Teaching and Modeling Homosexual Tolerance in the Public...

Teaching and Modeling Homosexual Tolerance in the Public School System I am an advocate of acceptance and tolerance as well as equality for homosexuals. I am going to try and explain to you the course we as a society needs to take. I want to share with you the history of the world in relation to gay relationships, genetics, statistics, and Christianity in order to familiarize you with the topic in hopes of helping you see things my way. I will be doing all of this to try and persuade you to agree with me on the idea of supporting gay rights and equality in our society and in our public school system right here at home in America. This I believe will lay a foundation early on for future generations to understand and accept people†¦show more content†¦I believe in sex education in the public school system, heterosexual choices should be taught as well as homosexual choices in order to include all people. I believe this is important because it is stated on the Avert.org website that 1 out of every 10 people are gay. Further more, Dr. Kathleen A. Rounds stated, Homosexual youth are at high risk for health problems including suicide, self mutilation, harassment, substance abuse, homelessness, and poor school performance. I believe it is more important for people to feel good about themselves for who they are no matter their sexual orientation, especially since most of the time a person does not choose who they are attracted to. I think there should be gay support groups, counseling, alliances, and clubs, considering the student body of every public school most likely has a gay population. If we break down the barrier that stands between homosexuality and heterosexuality we can begin to understand one another and accept one another for our similarities as well as for our differences. I also feel that teachers and administrators should take charge when they witness discrimination based on sexual orientation, despite how they personally feel about homosexuality. It is estimated that 46,000 young people between ages 14 and 25 ar e bullied each year for their sexual orientation and because of this, amongstShow MoreRelatedEssay on America’s Schools Need Character Education5183 Words   |  21 Pagescurriculum debates and school planning discussions is that of moral and character development. Does character development have a place in our schools? Should public schools take the responsibility of educating students on morality? The answer is complex and has a multitude of sides and opinions. In a way, however, schools already educate students on what to believe and how to behave. By excluding the history of the other Americans, such as people of color, women, and homosexuals, and focusing insteadRead MoreLgbt19540 Words   |  79 Pagesis one who is romantically, sexually and/or emotionally attracted to men. The word gay can be used to refer generally to lesbian, gay and bisexual people but many women prefer to be called lesbian. Most gay people dont like to be referred to as homosexual because of the negative historical associations with the word and because the word gay better reflects their identity. Bisexual A bisexual person is someone who is romantically, sexually and/or emotionally attracted to people of both sexes. TransgenderRead MoreCommunity Health Nursing Final Exam Study Guide Essay15874 Words   |  64 PagesAddicts may become both physically and psychologically dependent on a drug. There may be a risk of harm and the need to stop drug abuse. Drug dependence: a state of neuroadaptation, a physiologic change in the central nervous system (CNS) and aterations in other systems caused by the chronic, regular administration of a drug. People who are dependent on drugs must continue using them to prevent symptoms of withdrawal. When a person is given an opiate such as morphine on a regular basis for painRead MorePsy Evaluation Essay11057 Words   |  45 Pageswhat term or terms replace(s) the word dependence? A. a personal choice B.. a bad habit C. a brain disease D. addiction. ANS:D PG4 4. Which of the following are NOT typical symptoms defined by the DSM-5 to diagnose substance use disorder: A. tolerance B.unsuccessful attempts to control or reduce consumption C. nervous facial tics D. withdrawal problems ANS:C PG4 5. In the boxed reading, â€Å"Social Work Major Working in a Casino,† the author describes A. her gambling addiction problems. B. examplesRead MoreHunyango Sa Bato - Abdon Balde Jr.6135 Words   |  25 Pagesinclude threatening the victim with injury or harm, telling the victim that they will be killed if they ever leave the relationship, and public humiliation. Constant criticism, name-calling, and making statements that damage the victim’s self-esteem are also common verbal forms of emotional abuse. Often perpetrators will use children to engage in emotional abuse by teaching them to harshly criticize the victim as well.[48]  Emotional abuse includes conflicting actions or statements which are designed to  confuseRead MoreHuman Resources Management150900 Words   |  604 Pagesorganizational competitiveness and success.1 4 Section 1 HR Management—Strategies and Environment â€Å" HR should be defined not by what it does, but by what it delivers. DAVID ULRICH Human Resource (HR) management The design of formal systems in an organization to ensure the effective and efficient use of human talent to accomplish the organizational goals. As human resources have become viewed as more critical to organizational success, many organizations have realized that it is theRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesE SSAYS ON TWENTIETH-C ENTURY H ISTORY In the series Critical Perspectives on the Past, edited by Susan Porter Benson, Stephen Brier, and Roy Rosenzweig Also in this series: Paula Hamilton and Linda Shopes, eds., Oral History and Public Memories Tiffany Ruby Patterson, Zora Neale Hurston and a History of Southern Life Lisa M. Fine, The Story of Reo Joe: Work, Kin, and Community in Autotown, U.S.A. Van Gosse and Richard Moser, eds., The World the Sixties Made: Politics and CultureRead MoreFundamentals of Hrm263904 Words   |  1056 PagesThis online teaching and learning environment integrates the entire digital textbook with the most effective instructor and student resources With WileyPLUS: Students achieve concept mastery in a rich, structured environment that’s available 24/7 Instructors personalize and manage their course more effectively with assessment, assignments, grade tracking, and more manage time better study smarter save money From multiple study paths, to self-assessment, to a wealth of interactive visual

The Udhr And The Different World Viewpoints On Human...

The UDHR and the Different World Viewpoints on Human Rights Accepted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is comprised of a preamble and thirty articles. Each article delineates a specific right that every human, either from the sake of being human and/or being part of the collective of humanity, is forever entitled to. On the flip side, the preamble is comprised of seven clauses that taken together accommodate the historical evolution, context, and reasoning behind the document’s inscription. Finally, at the end of the preamble is the declaration’s proclamation, whose inclusion solidifies the documents global significance. Given the historical time period that the UDHR was conceived in, its thirty rights are quite an astonishing list. However, in today’s times, the UDHR does not mention a series of rights that the international community has, in some places more than others, started to accept since 1948. In general, this trend can be easily noticed in how the d eclaration phrases rights pertaining to the different sexes and/or genders. In not one of the thirty articles, do the words sexual orientation or abortion appear, nor is there any mention that humans have the right to be gay, queer, bisexual etc. At least in the United States, it has become more and more accepted that human beings have the right to whatever sexual orientation that they innately possess. Therefore, they are allowed to marry whoever theyShow MoreRelatedCyber Ethics Deontologist Versus Utilitarian View on â€Å"Net Neutrality†948 Words   |  4 PagesCyber Ethics Deontologist versus utilitarian view on â€Å"Net Neutrality† The internet has already changed the way that the world operates today. Presently, everyone has access to the internet everywhere in the world. The internet is used through a variety of purposes, from academia research to business transactions and contacting family. Considering the freedom that the internet provides us, a group of people threatens that freedom of access to the Internet by conflicting with the Net NeutralityRead MoreUniversal Human Rights And Universal Rights1312 Words   |  6 PagesUniversal human rights are those that apply to everyone no matter where they come from, who they are or what they do. They are held by the individual person and protect them from other people and/or collectives (Bell,1999). Human rights instruments found today are also compared to those in religions and ancient civilisations that have contributed towards the understanding of human dignity (James, 2007). There are many arguments on whether human rights are universally achievable and if t hey have alreadyRead More Universally Accepted Declaration of Human Rights Essay example2488 Words   |  10 Pages nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) proclaims that the rights discussed in the document are quot;a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations.quot; This document, along with the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) as well as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), are meant to be global agreements that span all cultures and traditions. These documents howeverRead MoreNgos And Freedom Of Expression1719 Words   |  7 Pages NGOs and Freedom of Expression NGOs are significant actors in defending the human right to freedom of expression worldwide. 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Another example, in the scenario of a murderer or rapist who uses torture for sadistic and morbid motives, and he has prisoners and assuming that theRead MoreCritical Account of Mill’s Liberty Principle Essay1360 Words   |  6 Pagestyranny as a suitable form of government, but reasons that total freedom would allow abuses to occur. However, Millâ€℠¢s work was criticised from the onset, primarily on exactly what was constituted as ‘harm’; individualism and the basis upon which ‘rights’ were developed. Nonetheless Mill’s principle appears to allow its citizens to achieve the most happiness, which is generally good for the betterment of society (Levene, 2010). (Wolff, 2006) There are many components in Mill’s Liberty PrincipleRead MoreAsylum Seekers - a Contemporary Social Issues in Australian Society2505 Words   |  11 Pagescountry to someone who has had to leave their country of origin due to danger from political or other reasons (Oxford English Dictionary 2012). Structuralism, according to Babbie (2006), is a theory supporting the establishment of communities of different cultures. This paper will discuss the concept of asylum seekers in Australia as part of multiculturalism within the global population flow and critically examine the roles and values of the Australian people towards â€Å"uninvited immigrants† and theRead MoreHuman Rights And The Lack Thereof2450 Words   |  10 PagesHuman Rights and the Lack Thereof in China It is clear that in China there is certainly a lack in the belief of what constitutes proper ethics regarding the treatment and freedom of citizens is. The government of China is a one party system meaning that only one political organization exists, and it is the communist party. The communist viewpoint is that society should be classless, everything should be communal in the sense there is no private ownership, and the leaders of the party are to enforceRead MoreWestern Powers And Human Rights2340 Words   |  10 PagesHuman rights have been described as a gift of the West to the rest. Discuss with reference to the politics of multiculturalism. The oxford dictionary describes human rights as â€Å"a right which is believed to belong to every person† (Oxford Dictionary, 2016). Until the late 1940s, human rights were simply an ideal or concept, but the newly formed United Nations declaration of human rights clearly set out in statute a human beings rights. The late 1940s was a time of political turbulence, with WesternRead MoreRole of Ministry of Health in Malaysia6759 Words   |  28 Pagesprovides leadership on matters relating to health and also sets the direction for health care development in the country. During the Ninth Malaysia Plan period (2006 – 2010), efforts will be undertaken to consolidate health care services, enhance human resource development and optimize resource utilization. The Strategic Plan for Health is a summary of the Country Health Plan, which was developed for the Ninth Malaysia Plan (NMP). It is intended to be a quick reference for all programs, institutions

