Why did Edward IV’s death cause a bitter power struggle in 1483?

Why did Edward IV’s death cause a bitter power struggle in 1483? Edward IV’s death caused many issues with regards to power shortly after he died because of many difficulties. This ranges from a complicated will, to the betrayal from his brother, Richard, Duke of Gloucester. Shortly before Edward IV’s death, he amended his will, and the only copy of the new will was ruined and nobody ever really knew what changes Edward IV made. Because of this, there was a bitter power struggle.This power struggle revolved around two competing factions, Woodville and Gloucester. Firstly, because of the issues with the will, there was no direct heir to the throne, and it was either going to be Edward V on the throne or Richard of Gloucester, nonetheless Edward IV’s son Edward V had to take the throne. However, because Edward V was a minor, the two factions competed to control the country until Edward V was old enough where he could govern by himself, thus resulting in a bi tter feud within the Yorkist family.This became such a struggle for power simply because Edward V’s mother, Elizabeth Woodville had such a great bond with her son, and also, because Richard, Duke of Gloucester truly wanted to become King. At the time of Edward IV’s death, both factions had their strengths and weaknesses. For the Woodville family, they had strategic advantages primarily because Prince Edward was with Elizabeth Woodville’s brother. Furthermore, Woodville’s brother was appointed ‘Governor and ruler of the Princes household’. The power and influence of the Princes counsel grew, and with it the status of the Woodville family.However, the Woodville family were seen as social climbers, and they were resented by members of established nobility, especially Gloucester, Hastings and Buckingham. Additionally, being seen a social climber in 1483 was practically as bad as sinning. This was perceived as a significant drain on the royal patr onage. For Gloucester, the strengths would be that he had the active support of two of the greatest magnates, the Duke of Buckingham and Lord Hastings. They were established enemies of the Woodville’s, having competed against Earl Rivers in 1471 for lieutenancy of Calais.Secondly, Henry Stafford was Gloucester’s most powerful ally. Buckingham had a remote claim to the throne, being descended from Edward III’s youngest son. Moreover, Lord Hastings was loyal to Edward V, but opposed the Woodville’s. The only weakness for Gloucester would be that Prince Edward was brought up almost entirely by members of the Woodville family, thereby feared by Gloucester as being more Woodville than York. The Woodville’s hoped for an early coronation on the 4th of May, as it would represent the end of Edward V’s protectorship and therefore undermine Gloucester’s position as protector.This would have been a clear, easy win for the throne for the Woodville family; however the Counsel could not make a clear decision for who to be protector. One section of the Counsel wanted Gloucester to be protector but the other section of the Counsel wanted a regency Counsel to include Gloucester. As tension brewed, Richard Duke, of Gloucester decided to end the entire struggle for power by bringing up past rumours of Woodville and Edward IV’s relationship issues.Richard, Duke of Gloucester always detested his brother Edward IV after his secret marriage to Elizabeth Woodville, as he was made to look a fool by him when he found out they was married. Furthermore, when society found out of this marriage, this almost put Gloucester at an advantage because in that century, the King was supposed to marry a person that would influence the Kingdom in a good way, not out of love. Nevertheless, Because of this, Gloucester revealed that it was rumoured that Edward IV was already married, when he was got married to Elizabeth Woodville.For this reason, t he marriage was deemed illegitimate, thus making Edward V’s inheritance of the throne illegitimate. This was a very strong move from Gloucester, and ultimately, because of this, he gained the throne, and the power to rule. To conclude, the whole situation of this bitter power struggle could have been completely avoided if Edward IV was not blinded by love. Edward IV should have made it clear whether it is his Son to rule or his brother, and not have left his wills conflicting with each other. Why did Edward IV’s death cause a bitter power struggle in 1483? Why did Edward IV’s death cause a bitter power struggle in 1483? Edward IV’s death caused many issues with regards to power shortly after he died because of many difficulties. This ranges from a complicated will, to the betrayal from his brother, Richard, Duke of Gloucester. Shortly before Edward IV’s death, he amended his will, and the only copy of the new will was ruined and nobody ever really knew what changes Edward IV made. Because of this, there was a bitter power struggle.This power struggle revolved around two competing factions, Woodville and Gloucester. Firstly, because of the issues with the will, there was no direct heir to the throne, and it was either going to be Edward V on the throne or Richard of Gloucester, nonetheless Edward IV’s son Edward V had to take the throne. However, because Edward V was a minor, the two factions competed to control the country until Edward V was old enough where he could govern by himself, thus resulting in a bi tter feud within the Yorkist family.This became such a struggle for power simply because Edward V’s mother, Elizabeth Woodville had such a great bond with her son, and also, because Richard, Duke of Gloucester truly wanted to become King. At the time of Edward IV’s death, both factions had their strengths and weaknesses. For the Woodville family, they had strategic advantages primarily because Prince Edward was with Elizabeth Woodville’s brother. Furthermore, Woodville’s brother was appointed ‘Governor and ruler of the Princes household’. The power and influence of the Princes counsel grew, and with it the status of the Woodville family.However, the Woodville family were seen as social climbers, and they were resented by members of established nobility, especially Gloucester, Hastings and Buckingham. Additionally, being seen a social climber in 1483 was practically as bad as sinning. This was perceived as a significant drain on the royal patr onage. For Gloucester, the strengths would be that he had the active support of two of the greatest magnates, the Duke of Buckingham and Lord Hastings. They were established enemies of the Woodville’s, having competed against Earl Rivers in 1471 for lieutenancy of Calais.Secondly, Henry Stafford was Gloucester’s most powerful ally. Buckingham had a remote claim to the throne, being descended from Edward III’s youngest son. Moreover, Lord Hastings was loyal to Edward V, but opposed the Woodville’s. The only weakness for Gloucester would be that Prince Edward was brought up almost entirely by members of the Woodville family, thereby feared by Gloucester as being more Woodville than York. The Woodville’s hoped for an early coronation on the 4th of May, as it would represent the end of Edward V’s protectorship and therefore undermine Gloucester’s position as protector.This would have been a clear, easy win for the throne for the Woodville family; however the Counsel could not make a clear decision for who to be protector. One section of the Counsel wanted Gloucester to be protector but the other section of the Counsel wanted a regency Counsel to include Gloucester. As tension brewed, Richard Duke, of Gloucester decided to end the entire struggle for power by bringing up past rumours of Woodville and Edward IV’s relationship issues.Richard, Duke of Gloucester always detested his brother Edward IV after his secret marriage to Elizabeth Woodville, as he was made to look a fool by him when he found out they was married. Furthermore, when society found out of this marriage, this almost put Gloucester at an advantage because in that century, the King was supposed to marry a person that would influence the Kingdom in a good way, not out of love. Nevertheless, Because of this, Gloucester revealed that it was rumoured that Edward IV was already married, when he was got married to Elizabeth Woodville.For this reason, t he marriage was deemed illegitimate, thus making Edward V’s inheritance of the throne illegitimate. This was a very strong move from Gloucester, and ultimately, because of this, he gained the throne, and the power to rule. To conclude, the whole situation of this bitter power struggle could have been completely avoided if Edward IV was not blinded by love. Edward IV should have made it clear whether it is his Son to rule or his brother, and not have left his wills conflicting with each other.

Television Is Bad for Children

It has been suggested that watching television may do more harm than good to a child's developmental skills. But a new study says that it all depends on what children watch — some educational programs on TV can actually enhance children's intellectual development. Until now, television viewing has been blamed consistently for having a negative effect on children's developmental skills. But the authors of a new study, which was published in the September/October issue of Child Development, argue that not all television programs are created equal. All TV is not alike,† says co-author Aletha Huston, PhD, professor of child development at the University of Texas at Austin. â€Å"Educational television can have a very positive impact on young children. † For the study, researchers recruited more than 200 children in the Kansas City area who were from low- to moderate-income families. About 40% of the children were African-Americans, and the rest were Hispanic and Cauca sian Americans. During the 3-year study, which followed children from ages 2 to 4 years, researchers tested the children and visited their homes every year.The tests included reading, vocabulary, math, and school readiness. â€Å"Children who watched educational programming — particularly at age 2 and 3 — performed better on tests of school-related skills than children who did not watch educational television,† says Huston. â€Å"Watching a lot of general audience programming was related to poor skills. † After controlling for the family environment, which included parents' education and family income, researchers found that watching educational programs on television may indeed translate to better skills.Daniel Anderson, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, says that the findings highlight the importance of the type of content that is viewed. â€Å"What children watch on television is the key,† says Anderson. â€Å"When the television programs are designed to teach, children learn good things. If they are not designed to teach, and especially if they include violence, children learn things that end up being bad for their behavior. Anderson points out that for children from low- to moderate-income families, such educational programming is filling in parts of their childhood experience that they might not otherwise get. â€Å"These children very often don't have other educational resources available in their homes, such as age-appropriate books, and parents often don't understand the importance of reading to their children and encouraging their children to read,† says Anderson. Researchers say that it is heartening to see that educational programming has become a regular, if small, part of broadcast offerings.Children can learn cognitive and social skills from such programs if parents supervise what they watch. â€Å"Television is a powerful tool to teach things good or bad,† says John Murray, PhD, professor in the school of family studies and human services at Kansas State University. null But he cautions that too much television for school-aged children may have the opposite effect. â€Å"The rule of thumb is two hours per day,† says Murray. â€Å"Watching too much television takes away time children spend on exercise and other school-related activities. A related study, released this week in the September issue of Ambulatory Pediatrics, found that easy access to television, such as having a TV in a child's room, leads to more time spent in front of the tube. The study author, Jean Wiecha, PhD, says her study backs up that 2-hour rule. â€Å"Parents should limit the time children spend watching television,† says Wiecha, deputy director of the prevention research center on nutrition and physical activity at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. â€Å"More than 2 hours of viewing time may have health consequences for children, such as obesity. Technology runs in the veins of society. It is the fuel that drives our lives. It is an integral part of daily life. It has definitely benefited society. It has brought luxury in the life of every common man. Automation brought about by technology has saved human effort and time to a large extent. It has brought distant places closer and simplified information access. It has made the world a smaller place to live in. Let us look at some of the important areas, where technology has brought a positive change.Automation of Processes in the Industry and the Household: Technology has automated many of the critical processes in the industry as well as the household. Imagine the amount of labor that must have been involved in industrial processes when the concept of automation did not exist. Electronic gadgets have entered homes of the common man to rescue him from the boredom of daily chores. Imagine the amount of time people must be spending doing household chores durin g the time there were no machines and household appliances. It's better not imagined.Today's is the age of robotics. Machines can learn, adopt new things and perform tasks with near-human efficiency. Changed Modes of Transport: The automobile industry and technology are interwoven. Time has witnessed this industry evolve from mechanical scooters to automated aircraft. Animals were the only modes of transport in the olden days. Technology was the driving force behind the creation and design of the modern-day automobiles. Bicycles evolved into scooters and sports bikes. The idea of having four-wheeled modes of transport gave rise to the creation of cars.Modes of air and water transport came up, thanks to technology. Reduced Risk to Human Life: Machines have automated many crucial industrial processes. Machines are now taking up mundane jobs that were once done by human workers. Technology has evolved to an extent where machines can perform tasks that are not feasible for man, either b ecause they are risky or life-threatening or because they are beyond human capacity. The use of advanced technologies like robotics and artificial intelligence has proven to be helpful in life-risking endeavors like mining and space exploration.Data Management and Information Retrieval: Computer technology, needless to say, has changed the face of the world. Computers can store, organize and manage huge amounts of data. They can process large amounts of information. Computers have given rise to the software industry, one of the most progressive industries of the world. The Internet that seeded from computer networking concepts is the most effective communication platform and the largest information base existing today. Impact on the Entertainment and Advertising Industries: The Internet has brought a positive change to the entertainment and advertising industries.Over the Internet, advertisements can reach the masses within seconds. Internet advertisements have changed equations of the advertising industry. Branding on the Internet is much more effective that other forms of product promotion. The entertainment media has progressed because of advancements in technology. Movies, songs, games are a few clicks away. People have begun using the Internet to watch and download movies, listen to music, play games and entertain themselves. Thanks to handy, mobile and user-friendly devices, all this has become really easy.Onset of the Digital Age: There's hardly anything analog now, we live in a digital world, a digital age. Talk pixels and bytes. The digitization of information has made it possible for us to store it in a compact form. Ever wondered how gigabytes of data can be stored on a small chip? Digitization it is! Also, digitization enriches the quality of data storage. Digital voice and digital images are of a higher quality. Digital cameras and digital TVs provide users with an enriched picture quality, thus bettering user experience with technology.Communicat ion Redefined: Cellular communication has revolutionized the communication industry. The conventional telephone, also a piece of technology, was one of the earliest technological developments in communication. Mobile phones have broadened the horizons of communication by enabling convenient long-distance calling and mobile use. Letters have taken a backseat and emails and cell phone messages have become the easiest means to connect. Owing to developments in technology, communication is wireless.Social networking is another defining factor here. It has given an all new dimension to communication, entertainment and recreation. Satellite Technology: Satellite communication is an important facet of technology. Satellite TV and satellite radio have eased the broadcasting of events across the globe. How else do you think could matches and concerts be broadcasted live? Not just TV and radio, even communication to ships and airplanes wouldn't have been possible if not for satellite communic ation.Even your hand-held devices wouldn't be of use, if not for radio communication. These were still a few fields influenced by technology. It is almost impossible to enlist all the positive effects of technology on society. The fast-advancing technology on the whole, has given impetus to developments in various fields and improved the quality of human life. There's less risk, less effort, less mess. There's more leisure, more ease and more speed – all because of that ten-letter word – not a word, a phenomenon – technology.

