Monday, September 30, 2019

City Life

As a child growing up in a rural environment, that was the only life I knew and thought it was the best. Adulthood brings into focus maturity. I moved into the city, and came to the realization that I had to adjust to a different way of living, another transition of my life. I was very overwhelmed by hustle and all the excitement of the life that surrounded me. For this reason rural life and city life can be compared and contrasted in regards to cost, standard of living, accessibility and entertainment. Living in a rural environment gives one the sense of a community. Everyone becomes your family sharing concerns for each other, Neighbors can look out for each other and care for your property, less concerns among people for each other exist when living in the city, but as a result of busy schedules and time constraint it is understandable. The most noticeable difference between city life and rural life is cost. Living in the city is very expensive due to a higher demand of goods and services due to demographics in population. The basic necessities of life for example housing (rent or own) food consumption, utility bills, and to maintain that social standard can be overbearing, but there are better educational opportunities and wider range of professional government jobs and higher pay. Living in a rural area, the standard of living is inexpensive, there is a smaller population growth and the demand for goods and services is on a much smaller scale. In contrasting rural and city life, accessibility to services in the city is very easy. Taxicabs are readily available to take you to your destination of choice. Hospitals and emergency services are also readily available. In the rural areas, taxi cab service is not as prompt, often you have to wait for hours for a cab, or the journey to a hospital and access to other medical service will take a much longer time due to poor road conditions. Entertainment forms a part of everyday living and there is so much to do in the city. There are fancy shopping areas; fabulous restaurants for dining, movies, clubs, amusement parks for kids and other places of interest are in close proximity. In rural areas there is not much entertainment, often people stay home most of the time, less live entertainment and the life is much more serene. People in the rural areas grow most of their own crops and have home-cooked meals. Amusement parks are rare in the rural areas and kids in play in their backyard. Whatever we do and say people’s personality will make them decide on a favorable option that satisfies their needs. This is the individual choice; some people will choose to reside in the city because they like the easy access to services and entertainment, while others will reside in the rural areas because it is more affordable and peaceful. As for me I love the city life, I can’t imagine a better life anywhere.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Becoming the Woman or Man You Want to Be

In present society, men and women alike are still bound to the stereotypes assigned to their respective sexes. While the gender situation has definitely improved today as compared to the past decades, the discrimination between the sexes is still present. The gender impositions are clearly restrictions.The gender-role expectations of society hinder an individual from reaching their full potential, simply because the options provided for growth appear limited. This is the reason why it is liberating for both men and women to develop more flexible views regarding the said expectations.By adapting a flexible attitude with regards to gender roles, an individual can go beyond what is expected of them and their gender. In a way, it allows the person to break free from what he or she thought she should do and enjoy the freedom by doing what he or she wants to do. However, the gender problem can only be resolved if the change begins in the individual. The person must develop the flexible per spective himself or herself to be able to break free from one’s gender restrictions.As a woman, it is important for me to adapt the flexible view of gender expectations myself. Compared to men, women are more burdened by these expectations, as females are regarded as the weaker and more inferior sex. Therefore, I must learn to develop a more lenient viewpoint regarding gender roles because I am more affected by it. In the past, women were only expected to stay at home and devote themselves to their husbands and children. As a woman in modern society, I strive to go beyond that stereotype.There are so many options for women like me today, may it be in terms of family or profession. By developing a more flexible view on gender role expectations, I can liberate myself from the housewife stereotype and pursue a life of unlimited opportunities. If I want freedom, the change has to start from me. This is because if I believe that those expectations are the only ones I can pursue, I will remain restricted by my gender. Hence, it is very important for me as a woman to develop flexible views about gender role expectations.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Eight Amendment of the U.S. Constitution - Freedom from Cruel and Research Paper

Eight Amendment of the U.S. Constitution - Freedom from Cruel and unusual Punishment - Research Paper Example The cruel and usual punishment case laws and statutes have helped to define our current application of the law with respect to the 8th amendment. George Cole (2006) emphasized cruel and unusual punishment includes death penalty, torture, inhuman and degrading punishment, and excessive fines and excessive deprivations. Such punishment is unpopular because it unnecessarily imposes excessive torment or embarrassment on the convicted criminals. Historically, the law makers of the English Bill of rights if 1689 coined the words cruel and usual punishment in its crafting of the English version of the bill of rights. William Schabas (2008) states the United Nations General Assembly included in its international bill of rights the phrase â€Å"No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhumn or degrading treatment or punishment† in Article 5 of its Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. Following suit, the United States included the same provisions in it 1787 Amendment to the United States Constitution. In 2008, Greg Roza (2011) reiterated the United States Supreme Court ruled that cruel and usual punishment wa s meted by American soldiers when they use waterboarding to torture the Guantanamo Bay prisoners. Likewise, the American soldiers mistreated and forced the prisoners to participate in humiliating activities. According to the Eight Amendment, the law preventing the implementation of cruel and unusual punishment was enforced to eliminate prior methods of punishments classified as cruel and unusual. For example, impalement was form of cruel and unusual punishment becauese the punishers should pierce the person’s body with a long killing tool. Here, the person would suffer a painful and slow death. This type of European and Asian punishment was popular during the time of Ivan the Terrible. Other forms of cruel and unusual punishment included drawing and quartering, embowelling alive, public dissecting, beheading, and burning alive [Wilkerson V. Utah, 99 U.S. 130, 135 (1878)]. The courts allowed electrocution to be excempt from the list of cruel and unusual punishment [In re Kemmler, 136 U.S. 436 (1890)]. Complaints about cruel and unusual punishment had been voiced in 1789. Back then, the bill rights proponents included the fight to eliminate cruel and unusual punishment. This is fou nd in the Annals of Congress 754 (1789). English history laid the path to the inclusion of the â€Å"cruel and unsual punishment† clause in its 1689 bill of rights. This is shown in E.g., 2 J. Elliot, The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Constitution 111 (2d ed 1836); 3 id.at 447 -52 (Ref: http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/amendment08/03.html#1). Likewise, the Supreme Court rulings include Granucci, â€Å"Nor Cruel and Unusual Punishments Inflicted†: The Original Meaning, 57 Calif. L. Rev. 839 (1969). The term without proportionality had been used by the Court in the case Weems v. United States, 217 U.S. 349 (1910). Greg Roensch (Roensch, 2007) agrees it is vague that the ``unusual'' can be included under the term cruelty Furman v. Georgia, 408 U.S. 238, 276 n.20 (1972) ( with Justice Brennan seeing eye to eye)], even though it may be significant in Weems, 217 U.S. at 377, and in Trop v. Dulles, 356 U.S. 86, 100 n. 32 (1958) (plurality opinion), and it was significant in the case of Harmelin v. Michigan, 501 U.S. 957, 994-95 (1991) (``severe, mandatory

Friday, September 27, 2019

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

Exam 3 - Assignment Example African-American music is derived from the characteristically polyrhythmic music of Africa’s ethnic groups, in particular those in the Sub-Saharan, Sahelean, and Western regions. African oral traditions encourage the use of music to relay messages, ease suffering, teach lessons, and convey history, which are key features of African-American music. The African pedigree of African-American music is apparent in some common features: Complex multi-part harmony, melisma, the use of falsetto, blue notes, swung notes, improvisation, percussion, syncopation, and call and response (Www.blackartdepot.com). When it comes to music, the use of soprano voices is usually associated with women; it is uniquely ‘female’. Although nowadays a lot of male can come up with soprano in their music, it is still considered feminine. There are a lot of female artists who do this e.g. Beyonce, Mariah Carey etc. Another feature is in film and visual arts, where long hair, weaves, or braided hair are considered uniquely feminine. In a lot of movies, it is the women who have plaited hair. It is a feminine feature, even though; some men have plaited hair in films and movies. 6. Since much of postmodern literature, architecture, and art are considered â€Å"funny,† explain why humor and parody appear so essential to postmodern expression. Provide examples to defend your point of view. When it comes to humor and parody, is the inclination of postmodern culture, theorists, and artists, to be parodic or playful. Certainly, films or shows will frequently step outside of representation that is mimetic all in all so as to make themselves humorous in mid-stride. Hutcheon explained that Parody- often called ironic intertextuality, appropriation, pastiche, or quotation—is frequently regarded as being essential to postmodernism expressions, both by its defenders and detractors. While the vital concern, of

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Knowledge in the Natural Law Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Knowledge in the Natural Law - Case Study Example Natural law and Natural Rights, on which the modern Jurisprudence exists to a very large extent, are as old as human race, and form the fundamental base of Human Rights. Natural law is based on the good feeling, on the wellbeing of people around us. It is directly connected with the original form of human life closely knitted with nature and nature is knowledge. Understanding nature is understanding right and wrong, knowing which action leads to which results, and having intricate knowledge of actions and reactions in nature that would eventually reflect on the welfare of humans. It is also knowledge about all natural forms, lives, organisms, animals and the natural right of all species to be allowed to live without being harmed. This basic principle of natural law depends heavily on the knowledge of values, compassion, fellow feeling, and celebration of life. There is no Natural law or Natural Rights in the absence of this basic knowledge and reasoning. Natural law is believed to be the closest that law could get to divinity. "For they are not of human position purely or simply, but are laws of God or Nature clothed with human sanctions. As obtaining at all times and obtaining at all places, they are styled by the classical jurists jus gentium, or jus omnium gentium," (Hart (19712). We hear that our unedu... According to Finnis, knowledge stems from basic value and basic practical principle. He argues that knowledge of human conduct is necessary to evaluate it against values and good principles. Another point is that with the background of sound knowledge, the principle application becomes self-evident, and unquestionable. This particular knowledge is not attained by exalted pursuit of the most intricate information. On the contrary, it is attained by compassion, understanding, friendliness and a desire to do justice against odds. It also owes its existence to the moral ethics, impartiality and consideration of other humans' feelings and rights to exist. It is acknowledgement of basic human rights. It is knowing how to preserve natural innocence. Ultimately it is the knowledge and acknowledgement of the truth and an ardent desire to establish it against negative circumstances. When knowledge becomes the basic aspect of a human being, that individual could be assessed as a complete person. Here Finnis agrees with Bentham and Kant, even though he does not touch the high morality prescribed by them. "The purity exacted by both Bentham and Kant consists in imitating qualities of the divine. For Bentham, the quality of benevolence takes precedence, but it turns out that the theory demands the divine attribute of omniscience as well.however different their paths may be, Bentham and Kant share the Enlightenment impulse of grounding a moral theory in attributes of the human condition," (Fletcher, 19963). Finnis goes on to argue that it should be the good knowledge, and not an unpleasant one that could be of no use to the person's surroundings. He reflects on the natural human compulsion of curiosity and insatiable inquisitive desire to know which will lead