Safety, Health and Environmental Risk Free Essays

string(175) " individuals such as employees or workers who are exposed to as much as eight hours daily, experience work related disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome and back injuries\." For most people, the words safety, health and environment risk would automatically be synonymous with occupations involved in industrial and mechanical factories, chemical labs, or construction sites. Although these factors may be more common in such work settings, the truth is safety risks and hazards also exist in a regular office or work place. The risks however, manifests in the form of biomechanical-related stress and injuries. We will write a custom essay sample on Safety, Health and Environmental Risk or any similar topic only for you Order Now This includes lower back injury, carpal tunnel syndrome, and repetitive strain injury among many others. Such types of physical stress can result to fatigue and pain which may then cause the worker to perform poorly and even be unproductive. This paper will discuss various types of biomechanical and ergonomics-related injuries in the workplace. It will also tackle the causes as well as their negative effects on the workers. Consequently, this paper also aims to give recommendations on how to effectively and efficiently address this problem. A regular work desk at a typical office may seem like a hazard-free and safe work environment. However, several studies showed that prolonged and sustained work posture may result to various musculoskeletal disorders. Injuries include repetitive strain injury, carpal tunnel syndrome, and cumulative trauma disorder among many others. In fact, Bureau of Labor Statistics report that cases of ergonomic disorders are now rapidly growing in figures. According to researches, occupational illnesses as well as musculoskeletal disorders increased from 18 percent in 1985 to a staggering 56 percent in 1991 (University of Maryland 2008). Today, these numbers continue to rise as more and more workers experience physical strain in the workplace. According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration there are over 647,000 cases of work-related injuries to date. Apart from this, occupational injuries account for more than $20 billion of the workers’ compensation costs (USA Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1996). There are several types of biomechanical or ergonomic disorders. One of which is the carpal tunnel syndrome. The carpal tunnel syndrome or median neuropathy is a type of physical strain generally associated with computer workers. It is one of the most common types of work related injuries primarily because of the widespread use of computers. Reports show that about 50 percent of computer workers experience this disorder’s symptoms frequently. This condition roots from the overuse and repetitive manual activities such as typing which causes the median nerves to be compressed in the wrists. Indivuals with this condition would usually feel numbness, muscle weakness, and sometimes even pain in the hands, arms, and fingers. Some patients even feel a pronounced pain or sensations at night. As this injury progresses, the person may feel cramping and weakness in the hand. It can also lead to a decrease in grip strength. Sharp pains will also be frequent as it will cause the patient to suffer (Medicine. net, 2009). Lower back injury is another common type of musculoskeletal disorder in the work place. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 20 percent of occupational injuries are back injuries. Further, about a quarter of the employment compensation claims are back injury (USA Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1996). This condition is often attributed to incorrect sitting postures. Office workers are especially vulnerable to this injury primarily because they retain their sitting posture for hours. Apart from the posture, office equipments also contribute to this condition. Poorly designed chairs or computer table can highly affect the posture of the user. Sitting in such chair for long hours can easily result to lower back pains. Cumulative trauma disorder of the upper extremity is another type of ergonomics- related disorder. Similar to carpal tunnel syndrome, this condition is a result of repetitive manual work. This causes the body, such as the fingers, shoulders, and neck to feel pain. Recent researches show that cases of cumulative trauma disorder of the upper extremities have increased over the years. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health even categorizes this condition as†one of most significant occupational health problems today†. This is due to the fact that cumulative trauma disorder of the upper extremities account for about 56 percent of work-related injuries (Melhorn 1996, p. 1264). Cumulative trauma disorder of the upper extremities, carpal tunnel syndrome, and lower back injuries are all caused by excessive physical load. In the research work entitled â€Å"Biomechanical Aspects of Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorder†, Robert Radwin et al. (2002) explained that the terms â€Å"physical load† or â€Å"load† would refer to the physical stress acting on an individual’s body (Radwin et. al. , 2002, p. 153). Similarly, physical stress is the physical quality that makes up both the internal and external factors. This includes kinetic force, kinematics, oscillatory, and thermal. Kinetic force would refer to the voluntary motions exerted against an external object such as pounding or string an object. This type of pressure would then create a strain on the tendons and ligaments in the body. An increase pressure or force would result to a greater level of stress (Radwin et. al. , 2002, p. 156). Kinematics refers to the motions or movements that position the body. An uneven or unbalanced motion could cause angular displacement. This in turn, could create stress and load on the nerves as well as in the blood vessels. Consequently, oscillatory force creates pressure and load to the body. Oscillatory or external vibrations affects the not only the musculoskeletal system but also the body’s vascular and nervous system. Temperature of thermal measurement also plays an essential role to the performance and dexterity of an individual. Long exposure to cold environment for instance, can decrease the strength as well as the sensibility of the muscle. Most of these loads are affected by external factors such as the work place, office furniture, and energy sources among many others. Biomechanical factors like motions, exertions, body position, and forces also contribute to the physical load endured by the body. (Radwin et. al. , 2002, p. 154). Musculoskeletal disorders also come from various activities, repeated and accumulated over time. Thus, individuals such as employees or workers who are exposed to as much as eight hours daily, experience work related disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome and back injuries. You read "Safety, Health and Environmental Risk" in category "Papers" This is largely because of the long and repetitive activities that are transferred through the different parts of the body which then creates an internal load ands stress on the tissues, nerves and ligaments. The combination of external and internal stress can add much stress on the ligaments and connective tissues of the body. Studies reveal that constant exposure to loads and stress can cause damage to the muscles and nerves. One way of reducing this external stress is through ergonomics. Ergonomics is the science that deals with engineering machines and equipments in order to reduce stress on the human body. At the same time, it is also intended to increase human productivity by eliminating discomfort and fatigue (Answers. com, 2009). Ergonomically designed office and workplace furniture such as work desks, tables, chairs, and computers can effectively reduce the load on the human body. According to studies, ergonomic furnishings in the workplace do not only reduce the level of stress among workers, but it also optimizes and increases productivity. Studies also reveal that there is a significant increase in efficiency levels as well as the quality of service in ergonomic-friendly companies. Employees also feel more motivated as they experience less stress and suffer fewer pains. A recent study conducted by Michael Smith and Antoinette Bayehi (2003) showed that an ergonomic controlled office increased the performance of call center workers by 50 percent. Over all, a total of 4. 87 percent of output increase was recorded among the control group (Smith and Bayehi, 2003, p. 16). Similar increase in productivity was also recorded in a research conducted in a silicon chip plant showed a 400 percent growth in productivity. This increase involves an increase in man hours as well as a decrease in work errors (Relating Productivity to Ergonomics, 2009, p. 3). Apart from productivity, studies and researches also reveal that companies who have decided to switch to ergonomically designed furnishings saved thousand of dollars in terms of compensation and insurance cost. A recent study showed that a steel company who redesigned their observation pit was able to save as much as $150,000 (Ergoweb, 2009). With such benefits, it is only fitting that companies should address their work-related problems through ergonomics. This means considering essential office equipments such as tables, chairs, and computers. An office chair for instance, plays an important part in any office environment. This is because almost all employees spend their working hours sitting in their work desks. As such, a chair’s height, width, depth, and back rest should carefully be considered. The chair’s height should be adjustable or it should measure from 16 to 20 inches. This will allow the user to comfortable place his feet flatly on the ground. When it comes to seat width, it is essential that the chair provides enough space so that the user will be able to seat comfortably. The standard width for most office chair is 17 to 20 inches. This leaves the user with enough space or room so that he or she can seat in ease (Ergonomics Safety Program, 2009). The back rest is also an important part of an ergonomic chair. Thus, the back rest should at least be 19 inches wide. Also, the chair should have a lumbar support that adapts to the curvature of the user’s back. An arm arrest should also be present as this will allow the user’s shoulder and arms to relax. Other factors such as the swivel function and the seat material must also be considered. The swivel function will allow the user to move around in his or her work desk with ease and comfort. Likewise, the chair’s material should be soft enough so that the worker will be able to seat and work comfortably. The office desk or table is an office furniture that requires to be ergonomically designed. Along with the chair, the work desk is used by most office employees for long number of hours. Therefore, it is important that the work desk allows the users to frequently stretch in order to prevent muscle cramps and pain. The table’s height should be at least 23 to 33 inches. An adjustable table is also recommended so that the user’s forearms are parallel to the floor. Similarly, the work space should provide enough leg space in order for the user to come close to the desk as possible (Ergonomics Safety Program, 2009). The work desk should also have enough room for the user to work properly. A writing surface of about 16 to 20 inches should be provided. Document holders and drawers are also necessary. Material-wise, it is important for the work desk to have a matte finish. This will eliminate the glare from the computer. Desks with rounded corners are also recommended in order to prevent the arms or wrist from coming in contact with square or sharp edges. The positioning of the computer in the work desk is equally significant. The computer monitor should be placed directly in front of the user. This means that the top of the screen must be parallel to the user’s eyes. Apart from this, the monitor should be positioned in such a way that there is very minimal reflection and glare (Ergonomics Safety Program, 2009). The computer keyboard on the other hand, should be placed in such a way that the user will be able to reach it without extending his upper arm. The forearms of should also be aligned floor so that the wrists will not bend while typing. This can be addressed by selecting a keyboard that can be adjusted and tilted. When typing, the arms should hang loose or it should rest comfortably in the desk to prevent the muscles in the shoulders from cramping (Daniels, 1996). Likewise, the computer mouse must be placed at the same area as the keyboard. This means that the click button of the mouse is aligned properly with the keyboards. Utilizing a mouse tray with trackballs can permit the user to use the mouse with ease and comfort. This will also allow the wrist to relax while staying in a neutral position (Daniel, 1996). Although ergonomically designed work equipments can reduce the risks of occupational injuries and disorders, it is still important to remember that this alone, cannot make up for bad practice. Employees and workers must also be aware of the proper measures in order to reduce stress and injury. One way of doing this is to educate the employees about the seriousness and risks of office-related injuries. This can be done through seminars and workshops about office and workplace safety. Memos and reminders about work place safety should also be frequently posted in the workplace. Distributing fliers and brochures about ergonomics-related injuries can also help spread awareness. At the same time, the management should also set an example to the employees by following all the safety measures. Informing the employees about the different consequences as well as the benefits of this issue will allow them to be aware about this looming workplace problem. More importantly, this will encourage the employees to take the proper measures to prevent work-related injuries from happening. How to cite Safety, Health and Environmental Risk, Papers

Capstone Experience in Integration & Strategy

Question: Discuss about the Capstone Experience in Integration Strategy? Answer: RAEW analysis The RAEW analysis an important technique, that assists managers to identify and allot job roles. As such, it identifies certain deficiencies in the operational process, and recommends scope for improvement. Responsibility is the important process chosen here. The below table is a RAEW analysis of a financial institution located in the United States. Strategic Product Marketing Sales Operations Function Planning Management Business policy R R RW Product design RAE E E Market segment analysis E RA Product tailoring by market AW AW AE W Call/Sales program RA EW Account opening REW Table 1: RAEW analysis (Source: Allen Shanock, 2013) The process analyzed her relates to the uneven spread of authority and responsibility in the workplace. Following were the observations made after using RAEW technique More than one department is responsible for executing the business policies, yet no one has the required authority to perform such a task. Despite possessing required expertise, no department is accountable towards the product design function Lack of responsibility towards Market segment Analysis function. As such , this hampers the brand in preparing its market segment or the target consumer section which is most likely to buy it goods. Much departmental work related to Product Tailoring by Market function. However, at least three departments are responsible to Market function, but none have the concrete authority to implement business decisions for further improvement in market performance. Structural misalignments- It can be stated that the marketing division does not correspond to any of the functions. Thus, the work productivity from the marketing division does not meet expectations. In addition, the strategic planning division lacks required expertise to work for product tailoring. Due to which, offering superior financial services to clients becomes difficult (Hogg Terry, 2014).Besides this, the sales division is responsible towards four functions and performs the necessary roles. However, it is responsible for only two departments, which hampers the daily business functionalities. Due to this, the full resource of the marketing department is not utilized. Recommendations The primary aim at this juncture should be reduce role or functional disparity within the organization. (Chun et al., 2013). As such, RAEW should be considered as a strategic planning to recognize that processes which negatively affects the business sustainability. By using the RAEW tool, one can create further organizational plans to ensure equal distribution of authority, accountability and responsibility, workload and expertise (DuBrin, 2013).Below mentioned are few recommendations that can improve the business operational policies, to achieve better sales revenue. Putting emphasis on organizational attributes like accuracy, response time period, employee retentions and security of confidential data in the organization. Recognizing and gathering of missing data, which remains an important for more than one business unit. Such business data remains crucial for ensuring smooth business operations. Necessary verification that right data as per the business requirement is gathered at the relevant source. Preventing issues of duplication data related to sales and market specifications, thus incurring unnecessary business expenditure for the brand. References Allen, D. G., Shanock, L. R. (2013). Perceived organizational support and embeddedness as key mechanisms connecting socialization tactics to commitment and turnover among new employees.Journal of Organizational Behavior,34(3), 350-369. Chun, J. S., Shin, Y., Choi, J. N., Kim, M. S. (2013). How does corporate ethics contribute to firm financial performance? The mediating role of collective organizational commitment and organizational citizenship behavior.Journal of Management,39(4), 853-877. DuBrin, A. J. (2013).Fundamentals of organizational behavior: An applied perspective. Elsevier. Hogg, M. A., Terry, D. J. (Eds.). (2014). Social identity processes in organizational contexts. Psychology Press.

