Energy what is Next Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Energy what is Next - Essay Example For the longest time, non-renewable energy has been the primary source of energy in the world. Consequently, renewable energy has had little popularity and had been side-lined. The primary attribute of non-renewable energy sources is that their availability is finite. These sources rely on materials exhaustible sources, making it impossible to recreate them within reasonable time duration. Such energy sources include wood, coal, and fossil fuels that when consumed, they cannot be restored, hence Tiwari, et al (2012, p. 7) refer to them as conventional energy sources. Additionally, when non-renewable energy is consumed as fuel in cars or manufacturing plants, emissions pollute the atmosphere through greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide. In the world pushing towards reduction of national carbon footprint levels and the insufficient renewable energy resources, there exists a push to find more energy requirement solutions in renewable energy. The simplest definition of renewable energy is energy that satisfies current energy needs without jeopardizing similar needs in the future (Chiras, 2006, p. 22). The implication is that renewable energy presents the aspect of sustainability given that natural mechanisms and movements of the earth are responsible for their quick replenishing. The major sources of renewable energy are the sun, water and wind. In the recent past, wind farms, solar cells, and hydroelectric power have successfully provided electricity for domestic, transportation and industrial use. Unlike non-renewable energy, renewable energy has little impact on domestic and regional ecology thereby considered as clean energy. Clean energy contributes to negligible carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases emissions and guarantee unrestricted time duration. With renewable energy, cost effectiveness arises from the

Coraline a Wizard of Earthsea the Sense of Self Essay Example for Free

Coraline a Wizard of Earthsea the Sense of Self Essay If you see a wallet on the ground and discover there is an enormous amount of money in it, what would you do? Do you think youd return it, or possibly keep the money for yourself? How would you feel about it emotionally afterward? For the sake of an argument let us say you would keep the money. How would you then feel if someone you hate also had the same circumstance happen to them? Would you feel like them keeping the money would further prove why you dislike that person? Did you not also keep the money yourself? In the book Psychoanalysis Terry Eagleton states that Lacan permits us to explore the relations between the unconscious and human society the unconscious is not some kind of private region inside us, but an effect of our relations with one another(Eagleton 150). The unconscious is part of your self and can be negative or positive; the negative side that we produce is part of our ego. Ego is defined as the complex factor to which all conscious contents are related the ego is only one half of a whole and that whole is the self (Jung 139). Our ego is broken into three sections and the section most apparent in this case is the shadow. The reason why your peer keeping the money creates resentment in you is because of the shadow, it is a part of you that you keep in your unconscious, a part you dont like and when it is revealed to you through someone else you exchange the inward hatred and replace it with outward disdain for the person that has committed the act. Self is best described as the combination of your conscious and unconscious becoming one in a balanced state. In Coraline by Neil Gaimen and A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin the shadow becomes a physical thing, an actual entity. The genre itself, fantasy, has its own identity crisis which further adds to the lack of self in the novels. This should not make these stories any less real, the premise of both stories, of battling the shadow and overcoming the lack of identity to find the self is still a very real thing as explained by J.R.R. Tolkien fairystories deal largely with simple or fundamental things, untouched by fantasy, but these simplicities are made all the more luminous by their setting (Tolkien 20). The self being fragmented by not knowing one’s unconscious is a recurring theme in both stories. The shadow becoming and entity in the stories further explains the concept of your conscious latching on to an outward vessel to express disdain for. The conscious and unconscious meld together to form one’s identity, the conscious mind uses ones life experiences and natural behavior as an identifier while the unconscious mind creates the ego and the shadow, both of which create the idea of self. In order to gain an identity you much overcome and accept your shadow as part of you, then and only then will you truly discover your â€Å"self†. In Coraline a lonely and ignored little girl is an only child of two, negligent, parents. She has just moved into a new house and while exploring her new home she finds a door which sometimes, and progressively more while the story continues, leads her into an alternate world where her desire for excitement is fulfilled. While in this world the narrator states, There were all sorts of remarkable things in there shed never seen before this is more like it, thought Coraline† (Gaimen 30). This is Coraline’s conscious self, her excitement, her explorer, the one that doesn’t mind a new world, a girl who accept the oddities just so that she can discover all of them herself. This world was created by the other mother, a witch, who at this point has not revealed herself to Coraline as a soul consuming entity. Her brand new home put up an image of perfection that clouded her judgment. These illusions created by the other mother make it harder for Coraline to discover herself because she is only seeing what the other mother is allowing her to see through the filter of Coraline’s conscious. Jung states that The more projections are thrust in between the subject and the environment [the other world in Coralines case], the harder it is for the ego to see through its illusions (Jung 147). Because of this, Coralines newly found freedom into the other world is nothing more than an attempt by the other mother to keep her in the dark while thinking she is in control. This false sense of security doesnt allow for Coraline to discover her own self. The main plot point of the story is the more Coraline realizes shes being held back and the more she feels her sense of self coming to fruition the more the illusions put in front of her begin to dwindle until the world is revealed to her for what it really is. Although it is the other mothers world and she created it, it is the fact that Coraline hasn’t come to terms with her shadow or better yet hasn’t been forced to face it that allows her to succumb to the illusion, it is an unconscious factor [the shadow] which spins the illusions that veil [the] world (Jung 147). As Jung states here, the shadow, and this other world that has been created is her unconscious being warped through the eyes of the other mother, and her warped vision is the veil that the world hides beneath. Coralines conscious mind is her adventurous side her first two weeks in the house [were spent] exploring the garden and the grounds this is the basis of the other world, a place full of wonder and excitement, a place full of adventure (Gaimen 6). The shadow that Coraline must face is her fear. Coralines conversation with her guardian, the cat, is about her confusion of bravery and being naive. Coraline thinks that she is very brave without knowing what bravery actually is. She tells the story of her father who gets stung by a nest of hornets and in the process discovers true bravery, which she embodies as her father going back for his glasses, it wasnt brave because he wasnt scared going back again to get his glasses, then he knew the wasp were there, when he was really scared. That was brave when youre scared and you still do it anyway, thats brave (Gaimen 58-59). Once she goes through this point the world shifts for her, she sees everything for its eerie similarities of the real world but with a malicious twist. The final proof of the discovery of self in Coraline is the fact that once everything is said and done she goes back to her life exactly the way it was. Her parents still pay no mind to her and her life is just as dull now as it was when the story started but her perspective changed. She is no longer oppressed by her status because she defeats the other mother and overcomes her shadow, becoming whole. She is complete, by learning, understanding, and overcoming her unconscious she finds her â€Å"self†. The beginning of her journey is much the same as Ged in A Wizard of Earthsea, looking for her self and being too naive to find it. Ged is a boy who discovers his divine talent for witchcraft at an early age. From the moment that he saves his village from being decimated by savages he was told that he would be a great and powerful wizard by one of the great wizards, Ogion, I send you one who will be greatest of the wizards of Gont (Le Guin 48). This creates Ged’s conscious self, which is a hero complex, thinking that he can do whatever he wishes without consequence. Ged although very powerful is very arrogant and prideful, in an attempt to impress a women he learns to summon a dark spirit from the dead that almost kills him. He once again out of anger and pride summons the spirit of the dead in a competition of strength with a boy, jasper, one year his senior. The shadow is shown to him in many forms, these forms are of his character flaws, Like a clot of black shadow, quick and hideous it was like a black beast, the size of a young child the young child reflecting back on him when he first revealed himself to the darkness, while the beast is Ged’s vengeful personality taking shape (Le Guin 85). The shadow was born out of Ged’s arrogance, pride and narcissism. He constantly becomes angry at himself for not being stronger and as he succumbs to his anger the shadow becomes stronger, it rankled at his heart he should die, spitted on a Kargish lance, while still a boy raged at his weakness, for he knew his strength (Le Guin 11). His fear and his constant flaws give the shadow its strength putting those he knows in danger and further hiding his self from him. As Ged tries to run away for the last time the shadow manages to kill Geds pet. This is the last straw for Ged and he, as Coraline did, discovers his unconscious, his identity and seeks out to defeat the shadow. He begins to chase the shadow and becomes stronger from it, facing his inner demons and overcoming his fear. Ged learns of the connection he has with the shadow in order to defeat it, it wills to work evil through you. The power you had to call it gives it power over you: you are connected. It is the shadow of your arrogance, the shadow of your ignorance, the shadow you cast. Has a shadow a name (Le Guin)? By being told this and through all the trials Ged faces he becomes humble and learns his way through the barriers he has put up on his darkness. Through the hunt Ged finally realizes what the shadow is and even though it has his misguided qualities it has brought out the good qualities in him. Ged finally spoke the shadows name and the shadow repeated it, Ged and the shadow became one and Ged became one with his unconscious and becomes aware of his self, I am whole, I am free (Le Guin). Coraline and Ged went through hardships in order to become one. Coraline learned true bravery and defeated her other mother and though her life did not change she accept herself and her life for what it was. Ged through his hardship lost his arrogance, his pride, his ignorance and actually physically became one with his shadow. Through the hunt of their shadow they found themselves. They stopped running away from who they always were and just embraced and learned to become what they were trying to run away from. Coralines ignorance and Geds pride were defeated by the hunt for their unconscious. Their true enemy was themselves and the only thing that could defeat that was their new found sense of self.

