Lorca’s play on tragic love

Lorca’s play on tragic love, The House of Bernarda Alba, is his last complete play. It is interpreted as a metaphor of repression with its theme focused on frustration, honour and death. The play contains both the passion and the torment in the intense struggle of a group of women held in check even from the thought of love by a tyrannical mother, Bernarda. The play investigates and provides a response, but not a solution, to the problems of oppression, transgression, sexuality and being a victim. Bernarda’s strict rule is as powerful as the wilful nature of the youngest woman who betrays the family.Her ability to satisfy her sexual desire symbolically shatters the order of extreme repression and absolute control. Her rebellion and death mark the reasons and effects of the repressed atmosphere. Ultimate protest, despair, and madness emphasize the even more extreme control, unhealthy fear, mindlessness, and especially silence that befall the women who remain in the house . However more scrutinizing approach to the issue of victim in the play reveals that not only Bernarda’s daughters appear as victims but Bernarda herself being a victimizer is a victim.Bernarda Alba is the mother, a dramatic personality, whose words carry the authority of the supreme ruler and whose life shows little emotion. In this austerity she rules her household, never sparing from her wrath anyone who attempts to revoke the stifling atmosphere she has superimposed on herself and her daughters. As a result, all – Bernarda, the daughters, the servants – exist in darkness and depression ultimately leading to sterility of emotions and finally to suicide.Bernarda is a selfish and tyrannical matron who eventually forces her daughters into the despair. They lose every vestige of hope; this loss leads directly to the moral death of each daughter and to the physical death of the youngest. Slowly, but unequivocally, Bernarda drains the minds and hearts of her daught ers until they become as white and barren as the walls of their physical prison the metaphor of which is conveyed by the visual nature of the house with its thick walls and a few windows and doors leading to the outside world.However, this significant visual image exceeds its literal meaning and, above all, represents a sociocultural institution keeping all the main characters of the play in subordination to social dogmas and rules. Within the confines of its walls Bernarda and her family repeat the old traditions, like many generations of women that preceded them. This repetitive and collective act obliterates the uniqueness of the individual for the sake of preserving patriarchal hegemony.When reading The House of Bernarda Alba it becomes obvious that the play’s most powerful strength is in its dialogues, while the characters are limited in their movement and space within a closed location. By dint of auditory means, Lorca reaches the explication of the contrast between gir ls and their mother. This contrast is emphasized by the other devices like contras of black and white, and these two colours are highlighted throughout the play: the black dresses of the women in mourning, in contrast to the very white walls of the house.Moreover, Bernarda’s authoritarian voice stands out as she commands, â€Å"Silence! † [p. 161] at the opening, throughout, and end of the play, closely related in each case to the death of one member of the family and the spiritual death of those living. Despite Bernarda’s call for silence, other sounds succeed in penetrating the thick walls and contribute to define the nature of their society and the dichotomy between life inside and outside the house. Bernarda’s house is a household without men. This is by fate as well as by author’s intention to establish controversial circumstances.Upon the death of her husband, she must assume the patriarchal role of protecting her daughters’ honour and forbids the presence of men within the confines of the house, thus limiting the world her daughters are allowed to know. Her house is clearly governed by patriarchal forces. Pepe el Romano, the male character we do not see but hear about, is the strongest motivating force in the play. Bernarda’s authoritarian discourse stubbornly reproduces what she learned from her father and her grandfather.This concept associates property with social class, as Bernarda is well aware. When one of her daughters has the opportunity of marrying, she does not allow it: â€Å"BERNARDA, loudly. – I'd do it a thousand times over! My blood won't mingle with the Humanas' while I live! His father was a shepherd. † (p. 191). The situation within the walls of her house would have been quite different had Bernarda found enough men of her social condition to marry her daughters. Lorca indicts society, and the reader might be inclined to condemn Bernarda as well.Although she is not aware of it, Bernarda is a victim turned victimizer. In the same way that her daughter, Adela, is symbolically suffocated by her mother’s oppression, as she commits suicide by hanging, Bernarda’s maternal feelings have been suffocated by society. As a widow, she uses her newly found powers to perpetuate those values that benefit men. She becomes their accomplice. Her husband was a womanizer, and she claims that men should enjoy the freedom of the streets. Women should be confined in the house, against their natural instincts.Bernarda is, at best, an imperfect man, as exemplified in her failed attempt to use the gun —a phallic symbol. BERNARDA: The gun! Where's the gun? She rushes out. La Poncia runs ahead of her. Amelia enters and looks on frightened, leaning her head against the wall. Behind her comes Martirio. ADELA: No one can hold me back! She tries to go out. [†¦] A shot is heard. BERNARDA, entering: Just try looking for him now! MARTIRIO, entering: That does away with Pepe el Romano. ADELA: Pepe! My God! Pepe! She runs out. PONCIA: Did you kill him?MARTIRIO: No. He raced away on his mare! BERNARDA: It was my fault. A woman can't aim (p. 210) Within the play another mother figure, Maria Josefa, vehemently distances herself from Bernarda and approaches Adela, thus leaving Bernarda without support and helpless. She sings a lullaby while holding a â€Å"baby† (a lamb) in her arms, an act that Bernarda – devoid of maternal instincts – seems incapable of performing. Bernarda as a mother figure becomes dehumanized and therefore closer to the dimensions of a grotesque caricature.At the beginning of the play the maid La Poncia threatens Bernarda’s public image with her gossip. At the end of the play, and despite Bernarda’s call for silence, we know that the neighbours have awakened. The thick walls have been rendered useless and the tyrannical figure of Bernarda fall a prey to societal judgement. Bibliography L ORCA, Federico Garcia Three Tragedies: Blood Wedding, Yerma, Bernarda Alba. Translated by J. G. Lujan and R. L. O'Connell. New York, New Directions Publishing, 1955.

Jet Blue

1. Is Jet Blue appropriately positioned to create and maintain a strategic competitive advantage? Yes they are. Jet blues customer service is tremendous. They had the one valentine day massacre but they bounced right back. As a company they know where they have to be in order to succeed in the future. They know about great customer service and low price. Gas prices are rising and with the expansion of the e190, I believe this flight will help their revenue increase in the future. 2. What future strategic direction would you recommend for JetBlue?Should they continue to support both the e190 and a320 or does one model look more promising than the other? I would recommend the path they are on now. Their customer service is excellent and have different types of airlines. Both airlines attract different customers our ability to adapt to new technologies and the soar of gas prices is one of the reasons they are one of the beasts in this airline industry. Numbers do not lie and they were p rofitable for 4 years in a row and I do not see them looking back. In order to keep a JetBlue a main force in the airline industry they are going to have to keep both around.There are customers who are used to the a320 and enjoy a more spacious seating compared to the e190. They should cut down on the long distance flights with gas prices high and will raise the price on some long distance flights. I do see the e190 as the main airline in seven to ten years. Their customers want to get from one location to another the fastest way and the e190 is the airline for that. 3. In light of the Feb. 2007 crisis how did JetBlue try to repair the damage to its reputation? Was the company successful? In Feb. 2007 the crisis that happened was due to lack of communication.They were not ready for this and took a hit in the media. They needed to bounce back hard and they did. They came out with jet blues bill of rights which was information-sharing, cancellations, departure delays, overbooking†™s, and onboard ground delays for arrivals and departures. This sent a message to their customers letting them know that yes they made a mistake and they are aware of it. It took them three months but after that the cleared everything up. Overall hiring the new Ceo and taking care of the crisis was a job well done.