The Boys Life free essay sample

You know youve read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend. † This quote by Paul Sweeney describes exactly how I felt after reading and watching Tobias Wolff’s memoir This Boy’s Life. After I closed the book and once the credits started to roll, I felt as if something in my life went missing. I speak for everyone when I say that it’s impossible to walk away from this story without taking something away from it. Audrey Hepburn says that everything she has learned in life, she learned from movies. A quote from Groucho Marx stated that when he read a book, he brought something away from it. Even if he learned a new word or a lesson in life that he could live by, he at least remembered something. After reading a book or watching a movie, there is always something that you can say you did not know before. We will write a custom essay sample on The Boys Life or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page So does the movie and memoir This Boy’s Life have any value? Yes this book does have value, what book doesn’t?. The value of this book and movie can be determined by the lessons it teaches, how people can relate to it, and new learning experience and fun it provides in the English curriculum. Slow and steady wins the race. He that has many friends has no friends. We all become familiar with these lessons but where did we learn them? We learn lessons from parents and grandparents that have passed them down but the most common place we learn valuable life lessons would be from books. Books, both fiction and non-fiction, teach lessons that can help us later on in life. Examples of books that have very valuable life lessons include The Tortoise and the Hare, Horton Hatches the Egg, and many other fables and children’s books. Horton Hatches the Egg teaches that it’s important to keep your promises because faithfulness has its own rewards. Like many other stories, This Boy’s Life has many important lessons in it too. Think before you act would be an example of a life lesson that this book teaches. During this story, Toby does not do much thinking before he acts and it gets him in many sticky situations. During the book and the movie, Toby hangs out with some of his friends from Concrete. While Toby was intoxicated, he thought it would be a good idea to walk across a tree branch. The tree branch suddenly snapped. He fell down and rolled down the hill until he landed in some bushes where his friends could not find him. Toby should have thought about the consequences of drinking before he decided to do it. Another incident, which happens in both the movie and the book, when Toby fails to think before he acts, occurs when he writes the obscene words on the bathroom wall. This got him in serious trouble and could have been avoided if he took a few seconds to think about it. Wolff writes, â€Å"It was 1955 and we were driving from Florida to Utah, to get away from a man my mother was afraid of and to get rich on uranium. We were going to change our luck. †. This demonstrates the lesson if you don’t succeed try and try again. They keep trying different places to live at and people to live with until they finally found somewhere that works for them. They try many different places like Utah, Seattle, and Concrete. As it stated at the end of the movie, Rosemary ended up going back to Florida while Toby went up to New York. This story also taught the lesson that every adult wants to embed in a child’s head, always tell the truth. Throughout the entire story Toby has a hard time telling the truth. An example is when he writes the letters to Annette and Alice. He told them that he was rich and that his father was a rancher or owned a fleet of fishing boats. He also lied to them about his age and where he lived. â€Å"The priest gave me my penance and absolved me. As I left the confessional I heard his own door open and close. Sister James cane forward to meet me again, and we waited together as the priest made his way to where we stood. Breathing hoarsely, he steadied himself against a pillar. He laid his other hand on my shoulder. â€Å"That was fine,† he said. â€Å"Just fine. He gave my shoulders a squeeze. â€Å"You have a fine boy here, Sister James. † She smiled. â€Å"So I do, Father. So I do. . Along with lying to Alice and Annette, he also did not tell the truth to the Father and Sister James. In the book and the movie we witness Jack talking to Sister James. She tells him all of her confessions. When he goes into confess, he tells the Father everythin g that Sister James said and not what he himself wants to confess. Lying to the priest, Sister James, Alice and Annette, and even his mother gave them false impressions which in some cases can make problems even worse. Not only does this memoir and movie have value because of the lessons it teaches but also because of the way people can relate to it. C. S. Lewis once said, â€Å"We read to know we are not alone. † When we read a book, our mind automatically try’s to find ways in which we can relate to a particular event or character in the story. Many people can relate to This Boy’s Life, especially teenagers. During the story Tobias Wolff, or also known as Toby and Jack, is a troubled teenager. He searches for acceptance by doing things like smoking, writing on walls, stealing things and also vandalism. In many of the scenes from the movie we see him smoking with his friends, and in others we see him drinking. Some call this type of behavior peer pressure. Peer pressure happens to everyone one time or another. Toby’s parents got a divorce and Toby ended up living with his mother. Since his father is in another state and he doesn’t have that much contact with him Toby misses a big part of his family. Many kids who don’t have a father or their parents have had a divorce can relate to Toby. During the movie and the book, Toby and his mother move around a lot. They have lived in many different states and in different houses. Many families move to either different cities or states because of jobs or sometimes family. So anyone who has moved, even just down the street, can relate to this part of the story. â€Å"At the end of every show the local station gave an address for Mousketeer Mail. I had been writing Annette. †. Every kid has or has had a crush on a TV show or movie character and most of us have probably written to them in hopes for a response just like Toby did. When writing to Alice and Annette, he lies about his life. He makes his life seem very extravagant and amazing. Many people lie to others to make their life or their experiences seem more enjoyable and exciting to listen to. The value of the memoir and movie can also be determined by the variety and the new learning experience it provides in the English classroom. When I walk into the room and my teacher says that we will be reading a book all I think to myself, â€Å"really another one † but this experience was anything but ordinary. After the book was over, I thought that we finished completely. Mrs. Harshman told us that we would be watching the movie that went along with the book. Watching a film after reading the book was like learning to ride a bike all over again. It became a great learning experience for both my classmates and I. It cleared up parts of the book that I may have been uncertain about and made the picture in my head more clear. For example, in one part of the movie Dwight and Toby drive up to Concrete and along the way Dwight stops at a tavern. Dwight drives drunk and swerves all over the road, which scares Toby. When I read this part of the book I did not know that Dwight was drunk at the time, I just thought he tried to scare Toby. When I saw the movie, it cleared this part of the book up for me. When we watched the movie it also gave us a chance to compare which one in our opinion was better. Along with that, we also found which parts of the book the director left out and let us brainstorm why we thought he left out those parts. By doing this, it helped us to walk in another person’s shoes because we had to think like directors. For instance, on page three and four, Wolff writes, â€Å"By the time we got there, quite a few people were standing along the cliff where the truck went over. It had smashed through the guardrails and fallen hundreds of feet through empty space to the river below, where it lay on its back among the boulders. It looked pitifully small. A stream of thick black smoke rose from the cab, feathering out the wind. My mother asked whether anyone had gone to report the accident. Someone had. We stood with the others at the cliff’s edge. Nobody spoke. My mother put her arm around my shoulder. †. On page three through four, Toby and his mother begin driving to Utah when they come across a car crash. The director did not include this part of the book in the movie. We all believed because he did not add it because it foreshadowed Toby and Rosemary’s future. Wolff writes, â€Å"Like chess or music, coolness claimed its own out of some mysterious impulse of recognition. Uncoolness did likewise. We had been claimed by uncoolness. †. This quote came from the section of the book where Toby and Silver stood front of the mirror with their hair combed back, cigarettes dangling out of their mouth, and their pants pulled down on their hips. Like the car crash scene, the director did not include this section of the book in the movie. Instead, the movie went straight to the scene where Toby, Silver and Taylor are watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. As the credits started to roll and the book closed, the whispers started to roar. From every direction you could hear opinions of the movie and the book. Whether the movie and the book were good or not is merely an opinion but whether the book has value or not can be answered with a simple yes. The value of the film and memoir This Boy’s Life can be determined by the lessons that it teaches, the ability to relate to the book, and the new learning experience and fun it puts into the English classroom.

A Brief History of Adidas

A Brief History of Adidas Although urban legend has it that the word Adidas is an anagram of the phrase all day I dream about sports, the athletic wear company gets its name from its founder, Adolph Adi Dassler. He and his brother founded the company that would become a worldwide brand, but their history as members of the Nazi Party isnt as well known. Beginnings of Adidas Shoes In 1920, at the age of 20, avid soccer player  Adolph  (Adi)  Dassler, son of a cobbler,  invented spiked shoes for track and field. Four years later Adi and his brother Rudolph (Rudi) founded the German sports shoe company  Gebrà ¼der Dassler OHG- later known as  Adidas. T By 1925 the Dasslers were making leather  shoes  with nailed studs and track shoes with hand-forged spikes. Beginning with the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, Adis uniquely designed shoes began to gain a worldwide reputation.  Jesse Owens  was wearing a pair of Dasslers track shoes when he won four gold medals for the US  at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. At the time of his death in 1959, Dassler held over 700 patents related to sports shoes and other athletic equipment. In 1978, he was inducted into the American Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame as one of the founders of the modern sporting goods industry. The Dassler Brothers and World War II During the war, both Dassler brothers were members of the NSDAP (The National Socialist German Workers Party)  and eventually even produced a weapon called Panzerschreck an anti-tank bazooka, made with the help of forced labor. The Dasslers both joined the Nazi Party prior to the war, and Adi supplied shoes to the Hitler Youth movement, and to German athletes at the 1936 Olympics. Its also believed that Adi Dassler used Russian prisoners of war to help at his factory during the war since there was a labor shortage due to the war effort. The Dasslers had a falling out during the war; Rudolf believed Adi had identified him as a traitor to American forces. In 1948, Rudi founded what would later become Puma, a rival shoe company to Adidas. Adidas in the Modern Era In the 1970s, Adidas was the top athletic shoe brand sold in the US. Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier were both wearing Adidas boxing shoes in their Fight of the Century in 1971. Adidas was named the official supplier for the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. Although still a strong, well-known brand today, Adidas share of the world sports shoe market dropped over the years, and what began as a German family business is now a corporation (Adidas-Salomon AG) combined with the French global concern Salomon. In 2004 Adidas bought Valley Apparel Company, a U.S. company that held licenses for outfitting more than 140 U.S. college athletic teams. In 2005 Adidas announced that it was purchasing the American shoemaker Reebok, which allowed it to compete more directly with Nike in the U.S. But the Adidas world headquarters are still located in Adi Dasslers hometown of Herzogenaurach. They also have an ownership stake in German soccer club 1. FC Bayern Mà ¼nchen.

