CAPM and the use of it Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

CAPM and the use of it - Essay Example CAPM is popular because of its simplicity and utility at various problems. CAPM is used to quantify the risk associated with the assets and then translate it into the returns associated with the securities (Mullins 2012). CAPM is actually used to make calculations of a single security. The formula is very simple which is used in calculations. It includes the expected return on the capital assets, risk free rate of interest, market risk which is denoted by beta, market premium and the risk premium. Now the description of all of these components is given as follow; Here beta or the market risk is very important. Every company also has its own beta value which is useful for every type of calculations. A specific company’s beta value means the risk associated with the company but in comparison with the whole operational market. But when we talk about beta in capital asset pricing model i.e. CAPM then it means the market risk which any company must face during their cost and return calculations. By definition the value of beta is equal to 1.0. The application of CAPM gives its best results when all of the above assumptions are met in an appropriate environment. These assumptions are made regarding a generalized conditional environment. Whenever any specific different situation may come and the investor may feel any difficulty then the researchers start their duty and find any other way to solve the problem. Therefore we may see certain modified versions of theories and models. The basic theme and assumptions of these theories and models is same only the operational side may be modified according to the situations. Some critics are of the opinion that CAPM assumptions are totally unrealistic, but still there are many supporters of this model of capital asset pricing model. From the very beginning (i.e. just after introducing CAPM), the

Culmination is the Zenith Essay Example for Free

Culmination is the Zenith Essay Considering the blooming of the bud to be the zenith in being the flower, in lieu with the activity conducted, Culminating Activity is bringing out the best of what the child has learnt as a unit. BHIS emphasises on Trans disciplinary curriculum which correlates every aspect of learning done in the school. It is of immense importance that education is not just textbook and classroom learning but a practical and application oriented format of learning. Culmination activities do just that. These activities correlate the various developing skills relating to intelligence, linguistic, social, physical et al. This activity is conducted twice a year . The first being during the 1st term and the 2nd in the month of March. In the month of __________________ Grd. 1 had the first culminating Activity which had Water as its theme. All the students of Grd. 1 participated in it, making sure the learning on the theme water was complete in it’s own way. Working with the children of my class I understood that through this activity the children, who might have not actively participated in the classroom sessions of Water, were seen to be doing it here and very enthusiastically. The Culminating Activity consisted of a skit, Tiddalik the Frog, followed by a song. The children also gave a brief presentation on ‘Water’. Weeks of practice made this activity a huge success in the presence of the parents. It is also apt to note that this activity though small had a great role in building confidence in the children.

Free Glass Menagerie Essays: The Temporary Metamorphosis of Laura :: Glass Menagerie essays

The Temporary Metamorphosis of Laura in The Glass Menagerie Laura Winfield in The Glass Menagerie goes through a temporary metamorphosis during the course of the play. She is a slightly crippled and very shy young girl who is having a hard time finding her way in the world. She is hopeless and beautiful all at the same time. She is trapped in a world that is spiraling quickly into doom. Laura lives in the St. Louis of the Depression with her restless brother Tom and her half-mad, overbearing mother Amanda. Her father left the family for a life on the road. "He worked for the telephone-company and fell in love with long distances." This left Tom as the only breadwinner in the family and her mother in a desperate and touched condition. Tom got a job in a warehouse. He deeply resented this and craved freedom and adventure. He would disappear every night to go to the movies to find his release. This would soon be not enough, though, and both Laura and her mother sensed this. The mother constantly hounded Tom. She would continually point out every flaw he had. They would erupt into fierce arguments that made it difficult to tell if she was deliberating with Tom or his absent father. Her mother was from the south; a place called Blue Mountain. She was a beautiful girl there and had a lot of gentleman callers. She pined bitterly over the loss of this place and time and the poor choice she made in husbands. Even if Laura had no physical defects it would have been hard for her to succeed given these circumstances. At the beginning of the play Laura is wrapped up in her own little world of glass creatures and phonograph records. She is afraid of people and afraid of the world. She is like one of the inceptions in her glass menagerie. She is a thing of fragile beauty in a hard world. She doubts herself and her abilities. Her mother, though, is determined to see that her daughter does not become a victim of her situation. Her mother tries, almost too hard, to see her daughter through. It is, however, through her mother's attempts that we see the temporary metamorphosis of Laura. In scene two we find out that Laura's mother has discovered that she has dropped out of business school.

Modernism: A Critical Analysis

T. S. Eliot did not invent modernism in literature, but his poem The Waste Land (1922) expresses more distinctly than anyone else what the modernist endeavor really was. More than a poem, it was an occasion, a cry that defined a moment in time, and which it is not possible to repeat. Eliot himself declared that he had moved on from the style of The Waste Land immediately after. Shortly after its publication he expressed in a private correspondence, â€Å"As for The Waste Land, that is a thing of the past so far as I am concerned and I am now feeling toward a new form and style† (qtd. in Chinitz 69).The Hollow Men (1926) is nothing as fragmentary, chaotic and nihilistic as is the 1922 poem. In The Waste Land we seem he hear an unalloyed expression of despair; the despair that purposeful art in no more possible in â€Å"the immense panorama of futility and anarchy which is contemporary history† (qtd. in Sigg 182). Yet the poem is not a complete negation of art. It manages a sort of coherence towards the end, in which we may read a suggestion that art may still be possible amidst desolate meaninglessness of the modern age.The First World War is the event that finally shattered the cozy certainties of the Victorian age. At a more protean level, it annulled the optimism of the humanist endeavor which gave rise to the Renaissance, the Enlightenment and the scientific world view. It is significant that the major part of this endeavor was carried out in art and literature. In the aftermath to the Great War came disillusionment, because it was widely perceived that progress did not bring peace but war – the most brutal and mindless sort. It was not just corpses and rubble that littered Europe, but the Western psyche too was littered with rubble.The Waste Land is essentially a collection of fragments from the tradition of literature. The ultimate statement made by Eliot is that there is no more meaning in which the artist can take his tradition and f urther it. Yet he cannot abandon the past either, for his identity is still contained within those fragments. â€Å"These fragments I have shored against my ruins,† says the Fisher King, who is not able to redeem the wasteland that stretches before him (Eliot 69). This expresses the core sentiment of the poem, which is in the end a mere collection of literary fragments. It is a demonstration of what the function of the artist has become, for the message of Eliot is that the artist is indeed reduced to gathering debris from his cultural past.Eliot’s poem is not meant to be imitated. Its function is to locate the spirit of the age and give it voice. So successful was it in this latter role that many of its literary features began to be adopted, especially so in the novel form, towards the creation of the modernist novel. The most common feature of this fiction is the dysfunctional and alienated protagonist in an urban setting who struggles against encroaching meaningless ness. Of this fiction Federman says, â€Å"The creatures of the new fiction will be as changeable, as illusory, as nameless, as unnamable, as fraudulent, as unpredictable as the discourse that makes them† (12).To render such a narrative effective novelists were soon employing a device known as â€Å"stream of consciousness†. It sacrifices coherence for an effect which seems to suggest that we are privy to the unexpurgated thoughts and impressions of the protagonist. Ulysses by James Joyce is composed entirely I this mode, and another novelist who use this method effectively is Virginia Woolf. Most often it is used for effect in novels which retain some meaningfulness, therefore are not entirely nihilistic. In such novels we identify the contining search for possibilities in art which Eliot had instigated.The novels of Franz Kafka use the conventional narrative voice, yet depict a world that is fragmented and devoid of meaning. The protagonist in The Trial wakes up one morning to discover that he is under arrest, subject to trial, but free to move about in the meantime. There is no immediate explanation of his wrong-doing, and none is forthcoming as the trial grinds on. Not only self-preservation, the protagonist is also seeking for meaning. But the only meaning that emerges is that ‘the system’ has decided that he is â€Å"the accused†, which has set into motion a process whose eventual and inevitable outcome is a brutal execution.Everybody seems to be helpless before the system, both friend and foe. They cannot effect its course, and neither can they extract meaning from it. The state embodies logic, of which Kafka says, â€Å"Logic is doubtless unshakable, but it cannot withstand a man who wants to go on living† (Kafka 263). Instead of war, Kafka’s focus is on the bureaucratization of the modern state, but evokes the same sense of despair and the helplessness of the individual before greater and inexplicable fo rces, the unmistakable stamp of modernism.The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway is also considered a modernist novel. Though more famed for his hard-edged realism, in this last effort before his death Hemingway has created a powerful parable of futility. Santiago is a Cuban fisherman who has met bad luck, having not caught a fish for 84 days. On the 85th day he becomes reckless and ventures further into the sea than anyone else before. He hooks a marlin of such tremendous size that it hauls Santiago and his boat around sea for and entire day.The old fisherman is soon locked in an epic battle of strength, guile and wits with the marlin, and expends every last bit of himself for over three days of struggle. Bloodied and drained, he has his catch in the end, which he begins to drag shoreward. But sharks then fall upon the marlin, and the old man cannot battle them off with his harpoon. Though futile, Hemingway suggests that the old man’s struggle has transcendental value.H e makes frequent comparisons between the old man and Christ, and describes the old man in awe of the nobility of the marlin, even while locked in a life and death battle with it. He is described as musing, â€Å"But it is good that we do not have to try to kill the sun or the moon or the stars. It is enough to live on the sea and kill our true brothers† (Hemingway 75). In its tenor of unremitting futility the novel is modernist. The meaning discovered in the end is transcendental and religious, in which â€Å"the spirit of the individual† is pitched against â€Å"his biological limitations† (Walcutt 275). This is significant when we recall that Eliot too discovered religion later in life.In conclusion, in his poem The Waste Land Eliot expressed a feeling that conventional motivation of the artist was no longer relevant in the modern age, because the aspirations of the previous age, that which had motivated writers and artists in the Victorian era, had been rende red null and void. But at the same time it initiated a new quest in literature, which became a movement known as modernism, and especially employed by novelists. In their novels, which mostly emphasized the meaninglessness of modern existence, the modernist novelist nevertheless tends to dicover transcendental or religious meaning.Works CitedChinitz, David. T.S. Eliot and the Cultural Divide. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003.Eliot, Thomas Stearns. The Waste Land and Other Poems. New York: Penguin Classics, 1998.Federman, Raymond. Surfiction: Fiction Now and Tomorrow. Athens OH: Swallow Press, 1975.Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1995.Kafka, Franz. The Trial. Trans. Willa Muir, Edwin Muir. New York: Schocken Books, 1995.Sigg, Eric Whitman. The American T. S. Eliot: A Study of the Early Writings. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1989.Walcutt, Charles Child. American Literary Naturalism, A Divided Stream. Minneapolis: Universi ty of Minnesota Press, 1974.