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Marketing planning Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Marketing planning - Assignment Example In addition, there are approximately 20,000 garages and other service outlets, which involve in selling of new tyres as a segment of a broader service offering. The whole industry combined employs near about 16,000 people. The tyre retail sector is also engaged in the sales of replacement tyres. The value of sales amounts to about  £3.2 billion a year. Even though automobile tyre industry is an exuberant sector, which has witnessed an unprecedented growth over the past few years, concentration of internet retailers, often termed as e-retailers, remains quite small (3%). However, in the recent past, concentration of the same seems to be growing at a rapid rate with many players entering the already competitive market. With the scenarios presented above, it is quite clear that the competition that Guildford Tyres Co. Ltd. deals with is immense. They are tyre retail and automotive service specialist, who have been in service since 1967. It is a family owned and administered business, which has become the leading autonomous tyre specialist in the county of Surrey within the United Kingdom (Guildford Tyre Company,  2012a). The products sold by the company ranges from car tyres, 4x4 tyres,  van tyres, cycle tyres, motorcycle tyres, wheels, brakes, batteries to shock absorbers (Guildford Tyre Company,  2012b). The services offered by the company includes tyre fitting, mobile tyre fitting,  wheel alignment and servicing, puncture repairs, tyre wholesale and other associated services (Guildford Tyre Company,  2012c). The political landscape of the UK is established in the ethos democracy and steady framework of governance, which ensures a certain degree of uniformity in its policies. After the world wars, the UK established itself as a major global force, which was stimulated by a swift economic development. One of the major contributors of this development was the tyre industry and it continues to be the same in the contemporary society. UK’s strong trade

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Information for decision making Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Information for decision making - Essay Example Making decisions is an intelligent action that any normal human being performs several times each day, starting from the time one decides to get up out of bed and ending with what one decides to think about as one falls asleep at the end of the day. In between are thousands of decisions that are made following a few basic and simple rules, but these decisions may differ in their complexity. Some decisions are simple and have short-term consequences, such as deciding what to wear to school or at work, but some may be complex because they have long-term consequences, such as deciding what academic programme to take up in the university. The complexity of decision-making depends on several factors, of which the time frame – of making the decision and the consequences of the decisions made – is only one. Examples of other factors are the impact of the decisions on the person, the number of people involved in making the decision and who would be affected by the consequences of that decision, and the risks to which decision-makers are willing to expose themselves and their resources. Organisations, being made up of several people with a common set of objectives, are subject to these same factors that affect the way that decisions are made. However, unlike personal decisions that may affect only one person, i.e., the decision-maker, organisational decisions have an impact on everyone in the organisation, on the customers that the organisation exists to serve, the owners of the business, and on other parts of society in which the organisation operates. Thus, organisational decisions carry greater risks, which is the probability that the perceived effect of the decision would not be the same as or even close to what is originally intended. Decisions are made to achieve a specific outcome, and in the case of a business organisation, such an outcome is intended to be in line with the purpose and business of the organisation (Sitkin

Monday, September 23, 2019

The Six Principles of Political Realism' by Hans Morgenthau Term Paper

The Six Principles of Political Realism' by Hans Morgenthau - Term Paper Example Morgenthau has been criticised by many on the basis of his indistinct use of language and unsatisfactory scientific rigor, however his successive revisions and updates resulted in the â€Å"Six principles of political realm† in the 1954 revision (Scheuerman). The principles depict Morgenthau’s own political struggle and insight and they have been used by most of the international scholars to describe the international politics since 1945. Morgenthau states in his first principle, â€Å"Political realism believes that politics, like society in general, is governed by objective laws that have their roots in human nature† (Morgenthau). Morgenthau highlights that human nature does not change regardless of any attempts made to impose laws or policies against the human preferences. International politics can be applied only after the facts have been tested by rationale and reasoning. Otherwise they would be rejected by the laws of nature itself. For a theory to be acce pted in reality, it has to contain both ascertaining facts which are given meaning through reason. Political power is explained as a psychological relation between those who exercise it and those over whom it is exercised (Scheuerman). To understand the objective laws of politics it is important to study the history of human relations, as it is the fundamental base of the political facts and policies. The theory of politics holds its roots in human nature and hence the laws of human nature apply to the political laws as well. Morgenthau states, â€Å"Hence, novelty is not necessarily a virtue in political theory, nor is old age a defect†. Morgenthau elaborates that human nature has not exhibited any change of behaviour with the passage of time and similarly the laws of politics are not subjected to get out dated or obsolete only because they are old and ancient. Only the notion, that a theory was developed hundreds of years ago does not alter its credibility or integrity. As in human nature, old age is not a defect; political theories are not subjected to presumptions of being outmoded. Conversely, an innovative theory cannot be accepted only on the grounds of its newness or modernization. It is because of these aspects of the political theory that it has to be tested irrespective of it being outmoded or innovative. â€Å"A theory of politics must be subjected to the dual test of reason and experience† (Morgenthau). The dual test is of both reasoning and experience. For realism, a theory cannot be rejected merely on the basis that it is old without presenting rationale and reasoning. Inability to do so would be only an example of modernistic prejudice. Hence, a foreign policy can only be labelled as acceptable when its ability to perform political acts as well as the predictable consequences have been determined and tested. Morgenthau establishes that there is one morality for the private sphere and a very different and separate one for the publi c sphere. The political ethics and private ethics are not similar and they should not be reduced into one another. He states, â€Å"Yet while the individual has a moral right to sacrifice himself in defence of such a moral principle, the state has no right to let its moral disapprobation of the infringement of liberty get in the way of successful political action, itself inspired by the moral principle of national survival†. For example, if a ruler operated in accordance with Christian private ethics and would not agree in many ways to other political rivals as they cannot be counted on to operate in same Christian way (Jackson and Sorensen 73,74). This mergence of the two ethics would lead to a disaster

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Identify and analyse those factors which are used by Pakistani TV Essay

Identify and analyse those factors which are used by Pakistani TV viewers to discriminate against the local TV channelsin favour of the Indian channels - Essay Example Diversity basically displays the respect for the audience, it shows that every member in the audience is equally important and the channel would want to cater to each and every individual. It is also a great tool to retain the viewers to a particular channel as they now have different things to look forward to rather than the monotonous programming (Onah & Anyanwu, 1988). Innovation is the main tool to attract audiences; people always appreciate innovation and hard work. It creates a sense of curiosity among the audience and forces them to keep coming back to the channel; people would stick to one channel if they are offered something out of the ordinary after certain time intervals (Alpert, 1992). The perception of being innovative gives the channel a positive word of mouth among the viewers, this becomes the source of advertisement for the channel, and people would prefer watching a channel that was recommended by their peers rather than some critic’s recommendation or even a conventional advertisement. One of the major factors that channels loose viewers to other channels is the lack of originality; channels in their urge to be recognized as innovative get carried away at times and start copying which is not appreciated by the majority as the ‘me too’ approach appears to be an act of desperation especially in case of T.V. channels. People switch channels and choose to watch one over the other in search for something different hence a perception of not being original can harm the channel’s business as people will not even bother having a look at it thinking there will be nothing different that the other channel is not showing. Hence originality is also a judging and differentiating factor among the audience between the channels (Benesch, Frey, & Stutzer, 2006). In television industry there have been several advancements in the past few years;

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Policy and Strategy in Global Competition Essay Example for Free

