Soren chemical free essay sample

Scan the case, looking for the main issues/problems to be solved. Then, read the case, taking detailed notes on information that will help you to solve the issue/problem. Next, determine between what the really important information is, and how it impacts on the issues/problems. Once you are certain that you know all the key information, discuss possible alternatives (not necessarily the same as the ones offered in the case). Select the best alternative, and then determine what the firm needs to do, specifically, to be able to implement your recommendation. When thinking about a case, put yourself in the shoes of the decision maker in the case. The use of role-playing as a part of the analysis can be very useful. It helps you gain some feeling for the perspective of the key parties at the time the case took place. It is very common for people to jump at the solution before a full analysis of the situation is done. We will write a custom essay sample on Soren chemical or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Your success on the cases depends on you fully evaluating the existing situation thoroughly before attempting to find â€Å"the right answer†. You will find that the grading of the case strongly emphasizes a thorough analysis, and not â€Å"the right answer†. 2. The Write-up A written case analysis is usually 6 – 8 pages long, although there is no maximum number of pages. Quality is more important than quantity. Use 12-point font, double-spaced. Your analysis should follow this format: a) Executive Summary/Introduction Maximum 1/2 page. Summary of the main issues/problems, your key points in the current situation and recommendations. The Executive Summary is a â€Å"snapshot† for a busy senior executive. It is best to write the Executive Summary after you have competed the case. b) Identification of the problem It is often said that a problem well defined is a problem half solved. This is certainly the situation when performing case analysis. The identification and clear presentation of the problem(s) or issue(s) facing the company is the most critical part of case analysis. Only a problem properly defined can be addressed. Although this is presented early in your case analysis, you cannot identify the problem until after the situation analysis has been completed. Often, the main issue will be clearly communicated in the case. Remember, that is only the case writer’s view or the view of management. It is your task, having completed the situation analysis, to decide if the issue is as stated. If there are several issues, you must prioritize and then address the most critical one first. At this point, you are only identifying, not solving the problem(s). Also, be careful that you are not identifying symptoms of the problem. Symptoms are observable manifestations or indications that a problem may be present. c) Situation Analysis (SWOT) This is an analysis of the current situation. An emphasis should be placed on â€Å"Analysis†. That means that you want to avoid simply repeating facts from the case. At this point, you are still exploring †¦ this is NOT the time to start making recommendations. Situation Analysis includes both internal and external factors. An internal analysis looks at strengths and weaknesses. Strengths are things that the company is really good at. Some examples of strengths that a company may have are: solid brand name, good reputation, strong management capabilities, unique product features, and the ability to produce at a low cost. Weaknesses are things that the company needs to work on. Some examples are: poor, undifferentiated brands, lack of marketing expertise, no money, limited product line, bad reputation. After looking inside the company, analyze the external environment – things happening outside the company’s control. When analyzing the environment, look briefly at things that affect the entire industry such as: the economy, competitors, social/cultural trends, demographic changes, politics, legal or regulatory issues and technology. Changes in the external environment present the company with either opportunities or threats. If you are not sure if the change is internal to the company or external in the environment, here are some hints: external includes changes with customers, competitors, laws, products, technology etc. Internal includes things that are ONLY happening within the firm (e. g. their own product, a change in management, acceptance of their brand, available funding for creating something new. ) If your case covers a lot of customer opinions/trends, or has a lot of competitive information, you should be including this in your opportunities or threats analysis. Opportunities are changes in the environment that offer the company opportunities. Examples are: higher gas prices present opportunities for companies building fuel efficient cars, today’s busy lifestyles create opportunities for certain services – such as drive through pharmacies. Usually the weakness of a competitor will be an opportunity. Threats are environmental changes that pose a threat or danger to the company. Examples are: changing consumer tastes mean that consumers are turning away from our product, technological changes which make our product obsolete, a new product brought into the market by a competitor that will attract our existing customers. Usually the strength of a competitor will be a threat. Finally, before completing this section, mention any other important points that have not been covered so far. d) Organizational Objectives Any marketing plan or solution that you put together has to meet the objectives of the organization – is it to reach a certain profit level, growth level, market share etc. Objectives should be specific, realistic, measurable and time specific. For example, poorly stated objective is â€Å"our objective is to maximize profits†. A well stated objective is: â€Å"our objective is to achieve a 10 percent return on investment in 2015, with a payback on new investment of no longer than four years†. If there is no mention of corporate objectives in the case, develop some sensible ones based on your analysis of the case. e) Analysis of Alternatives Here you will present several reasonable alternatives to solve the issues/problems identified. You may be creative here and add alternatives that were not mentioned in the case, if appropriate. First, give a brief description of the alternative. Then do a thorough analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of that alternative. A thorough analysis of all financial and quantitative information provided in the case is imperative to your conclusions. When assessing the advantages and disadvantages, consider the company’s objectives, the situation analysis and other relevant case data. For each alternative, come to a conclusion – either reject the alternative or consider it further. Each alternative needs to be sensible for solving your Key Issue(s). If you are considering a â€Å"silly† alternative just so you have one, don’t include it – it will distract from the quality of your case. You should consider at least three alternatives and at least two or three advantages and disadvantages for each alternative. Remember that even great ideas have at least some minor disadvantages. If you do not include advantages AND disadvantages for each alternative, you will appear to have not done your job thoroughly. f) Recommendation The alternative chosen is the one that stands up best in terms of solving the problem(s) identified, meeting the company’s objectives, providing the strongest probable financial performance and matching the internal and external environments. Briefly identify which alternative you select, along with an explanation of why. Add any other details needed to fully describe this alternative (if not thoroughly explained in the previous section). Do not introduce new ideas at this stage. The recommendation must first exist in the â€Å"Analysis of Alternatives† section and be fully evaluated. g) Implementation Plan Outline the specific steps to be taken to successfully implement your recommendation. Using timelines is helpful. For example: 1. Sales Manager to determine and gain approval for revised commission structure1 month 2. Sales Manager to meet with sales reps to explain new commission structure 1 week 3. HR to begin using new commission structure with next scheduled pay 1 day You may wish to break your implementation into short term versus long-term recommendations. Other questions to consider briefly may include: Who will be the critical players in carrying out the plan? What contingency plans need to be considered? When will the activities occur? 3. Things to Avoid Do not just repeat case information – analyze it. Avoid errors in your spelling and grammar – you will lose marks. Do not put too much detailed information in the body of your report. You may use appendices for this. Your report should flow smoothly. Assume a busy executive is reading it, and will stop reading if the report gets into too much detail. Use visuals (charts, graphs, spreadsheets, etc. ) to illustrate complex concepts. Do not waste time doing outside research. There is no need for you to gather any information beyond what is in the case, plus what has been covered in the course. Don’t get trapped into thinking the â€Å"answer† is hidden somewhere in the case text. There is never a single answer to a case just as there is never a single marketing strategy that is appropriate for all situations. Note: The absence of citing to reference ALL external sources of information constitutes plagiarism. Be sure that references are cited in text and are included in a Works Cited page (MLA style). Elements Executive Summary Identification of Problem Situation Analysis Organizational Objectives Alternatives Recommendation Financials Implementation Plan Sources