Literary Merit in Bram Stoker’s Dracula Essay

Although it is rather a subjective concept, â€Å"literary merit† essentially means the worth, quality, or excellence of a writing relative to other well-renowned literary masterpieces. In a Constitutional framework, the absence or presence of literary merit would determine the government’s limits to freedom of expression. To possess literary merit would mean that the work is not obscene. The landmark case of Miller vs. California enumerates key guidelines to ascertain the literary merit of a particular text, to wit: 1) Whether the average person, applying contemporary community standards would find that the work, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest†¦ 2)   Whether the work depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined by the applicable state law , and 3)   Whether the work, taken as a whole lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value. (Miller vs. California, 37 L. Ed. 2nd 419, 431 (1973)) Fundamentally speaking, in any framework, to have literary merit is to have value. The popularity of Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula has reached such endemic proportions that it has been claimed to be the most recognized book next to the Bible. A Victorian novel with the distinctive gothic appeal toward the macabre, Dracula has undeniably become a classic milestone in horror fiction. Establishing its literary merit however, is a different matter. A review from The Athenaeum, an influential periodical in Victorian England described the novel as â€Å"sensational.† The review further states: Dracula is highly sensational, but it is wanting in the constructive art as well as in the higher literary sense. It reads at times like a mere series of grotesquely incredible events; but there are better moments that show more power, though even these are never productive of the tremor such subjects evoke under the hand of a master. (The Athenaeum, 26 June 1897). Emphasis supplied. The unremitting succession of the bizarre, the gross and the fantastic, as explained in the review, would seem tantamount to a lack of refinement in the â€Å"higher literary sense.† This observation was supplemented by another review of the same sentiment: The plot is too complicated for reproduction, but it says no little for the author’s power that in spite of its absurdities the reader can follow the story with interest to the end. It is, however, an artistic mistake to fill a whole volume with horrors. A touch of the mysterious, the terrible, or the supernatural is infinitely more effective and credible. (Manchester Guardian, 15 June 1897). Emphasis supplied. As interpreted, instead of relying on the intelligence of the reader to grasp on their own the significance of subtle nuances and take in the various shifts and twists in the story as it evolves, Stoker instantly and unceasingly bombards the reader with an onslaught of palpable and shocking horrific scenes as if the reader is too untrustworthy and unsophisticated to deal with subtleties. If there seems to be little literary merit in the intellectual or scholarly sense, Dracula is still credited for its universal allure. The Pall Mall Gazette, in a commentary of Dracula states: †¦the story deals with the Vampire King, and it is horrid and creepy to the last degree. It is also excellent, and one of the best things in the supernatural line that we have been lucky enough to hit upon. (Pall Mall Gazette, 1 June 1897). Emphasis supplied. The universal allure of Dracula is probably in its resurrection of the vampire lore in a straightforward, practical and illustrative fashion. A vivid and uncomplicated quote from the novel confirms this:   â€Å"I shall cut off her head and fill her mouth with garlic, and I shall drive a stake through her body† (Stoker, 261). The novel’s refreshing simplicity is also evidenced in the following review:   Here, for the latest example, is Mr. Bram Stoker taking in hand the old-world legend of the Were-wolf or vampire, with all its weird and exciting associations of blood-sucking and human flesh devouring, and interweaving it with the threads of a long story with an earnestness, a directness, and a simple good faith which ought to go far to induce readers of fiction to surrender their imaginations into the novelist’s hands. (The Daily News, 27 May 1897). Emphasis supplied. While Bram Stoker’s Dracula is deficient in literary refinement, it nonetheless is considered to have literary merit by virtue of the fact that it captures man’s imagination. It certainly has value for having the extraordinary capacity to fascinate multitudes across time. Ultimately, its worth, quality or excellence is confirmed by its ceaseless popularity. Works Cited Books Miller, Elizabeth. Bram Stoker’s Dracula: A Documentary Volume. Detroit: Gale, 2004. Stoker, Bram. Dracula. London: Penguin Books, 1994. Articles â€Å"Dracula.† The Athenaeum 26 June 1897: 235. â€Å"Dracula.† The Daily News 27 May 1897. â€Å"Dracula, by Bram Stoker.† Manchester Guardian 15 June 1897. â€Å"For Midnight Reading.† Pall Mall Gazette 1 June 1897. Jurisprudence Miller vs. California, 37 L. Ed. 2nd 419, 431 (1973).

Comparison of Catholic and Hindu Religious Services Essay Example

Comparison of Catholic and Hindu Religious Services Essay Example Comparison of Catholic and Hindu Religious Services Paper Comparison of Catholic and Hindu Religious Services Paper Their Sanctums Modern religions are separated by thousands of years of cultural diffusion and theological diversity. Each region of the planet has Its own popularized religious practices that therefore define the region and, more Importantly, the people that live there. However, what exactly separates two groups religious followers, for example, Catholics and Hindus? Is the difference the place they worship? Is the deference the way they worship? Theological beliefs do separate, however they are not usually noticeable on the outside looking in. What do us as people notice first that gives us the distinct sense that this religious assembly is nothing like that one? We see the building, the architecture, and we watch what they do. We watch how they participate. What actions they perform. What most distinctly separates two religious sectors as diverse as Catholic and Hindu are the architectures and religious practices that we see most often. Inside a Catholic Cathedral of a decent size, you may first notice that it has many sows of forward facing pews with a central isle leading to the front of the church. However, inside a Hindu temple, the worshipping Is concentrated in one central sanctum with standing room only. The walls at the temple are marble white with some colorful decorations of flowers on large marble columns. In the cathedral you may find a similarly plain color palette. Stone was originally used in most catholic cathedrals by the stone masons that built them in Europe, leading to most being stone grey, also with many columns. The only break from the blank color scheme is taint glass windows filtering light down onto the rows of pews and the banners hanging from the walls, displaying religious or seasonal pictures. Also, the largest difference you may find are the large amount of sculptures present In a Hindu Temple. This Is not so In a cathedral, or at least not to the same scale. This is because the Hindu religion, though it recognizes a single powerful entity, what most Catholics might refer to God, they also recognize that there are many deities that represent the different parts the entity. They worship each of these deities equally. Catholics have sculptures of Saints; however they only truly worship the one god, only giving thanks and praying for strength from Saints. This leads to there being fewer sculptures In a cathedral. However, you may see much art work of Saints if you travel extensively enough though a cathedral. Inside the worship service of a Cathedral, Men and women, dressed in mostly formal attire, suits and dresses, sit together in pews waiting for the Priest to begin the service. However, in a Hindu temple, men and women are separated and are reseed in what most westerners might think were dresses. Also, in a Hindu temple, It Is required Tanat tender De no snores worn Insane. Men called Brahmins lead t service, though most of the worshipping is done entirely by the individual patron. Comparatively, in a Cathedral, the patrons follow the strict direction of the Priest. Each individual in a Hindu temple is responsible for reciting their own Mantras. They may then give offerings. They then kneel or lay flat on their stomachs and pray. Then, they walk clockwise and stop at each side of the Sanctum and pray to each deity. In a Catholic Cathedral, Each patron listens to the Priest read scripture and then accepts communion. Communion, which is the practice of cleansing the body by eating of Chrisms body and blood, has been a central practice of Christian faiths since Chrisms death. They then kneel and give confession. The reason both of these religions, and most religions around the world, kneel is that it is a sign of submission; in this case submission to the will of God. The Lords Prayer is said and there is singing of a Canticle, reading of a psalm, then two scripture lessons each followed by hymn. The apostles Creed is read by the Priest and the patrons together. There is a collection of offering, not unlike that of the Hindu offerings. Each Church only survives as long as it has patrons who will practice the faith and offer their money to the cause. One last prayer and the people exit the church until next Mass. We arent accustomed to listening to and determining the differences in theology between two religious groups. When we are on the outside, all we see is where and how these people practice their faiths. When you stand a Catholic and a Hindu man next to each other you do not immediately notice their ideological separation, but rather what theyre wearing. This is not to say that religion is only skin, or clothing deep. Thousands of years have sculpted each religion to have its own unique beliefs and practices. However, when you compare them at first glance; when you see both groups worshipping what they believe in; it could appear that the only differences difference is the building and what the people are wearing when they kneel and pray.