Policy and Strategy in Global Competition Essay Discussion Question 6.1: What are some drawbacks and risks to a broad generic business strategy? To a focused strategy? The two generic business strategies are differentiation and cost-leadership strategies, and they are fundamentally different from one another, both with their own drawbacks and risks (Rothaermel, 2013). These strategies are referred to as â€Å"generic† because they may be used by any type of organization (Rothaermel, 2013). The drawbacks and risks of a differentiation generic strategy is its viability â€Å"is severely undermined when the focus of competition shifts to price rather than value-creating features† (Rothaermel, 2013, p. 155). This tends to occur when there is a level of acceptable quality which has emerged as a standard (Rothaermel, 2013). Organizations pursuing this strategy also need to ensure that they are not adding features which add cost but no â€Å"perceived value in the minds of consumers† (Rothaermel, 2013, p. 155). The drawbacks and risks of a cost-leadership strategy are that new entrants may erode the low-cost leader’s margins because of the â€Å"loss in market share while it attempts to learn new capabilities† (Rothaermel, 2013, p. 154). Also, the converse of the differentiation strategy issue applies, in that organizations need to ensure that the â€Å"focus of competition shifts from price to non-price attributes† (Rothaermel, 2013, p. 154). The organization needs to also be careful not to allow the value of the product or service to fall below the low-cost at which the product or service is offered (Rothaermel, 2013). A focused strategy applies the same concepts as the generic strategies above, but the focused strategy utilizes a more narrow competitive scope than the generic strategies (Rothaermel, 2013). The competitive scope refers to the market segment at which the product or service being offered is aimed (Rothaermel, 2013). An example would be the broad market of wristwatches to the more focused market of luxury watches  (Rothaermel, 2013). Discussion Question 6.4: Create examples of value chains for three firms: one using cost leadership, another using differentiation, and a third using an integration business-level strategy. A value chain is the process in which â€Å"a firm engages when transforming inputs into outputs† (Rothaermel, 2013, p. 95). It is made up of primary activities, which add value directly, and support activities, which add value indirectly (Rothaermel, 2013). Primary activities include production phases, sales, marketing, and customer service (Rothaermel, 2013). Support activities include research and development, â€Å"information systems, operations management, human resources, finance, accounting, and general management† (Rothaermel, 2013, p. 96). Cost leadership firm: As discussed above, a cost-leadership strategy involves maintaining the lowest price of a particular service or product (Rothaermel, 2013). A prime example of a cost-leadership firm would be Walmart (Rothaermel, 2013 ). Walmart’s value chain would begin with its supply chain, which is made up of suppliers with whom Walmart has negotiated the lowest price possible, at a volume sufficient enough to fill its shelves (Rothaermel, 2013). The next link in the value chain would be Walmart’s distribution and operations. Walmart has been able to reduce packaging and mileage, allowing for significant cost savings (Porter Kramer, 2011). Walmart’s sheer size creates significant savings through economies of scale (Rothaermel, 2013). Lastly would be marketing, sales, and service, in Walmart’s value chain. Walmart focuses on â€Å"Saving people money so they can live better†, and continues to take innovative steps to do so (Walmart, 2015). The company has even created a mobile app called the â€Å"Savings Catcher† which allows customers to scan their Walmart receipt to capture savings that they would have missed otherwise (Walmart, 2015). This is a marketing effort which impacts sales and services in a major way. Differentiation: Apple is an ideal example of an organization utilizing a differentiation strategy (Rothaermel, 2013). Apple seems to be able to â€Å"create customer needs (even if customers are initially unaware of the need)† (Rothaermel, 2013, p. 155). Apple’s value chain will differ from Walmart, and other cost-leadership strategy firms, in that it will have a greater focus on the development of their products and in its marketing and customer service. It will focus on product development in an effort to ensure their products continue to set the bar in their respective  categories (Rothaermel, 2013). Apple will also focus on marketing and customer service to ensure that new and current customers are aware of the products’ areas of superiority (Rothaermel, 2013). Integration Business-Level: Hewlett Packard (â€Å"HP†) is an example of an organization that is using the integration business-level strategy, which is a combination of the differentiation and cost-leadership strategies (Rothaermel, 2013). HP utilizes this strategy because Apple holds the differentiation position while Dell holds the cost-leader position in the mobile devices market (Rothaermel, 2013). For this reason, HP must seek to implement both the cost-saving strategies in supply chain management, like Walmart, and the differentiation strategies in product design, like Apple (Rothaermel, 2013). There are differences, however, in the value chain between HP and the two companies above. HP has sought to cut costs by trimming its workforce, thereby helping in its cost-leadership strategy (Rothaermel, 2013). In regard to its design efforts, HP has improved â€Å"the differential appeal of its product and service offerings† (Rothaermel, 2013, p. 162). Chapter 7 Discussion Question 7.1: What strategy might the firm use to unseat Windows in this market? Although the small firm has developed a new product, it is a product which will be introduced into an industry which is most likely in the growth or maturity stage of the industry life cycle (Rothaermel, 2013). As such, the small firm’s best strategy would be to employ a cost-leadership strategy (Rothaermel, 2013). This is the best option because both the differentiation and cost-leadership strategy are viable options during the growth stage, but firms that adopt the cost-leadership strategy which dominate during the maturity stage (Rothaermel, 2013). The small firm’s new product is likely considered a process innovation, as it seeks to accomplish the same tasks in a more efficient manner (Rothaermel, 2013). Discussion Question 7.2: How does the industry life cycle affect business strategy? Detail your answer based on each stage: introduction, growth, maturity, and decline. During the introduction stage of the industry life cycle, the companies which tend to be, and stay successful, are innovative and tend to be few  (Rothaermel, 2013). As such, the strategy used during this stage is likely the differentiation strategy, since firms are seeking to establish the uniqueness of their products’ features (Rothaermel, 2013). The growth stage tends to allow organizations to be a little freer to decide which strategy would work best for them (Rothaermel, 2013). It is during this stage that a dominant design, or standard, is established, which means that firms may choose to differentiate their product, or choose to attempt to offer the same type of product at a lesser cost (Rothaermel, 2013). The maturity stage begins to see less design changes and more process innovations within the industry (Rothaermel, 2013). For this reason, it is cost-leaders that tend to succeed during this stage (Rothaermel, 2013). The decline stage differs from those above, as it introduces four strategic options for firms to pursue: (1) exit, (2) harvest, (3) maintain, and (4) consolidate (Rothaermel, 2013). The exit strategy is precisely as it says: it involves the firm choosing to leave the market to pursue other endeavors (Rothaermel, 2013). The harvest strategy means that the firm will still sell the product or service, but will reduce the level of investment in its maintenance and development (Rothaermel, 2013). The maintain strategy is also exactly what it sounds like: the firm continues offering the product or service at the same level as it has been, despite the declining demand (Rothaermel, 2013). The consolidate strategy involves the purchasing of rivals in an effort to shrink the industry, which provides firms employing this strategy to reach near-monopolistic status (Rothaermel, 2013). Discussion Question 7.4: Why are standards important in many industries? As standards get adapted and become dominant, how does this process influence the competitive nature of the industry? Standards are important in many industries because the firm whose product becomes the standard â€Å"tends to capture a larger market share and can persist for a long time† (Rothaermel, 2013, p. 175). Once the standard is adopted, the market tends to focus more on process innovation than on product innovation (Rothaermel, 2013). This means that firms are focusing their RD efforts â€Å"on process innovation in order to improve efficiency† (Rothaermel, 2013, p. 177). Since the standard tends to be set during the growth stage,  either the differentiation or cost-leadership strategy is used, for the reasons discussed above (Rothaermel, 2013). Chapter 8 Discussion Question 8.1: When Walmart decided to incorporate grocery stores into some locations and created â€Å"super-centers,† was this a business-level strategy of differentiation or a corporate-level strategy of diversification? Why? Explain your answer. Walmart’s incorporation of grocery stores into some locations represents a corporate-level strategy of diversification, as opposed to a business-level strategy of differentiation. While business-level strategy typically involves individual markets, corporate-level strategy encompasses decisions which impact multiple markets and industries simultaneously (Rothaermel, 2013). Diversification occurs when a firm seeks to increase â€Å"the variety of products or markets in which to compete† (Rothaermel, 2013, p. 216). By incorporating grocery stores into some of its locations, Walmart made a corporate-level strategy decision to diversify the products offered in its stores, and the markets within which it chose to operate (Rothaermel, 2013). Chapter 9 Discussion Question 9.1: List some specific advantages of this acquisition for Live Nation. Do you see any downside to the merger?  Some advantages to the acquisition of Ticketmaster by Live Nation include: a reduction in competitive intensity, lower costs, increased differentiation, and access to new markets and distribution channels (Rothaermel, 2013). While these are some possible advantages for Live Nation, mergers and acquisitions do not result in a competitive advantage the majority of the time (Rothaermel, 2013). Shareholder value is usually destroyed after a merger and acquisition, and it is only the shareholders of the acquired company that tend to benefit (Rothaermel, 2013). Chapter 10 Discussion Question 10.1: How might your relationship change as the MNE moves from Globalization 2.0 to Globalization 3.0 operations?  Globalization is the process of increasing â€Å"integration and exchange between different countries and peoples worldwide† (Rothaermel, 2013, p. 271). Globalization 2.0 refers to growing business globally from 1945 to 2000 (Rothaermel, 2013). It involved large foreign direct investment, with the  state-side corporate headquarters directing strategic goals and resource allocation (Rothaermel, 2013). Globalization 3.0 covers the time period from 2000 to the present (Rothaermel, 2013). Tremendous strides in technology allow for less need of foreign direct investment, and this stage has allowed the MNE to reorganize as a â€Å"global enterprise with centers of expertise† (Rothaermel, 2013, p. 273). As a small firm supplying a product or service to an MNE, the degree of change which would arise in our relationship, as the firm moved from Globalization 2.0 to Globalization 3.0 operations, would depend heavily on the location and type of services or product provided. The MNE would likely become more dependent on technology for telecommuting and would seek to operate twenty-four hours a day, year round (Rothaermel, 2013). As such, if our service or product was related to the technologies being implemented by the MNE, then the firm would become a larger player in the MNE’s operations. However, if the MNE was able to tap into its own knowledge-base to provide the services or product our small firm provides, then we would no longer be needed by the global giant. References Rothaermel, F. T. (2013). Strategic Management. New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Walmart. Our story. Retrieved on January 25, 2015, from http://corporate.walmart.com/our-story/

