Interview format writing: September 2019

Monday, September 30, 2019

Nokia’s Mission Statement

NokiaNokiaÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s Interim Report (2013) showed a decline in the first quarter for group net sales, device and services net sales and networks net sales. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that NokiaÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s mission statement places a strong emphasis on shareholder value and social responsibility to increase the companyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s stronghold within its industry.Shareholder ValueIn order to gauge the companyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s performance in these two areas, there are a couple of specific indicators that Nokia is looking for. Shareholder value is increased through the success of the business. Nokia gives four areas that will become the primary focus of each of the business areas and gauge its success. These areas are: (1) leading and winning in mobile devices, (2) growing consumer internet services, (3) accelerating adoption of business solutions and (4) leveraging scale and transforming solutions in infrastructure (Grant, 2010, p. 24). This focus in these business areas allows for Nokia to inc rease shareholder value through a strong business strategy.Nokia also wants to strengthen their strategic capabilities in the areas of: (1) consumer understanding, (2) brand recognition, (3) technology and architecture and (4) channels and supply chain (Grant, 2010). This will also help to increase shareholder value by allowing for a competitive advantage when dealing with the above business areas.Social ResponsibilityNokia also wants to focus on their social responsibility as a mediator between the unconnected and connected. They envision a world where everyone is connected and allow everyone to feel close to what matters to them. I believe that they can gauge this through the same manner they gauge shareholder value. Essentially, NokiaÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s business strategy will fulfill theirÃ‚ social responsibility of connecting people. Leading the industry in mobile devices, Internet services, business solutions and solution infrastructure will all help connect people throughout the world. MissionWith the new Nokia Lumia reaching number four on the list of largest smartphone brands in the USA, one can say that NokiaÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s mission is working on increasing the connectivity amongst people through their smartphones (Shah, 2013). However, the company as a whole is not doing so well. With all their sales dropping, the only thing that is increasing is the sale of their Nokia Lumia. Even at the number four spot, Nokia only holds a measly 4.1% of the smartphone industry in the US, and their overall sales are declining (Shah, 2013). Therefore, I would say they are not doing a very good job at fulfilling their mission statement. If Apple had the same mission statement, leading the sales of smartphones in the US at a whopping 33.7%, the statement would be more accurate in saying that they plan to connect people around the world and lead the industry.RecommendationIn order to improve the mission statement, I believe that Nokia should add more tangible short-term goals to boost morale. Short-term wins not only boost morale, but also provide more attainable objectives to satisfy shareholders. Therefore, instead of stating that Nokia plans to, Ã¢â‚¬Å"Lead and win in mobile devices,Ã¢â‚¬ they can state that Nokia will, Ã¢â‚¬Å"increase the smartphone market value partnering with Android AND Microsoft to expand NokiaÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s global reach.Ã¢â‚¬ Providing short-term wins that are not as broad as NokiaÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s current mission statement will help also strengthen the companyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s brand and make them a stronger company as a whole. Overall, Nokia is doing well within the smartphone realm, and losing in everything else. It is either time that they specialize in a specific industry (smartphones), or take the market by storm with something that has not been offered before. Only the future will tell, and the mission statement is what will reflect these plans. NokiaÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s Mission Statement NokiaNokiaÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s Interim Report (2013) showed a decline in the first quarter for group net sales, device and services net sales and networks net sales. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that NokiaÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s mission statement places a strong emphasis on shareholder value and social responsibility to increase the companyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s stronghold within its industry.Shareholder ValueIn order to gauge the companyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s performance in these two areas, there are a couple of specific indicators that Nokia is looking for. Shareholder value is increased through the success of the business. Nokia gives four areas that will become the primary focus of each of the business areas and gauge its success. These areas are: (1) leading and winning in mobile devices, (2) growing consumer internet services, (3) accelerating adoption of business solutions and (4) leveraging scale and transforming solutions in infrastructure (Grant, 2010, p. 24). This focus in these business areas allows for Nokia to inc rease shareholder value through a strong business strategy.Nokia also wants to strengthen their strategic capabilities in the areas of: (1) consumer understanding, (2) brand recognition, (3) technology and architecture and (4) channels and supply chain (Grant, 2010). This will also help to increase shareholder value by allowing for a competitive advantage when dealing with the above business areas.Social ResponsibilityNokia also wants to focus on their social responsibility as a mediator between the unconnected and connected. They envision a world where everyone is connected and allow everyone to feel close to what matters to them. I believe that they can gauge this through the same manner they gauge shareholder value. Essentially, NokiaÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s business strategy will fulfill theirÃ‚ social responsibility of connecting people. Leading the industry in mobile devices, Internet services, business solutions and solution infrastructure will all help connect people throughout the world. MissionWith the new Nokia Lumia reaching number four on the list of largest smartphone brands in the USA, one can say that NokiaÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s mission is working on increasing the connectivity amongst people through their smartphones (Shah, 2013). However, the company as a whole is not doing so well. With all their sales dropping, the only thing that is increasing is the sale of their Nokia Lumia. Even at the number four spot, Nokia only holds a measly 4.1% of the smartphone industry in the US, and their overall sales are declining (Shah, 2013). Therefore, I would say they are not doing a very good job at fulfilling their mission statement. If Apple had the same mission statement, leading the sales of smartphones in the US at a whopping 33.7%, the statement would be more accurate in saying that they plan to connect people around the world and lead the industry.RecommendationIn order to improve the mission statement, I believe that Nokia should add more tangible short-term goals to boost morale. Short-term wins not only boost morale, but also provide more attainable objectives to satisfy shareholders. Therefore, instead of stating that Nokia plans to, Ã¢â‚¬Å"Lead and win in mobile devices,Ã¢â‚¬ they can state that Nokia will, Ã¢â‚¬Å"increase the smartphone market value partnering with Android AND Microsoft to expand NokiaÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s global reach.Ã¢â‚¬ Providing short-term wins that are not as broad as NokiaÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s current mission statement will help also strengthen the companyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s brand and make them a stronger company as a whole. Overall, Nokia is doing well within the smartphone realm, and losing in everything else. It is either time that they specialize in a specific industry (smartphones), or take the market by storm with something that has not been offered before. Only the future will tell, and the mission statement is what will reflect these plans.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Business Research Method – Banking Questionaire

Saturday, September 28, 2019

GROUP CYCLES Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

GROUP CYCLES - Term Paper Example But after I got into the team, I learned that being in it wasnt so glamorous and exciting as Id previously thought. Before long I discovered that the head cheerleader and another cheerleader were having intense arguments on how to lead the team. This period was very stormy and difficult for us. What I have learned and experienced through being in the team was how to cope with difficult and complex social situations. I had to learn how to manage the fragile situation between the two feuding cheerleaders and this helped me develop a skill of conflict resolution. After having experienced that, I now know how to solve conflicts that arise in my daily life much better. Still, although Ive gained much from that experience, I wouldnt want to be in a cheerleading team again. Now Im in college as a Psychology student and Ive recently learned that what Id gone through with the cheerleading team was a process of group development, which can be divided into a few stages of a model. Now I could i dentify that weve gone through the stages of forming, storming, norming and then

Friday, September 27, 2019

Christian College Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Christian College - Personal Statement Example In my opinion, Christian colleges offer not only pure value based education but also they teach the students to live a holistic life. In fact, this is the reason that most of the top executives of a nation have got educated from Christian schools and colleges. They combine education with leadership in a more meaningful manner. It is not only that Christian colleges are rated among the top for the educational achievements, but also that they have the best campus. For instance, if we take into consideration the environmental aspect, it can be noted that these are the campuses where more greenery will be seen. As a result of this the learning environment is very congenial. While many college students come to campus believing that protecting the environment has little to do with their beliefs, many are having their eyes opened to a greener world when they get into a Christian college. According to Peter Illyn, the founder of Restoring Eden, a parachurch ministry in La Center, Washington that's because "Christian campuses are considered theologically safe places where new ideas can be examined and tested,". When it comes to the faculty, it is noteworthy to mention that Christian institutions present the most qualified teaching faculty. In fact, when these colleges appoint the faculty, they look into the experience as well as the value based leadership the teacher can provide to the students.

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Marketing Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Marketing Environment - Essay Example Marketing environment on the other hand can be viewed through analysis of factors and forces that influence and/or affects firmÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s ability to build and maintain a long lasting relationship with its clients that later necessitate application of the marketing management strategies (Sheehan, 2011, 6). Marketing environment can be analysed in three broad categories to include micro environment analysis that calls for evaluation of factors and forces within the business and unearthing the ways in which they affect businessÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ ability to serve its clients (Luck & Chartered Institute of Marketing, 2010, 13). Instruments of evaluation in this kind of analysis include the company itself to include all its operational departments, firmÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s suppliers, marketing intermediaries, publics and analysis of customer market. Macro environment analysis calls for evaluation of forces that are outside the firmÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s direct involvement and influence which in the long run affects the micr o environment factors and thus affecting the firmÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s operations. Instruments of evaluation in this analysis include demography, culture, natural calamities such as earthquakes, droughts and storms; analysis of the economy, politics and technology. Meso- environment analysis seek to evaluate the impacts of market intermediaries and their contribution to selling, promotions and distribution of goods and services in relation to the competitive aspect of the market and the firmÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s competitive advantage. In this paper we shall evaluate the marketing environment of Walt Disney Holidays in relation to its market share/ leadership and the competitive advantage it possesses in the industry; evaluate importance of market research, market mix and service innovation for the firm, and later recommend marketing techniques to increase competitiveness and sustainability. Market Share Being in the tourism industry, analysis of pricing signals and measures to improve client satisfaction s uch as service innovations are prerequisite for market leadership. Service innovations such as Ã¢â‚¬Å"see dreams come trueÃ¢â‚¬ whereby they have taken technology and consumer satisfaction to the next level necessitates their competitive advantage (Greenblatt, 2013, 11) over the other tour/ holiday firms by giving clients a new experience of living on ice as compared to other firms which may choose to let their clients experience the ice on visual aspects only. Their pricing signal evaluation; adoption of technology in majority of holiday segments and the coupon promotion strategies to various destination has enabled establish a significant market share in tourism industry. Micro environment analysis With outlets in Florida and a wide network of resorts in the United Kingdom, effective management of its internal departments such as finance, research and development, marketing and supplies, and the overall customer satisfaction segment will be essential to the sustainability of the ir operations (Fayolle & Kyro, 2008, 2). For instance the research and development section needs to come up with features of a product or service in the resorts segments that holistically attracts more customers by giving the firm competitive advantage over other holiday firms while the accounting department will approve the financial side of the marketing plan and budget on the customer satisfaction strategies. Suppliers and Supply analysis Supply of basis services in the resorts business is changing with time

The Use of Military Special Forces in CIA Paramilitary Operations Research Paper

The Use of Military Special Forces in CIA Paramilitary Operations - Research Paper Example Some of these military activities are in public knowledge while others remain classified. There is speculation that covert paramilitary operations will end up being the responsibility of unacknowledged distinct operation units within the USSOCOM. One of the fundamental concerns by the American people is the dichotomy of operations by the central intelligence agency and the military. This is fueled by the fact that military personnel can get involved in central intelligence agency operations1. At the same time, the central intelligence personnel can serve in the military. There is similarity in training and military operations means that it is never clear whether the central intelligence agency activities are alienated from the military activities. The nature of secrecy in the CIA operations means the Special Forces in the United States of America military can hold joint operations with CIA. The role of Special Forces in paramilitary activities is unknown to the public. Therefore, it becomes hard to tell whether a given activity is being conducted by the central intelligence agency or the particular forces of United States. For instance, paramilitary operations in Yemen require presidential authorization. Besides, the intelli gence committees have to be notified. There is a growing concern on whether the same requirement applies to secret military operations. In case of a joint operation of the central intelligence agency operations paramilitary officers and Special Forces, it is not clear on whose authorizes. There is a need to known to what extent Special Forces can get involved in paramilitary activities and operations. There is a perception that the personnel involved in United States covert operations are contractors. This poses a significant threat to the security of United States due to access of classified information2. According to Brennan, the

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Integration of the Individual in the Community and Home in Hawthornes Essay

Integration of the Individual in the Community and Home in Hawthornes Roger Malvins Burial and Andersons Mother - Essay Example There are still others who are at odds with the value system of their community and have chosen to be silent outsiders who may have only physical presence in the group. Yet, another type is the rebel who is at loggerheads with the values any systems of the community. Others have realized the futility of the existence of a community to which he or she belongs and may be out to reform it. The possibilities of the patterns of individual's integration to community are many and the study is targeted to examining the integrations of the individual in the community and home in Hawthorne's Roger Nathaniel Hawthorne's works are passionately taken up with moral problems of sin, punishment and atonement. His knowledge of the history of his own ancestors perhaps goaded him to explore these themes of guilt. The 17th century persecutions of the Quakers and the witchcraft trials of Salem troubled him. The insight of Hawthorne into the motivations of behavior and the guilt and anxiety in his characters are the legacy of the past sins to humanity. Hawthorne deliberately manipulated historical data and churned out the moral concerns behind them. The truth of human heart remains a mystery in his characters and his ambivalent approach to what is good and bad, is far ahead of his times. If Hawthorne was obsessed with ethical dilemmas in his works, Anderson Sherwood was concerned with mundane problems that affected the fortunes of the ordinary people. The machine age took away the human factor from work. This dehumanized the American work place in a way. Apart from that, it also threatened the very existence of the workers. In a world of competition many values were lost and in the ruthless drive for individual attainment human beings lost sight of the social and family dimension of their existence. Roger Malvil's Burial, when examined in the backdrop social dimension of man existing in a society reveals that concealment can cut off a person from the social communion with his community and family. Early Christian religious practices insisted on public penances for serious sins. Sin was not merely a matter between God and man; it has a social dimension and hidden crimes can cut him off from society and finally unhinge him. Hidden crimes often produce abnormal behavior in the sinner. Hawthorne in Roger Malvil's Burial reveals that even an apparently harmless act if hidden out of fear, can affect social integration of the individual with the community and family. To him crime itself was not so monstrous as the concealment of it. Roger Malvin's Burial may be called an overture to his grand exploration of this theme in The Scarlet Letter. During military operations, a soldier may have to leave his dying comrade. In such a situation, Reuben is forced to leave his friend, Malvin to di e, as there was no other option for him. However, he had agreed to come and bury him later, after his own wounds are healed. Nevertheless, he lacks the courage to tell Dorcas, who is the daughter of Malvin and his future wife, the fact that her father did not receive a burial in the wilderness. Not burying a fellow soldier in combat conditions is not even a venial sin. However, the hiding of it to his wife and thus to his community prevents him from fulfilling a simple but important social and religious

Monday, September 23, 2019

Coca-Cola Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Coca-Cola - Case Study Example The first part of the paper will identify and evaluate the key success factors employed by the business organization. Next, this paper will analyze the weaknesses of the company and the potential threats that lie ahead. Lastly, this report will give its recommendation on how Coca-Cola can further improve its marketing strategy. In order to give a thorough investigation, this paper will utilize different strategic management tools. A key success factor is defined as specific skill or talent or competitive capability which spells the difference between profit and loss or competitive success or failure of a business organization. Looking at the strategic operation of Coca-cola, it can be seen that the key success factors of the company are its superior marketing mix, focus on innovation, and global orientation. Coca-Cola's marketing mix, as with other companies have four major components which are product, price, promotion, and place. It can be seen that the company has done an excellent job in coming up with a marketing mix which appeals to the global market. The products offered by Coca-Cola, for instance, have become widely accepted in the global market because it conveys a "universal taste" which discounts the differences in nationality, culture, and traditions. Secondly, the company has a pricing strategy which is at par with the industry. The marketing campaigns launched by Coca-Cola define and become a foundation of modern day marketing. The advertisements of the business organization irrefutably reveal new techniques and styles in capturing the audience. Lastly, Coca-Cola's success is largely due to its wide availability. Its products are sold almost everywhere, from restaurants, to cafes, to vending machines, to kiosks, and most establishments. Another key success factor of Coca-cola is its focus on product innovation. Recognizing that the various changes in the market where it operates, the company reinvented itself to evolve from a single core product to a total beverage firm. Currently, Coca-Cola has nearly 400 beverages in its portfolio and is still geared in offering beverages which suits the preferences of its market. In 2005, the company announced that it has introduced "a variety of new brands, brand extension, and new beverage products." Lastly, Coca-Cola's success is also highly attributed to its global orientation. Recognizing the huge profit opportunities abroad, the company has expanded geographically. By being global oriented, the company is not only able to establish presence in foreign markets but is also able to generate new revenues and efficiently distribute costs among its operating segments. The company is also able to utilize resources which are present abroad in order to enhance its operations. However, aside from being globally oriented, the company also concentrates on creating specific products which suits the need of a specific market: "Consumer demand can vary from one locale to another and can change over time within a single locale. Employing our business strategy, and with special focus on core brands, our Company seeks to build its existing brands and, at the same time, to broaden its historical family of brands, products and services in order to create and satisfy consumer demand locale by locale." Weaknesses and Threats The weaknesses and threats faced by the Coca-Cola can be determined by conducting a SWOT

Sunday, September 22, 2019

The State Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The State - Essay Example There are various characteristics of a State that distinguish it from other forms of political organizations that are discussed below (Flint and Taylor 31). The first characteristic is that a State must possess defined land territory that are known and recognized in all aspects. This means that it must inhabit a certain part of the earthÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s known surface and the boarders are recognizable. The boarders or limits though recognized they can be indefinite, unclear or disputed. The State territory varies with each country as it is with the population that inhibits within these boarders (Flint and Taylor 31). A State is also recognized when there is an enduring resident population regardless of their size. A place that does not have people who reside there regardless of how large it is cannot be defined as a State. When a place is only crisscrossed by migrants or occupied occasionally by researchers or hunters cannot be quantified as a State. From this analysis, a State denotes a hum an establishment that is generated by people to fulfill and serve parts of their specific needs. The people who make up a State do not have to be necessarily homogenous or sharing norms, customs, same language or an ethnic experience. For instance, people living in the United States are made up of varied cultural background and customs but they form a State (Flint and Taylor 31). In addition, another characteristic of a state is the essence of a government, which is an administrative system which accomplishes the functions desired by the population and governs various institutions. A State cannot exist if there is no political organization and it is important in making and imposing public policies. A government is necessary in a State to ensure that people are safe, free from fear, violence, and dangerous encounters with other countries (Flint and Taylor 31). Organized economy is a characteristic of a State which denotes the way people are able to trade with one another. A State has the duty to perform various economic activities regardless of how small or large. This economic system ensures directive of money and supervision of foreign trade even in a situation where activities are organized badly. In addition, a State needs a circulation system which ensures that goods, people, and services are transferred from one location of the territory to the other. This circulation is inclusive of all types of transportation and communication while modern States have sophisticated equipment (Flint and Taylor 31). The other two characteristics are not geographic but within the concept of political science as well as international law and they are sovereignty and recognition. A State must be sovereign which means it holds the highest and complete power within its own boarders and therefore, can make its own foreign and local policies. In essence, it is not inferior or accountable whichever other parts of authority or power. When a State is sovereign it can decide its for m of governance, structure an economic system, and direct its foreign programs. For instance, the states within the State of the United States cannot be sovereign since each one of them is accountable to the Constitution of the country (Flint and Taylor 32). Recognition is an important part of a State since it ensures that it is acknowledged as an international personality or as part of the international community. This means it is nominated into the

Saturday, September 21, 2019

The Struggles and the Victories of Modern France Essay Example for Free

The Struggles and the Victories of Modern France Essay Introduction Modern France has been a product of the historical struggles between the then prevailing Catholic Church and monarchy and the rising influence of intellectuals and revolutionaries. Pierre Birnbaums The Idea of France traces the roots of the modern French state and how the current status quo had been influenced by the ideological, political and social struggles that have shaken the country. Essentially, Birnbaum argued that France as we know it today was a product of one of the most important periods in the history of France- the Enlightenment and the French Revolution of 1789. Hence, much of what democracy in France today can be attributed to that period and the succeeding years of struggle to reach its current political stability. The Idea of France France according to Birnbaum has seen its soul as residing in a privileged relationship with reason (Birnbaum, xiii). This hallmarks the principles of enlightenment where reason was the primary tool in governing human activity particularly in the affairs of the state, the individuals and the society. Hence, it was a call to end the prevailing rule of the Church and the monarchy that was the remnants of the Middle Ages which is seen by the revolutionists as irrational and superstitious. Therefore, from the side of the revolution activists, the emergence of the power residing in the people emerged through the National Assembly or the Third Estate which received criticisms and oppositions from the traditionalists composed of the monarchy and the Church. From the oppositions and the struggle for supremacy in the government, Birnbaum argued that these antagonistic forces had served as the birthmark of the contemporary French democracy particularly its emphasis on plurality. While Modern France was built in over 200 years after the Enlightenment period, this era according to Birnbaum marked the time when the future of modern France was first hallmarked. In doing so, Birnbaum traced the origins and the development of the political antagonists and protagonists in order to support and defend the current status quo in an era when monarchy and the belief in the divine power was the norm. The division of France also stemmed from philosophers- those defending the reign of the Catholic Church and the monarchy and those who had been advocating a reform in the current system as advocated by the likes of Tocqueville. Hence, Birnbaum described the Third Republic as fraught with divisiveness reaching its peak in the Bloody Week of June 1871 and the conservatives gaining the upper hand. However, this victory was temporary and the ensuing Liberation and the Fourth Republic was established. At this time, France has already shifted to a parliamentary form of government existing in a coalition. At this time, the changes that were advocated during the French Revolution has been on process and the divisiveness still existed. It was only in the Fifth Republic that the political factions waned and the Republic and the Catholic Church evolved- they no longer exhibited the hatred that once fuelled their ideologies but rather have reformed their principles to change the anti-clericism. In doing so, the French government was able to provide for a pluralistic government as well as a cultural pluralism in the society of France. Analysis Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ The primary strength of Birnbaums book is its ability to depict the contradictory forces in French history as both protagonists of democracy: it objectively portrayed the Catholic Church and the monarchy was essential elements in the reformation of a modern France. In doing so, Birnbaum avoids the overtly one-sided depiction of French history as nothing more than a struggle between proponents and opponents of democracy. Each had been ancillary to the other. Needless to say, the French Revolution occurred due to these two forces. Second, Birnbaum treated the 200 years and more as a history not only of politics but also of philosophies and of the people. For one, Birnbaum showed the historical context of the Modern France through a careful and thorough analysis of the cultural struggles in the country at the time. Moreover, it included an analysis of how France was able to overcome the multiculturalism at the time in order to give way to a more tolerant and a brand of French culturalism that is unique. Consequently, upon reading the book, one would appreciate the uniqueness of the French society and its struggles particularly in ushering the Enlightenment period. Hence, Birnbaum also showed readers and scholars from all over the world that the role France has played in modern democracies and current governmental structures are important. Third, while most history books would have delved into too much detail hence, focusing more on facts than on the importance of those facts, Birnbaum was able to capture the readers attention by focusing on the latter: the importance of events can only be appreciated if it can be related to what is relevant at the time and in modern times. Consequently, the only weakness of the book has been its inability to thoroughly relate the world events at the time and how it influenced the Frenchs history as well as how France had influenced other societies. While this is not central to the books theme, it would have given the readers the idea how revolutionary and how important the events in French history had been at a time when most governments are governed by the Church. Conclusion Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ Guided by reason and a vision that looks at the society and the people as the primary guiding force for the changes in the society, The Idea of France rested on the argument that historical forces are all protagonists in shaping what French society and government is today. The actors primarily the Republicans and the Catholic Church and the monarchy including the opposing intellectuals and the people versus the nobility- all of these had been instrumental in creating the France that we know today. Modern democracies such as that of France springs from a multitude of events- in the case of The Idea of France it had been the increasing dismay of the people on the status quo governed by the Church and the monarchy. Essentially, The Idea of France by Birnbaum aptly captured the struggles and the victories of France in paving the way for a more democratic form of government particularly in establishing a government by the people and for the people. Concurrently, the struggle of France had endured years before it finally established the Modern France that we know today. Essentially, it is during the period of the Enlightenment and the succeeding years after it that the idea of modern France had been crafted and cemented. Work Cited Birnbaum, Pierre. The Idea of France. Hill and Wang. 352 pages. 2001.

Friday, September 20, 2019

The Frugal Innovation In Africa Economics Essay

The Frugal Innovation In Africa Economics Essay Failure by conventional theories such as the product life cycle and closed innovation to explain recent trends in innovation, have laid a foundation for the emergence of different approaches to innovation management. One such approach is frugal innovation which has, in the recent past, been given recognition both by practitioners and academics. Frugal innovation aims at offering goods and services that are affordable, robust and of acceptable quality in a volume-driven market. So far academic attention on frugal innovation has been paid to countries outside Africa. The review of extant literature found only one academic paper on frugal innovation in Africa. This paper was based on a single case study and just focused on the service industry. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify examples of successful frugal innovation in Africa and categorize them based on local conditions. Using an analogical method, six successful cases of frugal innovation were identified in differ ent countries. Frugal innovations were categorized into basic needs and luxury frugal solutions respectively. Further from the six cases, five success factors were identified. These are; needs conceptualization, passion, local networks, investing in local RD and a flexible and well defined rolling out process. These cases suggest that companies wishing to develop frugal solutions aimed at specifically addressing the needs of customers in Africa must be receptive to the above factors. This study highlights the existence of frugal innovation in Africa and the critical factors vital for creating new, affordable and robust products and services for what we call unthawed markets in Africa. The study has also shown that despite frugal innovation attracting academic attention in the last decade, it has existed in Africa for a considerable period of time. For the future, studies should be focused on identifying more cases of frugal innovation in Africa. In addition, such cases should be sub jected to in-depth analysis. We also encourage comprehensive studies aimed at developing new theories and testing the proposed ones. Keywords: Frugal Innovation, Africa, product life cycle, unthawed markets, success factors 1. INTRODUCTION The ongoing shift in the global innovation landscape has presented numerous challenges (Magnusson 2000; Chesbrough 2003). These challenges have brought conventional theories such as the product life cycle and closed innovation into the spot light. As a result many countries and firms are developing new ways and means of conducting business. For example, multinationals from developed countries are increasingly globalizing their RD activities. Firms from emerging economies such as India and Brazil, which traditionally played a secondary role in global innovation, have now begun to catch up with developing their own innovative capabilities (Mathews, 2002). Some of these firms have emerged as major players in certain sectors like information technology and mobile communications. In this shift, particular attention has been paid to emerging concepts of innovation. Recent research has identified five distinctive but interrelated innovation concepts for the years ahead (Eagar et al., 2011). These concepts are: customer-based innovation; proactive business model innovation; integrated innovation; high speed/low risk innovation and frugal innovation. The literature on all the five concepts is scant because they are in their infancy phase. Frugal innovation also known as reverse innovation is about minimizing the use of material and financial resources in the complete value chain with the objective of reducing the cost of ownership while fulfilling even exceeding certain predefined criteria of acceptable quality standards (Tiwari and Herstatt, 2012). From the organizations point of view, a frugal solution is designed, produced, delivered and maintained to achieve the needs of underserved consumers in constrained environments (Bhatti, 2012). For the consumers, frugal products and services extend from simply costs to functioning with few resources, and lack of necessary infrastructure. Examples of successful frugal innovation include the Tata Nano car in India that costs less than US$3000, a low-cost battery powered refrigerator in India (called Chotukool) created by Godrej Company and a mini-handheld electrocardiogram (ECG) machine called Mac 400 created by GE at its Bangalore laboratory (Howard, 2011). Based on evidence from frugal solutions in and outside Asia, it is clear that frugal innovation is a cutting edge initiative that has challenged conventional ways of innovation management. It is destined to address the needs of both the lower and middle income groups all over the world. Despite these impressive strides, the initiative has received little academic attention particularly in Africa. Scholarly works that have attempted to deal with this subject have mainly concentrated on emerging economies in Asia (Tiwari and Herstatt 2011, 2012; SAGPA 2011; Tood and Lawson 2003; Fukuda and Watanabe 2011; Kohlbacher and Hang 2011; Pinelli 2011; Eagar et al., 2011). Africa is in desparate need of frugal innovation given the higher levels of poverty in comparison to other continents. For instance in 2011, 35 out of 45 nations identified as having Low Human Development on the United Nations Human Development Index were located in Africa (UNDP, 2011). The implications of these facts are tha t the gap between the rich and the poor in most African countries is quite high and the population of the lower and middle income groups is higher than those in the high income group. This means that there are fewer people who are able to enjoy certain things in life because of the low purchasing power. More often than note, people in the lower income group would like to enjoy the same goods and services as those at the top of the economic pyramid but are not able to. Therefore there is a seemingly dormant and non-consuming market for which frugal products can take advantage. We call this market unthawed market because it is not fully exploited and seems frozen. The limited research so far carried out on frugal innovation has not addressed emerging issues in this field in Africa. To our knowledge there has only been one study conducted on frugal innovation in Africa. It was a single case study that focused on service innovation in Kenya (Wooder and Baker, 2012). There is need to cas t the net wide and look at Africa as a whole in order to identify other cases of frugal innovation. This will give us a clearer picture of both product and service innovations for mass markets in Africa. As populations in Africa grow and demand for unique and reasonably cheap goods and services go up, frugal innovation is a must for this continent. Given the foregoing, it is imperative that a preliminary study to find examples of frugal innovation in Africa is conducted. Hence the purpose of this study is to address this gap. More specifically our study aims to identify cases of frugal innovation in African, categorize them and bring out success factors of such innovations. Identifying cases of frugal innovation will provide important insights that will stimulate further research not only in Africa but in other parts of the world. 2. FRUGAL INNOVATION: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND In this era that is increasingly being defined by the globalization of competition as well as major fiscal and demographic challenges, the task of managing innovation is vital for companies of every size in every industry (Tidd, 2006). Although innovation is a very difficult process to manage, it is critical in sustaining businesses and ensures competitive advantage. The way organizations bring out new ideas and take them to the market has undergone fundamental change. There is a paradigm shift in how companies commercialize industrial knowledge. In the following we have shown how two conventional theories of innovation and product development are no longer sustainable. Subsequently, frugal innovation is becoming relevant. 2.1 The Product Life Cycle cannot explain recent trends in innovation Historically there were attempts and initiatives to understand product and service innovation. One such initiative was the product life cycle (PLC) theory developed by Raymond Vernon. The PLC is an economic theory that attempted to explain the observed pattern of international trade. Vernon (1966) argued that many products experience cycles. The theoretical rationale behind the PLC theory emanates from the concepts of diffusion and adoption of innovations (Everett, 1962). Schematically, the PLC may be approximated by a bell-shaped curve that is divided into different stages (see Figure 1). Although the number of phases suggested by different scholars varies from four to six, for the purpose of this paper we have adopted a four-phase cycle as proposed by Polli and Cook (1969). The four-phase cycle is realistic. Some cycles, which include a saturation stage, have proved to be unrealistic and questionable. For example, a clear distinction could not be drawn between the mature and satura tion stage (Gardner, 1987). Pollit and Cook (1969) stated that sales follow a sequence of stages, starting with product introduction and proceeds with growth, through maturity and eventually decline. Figure 1. Product Life Cycle Source: Polli and Cook (1969) Below is the summary of the four stages in a products life cycle: Introduction New products are introduced to meet local and national needs. Profits are often low because customers are few. This stage is characterized by significant uncertainty regarding the market size, consumer tastes and technological constraints. Growth Products become more widely known and accepted. Profits begin to be earned as the image of the product is developed. Maturity Products may be extended by adding both width and depth. Sales are at their peak and profits are high. There is production of standard products through standardized production processes. Decline Sales fall very fast and profit go down. Prices are also likely to fall. Vernon (1966) posited that products are initially discovered and produced in developed countries (north) and exported to the less developed countries (south). The emphasis was on the role of innovation, scale ignorance and uncertainty. Vernon discarded the classical assumption that knowledge is a free good. He claimed that developed countries spend more on product development and innovation than developing countries. Hence they tend to develop high end products. Initially, the manufacture of a new product tends to be located in the country that developed it. This is largely on account of large markets in the developed nations therefore early stages of a products life production need to be located close to the market. Vernon further argued that when products become mature their degree of standardization and consequently of price elasticity of demand increases, cost considerations become more important and production will often move to less developed countries. Concerns about productio ns costs and possibilities of economies of scale results in shift of location of production from the north to the south. Hence the north produces only new goods while the south produces only old goods (Funk, 2004). The cycle arises because what is a new good in one period eventually becomes an old good in another period. The PLC theory is a conventional concept which has stood the test of time. It has represented central elements of innovation and marketing for four decades (Mercer, 1993). Following its development in the 1960s and subsequent popularization in the 1970s, the theory has remained a stable feature in international trade. A great deal has been written on the subject and several empirical studies have validated its existence (Polli Cook 1969; Meenaghan Turnbull 1978; Klepper 1992; Mercer 1993; Funk 2004). The PLC has been used for strategic planning, product development, financial management and has been considered to be an influential concept (Moon, 2005) and an enduring marketing framework (Golder Tellis 2004). The concept has been used for specific technologies (Abernathy and Utterback, 1978); for dominant designs (Tushman and Anderson, 1990), for customer adaptations of new technologies (Rodgers, 1962) and for specific industries and clusters (Audretsch and Feldman, 1996). Indeed the evidence supporting the PLC theory and the amount of attention bestowed upon the theory in the academic literature over the years have been impressive. However, in the recent past the PLC concept has begun to appear unsustainable. There is a serious deficiency in the assertion that new products and innovations happen in developed countries and later get adopted in developing nations. Recent scholarly work has brought out evidence showing an increasing trend of product development and innovations originating from developing nations such as India and China (Tiwari Herstatt 2012; Prahaland 2005; Economist 2010b). These countries are no longer just borrowing innovations from developed countries; but from time to time are contributing innovations to the rest of the world including advanced economies (Govindarajan Ramamurti, 2011). Recent research has suggested that enterprises are increasingly using fast-growing developing economies as lead markets for innovating specific pro ducts, services and technologies (Tiwari Herstatt, 2012). An example of such innovations is a washing machine called Mini Magical Child introduced by Haier, a Chinese home appliances firm. This washing machine is being sold in the US and Europe. These innovations have been termed frugal innovation because they meet the needs of low end customers at affordable prices and have acceptable quality (Zeschky et al. 2011). This trend cannot be sufficiently explained by the PLC theory and by factors such as degree of standardization and price elasticity of demand. To the contrary, the trend has challenged the core assumptions of the PLC theory and proves, in the interim, that innovation and new products can emerge from anywhere and not just in advanced countries. The assertion, by Vernon, that discarded the notion that knowledge in a free good therefore cannot stand. 2.2. The Closed Innovation approach has been eroded The old paradigm was called closed innovation which was based on the strict control of successful innovation (Chesbrough, 2003). Under this view, organizations generate their own ideas, develop them, finance them and support them on their own. In short, companies maintain complete control of all aspects of the innovation process and inventions are kept highly secretive. Traditionally many organizations followed this model and it worked well for most of the twentieth century (OVO, 2008). However, over the years a number of factors have led to the erosion of the closed innovation approach (Chesbrough, 2003). First, due to an increase in the mobility and availability of highly educated people, large amounts of knowledge leave the research laboratories of many companies. Second, the availability of venture capital has increased significantly in the recent past making it possible for promising ideas and technologies to be further developed outside the organization. Third, other firms in the supply chain began to play an increasingly pivotal role in the innovation process. Finally, today there is an abundance of knowledge in virtually every field. The proliferation of public scientific databases, online journals, low-cost internet access have given firms access to a wealth of knowledge that was far more expensive and time-consuming to reach as recently as the early 1990s. The above factors have rendered the closed innovation model unsustainable. Consequently, some mature firms got stuck in a narrow search for efficiency, displaying short sightedness and an inability to innovate to the extent needed to sustain their competitiveness (March, 1991; Dougherty and Hardy, 1996). Hence, many organizations started looking for other ways of increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of their innovation processes. On the other hand, these conditions have led to the globalization of innovation and emergence of what Chresbrough (2003) has called open innovation. Under this paradigm, firms can and should use both internal and external ideas to develop and commercialize products and services. Open innovation provides means to benefit from a much broader base of individuals and organizations. Ideas coming from customers and business partners may identify gaps and needs that internal team may have been ignoring or unable to identify. Firms are tapping into internal a nd external sources of knowledge to review development cycles, re-think development costs and develop products for particular markets with differing customer tastes, geographic conditions or regulatory requirements (Buse et al. 2010; Cantwell, 1995; OECD, 2008). Internationalization of RD which was thought to be phenomena of the developed countries such as Japan and Germany has now shifted to developing countries (Carlsson, 2006). There is a remarkable trend of multinational enterprises selecting locations in emerging economies such as India and China to conduct innovation activities (Tiwari, 2007; OECD; 2008). 2.3 The emergence of frugal innovation The open innovation approach and the failure by traditional theories such as the PLC to elucidate the current innovation trends, have laid a basis for the emergence of different approaches to innovation management. One such approach is frugal innovation which targets middle and lower-income customers in rapid growth markets (Pinelli, 2011). Frugal innovation is also called reverse innovation (Govindarajan and Ramamurti, 2011) constraint-based innovation, meaning sparse in the use of raw materials and their impact on the environment (Innovation Post, 2011). It is driven by resource constraints imposed by infrastructural and business environment (Sehgal et al. 2010). Practitioners have referred to frugal innovation as a holistic rethinking of products and services offered to the customers and underlying processes and business models so that companies can squeeze costs and expand the customer base, business and profit (Jagati, 2011). These customers are enjoying their first taste of mod ern prosperity and are buying for the basics not for fancy features (Prahalad, 2005). They have unique needs that are not usually addressed by mature market products, mainly due to prohibitive cost base of developed world products. To produce frugal goods, complex and concerted RD efforts are required (Jagati, 2011). In this regard, the field of engineering has also undergone some changes in order to face these challenges. In 2006, the Chairman and CEO of Renault-Nissan Alliance, Carlos Ghosn came up with the term frugal engineering to describe the competency and aptness of Indian engineers in developing products like Tata Motors Nano. Frugal engineering is an overarching philosophy that enables a true clean sheet approach to product development (Sehgal et. al. 2010). It avoids needless costs and addresses millions of consumers at the bottom of the pyramid who are moving out of poverty in developing nations. Kumar and Puranam (2012) in their recent research identified the following underlying principles on which frugal engineering efforts seem to rest: Robustness The characteristic of being physically strong and inured to endurance. Most of the developing nations have harsh environments such as extreme temperatures. Portability Poor roads and transportation in the emerging economies call for the importance of goods that are easily portable. Small and lightweight products become highly desirable. Defeaturing This refers to feature rationalization. Usually features accumulate in products over time. Therefore there is need to remove some of them that do little to enhance the actual product. Leapfrog technology Leapfrogging is a process of making progress by large jumps as opposed to small increments. This may seem contradictory for developing nations. However, engineers in India and China have adopted technologies that make dependence on existing infrastructure irrelevant. Mega-scale production It is estimated that the middle class in Asia alone is 525 million people, greater than the entire population of the European Union (Pinelli, 2011). This massive population can help firms produce on a massive scale and drive costs down. Service Ecosystems By using efficient service ecosystems, firms utilizing frugal engineering have been selling large volumes to multiple segments, each with slightly different needs. With ecosystems low costs have been achieved. In India, frugal innovation is known as Jugaad innovation which means doing the best with what one possesses (Innovation Post 2011). Jugaad is a colloquial Hindi word which roughly translates as an innovative fix; an improvised solution born from ingenuity and cleverness (Radjou et. al., 2012). The term refers to a unique way of thinking and acting in response to challenges. Juggad is, quite simply, achieving more with less. India is becoming a leader in frugal innovation (Tiwari and Herstatt, 2012). In fact it is rapidly emerging as one of the hotspots for the development of innovations tailored to the needs of lower income groups (Kubzansky and Karamchandani, 2009). As mentioned earlier, the best known example of a frugal product is probably the Tata Nano car, which has become so popular in India and dubbed the peoples car (Howard, 2011). At the end of 2010, 70,000 units had been sold. Tatas aim was to develop and produce a car that would be much cheaper than any other car in the w orld. To achieve this, the company reengineered parts to save weight, reconfigured assembly methods and developed a complex network of third party suppliers to increase efficiency (Pinelli, 2011). In view of this ground breaking technology, some established car manufactures from advanced economies have seen a reduction in their sales. According to the Society of India Automobile Manufacturers, in 2011 Suzukis car sales in India dropped by 11.9 percent for the first time in 9 years (Nagata, 2012). Suzukis market share in India which was 50 percent in 2009 dropped to under 40 percent in 2011. Another example of frugal innovation is Indias technologically sophisticated solutions. The country is providing satellite launch services at the India Space Research Organization (ISRO). This organization is offering commercial services to space agencies and research institutions all over the world for costs that are significantly lower than those of its competitors in the developed world (Chand rashekar, 2011). In the medical field, a unique and interesting trend has emerged. Sometime back people seeking specialized medical treatment from developing nations would travel to developed nations for treatment. However, because of new and affordable medical services in India, patients from wealthy countries are going there for specialized treatment (Moriyasu, 2012). The comparably decent treatment is much cheaper and waiting time is short. For instance, the heart bypass surgery which costs US$144,000 in the US is available for US$8,600 in India (Moryyasu, 2012). In this regard, the number of medical tourists received by India has grown to 4.6 times the number received five years ago. At Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in New Delhi, patients from the US, the UK and the Persian Gulf States have been treated. Another country with successful cases of frugal innovation is China. For example, BYD in that country has developed a very low-cost method of producing lithium-ion batteries whose cost has been reduced from US$40 to less than US$5 per unit (Kharas, 2010). Other frugal products in China include a washing machine called Mini Magical Child developed by Haier, a home appliance company in 1996 (Hang et. al., 2010). The product was designed for small daily loads and offered an alternative to large expensive washing machines. These are all examples of good enough products designed to fulfill the basic needs at low cost thereby providing high value. From the scarce literature, three studies that attempted to address frugal innovation theoretical issues were identified. The first one proposed a frugal theoretical model on the basis of resource constraints, institutional innovation and social innovation (Bhatti, 2012). According to this model, the intersections among these three innovation streams present a fertile space where frugal innovation can be located. If each stream is taken separately, it cannot deal with the challenges of innovating for the underserved in emerging markets. The second study presented a conceptual framework for product innovation (Ray and Ray, 2011). As shown in Figure 2, they contended that to serve the markets at the bottom of the pyramid three concepts need to be harnessed; architectural innovation, modularity and collaborative partnerships. When performance of existing product technologies far exceeds what customers in mass markets are able to utilize or pay for; innovators need to develop simpler and cheaper products. They likened this to Christensens model of disruptive technologies. In this context, architectural innovation becomes the logical low cost choice, since it recombines existing component technologies in new ways, to create and alter price-performance packages without further investments in developing new core technologies. Modularity incorporated in such products enables firms to improve performance overtime to appeal to more discerning mainstream customers, eventually facilitating a technology to emerge. In short modularity is for customization and improvements. Furthermore, given that developing disruptive technologies is prone to high uncertainties and unforeseen costs, which maybe further exacerbated by institutional weaknesses in emerging economies, the authors drew on the concept of collaborative partnerships. Such firm practices will lower the costs and risks associated with innovation. The third study focused on frugal service innovation in Kenya, Africa. T he aim of the study was to explore how the MPESA solution (which will be discussed later in this paper) was conceived, designed and delivered to the customers (Wooder and Baker, 2012). The study proposed a service innovation framework comprising how to; create, deliver, capture, defend and sustain value. Unlike the model proposed by Bhatti, the last two conceptual frameworks have been subjected to some testing. While the three models are in tandem on affordability, resource constraints and internal capacities of firms, the Bhatti model appears complicated and difficult to implement. To test the intersection of social innovation, institutional innovation and resource constraints is such a mammoth task. BOP DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGY simpler, cheaper than mainstream products Architectural Innovation Modularity Collaborative Partnerships Figure 2: A Conceptual Framework for product innovation for mass markets in emerging economies Source: Ray and Ray (2011) In order to understand how MNCs are organizing frugal innovation efforts in emerging markets, an in-depth study of five firms was carried out (Zeschky et al., 2011). Initially 13 firms, representing a variety of industries, were identified. The firms were sieved and eight dropped due to insufficient available data. The remaining five were found suitable case studies. Analysis was based on three criteria; product characteristics, motivation for developing products and implementation of product development. The study found that besides having similar structures regarding organization of RD, all of the five firms had a successful history of frugal innovation. Based on the above criteria it was established that successful frugal innovation: Should be grounded in the drive to meet the needs of resource-constrained customers at the lowest possible cost. Require local organizational structures and resources. Should result in products and services that are easy to use, robust and reliable. The above and other previous studies provide empirical evidence and a yardstick upon which future studies can be benchmarked. First, primary data was used; second the sample was reasonable and third firms represented different industries. 3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY This research focuses on identifying examples of frugal innovation in Africa. Being the first study of this kind in Africa, we used analogical thinking to identify of frugal innovation. The use of analogies in research involves the transfer of knowledge gained from one area (source domain) to another area or field (target domain) (Kalogerakis et al. 2010; Keane 1988). The knowledge and evidence of frugal innovation in some emerging economies (source domain) presented in this paper was used to identify examples of frugal innovation in Africa (target domain). As shown in this paper, there are successful examples of frugal innovation in India and China and these will be the yardstick against which cases in Africa will be identified.. Specifically the Zeschky et al. (2011) selection criterion was used to locate exceptional cases of frugal innovation in Africa. We scanned research databases and reviewed reports, articles and papers from previous studies and projects. Sources of such data included the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Bank, reputable journals, African Union (AU) and New Partnership for Africas Development (NEPAD). This methodology was appropriate at this stage of the research. For the future, there will be need to carry out comprehensive in-depth case studies of the identified cases. Such studies will provide us with detailed insights of the firms design, and production processes and commercialization of products. 4. EXAMPLES OF FRUGAL INNOVATION IN AFRICA Drawing from the literature, we present six examples of successful frugal innovation in Africa. These cases are drawn from a range of broad areas ranging from housing construction to electronic money transfer technologies. 4.1 Moladi: Affordable houses in South Africa In many African countries, housing is one of the most sensitive issues affecting the lower income groups. In South Africa for example, close to 13% of the 14.3 million households are informal dwellings (Statistics South Africa, 2011). The term informal dwelling is often used in South Africa to designate shacks, corrugated-iron structures and other makeshift shelters. The above statistics represents about 1.8 million households (between 7.2 and 10.8 million people). Informal structures are often made of highly combustible materials such as wood and cardboard which pose serious safety and environmental concerns. The structures are easily damaged and exposed to the external elements meaning that people often live in damp, very hot or very cold conditions. The other concern is inadequate or lack of sanitation and running water which constitute a serious health hazard for the population. Similar conditions are present in many parts of Africa. In order to address this problem and as part of public policy, the South African government took a number of initiatives. It became one of the few countries in the world where the right to adequate housing of all citizens is enshrined in the constitution. According to section 26 of the constitution, the state has an obligation to take reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources, to achieve the progressive realization of this right [to housing]. (Republic of South Africa, 1996). In order to translate this commitment into results, the first fully democratic South African government, immediately upon taking office in 1994, embarked on a far-reaching economic policy framework called the Reconstruction and De

Thursday, September 19, 2019

The Creator Who Started the Trend of Vampire Essay -- Literary Analysi

The Creator Who Started the Trend of Vampire Bram Stoker was the author of the world-wide famous novel, Dracula (1897). He was born on November 8, 1847 in Dublin, Ireland. His full name was Abraham, but was called Bram for short. Unlike todayÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s families, he grew up living with seven siblings. When he was young, he was an enfeebled child bedridden for his first 8 years. His father, Abraham Stoker (1799-1876), was a civil servant Ã¢â‚¬â€œ someone who works for the government Ã¢â‚¬â€œ and his mother was Charlotte Mathilda Blake Thornley (1818-1901). He married actress Florence Baleombe (1858-1937) in 1878. Stoker and Florence had one son named Irving Noel Thornley Stoker (1879-1961). (Merriman, 1) Even though Stoker was a sallow child, he eventually recovered and was able to attend Trinity College to study a variety of subjects. He studied mathematics, participated in sports, and was designated a spot on the school council as president of the Philosophical Society. He graduated with honors in 1870. (Merriman, 1) Due to his fatherÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s occupation, Bram Stoker himself became a civil servant while reviewing dramatic theater. Stoker quit being a civil servant to pursue his career as a writer through the meeting of Sir Henry Irving (1838-1905), an actor for William ShakespeareÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s plays and manager of the Lyceum Theater in London. With Sir Henry Irving, being one of StokerÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s reliable friends, he offered him the job of becoming co-manager of Lyceum Theater in London, where he continued to delve into the writing world. (Weinfeld, 365) From there on, he wrote many books, one of which he created the masterpiece Dracula (1897). Dracula StokerÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s first copy of Dracula (1897) was published in the year 1887, starting the trend of vampires. It underwent numero... ...tinue to live on to this day. He based Count Dracula on two historical people Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Vlad Tepes and Elisabeth Bathory. Using mainly these two characters, Stoker created a book on which it would be the founder of vampire books. Without the existence of Bram Stoker, vampires might not have been as popular as they are today. For instance, in todayÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s world, vampire books such as Twilight, Vampire Diaries, and Vampire Academy have become world famous through vampirism. Movies have even been based on Dracula (1897), similarly close to the original, using special effects on how to kill a vampire. Without the publication of Dracula (1897), there would not have been dark, gory, or evil stories to set off the advances using a new essence of writing. With StokerÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s great mind and ability to create Dracula (1897), it changed the thought of many writers throughout the world. The Creator Who Started the Trend of Vampire Essay -- Literary Analysi The Creator Who Started the Trend of Vampire Bram Stoker was the author of the world-wide famous novel, Dracula (1897). He was born on November 8, 1847 in Dublin, Ireland. His full name was Abraham, but was called Bram for short. Unlike todayÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s families, he grew up living with seven siblings. When he was young, he was an enfeebled child bedridden for his first 8 years. His father, Abraham Stoker (1799-1876), was a civil servant Ã¢â‚¬â€œ someone who works for the government Ã¢â‚¬â€œ and his mother was Charlotte Mathilda Blake Thornley (1818-1901). He married actress Florence Baleombe (1858-1937) in 1878. Stoker and Florence had one son named Irving Noel Thornley Stoker (1879-1961). (Merriman, 1) Even though Stoker was a sallow child, he eventually recovered and was able to attend Trinity College to study a variety of subjects. He studied mathematics, participated in sports, and was designated a spot on the school council as president of the Philosophical Society. He graduated with honors in 1870. (Merriman, 1) Due to his fatherÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s occupation, Bram Stoker himself became a civil servant while reviewing dramatic theater. Stoker quit being a civil servant to pursue his career as a writer through the meeting of Sir Henry Irving (1838-1905), an actor for William ShakespeareÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s plays and manager of the Lyceum Theater in London. With Sir Henry Irving, being one of StokerÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s reliable friends, he offered him the job of becoming co-manager of Lyceum Theater in London, where he continued to delve into the writing world. (Weinfeld, 365) From there on, he wrote many books, one of which he created the masterpiece Dracula (1897). Dracula StokerÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s first copy of Dracula (1897) was published in the year 1887, starting the trend of vampires. It underwent numero... ...tinue to live on to this day. He based Count Dracula on two historical people Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Vlad Tepes and Elisabeth Bathory. Using mainly these two characters, Stoker created a book on which it would be the founder of vampire books. Without the existence of Bram Stoker, vampires might not have been as popular as they are today. For instance, in todayÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s world, vampire books such as Twilight, Vampire Diaries, and Vampire Academy have become world famous through vampirism. Movies have even been based on Dracula (1897), similarly close to the original, using special effects on how to kill a vampire. Without the publication of Dracula (1897), there would not have been dark, gory, or evil stories to set off the advances using a new essence of writing. With StokerÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s great mind and ability to create Dracula (1897), it changed the thought of many writers throughout the world.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Essay --

Alison Hennen The Glass Castle Book Review The Glass Castle was overall very strange. Written by Jeannette Walls in her point of view, this book is her memoir that she wrote to share her story with the rest of the world. It won the 2005 Elle ReadersÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ Prize and the 2006 American Library Association Alex Award. The title comes from an unkempt promise from JeannetteÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s father, but rather than seeing it as a letdown, Jeannette remembers it as a hope that things will get better, a trait she must have received from her mother. While The Glass Castle focuses mainly on her immediate family, she later wrote another book, Half Broke Horses, about her grandmother, Lily Casey Smith. The book starts off with Jeannette, a successful adult, taking a taxi to a nice party. When she looked out the window, she saw a woman digging through the garbage. The woman was her mother. Rather than calling out to her or saying hi, Jeannette slid down into the seat in fear that her mother would see her. When asking her mother what she should say when people ask about her family, Rose Mary Walls only told her, Ã¢â‚¬Å"Ju...

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

The impact of Ig G levels on routine clinical biochemistry parameters i

Summary: The minimisation of neonatal mortality is critical for the success of an animal management programme. The period between calving and weaning is the most crucial period in the animal's life. A major management tool that could be used to reduce health problems in calves is feeding with colostrum. Colostrum is rich in energy, protein and vitamins (especially vitamins A, D, E and B12). Most importantly, colostrum is essential for newborns, in that it contains high levels of immunoglobulins, which transfer passive immunity to the calf, and thereby, enable it to fight with infections. The aim of the present study was to determine the correlation between serum Ig G levels and routine biochemical parameters in neonatal Holstein calves given colostrum. For this purpose, serum was extracted from blood samples collected from 79 calves within 24-48 hours of calving. The passive transfer status of the calves was determined by measuring the Ig G content of serum by ELISA. Based on their serum Ig G levels, the calves were divided into 3 groups (insufficient n=13; partial n=14; and normal passive transfer n=52). Serum ALT, AST, GGT, ALP, LDH activities and serum BUN, creatinine, albumin, total protein, total bilirubin, triglyceride, cholesterol, and glucose levels were analysed. A statistically significant increase was determined in the serum GGT activity and total protein and urea levels of calves with normal passive immunity transfer by colostrum, compared to the other passive transfer groups (p0.05). Key words: Colostrum, Passive Transfer, Calf, Clinical Biochemistry Introduction The minimisation of neonat... ...Passive transfer of colostral immunglobulins in calves. J Vet Intern Med 14: 569-577 10. Willard MD, Tvedten H (2004): Small animal clinical diagnosis by laboratory methods. Saunders, MO, USA. 11. Wilson LK, Tyler JW, Besser TE, Parish SM, Gant R (1999): Prediction of Serum IgG1 concentration in beef calves based on age and serum gamma-glutamyl transferase activity. J Vet Intern Med 13:123-125 12. Zanker IA, Hammon MH, Blum WJ (2001): Activities of ÃŽ ³-glutamyltransferase, alkaline phosphatase and aspartate-aminotransferase in colostrum, milk and blood plasma of calves fed first colostrum at 0Ã¢â‚¬â€œ2, 6Ã¢â‚¬â€œ7,12Ã¢â‚¬â€œ13 and 24Ã¢â‚¬â€œ25h after birth. J Vet Med 48: 179-185 13. Zarilli A, Micera E, Lacarpia N, Lombardi P, Pero ME, Pelagalli A, Angelo D, Mattia M, Avallone L (2003): Evaluation of goat colostrum quality by determining enzyme activity levels. Livest Prod Sci 83: 317-320

The Power Of Language Is The Most Dominant Means

In addition, Ã¢â‚¬ËœWorthy Sebastian' is used which has a double meaning, it means that he is worthy enough to become king and be better than Alonso; however, it can also mean that he is valuable to Antonio right now. What this does is makes Sebastian realize that if he is getting epithets such as Ã¢â‚¬Ëœworthy' when he isn't a king then imagine all the compliments he would get if he was to become king. Furthermore, Antonio uses imagery when saying Ã¢â‚¬Å"My strong imagination sees a crown dropping upon thy head. This makes Sebastian feel as is the crown is rightfully his, if the Duke of Milan can see the crown on Sebastian then that is reinforcement for it to happen. This is because if someone who is as high up as Antonio is giving him the go ahead to do the deed and kill the king then he would do is as he thinks it's the right thing to do. Also, the verb Ã¢â‚¬Ëœdropping suggests that it was sent from above e. G. God and at a time when religion was at the top of the hierarchy it wou ld make Sebastian feel as if God has chosen IM to become king and who is he to defy God.As Sebastian is having doubts as to whether to commit regicide Antonio uses god as a persuasive technique for him to make him kill the king, its as if Antonio wants Sebastian to believe that God has told him to kill the king. Also, Antonio says that he will kill Alonso with Ã¢â‚¬Ëœthis obedient steel' He doesn't say sword, but uses the adjective Ã¢â‚¬Ëœobedient' which makes Sebastian think that the sword will do whatever it is being told which further reassures him that it is the right thing to do and that no harm will happen to him.However, Sebastian believes that Antonio is owing this to benefit Sebastian when in actual fact he is doing it so that he doesn't have to pay money to the King of Naples, this is where manipulation comes in as Sebastian is so blinded by greed and hope to become powerful that he is oblivious to Notation's true intentions which is why it is very easy for him to be convi nced. The effect this would have is that they would despise both characters as they are thinking of committing regicide which at the time was unheard of.However, some would argue that power and greed is the most dominant means of control because it is due to these factors that Antonio is able to convince Antonio to kill the king. People argue that magic is the most dominant means of control as Prospers has many books which gives him magical powers which means that he can control almost anything including the sea thus causing the Tempest to happen, but the magic is only used through language, only Prospers uses magic which gives the impression that he is the one with the strongest language therefore is the one who has the most control over everyone and everything.Prospers has control over the spirits such as Ariel However this is counter argued by the fact that Prospers as exiled by his brother to the island which would suggest that he isn't as powerful as he initially seems. Prosper s appears to be all powerful with his magical staff at the beginning of the play, but in order to become powerful in Milan where it really matters he must give up his magic. His learning and his books led to his downfall in Milan allowing his brother to take over. This is why magic is not the most dominant means of control in the Tempest.In addition, when Prospers talks to the audience he is controlling them without them releasing, he asks the audience to Ã¢â‚¬Ëœrelease me from my bands with the elf of your good hands' he is still the dominant one and wants the audience to forgive him for all the wrong he has done by applauding him and this will Ã¢â‚¬Ëœset me free. Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ Prospers was powerful when he had magic, but he only got what he wanted when he got rid of his magic and used his words to become the rightful duke of Milan and to be forgiven for all the wrong doings he has done.Furthermore, knowledge can also be seen as being the most powerful means Of control. This is because w hen Prospers was exiled all he had were his books which kept him alive; however, whilst he had his books he was exiled ND usurped by his brother, when Prospers swears that he will Ã¢â‚¬Ëœdrown my book' he becomes the Duke of Milan, what this tells the audience is that magic and knowledge are both vital, but without language Prospers wouldn't have been able to fight his case and make everyone believe that he is the rightful heir to being the Duke of Milan.Also, right at the end Prospers ends the play with a soliloquy which gives him the most power out of all the characters in the play and then over the audience, he begs the audience for forgiveness by Ã¢â‚¬Ëœhelp of your good hands' which means that when the audience clap they will forgive him, this gives him rower over the audience as he is telling them what to do and they listen to him, he also asks the audience to forgive him, by making himself kick weaker than the audience he is gaining control and being more powerful as they lis ten to everything that he has got to say.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Office Administration Essay

The Administration role, more than most others, has been profoundly affected by the information revolution, according to Canadian researcher Alice de Wolff. At a meeting of the Office WorkerÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s Career Assistance Group of Toronto, Ms. de Wolff noted that office professionals work constantly with new information technologies. They bring the information economy to life and experience the impact of the information revolution on a daily basis. She told her audience about a four-year study of nine Toronto companies with as many as 6,000 employees. A team of researchers, including Ms. de Wolff, interviewed approximately 650 managers and office workers to determine how the administrative profession has changed. They discovered that office work has changed in three ways. 1. Tasks that formed the core of administrative work are done in new ways, but are still required in most jobs. 2. Complex new tools that administrative professionals use to do these core tasks require office workers to develop technical knowledge and skills and to work constantly to keep their skills current. 3. Reorganization in many workplaces has added new tasks related to specific occupations or industries that require office workers to diversify. Many office professionals are being asked to do things that fall outside of their traditional support role. For example, a receptionist in a publishing house may be asked to edit manuscripts. These trends have led to changes in the jobs of

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Fighting the Long War Essay

The strategy outlined in Ã¢â‚¬Å"Fighting the Long WarÃ¢â‚¬ is a good one. There are, of course, other options. One is to flee and do nothing more than we have already done. Yet, as the presentationÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s authors suggest, this would almost certainly lead to the ruin of America. Stopping action now will not clear away centuries of hate and rage, nor will it erase the religious and political goals of a long committed enemy. Those who are less patient and less willing to lose men to a war, might suggested a shorter war, brought about by greater use of force. The military has been tied back and prevented from executing its full power in the Middle East. The United States could, if it wished, use its nuclear weapons against the enemy. Yet it does not. This may be a good thing. Using nuclear weapons would be unquestionably risky. Other countries which boast nuclear technologies might be tempted to retaliate, which could lead to the eventual destruction of American cities. It could also lead to chaos with unpredictable outcomes. Therefore, the best strategy seems to be to follow the long war approach of the presenters. Perhaps the most important point made in the presentation, was that Americans need to understand the nature and necessity of a long war and that they need to be able to trust their leaders. The main objection to involvement in Iraq was not that Sadam Hussein did not need to be stopped Ã¢â‚¬â€œ it was that President Bush went in with the wrong motives. Whether the presidentÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s motives were benevolent or malevolent, much of the American public distrusted him and this hurt the war effort substantially. Also of great import is the section on promoting the good points of peaceful Islam. Criticizing a personÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s religion often triggers hostility. Those who have already been provoked by maltreatment by non-Muslims are much more likely to be converted violent extremism than those who have lived peacefully among their peers for many years. Promoting IslamÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s peaceful movements, then, is a good counter-measure. Likewise, promoting assistance in rebuilding and democratizing Iraq is an excellent idea. Japan has certainly come a long way. It would be nice if Iraq could too.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

A Film Adaptation of One Hundred Years of Solitude Essay

We have reached an age, where most things are done through TV and cinema. It is unfortunate many people do not read many books anymore. People would rather sit for a few hours in a dark room eating popcorn and watching a screen. In my opinion it is necessary for more books to be adapted in films. Some people might argue whether a great book such as Madame Bovary and The Great Gatsby can shine in the same light with a film adaptation. With the film techniques available and the great talent this is very possible. I am a strong believer that watching an excellent movie on Pride and Prejudice or any other literary masterpiece is equal to reading the book. For this reason I have taken on the responsibility of adapting chapter 1 of One Hundred Years of Solitude. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez is a novel about a family, the Buendias living in a town called Macondo. The novel is postmodern. There are many instances where time jumps around. Along with the postmodernism feel there is also an element of magical realism. The magical realism is where characters can do things that are not possible in real life. In example of this is RemediosÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s ability to fly in the air and go away. The elements of postmodern and magical realism make One Hundred Years of Solitude a difficult novel to adapt. For this particular paper I have chosen to adapt chapter 1. Chapter 1 includes flashbacks, magical realism, and the encounters with the gypsies. I have chosen chapter 1 because it includes the elements the novel is based on. The title of my film on One Hundred Years of Solitude is Opportunity. The main reason I have chosen this title because it is rooted in the last sentence of the novel, Ã¢â‚¬Å"Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Aureliano Babilonia would finish deciphering the parchments, and that everything written on them was unrepeatable since time immemorial and forever more, because races condemned to one hundred year of solitude did not have a second opportunity on earth (Gabriel Garcia Marquez 448). In this quote, Marquez discusses how civilization with cease to be if there continues to be the solitude that is outlined in One Hundred Years of Solitude. Because the Buendia was the first attempt at a Ã¢â‚¬ËœperfectÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ world, I have called it Opportunity, since this family was the first opportunity at the Ã¢â‚¬ËœutopiaÃ¢â‚¬â„¢. By adapting chapter 1 of One Hundred Years of Solitude I hope to show that a film can be just as or better than the novel it is based on. One Hundred Years of Solitude is an excellent choice for a film because more and more, films are becoming postmodern and One Hundred Years of Solitude is a prime example of postmodernism. Also, this film would serve as a great tool to show the history of Latin America, as it is a microcosm of it..

Friday, September 13, 2019

Divorce and the Issue of Reforms Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Divorce and the Issue of Reforms - Essay Example ich represents the most novel policy departure for it explicitly rejects long accepted wisdom that the divorce process can only bury and not save marriages. However, the marriage preserving effectiveness of these twin divorce reforms is limited by the fact that the marriage support interventions occur only after significant deterioration in the quality of the marital relationship has already taken place. In other words, the policies are reactive rather than preventive. An example of the latter approach is to use the school curriculum to teach appropriate communication and parenting skills that strengthen (future) marriages and make them more robust to unexpected shocks. This principle has been implemented in Florida's Marriage Preparation and Preservation Act of 1998 which will be discussed after outlining and evaluating both Louisiana's covenant marriage legislation and the English Family Law Act in greater detail. The key point is not that the couple will know more about their future lives, though there may well be some information acquisition, but that the future consequences of marital dissolution become more salient and less remote in their minds and decision making. Given evidence that many couples subsequently regret divorce, the effect may be marriage preserving. (Becker, 1988, 2) Conclusions At first blush, recent divorce reforms in the United States and England and Wales appear to be adopting different trajectories. The greatest social costs of divorce are usually incurred by children, especially when the divorce process is bitter and acrimonious. In an attempt to minimize unnecessary hostility, the Family Law Act places stress on the role of mediation rather than litigation in resolving disputes over asset division and child custody. However, evidence... The researcher of this essay was aimed to discuss the issues and the history of divorce as well as the reforms, that are related to it. Historically, family law either imposed a prohibition on divorce or adopted a fault approach in which divorce is only permitted on specific and restricted grounds such as adultery and desertion. Under fault, the presumption is that one spouse is guilty of a matrimonial offence which is responsible for the failure of the marriage and the law makes provision for its dissolution by the innocent party in adversarial court proceedings. The greatest social costs of divorce are usually incurred by children, especially when the divorce process is bitter and acrimonious. In an attempt to minimize unnecessary hostility, the Family Law Act places stress on the role of mediation in resolving disputes over asset division and child custody. However, evidence from the US suggests that divorce education which functions to equip parents with communication skills and reduces the exposure of children to conflict may be more effective in ameliorating some of the negative effects of divorce on the life chances of children. In summary, there is a hesitant trend in recent initiatives in family law to recognize that a good marriage and a good divorce both require mastery of basic relationship skills. It is concluded that better in the long run is to adopt a preventive rather than a reactive approach which teaches personal communication skills as an integral component of the school curriculum.

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Intellectual Property Rights Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Intellectual Property Rights - Assignment Example One cannot use government trademarks or the logos of government agencies without getting permission from relevant authorities. For instance, people are prohibited from using governmentÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s agencies logo/trademark on their social media pages. Copyright may protect works that have been prepared for the government by independent entities. The government may have the exclusive rights to use such works. Individuals are not permitted to use government works in ways that show endorsement by a government agency or worker. For instance, it is illegal to use a photo of a government official who is wearing a product of a person/company in an advertisement.4. What are the different types of Government contract data rights?If the government funds a project on its own, it obtains an Ã¢â‚¬Å"unlimited rightsÃ¢â‚¬ license. The rights apply to non-commercial technical data, computer software, and computer software documentation. In cases where both the government and a contractor fund a project , there will be a need for a Ã¢â‚¬Å"Government purpose rightsÃ¢â‚¬ license. In case a contractor solely funds the project; there will be a need for a Ã¢â‚¬Å"restricted rightsÃ¢â‚¬ license in non-commercial computer software. A Ã¢â‚¬Å"limited rightsÃ¢â‚¬ license will apply to noncommercial technical data .5. How does the government claim title to an invention while if someone files for a patent while working for the government?Federal law states that rights to inventions created by federal employees belong to the government in some situations.

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Obamacare Laid Bare - Charles Krauthammer Essay

Obamacare Laid Bare - Charles Krauthammer - Essay Example Obamacare Laid Bare - Charles Krauthammer Apparently, the enforcement of Obamacare is a national issue that stimulates a wide range of political debate given that such law is perceived as a means of transporting enormous amount of wealth under the present American political system. Despite this perception, US government officials cannot fully express the benefits associated with the health care policy so they could avoid the risk of losing in the elections. As such is the case, they merely implement the law through deception being carried out in the form of hidden taxes, mandates, and penalties that generate excessive payments. Although Obamacare seems to be beneficial since it imposes an affordable health care program, the vested interests of government officials will only heighten the clamor of the citizens to eliminate the cancellation of the law. It seems that majority of the Americans considered the legislation as unfavorable knowing that they will only face an additional burden of financial responsibilities. This is pa rticularly unfair for those Americans who have low income considering that most political leaders support the law only to exercise political control and influence of governing their nationÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s wealth. The disadvantages of Obamacare only outweigh its advantages as the cancelled policies are more politically-driven in falsifying the essential nature of implementing the law. Certainly, the insurance buyers would later on realize that their taxes and premiums have been raised.

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Human Rescource Planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Human Rescource Planning - Essay Example However, Dale Lodge (case organization) is facing challenges regarding deploying the leadership development program for cross functional members while the company is expanding its operation to achieve more business success. In such context, the researcher has been hired as external HR consultant to advise senior management of the company on how to embed leadership development program within organization, to support anticipated growth strategy. In the next section, the study will cover three issues, 1- process for embedding leadership development program for members of management team, 2- proposal of reward strategy that would retain and develop talents at all level and 3- evaluation and measurement of critical success factors associated with the proposal. The company will face two types of problem while deploying leadership development program, problem 1- lack of cross functional capabilities among members of management team and it will create problem for them to perform current and future leadership roles and problem 2- lack of experience in handling change dynamics while deploying leadership program. For example; Oracle Corporation (2012) found that more than 70% of employees in different companies across the globe lack the leadership potential to perform during job responsibility shifting. In the case context, senior management of the company has decided to expand business operation in terms of opening full scale conference and leisure facilities which can offer year long services. In order to implement mentioned growth strategy, company needs to widen job roles of existing members in management team in order to develop leadership capabilities among them. Such cross functional role shift would require development of interpersonal skills instead of developing integrating technical expertise of experienced members in management team. Caligiuri (2006) and McCall and Hollenbeck (2002) also pointed out