History of Modern Middle East Essay

This paper aims to provide a detailed understanding of the concept of Arab nationalism and the impact it had on the Arab-Israeli conflict. Arab nationalism is a nationalist ideology that grew during the time when the Great ottoman empire which had been ruling most of the eastern territory for the almost 500 years was facing its demise. So in order to properly understand the concept of the Arab nationalism we need to have background knowledge of the fall of the Ottoman Empire. After ruling the eastern area which included the Middle Eastern territory for more than 500 years the Turks within the ranks of the empire started to ignore other ethnicities which mostly included the Arabs and the Christians and scores of people from these backgrounds started to accept the Turk dominance. This was precisely the time period during which a sense of separate identity started to develop among the local Arab population. The political and religious thinkers among the Arabs who were well aware of the Arabs glorious past became concerned that if the wind continues to blow in the same direction the Arabs would lose their identity and would eventually become foreigners in the land that had historically been theirs. So they began looking for the ways to restore the sense of national pride among the Arabs and at the same time plot the fall of the Ottoman Empire. Their efforts paid off when the Ottoman Empire allowed the Jews scattered all over Europe to heavily invest in the deserted areas of its territory. This decision which was a plan to earn tax revenues turned out to be a disaster for the empire because it provided the Arabs a wealthy ally against the Empire. So the Jews started to migrate into their purchased lands in Arab lands and new cities like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem started to form, scores of Arab people also decided to move into these areas impressed by the Jews’ living standard and education. Later on more and more influx of Jews from different parts of Europe along with the local Arab support proved fatal for the Ottoman Empire who found itself losing control over their territory as the Arabs became more vocal against them and managed to capture a lot of land from the empire. But the ground reality was that the Jews were quietly gaining control of major parts which had been previously controlled by the empire. A new battle for the control of major strategic position started between the Arabs and the Jews. The Balfour declaration issued by the British government in 1917 made the Arabs more indignant, which supported the establishment of a Jew state in the midst of the Arab land. By the end of First World War almost all of the territory previously controlled by the Ottoman Empire came under the control of western power. The British mandate included what is today Jordan, Israel and Gaza. Other major areas which included Egypt, Syria, morocco and Lebanon were also being governed by what the Arab intellectuals considered the agents of western imperialism. At this stage the Arab nationalism had taken root in the Arab minds and the Arab leaders which included Christians along with the Muslims in region decided to form an alliance against the western imperialism. The point that should be emphasized here is that the idea of Arab nationalism had been based on the fact that the Arabs considered the Ottoman Empire guilty of giving away the power to the west by adopting their ways of life and the allowing the influence of western power in their region. The issue of Jews dominance in what is today Israel surfaced later. Amongst the prominent proponents of this ideology was a Christian Syrian philosopher Al Yazigi who took a view that the rise of modern Europe was based on Islamic values while the Ottoman empire and the Arabs had abandoned those values, that’s why if the Arabs want to keep their land and progress in the political sphere, they need to revive the principles of Islam and rediscover their fading sense of self-identity. Al-Yazigi later on organized several movements in Syria to raise awareness of his ideology. Another important contributor to this idea was Egyptian scholar Mohammed Abduh. He shared the view of Al-Yazigi that the Ottoman Empire was wrong in adopting the apparently modern ideas while abolishing the true Islamic principles which were the foundation of Arab nations’ success in the past. He also felt the need to restore the Arabs’ self-esteem as a nation and made attempts at making this view reach every Arab’s mind living in his native Egypt. Later on 1911 Al-fatat was formed in Paris whose aim was also the revival of Arab nationalism. The European powers were strongly behind this ideology as they wanted to break the rule of the Ottoman Empire in the region. Arab nationalist leaders shared this objective with the European power but wanted to take over the regime themselves rather than watch the European powers taking direct control of the area. So the Arab nationalist movement started out against the Ottoman Empire and when the Empire collapsed it took a different turn and was then directed towards removing the western powers from directly controlling the Arab area. That’s is why the idea of Arab nationalism played a crucial role in the Arab-Israel conflict that surfaced after the first world war and became intense after the second world war when a UN committee allowed the Jews to form a separate state in 1948 named Israel. Leaders from Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and morocco then became convinced that they need to get rid of the Western influence in their countries and also drive the Jews out of power who were now in total control of the land which the Arabs call the Palestine. The 1948 war of independence was the result of this coalition among the Arab nations i. e. (Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Yemen) in which Israel came out the winner and occupied most of the Palestinian territory. After this war on several occasions the Arab nationalism played a crucial role in this conflict till 1972. Major leaders involved include Gamal Abdul Nasser of Egypt, Muammar al-Gaddafi of Libya, Shukri al-Quwatli of Syria and Ahmed bin Bella of Algeria. Following the 1948 war of independence all the Arab countries began to target Jews living on their lands and consequently large population of Jews migrated to from these areas into Israel. Almost 1 million Jews migrated from Arab countries to Israel from 1949 to 1954. In 1956 Gamal Abdul Nasser closed the passage between Sinai and Arabian Peninsula and took the Suez Canal under government control in order to block the Israeli ships from passing through. Israel tried to attack the seas with the British backing and get the route open once again. It eventually happened due to the UN intervention which Egypt didn’t follow for long and blocked the passage again. Situation became really intense in 1967 when the Egyptian leader gathered the political and military support of the Soviet Union and organized other Arab nations under the Pan-Arab movement to attack Israel and capture the Arab land from the Jews. Situation was quite different from the 1948 war because the proper organization of military resources and unity of the Arab leadership as Jordan and Syria joined hands with the Egyptian leader. The result was the six day war which much to the disappointment of the Arab world was won by Israel due to its superiority in Air force technology and captured major strategic positions of Gaza strip, east Jerusalem and most importantly the Sinai passage. After that defeat the Arab nationalist powers by mutual consent boycotted Israel and concluded that Israel be not recognized by any of them. Gamal Abdul Nasser lost his life in 1970 when Egypt tried again to recapture the Sinai Peninsula. Since that time several wars have been fought between the Arab world and Israel and a lot of blood has been spilled on both sides, and it seems that neither party is ready to give up on their principles as this discontent between Arab nations with Jews transfers from one generation to the next. This essays aims to discuss the Iranian revolution and its roots and analyze the impact it had on the Islamic political movements across the Middle East. Iranian revolution which is now widely known as the Islamic revolution was the event which started in the 1970 and was eventually completed in 1979. This revolution resulted in the downfall of monarchy and establishment of federation based on Islamic Shria in Iran. The major reasons why this revolution is deemed to be one of the most important turn around in the history are the sheer amount of people involved in this revolution, its short time period and its impact on the rest of the world especially the Middle Eastern region. The Major force behind this revolution was the Islamic clerical leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Before this revolution Iran had been a monarchy for several dynasties. Ayatollah Khomeini who was considered a prominent figure in the religious circles of Iran took a view that the monarchy of Iran was increasingly becoming a follower of the western powers and polluting the minds of the people in Iran. Mohammed Reza shah Pahlavi who took over the monarch from his father in 1919 proved to be the last emperor of his dynasty. The reason behind his demise are not agreed upon by the historians but it can be concluded that his ambition of making Iran a modern westernized state with the backing of western world was the major reason of his fall from the authority. After taking over the thrown he tried to run the state in an authoritarian fashion and adopted policies which in his view would take make Iran a modernized state. He established closed relationship with the United States and other powerful Western forces. He abolished the rules of Shria and instead adopted the ones that the Shiite Muslim population of Iran considered to be unacceptable, additionally his autocratic style of governance and the lack of functional discipline were also the factors that convinced the population of Iran that it was time for a change. Ayatollah Khomeini who had been exiled from the country by the shah due to his anti-monarch and anti-west stance picked on this weakness of the Shah and started to gather support of the population who believed in Islamic values. Khomeini’s idea of the government was based on the Islam. He demanded that monarchy be immediately abolished and an Islamic state be formed instead. Khomeini first came to surface in 1963 as a vocal opponent of what he called white revolution in which shah decided to allow minorities to hold government office and granted women the rights to vote. And from then on his support began to pick up as the shah became unpopular by the day. The movement picked up the pace only after 1976 and later on speedily removed shah from his seat. Khomeini who was living exile continued to raise awareness among the Muslim population about shah’s policies, which were heavily influenced by the American government and at the same time reiterated the need to bring a change. First mass gathering took place after the death of Khomeini’s son in 1977 and thousand of people gathered to protest against the shah. Then early in the year 1978 another mass protest was held by the Islamist students’ foundation in the city of Qom. Several casualties were reported as the shah ordered the military to control the crowd which proved to be an overwhelming task because of the large number of people involved. In the same year another supreme cleric Ayatollah kazem shariatmadari joined broke his silence and joined Khomeini in his movement when one of his followers was shot dead at his place. Shariatmadari didn’t share the theocratic view with Khomeinie but the supported the idea of abolishment of monarchy. Meanwhile the Shah continued his struggle for westernization and kept holding the meetings with the then American president jimmy carter who assured him of his support during that period of turmoil. The shah tried to bring some economic stability by cutting back on the government spending but it also turned out to be a bad decision as it resulted in mass layoffs and the joining of the newly unemployed with the rebels. Things turned nasty when 400 people were reported dead in the Rex Cinema killings in august. The anti-Shah element then took their movement to a whole new level by calling on a mass strike which ceased virtually the whole economy and the success of this strike virtually guaranteed the completion of the revolution in people’s minds while the shah scrambled to make amends and tried to control the situation fast deteriorating. Finally in the start of the New Year 1979 the Shah to the joy of Khomeini and his followers fled his Iran and Khomeini later returned to his native state to establish a government based on Shria. The impact of this revolution was widespread in the Muslim world as well as well as internationally. No other country has witnessed a revolution such as this before, its basis on the theological ideal and large support the Islamic leaders managed to get from the seemingly westernized crowd provided an example to follow for other the leaders of similar motives in other Middle Eastern states. It gave the religious clerics a new belief that they can get rid off the western influence and perhaps converts their own state based purely on theocratic principles. It had most influence on the neighboring countries of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq where the population of Shiites is substantial. After only a few days of revolution some 400 Iranian militants tried to attack and capture the holy city f Mecca in Saudi Arabia and later on Saudi authorities got a major shock when the an Ashura procession transformed into political one in which people chanted slogans in support of Khomeini. Shiite clerics in Lebanon managed to transform their state into an Islamic one while other countries in the Arab region also adopted an approach to government based on religious principles. Since the turn around in Iran the political Islam has been the main theme of almost all the countries in the region and the clerics now have a deep-seated awareness of the fact that the people in the region are moved by the their religion and they can use the religion as a means of creating political movement. The governments in these countries are also well aware of this fact and until now have been trying keeping policies in line with the Shria. The strong anti-west stance taken by Iran provided by Iran has been an emblem of this revolution and that continued to this day. Israel has also been a major target after episode cleared as the religious elements hold a strong feeling for the Palestinians believing that the Jews are unjust holders of the land that actually belongs to the Muslims. Verbal attacks between these two sides are now a common site while a war between Hezbollah controlled Lebanon and Israel was one of the major events of the decade in which Hezbollah managed to successfully defend their territory.