Critical Informations Systems and Kudler Fine Foods

Critical Informations Systems and Kudler Fine Foods Free Online Research Papers Kudler Fine Foods is a small to medium-sized company in La Jolla, California. The La Jolla store functions as the headquarters for the company, with another two stores in Del Mar and Encinitas. Kudler Fine Foods has a unique way of doing business. The company makes effective use of outsourcing the shipping and inventory resources and combines four different business information systems to achieve a common business goal. An information system that is critical to the business processes of Kudler Fine Foods is an information system that tailors to operations within the company and combine existing information systems into one system that a manager uses to collect and organize the data into useful reports. By combining the efforts of the existing information systems, efficiency and productivity levels operate on the same level as larger corporations. The critical business information system that makes the company perform as a large corporation is the operations management information sys tem. The operations management information system collects, collaborates, and organizes information among the various information sub-systems: the Transaction Processing System (TPS), Just-In-Time (JIT) shipping information system, and the Human Resources Management Information System (HRMIS), and processes this data into useful information. The operations manager has functional oversight and is responsible for operating and maintaining of the operations management information system. The sales, shipping inventory, and human resources managers support the operations manager through the respective sub-systems (the TPS, JIT, and HRMIS systems), and through various reports, verbal, and written communication. The operations manager oversees operations and has operational responsibility of making all tactical and operational decisions for Kudler Fine Foods, and uses the operation management information system to make informed decisions on inventory requirements, sales, and product choices. Th e operation management information system’s infrastructure is set up in much the same way as the structure of the organization: The human resources manager, the sales manager, and the shipping inventory manager report to the operations manager, and their corresponding information systems send and receive data through the operation management information system. The operations manager reports to the Chief Executive Officer, and the operation management information system sends information and reports to the Executive Information System (EIS). The operation management information system and the supporting sub-systems closely resemble Kudler Fine Foods organizational hierarchy, and as a result, the operations manager can quickly and accurately generate reports, sales trends, and track inventory. Within minutes, the operations manager can view all aspects of company operations, from sales performance to delivery times, inventory, sales, local vendors that provide supplies and services, and importers that ship products to the company. The operations manager can quickly translate this data through the operation management information system into useful reports, and send reports and corresponding data to the chief executive officer by way of e-mail through the private corporate intranet. The operations manager can also send the same report simultaneously to the executive information system for processing and viewing by the chief executive officer, effectively reducing time spent on generating and submitting reports. The time spent on collecting data from the various sub-systems is time consuming, so the operation management information system retrieves only the necessary data at regular intervals to produce reports and provide input to the executive information system, track sal es trends, monitor sales activity on a minute-by-minute basis, record losses, track and manage inventory requirements, and manage vendor accounts. The activities mentioned above are necessary for normal business functions within the company. Kudler Fine Foods relies on the functions and features of the operation management information system to thrive in their respective market. In short, to survive in the modern market today, a management information system that assists the operations manager with effectively collecting, collaborating, and organizing information is crucial to the success of Kudler Fine Foods. The features and functions that tailor to the needs of the operations manager is what make the operation management information system a critical business tool for Kudler Fine Foods. The operation management information system provides the necessary features that collect data from the TPS, JIT, and HRMIS systems, and organizes this data into useful information in the form of reports, trends, and tracking information. The capabilities of the operation management information system allow Kudler Fine Foods to perform at peak efficiency, which allows the company to perform on the same level as a large corporation. The result is an information system that drastically reduces time, increases productivity, and reduces expenses, which increases Kudler Fine Foo ds bottom line. Research Papers on Critical Informations Systems and Kudler Fine FoodsRiordan Manufacturing Production PlanThe Project Managment Office SystemMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesOpen Architechture a white paperNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductStandardized Testing

Text Organization Guide for English Learners

Text Organization Guide for English Learners Text organization refers to how a text is organized to help readers follow and understand the information presented. There are a number of standard forms that help text organization when writing. This text organization guide will help you logically guide your readers through your text. Text Organization: Referring to Ideas Already Presented Pronouns and determiners are used to refer to ideas, points or opinions that you have previously introduced, or will immediately introduce. Here is a quick review of pronouns and determiners with examples. Pronouns Remember that ideas, opinions, and arguments are considered objects in English which take object pronouns. it / it / its - singularthey / them / their - plural Examples: Its importance can not be underestimated.It now becomes clear that their role in production is vital.The government has given it ample consideration but rejected its validity. Determiners this / that - singularthese / those - plural This is key: Children need to be encouraged in order to succeed.Jefferson referred to those as unnecessary complications. Make sure that pronouns and determiners are clearly defined either before, or immediately after their introduction in order to avoid confusion. Examples: The need for economic growth is vital to any society. Without it, societies become defensive and ... (it refers to need for economic growth)These are vital for any job: interest, skills, manners... (these refers to interest, skills, manners) Text Organization: Providing Additional Information A number of forms are used to provide additional information in text organization. These forms are used at the beginning of a sentence to link text to the previous sentence: In addition to X, ...As well as X, ... Examples: In addition to these resources, we will require a further investment of ...As well as his difficulties in childhood, his continuing poverty as a young adult caused many problems. These phrases can be used in the middle of a sentence or a phrase to provide additional information in your text organization: alsoas well as Examples: Our commitment to the cause, as well as our financial resources, will make this possible.There was also time considerations to take into account. Sentence Structure: Not only...but also The sentence structure Not only clause, but also clause is also used to provide additional information and emphasize the later point in your argument: Examples: Not only does he bring experience and expertise to the company, but he also has an outstanding reputation.Not only are the students improving scores, but they are also having more fun. NOTE: Remember that sentences beginning with Not only ... use inverted structure (Not only do they do...) Text Organization: Introducing a Number of Points Its common to use phrases to signify the fact that you will be making different points in your text. The simplest way to indicate that you will be touching on a number of different points is to use sequencers. The appearance of sequencers indicates that there are points to follow or that precede your sentence. For more information on sequencers, continue on to the section on sequencing your ideas for text organization. There are also some set phrases that point to the fact that there are a number of points to follow. Here are the most common: There are a number of ways / means / manners ...The first point to make is ...Lets begin with the assumption that / the idea that / the fact that ... Examples: There are a number of ways we can approach this problem. First, ...Lets begin with the assumption that all of our courses are necessary for our students. Other phrases are used to indicate that one phrase is related to another in an additional sense. These phrases are common in text organization: For one thing ...and another thing / and for another ...besides that ...and besides Examples: For one thing he doesnt even believe what hes saying...., and another thing is that our resources cant begin to meet the demand. Text Organization: Contrasting Information There are a number of ways to contrast information in text organization. In most cases, two clauses are used: one with the most important information, as well as a clause introduced with a word or phrase showing contrast. The most common of these are although, though, even though, but, yet and despite, in spite of. Although, Even Though, Though Notice how though, even though or although show a situation which is contrary to the main clause to express conflicting information. Even though, though and although are synonymous. Use a comma after beginning a sentence with although, even though, though. No comma is required if you finish the sentence with although, even though, though. Examples: Even though it was expensive, he bought the car.Though he loves doughnuts, he has given them up for his diet.Although his course was difficult, he passed with the highest marks. Whereas, While Whereas and while show clauses in direct opposition to each other. Notice that you should always use a comma with whereas and while. Examples: Whereas you have lots of time to do your homework, I have very little time indeed.Mary is rich, while I am poor. Whereas, While But and yet provide contrary information that is often unexpected. Notice that you should always use a comma with but and yet. Examples: He spends a lot of time on his computer, yet his grades are very high.The research pointed to a specific cause, but the results painted a very different picture. Text Organization: Showing Logical Connections and Relations Logical consequences and results are shown by beginning sentences with linking language indicating a connection to the previous sentence (or sentences). The most common of these include as a result, accordingly, thus, hence, consequently. Examples: As a result, all funding will be suspended until further review.Consequently, the most important elements combine to provide a rich tapestry effect. Text Organization: Sequencing Your Ideas In order to help your audience understand, you need to link ideas together in your text organization. One of the most important ways to link ideas is to sequence them. Sequencing refers to the order in which events happened. These are some of the most common ways to sequence in writing: Beginning: Firstly,First of all,To start off with,Initially, Examples: Firstly, I began my education in London.First of all, I opened the cupboard.To start off with, we decided our destination was New York.Initially, I thought it was a bad idea, ... Continuing: Then,After that,Next,As soon as / When full clause,... but thenImmediately, Examples: Then, I started to get worried.After that, we knew that there would be no problem!Next, we decided on our strategy.As soon as we arrived, we unpacked our bags.We were sure everything was ready, but then we discovered some unexpected problems.Immediately, I telephoned my friend Tom. Interruptions / New Elements to the Story: Suddenly,Unexpectedly, Examples: Suddenly, a child burst into the room with a note for Ms. Smith.Unexpectedly, the people in the room didnt agree with the mayor. Events Occurring at the Same Time While / As full clauseDuring noun (noun clause) Examples: While we were getting ready for the trip, Jennifer was making the reservations at the travel agents.During the meeting, Jack came over and asked me a few questions. Ending: Finally,In the end,Eventually,Lastly, Examples: Finally, I flew to London for my meeting with Jack.In the end, he decided to postpone the project.Eventually, we became tired and returned home.Lastly, we felt we had had enough and went home.