Friday, September 20, 2019

Case Study Brand Ambassador Marketing Essay

Case Study Brand Ambassador Marketing Essay This project report projects the use of customers as the brand ambassadors by the company. The project argues that whether its feasible to make customers as its brand promoters or not. it will introduce you to the topic brand ambassador and then the pros and cons are cited. Brand ambassador  is a  marketing term  for a  celebrity  employed by a  company  to promote its products or services within the activity known as  celebrity branding. The brand ambassador is meant to embody the  corporate image  in appearance, demeanor, values and ethics. The Dictionary of Business Management defines a brand as: a name, term, sign, symbol, or design, or a combination of them, intended to identify goods or services of one seller or a group of sellers and to differentiate them from those of competitor. Nowadays customers are exposed to thousands of voices and images on tv, newspapers, magazins, hoardings, banners, radio etc. these are the brand ambassador of the product. Every brand attempts to grab the attention of customer in order to inform them about the product and service. The challenge of the marketer is to find a hook that will hold the subjects attention. But nowadays company like mc-Donald, Sony, Uniliver etc has taken an innovative move by employing the real customers as the brand ambassador. Companies invest large sums of money to align their brands and themselves with endorsers. Overall spending on citizen marketing is growing and is expected to top $1 billion in 2007, up from $980 million in 2006, according to PQ Medias word-of-mouth marketing forecast. That number is expected to swell to almost $4 billion by 2011. Consumers are selected based on their devotion to a product and the size of their social circles. They are expected to tap into friends, family, groups and resources through conversations, blogs, live events and online social media. Their activities are measured by things such as online traffic, number of blog posts, reader comments and e-mail responses, and how many people participate in real-world events. These programs hire consumers, via incentives and rewards, to act as part PR agents, part sales reps and part evangelists. Often, these reps create their own branding gimmicks. In your view, in the Indian marketing context, is the concept of brand ambassadors likely to succeed? Justify your answer. Ans (a): Yes it will surely prove to be successful in the Indian society. The following reasons are:- It helps in increasing web traffic and conversations on social media sites by expressing their unfiltered thoughts, feelings about the product through tweets, status updates etc. Loyal customers are in a habit of talking about the product which they like most to their friends, relatives which indirectly promotes the brand and increases the sales. The power of customer story is such that it is able to influence a larger number of population as the people can relate themselves with the customer well. For ex dove has used this theory n uses its loyal customers as its brand ambassador. Customers can open doors faster than you can.: It becomes very difficult alone for the company to promote its brand products to each and every individual in the market. By making loyal customers as its brand ambassador it is making this possible. Customers can more quickly promote anything whether its negative or positive and other people listening gets influence spontaneously. It proves to be a big opportunity for the company to make customers as brand customers. After using a product customer immediately put up their sales radar as well as bogs or tweets.thus it prove to be helpful. Its genuine, its real, and it isnt marketing: Nowadays there are number of advertisements on television that it becomes very tuff to break through the clutter. By having a group of customers who are your brand ambassadors, you can  easily break through with an authentic voice  because it will sound different ultimately its humanization of your brand  at its best. The reality is that whatever customer said it will have a tone of genuineness in that. Many celebrity endorsers get unnoticed today inspite of the glamour factor added in it.so a new and innovative strategy for innovation is strongly needed to promote the products. Comment upon Sonys strategy of using brand ambassadors to launch its cameras. What can be the possible dangers of using this approach? Ans (b):- sonys strategy of using customers as brand ambassador is new and innovative step for promotion. Out of 2,000 applicants only 25 ambassadors were picked based on how much they planned on traveling and participating in sporting events. The winners were given a free camera and other equipment in October along with lessons on how to use them. Applicants who didnt make the cut got a thank-you note and a 20 percent discount coupon for the camera. They are encouraged to hand out discount coupons, show the camera to anyone who asks and blog weekly about their adventures on a dedicated Sony micro site. To avoid charges of deception, ambassadors are advised by marketers to openly reveal that theyre representatives. Sony decided that selecting brand ambassadors who like to travel, take pictures and blog would jump-start the launch of its news GPS camera. This is a product with emerging technology and we really need to let consumers see people using it, says Koba Kobayashi, director of digital imaging accessories at Sony. The Risks of Relinquishing Brand Control Fear of the rogue customer. Making customers as their brand ambassador can be a difficult proposition because companies are terrified that customers may turn on them and post anything which can prove to be negative. Although its very rare that the customer turn up against you, it can happen only if the firm is unable to provide satisfactorily product to customers. So it can prove to be negative only if there is lack of efforts from the company itself. Concern over losing a brand ambassador because they move on. It becomes a serious problem for the company if they stick on to one customer for brand promotion and he/she is unable to cater them because of time or any other issue. So it is preferable that the firm allow multiple customers to participate in a single channel so to avoid such issues. It becomes tough to mange a single transition. Fear of not controlling the brand message. A marketer can do is to influence brand messages and perception, but the reality is that its largely controlled by our audience. The customer word of mouth magnifies the society through social media or others. Because of social media customers have a voice and they can post their thoughts and feelings whether we empower them or not. Conclusion This concludes that the idea of employing real customers as brand ambassador proves to be beneficial and cost effective to some extent. Loyal Customers ambassadors need to be treated well as they are the one whose word of mouth proves to be good for the company.this strategy is helpful in grabbing the attention of thousands of customers as they find it real and can easily relate themselves with their words.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Alone and Unhappy :: Creative Writing Essays

Alone and Unhappy She sat on the Q train waiting for her stop. The time was finally here. She was just an hour away from happiness. Beverly Rd, Church St, Atlantic Ave she got up and off the train. She followed the rush of people to catch the 2 train into the city. The 2 or 3 train never came regularly so she waited patiently. In the distance she heard a couple of Mexicans playing the accordion and the guitar. She could not make out the song, but they sounded pretty good. Finally the 2 train pulled in and she boarded. She observed her surroundings to pass the time. It wasn’t a short trip from Brooklyn to the city. There was a Hispanic mother and her little son sitting across from her. The son stared at her the whole ride. She wondered if he could see right through her. His eyes were blank and still. She courteously smiled at the boy and he gave her the finger and laughed to himself. She gave the boy the finger and moved on to the next person that caught her attention. It was an older white man. He gave her a disapproving look and turned his head. She felt embarrassed now for her actions, but the boy started it. The train stopped and she thought it was her stop. She rushed to get up and noticed it was only 14th St. If she was pale, she would be beet red at this point. She gracefully sat back down and tried to fan herself to get rid of the flushed feeling in her cheeks. When she finally gained her composure, she noticed a man was standing in front of her against the doors. He just took her breath away. How gorgeous he was just standing there. She could not keep her eyes off him. He noticed and looked a little uncomfortable.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

The Importance of Football in the Movie Varsity Blues Essay -- Varsity

The Importance of Football in the Movie Varsity Blues Sports play such a huge role in our society; many people form their lives around watching or playing a certain sport. In my house, when football season starts, my dad and brother watch football religiously every Sunday and Monday. On Sundays some of my dad’s friends come over to watch the game, my mom prepares snacks and lunch for â€Å"the guys†. When the game is on they are so interested in it, that they have no idea what is going on around them, I try to talk to my dad when the game is on and he always seems to ignore me. I love how they get so into the game, and cheer really loud and yell at the television. For them like many other people, they have found football to be a hobby, something to do in there past time. They have formed habits around watching the game. In the movie â€Å"Varsity Blues,† football isn’t just a past time for the town, but it is a way of life, the whole town is involved in the high school football team. â€Å"Varsity Blues† takes place in a small town in Texas called West Canyon, in this town if you are a healthy boy, then you are a football player. Young males have tons of pressure from their families, friends, teachers, and others in the town to play football, and take the game very seriously. But how did this town get so involved in the sport, why do they make such a huge deal about the game, and what happens if you are a male in West Canyon and you do not believe the world revolves around a high school football team. Jonathan Mox grew up in this town, with all of these pressures, but he did not agree that high school football was the most important thing in life. His father really pressures him because he used to play football as well and takes it very seriously, and thinks that Mox should as well. The movie begins with Mox explaining how football means everything to the town he says, â€Å"football is it’s own society in West Canyon.† Mox started playing football at a young age with his other friends and team mates. They were taught to listen to what the coach says and to win at all costs, football is how they are brought up. The coach at West Canyon is Bud Kilmore, who has been the coach for 30 years, and has never lost a game. He has coached generation after generation of football players. Kilmore also coached Mox’s father, him and some of the other fathers go to the practices ... ... Kilmore coach them, and winning the game without a coach. He was on the inside, he saw the affect that the game was having on his friends and wanted to do something right to fix it. That took a lot of guts for him to do that. Although I think being involved in a sport is a positive thing, but in this situation it was not. Being involved in a sport was one of the best things I ever did. I starting playing soccer at the age of 7 and did not stop until I was out of high school. I loved to play soccer more than anything, I would play fall soccer, spring, winter, and summer leagues, and I could never get enough of soccer. I too, just as Mox had a couple of coaches I did not agree with, I hated to play for them because I felt that they had other motto’s besides just coaching the team. I would still play because I loved the game but did not agree with what they had to say. If I had a good coach I would play my hardest to help the team out. Sports really shape our society, and culture. You will not find very many people who do not have some love for at least one sport or another. There are so many sports out there that people love and will always watch the sport of their choice.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