Martin Luther King College Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Martin Luther King College - Essay Example stood by the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Much to the knowledge of everyone, he delivered what is regarded as one of the greatest speeches in American history. King himself seemed to sense the historic importance of the moment as he opened his "I Have a Dream" speech by calling the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom "the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation." The landmark protest, which drew more than 200,000 people, announced a turning point in the civil rights movement and set the stage for the movement's two most important legislative achievements, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (Microsoft Encarta 2005). It is interesting to speculate on what the course of American history might have been, if Martin Luther King, Jr. had not gone to Montgomery, Alabama in 1954. But he did go, and the America he had grown up in was forever changed. The historic bus boycott that began there in late 1955 brought him national recognition and triggered a decade of direct-action protest that permanently altered the status of black Americans. Andrew Young once said that Rosa Parks thrust greatness upon King. Rosa Parks is a leading member of the local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), who was famous for her refusal to give her bus seat to a white man. Certainly she shaped the setting in which he emerged as a national figure and challenged him to translate his theory of nonviolence into practice. King had no intention of initiating a major campaign in Montgomery, but Mrs. Parks' refusal to yield her bus seat to a white man on December 1, 1955 forced the first s erious test of King's willingness to undergo personal sacrifice for the sake of Negro freedom. She has never claimed much credit for what happened in Montgomery, but Rosa Parks' action was a catalyst in King's rise to prominence and the emergence of the southern civil rights movement that dominated American social history for a decade (SCLC/NH, National Conventions, 1980). Local leaders of the NAACP, especially Edgar D. Nixon, recognized that the arrest of the popular and highly respected Parks was the event that could rally local blacks to a bus protest. Nixonalsobelievedthat a citywide protest should be led by someone who could unify the community. Unlike Nixon and other leaders in Montgomery's black community, the recently arrived King had no enemies. Furthermore, Nixon saw King's public-speaking gifts as great assets in the battle for black civil rights in Montgomery. King was soon chosen as president of the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA), the organization that directed the bus boycott. By the time the Supreme Court upheld the lower court decision in November 1956, King prominence elevated him to become leading black national figure. His memoir of the bus boycott, Stride Toward Freedom (1958), provided a thoughtful account of that experience and further extended King's national influence. Another important contribution of King is the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), an organization of black churches and ministers that aimed to challenge racial segregation. As SCLC's president, King became the organization's dominant personality and its primary intellectual

Research paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Research Paper Example Women have been ever frightened about this issue and think it to be the most derogatory thing that can happen to them. It is a shocking fact that most of the rapes go unnoticed and it happens within the family arena. There are lots of cases of sexual assault and rape among families and many of the children and individual are afraid to bring out this subject in to the public. Rape is a social violence and cannot be an act of passion as there is coercion happening in the act which results in damage to the physical and mental stability of the victim. â€Å"It is found in the study by National Institute of Justice and the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention that 22 percent of male and 48 percent of female have confronted their first rape before the age of 12† (Golden,17). Rape is a social issue which most people encounter directly or indirectly in a particular social environment. Women are always subjected to sexual assault and suffer mainly because she is judged more as an object of sexual desire. Since ages they are looked upon as a medium to satisfy sexual gluttony of men, and she has been living in darkness when it is the matter of her individual right and freedom. In this novel, the girl named precious is forcefully impregnated by her father and less could be done by the girl to protect her virginity and self respect. However, this is not a frequent case in America where female are subjected to sexual exploitation and rape from the hands of parents, close relatives and friends. The main issue as in case of the character Precious is that there is less support offered from her mother when she has been molested and raped by her father .This mostly makes the scenarios worse and the victim feel helpless and hate her individuality and the social connection she share with her family members.â€Å"It was found that instead of lagging behind female rape along the stranger - acquaintance rape dimension, male rape was viewed predominantly in terms of Ã¢â‚¬Ë œother’ factors (factors not found on the stranger - acquaintance dimension, e.g. victim/rapist sexual orientation, rapist calls victim names), which were erroneous, sexualizing and homophobic† (Anderson,25-245). Rape is a social evil and many girls and women are victimized at the hands of parents, strangers and other men in the society at a staggering rate Rape as a heinous act as reached a high proportion in our society and has ruined many innocent lives on a permanent basis. The black girl in the book â€Å"Push† have found to be helpless and imprisoned in an atmosphere where she had no support to look for and has been struggling under the cruel hand of her father and ignorant mother. It is not only women who are subjected to rape, but also infants, corpse and men become a slave of this cruel act. Mostly it is found that the traumatized victims of rape are frightened and emotionally handicapped at such a level that they carry this tragedy through out their who le life. Trauma victims essentially need more private time to sort out their feelings, and grasp what had happened to them in order to get some professional help in dealing with their emotional tragedy. If we read the book ‘push’ we can find out that Precious the character which was subjected to sexual assault from her parents was illiterate and was from low class family. However, according to studies, rape more frequently it occurs among low classes as their social

Knowledge in American History Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Knowledge in American History - Term Paper Example These amendments were pivotal in the history of African Americans and along with the 20th century Civil Rights movement constitute the most crucial periods in terms of freedom for African Americans. Even as the Constitution guaranteed rights to African Americans there was still a substantial amount of resistance, particularly at the hands of Southern states. This era saw the rise of the Ku Klux Klan as a means of oppressing African Americans. The Klan would engage in acts of terrorism, including house burnings and murder, as a means of intimidating African Americans. The Civil Rights Act of 1871 was put in place to restrict ethnic violence in response to the Ku Klux Klan movement (Stevens, 2001). During this period ‘black codes’ were also enacted as a means of attempting to oppress the recently freed African Americans. These acts were enacted by some Southern states as a means of continuing to restrict the rights of African Americans through controlling employment, their right to own firearms, or act as jurors in trials of white individuals. With the Civil Rights Act of 1866 these acts were repealed (Stevens, 2001). With the added control over employment and the plentiful agricultural land in the Southern regions, African Americans began engaging in sharecropping activities. Sharecropping occurred on land that was previously used as a plantation. In these instances, African Americans would rent small plots of land from the plantation owner to harvest their own crops. During this period there were also extraordinarily high illiteracy rates among African Americans, with a reported 70% illiteracy rate in the Southern states (Stevens, 2001). In response, this era also witnessed the emergence of some of the first schools for black... This term paper mostly focuses on the period of American history, in which African Americans led their fight for equality in civil rights, in knowledge and opportunities. The researcher follows and examines the historical progression of African Americans throughout five distinct periods in American history spanning from 1865 through the present era. In the term paper, it’s clear that throughout the eras examined by the researcher the United States experienced significant historical progress in regards to the social and cultural position of African Americans. Unit One examines the Reconstruction period and how African Americans fought to achieve rights and prosperity in the wake of the Civil War. Unit Two of this term paper follows this progression as Southern states attempted to counteract black progress through enacting Jim Crow laws that would remain in place until the second half of the twentieth century. Unit Three explores the continued oppression of blacks through Jim Cr ow laws, as well as the Great Migration wherein great amounts of individuals migrated north to escape this oppression. The Great Migration consisted of the migration of over five million African Americans from the Southern to Northern States. Unit Four of the term paper examines the substantial progress made during the Civil Rights Movement. Finally, Unit Five examines this progress as African Americans made gains in achieving political office and experiencing employment gains. President Kennedy and Martin Luther King were mentioned in this part.