International Marketing Final Exam Essay

First Question: Disneyland Paris was one of Disneyland’s Global projects. Please discuss its advantages and disadvantages, and from reading and understanding the case suggest what was/were the mistake/s that Disney committed from the beginning till now. Second Question: Gillette is a giant company and has got a lot of success story globally, from your previous readings and your wide experience as marketing consultant specialized in International marketing. Compare between Gillette in Egypt and Gillette in Indonesia. From all aspects and suggest the best mode of entry for Gillette in Yemen. Third Question: You are the marketing consultant of Disneyland and you are thinking of a new market to enter in one or two of Arab countries. As an expert in International Marketing please consider the following: 1. Which country will you choose to enter, and why? 2. What is your mode of entry? 3. What should be taken into consideration in this regards? 4. What are the advantages and disadvantage of opening in Arab country? 5. What are the main obstacles that you are expecting to face? Fourth Question You are the working for an Egyptian company that is attempting to go globally with one of its products, and you are responsible for that, you will be deciding where and how to go. †¢ Assume that your company has † consumer or industrial product† †¢ You will follow all the needed steps to go globally from the first step that should be taken till the last decision † customization or standardization† Fifth question: Referring to the P&G case â€Å"Different for Gamble†, found in the â€Å"International Marketing Case Study.ppt† file, answer the following questions: †¢ Discuss the reasons for the initial failure for P&G in Japan. †¢ Where did P&G go wrong (if it did) in the evaluation of the Indian market and its strategy? †¢ Discuss the reasons for the differences in the performance of P&G in India and China.

Vampires in Modern Culture

One of the oldest and well known mythological monsters throughout history are blood sucking immortals known as vampires. They transgress the boundaries that humans are always trying to establish. Vampire lore has reflected the values and social structures of the culture it has existed in, but over the past century the values have transformed. From the classic story of Stoker’s Dracula where he is presented as sinister and non-human, the vampire aspect of literature has evolved drastically to a more heroic immortal.Physically, vampires have changed their appearance over the last century from the dark and non-human approach to a more modern and humanistic look. Earlier authors focused on gothic themed vampire narratives giving them malevolent features making them appear foul and evil. Nosferatu, being one of the most famous vampire narratives from the early twentieth century was abject and debase. His rat-like features eluded a sense of fear and horror to everyone around him, an d his physical appearance was unappealing and nightmarish.Vampires from early history were connected to the appearance of bloated leeches since they were blood sucking immortal monsters, but over the past hundred years they have turned into beautiful immortals. The qualities of vampire narratives from Eastern Europe descent which consist of dark and frightening apparel, long bloodcurdling fangs, and chilling accents have transformed entirely to look nothing like its predecessor. Modern vampires are dangerously gorgeous with lean bodies, sparkling skin, and beautiful facial features.The notable change in physical appearance of vampires over time is the disappearance of terror and evil and the welcoming of beauty. Vampires have always had a certain sex appeal, but the level of it has changed over the last century from luring and mysterious to a more romantic approach where love is the focus and instead of just the sexual charge of the relationship. Throughout the past century, vampire s transformed from the demonic, to aristocratic and sensual, to sexualized and misunderstood.In the modern media, sex appeal is what characterizes the roles of vampires, but love overpowers lust which was not the case in the twentieth century. Dracula’s character focused more on just the sexual aspect of his prey, and he was seen as a threatening predator. Modern vampires develop a deeper connection with other immortals as well as humans, but the thirst for blood still remains in vampires no matter what the time period. Since a key aspect to the being of a vampire itself is the fact that they live off of drinking blood, the hunting quality is crucial.Vampires, such as Dracula, would hunt solo not surrounded by other vampires. The focus was more on the individual rather than a family of vampires. But over decades, the culture of societies influenced the way vampire societies were formed. Instead of focusing on solitary actions like Dracula did, society played a role in the way vampires reacted to other species. Because of the growing population, vampires tend to group together and hunt as a gang for protection. Fear is crucial in considering the actions of vampires, and if they want to focus on themselves or their fellow vampires as well.In Stephanie Meyers’, Twilight, family is a key part of the relationship of vampires, and they all stick together to support and protect each other. Not only has the physical facet of vampire narratives evolved over the past century, but the power and force of them has changed also. The limitations of vampires differ from each piece of literature, but the level of these precincts change more with each decade. Throughout history there is the battle between living versus nonliving, and what is real and what classifies as a monster. Although vampires are immortal and differ from humans, the way in which they act varies on their surroundings.In the early twentieth century, the popular vampire myth known as Dracula was known as having the strength of twenty men and being fast and forceful. Over time, the powers of vampires have advanced along with the influence of the western culture. Powers such as mind reading and seeing into the future help with the immortals ability to defeat their enemies. Limitations have also evolved to more human friendly affiliations, and vampires are now blended in with modern society. Although vampires have always been known for drinking blood and immortal, the nature of their kind has developed over time into a more compassionate kind.Dracula and Lestat centered more on European and aristocratic culture and the immortal aspect of the monster where they were sinister and preyed on the weak. The culture of vampires were seen as malicious and predators, whereas the Cullens are the â€Å"good vampires† that do not feed on human blood. Throughout the twentieth century, vampires main focus in on the Western culture. Since the barrier between human society and the imm ortals has been broken down over the past century, the vampires in modern media are now viewed as more of a misunderstood, heroic character. Protection over the nes the vampires care about is a vital part of their identity. An important detail of the role of vampires is how they can be destroyed. The death of vampires has evolved over the last century from a stake to the heart to breaking the neck and being burned. While it has always been known for vampires to stay away from the light, the severity of it changes with each vampire narrative. Sunlight is key to giving away the discreet features of the immortal being, whereas Dracula loses his powers during daylight hours, and Edward Cullen sparkles and gives away his identity which can lead to his death.The transformation of vampire narratives over the last century has a lot to do with society and the focus on culture. Instead of vampires being seen as evil predators, they are now seen as misunderstood protectors. The history of vamp ires in the 20th century is one of domestication. In response to society, they are defined by external rulings and that is why they are categorized as inhumane along with the fact of them being immortal. Works Cited Brandy Ball Blake and L. Andrew Cooper, ed. Monsters. Southlake, TX: Fountainhead, 2012.Print. Dracula. † Count. N. p. , n. d. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. . â€Å"Nosferatu. † Turner Classic Movies. N. p. , n. d. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. . â€Å"The Real History of Vampires. † Squidoo. N. p. , n. d. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. . â€Å"The Vampire in Modern American Media. † Dartmouth. N. p. , n. d. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. .

Racial Discrimination and Health Problems Essay

Racial Discrimination and Health Problems - Essay Example How much of this stands true for racism specific stress has also been the subject focus of many studies. Researchers found an association between perceived racism and ambulatory blood pressure in African American college students. Also in the workplace, stressful racism places African Americans in a high probability group for the development of higher blood pressures. This clearly shows that racism can hasten the onset of hypertension even in younger age group and possible conclusion that can be drawn is that in an aging population the superimposed ill effects of stress induced by racism may be even greater. Similarly, women with higher stress scores who were subjected to high levels of internalized racism were at a higher risk of developing metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes due to altered hormone secretion. Studies have also attempted to assess objectively, mental and psychological implications of racism specific stress. Further research necessary to reach a conclusion linking the association of stress per se resulting from experiencing racial discrimination per se leading to changes in the health status of people who are getting older is carried out as seen below. Various measured variables are compared with a control group in the same age group without any exposure to racial prejudice taking into account confounding factors such as lifestyle habits, the presence of other risk factors such as smoking, environmental factors and preexisting or propensity for other age-related diseases because of heredity.

Fate and Destiny Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Fate and Destiny - Research Paper Example Destiny refers to the predetermined state or that to which an individual or thing is destined. In other words, the course of events in a person’s life is predetermined to get to a preordained destination. Fate or destiny means that some power determines or decrees the course that events in a person’s life will take beforehand. Thereby, it leaves no choice or chance (Boloji.com, para2). Free will, on the other hand, is the apparent human ability to choose a course of action over another and making own decision regarding an action, regardless of what others else believe (Morgan, para1). Choice/free will requires accessibility of alternatives for any action, speech and thought from which an individual can choose. Sodha gives an example of the way he occasionally wakes up scarred and bruised from the previous day’s events. He reasons that this does not that imply that his fate should leave him bruised and scarred always and in a state of disrepair. In effect, if he wakes up dreading the everyday grind, he stops fate in its tracks. He, therefore, holds that one can decide on how to live his or her day-to-day life. He looks into the whole argument of fate and free will in various ways. For instance, he argues that if a person’s fate is so mundane to him or her in such a way that daily slog is all it involves with nothing more such as enjoyment, fulfillment, and satisfaction with his or her actions, it would thus imply living each day because he or she has to. If this were the case, it would mean that one could do nothing much concerning the future but to let it happen. However, Sodha believes that this is not the case – every individual has free will and can do what he or sh e pleases with his or her life. According to Merrill, Free Will is the aspect of one choosing his or her destiny, while predestination involves factors outside an individual, which may possibly not be clear, determining his or her destiny.  