WQ7 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

WQ7 - Essay Example Coaching is usually focused on giving the leaders additional skills to improve their competence. For example, when new employees are engaged in a company, they usually possess some skills but have little experience in the organizational operations. Coaching them is viewed as a necessary tool that improves their knowledge regarding the organization. Leadership development in the organization follows Kesler’s suggestion that coaching helps leaders to apply the skills acquired in studies to real practice (Kesler, 2002). Leaders need training to augment their focus on building a strong relationship between them and the subordinates, which enhances understanding making them able to identify weaknesses that need to be suppressed through coaching. Through training, they develop a new approach towards accomplishing tasks (Alldredge et al. 2003). Training involves introducing and promoting new working strategies, offering explanations and making facts clear to the leaders thereby improving their communication with subordinates. They begin to pay attention to the subordinates to know the appropriate strategies that enhance success in the organization. They need to be engaged in continuous coaching to ensure that they acquire significant information that improves their competitiveness in decision making (Kesler, 2002). One of the methods for social network analysis (SNA) is basic modeling, which is used in the evaluation of the flow of information and understanding n the organization. The process and the activity views are to significant modeling views that are reconciled in the knowledge modeling and description language (KMDL), which creates a favorable environment for the workflow processes to be accomplished. The various parts of the process are effectively interconnected through the process boundaries (Freeman, 2004). The IT systems facilitate the interconnections of the entire knowledge management process. Their applications in knowledge sharing activities

ETHICS IN THE PROFESSION Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

ETHICS IN THE PROFESSION - Essay Example â€Å"Investments involve the transfer of necessary, existing risk from one party to another. This doesn't mean that every investment is good or wise or safe, of course† (Rodeback). However, many others are of the view that investments cannot be considered as an unethical activity since most of the investments are used in the constructive purposes of the nation. They believe that there is no point in keeping the extra money in shelf and it is better to deposit it in legitimate channels. This paper makes a case study to analyze whether investments are ethical or not. Investments can be classified into three broad categories; private investments, entrepreneurial investments and social investments. In private investments, a person is lending his resources for buying ownership in enterprises for the sake of that person’s own enrichment. In other words, the motives of the investor are selfish. Such investors will invest their money based on the chances of getting more return s. For example, share trading is one of the major private investment channel in which many of the greedy individuals invest their money for maximizing their returns. However, the risks associated with such investments are more even though the chances of higher returns are high. It is often quoted that 90% of traders lose, which leaves only 10% of traders as consistent winners. The 90% of traders that lose in the markets are those for which trading is just another form of gambling whereas for the winning 10% it is a business (Wreford) From the above statistics, it is clear that both the winners and the losers in trading approached the trading activity with a wrong intention. The winner treated trading as another form of business and the loser approached it as another form of gambling. Business is always motivated by profit-making and thus it becomes unethical. On the other hand, many other people invest term deposits which offer fixed returns on maturity. Such deposits are safer even though the investor may get only a fixed amount of return. Non-greedy investors may invest in such investment schemes and we cannot argue that their activity is unethical since their motives were not selfish. In short, investments which offer high returns with higher risk are unethical whereas investments which offer fixed returns with minimum risks are ethical in my opinion. In other words, investments which generate high levels of risks can be considered as unethical investments. Entrepreneurial Investment is the second category of investment. In this type of investments, a party is lending or giving resources to enterprises for the sake of the success of that enterprise. The success of the enterprise will indirectly influence the economic success of a nation. For example, recently big organizations in America collapsed as a result of recent recession and subsequently, American economy also showed signs of destruction. Many people lost their employment because of the destruction of organizations and economy. If an investor invests in such organizations, the chances of recovery for that organization may increase even though the investor’s chances of losing money will also be increased. The recovery of the organization may help employees to protect their employment. In other words, the investor helped the organization and its employees immensely by putting his own

Employment Law The Flexible Firm Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Employment Law The Flexible Firm - Essay Example In periods of long-drawn-out financial crisis it is finished that the market instrument has been banned from operational professionally as an allocative and incentive system. According to neo-liberals, inflexibilities in the work market have been the key fence to employment enlargement, and so there has been a need to bring about a basic alteration in the association flanked by the state and the work market and to reinstate liberty of contract as the basis for financial relations. At a policy level, this demanding flexibility thesis makes more than a few arguments. First, wages are too high and too unbending, thereby pricing personnel's out of jobs and make unemployment. Lets take an example of UK; here influential trade unions and collective bargaining arrangements are seen as the major problem. Second, wage degree of difference is too small; hold back labor mobility and well-organized structural change. Third, lawfully based labor rights are too wide, leading to high labor costs in UK. Lastly, social security systems give confidence voluntary unemployment and act as a deterrent to work. State interference is held accountable for these extreme legal and financial guarantees to labor. In reply to this view of an unbending work market, governments require to curtail their participation in the labor market and limit the power of deal unions, to give employers more liberty of action, so that employment will grow. Current Situation of Company In a bid to be more competitive & curb unnecessary costs the Manufacturing Manager Roger Jones has been asked to resolve this problem. Roger has decided to have a core of 100 permanent full time employees in the manufacturing department. In addition he proposes the following:- To introduce twighlight shift of 10 workers, working 6 -1opm Monday to Thursday. This will increase machinery usage. To have a team of flexi staff who only work when they are asked, which will usually be Xmas & Easter. To sub contract the maintenance work. To make all the design staff redundaant and employ people on special projects. Roger realises that this proposal could be full of problems and has asked for your help in planning the implementation. Advise Roger paying particular attention to Fox 1986 model of the Flexible Firm & Shamrocks model. Pay attenton to such issues as the law relating to contracts of employment, their termination, the changes in express and implied terms and the law relating to redundancies. Flexible Firm Strategies For Delico Ltd Or Recommendations HRM Performance According to the UK Law for Delico Ltd in the majority of outside recruitment exercises it will be the liability of the HR Business Partner to carry out the preplanning first stage of the exercise. You will require setting up before embarking on an outer recruitment exercise: That all inner routes of filling the post have been tired or the exceptions rules apply The sight of the guidelines teams so you know the wider picture of resource planning in your region What kind and number of posts you require to fill What kind of appointment you will present Recruiting under the DWP new deal employment option in Delico Ltd Where the posts are and which

Chris Burden, Shakira and Jack Kerouac Research Paper

Chris Burden, Shakira and Jack Kerouac - Research Paper Example The discussion of the paper "Chris Burden, Shakira and Jack Kerouac " will further emphasize on the professional career of the three personalities to conclude on the influences develop by them on the society. Chris Burden was born in 1946 and achieved an international recognition in 1970s as a West Coast body artist and a performer of conceptual arts. Chris Burden was also recognized as a controversial figure as a participant in the Conceptual Art movement and influenced his audiences by getting himself shot, crucified, electrocuted and almost drowned. These were again used in his videos during 1974 which significantly influenced the society. Shakira was born in 1977 in Colombia. Until the beginning of the 21st century, she gained recognition as the most famous female international crossovers in representing Latin pops. After her recognition in the international music industry, she was stated as one of the most influencing popular singer, dancer and lyricist. She also sang the theme song of FIFA World Cup in 2010 which was again a hit. Jack Kerouac was born on 1922 and was recognized as a novelist in the early 1940s. The author travelled in many places including San Francisco, California, Mexico, North Carolina and other states which inspired him to write novels based on the social lives of the people of those regions. This in turn influenced the society quite strongly. Jack Kerouac died in 1969 when his age was only 47 years in Saint Petersburg, because of a hemorrhage in his abdomen.

The use of strategic operations management & innovation principles in Essay

The use of strategic operations management & innovation principles in Apple inc - Essay Example Furthermore, what Brown and his colleagues try to emphasise from their definition of operations management is that the activities involved in it are actually different forms of operations that take place in the whole operation of the organisation. For instance, marketing activities deal with understanding not just the company or industry but there is a need to substantially consider the entire market. Such leads further to consideration of the price, products, promotion and place. These are not the concerned of the production department but it is there concern to get information from the marketing department in order to come up with products that the market requires. In the same way, product innovations for instance is not the concern of the accounting department but they only coordinate with the marketing department and production department in order to essentially address the need of the operation to substantially flow effectively and efficiently. As it can be observed, the three d epartments involved different nature of operation from the other but when they are combined together as entire activity; there is a definite outcome or one whole flow of activities which defined the organisation’s whole operation. This has to be managed accordingly and such leads to operations management. However, in today’s time when competition is everywhere and becoming fiercely complex, an organisation needs to actually come up with strategy in order to be competitive enough. Thus, here comes the need for strategic operations management. There is a need to use strategy in order to achieve the ultimate goals an organisation has set to be achieved (Brown, Lamming, Bessant, & Jones, 2005). This paper tries to critically review Apple Incorporated on its operation management. Specifically, the proponent tries to include the following. Critical review of the organisation’s Strategic Operations Management activities from manufacturing, service & administrative pers pectives. Critical assessment of the organisation’s global capability & evidence of competitive advantage in their products & services in terms of design, planning, implementation of operations, etc. Critical review of information & their relative value to enhancing competitive advantage. Strategic Operations Management of Apple Incorporated Let us try to take a look at the strategic operations management of Apple Incorporated from manufacturing perspective. Product quality is so far the most obvious reason why until at present, Apple is renowned for its top-priced products for ipods, laptop computers and other line of products. Apple has concisely presented its financial performance and this is properly justified by different factors which of course include manufacturing considerations (Apple Incorporated, 2011). It has substantially stated that there is a wide range of importance that it has to take into account on product innovation strategy while trying to remain its comp etitive advantage on product quality and uniqueness. Furthermore, it has also identified the need to come up with unique products

The Arts and Architecture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

The Arts and Architecture - Essay Example As Walter H. Godfrey (1991) rightly puts it: "...architecture is the crystallisation of history. All the arts, to a large extent, depend for their growth and encouragement on the broad movements of national life, which have their bases in profound historical conditions or great political events. But the connection between these things and architecture is more intimate, more direct, and infinitely more obvious even to the unskilled observer than in the case of, say, literature or painting." (p. 2). The first forms of architectural designs can be traced back to the early Greeks in the Hellenistic period and architectural festivals that celebrated the rich cultural heritage of the nation is a recent development in Europe and the Western World. The paper here tries to analyse the various events that are held during the London Festival of Architecture and try to unearth the cultural and national significance for the event among the audience. The paper tries to analyze the London Festival of Architecture and to bring out the major theoretical aspects regarding the growth of architecture in London. The London Festival of Architecture is celebrated in each summer and this year it has taken place recently from June 20, 2008 to July 20, 2008. The festival is regarded as one of the best festivals the nation has witnessed as it offers myriads of opportunity for the spectators both for enlightenment and entertainment. Like any other architectural fest, the London Festival of Architecture unearths the best form of artistic perfection of the past generation and all the architectural monuments have a different story of culture or myth associated with it. They are reminiscent of some of the most important cultural and historical heritage and as such they have got a lot to offer to the spectators. The 2008's London Festival of Architecture offers to provide fresh outlooks to the onlookers as its theme is FRESH: "The theme of this ye ar's festival is FRESH and organizers are exhorting visitors to take a fresh look at London, to indulge in fresh thinking, to enjoy the fresh talent on show and the fresh air of the walks and rides." (Williams). The festival is located in the central London, providing easy access to the many visitors who witness the festival. Content: The London Architectural Festival consists of a variety of programs, each of which focuses on one architectural monument or other. The major highlights of the festival include the LFA Clerkenwell & City of London Hub walking tour 1, LFA Clerkenwell & City of London Hub walking tour 2, Barbican flat tours 2, Barbican Screening : Garbage Warrior, Barbican Screening: The Rural Studio, the Brazilian Architecture in the 20th Century, Building the South Bank, Embodied Energy: Dance at Carter Lane, Fresh Views of London, 24 Hour Film Competition: Prize Giving, Green Sky Thinking, Roman Fort gate, and the Digital Architecture Film Showcase. The London Architectural Festival covers architectural monuments like the City Information Centre, National Portrait Gallery, Liverpool street station balcony. Aim: The aim of the paper is to analyze each event in the London Festiv