Maus All Suffering Does Is Cause Pain Essays

Maus All Suffering Does Is Cause Pain Essays Maus All Suffering Does Is Cause Pain Paper Maus All Suffering Does Is Cause Pain Paper Essay Topic: Maus The Maus graphic books are award-winning comics written by Art Spiegelman. They are non-fictional stories of Art and his father, Vladek. Spiegelman demonstrates that all suffering does is cause pain, it does not create noble people. Spiegelman exemplifies this through his characters, for example, Anja committed suicide after suffering for the duration of the holocaust. Anjas death along with the holocaust also made a huge impact on Vladeks life.After all of Vladeks traumatic experiences he takes it out on Mala and this shows shows the reader that Mala herself goes through a lot of pain. The suffering they went through proves that only only pain was caused and their lives were only more difficult. Anja commited suicide after the suffering through the holocuast and this demonstrates that suffering does not create better people, instead, only pain is implanted. From the period of the holocaust, anjas mental state was not positive. She declares but i dont care, i just dont want to live.A nja shows signs of depression. She had depression and anxiety before the war, which left her more vulnerable to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which impaired her ability to live a normal life. Spiegelman also show that suvivors, like anja, feel like they did not do all they could have to help their family and feel guilty for moving on with their life. Vladek described her before they were married as always being anxious. Anja was unable to cope with the loss of her son and almost the entire family. Years afterwards she commited suicide.Therefore, this proves the point that suffering does not make her noble but traumatised and this disturbed Vladek enormously because without Anja, the love of his life, Vladek was at a loss. The death of Anja along with the experiences Vladek gained from the holocaust put a lot of weight onto his life and has greatly affected his way of thinking. It is definate that vladek portray signs of miserliness and he also states that from my good eye, from my glass eye, if theyre open or theyre closed, always im thinking of anja.This suggests that he cant let go of his past and becomes rather apprensive and paranoid like many other victims. On account of the war, he was transformed from a successfull, happily married father to a lonely man without a purpose or joy. With the loss of all he loved he becomes somewhat more attached to things than to people, it was as if he had lost faith in people. Vladeks anxiety can also be shown through his dreams. Vladek has had nightmares ever since he had been in the concentration camps which is another common symptom of survivors.One night Art and his wife Francois hear Valdek moaning in his sleep. When Francois asks what the noise is, he explains, hes moaning in his sleep again. when i was a kid i thought that was the noise all grown-ups made while they slept. Consequently, suffering only causes pain and because of what Vladek has experienced, it is clear that he only lives with sadness and d oes not become noble. From Vladeks pain, he constantly takes it out on his second wife, mala, and on his son Artie. With Mala, Vladek is really critical towards her and he comments on the smallest things.He is critical of everything mala does, the chicken i thought, was too dry. He expresses his fustration at the situation saying i tell you, with mala i dont know what to do. He puts her in a difficult position and as seen in the book many times, she had been upset about Vladeks behaviours almost constanly. It is clear that this character undergoes some kind of difficulty and does not become a better person as she chose to leave Vladek in the end along with all of his money. It is also obvious that artie himself suffers from depression.He has been in a mental institution and sees a psychiatrist to help him deal with his issues. he confesses to his psychiatrist that all he remebers about his father is arguing with him and never feeling good enough. The psychiatrist explains to him tha t Vladek probably inflicted these feelings on him, out of his own need to feel like he survived because he was better, to ease his guilt. On the other hand, Art also feels guilty for surviving. Vladek makes him feel as though he will never live up to the memory of his brother, Richieu, who died in the war, and guilty for not having been through what they did.However, for Artie to have lived in the shadows of the holocaust for his whole life, to often see the long lasting effects it has had on his father. it is natural for him to feel some kind of guilt about having had an easier life than they did. Art was also greatly affected by the suicide of anja and this was shown in a very emotional comic Art wrote soon after his mothers death. Furthermore, it is undeniable that suffering does not create noble people and it only causes pain and sorrow.This text teaches us that all suffering does is cause pain and does not create better people. Anjas departure after the holocaust proves that su ffering does not make better people, it only causes pain. Anjas death along with the holocaust made a huge impact on vladeks life and it is clear that he struggles to become noble and this character only portrays pain and mental suffering. Deriving out of vladeks pain, he takes out his own miserliness on both art and mala making them suffer and proves that suffering does not make them better people Fiona