Do Immigrants Benefit America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Do Immigrants Benefit America - Essay Example Immigration also assists in the development and understanding of cultural diversities and helps in promoting anti-racist sentiments (Rowthorn 2004). But at one-time immigration becomes a problem for the host country as many say that it has become a problem for the United States as it has reached its peak. Immigration hereby contends as detrimental to the country in terms of factors which drastically affect the economic status, consumption of natural resources, environmental protection, and sustaining the increased population in the long term. Many point out this argument and this would be further discussed in this essay along with the argument of the proponents of immigration who believe that immigration is helping the countries to prosper in every way. Immigrants mainly belong to the underdeveloped nations where the financial crisis pushes them to immigrate. Policies which include the rules of free trade actually serve as a burden rather than reliefs for the poor countries making them dip into poverty even more. These underdeveloped nations have debts to pay off and much of their income goes into actually paying the interest on these debts. Moreover, the developed nations to pledge to assist these countries by providing them aid but these developed countries never reach their set goal. All these factors contribute to the increasing poverty in the world to an extent that it has been reported that over the past three decades 60 nations in the world have sunk deeper into poverty. The people living in these countries are left with no options and the final ray of hope for them is immigration. It is the only way for them to lead a better life ahead (Education for Justice 2006).

Are the European banks riskier than the US competitors for the period Essay

Are the European banks riskier than the US competitors for the period 2002-2007 yang - Essay Example The crisis was caused due to the failure of many banking sector across the world. The firms which had failed in UK allowed their businesses to overextend through risk taking and excessive leverage, over dependence on risky product streams like derivatives or buy-to-let mortgages, poor decisions of management in respect of acquisitions, over reliance on wholesale funding. The project describes the position of European banks and its US competitors during the period of global financial crisis and which banks were more riskier during that time. Introduction Unprecedented innovation and growth have been seen in the financial sector over the past two decades as new products and higher returns have been sought by the investors in the era of low interest rates. Banks also had an obligation to understand the risks to which they are exposed. The complexity of certain financial instruments and the interconnected developed global market often did not provide well understanding of the dangers inv olved with the banks, its investors and boards, central banks and regulators (HM Treasury, 2009). The risk models of banks were proved as flawed which was based on incomplete application of principles of finance. It was believed that risks had been widely distributed throughout the financial system by the method of securitisation but it proved as mistaken and risks posed by global increase in leverage were under-estimated. The remuneration policies of banks have contributed to the riskiness of financial system as they focussed too much on short term profit. Market discipline also proved as an ineffective constraint on risk taking in financial markets (Independent Commission on Banking, 2011).There were certain deficiencies in the corporate governance of banking institutions. The board of banks failed to understand this and they got prone to the risk management processes of their firms. The senior management also did not question on the sustainability and nature of achieved higher re turns. Many institutional shareholders were not able to monitor the effectiveness of senior management of banks nor did they challenge the decisions of board of bank. Generally, the banks and investors rely on the assessments of credit rating agency but they did not supplement the ratings with conclusions from the view point of their own analysis. The central banks and regulators, commentators and other authorities underestimated the risks built up in the financial system. The banks were exposed largely to the vehicles of off-balance sheet financing and lack of transparency. Literature Review Financial crisis of US bank The global economy was experiencing unprecedented level of financial turbulence. This was triggered by a downturn in US housing market, particularly the sub-prime end of the market. The instability grew steadily following the collapse of Lehman Brothers, an US investment bank. Initially, the investors realised that they have misjudged the risk in securities linked to low quality US sub-prime mortgages. Consequently, prices fall leading to heavy losses to the holder of assets. Then the investors became concerned about which of their counterparties are exposed to these losses and began to charge a higher risk premium to

Intrusion Detection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Intrusion Detection - Essay Example There are different evils also associated to these network structures also. Personal information theft, business information hacking and virus attacks are the contemporary problems organizations are facing nowadays in the network communication and data transfer areas (Frederick, 2002). Because of the rising amount of intrusions and since the local networks and Internet have turned out to be so ubiquitous, businesses more and more applying a variety of systems that monitor Information Technology security breaches (Sans, 2009). Network Intrusion as its name represents, attempts to identify attempted or applied intrusions into network and to establish suitable actions for the intrusions. Intrusion detection includes an extensive collection of methods that differ on several axes. A few of these axes comprise: (Silberschatz, Galvin, & Gagne, 2004): The types of input inspected to identify intrusive action. These could comprise user shell commands, process system calls, as well as network packet headers or contents. Several types of intrusions might be identified only by correlating information from various such sources. The variety of action capabilities. Basic and straightforward types of actions consist of changing an administrator of the possible intrusion or in some way halting the potentially intrusive action, for instance, killing a course of action engaged in actually intrusive activity. In a complicated type of action, a system might clearly redirect an intruder’s action to a trap. A false resource exposed to the attacker with the aim of observing and gaining information about the attack; to the attacker, the resource appears real. These levels of freedom in the design of space for detecting intrusions in systems have brought an extensive variety of solutions acknowledged as intrusions detection systems (IDS) (Silberschatz, Galvin, & Gagne, 2004). The

Bus 137 Alice Dred Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Bus 137 Alice Dred - Essay Example According to Sara Taylor who is a diversity expert and founder of deep SEE Consultant suggests that most managers are not always aware of the hidden biases they have when it comes to age, height, race or even marital status amongst others. Taylor further talked about height, weight, gender, and race and even how the employee is similar to the manager may have a great impact on salary earning, raises and even promotion. It has now come to attention that most CEOs in United States are highly offering jobs to men who are 6 feet tall or taller even though research indicates that the general U.S. population of tall men is just about 14.5%. The incident according to my opinion is discriminating most individuals within. The employers who use these hidden biases often influences people of what might be professional by trying to argue out that different communities have different cultures which some are opposite to others. He gives out explanations on how team leader’s desire to have tasks over relationships that is structured to work around interaction biasness. Such incident may negatively distinguish others with fondness of relationship. James Wright who is diversity and inclusion strategist, and who is also a trainer and the speaker witnessed some of the hidden discriminations used by some clients. He came to witness managers giving interviews to gays, lesbians. Some managers see this as human nature but some questions may again arise concerning if he/she has kids or partner. The question about when employees are discussing holiday gatherings, they always talk about bringing together their partners in cool water areas. The implication suggests that one need to be straight. I am suggesting that, with reference to Taylor statements, most clients’ gives out first priority to people with partners unlike to the lesbians and the gays. Wright research states that white men get more promotions vacancies compared to women and when a woman

Comparing two poems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Comparing two poems - Essay Example The poets Stephen Crane and E.E. Cummings each illustrate the negative effects of capitalism and the absurdity of the business of enterprise on common people in poems such as â€Å"The Trees in the Garden Rained Flowers† and â€Å"When Serpents Bargain for the Right to Squirm.† In the poem â€Å"The Trees in the Garden Rained Flowers,† written by Stephen Crane, the speaker becomes an advocate for the poor. The author attempts to make the reader realize the problems faced by poor people because they have few opportunities in life: â€Å"They gathered the flowers / Each to himself. / Now there were some / Who gathered great heaps- / Having opportunity and skill- / Until, behold, only chance blossoms / Remained for the feeble† (Crane, 3-9). These lines refer to the economic fact that people who have skill and money are able to take advantage of possibilities while the poor people have little benefits and few possibilities. The poet uses figurative imagery throughout the poem to relay a visual description of what the speaker is trying to say. The flowers represent economic possibilities, the garden becomes the economy, the children are the common people, the tutor represents advocates for the poor, and the father represents the government. In the narrative of the poem and translating this figurative imagery, an advocate for the poor approaches a governmental representative, and complains about the poor not receiving their fair share of economic possibilities, but the representative tells the advocate that he should not worry because it is right for the strong, and the shrewd to have more opportunities. The speaker says, â€Å"Upon reflection, the tutor bowed to the / ground / ‘My lord,’ he said / ‘The stars are displaced / ‘By this towering wisdom’† (Crane, 25-29). In presenting things this way, Crane exaggerates the government’s reasoning that it is right for the wealthy to have the

Thematic Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Thematic Analysis - Essay Example The second reading was done more carefully, with an emphasis on understanding what the answers were. On the third reading, a different tact was taken by reading only the same question and answer from every transcript and noting the differences and the similarities of the participants’ answers. The interviews actually posed seven questions to the participants and needless to say, there were also seven answers corresponding to the questions. For example, the first question in every transcript for every interview is â€Å"How would you define your gender identity?† This question and the answers to them by the seven participants were the first items to be taken. To make the eventual classification of these answers easier, seven pieces of similar sized papers were used. In each piece of paper, the answer of the every participant was written. The same process was also observed for the next questions so that there were seven sets of papers corresponding to the answers of the seven questions, consisting of seven pieces of paper each for every interviewee’s answer. The papers were, of course, properly labeled and tagged as to the participant number and question number. To proceed with the process of the thematic analysis, the first question and therefore the first set of papers were studied. The answers were again read, noting particularly their similarities and differences. Answers with similarities were grouped together. For the first question, for example (i.e., How would you define your gender identity?), the answers were grouped together into three. Each group of answers for the first questions was scrutinised carefully and examined for their similarities. The next step was to give a label or tag to the similarities that underpin them. For the first set of answers, for example, the label of Sex was attributed because these answers equated their gender identity with the Sex that they were born with. The second set of answers for the first

