Case 5-3 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Case 5-3 - Assignment Example After inspecting the roof, Joel requested Don to seal a deal that would see Joel’s company replace Don’s roof. The author describes this technique in chapter 16 and its efficiency in promoting sales. Joel’s use of the foot-in-the-door technique may be considered as manipulative because he begins by proposing a small request to Don, which he is sure that Don cannot decline. Don is committed to maintaining his home and he would benefit immensely from the inspection of his roof by an expert. Therefore, he easily gives into Joel’s request. However, Joel utilizes Don’s compliance to manipulate him further so that they can discuss the roof’s condition and that he may introduce his company’s offer. Without a doubt, Joel calculates his moves effectively to ensure that Don easily closes the deal allowing the company to replace his roof (p. 342). Without a doubt, Joel uses the technique to evoke the emotions of Don a factor that may contribute to him accepting the offer blindly. As Chapter 16 highlights, manipulative sales representatives are more likely to use this technique. Chapter 16 gives attention to vulnerable consumers, but highlights that the vulnerability of consumers may be defined in various ways. The chapter reveals that elderly consumers are more likely to exhibit high levels of vulnerability, which is exploited by sales representatives. If a sales representatives recognizes that a consumer is vulnerable, he or she takes the advantage of such vulnerability and influences their purchasing decisions. From a superficial point of view Don seems to be a vulnerable consumer because of the value he attaches to his home and the commitment he has to maintain his home in perfect condition (p. 343). However, a deeper analysis of the situation reveals that he has little knowledge about roofing and that he is unable to inspect his roof regularly. His lack of sufficient knowledge about Roofing serves as a point of vulnerability. However,

Juvenile's Competance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Juvenile's Competance - Essay Example Overall, the sample size consisted of 927 adolescents in juvenile detention facilities and community settings who were compared to 466 young adults in jails and in the community. There were four sites selected also using the criteria mentioned above. Two evaluation methods, which have their own focus, were used in the study. To assess criminal defendant's abilities to participate in their defense, the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool-Criminal Adjudication (MacCAT12CA) was used. The instrument's items included Understanding, Reasoning and Appreciation where their answers are scored according to a set of criteria established by the authors of the instrument. Although the instrument has been successfully applied in determining the competency of adults to participate in their trial and is widely used by forensic mental health professionals, this was the first time it was used on youths. Since this is the case, we may very well speculate that the tool may produce flawed results. The second method was the MacArthur Judgment Evaluation (MacJEN) used to examine the existence and degree of judgment immaturity especially the potential relation between immaturity and choices that defendants make in the course of adjudication.

What Problems Face Historians History Essay

What Problems Face Historians History Essay History may be the past but the reflections on that past and the different mediums that inform and shape us about the past must be examined for their veracity and usefulness. These documents and sources present the historian with many problems as they are often used as a cumulative examination of a period under study. Yet what are the difficulties that are inherent in these sources and testimonies. Both primary and secondary sources contain pitfalls that can trap and blind the historian in his pursuit of historical accuracy. The veracity of the particular source, the motives behind the source and the origins of the evidence are all concerns for the historian. In conjunction with these problems can be the temptation to subsume personal and contemporary reports and evidence for the purposes of a grander and more wide-ranging historical narrative. Hew Strachan believes that hindsight can disfigure and reduce the essence of history. Hindsight refers to the ability to understand an event or situation only after it has happened  [i]  1and Strachan believes that this can imbue the historian with an arrogant view of those who did not see the bigger picture or understand the deeper motives behind historical events. Does this have some truth and if so can it distort history to such a degree that it almost erases the individual struggle or achievement? Or does this problem exist merely within a wider spectrum of historical concerns? History must be about balance so is a merging of both the personal and the panoramic possible? Strachan writes that hindsight distorts history through fostering arrogance. In his book The First World War he talks of the fact that just because other ideas and ideologies seem foreign to us, this does not deny their charge for those who went to war in 1914  [ii]  so therefore this muting of the past does not push us to understand it merely obfuscates the truth. Yet what is history, but an attempt to see the grander picture and how ideas fit into individual histories and testimonies. The primary sources that are around for historical examination bring with them not just their face value but an attempt to recreate the conceits and facets behind them. In 1946 Ellen Hammer wrote in an article on Americas relations with the Vichy government that throughout the war information filtered into neutral capitals but only on the spot sources could report with any authority  [iii]  , but just how problematic are these on the spot accounts? It is certainly true that primary sources retain an immediacy and relevance that is difficult to ignore. It is through letters, diaries and newspapers that we have built up much of our knowledge of the First World War. Without these sources we would be dependent on fractious second-hand testimony or oral traditions resplendent with hyperbole. For the historian it is necessary to look at the facts behind the facts. The researcher must certainly avail himself of hindsight and retrospection but must not allow themselves to become victims of them. Isaac Deutscher wrote that the historian deals with fixed and irreversible patterns of events; all weapons have already been fired  [iv]  and as the historical inquiry gathers pace the historian is aware that he is surveying a spent battlefield but how accurate are the bullets he has examined? There is perhaps nothing more alive in the consciousness of Europe than the concerted attempt to exterminate European Jewry by the Nazis during the Second World War. According to Gilbert in his study of the subject merely to give witness by ones own testimony was, in the end, to contribute to a moral victory. Simply to survive was a victory  [v]  and it is a testament to the human condition that so many survived. These terrible events have continued to be explored in witness accounts and literature and another event that has been extensively written about has been the Great or First World War. The last remaining survivor of that conflagration recently passed away so now that the survivors have died out and can no longer contribute to their own victories, will future generations have their knowledge shaped by hindsight and retrospection when it comes to those times? It is important to note that both hindsight and retrospection can give us many valuable lessons on historical experience. Dr Johnson wrote that when a design has ended in marriage or success, when every eye and every ear is witness to general discontent or general satisfaction, it is then a proper time to disentangle confusion and illustrate obscurity  [vi]  2and it is within this statement that a major part of the rationale behind history can be identified. Although the canvas of history is vast, the minutiae helps build up the overall picture and hence hindsight aids that process as well as retrospection. There are certain elements in any event that are not known and cannot possibly be known at the time of the event. At the end of the Great War who could have known that the aftermath would provide the bedrock for the Soviet Union and force a reluctant United States onto the world stage  [vii]  but these were the consequences of that conflict, although not recognized in thei r scope at the time. The problem that the historian faces is that this knowledge can give special onus to events that had none and rob other events of their posterity. However, how can we disentangle and illustrate without letting individual values and beliefs, perhaps vastly removed from those we are studying, intrude on the historians research? This is what Strachan talks of when he mentions the disadvantages of hindsight. Kenneth Baker writes that memory plays tricks with the past, events are sometimes remembered only in part  [viii]  3and in todays contemporary media saturated society, it may seem strange to consider just how diverse and varied accounts of the past were. Yet this removal from the events that unfolded can give us, real and imagined distance, between the understanding and interpretation. The two biggest conflagrations of the twentieth century, both World Wars, are probably two of the most written about subjects in history. Their respective arcs spanned the globe and brought devastation and change to many aspects of peoples lives. However, their documenting and recording throw up countless testimonies and accounts of those times which are not always possible to examine with straight forward simplicity. One of the first problems that the historian is presented with is the sheer dearth of material that is available. Fest writes that once in a while it is necessary for the chronicler to put aside his magnifying glass. For the way things fit together has a significance of its own and can give us information that no mere examination of details can  [ix]  but this chronicle involves thousands upon thousands of minute details that are its integral parts. The motivations and recollections of those at the time as well as their possessions and other sources can easily be brushed aside as hindsight condemns them to the undergrowth of history. After Austria-Hungarys declaration of war on Serbia, accounts have been written of the jubilation that greeted the announcement. The joy and euphoria may have been real but despite the later disillusionment with the war, this does not mean we can learn nothing from that day. These testimonies are still valid and tell us more about attitudes to war th an about the war itself. The temptation for the historian is to conclude that the destruction of WW1 shows how the enthusiasm evaporated but up until the very end, there were those who embraced the war. Adolf Hitler, then an obscure corporal speaks of the war years as the greatest and most unforgettable time of my earthly existence  [x]  but despite what we know about Hitlers later life and his absent moral compass, this testimony is still relevant because of its immediacy. The combination of personal and professional in the recollections and remembrances of participants can add interesting texture and nuance to historical investigation. Strachan writes in his book on the Great War about Conrad Von Hotzendorff, the Austrian Chief of the General Staff and of how Hotzendorff was in love with a married woman. Hotzendorff saw a triumphant return from the battlefield as an integral part of gaining acceptability for this relationship and Strachan writes that Conrads response to Franz Ferdinands assassination was more visceral than rational  [xi]  . This highlights an important problem when dealing with sources. The actions and motivations of participants can seem indicative of one course of action but this motivation can contain a number of individual facets and aims. As well as the difficulty of gleaning motive, testimonies and documents of the period can fall victim to retrospective thinking. The particular feelings and emotions of a person can undergo transformation as time flows and if that particular person is not around at that moment, then the historians interpretation could be colored by emotions that only resurfaced at a present time. The human condition is so multi-faceted that it constantly fluctuates and seeks to change into a particular set of perceptions that are prevalent at the time. The actions and thoughts of individuals also present problems when constructing historical timelines as they are often belied by diplomatic effort and political reflection. Strachan again writes of the events leading up to the Great War that the experience of earlier crises had conditioned statesman to put events in the broader context of European international relations  [xii]  and this goes in tandem with subjective testimonies related by individuals or groups. Richard J Evans argues that the historians questions should be formulated not by some present theory but from the historical sources themselves  [xiii]  which leads to the observation that whose history is being recorded? The emphasis on high politics and political history has a tendency to negate the other factors that can determine events. In the case of primary sources, the testimonies of survivors can be brushed off as subjective ruminations that incorporate too much personal experience. It is the major players in the games of politics and power, the elite, which therefore can and must be relied on because they are the ones who were in the driving seat. This rationale takes on the very characteristics of the people it reveres as it reduces history to an elite club of statesmen and hierarchies whose actions were the engine in world history. Yet a solitary emphasis on the actions of the people or social history can be just as exclusivist. Much of the writing on the First World War concerns the massive loss of life during the military campaigns of The Somme and Ypres and in this sense it can give a picture of an event being merely the sum of its battles and military maneuvers. Yet Strachan writes of the Home Front that at the end of 1917, the British people were desperately tired  [xiv]  and Gilbert observes all over Europe, and in every country that had sent men to fight in Europe, the memorials to those who had been killed were being designed and put in place  [xv]  so any reliance on one type of source of history can in Johnsons words obfuscate and hide the greater picture. The reason for statements and articulations also have to be taken into account when considering historical evidence and never more so than when considered in a war situation. The Great War threw up some such examples of this practice. It is natural in wartime to seek to demonstrate how much of a threat the enemy is. Strachan uses this example in his book citing the Governor of Bosnia in 1914 as saying of the Serbs that towards such a population all humanity and all kindness are out of place  [xvi]  and this can be contrasted with Hitlers utterances to his Generals during the Second World War regarding the Russians and Jews. Propaganda and the uses that particular pieces of testimony were created for can create an obstacle in tackling historical sources. Stanley Weintraub writes in his book Silent Night, which deals with the Christmas truce of 1914 that for rival governments, for which war was politics conducted by persuasive force, it was imperative to make even temporary peace unappealing and workable  [xvii]  which for todays Western governments seems even more callous than war itself. Politicians of all persuasions unite to cite how this episode was a call to arms for us all and how in the madness of war, sanity was temporarily regained. This is in itself an example of both hindsight and retrospection. The ideals that were being fought for during that war were those of liberalism against force, freedom versus tyranny and since those ideas have been won for a majority of the world, it is seen as an episode of hope amidst war. This may be true but it was these exact governments that frowned upon this truce at the time and now in retrospect see its benefits. Thus, in some measure history can be distorted. Weintraub goes on to write that this impromptu truce seemed dangerously akin to the populist politics of the streets, the spontaneous movements that topple tyrants and autocrats  [xviii]  and one does not need to go far to see just how Strachan might be right in writing of hindsight as arrogance. The not too distant past saw a sitting government ignore the protests and cries of its people during the recent Iraq debacle. Once again it seems that the lessons of history are that those in power know best. It is important to remember that much of the sources that we have from the end of World War One were from captured documents but most importantly from the views of the Allies themselves, the victors. In such an environment it is possible for particular viewpoints to emerge that reinforce such origins. Wohlsetter writes that after the crisis, memories fade and recriminations take their place  [xix]  and this underscores much of what we know of our own history. The aftermath of both wars saw the division of Europe into different spheres of interest and thus once again the victors to an extent dictated the course of history. This use of sources could take place within the sphere of Eurocentrism. Nordenbo describes this as an historical point of view which perceives modernity, first and foremost as a unique modern European invention  [xx]  , a construct which sees the West as the leader in civilization and invention and the rest of the world as a kind of other. This Europe appears to non-Europeans as a land of milk and honey, a promised land and certainly contains the seeds of a European hegemonic system. Edward Said writes in his thesis Orientalism about the construction of this other. It is contained in Marxs maxim that they cannot represent themselves, so they must be represented and Said argues that to the West, the Orient is an other-worldly realm peopled by exotic, hedonistic infidels  [xxi]  and though dealing with the Orient this can be transposed to the examination of sources. It is possible because of the difficulty of obtaining documents in many places to merely stereotype and generalize using Western maxims and rationales. The problems of translation from other languages can also impede investigation and again ties in with this idea of Eurocentrism, that English lexicons and idioms are the natural record of history. To maintain this thought system is to deliver an irrevocable blow to the historical mindset. Hindsight also relies on the process of causation. This links a series of causes and sketches a rough timeline between events. This can blur the line between reality and impression. It is sometimes asserted that the Treaty of Versailles and its perceived harshness was instrumental in causing the Second World War. This was not the only factor and its overall impact can be negated. Several other factors must be considered, such as Hitlers own personal bent and drive, the expansionist drive of the German military and political elite and the notion of a Messianic savior, a Strong Man, destined to lead Germany to greatness. It is possible to agree with Strachan that hindsight does breed arrogance. The ideas and realities of contemporary life are quite removed from the realities of yesteryear. It is the job of the historian to make sense of these past times and draw conclusions and lessons from them. This can be problematic as the sources are as rich and varied as the events that shaped them. There is arrogance in history, people find it hard to laud and identify people who gave themselves for ideals and causes, and hence label them with contemporary judgments However just as hindsight does not give us the complete picture, so not all historical investigation is tainted by this thinking. The problems and difficulties of looking at sources are myriad and sometimes frustrating but only through careful sifting and collaboration of method can we attain that knowledge of the past that so informs the historians rumination on the present.