Jealous Nature of Othello Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Jealous Nature of Othello - Essay Example The seed of jealously can destroy a perfectly healthy relationship and the same happened in Othello. Jealously does not remain jealously, it turns into anger and brutality which leads to unprecedented trouble in a tragedy. Jealous nature of Othello The tragic hero or the protagonist in this tragedy, Othello, suffers from the tragic flaw of jealously in the tragedy. Other characters are well aware that he is a very jealous man and they exploit his weakness to the fullest. Iago is the mastermind in the tragedy who tries to dethrone Othello; he exploits the jealous nature of Othello to turn his people against him. He creates several misunderstandings to put Othello in a fix and he succeeds in doing so on numerous occasions. Othello is very possessive of his wife Desdemona and he often says â€Å"My Desdemona† in the tragedy. He believes that he has won her; possessiveness is also a very big sign of jealously. This again goes to show the jealous nature of Othello, a major reason f or his downfall was his jealous nature and there are no two ways about it. He is also an extremist and his behavior is also violent in the tragedy at times. He loses his head when the handkerchief goes missing; his impulsive nature leads to his destructions. He is of swaying nature; he thinks that his wife has been unfaithful to him, which again goes to show how other people who he considers his well-wishers can easily influence him. His jealous nature comes to the forefront after the intervention of Iago, before his intervention there are no evidences of his jealous nature. Iago is a very sagacious man in the tragedy, he is astute and extremely manipulative. This powerful emotion of jealously in the tragedy affects Iago, Emilia, Bianca, Roderigo and Othello. They do things that one hardly expects them to do, their persona gets changed after this feeling grips them. The characters find a resolution which differs and they deal with their problem in a different way. They adopt differe nt methods when it comes to dealing with this powerful emotion. Iago is a character who develops jealously from the very first time in the tragedy, as discussed earlier, the jealously quickly transforms into anger and then into revenge against those who he thinks have done wrong. Iago, from the very beginning of the tragedy expresses his jealously towards two main characters namely Cassio and Othello. Cassio becomes the lieutenant in the tragedy and the same makes Iago jealous of him. Iago firmly believed that he was more deserving than Cassio and he should have been made the lieutenant instead of Cassio. Iago was furious with Othello for two reasons; the first one was because Othello promoted Cassio as the lieutenant and the other being his intimate relationship with Emilia. â€Å"It is thought abroad that 'twixt my sheets / He has done my office.† (Othello, 369-370) Iago is a very insecure character in the tragedy; he decides to take revenge against Othello and Cassio. He s aid he will only be satisfied after getting his due revenge. â€Å"Till I am evend with him, wife for wife, /Or failing so, yet that I put the Moor / At least into a jealousy so strong / That judgment cannot cure.† (Othello, 299-302) Conclusion Othello is a great tragedy; the traits of several important characters have already been discussed in the paper. Iago, Emilia, Bia

Sustainable Business and Ethics Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Sustainable Business and Ethics - Thesis Example The mission statement of Adidas Group is to become the global leader in the arena of sporting goods which encompasses brands that are developed on the passion for sporting lifestyle and sports as an important consumer-oriented aspect. The mission statement of Adidas suggests that the company focuses on being a leader in design and innovation of sporting products based on the changing needs and demands of the customer groups. Additionally, this mission statement also suggests that Adidas is a company driven by passion and innovation which it aims to incorporate through every part of its value chain and business functionalities. The mission and vision statements formulated for the Adidas business plan are designed on the basis of the primary objective of these statements to address the organizational components, organizational value chain and the organization as a single performing unit. The sustainability initiatives of the company encompass different innovative strategies and initiatives like investing in suitable Corporate Social Responsibility ( CSR) initiatives, focusing on maintaining legal and ethical compliance and ensuring the adherence to the international and local regulations and policies of operating in the sports good industry. Becoming a sustainable company has remained one of the primary objectives of Adidas. For achieving the desired level of sustainability in its business practices and functions, Adidas has dealt with varying internal and external challenges. There are five key challenges that have to be faced by the company in its current initiative of tapping in the sports industry of the United States of America. These include being competitive, being a preferred employer, being a responsible multinational company, show an adequate amount of environmental responsibility and also ensure the maintenance of sufficient levels of social responsibility in the management.

A personal experience on a vaction trip to paris,france Essay

A personal experience on a vaction trip to paris,france - Essay Example I was really excited to see the Eiffel Tower because I had read many stories about it. â€Å"The Eiffel Tower is the symbol of Paris and likely the most recognizable landmark of the city. It was built by Gustave Eiffel for the World Exhibition of 1889 and it was never meant to be a permanent addition to the citys skyline. Initially, the artists and writers of Paris expressed their strong disapproval regarding to the tower, but later generations commended it. The figures are impressive (like the fact that it weighs 7000 tons) but forget about them and try to enjoy the sight.† (Places to Visit in France) After visiting the Eiffel Tower I wanted to see Sainte-Chapelle. Many people believe that it is the gateway to heaven, I have read so many true stories about the uniqueness of this church, it sounded so special, and I decided that I had to see it for myself. I was very impressed, the church was exceptionally beautiful, I had seen many churches earlier in my life but, indubitably, this one was special and really beautiful. After visiting the beautiful church I headed towards the museum in Paris. This was on the top of my must see places so I headed straight towards fulfilling my wish. The museum had a great collection; it had some rare coins, transcripts and so on. These things were very rare and this was, perhaps, why they were locked inside a museum. The entry inside the museum was not free, but it was not too expensive and going to the museum in France was a one of kind experience. Notre Dame Cathedral was my next destination. This cathedral is very famous for its gothic architecture and this is exactly why I decided to see it and it was certainly not a letdown. This cathedral is located in the heart of the city and several tourists visit it day in, day out. I decided to relax; and what is a better place to relax than the Luxembourg Gardens? Several tourists go to these gardens regularly in order to relax and find