Nursing Research Problem Essay Example for Free

Nursing Research Problem Essay Infections are a common cause of both morbidity and mortality in premature infants; examples of infections include necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and sepsis (infection of the bloodstream). Infections in premature infants result in prolonged ventilation, prolonged hospitalization, and higher medical costs, and can cause neurodevelopment impairment (Manzoni et al., 2009). The use of high-potency antibiotics can lead to resistant strains of bacteria and potentially damage the infant’s liver and/or kidney function. Within the past decade, research has turned from finding treatments to finding methods to reduce infections. Breastfeeding and human milk has been well supported through research to provide immunity and positive outcomes for preterm and full-term infants. Breastfeeding and human milk provides nutritional, gastrointestinal, immunological, developmental, and psychological benefits to preterm infants and plays an important role on their long-term health and development (Callen Pinelli, 2005). The components of breastmilk that support immunity include lactoferrin, lysozymes, interferon, and sIgA antibody (Callen Pinelli, 2005). Specifically, lactoferrin (LF) is an iron-binding glycoprotein found not only in breastmilk, but also in saliva, tears, and other bodily secretions; LF has biological functions which include immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant effects, and inhibits growth of pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and viruses (Yen et al., 2009). The described functions of LF support the protective role in immunity. The purpose of this investigation is to determine the effects of oral lactoferrin supplementation on reducing infections in preterm infants. Nature of Problem and Importance to Nursing Practice A nosocomial infection is described as an infection that is acquired after 48 hours of hospital admission (Rodriguez et al., 2010). In neonates,  a late-onset infection is defined as an infection obtained after the perinatal period (Manzoni et al., 2009). Nosocomial infections include infections of the gastrointestinal tract (necrotizing enterocolitis, NEC), blood stream (sepsis), and lung (pneumonia). The effects of an infection in a preterm infant can lead to â€Å"poor growth, adverse long-term neurological sequelae, increased length of hospital stay, and a substantial cost to families, hospitals, and society† (Rodriguez et al., 2010, p. 207). The risk of nosocomial infections increases with the decreasing birth weight and gestational age, and roughly 21% of very low birth-weight (VLBW) infants will encounter a late-onset infection (Stoll et al., 2002). The most common gastrointestinal infection in premature infants is NEC, affecting 2.6% to 28% of VLBW infants (Lin et al., 2005). NEC is widely considered as a multifactorial disease, with no specific pathogenesis; three major factors have been proposed: the presence of a pathogenic organism, the challenge of enteral feeding, and altered enteric mucosa integrity (Lin et al., 2005). NEC is â€Å"characterized by necrotizing injury to the intestine that requires antibiotic treatment and, in severe cases, surgical intervention† (Brooks et al., 2006, p. 347). Reduction of infections in preterm infants is of high priority and active research is being performed to find safe preventative measures, improve patient outcomes, and decrease hospital length of stay. Lactoferrin is an iron-binding protein found in mammalian milk and is important in innate immune host defenses (Manzoni et al., 2009). Partial digestion of LF in the stomach produces peptides called â€Å"lactoferricin† that contain more potent antimicrobial activity (Yen et al., 2009). Human colostrum contains more LF than breastmilk, saliva, tears, or other mucosa linings in the body. Studies have been performed to determine bovine or porcine LF effect on prevention of infection in mice and rat pups; conclusions showed a reduction in â€Å"the frequency of bacterial infections in the GI tract while promoting the growth of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria species, which are generally believed to be beneficial to the host† (Yen et al., 2009, p. 591). Bovine, porcine, and human LF molecules are similar, and bovine and porcine LF has been reported to show higher antimicrobial activity compared to human LF (King et al., 2007). In 2001, the US Food and Drug Administration declared bovine lactoferrin generally recognized as safe  (CFSAN, 2001). Bovine or human LF can be given as a formula additive, breastmilk additive, or given to patients by swabbing of the mouth, either actively feeding or with nil per os (NPO) statuses. Research studies have now been performed on the effects of bovine or porcine LF on prevention of infections in VLBW and preterm infants, and LF shows to be a promising agent of prevention. Evidence-based Practice Question Evidence-based practice (EBP) is defined as â€Å"a practice that involves clinical decision-making based on the best available evidence, with an emphasis on evidence from disciplined research† (Polit Beck, 2008, p. 753). Nursing practices are changing in the NICU to include swabbing of the infants mouth with colostrum every six hours to assist in prevention of infection and improve feeding tolerance. The following question is developed to determine the outcomes of infection prevention by LF in preterm infants: Does the supplementation of LF decrease the occurrence of nosocomial infections in preterm infants? Conceptual/Theoretical Framework The studies reviewed did not mention a conceptual or theoretical framework pertaining to the relationship of the subjects investigated. A conceptual model of nursing, Levine’s Conservation Model, can be utilized in applying the methods investigated to provide care and prevention of infection in preterm infants. Levine’s Conservation Model is focused in promoting adaptation and maintaining wholeness using the principles of conservation (â€Å"Current Nursing,† 2010). The model guides the nurse to focus on the influences and responses at the organismic level and accomplish the goals of the model through the conservation of energy, structure, and personal, and social integrity (â€Å"Current Nursing,† 2010). Conservation of energy in preterm infants is necessary for appropriate growth, and is achieved by adequate rest and nutrition; fighting an infection in preterm infants results in NPO status and irritability, thus expending energy. The conservation of structural integrity means to prevent physical breakdown and  promote healing, and is the consequence of an effective immune system (â€Å"Current Nursing,† 2010). The technique of LF supplementation and its potential preventative outcome on infection helps the patient conserve energy and structural integrity. Variables and Findings Manzoni et al. (2009) performed a prospective, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial examining whether oral supplementation with bovine LF alone or in combination with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) reduces late-onset sepsis in 472 VLBW infants. The independent variable of this study is the supplementation of bovine LF or LGG and the dependent variable is the occurrence of infections in VLBW infants. The study randomly allocated infants into three groups; groups consisted of a control group (n = 168, infants supplemented with a placebo) and an experimental group (n = 153, infants given bovine LF alone and n = 151, infants given bovine LF with LGG). The main outcome measured the first episode of late-onset sepsis (sepsis occurring after 72 hours of birth); all tests were two-tailed, and P .05 was considered statistically significant (Manzoni et al., 2009). When stratifying for birth weight, Manzoni et al. (2009) noted a significant decrease in late-onset sepsis in extremely low birth-weight (ELBW, birth-weight 1000g) infants (P = .002 for bovine LF v. control and P = .002 for bovine LF plus LGG v. control) whereas it was not significant in infants weighing 1001 to 1500 g (P = .34 for bovine LF v. control and P = .07 in bovine LF plus LGG v. control). Overall, the results showed a significant decrease in the occurrence of infection in VLBW infants in the experimental groups versus the control group (P = .002 for bovine LF v. control and P .001for bovine LF plus LGG v. control) (Manzoni et al., 2010). A double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study examined the impact of bovine LF supplementation to bottle-fed infants (King et al., 2006). The participants included 52 infants between the age of 0-4 weeks of age, ≠¥34 weeks of gestational age, and ≠¥2000 g, and who were strictly bottle-fed. The infants were randomized in a double-blind fashion; the control group  received a small dose of bovine LF and the experimental group received a higher dose of bovine LF (King et al., 2006). The independent variable is the supplementation of the higher dose of bovine LF and the dependent variable is the impacts observed in the first year of life. The outcomes measured included diarrhea, upper respiratory infection (URI), acute otitis media (AOM), and lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). The infants were examined six times throughout the year on the measured outcomes. The results showed a significant decrease in the occurrence of LRTIs in the experimental group than in the control group (P 0.05) (King et al., 2006). Even though this study did not include preterm infants 34 weeks, the effects of bovine LF are still apparent in the protection against infection. Yen et al. (2009) performed a study to examine the effects of porcine LF as a selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD) regimen in neonatal mice. Transgenic mice were generated to express porcine LF; the neonatal mice fed from the transgenic mice and were then challenged with pathogens to evaluate in vivo antimicrobial activity of porcine LF (Yen et al., 2009). The control group contained mice that were fed normal milk and the experimental group contained mice that were fed the porcine LF (Yen et al., 2009). The independent variable is the transgenic mice with porcine LF supplementation and the dependent variable is the antimicrobial activity observed. The outcome measures included the growth rate of the mice pups, the state of the intestinal tract mucosa, and the circulating cytokines (Yen et al., 2009). Yen et al. (2009) concluded that the experimental group of neonatal mice showed a significant reduction of severity of illness (P .01), a significant inhibition of microbial survival in the intestinal tract (P .01), and a significant decrease in the number of bacteria cultured (P .05) than in the control group. The authors proposed that porcine LF is an ideal natural SDD regimen for the prevention of nosocomial infections in critically ill patients (Yen et al., 2009). Conclusion Research has proven the high incidence of a nosocomial infection and its adverse outcomes in a preterm infant. The efforts of research have changed  to finding a method to reduce or prevent nosocomial infections in preterm infants. Human colostrum is best in supplying the infant with LF to fight infection, but other methods of supplying LF are being studied. Research has recently proven that the supplementation of bovine LF has decreased the occurrence of infections in VLBW and preterm infants. Future research should include a larger, neonatal population specifically targeting VLBW and/or ELBW infants and the effect of LF supplementation on prevention of NEC. Further studies are needed to determine the dosing, duration, and type of LF (bovine, porcine, or human) that will be most effective in the prevention of infection in preterm infants without causing adverse effects or intolerance (Venkatesh Abrams, 2010). References Brooks, H. J. L., McConnell, M. A., Corbett, J., Buchan, G. S., Fitzpatrick, C. E., Broadbent, R. S. (2006). Potential prophylactic value of bovine colostrum in necrotizing enterocolitis in neonates: an in vitro study on bacterial attachment, antibody levels, and cytokine production. FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology, 48, 347-354. doi:10.1111/j.1574-695X.2006.00151.x Callen, J. Pinelli, J. (2005). A review of the literature examining the benefits and challenges, incidence and duration, and barriers to breastfeeding in preterm infants. Advances in Neonatal Care, 5(2), 72-88. doi:10.1016/j.adnc.2004.12.003 Current Nursing. (2010). Levine’s four conservation principles. Retrieved on September 23, 2010 from http://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/Levine_four_conservation_princples.html King, J. C., Cummings, G. E., Guo, N., Trivedi, L, Readmond, B. X., Keane, V., †¦ de Waard, R. (2007). A double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot study of bovine lactoferrin supplementation in bottle-fed infants. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 44(2), 245-251. Lin, H., Su, B., Chen, A., Lin, T., Tsai, C., Yeh, T., Oh, W. (2005). Oral probiotics reduce the incidence and severity of necrotizing enterocolitis in very low birth weight infants. Pediatrics, 115 (1), 1-4. doi:10.1542/peds.2004-1463 Manzoni, P., Rinaldi, M., Cattani, S., Pugni, L., Romeo, M. G., Messner, H., †¦ Farina, D. (2009). Bovine lactoferrin supplementation for prevention of late-onset sepsis in very low birth-weight neonates. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 302(13), 1421-1428. Retrieved on September 4, 2010 from http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/302/13/1421 Polit, D. E., Beck, C. T. (2008). Nursing research generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice (8th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams Wilkins. Rodriguez, N. A., Meier, P. P., Groer, M. W., Zeller, J. M., Engstrom, J. L., Fogg, L. (2010). A pilot study to determine the safety and feasibility of oropharyngeal administration of own mother’s colostrum to extremely low-birth-weight infants. Advances in Neonatal Care, 10(4), 206-212. Stoll, B. J., Hansen, N., Fanaroff, A. A., Wright, L. L., Carlo, W. A., Ehrenkranz, R. A., †¦ Poole, W. K. (2002). Late-onset sepsis in very low birth weight neonates: the experience of the NICHD neonatal research network. Pediatrics, 110(2), 285-291. Retrieved September 9, 2010 from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/110/2/285 US Food and Drug Administration, CFSAN/Office of Food Additive Safety. (2001). Agency response letter: GRAS notice (No. GRN 000077). Retrieved on September 23, 2010 from http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodIngredientsPackaging/GenerallyRecognizedAsSafeGRAs/GRASListings/ucm154188.htm Venkatesh, M. P., Abrams, S. A. (2010). Oral lactoferrin for the prevention of sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Art. No.: CD007137 (5). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007137.pub2 Yen, C., Lin, C., Chong, K., Tsai, T., Shen, C., Lin, M., †¦ Chen, C. (2009). Lactoferrin as a natural regimen for selective decontamination of the digestive tract: recombinant porcine lactoferrin expressed in the milk of transgenic mice protects neonates from pathogenic challenge in the gastrointestinal tract. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 199, 590-598. doi:10.1086/596212