Chapter 9 Review Questions

Fred Bear MAIR 1449. 02 3-24-11 R. Q. Unit 9 (E. B. ) 1. What is magnetism? When two pieces of iron are attracted to each other by physical means or electrical means. 2. Torque is A. Strength that a motor produces by turning. 3. A magnetic field is D. All the above. 4. True or False: A permanent magnet is a piece of material that has been magnetized and can hold its magnetic strength for a reasonable length of time. True. 5. How is an electromagnet produced? Through electricity. 6. Which of the following produces the best electromagnet? B. soft iron 7.Unlike poles of a magnet repel each other and like poles attract each other. 8. What part does polarity play in the operation of an electric motor? It allows the motor to run continuously. 9. What part of a motor produces an inductive magnetic field within itself to facilitate the rotating motion? Rotor and stator. 10. What part does the frequency of alternating current play in the operation of an electric motor? Helps change polarity 1 20 times a second. 11. What would be the speed of a two-pole motor operating on a 120 volts 60 Hertz power supply? 3450rpm 12. What are the five types of single-phase motors used in the industry? 3. Which of the following correctly lists the motor’s starting torque from lowest to highest? B. Shaded pole, three phase, permanent split capacitor, capacitor start. 14. Which of the following is a common use of a shaded pole motor? A. Furnace fan motor. 15. How does a shaded pole motor operate? The shaded poles produce a magnetic field that is out of phase with the magnetic field of the main winding. 16. How can a shaded pole motor be reversed? The stator must be reversed to change the positions of the shaded poles, and this usually means disassembling the motor. 17.What determines the rotation of a shaded pole motor? B. Location of shaded pole. 18. Draw a diagram of a three speed, shaded pole motor. 19. What enables a split phase motor to develop enough torque to begin rotation? T he method of splitting the phase of incoming power to produce a second phase of power, giving the motor enough displacement to start. 20. What removes the starting winding from the electrical circuit of an open type split phase motor once it reaches 75% of its operating speed? Centrifugal switch. 21. What are the three probable areas of trouble in a split phase motor?The bearings, windings, and the centrifugal switch. 22. What is the unit of measurement for the strength of a capacitor? C. microfarad. 23. What is the purpose of the capacitor? To boost the starting torque or running efficiency of a single phase motor. 24. What is the difference between a running and a starting capacitor? Starting capacitors are usually made of plastic and used to assist a single phase motor in starting. A running capacitor has an oil filled case and is mainly used to increase a motor’s running efficiency. 25. List the five capacitor replacement rules. 1.The voltage of any capacitor used for rep lacement must be equal or greater than that of the one being replaced. 2. The strength of the starting capacitor replacement must be at least equal to but not more than 20% greater than the one being replaced. 3. The strength of the running capacitor replacement may vary by plus or minus 10% of the strength of the one being replaced. 4. If capacitors are installed in parallel, the sum of the capacitors is the total capacitance. 5. The total capacitance of capacitors in series may be found in the following formula: 26. Explain the operation of a permanent split capacitor motor.It has two windings, running and starting. A running capacitor is put in series with the starting winding. The capacitor causes the electron to flow through the starting winding to shift it out of phase with the running winding. Therefore, a rotating magnetic field is set up, causing the rotor to turn. 27. How are a PSC motor and a capacitor start capacitor run motor similar? C. Both use starting relays. 28. Wh at are the advantages and disadvantages of using the following types of motors? A. Shaded pole motor- 29. What are the similarities between an open type split phase motor and a capacitor start motor?C. Both have a centrifugal switch. 30. Which of the following is an advantage in using a three phase motor? B. Stronger. 31. Draw a wiring diagram of a capacitor start capacitor run motor: 32. True or false: All starting apparatuses are mounted externally to the hermetic compressor shell. True. 33. What is the purpose in troubleshooting any electric motor? 34. Which of the following is the capacitance of an 88 uf and a 108 uf starting capacitor connected in series? A. 196uf. 35. Which of the following is the capacitance of two 20 uf running capacitors connected in parallel? B. 20uf. 36.If a capacitor produces 15 A on a 240 volt supply, which of the following is its microfarad rating? A. 166 uf. 37. Which of the following capacitors could be used to replace a 35 uf, 370 volt running capac itor? B. 35uf, 390 volt. 38. Which of the following capacitors could be used to replace a 188 uf, 250 volt starting capacitor? C. 200uf, 250 volts. 39. Which of the following capacitors or combination of capacitors could be used to replace a 45 uf 370 volt running capacitor? A. 40uf, 440 volt. 40. Which of the following capacitors or combination of capacitors could be used to replace an 88uf 250 volt starting capacitor?D. 150uf, 250V. 41. Find the common, start, and run terminals of the following hermetic compressor. 42. Briefly explain the procedure for troubleshooting hermetic compressor motors. Electrically taking resistance readings of the windings with a good ohmmeter. 43. What are the electrical failures categories for hermetic compressor motors? Open, shorted, or grounded. 44. What precautions should be taken when checking hermetic compressor motors? Infinity. 45. What would be the highest allowable resistance reading for a grounded compressor motor? Zero. 46.What are the adv antages of using an electronically commutated motor over a PSC motor? 47. Explain the construction of an ECM. The direct current converters convert the alternating current that the power company supplies to direct current, which can then be regulated to vary the speed of the motor. 48. An ECM is a B. Three-phase DC motor. 49. True or False: The resistance readings of the windings of a properly operating ECM should be equal. False. 50. True or False: The line voltage power supply of an ECM should never be disconnected or connected with the power on. True.

Anton Chekhov Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Anton Chekhov - Research Paper Example Chekov was born in 1860 in southern Russia and lived in a difficult family. Some say his father, who was physically abusive, became the main influence on later characters who were portrayed as hypocrites.1 Chekov did well in school and studied to become a physician. But a part of him wanted to write too, so he started to do this for a little money. He was recognized and people began to like his work and he took a more experimental approach to literature with this new confidence. He was generally a modest man who was concerned with social issues. For several years he was concerned about prison reform. He even traveled over land a great distant to the island of Sakhalin off the coast of eastern Siberia where he interviewed prisoners about the conditions they lived under. Prisons in Russia have always been a problem, as seen in later years in the writer Solzhenitsyn work about the Russian gulags and the Siberian exiles. For Chekov this was all important to the Russian soul. He covered m any topics with aplomb and brought a clinical eye to the social relations he witnessed throughout his native land. When he died in 1904 he was praised all over Russia and statues were erected to him and prizes named after him. Two of Chekov’s most important contributions or innovations for contemporary literature are his use of stream-of-consciousness writing and also his refusal to declare a moral conclusion at the end of his stories, allowing the reader to come to his or her own conclusion. In the first case, Chekov would often take the reader directly into the head of the character to show what they were really thinking about—often details not directly relevant to the plot or narrative pacing—and also how they saw and judged the things around them. This technique later became very popular with writers such as James Joyce and Virginia Woolf, who used it to make a huge

Research Paper on the Beatles Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