The Empowerment of Women through Education Essay -- Essays Papers

The Empowerment of Women through Education I’m embarrassed to admit that I had to look up Bangladesh on a map when I found out I was accepted to the program â€Å"Development and Community in Bangladesh.† Obviously, I knew very little about the country, it’s history, it’s economy, it’s political system, it’s religion, and it’s cultural practices. Though in the beginning this seemed to be a great disadvantage to me, it has provided me with a great opportunity to learn about Bangladesh and form my own opinions from my experiences rather than from preconceived stereotypes. Bangladesh is located in Asia, surrounded by India on three sides and the Bay of Bengal on the other. It is on the tropic of cancer and thus is very lush. It is home to seven major rivers, including the Ganges, which flows into the Bay of Bengal, and two hundred minor rivers. Rivers are the most important geographical aspect of Bangladesh because it is such an agriculturally based society. They are also one of the most dangerous natural elements because of flooding in the monsoon season. Thousands of houses are destroyed each year because of flooding and other natural disasters. There are two hilly areas: the hills of Assam and the Chittagong Hill Tracks. Bangladesh is also home to vast rainforests, marshes, and swamps. It has six seasons: griishmo (summer), borsha (rainy), shorot (autumn), hemonto (harvesting), shiit (winter), and bosonto (spring.) Three seasons are truly discernable; the monsoon season, the cold season, and the hot season. The seasons are fairly self-explanatory, y et my mental image of each of the seasons was very different from reality. Coming from the mid-west of the United States I’m used to very cold winters and relatively warm summers, wit... ...elopment around the World: Practice, Theory, Research, Training. Buffalo: University of Toronto Press, 1997. Gardner, Katy. Songs at the River’s Edge. London: Pluto Press, 1997. Murray, Jon. Newton, Alex. Plunkett, Richard. Wagenhauser, Betsy. Bangladesh. London: Lonely Planet Publications, 2000. 1990 Bangladesh Census Report Chittagong is a district in Southeast Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party takes a strong anti-India stance and is more nationalistic. The Awami League is broader in its contingency. It represents more of the minorities. A hartel is a strike. A burqua is a â€Å"cape which covers the whole body, with a veil for the face; worn by women in Muslim countries to hide themselves in public.† (Gardner, 146.) bari: â€Å"homestead, a collection of households at one site, which are usually all of the same lineage.† (Gardner, 145.)

Organic Farming

Mary Sears Taylor ENG 1120 Blair Date Sustainable Agriculture: The Switch from Industrial to Organic P1: Agriculture is the most important user of environmental resources and plays a crucial role in the economy, human health, and production of food and fiber. Currently the debate over agriculture is how to feed the world’s growing population, but in a non-damaging process. Agriculture needs a change resulting in sustainability, but the debate begins with how to achieve sustainability in agriculture. One side insists on expanding the current system of industrial agriculture, which depends on monoculture and mechanization.This modern approach to agriculture, which developed during the 20th century, has successfully fed the growing population, but has resulted in devastating effects on the environment and human health. Organic farming techniques, on the other hand, have recently been introduced as another possible solution to sustainable agriculture. Organic methods, including of crop rotation, pest management, and cover crops, have proven to be less damaging to the environment. Despite the proven benefits, some believe that organic farming methods will not produce enough food to feed the world’s growing population.Therefore, this side of the agricultural debate insists on merging organic farming and industrial agriculture together. Even though feeding the world’s growing population is essential, human health should never be at cost. Organic farming needs to completely replace industrial agriculture. According to Gracelinks. org, â€Å"Sustainable agriculture is the production of food, fiber, or other plant or animal products using farming techniques that protect the environment, public health, human communities, and animal welfare. This definition proves that industrial agriculture does not meet the requirements of sustainability due to its cause of land degradation, loss of biodiversity, and pollution. Industrial agriculture has successfull y produced an abundant amount of food, but the harmful effects it causes on the environment and public health are unacceptable and unsustainable. P2: Sustainable agriculture techniques aim to embrace farming practices that mimic natural ecological practices.Methods that are sustainable will benefit the farmer, the land, and the community as a whole. Brodt Sonja from The Nature Education Knowledge Project states, â€Å"Agricultural sustainability rests on the principle that we must meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. † This definition only begins to prove that organic farming is more sustainable than industrial agriculture. Industrial techniques compromise future generations’ ability to meet their needs.Even though industrial methods produce an abundant amount of food, the impacts are overwhelming on the environment and human health, resulting in an unsustainable world. Despite those who support i ndustrial agriculture or a combination of industrial and organic methods, I found research which proves that organic farming is solely the answer. The results I found confirm that the key to sustainable agriculture involves a complete shift of methods. After researching the debate, I am confident that a change from industrial to organic is vital to improve our environment and attain a sustainable agriculture.The organic farming approach to agriculture has proven to be more beneficial to the environment and public health, along with producing high yields. Agriculture will be made sustainable and ecologically sound by adopting organic farming techniques such as crop rotation, crop diversity, cover crops and pest management. These organic farming methods will continue to feed the world’s growing population without damaging consequences. P3: Sustainable agriculture strives to provide an abundance of food while using methods that do not harm the environment and improve human healt h.The Union of Concerned Scientists states, â€Å"Sustainable agriculture is grounded in the idea of stewardship: preserving the resources that allow us to meet our own needs, so that future generations can meet theirs too. † This means that an approach to farming needs to be economically viable, environmentally friendly, and beneficial to the society in order to be sustainable. Impacts of agriculture currently include land degradation, limits to water availability, loss of biodiversity, and pollution. These negative outcomes are caused by industrial agriculture methods.Yet, some people argue that industrial agriculture is more sustainable than organic farming. P4: Industrial agriculture is the current form of agriculture used in the United States and other developed countries. Economy Watch defines industrial agriculture as a â€Å"modern form of capital intensive farming which requires huge amounts of innovation in agriculture machinery. † The properties of industria l agriculture, which include monoculture, the practice of growing a single crop year after year, and reliance on chemical fertilizer, both result in destructive effects on the environment.Despite these consequences, industrial agriculture produces an abundant amount of food. Therefore, some people argue that the techniques of industrial farming need to be adjusted, not replaced. The article, â€Å"Will Organic Food Fail to Feed the World,† written by David Biello, argues a hybrid approach to sustainable agriculture. Biello states that industrial technologies have â€Å"fed the swelling human population† and â€Å"the world already produces 22 trillion calories annually via agriculture. The evidence supports his argument that the methods of industrial agriculture result in an abundant production of food that successfully feeds the growing population. However, the methods used to produce the great amount of food are harmful to the environment. David Biello also attempts to argue that organic farming will not supply enough food. Quoting environmental scientist Verena Seufert, from McGill University, Biello states, â€Å"We found that, overall, organic yields are considerably lower than conventional yields. By quoting Verena Seufert, Biello uses an ethical appeal to support his argument. It proves the importance of industrial agriculture due to its high yields and food production. His solution to agriculture, combining methods of both industrial and organic farming techniques, is not sustainable. The impacts caused by industrial agriculture out way the benefits. There is a completely sustainable approach that allows farmers to produce enough food without harming human health or the environment. The approach is organic farming.Even though industrial agriculture produces an abundant amount of food, the methods rely on mechanization, monoculture, and synthetic fertilizers and chemical pesticides. The reliance on these methods exhaust the natural resou rces that human life depends on. The Pesticide Action Network states, â€Å"Industrial agriculture treats the farm as a factory, with inputs (pesticides and fertilizers), and outputs (crops. )† The use of comparison between farms and factories, two very opposite areas, informs the reader of the negative impacts of industrial farming.The production of food in factories and the use of chemicals result in negative externalities. The reliance on monoculture in industrial agriculture results in a threat to biodiversity. Monoculture farming depends heavily on chemical inputs because growing the same plant in the same place year after year quickly depletes nutrients that plants rely on. The only way to replenish the nutrients lost, is by adding synthetic fertilizers. The synthetic products added to soil deplete the nutrients in crops as well as producing harmful pollutants into the air.The Pesticide Action Network notes that industrial agriculture uses 70% of the planet’s fre sh water along with being responsible for 1/3 of global greenhouse gas emissions. These outrageous percentages can be reduced only if industrial agriculture is replaced. Industrial agriculture has a high price tag as well. In the article â€Å"Environmental, Energetic, and Economic Comparisons of Organic and Conventional Farming Systems,† David Pimentel quotes the National Research Council when stating, â€Å"The cost of excessive fertilizer use- that is, fertilizer inputs that exceed the amount crops can use- is $2. billion per year. † Pimentel’s use of ethos and logos together successfully persuades the reader away from industrial farming. The harmful chemicals and high costs make industrial farming unsustainable. If sustainable agriculture is the goal, industrial methods and techniques must be replaced all together. Despite the arguments supporting industrial agriculture, organic farming has proven to be the solution to sustainable agriculture. The beneficial results include more fertile soil, greater biodiversity and healthier food products for consumers.These benefits support the requirements of sustainability and are achieved through organic agriculture techniques. Organic farming methods include crop rotation, pest management, crop diversity, and absence of chemicals. By adopting these methods, farmers will produce sustainable farms that can feed the world’s growing population, without negative externalities that halt future generations from succeeding. Crop rotation is the process of growing different crops in succession in the same field or area. When farmers use this organic farming method they avoid consequences such as soil degradation.Crop rotations help to replenish nitrogen in the crop’s soil, therefor chemicals are not needed to replenish the soil’s nutrients. Crop rotation also provides a solution to pest problems. Many pests prefer a specific crop, therefore continuing to grow the same in crop year af ter year guarantees pests a steady food supply. The Union of Concerned Scientists’ article, â€Å"Sustainable Agriculture Techniques,† states that â€Å"rotation reduces pest pressure on all the crops in the rotation by breaking the pest reproductive cycles. † This statement proves that organic farming methods are able to reduce the presence of pests.By planting different crops in a series, farmers decrease the chance of pest problems, in addition to using non-chemical fertilizers. The use of crop rotation allows farmers to produce healthier soil due to the absence of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The use of different plants in a row allows for an increase in soil organic matter which is healthier for the soil and crops being grown. The article, â€Å"Sustainable Development: Five Ways to Get Rid of Pests without Using Chemicals,† argues that the switch from chemical pesticides has led to better soil health.The article quotes Thakur Das, a rice far mer with experience from switching to organic farming, and states, â€Å"Most farmers use chemicals, but their soil is totally dead. † This use of ethos sways the reader to believe the argument. Interviewing a farmer with experience, proves that organic farmers have healthier soil in comparison to farmers who use chemicals. Healthy soil is one of the most important elements of agriculture. Enriched healthy soil can improve yields and produce crops less vulnerable to pests. Another unique benefit of organic farming is its ability to improve biodiversity.Biodiversity in farming is a key contributor to sustainable agriculture. While industrial techniques lack in biodiversity, organic methods increase and support biodiversity. James Randerson, author of the article â€Å"Organic Farming Boosts Biodiversity,† discusses seventy-six studies that measured biodiversity. After the studies were reviewed, the results proved that sixty-six out of ninety-nine found organic farming m ore beneficial to wildlife. Randerson states, â€Å"Organic farming increases biodiversity at ever level of the food chain. His use of logos blatantly displays the evidence to the reader, supporting the argument that biodiversity is increased through organic farming. In addition to Randerson’s proof regarding biodiversity, the article, â€Å"Sustainable Development: Five Ways to Get Rid of Pests without Using Chemicals,† also proves that crop diversity improves agricultural biodiversity. Currently, pests thrive in monocultures. Monoculture is simply the practice of growing a single crop over a large area. This results in negative effects on the environment. An easy solution to this is crop diversity.The article quotes sustainable agriculture expert, Jules Pretty, when stating, â€Å"Farm biodiversity is a more sustainable method of dealing with pests. † The use of ethos helps persuade the reader that crop diversity is a sustainable method. Due to Pretty’ s expertise, the information provided is likely to be true. Chemical additives, which pollute air and destroy crops, are in no way helpful to agriculture. Using techniques such as crop diversity will decrease the need for chemicals. Organic farming methods have proven to increase biodiversity in agriculture, making it a more sustainable approach.The use of organic farming methods result is a sustainable farm. Sustainable farms produce foods without excessive use of pesticides. This process makes the food healthier for the consumer. Research from the Green Peace Corporation states that â€Å"organic crops contain significantly more vitamin C, iron, and magnesium. † Each of these are important to human health. The research supports organic farming, as opposed to industrial agriculture. Sustainable farming successfully produces healthy food in an environmentally friendly manner.