Strategic marketing planning

Strategic marketing planning The proper application and implementation of a strategic marketing plan is essential to the success of any business. A company can have a perfect product, but without proper placement, identifying an audience and a marketing plan appropriate activity would not be able to market its products to consumers. Watawala Plantations PLC was able to convert an activity performed in the home of commercial success through the implementation and respect of its strategic intentions. The company was able to convince consumers that the store offers more than just tea, but rather a rich experience they should have on a recurring basis. The company was able to translate this consumer experience of its products for an extremely lucrative. This strategic marketing plan will discuss the marketing strategy implemented by Watawala Plantations PLC, and evaluate the plan of the company in the current marketing strategies including market segmentation, targeting strategies, positioning, the competitive environment, and various other factors that affect its marketing strategy including external macro environmental forces. Table of contents Title Page. 1.0 Introduction 04 2.0 Watawala Plantations An Overview 05 2.1 Company Background 05 2.2 Mission, Vision Corporate Values 06 2.2.1 Mission 06 2.2.2 Vision 07 2.2.3 Corporate Values 07 3.0 Product Description Oolong Tea 08 4.0 Construction of SWOT A Situational Analysis 08 5.0 Marketing Objectives 10 6.0 Market Segmentation, Target Market and Positioning 10 6.1 Market Segmentation 10 6.2 Target Market 11 6.3 Positioning 11 7.0 Macro Environmental Analysis PEST Factors 12 8.0 The Marketing Mix 4Ps 14 8.1 Product 14 8.2 Price 15 8.3 Place (distribution) 16 8.4 Promotion 16 9.0 Proposed Marketing Budget 17 10.0 Evaluation and Control 18 11.0 Bibliography 19 1.0 Introduction Today in the rapidly changing corporate arena one of the frequently spoken subject is becoming the Strategic Market Planning and many expensive reference materials can be commonly seen in bookstores, libraries and via online sources. But what exactly is Strategic Marketing Plan, how to assess the external macro environment? What are the impacts of political, economic, socio-cultural and technological factors have on developing Strategic Marketing Plan? These are some of the common questions to be answered. Without a clear strategy the organization is like a ship without a rudder, going around in circles. This strategic marketing plan prepared to Watawala Plantations PLC is essential for the newcomer Oolong tea to the market. Oolong Tea is an innovative product that is close to the tea and black tea, and this product can be a cleaner body. This strategic marketing plan will discuss the marketing strategy implemented by Watawala Plantations PLC. It is very much evident, that the strategic marketing plan for Watawala Plantations PLC has been successfully completed after gaining a substantial understanding from the various reliable sources where the information have been gathered. I strongly feel that the information that I have provided in this strategic marketing plan will definitely satisfy the assessment criteria. Last but not the least I wish to mention that, at the best of my knowledge, Ive acknowledged all the sources which I did refer to complete this strategic marketing plan. 2.0 Watawala Plantations An Overview 2.1 Company Background Watawala Plantations PLC is a pioneer tea plantation and marketing company in Sri Lanka. This is a listed company is a joint venture with the legendary Tata Group, which owns the No. 1 tea brand in Britain Tetley. Today Watawala plantations PLC has undertaken the management of selected 18 prime tea estates in all elevations of low-rise, medium-and high-grown along with a pair of rubber plantations, and the Sri Lankas only palm oil factory and employs over 15,000 people. With the joint venture in Tata Tea India, Watawala Plantations PLC has accepted the challenge of converting trade and productivity in to competition. The unique advantage of three diversified namely crops, tea, rubber and Palm has made the company to move in different directions in terms of involvement with the daily life of people in Sri Lanka. Total area of plantations is divided region 12,442.13 hectares, of which 41% is the tea, rubber is 18% and 8% less for the cultivation of oil palm. About 7% is separate for firewood and the rest is uncultivated and remains as the areas of conservation, forestry, spices, vegetable cultivation, jungle, buildings, roads, etc. 2.2 Mission, Vision Corporate Values 2.2.1Mission Statement According to David (1995, p.88) a business mission can be classified as the foundation for priorities, strategies, plans, and work assignment. In other words it can be said as the starting point for the design of managerial jobs and, above all, for the design of managerial structures. A mission statement which focuses on a businesss current activities reveals the long-term vision of an organization in terms of what it wants to be and whom it wants to serve. The Mission Statement of Watawala Plantations PLCà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ By the year 2015 we will get closer to our end user locally and internationally by: Adding value to our products (tea, rubber, palm oil) Being committed to producing quality products Using our own brand Fully utilize the technological advancements and land resources in an eco-friendly manner To respect and understand the community in which we do business Celebrate the diversity and the power of our people While continuing toà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦, Be the preferred supplier in tea, rubber, palm oil globally Enhance return to our shareholders 2.2.2 Vision A strategic vision concerns a firms future business path that is where we are going. Companys vision defines the desired or intended future state of an organization or company in respect of its basic objectives. Vision is a long-term; sometimes describing how the organization wants the world must stay where it operates. The primary role of a companys vision is to establish a dream to all its employees and stake holders to achieve the companys corporate goals. The Vision Statement of Watawala Plantations PLCà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ We will take a path no one has walked before and many will want to follow 2.2.3 Core Values Watawala Plantations willà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Ensure that our business is always customer focused and that we continuously strive to meet their demands with the highest level of service. Be committed to offering the highest quality products at all times to our customers globally. Recognize and motivate our employees who are the live wire of the organization, to achieve their fullest potential and provide equal opportunities regardless of gender, religion, race or colour to excel in their work. Value transparency and honesty in everything we do. Contribute positively to the long term sustainability and development of the external community and the environment we operate in. Be innovative and strive for continuous improvement in whatever we do. Recognize that our shareholders are of utmost importance to us and ensure the best possible returns to them. 3.0 Product Description Oolong Tea There are hundreds of different varieties of tea made from tea plant, Camellia Sinensis, but almost all of them is divided into three broader categories which are respectively black teas, which are fully oxidized before drying a careful fermentation process, green tea is dried quickly, while non-oxidized oolong, which is somewhere in the middle and combine the best features of both. Oolong is partially fermented (semi-fermented) tea, which is known for its rich taste and pleasant lasting aftertaste. Oolong is classified as black or dark green tea which is baked longer than Green Oolongs. Green Oolong is usually smells stronger as Dark Oolong is usually has a stronger aftertaste. Special oven baked Oolong is only an intermediate dark green. 4.0 Construction of SWOT A Situational Analysis According to David (2004, pp.156-158) no organization is equally strong or weak in all its functional areas. Objectives and strategies are established with the intention of capitalizing upon internal strengths and overcoming weaknesses. The overall evaluation of a companys strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats are called as the SWOT analysis. A SWOT analysis is used as a framework to help the firm to develop its overall corporate, marketing, or product strategies. Strengths and Weaknesses are internal factors, which are controllable by the company. Whereas, Opportunities threats are external factors tend to be uncontrollable by the organization. The SWOT analysis of the Watawala Plantations PLC can be illustrated as follows: Strengths Uniqueness of the product Benefits of product are outstanding and not offered by any other product/company. Brand awareness High quality tea High quality service Expertise on the tea business Entrepreneurial spirit and commitment Complete and broad trained staff Opportunities Can open new lines of business Mass market tea prices will stabilize Consumers are living a more healthy lifestyle Consumers prefer quality products that offer true value Modern technology in the tea industry will be able to increase productivity Growth in tea market due to promotional efforts of healthy attributes of tea Threats Seasonal demand Misperception of tea consumption Competition from coffee shops Limited number of raw materials Unstable tea supply of high quality tea High quality tea prices will increase moderately Tea market is very competitive and relative elastic where strong local competitors such as Lipton, Bogawanthalaweà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦etc. SWOT ANALYSIS Weaknesses Budget deficits Less access to modern technologies with to Oolong tea manufacturing process 5.0 Marketing Objectives All businesses, as a rule, need to set objectives on their own, for the products or services they intend to launch. Setting objectives are important; because they focus on specific aims over a period of time and can motivate the staff additionally to meet the set objectives. The marketing intention Watawala Plantations PLC is to grab a 10% market share and to achieve a sales volume worth of SLR 2,500,000 during the current year 2011. 