On the Beatles - Research Paper Example In November of 1960, they met the rock and roller Tony Sheridan, and they became friends. The next year, they met again and this time they performed a song together, â€Å"My Bonnie†, which was really, their coming-out song, so to speak, because performing this song brought them to the attention of Brian Epstein. He was a music entrepreneur and he became their manager. Epstein worked on getting them a record deal and label, but they got rejected by almost every British record company (Spitz, 15-20). One day, Epstein persuaded George Martin to listen to a recording the Beatles had done, and after convincing him that they would one day become very famous, he signed them on with Parlophone. They released their first eight albums with Parlophone. In August of 1962, Pete Best left the Beatles and he was replaced by Ringo Starr as the drummer. He also contributed as a vocalist on a number of successful songs. In January 11, 1963, The Beatles released â€Å"My Bonnie† which wa s an instant hit, and Beatlemania began in England (The Beatles, 23-35). After this, there was almost a non-stop series of concerts and tours for about a year. This was the year for the Beatles. Everybody was talking about them, they were everywhere. They got intense media interest. They had TV shows, press interviews, and a weekly radio show. They appeared on ABC’s TV show â€Å"Thank Your Lucky Stars†, they were on BBC’s Here We Go, and many others. They were literally on the show every day. That year, they had four nationwide tours; they would finish one show and leave immediately for another, or even do two shows in one day. Two of the four tours were led by American Stars, but at almost every show during them, the crowd was wild for the Beatles, which made the Beatles to be embarrassed for the American singers (The Beatles, 37-39). The Beatles hit the United States the next year, early 1964. However, weeks before their arrival, the fateful assassination of President John F. Kennedy took place, and the nation was in grief. This was a critical time in American history, and it affected many Americans, many of whom were the youth. The Beatles wanted to be able to reach out to them through their music. In the span of the next few days they flew over Miami, where they spent time with Ed Sullivan again and got to catch up with him. On the 22nd of February, they left America victorious and arrived at Heathrow Airport, where again they were met by thousands of fans. The same year, the Beatles went back again to America for yet another tour, this time much longer. They performed thirty concerts in twenty three cities, attracting thousands of fans, making millions of dollars, and paving the way for other British groups to wow America (Davies, 15-19). The next year, 1965, Beatlemania still continued on and after having attending a premiere of their film, â€Å"Help†, they went back to America to Shea Stadium where they had their biggest co ncert, attended by fifty five thousand fans. After that successful concert, they met with Elvis Presley and after, flew back to the UK (Miles, 24-25). The next year was one that proved to be rough for the Beatles. Lead singer John Lennon was interviewed where he said â€Å"We are bigger than Jesus. Christianity will vanish and shrink; I don’t know what will go first, rock and roll or Christianity.† The British people didn’t say much of it, but the Americans were shocked. It ignited a lot of anger and hostility and the Beatles were

Rate the influence, based on your studies in this course, as well as Research Paper

Rate the influence, based on your studies in this course, as well as information from other sources, of the legislative bodies, - Research Paper Example Introduction Public policy is said to be a broad field whose principal utility is one of clarification about how the public policymaking and implementation process works (Nicholas, 1999, p. 348). Its formulation and implementation is composed of various factors which eventually influences the outcome. This paper hopes to identify and rate the various bodies and factors which influence the formulation and implementation of public policy, and would attempt to explain reasons why such amount of influence is made on public policy. Legislative Bodies Legislative bodies highly contribute to the formulation and to an extent, how a specific public policy may be implemented. The Legislature in the United States on the federal level, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives, not only has a role in the passage of laws, but also have other such powers provided under Article I Section 8 of the US Constitution which provides, thus, â€Å"Section 8. ... sures; To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and current coin of the United States; To establish post offices and post roads; To promote  the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries; To constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court; To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, and offenses against the law of nations; To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water; To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years; To provide and maintain a navy; To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces; To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions; To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the militia, and for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the United States, reserving to the states respectively, the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress; To exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular states, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the government of the United States, and to exercise like authority over all places purchased by the consent of the legislature of the state in which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dockyards, and other needful buildings;--And To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying

Entamoeba histolytica Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Entamoeba histolytica - Essay Example The Entamoeba histolytica is the protozoan responsible for a disease called amoebiasis1. It mainly occurs in the large intestines and causes inflammation as its name suggests. The number of infections worldwide as a result of the parasite can be approximated at 35-50 million people, majority of whom are in developing countries where there is a problem of poor sanitation2. Entamoeba histolytica is a pathogenic parasite that occurs within the intestines and is the sole causative agent of amoebiasis, lack of proper hygiene can be ascribed as be one of the foremost causes of infection by the pathogen. The Entamoeba histolytica is an anaerobic protozoan that causes an infection in the digestive system of mainly humans and other primates2. It is estimated that the parasite has infected approximately 50 million people in the world over and it has had a major role in the morbidity and mortality especially in the developing countries. In addition, animals close to the home such as dogs and cats may also be infected regularly but are not believed to contribute to the transmission of the pathogen3. However, though there are numerous species of protozoa in the genus Entamoeba, not all of them are disease causing organisms. The Entamoeba histolytica is known to cause what is commonly referred to as amebiasis in humans which can either cause internal infections in the intestines or external ones2, 3. Even though some members of the Entamoeba genus are not associated with disease, they are important since they often may be confused with Entamoeba histolytica in diagnostics. Though it has a rather well distribution of incidence worldwide, there is higher incidence of amebiasis in developing countries. Medically speaking, in order for one to get infected by the protozoa, they ought to have ingested mature cysts that may be present in

Students Learning Abilities Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Students Learning Abilities - Essay Example Students are often advised by teachers and other elders to study for examinations over a period of time, as opposed to ‘cramming’ on the day before a test. Experimental research shows that spacing, a process where information is acquired in small bits over a period of time, allows better retention of facts in memory than when massed learning is used, where it is attempted to absorb all the information in one short sitting. However, the practice of cramming continues- mainly because many students succeed in getting through their examinations by this practice.In the experiments on spaced learning cited above, rote-learning was emphasized on, and participants had to recall facts. The experiments involved testing only vocabulary or obscure facts, which occupy only a small part of education. Whether the subjects were interested or enthusiastic about memorizing these facts and words is not certain. Interest in a topic has been found to have a notable effect on memory and recal l. Thus, it would be interesting to discover if the benefit of spacing persists if the information to be learned is to be understood, not just memorized, and is of particular interest to the student. My hypothesis is that test scores will be significantly higher when the studying is spaced out over days rather than done right before the test, even when a student is highly interested and enthusiastic about a subject - provided that there are no other conditions that would affect test performance.... Thus, it would be interesting to discover if the benefit of spacing persists if the information to be learned is to be understood, not just memorized, and is of particular interest to the student. My hypothesis is that test scores will be significantly higher when the studying is spaced out over days rather than done right before the test, even when a student is highly interested and enthusiastic about a subject - provided that there are no other conditions that would affect test performance. This prediction is based on my observation that very good students who do well on exams usually begin preparing for tests well ahead of time. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of spacing on test results when the topic is of academic interest to the students. Methods This is an experimental study to determine the difference in test results when two different preparatory approaches are used. The independent study variable will be the type of studying routine that was used, and t he student’s status as being interested in Biology or not. The average test score of the group will be the dependent variable. An experimental design has been chosen in order to ensure that the test preparation time and preparatory material covered is similar and measurable for all the participants in a group. Biology has been chosen as the subject, as it involves reading and understanding, not just memorizing of facts, and is a topic which is highly interesting for some students, and the opposite for others. Various confounding factors could affect the results of this study. First, a group with a higher number of smarter students would have a higher average score. To control for this factor, participants will be assorted into the groups using stratification for

Alexandria Police Dept Intelligence Unit Proposal Essay

Alexandria Police Dept Intelligence Unit Proposal - Essay Example At the same time serial crimes and organized crime groups can be detected more quickly and more cases can be solved. Programs like community relations and robbery awareness could be carried out which helps to improve public trust and confidence, which in turn strengthen the information management system. By decentralizing the model and establishing a coordinating council, process of intelligence work could be made more effective and reliable.   Introduction Alexandria has maintaining highly skilled, energetic, technically oriented, well-equipped police department and serving the people better. It has the strength of 320 officers and 138 administrative workers.  Since 1986, the Alexandria police department has been internationally accredited by the commission on accreditation for law enforcement agencies (CALEA) which is a rigorous and difficult process, and has been reaccredited in subsequent years. By achieving this it has the professional status of law enforcement agencies worl dwide, and now has a responsibility of maintaining this status (Police Department, 2011). The department has provided searchable online crime data through the city's online crime search engine, and citizens can view it using an online Geographic Information System (GIS). Adding, the department's model mainly relies on the usage of advanced technology. Starts from 2004, the Alexandria police department is in the process of decentralizing its operations, and is now operating in three locations. One is at headquarter building at 2003 Mill road, and the other two is in 2034 and 2900 Eisenhower Avenue.  Decentralization of police function contributed to a decline in the effectiveness of communication among various investigative, operational, and administrative units. Information regarding new and emerging crime trends, patterns and neighborhood issues was often fragmented, which in turn fails to unite the department's resources and focus towards proactive and problem solving solutions. Joint efforts among all these units were also far more difficult to organize and manage (Police Department, 2011). More have to be done to improve communication and teamwork at all levels while increasing accountability and measure results on a regular basis. Increased communication among various operational and investigative units, teamwork, active participation, and accountability for results are to be the guiding principles of the department's process.  Ã‚   Crime trend in Alexandria Alexandria is the seventh largest and one of the highest income independent cities in Virginia. New town is largely populated by professionals those who are working with the federal civil service, or for one of the many private companies. On the other hand, the old town with its concentration of boutiques, restaurants, antique shops and theaters, is a major attraction for tourists. Alexandria has experienced a substantial decline in overall crime during the period 1970-2010, but has witnessed a si gnificant increase in scams and white collar crimes such as credit card fraud, worthless check cases, and larcenies of GPS units from vehicles, thefts of dodge caravans, IPods stolen, and phishing phone calls (Brian Block, 2007).

Impact of Management on Organizations Term Paper

Impact of Management on Organizations - Term Paper Example This paper is an attempt to explore the various dimensions and dynamics of the impact of management on organizations. Whether positive or negative and internal or external, the paper will critically analyze this impact. During this discussion, this paper will touch various sub topics under the umbrella of such as strategic management, leadership, and managing change. Body/Discussion Before even initiating the discussion about management and its impact on organizations, it is imperative to present the basic idea and definition of management. According to its definition, management refers to the process of achieving organizational goals and objectives effectively and efficiently by engaging in â€Å"the major functions of management, which are planning, organizing, leading, and controlling†. Planning is â€Å"the process of setting goals and deciding on the best possible methods of achieving them† (Hamel & Breen, 2007). Without goals, objectives, and targets, management cannot even exist. The first task of management is to set a vision and create objectives about what the organization intends to achieve and how it intends to achieve the same (Daft & Lane, 2009). Consider the example of Whirlpool, a Fortune 500 company which is celebrating its 100 birthday this current year, to understand the importance of planning as the function of management and its impact on the overall organization. The overall objective of the company, during the 1990s was to achieve the best possible performance in delivering the shareholder value. The company went on to define that as achieving the target of revenues of 15 billion US dollars annually from their existing level of 7 billion US dollars (Hamel & Breen, 2007). Whirlpool and its executives and managers knew that this is an imper ative yet difficult task and something had to done effectively in order to achieve this target. The company initiated intensive efforts to understand the needs, wants, demands, expectations, ideas, and thoughts of the customers so that the company could introduce the best possible products, which are in line with the needs of the