Creoles & language evolution process Essay

Creoles have generally been considered to have more complex formation processes than pidgins, which lie at an earlier stage in the language evolution process (Culpeper, 1997). The processes that drive the development of creoles and pidgins have been the subject of interest and debate to linguists for many decades. Some have hypothesized that the development of these forms has been driven by variables similar to those that drive the creation of languages. Some of these hypotheses have included biological approaches to creole and pidgin evolution, while others have posited synchronic methods (Adone & Vainikka, 1999; Bickerton, 1999). Many of these synchronic and biological ideas are compelling highly challenging in their plausibility, employing ideas related to Universal Grammar as a means of illuminating creole and pidgin development. The development of pidgins has been considered to be less difficult to understand than that of creoles, mainly because of the precise phenomenon that pidgins describe. As a language form that develops from the mixing of two distinct languages, many have simply considered it to occur as a result of the mixing of two (or more) people groups that possess distinct languages. Yet, some complexity exists in the different scales to which pidgins might develop (Adone & Vainikka, 1999). Furthermore, it is interesting to note that when the languages of a bilingual child develop, even at an early age, that child generally distinguishes between the two perfectly without mixing them (Culpeper, 1997). When languages exist together on larger scales could be when pidgins are more likely to develop, and this appears to stem from the likelihood that the multiplicity of languages is intelligible by a wider range of persons. When this is the case, it creates no real need for any one speaker to make the effort distinguish between them for purposes of being understood. Despite the fact that pidgins and creoles are distinct language forms, many consider pidgins as a form that occurs on the way to the formation of a creole. In fact, the definition of creolization given by Adone and Vainikka is â€Å"the process by which pidgins develop into creole languages† (1999, p. 76). Discussions regarding the relationship that creolization bears to language acquisition processes and language development have led to two distinct schools of thought. One has viewed creolizaiton as being an extended process that takes several generations to mature. Indeed, this process never ends but continues to develop alongside the development of the particular culture in which it occurs. The other school of thought has viewed the process of creolization as on that has the potential to occur suddenly, within only one generation (1999). The gradual development of creoles appears to be more consistent with the prevailing theories of language development. If creoles are viewed according to the definition above (as a product of pidgin development) then it would appear that such a fast development of the language would be very difficult. Such speedy development would afford little time for the creation of the pidgin itself before its further evolution into a fully developed creole. The mixing of more than one language appears to be a phenomenon that would take quite some time, as this would involve a certain degree of standardization concerning which parts of each language should be included in this pidgin. In addition, it would appear that more than one generation would be needed to allow the general spread of this understanding among the population. However, it would also seem that geographical and population-density concerns would have a bearing on the ability of the creole to develop and suffuse an entire region. It may also depend on the demographic of the individuals who act as the agents of this development. Those theorists who believe that creolization has the potential to develop within one generation have cited young children as being the agents of such change (Bickerton, 1991, cited in Adone & Vainikka, 1999). This researcher argues that this form of â€Å"radical creole† develops through a Bioprogram that operates very closely with the theory of Universal Grammar. Such a development, therefore, is based on humans’ innate understanding of language, which is to some degree distinct from the language that is learned in any given cultural context. Because this theory posits humans as having a relationship to grammar that transcends the grammar rules of any given language, the development of a particular radical creole would be based on the similarity of the language variation put forth by each child despite the fact that they may not grow up in close proximity to each other (1991; 1999). This particular view of creolization is based on language evolution theories that take a biological or even genetic approach to language change (Mufwene, 2001; 2006). In the creole form used in Mauritius, for instance, the children have been found to make fewer â€Å"mistakes† that represent a non-conformity to the language than those found in many standardized, non-creole language (Adone & Vainikka, 1999; Bickerton, 1999). Bickerton writes, â€Å"Children acquiring English and other noncreole languages make a number of â€Å"mistakes,† a very high percentage of which would be fully grammatical utterances if the children were acquiring a creole language† (1999, p. 66). The opposite of this does not appear to be true—children acquiring creole languages do not make as many mistakes that would be considered grammatical in a noncreole language such as English or French (1999). It would seem therefore that creole might be considered a more naturally occurring form of a given language as distilled through the human’s biological propensity toward language expression. However, while this supports the idea of Universal Grammar, it does not appear to offer much support of radical creolization, as the Mauritian Creole has been evolving for many generations. Creoles and pidgins are interesting in that they offer insight into the earlier stages of language development. Many ideas exist concerning the classification of these language forms. Theories also exist concerning how such forms are developed, as well as the relationship they have to each other and to the languages on which they are based. Biological and synchronic approaches have both pointed toward the idea of Universal Grammar as having a bearing on the development of these forms of language, and intriguing (yet inconclusive) discussions have come about as a result of research done in that direction. . References Adone, D. & A. Vainikka. (1999). â€Å"Acquisition of Wh-questions in Mauritian creole. † Language creation and language change: creolization, diachrony, and development. Boston: MIT Press. p. 75-95. Bickerton, D. (1999). â€Å"How to acquire language without positive evidence: what acquisitionists can learn from creoles. Language creation and language change: creolization, diachrony, and development. Boston: MIT Press. p. 49-75. Bickerton, D. (1991). â€Å"Haunted by the specter of creole genesis. † Behavioral and Brain Sciences. 14: 364-366. Culpeper, J. (1997). History of English. Oxford: Routledge. Mufwene, S. S. (2001). The Ecology of Language Evolution. Cambridge: Cambridge UP. Mufwene, S. S. (2006). Language evolution : the population genetics way. Marges linguistiques, 11, 243-260.