6.0 Market Segmentation, Target Market and Positioning 6.1 Market Segmentation An organization cannot satisfy the needs and wants of all consumers. To do so, may result in a massive drain in company resources. Segmentation is simply the process of dividing a particular market for a good or service into sections, which display similar characteristics or behavior. There are a number of segmentation variables that allow an organization to divide their market into homogenous groups. There is no single way to segment a market. A good marketer has to try different segmentation methods, either alone or in combination, in order to view the market structure clearly. Segmentation can be categorized in to four major variables. They are geographic, demographic, psychographic and behavioral variables. It has to be clearly understood that Watawala Plantations PLC has utilized the demographic segmentation variable to divide the market. In demographic segmentation, the market can be divided in to groups such as age, gender, income, family size, family life cycle, occupation, education, race, religion, generation, nationality and social class. But here Watawala Plantations PLC going to consider only the first three groups from the demographic variables as described above. It is very much evident that in particular, the demographic segmentation variables have been chosen because of two reasons. One is that, customer wants, preferences, and usage rates are often associated with demographic variables and the other is that the demographic variables are easier to measure. 6.2 Target Market Target Market is the specific group of customers that a company aims to capture. They have been identified as the people with needs or wants that can be met with the products or services from the company. When evaluating the market segments, Watawala Plantations PLC must look at three major factors. They are segment size growth, segment structural attractiveness, and companys growth. Considering these aspects Watawala Plantations PLC has decided its target group as anybody who is interested in good quality tea. Mass market is the strategy of the company aiming to sell their product to broad market in Spain. 6.3 Positioning After an organization has selected its target market, the next stage is to decide how it wants to position itself within that chosen segment. A products position is the complex set of perceptions, impressions, and feelings that consumers hold for the particular product compared with the competing products in the market. As marketers, Watawala Plantations PLC not only plan positions that gives our products the greatest advantage in selected target markets, but also we design marketing mixes to create these planned positions. Therefore Watawala Plantations PLC is going market its Oolong Tea under its renowned positioning theme THE ART OF TEA 7.0 Macro Environmental Analysis PEST Factors According to David (2004, p.114) the purpose of an external audit is to develop a predetermined list of opportunities that could benefit the firm and threats that should be avoided. The Relationship between Key External Forces and an organization can be illustrated as follows: Therefore while formulating business strategies, Watawala Plantations PLC should be able to respond towards the external macro environmental factors in order to take the maximum advantage of external opportunities or that minimize the impact of potential threats. PEST analysis is a framework used to scan the external macro-environment, in which a firm operates. It is an important aspect to a company, in order to begin the marketing process. The following gird represents the analysis of the political, economic, socio-cultural and technological factors Watawala Plantations PLC has to consider before deciding either Germany or Australia would be potential market to expand the fruity malt loaf product. The grid below examines the political, economic, socio-cultural and technological factors with regard to the potential impact and its relative importance towards Watawala Plantations PLC. PEST Analysis Factors Potential Impact Relative Importance Political Factors Strict trading policies Medium Important Funding grants Medium Unimportant Local pressure groups High Unimportant Government policies High Important Political influence High Important Economic Factors Economic structure Command Economy prices are determined by the government Important Taxation issues Total tax rate is 64% on Profit Critical Interest rates 3.0% Important Inflation rates 9.4% Important Socio-cultural Factors Consumer attitudes High Critical Consumer opinions High Critical Media views High Important Brand image High Important Buying access and trends High Critical Health consciousness High Critical Religious factors Medium Important Technological Factors Technology development High Important Research funding Medium Important Recycling systems Medium Important 8.0 The Marketing Mix 4Ps To achieve the marketing objectives, the company has to use the marketing controllable elements (4Ps) effectively. A company might adopt one or more marketing strategies when introducing a product newly. It can set a high or low-level trend for each of its marketing variables, such as price, promotion, distribution, and product quality. Therefore, the key elements of the marketing mix namely product, price, place (distribution) and promotion have to be utilized Watawala Plantations PLC as follows: 8.1 Product A good Oolong tea is refreshing and delicious; the Oolong spectrum has a range of aromas and tastes quite different from what you get with green or black tea. It is difficult to obtain reliable figures on the caffeine content, but its probably not entirely wrong to say that the cup of Oolong average, well mixed, has about half as much caffeine as a cup of black tea and about half again as much as a cup of green tea. The difference mainly comes from the brewing temperature, not the composition of the tea itself. Although Oolong has the characteristics of black and green tea, the taste has little in common. If not overcooked, most Oolong seems almost no trace of bitterness, and generally a stronger aroma than any black or green tea. Like other tea, Oolong is rich in antioxidants called polyphenols. These help prevent cancer, keep your heart healthy and aid general well-being. 8.2 Price Price can be simply defined as the amount of money charged for a product or a service provided. A companys pricing decisions are affected either by internal factors relating to the company or external environmental factors or both. The major external environmental factor, which is going to affect the pricing decision, of Watawala Plantations PLC depends on the competitors costs, prices and their possible reactions in relation to the price fixing modes of Watawala Plantations PLC. A consumer when deciding to purchase our Watawala Plantations PLCs Oolong Tea, at the first instance evaluate the price and value of other products, which compete with Watawala Plantations PLCs products. Considering these pricing factors Watawala Plantations PLC should to apply the market penetration pricing strategy, meaning, to fix a low initial price at the introduction stage, in order to penetrate the market successfully at the outset. This is due to the fact that, it is an ideal pricing strategy which can be applied with success at the introductory stage itself, to attract a large number of buyers quickly and effectively so as to win a large market share, in a short period of time. Upon successful launch of Oolong tea, Watawala Plantations PLC can adapt skimming strategy. 8.3 Place (distribution) The distribution modes will cover all areas and all consumers coming under the target group. This is certain as the popularity grows with the demand. A competent distribution strategy will enhance the chances of attaining the goal with easy reach. Through maintaining proper contacts and application of the experience and specialization in the trade and through insuring a steady supply of goods without shortages the reach is assured with satisfactory results. Over the appointment of distributors and agents for the purpose of popularizing the product, requirements and competence in promotion, experience, market familiarity in relation to the productsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦etc. In addition to the distributors, a careful consideration will be given towards selecting the distribution strategy. In this case an intensive distribution strategy will be utilized where it is expected to bring in quick and satisfactory results. 8.4 Promotion Promotion is one of the key elements in the marketing mix. The intention now is to inform, persuade and to familiarize Oolong tea to the market and to popularize it. In this regard sales promotion and pre publicity are two areas, which are related to public relations. To target the group, pre publicity is essential via the media namely the electronic and the print. It is through proper and efficient advertising methods, the target group mainly the consumers would be reached easily which we intend to employ. The channels, which we hope to utilize both in TV and Radio in addition to the press, will be chosen based on their popularity and result-oriented methods adopted. In this regard a careful consideration would be given to economize the expenditure for the promotion purpose. In addition to the above method e-marketing strategy will also be utilized via social media networks such as Twitter, Facebook. YouTubeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦etc. 9.0 Proposed Marketing Budget A financial plan will be carried out since the initiation of the strategic marketing plan in order to determine the total amount of capital needed for each marketing related activity and to be completed within stipulated investment limit, which allows the marketing manager to measure the past with the forecasts actually spent during the project. Figure A illustrates the proposed marketing budget for Watawala Plantations PLC. Figure A Description Amount (SLR) Amount (SLR) Estimated Sales 10,000,000 (-) Estimated Expenses Raw Materials 500,000 Sales Distribution 400,000 Financial Expenses 200,000 HR Administrative Expenses 150,000 Production Cost 1,450,000 Promotional Expenses (posters, banners, advertisementsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦etc.) 4,500,000 Transportation 300,000 Estimated total expenses (7,500,000) Estimated profit 2,500,000 10.0 Evaluation and Control When involving in introducing a new product into the market, it becomes necessary to plan the overall operation in advance, in addition to budgetary provision to carry forward the objective. The controlling and monitoring aspects are two areas, which need constant attention. Any deviation will tend to upset a proper implementation of this strategic marketing plan. Therefore the following action plan can be utilized by Watawala Plantations PLC in order to evaluate and control the strategic marketing activities. Marketing Strategy Action Responsibility Control and Evaluation Methodology Marketing Communication Campaign Advertisement on TV, internet, radio, newspapers, ad campaigns on the streets Marketing Managers, Marketing Executives Monthly Sales Figures Marketing Promotion Campaign Set Up Special Stand for Personal Selling Marketing Managers, Sales managers, Counter staff Supervisors Count Customers and Monitor Sales per Month Organize Promotional Event Major Cities Marketing Managers, Supervisors, Hostesses Count Participants Promotional offers e.g. free gifts with purchase Marketing Managers, Production Managers Produced Output Figures Distribution of Free Samples to Customers At cash point Marketing Managers, Cashiers, Supervisors Count Customers

Is Scientology Dangerous?