Financial Assessment and Analysis Essay

Introduction Financial Assessment Investment is something that is important in the life of any human being and should therefore be taken very seriously (Downes, & Goodman, 2003). To make an investment means that one is looking for a better future and also to receive returns form that particular investment. It is important when an individual wants to make any form of investment that they consider a lot of factors which will affect the full operation and conducting of the investment (Downes, & Goodman, 2003). It is also important that an individual who wants to make an investment must ensure that they have sufficient information that will help in making the relevant decisions with regard to the investment that they have in mind. Without prior and clear information, making decisions about an investment is difficult and may result in disaster where one may lose all the amount of cash or funds and waste efforts put up in the business investment (Downes, & Goodman, 2003). In the case of Pierre, having a clear financial assessment of the investment that he wants to engage in will help him in making the relevant decisions which will ensure that he does not operate the business   at a loss in the long run. This financial assessment will make use of assumptions in the establishment of whether the investment Pierre is interested in is relevant and will be profitable. In making an appropriate investment decision, there are various issues to be considered by Pierre which involves the analysis of the financial situation which the investment will require as well as the returns on investment which will be achieved by the business (Gibson, 2012). The first step that Pierre will need to do is to make a consideration of the financial investment which will be need to make the business fully functional. Financial appraisal of projects or investments is important since it helps in making the relevant decisions on what to invest in or not to invest in. When conducting a financial analysis, there are various methods which can be used in appraising a project which involves finances (Gibson, 2012). The method that would be used in apprai8sing the investment by Pierre is the Discounted Cash flow analysis which will help to establish whether the investment which Pierre is interested in is worth the efforts or it should be abandoned (Larrabee, Voss, & John Wiley & Sons, 2013). Financial appraisal is also important to any individual or organization which wants to make an investment since it helps in establishing the amount of returns to expect. This is done through the analysis of the expenses which the investment will incur and the revenues which the investment will be able to raise within a certain period of time (Larrabee, Voss & John Wiley & Sons, 2013). Factors affecting the success of an investment When wanting to make an investment decision, there are various factors which need to be considered so that the decision to be made can be considered to viable. The various factors which Pierre will need to consider will include issues such as: Availability of finances Any investment that an individual or even an organization wants to get involved in always requires finances. The finances which will be put up in the business must be readily available so that one can be able to know whether they can take up the investment or not (Shim, & Siegel, 2007). There must e enough finances which will cater for every put of the start up of the investment since every operation in the investment or business will require sufficient funds (Downes, & Goodman, 2003). In the case of Pierre, he is retired and has an amount of CAD 500,000, whereby he has already paid all the taxes which are involved in the retirement benefits. This is quite a good amount which needs to be invested considering that he is no longer in active employment hence he will need something to generate finances for him, in terms of investment (Shim, & Siegel, 2007). Considering the amount which Pierre has available for investment, it can be considered that he is ready to take up any investment of his choice since he already has available funds which he can put up in business (Cherunilam, 2010). Human capital There is no business investment which can take place if there is no available human capital which will operate the whole investment and make it bring good returns. Human capital is necessary and its availability is important for the success of any investment (Cherunilam, 2010). It is important to ensure that there is readily available human capital which will be able to handle the whole operations of the investment to be undertaken. The cost of human capital should also be considered when wanting to make an investment since human capital that is not affordable will mean that the investment will incur large amounts of costs in terms of the salaries which will be paid out to the employees of the business (Horiguchi, & International Monetary Fund, 1992). In the case of Pierre, he will run the business on his own which is quite good since he will be able to set an affordable amount of cash for the remuneration which he will pay himself. As a sole owner and operator of the business makes it more convenient for him to make the relevant decisions concerning human capital since he does not have to consult anyone on any matter concerning the number of people to have working in the business (Reilly, & Brown, 2012). In addition, Pierre will only have one assistant in the business that will assist in conducting and carrying out the operations of the business. This means that he will not have a lot of expenses with regard to the human capital that he will employ in the business (Downes, & Goodman, 2003). In addition, the human capital is readily available and can be considered affordable hence this is an encouraging factor towards the establishment of the business investment which Pierre is interested in (Kruschwitz, 2006). Government regulations and policies In every country, there are always regulations and policies which are laid down concerning the operation of business and investments. These policies range from the taxes which businesses need to pay, the regulation policies which each business needs to follow as a way of conducting the business within that country among many other policies (Kruschwitz, 2006). The government policies and regulations gives the direction which business investments needs to follow and every business must be able to comply with those regulations and policies within the countries where they operate (Downes, & Goodman, 2003). In the case of Pierre, government regulations that he needs to consider are the taxes which are charged on the kind of business that he wants to establish, the tariffs involved in the importation, especially of chocolate from Switzerland (Horiguchi, & International Monetary Fund, 1992). It will be important that Pierre ensures that he complies with all the government regulations and polices if he wants the investment that he has in mind to succeed. In some instances, the government regulations may prohibit the prosperity of a business investment due to the stringent rules that the business investment is required to accomplish in the long run and the tax rates also may have a negative effect on the business (Downes, & Goodman, 2003). Availability of market Every business investment needs a market where it can be able to operate in and earn good returns. Without there being a ready market available for the products to be sold by the investor will mean that the business will not be able to progress in any way (Horiguchi, & International Monetary Fund, 1992). To know whether there is an available market which the business can be able to obtain good returns, conducting a market research is necessary. Market research is important because it helps in various ways. One, when an investor conducts a market research, they are able to establish the kind of customers available and their purchasing behaviors. This helps in formulating the operations of the business in such a way that it is able to meet the exact needs of the customers and hence obtain a greater market share (Cherunilam, 2010). Market research is important because it also helps the business investor to establish whether there is sufficient demand for the products that he/she wants to offer to the market. From the case study of Pierre, it can be noted that Pierre has taken the initiative to conduct a market research for the business that he wants to establish (Cherunilam, 2010). This has given him the information regarding the kind of revenue that he will be able to make for a certain period. For example, from the market research results, Pierre knows that he will have a demand of 600kg per month while for the first month he knows that he will have a demand of 100kg per month. This information obtained from market research helps in making a sound investment decision, whereby Pierre can choose whether to continue with the investment idea or simply drop it depending on this information obtained from the market research conducted (Cherunilam, 2010). The market research is also important since it helps in establishing the demand and the supply of the product the investor wants to offer in the market. In addition, market research also helps in establishing the kind of competition the business investment is likely to face. Knowing the kind of competition to be faced helps an investor to formulate a strategic plan that will be applied in overcoming the competition when the business investment is established (Shim, & Siegel, 2007). Returns on investment The main reason that influences business investors to engage in any form of business investment is simply to obtain good returns on the finances that they have invested. An investment that is not capable of bring any form of good returns to the business investor cannot be considered to be viable in the long run and hence should not be considered (Shim, & Siegel, 2007). The main objective that business investors have is to make profits and also to expand their businesses. The returns which an investor is able to obtain from his/her investment must be able to provide the investor with profits and also leave him/her with funds that can be used in the expansion of the business (Downes, & Goodman, 2003). In carrying out this investment of importing chocolate from Switzerland and selling in North America, Pierre needs to know what amount of returns will he be able to obtain after all the deductions from the business have been made (Shim, & Siegel, 2007). If the business will not be able to bring god returns, then there will be no need of Pierre getting involved in this kind of investment since he will just be wasting his resources. This can only be determined through the financial analysis of the whole investment that Pierre wants to undertake, which will enable him to make well informed decisions concerning the investment (Gibson, 2012). Costs of investment Business investments always involve a lot of costs which an investor must be able to cater for so that the business can be fully operational. Considering the costs to be incurred when undertaking any business investment is of great importance and any investor must be able to do so (Gibson, 2012). Determining and considering the costs will enable the investor to know whether the finances that the investor has are sufficient to cater for all the costs which the business investment will incur (Downes, & Goodman, 2003). When the cost of investment is too high, the investor will not be able to realize higher returns hence the investment cannot be considered to be viable to be undertaken. A viable investment must have low cost of operation involved so that the business investor can be able to remain with some finances which can be considered as profits (Gibson, 2012). Therefore, in making this investment decision, Pierre must be able to determine and consider the costs involved in the whole business through a financial analysis so as to ascertain whether the investment is viable or worth the risk or it is something that should be abandoned. The above analyzed factors are important to be considered by any business investor who wants to put up their money or finances and efforts into a certain business investment. Pierre needs to make a consideration of all the above mentioned and discussed factors if at all he wants to establish a well operating business investment (Gibson, 2012). As mentioned above, most of those factors can only be determined using real time data and information generated through a financial analysis and assessment of the kind of investment that Pierre wants to undertake. By conducting the financial analysis, it will be possible to identify the returns that the investment is likely to attract, the costs which the investor, Mr. Pierre is likely to incur in the process of opening and operating the business (Manufacturing and investment around the world: An international survey of factors affecting growth and performance, 2002). Valuation The financial analysis that will be conducted in the case of Pierre will involve the formulation of a monthly cash flow for the whole business investment, and the formulation of an annual cash flow for the whole year. The best method of conducting this financial analysis is through the method of discounted cash flow (Kruschwitz, 2006). Discounted cash flow method is simply used to make a valuation and an estimation of the attractiveness of a certain investment opportunity that is available. This method of discounted cash flow (DCF) always makes use of the future free cash flow which has been projected and is discounted at a certain rate but mostly the weighted average cost of capital is used in this method (Damodaran, 2012). This is done so as to obtain the present value which is in turn is used in the evaluation of a particular investment to find out if it is viable. After the calculation of the discounted cash flow, if the value obtained through this method is found to be higher than that of the current value or cost of investment, then the investment opportunity can be said to be a viable one (Schön, 2007). Monthly Cash Flow The monthly cash flow that Pierre is expecting or will experience from the first, month of the investment is that, in the first month, he will be able to have a net cash flow of about CAD 29,193 while for the subsequent months starting from the second month, it is assumed that he will have a constant cash flow of about CAD 102,243. This is expected to occur throughout the year until the end of the first year. The cash flow in the first month is expected to be less because from the market research conducted, it was observed that the amount of stock that he will be able to sell will be about 100kg which is the reason why the cash flow for the first month is lower as compared to the subsequent months. In the second month and the ones that follow, the unit sales increase due to the increase in the stock from 100kg for the first month to about 600kg from the second month. It is also assumed from the calculation of the monthly cash flow that the interest rates will be uniform throughout the year and no inflation will affect the interest rates. Furthermore, it is assumed that the demand for the products will be constant from the second month and there will be no any form of decline or an increase in the demand throughout the first year. Yearly Cash flow The yearly cash flow that Pierre will experience when he starts the investment of selling the chocolates in Americas, the first year is expected to have a cash flow of about CAD 1,204,866 in total. This is the same amount which is expected to be the cash flow for the company or the investment that Pierre is expecting to start. This net yearly cash flow from the first year for a period of five years is assumed to be constant just as the case of the monthly cash flow in the second month of operation. The assumptions made in this case are that: The interest rates will remain constant throughout the five years and there will be no inflation that will take place throughout that period of time. The demand for the products will remain the same throughout the five year period with no change in the prices which will be charged for the products. It is also assumed that the costs involved in the running of the business will remain constant throughout the five years with no increase or decrease on the expenses of the business investment which Pierre is expecting to undertake. The other assumptions which have been made in the calculation of both the monthly cash flow of the business investment and the yearly cash flow of the business is that the investment or business with luxurygifts.com will be undertaken and also Pierre will employ an assistant for the job. It is the assumption of this report and the calculations made that the exchange rate that is to be used to convert the CHF to CAD is taken to be at the rate of 1 CAD is equivalent to about CHF 0.83. This is the rate which has been used to make a conversion of the purchasing price and air transport costs which Pierre is to incur when importing the products from Switzerland. The amount of cash that Pierre could be able to offer to EigerChoc SA as the upfront payment for the exclusive rights of having to sell the products for the period of five years and still leave him no better off or worse if he made the investment decision of engaging EigerChoc in this kind of business would be a total of about CAD 200,000. The reason why he will be able to offer this amount in an easy way is that within a period of half a year, he will be able to obtain good returns which will help bring back his money and make the business fully operational on its own. This amount of about CAD 200,000 will leave Mr. Pierre with an amount of CAD 300,000, assuming that he used his total lump sum amount to start the business. Considering the expenses which he will incur, the amount of CAD 300,000 will leave him more capable of handling all the expenses even if he offers a sum of CAD 200,000 to EigerChoc as an upfront fee. Conclusion Business decision making, especially with regard to making an investment decision sometimes is quite challenging and to some extent a task that requires a lot of information and keenness. It is important that a business investor must be able to obtain all the relevant information that will enable in making the most appropriate decision of investment. Pierre provided sufficient information about the business investment that he wants to get involved in and from the financial analysis on the annual and the monthly cash flow of the business venture, it can be said that the business investment looks attractive for MR. Pierre to undertake. Pierre is in a better position to make this investment because he has all the resources which are needed for the business. The only thing that may inhibit him from undertaking this kind of business is the regulations and government policies which may make it more expensive in terms of the licenses and may be the trade relations between North America and Switzerland. Recommendations The recommendations which Pierre should consider are that: Conduct further research on government policies and regulations regarding the kind of business investment that he wants to undertake He should make use of the lump sum funds that he has instead of borrowing a loon of about CAD 100,000 at an interest rate of 8%. This will increase the expenses of the business hence should not be undertaken at the start of the business. Do not engage luxurygifts.com at the moment. This should be done when the business is fully established to ensure that the expenses involved are not increased. Offer an amount of about CAD 200,000 to EigerChoc as an upfront payment for the business investment. This will leave him with sufficient amount to operate the business. From the analysis of the factors that affecting or determine whether to undertake a business or not and from the calculations of the cash flow that is expected in the business for the period of five years, it would be more advisable for Pierre to undertake the business considering that he already has the knowledge about the market and the kind of demand that his products will command. In addition, through the help of his wife, the business is expected to perform well in the long run and hence it is a viable investment to undertake. References Cherunilam, F. (2010). International business: Text and cases. New Delhi: PHI Learning Private   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Limited. Damodaran, A. (2012). Investment valuation: Tools and techniques for determining the value of any asset. (Investment valuation.) Hoboken, N.J: Wiley. Gibson, Charles H. (2012). Financial Reporting and Analysis + Thomsonone Printed Access   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Card. South-Western Pub. Horiguchi, Y., & International Monetary Fund. (1992). The United States economy: Performance   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   and issues. Washington, D.C., U.S.A: International Monetary Fund Kruschwitz, L. (2006). Discounted Cash Flow: A Theory of the Valuation of Firms. Chichester:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   John Wiley & Sons. Larrabee, D. T., Voss, J. A., & John Wiley & Sons. (2013). Valuation techniques: Discounted   Ã‚   cash flow, earning quality, measures of value added, and real options. Hoboken: John   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Wiley & Sons. Manufacturing and investment around the world: An international survey of factors affecting   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   growth and performance. (2002). Manchester: Industrial Systems Research. Reilly, F. K., & Brown, K. C. (2012). Investment analysis and portfolio management. Mason,   Ã‚   Ohio: South-Western Cengage Learning. Schön, D. (2007). The relevance of Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) and Economic Value Added (EVA) for the valuation of banks. München: GRIN Verlag. Shim, J. K., & Siegel, J. G. (2007). Handbook of financial analysis, forecasting, and modeling.    Chicago, IL: Wolters Kluwer/CCH.      

International Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 10

International Business - Essay Example French government started paying much attention to the issue. For example, the president Jacque Chirac as well as prime minister Lionel Jospin always emphasized the necessity to introduce more effective methods directed at market regulation in the conditions of globalization. Jospin allowed foreign organizations to buy the parts of the French companies, which were owned by the state. Thus, the company Air France was partially sold in 1998. This testifies about many changes, which were happened to France. The government of France considers cultural diversity to be a positive phenomenon that should be supported, but in general the politics of the country is directed at slowing down the globalization. France is very much concerned about the influence the globalization imposes and is looking for various ways to regulate this influence (Globalization). The protest against globalization is so active in France that not only the government but also plain people take part in this protest. A perfect example is breaking a McDonald’s symbol by a sheep farmer Jose Bove in defense of French traditions. In the survey on the issue 45% of respondent approved his actions and only 4% were against (Gordon & Meunier, 2001). It is essential to mention that French citizens do not see any difference in â€Å"globalization† and â€Å"Americanization†. Really the phenomenon under consideration is associated with â€Å"Americanization† because of the influence the international English language, high economic development, liberal policies and the influence the development of American politics, economy, technology and values impose on other countries. It is possible to state that though France is fighting against globalization, at the same time it is adjusting to its influence and moreover, takes all possible benefits from it . Economic domain is a

Research Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Research Project - Essay Example To a great extent, with time, animals and humans have learnt to make their peace with the plant kingdom, as well as have understood that importance of preserving the same due to the growing levels of environmental pollution on the planet. Carson’s book Silent Spring is a reminder of this very co existence between plants, animals and humans and how human beings must make it their mission to maintain the level of peace and calm within society for generations to come by preserving the environment and spreading awareness regarding the same. Time has come to ask ourselves, how is it that we can make this world a better place? We must take a look at the environment around us and begin from there. Plants and trees form a very important aspect of life; they provide us with oxygen as well as food. At the same time however, we `tend to over utilize the quality of the little plant life that is available in order to make maximum use in terms of cooking, eating as well as all other forms o f consumption. This is done by adding chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers to plants in order to ensure that they are kept away from being eaten by pests or flourish and grow faster. However, this attitude towards a speedier production level has led to a great amount of turmoil as explained further, and needs to be kept in check. The American environmental movement began strongly after Carson advocated the same through her book regarding the excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers on plants world over. Although these products are used for the purpose of cleaning crops and making sure those plants are free from pests and insects, Carson’s letters (which are also a part of the book) talk about how these products have been causing ill effects to the environment at large. Pesticides like DDT have resulted in killing birds and animals that come near these plants, thus harming the environment. Moreover, excessive use of these products has also led to the failure in growth of a large number of crops. (Radford, Tim) As these pesticides become mixed with the plants, consumption of the crops by human beings has also led them to fall prey to diseases and sicknesses causing long term damage. All of this has adversely affected the entire food chain or web. It must be understood that growing these crops is a large part of farmer’s production in the country and cannot be stopped as it will affect the entire economic cycle; on the other hand however, the environment is getting harmed with the rampant use of fertilizers and pesticides. Something must be done to prevent these plants from dying or from birds and animals, as well as humans, from consuming them and falling sick. (Berenbaum, May) Carson writes, "In Florida, two children found an empty bag and used it to repair a swing. Shortly thereafter both of them died and three of their playmates became ill. The bag had once contained an insecticide called parathion, one of the organic phosphates; tests e stablished death by parathion poisoning." (Carson, Rachel) These lines are enough to tell the reader about the emotion that has been placed in making others realize how important it is to do something that might change the state of the environment around us. To make the world a better place, probably, steps need to be taken to ensure that awareness is spread regarding how much the ecosystem is being

Under Armour's global expansion in a foreign market Essay

Under Armour's global expansion in a foreign market - Essay Example This paper recommends that Under Armour carry out an in-depth analysis on its internal capabilities and the unique Chinese market as well as learn from the examples of Coca-Cola and Nike. One of the main challenges in entering China is the political system which has long been influenced by communist thought. In this huge economy, political intervention is very much prevalent in the private and industrial sector thus curbing competition among industry players. The Chinese government is a strong adherent of local industry protection which makes it very much in tuned and sensitive to the concerns of domestic business organizations to the detriment of multinationals. It should be noted that the political system often hinders growth of foreign companies through legislations which protects the interest of the local players. The political environment posts a significant barrier to entry together with Chinese people’s cultural attitudes towards Western or foreign companies. Unlike other Asian countries which are imbued with colonial mentality, Chinese are known for their preference of buying from domestic companies. The experience of Coca-cola and Nike in the Chinese market suggests that Under Armour enters China by forming an alliance with the government and establishing a joint venture with a local player. Coca-cola’s phenomenal success in this country is its partnership with the government and local companies in production and distribution of its products. Another notable strategy is localizing the products to suit the preference of this unique market. Coca-cola undertakes this by introducing tea products which takes into account the market’s penchant for tea. Even Nike creates products which carries Chinese elements like dragon inspired patterns, red-silk accents, and Chinese characters. Under Armour should also