Edward Zwicks Film, Glory Essay -- Zwick Films Movies Glory Essays

Edward Zwick's Film, Glory â€Å"Glory†, the excellent war film about the first black regime, showed how a group of black men who first found bitterness between each other, rose above it and became one to form a group of black men that marched with pride not animosity. When dealing with a great film that involves African Americans, the roles have to be filled by strong black actors. Edward Zwick falls nothing short of this. The two black roles are filled by Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman. This war film seemed to be just like every other war film. Meaning that mostly all war movies have the singing among troops and playing cards or in this case, craps. This helps the viewer see past the soldier, and see the real person and notice their human as well. This paper will show how Zwick used different characters, racial wars, music, and camera to portray what really goes on during a time of war.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In â€Å"Glory† there are very different meanings to all the unique characters. Matthew Broderick, who plays Colonel Shaw, has many different meanings behind his character. The opening scene when he is lying on the battlefield he is feeling like he is in a living hell. When he is awakened the next morning, the first thing he sees is the sun. The sun looks like a narrow path of light, maybe resembling new life. Colonel Shaw, believing he was in a living hell, was awakened by a new heaven. Shaw, believing that he should of also died for his country, takes the responsibility of leading the first black regime and going back to the living hell for where he once was. Denzel Washington plays the next character, Private Trip. Trip is the rebel of the crew and talks like he has been through everything. Throughout the film, Zwick emphasizes Trip’s feet, which are badly scared, bruised, and cut. The bruised feet symbolize the journey that he has gone through si nce the age of twelve when he first ran away from home. This is very deep because since the age of twelve he has been on his own and there had to be bigger battles to fight than the war he was in getting himself into at the time. The feet also symbolize all the training that the troops are doing and they are not being rewarded with proper attire such as uniforms. The third main character is Sergeant Major John Rawlins played by Morgan Freeman. He at first is part of the regime and then is appointed Sergeant. He is the i... ...stage and the troops being on the ground, this shows that Shaw has the power over them and that the troops are inferior to him. Throughout the movie Shaw is on and off his horse. When he is on his horse doesn’t talk to the soldiers and when he does the camera angle shows him looking down, again showing more power. When off the horse he talks to the troops and treats them as not only troops but also as human beings the camera now is at conversation level, showing that Shaw and the troops are both there for the same purpose which is war.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Glory† is an excellent movie not only on the screen but also behind the scenes. A better understanding is developed when the movie is watched from a critical point of view. There is a better understanding of the racial issues and how Zwick portrays the white and black issues by the different positions of the camera. Zwick shows an incredible camera view at the end when they all are one running for the fort and all the racial issues are erased. There is no better movie to review when you have to look behind the scene and get the true meaning, and in â€Å"Glory† the war against each other is erased and the unity rises above all negative issues.

