Virtue in Machiavelli's Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Virtue in Machiavelli's Philosophy - Essay Example "It is necessary for a prince, wanting to maintain himself, to learn how to be able to be not good and to use this and not use it according to necessity"(Machiavelli 57). He believes that one good man is surely going to suffer among those who are not good. Thus, the virtue of goodness is meaningless for Machiavelli. If a price is imagined to be just as what Machiavelli conceptualizes, he would not be less than a criminally wicked tyrant. On contrast, the Discourses is a good usable book, though being long, nostalgic, and difficult as well. Here, Machiavelli's advices go to not just the rulers but the citizens, social reformers, political leaders, and the founders of republics. The purpose served is to establish and sustain their liberty as well as the avoidance of corruption "unless indeed the goodness of one individual, together with virtue, keeps it free"(Machiavelli xxiv). Improving from the downgraded non-virtuous theme of The Prince, In Discourses, Machiavelli explain that as a new price tends to preserve his principality with glory for a long time-beyond his death-the foundation of a republic is the best approach. "A corrupt city that lives under a prince, can never be turned into a free one, even if that prince is eliminated along with all his line"(Machiavelli xxiv). However, one thing is clear that he devaluates the republics and principalities as imagined by the writers with virtue. And, the reason is that they emphasized on the moral virtue which, according to him, invites ruin; plus they also rejected violence, cruelty, and loss of faith, which are unavoidable and acceptable for the preservation of the principality according to him. And, this is what is objectionable in The Prince where he goes against the morality set by the classical and biblical values with an intention of framing a novel and modern "political" conception of virtue. The new definition of virtue means something that does not prevent the human from first gaining and then maintaining whatever has been gained, especially the authority. However, morality is one of his targeted themes that also include politics at the first place, necessity, fortune, religion, etc. As far as moral values are concerned, he shows his dislikes for the people of his time because, in his views, they were not actually following the "ancient virtue" but instead were content with keeping ancient statues in their homes, and thus honoring and imitating them in that way. The deeds rendered by the ancient rulers and republics were not at all imitated, neither their examples were meaningful to the then political scenario, according to him. In the first preface to the Discourses he talks about correct history knowledge lacked by his time. This suggests that Machiavelli was not against the ancient value; rather, he praises it with an aim of improving it. He was not much concerned about the would-be negative results of his writings and was eager to bring about a "Machiavellian" interpretation of the ancient virtue-along with a new look of the Renaissance in terms of modernity rather than a copy of the past. Machiavelli's virtue is questioned mainly because some of the advices in The Prince-such as cruelty for the sake of the subject-go against the virtue as perceived by the human masses. Also, his