H.W Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

H.W - Essay Example Wind energy is a useful renewable energy source that is likely to increase in popularity in the coming years because of its wide-ranging advantages. Wind power generates green energy that guarantees minimum pollution to the environment. Unlike nonrenewable energy sources that produce noxious and destructive greenhouse gases, wind energy is a clean energy source that limits the production of waste matter (Nelson, 2013). Tapping and production of wind energy is a simple process that minimizes the production of effluents that may be destructive in the environment. Although most renewable energy sources are cheap and provide a stable supply of energy, wind energy is the most plentiful among the sources and it is available globally. The abundance of wind energy is also a significant benefit. The energy source is readily available and offers flexible forms of extraction that are convenient for most industries. It is non-exhaustible in nature and available in virtually all areas in the world, be it rainy or sunny. This ensures that a larger population, even in the most remote of areas, can access wind energy and capitalize on its benefits using appropriate machinery. Compared to solar energy, wind energy is definitely more abundant (Nelson, 2013). Solar energy may be unavailable in other areas such as Antarctica region or during winter periods. Wind energy is an all-weather form of energy that is available in any location during any time. Innumerable forms of technology are available to tap wind energy according to the output levels required in manufacturing firms. Wind energy provides a cheap way of extraction and use. Modern forms of technology ensure that there are various ways of tapping wind energy without incurring significant costs. Although installation costs may present a challenge in the introductory phases of installation, the later stages of tapping and production of energy are often inexpensive. It is a beneficial and convenient source for

Child Care from a Licensed Center Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Child Care from a Licensed Center - Essay Example All of these institutions are looking after the children ´s welfare. To obtain a license to operate the child center has to be located in a safe place. It needs to have clean facilities: kitchen, bathroom, play area, instructional area, equipment, and toys. The personnel involved should meet the minimum requirements to care for the children and the children have to have a balanced and nutritional diet.  For the baby sitter there are no particular guidelines. She or he may be a family member, a neighbor, a friend, or someone who recommended the babysitter. The babysitter does not have to have a degree. The babysitter does not have to have a clean place or supply a nutritional diet. In many cases, if the payment is made to the baby sitter to include meals, she or he will buy what they think will be sufficient depending on their budget. In the case where the parents supply the meals in addition to the babysitter payments, it may usually a brown bag depending on the parent ´s budge t.  I prefer to have my nephews and nieces to be cared by a licensed child care center because the probabilities of being safe are greater than if they are taken care of non-specialized personnel. The nutritional factor carries weight in their formative years and in their healthy development. There have been instances where safety is an issue, however, with the constant supervision of qualified personnel the odds are less.  I have had the experience of having my nephews and nieces cared for at a licensed child care center.

Pathophysiology Of The Bubonic Plague Term Paper

Pathophysiology Of The Bubonic Plague - Term Paper Example Of these the most common form in bubonic plague (WHO, 2011) and this will be discussed in this essay. Pathogenesis Yersinia pestis is an anerobic facultative gram-negative intracellular bacillus (Dufel, 2009). The organism is mainly transmitted from host to human beings through bite of a vector. The host is usually rodent and vector is flea. Other sources of transmission are close contact with body fluids or tissues contaminated or infected with the organism and inhalation of aerosolized bacteria. There are more than 200 different rodents and these serve as hosts. the vector flea is Xenopsylla cheopis (Dufel, 2009). So far, about 30 different species of flea have been identified (Dufel, 2009). Other carriers of plague causing bacillus include human lice and ticks. there are certain rodents that are resistant to infection like deer mice and wood rates. These however form an enzootic stage in which the bacillus survives long-term. Sometimes, the fleas transfer the pathogenic bacteria t o animals that are susceptible to the disease like ground squirrels. Whenever large number of host animals die, the hungry fleas search new sources of food. This is the epizootic stage and this stage helps spread of organisms to newer territory. When human beings are infected from wild animals, a sylvtic stage occurs. Most carnivores are resistant to the disease, but they can act as transfer vectors. Birds, reptiles, hoofed animals and fish are resistant to the disease (Dufel, 2009). Virulent plague-causing organism survive in soil, grains, animal carcasses, flea feces, dried sputum and buried bodies (Ayyadurai et al, 2008). 80- 85 percent cases are bubonic form (Dufel, 2009). Bubonic plague is caused by deposition of the bacillus in the skin because of the bite of flea. The bacillus proliferates in the esophagus of the flea, preventing the entry of food into the stomach, This causes starvation and to overcome this, the flea starts sucking blood. In the process of swallowing, recoil ing of the distended bacillus-packed esophagus occurs, thus depositing bacillus into the skin of the victim. The bacillus then invades the lymphoid tissue near the site of bite, producing bubos which are nothing but lymph nodes that have become necrotic, inflamed and hemorrhagic due to pathophysiology of the disease. Untreated bubonic plague can eventually lead to bacteremia and septicaemia. The bacillus has the capacity to seed every organ, including the liver, lungs, spleen, kidneys and even the meninges. The most virulent form of plague is the pneumonic plague. This occurs when the bacilli get deposited in the vasculature. In this condition, there occurs early dissemination and no bubo formation is seen. Such a pathology is seen when the bite occurs in regions of high vascularity like tonsils, pharynx and oral mucosa (Dufel, 2009). Epidemiology The disease is endemic in several countries in the world like Africa, Asia, the Americas and the former Soviet Union. According to WHO (2 011), " in 2003, 9 countries reported 2118 cases and 182 deaths. 98.7% of those cases and 98.9% of those deaths were reported from Africa." The distribution of plague endemicity depends on the geographical distribution of the natural foci of infection, the small animals and fleas (WHO, 2011). Bubonic plague has occurred as several epidemics in the world. The first recorded epidemic was during the 6th century in the

International business management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

International business management - Assignment Example 3- Socio-Cultural Factors: Majority of the organizations avoid introducing their products in the international market due to socio-cultural factors. Organizations fear that introducing any product or operating their business activities in a different culture with unusual traditions may risk their reputation and this could have an adverse affect on their potential growth. Therefore, it is important to know that it is the sound understanding of the social and cultural factors that distinguish the business operations of an international and domestic firm. Domestic firms possess better understanding of the social and cultural factors unlike an international firm which struggles hard to analyze and understand them. An international business may lose the business opportunity in the host country, if it fails to understand the local environment, behavior, attitudes and various other cultural factors. 4- Technological Factors: Technological factors play an important role in creating issues fo r an international firm to start their business activities in such a country that has little or no proper technological and communication infrastructure. This would increase the cost of producing or starting a venture in the host country. Differences between Domestic and International Strategy: Factors Domestic Conditions Global Conditions Culture Homogeneous Heterogeneous Currency Standard and uniform Different currencies and exchange rates Economy Stable and consistent Uncertain economical conditions Government Stable Unstable and uncertain Labor Easy availability of skilled workers Hard to find the skilled labors. Language Single Language Different languages with different dialects Marketing Many media, broad exposure and few restrictions. Fewer media, minimum... The paper tells that globalization has helped the economies to improve their trade, investment and how these economies can enhance their international businesses. There are different issues that a firm takes into an account before entering the global market. It is highly important for an organization to carefully analyze all the key issues and factors that can affect on the international operations before entering into global market. These key international issues are: economic forces; political and legal factors; socio-cultural factors and technological factors. Corporate social responsibility refers to the set of obligations on a firm for its approach towards social contribution in the society it operates. As we know that, multinational corporations operate in a culturally and socially diversified structure therefore, they are under more challenges to fulfill their share of corporate social responsibility in the country they are operating as compare to domestic/local firms. Multina tional corporations operate in the host country with the intention of benefiting the host country by bringing employment opportunities to them, giving boost to their economy and by introducing the latest technology in the country. However, there are certain factors that MNCs should consider while operating in any other country such as taking care of the corporate social responsibility which is an obligation to be fulfilled on all the MNCs. This is mainly due to the fact that these international businesses face more challenges as compare to domestic firms and local businesses.