Marriage in industrial societies

Marriage in industrial societies Compare and contrast two theories of the change in the age of marriage in industrial societies. There are several theories which attempt to explain the causes behind the changing ages of marriage in industrial societies. While no theory should be seen as all-encompassing or as universally applicable, many have made valuable contributions to the overall debate. The theories presented by Valeria Oppenheimer (1988, 1994, 1997) and David S. Loughran (2002) are two such examples of incisive works that have influenced the direction and scholarly thought on this topic. Before delving into the particulars of these two scholars, it is important to point out some of the problems inherent in attempting to account for such a diverse and important phenomenon. Indeed, the concept of marriage is one that is often culturally contingent and one that can vary among demographic and religious groups. Also, it is important to examine the question of how modern values have contributed to contemporary patterns of marriage. As such, not all industrial societies can be understood as uniformly similar and that the change in age of marriage should also be thought of in terms of time, socioeconomic status, race, and ethnic group. Oppenheimers ‘A Theory of Marriage Timing is deeply concerned with challenging the then popular and prevailing notion that womens economic independence was the major factor in the â€Å"decline in gains to marriage†¦ (and the) rise in delayed marriage† (1988). This notion, to Oppenheimer, is particularly problematic because it tends to â€Å"push people into one of two polar positions:† the growing independence of women could be seen as too high of a price to pay because of its negative impact on society or as an â€Å"unavoidable price for womens liberation† (1988). Instead Oppenheimer, through a modified search-theoretic framework, argues that even if the gains to marriage are reduced through economic independence, the result can have minimal effect on marriage gains in general. The greater independence that women experience creates an environment where they neither are forced to settle or remain in an undesirable situation (1988, p.587). Oppenheimer further discredits the â€Å"independence hypothesis† in ‘Womens Employment and the Gain to Marriage: the Specialization and Trading Model† through a detailed analysis of the literature supporting this notion (1997). Assumptions made by theorists, particularly those held by Gary Becker, are critically examined by Oppenheimer. An important criticism the author makes deals with questioning the starting point of the â€Å"high correlation of the various time series trends† employed by supporters of the independence hypothesis (1997). If one pushes these time-series backwards (and does not have them dated in the 1950s and 1960s) it becomes clear that divorce rates were on the rise well before womens employment started to grow (1997). Further, Oppenheimer attempts to clarify the difference (which she believes is often misunderstood) between the delay of marriage and nonmarriage. She cites important factors why individuals may want to delay marriage, s uch as economic factors or educational attainment (among others) without actually delaying the relative worth or desirability of marriage (1997). In ‘Womens Rising Employment and the Future of the Family in Industrial Societies Oppenheimer explains the change in marriage through the declining position of men in the labor market. Supported by strong evidence linking the connection between early marriage and strong labor markets, Oppenheimer illustrates how men who lack a stable career or career path become less desirable, thus prolonging the search for potential mates. Beckers theory of marriage, which Oppenheimer connects with ideas presented by two of sociologists most notable figures (Parsons and Durkheim), maintains that â€Å"the major gain to marriage lies in the mutual dependence of spouses, arising out of their specialized functions—the woman in domestic production (and reproduction), the man in market work† (Oppeheimer 1997). As the economy grows and wages rise, womens market work in turn also rises. For Becker, this means that the work women engage in becomes less specialized and more economically independent â€Å"leading, in turn, to a decline in the desirability of marrying or of staying married† (Oppenheimer 1997). Of particular concern to Oppenheimer is Beckers argument that a ‘major gain to marriage is lost through womens economic independence. Oppenheimer, however, calls into question several facets of Beckers theory by arguing that families are adaptable and have placed both women and children in the wor kforce when it was demanded by particular economic conditions. Oppenheimer stresses, through the employment of micro and marco level analyses, how the decline in male economic opportunity in the 1970s and 1980s served as an integral factor in reducing the supply of marriageable men. This parallels both Loughrans and Easterlins (Birth and Fortune, 1987) arguments that individuals (both men and women) are more likely to be married in the areas in which higher proportions of men are ‘marriageable (for Loughran this notion hinges on wage inequality and for Easterlin it rests on the particulars of the birth cohort). Oppenheimer further deviates from many of her predecessors by stressing the relative importance uncertainty in career entry and path plays in the delay of marriage. Couples would thus spend a greater amount of time (the concept of delaying marriage as opposed to nonmarriage is again stressed) when searching for suitable (as defined by men and women with an established career path) partners. Loughran, in â€Å"The Effect of Male Wage Inequality on Female Age at First Marriage† argues that â€Å"rising male wage inequality is responsible for a proportion of the decline in the age-specific propensity to marry between 1970 and 1990† (2002). The author, who also uses a search-theoretic framework, discusses how his hypothesis fits naturally into a model of female marital search (2002) and how it â€Å"reveals a negative correlation between male wage inequality and female propensity to marry.† That is, â€Å"if women search among a pool of men characterized by their wages, theory predicts growing male wage inequality will increase the duration of female marital search and, hence, age at first marriage† (2002). As similarly noted by Oppenheimer, Loughran agrees that modeling marriage behavior in this way shows that it is less of a ‘decline in marriage as it is of a ‘delay. Loughran, in a similar vein as Oppenheimer, dispels alternative h ypotheses such as rising female wages and employment and concludes that the rising male wage inequality increases the return to marital search, which in turn lengthens â€Å"search duration and decreas(es) age-specific propensities to marry† (2002). When comparing the theories of Oppenheimer and Loughran, one can see that the latters economic analysis supports the formers on several key points. One of Loughrans hypotheses deals with describing how wage inequality (beginning in the early 1970s) meant greater variability in the economic suitability and stability of potential husbands thereby leading to greater rewards for women who extended and prolonged their marriage search. This notion supports Oppenheimers emphasis on taking the stress away from womens independence as the critical factor in changing age of marriage and instead placing it on the declining role of males in the marketplace. Criticisms of these theories are bound to occur, as they fail to account for all of the intricacies associated with marriage trends. It is interesting to note the relative absence in the discussions presented by these authors of the importance of religion and its particular influence on marriage trends. When one considers the very nature of marriage, and the values and ideals it is naturally associated with, the idea of its close relationship with religious belief becomes easily noticeable. As such, it may be interesting in the future to examine these theories with respect to groups that have different levels of religiosity. When considering both of these theories, it becomes clear that the economic opportunity of both men and women should be studied together if one is interested in discovering the reasons behind change in marriage age. While neither the growing wage inequality among young men nor the independence among young women is wholly responsible for the delay in marriage, they are both seen to be important contributors to the phenomena and overall debate. Oppenheimer, in particular, has proven to be influential in influencing the direction of the discourse by calling into question some of the key prevailing notions which have persisted throughout the past century. References: 1.) Easterlin, R. A. (1987) Birth and Fortune: The impact of Numbers on Personal Welfare. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, second edition 2.) Oppenheimer, V.K. (1997) Womens employment and the gain to marriage: the specialization and trading model. Annual Review of Sociology, 23, 431-453 3.) Oppenheimer, V.K. (1988) A theory of marriage timing. American Journal of Sociology, 94(3), 563-591 4.) Oppenheimer, V.K. (1994) Womens rising employment and the future of the family in industrial societies. Population and Development Review, 20(2), 293-342 5.) Loughran, D.S. (2002). The effect of male wage inequality on female age at first marriage. Review of Economics and Statistics, 84(2), 237-250.