The use of strategic operations management & innovation principles in Essay

The use of strategic operations management & innovation principles in Apple inc - Essay Example Furthermore, what Brown and his colleagues try to emphasise from their definition of operations management is that the activities involved in it are actually different forms of operations that take place in the whole operation of the organisation. For instance, marketing activities deal with understanding not just the company or industry but there is a need to substantially consider the entire market. Such leads further to consideration of the price, products, promotion and place. These are not the concerned of the production department but it is there concern to get information from the marketing department in order to come up with products that the market requires. In the same way, product innovations for instance is not the concern of the accounting department but they only coordinate with the marketing department and production department in order to essentially address the need of the operation to substantially flow effectively and efficiently. As it can be observed, the three d epartments involved different nature of operation from the other but when they are combined together as entire activity; there is a definite outcome or one whole flow of activities which defined the organisation’s whole operation. This has to be managed accordingly and such leads to operations management. However, in today’s time when competition is everywhere and becoming fiercely complex, an organisation needs to actually come up with strategy in order to be competitive enough. Thus, here comes the need for strategic operations management. There is a need to use strategy in order to achieve the ultimate goals an organisation has set to be achieved (Brown, Lamming, Bessant, & Jones, 2005). This paper tries to critically review Apple Incorporated on its operation management. Specifically, the proponent tries to include the following. Critical review of the organisation’s Strategic Operations Management activities from manufacturing, service & administrative pers pectives. Critical assessment of the organisation’s global capability & evidence of competitive advantage in their products & services in terms of design, planning, implementation of operations, etc. Critical review of information & their relative value to enhancing competitive advantage. Strategic Operations Management of Apple Incorporated Let us try to take a look at the strategic operations management of Apple Incorporated from manufacturing perspective. Product quality is so far the most obvious reason why until at present, Apple is renowned for its top-priced products for ipods, laptop computers and other line of products. Apple has concisely presented its financial performance and this is properly justified by different factors which of course include manufacturing considerations (Apple Incorporated, 2011). It has substantially stated that there is a wide range of importance that it has to take into account on product innovation strategy while trying to remain its comp etitive advantage on product quality and uniqueness. Furthermore, it has also identified the need to come up with unique products

Attitude, Emotions, Personality, and Values Essay

Attitude, Emotions, Personality, and Values - Essay Example In this kind of situation, individuals act confidently towards the subject. People’s behaviors are also influenced by attitudes and emotion when a similar attitude is repeatedly expressed. Additionally, people may opt to alter their attitude in order to align with their behaviors in the workplace and other social places (Hockenbury and Hockenbury, 2007). An individual’s behavior is to a greater extent influenced by his/her personality and values. A person’s personality influences his/her extraversion, which is an extremely crucial aspect in human behavior. It entails the level in which an individual is sociable, outgoing, and talkative. Extraversion helps in demonstrating some individual traits such as the behavior of an inspirational leader. Personality and value also influence individuals’ agreeable behaviors. Agreeable behavior demonstrates the extent to which an individual is tolerant, kindness, warm, and sensitivity. These traits are to a great extent influenced by a person’s values and personality. Personality and value also determines one’s neuroticism traits. Neuroticism entails the level in which an individual is moody, temperamental or anxious. Individuals’ mood plays a significant role in determining behavior both in social setup and in the workplace (Hockenbury and Hockenbury, 20 07). Employee performance is considerably influenced by the level of satisfaction and motivation in an organization. Employees are always motivated toward improving their performance through five main plans. These include recognition, appreciation, satisfaction, inspiration, recognition, and compensation. To improve employee performance in workplace, motivation is very relevant and essential. Motivation increases employees’ performance and commitment in all excellence levels. There is always a very strong linkage between motivated and satisfied employee and employee performance. To satisfy and motivate employees for effective performance, managers need to

The Burning of the Parliament Building Essay Example for Free

The Burning of the Parliament Building Essay The Parliament Building that was burnt in Montreal was tragic that happened recently. .It is considered a crucial moment due to which the co-prime ministers of the united Province of Canada, Sir Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine and Robert Baldwin were especially disappointed .The St. Annes Market building lodging the Legislative Council and Assembly of Canada was burned down by Loyalist rioters in retaliation for the Rebellion Losses Bill while the members of the Legislative Assembly were sitting in session. The episode is characterized by divisions in pre-Confederation Canadian society concerning whether Canada was the North American appendage of the British Empire or a nascent,sovereign nation. In 1837 and 1838 Canadians rebelled against the oligarchic rule of the British colonial administration, first in Lower Canada, then in Upper Canada (or the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario Respectively. Rumours is being spread stating that the parliament will be shifted to upper canada . Let us see what happens. Our country is a complete mess at this moment let us see what solution is going to come up to overcome this problem .It is considered to be a mob violence. Mr. Johnson took the Chair of the Committee; and after some time when the meeting went on Committee were interrupted by stones and other missiles thrown from the streets, through the windows, into the Legislative Assembly Hall, which caused the Committee to rise, and the Members to withdraw into the adjoining passages for safety, — from whence Mr. Speaker and the other Members were almost immediately compelled to retire and leave the Building, which had been set fire to on the outside. Luckily they some how managed to escape this tragic event. When Lord Elgin – he no longer deserves the name of Excellency – made his appearance on the street to retire from the Council Chamber, he was received by the crowd with hisses, hootings, and groans. His horse carriage was filled out of the yolk of eggs and rotten tomato. He will regret for his decision.