The Menace of Students in Covenant University Essay Example for Free

The Menace of Students in Covenant University Essay The menace of indecent behavior among students of Covenant University. The Holy book says â€Å"it is the little, little foxes that spoil the vine†. The little foxes of indecent behavior are gradually eaten deep into the vine of Covenant University and spoiling her vine which is the students. To examine this topic a clear understanding of what indecent behavior is vital. Indecent behavior is a state of continuously going against moral standards that exist in the human societal setting. Moral standards only exist where humans live as animals are not obligated to moral standards. The menace of indecent behavior is eating deep into the Student body of Covenant University. This act of nuisance has become rampant among some of the students of the institution. Statistics have shown that 80 percent of expulsion cases Covenant University are linked or connected to immoral behavior. Examples of these behaviors are smoking, drinking, watching of pornographic movies, stealing overt sexual behavior, continuous possession of circular music despite warning, overt sexual behavior, possession of hard drugs etc. The negative effects of these indecent behaviors among the students cannot be over-emphasized. They include poor health conditions, addictions, bad habits etc. there have been various measures taken in the past to curb these acts. The measures include regular checking of hostels by members of staff, running medical test on students etc. but these measure has since declined and these students have returned to their old ways , and discovered new methods of committing their atrocities. However despite all these management body can also double-up measure to counter attack these behaviors. These methods include positioning of secret cameras in various points of the school. These locations include the classrooms, rooms, chapel, lecture theatres, cafeteria etc as these will go a long way in exposing these acts with little efforts, Also medical test on students should be reinforced to test for drugs, regular checking of halls at unexpected periods should be carried out to take the students by surprise. One may want to ask, what the management stand has been on these long standing issues. The management has frowned at these acts, meting out disciplinary actions to students found committing them. However the management body has also had its flaws in this. Most times when students are punished, asked to go on expulsion or suspension, the school grants them prerogative of mercy. They return back to school, committing more acts than they had done earlier before they were administered punishments. However the latest developments have shown that the school management body has â€Å"awakened from her slumber† as recent development has shown that prerogative of mercy shall no longer be granted to any erring student. These statements were gathered in last search of the Dean of students Affairs, Pastor Abiodun Adebiyi, in Lydia halls of resident. During the search a lot of contrabands which included Phones, contraceptives, drugs etc. There the Dean mentioned that all the students who were found with the contrabands will not be spared as punishments will be meted out appropriately and no prerogative would avail for them. Also there also being a constant monitoring of secluded hide-outs in the premises, and security men who aid the students to commit atrocities are monitored closely. However despite these measured taken there is still a high rate of indecency in the student body. This is on the increase on a daily basis. The after math of this is the fact that good and timid ones end of being influenced by the bad ones, for the fear of inferiority complex and the â€Å"wanna be syndrome†. This is unhealthy for the growth of the school as the aim of establishing the school will be defeated. Because instead of raising worthy leaders, who will transform the world, corrupt leaders who will compound the system will be produced from the system. In addition, it is also important that we understand that the future we seek as a people only lies with our youths. And for that to be achieved, attention must be directed towards the students, encouraging them to stop indecency whether visible or disguised. Having looked at indecent behavior, let us examine what the general effects of indecency can result in to. Basically these can be seen from 3 perspectives. The family, this is the smallest unit, though with the largest effect. Most times when this has eaten deep into the students, they go home and manifest them in their families, influencing their younger ones, in addition to that when they themselves become parents , they are unable to caution their children on their indecent behaviors , and advice them to behave properly. Another aspect is the school. On the side of the institution there will be misplaced priorities, as the vision of the school of standing out as a Mission University will become a mare dream, with morals becoming misplaced. Academics will be handled nonchalantly, the drive for success will reduced, as the student will give more time to gratifying their habits and indecent desires than craving for success. The last view point is the health perspective. As a result of consumption of all these hard drugs, e. g. cigarettes, and alcohols, there will be a high rate of liver problems, breathing problems which will not enable them perform maximally. Having looked at the definition of indecent behavior, few examples, where it is practiced, measures that have been taken about it in the past, how it can be reduced, and the effects. It is clear that it is a delicate area of the institution where the management has to look into and make necessary corrections, as this will boost maximum productivity amongst its students. In conclusion more drastic steps should be employed to ensure that the canker of indecency does not eat deep and destroy the existing structure therefore â€Å" all hands must be on deck† to correct this while we still have a chance. After this is done, a change is occur undeniable proofs to show for it. â€Å"As they say a stitch in time saves nine†.

The rate of photosynthesis in the elodea Essay Example for Free

The rate of photosynthesis in the elodea Essay Put the boiling tube in a beaker surrounded by ice. Ensure the thermometer is standing upright in the beaker.   Note the initial temperature and maintain this throughout the experiment, either by means of adding or reducing the ice content.   Place the electric bench lamp towards the elodea specimen   Allow the elodea specimen to settle for five minutes or so.   On the fifth minute start timing for a further five minutes and count the amount of bubbles observed. Note: The same procedure must be carried out for the other two experiments, only altering the content outside the boiling tube. In order to keep the water temperature at 45o C, it is advised that cool water or some heated water (from the kettle) is added depending on the temperature observed. Prediction: I predict that when the elodea specimen is placed in ice, a few (one or two) oxygen bubbles will be observed, therefore photosynthesis will be limited. When the elodea specimen is placed in water at 45o C, more bubbles will be seen and hence the rate of photosynthesis will increase At room temperature, some bubbles will be seen but much less compared to the 45o C investigation, since the temperature is in between. Results: Ice: Time (minutes). Number of bubbles observed 1 1 2 1 3 3 4 0 5 0 Total: 5 Water maintained at 45o C: Time (minutes) Number of bubbles observed 1 3 2 10 3 12 4 3 5 1 Total: 29 Water at room temperature (tap water): Time (minutes) Number of bubbles observed 1 0 2 2 3 3 4 3 5 3 Total: 11 Discussion: From looking at my results, it appears to be that my prediction is reasonably accurate. As mentioned in my prediction, a few bubbles were observed when the elodea was placed in ice. This is because the cells within the elodea specimen eventually die. This can be explained by the concept of enzymes, which operate best at optimum temperatures. Placing the elodea in a cold environment, such as ice means that the temperature is extremely below the optimum. This inevitable leads to enzyme denaturation and only some bubbles are seen during the first two minutes prior to the denaturation. Consequently, there is some photosynthesis taking place. When the elodea cell is placed in water which is maintained at 45o C, the number of bubbles sighted increase rapidly (particularly in the second and third minutes). Notice for the fourth and the fifth minutes, the number of bubbles observed start to decline. This may well be to the fact that the temperature was not controlled as intended, and possibly exceeded 45o C, thus causing the enzyme to denature. Hence a decrease in photosynthesis is observed. When the elodea specimen is placed in water at room temperature, the number of bubbles observed are more or less the same. This is because the temperature of the water is fairly below the optimum, (which is believed to be 45o C) and therefore the rate of photosynthesis is limited. Evaluation: Despite the results fairly matching the prediction, the method used is rather unreliable. More repeats (i.e. three repeats) could have been put into practice as this would have allowed me to calculate an average and hence raising the reliability of the results. The temperature range is rather limited and so the results would have been more accurate by employing a variety of temperatures. This would have allowed me to pin-point exactly the optimum temperature of the enzyme, which is involved in photolysis. Looking at the results above, there was an incidence where the temperature was not properly controlled (the ice investigation in which 3 bubbles were noted in the third minute). I believe using a water bath would have allowed me to maintain the temperatures more precisely and save time as oppose to using a kettle. I recall whilst doing the experiment that the elodea specimen was placed somewhat close to the window. Light from the sun could have also played an important part of distorting the results because an increase in light intensity also contributes to an increase rate in photosynthesis. Therefore if this experiment is to be carried out again, it would be ideal to make use of the window blinds. Not forgetting to mention that the distance between the bench lamp and the elodea specimen was not fixed, and was varied during each investigation. This might have caused a slight degree of anomaly in the results. Having acknowledged this inconsistency has made me aware of what is required in the actual investigation. It can be argued that counting the number of bubbles can be deceiving and therefore another method should be put into consideration. An alternative way of doing the same experiment more accurately can be achieved by using a photosynthometer. A freshly cut strand of the plant is suspended upside down in a boiling tube. The healthy strand of elodea produces bubbles of oxygen gas when brightly illuminated (i. e. with a bench lamp 10 cm away from the elodea specimen) at different temperatures. The bubbles emerge from the cut end of the stem and are collected in a bulb at the base of the apparatus. From here, the oxygen gas can be drawn into the capillary tube by means of the syringe. The volume of oxygen gas collected in five minutes gives a direct measurement of the rate photosynthesis. Apparatus and Justification: Apparatus Justification of Apparatus x1 Clamp stand (with capillary tube). A lot of apparatus are involved, some of which that need to be held at a constant height above the water bath (i. e. the boiling tube with the elodea specimen). x1 Capillary tube with ruler.   Used to measure the length of the oxygen bubble(s).   Hence the volume of oxygen can be calculated. x1 Boiling tube   The use of a boiling tube is necessary as oppose to a test tube because its large enough to allow the elodea specimen to fit in with ease. x1 Elodea Canadensis specimen (10 cm long)   The elodea specimen is the basis for this investigation.   Allows the hypothesis to be tested. x1 5 ml syringe A 5 ml syringe is necessary to allow oxygen bubbles to be drawn in the capillary tube. No other apparatus can be substituted for this task. x1 30 cm Ruler   Used to measure the length of the elodea specimen, making sure that the length is constant for each investigation. To ensure a fair test. x1 Scalpel Used to cut the elodea specimen to the desired length with precision. x1 Plastic Tile   To aid in cutting the elodea specimen. To prevent any damage to the work bench. x1 Electric bench lamp with 100W filament bulb   Used to ensure a fair test as every investigation will be illuminated by a lamp at a set distance. To ensure the results are not influenced by light intensity but solely the temperature. x1 Thermometer   Used to ensure the temperature of water bath is correct, and hence to promote reliability of results. x1 Stopwatch   Used for timing the investigation for 10 minutes (five minutes for the settling of the elodea specimen and another five minutes for the investigation). x1 Beaker and ice blocks   To be used for the 0o C investigation.   To see if there is any photosynthesis evident at freezing level. Proposed Method: Diagram12: 1. Set up the clamp stand as shown above. 2. Get hold of a plastic tile and a scalpel and cut the elodea specimen at a length of 10 cm. 3. The cut end has to be inserted into the calibrated capillary tube as shown above. 4. Lower the capillary tube into the water bath, ensuring half of the boiling tube (containing the elodea specimen) is immersed in the water. 5. Place the bench lamp 10 cm away from the boiling tube. Ensure the light is directly facing the elodea specimen. 6. After setting all the apparatus up, pull the syringe on top of the capillary tube in order for the water to get into the capillary tube. This removes any air bubbles initially present in the capillary tube. 7. Place the thermometer into the water bath (or beaker in the case of the ice investigation) and turn the light on. The elodea must be allowed to settle for five minutes. 8. Time the investigation for a further five minutes by using a stopwatch. 9. On completion of the five minutes, switch the lamp off and remove the clamp stand along with the rest of the apparatus out of the water bath. 10. Pull the syringe to draw the oxygen bubbles into the capillary tube and measure the length of the bubble(s) simultaneously by making use of the ruler. 11. Note down the length of the bubble(s) on paper. 12. Repeat the same procedure three times for each temperature using the same elodea specimen. 13. Once the three trials are complete, move on to the next temperature. and carry out steps 1 -13 Ice investigation:   Get hold of the elodea specimen and place it in the boiling tube.   Put the boiling tube in a beaker surrounded by ice.   Note the initial temperature and maintain this throughout the experiment, either by means of adding or reducing the ice content.   Follow steps 5-13 above. Note: If an anomalous result is encounter during the duration of the experiment, it is advised to do that particular investigation again. Acknowledgements: 12- Diagram modified from A-Level biology Revised Edition by W D Phillips and T J Chilton, page 69. Analysis of Variables: Independent variable: The independent variable is the variable, which has to be manipulated in order to get the desired results. In this case, the independent variable is the temperature of the water baths. To obtain more accurate results, I have included temperature readings ranging from 0-65o C, in intervals of five. Three readings will be taken for each temperature and compared. Dependent variable: This is the variable which responds to the fixed conditions and which is used to test the hypothesis. In this case, the dependent variable is the volume of oxygen released by the elodea specimen. The length of the oxygen bubble(s) is going to be measured at the end of the five minute interval. This can be used to deduct the volume of oxygen produced by multiplying the length of the bubble(s) by pie, which is then multiplied by 0. 82 Fixed variables: These are variables, which have to be kept constant throughout the experiment in order to obtain accurate results. These variables cannot be manipulated at any time of the experiment. Some of the fixed variables are listed below: The light intensity (distance between the bench lamp and the elodea specimen): This can be kept constant by ensuring the elodea specimen is 10 cm away from the bench lamp. It may well be convenient reassure the distance with a ruler. The preliminary work I did have done has highlighted that 10 cm happens to be an ideal distance for sufficient photosynthesis to be followed and thus reliable results can be obtained. However if the distance between the bench lamp and elodea specimen is shorter than 10 cm, then this will have a major impact on the results. The increase in light intensity shall inevitably results in an increase in the volume of oxygen noted and thus distorting the results. Similarly if the distance is greater than 10 cm, then this decrease in light intensity shall contribute to a decrease in rate of photosynthesis and thence slowing down the rate at which the oxygen bubble(s) are released13. Therefore it is vital that this distance is kept constant throughout the experiment to ensure a fair test. * The number of leaves on the Elodea plant: The number of leaves will be kept constant throughout the whole experiment by using the same elodea specimen. The reason for keeping the same number of leaves is to ensure that the surface area provided by the leaves is the same in each investigation. Having the same number of leaves will provide the same surface area. If the number of leaves were different in each new investigation, then the number of leaves would be the independent variable. The more leaves there are the larger the surface area, and more light energy will be trapped by the leaves and a greater proportion of it will be converted into chemical energy14. Therefore more oxygen will be given off. On the other hand, a fewer amount of leaves shall results in a low yield of oxygen. In both cases, the results will be distorted if not controlled. Acknowledgements: 13- Letts Revise A2 Biology by John Parker, page 26 14- Revise A2 biology by Richard Fosbery and Jennifer Gregory; page 21 Reliability: To obtain more reliable results, three measurements would be taken in the same condition. The reason for this is that if in case, an error was made on the first attempt, the error can be amended and on the second attempt. After doing the experiment, if any of the results are anomalous then the experiment should be repeated. Results obtained can be compared to the previous results to see if there is an agreement. Light from the sun can also play an important part of distorting the results because an increase in light intensity also contributes to an increase rate in photosynthesis. Therefore it would be ideal to make use of the window blinds to promote reliability of results. Temperatures are monitored precisely by the water baths. However it is sometimes observed that the temperature of the water bath goes up or down by a degree or two. The temperature can be maintained by means of adding or removing ice to the water baths. Due to the limited number of water baths, there may well be the case of sharing a water bath to five others. This means five additional bench lamps would have an impact on my results (as light intensity increases rate of photosynthesis). The lamps may also contribute to the water baths getting hotter than required. Therefore it would be wise to carry out the investigation individually. When the apparatus are set up, the syringe (on top of the capillary tube) must be pulled to draw the water into the capillary tube. This will remove any air bubbles initially present in the capillary tube and thus leaving no ambiguity. Results: Table: showing the results I obtained during the investigation Temperature (o C) Length of Oxygen bubble (mm) Volume of Oxygen (mm) Rate of photosynthesis (mm3/min) Average rate of photosynthesis (mm3/min).

