Case Study Essay - 2170 Words

Enron Corporation began as a small natural gas distributor and, over the course of 15 years, grew to become the seventh largest company in the United States. Soon after the federal deregulation of natural gas pipelines in 1985, Enron was born by the merging of Houston Natural Gas and InterNorth, a Nebraska pipeline company. Initially, Enron was merely involved in the distribution of gas, but it later became a market maker in facilitating the buying and selling of futures of natural gas, electricity, broadband, and other products. However, Enron’s continuous growth eventually came to an end as a complicated financial statement, fraud, and multiple scandals sent Enron through a downward spiral to bankruptcy. During the 1980s, several†¦show more content†¦Its method of evaluating employee performance was nicknamed rank and yank by Enron employees. Every 6 months, employees were ranked on a scale of 1–5. Those ranked in the lowest category (1) were immediately yanked (fired) from their position and replaced by new recruits. Surprisingly, during each employee review, management required that at least 15% of all the employees ranked were given a 1 and therefore yanked from their position and income. The employees ranked with a 2 or 3 were also given notice that they were liable to be released in the near future. These ruthless performance reviews created fierce internal competition between fellow employees who faced a strict ultimatum; perform or be replaced. Furthermore, it created a work environment where employees were unable to express opinions or valid concerns for fear of a low ranking score by their superiors. With so much pressure to succeed and maintain its position as the global energy market leader, Enron began to jeopardize its integrity by committing fraud. The SPEs, which originally were used for good business purposes, were now used illegally to hide bad investments, poorly performing assets, and debt; to manipulate cash flows; and eventually, to report more than $1 billion of false income. The following are examples of how specific SPEs were used fraudulently. Chewco: In 1993, Enron and the California Public Employees Retirement SystemShow MoreRelatedCase Studies : A Case Study Approach Essay1157 Words   |  5 PagesA case study is a specific instance that is frequently designed to illustrate a more general principle (Nisbet and Watt, 1984). Hitchock and Hughes (1995) further suggest that the case study approach is particularly valuable when the researcher has little control over evens. Case studies strives to portray ‘what it like’ to be a particular situation, to catch up reality and ‘thick description’ (Geertz, 1973) of participants’ lives experiences of, thoughts about and feelings for a situation. TheyRead MoreCase Study887 Words   |  4 PagesCHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1.1 Reasons choose the case 1.2 The Problems The problems of this case are: 1. How would you characterize Lincoln Electric’s strategy? In this context, what is the nature of Lincoln’s business and upon what bases does this company compete? 2. What are the most important elements of Lincoln’s overall approach to organization and control that help explain why this company is so successful? How well do Lincoln’s organization and control mechanismsRead MoreBusiness Case Study : Business Case Studies997 Words   |  4 PagesWriting Business Case Studies How to Write Business Case Studies The objective of this part of the course is to use your case study to help you solve real company problems and to make the learning more relevant to your experience. The Business Case Study you are being asked to start today will provide information for yourself and the class to permit constructive feedback. 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Jessica in Ther Merchant of Venice Free Essays

Jessica in The Merchant of Venice In The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare introduces his audience to the multi dimensional character of Jessica. Jessica is identified as the daughter of a Jewish Merchant but the audience learns she is much more than that. As the play moves along and Jessica marries a Christian man, Jessica’s identity as a Jewish woman is challenged. We will write a custom essay sample on Jessica in Ther Merchant of Venice or any similar topic only for you Order Now Although a minor character in the play, she is important because she makes the audience question what it means to be Jewish and therefore what it means to be Christian. The differences between Judaism and Christianity in the play are shown through Jessica’s relationships with Shylock and Lorenzo. The father daughter relationship that Jessica and Shylock share shows the audience values of Judaism. The two have a very rocky relationship through out the play and although it appears that Jessica is no more than a rebellious teenager, their relationships and interactions show the foundations of a Jewish family. Shylock shows the rigid rules of the Jewish religion through how he treats Jessica at their home. What the audience knows about Jessica and Shylock’s history is that Shylock locks up Jessica in their house and she is not allowed out. Jessica then undoubtedly has resentment towards her father when she says â€Å"Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil, / Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness† (2. 3. 1). It is clear to the audience that Shylock not only wants to lock up his daughter to the world he, also doesn’t want Jessica to experience Venetian society when he says â€Å"lock up the doors† so the sounds of music don’t drift in from the streets (2. 5. 5). It becomes very obvious that Jessica’s house is a strict, rule driven household that she does not appreciate or like. Jessica’s life under Shylock’s rules shows the rigidness of the Jewish religion that Jessica was brought up under. These instances, at the beginning of the play, show the audience what Jessica’s life as a Jew is like. It is not until we see Jessica’s transition into a Christian that we can see the differences between the two religions. Once Jessica runs away from home and marries Lorenzo, her life as a Jewish woman comes to an end. Through this transition of Jessica’s, we see outside opinions on Judaism and Christianity. When Jessica runs away from home to marry, a conversation is sparked between Lorenzo and his friend Gratiano. They have a conversation about why it is that Lorenzo loves Jessica. Lorenzo is trying to explain to Gratiano how Jessica does not fit the typical Jewish mold by saying â€Å"For she is wise, if I can judge of her/And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true/And true she is, as she hath proved herself†(2. 6. 53-55). From Lorenzo’s language when describing Jessica, it becomes clear that these Christians associate good traits such as fairness, intelligence, and truthfulness with being traits that most Jewish people do not possess. On the opposite end of the argument, the play has Shylock and his response to Jessica running away, getting married, and selling her mothers wedding ring. Shylock responds by saying â€Å"Out upon her! Thou torturest me, Tubal: it was my? turquoise; I had it of Leah when I was a bachelor: I would not have given it for a wilderness of monkeys. (3. 1. 14). Shylock is upset that his daughter would waste away her precious materials for something as foolish as a monkey. It is in this moment in the play that the audience see’s the new carefree lifestyle Jessica is living as a Christian when she denounces her mother’s ring. Shylock, who loves material possessions, is appalled by his daughter’s carless actions. The audience sees through Jessica’s transition from Jew to Christian and from the conversations sparked in characters from this action how the two different religious groups see each other. After her transition, Jessica’s relationship with her new husband also sparks different assumptions about religion. After Jessica marries Lorenzo, her life is literally transformed from a Jew to a Christian overnight. Through her final actions of the play, the audience can see how different her two worlds are. Her life with Lorenzo is one full of carefree fun and no material possessions. While her life with her father was one full of rules and restrictions. Once Jessica enters into this relationship with Lorenzo, the notion of what it means to be a Christian and what it means to be a Jew is questioned. Jessica’s two different lives represent the different stereotypes of the two religions. The Jewish people in this play are portrayed through Jessica and Shylock as being an old worldview of life. Shylock’s house is very strict, rule abiding, and oriented in hard work. While on the other hand, Lorenzo represents the New Testament, Christian view of the world where people are much more about living carefree and denouncing material possessions. When Jessica marries Lorenzo and becomes a Christian through marriage she also brings up another question about religion and what makes a person a Jew. Jessica is a Jew by birth but converts to Christianity through marriage. This brings about the question of is it birth or decision that makes a person a certain religion. Lancelot first brings this about when he claims that Jessica is damned because she was born Jewish in that he is referring to the fact that there is nothing she can do to undo being Jewish. The audience also sees many lines where the image of blood is brought up. Shylock refers to his daughter as â€Å"my own flesh and blood† (3. 1. 32) and Jessica states, â€Å"I am a daughter to his blood† (2. 3. 18). This image of blood that Jessica and Shylock share bonds them together and parallels the idea that Judaism runs in the blood, therefore is determined at birth. Although Lancelot seems to believe that Judaism runs in the blood, Jessica believes that she can overturn this by marrying Lorenzo. She states, â€Å"I shall be saved by my husband/He hath made me a Christian† (3. 5. 3). To her, Judaism is out of her because her husband, Lancelot, made her into a Christian through marriage. Here we see two differences in what the characters of the play believe makes a person Jewish. Lancelot believes Jessica is Jewish by birth, and Jessica believes that marrying Lorenzo can make her into a Christian. The character Jessica is important in The Merchant of Venice because of the questions she brings up about religion. Her relationship with her father shows her life as a Jew while her marriage to Lorenzo shows her conversion into a Christian. These two worlds of Jessica play off of each other and through them the audience is able to see the differences between Judaism and Christianity. Through Jessica’s transition from Jew to Christian, the audience is able to see the large differences between the Jewish and Christian characters in The Merchant of Venice. Works Cited Evans, G. , ed. The Riverside Shakespeare. 6th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1974. How to cite Jessica in Ther Merchant of Venice, Essay examples