Is Scientology Dangerous? A religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious. Scientology was made up by L. Ron Hubbard, a man who wanted to create a practical religion for all races, color, and gender. He believed this as a route to previously unimagined spiritual heights (scientology.org). Scientologists believe highly in reincarnation and that their spirits are immortal and flow through to every new person when they die. L. Ron Hubbard is a man who created this cult to liberate the human soul or thetan; a word derived from the Greek letter theta. Hubbard is a god to the people who believe in him. People who are in Scientology are more brain washed than the celebrities in Hollywood. The only difference is that the people in Scientology are the people in Hollywood. Scientology is a cult based on one mans crude version of reality. Scientology is classified as a cult in most peoples minds because of their strict rules and unorthodox ways of going about things. It is considered a cult because people are treated badly and are harassed if they dont agree with a rule. There are cases of very unorthodox forms of repenting in the Church of Scientology. People have stated that when they were under the belief of Scientology they were told that everything bad that has happened to them is all their fault and they have to make up for it by spreading awareness of Scientology so they can help others atone for everything. The journalist Joel Sappell reported that in his 5 year study of the Church of Scientology, The tip of the spear, that his dog appeared to be having seizure from which the vet couldnt determine the cause of. This comes after he had previously reported on a Scientology related civil trial. Soon after it died, Sappell received a call from Supreme Court judge Ronald Swearinger(Sappell) who called claiming to h ave. Even though Sappell had never previously spoken to this man they both had something in common. Swearingers dog has been drowned, which made him very concerned since his beloved collie would never go near the water on his own(Sappell). Sappell states that people had warned him to keep an eye on pets(Sappell) while he and a colleague, only named in the article as Bob, left town to keep their heads low while theyre investigating the church. Maybe it was coincidence many highly suspect the church targets peoples pets since so many people have reported that their animals suddenly die or disappear when they speak openly about the misgivings of the church. The current leader of Scientology is David Miscavige who is also in command of the Sea Org or The Sea Organization which is a odd mixture of military and corporate managementwith staff members living in army-like conditions (exscientologykids.com). They have such unorthodox ways of going about their religion that they restrict peopl e from having children while working for Sea Org. If you get pregnant you are either pressured to abort the baby or you must leave.(exscientologykids.com) Cover ups and pay offs may be the reason they are never caught for their bad deeds. Scientology really challenges the meaning of church and it should never be called one and only be considered a cult. In May of 2010, another case was opened about child sex abuse allegations. Of the people putting out these accusations was the daughter of the president of the church in Australia (New Zealand Herald, pg.19). This goes to show that even the people of the highest standings have come forward and spoke against the church. Many reported claims of forced abortions, imprisonment,(New Zealand Herald, pg.19) and disconnection. The strict policies of Scientology and the impact on the people who follow this belief system are in some ways both corrupted by the thoughts of Hubbard. In an interview from April 2016, the parents of two followers of the Church of Scientology, Phil and Willie Jones, begged for their children to come forward and speak to them again. Claiming that the last time they spoke to Michael, the son who they claim was stolen from them by Scientology after the church deemed them as suppressive people, was two years ago.(Gadi Schwartz) After being blocked twice from putting up a billboard to get their childrens attention in Hollywood they finally found a site where they could unveil their sign. Other parents who were excommunicated from the church or were forcefully disconnected from their families came to support the Jones family. A lot of cases against Scientology have to do with freedom of speech. Written in the Constitution, freedom of speech has given the people of the United States the f reedom to speak freely. Scientology has found a way to squash and subdue the first amendment. Hubbard created his own version called Fair Game. This policy forces all believers to ignore moral and ethical tenets (Jose Liy). Hubbard let his followers harass people until it became bigger than it seemed. Thus forcing him to claim that followers harassing and breaking laws were misguided and misunderstood(Jose Liy). If everyone who harassed people for not believing in the same things as them were just brushed off as misguided and misunderstood then there would be no such thing as religious fanatics. They go as far as pulling South Park, a Comedy Central show, off the air because it poked fun at Scientology. Tons of religions are made fun of or joked about on different TV shows and/or movies, but since Scientology is a bigger deal in Hollywood they could not take the chances of looking silly in front of their peers. Yet other actual religions are more made fun of than Scientology wants t o maintain their scary appearance and keep people second guessing them. Disconnection is a very common thing in Scientology. When you are labeled as suppressive you are not allowed to speak too your family. From an article in which the people affected by disconnection told their story and still remained scientology loyal. In this article the names were changed to keep the people safe. Mary was raised in Scientology(leavingscientology.wordpress.com) by her dad Sam who is a dedicated Scientologist(leavingscientology.wordpress.com) and joined Sea Org along with her brother. One day Sam found out Mary was labeled as a suppressive person because she messed up a operation at Sea Org. Sam worried about her being disconnected and knew he had to disconnect from her since it is a policy. Even though Scientology insist that Disconnection does not exist (exscientologykids.com/disconnection) yet it seems to pop up more often. Since Sam cannot speak to Mary until she gets her good standing back he branches off and commits the crime of contacting Ex-Scientologists. Whe n Mary started to consider a lawsuit, the church offered her a deal if Mary would shut up about the abuses, and agree not to be part of any lawsuit, then her SP declare would be lifted (leavingscientology.wordpress.com). Fearing for his daughters safety Sam researched some ex-scientologists who were not named and learned their stories. Mary did not want to be disconnected and they told her that dads betrayal will be forgiven as well as hers. Mary signed. She gave in and let them take her back out of fear and possible loneliness. There are different arguments for disconnection. Some are pro, some are con. From the families of disconnection the arguments are con, yet for Scientologist it is considered likewise to excommunication. Even though excommunicated people are not permitted to take any of the sacraments or receive blessings, their families and friends are not pressured to abandon them (exscientologykids.com). Scientology may deny disconnection, but it is one of the worst kind o f excommunication since it does not only focus on disconnecting the person considered a suppressive person; it pushes the family to go as far as never speaking to the person again or disowning them. Not claiming a son as their own or thinking of a father as someone who helped in the process of your creation. In conclusion, Scientology may not be the average sacrificial virgin cult, but it is in fact a dangerous cult. Modern society needs to be more aware of Scientologys rule over people. Since the media down plays Scientology as something to poke fun at no one really questions Scientologists. If asked many people would probably not even know what Scientology is. Instead of answers you will receive questions likewise to is that science? or is that something to do with biology? Younger people are more unaware of Scientology than some may think. Unless they follow people like Leah Remini or watch shows like South Park and learn how Scientology messes with people in real life. Some things that will make people actually think, what really is Scientology? Once society realizes the dangers of Scientology then the numbers of Scientologists possibly will fall and people will feel safer because they will not be a radical threat anymore. Scientology is a cult and a lot of innocent people are unawar e of what they are walking into. Works Cited Abuse? In My Church? Leaving Scientology, WordPress , 10 Apr. 2011, leavingscientology.wordpress.com/2009/07/15/abuse-in-my-church/. Accessed 21 Feb. 2017. COLUMN: Church of Scientology Infringes upon Right of Free Speech. U-Wire, 2006. Educators Reference Complete, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=GPSsw=wu=j020902v=2.1it=rid=GALE|A148688058asid=9d53a7cdb20653018d927a5954846b7e. Accessed 2017. Disconnection as Spiritual Blackmail. Leaving Scientology, WordPress, 10 Apr. 2011, leavingscientology.wordpress.com/2009/07/16/disconnection-as-spiritual-blackmail/. Accessed 21 Feb. 2017. Disconnection. ExScientology Kids, SkyHawk Studios, exscientologykids.com/disconnection/. Accessed 21 Feb. 2017. L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology Founder Biography Quotes. Scientology, Church of Scientology International, www.scientology.org/l-ron-hubbard/?video-play=lrh_bio. Accessed 21 Feb. 2017. Ross, Rick. What Makes a Cult? | Rick Ross. Cif Belief, Guardian News and Media, 27 May 2009, www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2009/may/27/cults-definition-religion. Accessed 21 Feb. 2017. Sappell, Joel. The Tip of the Spear. Los Angeles Magazine, 2013, p. 88. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=GPSsw=wu=j020902v=2.1it=rid=GALE|A314716972asid=ed39321a51f5fc8ae69e80246fe380a2. Accessed 2017. Sea Org. ExScientology Kids, SkyHawk Studios, exscientologykids.com/sea-org-2/. Accessed 21 Feb. 2017. This Family Has Tried Nearly Everything Just to Reach Their Son and Daughter in the Church of Scientology. Today, July 2016. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=GPSsw=wu=j020902v=2.1it=rid=GALE|A448889575asid=a7b812f9b7a31c5d0b16388a69d2e982. Accessed 2017.