James Joyce †A Little Cloud (in: Dubliners) Essay

A Little Cloud has not generated significant critical debate, despite Warren Beck’s unorthodox interpretation of the denouement in 1969. Chandler’s relationship with his son – not with his wife Annie or journalist/ friend Gallaher – could be the crucial, epiphanal element of the story – Joyce portraying a father who is just beginning to ‘learn [†¦] what the heart is and what it feels’ (A Portrait 252), a man whose conscience is awakened, despite his flaws. However, scholars have generally agreed that the ineffectual protagonist abuses his infant son and refuses to take responsibility for his own shortcomings. The story ends with the following paragraph: ‘Little Chandler felt his cheeks suffused with shame and he stood back out of the lamplight. He listened while the paroxysm of the child’s sobbing grew less and less: and tears of remorse started to his eyes.’ (81) Though it’s likely that Chandler is genui nely sorry for having frightened his son, most Joyceans insist that the protagonist cries out of self-pity, that his ‘epiphany’, if he does experience one, is egocentric – of a man who may dream and suffer but who will never ‘produce’. Except for Beck, many veteran Joyce scholars affirm that A Little Cloud develops the famous ‘paralysis’-theme and that it complements, in tone and circumstance, the other pieces which precede the final story, The Dead. Walzl believes that ‘The Dead seems to reverse the pattern of increasing insensibility that Dubliners other-wise traces’ and that no one prior to Gabriel, the protagonist, ‘undergoes a com-parable change or has such an enlightenment’. Similarly, Ghiselin suggests that A Little Cloud fits into the over-all schema of Dubliners by representing the sin of envy. Ruoff asserts that the story ‘describes a would-be artist’s pathetic failure to transcend a narrow existence of his own creation’, and Bernard Benstock’s inter-pretation mentions that Chandler ‘regresses to adolescent self-pity’. Indeed, all focus on Chandler’s ‘sloth, his cowardice, his self-delusion, and his final rage and humiliation’ assert that he is ‘shamed, not ashamed’. But what with Joyce’s use of ‘remorse’? Probably the most important reason for assuming that Chandler is not enlightened by his experience involves several of Joyce’s own statements. A Little Cloud was written in the early months of 1906, when Joyce was 23 and the father of a six-month-old son, Giorgio. But In 1904, speaking about Dubliners, he had told a friend that he wanted ‘to betray the soul of that hemiplegia or paralysis which many consider a city’ (Letters 55). Another frequently quoted letter asserts, ‘It is not my fault that the odour of ashpits and old weeds and offal hangs round my stories’ (Letters 63-64). The combination of ‘paralysis’ and ‘odour’, then, while justified by many details in the works themselves, may have also clouded our perception of scattered, positive sensations which some of the pieces generate. As Gillespie argues, ‘The opinion that this [negative] attitude dominates the final form of the stories [†¦] oversimplifies Joyce’s emotional attitude toward his country and unjustly circumscribes the artistic potential of the work’. Similarly, Garrison observes that ‘Joyce’s explicit statements concerning his artistic intentions in Dubliners are not very useful as a basis for interpretation’. Although Joyce’s defense of his work provided us with an opportunity to clarify his intent, it probably was not meant to narrowly limit or define our reactions as readers. If Joyce at least partially intended the final story, The Dead, as a tribute to the more positive aspects of Dublin culture (Letters II 166), it is not unreasonable to discern a hint of this attitude in A Little Cloud. Joyce once told his sister, ‘The most important thing that can happen to a man is the birth of a child’, and since his only son and first-born child was about six months old when A Little Cloud was begun in the early months of 1906, life circumstances are relevant to this discussion. But such issues do not necessarily help us interpret the story, for Joyce might, after all, have been drawing a portrait of an unfit father. Reviewing the story’s link to A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man while examining information about the young writer should enrich our understanding of his state of mind, reveal key similarities and differences between Joyce and his protagonist, and test the validity of an alternate reading of this story. In general, Chandler’s disposition is melancholic, ‘but it [is] a melancholy tempered by recurrences of faith and resignation and simple joy’ (68). He is fastidious about his appearance and, probably, careful about his work even though he finds it ‘tiresome’ (65). Joyce also emphasizes Little Chandler’s shortcomings throughout the story. He lives in a ‘little house’, reads by a ‘little lamp’, drinks ‘small whiskies’, displays ‘childish white front teeth’, and is given ‘short answers’ by his prim wife. Joyce invites us to imagine an ordinary man, still capable of a dream, but ruled by circumstances and his own, considerable inadequacies. Joyce employs important imagery which firmly links this story to central Joycean themes: ‘[T]he thought that a poetic moment had touched him took life within him like an infant hope [†¦] A light began to tremble on the horizon of his mind. He was not so old–thirty-two’ (68, emphasis added). Linking ‘infant hope’ with ‘a light’ so early in this story hints at Joyce’s lifelong interest in the ‘consubstantiation’ of father and son as well as procreation in the literary sense (Ulysses 32, 155). By the time Joyce wrote A Little Cloud, both physical and artistic generation had become realities. Of course, the reader soon realizes that Chandler won’t succeed, despite his ‘soul’, for he is not original and hopes to capitalize on popular trends, although he realistically admits that ‘he will never be popular’ and hopes only to ‘appeal to a little circle of kindred minds’ (68). Recalling Joyce’s claim in 1904 that only ‘two or three unfortunate wretches [†¦] may eventually read me’ (Ellmann 163) offers an interesting echo. The location of Chandler’s poetic ‘mood’ is also relevant, for it may be based on one of Joyce’s own experiences. A similar incident occurs at a pivotal point in A Portrait. In Chapter 4, Joyce presents a rare interaction between the protagonist, Stephen Dedalus, and his brothers and sisters during the family tea. Structurally, this scene occurs at an important juncture. Immediately preceding the epiphany of ‘profane joy’ which Stephen experiences on the beach while watching a girl wading, this episode also follows the interview with the religious director of his school, after which Stephen decides not to become a priest. As he walks home to a squalid, over-crowded house, interesting parallels to A Little Cloud occur. Like Chandler, he crosses a bridge, symbolically connected to opposing attractions, but clearly, like Chandler, moving toward a new possibility. Stephen notices a shrine to the Virgin which is ‘in the middle of a hamshaped e ncampment of poor cottages’ (162). Unlike Chandler, however, Stephen does not romanticize the image, for he actually lives here, and he laughs to think of the man ‘considering in turn the four points of the sky and then regretfully plunging his spade in the earth’ (162). Without even a hint of rain, the man must begin work. The cloud image in this scene of Portrait is intentionally delayed. Stephen, the university student, then enters his home and finds his brothers and sisters seated at the table. He realizes the contrast between his privileged position as the eldest son and theirs: ‘The sad quiet greyblue of the dying day came through the window and the open door, covering over and allaying quietly a sudden instinct of remorse in Stephen’s heart. All that had been denied them had been freely given to him, the eldest: but the quiet glow of evening showed him in their faces no sign of rancour.’ (163) After one of his sisters, who is as nameless as Chandler’s son, tells him that the family has once again been evicted, her similarly unnamed little brother begins to sing. The others join in, and Stephen thinks, ‘They would sing so for hours [†¦] till the last pale light died down on the horizon, till the first dark nightclouds came forth and night fell’ (163). But Joyce does not end Stephen’s musings on a negative note, just as he does not seem to end A Little Cloud with a protagonist who pities himself more than his screaming son. Stephen remembers ‘that Newman had heard this note also [†¦] giving utterance, like the voice of Nature herself, to that pain and weariness yet hope of better things which has been the experience of her children in every time.’ (164). Despite their circumstances, the children sing. Faced with the guilt of primacy, the oldest son is forgiven by his brothers and sisters. Again, Stephen’s vision is superior to Chandler’s. He will retain the mood of this experience, be more receptive to future encounters, and sustain an ethos which will allow him to reject home and family to pursue an artist’s life, perhaps with a family of his own making. Stephen is an artist; Chandler only longs to be one. However, in a collection of stories which includes a series of married men who beat children (Mr. Hill in Eveline, Farrington of Counterparts, and Old Jack of Ivy Day in the Committee Room), Chandler faces the truth about himself after merely shouting at his son. His experience prepares us for Gabriel’s, just as the family tea prepares us for the strongest epiphany of Portrait. And, although Joyce would work as a clerk in Rome a few months after mailing A Little Cloud off to the publisher and felt superior to his fellow employees who ‘were forever having something wrong with their testicles†¦ or their anuses’, Chandler, unlike them, is fastidious about his manners and appearance and at least longs for an artist’s life. The first portion of A Little Cloud also reminds us of Joyce’s sentimental, poetic temperament while living in Paris as a medical student from December 1902 until April 1903, wh en he was called home because of his mother’s illness. Stanislaus reports, ‘He told me that often when he had no money and had had nothing to eat he used to walk about reciting to himself for consolation, like ‘Little Chandler’ in Dubliners, his own poems or others he knew by heart or things he happened to be writing then.’ (My Brother’s 231-21) All three have an opennesss to life and desire and are willing to ‘struggle against fortune’. Through the encounter with Gallaher, Chandler appears provincial, timid, curious about ‘immoral’ sexual practices, but he definitely emerges as the better human being, and inches the reader toward sympathy. We can safely assume that, whatever Chandler’s weaknesses, Joyce had an even lower opinion of Gallaher, letting Chandler considering himself superior ‘in birth and education’. (75) Unlike O’Hara, a character in the story who fails because of ‘boose’ and ‘other things’ (70), Chandler is abstemious, employed, married, and a parent (unlike most of the Irish middle class, which was experiencing tremendous economic hardships and either postponed marriage or abandoned it altogether). On the other hand, the reader experiences Gallaher’s inflated ego and patronizing attitude toward ‘dear dirty Dublinâ€⠄¢ and toward his friend. Incapable of the kind of wit which might successfully redeem his position, Chandler is ultimately defeated; however, our sympathies lie not with the victor but with the young clerk and father. Gallaher may have had the ability to ‘fly by [the] nets [†¦] of nationality, language, religion’, an aim to which the protagonist of Joyce’s next major work aspires (A Portrait 203), but he is little more than a bragging, rude scribbler in the worst Swiftian sense. A new notion in the Dubliners tales is that escape from Ireland does not necessarily equal salvation. ‘If you wanted to succeed you had to get away’, Little Chandler thinks, echoing the thoughts of the boy in An Encounter (‘real adventures . . . must be sought abroad’). And yet Gallaher, who got away, has succeeded in only the most superficial sense. Despite having seen London, Paris and heard talk of Berlin, he is shallow, boorish, and alone. The story reveals that Chandler, however remote from being either a poet or the ‘old hero’ which Gallaher initially calls him, remains physically and morally the more appealing character. Still, Chandler himself probably feels anything but heroic, and during the gap between scenes, we imagine him returning, deflated, to his family. Like the dog viewing his reflection in the pond, Chandler drops his bone in envy of Gallaher’s, preferring the exotic narrative not of his own experience. His mood at the beginning of the final scene in the story is reflective, self-pitying, and, ultimately, enraged. However, the intensity of his son’s suffering (‘If it died!’) and the coldness of his wife’s accusation eventually result in unselfish shame and genuine contrition. Chandler’s dreams complement, not dominate, his daily world. Allusion was a serious business in Joyce’s creative paradigm. Despite the irony of a ‘candle-maker’ or ‘candle-seller’ as a failed artist, Little Tommy Chandler’s tears suggest that he has turned from the worship of a false god (Gallaher and, perhaps, Romanticism) to the true religion of hearth and home through the unconscious intervention of his son as savior, as ‘little lamb of the world’. The final clause of the story, ‘tears of remorse started to his eyes’, is precise. Joyce does not write ‘tears of self-pity’; nor does he promote ambiguity by merely saying ‘tears started to his eyes’. When Chandler ‘back[s] out of the lamplight’, he passes the torch to the next generation, genuinely contrite. Unlike Gallaher, Stephen Dedalus, and Joyce himself, Chandler will remain in Dublin, return to his daily tasks, and pay off the furniture. Yet, he may also foster the growth of an artist. He is, indeed, ‘a prisoner for life’, but the prison walls offer the hope of graffiti, for the child represents creativity as well as responsibility, and the story offers an early treatment of a central Joycean theme.

Ethical Issues in International Software Development Essay

International software development is generally defined as the software work undertaken at geographically separated locations across national boundaries in a coordinated manner. As a distinctive strategy to save on the costs by relocating some of the software developing units in other countries/ regions, outsourcing has gained momentum during the last two decade or so. Globalisation has made it possible for companies to easily gain access to markets and resources around the world. With countries like India and China adopting liberal policies in order to attract investments from abroad, it has become quite convenient for multinational companies to tap the pool of resources at very low costs as compared to the costs in US, Germany, UK, France etc. While analysing the growth of outsourcing during the last 10-15 years, Farrell (2006), the Director of McKinsey Global Institute, states that the vast majority of the offshore service jobs have gone to a limited few locations in India, Eastern Europe, and Russia. Outsourcing: Intensely debated and discussed on many forums The issue comes into sharp focus during the recent presidential elections in US when both the rival groups led by Barack Obama and John McCain started assuring the people about saving their jobs and putting a ban on outsourcing to cheaper destinations. It’s been quite a while since the elections are over and President Obama took over, but the pressure from influential lobbies did not allow new administration to pursue any far reaching policies in this regard. Economic slowdown around the globe, with its severest impact on the developed nations, also became a deciding factor in favour of continuing the prevailing outsourcing policies. These are the indicators towards the inevitability of outsourcing in present day world order. The market dynamics, which makes it mandatory for the companies to go for quality and value addition at least possible costs, has been the key driver favouring the phenomenon of outsourcing. Information technology has been the backbone supporting the processes or functions, with the help of next generation outsourcing, aimed at providing the companies with robust cost containment and more revenue-generating tools. NASSCOM, a reputed trade body and the chamber of commerce of the IT-BPO industries in India, indicates in one of its recent reports that worldwide the BPO spending in 2008 grew by 12 percent, which happened to be the highest amongst all the segment (NASSCOM, 2009). In one of its recent reports the Economist (2010) indicates that technology has been the main culprit behind job losses in US, as automation and outsourcing have claimed a whole class of jobs. This includes routine but vital tasks in the category of labour intensive as well as highly paid manufacturing and number crunching jobs. The report points out that, ‘the US economy now needs workers to do what cannot be by machines or call centres in Bangalore’ (The Economist, 2010). But the irony is, despite having fullest knowledge about the job losses and increasing restlessness amongst the youth in the country, the US administration in not in a position to take any concrete action to halt the flight of jobs to outsourced destinations. Software development is one of the key areas where outsourcing has acquired newer dimensions. Outsourcing the software development task to countries like India and China has benefitted the economies of these countries to such an extent that outsourcing and providing IT enabled services has become an industry in itself. The Economist (2008) enlists three main advantages of outsourcing; i. Realisation of greater economies of scale by a third party in a position to pool the activities of a number of companies ii. A specialist outsourcing firm can keep itself abreast of the latest developments in the related fields iii. It becomes easier for companies to get works done, which are one time in nature, and for which it becomes difficult for the company to justify recruitment of specialist workforce. This trend has certainly benefitted the concerned companies and the economies of the offshore locations. But, there are quite a few instances, which have raised questions marks about the efficacy of outsourcing decisions. Conflicting situations on account of difference in working conditions, social and cultural perceptions, job losses etc. have highlighted the negative sides of outsourcing. Some of the issues which have come to light as a result of outsourcing are; i. Difference in cultural values and beliefs often leads to communication gap amongst the parties concerned. For example, an Islamic nation would like to have a day off on Friday’s or the workers might also like to have couple of hrs away from work to offer the prayers. But, for a company in US or Germany, this is not a priority and they’d like to see that work be done even during these hours. Similarly, the period around Christmas happens to be a solemn occasion and holiday period for Western companies, but not so much in countries like China and India. Though in general, the companies are supposed to take into account these factors, but at times, such things lead to differences of opinion. ii. Harland et al (2005) contend that international outsourcing of finding software solutions involving some policing and security operations to a country having different culture and approach to social issues could cause conflict with citizens’ traditions and beliefs. This in turn would mean that in view of financial and economic concerns, the host country too often continues to ignore the cultural excesses. But, in case of any dispute arising out of such excesses, the issue gets highlighted in the media, which brings bad publicity for the multinational corporation as well as the host country. iii. When companies entrust the important details about their clients to BPOs in some other countries, that decision runs the risk of exposing those clients to people in other countries. This could result in trampling on the privacy of the customers. A study cited in the Washington Post has pointed out that BPO employees who are laid off or leave their jobs for better opportunities, quite often secretly take along proprietary data as well (Krebs, 2009). The report indicates that about 60 percent of those leaving the job steal the important data of the company and its clients. The data being taken included e-mail lists, non-financial business information, customer contact lists, employee records, and financial information. iv. There have been instances, when credit card details of a customer were misused by the BPO workers. A report by KPMG on ‘data security and privacy in the Indian industry’ indicates that the top management in a number of BPO companies are finding it challenging to ‘drive the importance of security and privacy of information down to every level of the organization’ (KPMG, 2009). Such concerns often lead to question marks on the decisions of multinational corporations’ to outsource the data and records of their customers to untrustworthy people. This presents ethical challenge for the Indian IT industry as well, as the IT industry has to allay the concerns of their clients on two counts. First, by providing technologically advanced and updated services, and second by ensuring that the all important data is in safe hands. v. Outsourcing to emerging economies is also believed to be resulting in international exploitation (Harland et al, 2005). In order to attract business from abroad, some economies resort to softer legislations which taking due precaution about the human rights, child labour concerns, dumping of toxic waste etc. When a company wishes to have the software development task to be completed within a very short period of time, or when the task requires daily interaction between the parent company and the outsourced destination, then the workers in outsourced destinations are supposed to work round the clock, in order to meet the deadline. From the perspective of business and profitability, such arrangement work fine till the time such issues are highlighted in the mainstream media and become source of political embarrassment for the concerned economies. vi. Outsourcing software development to critical functions like systems used in nations’ security runs the risk of compromising nations’ security. The manner in which 14 year old hackers often break into the highly guarded computer systems of agencies like NASA etc. indicates towards the vulnerability of handing over the development of such software development into the hands of people who are remotely connected to the nation’s integrity, social and cultural values. Theoretically it might be possible that the software developer company leaves some software code in the programme and starts receiving updates about the security apparatus of the country, once the system starts working on closely guarded secrets. This will result in compromising the security of the country. vii. As per a study conducted by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), one out of ten well-educated Britons is opting to move abroad (CIPD, 2008). This study indicates how the outsourcing phenomenon has altered the equilibrium. There was a time, when educated youth from developing economies used to make a beeline for seeking an opportunity to serve in US, UK or Germany, but now the jobs are shifting to their countries. It has also come to light that the trend of people going out for jobs is prevalent in Germany as well, but to a lesser extent. The study shows that 1. 1 million well-educated Britons are moving out for better job opportunities to other countries as compared to 860,000 from Germany. This sort of reverse brain drain indicates among other things that there are regions which are more attractive from the HR perspective. If the tense industrial relations persists for longer time period, this might result in political upheavals in countries outsourcing the jobs. viii. Entrusting the task of software development to outside locations certainly enables a company to focus more on the core competency and reduce costs, thus helping the company in showcasing a healthy balance sheet and increased flexibility to reconfigure the resources. But at the same time, such decisions often lead to conflicts with the trade unions as a number of jobs get exported to outsourced destinations. In order to look for low cost alternatives, a number of companies resort to steps like retrenchment, job cutting etc. which has adversely affected the working middle class society. Straining of industrial relations in turn reflect poorly on the welfare initiatives undertaken by the company or in upbringing the brand equity of the concerned company. ix. While outsourcing the software development requirements to destinations outside the country, the company has to make huge efforts in developing an understanding with the BPO Company in order to work out a design appropriate for the requirements. Conclusion Outsourcing has indeed become a popular trend during the last decade. While on the one hand this helped in increasing the ability of multinational corporations to meet the changing marketing requirements, and focus more on core competencies, at the same time, it has resulted in creating number problematic situations like altering the political equations at home, job losses and confrontation with trade unions. No doubt the companies come in a position to leverage the economies of scale, but at the same time such decisions result in exploitation of human rights in the countries of outsourcing destination. When the workers in a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) unit in India or Philippines are entrusted with a task to be completed as per the deadline from the company in US or UK, then the workers are pressed into service for very long hours. During such period, the welfare measures of the workers take a back seat and only thing concentrated upon is the completion of the task and financial aspects. Violations of human rights, cultural and social sensitivities are seldom taken into account while the BPOs attempt to meet the deadlines. Security of the data and the privacy of clients also come in the danger of being compromised by the decision of outsourcing the software development and other such routine jobs. The debate is still going on and as of now the trend of outsourcing is nowhere near reversal. Part of the reason for this unabated growth in outsourcing is the ongoing recession in most of the developed part of the world. Once the economies bounce back and regain the momentum of growth rate, then only the debate will restart. References: 1. CIPD (2008). Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, UK. Britain’s brain drain. Available online at http://www. cipd. co. uk/default. cipd (March 1, 2008) 2. Farrell, Diana (2006). ‘Smarter Offshoring’. Harvard Business Review. Jun 01, 2006. 3. Harland, Christine; Louise Knight; Richard Lamming; and Helen Walker (2005). ‘Outsourcing: assessing the risks and benefits for organisations, sectors and nations’. International Journal of Operations & Production Management. Vol. 25 No. 9. pp. 831-850. Emerald Group Publishing. 4. KPMG (2009). ‘State of Data Security and Privacy in the Indian Industry’. DSCI- KPMG Survey 2009. Available online at http://www. dsci. in/images/stories/data_security_survey_2009_report_final_30th_dec_2009. pdf (May 27, 2010) 5. Krebs, Brian (2009). ‘Data Theft Common by Departing Employees’. The Wasington Post, February 26, 2009. Available online at http://www. washingtonpost. com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/26/AR2009022601821. html (May 27, 2010) 6. The Economist (2008). Idea-Outsourcing. The Economist, Sep 29th 2008. 7. The Economist (2010). ‘The middle-class task- force – As jobs fade away’. May 6th 2010, Washington, DC. Available online at http://www. economist. com/world/united-states/displaystory. cfm? story_id=16060939 (May 27, 2010) 8. NASSCOM (2009). ‘The IT-BPO Sectors in India’. Global Industry Trends available online at http://www. nasscom. in/Nasscom/templates/NormalPage. aspx? id=56966 (May 27, 2010)

Marshall essays

Europe Without Truman/Marshall essays What would Europe look like 10 years after the end of World War II and today without the implementation of the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan? In order to truly determine what Europe would have looked like 10 years after the end of World War II and today without the implementation of the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan, we would have to borrow a time machine from H.G. Wells. Upon our successful arrival, at a date prior to March of 1947, we would have to sabotage history to the extent that the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan were never implemented. Since time travel is purely fictional and not yet possible, we need to find another method of determination. The next best method would be to look at the intent of the two programs and examine some of their successes. In doing that, we might gain some insight of what Europe might look like in either time period. The end of World War II in 1945 left Europe devastated. Farms, cities, factories and railroads were tattered or destroyed. The European economy was at a point of hopelessness and the peoples belief in the democratic system had eroded. The Europeans were steering their ships on a course towards communism. America had to act quickly if it was to prevent Europe from collapsing into the grips of communism. In March of 1947, Harry S. Truman implemented the Truman Doctrine. The Truman Doctrine was to provide assistance to any country threatened by communism through military and economic aid. This was followed in June of 1947 by George C. Marshalls implementation of the Marshall Plan. The Marshall Plan would provide billions in economic aid to Europe. The economic aid was intended to be used for new equipment and raw materials. The objective was clear, assist Western Europe in recovering quickly and defeat the spread of communism. By implementing these two programs the economy and industry of Europe was restored to near, at, or above pre-war ...

answer(200 Level Course)

Reflection Questions 6 – Education Essay question/answer(200 Level Course) Free Online Research Papers Reflection Questions 6 Education Essay question/answer (200 Level Course) Q: The National Education Association of Secondary School Principals make This statement about successful secondary schools: â€Å"In good secondary schools, the principal and teachers develop and maintain a variety of cooperative links with the community. Family and community involvement and support complement the efforts of the school.† Describe some of the cooperative links you would suggest at either the elementary or secondary level. R: Several cooperative links that I would suggest would be: the business community i.e. banking industry that could provide link for the elementary and secondary level as a resource for industry tours, targeted career paths for student development programs. Area groceries and supermarkets can offer partner with local school PTO’s to offer rebates on food purchases or selected items, the rebate would be targeted back to the school fund to be use to purchase band equipment or sponsor a class field trip. Q:What role do you think the federal government should play in compensating for educational disadvantages as a result of poverty? The federal government must perform an active role in compensating for educational disadvantages as a result of poverty. Children are born into poverty of no fault of their own. It takes monies to educate our nation’s children. Our education system must continue to offer a standard of education to benefit those in need. Depending upon the need on the local states, monies should be distributed provisionally. Research Papers on Reflection Questions 6 - Education Essay question/answer(200 Level Course)Standardized TestingInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesHip-Hop is ArtResearch Process Part OneRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andTwilight of the UAWMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductPETSTEL analysis of IndiaQuebec and CanadaPersonal Experience with Teen Pregnancy

A.A. Milne Publishes Winnie-the-Pooh

A.A. Milne Publishes Winnie-the-Pooh With the first publication of the childrens book Winnie-the-Pooh on October 14, 1926, the world was introduced to some of the most popular fictional characters of the twentieth century - Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, and Eeyore. The second collection of Winnie-the-Pooh stories, The House at Pooh Corner, appeared on bookshelves just two years later and introduced the character Tigger. Since then, the books have been published worldwide in over 20 languages. The Inspiration for Winnie the Pooh The author of the wonderful Winnie-the-Pooh stories, A. A. Milne (Alan Alexander Milne), found his inspiration for these stories in his son and his sons stuffed animals. The little boy who talks to the animals in the Winnie-the-Pooh stories is called Christopher Robin, which is the name of A. A. Milnes real-life son, who was born in 1920. On August 21, 1921, the real-life Christopher Robin Milne received a stuffed bear from Harrods for his first birthday, which he named Edward Bear. The Name Winnie Although the real-life Christopher Robin loved his stuffed bear, he also fell in love with an American black bear that he often visited the London Zoo (he sometimes even went into the cage with the bear!). This bear was named Winnie which was short for Winnipeg, the hometown of the man who raised the bear as a cub and later brought the bear to the zoo. How the real-life bears name also became the name of Christopher Robins stuffed bear is an interesting story. As A. A. Milne states in the introduction to Winnie-the-Pooh, Well, when Edward Bear said that he would like an exciting name all to himself, Christopher Robin said at once, without stopping to think, that he was Winnie-the-Pooh. And so he was. The Pooh part of the name came from a swan of that name. Thus, the name of the famous, lazy bear in the stories became Winnie-the-Pooh even though traditionally Winnie is a girls name and Winnie-the-Pooh is definitely a boy bear. Other Characters Many of the other characters in the Winnie-the-Pooh stories were also based on Christopher Robins stuffed animals, including Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore, Kanga, and Roo. However, Owl and Rabbit were added without stuffed counterparts in order to round out the characters. If so inclined, you can actually visit the stuffed animals that Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore, and Kanga were based on by visiting the Central Childrens Room at the Donnell Library Center in New York. (Stuffed Roo was lost during the 1930s in an apple orchard.) The Illustrations While A. A. Milne hand-wrote the entire original manuscript for both books, the man who shaped the famous look and feel of these characters was Ernest H. Shepard, who drew all the illustrations for both Winnie-the-Pooh books. To inspire him, Shepard traveled to the Hundred Acre Wood or at least its real-life counterpart, which is located in the Ashdown Forest near Hartfield in East Sussex (England). The Disney Pooh Shepards drawings of the fictional Winnie-the-Pooh world and characters were how most children envisioned them until Walt Disney bought the film rights to Winnie-the-Pooh in 1961. Now in stores, people can see both the Disney-styled Pooh and the Classic Pooh stuffed animals and see how they differ.

Psychological effects of Propaganda in relation to Totalitarianism Essay

Psychological effects of Propaganda in relation to Totalitarianism - Essay Example Totalitarianism is a new form of government falling into the general classification of dictatorship, a system in which technologically advanced instruments of political power are wielded without restraint by centralized leadership of an elite movement for the purpose of affecting a total social revolution, including the conditioning of man on the basis of certain arbitrary ideological assumptions, proclaimed by the leadership in an atmosphere of coerced unanimity of the entire population. (qtd. in Linz 66). Therefore in a totalitarian regime propaganda is the psychological weapon used to make the unassuming masses toe the political line. The role of propaganda in bringing about such a revolution has been emphasized. History is littered with examples of the use of propaganda in transforming hitherto placid peoples into bloodthirsty vengeful killers. Records of such unimaginable violence raise many questions about the darker side of human nature and what goads ordinary individuals into performing unspeakable acts. Thus the focus of this essay will be to study the psychological effects of propaganda in relation to totalitarianism. Totalitarianism relied heavily on fear to control individuals, stifle resistance, root out dissent and eliminate opposition. According to Bramstedt, propaganda and fear share a symbiotic relationship, "Terror without propaganda would lose most of its psychological effect, whereas propaganda without terror does not contain its full punch" (175). Fear and terror were used to prompt individuals to behave in the manner approved by the regime. Propaganda had the effect of taking the edge out of the sting of terror by justifying the heavy-handed tactics employed as essential in the journey towards a bright future and by painting a rosy picture of the future under the current government. The combined use of fear and propaganda to great effect was demonstrated in the aftermath of the Russian revolution. The Bolsheviks under Lenin unleashed the red terror on the populace to deal with the insurgents. The secret police known as the Cheka and the red army under Trotsky sought to destroy the anti-Bolsheviks with a firm hand. Thousands were executed in cold blood or imprisoned in concentration camps that spread like a rash throughout the country. The masses cowered in fear and were psychologically ripe for the effects of propaganda. Agitation propaganda had been employed by Lenin via inflammatory publications like the Pravda to discredit the Tsarist regime and to fan the flames of revolution. Having seen the revolution to its bloody end and by demonstrating their might the Bolsheviks set about establishing a totalitarian system. Propaganda was used to garner popular support for the government and to enlighten the masses about the benefits of communism. People were led to b elieve that communism was the panacea for all their problems and the rewards were manifold for those who embraced its tenets. Needless to say the masses were convinced and thus propaganda bolstered by fear laid the groundwork for the development of a powerful Soviet Russia. The Nazis used a like combination of propaganda

Marketing planning for Starbucks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Marketing planning for Starbucks - Essay Example People enjoy coffee while reading books, listening music or just gossip with friends and family. Specifically matching the regional culture and taste, the company strategically placed their products. It was one amongst the Fortune 100 top companies in the year 2005 to work for . Section 1: Marketing Audits Organizational Audit In order to understand the company’s strength and weaknesses, opportunity and threats the SWOT analysis of the firm has been performed to find the internal and the external environmental situation of the company. SWOT Analysis Strength Product diversification- huge range of products like coffee, baked foods, music cds etc. Well known developed brand image with online presence and copyright logo. The company has their own retail and international stores and don’t depend on franchisee. The locations of the stores are very strategically placed to attract more customers. †¢ The locations of the stores are very strategically placed to attract more customers. With good working environment the company possess valued and very motivated workforce. The company have good relation with the suppliers of Coffee and other requirements. Starbucks is the market leader of the Coffee industry. Customers are loyal to the brand The company is located internationally Starbucks has a very strong financial establishment which helps the company to invest in the process of expansion. Weaknesses The company is less focused in its internal processes rather it mainly concentrates on the expansion plans. The growing market and modern lifestyle of people are growing demand for new competitors in the market which can’t be controlled by the company. Too many shops within a small area can affect the business. The products offered by Starbucks are little expensive than its competitors thus it’s a weakness for the company to grab the budget market. Opportunities The company has great opportunity to enter the retail market with its expansion plan. Technological advancement can bring new techniques to manage their processes. The company can introduce new distribution channel and start delivery service for the customers directly to their place. New product development is another opportunity for the firm to grab the market with its new launch. Emerging market outside the country into developing nation can be a very good prospect for the company. Starbucks can ex pand in many more areas even within the country thus domestic market can also be a good opportunity for the firm. Threats The growing competition from restaurants, supermarkets, and other coffee shops offering same kind of products to the customers and other coffee products are the major threats for the company. The U.S market is reaching its saturation point which will restrict the firms plan for farther expansion in the market. The instability of the Coffee price in developing countries can be difficult for the firm to maintain its price policy constant for all the countries where the company operates. In supplying countries of coffee beans the farmers are not well treated and thus results in

Implementing Lean Approach to Eliminate Non-value-added Activity Essay

Implementing Lean Approach to Eliminate Non-value-added Activity - Essay Example With regard to the second question, it was determined that the JIT significantly decreases the total NVA in the WSS when the huge stock level is declined. This causes the obvious reduction in the variable costs; for example, opportunity costs and warehousing costs. By contrast, the TPM results in better productivity and product quality due to the higher effectiveness of the machine, which is caused by better maintenance systems and practices. Concerning the third question, both external and internal factors are the obstacles and limitations of the Lean application. Ultimately, this pilot research study functions as a guidepost for manager’s of paperboard companies, as well as other continuous operation companies lacking adequate sufficient models, that are seeking means of applying Lean production mechanisms to their firm’s supply chain system. The term, ‘Lean Production’ or ‘Lean Manufacturing’, was first introduced in the seminal book, The Machine that Changed the World by Womack et al. (1990) in order to represent the evolutionary approach against traditional thinking from the 1920s, ‘Mass Production System (MPS)’. This method intends to add values on products or services from the customers’ perspective and enhance efficiency by eliminating wastes or non-value-added activities (NVAs) in the production or supply chain. It requires all people, both management and operational level, in the organization to take part in the improvement (Womack and Jones, 2003; Liker, 2004). The Lean was previously known as ‘Toyota Production System (TPS)’ after the company that developed it in the 1940s. This approach was behind the successful growth of Toyota and other Japanese manufacturers, especially in the 1980s (Ohno 1988; Shingo 1989; Liker, 2004).

Global Warming Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Global Warming - Research Paper Example In a general manner, global warming can be defined as a rise in the temperature all around the globe. But global warming is not limited to only the rise in temperature but it is also associated with bringing about other environmental changes. These changes have a very major effect on the atmosphere of the world. Global warming is hence a very important issue that is increasing and affecting the global environment. It results due to many reasons and harmful human activities serve as the major cause of global warming. Global warming poses a great risk for life on this planet and hence this issue needs to be dealt with in the best possible manner (Houghton 2004). With the passage of time, it has been realized that global warming is an international problem and it has led to many demographic as well as temperature changes in the world. The National Climatic Data carried out a study which presented with very alarming as well as essential findings with regard to global warming. The study p resented the fact that the temperature which was recorded in the year 2004 in the United States of America was the 4th warmest temperature on its record since the year 1880 (NCDC 2004). Causes The study of the climate of the Earth along with the global climatic changes and patterns have served to be of great assistance in analyzing the reasons which have led to the problem of global warming. Many causes have been linked to this global issue with human activities being counted as the major reason but it is also believed by a group of researchers that global warming is not associated with human activities but it is rather a natural phenomenon. Carbon emissions can be specified as the major cause of global warming. The factories which are using the fossil fuels during their manufacturing processes are giving out a great amount of carbon and this leads to a great change in the temperature of this world. The trees planted in the world are considered to be of immense importance in stoppin g the problem of global warming to expand. A tree intakes carbon dioxide during its respiratory process and this helps it to reduce carbon dioxide from the environment. However after a tree dies or the wood in it decomposes, carbon dioxide is given off in the environment. This has been seen as a major cause of the alarming high rates of carbon dioxide in the air these days. In the present years many forests have been burnt by the people or have been burnt naturally due to some accident. These factors have caused the trees to die and release carbon dioxide in the air. In the recent years fires have erupted in the major forests of this world. The fires which erupted in Amazon during the years of 2000 and 2005 can be viewed as a major setback for the environment of this world. It destroyed an area of 132000 square kilometers of the Amazon forest. This area is estimated to be the size of the whole country of Greece. These fires resulted in the release of a huge amount of CO2 into the at mosphere. And it is estimated that the amount of CO2 released during these fires is in billions (Chemical & Engineering News, 2005). Deforestation, climate changes and forest fires have been the major causes of the release of CO2 in the

Reflection on Academic Writing Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Reflection on Academic Writing - Term Paper Example The disciplines I have read widely about include humanistic, analytical and legal psychology. In reading widely on human psychology, I understand that this discipline typically holds that humans are inherently good creatures. It uses a holistic approach to the existence of humans. This discipline also pays a special attention to phenomena such as human potential, free will and creativity. Basically, I have come to understand this discipline encourages us to view ourselves as â€Å"whole people.† It also encourages self exploration and not just the study of behavior in other people. Also, in researching and writing about analytical psychology, I have come to understand that this discipline emphasizes on the main importance of an individual psyche as well as the personal quest for wholeness. The discipline also recognizes the significance of the symbolic in human life. Lastly, in writing legal psychology, I have understood that the discipline involves studying legal institutions, psychological research about the law and those who come in contact with the law. In reasearching widely and writing about the three disciplines, I have seen myself being a better, writer and a researcher in psychology. However, despite my growth in understanding of this field, I have encountered a lot of challenges. For instance, being an interdisciplinary field, it lacks a solid purpose and definition. However, I have done more research and consultation in this field to overcome these challenges (Beech, 2009). In the process of reading and writing psychological papers, I have used different materials. Since the materials differ greatly, I have been in a position to gather information from different sources. As noted earlier, I have used the different materials to research widely on various disciplines in psychology. In reading different materials for different disciplines, the information I have gathered greatly differs. Getting

Abstract Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 27

Abstract - Essay Example The initial construction involved changes of building materials. The other change involved the introduction of new architecture as a depiction of various victories and accomplishments. There was also addition of more rooms to cater for entertainments. The other part of the paper focuses on the structure of the palace. The structure is shown based on Victorian era. This part also offers a comparison analysis of the building and how it could have been different if it was built in the current societies. The last part of the paper carries the concluding remarks. Buckingham Palace is located in the City of Westminster and is the residence and office of the British monarch for over four centuries. The place is owned by the British government and is extended for the public and private use of the ruling monarch, which has to be given up when the King or Queen leaves their position. Buckingham Palace, originally known as Buckingham House, has housed generations of British monarch beginning from Queen Victoria and later including prominent rulers such as Edward VII, Queen Elizabeth and George VI. John Nash and Edward Blore mainly designed the Palace but later structural and other changes were incorporated in the original design to accommodate the changing needs and tastes of the ruling monarch. This paper will attempt to shed light on the history, structure and use of one of the most important houses in Britain- the Buckingham Palace. The site that is considered the Buckingham Paalace today was in the beginning three sites: Buckingham Gardens, Goring House and Arlington House. As the need for more space was required according to the lifestyle of the Dukes and rulers, the surrounding sites were added to the original Buckingham Gardens. Buckingham Palace began as Buckingham House when John Sheffield, the first Duke of Buckingham built the house in 1702. The Palace as one sees it today

Reflection on Academic Writing Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Reflection on Academic Writing - Term Paper Example The disciplines I have read widely about include humanistic, analytical and legal psychology. In reading widely on human psychology, I understand that this discipline typically holds that humans are inherently good creatures. It uses a holistic approach to the existence of humans. This discipline also pays a special attention to phenomena such as human potential, free will and creativity. Basically, I have come to understand this discipline encourages us to view ourselves as â€Å"whole people.† It also encourages self exploration and not just the study of behavior in other people. Also, in researching and writing about analytical psychology, I have come to understand that this discipline emphasizes on the main importance of an individual psyche as well as the personal quest for wholeness. The discipline also recognizes the significance of the symbolic in human life. Lastly, in writing legal psychology, I have understood that the discipline involves studying legal institutions, psychological research about the law and those who come in contact with the law. In reasearching widely and writing about the three disciplines, I have seen myself being a better, writer and a researcher in psychology. However, despite my growth in understanding of this field, I have encountered a lot of challenges. For instance, being an interdisciplinary field, it lacks a solid purpose and definition. However, I have done more research and consultation in this field to overcome these challenges (Beech, 2009). In the process of reading and writing psychological papers, I have used different materials. Since the materials differ greatly, I have been in a position to gather information from different sources. As noted earlier, I have used the different materials to research widely on various disciplines in psychology. In reading different materials for different disciplines, the information I have gathered greatly differs. Getting

Why We Need Technology in Schools Essay Example for Free

Why We Need Technology in Schools Essay Introduction Technology has brought about many changes in today’s society. We interact, exchange information, and socialize in whole new ways that were not even possible twenty years ago. These changes apply to all areas of life, and can even be incorporated into the classroom to bring about positive results in students. The use of technology in the classroom for cooperative learning, personalized learning, and group learning have the potential for great impact on the way learners learn and teachers teach. Cooperative Learning Any educator in the classroom today would argue that students learn and retain information better when they are in a collaborative environment. Students need social interaction to help reinforce content and allow them an outlet for discussion and analysis. â€Å"Numerous studies have shown that students benefit positively in their academic and social development through cooperative learning† (Ramli, 2010). Many psychologists have discussed the benefits of social interaction to learning. Old school Education The old school education system is profoundly skewed its most significant problem: placement and grading. Most educators place too much value on inflexible systems for identifying proper places for students and estimate their comprehension of the material; there are many factors that may aid or hinder a students performance in school the answer.technology Technology in education Computers are a magnificent feat of technology. They have grown from simple calculators to machines with many functions and abilities. Computers have become so common that almost every home has at least one computer, and schools find them a good source for information and education for their students. Computers have created new careers and eliminated others and have left a huge impact on our society. The invention of the computer has greatly affected the arts, the business world, and society and history in many different areas. We should use computers In addition with e-readers and tablets to help differentiate a students level of understanding of the school curriculum. Importance of technology in education The education world has been greatly influenced by rapidly changing technology and the increasing availability of information. Schools have advanced by leaps and bounds when it comes to incorporating technology into the learning environment, however, many more advances need to be made. In all areas of the country, educators are trying to help students keep up with technology, but there are more changes that are essential for preparing the next generation for the future. By increasing computer usage by students, installing classroom Internet access and providing instructional classes dedicated to software and hardware education, schools have tried to provide an up-to-date education for students. This is all very important, but is it enough? I feel that perhaps this just isn’t going to cut it for the twenty-first century. Even more technology In schools we can even use more technology most educators used to use a blackboard to present to a class but now educators use document cameras with 21st century applications like Enhanced zoom capability, multi-directional camera positions, video recording function without a computer and wireless tablet collection. Another tool in a modern teachers arsenal is a smart board A smart board is a interactive white board that operates as part of a system that includes the interactive whiteboard, a computer, a projector and white boarding software. The Smart Board interactive whiteboard uses DViT (Digital Vision Touch) technology can detect and respond to touch interactions on the interactive whiteboard surface. This camera-based touch technology for interactive whiteboards and interactive displays uses digital cameras and proprietary software and firmware to detect finger or pen contact with the screen. That contact is then interpreted as finger or pen activity. In the classroom As you have seen technology is becoming more and more dominant in our society.Everyday upgrades are being made and new innovations are being discovered. Technology is all around us whether we want it to be or not: it is the vehicles we drive, it can be found in our homes, and can even be found in the grocery store.Every place we look there is some type of technology.I believe technology can make a giant impact on our school system. unfortunately there are some schools that are not as open to technology. I find it strange that these schools do not incorporate technology into them.The only reason these schools seem successful is because the only students that attend them are kids who are successful there.In fact according to the department of education schools that use software have more successful test scores than others,The graduation/collage rates are also higher. Conclusion In conclusion I have shown you that technology is a better choice for education I think the best consolation would be to change the system and intigrate more technology.

Hotel Profile and Marketing Plan

Hotel Profile and Marketing Plan Executive summary In this essay we concentrate on Starwood hotels, this is a world famous chain of hotels. We talk about the marketing strategies, hotel staff training of Starwood. The hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector continues to play an important role in the UK economy. A report published by People 1st in association with British Hospitality Industry in 2009 states that the hotel industry has enjoyed a sustained period of growth over the last 30 years and now accounts for nearly five percent of the UKs total economic output. They suggest that along with the rest of the economy, trading will be tough in the short term due to credit crunch but in the long term the sector is still predicted to grow and remain an important contributor to the UK economy. The sector employs in the region of two million people accounting for 1 in 14 UK jobs. The recession is forcing more employers to think about cutting costs. It is therefore more important than ever that employers have credible retention strategies to retain skilled staff and reduce unnecessary recruitment costs. The report explains how Starwood which is global hotels and resorts group, with a highly distinct brand, functions in the United States and Canada, in Europe, in Asia Pacific and in Africa by managing and franchising more than 395 hotels with a focus on nowadays demanding business explorer. This report briefly discusses the how marketing is done in Starwood hotel and the marketing strategies which they are using. It is entrusted to modify and innovation in all main areas together with its growth strategy, operations, franchising, sales and marketing, and technology, to function with utmost effectiveness in a extremely competitive industry Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 Business Profile of Starwood Hotel Starwood Hotels Resorts is a worldwide chain of 400 hotels, with a total of 102,000 guest rooms, in many countries. Starwood Hotels Resorts, one of the worlds leading, full-service hotel brands, offers vibrant, modern and attractive hospitality service that is defined by its characteristic . The first Starwood Hotel was built in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1909, and was named after the 17th century French explorer Pierre-Esprit Starwood. The hotel was purchased by Curt Carlson (1914-1999) in 1962, and is still owned by his Carlson Companies. Starwood competes with Hilton, Doubletree, and Marriott. The majority of Starwood Branded Hotels are located in the United States. The companys headquarters are located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where the first Starwood Hotel was built. This building is also headquarters to the parent company, Carlson Companies. There are 200 Starwood Hotels in the United States. Starwood Blu, formerly Starwood SAS, is the brand name for hotels outside the United States, including those in Europe, Africa, and Asia. They are operated by Belgian hotel firm Rezidor Hotel Group under a master franchise contract with Carlson. Carlson and Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS), the Scandinavian Airline, were equity holders of the Rezidor Hotel Group, giving the company its name. Since SAS withdrawal from the collaboration, the name Starwood SAS remained until February 5, 2009, when it was replaced by Starwood Blu, which will be introduced gradually. Starwood Blu operates 158 hotels with 42 projects in development. Definition of Marketing The Chartered Institute of Marketing (1986) defines marketing as The management process responsible for identifying, anticipating and satisfying customer requirements profitably.American Marketing Association(1980) as the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large. [1] The term developed from the original meaning which referred literally to going to market, as in shopping, or going to a market to buy or sell goods or services. According to Gronroos (1989) says long term customer relationships are considered as the cornerstone of marketing. 1.2 Starwood Marketing Orientation Marketing is an integrated communications-based process through which individuals and communities discover that existing and newly-identified needs and wants may be satisfied by the products and services of others. (Kotler and Armstrong, 2005) The Chartered Institute of Marketing define marketing as The management process responsible for identifying , anticipating and satisfying customer requirements profitably A business that has a marketing orientation sees the needs of customers and consumers as vital. As it develops and markets products to meet those demands, certain structural characteristics become apparent in the business. Business Function Activities Identifying customer/consumer needs and wants Marketing research Developing products to meet customer/consumer needs and wants Research and development Production Deciding on the value of the product to customers Pricing (sales and marketing department) Making the product available to customers at the right time and place Distribution Informing customers/consumers of the existence of the product and persuading them to buy it Promotion We should expect to see all the above activities well-established in a business that is marketing-orientated. Starwood first finds out what customers wants are by conducting a market research and by providing what the customers really need and satisfying them makes them customer oriented. Starwood always focuses on their service level to be 100% and they have developed a YES WE CAN program among their employees. This would directly attract customers and also make Starwood create a competitive advantage over its competitors. Moreover, the greater Starwood is customer orientated, the more it will be able to develop a competitive advantage based on innovation and market differentiation. Market orientation focuses on a business culture and activities that enhance business performance, producing superior value to customers, outstanding performance for the firm and aggregately for the economy (Oudan., 2007). Market Orientation Market Testing Market Research Market Intelligence 1.3 Marketing Intelligence Market intelligence, according to Cornish (1997), the process of acquiring and analyzing information in order to understand the market (both existing and potential customers); to determine the current and future needs and preferences, attitudes and behaviour of the market; and to assess changes in the business environment that may affect the size and nature of the market in the future. Starwood business always updates themselves on the economy, labour market conditions, legislative and regulatory development, social changes and technological advancement by doing an environmental scanning. They consider all these external environmental factors when it comes to taking decisions about packages, prices, and other management and marketing issues Starwood also searches for information from readily available public sources and customers while sometimes through the perfectly legal observation of competitors activities. 1.4 Market Testing A test market, in the field of business and marketing, is a geographic region or demographic group used to gauge the viability of a product or service in the mass market prior to a wide scale roll-out. Market testing is done to test multiple marketing scenarios and select the most promising for expansion. When Introducing a new product or service without first testing the market is risky. After the market research the new products /services must be tested before entering the market. Starwood one of the most recent market testing was Express yourself service which allows Guests to check-in online. Many new ideas and products are successful in Starwood because their creators recognized an unmet need in the market and confirmed the capability of that concept. When launching a new product or service, the company should first conduct a small scale launch or other customer research in a test market Chapter 2 Segmentation, Targeting Positioning The strategic marketing planning process flows from a mission and vision statement to the selection of target markets, and the formulation of specific marketing mix and positioning objective for each product or service the organization will offer. In its first phase, choosing the value, the strategist proceeds to segment the market, select the appropriate market target, and develop the offers value positioning. The formula segmentation, targeting, positioning (STP) is the essence of strategic marketing. (Kotler, 1997) (Figure3) 2.1 Market Segmentation Segmentation is essentially about identifying groups of buyers within a market who have needs which are distinctive in the way that they deviate from the average consumer. Some consumer may treat satisfaction of one particular need as a high priority, whereas to others this need may be regarded as being quite trivial. Consider the case of the new hotel market. Buyers no longer select a hotel solely on the basis of hotels market. Market Segmentation is the subdividing of a market into distinct and increasingly homogeneous subgroups of customers, where any subgroup can conceivably be selected as a target market to be met with a distinct marketing mix (Kotler 1994). It should precisely segment its markets on various factors and provide the customers what they want. Starwood had segmented its market by corporate (business travellers) and leisure seekers. In the near future by 2010 Starwood had announced to open a hotel in the city of Makkah. In an interview with Jean-Marc Busato, Area Vi ce President said This is an important milestone for us to be present in what is considered the holiest city in Islam. This is our sixth Kingdom project which we consider one of our major growth markets. He also added We have acquired a good understanding of the Saudi Arabian market and besides developing our first class Starwood brand, we also see a demand for efficient, value for money accommodation for the frequent traveller in the mid market segment, 2.2 Targeting Targeting is a process of prioritizing target segments based on the firms core competencies or capabilities, and other researched factors including segmented market size, growth potential of the segmented market, competitive dynamics, etc. This method is used to Find out the target customers in focus marketing and set up target products and services for them,. In this aspect Starwood should completely symbolize the features and specialties in the hotel. In Starwood they have targeted the customers in. Starwood provides food item s and more facilities to their respectable rooms and they give special discounts for regular customers. In addition to that all the customers can enjoy almost every other facility which is in five star standards. 2.3 Positioning Positioning means arranging a product to occupy clear, distinctive and desirable place relative to competing products in the minds of target consumers. Through using positioning successfully, brands will be able to position their product in the consumers mind. Four key elements for a successful positioning are Clarity, Consistency, Credibility and Competitiveness. In marketing, positioning has come to mean the process by which marketers try to create an image or identity in the minds of their target market for its product, brand, or organization. It is the relative competitive comparison their product occupies in a given market as perceived by the target market. Chart 4: STP strategy, Hard capital (2003) 2.4 Satisfying customer needs and wants Customers are everything to a Hotel or any business for that matter. It can be out as a companys bread and butter. In the past, all was not well for Starwood hotels. As other businesses they also faced declining revenues and reputation. So to come out of this matter they implemented a market research to find out what they are doing wrong in the field. The research showed that customer wants and needs have changed over time but Starwood has stayed in the same place. A focus on franchisees and franchisee growth vs. customers and the hotel guest experience resulted in an undifferentiated, lacklustre brand and inconsistent service. Meeting the objective needs and wants of customers to drive sales is at the heart of most businesses. It is how they build business relationships, remain profitable, and how they expand into new territories. To improve customer experience and freedom of choice they implemented such schemes as Express Yourself, Gold Points Plussm and Sleep Number Bed program. The Express yourself program is the hotel industrys first pre-arrival, online check-in system. Guests book their reservation and can check-in online. Radisson Hotels Resorts is part of the gold points plus program from Carlson Hotels Worldwide that offers guests the freedom and flexibility to earn rewards more quickly than any other hotel program. Chapter 3 3.1 Marketing Mix The concept of the marketing mix was first given prominence by Borden in 1965. He described the marketing manager as a mixer of ingredients, one who is constantly engaged in fashioning creatively a mix of marketing procedures and policies in his efforts to produce a profitable enterprise Marketing mix is a Planned mix of the controllable elements of a products marketing plan commonly termed as 4Ps: product, price, place, and promotion. These elements are adjusted until a right combination is found that serves the needs of the products customers while generating optimum income. (Jain,S.C,1990). Traditionally the marketing mix consisted of just 4 Ps, but now it has been extended and is called extended marketing mix and consists of 7Ps. The new marketing mix is more customers oriented and enables the organization to meet its marketing objectives and to satisfy the requirements of customers. (Figure 4) Extended marketing mix, Array marketing development 3.1.1 Product Starwood is a world renowned chain of hotels providing excellent product under the image of hotel services. Starwood has an exceptional recognition in providing high quality service they constantly look at new ways of improving the service they provide. To improve the standards of service they provide, Starwood has introduced several new programs as mentioned in the start of the essay, such as Yes I Can! Training program and Express Yourself which allows guests to check-in online .By introducing these new strategies Starwood has already achieved favourable results. 3.1.2 Price In any organization the price must be high enough to cover costs and make a profit but low enough to attract customers .Since most of the Starwood hotels are five star rated hotels the price factor plays a major role. Due to the price customers can change their mind to go to another hotel. In this issue what Starwood has done is they have kept their prices at a normal rate which is comparatively high, at the same time Starwood came up with their new marketing strategy. Starwood promoted new holiday packages such as Friday is free day and family bed breakfast package with attractive prices. When annualizing Starwoods figures it is clear that this strategy has been successful. 3.1.3 Place Starwoods hotels always do research before picking a place for their new hotel; because of this they have become very successful. When we take Starwood as a whole it seems like they have selected the most ideal locations for their hotels. This is thanks to the research they do and it has paid off. 3.2 Extended marketing mix Traditionally the marketing mix consisted of just 4 Ps, with the extended marketing mix it enables the organization to meet its marketing objectives and to satisfy the requirements of customers. In addition to the traditional four Ps it is now customary to add some more Ps to the mix to give us Seven Ps. The additional Ps have been added because today marketing is far more customer oriented than ever before, and because the service sector of the economy has come to dominate economic activity in this country. These 3 extra Ps are particularly relevant to this new extended service mix. 3.2.1People People mean the staff working for Starwood. Employees of Starwood are like a backbone of the company, they have been highly trained and Starwood offers one the industrys best program phrased as YES I CAN 3.2.2 Process This Refers to the systems used to assist the organization in delivering the service. When the service becomes faster automatically the efficiency of the organization gets better. Starwood is world renowned for its excellent and fast process of service. Associated with customer service are a number of processes involved in making marketing effective in an organisation Process is the way how customers are handled from first to last point of contact. So this involves Starwood policies, program, payments, bookings, quality processes for handling customer complaints, processes for identifying customer needs and requirements, processes for handling order etc. Chapter 4 4.1 Marketing Environment Marketing as we know it today began in the 1970s with the birth of the marketing orientation. During the first stage of capitalism business had a production orientation Business was concerned with production, manufacturing, and efficiency issues. By the mid 1950s a second stage emerged, the sales orientation stage. A companys marketing environment consists of factors and forces outside marketing that affect marketing managements ability to develop and maintain successful relationships with its target customers (Kotler., 2005). The marketing environment surrounds and impacts upon the organization. There are three key perspectives on the marketing environment, namely the macro-environment, the micro-environment and the internal environment. Elements of Macro-environment, Organizational environment (1995) 4.2 Micro environment This environment influences the organization directly. It includes suppliers that deal directly or indirectly, consumers and customers, and other local stakeholders. Micro tends to suggest small, but this can be misleading. In this context, micro describes the relationship between firms and the driving forces that control this relationship. It is a more local relationship, and the firm may exercise a degree of influence. This environment influences the organization directly. As in the (figure1) It includes suppliers that deal directly or indirectly, consumers and customers, and other local stakeholders. Micro tends to suggest small, but this can be misleading. 4.3 Macro environment This includes all factors that can influence and organization, but that are out of their direct control. A company does not generally influence any laws. It is continuously changing, and the company needs to be flexible to adapt. There may be aggressive competition and rivalry in a market. Globalization means that there is always the threat of substitute products and new entrants. The wider environment is also ever changing, and the marketer needs to pay off for changes in culture, politics, economics and technology. 4.4 Internal environment An organizationsÂÂ  internal environment is composed of the elements within the organization, including current employees, management, and especially corporate culture, which defines employee behaviour. Although some elements affect the organization as a whole, others affect only the manager. A managers philosophical or leadership style directly impacts employees. Traditional managers give explicit instructions to employees, whileÂÂ  progressiveÂÂ  managers empower employees to make many of their own decisions. Changes in philosophy and/or leadership style are under the control of the manager. Conclusion As seen in the above report it is clearly shown how marketing is done in Starwood chain of hotels. As mentioned above in the report Starwood is a worldwide hotels network, in this report the author briefly discusses about the factors which affects the marketing process directly and indirectly. Then we talk about how marketing has changed over the years and the new marketing strategies in place in the new world. And we also talk about the segmentation process, marketing environment and its elements. Marketing is an important element which contributes very much for the growth of Starwood. Marketing creates a benchmark to Starwood among the other hotels in the industry. The hotel industry has fierce competition at present therefore continuous developments of good packages, attractive advertisements, good and efficient customer service will help Starwood to be ahead of others. In the meantime, continuous research and development should help Starwood to satisfy its customers and retain lo yalty as well.