The Effects of Acid Rain on Statues :: Acid Rain Chemical Reactions Essays

The Effects of Acid Rain on Statues Introduction ------------ During this investigation, I will use dilute hydrochloric acid as the acid rain and crushed calcium carbonate as the chemical of the statues. Then I will time how long it takes for the limestone powder to react until there is no more left when the acid is added to it. Rain contains acid naturally as it collects carbon dioxide from the air and makes carbonic acid. Rain normally has a pH of about 5.5 – it is slightly acidic due to the carbon dioxide dissolved in it. It is a stronger acid if gases like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides escape into the air from the burning fossil fuels, because they are dissolved by the rain and produce sulphuric and nitric acids that does more damage in a faster time. Acid rain reacts with statues and buildings that contain calcium carbonate and form carbon dioxide and water. The dilute hydrochloric acid in this investigation will have the same effect on the limestone as the acid rain on the statues. Yet, the only difference is that in nature, the acid rain reacted with the statue as a whole body, which takes approximately hundred years to corrode the object, whereas the hydrochloric acid in this investigation will take only few seconds to react with the limestone powder. Planning Aim --- The aim of my experiment is to investigate if the speed at which the limestones are dissolved is changed by how concentrated the acid is. Equipment To do my experiment, I will need beakers, a paper spoon, a stop clock, limestone powders, stirring rod, measuring cylinders and an electronic balance for powders Plan For this experiment, I will use 30mls of the acid each time and 1gm of powdered calcium carbonate. The concentration of the acid will be changed by adding water and less acid each time. First, I will use a paper spoon to spoon out the limestone powder and weigh it on the electronic balance. Next, take out the excess powder until the weight is 1gm. Then use two measuring cylinders, with each measuring the amount of water and dilute hydrochloric acid that should be added, e.g. when there is 30mls of acid, 0mls of water will be added; when there is 25mls of acid, 5mls of water will be added, and so on. The total amount will always be 30mls. Afterwards, I will pour the powder into a beaker that contain correct amount of acid in it and use a stop clock to time how long it will take for the powder to disappear. A stirring rod will be used so that no lumps would form.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Ya kun

Ya Kun is an established and has renown reputation for its coffee and kaya toast. It has been around us since 1944 when it registered itself as Ya Kun Coffee Stall. It differentiated its food by manufacturing its very own kaya that is used at all of the Ya kun outlets. Yakun now has expanded to a total of 11 countries in Asia and Middle Eastern region. As mentioned above in the Porter five forces, Ya kun faces both direct and indirect competitors in the industry. The direct competitors are Toastbox and Killiney kopitiam. The indirect competitors are Starbucks and Macdonalds.Although the indirect competitors are not in the traditional coffee and toast industry, they still possess threats that affect Ya Kun Identify Product offering Scale of operation Local Regional Global Limited Wide Product offering Scale of operation Local Regional Global Limited Wide Toastbox Toastbox was established in 2005 and it aims to recreate the warm atmosphere of local Nanyang coffee shops from the 1960s. It has successfully expanded both locally and internationally to countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Hong Kong and China. Killiney KopitiamKilliney Kopitiam has a rich history, from being established in the 1950s as â€Å"Qiong Xin He† and later renamed as â€Å"Killiney Koptiam† in 1993. They have now expanded their operations to countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia and Hong Kong. The vision of the company is to share the â€Å"Kopitiam† tradition through generations by educating the young.? Evaluate (str & weakenesses) Brand| Strength| Weakness| Ya Kun| * Uses social media (eg. Facebook, website) * Maintain the traditional menu * Expanded regionally * Outlets can be easily found in more places * ?Nostalgic appeal keeps older generation feel attached * Infused traditions with vibrancy and style * Attempt to attract the younger crowd who fancy dining in a traditional setting | * Limited variety (Product list) * Slightly overprice| Toas t Box| * Uses social media (Facebook, website, twitter) * Wide variety of choice in menu * Locates its cafes in the heartlands as well as the central business district to cater to a wide array of its target market * Expanded regionally| * Menu not on website.Only signature dishes * Toast and menu not as traditional | Killiney Kopitiam| * Uses social media (Facebook, website) * Wide variety of choice in menu * Offers quality products and services at affordable prices * Preserve the coffee shop tradition * Expanded regionally| * Menu is not attractive enough * Lack of updates in Facebook| Is YA KUN always stronger- which areas is it stronger and which weaker (the vulnerable areas)?

Analyse and present research information Essay

Executive summary In this case study â€Å"Kerr Deliveries† is a service oriented organization. They are doing courier service. The purpose of this case study is to solve the problem as an IT expert. Without information technology it is really difficult to develop the business. This modern era is about globalization. Company should adopt different system for their business to stay safe in the right track. Robert Kerr is a successful delivery company based on NSW since 1995. I am working as his assistant. In this report i will recommend which computer to buy for the company. After researching computer market i think company should buy Dell desktop, Toshiba laptop and Samsung PDA. In research report bellow I am going explain why company should buy those brand computers. In this case study â€Å"Kerr Deliveries† is a small company which is operate by Robert Kerr and his associates. They provide delivery services by bicycles, vans and cars for their clients across Sydney and regional NSW. Due to business expanding at rapid rate ,Robert going to begin operations in Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane in couple of months time. User/system personnel interface in improving system flexibility: Information system has great impact in a every business organization. Information systems flexibility is becoming increasingly important, both research (for example information system, supply chain management, organizational flexibility, research domains) and industry. Rapidly change in the business every organization has given more significance on information systems. Although RTD did not implement information system flexibility and online presence in their business, to develop their business organization they should introduce their information system flexibility in their business. However, the main concept of flexibility in a management disciplines including organization strategy and structured, manufacturing and IT. Every business directly and indirectly depends on information system and companies give primary priority to the information systems. System flexibility develops business efficiency and customer satisfactions. (question1) A service oriented method for system of systems requirements analysis and architecture design: For rapid changes in business environment organization are facing various problems, they may also face the problem of alignment of  IT with business strategy. In our case study RTD faces lots of problems regarding business strategy. Though they are service oriented company with combination of courier, removals and cattle transportation in a certain locality. They have not got proper information systems also got poor transaction record system, job schedule, vehicles problem are the main business problems. In their business they also face few more problems like payroll problem, poor marketing strategy, invoicing problem, and cash and cheque oriented transactions. This article provides reusable and flexible solution for system requirement modelling and it enables the requirement description of system. It also demonstrates the applicability of the method for the service oriented company. (Question 2) Communication of the association for information system: Every organization should implement information system to operate their business activities. This article describes how a punctuated process model can analyse a specific information system development (ISD). They also focus on information system project which was implemented in a UK retail small medium sized enterprise (SME). A new technology was being applied instead of previous one. Basically information system method can give us a new realistic and valuable way to realize ISD as a social process. By using information system development, RTD can communicate through organizational work as well as information system building process within the organization. Eventually this change in existing organizational routines can play positive impact on RTD. (Question 3) Organizational information system competence in SME: Small medium sized enterprise can play vital role in the global economy. In every SME, they need information system to enhance their business activities. There are some associates with business advantages, Information system planning, acquiring IS knowledge and describing its requirements, software and hardware sourcing, develop the application and tools and finally maintain the relationship between IS and suppliers. There are various new frameworks which can help RTD to develop their operational activities. Macro-competence (business and strategic thinking) help them to get rid of their previous problem. This model can develop business  opportunities from current and emerging hardware and software applications. It can also help to established appropriate criteria for decision making on IS investment. It can integrated with IS plan with business strategy. (Question 8) Competitive advantages and strategic Information system: In the time of modern technology, business organization needed useful system for existing in global business. They should implement different types of information system for their business. In this article they provide us different information system which can really help to achieve competitive advantages. Those systems are as follows: Decision support systems (DSS): that helps to build strategic approach to manage Information system/ information technology with an organizational business planning. Primarily Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP): which can integrate between enterprise objectives and enterprise resources. Data base system: is â€Å"data mining† which can help to gather the information for marketing, production, promotion and the innovation for the business organization. Real time Information systems: that intended to maintain a rapid response and the quality indicators. (Question 5) Information System Strategy; Re conceptualization, Measurement and Implications: According to Davis (2000) the information systems of an organization consist of the information technology infrastructure, data, application systems, and personnel that employ IT to deliver information and communications services in an organization .Thus the Concept of IS combines both the technical components and Human activities within the organization as well as describes the process of managing the life cycle of organizational IS Practices (Avgerou and McGrath 2007). In this article they focused on new typology that operationallized is strategy in a way that can apply in a holistic sense to the organization. They also describe different definition of strategy in their extended strategic management literature and finalizing of information system strategy. RTD can use centric view of IS strategy may resolve these outlined issues. (Question 4) Conclusions: In conclusion RTD face various problems when they started their business.  There is no alternative without using information system in a business organization. Nowadays, the business environment change rapidly because of globalization. Every company should keep their information up to date for exist in this competitive market. Information system can do everything. By this system organization can collect data from out sourcing and they can store the data for long as well. They can also communicate properly within as well as outside the organization. They can use different software program for operating their business. They can improve their payroll system. However, they can collect data from internet about competitors. Eventually an organization like RTD can do the best in the market. Recommendations: There are some recommendations RTD can apply for their current situation, for example collaboration and communication, intranet and extranet, different marketing strategy. RTD has some problems to solve these they should first identify their business requirements with information system requirements. Models of Collaboration as the Foundation for Collaboration Technologies: Collaboration is very useful in every organization. According to this article â€Å"collaboration technologies would be more effective and more readily adopted and accepted if collaboration technology development were guided by models of collaboration. Model construction plays an important role in software development today; software developers construct, for example, data models and object models†. This method has no complexity. Most of the organization uses this model for their organization. The authors described four type of collaboration model. Those are as follows: 1) UML (universal modeling language), 2) work flow Modeling, 3) coordination theory model, 4) Goal, objectives, methods, and Selection (GOMS). Here, RTD can use the GOMS model, as they are doing repetitive job like transporting, and courier service for their local clients. Different human teams differed substantially in the ways they interacted and communicated. The GOMS model described how the tasks were intended to be done, but actual behavior deviated widely from this ostensive model. The Internet and DSS: massive, real-time data availability is changing the DSS landscape: The Internet can serve as a source of massive, micro-level data. In the article they discuss about the opportunity and challenges in capturing and utilizing real-time data off the Internet, intranets, or extranets. In the modern technology The Internet and company intranets and extranets increasingly provide the opportunity for a firm to obtain repeated observation of individual choices and actions. Firms now often have access to the information necessary to track the ‘‘progression to transaction’’. This abundance or rush of real time information poses significant opportunities and challenges for DSS development and implementation.RTD has to apply this technology for their business. According to Bapna et al. (2006) the role of Internet data in developing and testing new theories and patterns of individual behavior and market performance. They focused on how such abundance of real-time data offers new horizons for DSS development and continual recalibration. However, they also described the emergence of DSS internet’s data rich environments and B2B system with supply chain management. References: O’Brien, J & Marakas, G 2011, Management information systems, 10th edn, McGraw Hill, New York. Palanisamy, R, Boyle, T.A & Stuart, I 2009, ‘User/System Personnel Interface in Improving Information Systems Flexibility’, ANNAMALAI INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BUSINESS STUDIES & RESEARCH, Vol. 1, pp.12-22(online EBSCOhost). Zhang, Y & Liu, X 2012, ‘A Service-Oriented Method for System-of- Systems Requirements Analysis and Architecture Design’, JOURNAL OF SOFTWARE, Vol. 7, pp. 358-366 (online EBSCOhost). Newman, M 2009, ‘Punctuated Process Modeling of Information Systems Development: An Illustration from a Mid-Sized Enterprise’, Communication of the association for information system, Vol.24, pp.673-700 (online EBSCOhost). Cragg, P, Caldeira, M & Ward,J 2011, ‘Organizational information systems competences in small and medium-sized Enterprises’, Information & Management, Vol.48, pp.353-363 (online EBSCOhost) Chen,D, Mocker, M, Preston, D.S, & Teubner, A 2010, ‘INFORMATION SYSTEMS STRATEGY: RECONCEPTUALIZATION, MEASUREMENT, AND IMPLICATIONS’, MIS Quarterly, vol.34, pp.233-259 (online EBSCOhost) Hemmatfar, M, Salehi,M & Bayat,M 2010, ‘Competitive Advantages and Strategic Information Systems’, International Journal of Business and Management, vol.5, pp.158-170 (online EBSCOhost) Poltrock,S & Handel,M 2010, ‘Models of Collaboration as the Foundation for Collaboration Technologies’, Journal of Management Information Systems, Vol.27, Pp.97-122 (online EBSCOhost) Marsden, J.R 2008, ‘The Internet and DSS: massive, real-time data availability is changing the DSS landscape’, Springer, Vol.6, pp.193-203 (online EBSCOhost)