Marketing Is Marketing :: essays research papers

Introduction: â€Å"Marketing is marketing, irrespective of the product or marketplace†. This is a theme common to many introductory marketing texts and degree courses. The two most common exceptions cited to this proposition are buying behavior models between consumers and business buyers and the extended ingredients of the services marketing mix. While the overall sentiments of marketing hold true across product and market boundaries, perhaps the differences are in fact more marked? Intends to spark some discussion pertaining to the extent to which marketers can safely generalize when discussing the nature and characteristics of marketing. Are we correct in offering students and in-company training program generalizations that cut across the marketing domain? Are we doing justice to the core nuances if we simply draw out the variations between consumer goods, services, industrial and business-to-business marketing? Is there a different perspective that should, in the new millennium, be th e focus of textbooks and marketing courses? Content Indicators: readability, Practice implications, originality, Research Implications* Marketing is marketing, irrespective of the product or marketplace. This is a theme common to many introductory marketing texts and courses. The two most common exceptions cited to this proposition are buying behavior models between consumers and business buyers and the extended ingredients of the services marketing mix (cf. Dibb et al., 1997; Kotler, 1998). While the overall sentiments of marketing hold true across product and market boundaries, perhaps the differences are in fact more marked? The marketers of services were the first to â€Å"speak out†, arguing that the nature of marketing is different owing to the basic characteristics of services:  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  intangibility;  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  direct organization-client relationship;  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  consumer participation in the production process; and  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Complexity. The upshot for services marketers has been the extension of the marketing mix from the classical product, price, place (channel) and promotion â€Å"4Ps† to include at least people, physical evidence (ambience) and process. These marketers also point to the characteristics of services, notably intangibility of the service â€Å"product†, restricting opportunities for creating a differential advantage over competitors, with the inevitable dependence for differentiation and competitive edge on branding initiatives and personnel. While services marketers have outlined significant differences for â€Å"their marketing†, on the whole, texts and marketers have argued there are relatively only minor differences between the marketing of consumer goods and industrial or business-to-business goods. This paper is intended to spark some discussion pertaining to the extent to which marketers can safely generalize when discussing the nature and characteristics of industrial, business-to-business marketing.