The Strategy To Raise Standards In British Prisons

The Strategy To Raise Standards In British Prisons Political and Academic interest in the privatization of British Prisons has steadily risen since its sudden revival during the 1980s and 1990s. This interest has been precipitated by a rapid rise in the prison population and the directly related escalation of running costs and difficulties of running a consistently efficient service. Privatization was seen by many policy-makers as providing an important step forward towards improving conditions, bringing about change and innovation, and improving the overall quality of the British prison system. The private sector was believed to be capable of delivering a better standard of service with greater efficiency and a higher degree of accountability. Subsequently, the last decade has seen a steady growth of private sector involvement in the British prison system. This essay will examine the argument that privatization offers an important strategy to raise standards within Britains prisons and consider any problems associated with this appr oach. The privatisation of corrections is now understood to mean some form of the ownership or management of prisons by private corporations. The role of the private sector in contemporary corrections is, however, much broader than this narrow definition. Savas (1987) points out that the private sector is involved in corrections in five distinct ways. It may: (1) finance and construct prisons; (2) operate facilities for juveniles; (3) operate facilities for adults; (4) provide work for prisoners, and (5) provide specific contractual services, such as health care and vocational education for inmates and staff. The recent move towards the privatization of British prisons has been largely based on the substantial increase of the prison population. Between 1993 and 1996 the UK prison population increased from 43,000 to 54,000, a rate of about 100 per 100,000 of the entire population. This rapid rise has led to widespread overcrowding and a decrease in standards, making living conditions for many prisoners highly unpleasant. Prisoners overall health has deteriorated and suicide and self-mutilation rates have climbed rapidly. Added to this, staff morale has also fallen and widespread scepticism of the value and objective of prisoner programmes has grown. It has been clear for some time that widespread changes and new strategies are needed in order to tackle the problems within the prison system. The main priorities for improving the system have included; increasing prison capacity, introducing working practices that are more accommodating and flexible for prison and probation staff and the need for greater accountability from those responsible for running prison services. The claim that all this could be achieved at substantially reduced costs simply by encouraging greater private sector involvement in the delivery of penal policy has been increasingly seen by some as a quick fix solution to many of the penal systems most pressing problems (Cavadino Dignan, 2002: 227) It is important to now look at how it is proposed that privatizing Britains prisons will lead to such improvements in standards. Supporters of the privatization of Britains prisons argue that there are a number of potential benefits directly associated with the commercial competition that privatization would produce. For example, through the creation of a market force private organisations would be encouraged to maintain and indeed improve upon high standards of cost effectiveness and efficiency in order to achieve the successful renewal of current government contracts and to compete for new service contracts. Logan Rausch (1985) suggest that due to the way they are financed public sector organisations are inefficient and ineffective. As the private sector is motivated by competition and profit it is dedicated to providing maximum satisfaction to its clients and customers at a minimum cost. Alternatively, in the public sector; bureaucrats are rewarded not according to the performanc e of their organization but according to the size and budget of their agencies, thus they are more interested in empire building than in increasing their efficiency. Beyens Snacken also examine this point, arguing that; Proponents claim that privatization is the best way to decrease costs and construct new, better designed prisons more quickly. By introducing the element of competition and new management techniques, better quality for less money can be achieved. It is stated that private correctional services can operate more efficiently, because of less bureaucratic red tape and a higher motivation to control costs. Privatization, many claim leads to heightened accountability within the prison system. It is argued that the government is in an ideal position to impose strict guidelines and include detailed service standards within contracts, making companies readily accountable and putting them at risk of financial penalties for failure to fulfil them. As the government no longer have to defend its own shortcomings it can be more active in challenging private companies for failing to meet contractual obligations. Most private contractors accept and appreciate the value of full time independent monitors who are present within private prisons acting as an additional guarantee of contract compliance. Public sector prisons do not have similar fully independent monitors. Also, healthy competition between private sector rivals would also have a regulatory effect as agencies are inclined to monitor each others performance for weaknesses and failings in order to gain a commercial advantage. It is clear that the primary rationale for passing the management of prisons into private hands is that they are expected to operate at lower running costs than those controlled by the Home Office. If success is to be measured on effective cost-cutting and meeting required standards of service, supporters of privatization are convinced that a sustained push in this direction will produce positive results. It has been estimated that the running costs of private prisons are 15-25 per cent below those of state prisons (Tilt, 1995). A prison review in 1997, stated that privately run prisons on average, offered an operational cost saving of 8-15 per cent. A Parliamentary Select Committee in 1996-97 looked at the management of offenders in the public and private sectors. It reported that an expansion of the private sector would lead to an increase in efficiency in the public sector. It concluded that private prisons were operating well in terms of quality of performance, and that their ove rall performance was as good as, and in some cases better than, publicly administered prisons. However, critics argue that recent improvements in the efficiency of public sector prisons have led to a continuous narrowing in the operating cost saving offered by privately operated prisons so that by 1998 the differential had been reduced to 2-11 per cent (Woodbridge, 1999). Those against privatization also argue that any reduced running costs comes at a high price; to the detriment of the number of staff employed, staff wages, conditions of employment and working conditions (Joyce, 2001:221). For example, it has been reported that contracted-out prisons, often favouring high technology security measures, have on average 16 per cent fewer staff per prisoner than public sector prisons. Also pay and conditions for staff at private sector prisons are often poor in comparison with the public sector. Salaries are 14 per cent lower and members of staff deliver on average 10 per cent more working hours per week. These factors may account to some degree for the high levels of staff turno ver at private prisons, reported to be approximately 30 per cent. The usefulness of privatization and indeed its principles have been widely criticised and numerous problems that it potentially produces have been identified. Firstly, many critics focus the emphasis on the traditional notion of privatization a concept already partially discredited in the western world because of its association with inflated profiteering and the abandonment of the public interest (Harding, 1997: 1). It is heavily argued that the running of Britains prisons for profit has very negative consequences. This serious criticism of privatization is that the profit motive is entirely incompatible with successful prison administration. In order to make profit, private organisations are dependent on receiving a continually high supply of inmates into their institutions. There are numerous examples of how this may affect the treatment of offenders and prisoners. Early release times for prisoners may potentially be discouraged or ignored when prison numbers are relatively low. Also, government and other leading political policy-makers may be inclined to put pressure on legislators to create directives and pass acts that are both decisively custody based and increasingly punitive. Another factor that must be taken into account due to the reliance of private contractors on prisoner numbers for profit is the issue of overcrowding. One of the key ideas promoting privatization is the improvement of standards and living conditions for prisoners, private prisons may develop a tendency towards increasing prisoner numbers in order to raise profits leading to overcrowding and its inherent problems This argument clearly reveals how the underlying commercial motivation of private organisations can have serious repercussions for the manner in which private prisons are run, posing serious and seemingly unanswerable questions to those who absolutely support privatization. Another major concern with privatization is that there will be an increased emphasis on security, to the detriment of attempts to reform or rehabilitate prisoners. The contract between the Home Office and a private company does not require the contractor to help inmates lead good and useful lives (Joyce, 2001: 221). Most criminologists agree that the rehabilitation and education of prisoners is a crucial function of the penal system. It is hard to disagree with both Durham (1989) and Shichor (1995) who maintain that the changing penal trend away from rehabilitation and training towards containment, incapacitation and deterrence has hastened the acceptance of privatization as a viable policy option. From a financial perspective, more prisons means more outlay. Prisons are expensive capital items with high running costs. Thus, there is considerable attraction in any policy designed to reduce those costs. In addition, the incapacitation or protection of the public function is an easier administrative task to hand over to private companies and their employees than the treatment and training of offenders (Genders, 2002). By failing to provide any rehabilitation and training to offenders, private prisons become institutions with the sole function of punishing prisoners through incapacitation for profit. Another potentially serious pitfall of widespread privatization is that the government may become reliant on the services of a handful of powerful companies; this could result in the government to some extent being held to ransom and thus be forced to pay higher prices in order to continually increase the profits of the private sector organisations. This potential problem is magnified where private prison operators are contracted to take over the entire running of an institution, including initially building it, owning it and managing it, as is now to be the case for all future tendered contracts in England and Wales. A key question that remains unanswered is whether, in remaining paymaster but delegating service delivery, the state truly does retain control over standards whether in fact there still is present that degree of public accountability and control that must always be requisite when the state exercises its ultimate power of restraint and punishment over the citizen ( Hard ing, 1997: 2)? A final criticism of privatization is based on the limited indicators of how private prisons have performed up to now. Despite the previously discussed increased emphasis on a security focused approach within private prisons, it seems that there are serious control issues within them. Virtually all privately-managed prisons have experienced serious control problems, at least during the initial period after opening. In most cases the problems appear to have been more severe, and more intractable, than would normally be expected in the case of a comparably newly-commissioned public sector prison (Cavadino Dignan, 2002: 247) In conclusion, the involvement of the private sector in Britains prison system has so far been limited to the delivery of particular services; the government has retained responsibility for producing and implementing changes in policy and for monitoring the performance and standards of private prisons. Proponents of privatization claim that it has and can continue to improve standards of service and efficiency, whilst also cutting running costs. As Tabarrok (2003: 10) argues We now know that private prisons can be built more quickly, operated at lower cost, and maintained at a quality level at least as high as government-run prisons. However, many writers dispute such claims and believe that a continued government policy towards privatization as a method of improving the British prison service is deeply flawed and may become a barrier to developing a programme of fundamental change aimed at improving the standards of the whole of the prison system. Privatization as an ideology and as a practice is not only unlikely to provide a remedy for the malaise affecting the prison system; it could easily become a major part of the problem (Cavadino Dignan, 2002: 255). Despite serious criticisms; the future of private prisons is not clear. We do not know whether it will become a viable alternative to government run prisons or remain a small segment of the correctional system as it is today, or if it will be only a temporary phenomenon (Schihor, 1995: 18). Overall, whether private sector involvement in running Britains prisons increases or decreases in the long-term remains to be seen. It is clear, however, that the debate surrounding the subject will continue to flourish at least until clear indicators of the performance of private prisons are revealed. Evidence, so far, provides few answers. As Liebling Sparks, (2002: 283) conclude; Some former doubters and critics have been converted. Some predicted disasters have not transpired; and many privately managed institution s appear on available indicators to have operated at least as well (or put another way no worse than) their directly managed counterparts. References Beyens, K. Snacken, S. (1996) Prison Privatization: An International Perspective in Matthews, R. Francis, P. (eds.) (1996) Prisons 2000: An International Perspective on the Current State and Future of Imprisonment, Basingstoke: MacMillan Press Ltd. Cavadino, M. Dignan, J. (2002) The Penal System: An Introduction (3rd edition), London: Sage Publications Ltd. Genders, E. (2002) Legitimacy, Accountability and Private Prisons in Punishment and Society: The International Journal of Penology (2002) Vol. 4 (3): 285-303. Harding, R. W. (1997) Private Prisons and Public Accountability, New Jersey: Transaction Publishers. James, A. L. et al. (1997) Privatizing Prisons: Rhetoric and Reality, London: Sage Publications Ltd. Joyce, P. (2001) Crime and the Criminal Justice System, Liverpool: Liverpool University Press. Liebling, A. and Sparks, R. (2002) Editors Preface, in Punishment and Society: The International Journal of Penology (2002) Vol. 4 (3): 283-284. Lilly, R. J. Knepper, P. (1992) An International Perspective on the Privatisation of Corrections, in The Howard Journal (1992) Vol. 31 (3): 174-191. Schihor, D. (1995) Punishment for Profit: Private Prisons/Public Concerns, London: Sage Publications. Tabarrok, T. (ed) (2003) Changing the Guard: Private Prisons and the Control of Crime, California: The Independent Institute.

Free Essays - Achieving Understanding in Amy Tans Joy Luck Club :: Joy Luck Club Essays

Achieving Understanding in Amy Tan's Joy Luck Club In Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club the daughters are too young and naive to understand their mothers and the hardship they faced. But by the end on the novel the daughters are able to understand where their mothers came from through stories and experiences the mothers tell the daughters their background. This shows that the daughters overall understood the mothers better because through time they were able to experience some of the same conflicts giving them a better understanding. While Jing-Mei Woo is only one of four young women whose stories integrate the novel, her story makes her seem to be the initial character, especially since her tale not only begins and ends the novel, but also strongly develops the theme and plot of the entire book. Her mother, Suyuan Woo was very concerned with people and things they lacked, "Something was always missing...always needed improvements...not in balance" (19). This reveals that Suyuan is lacking something herself and feels not good enough for her family. We later discover her past and the twin girls she left behind in China. This past life draws readers and makes the story more interesting but a little confusing at the same time. This past comes back to Jing-Mei when her mother dies and Jing-Mei begins to understand how hard it is to let go of the people you love, which makes her become more open, understanding and mature. She lost a mother she got to share her life with, but like her half sisters, they did n't understand their mother until she was gone to share the experience of being reunited. In a sense, her spirit was there to capture their happiness of finally meeting one another. Although Waverly Jong is perceived in being an intelligent, ambitious, proud, and arrogant, she is constantly struggling with everything that happens in her life. Her unwillingness to adapt to change becomes a major conflict. "Bite back your tongue"(89) her mother's harshness on her while growing up may have caused her lack of self-confidence foiled but assurance. Not only that caused her to resent her mother but the way she introduced her to perfect strangers, "This is my daughter Waver-ly Jong"(101) just to tell people or make reference to the TIME article on Waverly cause her to become upset.