Rational Criticism Of All Knowledge Claims Philosophy Essay

Rational Criticism Of All Knowledge Claims Philosophy Essay Whether a knowledge claim should be open to rational criticism relies on the area of knowledge being considered. In areas of knowledge, such as natural sciences, if a claim is not justified rationally then it can not be regarded as truth. Therefore these knowledge claims should be open to rational criticism. In other areas of knowledge such as aesthetics, a knowledge claim does not depend on reason or logic, so for it to be open to rational criticism may be unsuitable. In this essay, I will explore the effect rational criticism has on areas of knowledge and to see whether this should be the basis for knowledge claims to be accepted as truth. Rational criticism plays a huge role in the advancement of scientific knowledge. This is because the scientific method of accumulating knowledge is by producing a theory for which to use reason and induction can not disprove. However if it is disproved by rational criticism or experimental data then the theory must be adapted or rejected. Therefore, any knowledge claims should not contradict any established facts. An example of this would be Democritus who was one of the first to propose the theory of the indivisible atom1 using rational ideas. However at the time, this statement did not have any observational implications and so could not be proved using empirical evidence. His theory that the atom is indivisible should be open to rational criticism if it is to be used to explain rational events in the world. However due to advances in technology, empirical evidence found by Rutherford in 1911 showed that the atom was made of protons, neutrons and electrons2. Therefore to confirm th e validity of scientific knowledge claims, the claim itself must survive rational criticism and fit the empirical evidence. However, most of the time, scientific knowledge claims rely on assumptions and so the validity of Rutherfords claim relies on assumptions that his method and instruments were reliable. So for scientific knowledge claims to be accepted as truth not only must they be open for rational criticism but any evidence or justification should be valid. Rational criticism relies on the way of knowing of reason to produce a point of conflict with a knowledge claim. However if the knowledge claim does not concern reason then rationally criticising it would not be suitable. This is the case in aesthetics where a knowledge claim relies on emotion rather than reason to prove it. For example, the claim that Leonardo Da Vinci is a better artist than Damien Hirst is difficult to prove using rational criticism. Of course if the criteria for being better were the number of pieces of art they produced or the amount of skill required to produce the pieces of art then one may be able to come to a conclusion as to which artist is better using rational criticism. However, if the criteria for being better was which set of art affects the audience greater, often reason is not included in the decision and emotion is used to judge which set of art creates a bigger emotional effect on the audience. To reach a conclusion, evidence can be collected in th e form of a survey but because this is such an unreliable and invalid method, someone can not disprove this knowledge claim at a later date using rational criticism as it is unreasonable for it to be open to rational criticism. Aesthetic knowledge claims therefore rely more on emotion than on reason and so it does not need rational criticism for it to be rationally justified. So, just as the evidence for scientific knowledge claims must be proved valid we must check to see if the emotions used to justify the aesthetic knowledge claim are valid. Moreover, aesthetics and science are different in respect to how they progress. Whereas science uses past data, present theories and reason to prove and improve scientific claims, aesthetics make use of emotions not to improve art but to evoke different emotions in the audience. Therefore, if one assumes that the price of a piece of art is directly proportional, to how good it is (i.e. the amount of satisfaction received from it), this would mean, Leonardo Da Vincis Mona Lisa should evoke more satisfaction than Damien Hirsts For the Love of God. However, in my opinion I find that Damien Hirsts For the Love of God is more aesthetically pleasing than a dull and tacky painting and so I will claim that it is better. However, the lack of justification and reasoning would mean my conclusion is irrational but it can not be proven incorrect. In this way, aesthetic knowledge claims can be irrational but true as it is inappropriate to use rational criticism. Contrastingly, with regard to scientific knowledge claims, the opposite may be true. Knowledge claims in the area of knowledge of science rely almost entirely on reason and rationality. Therefore it is possible for a knowledge claim to be rational yet untrue. For example, J.J. Thomson in 1987 rationally proved at the time that the atom consisted of electrons suspended in a soup of positive charge3. In fact, the idea was so rational that up and until 1910 student studying chemistry would learn the plum pudding model as truth. So even though the claim was rational yet wrong leading to the idea that in order for scientific claims to be accepted as truth rational criticism is required as without it incorrect theories would be accepted as fact. Moreover, Albert Einsteins theory of relativity has yet to be disproved after decades of rational criticism which has concluded his findings as scientific truth. However, the recent anomaly experienced by two German physicists suggest that Einstein and his many followers may not be correct after all in an experiment where a particle exceeded the speed of light4. This experiment was dismissed as its findings were against Einsteins theory of relativity and do not fit the existing data. Of course even if I were to be rational I would say that it is just an error with the empirical data from the German scientists as the paradigm shift that Einstein is may be wrong is unlikely and irrational as he has not ever been proven wrong. This highlights another problem with human reason which tends to look to satisfy preconceived ideas by manipulating evidence and so is not completely objective. Scientific knowledge prides itself for being accurate due to not relying on subjective data but this example shows how humans can be susceptible to subjective ideas and therefore may distort scientific claims of truth. Therefore, for any scientific knowledge claim to be accepted as truth the evidence or justification given must not be erroneous or subjective. In conclusion, science as an area of knowledge is heavily reliant on rational criticism as method of improving the body of knowledge as well as confirming it and so should be open to rational criticism even if the knowledge is considered factual. Moreover, any justification or evidence used to enforce a knowledge claim should be clear of errors and subjective methods The area of aesthetics is slightly different as most knowledge claims within this field are made emotionally in the absence of reason which rules out rational criticism as a method of achieving the advancement of it because in aesthetics, unlike science, the aim is not to improve knowledge but to celebrate and appreciate creativity. However, the use of reason and rational criticism where it can be applied in aesthetics should be encouraged to achieve a well justified conclusion even if the validity of the claim does not depend on reason.