Background and Motivation Essay Example for Free

Background and Motivation Essay The terms â€Å"corporate blog† or â€Å"business blog† have appeared very often in both of newspapers and academic journals. Increasing attention has been paid in understanding this new phenomenon. According to the Investor Business Daily, â€Å"there are 45% USA’s largest public companies have corporate blogs. † (where is your citation – is this also Klosek? ) Business Week has proposed the following: â€Å"Corporate blog is a blog used by the company to reach some goals. It helps businesses communicate internally more cheaply and effectively than workflow management software and e-mails. † A corporate blog can be one of the more successful popular communication tools after the E-mail, ICQ and MSN. In 2006, Business Week Online issued that A Weblog (or blog) can be a powerful marketing tool, but it can also expose a business to a legal minefield. As reported by Jacqueline Klosek, â€Å"Blogs can be used to market a companys products and services, facilitate communications with clients, and even counter negative publicity† (Klosek, 2006). Several studies have pointed out the advantages of employing corporate blogging, citing that corporate blogging may be a tool for search engine marketing; a means of building good relationships with the customer; building of a company’s reputation; helping to put human voice to a company; serving as a way for employees and customers to communicate; and a tool for directly and immediately getting the customer’s feedback. There are still many threats that may hinder the adoption of the corporate blog, such as legal impediments with regards to violation of intellectual property rights and mismanagement leading to an eventual downfall of the organization; the disclosure of trade secrets can jeopardize the blogger’s career since this problem may cause his termination from the position, and also â€Å"Careless statements posted on a company-sanctioned blog can come back to haunt the company through litigation and other avenues† Klosek (2006) stresses. Since the study and research in corporate blogging phenomenon is still in its early days, scholars who have conducted empirical studies only focus on the benefits and risks when adopting the corporate blog, or the motivation behind creating corporate blog. It’s lack of analyzing the existing utilization and the effects of corporate blog from a systematic theoretical perspective. the DOI theory (Rogers, 1995, 2003) becomes mature, it can be applied in explaining how and why an innovation can be widely adopted and diffused. In order to find out the reasons indicate why corporate blog as a new innovation has been widely adopted and successful diffused, the DOI theory can be an effective framework for analyzing corporate blogging phenomenon. Thus, this paper aims to determine why the corporate blog as a new innovation is being widely adopted and used by the both the individual blogger and various IT organizations; the motivation in adopting blogging; the benefits of the corporate blog to organizations; and the reasons for its success. The research also tries to explain how and why the corporate blog is welcomed and has become a popular and successful new innovation, and the compatibility of its utilization with the existing values of its users. Thus, the author has conducted an empirical study in order to answer these problems from the Diffusion of Innovation theory (DOI) perspective. IT industry companies have been selected as samples for this study.

Photographers during the Harlem Renaissance Essay Example for Free

Photographers during the Harlem Renaissance Essay The years between World War I and the Great Depression was a period of prosperity for the United States. 1 There were plenty of jobs in the city especially in the North which caused 750,000 African Americans to migrate from the South. Harlem, a section of New York City, drew a great number of African Americans, consequently making it the largest community of African Americans in the whole world. In the 1920’s, the African Americans that have settled in Harlem experienced a â€Å"spiritual coming of age† and were able to find an opportunity for â€Å"group expression and self determination. 2 As a result, literature, art, music and social commentary, usually concerning the African-American culture, began to flourish in Harlem. 3 Originally called the New Negro Movement, the revolution became more popular as Harlem Renaissance. Aside from writers, dancers, blues and jazz artists, the Harlem Renaissance was able to produce renowned photographers that became known for their own creative ways of depicting the literary and socially revolutionary era. This paper will present the photography styles of three photographers from the Harlem Renaissance namely: James VanDerZee, Carl Van Vechten and Gordon Parks. James VanDerZee Born on June 29, 1886 in Lennox, Massachusetts, VanderZee is almost completely self-taught in photography. 4 He started taking pictures as a child but got his first exposure in photography when he worked as a darkroom assistant in Newark, New Jersey in 1915. He ultimately became a portraitist and returned to Harlem in 1916, setting up his own portrait studio at a music conservatory that his sister founded in 1911. He soon set about the business of photographing Harlem. Prominent citizens, socialites, political and religious leaders graced his studio. 5 The portrait of Bill â€Å"Bojangles† Robinson, the famous tap dancer, taken in 1933 is shown in a double portrait. He also 3 photographed Florence Mills, a famous actress during that era; Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. , minister of Abyssinian Baptist Church; Jack Johnson, former heavyweight champion; and Marcus Garvey, the African American nationalist who promoted a â€Å"Back to Africa† movement in the 1920’s. 6 VanderZee also photographed ordinary African Americans, usually during momentous occasions in their lives such as weddings or funerals. Since infant mortality was higher during his time than it is now, VanDerzee was often asked to take a picture of a loved one who had died so that the bereaved family will have something in remembrance of their departed loved ones. 7 His pictures were ultimately published as Harlem Book of the Dead. In his portraits of children, he positions the child as if asleep and usually holding their favorite toy. In other cases, he inserts pictures of angels and photographs of the child when he was still alive, into the pictures of the dead body that he took. He does this in order to â€Å"take the gruesomeness of the picture† and make it look like the children suffer no longer but have found rest. One of the trademarks of VanDerZee’s photographs is his depiction of his fellow African Americans as beautiful and dignified. 7 One of his well-known works, The Couple at Harlem, taken in 1932, shows a couple dressed in raccoon coats posing beside their Cadillac. This portrait, characteristic of VanDerZee, shows security and prosperity in the neighborhood. As early as the 1930’s, VanDerzee was already experimenting with photography styles. He already does retouching of photographs, at times even adding adornments to the pictures that he took. He erases wrinkles, adds jewelry, and creates his own backdrop in order to create a touch entirely his own. 7 He may sometimes cut down the mouth or sharpen the nose in order to make the image more pleasing to look at. VanDerZee, when working in 4 his studio, used plenty of props such as backdrops, costumes and architectural elements in order to achieve a photograph with an air of Victorian and Edwardian era to it. 4 The Couple At Harlem. [Online Image] Available http://ls. berkeley. edu/~shiffrar/photog/vanderzee. jpg, 1932 VanDerzee also experimented with other photographic techniques such as the double-exposure technique. This style was used in The Last Goodbye, Overseas, which features a wartime cartoon superimposed on the photograph of a soldier. The viewer, upon looking at the soldier’s photograph will be able to see his thought as he remembers his lost companions. 5 By the same technique, he created Future Expectations (Wedding Day, Harlem) which features a bride and groom posing in front of a fireplace. A dream-like image of their future daughter, holding a doll in her lap, appears next to the couple. VanDerZee, then etched into the negative the image of a heart linked together, which is found inside the fireplace. 5 Future Expectations. [Online Image] Available http://www. sptimes. com/News/022201/Weekend/Portrait_of_a_communi. shtml, 1926 Carl Van Vechten Van Vechten spent most of his life not really as a photographer but as a writer. He published essays relating to music, ballet and cats – the feline creatures being his obsession. He wrote his first novel in 1922, and published the highly controversial novel, â€Å"Nigger Heaven† in 1926. 8 Unlike VanDerZee who photographs celebrities and common people of both genders, Van Vechten’s photographs involve mostly women. He seem to be passionately interested in female portraits for even as a youth in Iowa, he took photographs of his paternal grandmother and later on of two little black girls in front of a beach house in Ohio. 9 Van Vechten sometimes prints these photos to use in regular correspondence. Some of his more famous subjects include jazz artists Ella Fitzgerald and Bessie Smith.