Boeing Vs. northrop Essay Example for Free

Boeing Vs. northrop Essay In March 2002, the US airforce selected Boeings KC-767 on the grounds that it had clearly demonstrated the abilities to meet their requirements. The United States Airforce (USAF) in their acceptance statement brought out four points that they cited as being behind their decision (CBS News, 2008). The Boeings design was designated KC-767A and was included in DODs 2004 model designation report. Approximately 100 KC-767 tankers were leased from Boeing for the air refueling program. Even though the refueling program was in place in many countries in the US, many had questions about its effectiveness and cost implications especially the idea of leasing crafts which may never have any buyer once the lease period was over. This argument brought forward by senator McCain was however countered by the number of US allies who were more than willing to buy their used crafts (CBS News, 2008). The congressional budget office was next in line as they criticized the budget stressing on its fiscal irresponsibility (United States Government Accountability Office, 2008). This led to the striking of a deal where the state would buy 80 KC-767 and lease twenty (United States Government Accountability Office, 2008). However, in December of 2003, the pentagon announced that the project had to be frozen due to a corruption allegation brought against one of its former staffer (CBS News, 2008). Furthermore, documentations that proved that the A330 based tankers were more suited to the task specifications of the airforce were more cost effective relative to Boeing tankers were found (CBS News, 2008). The scandal led to the sentencing of the culprit who pleaded guilty to corruptions and led to the resignation of Boeings CEO. Donald Rumsfeld in 2006 announced the cancellation of the KC-767A leases as a measure aimed at cutting the costs and a redefinition of the USAF mission (United States Government Accountability Office, 2008). The defense secretary further stated that the move will not in any way affects the mission of the KC-767A as the upgrade of the KC-135s fleets will help in moving towards the goals (United States Government Accountability Office, 2008). However, the development did no affect the relationships between Boeing and its other customers. The development were however short lived and Boeing and Northrop were soon back in the ring fighting for a big defense contract. The basis of Boeings arguments was that the KC-30 was more versatile and had a large furl capacity than the KC-135 that were being used by the airforce. The KC-135 was developed by Boeing who were bidding for an airforce contract against their nemesis Northrop Grumman . The latter won this round of battle as the departments of defense announced that it has won the tender to procure 179 new KC-45A tankers (Online News Hour, 2008). The Boeing company almost immediately took to the Government Accountability Office and filed a protests claiming the evaluation of its KC-30 was unfair (Online News Hour, 2008). Boeing further claimed that its refueling tanker could easily be reconverted to a passenger plane compared to Northrops version as shown in the Air forces post decision briefing. According to Boeings vice president they had more strengths than their competitors was all he heard from the post decision briefing. Boeings protests led to a review of the selection process by the accountability office which forced Northrop to freeze the project which it had already allocated $ 35 billion (Online News Hour, 2008). Northrop Grumman executives are on the other hand highlighting the irresponsibility involved in freezing a critical project to the development of the military for expensive lobbying in the congress that will inevitably lead to a change of the decisions made by the airforce (Online News Hour, 2008). Northrop Grumman executives further claim the decision is ironic since they put their best efforts in ensuring that the airforce receives a products that they consider the best in consideration of the design (Online News Hour, 2008). They are pushing for the public knowledge of the facts of what they represents and what they are not. The congress was divided sharply on this issue and so was the general public. Boeing supporters claim that the Northrop Grumman design was a basic passenger airbus plane (Online News Hour, 2008). A Kansas congress man was cited claiming that the decisions made by the airforce was a bad one as the airforce as it has bend backwards to deal with a French company (Online News Hour, 2008). Boeings die hards near its main production facility claimed that it is the only true tanker manufacturers and a mistake had been made (Online News Hour, 2008). A Washington senator supported this point of view and claimed that offering a military contract to a foreign company was suicidal and would incapacitate Americas ability to develop their own fleet if they should ever pull out of the deal (Online News Hour, 2008). An Alabama state senators is of a different view and approached the subject from a resource allocations view point (Online News Hour, 2008). People near Northrop are bound to benefit more that those near the Boeing plants and therefore there senators have opinions that display their satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the resource allocations (Online News Hour, 2008). She further states that there have to be losers and winner either way (Online News Hour, 2008). The Boeing group further accuse the airforce of a change in parameter in order to accommodate the design put up by Northrop Grumman so as to ensure two bidders are present (Online News Hour, 2008). Even though many are of the view that the airforce was trying to lock out Boeing due to the scandals it previously had, Boeing executives were of the view that was not the case as the specifications that were asked by the airforce were changed considerably to ensure Northrop was in the race (Online News Hour, 2008). They further claim that the large sized tanker proposed by the Northrop was a liability and only countries not interested in their taxi ways would allow for such aircrafts. The Northrop group however counter this argument by stating that their design is more sophisticated and has advantages that are yet to be seen (Online News Hour, 2008).