A Titanic Experience Online :: History Movies Essays

A Titanic Experience Online Throughout all of the years I had attended school I had heard the word "Titanic" probably only five times. All I knew of this ship was that it sank and many people died. That was literally the extent of my knowledge about this ship. One day a friend of mine, who does a little work on movies once in a while, told me about this new movie they were making called "Titanic". He brought in some pictures of the huge set that was built. I looked at the pictures and listened to him talk about how grandiose the ship set was. At the time I was wondering how they could possibly make an interesting movie about a ship that hit an iceberg and sank. I kept thinking more along the lines of a documentary sort of film. Nothing sounded really interesting to me. About a year after I had heard about this movie, I saw the first movie preview. To my surprise it was a love story as well as the story of the tragedy. The story attracted me so much that I wanted to see the movie the first day it came out. The day finally came and I took, or should I say dragged, my boyfriend to see it with me. From the second it started I was completely mesmerized by the movie. The music, the characters, the set, it was all so wonderful. There was a point in the movie that I was crying and I even forgot that my boyfriend was there with me. He turned to me and asked me why I was crying. I simply turned to him and said, "Shhhh!!". I didn't want him to ruin the mood. As we walked out of the theater I found myself to be a little depressed. The sadness of the tragedy was still on my mind. The next day I woke up and as I lay in bed the feeling of sadness had not gone away. It was from that moment on that this tragic event in history really came to be a part of my life. Of course the movie brought out a wave of Titanic-related videos, magazines, articles, etc. People everywhere were talking about "Titanic". I, myself became very interested in learning more and more about the actual ship, the passengers-- PASSENGER LIST --aboard the ship, and the tragic event that occurred.

William Golding’s main reason to explore the defects of human nature Es

William Golding’s main reason to explore the defects of human nature in his novel Lord of the Flies is to portray the destruction caused when civilization is consumed by DEFECTS OF HUMAN NATURE William Golding’s main reason to explore the â€Å"defects of human nature† in his novel Lord of the Flies is to portray the destruction caused when civilization is consumed by the dark side of human nature. He also wanted to divulge the reactions and behaviors of different types of people under same situations. The four main â€Å"defects of human nature† that is explored in the novel are fear and insecurity, indolence (longing for excitement), being dependent on others and ignorance towards reality. These defects make the boys join Jack’s tribe even though Jack is selfish, quick-tempered and violent. Fear plays an important role not only in the novel but also in our lives as it reflects upon our actions. Everyone reacts differently while experiencing fear or insecurity. Early in the novel, Jack mentions that â€Å"We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re not savages. We’re English; and the English are best at everything. So we’ve got to do the right things† (Pg. 42). Later on, when Jack is asking the boys to raise their hands up if they don’t want Ralph as a chief, he endures humiliation as no one raised their hands. It is the fear of being ruled under Ralph which leads Jack to being the chief of the savages. Furthermore, when the â€Å"littl’uns† are afraid of the beast and tell Ralph about it, he denies it as â€Å"there isn’t a beast† (Pg. 35). This is one of the reasons why the boys left Ralph to join Jack’s tribe. Jack gave the boys a way to deal with their fear from the beast. He told the â€Å"littl’uns† that â€Å"fe... ... the only ones who take the signal fire seriously. Later on in the novel, after the feast, Ralph admits that he is responsible for Simon’s death. Piggy refuses to believe it as â€Å"It was dark† and â€Å"It was an accident† (Pg. 173). Though deep inside, Piggy knows that it was murder. Similarly, there are many people in this world who refuse to accept the true facts no matter how obvious they are. As Golding grew up during the war periods, he witnessed these â€Å"defects of human nature†. He explored these defects in the novel Lord of the Flies so that people can relate it to themselves, acknowledge the problem and find solutions for it before civilization is consumed by darkness and ruled by savagery and fear. As mentioned earlier, he hopes that the world unites as soon as possible as he knows that there is no one who can rescue this world from chaos and darkness.

The Future of Cyborgs Essay -- Technology Robots

The Future of Cyborgs Terminator and Bladerunner, portrayed cyborgs or cybernetic organisms as creatures of destruction. Are they really as horrible as the movies make them out to be? They can be more useful than perceived; it is necessary to first perfect the technology involved in creating and operating them. In this paper, I will describe how these cyborgs work and how they are portrayed in the movies. Furthermore, I will explain the helpful ways that they are expected to perform in the future. Cyborgs are a very complex creation of the future. The general concept is that they cannot be recognized as non-humans. Although it has a programmed mission, this unit thinks and reacts on its own. The understructure is made of a very strong material that resists many dangers; for example, gunshots and fire. Cyborgs are a self-contained unit under a layer of human flesh. The layer of human flesh that covers the frame is a biological organism. It has different layers and has a capillary system that is flowing with blood. Basically, a cyborg is undetectable to a human without special means and equipment. Cyborgs are portrayed as an evil force in Terminator and Bladerunner. In Terminator, the cyborg is a killing machine sent back in time from the future. The mission of the cyborg is to terminate the mother of a rebellion leader before he is born. Throughout the movie, the Terminator takes many gunshots and withstands punishments that would destroy a human’s frail body. The Terminator experiences a high-speed car crash and walks away nearly unharmed. His layer of flesh is damaged, but he proceeds to cut the damaged portion away and continues his mission. Near the end of the movie, the Terminator is in a fiery explosion involving a... ...us functions. In a military aspect, they could be used as guards to patrol the base, or put in the front line to lead the troops into questionable situations. In the medical field, they could be used as assistants during surgery and childbirth and once the technology is perfected, they could perform these procedures on their own. They could also be used in biohazardous material recovery and decontamination. Finally, if enough money was available, they could be purchased as maids in a household. As you can see, even though they are portrayed as an evil force in the movies, cyborgs could be a great asset to the world once the technology is perfected. Bibliography Terminator. Dir. James Cameron Perf. Arnold Schwarzenegger,Michael Biehn, Linda Hamilton. MGM, 1984. Bladerunner. Dir. Ridley Scott. Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer. Columbia TriStar, Warner Bros., 1982.

Cumberland Metal Industries Essay

In its initial evaluation, the company believes that the new product, curled metal cushion pads, has a potential for increasing the company’s sales and profit and for diversifying the products it offers. Early demands for the product appear to be good, however an in-depth analysis of the marketing aspect is necessary before the company can introduce the product to the market. Situational Analysis Based on the two trials made, it is clear that the company is in possession of a product that is better than any of those currently available in the market. The question only is how much better this product is than the others already available. Based on the first trial performed, the product is 25% more efficient than its closest competitor in terms of feet of piles driven per hour. It also increases the efficiency of the operations by requiring less time for set changes of about 80%. Each set of the product also performs nineteen times better than said competitor. In the second trial, the product maintained its previous performance as far as feet driven per hour time for set changes is concerned. It surpassed its previous performance by performing forty-nine times better than its competitor. The efficiency and effectivity of the product translates to other forms of savings on the part of the user. First, the contractor or builder will decrease the cost of rental of the equipment used in the construction by at least 25%. If the workers’ compensation is computed based on the number of hours worked, the contractor or builder will incur savings amounting to 25% of the cost of labor. Aside from its efficiency the product can also decrease, on the part of the workers, the health risk usually associated with the use of asbestos and decrease employers’ expenses relating to workers’ health insurance in the long run. Actual figures of demand for the product are hard to calculate. Based on the assumptions made by Mr. Simpson that the construction industry will need to drive 290 million to 390 million feet of piles annually, the total demand for the product annually is around 174,000 (290,000,000/10,000 x 6) to 324,000 (390,000,000/10,000 x 6) pads annually. To penetrate the market, the company will need to convince the key players of the construction industry that it should use the product. The approval of the architecture/ consulting firms, engineering/construction contractors and independent contractors are a must since they are the ones that will actually use the products. Independent contractors could be targeted since they are more willing to try new products that can increase their profits. A positive review from this group can convince bigger firms to use the product. The approval of pile hammer manufacturers and pile hammer distributing/ renting companies will be good but not necessary. These two groups know that the use of the product will decrease their profits so they have motivation to not recommend the products to their customers. Pile hammer distributing/ renting companies can provide an efficient distribution channel and reduce the company’s distribution cost since the mechanism is already in place, but not having the approval of this group is not essential since other methods of distribution are available to the company. Once amount of demand for the product is large enough this group can later decide to offer the product to their customers. Recommendations Initially, the pricing used by the company should be based on the data provided by the first test since it is more conservative. It can gradually increase its prices if the performance of the second trial is confirmed by actual practice. Based on the first trial, the company should charge $167 per pad. This price is computed by multiplying the cost of each set with the number of sets required ($50 x 20 pads) and dividing the result with the no. f pads of curled metal cushion required (1000/6). By using this price, the consumer will incur the same amount of cost for cushion pads in a project whether it uses asbestos or the curled metal cushions; it is only the amount of cushion pads used that will vary. However, this price does not charge consumer for the additional benefits provided by the product, such as 25% decrease in the cost of renting equipment and wages of laborers. This will be the selling point of the product upon its introduction. It will be important for the company to concentrate on building the confidence of the key players of the industry, instead of maximizing the profits in the first few years of introducing the product. Marketing campaigns should be focused towards convincing the architecture/ consulting firms, engineering/construction contractors and independent contractors to use the products. It could try to market the products directly to these groups since renting companies may be hesitant to distribute products that will decrease the profits generated by the services they offered. Moreover, most contractors used their own pile hammers instead of renting, so distribution through these renting companies has limited reach. Independent contractors should be given particular attention, as far as efforts at direct selling is concerned, since these groups are more likely to try new methods that decreases their cost and increases their bottom line than the more established firms. When the reputation of the product is established, it can decide whether it will continue its direct approach or use the services of pile hammer distributing/ renting companies. For the reasons stated above, the demands of the Colerick Foundation Company should be accepted by the company since this would be the first of the company’s direct sales. In summary, I would like to recommend that the company sell its curled metal cushion pads for $167 each. The company should first focus in building the reputation of its product because of its innovative quality. One way of doing so is convincing the experts that it is better than anything else present in the market.