Evaluation Of Coca-Cola Corporation Environment

Evaluation Of Coca-Cola Corporation Environment Coca-Cola was established on May 8, 1886 by Dr. John Stith Pemberton, a local pharmacist in Atlanta, Georgia. It was first sold in Jacobs pharmacy for five cents per glass. Initially Coca-cola was sold as a drug, Pemberton during that time considers Coca-cola as a cure for diseases such as dyspepsia, morphine addiction, headache and impotence (North America Operating System, 2008). Coca-cola Company is one of the most popular companies in the world. Aside from the fact that it is also one of the oldest corporations that was able to withstand World War II and other changes in the economy over the past years. The fact still remains that it is one of the most famous brands of Cola in the world (The Coca-Cola company case n.d.). The Coca-Cola Company was able to resist the hindrances that occurred; the company was able to utilised change management as efficiently as possible to withstand the obstacles. As mentioned earlier, changes in management is caused by three different factors which are the external environment, internal changes and the proactive reaction to possible threats and difficulties. Temporal Environment Evaluation- over the past decades, the Coca-Cola Company has faced a number of changes in the external environment that have transformed the management of the company. One of the best examples is during the World War II. The company was able to maintain the status of the company, at the same time, was able to enter new markets despite the environment. Instead of lying-low because of the war, the company became more aggressive through providing free drinks for the GIs during the World War II. Through this the corporation was able to hit two birds at one stone. First, because the carbonated drinks sent by the company, it became a patriotic symbol by the United States soldiers in which led to consumer loyalty. Second, the company was able to take advantage of the situation and established the product in newly-occupied countries by the Ally forces and because of that the company established plants in various locations worldwide paving the way for its post-war expansi on. Another aspect in the external environment is the change of taste and expectations of the consumers. During the mid-1980s wherein the Americans favoured the sweet taste of the rival product, the company created its counterpart but became a commercial failure; however instead of backing down, Coca-Cola changed its management strategy and returned the old formula, and just renamed it as Coca-Cola Classic. And with the rise of obesity in the United States and consumers became health conscious the company released new versions of Coke in order to address the needs of these type of consumers, such products include Diet Coke and Coca-Cola Zero. In addition, according to Bool (2008) companies such as Coca-Cola are compulsory to transform due to trends that have a huge impact on their business, and one of these trends is the health and fitness. A number of people are noe investing more in their health, and in order to keep up with the trend, Coca-Cola introduced their new product which is a calorie burning soft drink, the Enviga. Moreover, Coca-Cola is collaborating with the Swiss company Nestle. Coca-Cola is dealing with innovation and change. During the Asian Financial Crisis, Coca- Cola was also triggered to change its course of management in that particular region. The responses and reactions of Coca-Cola with the external environment are its internal changes. Internal Changes- as mentioned earlier, Asia experienced its financial crisis in 1997. According to Barton, Newell and Wilson (2002) as the financial crisis swept the Asian region, the chief executive officer, Douglas Daft responded to this by mobilising his executives to workshops about how Coca-Cola would seize new growth opportunities. Barton et al, stated that Coca-Cola gave emphasis on acquisition opportunities, Coca-Cola bought acquired bottling business in South Korea which gave more access in retail stores in South Korea, as well as, better entry in China, Japan and Malaysia. Coca-Cola disregarded its country-defined market perspective and focused on regional strategic view and acquired local brands of tea and coffee. In the case of health trends and changing taste of the consumers, Coca-Cola responded to this through innovation and change. Innovation is accomplished through development of new products such as the Enviga, Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero, and other variants of Coke. The change is incited by the trend in health and fitness and consumer tastes which had an impact on the business of Coca-Cola. During World War II, the response of Coca-Cola to the situation is to provide free drinks to the GIs in order to access new markets in which the company was able to do. Organisational Change Management- this theory presents a general procedure for managing the change in the side of the people at an organisational level (Kotter, 1996). According to Hiatt and Creasey, the organisational change management is consists of three phases, which are, preparing for change, managing change and reinforcing change. The theory of organisational change management was effectively utilised by Coca-Cola. Different managers in various parts of the world have used organisational change management in order to address the issues that the Coca-Cola faced. From the case study (The Coca-Cola company case n.d.) these people are: One of the most notable CEOs of Coca-Cola Company is Mr. Gouzueta, he was the chief executive officer of Coca-Cola for seventeen years. He was able to determine the problem against other manufacturer of carbonated drinks. Mr. Gouizetta played a huge role in measuring the operation of Coca-Cola and developed strategies that aided the Coca-Cola to defeat competition. In addition, Mr. Gouizetta played important roles in planning and leading the tasks in achieving the goals and objectives. In addition, Mr. Gouizetta also appointed Mr. Ivester whom transformed the weakness of Coca-Cola into opportunities and strengths (The Coca-Cola company case. n.d.). Furthermore, the paper of Pigseye, the following organisational management changes that occurred in Coca-Cola over the past years. Coca- Cola has distinguished various forms of its advertisements in order to target different forms of consumers instead of focusing on one group. The company changed the packaging of Coke. Coca- Cola also developed new products such as Gatorade and it extended globally which is composed of the African group, Middle and Far East group, the Latin America group and the European Group (The Coca-Cola company case. n.d.). Interventions As part of the interventions, it is very vital to identify the leveraging changing in an organisation. In identifying the leveraging changes in the Coca Cola Company a Force Field will be used. Force Field Analysis according to Bass (2008) is a technique created by Kurt Lewin in order to analyse the forces that are opposing to change. The current state of the Coca Cola stores in Hong Kong is pretty good and it is still one of the top distributors of softdrinks in Hong Kong. However, if it will be compared to other Coca Cola convenience stores in the world the inventory, marketing, and performance of the personnel is not equal to other Coca Cola company. The company hopes to increase the efficiency of the marketing and inventory, as well as the productiveness of the workforce through implementing management change programmes. If the changes will be applied within the management and businesses, Coca Cola projects that there would be an increase in the output of the company. On the other hand, if changes will not be implemented the inventory, performance and other marketing would deteriorate and continuously be inefficient, therefore there is a possibility that the competitors might be at par or even overtake the market. According to the presented case, the main emphasis of the Coca-Cola is to meet the needs of their customers with excellent product manufacturing and product distribution. The companys change management is very fragile since they predicted that there are some marketing challenges in the near future that they need to face. In order to address the changes in the Coca Cola Company, there should a concrete identification of problems present in the company. The employees and other stakeholders of Coca Cola Company will be affected of this so-called radical changed. Basically, the route of the change is towards the workforce development and not on the services since the company has already established a reputation of delivering good services in the market. The change is also about the possible financial problems that the company may face in the near future. From this discussion, the following figure shows the force-field analysis of the change management procedures suggested to the application of change management within Coca Cola Company. Figure 1. Force-Field Analysis From this force-field analysis, it can be seen that the computed forces to change is much higher compared to the forces against change. Force-field analysis is very vital in change management (Bass, I. 2008). Meaning to say, the plan is quite logical with respect to possible opposition. Actually, change management is basically defined as the formulation and assimilation of change in a methodical process (Kotter, J. P., Schlesinger, L.A. 1979). Meaning, the major objective of change management which is the introduction of new systems in the work organisation i.e. total change project is normal to companies that are engaged in change management. This can similarly be compared to the adoption of new marketing strategies. Businesses like Coca Cola Company must normally undergo change in order to evolve to a higher level of for instance, stability, management or production. And since Coca Cola Company wanted to have an extreme development or a radical change, the CEO of Coca Cola may inc lude changing the companys mission, reforming business operations, application of new technologies, major group efforts, or adoption of new programs. Usually, the organisation is encouraged on settling on change management due to external influences, usually termed as the environment (Nickols, 2004). Thus, change management can alternately be defined as the response of different business to changes brought about by environmental influences in which organisations have minimal or absolutely no control over. Perhaps the space between the new organisation design and implementing it into actuality is the whole coverage of organisation change and development. As mentioned in the introduction, people are adaptive to change. However, certain skills must be present from the initiators of change so as to successfully implement their project. Thus, managers need to have the necessary abilities not only on detecting what needs to be changed but also how to introduce the change effectively. Thus, in this review of related literature, some of the approaches, common problems, influences, case studies and best practices in change management will be analysed in relation to the research problem. Recommended Plans With respect to the force-field analysis that has been previously conducted, the following details are the recommended plans for managing change in Coca Cola. Renewing Systems and Structures The organisational form of Coca Cola is the Entrepreneurial start-up or the simple structure. According to Mintzberg (1992) the structure is described as having a little or no technostructure at all, it also has few support staffers, restrained division of labour, minimal differentiation in the work place, and a small hierarchy in management. Moreover the behaviour within the organisation, particularly in the convenience store is not that formalised wherein it utilises minimal planning, training and liaison devices. In the new organisational form of Coca Cola businesses in Hong Kong, it would be Machine Bureaucracy. According to Mintzberg, the machine bureaucracy is an organisational structure wherein there is a clear configuration of the design parameters wherein it consistently held up researches it includes specialised routinely operating procedures, formalised procedures in the centre of operations, propagation of rules and regulations, proliferation of formalised communication throughout the company, dependence on the functional basis for tasks wherein it needs group work, comparatively centralised power for decision-making, and a complexly detailed administrative structure with sharp differences between the line and staff. In this form of organisational structure Coca Cola will be able to monitor the efficiency of the performance of the workers because there would be standard procedures and more elaborate structure of management. Cultural Web Routines and Rituals- the Coca Cola, Inc. does not have any formal training with its work force particularly within the convenience stores. There are no specific routines emphasised in the organisation, and just like most companies, the managers and workers come in to the work place to perform their job and the cycle goes on. This behaviour does not encourage any worker to perform their job better and if ever changes will be implemented within the organisations it will not look peculiar. The new training programs that will be implemented will focus on customer service. In industries like in Coca Cola customer service is a very important aspect in sustaining the loyalty of the consumers. The routines can easily be changed due to the fact that there is no particular routine in the work place. Organisational Structures- the management within the stores have limited hierarchy and the overall setting is informal because there are no strict rules and regulations within the convenience except for the usual the punctuality and absenteeism. The management structure in Coca Cola encourages collaboration with Coca Cola but competition with other organisations in the same industry. The power structure within Coca Cola is democratic because prior to the changes in the management sectors that will feel the impact of the changes directly will be educated and informed and also their opinions will be heard. Control Systems- In Coca Cola the most closely monitored is the distribution of softdrinks. The company does not emphasise punishment and rewards to the employees, apart from the usual which is the bonus for rewards and removal from the job for punishment. There are few controls in the workplace and the control in the workplace is associated with the history of the company wherein it provides the customers fresh products. Power Structures- the main beliefs of the senior management of Coca Cola is that the success of the company is due to the efficient evaluation of the challenges in the workplace, as well as, the market and quickly respond to the opportunities. The power is distributed to three management teams, the senior leadership team, vice presidents and the division leadership. The dominant culture of the organisation is its being practical and open to the opportunities given to them. The changes in the management programmes can be implemented easily because the proposals of the company are attainable and do not have a negative impact on its employees. Overcoming Resistance Resistance of the employees in the change management programmes in any company is inevitable however overcoming the resistance is important in order to implement the required changes in the management strategies. According to Kotter and Schlesinger (1979) there are six approaches that an organisation can use in dealing with the resistance by the workforce and these are: Education and Communication- In order to overcome the resistance in Coca Cola the employees should be educated and informed regarding the transformations within the company before implementation to prevent incorrect information that will surround the work area. Participation and Involvement- the employees must be involved with the planned changes in the management programmes of the company because once they become involved the employees will not resist but instead will participate in the transformations that will be undertaken. Facilitation and Support- Some of the employees will resist the changes because they are unable to adjust with the new programmes implemented by the management to avoid resistance the management must support the employees that are having a hard time with the changes, establishing a support system will aid the employees to quickly adjust. Negotiation and Agreement- Coca Cola should talk and negotiate with the employees, and during the talks the management must discuss the incentives they will receive once they accepted the changes in the management strategies. Manipulation and Co-option- if the other approaches did not work inviting the union leader to participate and be a representation in the change process will aid in overcoming the resistance to change. Explicit and Implicit Coercion- if all approaches did not work the last step would be forcing them to accept the implemented changes and threaten them that if they will not comply the employees will lose their jobs. Conclusion Change management is basically defined as the formulation and assimilation of change in a methodical process. The major objective of change management is the introduction of innovative means and systems in the work organisation. This can similarly be compared to the application of certain information technologies in the company or the adoption of new marketing strategies. Businesses must normally undergo change in order to evolve to a higher level of for instance, stability, management or production. Appointing a new head officer, for example, can greatly enhance his subordinates based on his management principles and personality. From these discussions, we may conclude that change management is a process in which all companies undergo. This is an important procedure because it enables the organisation to make decisions that will be advantageous and beneficial to the company. In addition, organisations that are open to change are generally more successful compare to companies that re sist it. In a globalise market, new technologies and procedure are emerging rapidly, in order to keep up with this progress a company must be willing to adapt to management changes. The international, as well as, the local market has a very stiff competition, therefore in order to be on top change management must be utilised by companies. Coca-Cola is one of the best examples of companies that utilised change management efficiently and have yielded positive results. The evidence is the dominance of Coca-Cola in the soft drink industry not just in Asia but all over the world.