Shangri La Hotel Competition and Business Analysis

Shangri La Hotel Competition and Business Analysis Introduction Shangri-La Hotel is a world class deluxe Asian hotel chain which provides services and places for business and leisure travelers according to its Asian standards of hospitality. Shangri-La Hotel provides customers with a number of excellent services. More specifically, guests may enjoy high quality room services and resort, facilities such as sauna, Jacuzzi gym, lounge and pub. Moreover, the hotel chain also provides different and unique products like, The Spa at several hotels and resorts. Through its high quality services, Shangri-La receives international awards and recognition from prestigious publications and industry partners. Historical data Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts was founded in 1971 by the Malaysian-Chinese tycoon Robert Kuok and managed by Westin until January 1983. The headquarters are located in central Hong-Kong. Its name was inspired by James Hiltons legendary novel Lost Horizon. In 1982 the company incorporates Shangri-La Hotel and Resorts. Business Description Shangri-La Hotel is highly recognized for its service excellence. The hotel chain highly supports its mission statement, according to which customers should be delighted each and every timeÂÂ » More specifically, the company focuses on offering customers an unforgettable experience by blending cultures, exotic art and lively ambience. . Shangri-La Hospitality has developed five core principles: respect, humility, courtesy, helpfulness and sincerity. These core principles have positively affected the successful running of the business and thus they have as a result the creation of pleasant customers and employee relations. The service principles that Shangri-La has developed is consistent to every country they operate. In other words, customers receive the same level of services and treatment in every hotel no matter the country of location. This is very important as the customers identify Shangri-La hotels as high quality and trustworthy. The company operates 62 deluxe hotels and resorts under the Shangri-La and Traders Hotel brands in Asia and Middle East. Moreover, the company is willing to expand in Europe and North America. Apart from Shangri-Las ownership and operation of hotels, the company also leases commercial office buildings, retail space, apartments, real estate development and operation and golf club ownership and operation. Competition Competition in general is one of the factors that affect companys existence and growth. Even though Shangri-La is one of the top luxurious hotels in Asia, there is still fear from other top companies operating in the diversified hotel management industry. The profitability of every company depends on efficient operation because many costs are fixed and on effective marketing. The top three competitors of Shangri-la hotel are: The Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels Ltd which also operates in Asia, Australia and North America with 24 deluxe hotels, commercial and residential properties. New World Development is the second competitor of Shangri-La; the company develops and invests in properties in Hong Kong, mainland China, and Southeast Asia. Its property and infrastructure developments include apartments, office buildings, hotels, department stores, roads, and water and power plants. The third competitor is Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group which is incorporated in Bermuda and owns, manages and operates 40 upscale hotels in two dozen countries. The 2008 Olympic Games Event has affected Shangri-La Hotel since premium hotels such as Regent, Ritz-Carlton, Hyatt and Sheraton expanded in various cities in China, particularly in Beijing and Shanghai. Since Shangri-La is an Asian Company, it is highly recognized in Asia, the hotel chain had a competitive advantage as far as brand awareness is concerned. However, as many prestigious and luxurious hotel chains started expanding in the Asian continent Shangri-La faced more intense competition than before. The primary competitor of Shangri-La could be identified as the Marriott chain, which operates the Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance and Courtyard brands (26 hotels in China and expanding its portfolio to 100 by late 2010.) Driving forces in the company In order for the company to continue to compete within in the industry, Shangri-La decided on expanding its hotel chain. It went through a rapid expansion in the early 1980s and built 29 hotels over the next decade, and by the end of 1999, it was announced that they were operating 35 hotels within the Asian continent. Shangri-Las management group decided on expanding even more aggressively and therefore took advantage of their current success and raised fund during this period of time for further expansion. As a result during the early 00 Shangri-La began entering new markets through both management contracts and owner/operator development. In 2003 Shangri-La Dubai and Sydney were opened. The innovation of core brands of Shangri-La Asia Ltd, including the four-star Traders which was established in 1989, provides luxurious experience and sophistication to the business traveler, Rasa Resort and Spa which was launched in 2006 as a new brand spa provides treatment and relaxation based on Chinese principles, Far Eastern Plaza Hotel and Shang Palace are the force driving the changes in the industry. These hotel chains provide differentiated and unique products to a niche market. Key Success Factors: The key success factors of Shangri -La Hotel are the following: 1. Unique characteristics of Asian hospitality and high luxury quality of service and products offered to its customers 2. Differentiated products (spa and treatment in hotels and resorts) 3. The use of culture training program in everyday performance More specifically, Shangri-La Care Modules that line out what a service personnel should do and how to serve their customers in the best possible way Care 1: Shangri-La Hospitality from Caring People Making the guests feel special and important during their stay in the hotel and focusing on the core values of Shangri-Las hospitality. Care 2: Delighting Customer Delighting guests consistently not just the first time they visit but every single time in order to achieve srotng customer loyalty. Care 3: Recover to Gain Loyalty The importance of recovery when mistakes happen. A well done recovery may be an opportunity to gain further commitment and loyalty, and the other way round if recovery is poor. The five steps to recovery as developed by Shangri-La hotels: Listen, Apologies, Delight, Fix the Problem and Follow up. 4. Take Ownership. Effective promotion and special offer to attract the customers attention about the Shangri-La hotel. Promotion and special offer build long term relationship between Shangri-La hotel and their loyal customer. The promotion and special offer by the Shangri-La hotel include special festival, weekend special, value rate and value vacation. 5. Effective process management perspective. This refers to the system used to assist the organization in delivering the service. Shangri-La demonstrates processes involved in delivering the services provided into six encounters including among others check-in, room encounter, restaurant and breakfast, vacation trip, spa and check out. Check in Encounter: Shangri-La ensures that guests will be served directly at the receptionist counter or online. Room Encounter: it provides extra room accommodation for guests. For example, they provide extra bed for children under 12 to stay with their parents in the same room. Restaurant and Breakfast: Shangri-La provides Childrens Meal Plan; this accommodates hotel guests under 12 can enjoy complimentary meals in Coffee Shops and Pool Cafes. Vacation Trip: Specially trained staff is assigned in handling booklets with valuable information concerning rooms, airfare and car rental at popular Shangri-La destinations, in order to make guests planning vacation easier. The Spa: provides unique service for treatment activities such as massage, aroma therapy and bathe. Check-Out: same as check-in but may be crucial to determine the final outcome of satisfaction. 6. The use of effective advertising through television and online commercial 7. Compensation and Career Growth: this is a driving force for the employees to perform high standard performances within the company and making its employees valuable. If employees are motivated they are willing to provide and satisfy customers in any circumstances, therefore gain customer loyalty. Resource strengths and competitive capabilities of the company: Valuable organizational assets Organizational design is an important aspect in every company. Without an organized Chain of Command severe issues could occur in the company. Shangri-Las organizational design consists of five major levels in order to group its employees. More specifically: Level 1: Divisional Manager Level 2: Departmental Manager Level 3: Sectional Manager Level 4: Front Front-Line Supervisors Level 5: Front-Line Employees Note: Decision comes from the upper level of the structure Valuable intangible assets The employees are one of the most important intangible assets of Shangri-La. Therefore, Shangri Las corporate management heavily invests in employee development (to gain know-how asset) Another intangible assets of Shangri-La is its brand name, a synonymous for providing services with the unique characteristics of Asian Hospitality Unique products such as spa and treatments could also be considered as their intangible assets Valuable physical asset One of the most important and crucial physical assets of Shangri-La hotels are its architectural design externally and internally. Every single hotel of the chain has different characteristics and features that differentiate it from other Shangri-La hotels in the world. The design of every hotel matches the culture and environment where it operates. For instance, a typical Shangri-La hotel set in lushly landscaped tropical gardens with huge swimming pools that creates an oasis from the city thriving business and social center. Moreover, Shangri-La hotels and resorts provide hotel facilities like Airport Transfer, Parking, Foreign Exchange, Non-Smoking rooms, baby-Sitting or Child Care, Facilities for Disabled, Dining and Entertainment, Restaurant, Bar/Lounge, Sports Leisure, Spa, Sauna, Steam Room and Fitness Center. They have invested in these assets so as to provide customers with great experience during their stay in the hotel. Competitive Capabilities One of the strongest competitive advantages of Shangri-La hotel is the service quality that is provided to its customer. Shangri-La is an award winning hotel as it is highly praised for offering world class service and gracious hospitality that has earned a reputation of excellence throughout Asia. Identifying strongest and weakest points of competitive forces Competitive pressures created by the rivalry among competing sellers Competing with other world class luxurious hotels in the world is a strong competitive force that affects Shangri-la hotels. These other hotels have strong competitive strategies to maintain their position in the market. These hotels also provide the same high quality of service to the same target group. Competitive pressure of new entrants New entrants have always been considered as a threat by the existing ones. This is a strong force for the company since they target the same customers in the market. Competitive pressure from the sellers of substitute products High quality Motels and other local hotels are considered to be substitute for Shangri-La. This is a weak competitive force in the company since Shangri-La customers seek for high and unique quality of service Competitive Pressures Stemming from supplier bargaining power and supplier-seller collaboration Supplier bargaining power is a strong competitive force to Shangri-La hotel. Shangri-La has numbers of different suppliers; for example, food suppliers, material suppliers and information suppliers. If these suppliers increase price of goods and services to its customers then Shangri-la would also increase its operating costs .As a result, Shangri-La would increase prices, in order to cover its operating costs. Competitive Pressures stemming from buyer bargaining power and seller-buyer collaboration. Buyers bargaining power is a weak competitive force for Shangri-La Hotel since Shangri-La has a fixed price charge; and this cannot be negotiated. Business Strategy Strategy for Expansion to the East and West The companys main strategic plan is to incorporate the goal of expanding the Shangri-La brand globally with a strong foundation and reputation for its excellence in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North America. According to industry analysts, China was one of the most attractive destinations for tourists in 2008 since The Olympic Games were held there. For this particular reason new hotel developments started to pour in the region. Shangri-Las strategy to expand in the East is an asset since their core principles of cultural values matches most of the countries in the Asian market but is still a challenge since most of the luxurious top hotels in the world have the same approach. In general Shangri-La has slow expansion growth in other part of continents like Europe and North America. Nevertheless, it was announced that the company decided to expand its hotel chains in different parts of the world particularly in Europe, North America and Australia as to be able to compete with their major competitors in the market. Even though the company constantly enters new markets, they still maintain and provide its worldwide service quality standards to its customers and ensure that Shangri-Las quality and service standards are translated to new hotels in new markets in order to deliver consistent experience of Shangri-La Hospitality. When Shangri-La enters new markets in new countries, the company brings new cultural understanding and expectations to these markets. This is a challenge for the company since bringing the essence of the brand to new cultures is tough. Another strategy of the company is to enhance Corporate Social Responsibility activities in five key areas: Environment, Health and Safety, Employees, Supply Chain Management and Stakeholder Relations. In the Environment section its main focus is in climate change, water use management, waste disposal management, ozone depletion and indoor air quality. Shangri-La has recognized that resource conservation, biodiversity and pollution prevention are ways to maintain a sustainable environment. By providing safe and healthy environment, Shangri-La protects its customers, employees, suppliers and the public. This includes training employees for emergency situation like fire, earthquake and any other natural disaster. Also, the company promotes wellness program to improve the health and well-being of the employees. As mentioned before, Shangri-La management recognizes that staff is one of their most important assets and so they are committed to providing fair employment opportunities, dignity and staff development. Shangri-La will provide an environment where employees may achieve their personal and career goals and fair labor practices as to avoid any activity that results in human right abuse. For the company to be able to mange its direct and indirect impacts in the environment, Shangri-La has to work effectively with its supply chain partners. The suppliers need to meet the local legal requirements relating to the environment, human rights and other regulatory work practices. Also, suppliers are expected to be part of the system to ensure that the food served is safe and of high quality. According to CSR all stakeholders include customers, employees, members of the communities in which they operate, shareholders and suppliers will engage in a clear, honest and respectful way to the company. SWOT Analysis: Strengths Brand recognition Unique services and products quality (Shangri-La Hospitality) Expansion network in Asian Continent Luxurious facilities like the Shangri-La Spa and Trader Expansion globally Strong suppliers relationship Innovation of unique products Weaknesses: Not having enough number of hotel chains in Europe and N. America to compete with other luxurious five star hotels operating there. Shangri-La is dependant on other hotel owners companies since it doesnt own all of its hotel chains One of the problems that Shangri-Las hotels in China faces is the fact that front-lines employees are uncomfortable in making decisions. Chinese employees are dependent on operational guidelines Opportunities: Its market positioning in China; since China has become the worlds fourth largest economy and one of the most attractive destination as far as tourism is concerned Training program facilities to prepare first-line employees to more effectively utilize decision-making authority The Olympic Games Events in China increased Shangri-Las sales Expand to other geographic destinations Acquisition of local hotels Threats: Intense competition Local Hotels are considering forming alliances with international brands to manage and operate the business. Pressure on wages (expanding into high-wage economies) Since Shangri-La is an Asian company and has been operating in Asian territory, its management group is used to having lower labor costs compare to Europe and N. America Global recession Since Shangri-La is expanding with its principles values, its a great challenge for the company to expand beyond its Asian territory where cultures are different. Is the company able to adapt in a different environment..? Target Market Shangri-La Hotel operates in the five class hotels industry associated with luxury and well-being for customers. Hence, the target market mostly comes from the upper class. We focus on this section to the two Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts that produce greater profitability to the company. The Golden Sands Resort that is located in Batu Feringgi Beach that is mostly visited by tourists who come from European and Western countries. It is believed that these travelers have high consuming ability compared to local travelers. Therefore, Shangri-La management targeted the tourists that are of higher financial and consuming ability. The target market for Trader Hotel mostly consists of business travelers and those that come from the upper class groups of society. Business travelers can afford to purchase services from high quality hotels as their expenses are accommodated by their companies. Strategic Positioning All of the hotels and resorts of Shangri-La are located at strategic locations that are frequented by a high number of people, either for business purpose, travelling or other reasons. The location selected usually consists of places that are well known for their tourism industry and that are highly visited each year. Business Model For the fiscal year ended in December 31, 2006 the management reported that Shangri-La net income was 202.2 million dollars from its services and products. The companys sales continued to improve in 2006 with 1,002.9 million dollars sale compared with 842 million dollar in 2005. The company owns 50 hotels in Asia and the Middle East and more or less of 40 projects under development in Europe and North America. The company employs approximately 18,400 employees worldwide. Shangri-Las case is unusual among international hotel companies since it owns a significant proportion of its hotels, As shown in the table below, Shangri-La performance in the industry seem to improve every year and ascend to better market positioning. Shangri-La Income Statement Our personal Recommendations for Shangri-La Hotel Improve and give more emphasis to its employees training program; especially for the front-line employees to build their confidence and efficiency at the workplace in order to improve its hand to hand interaction with the customers. Having achieved brand market leadership in Asia, Shangri-La should now try to increase the number of hotel chains in Europe, North America and the Middle East. Since Shangri-La emphasizes its cultural values in every hotel chains, Shangri-La should take a closer look of its environment in general, to see if the products and services that they provide match the needs of the customer in general. For example, if Shangri -La operates in foreign destinations like the Middle East, they should adapt to its culture and combine it into their own to avoid conflicts between two different cultures. In general, all of the hotels and resorts of Shangri-La are located at strategic locations that are visited by a high number of people each year, either for business purpose, travelling or other reasons. The location selected is usually places that are well known for its tourism industry that are highly visited each year.