Is Proper English Necessary? Essay -- Teaching Writing Education

Is Proper English Necessary? For some reason, proper English has become very important. From elementary to graduate schools, English is stressed above mathematics, history, and the sciences. Whereas these disciplines are universal, English is limited. These subjects can be found all over the world, and beyond, while English remains contained to those who know it. Our language is contained almost completely within speaking and the written word. Thought, the original source of all language, is restricted within the individual which cannot be seen by others. Those who believe they can see others thoghts become mental patients or psychic hotlines by society and condemed as such.(alienation of differences) Mathematics suggests an addition of abilities, making more not less.(profits of math) Instead, language centers around communication with others like ourselves. Any plant, animal, or other entity that cannot communicate clearly with humans does not have a complete languages.(application of humans only standards) English is taught in a manner that emphisizes the correct combination of words. A good communicator -including writers- is defined by their use of voice and grammar.(standards of society) Voice seems to take a back seat to grammar though. Necessities for proper grammar include correct use of words, tenses, spelling, and puncuation.(textbook definitions) These are used in communicating with individuals, but limited to those who speak English. Proper English does not mean anything to a French speaking person or a dog about to bite you. You meet angry dogs more than intellectuals these days. Your voice is what is felt when you speak or write. A stern tone or loud yell is communicated quite well no matter what the lan... ...ticians word is worth more.(alienation of minorites) What had more influence over the people, the grammar of the voice? It might be necessary to weigh the worth of grammar in proper English. The world for those who speak it is becoming smaller. Proper English is becoming part of an elitist group which is also becoming smaller. Possibly less stress should be put on grammar. Few people understand perfect business language but a growling cat is understood quite well. English grammar is a created language, having both seperatist powers and anglocentric values. Voice is universal and quite older than grammar. Standards within English speaking areas must be questioned soon for it is becoming smaller and less powerful everyday. A rising population will require social skills. Seperating these from educated grammar will lead to greater problems.(One country under God...)

All About Florida Essay -- essays research papers fc

Did you know that for ever person that lives in Florida, four more people visit the state every year? Tourism makes up eighty-one percent of Florida’s gross state product. Also, â€Å"no trip is complete without tasting a fresh-picked orange or a slice of Key lime pie† (Heinrichs 11). The excellent weather and awesome beaches in Florida are irresistible to tourists. Florida’s early history, geography, climate, wildlife, and economy will be explained thoroughly in this paper.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Florida was first settled over 12,000 years ago when people from Asia migrated to the Americas over the Bering Land Bridge. The first European to set foot on the North American continent was the Spaniard Juan Ponce de Leà ³n. In Spain, there were rumors of a spring bubbling with the magical waters of youth (Heinrichs 15). He set out determined to uncover many rumors about the New World. On March 27th, 1513, he went ashore near present-day St. Augustine and called the area La Florida for one of two reasons. It was either because it was Easter time (Pascua Florida in Spanish) or because of all the flowers he found there (Florida is Spanish for â€Å"flowery†). Unfortunately, Leà ³n was killed by an Indian attack on his second expedition of the area in 1521. The next explorer to try his luck in Florida was Pà ¡nfilo de Narvà ¡ez. Gold was the object of his voyage to Florida, but he found none when he went ashore in Tampa Bay in 1528.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The first actual settlement in Florida and North America as well was Fort Caroline. It was built by French Protestants who needed refuge from persecution. The fort was built at the mouth of the St. John’s River. When King Philip II of Spain heard about the French colony, he sent Admiral Pedro Menà ©ndez de Avilà ©s to eliminate the fort. He set up a fort where Leà ³n originally landed and called it San Augustin (St. Augustine). This became the first European settlement in North America that still exists today. The Spanish colony thrived with 140 Franciscan missions and forts. However, by the 1700s, British and Indian raids burned out most of the mission forts. Florida went under British control in 1793 when the Seven Years’ War ended. However, Spain regained Florida when the American Revolution ended in 1783. Spain finally lost Florida to the United States in 1819 when the Adams-Onà ­s treaty was signed between the U.S. an... ...l eat: fish, crabs, shrimp, sharks and octopuses. Mines in Florida contain phosphate rock, petroleum, and natural gas, fuller’s earth, kaolin, limestone, thorium, and zircon.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Florida, nicknamed The Sunshine State, is a tourist and retiree magnet. The state’s high temperatures, exotic wildlife, and sunny skies attract people of all ages. Even the first Spanish explorers to the area thought it was a paradise. A leading producer of oranges, Florida’s economy is growing faster than any other state’s. From the shallow swamps of the Everglades of the south, to the â€Å"hammock† studded forests of the north, Florida is a truly unique state. Florida’s early history, geography, climate, wildlife, and economy stand out from other states. It is a state that should be visited at least once in a lifetime. Works Cited: Blakey, Arch F. â€Å"Florida†. World Book Encyclopedia. World Book Inc.2000. Vol. 7, pp. 242-265. â€Å"Florida Almanac from NETSTATE†. NETSTATE.COM [Online State Almanac] (NSTATE, rev. 2001, 1997; accessed 5 June, 2001); available from http://www.netstate.com/states/alma/fl_alma.htm. Heinrichs, Ann. Florida. Danbury, Connecticut: Children’s Press, 1998.

The Emphasis on Existentialisim in Lispector’s Work Due to The Traditio

The Emphasis on Existentialisim in Lispector’s Work Due to The Traditional Roles of Women The human mind often creates traumatized, twisted beliefs about the world after cataclysmic events have occurred. Picture 1920- the world has just been ravaged by bullets, bombs, and baleful butchers with malicious intent. The aftermath of World War II leaves the country of Ukraine encompassed in terror, anguish, and famine. Imagine being ravenous enough to consider devouring a decomposing relative, and then putting that consideration into action. Imagine a country where pogroms- violent attacks on ethnic groups, mainly Jews, that included the destruction of homes, businesses, and churches –are not only regular, but not surprising occurrences. Imagine suppression, repression, oppression, all the â€Å"-ions†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Now insert a nine-year old girl struggling to live in this madness, add the rape and death of that girl’s mother, and there is the childhood of the renowned Brazilian author, Clarice Lispector. These experiences, which would alter anyone’s views on life, influenced and helped to develop Lispector’s existentialist ways of thinking. In these past occurrences, gender inequalities were very much prominent, which explains why Lispector focuses on the fate of women in her writing. Due to the oppressive government, women were confined to their traditional roles and in showing the lack of freedom, both mentally and physically, that this imposes on them, Clarice Lispector justifies her existentialist viewpoints through her writings; life is pain, misery, and inevitably death. These viewpoints are imminent when discussing the overall lack of freedom in Lispector’s stories â€Å"The Chicken†, â€Å"The Smallest Woman in the World†, and â€Å"Preciousness†. Within... ...for giving birth, her obedient stay after being caught, and her sudden yet unsurprising death describes, in Lispector’s viewpoints, the natural course of an average female’s life. Although Lispector wrote these stories in the 1940’s, reflecting on the then current gender inequalities and hardships of life during the aftermath of WWII, these themes are evident in all time periods, for as Lispector has shown, the innate traditional roles of women along with the pre-conceived notion of men being more significant than women are evident even in our time. These limits reflect Lispector’s existentialist viewpoints in showing that the life of a woman is restrained; women’s lives are filled with pressure, sadness, and ultimately death.

Competitive Analysis of Starbucks

When would a firm choose to operate on a transnational basis? Under what circumstances would a firm use a localization strategy? When would an international strategy be employed? Support your answers with examples. Firms look to operate on a transnational basis primarily to penetrate into foreign markets and expand their business. After tasting success at home, several firms make investments to expand globally in order to attain market share and boost revenues.Transnational companies have coordinating and operation-controlling power in multiple countries, even if they do not own them. General Motors, Ford, and Wal-Mart are amongst the world’s largest transnational companies. Japan, North America, and Western Europe account for about three quarters of the world’s transnational companies. When operations go international, localization strategy takes center-stage for firms. Firms use a localization strategy when they counter differences in management styles and cultural pr actices.Localization strategy is used by firms to adapt and cater to the choices and expectations of foreign customers and quickly occupy new markets. McDonald for instance, which operates in 119 countries, is a good example of a company that maintains its global brand identity successfully by using a localization strategy to adapt to the tastes and temperaments of diverse cultures across the globe. In short, localization strategy helps a firm deliver a unique customer experience that exceeds geographical boundaries.An international strategy is employed by a firm to create value through core competency transfer to a foreign market in which native competitors are not equipped with those competencies. Typically, a firm comes up with an innovative product and introduces it into the foreign market. As the demand for the product increases, the firm begins to export the product. As foreign competitors start production, the firm starts production abroad. The firm then standardizes producti on and relocates it to countries with low cost production opportunities.Xerox and Proctor and Gamble are examples of companies that followed this model and implemented an international strategy. References: http://www. slideshare. net/clemaitre/tn-cs http://www. ibscdc. org/Case%20Studies/Abstracts/Strategy/Corporate%20Strategy/COS0043. htm http://classes. bus. oregonstate. edu/ba447/Gonzalez%20(Winter%2008)/BA%20447%20-%20day%201. ppt How do the 4 Ps of marketing differ in a global business environment? Give examples from your own organization or one you are familiar with.The 4 Ps of marketing, namely: product, price, placement, and promotion vary widely in a global business environment as firms attempt to get their marketing mix just right so that they sell the right products, at the right prices and places, using promotion methods that are most suitable. A global company like Coca-Cola for instance essentially creates a single product and tweaks it differently for different marke ts. The sugar and corn syrup formulas of Coca-Cola are packaged using the contour bottle design with the dynamic ribbon in different shapes and forms.Coca-Cola bottles in some countries come in standard beverage-bottle sizes of those countries, with wording in native language as well. The price of a Coca-Cola varies from market to market due to production costs, ingredient costs, delivery costs, expected profit margins, competition, and so on. Coca-Cola’s product placement varies from country to country based on how the company wants to offer competition in the targeted market. Vending machines are not common in all countries and in US for instance, Coca-Cola is sold by the pallet through warehouse stores; however, in countries like India, such an option does not apply.Coca-Cola has moved away from the idea of sending the same message across globally in the wake of its global promotion strategy failure. Coca-Cola uses customized promotional strategies and regional themes inst ead of universal ones in order to counter varied language and cultural barriers of the global market. References: http://www. thetimes100. co. uk/downloads/theory/marketing_mix_(price,_place,_promotion,_product). pdf http://www. stamfordonline. com. my/courses/dba/dba206/DBA%20206%20Week%2010%20&