Free College Essays - Character Analysis of Othello :: GCSE Coursework Shakespeare Othello

Character Analysis of Othello In the play Othello, the character of Othello has certain traits which make him seem naive and unsophisticated compared to many other people. This is why Iago, to get his just rewards uses him as a scapegoat. Iago told Roderigo, " O,sir, content you. I follow him [Othello] to serve my turn upon him "(I, i lines 38-9). Iago is saying, he only follows Othello to a point, and upon reaching it he will not follow him any longer. Iago has opened my eyes to see the real meaning of deceit. No matter what, Iago will try to take advantage of Othello any time and he will be easily lead to believe the lies of Iago. The Moor, as many Venetians call him, is of strong character. He is very proud and in control of every move throughout the play. The control is not only of power but of the sense of his being who he is, a great warrior. In Act I, Othello has a scuffle with Brabantio, who has come to kill him, but before anything could happen Othello said, "Hold your hands, both of you of my inclining and the rest. Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it without a prompter" (I, ii, lines 80-3). The power shown here is quite astounding. The nature of Othello's character is of a dark man. A dark man, not only because he is black, but also because his whole person is very mysterious. He is mysterious in that he believes there is magic brewing everywhere. With this dark side he is also very outgoing, and not very bright. He isn't observant and the schemes of Iago work well on him. Though he doesn't reflect too much on his past, except occasional ventures of wars fought, he does let his emotions run his life. For all the dangers and encounters he has been involved in, this man is still naive of the corruptness of other individuals. Othello has a trusting nature in which he gives it all. He put all his trust in Iago during times of war and during Othello's marriage to Desdemona. This wasn't very bright of Othello, even if he wasn't

Tech Prep :: Education School Careers Essays

Tech Prep Tech prep has become more widely accepted by educators and the business community as real changes have been made in curriculum, courses, and programs. However, the jury is still outabout whether the anticipated student, school, and community outcomes are being realized. This essay examines the extent to which tech prep is succeeding as a unique effort, living up to the claims that have been made for it. Over the years, educators have been challenged by a number of federal, state, and local initiativesthat profess to result in better educational outcomes for students. Highly marketed at their inception, many of the initiatives ultimately fade into obscurity, some absorbed as part of otherprograms. Examinations of tech prep and its relationship to school-to-work initiatives point to thedistinctions that make each of the two programs unique and highlight the characteristics that makethem similar. Program focus is the most distinguishing feature that differentiates tech prep from school to work.Tech preps focus is primarily on school-based learning, whereas school-to-work programs alsoinclude work-based learning and linkages between the two. The distinction is less clear when thecore elements required for tech prep vary among tech prep consortia, as they are reported to do(Owens 1996). For example, when tech prep adds elements that include work-based and careerguidance components, it becomes similar to school-to-work, which may explain why someeducators are seeing little or no difference between the two. Of the 100 persons surveyed at the1996 American Vocational Association Convention, however, only 15 percent saw tech prep andschool-to-work as being exactly the same (Bragg 1996). Most of the surveyed tech prep consortia did not see the two efforts as synonymous, but perceived tech prep as a component of school to work: 35% of the respondents considered techprep to be the foundation for school to work; 50% considered tech prep to be under the school-to-work umbrella (ibid). However, for funding as well as program issues, most local techprep coordinators believe that tech prep should retain its unique identity to ensure that thebenefits of its processes and procedures are not lost or duplicated by school-to-work (Bragg et al.1997). Survey responses from 42 of 50 state directors of vocational-technical education showedagreement with the view that tech prep is one option within school to work and that its identityneeds to remin strong (Dykman 1995). Imprecision in defining the two reforms can create confusion and frustration among allstakeholders. At one of the five field sites studied during the 1996-1997 academic year, forexample, tech prep was "viewed as a premier approach to STW for more academically talentedstudents, incorporating both school-based and work-based components.

Transcending The Atrocities of War Essay -- Literary Analysis

Warfare not only results in majority of casualties but also affect individuals both physically and psychologically. This can damage their sense of purpose and identity which can lead to difficulties in the way they relate to others. Art and religion proves to be the saviour of these individuals by helping them respond to the effects and aftermath of war with valour and resilience which not only helps them cope with stress and grief but also gives them the opportunity to interact and connect with others. David Roxborough argues that â€Å"Ondaatje’s method of alternating mythical identity allows the efficient construction of a panoramic religious framework with widespread mythical significance.† Similarly, Alice Brittan claims that â€Å"Ondaatje’s novel is filled with [†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦] scenes of reading and writing, and characters who delight in marginalia.† Both the authors agree that Ondaatje’s novel The English Patient utilizes imagery and mytholo gy to explain the atrocities of the Second World War, and to explicate that religion and the admiration of art attempts to defy the violent human displacements enabled by war, and helps to transcend the crude realities of the world. The novel The English Patient harbours four central characters namely Almasy, Hana, Caravaggio and Kip whose lives are devastated by the Second World War and British colonialism. Almasy, the English patient, receives austere burns during an escape from a â€Å"blazing aircraft† which makes him resemble â€Å"a [burnt] animal, taut and dark† (Ondaatje 6, 41). His injuries hinder him in making any kind of movement. Hana, a twenty years old Canadian nurse, is forced to leave her adolescence and step into adulthood at an early age. She loses her father, and has to suffer the pain of an aborti... ... English Patient.† The History of the Book and the Idea of Literature 121 (2006): 200-213. PMLA. Web. 20 Apr. 2012. Roxborough, David. â€Å"The Gospel of Almasy: Christian Mythology in Michael Ondaatje’s The English Patient.† Essays on Canadian Writing 67 (1999): 236. Academic Search Premier. Web. 17. Apr. 2012. Cook, Rufus. "Being and representation in Michael Ondaatje's 'The English Patient'." ARIEL 30.4 (1999): 35+. Canadian Periodicals Index Quarterly. Web. 26 Apr. 2012. Goldman, Marlene. "'Powerful Joy': Michael Ondaatje's The English Patient and Walter Benjamin's Allegorical Way of Seeing." University Of Toronto Quarterly 70.4 (2001): 902. Academic Search Premier. Web. 23 Apr. 2012. Scobie, Stephen. â€Å"The reading lesson: Michael Ondaatje and the patients of desire.† Essays on Canadian Writing 53 (1994): 92. Academic Search Premier. Web. 27 Apr. 2012.

Accounting theory Essay

Accounting theory and its application is very fundamental to students and professional in accountancy. It equips people in the accountancy profession with financial accounting theory and associated research. Relevance of this theory is that it provides accountants with knowledge to critically investigate and analyze contemporary accounting issues. Research enables students to have broad thinking of current accounting issues such as environmental aspects and social responsibility aspects. The study of popular culture lead to research concerning all the emerging issues in the Accounting profession. It brought about the question as to whether students or other stakeholders in the profession should engage the attention of people in the field of research. Deegan,C. (2009) in his book stated that there is little attention given to issues that impact to aspects of the accounting profession. Relevant issues for study in accounting and auditing concern accounting principles and standards, auditing ,professional behavior and general professional matters, such as scope of services, maintenance of quality control and strategies. Study of popular culture has provided researchers with the following arguments to justify implication of the Accounting profession. a. Accounting is a dynamic line of specialization where participants/accountants should be in a position to respond to changes in the business society and come up with revised accounting principles and standards. This will enhance understanding of the financial statements to stakeholders and society in general. b. Public accounting like other profession in United States should provide high level of motivation for evaluating what the actual events. It further anticipates any additional changes in future to improve and provide information on value creation by entity from different dimensions from profit. From research this has lead development international public sector accounting standards The study of popular culture will enable researchers to determine emerging issues such as, unexpected business failure, legal liability of an independent auditor and effectiveness and appropriateness of audit evidence gathered from the society. Besides, it will factor the complex nature of business transactions which normally affect the position of an independent auditor. Studying the popular culture also provides researchers with knowledge to evaluate the value added to the financial statements by various entities. This helps to determine effects of social and environmental accounting; highlights the role of culture in explaining international differences and disclosures in accounting. Popular culture enables society in understanding the reaction of capital markets to financial reporting. By understanding popular culture, it lead to research on fundamental issues such as corporate governance, social and environmental reporting which enables companies in their Annual Operating Plan set aside some amount to used in promoting things like sporting activities. Culture has exceptionally attracted voluntary reporting by allowing research on institutional theory, legitimacy theory, stakeholder’s theory and positive accounting theory. Nevertheless the study popular culture has significantly analyzed normative theories of accounting as well as development of accounting for price level changes. It involves critical appraisal of Historical cost accounting approach, general purchasing power approach and current cost accounting approach. Culture study highlights efforts towards international harmonization of accounting in terms of disclosure and reporting. Application of accounting research has influenced extension of financial reports such employment statements which analyzes the benefits which employees get from employment which in turn its cost to the employer. Earnings per share analyze both basic earnings per share and diluted earnings per share in determining worthiness of company. Research of popular culture is very significance in understanding economic actions to a particular interest of groups within society and to the entire society; it involves extending the accountability of organization beyond the Traditional role providing financial account to the owners of the capital, in particular, the shareholders. Such an extension is predicated upon the assumption that companies do have wider responsibilities than simply to make money for their respective shareholders.