Sarah Moore and Angelina Emily Grimke :: essays research papers

Sarah (Moore) and Angelina (Emily) Grimke   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sarah is the eldest of the Grimke sisters, born in Charleston South Carolina in November of 1792. Angelina, the youngest, was born in Massachusetts in February of 1805. The Grimke family consisted of the sisters, an aristocratic, slave owning father, Judge John Faucherand and Mother, Mary Smith Grimke. Sarah had the overwhelming desire to practice law, though due to her status as a women, she was not admitted, or allowed to attend any Universities that were available at the time. This was only the beginning to the discrimination and humiliation she was to experience in her fight against sexism.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Both Sarah and Angelina joined the Society of Friends (a.k.a. Quakers) in Philadelphia in their early twenties. Their time there strengthened their independent thinking skills. The sisters were unhappy with the Society of Friends, due to the strict regulations they lived under. Soon afterward both sisters moved to North Carolina to join the Anti-Slavery movement.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1835 Angelina wrote a letter of support to Abolitionist leader William Lloyd Garrison who published it in his newspaper The Liberator. The following year, 1836, she composed a thirty page pamphlet entitled An Appeal to the Christian Women of the South. This pamphlet urged southern women to persuade their influential husbands to re-examine the morality of the slavery institution. A similar plea was made towards the Southern Church institutions months later in An Epistle to the Clergy of the Southern States. Though praised by other abolitionists in the free states, officials in South Carolina burned copies and threatened imprisonment to the authors should they return to that state. During this time the sisters released their own family slaves after they were apportioned to them as part of the family estate.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Angelina also began the sister's speaking career in the private homes of Philadelphia women. The sisters moved to New York in 1836 where they addressed the larger audiences of Churches and public halls. With all their good efforts the sisters were brought under fire from the General Association of

Opera †Carmen Essay

   This was an amazing Opera, I only wish that I had the opportunity to see it in person. I have never watched anything like it, and probably would not have had it not been part of this class. Let me say Thank you for opening my eyes to this amazing experience. The theatrical performance, choreography and music were very moving and to my surprise drew me in to continue watching and trying to interpret. I have to say I was very shocked at the sexuality used in this performance, it seemed as thought it was wrote long before its time. Carmen’s sexuality was very much a large part of the performance and I found it intriguing. I decided to rent the movie Carmen to compare the performances and found them to be very similar in character however the Opera was much more captivating. The music alone is wonderful but when added to the stage performance it was absolutely mesmerizing. Carmen is a direct conflict of the expectations for women of this time period. Women were to be gentle, biddable and sinned against. However Carmen used her beauty and sexuality to her advantage. She perfectly combined her acting, singing, and dancing abilities to portray a seductive and enticing personality that even Don Jose’ could not resist. The musical transitions for each character and scene were for me the amateur at times overwhelming and difficult to take it all in. As the music and people become loud during the bullfight in the background you can hear Carmen and Don Jose’ characters in the music. In the beginning of the Opera Don Jose’ appears to be very strong and powerful with an ability to ignore Carmen. Again the music helps portray this image. Obviously he changes throughout the performance to become ravaged with lust and jealousy towards Carmen. You can hear in his voice his defeat and it leaves you to believe that although he will no longer be jealous he also will mourn Carmen forever. Although the orchestra was not shown often it appeared that it consisted primarily of men, which I found rather interesting. The sets were also incredible which made me wonder how the original sets were designed. This Opera appears to have been a monumental changes in the French Opera it is a shame that Bizet, due to his early death, was unable to realize his impact not only of his time but still today 100 years later.

Invisible ManRalph Ellison essays

Invisible ManRalph Ellison essays A. Invisible Man is about a black man and his struggles until he eventually becomes invisible to society 1. Youth-given a chance for an education 2. New York- finding a job and joining the Brotherhood a. never describes himself b. well educated, tries to become white 2. Mr. Norten- rich man, says Ellison is his destiny 3. Dr. Bedlose- head of the University, kicks Ellsion out 4. The Brothers- Brother Clifton C. Major issues in the book are the ways that Ellsions character oppresses himself rather than other people doing to for him II. Novel is a primary example of the hesitance of the blacks to feel confident in American society A. Author wrote book to confuse me- had to read pages many times- didnt describe people or places, just things- didnt read in to he nuances B. Book will help me when we start to study the Black movement because it shows where the begingings started C. Ellisons Character speaks while being invisible, pg 576-581 III. Had and impact on the way I look at my place in society A. Think of it not like a black novel but as one big analogy B. Every one is an invisible man in one way In Invisible Man, Ralph Ellisons narrator recalls to us how he became invisible to the world. Since the name of the narrator is never known I wlll refer to him as Brother X. The novel opens with Brother X describing what it is like to be invisible: I am an invisible man. No, I am not a spook like those who haunted Edger Allen Poe...I am a man of substance, of flesh and bone, fiber and liquids00and I might even go said to possess a mind. I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me..That invisibility of ...

Resume Writing, FUN Yes! Here Are My Top 7 Ways

Resume Writing, FUN Yes! Here Are My Top 7 Ways On May 12th, I presented a webinar for Yale alumni on the Top 7 Ways to Make Resume Writing FUN! Does this sound like an event you’d want to attend?  (Spoiler: Keep reading for a link to watch it!) Top 7 Ways to Make Resume Writing FUN! Speaker: Brenda Bernstein, Yale College Alumna and Certified Executive Resume Master / Certified Master Resume Writer It’s time to write or edit your resume. Do you greet this project with enthusiasm or do you scream AAARGH!? Whether you are a new grad, a career changer, or a senior executive, you probably have at least a little resistance to writing the most important career document of your life. The good news: Resume writing does not have to be a drag. In this webinar, Brenda Bernstein will give you her Top 7 Ways to Make Resume Writing FUN! PLAY the Resume GAME SPICE UP your formatting POWER UP your verbs DISCOVER Resume Tetris GO on a treasure hunt TURN worry into CREATIVITY And GET the JOB Have FUN and write a winning resume at the same time. Don’t miss this opportunity to take the AAARGH out of resume writing! If you answered Yes that you wish you could have been on this webinar, you’re in luck! The Yale Office of Career Strategy was generous enough to give me permission to share the link to the recording. So as a break from my weekly written articles, I’m sharing this webinar with you today. Enjoy (and don’t mind the bulldog images sprinkled throughout the slide deck)! CLICK  BELOW TO WATCH Note: The discount offer in the webinar has expired, but the $50 Resume Review and $50 LinkedIn Profile Review services are still available to you! You can sign up for those here: Resume Review Special LinkedIn Profile Review Special Let me know if you have any questions or other suggestions for playing the resume writing game. I look forward to your comments!

Marketing Consumer Behaviour Theories Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Marketing Consumer Behaviour Theories - Essay Example The positive or negative attitude towards the product is also based on behavioral traits of the consumers. The consumers purchase the product based on their perception of those particular objects after acquiring data from various relevant sources. Consumers of different market possess different buying behaviors and expectations from the product or brand. In this paper, the concept and theories of consumer behavior in the marketing environment will be highlighted properly. It has been illustrated that how the consumer behaves in a particular situation and how their behavior gets altered while purchasing a product. The literature review of the consumer behavior will be explained briefly and the consumer behavior of Pepsi and Coca Cola in Australian marketing environment will be cited as an illustration. 2.0 Issues, Theories, and ConceCoca-Consumer Behaviour Consumer behavior encompasses cognitive, effective in addition to the behavioral reaction of consumers towards products as well as services, and also the response of consumers to the marketing of products along with services (Universitat Pompeu Fabra, n.d.). It is the decision making the process of consumers and the involvement of their activities in obtaining, assessing, using and disposing of goods as well as services. Consumer behavior refers to as a complex, multidimensional along with the dynamic process and also the marketing decisions which are taken based on the assumptions related to consumer behavior (New Age International, n.d.). The consumers on the basis of their needs adjust the purchasing behavior of them. Consumers randomly choose the product and in every selection, certain implications are incorporated in them. The buying decision is taken to satisfy the need of the consumers. Prestige is also considered as one of the intangible needs because a few individuals purchase certain products depending on their status in the society (Reference for Business, 2011). The factors which act as a significa nt role while influencing consumer buying behavior are cultural factors, social factors, psychological factors and personal factors (Scribd, 2011). Culture has an influence on the ‘impulsive buying behavior’ of a person. The theory of individualism, as well as collectivism, facilitates to have a better understanding of the phenomenon of an ‘impulsive buying behavior’ of a consumer (Kacen & Lee, 2002). The culture of the society has an influence on the buying behavior of an individual because human beings are largely affected by social factors which may include family, friends, clubs, and others. The individuals from these factors understand and learn perceptions, values and their behavior patterns. The social class of an individual is influenced by several other variables such as income, occupation, values, and education (Wilson & Gilligan, 2005). In addition, social factors also have an impact on the buying behavior of a person. Various factors include fam ily, reference groups, status along with the social role. The reference groups include primary membership group, secondary membership groups, aspirational group and dissociative groups.

Metabolic Changes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Metabolic Changes - Essay Example While discussing these changes, the expose will analyze the reasons why these changes take place. A discussion on metabolic changes will not be complete without a discussion on aerobic and anaerobic exercises. In this regard, this expose will discuss the differences between aerobic and anaerobic exercises and the types of exercises involved in aerobic and anaerobic exercises. Finally, this discussion will not be complete without a discussion on the physical changes that take place in muscle fibers during exercising. Martin identified the most visible change in an individual’s respiratory system during exercises as increased minute ventilation. In this regard, it is common knowledge that the body exchanges more carbon dioxide and oxygen during physical exercises than when at rest. In line with this, these changes affect the respiratory system and the cardiovascular system during exercises. Martin indicated that the changes were a result of increased supply of oxygen due to an increase in the tissue oxygen extraction and the delivery of oxygen by the arteries. In addition, Martin noted that there was increased transportation of the carbon dioxide to the venous side. During exercises, glucose and body fats use the increased oxygen in the body to form adenosine triphosphate (ATP) that produces energy necessary for cellular reactions in the body (Martin). Martin identified the ability of the heart rate to increase immediately during exercises. In this case, the consumption of oxygen is related to the cardiac output with the stroke volume, which is the amount of volume of blood pumped from one ventricle of the heart. Effectively, this increase is responsible for the increased heart rate during exercises. In addition, the heart rate increases due to the extra cardiac output that delivers oxygen to the exercising muscles (Martin). The extra cardiac output that delivers

Effect of social network in today mass communication Research Paper

Effect of social network in today mass communication - Research Paper Example By using social networks as mass communication marketing tools, companies around the world are able to interact with their customers and advertise their products like never before. To understand how social media marketing works as a mass communication marketing tool, the importance of the Internet must be realized. â€Å"With nearly 260 million people using the Web on a regular basis in the United States alone, using the Internet has become a mainstream social activity. Consumers approach purchasing online differently, too, and as a result, you need to approach your marketing online differently as well,† (Singh, 2010). What Singh describes here is important to note. The number of users on the internet is astronomically high, and getting higher each day. As a result, the internet is seen as a perfect place to advertise products and utilize marketing practices, since such an audience is present. Social networks are crucial to this. According to a study conducted in June 2010, ne arly 80% of the United States internet population uses social networks (Heras, 2010). The top 10 social networks used as of March 2010 are Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Linkedin, Classmates, MyLife, Ning, LiveJournal, Tagged, and Last.fm, with Facebook receiving 133,623,529 unique visits daily and Last.fm receiving 3,473,978 unique visits daily (Nations, 2010). With the amount of time and the amount of people on social networks today, it has become not only important, but nearly necessary for companies to reach out to their online audience and extend their marketing plans to include them. Advertising to the online audience of a given company or brand is not the same as traditional advertising. â€Å"†¦advertising has traditionally been viewed as one way communication, delivered from the marketer using ads through some media vehicle to a receiver, the target audience. Thinking of advertising as one-way communication limits what is possible, particularly online,† (Tuten, 200 8). Social networks are all about communication: people getting in touch with long lost friends and family members, keeping in touch with the friends you already have, and in some cases, making new friends. From a business perspective, businesses must find a way to make themselves part of the communication. â€Å"Online, advertising becomes more about conversations, connections, and shared control and less about passive consumption of packaged content,† (Tuten, 2008). Brands join in on the communication by interacting with their customers using these social networks. On Facebook, brands create fan pages, where their brand can be â€Å"liked† by their customers. These fan pages have various ways in which they can engage customers to communicate. Many fans simply comment the fan pages, talking about a favorite product or an experience with the product. From there, the brand is responsible to monitor these comments and respond to them, with at least a simple thank you. Th e more they elaborate on their responses to comments, the more they can engage customers in conversation and develop a relationship between the customer and the brand. This can also be done by creating engaging status updates, where they encourage customers to share with them. This allows the customers to feel like they are contributing to a brand and that their voice is being heard. From there, it is largely in the customer’