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Sun Tracking Control Strategy Engineering Essay

It is good known that in theory, 41 % more sunshine is available by tracking the PV faculty to follow the day-to-day class of the Sun, comparative to fixed installings. The overall aim of this survey is to develop a control algorithm that improved public presentation and dependability the two-axis solar tracker. To accomplish this end, this survey dressed ore on optimising the LM3S811 based accountant board, thrust hardware and package. Keywords: embedded system design, two-axis Sun trailing, control algorithm.A ±ntroductA ±onSolar energy systems and equipment such as PV and twenty-four hours illuming systems, solar aggregators, and solar-powered heat engines work best when their aggregators aim straight at the Sun. Adding a solar tracker to these systems increases their efficiencies at the disbursal of initial and operational costs and system complexness. It has been estimated that the usage of a trailing system, over a fixed system, can increase the power end product by 20 % – 40 % with cost addition 10 % -30 % [ 1-3 ] . Since the Sun ‘s place in the sky alterations with the seasons and the clip of twenty-four hours, tracker is used to aline the aggregation system to maximise energy production. Several factors must be considered when finding the usage of trackers. Some of these include: the solar engineering being used, the sum of direct solar irradiation, feed-in duties in the part where the system is deployed, and the cost to put in and keep the trackers. Concentrated applications like concentrated photovoltaic panels ( CPV ) or concentrated solar power ( CSP ) require a high grade of truth to guarantee the sunshine is directed exactly at the focal point of the reflector or lens. The two basic classs of trackers are individual axis and double axis. Single axis solar trackers can either hold a horizontal or a perpendicular axis. In concentrated solar power applications, individual axis tracker is used with parabolic and additive Fresnel mirror designs. Dual axis solar trackers have both a horizontal and a perpendicular axis leting them to track the Sun ‘s evident gesture virtually anyplace in the universe This paper presents a control scheme for a two axes solar tracker that is executed in an ARM based Stellaris L3S811 microcontroller. Correct sun place is inferred from the GPS. The proposed control scheme consists of a combination between ; an unfastened cringle tracking scheme, and a closed cringle scheme. The overall aim of this survey is to develop a control algorithm that improves public presentation and dependability the two-axis Sun tracker. To accomplish this end, this survey concentrates on optimising the accountant board, thrust hardware and package.Two-axA ±s Sun trackerThe Sun ‘s beams can be decomposed into two constituents, one perpendicular to the panel surface, and the other analogue to the surface, where merely the former radiation can be received by the panel. Therefore, the angle between the Sun ‘s beams and the normal of the panel which is called the incident angle should be every bit little as possible. Incidence angle alterations with the diurnal an d seasonal fluctuations. Therefore, the fixed-installed solar aggregators can non to the full absorb the solar radiation energy. If at any clip by automatically tracking solar aggregators, panel place can be adjusted harmonizing to the Sun ‘s flight to cut down the incidence angle ; it will be able to absorb more solar radiation energy than the fixed panels in the same irradiation conditions. The panel of dual-axis Sun tracking system rotates around the two reciprocally perpendicular shafts, AZ shaft and lift shaft, shown in Fig 1. It will track the Sun ‘s AZ angle and lift angle, so that the panel can accomplish incident angle of 0. Two methods are normally used in solar trailing to place and follow the place of the Sun at any blink of an eye of clip between dawn and sundown: the closed cringle control method and the unfastened cringle control method. The closed cringle control method uses several feedback detectors such as LDR, photodiode, light-intensity detectors, mention cells and a signal processing circuit [ 4-6 ] . The signal processing circuit compares the end product signals of the detectors and operates on a feedback cringle with the coveted signal status. The end of the cringle is to bring forth maximal entire mistake signal from detectors by continuously seting the tracker way until the shadow on the detectors is the lower limit. A drawback of the closed cringle control method is that it can non efficaciously track the Sun on a cloudy twenty-four hours without a robust algorithm. Fig. -Structure of the two-axis Sun tracker. The unfastened cringle control method uses the longitude and latitude informations of the solar tracker location to find and track the place of the Sun [ 7, 8 ] . It has the advantages of easy scheduling and high truth. The system is simpler and cheaper than the closed-loop type of Sun tracking systems [ 9 ] . It does non detect the end product of the procedures that it is commanding. However, a fixed get downing way of the tracker at dawn every twenty-four hours is required in this method. Therefore, the get downing way of the tracker must be corrected from clip to clip. Consequently, an open-loop system can non rectify any mistakes so that it could do and may non counterbalance for perturbations in the system.Specifying Elevation and Azimuth AnglesThe algorithm for Sun trailing uses the solar lift, i? ±e and azimuth, i? ±A angles computed at the solar tracker location. The tracker must be aligned horizontally to find the lift and AZ angles accurately along with the hr and decli ne angles with regard to the heavenly equator or plane as depicted in Fig.1. Solar lift, i? ±e is the angle between the skyline and the line linking the beginning and the Sun that is, the complement of the zenith angle. Solar AZ, i? ±A is the angular supplanting of the projection of the line to the Sun onto the horizontal plane from the south axis. The solar lift angle, i? ±e, of the orientation system in the perpendicular plane, ?e, can be calculated as follows [ 9 ] sini? ±e=sini? ¤ sini? ¦ +cosi? ¤ cosi? ¦ cosi? · ( 1 ) Where e is the lift angle of the system i? ¦ is the latitude. is the hr angle ( 15 & A ; deg ; / hr ) , where ? = 0 at local midday. is the solar decline, where ? is calculated from Cooper ‘s equation, ( 2 ) N is the twenty-four hours of the twelvemonth ( 1 – 365 ) with N = 1 stand foring the 1st of January. Fig. – The relation between lift and zenith angles. The azimuth angle of the system in the horizontal plane, ?A, is calculated as [ 9 ] . ( 3 ) The solar trailing system normally returns to its initial remainder place after sundown, and starts to track the Sun after the Sun rises above the skyline. The dawn and sunset times can be calculated utilizing [ 13 ] for system location.DesA ±gn and application3.1. Mechanical DesignThe panels ‘ support construction was designed with two grades of freedom in order to change the disposition and orientation. Besides, the construct of the panel ‘s support every bit good as the system that allows this support to go around around the two axes was developed. The tracker is composed of a fixed base which is straight on the land, holding a mechanism that connects the base to the back uping construction of the panels. This mechanism consists of two parts, which have a grade of freedom ( from each other ) in two axes. For altering the disposition of the construction, extra linear actuator is mounted to the solar tracker control system. Linear actuators are highly precise by design, particularly when compared to pneumatic and hydraulic solutions. Screw based mechanical additive actuators allow to progress or withdraw the motivation rod by highly little increases, which is required for the exact placement of solar tracker. Electric additive actuator consumes highly low electricity and are available in 12 Volts d.c. it can be powered by the solar panel itself supported by a battery. Linear actuators can be remarkably little, particularly when sing the scope of gesture that is required for traveling the Sun tracker. Photograph of the mechanical construction is shown in Fig. 3. Fig. – Mechanical construction of the Sun tracker.3.2. Hardware DesignThe hardware design combines the embedded microcontroller with two DC motor drivers, rotational DC motor, DC motor controlled additive actuator, solar rotary motion mechanism, GPS, pyranometer, wind gauge, tilt switches and MEMBS based inclinometer. A general block diagram of the control system is shown in Fig. 4. Global placement system ( GPS ) is connected to the microcontroller via a standard consecutive RS-232 port. GPS sends to the microcontroller sentences, that contains a twine of characters, continuously. These sentences chiefly include longitude, latitude, height, day of the month and clip for location where GPS is placed. Since microcontroller has the existent clip clock circuitry, it is moderately accurate over short periods, but it needs standardization sporadically. As a consequence, the GPS clock signal is used to update the microcontroller ‘s internal clip sporadically and therefore effects of the long term mistakes are eliminated. As portion of the attempt to better solar tracker dependability and better understanding public presentation, a pyranometer is being added to solar tracker. This pyranometer allows the informations