Miranda v Arizona Essay

Citation: 384 U.S. 436, 10 Ohio Misc. 9, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694 (1966) Brief Fact Summary: Self-incriminating evidence was provided by the defendants while interrogated by police without prior notification of the Fifth Amendment Rights of the United States Constitution. Synopsis of Rule of Law: Authorities of the Government must notify suspects of their Fifth Amendment constitutional rights prior to an interrogation following an arrest. Facts: The Supreme Court of the United States consolidated four separate cases with issues regarding the admissibility of evidence obtained during police interrogations. * The first Defendant, Ernesto Miranda, was arrested for kidnapping and rape. Mr. Miranda was an immigrant, and although the officers did not notify Mr. Miranda of his rights, he signed a confession after two hours of investigation. The signed statement included a statement that Mr. Miranda was aware of his rights. * The second Defendant, Michael Vignera, was arrested for robbery. Mr. Vignera orally admitted to the robbery to the first officer after the arrest, and he was held in detention for eight hours before he made an admission to an assistant district attorney. There was no evidence that he was notified of his Fifth Amendment constitutional rights. * The third Defendant, Carl Calvin Westover, was arrested for two robberies. Mr. Westover was questioned over fourteen hours by local police, and then was handed to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents, who were able to get signed confessions from Mr. Westover. The authorities did not notify Mr. Westover of his Fifth Amendment constitutional rights. * The fourth Defendant, Roy Allen Stewart, was arrested, along with members of his family (although there was no evidence of any wrongdoing by his family) for a series of purse snatches. There was no evidence that Mr. Stewart was notified of his rights. After nine interrogations, Mr. Stewart admitted to the crimes. Issue: Whether the government is required to notify the arrested defendants of their Fifth Amendment constitutional rights against self-incrimination before they interrogate the defendants? Held: The government needs to notify arrested individuals of their Fifth Amendment constitutional rights, specifically: their right to remain silent; an explanation that anything they say could be used against them in court; their right to an attorney; and their right to have an attorney appointed to represent them if necessary. Without this notification, anything admitted by an arrestee in an interrogation will not be admissible in court. Dissent: Justice Tom Clark argued that the Due Process Clauses of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the Constitution would apply to interrogations. There is not enough evidence to demonstrate a need to apply a new rule as the majority finds here. The second dissent written by Justice John Harlan also argues that the Due Process Clauses should apply. Harlan further argues that the Fifth Amendment rule against self-incrimination was not intended to forbid any and all pressures against self-incrimination. Justice Byron White argued that there is no historical support for broadening the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution to include the rights that the majority extends in their decision. The majority is making new law with their holding. Argued: February 28, March 1, and March 2, 1966 Decided: June 13, 1966 Vote: 5-4 in favor of Defendants Conclusion: The majority notes that once an individual chooses to remain silent or asks to first see an attorney, any interrogation should cease. Further, the individual has the right to stop the interrogation at any time, and the government will not be allowed to argue for an exception to the notification rule. Follow-up (Miranda v. Arizona): After the Supreme Court overturned the conviction of Miranda, the State of Arizona retried him. Miranda was convicted in the second trial by Arizona and sentenced to 20-30 years; the confession by Miranda was not introduced as part of evidence.

Organizational Environments and Cultures

————————————————- PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT ————————————————- CHAPTER 3: ORGANIZATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS AND CULTURES 1. HOW CHANGING ENVIRONMENTS AFFECT ORGANIZATIONS Environmental change: The rate at which a company’s general and specific environment changes * Stable environments: the rate of environmental change is slow * Dynamic environments: the rate of environmental change is fast * Punctuated equilibrium theory: companies go through long periods of stability, followed by a short complex period of dynamic change (revolutionary periods) to later return to stability * Environmental complexity: Refers to the number and intensity of external factors in the environment that affect organizations * Simple environments: few environmental factors Complex environmen ts: many environmental factors * Resource scarcity: Refers to the abundance or shortage of critical organizational resources in an organization external environment * Uncertainty: How well managers can understand or predict the external changes and trends affecting their business * Uncertainty is lowest when environmental change and complexity are at low levels and resource scarcity is small (if environment is not too complicated and doesn’t change much it’s easy to predict) . FOUR COMPONENTS OF GENERAL ENVIRONMENT: 1. Economy * It influences basic business decisions such as whether to hire more employees, expand production, or take out loans to purchase * In a growing economy more products are bought and sold, more people work and salaries rise; and viceversa (in shrinking economy) * Business Confidence Indices: shows how confidente actual managers are about future business growth 2. Political/Legal Trends Includes legislation, regulations, and court decisions that go vern and regulate business behaviour * New laws and regulations continue to impose additional responsibilities to companies 3. Sociocultural Trends * Demographic characteristics, general behaviour, attitudes and beliefs of people in a particular society 4. Technological Trends * Refers to the knowledge, tools and techniques used to transform inputs into outputs 3. FIVE COMPONENTS OF SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTThe specific environment is the environment that is unique to a firm’s industry and that directly affects the way it conducts day-to-day business. 1. Customer: * Monitoring customer’s changing wants and needs is critical to business success. It can be done in two ways: i. Reactive customer monitoring: identifying and addressing customer trends and problems after they occur ii. Proactive customer monitoring: identifying and addressing customer needs, trends and issues before they occur 2. Competitor: Companies need to keep close track of what their competitors are doing * To do so, they perform a competitive analysis * A competitive analysis involves deciding who your competitors are, anticipating competitors’ moves, and determining competitors’ strenghts and weaknesses 3. Supplier: * Supplier dependence: the degree to which a company relies on that supplier because of the importance of the supplier’s product to the company * Buyer dependence: the degree to which a supplier relies on a buyer because of the importance of that buyer to the supplier’s sales * A igh degree of supplier or buyer dependence can lead to oportunistic behaviour (benefiting at the expense of the other) * In contrast, relationship behaviour focuses on establishing a mutually beneficial, long-term relationship between buyers and suppliers 4. Industry Regulations: * Regulations and rules that govern the practices and procedures of specific industries, businesses and professions * Unlike the political/legal component of the general environment, this doe s not affect all businesses 5. Advocacy Groups: These are groups of concerned citizens who band together to try to influence the business practices of specific industries, businesses and professions * e. g. environmental advocacy groups try to influence manufacturers to pollute less * Ways in which advocacy groups can influence businesses: iii. Public communications: voluntary participation of media industry to send out the group’s message iv. Media advocacy: involves framing the group’s concern as public issues that affect everyone, forcing media coverage v.Product boycott: advocacy groups actively try to persuade consumers not to purchase a company’s product or service 4. MAKING SENSE OF CHANGING ENVIRONMENTS Because external environments can be dynamic, confusing and complex, managers use a three-step process to make sense of the changes in their external environments: 1. Environmental scanning: * Searching the environment for important events or issues that might affect the organization * Manager scan the environment to reduce incertainty 2.Interpreting Environmental factors: * After scanning, the company determines what environmental events and issues mean to the organization. * Distinguish environmental events as either threats or opportunities 3. Actiong on threats and opportunities: * Managers decide how to respond to these environmental factors * Because it is impossible to comprehend all the factors and changes, managers rely on Cognitive maps that summarize the perceived relationships between environmental factors and possible organizational actions 5.INTERNAL ENVIRONMENTS – ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE Organizational culture is the set of beliefs, values and attitudes shared b members of an organization. * Creating an Organizational Culture: * The founder is the primary source of an organization’s culture * Founders create organizations at their own image * When founders are gone, culture is kept with: i. Stories: to em phasize culturally consistent assumptions, decisions, and actions ii. Heroes: people admired for their qualities and achievements within the organization. Successful Organizational Cultures: * Are Adaptable * Have employee involvement * Have a clear company vision * Are Consistent, Strong culture (even though strong cultures reduce adaptability) * Changing Organizational Cultures: * Culture has three levels: iii. Seen (surface level) iv. Heard (expressed values & beliefs) v. Believed (unconscious assumptions & beliefes) * Managers should only focus on the parts of the culture they can control, those are the surface level items and expressed values and beliefs