Delta Airline Case

Delta Airline Case 1-During the 1990’s, none of the five largest air carriers in the United States earned its cost of capital. Why do such low rates of return on investment persist in the airline industry? That’s correct, airline companies margins were below the average for US industries for a long time, especially after the 1978 deregulation. For 40 years, prior to 1978, the airline companies had operated under the regulation of the CAB (Civil Aeronautics Board), which was responsible for managing routes and fares, and thus protected companies revenues and, more important, profitability.Protected by cost-plus pricing, airlines regularly assented to labor union demands and in fact didn’t care too much by the costs incurred by the union deals. Due to the market environment during regulation, the airline companies used to overcharge for tickets, to compensate the costs. After deregulation, airline companies found themselves with high fixed costs and expensive labor . The companies started then running to gain productivity, customer loyalty, explore other routes, decrease costs (using alternative airports, etc†¦ and focus on how to develop a system that would ensure high load factors; the companies started to pursue the returns/ yields. Together with all the costs problems, the big legacy carriers had to fight the Low Cost Carriers that appeared after deregulation, and were gaining market share rapidly. 2-Despite the challenging industry environment, airlines like Southwest and Jetblue earn enviable returns. How? Southwest and Jetblue are part of the LCC that appeared after 1978 deregulation. These companies remained profitable despite all the markets ups and downs, and even after Sept 11/ 2001.Basically, the LCC operated differently from legacy carriers using secondary airports, short turn times, high load factors and different labor costs (flexible work rules vs. profit sharing plans) helping the companies have a much more enthusiastic w orkforce. All this combined with a different mission and vision, so a different strategic planning is what makes them profitable. LCC don’t use legacy carriers as benchmarks, they don’t even look at them as competitors, because their competitors are cars, buses and other ways of travelling.Even the way tickets are issued is different, and also focused on modern way of life, less burocratic, more self-service and, of course, cheaper. This companies have essential competencies: Values (they created a new way of flying, from the ticket purchasing to to the flying experience), Rare characteristics (they are not regular carriers, they created a whole new market), Hard to copy strategies and operational competency. They launched a new substitute product in an existing market, ending in the creation of a new market, where they have so much competitive advantages that others can’t compete. -Why have all the low-cost subsidiaries of legacy airlines, including Delta expre ss, failed? All big legacy carriers launched low-cost subsidiaries, but none obtained success. Some reasons are written below: -They launched substitute products in their existing market, but they should have entered the new market, with a new company -The subsidiaries shared employees with the legacy carriers -They shared burocracy -They didn’t have a clear market and also marketing strategy, different from the legacy carriers -They carried the same costs to operateIn summary, LCC is a total different business than legacy carriers, and can’t be integrated in other business. It has to have its own market strategy, labor agreements, administration, ratios, etc†¦ The only path to success is treating low-cost subsidiaries as a whole different business, inserted in a whole different market. 4-What will happen to Delta if it continues to respond to the low-cost airlines in the way it has in the past? Delta Express was created as Delta’s response for the growth o f LCC’s, primarily in Florida. Express used to operate older Boeings and offer less in-flight services.In the beginning, Express could negotiate with the pilot’s union, resulted in some pay cut. but this agreements were falling apart. More important, all decisions concerning its operations were made centrally, as part of mainline Delta, and even ground services were shared. In fact, they were committing the same mistakes as the other legacy companies when operating their low cost subsidiaries and the only logical path, if Delta continues to operate Express as part of its flying business is the fail path. Low cost is not the core business of Delta and operating a low cost airline is not the core competency of its executives.That combined together cannot lead to success. 5-What are the options available to Delta? Based on the information available to you in the case, what course of action would you recommend? Based on the case, and most important on the experiences of su ccess and fail of low cost carriers, I would recommend that Delta would restructure its operational and administrative office to support Express as if was a total different business: -Totally different staff (another business unit, independent from Delta) -Different business results statements Different cost and capital structure -Different flight equipments (new aircrafts, that would have fewer maintenance needs and high flying hours) -Different services provided in and out-flight -Easier ticket issuing -No Frequent flyer program -Stronger agreements with regulatory institutions over time-table -Different mission, vision and values (â€Å"new company†) -Different routing, pricing, pilots and flight attendance payments program, etc†¦ -A clear target of being the number one low cost carrier in USA and not only diminish the market share of other LCC’s.

Women Liberation during the Socialist Era

Women Liberation during the Socialist Era Introduction This lecture is a close examination of women liberation during the Cultural Revolution in China. Despite the great suppression that women were subjected to, they stood up against all odds to defend their rights. Rising from the lows of an abused slave, Wu Qiong Hua showed a great spirit of a soldier.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Women Liberation during the Socialist Era specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More She had a strong will to stand up for her rights and that will led her into joining the army and finally became an army leader. She had a great personality and great determination to fight for what was right. Considering the male dominated society and era that Wu Qiong Hua lived in, it is hard to imagine the feat she was able to accomplish. She was more than a fighter; she had the personality to fight women suppression. Thesis Women in China had been chained up by the traditional feminine role for thousands of years. They were coerced to obey the three obedience and four virtues. Mao introduced a new perspective of viewing women thus redefining the woman theory in a more liberal perspective. This was during the Cultural Revolution and women gracefully enjoyed a new status they had never experienced before. The new era in womanhood witnessed deep transformations spanning from the external appearance to the internal perceptions which had been deep seated during the class struggle era. The woman soldier is squarely a product of the actions of Mao, and thus of the socialist China. She is a witness and a proof of the transformation that took place during the socialist era. Women of this era were the contradictory mixture. They were the modifiers and were also the ones that were modified. The Red Detachment of Women, both in 1961 film version and 1964 ballet version, presented the enormous transformation of the female figure and their social status during the era of socialist C hina. The Red Detachment of Women, which had been assumed as the â€Å"model work† in Cultural Revolution, also reflects the life, politic, ideology and social values at the time.Advertising Looking for research paper on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Historical Background The pre-socialist era was oppressive towards women. There were very many oppressive practices that the society embraced and which greatly burdened women. Fulton discusses these practices in great details. The first practice she highlights is that of foot-binding. This is an eleventh century practice introduced to the society by the wealthy class. Foot binding was very painful, but unfortunately very significant because it determined whether a woman could get married or not. This practice started at a very tender age of three years (Fulton 35). Another way that women were oppressed was in the manner in which the society allowed men to relate to them. Wives were treated with a lot off disrespect. A wife was a subject to the family she was married to. She did not have any powers but always had to be submissive to the family of her husband. Women also fostered oppression against themselves. A first wife had more power than the other wives and using this power she could cruelly treat the other wives. Concubines were used by men for sexual pleasure as well as for children siring. Wives had more power than concubines and as result concubines were also cruelly treated by wives. If a wife was barren she could take the children of a concubine. If a husband died, his wife took charge of the concubines and would do anything with them including selling them to a brothel. Prostitution was even worse. There were times when peasants resorted to sell their girls to prostitution (Fulton 35). On the question of women liberation from the above snapshot, Mao did a revolutionary work. Laws were instituted that gave protection to w omen, and consequently gave then a leeway from oppression. One such law was the right to get a divorce.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Women Liberation during the Socialist Era specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A wife could request for a divorce from her husband. This gave a great chance for wives to divorce husbands who abused them. Foot binding was also becoming a past act by 1949 as result of intentional advances by Mao to liberate women. Arranged marriages were banned – men and women had to choose each other for marriage. This gave great freedom to women to settle into marriage with men they were comfortable with. Marriage contracts and associated sales were also banned. This gave some dignity to women not to be viewed as goods for sale. Prostitution was outlawed and concubines were freed. A federation was started, Women’s Federation, to better the status of women in the society. Women wer e encouraged to join schools and the workforce (Fulton 35). Analysis of the scenes in film and ballet version Both the film and ballet version of The Red Detachment of Women reflects the status of women during the pre-socialist era. Wu Qiong Hua best illustrates this as she moves from being a slave into being a woman soldier. At the start of the film and the ballet, we get introduced to a slave girl who has been trying to escape from abuse in vain. She is subjected to beatings and torture every time she tries to escape. It seems she cannot do anything to free herself. The implication that is shed as at this level is that women were oppressed by forces above them and which they could not control (Xie 1). This was a true depiction of the events of the time because women were always under the control of their husbands and their mothers in law and if they were not married they were under their fathers’ and mothers’ control. As already discussed above, there was a time when families could sell their girls to get cash for food. Fulton also notes that at this time, food was so scarce that parents had to choose among the children who was to eat and who to starve and more often than not girls were forced to go hungry (Fulton 36).Advertising Looking for research paper on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The statement is simple, girls/women had nowhere to escape to for freedom whether they were married or not; oppression was right on their necks. This is exactly what is depicted at the opening moments of the film and ballet versions (Xie 1). It is worth noting that it is only the initial moments of the film and ballet versions that represent the status of women in the pre-socialist era. The depiction is that women were completely hopeless and they had nowhere to run. When Changqing gets attracted to the situation of Wu Qiong Hua, this marks the beginning of the desire by the Communist Party to liberate women and the whole of China indeed from oppression. The director used music and light to show the situation between good (socialist era) and bad (pre-socialist era). Changqing represents the good side which is bent on helping Wu Qiong Hua from the oppressive side Nan Batian (Xie 1). Gender norms at the time During the socialist era, women experienced great changes in their societal s tatus. One change which greatly changed the position of women in the society was the increase in their duties and especially the things they could do. Women were allowed to join the labor force in the factories. They learned how to run the factories. They were also allowed to go to school and gain academic competency. The call for education was even among the peasants and thus generally women gained education, and consequently were more informed. Education and empowerment from gains earned by joining the workforce raised women to a new level confidence; women gained some sort of independence which gave them some self-confidence. With this sort of confidence and the backup of the law, women were empowered to bargain even at the household level (Fulton 37). The role of the Women’s Federation cannot be assumed. This organization worked hard to see that women were given an opportunity to progress in the society. Some of the functions that the federation undertook was closing down of brothels and ensuring that all concubines were freed. The federation organized for the employment of women and did all it could to ensure that those who wanted to join school did that. Women were also informed of their rights concerning the various issues which touched their lives such as being married against their wish (Fulton 37). The empowerment of women did one great thing – it reduced the gender gap which had existed before. Women were no longer viewed as doormats but were accorded some respect. The mixture of women and men in the workplace made it possible for the notion of male gender superiority to melt. This era therefore uplifted the female gender, and as a result helped to wither masculinity dominance in the society. In other words, this time helped greatly in fostering equality. There was a great change in ideology on the role of women in the society. The society was turned round to respect and support women whom they had so much scorned. Women and Masculinit y Despite the stated above facts that the status of women changed under the socialist era, some critics have observed that the change in gender roles and the uplifting of women status was not as high as it has been said to be. According to Evans, women still played the roles of taking care of their families especially children. She argues that the fact that women were allowed to enter the workforce did not mean they neglected their primary role of taking care of their children, husbands and often parents-in-law. This was their customary domestic division of tasks (Evans 1). It is further noted that there was a violation of very basic issues that relate to women. The manner in which they were integrated into the workforce left much to be desired. The phrase â€Å"Whatever men can do, women can do too† was popularized in China at this time. Unfortunately, this led to rendering women masculine. Women were pushed into being like men – some sources refer to women of this ag e as ‘iron girls’ (Wang 136). For instance, they to wear the same uniforms as men and they made to appear as men. Men were being used as the yardstick for evaluating women (Li 1). This meant that women were losing their womanhood and were being transformed to be like me. This was degrading to women. Women soldiers under political influence As already noted above, women gained from the recognition they received from the political sector during the socialist era. It has been noted that the Communist Party had the interest of liberating women way before it was in power. This desire started among the founders of the party before it was even formed. As time progressed, much development unfolded and led to including women in the movement of the party after it was formed. Women issues were discussed in the first, second and third congress of the party back in 1923 (Evans 1). When the communist Party ascended to power, it had a clear picture of the need to liberate women. This is because women liberation was an issue which had been discussed at length way from the very beginning of the formation of the party. However, Evans argues that women liberation and politics, especially party politics, have been mixed up in issues to do with the definition of some terms. It has further been argued that depending on a term picked, the definition and perspective of liberation would take a different course. It is noted that the term given to liberation of women could change in definition depending on the party priorities (Xie, Lily, and Barry 1). Conclusion To conclude this lecture, we must note that the study of Chinese women warriors is very important. This is because they have made an important contribution in history of China. They stood up against barbaric traditions and fought their way to freedom. They therefore made a great contribution to the progress of the reformation of China. Asian women warriors in general have also made great contribution to their speci fic homelands in ensuring women rights are uplifted. The studies of women warriors in general therefore help us to appreciate the vital role that women play in the society to ensure that all society members are treated equally. Evans, Harriet. â€Å"The Language of Liberation: Gender and Jiefang in early Chinese Communist Party.† Intersections: Gender, History and Culture in the Asian Context 1 (1998): 1. Print. Fulton, Jessica. Holding up Half the Heavens: The Effect of Communist Rule on China’s Women. Class Article, 2013. Print. Li, Yuhui. â€Å"Women’s Movement and Change of Women’s Status in China.† Bridge, 2013. Web. https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/ Wang, Zheng. Maoism, Feminism, and the UN Conference On Women: Womens Studies Research In Contemporary China. Journal of Womens History 8.4 (1997): 126. Print. Xie, Bingying, Lily C. Brissman, and Barry Brissman. A Woman Soldiers Own Story: The Autobiography of Xie Bingying. New York: Columbia Univers ity Press, 2001. Print. Xie, Jin. The Red Detachment of Women. Shanghai Tianma Film Studio production, 1961. Film.