Corporate Social Responsibility Practices †Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: What Is The Corporate Social Responsibility Practices? Answer: Introduction 'Corporate social responsibility strengthens corporate reputation and performance This essay is based on the importance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the business operations. From many years, CSR is the important part of the business activities. There are many companies which are dedicated towards such activities. Such kinds of activities create values for the shareholders in the company as well as focuses on the various groups of stakeholders. Along with this, by the CSR activities, those companies are able to improve their value in the market (Arora Rana, 2010). By various researches, CSR activities are positively related to the companys value and the performance of the company. The relation between the CSR practices and the companys value is quite uncertain and unclear. It might be because there is the lack of understanding related to the channels by which the CSR practices affect the value of the company. There are many theoretical models which assume that there is the direct connection between the companys value and CSR activities. The aim of t his essay is to explore the relationship of companys value and its performance with the CSR in the company. The value of the company is based on the ability of the CSR activities to influence the group of stakeholders in the company (Bird, Moment Reggiani, 2012). CSR and companys value Defining CSR- Before providing the detail of CSR activities in any business, it is important to understand the concept of CSR in the company. Baron (2001) stated that corporate social responsibility is an incompletely defined concept. A broad definition of CSR is given by World Business Council for Sustainable Development i.e. CSR is the kind of promise of a company to contribute for the ecological development, working with the people, and the local society to improve the quality of life (Bird et al, 2007). The definition depicts the accountability of any company towards the environment, treatment of the employees, the society and the human rights. Basically, CSR is concerned about the various groups of stakeholders. CSR is the important factor which ensures the growth of a company in terms of sustainability which is the basic concept of growth. CSR is the commitment of the companies including the external citizen of the community, stakeholders, legal agreements and regulations (Groening Kanuri, 2013). It includes the legal, ethnic, economic and environmental management by the company. CSR is the essential concept which makes sure that the companies must be responsible for the impact of stakeholders which is the obligation from the company. Under CSR activities, the companies should do their work with justice, accountability and the efforts to develop and improve the quality of the lives of the staff as well as the society (Cordeiro Tewari, 2014). A study done by Larsen (2001) stated that consumers are always interested in the companies having environmental protection activities, CSR and ethics in the business operations. There are four responsible dimensions in the CSR practices i.e. legal, ethical, economic and philanthropic responsibility. There are two different views regarding CSR i.e. classical view and stakeholder view. In the classical view, the CSR activities are based on the neoclassical economic theory which includes economic profit making terms and focuses on the profit maximization of the stakeholders. On the other hand, stakeholder view is based on the stakeholder theory including social responsibility of the company which is required to understand the interests of all the stakeholders by the actions. So, it is understood that CSR is the effective practice for the companies to improve their value and the performance in the operating market as the customers always consider those companies which exercise CSR practices for the welfare of the society. Role of CSR in enhancing corporate reputation Based on past and recent researches, it is clear that corporate reputation is the base of getting competitive advantage in the market and this is the strategic success factor for the company. Reputation cannot be defined easily as it is based on various factors i.e. stakeholders views, expectations from the companys performance and intension. Having good reputation in the market is essential for the growth of the company. Corporate reputation is one of the most valued assets and it has importance in the growth of the company and its performance (Jacobs, Singhal Subramanian, 2010). Corporate reputation and the financial performance of the company have direct relation with each other. There are various studies which have confirmed that improved brand and corporate reputation is one of the most important motivations in the CSR practices. According to Wang (2003), business reputation plays an important role in terms of strategic marketing and the markets because service quality is important factor to attract the customers. Corporate status can influence the behaviors of the employees in the company. So, reputation can be described as the important feature of the company which differentiate one company form another in the operating market. A strong and positive corporate reputation is the important competitive advantage in terms of product differentiation. The reputation of the company is one of the most crucial aspects which are associated with the CSR practices. The consumers, suppliers and the society generally want to stay connected with the CSR practices in the company. The high level of motivation and the stakeholder concerns provide the outcome of good citizenship. The overall effect of CSR practices is based on the corporate social performance which impacts the reputation of the company in the society. Connecting the corporate reputation with the CSR practices, many researchers have realized that the companies are able to improve the brand and corporate image in the society which are the important parts of the corporate reputation. Along with this, having good brand name, companies are able to support social causes by the ethical business practices. By focusing on the stakeholders impact, companies can also improve the reputation in the society. Basically, the reputation and the success of the company depend upon demand of the stakeholders and meeting their expectations in the business. So, according to Donaldson and Preston (1995), CSR is the essential for building and enhancing the reputation of the firm. For instance, Barmer and Prevelin (2006) stated that having positive reputation, a company can make the stakeholders in the CSR practices. To get higher profit and to survive in the market for long-term basis, company should have higher reputation in the market. CSR is the most essential component of the reputation which builds up trust and goodwill among the group of stakeholders. Having good corporate policy in terms of environmental sustainability, a company is able to attract the stakeholders in the business. The initiatives of the company towards environmental protection are not accountable for the society but also improve the performance of the company by an improved image. The ecologically appealing actions by the company i.e. reduced emissions can be able to enhance the image of the company and attract the customers. So, it is clear that company is able to enhance its image and reputation by adopting environmental friendly activities or focusing on costly environmental practices in the business operations. Role of CSR in companys performance The various researches have mentioned that there is the positive relationship between companys performance and CSR activities. Many studies provide support to the existence of CSR practices in the business. The concept of CSR practice is not new in the companies. Most of the developed countries are aware about the CSR issues and they are concerned about that. The studies found that there is the positive relationship between the CSR and the companys performance. Having social responsibility, some companies have better results in terms of business performance. Companies can get better social responsibility by identifying and resolving the social issues which are closely related to the company. By focusing on the ethical responsibility, the company is able to get a better level of business performance. Social responsibility adopted by the companies can be described as the opportunity to gain good results in the business operations so; the companies have to implement all those activities which are in the welfare of the society. If an organization wants to adopt the practices related to social responsibility, then the organization will not only work for its employees, workers, clients, suppliers and society but also provide benefit to the environment surrounding to the organization (Amini Bienstock, 2014). There are two major theories which have supported the relationship between the performance and corporate social responsibility. Those theories are stakeholder theory and social exchange theory. Stakeholder theory provides the relationship of CSR practices with the relevant stakeholders such as employees, customers, shareholders and wealth maximization of the shareholders. According to Gherghina (2015), the instrumental stakeholder theory argued that there is the positive relationship between the value of the company and corporate social responsibility. Having ability of the company to be involved in the corporate social responsibilities, company is able to make the society to view the company in terms of good image and good reputation. Along with this, the theory explains that shareholders are connected with the company based on the returns provided by the company (Kansal Joshi, 2014). Thus, the stakeholder theory connects the shareholders and the society with the corporate performa nce. Further, the social exchange theory describes that the people in the society purchases from the companies and the companies can provide the values by engaging in the CSR activities and programs. So, the theories on the CSR practices explain the relationship between the CSR practices with the companys value and performance in the society. Thus, the engagement of the company in the corporate social responsibility has positively affects the value and performance of the company. Further, the CSR practices are also affects the financial performance of the company among the customers (Aras, Aybars Kutlu, 2010). It is the fact that the companies are the essential part of the society and the business activities of the company always impact the social and environmental groups within the specific community. By the CSR practices, companies are able to prevent the society form the harmful problems (Orlitzky, 2013). By the commitments, companies are able to solve the social and environmental problems to improve the quality of the life of the society. Because of these reasons, the companies having socially responsible behavior are acceptable everywhere in the society and they are able to improve their efficiency among the customers. From the many researches, it is observed that the companies which are generating the biggest profit in the business are more accountable and liable towards society and have greater value and improved performance in the society (Flammer, 2015). Conclusion The objective of this essay is to explore the importance of the CSR practices in the business to improve the performance as well as companys value in the society. Form the above analysis; it is observed that CSR is the important factor which ensures the growth of a company in terms of sustainability which is the basic concept of growth. It is understood that CSR is the essential concept which makes sure that the companies must be responsible for the impact of stakeholders which is the obligation from the company. CSR is becoming mandatory for the companies. Along with this, CSR is also important factor for enhancing the value of the company in the community as having good brand name; companies are able to support social causes by the ethical business practices. The reputation and the success of the company depend upon demand of the stakeholders and meeting their expectations in the business so many researchers have argued that to get higher profit and to survive in the market for lon g-term basis; company should have higher reputation in the market. Further, it is analyzed that, there is the positive relationship between the companys performance, value and the CSR practices as the customers always consider those companies which have socially responsible behavior. Thus, by CSR actions, companies are able to improve the brand and corporate image in the society which are the important parts of the corporate reputation. There are two theories which have provided in the support in the relationship of the CSR and the firms performance. So, in conclusion it can be said that having the CSR practices, companies are able to prevent the society form the harmful problems. References Aras, G., Aybars, A. Kutlu, O. (2010). Managing corporate performance: investigating the relationship between corporate social responsibility and financial performance in emerging markets: International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management. 59(3). pp.229254 Arora, D. Rana, A.G., (2010). Corporate and consumer social responsibility: a way for value based system: Aims International Conference on Value-Based Management Bird, R., Hall, D.A., Moment, F. Reggiani, F., (2007). What corporate social responsibility activities are valued by the market: Journal of Business Ethics. 76Bird, R., Moment, F. Reggiani, F., (2012). The market acceptance of corporate social responsibility: a comparison across six countries/regions: Australian Journal of Management. 37(2). pp.153168 Cordeiro, J.J. Tewari, M., (2014). Firm characteristics, industry context, and investor reactions to environmental CSR: a stakeholder theory approach: Journal of Business Ethics. 130(4), pp.833849 Flammer, C. (2015). Does corporate social responsibility lead to superior financial performance? A regression discontinuity approach: Management Science. 61(11). pp.25492568 Groening, C. Kanuri, V.K., (2013). Investor reaction to positive and negative corporate social events: Journal of Business Research. 66(10). pp.18521860 Jacobs, B.W., Singhal, V.R. Subramanian, R. (2010). An empirical investigation of environmental performance and the market value of the firm: Journal of Operations Management. 28(5). pp.430441 Kansal, M. Joshi, M. (2014). Perceptions of investors and stockbrokers on corporate social responsibility: a stakeholder perspective from India: Knowledge and Process Management. 21(3). pp.167176 Orlitzky, M. (2013). Corporate social responsibility, noise, and stock market volatility: Academy of Management Perspectives. Vol. 27(3). pp.238254 Amini, M. Bienstock C.C. (2014). Corporate sustainability: an integrative definition and framework to evaluate corporate practice and guide academic research: Journal of Cleaner Production. 76(1)

Microsoft vs. Apple

Introduction Apple incorporation is an international company that deals in electronic gadgets, computer software and hardware. Its operations began on 1ST April 1976 through the efforts of Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak as the founders. Apple incorporation mainly specializes in the manufacture of iPhone, iPod, Macintosh computers and iPad which is the latest computer technology. It is currently the world’s largest technology company and the second largest in the world after Exxon Mobil.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Microsoft vs. Apple specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Microsoft is a corporation based in America that deals in developing of a vast collection of computer software and licenses. Bill Gates founded it in the year 1975 together with his friend Paul Allen. Its growth was mainly achieved from the famous windows operating systems and their tricky business licensing rights as seen in the MS-DOS. Micr osoft is also well known for its most preferred office suite in the world that is commonly used for instance the Microsoft office 2003, 2007, 2010 that are common in the computer market (Coursey, 2009, p.1). Differences Since both deal in the development of operating system a distinction is made in the release and their uses. For instance when Microsoft is producing operating systems they produce one operating system but with several versions of the same. This is seen in windows xp where we have service pack one, two and three or in windows vista home basic, business and ultimate. They produce them in such a way that it’s the same only a few features have been improved or upgraded. Contrary Apple releases are final such that only one operating system with no upgrades. They also ensure that their operating systems give their customers maximum satisfaction. Apple specializes in both hardware and software production in that it manufactures the computer itself and the operating s ystem. The Apple operating systems only function on Mac computers which are produced and distributed by Apple incorporation (Coursey, 2009, p.1). Their operating systems do not function well on other non-Apple computers. Unlike Apple, Microsoft only deals in software production and distribution. They do not produce computers and thereby the sell their software to computer manufacturers such as dell, Hewlett-Packard, Toshiba, Lenovo among others. The computer manufacturers then sell their computer brands with Microsoft operating systems installed.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Microsoft operating systems are compatible with almost all computers. This implies that Microsoft operating system can run on any computer in the world today except the Mac. Unlike Microsoft that runs on many computer brands, Apple operating system and software are only meant for Mac computers only. T his means that apple products are exclusively meant for Mac computers only. Similarities Both Apple and Microsoft corporations are worldwide companies that deal in the development and distribution of computer software and operating system. The most recent Microsoft operating systems include windows seven, vista and server among others while Apple’s most recent is the Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard (Bleeker, 2010, p.1). The two companies provide software that help in the running of a computers and other electronic gadgets. The two just like any other businesses have their goals and objectives. These include making profits and satisfying their customers’ wants and needs. They have to make sure they stay in business and it is through this that they have come up with a licensing program. The license helps to prevent imitation of their products and that is why genuine products from both companies have serial numbers or product keys. Conclusion In a nutshell Microsoft and Apple Corporation both deal with software and hardware development and distribution. They mainly aim at providing solutions brought about by the desires and wants of their customers. Their products have become part of our lives that we cannot do without due to their application in the daily lives today. Reference List Bleeker, E. (2010). Apple vs. Microsoft: Who Owns the Future? Retrieved from https://www.fool.com/investing/general/2010/06/04/apple-versus-microsoft-who-owns-the-future.aspx Coursey, D. (2009). Microsoft vs. Apple: Running stupid, Not Scared. Retrieved from https://www.pcworld.com/article/168603/Microsoft_vs_Apple_Running_Stupid_Not_Scared.html This essay on Microsoft vs. Apple was written and submitted by user N1k0las to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Mexico Essays (901 words) - Mexico, Aztec, Mexican Art, Mexicans

Mexico Essays (901 words) - Mexico, Aztec, Mexican Art, Mexicans Mexico Mexico is our neighbor to the south. The United States was once part of Mexico. The country is a place for tourism and vacations for us. For the Mexicans, its home. They live different lives then us. Near the year 7000 B.C., Indians learned to grow plants for food. In time they were able to settle in villages. Those villages grew into towns. During the years 250 to 900 A.D. , the Indians lived in the Classic Period in Mexican history. During the time, the Mayas built huge pyramids and temples. They developed Mathematics and studied astronomy. The Zapotecas flattened a mountain top and built a temple. They also wrote the first written records in the region. The Aztecs built the greatest civilization in the years 1400. They had a capital named Tenochtitlan. Tenochtitlan is now Mexico City. The Aztecs had a powerful emperor named Montezuma II. In February 1519, a Spaniard named Hernando Cortes founded the city Veracruz for Spain. He then marched towards Tenochtitlan and seized Montezuma. The Aztecs revolted and forced the Spaniards out of Tenochtitlan. Two years later, Cortes returned to the city and conquered Tenochtitlan. Cuauhtemoc, the last Aztec emperor, was tortured. He is now a Mexican hero. Spain now owned Mexico. For less then 300 years Mexico was a Spanish colony. That is why the language of Mexico is Spanish. The Indians were forced to accept the Roman Catholic religion. They Indians mixed the Roman Catholic religion with their own religion. In 1810, a man named Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla , a priest, started a fight for the independence of Mexico. He had many Indians and Mestizos who fought against Spain for him. The Spanish king taxed the people of Mexico for their revolt. Most of the people did not want independence. The Mexicans later won their independence when there were more Mexican fighters then Spanish. In 1821, Mexico became independent. In 1824, Mexico became a republic. In the year 1846-1848, Mexico had a war with The United States. The Americans fought the war because they wanted Mexican land. The Americans won the war and took control of States like California and Texas. In 1917, Mexico adopted a Constitution. In the years 1942-1945 Mexico entered World War II for the Allied Powers. In 1953, women won the right to vote. In 1968, the Summer Olympics were in Mexico City. In 1985, an earthquake in Mexico City killed thousands of Mexicans. One of the most famous Mexican writers was Octavio Paz. He was a poet. In 1990 he became the first Mexican to win a Nobel Prize in literature. He also wrote many political essays about Mexico. Many of his works have been translated into English and are popular among many people. His most famous piece of writing was El Larerinto De La Soledad. A famous Mexican painter was Diego Rivera. He is well known for the murals he painted in Mexico City. His murals were related to Mexican History. He also did murals in the United States, which were about the life of an American. Other painters who painted murals in Mexico were Jose Orozco and David Siqueiros. The Architecture in Mexico City is very artistic because it is full of murals and old ancient ruins. The city is a work of art to many people. It is one of the Art Capitals of the world. Mexican music is very unique. Some instruments used in Mexican music are flutes, marimbas, and guitars. The music is called Folk Dance. La Bamba is a folk dance song, which was made into a rock song by Richie Valens. Many songs of folk dance are performed in the streets of Mexico City and other places. Songs of folk dance are played fast. The dances are very fast too. The most popular sport in Mexico is Soccer. Mexico has a World Cup soccer team that did very good at the 1998 World Cup in France. Jorge Campos is the most popular Mexican player in Mexico. He is the goalie for the World Cup team. He is one of the best goalies in the world. Another popular sport is baseball. Every year there is 1 American Major League baseball game played in Mexico City. Many people go to this game. Mexico

A SWOT Analysis of Nike, Inc.

A SWOT Analysis of Nike, Inc. Internal: Strengths The first strength of Nike as a company is that is outsources all aspects of its production to overseas facilities. This is a strength as the company saves money on the labor costs and the helps the company focus on design and research with the additional capital they save. The next strength is that Nike is a globally recognized brand that has strong customer loyalty. Along with this, Nike has a reputation for quality and endurance which makes it the brand of choice for athletes and fitness fanatics. Another strength of Nike is that it is an extremely competitive company with a catchy slogan that summarizes the ideology of the company. â€Å"Just Do It† is globally known and contributes as to why Nike is one of the few dominating companies in the market. Weaknesses The first weakness of Nike as a company is it perceived by some people as too premium and expensive. This is a weakness as a lot of people are migrating to lower prices athletic wear which is primarily focused on quality. The next weakness is that Nike does its business through retailers who sell other competing brands. This kills the exclusivity of the brand as it is often competing against hundreds of other brands who beat Nike in some aspects including price or quality. As mentioned previously, Nike outsources all of its manufacturing to save money. A lot of companies who outsource overseas are faced with negative publicity due to the bad image of â€Å"Sweatshops†. This could turn people off shopping at Nike due to unfriendly conditions that are associated with sweatshops. Opportunities One of the biggest opportunities for Nike is the emerging markets in regards to athletes and sports teams. A lot of people purchase their favorite teams regardless of the brand. If Nike strategically gets access to the biggest sports teams their sale would increase. If Nike continues to diversify into new markets other than footwear they can begin to dominate different markets such as sporting accessories. Nike has the advantage of compromising price to attract new customers. They already have a loyal customer following so they already have large profit margins. If they take the chance of lowering prices they could increase revenue from new customers. Threats The main threat to Nike is competitors such as Adidas, Puma and Under-Armor. Companies in the same market as Nike are continuously growing, putting pressure on Nike as a company that needs to continue to grow. The price of competitors is a big threat to Nike. Consumers today are more price cautions and will often opt for the cheaper products. As Nike uses overseas outlets to manufacture there is a constant threat that they will be exposed for poor trade practices. If they are exposed it would damage the company’s image and consumers might want to purchase from other suppliers.  · Where do our internal strengths match with external opportunities? This represents the best fit between the companys resources and the options available in the external environment. Nike’s internal strengths matches their external opportunities in the sense that Nike is a globally recognized company that has strong customer loyalty. An external opportunity that Nike could take advantage is lowering their price to attract new customers. As of one Nike’s strengths is strong brand recognition, it makes Nike a desirable brand especially if the prices are lowered. There is a possibility that the increase of new customers could increase profit and get more life-long customers.  · Where do our internal weaknesses match up with external opportunities? What opportunities are we not able to capture? The first weakness of Nike that matches up with external opportunities is that Nike is viewed as a premium brand that is too expensive for some consumers to purchase. The opportunity that this matches up to is the chance Nike has to lower its prices and attract new customers. The reason as to why it is difficult for Nike to capture this opportunity is because Nike carries a certain prestige that they don’t want tainted with cheap prices of their merchandise. If everyone can afford to wear Nike the prestige element wouldn’t have as much of an effect and it could possibly lose customers.  · Where do our internal strengths match up with external threats? What resources do we have that might turn a threat into an opportunity? The internal strengths that match up with the external threats in Nike is the face that Nike outsources all of its production to overseas facilities to save money on the cost of production. The matches with the external threats as the conditions of these overseas facilities leave much to be desired. If a report of these conditions were to ever appear it could severely damage Nike’s reputation. The pressure of other companies such as Adidas and Puma could become an opportunity for Nike to continuously grow and slow down in a very competitive market.  · Where do our internal weaknesses match the external threats in the environment? These are the worst possible scenarios for an organization. The internal weaknesses that match the external threats is the fact that Nike do most of its business through retailers. This is a threat as many consumers can compare prices of Nike to other competitors in a retail store. This could introduce consumers to cheaper prices of rival brands.

Critically reflect on the nature of management practice and the role Essay

Critically reflect on the nature of management practice and the role theory plays, if at all, on management practice - Essay Example An organization is a very intrinsic system, and to make the system to remain sustain a considerable amount of flexibility is required (Dawson, 2009, p.13). This kind of organizational flexibility is given by the heterarchy organizational structure where the flow of information is not constrained. On the other hand a hierarchical organizational structure is one where every organizational entity excluding one is the subordinate of the other entity. It is not a flattened structure and has a centralized power of control. In this kind of structure the power is on the top level and it diminishes at the subsequent levels (Allee, 2002, pp.78-79). The hierarchical organizational structure is seen almost in every big company where there exist different levels of power of authority and management. But in today’s scenario of adaptation to more of flexible structures heterarchy organizational structure is the best mode for system formulation. Though it has not been seen as a very regular m easure in many organizations but those corporations who has such a flattened structure is more flexible and provides better scope for development. Thus according to me both the structures has its pros and cons but heterarchy organizational structure is the best structure to be adapted. Heterachy organizational structure is a lateral coordination of organizational diversity. It has been characterized as a distributed intelligence that is negotiable at multiple evaluative criteria. From the past two centuries hierarchical organizational structure has been the dominant model. In the early 19th century the traditional approach in the organizational system was more prominent. The bureaucratic traditional approach emphasized more on the rational control. This control was exercised through formalized communication in order to avoid misuse of power. Scientific management gained more efficiency in

Marketing Planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Marketing Planning - Essay Example The Marketing Planning is also defined as the process that motivates the marketing personnel to look internally in order to fully understand the results of past marketing decisions and to look externally in order to fully understand the market in which they operate. It also sets future goals and provides direction for future marketing efforts that everyone within the organization should understand and support. It is a key component in obtaining funding to pursue new initiatives. SBU stands for Strategic Business Unit. It is one of the crucial component in marketing planning. SBU is understood as a business unit with in the overall corporate identity which is identifiable from other business because it serves a defined external market where management can conduct strategic planning in relation to products and markets. When companies become really large, they are best thought of as being composed of a number of SBUs. A SBU is a unit of the company that has a separate mission and objectives and that can be planned independently from the other businesses. An SBU can be a company division, a product line or even individual brands and it all depends on how the company is organized. An independent grouping of organizations, products or technologies within a parent organization, with complete resource and profit responsibility for serving an identified markets (FN1). These organizational entities are large enough and homogeneous enough to exercise control over most strategic factors affecting their performance. They are managed as self contained planning units for which separate business strategies can be developed. A Strategic Business Unit can encompass an entire company, or can simply be a smaller part of a company set up to perform a specific task. The SBU has its own business strategy, objectives and competitors and these will be different from those of the parent company. The marketing planning is a dynamic process which has to be highly

Innovator of the Modern Art Essay Example for Free

Innovator of the Modern Art Essay Jackson became one of the trendsetters of the modern art movement. His technique, materials and perception of art distinguished him from other equally talented 20th century artists. The artworks that he produced represented his enigmatic character. Though many were amused with his painting, there were also those who questioned his artistic talents and knowledge. But he did not let these criticisms compromise his distinct creativity. Pollock was categorized as an Abstract Expressionist artist primarily because of his infamous drip paintings including the â€Å"Convergence†. These drip paintings were painted on a large canvas on the floor. According to Pollock, painting on the floor made him feel closer to his painting. He was able to work on the different angles of the canvass by walking around it. This unusual technique was considered by Pollock as a way of being a part of the painting not just the typical creator of it. The act of letting the the paint drip into the canvass generated prolonged and continuous lines in which the paintings were dominated by white and black and sometimes there were hints of exciting bold colors. In addition, the drips of the paint were able to create a three dimensional effect making it tactile and visually appealing. With regards to the choice of materials, Pollock utilized uncommon paints and brushes. His paints were industrial and household paints that he described as the â€Å"natural growth out of a need † (Boddy-Evans, 2008, What Paint Did Pollock Use? ). Meanwhile, the brushes were deteriorated and hard to let the paint naturally drip down the canvas. Pollock explained his painting method as â€Å"new needs need new techniques† meaning the modern age requires new approaches to reflect its real essence (Boddy-Evans, 2008, What Paint Did Pollock Use? ). References Boddy-Evans, M. ( 2008). What Paint Did Pollock Use?. About Inc. Retrieved March 26, 2008, from http://painting. about. com/od/colourtheory/a/Pollock_paint. htm.

Corporal Punishment :: essays research papers

"The fundamental need of American education is to find ways of engaging today's children in the thrill of learning. Fear of pain has no place in that process." - The Christian Science Monitor. Because Ms. Peà ±a and I are in compliance with this statement, we have decided to bring to the attention of the community, the corporal punishment of Sinton High School. There are many effective ways of properly punishing a disobedient student, but there are also limits to certain disciplinary measures. Grant it that a student from Sinton High School may now choose their own punishment, with consent from the parents, it is up to the administrator to keep in compliance, and with in the limits. Bruises, cuts, and/or broken skin should not occur in the process of administering corporal punishment. The eight constitutional amendment clearly states that â€Å"no cruel or unusual punishment should be inflicted.† If markings are found on a student, the boundaries and law have been broken. Rupturing these boundaries surfaces the question, â€Å"Just exactly WHY are we administering the corporal punishment to students, to hurt them?† "...the use of corporal punishment in schools is intrinsically related to child maltreatment. It contributes to a climate of violence, it implies that society approves of the physical violation of children, it establishes an unhealthy norm...Its outright abolition throughout the nation must occur immediately." - U.S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect. It has been made known to the students of Sinton High School, and now to the parents and community, that the administrators of the corporal punishment, Mr. Mike Burger, and Ms. Linda Harrison, have left numerous marks on students through corporal punishment. Many of the marks have lasted at least a week and many up to two. Physical child abuse is defined and characterized by inflicting physical injury by several means, and result in bruises and many other markings. Although the injury is not an accident the person may have not intended to hurt the child. The injury may have resulted from over-discipline or physical punishment. Dennis Randall of www.familyeducation.com once stated, in relation to the corporal punishment he received, â€Å"When I think back, I can’t remember why I was punished, and the only thing it taught me, was to loathe that teacher.† How can we teach children that violence is such a horrible thing when if, for say, they do something violent, they will get punished with violence.

A Short History on Modern Philosophy Paper

The existence of the self lends to the existence of God because of truths covered through inner experiences of being and thinking, which may have influenced Descartes' truth in Cogitator Ergo Sum. Bioethics (c. 475-526 AD), a former senator and top-level assistant turned persona non grata, developed proof of the problem of divine foreknowledge as the concern that human freedom doesn't truly exist due to God's foreknowledge through His prophetic revelations in the Bible. His knowledge that events will happen cannot be changed-?which means that He can never be wrong: the outcome is guaranteed-?man has no will to follow but His.Bioethics eventually come to solution: God is eternal (the simultaneous and complete possession of life) and thus cannot have knowledge of the future because He has no concept of time. He can experience every moment at once instead of in intervals due to his status as ultimate reality. Taking away free will as been labeled as simple necessity of nature (the morta lity of man), whereas keeping as a result of a relationship is conditional (bayou are seen walking, then you must be walking). SST.Ansell of Canterbury (1033-1109) was an infamous follower of Augustine work who believed that philosophy rationally justified religious levels through necessary reasons (logically true proportions and valid inferences). He proves God's existence in understanding and reality as an absolute truth: the idea of God in fact defines what it is to be the great conceivable being, which can only exist in reality. Being the greatest conceivable being is to be made up of all of the characteristics that would produce greatness.Being only the greatest in understanding would mean He would be less than great-?which is impossible. Peter Ballard (1079-1142), a prominent French noble and student of scholasticism (the dialectical method of learning), solved the problem of universals (how two different individual subjects be similar) through immanent realism (the essential substance of each individual is present within all of them), despite his own criticisms. Several kinds of things or categories can be labeled as the same when they are in fact merely similar (different); in order to even register what something is, you have to know its universal.However, Aristotle solution was contradictory to empiricism in that essential substance cannot be derived from the five senses, and so open for criticism. There can be no universality in individual things such as a unman and a beast, as this universality cannot be predicted and is therefore both rational and irrational, so he presents nominal as an alternative to imminent realism: what makes different individuals the same is nothing but a name-?there is only a similarity in terms, not the individuals themselves.Oversee (1 126-1198), a pseudonym for the Arabic philosopher Bin Rushed, was most infamous for his commentary of the works of Aristotle despite his works having been forgotten in the West. He resisted the theologian interpretation of the Koran-?the universe was derived was a specific point in he past -and instead advocated for the traditional view that God and the world have coexisted for an eternity, which closes the gap between the physical and metaphysical.A pure form, or nature, is required to uphold the endlessness of matter, motion, and time; as such, He is an Intelligence-?active and necessary in existence -?and as a nature, this lends to His divine and eternal knowledge as proven by Bioethics. This divine knowledge is the cause of all things, as God caused the formation of the universe that has existed since his beginning. TO deny causes is to deny Him, ND neither can be denied unless with the intention to let absurdities prosper and established principles refuted.Moodiness (1 135-1204), a Spanish Jew whose family chose exile over conversion, is known for founding agnosticism (indecisiveness or ignorance over the truth). He uses the following analogy to prove that rules that currently apply to the time have always done so: conception is to a human being as creation is to the universe; rules that currently apply to human beings may not apply at conception; rules that apply to the universe now may not apply at creation. Nothing can come from nothing because something can't just simply come into existence without an origin; however, the creation model says that God created the world from nothing.Moodiness counters that just because nothing can no longer come from nothing, that doesn't mean that creation couldn't have come from nothing eons ago. SST. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) was an Italian noble who sought to reconcile the Bible with Aristotle metaphysics through his own fifth empiricist truth: God's knowledge can imply reason for an individual to perform a function successfully, as he has already been endowed with a pacific form of causal efficiency.He expands on the second answer of the Typhoon question (whether or not morality is derived from His commands, or if they are concurrent) and so develops his natural theory that the world is congruent to our moral code. Supported by Aristotle doctrine of four causes (who, what, why, and how), the acts of doing good (natural inclination) and avoiding evil are a priori that support his view on ethics. Acting on natural inclinations is guided by reason as an individual's function to perform and should not be ignored.

Puritan Influence on American Culture Essay

Write an essay in which you evaluate the influence of Puritan values on the development of American culture. Use specific examples of Puritan ideas, traditions, and institutions, and discuss how these were affected by the end of the first century of American colonial development. (Be sure to rely heavily on Morgan’s The Puritan Family, as well as lecture, text and primary sources, for material and examples. ) Cultures often rely on past beliefs to shape their values or way of life. Puritans had a great impact on American society today. Their primary focus was on that of religion and how it guided their lives in aspects such as relationships, social order, and education. They did not accept many who fell outside of these standards and I think that today, many are marginalized if they do not conform to the common beliefs. Many people today use the Ten Commandments as an outline of how to live and what to believe which shows that religion is still an important aspect of lives in America. Although their ideas have been manipulated over the years, they provided a strong basis for American Culture. The husband and wife relationship is an area that has evolved its basic ideas from the Puritan lifestyle. A pastor or magistrate was not allowed to perform a marriage unless it was already â€Å"published† by the law which is similar to a marriage certificate today. It is a legal union as well as a religious one. After the ceremony was a feast to celebrate which is still common nowadays. A difference is in that they forbid dancing and other extensive â€Å"fun† activities. This is where some of our laws originated from, such as anti-smoking or censorship laws. Domestic abuse was forbidden in Puritan marriages and this was also taken as far as punishment for speaking ill words of one another. Their idea of marriage was that a relationship was based on companionship and this remains a main reason couples get married. They also believed in a subordination of the women which has been challenges but there are some areas where it is still seen in society. The Puritan’s education was closely related to religion which is not the case in American culture however there are similarities in the importance of education. They believed that the education of children would lead to salvation therefore it was of high importance for young children to be educated. Both Puritans and today’s society believe that the importance of education is so that advancement is possible to bring wealth. Their entire system of order and belief relied on this, â€Å"Every Grace enters into the soul through Understanding† (Morgan, 1944). Therefore education and religion went hand in hand. This is not as common today with the separation of church and state. There are some separate school systems that are closely associated with religion however it is not the norm.

buy custom Literary Analysis of The Great Gatsby

buy custom Literary Analysis of The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby Literary Analysis Introduction The essential story of F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby seems simple enough. Meanwhile, when asked exactly why readers enjoy the novel and what makes it work, they usually realize that it is a very complex book that means much more than it seems at the first glance. *The novel has a perfect unity of effect: every image, character, symbol, and turn of the plot contributes to the theme and to the feeling a reader carries away from reading it. The major themes of the novel include class and status in society, true feelings, loyalty and the American Dream. However, exactly the theme of the loss of morality in America of that time, when the true values were replaced by the false ones, occurs throughout the novel and provokes much thinking. The author shows how poor morality has turned the American Dream, one of the finest fruits of the Western culture, into the dead materialism. Additionally, Gatsbys life and death show that if the values are false, they will finally destroy individu als no matter how innocently and wholeheartedly they pursue their goal.

Business Failure Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Business Failure - Research Paper Example The company was among the first to try out the Web 2.0 approach for dealing with this problem (Bruene, 2010). It started off on the right track since it had the appropriate technology thus was flexible in contracting negotiations. They had state-of-the art user interfaces that allowed the company to carry out efficient transactions. It featured in a public API and it had a well established database (Bruene, 2010). It had a strong brand image at the start and never used commissions from financial providers. At this juncture, it is important to note that the company was the first of its kind and had the experience as compared to other competitors. However, the company’s woes began even before the company was formed as several companies had started working on similar plans. The company started off with a decent capital investment of approximately $5 million capital investment and had up to 150, 000 members in the first year of its operation. The company was adversely affected whe n a similar company Intuit Company (Mint) was started $117 million capital and 300, 000 users (Bruene, 2010). Mint had a better brand name, an easier interface and a huge pool of capital. This together with the increasing competition from other new entrants put increasing pressure on Wesabe. The company began generating revenue later than Mint and finally ceased its operations in July 2010. The company’s mission statement was concerned with offering cheap, fast and efficient financial services by using the internet. It defined itself as ‘a community of real people dealing with real money issues’. The goals and objectives focused on ensuring that its clients meet their financial targets (Bruene, 2010). It was referred to as web based site that offered its members a better understanding on how to manage funds. It also focused on giving sound financial advice to their customers thereby improving their decisions on spending. The company did not aim to compete with tr aditional banks focused on providing unique and secure financial solutions to its customers. The company operates in a highly competitive market and its chief competitor is Mint. Mint has had outstanding growth since it was formed ten months after Wesabe. It has a market share of 60 percent (Bruene, 2010). The second competitor is Geezeo that has been experiencing impressive growth in the recent past. Other competitors include BudgetTracker, Thrive, Yodlee, PearBudget and Buxfer all which have shown impressive growth over the years (Bruene, 2010). The company faced competition from these other players in terms of marketing, sales and technology. The company failed to employ strategic marketing strategies therefore it did not reach a large number of users. Mint was more aggressive with marketing its financial services. With regards to sales, the company did not apply the sales tactics such as the ones used by Yodlee and Geezo. In terms of technology, Wesage did not integrate the FIâ €™s online banking frameworks in their system. Reasons for Failure As earlier stated, most businesses fail after a few months in operation. The major reason is due to lack of enough capital investment to run future activities. Stiff competition from other players in the market may also cause a business to shut its doors. Such businesses are characterized by poor developed business models that are impractical and ineffective (Bridges, 2013). Small businesses tend to be anxious to generate profits therefore they may over expand their activities. The other reason

Summary Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Summary - Coursework Example As per the requirements of US GAAP and Securities and Exchange Commission, the income statement of PepsiCo shows the comparative financial performance of the company over last three years, i.e. 2009, 2010 and 2012. There is one extra ordinary item is also included with the head of â€Å"bottling equity income†. However, this item was of non-recurring nature such that it was present in the income statements of 2009 and 2010 but in 2011, this figure was not shown by the company. The requirement to show both basic and diluted earnings per share is also provided in the income statement of PepsiCo. There are few optional items also presented by the company in order to provide more meaningful picture of the company especially to its shareholders such as weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding and dividend per share declared by PepsiCo over last three years. Contingencies Contingencies, is a specific type of liability under which account head is presented on the face o f the balance sheet but its amount is not showed. Generally, contingencies include those items the results of which can go either in favor or against the company such as lawsuits, long-term contractual obligations, commitments etc. However, contingencies are presented only when their respective amounts are probable and can be reliably estimated as well. PepsiCo has also provided contingencies on its balance sheet under the name of commitments and contingencies. There are different kinds of contingencies under which PepsiCo is obligated, such as non-cancelable commitments. These non-cancelable commitments include commitments for operating leases of building, purchasing agreements with the suppliers of sugar and sweeteners, oranges and its juices and related packaging material. Non-cancelable marketing agreements are also signed by PepsiCo mainly for its sports based marketing. There are some items, which have not been included under contingencies by PepsiCo such as bottler funding an d medical plan related liabilities for retirees. Bottler funding is that agreement which is negotiated by PepsiCo with its suppliers on yearly basis. Medical plan is not included because expected future cash outflows in this regard are not represented as long-term contractual obligations. Off-balance sheet transactions and items are also not included in the commitment and contingencies because PepsiCo has not made it its practice to include in its financial statements unless they constitute under the normal course of business of PepsiCo. INTANGIBLES Being a multi-national entity, PepsiCo has acquired different sorts of intangible assets such as brands, computer software, franchises, goodwill etc. The company has developed various criteria in order to value its intangibles, which are discussed below. Brands PepsiCo develops certain brands the cost of which is normally expensed out by the company in the year in which the brand is developed. Certain brands are acquired by PepsiCo such that their goodwill is recognized separately in the balance sheet. With respect to the life of brands, there are two types of brands i.e. brands with definite life and brands with indefinite life. PepsiCo has the specific brand valuation criteria, which it follows in order to assess the life of the brand. Generally, the brands with definite lives are amortized over a period ranging from 5 to 40 years are

Developing Business Information System Solutions Essay - 1

Developing Business Information System Solutions - Essay Example On the other hand in the market, Allocative Efficiency would be reached when the quantity demanded by the consumers equal the quantity supplied by the producer at a market price of Pm. It may be noted that this price is equal to the price at which the individual firm is supplying (Pindyck and Rubinfeld, 2001, p. 424). Here the quantity Q1 is the total quantity supplied by all the identical firms in the market producing homogeneous products. Due to technological progress all the firms modify their production process and may be supplying at a lower cost. Hence any firm that operates in this market has to keep up with the technological progress in order to meet the consumer demand and restrain from being driven out of the market due to competition. This phenomenon is Dynamic Efficiency that is achieved because all the firms continuously upgrade their technology of production. Answer 2 a) In a monopolistically competitive market there are a large number of producers each producing a diff erentiated product and the price and quantity produced is decided by the producers (price makers) entirely based on the cost of production. The demand curve faced by the firm in such a market is downward sloping because the firms can change its price independently. Now in the short run, equilibrium will be reached at a point where MR=MC i.e. at the price P1 the firm will supply the quantity q1 and the cost that will be incurred where the average cost curve cuts the line aq1 i.e. at the price p2. Therefore, the firm earns a super normal profit of p1p2ba which is depicted by the shaded area (Boyes and Melvin, 2012, p.168). In the long run, new firms enter in to the market. This makes the demand curve more elastic. Thus the price of the individuals firms come down eventually. This process continues till the point where all the firms only earn normal profits. At the point E equilibrium is achieved where the AC curve is tangent to the AR=D curve. The price at which the firm supplies is P * and the quantity is q*. Only normal profits are earned in the long run. b) Both in the long run and in the short run, efficiency is not achieved in monopolistic competition. Most firms produce with excess capacity in such a market i.e. output at which profit is maximised is less than the minimum AC output and hence productive efficiency is not achieved. Again the firm charges a P that is greater than MC as the demand curve faced is downward sloping. Hence Allocative Efficiency is not achieved. Answer 3 In a situation of a natural monopoly a particular firm operating in the market has such a cost advantage over the other firms that it is able to provide goods at a price that is much lower than what the other firms are offering. This drives the other firms out of the competition and the single firm remains with the monopolistic control of the market. A situation of natural monopoly is shown above. A monopolist would optimise at the point where MR=MC and would thus charge a very high price of Pm where market demand would be met. Now the perfectly competitive firm would reach equilibrium at the point where P=AR=MC. When the government fixes a price at Pfr, the monopolist is forced to charge a lower price and the firm breaks even at the point where ATC=AR. So if there was no regulation, the monopolist would produce much less and have more producers’ surplus (Hicks, 1939, p. 129). In this case the amount is much less. Answer 4 a) Externality is a situation in which the

Defining Important Terms (Due 7.12.13) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Defining Important Terms (Due 7.12.13) - Essay Example Thus over all human resource development programs motivates employees and assists individuals in better decision making through enhanced level of acquired skills and knowledge. The basic purpose of human resource development program is to promote fair and positive working environment for employees. It relies on the fact that the success of any organization is dependent on the growth and development of their employees thus these programs play a vital role in growing their organizations. This actually turns out favorable for both the parties that is employees and the organization (Torraco, & Swanson, 1995). Evaluation is the process of systematic assessment of a matter or an object. It is defined as the systematic acquisition and assessment of information to provide useful feedback about some object (Ferguson, & Reio Jr, 2010). It can also be defined as the process of examining the worth, merit or significance of an object (Boselie, Dietz, & Boon, 2005). It includes analyzing strengths and weaknesses of an object. Proper evaluation is aided by sufficient amount of information regarding the object that is taken into consideration. The reason why evaluation is done varies with the type of objective one has. As evaluation is closely related to one’s objectives because evaluation helps as a tool to manage performance so that the intended target of performance can be achieved. Thus to have effective process of evaluation, it is very necessary to know about one’s objectives. There must be clear understanding about what a firm or an organization wants to achieve, otherwise evaluation process will not take place properly and divergence can be observed in achieving goals which can alienate firms from their vision. Mostly evaluation helps in measurement of performance, providing credibility, understanding equity, improvement of upcoming activities and

How to Interpret an Education Essay Question

How to Interpret an Education Essay Question Interpreting education essay questions is a skill that can easily be acquired. The key to doing this is in understanding the variety of expectations that are expressed in a given essay question. Each essay question is specially worded in order to garner a specific response from the student. Understanding how to interpret education essay questions begins with understanding the form of the specific question. Each form will demand a different response and will also give specific cues as to how the question should be answered. It is easy to decipher the form of an essay question if you look for the verb prompt in the question. This verb prompt will tell you what the purpose of the question is and what to do in order to answer it correctly. A verb prompt is an action or instruction word, such as discuss, describe, analyse, explain, contrast or compare. By locating the verb you will know what sort of action to take when responding to the question. Some of the most common verb prompts used in an education essay question, are: Account for: Here you state reasons to support a specific topic or argument. Analyse: When asked to analyse you will need to offer a detailed study of the subject matter, identifying key points and characteristics, critically responding to the subject and giving specific examples to support your case. Argue: Here you are asked to put forward an argument or adopt a position on a given subject. To argue successfully, you will need to consider the pros and cons of the subject and give practical and theoretical examples to illustrate and support your position. Assess: Here you are asked to closely examine a given topic or situation, discuss the pros and cons or strengths and weaknesses, and make a judgement based on what you have written. Clarify: Here you are asked to simplify an argument or proposition in order to shed light on its meaning and significance. Comment: When asked to comment you are being asked for your opinion on the subject matter. You will also have to support your opinion with relevant examples and evidence. Compare: Here you simply place two or more things side by side in order to ascertain the similarities and differences between them. Consider: This word simply asks you to reflect on a given topic, offering thoughts that are informed by practical and theoretical observations. Contrast: In a similar fashion to the compare form of essay question, this one asks you to consider two or more things, but the emphasis is on the differences between them, though there may also be similarities. Six steps towards interpreting an education essay question. Always begin by reading the question in full before you do anything else. This will give you a general idea of the focus of the question. Read again, more closely this time, and locate the key words and phrases. This will help you locate the purpose of the essay and what you need to do in order to answer the question correctly. Look for the verb prompt or instruction word. Circle it. Remember these are words such as, analyse, describe, discuss, compare and examine. Look for the key words. Underline them. These words might refer to an educational theory or method, a theorist, a classroom situation, or a task that you might need to complete, such as a lesson plan. Divide the essay question into parts. An essay question often asks more than one thing. Deciphering the parts of a question will help you structure your response so that each section of your essay responds to and answers a part of the question. Rewrite the question in your own words. This is the final and most important step in interpreting an essay question. Here you will confirm your understanding of the purpose of the question and what you need to do. Phrase your rewritten question as a note to yourself, telling yourself what must be done. For example, In this essay, I must consider the role of the teacher in the contemporary classroom and give examples from theoretical models that Ive studied. Examples of education essay questions. The term â€Å"pedagogy† refers to the methods, styles and strategies used by a teacher to instruct students. One such pedagogical theory is the constructivist teaching method, where students enjoy an active role in the learning process, experiment, make inferences and discoveries of their own and come to their own conclusions. Here the teacher functions as a companion and guide in the learning process. With this in mind write an essay in which you discuss the advantages and disadvantages of constructivist pedagogy. Consider how you could implement constructivist pedagogical theories in the classroom to improve the educational experience of learners. Refer to the work of at least one constructivist theorist in your essay. Socrates once said, â€Å"I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.† Socrates did this by employing one of the most famous teaching methods in history, the Socratic Method. Write an essay in which you analyse the structure of the Socratic Method and evaluate its usefulness as a pedagogical strategy. State your opinion on whether this method might be useful in a contemporary classroom situation. How might the Socratic Method be used today? Support your response with examples and a lesson plan. â€Å"A teacher is one who makes himself progressively unnecessary.† What might it mean for a teacher to become â€Å"progressively unnecessary?† Do you agree with the above statement? What must occur so that a teacher might become less necessary and learners more independent? Write an essay in which you discuss these questions in light of your understanding of the ideal role of the teacher in the contemporary classroom. Support your argument by referring to one or two pedagogical methods or strategies that might facilitate the role of the teacher in becoming â€Å"progressively unnecessary.† Illustrate your answer with examples. â€Å"A liberal education is at the heart of a civil society, and at the heart of a liberal education is the act of teaching.† In response to the above statement, consider the relationship between society, education and the teacher. If a good educational system is a way of producing good citizens and the teacher is the intermediary between education and society, how does this impact on the role of the teacher? Consider a situation where the community disagrees with what is being taught in school. Should a teacher teach what the community demands or what the teacher believes is correct? In your essay, firstly argue for either the communitys or the teachers position, giving sound reasons, and then assess the implications of such a situation on teaching strategies. Consider Paperts principle which states: â€Å"Some of the most crucial steps in mental growth are based not simply on acquiring new skills, but on acquiring new administrative ways to use what one already knows.† Interpret the above statement in your own words then write an essay in which you explain the implications of Paperts principle in the contemporary classroom. With reference to the use of technology in the classroom, assess how learners may use technology to enrich their learning experience and apply what they have learnt in new and meaningful ways. In your answer refer to the teachers role in this classroom situation. 2/ 4

The Lying Jay Gatsby of The Great Gatsby Essay -- The Great Gatsby F.

The Lying Jay Gatsby of The Great Gatsby   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Throughout the novel, Jay Gatsby explains the type of character he is, through his lies. Gatsby acts out to be a man who has it all. The only item missing from Gatsby’s life is love. Love is the only true key to happiness with out it you are lost. Gatsby goes all out to be loved even if it means lying.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Gatsby shows his love, to the love of his life Daisy, who is in love with another man named Tom. Tom and Daisy are married, but Tom is having an affair with another woman. With this on going problem, Daisy tries to get back at Tom by returning the favor of cheating on one another. With this Gatsby fall in love with Daisy, but Daisy is still in love with Tom. The love web involved becomes so twisted that Gatsby ends up losing his life. Gatsby’s love for Daisy causes him to make false statements about how he got his money.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Gatsby tells about two different stories about how he got his money. Gatsby said that all his money was inherited by a wealthy man that he came to be good friends. He also said that his parents had died and he was all-alone. All the lies were to empress the people of the upper class how cool he is now. These lies were brought forth to indicate to the reader the reason for his lying was to win the love of Daisy. Gatsby is shown as a man who will screw you over in the end for his benefit.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Throughout the novel Gatsby personality is negative, but loving and caring when Daisy is around. His ...

Easter Rising 1916

There can be no doubt that the response of the British government to the Rising contributed measurably to the further alienation of Irish public opinion. On 26th April 1916, it had introduced martial law and next day appointed Major-General Sir John Maxwell as Commander-in-Chief of troops, Ireland. He had full authority to restore order, put down the rebellion, and punished its participants. Maxwell never doubted that its leaders should be court-martialled and those most prominent executed.General Maxwell was also determined that, in order to crush militant nationalism, those who had surrendered with them, and their suspected supporters, should be arrested and their arms seized in a nationwide sweep by soldiers, supported by police. General Maxwell quickly signalled his intention â€Å"to arrest all dangerous Sinn Feiners†(1), including â€Å"those who have taken an active part in the movement although not in the present rebellion†(2), reflecting the popular belief that Sinn Fein, a separatist organisation that was neither militant nor republican, was behind the Rising.In total, the security forces arrested 3,430 men and 79 women and of these 1,841 were sent to England and interned there. Meanwhile, those thought to have organised the insurrection had been held back in Ireland for trial 190 men and 1 woman named Countess Markievicz. In 90 cases the court’s verdict was ‘Death by being shot’. All signatories of the proclamation were executed. The executions started on May 3rd in Kilmainham Jail with the execution of Patrick Pearse was the first to be singled out for execution, he was not allowed to see his mother or brother before his execution, Thomas MacDonagh and Thomas Clarke .The second day is the executions of William Pearse brother of Patrick Pearse, Edward Daly, Michael O'Hanrahan, and Joseph Plunkett whom married Grace Gifford in the prison chapel hours before his execution. On the following day John McBride was executed alone refused to be blindfolded before his execution. Then on May 8th Eamonn Ceannt,  Michael Mallin,  Sean Heuston  and  Conn Colbert were executed. On the last day of execution May 12th Sean MacDiarmada and James Connolly who is tied to a chair due to his broken ankle were executed. Sir Roger Casement was tried in London for high treason and hanged at Pentonville Prison on 3 August.In addition to the 15 executed, 97 others of those tried by court-martial were sentenced to death. Alarmed by the shift taking place in public opinion in Ireland and by the outrage expressed in the House of Commons by members of the Irish Parliament Party, most notably Lawrence Ginnel and John Dillion, Prime Minister Asquith travelled to Dublin on 12 May the day where James Connolly and Sean MacDiarmada were executed, in spite of a telegram from Asquith to General Maxwell saying that there were to be no further executions except under special and exceptional circumstances.Maxwell, presumably, c onsidered that MacDiarmada and Connolly had played such leading roles that they could not be reprieved. There were no further executions, the sentences of the other 97 being commuted to terms of imprisonment. The predictable effect of these measures was to increase public sympathy, both for the rebels and their goals. During May, the police authorities noted even amongst moderate nationalists a growing ‘wave of resentment,’ prompted by the feeling that ‘unnecessary severity had been deployed’.Symptoms of the change in attitudes included the following: the increasing frequency of memorial masses for the executed rebels; the growing sales of photographs of them; the setting up of aid funds for their families; the appearance of songs and ballads celebrating their actions; the ubiquity of republican flags and badges; the sight of young men marching military style at Gaelic football matches, and the shouting of rebel slogans anywhere people gathered anonymously together, such as at railway stations.Moreover, there were ominous signs that militant nationalists were reorganising, reflected in a rise in arms thefts and hardening of attitudes towards the police. The release of many who had been interned after the Rising – far from earning public gratitude – fuelled resentment, as it was seen as providing evidence that the arrests had been made ‘without just cause’. Already in mid-June 1916, Maxwell predicted that in a General Election the moderate nationalist Irish Parliamentary Party would probably be replaced.He was right; in December 1918, it was swept aside by Sinn Fein. Some survivors of the Rising went on to become leaders of the independent Irish state and those who died were venerated by many as martyrs. Their graves in the former military prison of Arbour Hill in Dublin became a national monument and the text of the Proclamation was taught in schools. ‘I and my fellow signatories believe we have struck the first successful blow for Irish freedom. The next blow, which we have no doubt Ireland will strike, will win through. In this belief, we die happy. ‘