Detoxing Diets B.S. or Life Changing Professor Ramos Blog

Detoxing Diets B.S. or Life Changing My cousin Jackie was a week away from her wedding date and was starting to feel anxious. She hadn’t been sticking to her diet and was feeling the pressure of fitting into her beautiful blush, mermaid fitted, beaded wedding gown. She tried juicing to lose weight quickly and feel healthy enough to finishing the last-minute details of the upcoming nuptials. Only thing is she is diabetic and her sugar levels were up and down making her sick the week of her wedding. Realizing it was the liquid diet making her ill, she switched to a well-balanced diet of healthy foods and finished her weight loss goal. She looked stunning and walked happily down the aisle on her wedding day with her handsome husband. Maintaining good health and riding the body of unnecessary and harmful chemicals is a natural concern for general health. Weight loss is one of the most common concern among Americans and searching for ways to achieve this successfully. The most advertised and common remedies are detox diets, whether it is juicing or colonics. It is a way to rejuvenate, renew and recharge the body. They promise to help you feel and look better by following a regimen. Most people, majority being women, are looking for a quick fix or fast solution to improve their body image or rapid weight loss. Others may consider it to be a way to cure an illness or disease. Is there proof of this conclusion? Do we need help to detox our bodies? I believe it is another â€Å"fad† for companies to sell a product or service that is unnecessary. Toxins we are exposed to daily may include pollutants in the air, ingredients in processed foods, pesticides on produce, or arsenic or mercury in the soil. For those who have an allergy to gluten that can also be harmful. Most things we consume can be harmful if we ingest a considerable amount. By cutting down on sugars, fats, and salt, with the help of our natural filtration system we can start feeling better (Cloake). Drinking only liquid can result in some weight loss but once carbohydrates and a normal diet is resumed the weight is gained back. There can be health risk when a detox diet is done improperly or for a long period of time.   Lack of protein due to insufficient amino acids for repair resulting in wasting of the muscle. Our bodies detoxify naturally every day without juicing. We have the kidneys and liver which filter and remove ingested toxins. Apovian says, â€Å"If someone wishes to detox from pesticides, sugars, or any other unhealthy substance, the best thing to do is abstain from it, and let the body remove the unwanted substance.† Most Americans are on the go and eat poorly due to time and money. With poor diet, necessary vitamins are lacking effecting the immune system therefore we feel tired and rundown. Eating better and exercise can help our body and organs function properly improving cellular and hormone balances. Fruits and vegetables should be a part of the daily diet so once individuals start drinking the juice they feel better attributing it to the liquid diet. â€Å"The notion that you can and should flush out your arteries or your intestines may seem plausible but it’s not,† says Edzard Ernst, M.D., Ph.D., professor of complementary medicine at Peninsula Medica l School in Exeter, England. In the article, â€Å"Do You Really Need to Detox† colon cleansing can be used to treat occasional constipation but regular colonics can cause cramping, nausea and vomiting. Dehydration can also be a risk with the persistent bowel movements and vomiting, electrolyte imbalance and infection can cause illness or death. Colonics can cause perforation and micro tears in the colon creating other health problems. People may be ignoring symptoms of a more serious condition and decide not to seek medical attention. Detox teas may decrease constipation, bloat, and flatulence by loosening bowels to clear intestines of any slow digesting material (Havala). According to Dr. B.J Hardick writes of detoxing as a necessity in the article, â€Å"The history of detox and why it’s not a fad,† stating the history and the â€Å"generation of wisdom and scientific knowledge† remains relevant and useful today. Detoxing has been used for centuries in the form of saunas or herbal baths but also in traditional Chinese medicine. They practice the ayurvedic method of detoxification after the World Trade Center tragedy and participants saw positive results in their health. We can still use ancient medicine in modern situations with a positive outcome. Metal can build up in the body through fish, environment and supplements that needs to be expelled through a detox of some form. He also states holistic medicine addresses issue with the body as a whole for treatment and not just the symptoms. The symptoms can be treated individually and caused by toxic accumulation. The body needs to be brought back to health as a whole in a purified state. Avoiding toxins or an environment can keep the body from absorbing possible harmful chemicals into the body. This science free health trend is driven by marketing, misinformation and fear.   It solely benefits the companies of these products and gives false hope to those with high expectations of life changing results. We can change our lifestyle and daily habits with the same results for long term success instead of these crash diets with short term results. It’s our sedentary lives and toxic exposure to food, gadgets, workplace and homes that cause our bodies to shut down or not function how they should be to naturally expel harmful toxins. There are no studies to show that a detox diet is necessary and can lead to a longer life. The human body can defend itself against environmental insults and occasional indulgences naturally. Save the money on a â€Å"fad† diet and start living a healthier lifestyle for longevity and happiness. Education is key to avoid falling prey to scams or nonsense suggestions we may run across. Apovian, Caroline M.D. BlackDoctor.org, â€Å"Are Detox Diets Safe? Nutrition Experts Weigh In.† Cloake, Felicity. â€Å"Let’s Face It: Detox Diets Are Making Fools of Us.† New Statesman, Jan. 2015, p. 53 â€Å"Do You Really Need to Detox?† Consumer Reports on Health, vol. 21, no. 1 Jan. 2009, p.6 Dr. B.J.Hardick.com. â€Å"The History of Detox- and Why It’s Not a Fad. May 11, 2016 Edzard Ernst M.D. â€Å"Detox is Bunk; Save Your Money.† Edzardernst.com. January 2018. Havala, Suzanne. â€Å"Detox Diets: The Pros and Cons of Cleansing Fasts and Products.† Environmental Nutrition, vol. 23, no. 3, Mar. 2000, p. 1 Netflix â€Å"The User’s Guide to Cheating Death.† 2018 Season 1 Episode 1.

Free Essays on Starbucks

With 30 million weekly customers, Starbucks is much more than a beverage company: it’s a lifestyle company (www.starbucks.com). Though Starbucks’ core-competence is gourmet coffee beverages, it also sells a brand that people have begun to associate with an upscale coffee culture. With the increasing popularity of urban coffee shops, the Starbucks name seems to get the most recognition. In fact, Starbucks seems to be the Rolls-Royces of this fast-growing industry. Every aspect of the Starbucks experience makes the consumer feel as though they are getting the highest-quality product and service offered. Every store is lavishly decorated to invite people in to â€Å"smell the coffee†; Starbucks sells the most well known brands of coffee machine products in the market; even the drinks are mostly priced above $3.00 (in comparison to the average drink at competitor Dunkin Donuts for a starting price of $0.99.) Starbucks has mastered the concept of consumer’s perceive value of a product based on it’s price. To understand how consumers attribute prestige to products, even a cup of coffee, it is important to examine some of the key marketing strategies companies like Starbucks use. Products are frequently bought and displayed as markers of social class. These products are referred to as status symbols (Solomon 441). Big-ticket items such as cars, entertainment systems, and jewelry are the most obvious examples, however, smaller purchases can also be tools to display a consumer’s social status. Starbucks is a perfect example. One small cup of coffee makes consumers feel more up-scale, trendy, noticed, and most importantly more fulfilled and satisfied with their choice. This is due to a product’s brand equity. Brand equity is defined as the extent to which a consumer holds strong, favorable, and unique associations with a brand in memory (Solomon 195). If a company can understand the components of their product and how co... Free Essays on Starbuck's Free Essays on Starbuck's With 30 million weekly customers, Starbucks is much more than a beverage company: it’s a lifestyle company (www.starbucks.com). Though Starbucks’ core-competence is gourmet coffee beverages, it also sells a brand that people have begun to associate with an upscale coffee culture. With the increasing popularity of urban coffee shops, the Starbucks name seems to get the most recognition. In fact, Starbucks seems to be the Rolls-Royces of this fast-growing industry. Every aspect of the Starbucks experience makes the consumer feel as though they are getting the highest-quality product and service offered. Every store is lavishly decorated to invite people in to â€Å"smell the coffee†; Starbucks sells the most well known brands of coffee machine products in the market; even the drinks are mostly priced above $3.00 (in comparison to the average drink at competitor Dunkin Donuts for a starting price of $0.99.) Starbucks has mastered the concept of consumer’s perceive value of a product based on it’s price. To understand how consumers attribute prestige to products, even a cup of coffee, it is important to examine some of the key marketing strategies companies like Starbucks use. Products are frequently bought and displayed as markers of social class. These products are referred to as status symbols (Solomon 441). Big-ticket items such as cars, entertainment systems, and jewelry are the most obvious examples, however, smaller purchases can also be tools to display a consumer’s social status. Starbucks is a perfect example. One small cup of coffee makes consumers feel more up-scale, trendy, noticed, and most importantly more fulfilled and satisfied with their choice. This is due to a product’s brand equity. Brand equity is defined as the extent to which a consumer holds strong, favorable, and unique associations with a brand in memory (Solomon 195). If a company can understand the components of their product and how co...

Quagga Facts and Figures

Quagga Facts and Figures Name: Quagga (pronounced KWAH-gah, after its distinctive call); also known as Equus quagga quagga Habitat: Plains of South Africa Historical Period: Late Pleistocene-Modern (300,000-150 years ago) Size and Weight: About four feet high and 500 pounds Diet: Grass Distinguishing Characteristics: Stripes on head and neck; modest size; brown posterior About the Quagga Of all the animals that have gone extinct over the past 500 million years, the Quagga has the distinction of being the first to have had its DNA analyzed, in 1984. Modern science quickly dissipated 200 years of confusion: when it was first described by South African naturalists, in 1778, the Quagga was pegged as a species of genus Equus (which comprises horses, zebras, and donkeys). However, its DNA, extracted from the hide of a preserved specimen, showed that the Quagga was actually a sub-species of the classic Plains Zebra, which diverged from the parent stock in Africa anywhere between 300,000 and 100,000 years ago, during the later Pleistocene epoch. (This shouldnt have come as a surprise, considering the zebra-like stripes that covered the Quaggas head and neck.) Unfortunately, the Quagga was no match for the Boer settlers of South Africa, who prized this zebra offshoot for its meat and its coat (and hunted it just for sport as well). Those Quaggas that werent shot and skinned were humiliated in other ways; some were used, more or less successfully, to herd sheep, and some were exported for display in foreign zoos (one well-known and much-photographed individual lived in the London Zoo in the mid-19th century). A few Quaggas even wound up pulling carts full of tourists in early 19th century England, which much have quite been an adventure considering the Quaggas mean, skittish disposition (even today, zebras are not known for their gentle natures, which helps to explain why they were never domesticated like modern horses.) The last living Quagga, a mare, died in full sight of the world, in an Amsterdam zoo in 1883. However, you may yet have the chance to see a living Quagga- or at least a modern interpretation of a living Quagga- thanks to the controversial scientific program known as de-extinction. In 1987, a South African naturalist hatched a plan to selectively breed back the Quagga from a population of plains zebras, specifically aiming to reproduce the Quaggas distinctive stripe pattern. Whether or not the resulting animals count as genuine Quaggas, or are technically only zebras that look superficially like Quaggas, will likely not matter to the tourists that (in a few years) will be able to glimpse these majestic beasts on the Western Cape.

Emotion and Reason Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Emotion and Reason - Essay Example For instance, if a person is happy and he writes a poem about her state it will motivate the readers to respond to the same state though they were not before. Following this, emotions may only perpetuate if logic and reason do not exist. The emotions may build up too much and one may not understand the need of these emotions. With this in mind, Plato concludes that even destructive emotions can be positive if one employs reason and logic to enhance a deeper understanding along with truth. This is summed up by the three components of human mind, which are desire, emotive, and reasoning parts. In his model, Aristotle believed that emotions are in split module but centred by ethical standards that result to desirable emotions. In this context, the right emotions are established from the principle of living a moral life. While people with desirable morals have right emotions those with undesirable life are vice versa. Aristotle believes that morals must harmonise with emotions and when t hey are combined dictates the human functioning. In his view, when one has a pure reasoning, the more one has the right emotions briefed in three components spirit, appetite, and spirit. Lastly, Stoics' conceptions of the good life regard that for one to achieve a true well-being one may require virtues, which are not inborn but inherited. The stoic account constructs the concept that human beings are born with an awareness of themselves and environmental factors dictate the state of well-being. According to Stoic, virtues are the sole foundation of happiness and all beings are capable of achieving these virtue. Failure of comprehending what is good leads to desirable emotions such s grief and anger (Haidt & Baron, 1996). In my opinion, Plato concept makes the most sense in that he recognizes that emotions can be constructed. In great thoughts, he highlights how poets construct emotions to readers despite lacking the stated emotions. Indeed, destructive emotions can be positive if o ne employs reason and logic to create a deeper understanding. For instance, a murder may desire to undesirable act out of self-gain but through logic and reason on what he would benefit may be a token it would create desirable emotions to him. This is what Plato defines as constructing emotions. Basically, the problematic aspect of Aristotle and the Stoics argument can be outlined on their concept that the more one has a pure life the more one has right emotions and the fact that environmental factors determines the state of being. In reality, Pluto proves that even destructive emotions can be positive if one use reason and logic to augments truth. Question 2 Master-slave analogy has been one of the recurrent metaphors to describe the relationship between reason and emotion. For various eminent thinkers including Plato, Stoics and Kant, reason is ought to be the master of emotions or passions. Do you think that this analogy righty captures the relationship between reason and emotion ? Why, why not? Discuss by using the relevant readings In my opinion, Master-Slave fails to capture the relationship between emotion and reason as it highlights two propositions. First, it suggests that emotion and reason are separate entities and secondly, reason should rule emotions since it is the greater one. Before highlighting the approach of reason and emotion, we will briefly explore the concepts of different ancient

Positron Emission Tomography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Positron Emission Tomography - Essay Example The nucleus of an atom has nucleons and the protons collectively known as nucleon. The mass number is the total number of nucleons present in a nucleus. A nuclide has the following composition, Atomic number denoted by Z, the neutron number denoted by N and the mass number denoted by A. isotopes are atomic species having identical properties in chemical composition (Z) but different mass numbers (A). The atom’s outermost orbital electrons are involved in the chemical reactions and the chemical behavior will not change when the compound is labeled with radioactive isotope. In addition, the nuclear radioactive characteristics are not affected by the chemical composition of the atom. When a small volume of a system comprises of numerous particles that are confined together, then the system becomes unstable. An unstable nucleus then becomes stable by transforming itself through emission of particles and photons. This process is what is termed as radioactive decay, and when the nuc lides undergo through a similar process, it is called radionuclide. The radioactivity studies form the basis to understand the atomic nucleus. Initial unstable nucleus in the decay of radioactive nuclides is known as the parent and daughter is the final nucleus that is more

Learning Plan 3 Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Learning Plan 3 Assessment - Essay Example Let’s say you are considering the purchase of a new car and you want to see how the interest rate impacts your monthly payment. The car is priced at $ 20,000, you want to finance it for five years (60 months), and the dealer is making an initial offer to you at a rate of 6% while your bank will loan you the money for 4.7%. Then, as you negotiate your deal with the car sales manager, you discover that the manufacturer is offering a rate of 2.2% if you buy the car in the next three days. As demonstrated in the chart below, the interest rate impacts the amount of money you will pay each month: The row labeled interest rate is the value that is changed in Goal seek. After setting the formula to calculate monthly payments for the parameters described above, simply click on Tools, Goal Seek. Excel will provide a pop-up window to allow you to determine which field is to be affected by your what-if scenario. In the â€Å"set cell† field, simply click on the cell that has the payment amount in it. Skip over the â€Å"To value† section and click in the â€Å"By changing cell.† At that point, click on the cell that has the interest rate variable and click â€Å"okay.† You will then be able to change the interest rate and, each time you do so, the payment will change to show you the payment associated with the altered interest rate. In the table above, the three possible interest rates offered by the dealership, bank, and manufacturer are shown, and the corresponding payments indicate the difference the rates make. It is intuitive that the lower the int erest rate the lower the payment, but the Goal Seek tool allows you to see that there is a difference of over $ 30.00 per month between the rates offered. This is just a simple example of what Goal Seek can do, and the models used by most business analysts are much more complicated than the one shown here. The advantage of Goal Seek is that it allows the

Globalization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 11

Globalization - Essay Example This essay stresses that economic globalisation is also evident in the global restructuring and readjustment of industries. Movement from labor-intensive to capital-intensive production is increasing in developing countries. Due to competition for the international markets, economic globalisation has taken a different trend. Mergers, acquisitions, and strategic alliances are now normal to improve competitiveness. Examples are international economic and financial organisations, such as World Bank controlled by the west. As a result, the West uses this advantage to promote and control economic globalisation. Through the control of these institutions, they can control less developed countries and influence their economic development agenda. China's quick entry as a WTO member also goes to show how much nations are interested in being part of economic globalisation. This paper makes a conclusion that in the wake of accelerated economic globalisation less developed countries find themselves in a dilemma. Should they isolate themselves from the process, they will surely not benefit from technology transfers. FDIs are sidelined in the development process. Participation also carries its risks. The developed countries dominance in the process of economic globalisation will reduce them to mere annexes of the developed countries. As a result, there is need to safeguard interests of developing countries in the development of new economic orders.

Financial Analysis of Mitsui & CO Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Financial Analysis of Mitsui & CO - Essay Example The company seems to be well managed. The profitability assessments are mostly positive, the liquidity position of the company is also steady and the operational efficiency is also relatively good. But the capital structure shows weaknesses. The company needs to reduce its leverage for it to be viable in the longrun. The ratings provided by the above organizations show that the company is well trusted in the market and shows strength. Appendix 1. Return on Investment (ROI) = {Profit before interest and tax (PBIT) / Investment (total assets - current liabilities)} 2007: (2798 / 50,874) x 100; 2006: (2164 / 43270) x 100 2. Gross Profit Ratio = (Gross Profit) / Revenue 2007: (2798 / 41,363) x 100; 2006: (2164 / 29741) x 100 3. Return on Equity (ROE) = {Profit after interest and tax / Equity }x 100 2007: (1347 / 17,884) x 100; 2006: (1066 / 14,341) x 100 4. Earnings per share (given as income per share) 5. Working Capital = Current assets - Current liabilities 2007: (42,998 - 32,290) ; 2006: (40,571 - 30,008) 6. Current Ratio = Current assets : Current liabilities 2007: ((42,998 / 32,290) ; 2006: (40,571 / 30,008) 7. Acid Test (or Quick) Ratio = Quick Assets : Current liabilities (Quick assets = current assets - stocks) 2007: (42,998 - 2155) / 32,290 ; 2006: (40,571 - 2736) / 30,008 8. Total Asset Turnover = Revenue / Total assets (fixed + current) (times) 2007: (41,363 / 83,164) ; 2006: (35,175 / 73,278) 9. Fixed Asset Turnover = Revenue / Fixed Assets (times) 2007: (41,363 / 8365) ; 2006: (35,175 / 6378) 10. Cash Turnover Ratio = Revenue / Average Cash Balances (times) 2007: {41,363 / [(6780 + 5958)/ 2] }; 2006: {35,175 / [(5958 + 7400) / 2]} 11. Gearing ratio = {Total debt capital / (Total debt capital + Equity funds) }x 100 2007: {(5583 + 3151) / [5583 + 3151 + 17,884] ] x 100; 2006: {(4622 + 3019) / [4622 + 3019 + 14,341] } x 100 12. Debt-Equity ratio = (Debt capital / Equity capital ) x 100 2007: {(5583 + 3151) / 17,884 }x 100; 2006: {(4622 + 3019) / 14,341} x 100 13. Debt Ratio = (Total Debt Finance / Total Assets) x100 2007: {(5583 + 3151) / 83,164}x 100; 2006: {(4622 + 3019) / 73,278}x 100 References Annual Report 2007: Mitsui & Co, Ltd. [Online]www.mitsui.co.jp. Annual Report 2006: Mitsui & Co, Ltd. [Online]www.mitsui.co.jp. Annual Report 2005: Mitsui & Co, Ltd. [Online]www.mitsui.co.jp. Annual Report 2004: Mitsui & Co, Ltd. [Online]www.mitsui.co.jp. "Financial Information: Credit Ratings." www.mitsui.co.jp. "Mitsui &

Globalization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 11

Globalization - Essay Example This essay stresses that economic globalisation is also evident in the global restructuring and readjustment of industries. Movement from labor-intensive to capital-intensive production is increasing in developing countries. Due to competition for the international markets, economic globalisation has taken a different trend. Mergers, acquisitions, and strategic alliances are now normal to improve competitiveness. Examples are international economic and financial organisations, such as World Bank controlled by the west. As a result, the West uses this advantage to promote and control economic globalisation. Through the control of these institutions, they can control less developed countries and influence their economic development agenda. China's quick entry as a WTO member also goes to show how much nations are interested in being part of economic globalisation. This paper makes a conclusion that in the wake of accelerated economic globalisation less developed countries find themselves in a dilemma. Should they isolate themselves from the process, they will surely not benefit from technology transfers. FDIs are sidelined in the development process. Participation also carries its risks. The developed countries dominance in the process of economic globalisation will reduce them to mere annexes of the developed countries. As a result, there is need to safeguard interests of developing countries in the development of new economic orders.