Thornton Wilder Essay Example for Free

Thornton Wilder Essay Either we live by accident and die by accident, or we live by plan and die by plan. In Thornton Wilders The Bridge of San Luis Rey, Brother Juniper strives to make this determination. Thornton Wilder may have also tried to ascertain this himself. As one of Americas most respected contemporary authors, Thornton Niven Wilder has received much renown for his works, especially Pulitzer Prize winning The Bridge of San Luis Rey . Why Wilder wrote the novel and why the novel is so famous may be argued through his background and use of specific themes (Books). Thornton Wilders background contribute to his way of writing as well as his outlook on life. In his novel In Life as we Live it, Wilder expresses his strong belief in the preciousness of life: Do humans ever realize life while they live it? (Simoni).When someone asked Thornton Wilder about his purpose in writing The Bridge of San Luis Rey, he replied that he was posing a question: Is there a direction and meaning in lives beyond the individuals own will? (Society). The three principle influences on the writings of Thornton Wilder were his religious background, his love of classicism, and his worldwide travels. Wilders Family and homelife also affected his writing greatly, especially his father (Books). The time period of his life aslo brought influence on Wilders writing. During this time was World War II in which Wilder served and received ideas. The reason for Wilders wide acceptance and large renown in society may be answered through the authors Life influences, the time period in which he grew up, and the style and themes that he uses in his writing. Thornton Niven Wilder was born in Madison , Wisconsin on April 18, 1897, as one of five children, one of which was his twin, of Amos Parker Wilder and Isabella Wilder.Thorntons father was a newspaper editor, diplomat, and a strict Calvinist. His father had a great impact on Wilders writing. In The  Bridge of San Luis Rey, the Wilder said that the idea of the collapse of the bridge stemmed from arguments with his strict father. In 1906 the family moved to Hong Kong, where his father had been appointed American Consul General. After six months his mother returned with the children to the United States, but the family rejoined again in 1911 in Shanghai, where his father had been transferred. Wilder stayed in China for a year (Encyclopedia). Wilders home life was characterized by a strong religious and intellectual atmosphere which allowed him to read expansively. This habit was the main ifluence in his career (Books). In 1915 Wilder enrolled in Oberlin College, where he studied the Greek and Roman classics in translation. Classicism played a major role in the works of Thornton Wilder. Classicism is the imitation or use primarily of the style and aesthetic principles of ancient Greek and Roman classical art and literature. In 1917 the family moved to to New Haven, Connecticut, and Wilder entered Yale University. He bagan to write The Bridge of San Luis Rey on the winding walk from the golf club to graduate college. Although the novel asks the question of why those five died? Wilder states, I have left this question unanswered. As I said earlier, we can only pose the question correctly and clearly, and have faith one will ask the question in the right way. (Society). He began to write it in his rooms on the top floor of the eleventh entry of graduate college and finished it the following year while teaching at Lawrenceville (Books). The time period of all these events also contribute to Wilders way of writing.