Business Strategy Chapter Essay

In the specific instance of the car industry in the 1960s and 1970s, Western producers were operating with a relatively high cost base compared with Japanese entrants from what was then a low-cost producer nation. The result was that the Japanese did not face markedly higher quality competition, but they could readily compete on price. Trading up through routes 2 and 3, as the Japanese did, is an interesting phenomenon. Why did the market leaders not respond? Was this solely a function of the Japanese cost structure? Was it to do with the speed of innovation in Japanese firms? Or the inertia of existing market leaders? Entering through route 5 and moving elsewhere is discussed explicitly at the end of section 5. 3. 4. As is pointed out there, this entails a lowering of price, and therefore cost, while maintaining differentiating features. It also means moving from a focused approach to a less focused approach. Neither of these moves is easy, usually because the competences of the firm have become attuned to more focus and less emphasis on cost; but also because the market may well regard such a firm as segment specific and therefore be wary of such a move. Nissan was driven into position 8 from which it needed to re-position.. For example, if it tried to move to the hybrid position – differentiated but at lower prices (and, therefore, lower costs) – this requires the organisation to be very clear about the critical success factors with consumers, and the competences required to deliver these features. †¢ †¢ †¢ Illustration 5. 2 The ‘no frills’ strategy easyJet is a good example of a no frills strategy. The questions require students to consider the basis of such a strategy and also the extent to which it is imitable. Many of these are laid out in the illustration. Clearly easyJet’s strategy is not based on its being 78  © Pearson Education Limited 2005 Instructor’s Manual lowest cost in the marketplace if this is dependent on market share in the overall market for air travel. There are obviously other bigger players. The more relevant comparison, however, is by market segment. To what extent is the early entry of easyJet into the budget travel segment and its establishing of a substantial market share sufficient basis, in itself, to achieve lowest cost? Could actual and potential competitors, seeing the success of easyJet, imitate and overtake it in delivering such services? Does easyJet’s experience in all this, and its undoubted entrepreneurial culture, provide lasting advantage? Certainly British Airways found it uncomfortable to compete with its GO Operation, and decided this was better sold off. But other competitors such as Ryanair and BMIBaby had entered the market and engaged in fierce price competition on some routes. So the keys to success were skilful pricing between routes, when people book and capacity fill. And what if the most experienced low-cost operator of all, South West Airlines in the US, decided to enter Europe? Illustration 5. 3 Questionable bases of differentiation Question 1 challenges students to consider what would be appropriate bases of differentiation in the biscuit business. The principles outlined in (a), (b) and (c) may be applied: (a) Who is the most important customer in strategic terms? Of course the end consumer is important, but strategically the retailer is vital. (b) The question then becomes: What do retailers especially value in manufacturers of fast-moving consumer goods? Students may suggest, for example, branding, reliable and fast delivery of goods, advertising support, sharing of market and customer information, etc. If this is the case, then the differentiation strategy needs to be based around fulfilling such expectations. (c) The question then becomes whether there are bases of sustainability here. Again this would take the discussion into issues of underlying competences and resources. For example, a strong brand image is difficult to imitate, but a logistics system may be much easier. Advertising support is common amongst fastmoving consumer goods companies, but it may be more difficult to establish close and trusting working relationships between the retailer and the manufacturer. Question 2 asks students whether the Australian wine illustration (5. 5) overcomes the shortcomings illustrated here. Arguably: †¢ Value-for-money (a) has been correctly assessed in terms of the appropriate customers, since both the retailers and end users appreciate the benefits of Australian wine. 79  © Pearson Education Limited 2005 Instructor’s Manual †¢ †¢ We know little about the research (b) undertaken that the benefits seem to be real enough. The real question is whether the bases of advantage are sustainable (c). Comments on illustration 5. 5 address this. Illustration 5. 4 The hybrid strategy The IKEA illustration shows how this business has successfully followed a hybrid strategy, not only by keeping its costs down but also by finding a different way of operating from other retailers. Students may point out that this is a more likely way of being able to follow a hybrid strategy than simply cutting costs. They might point to other examples to make the point. For example: †¢ Historically, supermarket retailing offered lower prices and a differentiated customer experience, but it was a fundamentally different way of retailing from that of traditional smaller high street shops. Arguably the more recent trend towards direct marketing of, for example, banking, insurance and travel (at least when it is done well) offers more convenience for customers, often at lower prices: but again this is a different way of trading than would have been traditional in such fields. †¢ Ask students to think of other examples of changes in ways of operating that allow for a hybrid strategy. A successful hybrid strategy also requires organisations to be clear about the competences underpinning their basis of differentiation, and then to reduce the costs in areas that do not critically underpin that basis of differentiation. By so doing they may be able to reduce cost below that of competitors without jeopardising their basis of differentiation. Illustration 5. 5 Differentiation This illustration provides the opportunity to bring together three different perspectives on differentiation: a customer-based perspective, a market gap perspective, and a competence/resource-based perspective. The illustration tends to emphasise the first two. It suggests that Australian wines are successful because customers are looking for simplicity and consistency, and find French wine, for example, neither simple to understand nor consistent in quality. Moreover, the traditional approach of French wine producers has exacerbated the problem and therefore provided a market gap. 80  © Pearson Education Limited 2005 Instructor’s Manual The example should promote discussion about whether there are any other reasons for the success of Australian wine. Arguably there are if a resource-based view is taken – a reason for success might be the application of more advanced scientific techniques in the Australian wine industry as a means of catching up with old world wine producers. The success of this is indicated by the fact that French producers are now trying to imitate Australian wine-producing techniques. Arguably this is capable of being copied or imitated by the French, therefore. However, the French industry remains very fragmented with traditional ways of doing things: so the question is to what extent new ways of wine production are likely to be adopted within such a traditional approach. Illustration 5. 6 Lock-in Using the criteria in sections 5. 4. 2 and 5. 4. 3, the table below summarises the ways in which Dolby and Visa attempt to sustain competitive advantage. Basis of sustainability †¢ Difficulties of imitation – Complexity – Causal ambiguity – Culturally embedded †¢ Imperfect mobility – Intangible assets – Switching costs – Co-specialisation †¢ Lock-in – Dominance – Early setting of standards – Self re-inforcing escalation – Rigorous preservation Dolby has a dominant position Set standards early Showed that this was possible Visa share dominant position with MasterCard Standards were set early Dominance built this way historically Dolby has well-established brand and reputation Dolby has established a reliance by users in its systems Brand is still strong Large penalties for retailer exit Complex bases of licensing and No longer complex patent protection Basis of relationship building in Most competitors have now networks imitated Dolby has long-established ‘ways of Possibly still an advantage doing things’ Dolby Visa Joint development with licences Joint development part of the system Rigorous policy of conformity to Large penalties for change in standards brand by retailer 81  © Pearson Education Limited 2005 Instructor’s Manual The comparison is a stark one. It should lead students to conclude that Visa is protecting its dominant position at any costs – the ‘market-based’ advantages are actually being eroded. In contrast Dolby’s dominant position is probably still based on a truly differentiated position from competitors. Illustration 5. 7 Competition and collaboration This illustration allows students to test out the issues from section 5. 6 and exhibit 5. 5. This uses the five-forces model to classify the various ways in which collaboration might improve competitiveness. This can be done for each of the stakeholders involved in a collaborative arrangement. For example, in illustration 5. 7 the potential benefits of collaboration to an individual (small) creative sector business are: †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Knowledge sharing with other businesses Knowledge transfer from universities Infrastructure, services and ‘business know-how’ support Funding Swapping/sharing professional/creative staff Against this needs to be weighed the risks: †¢ †¢ Commercial exclusivity (patents, copyright) Stifled creative process (conformity to get money/help ) Illustration 5. 8 Key Debate: To be different or the same? The emphasis on conformity in institutional theory (see also section 4. 5. 2) provides a useful counter to the perspectives favouring differentiation, as in this chapter and in the resource based view, introduced in chapter 3. It is worth pushing students to consider just how much ‘real’ differentiation companies actually use. Students may well vary in responding to the questions. With regard to universities, in the UK at least but to a large extent internationally as well, there does seem to be increasing homogeneity. Universities are converging in terms of degree length, subject matter, teaching methods and accommodation and student support. In the UK, this is attributable to government funding and regulation, but also relates both to students’ risk averseness with regard to a large, uncertain and hard-to-reverse investment and to their 82  © Pearson Education Limited 2005 Instructor’s Manual desire for international mobility during degrees and portability of qualifications afterwards (note European Union pressures). In the MBA market, the EQUIS and AMBA standards, and the Financial Times rankings, also provide strong pressures for conformity. All this conforms to institutionalist expectations. Car manufacturers do appear to be more differentiated, with a wide variety in brands and images. However, under the surface there are strong pressure too for conformity. These come from government safety and environmental regulators and suppliers of key components, as well as from the desire to reap economies of scale through sharing platforms. Assignment 5. 1 Understanding competitive strategies Assignment 5. 1 requires students to give examples of organisations according to the routes identified in exhibit 5. 2 in the text, and to explain reasons for doing this. For example: †¢ Route 1, the low price, low added value route is often overlooked. There are successful organisations following such a strategy. For example, the grocery retail outlet Netto is cited in the text, and easyJet is provided as an illustration of a no frills, low price service. As markets open up, new entrants may choose to follow this strategic route. Route 2 is the low price strategy. It is often followed by small businesses competing against larger companies. They use their lower cost base to provide products or services that are very similar to those of the large organisations, but at a lower price. Route 3: The Japanese in the car industry (illustration 5. 1) had used their cost advantages not only to deliver low price but also to re-invest in high quality and reliability. In many respects they were following route 3 or much of the 1980s and early 1990s. IKEA is another example (see illustration 5. 4) of an organisation successfully combining both low prices and perceived added value to the customer. Route 4 is a broad differentiation strategy: the sort of strategy followed by a company such as Kellogg’ s in seeking to provide quality in terms of product, delivery, service, brand image, market support and product development superior to those of competitors. Other organisations claim to be following a differentiation strategy, but the bases of differentiation in terms of added value to the customer may not be clear. Firms may claim to be different but on a spurious basis (see illustration 5. ), for example. Route 5 is focused differentiation: examples of this might be a focus on clear demographic groups. For example, Saga specialises in insurance and holidays for the over-50s (see illustration 2. 8); fashion retailers and manufacturers seek to 83  © Pearson Education Limited 2005 †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Instructor’s Manual identify customers with particular tastes in fashion; industrial product companies may focus on particular industries or particular process needs. Assignment 5. 2 Clarity of competitive strategy Assignment 5. 2 may raise questions about t he clarity of competitive strategies. The sort of issues which may be surfaced are these. For most of its existence M&S was successful because it provided a clearly differentiated offering for a mass market; and arguably this was also the basis of Barclaycard’s success. But both organisations now face competition that has eroded such advantages, and they are finding it difficult to recover a position of differentiation across a broad market. The difficulty they face is how they might reposition themselves in a more focused way (focused differentiation) without reducing their market potential. They are also reluctant to be associated with a strategy of reduced prices, not necessarily because of their inability to drive down costs but more, perhaps, because of their concern that it might damage their market image. This raises questions about the viability of hybrid strategy. Arguably it is easier to move to a hybrid strategy from a low price strategy than it is from a non-price-based differentiation strategy; the latter may be perceived as a reduction in quality. There may also be a useful debate here about whether cost reduction is a viable competitive strategy. Recall that this is a strategy advocated by Michael Porter. Many organisations claim to concentrate on cost reduction as a strategy. The problem is that cost levels are not, in themselves, visible in the marketplace. What matters is whether the cost base allows delivery of lower prices (which are visible) or the maintenance of higher profit margins than those of competitors. To do either, cost advantages have to be sustainable and sufficient to ensure that competitors cannot match them. This is no easy matter. It would not be for Marks & Spencer or for Barclaycard, for example. †¢ †¢ Assignment 5. 3 Differentiation The purpose of this assignment is to establish whether students are able to explain the concept of differentiation, not only in terms of ‘being different’ or by citing the importance of route 4 in exhibit 5. 