Comparision between old and new Othello stories

Comparision between old and new Othello stories The Story That Started It AllWilliam Shakespeare based his play "Othello" on a story called "Hecatommithi" by Giraldi Cinthio's. This was a collection of a hundred tales that was printed in Italy in the sixteenth century. It is thought that Shakespeare read the original Italian version and got inspired to write his own. In writing his own version, Shakespeare kept most of the original ideas but also added some of his own twists.Giraldi, Giovanni Battista , 1504-73, Italian author, known also as Cinthio, Cintio, Cinzio, or Cyntius. He wrote tragedies, lyric verse, and tales. Some of the stories in his Hecatommithi [one hundred tales] (1565) were translated by Whetstone and other 16th-century English writers (Info Please).The plot of Shakespeare's "Othello" is largely taken from Giraldi Cinthio's "Hecatommithi", a tale of love, jealousy, and betrayal; however, the characters, themes, and attitudes of the works are vastly different, with Shakespeare's play being a more involved study of human nature and psychology.Illustration of Othello and IagoThere are, however, a few deviations from Shakespeare's source, one of which being the motivations of the Iago figure. Cinthio's Iago was driven to revenge when Desdemona refused to have an affair with him; Iago's motivations are not nearly so plain in Shakespeare's version. Shakespeare tired to get the point of jealousy across more then revenge. (Othello)The idea of Othello returning to the bestial state through the bare-handed murder of Desdemona is wholly Shakespeare's. In the main source for Othello, "Hecatommithi" the murder of Desdemona (or Disdemona as she is named in the story) is a stunningly violent act. In "Hecatommithi", Iago beats Disdemona with a stocking filled with sand, and then he and the Moor knock down the ceiling to break her skull. Cinthio makes no mention of Othello ever touching his wife. The only...

Development Economics and Planning PowerPoint Presentation

Development Economics and Planning - PowerPoint Presentation Example Infrastructure is very vital for any economy, and a key difference that exists between the developed economy and a less developed one is only the quality of infrastructure. Most of the infrastructural developments involve a lot of capital where a lot of money is spent to put the infrastructure in place (Hanak & Reed, 2009). Planning for any infrastructure projects ensures that there exists a common understanding between the providers of the services, the developers, the council and the communities depending on the needs for the local infrastructure, when and how they will be provided. Even though planning for infrastructure has for a long period of time been a major consideration, its significance and the importance to demonstrate deliverability has in recent years gained eminence (Great Britain, 2008). Linked to the development tenders, infrastructure planning process helps in ensuring that the population of Worth has the proper access to services and facilities they require. A new planning charge system was introduced in the year 2010 referred to us community infrastructure levy as one of the development processes that enables the local authorities especially in England and Wales to collect funds form the developers who undertakes the new building tasks in the area. The amount of money collected is used in funding a number of infrastructures that are required as a result of development (Glaeser, 2012). The community infrastructure charging authorities who have the authority to impose charges on the levy in England include the unitary authorities, metropolitan districts, mayor of London among other bodies (Levy, 2011). All this listed bodies prepare development plans for their specific areas, informed by the evaluation of the infrastructural requirements that calls for the levy collection. On the importance of this tariff based development process, the government decided to

Nuclear Energy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Nuclear Energy - Research Paper Example The most alarming factor concerning the rapid population growth around the world is their need to access to the resources which they use to make a living out of (Sovacool). Despite the growth and the increased demand on the natural resources by the increasing human population, these natural resources have not been appreciating in value but have been depreciating instead as the pressure is exerted on them due to increased human demands. Besides industrialization has been on the increase as well as many countries try to fight out for their survival within their niches with regard to the diminishing natural resources. The main driving force for economic development and the running of various industries around the globe is energy. This actually means that as the world’s industrial growth continues to expand, a lot of energy is required to run the industries as well as other sectors of economic productivity. It is however an amazing discovery made by the scientists concerning the p rovision of energy requirements for the increasing world populations with the diminishing trend in the natural resource endowments which is in contrary with the world population growth. This paper will look at the process of nuclear energy development around the globe and its implications for the global population. The aspect of increasing energy requirements and the need to plan adequately for the future generations with the diminishing natural resource base lead to the coining of the term sustainable development which cropped up during the earth summit in Rio De Jenairo in 1992 which aimed at striking a balance between the increasing human populations and the energy demands and call for the use of these natural resources in a sustainable manner (Wiberg). The summit, commonly known as the Rio Summit/the Rio declaration defined sustainable development as the type of development which caters for the needs of the present generations without compromising the ability of the future gener ations to meet their own needs. This therefore meant that the present generation had to use her energy and other natural resources in such a way that they wouldn’t compromise the ability of the future generations to use the same resources to meet their own needs. The declaration made several countries to decide otherwise with regard to their protection of the natural resources hence the development of the nuclear energy as an alternative form to supplement and help sustain the non- renewable forms of energy such as hydro- electric energy, wood energy as well as the petroleum energy which is currently in high demand and widely used in the industrial sector but which is diminishing at a very high rate since it is non- renewable. Nuclear energy as Wiberg notes is that type of energy which is obtained by splitting the nucleus of certain radioactive atoms such as uranium, a process referred to as nuclear fission or nuclear tracking (Wiberg). The increasing demands on the requireme nts in the world has led to the overuse of the carbon related energy such as petroleum and coal energy which have only increased the extent of carbon gas emission in the atmosphere. Carbonic gas, which is known as a common and the most dangerous greenhouse gas resulting from emissions emanating from the extensive use of fossil fuels such as petroleum and coal, has immensely contributed to extensive global warming