Managing Individual Performance

It’s crucial for the manager to make right decisions about the members of his team. The organization can be very successful only in the case of well-balanced personnel, and it’s the manager’s responsibility to employ the right people for the positions. Even when all the technical resources in the company are at the highest level, the skills of employees appear to be the most important key to the organization’s success. It’s a well-known fact that â€Å"†¦everyone wants to feel that they are on a winning team, that the company is moving ahead, and that they are an integral part of the group.† (3)Therefore, it’s necessary for the manager to take employment of personnel very seriously. First of all, the manager needs to make sure he knows all the major objectives which the company sets in front of itself. Without the deep understanding of the organization’s goals, it’s impossible to employ people to achieve those goals. As soon as the goals are determined, it’s necessary for the manager to do his best to find people whose education, general background, and personality will fit the best into the positions available. There is no general criterion for choosing the members of the team because the decision of the manager depends on the goals which he sets for his team.The manager has to analyze the profiles of the potential employees very carefully in order to get a full idea about them. The major criterion is ensuring that every employee in the team will have a position which answers both his expectations and expectations of the company. The goals of the organization will be achieved only in the case when the manager makes right decisions about the choice of employees and the responsibilities which each of them can fulfill the best. However, the task gets more complicated because â€Å"building the winning team requires more than just hiring a bunch of talented people.It means hiring people wh o will work well together. It means developing a shared vision and commitment. It means physically bringing people together in formal group meetings for open discussion of broad-based issues. It means encouraging positive, informal interactions between group members. It means instilling a â€Å"winning† attitude throughout the organization. It means watching for and quickly trying to reverse team-building problems such as jealousy, cynicism, and defensive behavior.† (3)In the simulation I chose the following employees into the team: Tony Wu for the position of building case files; Lisa Stafford to moderate self-help groups, Nicola Minelli for performing follow-ups, and finally Daniel Nichols to supervise confrontation sessions. Out of all the employees whom I selected Daniel Nichols has the most experience, he also has an MBA which puts him one step ahead of everybody else who only have bachelor’s degrees.That is why he gets a very complicated task of supervising confrontation sessions. In order to keep Daniel Nichols motivated, he needs to have an important position, so I chose one for him with the most responsibility. Tony Wu is a good professional, and he cannot fulfill the functions on a very important position just yet because he has never worked as a manager. He is not very ambitious as the profile shows, so he is much better on the position when he has to exercise duties like building case files. Tony Wu has a very important feature of character- accuracy, and this feature is very useful in the position which I have offered to him. For Tony Wu, it’s better to work with documents and build case files because when he has to make important decisions, he might fail them due to his mild character.Lisa Stafford necessarily has to be on my team due to her success-orientation. She is not the type of employee who will sit in the shadow of somebody else during her whole life. She wants to fight for success, and she is very ambitious. He r future is pre-destined by her character, and she will be in the manager’s chair shortly. For the moment, she doesn’t have enough experience to be a manager or supervisor, so the best suitable position for her is moderating self-help groups.However, I as a manager realize that it’s very important to motivate Liza in every possible way because she expects to have the most important chores, and wants to show herself from the best possible side. Out of the last 3 potential employees I have chosen Nichola Minelli. She had almost equal chances with other 2 candidates but I preferred her to them for a couple of reasons. The position which remains vacant is performing follow-ups. I had 3 alternatives for the position: Nicola Minelli, John Connor, and Michelle Levy.The negative side of Michelle Levy is that she is a pessimist. This quality is absolutely inapplicable for the team which we are forming, considering the goals of our organization. John Connor is a very expe rienced worker but I prefer to include younger members in the team who have a high potential. They have a much better performance due to their expectations of future promotion. Nicola Minelli possesses a very important quality which makes her a perfect candidate for the position is that she has good analytical skills.In order to manage the created team effectively, I had to consider many factors. First of all, the ways to motivate every one in the team. Every employee has his own interests and needs, and in order to choose the right strategy of motivation, I needed to study their profiles carefully. Whenever I felt that one member of the team was growing uninterested towards the functions which he was fulfilling, I had to apply different forms of motivation for him. I also needed to check all the time what new responsibilities I can give to the members of the team if I saw they were ready for that.I as well had to consider the way the members of the team interact with each other bec ause a team works successfully only in case when the communication among members is on the highest level. An individual’s personality plays a crucial role in the success of my team as I have discovered. Every person in the team is a part of it. The system can work efficiently only in the case when every part of it works efficiently. If I employ a person for some position whose personality doesn’t answer the responsibilities which he will have to bear, he will not be able to fulfill his duties at the required level.If one of the members stops performing at his required level, it immediately has a deep effect on the work of the whole system because every member is dependent on each other. Another influence on the member’s personality is communication with other members of the team. Individuals employed in one team need to be as compatible as possible by their characters in order to bring success to the organization.â€Å"The 126 item Myers-Briggs Type Indicator ( MBTI), Form G, provides data on four sets of preferences. These preferences result in 16 learning styles, or types. A type is the combination of the four preferences.† (8) E (extroversion) versus I (introversion) tells about how people â€Å"change their batteries†. Extroverts find all of the support in the outside world, as well as see the outside world as the reason of their failures, if they occur. Such employees are better on important positions because they are very action-oriented.Introverts are more concerned about their inner world of ideas, so they are better at exercising tasks given to them by other people. N (intuition) versus S (sensing) tells about a person’s preference in relying on and making decisions. Some people prefer to rely on their intuition, others on sensing. For my team, I chose 2 members who have intuition preference (men) and 2 members who have sensing preference (women). This creates a good balance. T (thinking) versus F (feeling) tel ls whether a person trusts to his mind more, or to his feelings. People who prefer feeling make decisions according to what their heart says to them.Others are guided by their rational mind. I have also used the same proportion of team members with this preference because this proportion can help employees have right decisions. P (perception) versus J (judgement) describes the way people act in their lives. Perceptive people make spontaneous decisions, and can do things at once when they think of them. Judging people weight their actions first, and provide the analysis of the situation. Perceptive people are more preferable for positions in teams because they make decisions very quickly.Maslow’s hierarchy of needs can be described as the following:1) Physiological: hunger, thirst, bodily comforts, etc.;2) Safety/security: out of danger;3) Belonginess and Love: affiliate with others, be accepted; and4) Esteem: to achieve, be competent, gain approval and recognition. (7)The hie rarchy of needs effects motivation in such a way that every employee has his needs. One employee only needs his 2 basic needs to be satisfied (psychological and safety). Others will not be satisfied unless they are accepted by others and gain recognition. In order to motivate every employee, you need to know about his needs.You as a manger need to focus on his need satisfaction as the key to motivating him. It’s important to select such team members whose needs are relatively high because they will perform at a very high level in order to achieve the goals which they set for themselves. In the team which I selected, Lisa Stafford and Daniel Nichols are the most competitive, and their needs are definitely on the highest level- of esteem.In order to motivate them, I have to give them the most challenging tasks which will let them show how smart they are and be recognized by everybody. Tony Wu and Nicola Minelli don’t have such high ambitions, and their needs stop at the level of belonginess and love. In order to motivate them, I don’t need to give them high responsibilities for them to be recognized by management. They need to have tasks which from their point of view will bring use to the society and the company.My team selections worked perfectly, exactly like I expected. At the end, I got 100% of performance which is the highest result. I chose all the members of the team in the most efficient way, and placed them on the right positions, and motivated their activity during years in such a way that they performed at their maximum of abilities. The factors which I selected for motivating my team include:reminding them about the importance of the mission for which they are working. Whenever employees felt pessimistic about their work (for example Tony Wu and Nicola Minelli), I made sure he realized how important his work was for the society.giving them an opportunity to show their skills. It was important for Daniel Nichols and Lisa Stafford to show their intellect through difficult assignments they had.giving high responsibilities to the team members who are very ambitious. I needed to motivate Daniel Nichols and Lisa Stafford to keep high interest in the work they were doing.giving recognition to the members who are performing the best. Every member of the team needed recognition for the important work he was doing.promising possibilities of promotion to members who work the hardest. Lisa Stafford and Daniel Nichols need to be promoted soon in order to keep the level of their performance equally high, so I needed to talk about future opportunities with them.Since I chose the best possible team during the first run of the simulation and got 100% performance at the end, all of my later runs of the program didn’t make the result better because my first choice was completely accurate. This lesson learned in the workplace is very useful because it helps us to develop our skills as future managers. When managing rea l teams at companies, we’ll be able to apply everything learned in practice and achieve equally high results which will lead to the success in the organization.Bibliography. Franken, R. (2001). Human motivation (5th ed.).. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole. Managing People: Motivation Building the Winning Team // www.businesstown.com Maslow, A. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 50, 370-396. Maslow, A. (1954). Motivation and personality. New York: Harper Nohria, N., Lawrence, P., & Wilson, E. (2001). Driven: How human nature shapes our choices. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. William G. Huitt. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. February 2004. www.gsu.edu

Business Ethics and Starbucks Essay

1. Starbucks demonstrates a new focus on business ethics and social responsibility by providing health care benefits to their employees, giving to the welfare of the needy, and also by packaging their goods in recycling materials along with any other practices that are beneficial to the company. Starbucks has also demonstrated by improving their dealings with their customers as well as their suppliers. Although this may not bring in additional revenues, the ethical businesses are better recognized and there durability is greater.As long as Starbucks can continue to gain trust in the customers, it will allow them to have a strong bond with them also. 2. I feel that Starbucks has been concerned with social responsibility in its overall corporate strategy because for one reason it is a popular business and it helps the image of the company to care about the community and the environment. Other reasons Starbucks were so concerned was because of the negative impact on the company. Starbucks has always been engaged in responsible business practice since they first started their operation and they have always spent a lot of time defending their image as well. Several small coffee shops were put out of business due to the clustering strategy. Starbucks decided to refocus their strategy after the 2009-2009 recession. Several locations were closed because of the lack of performance due to the economic depression. Because of Starbucks dedication to their employees and suppliers, they were able to earn their loyalty. However Starbucks were also concerned with social responsibility because it affected all parties involved. The company did achieve social responsibility by taking steps to follow certain guidelines and being involved in the community, which is very important to the company since ethical companies tend to do better in the long run. 3. I think Starbucks has both grown rapidly and mainly because it does provide products and an environment that customers want. Most people don’t know anything about the ethical and social responsibility that Starbucks engage in unless they research their websites. I feel that Starbucks success was due to its strong brand image that had been built over the years. Consumers purchased these products from Starbucks because of the good taste. However people were concerned about being ethical and social responsible when running a business, especially when consumers wanted to enjoy what they were consuming without having to worry about how the products are labored. This company also grew large due to several charity campaigns; such as the partnership between Starbucks and the project Red to raise money for different events. By being a large buyer of Fair Trade certified coffee, in spite of the high cost, they continued to grow as the purpose of fair trades that promotes a better working condition and greater incentives for the mmanufacturers. Starbucks does not only offer quality coffee to its customers, they also have a great atmosphere of the coffee shop. They have given back to the community and earned their trust as well as respect from their customers.