2, but rather in terms of, for example: †¢ That differentiation means both providing products or services valued by customers/users, and doing this in ways that are difficult to imitate. 84  © Pearson Education Limited 2005 Instructor’s Manual †¢ This is likely to be achieved by building on core competences of the organisation. However, the more perceptive students may point out that this is difficult to achieve and difficult to manage. So organisations may not be able to create bases of nonimitability readily. For other organisations differentiation may be achieved by being flexible or faster to respond in markets than competitors, but that this, too, is a function of the culture of the organisation. Students should therefore be able to make linkages between the concepts and differentiation explained in chapter 5 and linkages in the value chain (chapter 4) and organisational culture (chapter 5). Overall, however, perhaps the most important basis of successful differentiation is the ability of an organisation to understand customer needs and what is valued by the customer better than competitors: that there is a danger that differentiation is driven on technical grounds rather than by an awareness of customer needs. †¢ Assignment 5. 4 Competitive strategies in the public sector Care needs to be taken around terminology here, particularly because an explicit price mechanism may not exist in some public services. So, referring to exhibit 5. 2 in the text, in public services price may equate to unit cost since performance will be judged against the input of resources to supply the service. Bearing this in mind, the routes can be described as follows: †¢ Route 1, low cost/low value: this is the outcome that many claim has been inevitable with public spending cuts leading to the unattractive positioning of many public services as a service of last resort. Route 2: this is the real challenge for many public services, i. e. the need to maintain quality while achieving progressive efficiency gains and lower unit costs. It is what governments expect public sector services to achieve: hence ‘best value’ initiatives and the extensive use of benchmarking. Routes 4 and 5 are an alternative for some parts of public services, and would be described as a centre of excellence strategy. Indeed in some parts of the NHS (e. g. specialist units in hospitals or some hospitals themselves) it is the strategy pursued by managers and clinicians as a way of retaining talent and increasing their resource base in the face of cuts in unit costs from government. †¢ †¢ Of course there is an argument from some critics that the reason why route 1 occurs rather than route 2 in mainstream public services is because routes 4 and 5 take away resources and funding to elite parts (or geographical locations) of the service and jeopardise the resource base of more standard services. This has been called the ‘twotier’ public service. 85  © Pearson Education Limited 2005 Instructor’s Manual Assignment 5. 5 Sustainability The students should be encouraged to use the same principles of sustainability as were described in the commentary on illustration 5. 6. To take the examples of the organisations cited here students may be able to identify the following: †¢ Ryanair is following a low price strategy: the extent to which this is sustainable is very dependent on the way in which the low cost base is culturally embedded and maintained over time through a complex set of cost minimisation programmes and strategies. In fact, on the face of it, this may not be difficult to understand; but the experience gained in so doing may make it difficult to imitate. Ryanair has also built a reputation amongst a loyal set of customers, and this may also be a sustainable benefit, provided it is nurtured and not eroded. Thorntons has followed a differentiation strategy based on product features (ingredients, recipes, freshness), strong branding and packaging and control of its own outlets. Students should be asked to rate these features against the criteria for sustainability applied in illustration 5. 6. For example, can consumers really discern and measure ‘freshness’? †¢ Students should be encouraged to search for other examples in which they can provide explanations of sustainability, but also to question whether what they identify are truly sustainable bases. Assignment 5. 6 The limits of hypercompetitive strategies This assignment invites students to consider the extent to which the principles described in section 5. 5 on hypercompetition are relevant to only a few industries, or not at all. The conventional argument would be that sustainable competitive advantage is achievable provided the sort of factors that determine sustainability can be met. So, again, students may wish to refer back to section 5. 4 for a discussion of the basis of sustainability. Students may readily identify some markets in which these factors do not appear to pertain. However, they may also identify others in which such factors apparently should pertain, yet in which hypercompetition seems to prevail. For example, presumably hightechnology companies could claim the benefits of complexity, perhaps causal ambiguity, and potentially embedded competences as intangible assets and cospecialisation. Yet the evidence is that hypercompetition prevails in such industries. Students may therefore recognise that the explanations given in section 5. 5 – i. e. that firms are able to overcome traditional bases of competitive advantage – seem to hold true even when there may be apparent bases of sustainability. If this is so, to what extent 86  © Pearson Education Limited 2005 Instructor’s Manual does it potentially apply to all industries? This is the claim made by Richard D’Aveni: that we are moving into hypercompetitive times, and that the old principles of sustainability may not hold. Assignment 5. 7 Hypercompetition in context This assignment invites students to examine a particular industry that might not normally be associated with hypercompetition, to consider the extent to which the conditions of hypercompetition may be becoming more and more evident. Banking is given as an example here. Others could be accountancy, car manufacturing, insurance, etc. The main points that might be drawn out could include: †¢ †¢ †¢ the extent to which cycles of competition seem to be speeding up, with shorter and shorter life cycles of products and services the difficulties of sustaining bases of advantage on price or differentiation the difficulties of sustaining first mover advantage or first entry into new markets as competitors find ways of overcoming or circumventing scale and experience curve benefits the difficulties of holding on to strongholds or reliance ‘deep pockets’ in the face of strategies and tactics of erosion by competition the deliberate search by companies to attack the competitive position of competitors in markets that were once too ‘gentlemanly’ to do so. †¢ †¢ Assignment 5. 8 Cooperation rather than competition Students should draw on the general principles explained in section 5. , which point to the circumstances in which cooperative strategies make sense. For example: â⠂¬ ¢ †¢ †¢ Buyer-seller collaboration is a key element of Formula 1, where manufacturers see motor racing as a way of developing their own technologies. Collaboration of buyers of pharmaceutical goods to increase buying power. There are many examples of competitors who collaborate to increase their market or competitive power. Not least is this the case in lobbying governments for changes 87  © Pearson Education Limited 2005 Instructor’s Manual that facilitate entry and power in markets. This would be applicable within both the pharmaceutical and Formula 1 industries. Co-production with customers is beginning to happen in markets such as pharmaceuticals, where pharmaceutical firms faced with increased buying power are finding ways of working with government buying agencies and doctors to increase efficiency or reduce cost of treatment. Collaboration in Formula 1 also includes one team providing services for another (e. g. McLaren providing marketing services for T yrrell); collaboration over shared suppliers (Jaguar, Benetton and Williams all use Michelin tyres and share data); and engineers and mechanics all know each other and informally help each other out in particular circumstances. †¢ Assignment 5. 9 Game theory The purpose of this assignment is to encourage students to read more extensively on the principles of game theory (e. g. by reading Dixit and Nalebuff in the key readings). Students should be encouraged to think through how some of the examples and situations discussed in that book (or other books on game theory) could be applied to issues of competitive strategy of organisations. Specific references are made to sections of the Dixit and Nalebuff book in exhibits 5. 6 and 5. 7. Integrative assignment 5. 10 This assignment is designed to ensure that students see the connection between the issues of sustainable competitive advantage (sections 5. 4. 1 and 5. 4. 2) and the concept of core competences (section 3. 2. 3). It also makes a further connection with the impact of IT on core competences, and hence on sustainable competitive advantage, as discussed in section 9. 3. 1. For example: †¢ A low price strategy might be sustained by core competences in managing cost efficiency in the distribution chain. But this advantage could be destroyed by competitors who develop new IT-based business models selling directly to final consumers over the internet at much reduced prices (made possible by considerably lower costs). Similarly a differentiation strategy might be underpinned by core competences such as professional knowledge. But this is undermined as customers start to gain this knowledge themselves from the internet. So a new relationship needs to be forged with customers to take advantage of the professional knowledge. The relationship needs to ‘move up a gear’ so that the more knowledgeable customer starts to seek advice rather than just information. †¢ 88 Pearson Education Limited 2005 Instructor’s Manual Integrative assignment 5. 11 This assignment requires students to apply the key requirements for lock-in (exhibit 5. 3) to an international development strategy (section 6. 3). Specifically students need to understand how that particular basis for an inte rnational strategy would be achieved in terms of both directions and methods of development (sections 7. 2 and 7. 3). Here are some points against the four bullet points of exhibit 5. 3: †¢ Size and market dominance. If this is to be achieved internationally it is necessary to understand the nature of the market in terms of the degree of globalisation that exists. So for globalised markets (like computer software) Microsoft has had to create coverage in all major markets of the world. In contrast, in less globalised markets lock-in could be achieved region-by-region. In these circumstances decisions on the sequence of market entry would need to be guided by the issues discussed in section 6. 3. A requirement for dominance would favour internal development of new markets and/or ruthless acquisition of competitors to gain sufficient market share. First mover advantages. This clearly dictates the need for product development internally to be ahead of competitors. Alternatively if partners are used the relationships will need to be exclusive – to deny competitors access. Reinforcement. The creation of an industry standard needs conditions to be created where it is in the interests of all competitors to adopt the standard rather than compete with it. Strategies of heavily funded product development may do this as competitors become unable to match the R&D spend. For international development it is clearly important to establish an international standard – undermining regional differences. So the development method must reinforce the standard – for example by creating ‘registered users’. Rigorous enforcement. This would have a strong influence on the choice of markets – favouring those where legal protections of intellectual property are strong and respected. Similarly choice of partners is absolutely crucial – again the idea of ‘registered users’ might apply. †¢ †¢ †¢ Case example Madonna: The reign of the queen of pop (notes prepared by Phyl Johnson, University of Strathclyde) This case study was chosen as a way of getting students to explore the principles of both sustainability and hypercompetition. It is useful to focus initially on the question of her sustained high profile and success as a performer over so many years. However, her recent success is questionable; this allows for a focus on the long-term sustainability of strategies themselves and a debate as to viability hypercompetitive strategies. 89  © Pearson Education Limited 2005 Instructor’s Manual The main points that might be emphasised are these in terms of the questions asked: Question 1 The strategy pursued by Madonna can be explained both in terms of a generic competitive strategy and in terms of principles of hypercompetitive strategies. Clearly she has sought to differentiate herself throughout her career. This has taken different forms, as the case explains, but there has been an underlying theme of the ‘independent woman’ throughout. What has varied has been the different personas within this. Students could debate whether or not these have been pitched at particular ‘market segments’ and in this sense represent focused differentiation; or the extent to which they are simply tactical bases of differentiating herself from imitators and followers. Another interpretation would fit with explanations of hypercompetitive strategies. Many of the principles outlined in section 5. 5. 4 seem to apply. Each persona is temporary; each one is very different from the last; she seems to move on to a different image even while being successful in her last one; they are not predictable changes; they can be surprising, even shocking. Her latest persona as children’s author and spiritual follower challenges this in that it has in fact been sustained over a period and is far from shocking. At one stage in the press (June 2004) it was even reported she was changing her name to Esther as part of her Kabbalah faith. †¢ The Madonna case therefore illustrates that the idea of hypercompetition is not necessarily contradictory to the idea of generic basis of competition. It might be possible to be differentiated in a hypercompetitive way. Think about links to questions 2 and 3 here, that is, the most recent events allow for the questioning of the long-term sustainability of hypercompetition itself. Question 2 This question invites students to consider the basis of sustainability in this context. Students might wish to ask which principles of sustainability hold. They should see that a number do: †¢ †¢ Madonna appears to have capabilities and competences (intangible assets) of innovation and flexibility. The pop industry has learned to work with her, and in this sense they have developed a mutual co-specialised dependence; so it looks to promote her interests given her track record. Certainly it is difficult to predict where she will move next, or how she is successful (causal ambiguity). †¢ 90  © Pearson Education Limited 2005 Instructor’s Manual Question 3 This question invites students to question these bases of sustainability. The strategy does not seem to be vulnerable to others imitating it since it is difficult for them to understand or predict what they would be imitating. But students might argue that it is surely a risky strategy as she seeks to second-guess the nature of the market and make so many changes to her image. They are likely to argue that the risk is market acceptance. If so, how would they explain the continued success given so many changes over so many years? Has the formula for success run out of steam? And if so why? 91  © Pearson Education Limited 2005