acquisition system to mensurate exactly the irradiance witnessed by the PV faculties on that tracker, and therefore better supervise the impact of the tracking algorithm on the energy end product of the system. Solar tracker steps tilt angle with potentiometer that has long-run dependability job. A higher dependability option is a solid-state inclinometer. It has three chief advantages ; inherently higher dependability, higher declaration less than 0.1 & A ; deg ; , direct measuring of angle. In this undertaking, micro electromechanical systems based on electronic inclinometer ADXL345 is used [ 11 ] . Digital end product informations is formatted as 16-bit two ‘s complement and is accessible through either a SPI ( 3- or 4-wire ) or I2C digital interface The inclinometer would typically be mounted straight underneath a tracker ‘s plane, from where the disposition can be measured. Fig. – Sun Tracker control system block diagram. The solar tracker is fitted with bound switches to guarantee robust operation. A micro roller switch mounted on the base of the solar tracker prevents multiple revolution completion of the AZ tracking phase. The solar aggregator besides includes two more bound switches on the zenith tracking phase to forestall over travel harm to the additive actuator mechanism. The initial reset balance usage tilt switches. The mechanism include four tilt switches ( E, West, south and north ) To protect tracker constituents from over air current velocity, system besides requires an wind gauge to mensurate wind velocity. Consequently, we need powerful and cost-efficient microcontroller to link all these parts and manage to track the Sun. It must hold two consecutive port, ( UART ) one for communicate computing machine the other 1 for GPS, two PWM signals for motor A and motor B, one I2C port for solid-state inclinometer, hardware counter input for wind gauge, parallel input for pyranometer, at least four digital inputs for tilt switches. In add-on, these characteristics we need package development tools for microcontroller. Sing the computation of the mentioned before, 32-Bit Stellaris microprocessor LM3S811 which is optimized for small-footprint embedded applications, fits best to the Sun tracker system. TI Stellaris LM3S811 microcontroller has a Reduced Instruction Set Coding ( RISC ) ARM nucleus, internal oscillators, timers, UART, USB, SPI, pull-up resistances, PWM, ADC, parallel comparator and watch-dog timers are some of the characteristics [ 10 ] .Software DesignThe developed Sun tracking algorithm enables high-precision finding of Sun angles and times for dawn, solar midday and sunset year-round. The flow chart of the algorithm is drawn in Fig. 5. The computation of the Sun angles with the Sun tracking algorithm package merely requires the specification of the day of the month, clip and exact longitude, latitude and lift of the location through a GPS system. Fig. – Flow chart of Sun tracking algorithm. The algorithm we developed for the control of the Sun tracker is composed of two chief subdivisions. In the input subdivision, the solar lift and AZ angles every bit good as dawn, sundown, solar midday and present solar times are calculated harmonizing to subdivision 2 and used as shared variables in other parts of the package. When the system starts, Stellaris foremost sets tracker to the place place and so takes GPS information to cipher the Sun set and rise times. The present solar clip is compared with the dawn and sunset times to find whether tracking should get down or halt. At dark clip, it waits following sample clip. Sample clip period may be defined harmonizing to proficient restraints. First restraint is GPS hot start clip that is 1 second for GPS. It can non be shorter than this value. The other restraint is the energy consumed by motor A and B during one tracking measure. We set sample clip to 2 minute during experimental work. The present solar clip between dawn and sun set clip ‘s Stellaris reads pyronometer value to look into if there is adequate solar radiation to bring forth power. Otherwise, Sun tracker stays at place place until solar radiation rise to lower bound of solar radiation. After solar radiation reaches the coveted value, so algorithm reads anemometer value to specify whether the Sun tracker can travel safely. If non, Sun tracker stays at place place at least during one sample clip. Otherwise, it starts tracking the Sun. In the end product subdivision of the algorithm, the package takes azimuth, ?A, and lift, ?e, angles from shared variables and converts them to drive gesture. The deliberate angles ?e, ?A, are so subtracted from the old place values. Harmonizing to the obtained angle difference and their marks, microcontroller sends PWM and way signals to the motor accountants. Motor A and motor B takes solar panel to the new place. Motor A can drive solar panels to turn in the horizontal plane in order to track the alterations in AZ angle ; its positive place is westbound. Similarly, motor B can drive solar panels to turn in the manner of fliping so as to track the alterations of solar lift angle ; its positive way is downward. At the terminal of tracking, the place of mechanisms demands to be defined. The electronic inclinometer ADXL345 sends x, Y, omega axis values to the Stellaris. This digital axis values are converted to angles by the microcontroller. By comparing the mensural angles with deliberate angles, the two motors take different motions to complete come up to the coveted place of the solar panel. Finally, when this twenty-four hours is over, the system backs to the place place to wait for the following twenty-four hours.ResultS and dA ±scussA ±onSun tracker was tested both in the research lab and out-of-doorss utilizing SM-55 solar panel [ 12 ] . During the out-of-door trial, the Sun tracking s ystem was moved to outside of a edifice so that we could compare the consequences between fixed place and two-axis Sun tracking systems. During a 24-hour test period, the two-axis solar tracker was required to run for about 2 proceedingss every hr to keep proper alliance with the Sun. Fig. – Outdoor trial consequences of sun tracker. During the trial procedure, solar panel charged to the battery, and solar panel current and electromotive force values were measured and stored every minute utilizing a information lumberman. End of the twenty-four hours, the solar panel, charged the battery up to 408.2 Watt-hour energy for about 11 hours. The recorded information on the twenty-four hours 5.5.2012 proved that the two-axis solar tracking PV panel produced more energy than the fixed 1 with about 40.7 % .ConclusA ±onIn this survey, a cost effectual two-axis Sun tracker has been developed. The ARM Cortex-M3 nucleus microprocessor successfully calculated the tilt angle of the solar panel in order to look into the accurate Sun lift angle. The placement technique, which has been investigated by the DC motor and additive actuator, reduced the mistake in turn uping the lift AZ angles to 0.1 & A ; deg ; . The proposed tracker has increased the energy collected by 40.7 % .

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Technology and Traditional Skills

Over the last half century, modern technology has developed dramatically world wide and many people have been facinated this trend. On the other hand, it is a significant fact that traditional skills and a way of life have been faded rapidly. this phenomenon has also brought several issues in modern societies. In my opinion, the importance of traditional skills and customs shoud be recognized by individuals. This essay will examine three aspects of advantages of preserving the traditional skills and customs. Fist of all, traditional practices often increase a sense of community and a social cohesion. For instance, national festivals have a significant meaning in terms of clutural and historical education. As people realize the importance of their heritage through the festival, they can improve their patriotism and sympathy with a social bonding. Secondly, the inheritance of traditional methods and social customs have a profond impact on next generations. For example, folklore, historical stories and songs can be the best way to teach children how to learn a moral and wisdoms to live in societies. These children will be able to interact with other people when they grow up and start working in the community. In addition, these children who learned a moral and wisdoms through the education of traditional skills and knowledge will contribute to next generations. Furthermore, following conventional skills play a vital role not only to social cohesion but also to preserve environment. Convention skills such as walking towards a distination and using handmade products are all easy on environment because these practices are often harmless the nature due to saving petrol and redusing wastes. Thus these conventional practices enable peolpe to learn how to protect environment. By comparison, technology has brought unpleasant problems world wide. Peolpe who are addicted to the Internet have a tendency of a lack of communication skills and sympathies with orther people. Hence some sociologists are apprehensive that crimes among young people have been increasing due to the prevalence of the technological development. In conclusion, people should realize the importance of trafditional customs and skills because these practices have great advantages and it contributes positive influence to people in societies and the future.