Breeder’s Own Pet Foods, Inc. Essay

Breeder’s Own Pet Foods, Inc. sees a growth opportunity in the retail dog food market for its nutritionally balanced, high quality dog food brand Breeder’s Mix, which has been traditionally sold to the show dog kennel market. The dog food consists of 85% fresh meat and 15% high quality fortified cereal with no additives or preservatives (Kerin and Peterson, 2013). One of the challenges for Breeder’s Own is breaking into an already saturated market. However, based on recent interest from dog food owners in organic, all natural, preservative free dog foods, Breeder’s Own can capitalize on this market share with their product, Breeder’s Mix. Initially, Breeder’s Mix would be marketed in the Boston, Massachusetts’s area since this area is representative of national averages for pet ownership and expenditures for pet products. Breeder Mix would be distributed to supermarkets since 36% of all dog foods sales come from supermarkets (Kerin and Peterson, 2013). Problem IdentificationTraditionally, dog food is produced as dry, canned, or treats. Breeder’s Mix is a nutritionally balanced frozen dog food. Since the food must be located in the frozen section of supermarkets, one marketing strategy will be to educate dog owners to shop for dog food in a non-traditional location. A second challenge will be to convince the target audience that Breeder’s Mix is a better and healthier product for their pet than the traditional dry or canned food. Since Breeder’s Own Pet Foods is a relative unknown name in the retail dog food market, it does not have brand equity, meaning it is not recognizable or well known for having superior quality. Lack of brand equity presents an additional challenge of convincing a target audience to purchase a new product. Currently, the competition consists of five major companies who dominate the market and account for 75% of all dog foods sales. There are over 350 dog food brands in the United States p roduced by about 50 different manufacturers (Kerin and Peterson, 2013). With such a saturated market, Breeder’s Own will need to have an aggressive advertising campaign in order to establish brand recognition. Root Problem ComponentsThe primary root problem component is establishing brand recognition. Breeder’s own will need to accomplish this  through creating an identity the public can identify with, pricing strategies, and making the public aware of Breeder’s Mix high quality ingredients. Once a company had established positive brand equity, it becomes easier to introduce a new product since consumers will associate that product with a successful brand. Breeder’s Own needs to evaluate who their target audience is. The majority of consumers do not associate dog food with frozen food. Furthermore, frozen dog food may not appeal to the average consumer due to the preparation and thawing requirements. Another root problem component would be convincing the supermarkets to give up valuable freezer space to showcase Breeder’s Mix.SWOT MatrixStrengths: †¢ Nutritionally balanced, high quality dog food †¢ Consists of fresh meat 85% and high quality fortified cereal 15% – no additives or preservatives †¢ Breeder’s Mix has been used by show dogs in kennel market and has been recommended by dog show owners for years. †¢ Improvement in dog’s coat †¢ Uncooked to retain nutrition and frozen to maintain freshness. | Opportunities: †¢ Opportunity to be the first to tap into frozen dog food market. Would be the only dog food located in the freezer section, so if you can educate consumers to shop for dog food in the frozen food section, Breeder’s Own would have a competitive advantage. †¢ Opportunity to educate consumers on health benefits for pets by eating nutritionally balanced food. †¢ Opportunity to capitalize on grow ing popularity of premium, higher quality, higher priced dog food. †¢ Opportunity to lay groundwork for national rollout of Breeder’s Mix. |Weaknesses: †¢ Lack of availability in all stores †¢ Lack of appeal to consumers due to thawing time / freezer space (convenience) †¢ Lack of appeal to supermarkets due freezer location †¢ Lack of brand equity in retail market †¢ Premium price | Threats: †¢ Store Location – Consumer must be educated to find product in different area of store †¢ Saturated market – sales top 14 million in 2011. Dog food is also heavily advertised, so the challenge is to entice the consumer to buy Breeder’s Mix. †¢ Competition – 5 major brand name dog food companies dominate market with 75% of US dog food sales †¢ Challenge to get supermarkets to give up valuable freezer space for dog food |Evaluation of AlternativesBreeder’s Own Pet Foods product development strategy should be evaluated. Currently only 1 out of 10 dog owners regularly buy f rozen or refrigerated dog food and  ¾ of those surveyed expressed no interest in  purchasing frozen dog food (Kerin and Peterson, 2013). This indicates that there is a limited market for dog owners who would be interested in a product such as Breeder’s Mix. Research does suggest however that frozen dog food dollar volume is increasing annually indicating there is a strong opportunity for Breeder’s Own to be the first to tap into the frozen dog food market in the Boston area. Breeder’s Own Dog Foods needs a strong marketing campaign to convince consumers their brand is superior to traditional dry or canned dog foods. In order to attract customers, Breeder’s Own should emphasize the hallmark characteristics of its brand such as superior all natural quality ingredients and the ability to produce a luxurious fur coat on the pet. By emphasizing the superior quality, Breeder’s Own will be able to capitalize on the guilt concept of â€Å"shouldn’t your dog eat as well as you do†. Since consumers do not typically associate dog food with frozen food, consumers will need to be ed ucated to shop for dog food in a different location in the store. This will be a key component in the advertising strategy for both print and electronic media. Offering various coupon promotions would be a way to direct consumers to the freezer isle in order to get a discounted product. The lack of competition in the freezer section may also draw attention to the product.RecommendationBreeder’s Own should implement the higher advertising expenditure plan devised by Marketing Momentum Unlimited utilizing both print and television mediums with a few adjustments. Average advertising expenditures in the dog food industry is 2% of sales (Kerin and Peterson, 2013). In order for Breeder’s Own to gain brand equity, it may initially need to spend more in advertising dollars to increase awareness of their unique product. Target Market – The suggested target audience for Breeder’s Mix should be adjusted to affluent families, singles, and married couples between the age of 21-54. Due to the view that pets are members of the family, the target audience should be aimed primarily towards people who treat their dogs as they would one of their children. The target audience would also be those who spend a significant amount of money on their pets annually and believe the health and welfare of their dog is of highest importance and therefore is willing to spend more to get the best for their pet. Price Point – Breeder’s Mix should be priced competitively compared to other premium brands. Therefore, it is recommended that Breeder’s Own  charge a premium price for their product to reflect the high quality of the product that the consumer is purchasing. Typically, more affluent families who view their pets as part of the family will be willing to spend more to ensure their pet receives the best. However, the price point may be too high for the average consumer who buys dog food at the grocery store. Distribution – The one advantage to distributing Breeder’s Mix to grocery stores would be lack of competition for a frozen dog food product. The downside would be the lack of convenience and appeal to the average dog food consumer. The food takes time to prepare due to thawing time and it takes up valuable household freezer space. With the majority of dog owners preferring dry dog food, price and convenience may trump superior quality ingredients. Therefore, instead of distributing Breeder’s Mix to supermarkets, the distribution should be adjust ed to cater to pet specialty stores, pet superstores such as PetSmart and Petco, and veterinarian offices. The distribution could even be expanded to whole food stores who promote healthy lifestyles. The test market should also be expanded beyond Boston to other select cities in order to prepare for a national roll-out of Breeder’s Mix. Advertising – Advertising will be a key component to the successful introduction of Breeder’s Mix. Breeder’s Own should focus on the benefits of the Breeder’s Mix Dog Food in comparison to other brands. It is also critical that the advertisements clearly show that Breeder’s Mix is found in the freezer section. Initial strategies should include focusing on product and brand identification. The media plan should include advertising in local newspapers and magazines such as Dog Fancy along with coupon promotions. The television ads should be adjusted to reach the target audience. Rather than advertising during late night timeslots such as during the Late Show with David Letterman, television advertisements should run during family programming, evening news, and channels such as HGTV and Animal Planet to reach the target audience. Online advertising is also a vital medium for Breeder’s Own to consider. Internet campaigns have the potential to reach a wider market than television since many people change the channel during a commercial. The Internet and social media is a major source for people to get information.Conclusion By marketing to people who consider dogs as part of the family, Breeder’s Own can be successful in the retail dog food market.   More and more consumers are investing extensive time and money into their pets. Breeder’s Mix offers pet owners the healthy benefits they desire for their dogs as well as noticed improvement in the dog’s coat. With the right marketing mix of newspapers, magazines, online advertising, and television, Breeder’s Own should be able to reach their target audience. They have a unique product in Breeder’s Mix to offer to the discerning dog owner who wants the best for their pet. References Kerin, R. A., Peterson, R. A. (2013). Strategic marketing problems cases and comments (13th ed.). New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall