans to rural Mexicans. Americans expect services and tasks to be accomplished expediently and efficiently. Rural Mexicans (and even Mexicans in cities) do not have the advantage of equipment and technology to expedite tasks such as landscaping, home repair, even making a driveway. They work with hand tools and the work is slow. They do not set time limits in terms of â€Å"deadlines† as Americans tend to do. Therefore, an American living in Mexico would need to understand that while the job will eventually get done, it might not get done as fast as it would back at home. This is an example of differences in value. Americans tend to value speed and efficiency, and do not tolerate having to wait very well since technology has made nearly everything on-demand. A very good example of potential culture clashes can be illustrated in the following conversation, between an American living in Mexico and a Mexican technician who is to install a satellite dish (A = American and M = Mexican).

Philip Gefter

In the world of art, the photograph has conventionally been used to establish original subjects that document and reflect cultures as accurately as possible. However, in Philip Gefter’s essay, â€Å"Photographic Icons: Fact, Fiction, or Metaphor†, Gefter points out that, â€Å"just because a photograph reflects the world with perceptual accuracy doesn’t mean it is proof of what actually transpired. (208)† What Gefter is telling us is that it is that the ordinary reality of the image is not what is important; the metaphoric truth is the significant factor. What makes photojournalism essential is that it helps show us how to view the world in an individualized way. It is, essentially, a public art, and its power and importance is a function of that artistry. From the war photography of Mathew Brady (who was known for moving dead bodies to create a scene) to Ruth Orkin (who directed a second shot to capture â€Å"American Girl in Italy†, when the first â€Å"real† shot was not to her liking), Gefter underscores that, although these shots are not the unedited version of life, this was life, just in a more appealing fashion. Gefter does not feel these photos are historically invalid. In fact, he believes that they are â€Å"proof of facts in real time, moments in history brought to the present. (208)† Seldom are photojournalistic efforts important primarily because of the â€Å"fact† of what they show; their informational value is minor. Such is the case of the 1956 United Press International photograph of Rosa Parks sitting at the front of a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. For many years, we were led to believe that this photograph was taken on that famous day. It was not until many years later that Parks revealed that the photograph was taken over a year after the day she refused to give up her seat on the bus. The power of this photo resides in the image itself. In general, how much of the value we place on a photographic image is based on what’s actually in the photograph, and how much of it is based on what we’re told about the photograph? The photographer isn’t trying to cheat us by being deceitful in some way to history: Rosa Parks did start a revolution by sitting in the front of a bus while a white man sat behind her. The photograph is powerful enough to take us back to that famous day. It makes us feel as though we are stepping onto that bus, looking up to see a sight not seen before. Although it may not have been taken as the moment happened, it gives us an understanding. The manipulations that attended the creation of this picture are invisible, superficial elements. The amount of manipulation that will deprive a photograph of its value depends on the level of value we assign to it. We revere some photographs because they are images of a fact or time in history, others are compelling because they capture an aspect of the human condition, and yet others appeal to us because they point out to us something beautiful; it’s inspiring and exciting to be reminded that the world can be good and charming. All three of these perspectives ring true for the Parks photograph. She is an icon herself; her story is a force of history. She helped define human condition for an entire race of people and bolstered the Civil Rights Movement. And it is, without a doubt, a quiet, beautiful tale of a kind, demure woman who wanted change. As Gefter asserts, â€Å"Here is a staged document that has become a historic reference point (214-215)†, the power of this picture hangs on the basis that this is life. All photographs are subjective viewpoints. At the most fundamental level the photographer has decided where to position the camera, what is in or not in the frame, and when to take the shot. It is most certainly one of the reasons why not everyone who owns a camera is a photographer and not all photographers are the same. The real value of the art of photojournalism is its way of telling us the truth about that moment in time. Whether or not the photo was staged means little if it served its purpose. And the photo of Rosa Parks absolutely served its purpose; it invoked emotion and made us feel as if we were there. Sometimes fiction tells history truer than nonfiction. Photography is an art; it is an illustration of a point of view, or concept. Photography is story telling. Photography is history. Even if they were orchestrated, all of the photos Gefter discusses in his essay are historical documents. They represent a certain way of life, of thinking, a set of beliefs that the people that composed them held dear to them. Would anyone think less of a beautiful portrait just because the people in it posed for the artist? Art has a truth in itself. There are no lies in a work of art, because it is the observer who gives them value, meaning, and content. We need to be just more thorough to decipher the hidden truth. And that where lies most of the excitement of the beauty of a work of art; a brief look into past, in the development of the analysis of their hidden messages which are different for each and every one of us.

Philosophy As The Origin Of Every Sort Of Knowledge Term Paper

Philosophy As The Origin Of Every Sort Of Knowledge - Term Paper Example Philosophy is the origin of every sort of knowledge even though we have different streams of knowledge at present like, arts, sciences, mathematics etc. In order to give respect to philosophy, even now a doctoral student gets the degree of doctor of philosophy even if he has completed his doctoral studies in other subjects like physics, chemistry or history. Earlier, it was the philosophers who interpreted various things happening around them to the world. For example, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Descartes were some of the prominent philosophers of ancient time who succeeded in educating the people about the various natural and unnatural things happening around them. This paper tries to answer questions like; Is philosophy practical? Can we ever really know anything? Is there ultimately objectivity to ethics? Is happiness really possible in our world? Is there, after all a god? What is the good life? etc. Many people feel philosophy is remote from human life because it deals with lon g time spans, immense areas of space, and matters which cannot always be perceived by the senses. A philosophy which meets the needs of men will both reflect the structure of nature accurately and apply to man's everyday experience. In order for such ideas to be helpful practically, they must descend from the realms of theoretical debate to become an intimate part of the person himself. They must be absorbed into the whole person rather than being, like a fact about the migration of birds, stored away in some corner of the brain (Is philosophy practical?)... Philosophy is all about asking questions and finding answers. It is difficult to get 100% correct answers to all the questions asked. Questions which get 100% correct or absolute answers can be put under the label of practical philosophy. For example, we know currently that earth is rotating around the sun and that is why day and night occurs. In other words rotation of earth is proved beyond doubt and hence we can put it under the practical philosophy label. However, we do not know what happens to our soul after our death. Religions have different teachings about the future of soul based on certain beliefs. It is difficult to put this topic under practical philosophy label. In short, philosophy can sometimes practical and sometimes impractical. Can we ever really know anything? What we know about this universe is much lesser than what we do not know about this world. Even scientific principles are undergoing changes at time passes. For example, earlier we assumed that sun is moving while earth remains stationary, later we concluded that the earth is moving and the sun remains stationery. According to the latest scientific principles, both earth and the sun are moving and we do not feel the movement of sun because of the huge size of sun compared to earth. Same way earlier, we thought that electricity is the flow of protons and we represent the direction electricity from anode to cathode or from positive terminal to the negative terminal. Later we realize that electricity is nothing but flow electrons and it is impossible for electrons to flow from anode to cathode. In short, scientific principles are undergoing changes periodically and it is foolishness to assume that we know something about

Democracy History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Democracy History - Essay Example Leaders are chosen to represent the citizens’ interests in parliament and hence they (parliamentarians) should be accountable for their behavior in parliament. Elected leaders should listen to the people whom they represent and address their issues as expected. Passing a law in parliament requires support of the majority although the minority rights are also protected. Democracy also requires that elections are conducted in a free and fair manner, through the adequate training of political party agents and officials who conduct the process (Spragens, 240). The role of the citizens is to be a public eye on how elected leaders are conducting themselves in office and give their opinions. It is the duty of all citizens to vote wisely, campaign for a particular candidate, protest against bad governance, and attend communal meetings. Meanwhile, participation should be voluntary and therefore devoid of coercion. In respect of democracy, all citizens are entitled to rights which shoul d not be violated by anyone. The rights are contained in the international law which comprises of freedoms that citizens must enjoy including freedom of worship, expression, movement, association, assembly and culture. They are obliged to exercise these rights without violation or discrimination while at the same time respecting the rights of others. In democracy, the rule of law protects the citizens and their rights, and helps in the maintenance of order even as it controls the powers of the government (Spragens, 240). Reason Immanuel Kant defines reason as human beings’ ability to recognize material and immaterial self identify and understand issues, distinguish between facts and fiction, and judge propositions, comments and beliefs (Kant 15). Reason defines the nature of human beings for it is concerned with thinking processes, intelligence, and cognition. It is related to the concepts of science, language, mathematics, art and psychology. The ability to reason is referre d to as rationality, hence human beings are said to be rational beings. A person who cannot reason is irrational. Therefore, according to Kant, rational beings should be able to understand themselves, distinguish between right and wrong, true and false, as well as fact and opinion. Kant maintains that the highest level of reasoning is achieved when human beings are able to establish universal laws. He says, â€Å"act only according to that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, will that it should be a universal law† (Kant 32). In a democratic society, individuals are free to accomplish their own objectives as they wish so long as they are governed by principles of reason which Kant called the ‘categorical imperative’. An action is only justified if it can fall under universal laws  in Kant’s view (Kant 30). Since reason is part of human nature, human beings have the right to live politically. Unlike other animals, human beings are the only ones endowe d with an innate capacity to acquire language and express their thoughts, ideas and feelings (Kant 34). Speech justifies what is pleasant or not, fair and unfair, or harmful and harmless. When treated fairly, human beings are the perfect animals but when denied their rights, they are the worst. When they lack morals, food and sex, they become perverse. Fair treatment is a political aspect and provision of rights is something of a societal organization. Reasoning helps people decide the type of community that is best for them (Kant, 30). Reason and