Friday, September 13, 2019

MID-TERM CASE STUDY Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

MID-TERM - Case Study Example ustice and Fidelity (Miller and Davis, 1996).In this case , the main problem is to choose a person who will contribute to the development of the company and at the same time leads to change, empowerment and transformation. If Liz is selected, she will be the first African female woman manager and can do average performance with high energy level. It will also help her personally a lot. Roy, a white person has sacrificed even his family for the company while his performance is average to low. He has twenty years experience. Quah’s performance level is high but she will go to any extent for reaching her goals and her experience is also low. She is very bold as evident from her previous experience. In this case, the principle of autonomy means that the candidate needs to be independent and the candidate needs to make clear and rational decisions. Based on this principle, Liz and Quang are the top candidates. This is because Roy’s son has got engaged with vice president’s daughter, which seemed like a company affair to get promotion for Roy. Hence, Roy cannot be considered as a best candidate according to the principle of autonomy. Based on the principle of Nonmaleficence, the decision should not do any intentional harm to others (Kitchener, 1984; Rosenbaum, 1982; Stadler, 1986; Forester-Miller & Rubenstein, 1992). Liz is the best person based on this principle. Based on the principle of beneficence, the decision needs to contribute to the welfare of the person. This is because of her personal commitments and financial problems According to this principle also, Liz is the best candidate. The principle of justice means that treating as equal with their differences and able to give a rationale for the difference in treatment (Kitchener, 1984). According to this principle also, Liz is the best candidate. â€Å"Fidelity means loyalty, faithfulness and honouring commitments† (Miller and Davis, 1996, p2).Based on this principle, Roy and Quang are the best

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Energy Sources of the Future Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Energy Sources of the Future - Essay Example Three of these include solar power, wind power and biomass. Solar Power Solar power, or solar energy, is a viable alternative to fossil fuels. Solar power comes from the sun through the use of solar panels that contain solar or photovoltaic cells. In fact, one square meter of solar panel can generate as much as 100 watts of electricity (â€Å"Solar Power†). Once used only to power satellites, the solar panel is now used to generate power for houses and companies. Aside from the use of solar panels, solar power can also be used to heat water using glass panels on the roof. This powers up the home’s central heating system (â€Å"Solar Power†). Moreover, a third type of machine that utilizes solar power is a solar furnace. The huge array of mirrors in a solar furnace is used to concentrate all the sunlight into a small space in order to produce an extremely high temperature of heat. Solar furnaces may be used for scientific experiments. There are also solar-powered electric boats and solar towers. (â€Å"Solar Power†) On the subject of availability and renewability, solar power may be advantageous as it basically â€Å"needs no fuel† and is renewable as long as the sun shines (â€Å"Solar Power†). ... Even if only 2.5% of this radiation is converted into electricity, it would be enough for the total energy consumption of the whole nation in a year (Zweibel et al., University of Colorado). Another related development in the utilization of solar energy is the very recent invention of the nanocone-based solar cell. This particular type of solar cell, which boosts the light conversion efficiency of traditional solar cells by a whopping 80%, is in fact a result of the â€Å"minimization of defects and voids in semiconductors† (â€Å"New Solar Cell,† ScienceDaily). This property alone enhances electric and optical properties of the solar cell in order to convert sunlight to electric power more efficiently, thus increasing its availability while maximizing its utilization. Perhaps the only disadvantage of solar power is that, unless stored, it does not work at night and may be very expensive to build. (â€Å"Solar Power†) When it comes to environmental impact, solar power does not produce any pollution or waste (â€Å"Solar Power†). According to the Union of Concerned Scientists in the United States, primary environmental issues associated with solar power concerns only â€Å"how [solar power systems] are manufactured, installed, and ultimately disposed of† (â€Å"Environmental Impacts,† UCSUSA.org). Arsenic, silicon and cadmium are the major elements used in the manufacture of photovoltaic cells and are therefore hazardous to workers and anyone else who comes in contact with the solar panels. Safety regulations should therefore be strictly kept. Moreover, solar-thermal plants require cooling water, which may be costly or scarce in the southwest United States where the area is more

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Marketing in Airline Industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Marketing in Airline Industry - Essay Example In order to attract customers and increase their loyalty, marketers today try to associate their products with an element of service attached to it. For example, when a customer buys a car, he enjoys the facility of free service for the first three years from the car manufacturer company ((ICMR)). If a goods and services are represented on a continuum with highly tangible goods on the extreme left and highly intangible services on the extreme right, the bundle of goods and services will fall somewhere along the middle of the continuum. The industry that has been selected for discussion in this paper is the airline industry. The airline industry is regulated by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in the domestic market and by a system of bilateral service agreements in the international market. The bilateral service agreements regulate the prices offered by various airlines, capacity of the aircraft, and the routes to be served by these airlines (Sky News). The future of the airlines industry depends on the flight schedules, take-off time, in-flight and airport service, safety records, fleet capacity and efficiency, route frequency, strategic alliances with other airlines and businesses like hotels, etc. Characteristics of the airline industry Airline industry is highly competitive. Competition is intense on the routes which are more profitable. The growth of the industry is closely linked to economic growth. An airline seat is an intangible and perishable good and hence marketers need to take special care while formulating their marketing strategies. Demand is price elastic i.e. as the price of service goes down the demand goes up, and income elastic i.e. when the income of the general population goes up, more people tend to travel by air. The profitability of an airline increases, when the flight capacity is properly utilized and the aircraft spends less time on the ground. There has been a revolutionary increase in the number of low-cost airline which are otherwise called the budget airlines in the aviation industry over the last few years. The budget airlines are usually operators who provide low-cost travel options for the passengers. The budget airlines try and cut the indirect costs to the maximum possible extent. Passengers are not offered wet towels, meals etc. Sometimes it may even happen that they do not even offer water to the passengers flying the budget airlines (Phillip). Marketing of Airlines Like any other industry, promotional activities play an important role in the airline industry as well. Airlines today offer attractive schemes to woo customers. These include frequent flyer schemes, special benefits, discounts, festive season offs, gifts like electronic equipment or kitchen appliances, access to club lounges, and special discounts with the alliance's business. Quality of service can be a useful tool for airlines to gain a competitive advantage. This is because passengers expect airline crew to be efficient, friendly and helpful. Thus, proactive customer orientation is the need of the hour. Marketing Strategies Airlines must identify and eliminate non-value adding cost and use the money saved to provide better quality services. The company should find a niche market and cater to it. Identifying and flying to

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Informatics of health care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Informatics of health care - Essay Example -Health initiatives such as WHO Global Observatory, which offered Member States with suitable strategic information and policy on the operational practices and standards pertaining eHealth. World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) has asserted its assurance to offering entree to the world’s health awareness and corresponding telemedicine services. Telemedicine applies in locations of worldwide collaboration in emergency response access and networking among the existing health specialists in order to aid advance quality of life and environmental situations (Scott et al., 2005). Within Europe, e-Health forms a fundamental section of the European Commission e-Europe implementation plan. The plan mainly entails envisage the actual definition of the health data interoperability standards, execution of the prevailing health information networks, e-referral, tele monitoring and telecare. Clinical information system used in the modern healthcare setting has computer-based designs that enable the collection, storage, manipulation, and analysis of clinical information significant in the delivery process. The modern clinical information systems facilitate a coherent availability of clinical data in the repository that store patients record especially illness history and major interactions with the medical care practitioners (Stewart & Catanzaro, 2005). In the clinical information system, the repository are designed to encode information that assist physicians in deciding on how to go about patient’s conditions, wellness activities and treatment options as well as the overall actions undertaken. In addition, other healthcare related information that may assist in performing such activities can also be stored and processed in the system (House of Commons Health Select Committee 2005, p. 2). Clinical information systems have been beneficial in several roles in the healthcare setting such as managerial roles, performing general practitioner delegated tasks,

Monday, September 9, 2019

Consumption Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Consumption - Essay Example Every nation has a leader of its own who makes sure that all the citizens live as expected. The rules and regulations that govern each nation vary from one to the next. This is one factor giving a clear impression that individuals are expected to control consumerism basing on the type of life in their nation. The key factor that contributes to difference in how people consume is cash. The amount of cash will always determine the degree of consumerism. Thesis statement: Consumerism majorly depends on the character of an individual. This means that it is an individual who is supposed to control how he or she makes consumption without depending on other people. Consumerism is defined basing on the amount of money an individual has. People in the globe engage in different activities that earn them salaries that differ. This means that it is the individual who decides on how to manage what is available in order to have all needs catered for. The rate of consumerism many at times bases on peer pressure. In the contemporary society, it is clear that many individuals have the tendency of purchasing items in order to be in the same social class with the colleagues to avoid shame. Many individuals tend to suffer from inferiority complex when their friends succeed in many things and they are left behind. In this case, they tend to try their best to make certain that they live the way their friends live yet they are not able to do so. In such instances, an individual is forced to do what he or she has not planned for. This result in embezzlement of funds because they end up being used in fields they were not intended to. Those who have the behavior to follow what other do end up messing up their lives because they live their lives basing on what other people do and this makes it difficult for them to be and accept who they really are. In this essay I will specifically point out on the idea that I want to get a new iPhone. I was previously using a Samsung galaxy but as time goes by I needed a new phone because new and more advanced models are being produced. This gives a clear impression that i do not want to be left behind. I am the one who is following the trend of fashionable items which makes it difficult for me to have a perfect budget. I may therefore end up buying items that I did not intend for. This is an issue which affects many individuals in the society making it difficult for them to have perfect plans financially. Many individuals tend to go for modern things without unlimited wish. This means that when new products in the market many people tend to go for them regardless of the price to make sure they are not left behind. â€Å"The latest technology, the latest trend in fashion, the latest cars and laptops, we’ve got to have them†. Resisting financial peer pressure.†This is one illustration giving a clear impression that there are many individuals who tend to follow up on fashion. Youths on the other hand, tend to fo llow up on fashion because they want to fit well in the teen fashion scene. â€Å"Emotional shoppers tend to spend when they are sad to make themselves feel better. Emotional shoppers tend to shop when they are happy to celebrate. Emotional shoppers tend to shop when they are bored to give them something to do.† I used to be an emotional shopper Since it is money that is the main factor affecting consumerism, many individuals suffer