Anti-War Essay -- essays research papers

Anti War Do you consider the war in Iraq a victory or another Vietnam? The Iraq war is a lot like Vietnam as I have read in many articles; promises of an easy victory and short occupation, and then a reversal, but it wasn't just the length of time the US spent in Vietnam that turned public opinion, nor was it the mass peace protests. It was a growing realizations (fed up by events like the publication of the Pentagon Papers) that people were being fed lies, and the truth was systematically covered up. The public began to wonder if the war had anything to do with plans to create a democratic state in Vietnam and Iraq is a lot like Vietnam. And it is the realization of the truth, by the general public that the majority of our voting citizens’ support this President Bush once enjoyed for what has proven to be a huge and costly series of blunders, miscalculations, and mistakes. Once again, the lies and the realization that the "liberation" of the Iraqi people is not the primary agenda behind the occupation, and preventing terrorism isn't cu tting it as an excuse either. Iraq is a training camp and recruitment center for terrorists. We need to leave Iraq alone and send our soldiers home. American political leaders insisted we would wipe out those Iraqi terrorists and criminals in no time, but it didn't happen. Just like in Vietnam. The U.S. media insisted that nearly all Iraqis welcomed U.S. occupation and that Iraqis would love Americans for giving them democracy and ...

Harimann International Essay

Executive Summary Vikram Dhawan is the president of Harimann International that he established in May of 1990. Vikram established the business in an effort to fund his impending Masters in Business Administration in the United States. The business is located in Delhi, India where tax incentives are offered for business who export goods and materials to targeted countries including Japan, Canada, and France. Incentives in India include no tax on goods shipped to target countries, incentives on shipments exceeding 150,000 INR, partial rebated duties taxes on raw materials imported for the use of exported goods, cash incentives, and license renewals for materials used in production. Harimann International in its first year, 1990, focused on the exporting of linen household goods. Business was slow and profits were low until 1991 when a particular type of hand-embroidered table linen became very popular. Sales and orders increased. Dhawan was then faced with the inability to rely on his supplier after the demand exceeded their ability to provide material need for the impending orders. Dhawan then established a second manufacturing facility employing over 100 employees and producing an average of 1,000 garments a day. In January of 1992 one of Harimann International’s first clients Pioneer Trading Company requested samples and later placed an order with Harimann for six styles of garments. The order well exceeded the 150,000 INR requirements and qualified for other incentives provided by the Indian government. Pioneer Trading Company also placed a stipulation on the order that it had to be provided by the deadline of April 6th. This deadline would give Harimann International about two months to fulfill the order. Placing the order would allow Harimann to make a large profit, but also allow him to continue to employ workers for an extend period of time that would be furloughed in other cases. Decision Problem What should Harimann International choose to do? Should they accept the order and potentially make a high profit deal, continue the relationship with Pioneer Trading Company, and benefit Harimann International employees or deny the deal and not suffer the potential for a lose by not meeting the April 6 deadline established by Pioneer Trading Company? Analysis of the Industry and the Company Textile production and trade is the leading industry in India. According to India Brand Equity Foundation (ibef.org) the textile industry provides â€Å"14% of the industrial production, 4% of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) , and 10.63 % of export earnings.† The textile industry is second only to agriculture in providing employment to the people of India proving over 35 million employment opportunities. The textile industry in India produced over 7.58 billion in revenue compared to the United States at 7.21 billion between April and July of 2010. Indian government provides incentives to organizations exporting large amounts of textile products. Incentives include tax breaks on imported raw material as well as exported finished goods, cash incentives, and insurance benefits to employees of the organization. Possible Decision Alternatives Harimann International is faced with a number of decisions to be made. First Vikram Dhawan can reject the order entirely and risk losing an established customer who has helped his organization grow over the past year. A second alternative is to accept the order as well as the deadline of April 6th leaving the risk of not meeting the deadline. This alternative has the potential of making a substantial profit due to the size of the order and the incentives provided by the Indian Government. This alternative also provides more work for employees of Harimann International that would not have been provided if the order is not accepted. The alternative also has the potential for disaster in that it if the deadline is not meet the respected client could and future profits could be lost. The third is to accept the order, not meet the deadline, and sell at a reduced price to Pioneer. This alternative also has the risk of losing an established customer and future business. Evaluation of Alternatives Three alternatives face Vikram Dhawan of Harimann International. The first is to not accept the offer and reject the proposal of delivering the product to Pioneer Trading Company. The decision would have lasting repercussions with the relationship between the two companies and inevitably cost Harimann International future profits. Harimann International will also incur a loss due to purchasing the product already and having to resale. The decision trees found in tables 3 and 4 show the loss after selling the embroidered product at 65 % of cost and the unembroidered product at 90% of cost to be a loss of $45,202.50. The second is to accept the offer with two different outcomes. The first outcome is that the order is completed and delivered on time. This outcome of alternative two will gain a profit of $315,238. The completion of the order will also keep a good relation between the two companies with the possibility of further profit for Harimann International in the future. The second outcome is some what more complicated. The second outcome consists of probabilities that Dhawan believes will occur. As seen in tables 3 and 4 the probabilities will be applied if the shipment is not delivered on time. If the order is not delivered on time Dhawan believes that the probability of 50% payment will occur 40% of the time. The payment for this occurrence will create a loss for Harimann International of $72,081. The probability of 30% payment Dhawan believes is 40% netting a loss of $311,380. The final probability is 20% of a 20% payment of $360,720. Recommendations After careful review of the two alternatives Dhawan should proceed with the order. With an 80% chance of completing the order and a profit of $315,238 he should take the risk. Tables 3 and 4 both show the probability in dollars of accepting the order to be in the positive at $270,132.32. Table 3 uses color codes to label the arithmetic occurring and 4 is a more simple way of presenting the decision tree. Table 1 shows the total profit that can be made by achieving the order on time. Table 2 shows the loss that will be incurred if the order is not delivered on time. Even though the possibility of incurring a $360,720 loss is possible, the probability of it  occurring is very small. With an 80% chance of completing the order on time Dhawan should take and complete the order with Pioneer Trading Company for a profit and securing future business that will also bring in more profit for Harimann International.