Bob Knowlton Case analysis Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Bob Knowlton analysis - Case Study Example Knowlton felt threatened because Fester was quick to spot problems, knew about things that he had barely studied at the lab, and could single handedly solve huge problems- some of which had been abandoned long time back. Fester was intelligent, confident and secure but what Bob failed to see was that he was a poor team player. How Fester Threatened Knowlton: From day one, Fester made it clear that he had immense knowledge. He told Knowlton he could tell what his project was about by simply looking at the graphs. Knowlton was quick to acknowledge this when he met Jerrold the next day. Fester was introduced to other members of the team and went right ahead to tell Link, the mathematician, what he was doing wrong. Fester challenged the group thinking, believing it only led to mediocrity. Knowlton had always believed in group-thinking and Fester had suddenly come up with solutions single handedly which made Knowlton question the efficacy of group thinking. Fester would often come up with analysis and scientific knowledge that Knowlton was unaware of. Instead of helping Knowlton understand what he was talking about, Fester would enthusiastically go on explaining his theories expecting everyone to already know what he was talking about. This gave him a superior status while everyone else felt inferior to him. During one meeting, he challenged Link's way of thinking and offered solution to a problem that Link had long abandoned feeling that it could not be solved. Fester also pointed out the weaknesses in various experiments and experimenting method and claimed that if this method were followed, resulted would be inconclusive. Fester's... This paper presents Bob Knowlton’s strengths. Bob Knowlton had been working with Simmons Laboratories for two years and had been made project head only recently. He was a leader whom people loved and respected. He had a good relationship with company’s head, Mr. Jerrold. He was a capable leader who would enjoy developing relationships with others and encouraged group thinking. He felt that while there were some problems that could not be solved by group thinking, in most cases, the ideas that emerged from such an approach were helpful. Knowlton had been promoted when he had accidentally stumbled on the idea of photon reactor. Knowlton was hardworking and enjoyed staying late in the office. This helped him find some quiet time to think over various problems and to assess project’s progress. He was a man with a traditional yet highly admired style of leadership. The paper also demonstrated Knowlton’s mistake. Knowlton was felt so threatened by Fester that he totally blinded himself to his obvious flaws. Had Knowlton been more secure and sure of himself, he would have talked to Jerrold and pointed those flaws. It would have then become easier to see that Fester could never replace Knowlton as the leader because Knowlton was a true team player- a key trait of a good leader and a pre-requisite for becoming a leader in the first place. Bob Knowlton should have focused on his own strengths as a leader. He already knew that he couldn’t possibly know about everything but he was a good leader who could use his people’s strengths to his advantage.

The low growth of women Essay Example for Free

The low growth of women Essay Due to the low growth of women entering in the politics, people all around the world are suggesting different approaches to enhance the growth of women in the political sector. Applying quota system is one of the approaches. The initiation of quotas in legislation for women puts forward a policy of precise means and goals. Due to the system’s affectability and efficiency the masses think that this approach will increase the representation of women in the politics. But these quota systems also face strong resilience and raise very serious questions. How to execute the quota policy? What happened to the countries who adopted the quota systems? What arguments come up for the use of quotas? Justification: The main thought behind using the quota approach is to encourage women to participate more in politics and work in political positions and also see to that the women are not only a few tokens in the political scenario. Quotas ensure that women are entitled to have a specified percentage of the associates in the legislative body, whether it is a committee, an assembly or a government. Quota systems help to raise the representation of women in the political world to ensure that women are not left out or being isolated and are at the every step of the political systems (Niven, 1998). Pros of quota system: ? Quotas will help to minimize the stress faced by the already present token women in the parliament or committee. ? It will help to raise the rights of women as a civilian in the same demonstration. ? The need of women’s experiences in the political life can be filled. ? It will help to represent the qualities and qualifications of women, which are the same as men, in the male dominated society. ? The fact is the political parties nominate the selections, not the voters, who only decide which nominee is elected. ? Conflicts may arise by applying quotas, but it would be temporary and will do a lot of good in the long run in the representation of women in the political frame. Opposing view point: According to Anna Balletbo and many others quotas are considered as double ended swords. Each end gives the male the upper hand over women. At one end, men think to empower the women by involving them in decision making and creating more opportunities for them. But at the other end, the men who are responsible for creating opportunities for women will try to find the women whom they can manage very easily and only allow the specific type of women who accept the domination of man over women (International IDEA, 2007). Cons of quota system: ? Quotas represent unequal opportunity for all as it is not purely based on merit and favors women. ? Quotas also represent an undemocratic atmosphere as the voters are not able to make the decision about who is going to be elected. ? Quotas simply shows that the political candidates are nominated because of their gender rather then their qualifications, which creates a system of unfairness as merit is not being preferred and people with higher capabilities and higher qualifications are brushed aside by the quota system. ? Women don’t want to get involved in politics because of the perception that women cannot be a part of government. ? Implementation of quotas will create many inter- party conflicts and lead to political instability. Conclusion: The primary objective of quota system is to increase the number of women in the political scenario and clearly represent the under acknowledge gender in the political system. A successful quota arrangement will allow the ample amount of qualified women candidates to be recruited by the political group or party, and a certain number of women will be in the part of the government instead of the few token one’s and lastly it will allow the elected women candidates to enforce their idea’s and their feminist thinking in decision making process. Just to pass a rule to allow women a 30 per cent seats in the parliament is not adequate. Implementation of the quotas is essential. Regulations should be kept clear cut, the vaguer they are, the more the risk of the non-implementation of quota regulations. Implementing the quota system will not silence its critics, as the regulatory body and the supporters of quota system need to understand, that their criticism is not temporary and have to be dealt throughout the future. By introducing quota system in the government bodies, in the past decade, has made considerable rise in the women politicians in most of the countries. These countries experienced a change in the policies and a significant growth in the women decision making. But it also depends upon the women as to how much they are loyal to their respective political parties and how much of the policy of quota is implemented (Tremblay, 2008). Through research it has been shown that women who are engaged in some sort of civil society work have got a higher chance of getting elected then the one’s who don’t and they also enjoy a greater influence on bills and policies then other women. Even if the quota system is implemented many hurdles are still to overcome in all the male-dominated societies. Reference: Niven, David. The Missing Majority: The Recruitment of Women as State Legislative Candidates. Praeger, 1998. International IDEA. Designing for Equality: Best-Fit, Medium-Fit and Non-Favourable Combinations of Electoral Systems and Gender Quotas. International Idea, 2007. Tremblay, Manon. Women and Legislative Representation: Electoral Systems, Political Parties, and Sex Quotas. Palgrave Macmillan, 2008.

Marketing Mix Analysis Of Le Bistrot Pierre Restaurant Marketing Essay

Marketing Mix Analysis Of Le Bistrot Pierre Restaurant Marketing Essay Introduction Marketing mix is used to describe the combination of different marketing activities that a business does to best meet the needs of the market it is targeting (Jobber and Fahy, 2009). At first, the marketing mix was compounded of 4Ps; starting with the product, price, place and promotion. Thereafter other elements were added to these tools and these elements were; people, process and physical evidence. Considering the added elements, the marketing mix of 7Ps forms a tool that businesses use to satisfy the needs of costumers in the market it targets. Accordingly, the purpose of this report is to analyse how Le Bistrot Pierre, a French restaurant on Mill Lane, in Leicester uses the marketing mix. Identifying where this restaurant succeeds in using the 7Ps and where it fails and proposing what improvements can be made. The main product in Le Bistrot Pierre is the food and drinks menu. The products must provide good value for money for customers and be of a high quality to entice the customers to want to spend and to make a return visit. This restaurants food and drinks menu are of a very high standard. The website notes that the managing team of the restaurant often go to France to taste new foods and drinks to offer to their customers. Le Bistrot Pierre also offers a breakfast menu to its customers at selected branches. Unfortunately, Le Bistrot Pierre does not offer a childrens food menu. However, if the restaurant was to offer a childrens menu it would entice families to visit the restaurant knowing that they would not have to buy their children and adults meal only for a lot of it to be wasted. Furthermore, offering a childrens menu would promote the restaurants family friendly atmosphere and increase overall profits. As mentioned above Le Bistrot Pierre offers a breakfast menu, however it only offers this menu at its Leamington Spa, Harrogate, Stockton Heath and Stratford-Upon-Avon branches. Therefore, its customers in places like Nottingham and Leicester do not have the opportunity to taste this menu. Furthermore, although these 4 branches offer breakfast menus they all open at different times, for instance, Stratford-Upon-Avon offers its breakfast menu from 7am on weekdays whereas Leamington Spa only offers its breakfast menu on weekends (Le Bistrot Pierre, 2010). One problem with this is that customers who are travelling throughout the UK and see a Le Bistrot Pierre restaurant may assume that they can get a breakfast then realise that the particular branch they have gone to does not offer this service. Though Szymanski, et al (1993) suggest that marketing standardisation across business branches is still under constant debate, the effect of giving customers mixed perceptions about opening time s and breakfast service across cities may be problematic. Therefore to ensure that customers have a good customer experience at all times the chain should offer the breakfast menu at all its chains and at the same times. The Price It is important that the price should be competitive however the food offered should also represent the amount of money that the customer is spending on it. The lunch menu at Le Bistrot Pierre according to the website is  £9.75 for two courses and  £11.75 for three courses (Le Bistrot Pierre, 2010). These prices are reasonable when one looks at other French style restaurants in Nottingham. For instance, French Livings lunch time menu offers a two course meal for  £8.50 and a three course meal for  £10.50 (French Living 2010). In addition to this, Le Mistral in Nottingham offers a 2 course lunch menu for  £8.90 and 3 course lunch for  £10.90 (Le Minstral 2010). In regard the wine menu at Le Bistrot Pierre, they offer their cheapest white wine at  £13.75 and the most expensive at  £27.60, and for their red wine, their cheapest is  £17.95 and their most expensive  £61.75. This seems reasonable when compared with Le Mistral another French restaurant in Nottingham that offers their cheapest white wine at  £13.95 and their most expensive at  £45.50, and for their red wine their cheapest is  £13.95 and their most expensive is  £45.60. The Place Place is concerned with the location so that the customer can buy the product with ease, and its accessibility to the store is another important aspect. In the case of the restaurant it ideally should be in a central place. This means that it is in an area of high exposure for potential customers, be they on foot or in a car. In regard to Le Bistrot Pierre, they are located centrally in all their 8 locations. These locations are in different counties in the UK such as, Derby, Harrogate, Leamington Spa, Leicester, Nottingham, Sheffield, Stockton Heath and Stratford-Upon-Avon. Similarly, a new branch is being opened in Yorkshire, providing a wider reach to customers around the UK. A negative aspect of Le Bistrot Pierre is that it does not offer a car parking facility at any of its chains; therefore if someone wishes to park their car they will have to pay high central city prices. One potential improvement for future restaurants within this group would be to have a car parking facility to entice customers from the outskirts of cities to visit them. The Promotion Promotion involves different items and the ways in which businesses communicate their products to the customer showing the benefits of buying their products. Le Bistrot Pierre has 2 very popular promotions they do daily, the first is the Early Bird and Pre-Theatre menu which consists of 2 courses before 7pm and costs 13.90. The second is the Prix Fixe Evening with a glass of St. Jean wine which costs 15.50. In regard to special events, Le Bistrot Pierre offers the Soirà ©e Gastronomique menu on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month for 21.90 and the Dine with Wine 3 course menu, each course comes with a specially matched wine for 26.90. In addition to this, Le Bistrot Pierre also promotes its brand via gift cards that customers can purchase for their family and friends to go and try the restaurants food and drink. The People People includes everyone who is connected to the product. This involves employees, customers, management and the business owners; therefore everyone has an important role in making the business succeed. The restaurant need to have qualified chefs and staff who can present the product to the customers and are experts in French cuisine. Le Bistrot Pierre details on their website the type of person they wish to work them, noting that they wish to employ people who are friendly, enthusiastic, hard working and care about giving excellent customer service in a busy restaurant environment. Le Bistrot Pierres website has several reports from journalists promoting the superior quality of their food. Furthermore, Le Bistrot Pierre uses the media and journalists to promote their offers and competitions for free evening meals. The Process Process focuses on the activities done to the product before it is provided to the customer and the method or the process used to provide the service. The main element in process is time, if the process takes long, the sale of the product will be affected. Interestingly, the Le Bistrot Pierre team visits some suppliers in order to ensure the health of the livestock purchased. This evidently expresses the concern that the management have towards providing the customers with their monies worth. Accordingly, the quicker the process is, the more appreciated the product. In the restaurant website news section, an article taken from Leicester and mercury newspaper dated 3rd June 2010 shows an appreciation to this process of being quick and flawless. The only slight let down mentioned by the writer Gary Mitchell was that when he ordered chocolate mousse for his desert, he ended up with an Orange chocolate he did not order. The Physical Evidence Physical evidence can be defined as the experience in the use of either service or product. For example, brochures or pamphlets that describe the product to the customer to enable him to know what he is buying and its qualities. Also, the restaurant is furnished in a very warm way in which the high and middle class individuals will be comfortable dining and wining. Moreover, the arrangement of the hall can be adjusted to suit family seating. This means customers of different categories can find convenience in Le Bistrot Pierre. In the case of the different restaurant servings, it is described in its various menu cards for starters, main courses, desserts, and drinks. Conclusion In general, Le Bistrot Pierre used all the 7Ps of the marketing mix to meet the needs of the customers, though it slightly failed to use them fully as Gary Mitchells article points out. Improving the quality of the service, adding childrens menu and creating home delivery meals, would help to increase the popularity of the restaurant; though it has already set a good reputation in gastronomy as the restaurant declares it in the website. Furthermore, Le Bistrot Pierre may preferably consider putting the breakfast menu in all branches that do not have this menu yet. This should be supported by specific timing for the breakfast start in all branches. Finally, Le Bistrot Pierre do not have car park and may lose some customers. They could try to create arrangements (or contract) with the nearest car park and tell the customers they have free parking. This will serve as a means to entice potential customers and increase business for the restaurant.