Campbells Food Industry Competition

Campbells Food Industry Competition The rivalry among companies in the food processing industry is high and intense. These food processing companies are competing on price, quality, taste, health factors, product innovation, and product benefits (The Food Processing Industry 2006). Campbells major rivals are General Millis Progresso, Heinz and Kraft Foods. As a multinational food processing company, Campbells faces an extremely competitive market in internationally, nationally and locally due to the similarities between each soup producer and wider selection of products provided by other food processing company. (Ellison, Sarah 2003) On the other hand, various types of generic soup brands in the existing market which offer products in lower price have raised the competitive pressure. However, the Campbells high quality of soup products and the ability to keep low production costs weaken the rivalry of the generic soup brands. For instance, Campbells price their soup products only 20 to 25% higher than generic brands while maintaining a level high quality. Campbells would have to continue developing superior healthy food to distinguish itself from Progresso and smaller soup maker companies. 3.1.2 Threat of New Entrants The threat of entry depends on the presence of entry barriers and the presence of new entrants to a food processing industry typically bring to it new capacity and the want to gain market share. (Wheelen Hunger J.D 2007) Campbells major rival- Kraft foods and General Mills, create high entry barriers in food processing industry through their high levels of advertising and promotion. Besides, the intense competition in the food processing industry makes it hard to access in the market. Smaller food processing companies often have difficulty obtaining supermarket shelf space for their products as large retailers charge for space on their shelves and give priority to the established companies who can pay for the advertising needed to generate high customer demand. According to Ghemawat Collis (2001), the economy is a major factor as if the company wants to be a part in this food processing industry it must be able to face high costs for strong competition. Moreover, the slow market growth rate for the food processing industry causes acquisition between companies, resulted the barriers to entry are high with so many food processing companies and little to zero capacity remaining for any more companies. 3.1.3-The Threat of Substitutes Products The rivalry from firms of other industries which offer substitute products is intense as they are producing, supplying and serving the same food products that the food processing companies are. For example, Dunkin Donuts is in the foodservice industry and Campbell Soup Company is in the food processing industry, yet Dunkin Donuts serves soup and Campbell Soup sells soup. Consumers can still go to Dunkin Donuts and acquire the similar soups that Campbell sells. (Wall Street Journal 2003) 3.1.4- Bargaining power of buyers Consumers affect the food processing industry through their ability to force down prices, bargain for higher products quality and services, and play competitors against each other. The bargaining power of buyers is high as there are huge tendency of new entrance with new and variety of products. Besides, consumers prefer choosing products which offer lower prices. For example, Campbells soup products price is relatively 20 to 25% higher than generic brands in grocery stores, hence some consumers would choose generic brand products in the market rather than Campbells. Besides, the profitability obtained by the company is also determined by consumers. Food processing companies would be forced to lower prices if consumers think that the prices are too expensive as consumers tend to stop buying their products or switch to supplements. 3.1.5- Bargaining power of suppliers Suppliers can affect the food processing industry through their ability to raise prices or reduce the quality of purchased goods and services. In case quality products the suppliers face an important factor. Due to the inflation the overall price of materials has been significantly increased. Campbell has always purchased high quality ingredients produced from local farmers. In 2006, Campbell launched Campbells Supplier Diversity Program to grow its diverse supplier base and to ensure that the supplier base better reflects the markets served. In 2007 the Campbells goal to spend with diverse suppliers was $121 million, but the actual spend with diverse suppliers was $129 million. (Campbells CSR 2008) So for Campbells, there is a 3.2.0- Swot Analysis A swot analysis allows the Campbell Soup Company to determine the extent of the strategic fit between its capabilities and the needs of its external environment. According to Henry(2008), the company can seek to match its strengths and weaknesses to the opportunities and treats it faces in current competitive food processing industry. The Campbells products portfolio includes soups, sauces, biscuits and chocolates and has a strong research function with high capabilities in new products development. 3.2.1-Internal Analysis-Strengths Innovative Campbell has always applied the spirit of innovation in every aspect of its business. At Campbells manufacturing plants in Napoleon, Ohio, and Paris, Texas, an innovative method called overland flow is used to treat wastewater. In terms of products introduction, the company has been consistently quick to come up with new products in the market. For example, the first portable soup product, Soup at Hand, the new microwaveable products such as Chunky and Select. Besides, Campbell frequent updates the products appearance with more contemporary design and new photography. Its popular gravity fed shelving system have been installed at 24,000 retailers nationally and credited for rejuvenating the soup aisle, expanding the category and vastly improving the shopping experience. Campbell is innovative to gauge consumer satisfaction and expectation. (Campbells Corporate Social Responsibility Report 2008) 3.2.2-Weaknesses Declining Market Share The Campbells market share in soup drop from 60% in 2007 to 49% as of October 2009. This is due to more and more private labels continue to enter the market by providing quality products in lower price. Some consumers have switched to try private labels and resulted private labels have gained 11%of the market share. On the other hand, Campbell has also faced stiff competition from brands such as General Mills Progresso and Nestle. (Campbell Soup Co Form 10-Q Quartery Report 2010) 3.2.3-External Analysis-Opportunities Demand for Wellness Products In recent years, the trend towards being more health-conscious has arisen from two main consumer groups. The younger generations currently focus more on low calorie content and on the go meals. For the more mature age group, their diets require health-consciousness in terms of limiting their sodium intake due to increased risk of ailments. Campbells Soups core product categories, notably soup and bakery products, are widely perceived as healthy and are compatible with the further development of health-oriented products, such as the existing and expanding line of Select Harvest and Healthy Request soups. In conjunction with the product improvement, Campbell has announced to expand its industry-leading sodium reduction program and to reduce the sodium content in 23 of its condensed soups by up to 45 percent in fiscal 2011.(Campbell Growth Plans for U.S 2010) 3.2.4-Threats Intense Competition Campbells main profitable core soup category has been facing intense competition and also been losing market share to its strong competitors, particularly General Mills Progresso and private label brands produced by companies such as Wal-Mart. Moreover, Campbells other segments have not produced consistent profits. According to Wolpert (2002), shifting consumer habits and preferences indicate the need to constantly innovate their products and minimize costs, in order to retain loyal consumers and keep up with the fast-changing consumer environment Extensive Laws The company is governed by a multitude of local and international laws and regulations with regards to food safety and environmental standards. For instance, in accordance with the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, Campbells food products must be inspected before they can be marketed. The company faces the risk of fines, injunctions, recalls or asset seizures, and criminal sanctions if it violates these laws and regulations. ( Campbells CSR 2008) 3.3.0- Benchmarking Campbell understands the importance of using benchmarking to evaluate performance. Hence, the company analyzed few top companies which mainly involved in food and beverage processing manufacturing company in a few aspects such as sustainability, supply chain, consumers, community and workplace. Moreover, Campbell have also highlighted the primary ways that companies are implementing their goals as well as select initiatives and key past achievements. In terms of community, Campbells have chosen to focus on nutritional and environmental programs by partnering with nonprofit organizations, universities and Think Tanks to conduct RD for new products. Besides, it also partnered with environmental experts to develop innovative solutions to protect the environment. For instance, Nestle has been launching malnutrition and obesity programs targeting children and adolescents of lower-income families while General Mills has been contributing 5% of pretax profits to charitable causes. The Campbells benchmarked the best practices by promoting nutritional and hunger elimination programs. Besides, Campbells also promote micronutrient products to attend lower income families and develop environmental initiatives. (Campbells Annual Report 2009) In terms of workplace related programs, Nestle, Coca Cola, Pepsi.co, General Mills, have done excellent job. For instance, Pepsi CO has been providing job opportunities for people with disabilities while General Mills, the company has reduced lost-time injury rate by 25% over five years. Hence, Campbell benchmarked and developed workplace programs by focusing four key areas: Ensuring diversity of the workforce thereby bringing a broad range of talents and perspectives to the business Helping employees achieve both personal and professional development Ensuring the health and safety of employees both at home and at work Ensuring that employees have a fair work environment Campbells strived for an injury-free workplace through a strong health and safety program supported by high employee engagement. They train their employees to conduct their activities in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. (Campbells CSR 2008) 4.0 Strategy Formulation For Campbells to achieve sustainable competitive advantage in food processing industry, strategy formulation which derived from the objective and mission is undertaken. Porter (1980) argues that competitive strategy is about developing a defendable position in an industry which enables a firm to deal with the five competitive forces and thus generate a superior return on investment for the film. 4.1 Business Level Strategy-Differentiation To achieve superior value that is recognized by the consumer, Campbells needs to provide unique and superior value to the customers in terms of its products quality and value added up services. It is appropriate to relate differentiation strategy to the Campbells Soup Company as the companys goal is very straight forward, which is Together we will build the worlds most extraordinary food company by nourishing peoples lives everywhere, every day. Campbell has always focused on providing superior, healthy and nutrition food by expanding their icon brands in simple meals (especially soup). The Campbells latest plans are to enhance more than 60 percent of its condensed line with product improvements, further sodium reduction, more contemporary packaging, improved shelving systems and new marketing aimed at the simple meals category. ( Campbell Growth Plan 2010) Nowadays there are increasing numbers of consumers who are very concerned with nutritional values of foods they eat. The Campbells Soup Company which is having superior research abilities has been taking advantage of this avenue and further develops this product line. According to Douglas R. Conant, Campbells President and CEO, Campbell is going to fire up the important condensed soup business and step up the competitive posture of their ready-to-serve products. (Campbells 2009 annual report) The improvements and innovations of Campbells has made over the past several years has made Campbell outwit most of its rivals in the condensed soup category. Low-sodium products are pivotal to Campbells long term success as the majority of Campbells consumer base isbaby boomers. The majority of baby boomers diets are comprised of low sodium. A recent study shown that high cholesterol, attributed to high levels of sodium intake, is the number one diagnosed health condition for the baby boomer generation.The condensed soups have one of the highest sodium contents of all processed foods in existing market. Therefore Campbells low-sodium products have differentiated themselves with many rivals. Besides sodium, Campbells also has to focus on other aspects such as MSG and low calories of its soups by hoping that these healthier offerings will help gain market share among younger, more health conscious consumers. (Campbell CSR Report 2008) Besides, Campbell understands that creating a quality product begins with quality ingredients. Campbell purchases most of the ingredients from domestic farmers in countries where they manufacture products and also obtain certain ingredients from carefully selected suppliers around the world. Any ingredient that does not meet the quality requirements will not be used in a Campbell product to ensure superior product quality. On the other hand, providing value-added services help Campbells to outwit its existing rivals. Campbell continually experiments with new programs to provide consumers with useful information on meal ideas, health and wellness, and other tips. For example, each day their Campbell Meal-mail program delivers nearly 500,000 recipes electronically to busy Americans who are hungry for convenient, great-tasting meal ideas that will please their families. Consumers can access the Campbells Kitchen website at any time to download recipe ideas that have been tested and approved by Campbells nutritionists. Consumers also have the opportunity to share their ideas and comments on recipes with one another on the Campbells Kitchen website. ( Campbellsoupcompany.com) It is suggested that the Campbell Soup Company to improve the flavour of its soup products to attract more demand. Besides, Campbell can try to create more contemporary design for its existing soup products instead of the familiar red and white colour design in order to stand out from various types of products in the market. 4.2 Corporate Level Strategy-Diversification The corporate level strategy of The Campbell Soup Company deals with three key issues: i) The firms overall orientation toward growth, stability, and retrenchment. ii) The market in which the company competes through its products and business units iii) The manner in which management coordinate activities and transfer resources and cultivates capabilities among product lines and business units The Campbells operates with four products divisions and has expanded its product to microwavable soups to make customers more convenient for preparing soup without container. (Campbells annual report 2009) Obviously, the Campbell Soup Company, which is a decentralized company, has been using a related diversification multiproduct strategy. Its strategy is to diversify its business to produce several products, and expanding its market share. Campbell used its engineering support and diversified production to support customers with convenient, good taste and quality food. To support its operating system, department such as Research Development (RD), product development, engineering systems, are required to produce high quality and stable operating system to avoid the unexpected shut down. Campbell has tried to use unrelated diversification strategy under the leadership of McGovern as Campbells CEO with the aim of rapidly expand product line to increase profits and revenue. Campbell has tried to acquire other firms to quickly gain access to new products and new markets. Instead of acquiring only food products, Campbell began to use the unrelated diversification strategy to acquire firms that it felt were positioned to capitalize on the consumers trend and also bought firms involved in all types of business. For example, the triangle Manufacturing Company, a fitness products maker, which is clearly unrelated to the firms core products. (Ireland, Hoskisson Michael 2006) A major reason for Campbells failure to generate financial economies while using the unrelated diversification strategy is that the firms approach to managing its core products divisions never changed. At the same time, corporate headquarters personnel didnt implement the strong financial controls necessary to efficiently manage an internal capital market. David Johnson who replaced McGovern decided that Campbell should not longer use the diversification strategy but to reduce the level of diversification by using related constrained strategy to create value through operational relatedness. Campbells related constrained diversification strategy involves transferring core competencies which lead to competitive advantage and start with value chain analysis to identify ability to transfer skills or expertise among similar value chains and on the hand, to exploit ability to transfer activities. Campbell should enhance more than 60 percent of its condensed line and be more committed to a ccelerate the performance of their existing portfolio, most notably in U.S. soup, and continuing to lay the foundation for superior long-term growth. (Campbell Growth Plan 2010) 4.2.1 External Acquisitions and Partnerships Through value-creating external development, Campbells is able to increase its market presence throughout its product lines. For instance, Campbells Baking and Snacking segment is positioned to grow due to the companys recent acquisition of Ecce Panis, a manufacturer of artisan breads. This acquisition allows Campbells to enter into the thriving artisan bread market. With the ever growing foreign population in America, it is suggested that Campbells should consider products that have more of the ethnic background of these immigrants. The brand could quite possibly extend the depth of the line with consideration to the vast number of different tastes in the society today. 5.0- Strategy Implementation A clear mission statement helps in providing focus to an organization and is essential for effectively establishing objective and formulating strategies. (Haberberg and Rieple 2001) In order for the Campbell to proceed into a future where competition is highly competitive, they need to define who and what they truly are, their concerns, their philosophies, and what gives them the competitive advantage over their competitors. This must be clear throughout all areas and divisions, at all levels in the company, in order for the implementation of the mission statement to be successful. The Campbells strategy implementation includes designing the organizations structure, allocating resources, developing information and decision process, and managing human resources, including such areas as the reward system, approaches to leadership, and staffing. According to Wheelen and Hunger (2007), the strategy implementation process includes the various management activities that are necessary to put strategy in motion, institute strategic controls that monitor progress, and ultimately achieve organizational goals. 5.1- Management Issue Restructuring In food processing industry one year is relatively indiscernible from the next from a macroeconomic point of view. Campbells corporate strategy and the companys management structure have undergone several restructuring since 1980. On April 28, 2008, the company announced a series of initiatives to improve operational efficiency and long-term profitability, including selling certain salty snack food brands and assets in Australia, closing certain production facilities in Australia and Canada, and streamlining the companys management structure. As a result of these initiatives, in 2008, the company recorded a restructuring charge of $175 millions. The charge consisted of a net loss on the sale of certain Australian salty snack food brands and assets, employee severance and benefit costs, including the estimated impact of curtailment and other pension charges, and property, plant and equipment impairment charges. The cost of restructuring activity is shown at Appendix 2 Workforce Diversification The Campbell strive to uphold their promise of Campbell Valuing People, People Valuing Campbell by providing employees with the resources required to do their jobs well; competitive compensation and benefits; the opportunity to learn; and grow through their work. At present, the Campbells Board of Directors consists of 14 independent members and one company executive, the CEO, Doug Conant. Board operations are managed by an independent, non-executive Chairman. The Board believes that diversity in the backgrounds and perspectives of their directors contributes to sound corporate governance. Currently, three of their directors are women, one director is from India and one director is African-American. The Campbells Board of Directors is shown at Appendix 3. The CEO believes that workforce diversity is essential to be a mainstay within the company overall strategic objectives. Hence, Campbells is committed to attract a diverse group of talented employees and providing all their associates with development opportunities and a culture in which they can flourish and provide their employees with career development and quality-of life enhancements that make Campbell a special place to work. The directors receive annual fees equal to the median directors compensation paid by peer food and consumer products companies. Approximately 50 percent of each directors fee is paid in cash and 50 percent is paid in common stock. Director stock ownership requirements have existed at Campbell since 1993. Currently, the directors beneficially own more than 44 percent of the companys common stock. (Carlin, M Harris R 2008) Though the Campbells has successfully implemented workforce diversification strategy, it is recommended that the company offers stock options to their rank-and-file employees too. By offering employee stock options, workers are given the chance to buy shares in their company at a specified price. The grant or strike price, should be pegged to the value of the stock when it is offered to employees. Employees have the option of buying the stock at a set price then selling it after a period of time. Employee Engagement The Campbell believes that employees will feel most valued when they are fully informed, understand the companys business goals and plans and are invited to offer their feedback on a regular basis. In 2007 and 2008, Campbell was recognized by Gallup as one of the Best Places to Work in America. The company believes that its work environment has contributed to their relatively stable retention rate and their improved marketplace performance. (www.euroinvestor.co.uk) Campbell conducts annual employee survey to develop work group action plans, empower individual employees to improve the workplace and to strengthen the companys business practices. 5.2 Marketing Issues The Campbells understands that successful marketing implementation is affected by marketing variables. 5.2.1 Market Segment The companys 2009 financial reports segment their business into four key categories: US Soup, Sauces and Beverages, Baking and Snacking, International Soup, Sauces and Beverages, and North American Foodservice. With sales approximating $3.8 million, US Soup, Sauces and Beverages accounted for approximately half of the sales in FY 2009 and drove the bulk of profits for the company. Core brands like Campbells, V8, Swanson and Prego delivered a combined 4% growth through a combination of innovation, consumer trade downs, and improved distribution channels.( Appendix 2) 5.2.2 Marketing Strategies Product The Campbells positioning is providing healthy and nourishing products within the product line. * The product line width come in many different options. This being said, the depth of the product line is in fact the largest. Each product comes in a multitude of different sizes and flavours. The brand offers adequate products for the consumers. * In addition to the size and flavours, the packaging is well organized for that of single or multiple item purchasing. * The packaging also achieves an accurate perception in the consumers mind. They use well known athletes to convey the message of health to the consumer. Price * The pricing of the products within the brand name are consistent with that of the positioning. They provide the perception that to eat healthy the consumer should not have to pay more. * The Campbells brand is typically priced at twenty cents above that of their major competitors. This is the act of swaying the consumers mind to the perception that Campbells is of a higher quality than the competitors. * While operating in an elastic market, Campbells employs special event promotional pricing strategies in order to remain competitive. * The company also offers discounted pricing on certain seasonal items and during holidays. In addition to these promotional strategies, they employ the odd even strategies to convey the message that their brand is that of higher quality. Distribution * Campbells brand is distributed intensively throughout all geographic locations within the United States and many foreign countries. * In the distribution process, Campbells deals with wholesalers and retailers thus creating the supply channel. This is a very profitable concept as long as the lines of communication remain opened. Catalog marketing is also another form of distribution that is employed. This is easily achieved due the fact that the shelf life of the products is long. * The products are very easily purchased at any marketplace at any given region of the US. Promotion * In using the most recent athletic figures in their advertisements, they are successful in maintaining their position of health. * In the use of the retailers to help marketing, they are employing the cooperative advertising technique. This helps to advertise their products from numerous different angles. The effectiveness of themarketingstrategiesemployed by Campbells has made them recognized as the premium brand within their product lines. In comparison to the competition, Campbells focuses a great deal on interacting with the public with such efforts as sweepstakes and giveaways and also education. Their public relation efforts have ranked them as one of the most society conscious brands in the business. 6.0 Conclusion A strategic analysis is most applicable to strategic management at the business unit level of large multinational firm such as Campbell Soup Company. At the strategic analysis stage, internal and external environmental scanning by using Porters 5 forces model and Swot analysis are conducted. Besides, benchmarking is used to evaluate performances. Strategy formulation which derived from the Campbells objective and mission is undertaken to outline the business level and corporate level strategies. Strategy at business level deals with which market the company chooses to compete while strategy at the corporate level is more concerned with managing the portfolio of business. The final strategy implementation stage includes the management issues, staffing and marketing variables which can influence the profit margin of the company. List of References 1. 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