How do generic conventions inform your understanding of Macbeth? Essay

The tragedy of Macbeth is his â€Å"Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself and fallson th’other.† In this famous play, William Shakespeare positions the audience to feel pity towards the protagonist involved, and potentially the protagonist is the tragic hero. But in the play, Macbeth, how does he do this? Shakespeare positions us to feel pity for Macbeth, the protagonist, by using generic, dramatic and theatrical conventions such as soliloquies, hamartia and symbolism. My understanding of the play Macbeth, is shaped by Shakespeare’s use of generic conventions to represent the characters inner turmoil and through this, their tragic flaws. Specifically, soliloquies are used to reveal Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s inner turmoil as they lose their sanity for power. The first soliloquy in Macbeth is said by Lady Macbeth which reveals her inner turmoil about the letter she receives from Macbeth, as she worries that he may not be strong enough to kill Duncan, and through this her tragic flaw is revealed . As the witches prediction about Macbeth to become â€Å"Thane of Glamis and Cawdor† comes true, she is lured into the trap of believing that he will become king however worries that he is too much of a coward to make it happen. Act 1 Scene 5, line 6, â€Å"Yet do thy nature; It is too full o’ milk of human nature†. It’s evident that through the term â€Å"o’milk of human nature† symbolises the milk of a human and the only kind of human that produces milk is a female. Milk only comes from the female when she is a mother and mothers are traditionally nurturing and kind. So Lady Macbeth is saying that Macbeth is quite feminine in the way of his kindness. Furthermore, Lady Macbeth thinks Macbeth doesn’t have the ruthless nature like she does to strike aggressively at a first opportunity to have power and even though he wants power, his â€Å"nature† is too kind to be king in the evil way that she plans to do it. When receiving news that the king is going to stay at the Macbeth castle, she feels she must be the one to kill Duncan in order for Macbeth to become king and her to be queen, however in the soliloquy after she received the news, she talks to the â€Å"spirits† about how willing she is to do the deed to get the power and seize the throne. Although at the same time, it touches on the theme of masculinity, â€Å"tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,† Act 1 Scene 5, line 31. â€Å"Come to my woman’s breasts, And take my milk for gall,† Act 1 Scene 5, line 38. Both quotes suggest the different sex, â€Å"unsex me here†, by changing sex Lady Macbeth feels she would be more masculine, than she is now, as a man. With the second quote mentioning â€Å"milk†, this suggests womanhood, represented by milk and breasts, symbolising nurture and compassion and she says she has this as well as her ruthlessness but wants to be more cruel, â€Å"of direct cruelty! Make thick my blood† Act 1 Scene 5, line 33. When all of her plans and inner turmoil is revealed to us, her hamartia suddenly becomes clearer – her flaw is that she is extremely power hungry and will do anything to feed it, however this results in her downfall as she turns insane from her guilty conscience of manipulating Macbeth, simply because she is too cowardice to do her own business. Macbeth’s first soliloquy in the play portrays him to be his sane self, making the agonizing decision of whether he should go through with the evil deed of assassinating King Duncan. In his decision he puts into account King Duncan’s qualities, â€Å"this Duncan, hath borne his faculties so meek,† Act 1 Scene 7, line 16, and his loyalty and faith towards the king, â€Å"He is here in bought trust†¦as I am his kinsman†¦then as his host, who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife himself† Act 1 Scene 7, line 12, which represents the kind nature of Macbeth, not wanting to go through with seizing the throne by murdering Duncan because he likes Duncan as he is a strong and humble leader. He also describes that his death would be showered with, â€Å"angels, trumpet-tongued,† Act 1 Scene 7. Angels are a representation of heaven and heaven is symbolised as good which means Duncan will go to heaven if he dies because of his goodness. This reminds us how severe and alarming it is to kill a human being just for power and Macbeth realises this also, this is seen through the use of language, â€Å"Bloody instructions† and â€Å"our poisoned chalice† and â€Å"deep damnation† and through this, an image of darkness is made which makes it clear to us that Macbeth knows what he could do is wrong and if he does it he will be forever in a world of sin. At the same time, the one only reason Macbeth wants to proceed in the deed is his ambition to become powerful, â€Å"but only vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself and fallson th’other.† Act 1 Scene 7, line 27. The only thing motivating him is his ambition, however Macbeth knows ambition could lead him on towards disaster, (coincidentally it did) therefore decides not to go along with his wife’s plans. Although after his soliloquy when he admits to Lady Macbeth he doesn’t want to carry on with the plan, Lady Macbeth threatens Macbeth that he will no longer be a man in her eyes but a coward and that she might never love him again if he doesn’t kill Duncan. This affects Macbeth’s inner turmoil because as a man, he like to show his bravery and have courage and by going against his wife could damage his masculinity and so carries on with the play. My understanding of Macbeth’s tragic flaw, as evidenced in this soliloquy, is that he doesn’t want to damage his pride, his masculinity or his ambition and this, then, leads to his downfall. The next soliloquy used by Macbeth reveals to the audience that the pressure of killing the king is finally taking a turn on his mind. In his speech, Macbeth makes accusations of seeing a dagger, identical to his, in front of him however he becomes confused when he can’t decide what is happening. At first, when the dagger appears he believes it to be a â€Å"false creation† which is a hallucination, as he has already tried to grab it but failed, caused by a â€Å"Heat- oppressà ¨d brain†, in other words, he’s ill. Then just after saying this, he believes that it’s something different, â€Å"Thou marshall’st me the way that I was going,† Act 2 Scene 1. The meaning for this quote is that the dagger is pointing him in the direction that he is going and this symbolises and proves that his decision to kill the king is already set in motion. The direction of the dagger may have been just his mind but could have been witchcraft also†¦ 3â€Å"Witchcraft celebrates, Pale Hecate’s offerings,† Since Macbeth already believes the witches, there is no other reasons not to disagree with them. Macbeth’s tragic flaw of his self-pride of masculinity, ambition and lust for power ends up in his downfall of insanity from confusion and stress and later on in the play he metaphorically â€Å"plummets to his death† as he loses control of his paranoia. Shakespeare positions the audience, with monologues like this, to see that Macbeth is stressed, scared and confused about the act he is about to commit, this slowly leads him to lose his sanity just so he can please his wife, achieve his goal of ambition and protect his pride and masculinity. My understanding of Macbeth is greatly shaped by generic conventions such a soliloquies. Throughout the play soliloquies were used to explain the main character’s inner turmoil. Macbeth appeared to be a power greed murder that stopped at nothing to be the king of Scotland. However through soliloquies, it was clear to me that this was his hamartia and his tragic flaw, which made him this way, was that he was ambitious, proud of his masculinity and courage. So when Lady Macbeth threatens him and names him a coward for not killing Duncan, he want does it to protect his pride. This makes us pity him as he had no choice and becomes insane from the paranoia and guilty conscience. In my opinion, I think Shakespeare had a message of purpose of Macbeth and that was to show the audience that ambition and desire is destructive and no matter how much a person wants power, they should never let it overcome them.