mass commication and how it affects todays youth Essay examples -- ess

From Eminem’s hardcore explicit lyrics, to Lil Kim’s outrageous outfits to the late Tupac Shakur’s â€Å"thug life† image, the rap subculture has been under a lot of speculation. Many rappers lyrics contain violent messages that parents fear are encouraging youth to become violent. The media has a field day covering protests against rappers, such as Eminem about their explicit lyrics towards gays, women and their promotion of violence. The main concern is how rap is influencing today, particularly towards the youth community, and the answer can be found in the media. There are a lot of articles, books, movies and documentaries written and produced each year with hip-hop being the main subject. This great plethora of media not only affects the youth but other people as well. However, one needs to understand how the rap culture got started, and why the media found it interesting enough to give it a substantial amount of coverage.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  According to Webster, rap is rhythmic chanting of usually rhyming couplets to a musical accompaniment (Webster, 607). The rap subculture began in the African community residing in the Bronx during the 70’s with rappers free styling—when artists rhyme without memorization or writing down lyrics—in the park, on street corners and in apartment basements (Watkins, 63). This was a harmless way of determining who the best lyricist was. At the time artists such as Arrested Development made lyrics that sent a positive message to the African community. The group’s songs address topics ranging from homelessness to the search for spirituality and African Americans’ connection with Africa. Through their positive influence they received â€Å"Best New Artist† and â€Å"Best Rap Artist† during the 1993 Grammy Awards (Boyd, 44). During its birth, this subculture produced many other cultures such as graffiti art, break dancing and most notably rap music. This subculture was very expressive and paved the way for latter cultures’ success. In his book, Fight the Power, Chuck D (a member of rap group Public Enemy) states, â€Å"Hip hop is a subculture of Black culture. It’s another term for Black creativity. Rap music is here to stay because it’s vocal over music, and as the music changes the vocals can remain the same because it’s one of the few live vocal styles ever used for recording music† (p.g. 248). He was right because as the 80’s wer... ...l Publishing. 1998 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  S. Craig Watkins, 1998. â€Å"Balck Youth and the Ironies of Capitalism.† In Representing Hip-Hop Culture and the Production of Black Cinema. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nelson George, Hip Hop America. New York: Penguin Books, 1998 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Heru Ptah. A Hip Hop Story. New York: Pocket Books, 2002 6.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  8 Mile, starring Eminem and Malik Phieffer 7.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Brown Sugar staring Sanaa Lathan and Taye Diggs 8.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Clarence Lusane. 1993 â€Å"Rap, race and politics.†. Black America: The Street and the Campus. Special Issue of Reace and Class: 35:1. 9.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Tricia Rose. Never Trust, 1996 page 60 10.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Todd Boyd. 1994. â€Å"Check Yo Self before you Wreck Yo Self:: Variations on a Political Theme in Rap Music and Popular Culture.† Public Culture. 7:1. 11.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Connie Buck. 7 July 1991. â€Å"The Takedown of Tupac.† The New Yorker 12.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Randall Sullivan. 7 June 2001. â€Å"The Murder of the Notorious BIG.† Rolling Stone.

The Hoover Company and Dyson

Table of Contents Question 12 Dyson’s Value Chain Model2 Competency framework model3 DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS4 Question 25 VRIO FRAMWORK5 DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS6 Question 36 Question 47 References:8 Question 1 Using framework from the chapter, analyse the strategic capabilities of Dyson. Dyson’s Value Chain Model Support Activities FirmInfrastructure| Structuring and planning, HQ in UK, manufacturing and testing facility in Malaysia with 120 testing station, patent protection, management, corporate commitment to product development supported by company motto: thinking, testing, breaking, questioning. 50 engineers in Wilshire with 20 specialist laboratories close by. | INFORMATION FLOW Human ResourceManagement| Up-to-date employee details, training, reward scheme, 2500 people working for Dyson around the world, recruitment follows an online process, the right candidate will be called for an interview, recruitment strategy focuses on recruitment of engineers and designers | TechnologyDevelopment| Margin Helps in R&D, which is the key operation, ERD and IRM to manage the information flow within the company, a wide selection of technology involve in production process and technological innovation. Dyson’s technology: multiplier technology and ball technology. | Procurement| Raw materials procure from the UK and Asia. Majority of procurement come from Asia where suppliers are based and cost are low. The material is shipped to Dyson’s manufacturing plant in Malaysia. Malaysia is on of the leading procurement centres in the world. | Primary Activities Inbound logistics| Connected with suppliers, so that they can meet the needs, raw materials, energy, inventory management, reverse logistics process as defective product can be returned to Dyson company at the cost to the customer. The product will be return within 24h to the customer. | Operations| Avoiding unwanted operations and thus enhance the flexibility, manufacturing the products in Malaysia and China, the NQ in the UK, developing and testing the prototypes, sending the prototype through production process. The manufacturing process that converts raw materials into various products. The operation phase is preceded by the development of a prototype. Various forms of technology is used to develop a prototype from special computerized technology to plasticine and cardboard. Outbound logistics| Fast and direct link to distributors all over the world, Dyson’s sell his products directly from their website and retail stores like comet or curry’s. Activities of outbound logistics are customer’s orders which are shipped to different locations around the world. | Research &Development| 50% of the company profit is spend on R&D, 350 engeeners, R&D in the UK, design, technological innovation an d creativity. Marketing & Sales| Electronic market research, advertising, Dyson award for young inventors, online ordering process, online marking, strategy where the customer can shop online with the assistance of customer service agents. The online order makes easy for the customer to choose product, models and performance. | Service| Effective after sales services to the client at cost to the client, 7 days a week customer help line and online customer service, 5 years warranty for Dyson’s products. | INFORMATION FLOW Competency framework model ———————————————— Dyson: threshold resources ————————————————- †¢Engineering design equipment (tangible) ———————————— Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- †¢Product supplies (tangible) ————————————————- †¢Manufacturing space (tangible) ————————————————- †¢Offices and facilities (tangible) ————————————————- †¢appropriate personnel (tangible) ————————————————- sufficient customers (human resource) ————————————————- ———————————————— - Dyson: threshold competences ————————————————- †¢general management skills including distribution & marketing (intangible) ————————————————- †¢Engineering design skills (intangible) ————————————————- †¢Cost control through manufacturing in low-cost locations; Malaysia and China (tangible) ————————————————- Quality assurance and control, 550 tests before the product will reach production line (tangible) ———————————————â€⠀- †¢The ability to attract customers sufficiently inspired by design to pay premium prices across (intangible), ————————————————- ————————————————- Dyson: distinctive resources ————————————————- †¢James Dyson himself (human resource) ————————————————- The Dyson brand name and strategy of high-end products in an otherwise dull market (intangible source) ————————————————- †¢An HQ building and related laboratories desig ned to foster innovation (tangible resource) ————————————————- †¢Product portfolio and associated patents (intangible) ————————————————- †¢High R&D budget (tangible) ————————————————- †¢Company invests extensively in PR & advertising (intangible) ————————————————- Ownership of the manufacturing facilities and hence control over the working conditions of the employees versus other companies that contract out their manufacturing and can be accused of supporting poor labour conditions different markets (tangible) ——â €”—————————————- †¢ 350 engineers involve in R&D (tangible) ————————————————- †¢ Manufacturing plants in Malaysia and Singapore (tangible) ————————————————- †¢ 120 testing stations (tangible) ————————————————- †¢ Physical products. Space cube kitchen, vacuums, washing machine and air knives (tangible) ————————————————- †¢ Corporate culture, Dyson encourage their workers to think outside the box, the company mix experience engineers with freshly qualified to give them the chance to make a difference, entrepreneurial culture with a huge emphasis on innovation, creativity and initiative (intangible) ————————————————- †¢ Human resources: Dyson is committed to hiring people who are creative and courageous, unconditioned fresh-thinkers (tangible) ————————————————- Finance resources ————————————à ¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- ————————————————- Dyson: distinctive competences ————————————————- †¢Inspirational leadership around the value of engineering (intangible) ————————————————- †¢Design engineering skills that transform ideas into practicable products (intangible) ————————————————- †¢Competence to make engineering aesthetically attractive (intangible) ————————————————- Seamless value chain despite design a nd manufacturing being in different locations (intangible) ————————————————- †¢Being one step ahead of competitors attracting customers and subsequent followers including premium pricing (intangible) ————————————————- †¢ Attractiveness of their product, never being boring; always being surprising and colourful (tangible) ————————————————- †¢ Marketing expertise (tangible) ————————————————- Manufacturing process, product design: combination of design engineering and manufacturing (tangible) ———— Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- †¢ 50% of the profit goes on R&D (intangible) ————————————————- DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS All the key activities in Dyson value chain are intertwined due to very innovative approach to products. Dyson’s decision of moving manufacturing to Malaysia and Singapore was based on reduce cost of production but the profit was not the only reason. Very important was the short distance from the Asian suppliers and primary consumer market. Dyson’s shows very unorthodox approach towards by allocating 50% of their profit into R&D. It proves that it was the right decision by showing three new products; newer root cyclone technology, air-blade hand dryer and bladeless fans. (Arnott, 2010) While leaving its HQ in the UK to be close to centre of innovative technology and development. Their HQ is the centre of developing, testing and prototyping which employees 350 engineers. We cannot forget about inspirational leadership pertaining to the value of engineering and design engineering skills. Dyson’s employment strategy focuses on the recruitment of engineers and designers more than any other group of people. The HR philosophy in Dyson is ‘‘to nurture talent and challenge people to get the best from them’’. Recruited staffs typically follow a linear progression in moving up the ladder of their career. The Dyson website reports that there are 10 different types of benefits, staffs are entitled to. There are 2500 people working for Dyson around the world with a growing demand to recruit more engineers at the Wiltshire head office. Recruitment follows an online process and successful candidates are called for interviews where the best are selected. Dyson’s shows vibrant, entrepreneurial culture with a huge emphasis on innovation, creativity and initiative. Dyson don’t strap people into suit and plonk them behind desks. The staffs are encouraged to develop new ideas outside of the traditional boundaries. Question 2 To what extent do you think any of the capabilities can be imitated by competitors? VRIO FRAMWORK | Valuable? | Rare? | Costly to Imitate? | Exploitable by the Organisation? | Competitive Implications? | | NO| —| —| NO| Competitive Disadvantage| YES| NO| —|   | Competitive Parity| | YES| YES| NO|   | Temporary competitive advantage | | YES| YES| YES| YES| Sustained competitive advantage| 1. Inspirational leadership | YES| YES| YES| YES| Sustained competitive advantage| 2. J. Dyson| YES| YES| YES| YES| Sustained competitive advantage| 3. R&D expertise| YES| YES| Y ES| YES| Sustained competitive advantage| 4. Physical products| YES| YES| YES| YES| Sustained competitive advantage| 5. Manufacturing plants | YES| YES| YES| YES| Sustained competitive advantage| 6. Design engineering skills | YES| YES| YES| YES| Sustained competitive advantage| 7. The brand name| YES| YES| YES| YES| Sustained competitive advantage| 8. Corporate culture| YES| YES| YES| YES| Sustained competitive advantage| DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS In my opinion any capabilities can be imitated by competitors with exception of patents which are protected for the limited time period. Competition itself it doesn’t have to be the direct threat but in today’s world allow us close observation resulting in many cases in reverse engineering provoking technology improvements and finding more sufficient solutions. There in not such a thing as a well protected company. Dyson lost case in English Court with TTI) Market share among competitors does not relay on available technology only. There so many different factors like cost efficiency, marketing, advertising, location and so on and those factors are usually used for market domination in the same product range. Every competitive company could be categorizing by distinctive capabilities. Distinctive capabili ties are giving the particulars companies a distinctive edge directly related to market demands e. g. Electrolux – saving products, Dyson –eco-friendly or innovative appearance and Miele – reliability. Question 3 Which of Dyson’s distinctive capabilities may, over time, become threshold capabilities? Distinctive resources and competencies and its diversification rely on certain niche market. Not every consumer is preparing to pay a premium price for the product representing outstanding innovative look and design. Many of us are not prepare to do so because reliability and traditional brand name are the factors instigating our choices. Different companies relay on different strategy to maintain its market position and this is usually based on traditionally recognise distinctive competences, resources and capabilities. There are some companies with well establish markets names which are used by generation of consumers e. g. Electrolux or Miele. In the age of new technologies distinctiveness of the product will loose its grounds towards unification, which proves the point that distinctive resources, competences and capabilities will loose its outstanding values over unification. Dyson is based on innovated look targeting high end product users constantly reinvesting its profit towards new concepts and this idea is very alien for more conservative approach to well establish group of consumers. In my opinion you do try to repair something which is not broken. If the company will consequently follow the idea of JD towards mixing arts and engineering and investment of the huge portion of profit in R&D they will maintain its position in the market leadership. All of the sudden well established companies who dominated market for generations got over come by relatively speaking new comer Dyson Ltd. In order to reverse the situation there are force to rethink own market approach and adapt new ideas e. g. allocation funds for R&D, creativity in product appearance and implementation of new design and technologies. Question 4 Bearing in mind your answers to question 1 and 2, how crucial is Sir James Dyson to the future of the company? What might be the effect of his completely leaving or selling the company? In my opinion JD left the impact not own in his only company but also changed the approach of consumers market towards unusually innovative products. Instead of using straight path and follow existing concepts he is famous for introducing futuristic ideas. This is not easy to implement radically different products although he is doing this with the full determination. Relationship between unconventional design and markets needs is known not always in tune. In his concept thinking, testing, breaking, questioning will always find a group of devoted followers. From practical point of view his smart ideas of protecting his product by patents law secure the company position against the catching up competitors. He showed that simple household products could have very artsy design for which he could charge the premium price. His innovative approach includes unprecedented allocation of 50% of the profit towards R&D. By doing this Dyson is securing strong and save position of his company. Every strategic decision to resign his CEO position allows him to still have very strong impact on a product outcome by holding the key decision to innovated design. If he ever decides to leave or sell the company his legacy won’t be forgotten. This company maintain its leading status would probably prolong his vision in order to stay ahead of competition. If Dyson decides to sell the company and the new owner doesn’t follow his idea the company will become one of many without distinction. References: Arnott, S. , 2010. Dyson Profit Double Thanks to R&D Investment. The Independent, [online] 27 May, Available at http://www. independent. co. uk/news/business/news/dyson-profits-double-thanks-to-rd-investment-1983841. html, [Accessed on 15/11/2011] Barney, J. B. , â€Å"Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage,† Journal of Management 17 (1991), p. 101, [Accessed on 10/11/2011] Campbell, D. , Stonehouse G et al. (2002) Business Strategy-An introduction, 2nd edition, page 40-50, [Accessed on 10/11/2011] Dess, G. G. , Lumpkin, G. T. , et al. , Strategic Management (Boston, McGraw Hill, 2004) pp. 141-148, [Accessed on 17/11/2011] Grand, R. M. Contemporary Strategy Analysis (Cambridge, England: Blackwell Business, 1991), pp. 100-102, [Accessed on 10/11/2011] Grant R. M. , (2006), Contemporary Strategy Analysis, 5th edition, page 146, [Accessed on 11/11/2011] Hitt M. A. , Ireland R. D. , et al. Strategic Management: Competitiveness and Globalization, 4th ed. (Cincinnati, OH: South-Western College Publishing, 2001), [Accessed on 17/11/201 1] Musa, Z. , 2009. Dyson to make Malaysia R&D centre. The star online, [Online 8 October], Available at http://biz. thestar. com. my/news/story. asp? file=/2009/10/8/business/4864485&sec=business, [Accessed on 15/11/2011] M Porter (1990), Competitive Advantage of Nations, Free Press, [Accessed on 10/11/2011] M. E Porter (1985) Competitive Advantage: New York: Free Press, [Accessed on 10/11/2011] Suderland, R. , 2011. Sir James Dyson furious as court rejects appeal over ‘copycat' design case. This is money. [Online 28 October], Available at http://www. thisismoney. co. uk/money/markets/article-2054304/Sir-James-Dyson-furious-court-rejects-appeal-copycat-design-case. html, [Accessed on 15/11/ 2011] http://bookshop. blackwell. co. uk/extracts/9780199203055_wetherly. pdf, [Accessed on 12/11/2011] http://www. yson. co. uk/insidedyson/article. asp? aID=jamesdyson&hf=0&js=, [Accessed 10/11/2011 http://www. guardian. co. uk/uk/2010/jun/22/budget-2010-corporation-tax-slashed-to-24p,accessed 11/11/2011 http://www. hse. gov. uk/news/index. htm, [Accessed on 17/11/2011] www. hoover. co. uk, [Accessed on 11/11/2010] http://www. hrmagazine. co. uk/news/999460/350-new-engineering-jobs-Dysons-laboratories-Wilts hire/, [Accessed on 12/11/2011] http://www. ingenia. org. uk/ingenia/articles. aspx? Index=171, [Accessed on 11/11/2011] http://www. vax. co. uk/about/, [Accessed on 10/11/2011]