Charlie Fish

The wife did nothing. I would say that he is the protagonist in the story, because he is doing nothing wrong, the only thing he does is to think evil thoughts. The protagonist is usually the â€Å"good† guy in the story and the main character. I wouldn't say he is good, because he have intentions to kill his wife, but in the end it ‘s her who is the antagonist and let him die. D: Typical for the crime genre is that there often is a crime or someone who breaks the law.For example the woman in the story is breaking the law by not helping her husband, and as it says on the last line â€Å"l fall to the floor. My wife Just sits there, watching. † The main character is often a police officer(the good guy) or a criminal(the bad gay), in our story you could say the main character is both. He's a bad guy inside, but â€Å"behave† on the outside. The tension also plays a major role and there is also often plot twist in the crime genre.In the story we as readers had an idea that he non will kill his wife, but in the end it is her who kills him, it's called a plot twist and the tension is built up. I think It's a good story, because the excitement Is built up and It does not end as expected. The author manages to build something up, although the story Is so short. Charlie Fish By Cannonaded â€Å"Death by Scrabble† by Charlie Fish is a story a husband and his wife. It's the hottest angry at his wife, so angry that he would beat his wife to death.He is Just waiting for he right time. The words they put down on the board, begins to happen in reality. When he puts the word â€Å"QUAKE† down, and she thereafter put â€Å"DEATH†, it all starts to shake and the man gets a piece stuck in his throat, which he had hidden in his intentions to kill his wife, but in the end it's her who is the antagonist and let him I think it's a good story, because the excitement is built up and it does not end as expected. The author manages to build something up, although the story is so short.

buy custom Immune System essay

buy custom Immune System essay The immune system is a combination of somebody entities that the sole purpose is to play guard against diseases. The combination of this guard consists of body organs, proteins, tissue, and cells. The offensive of the immune system is pathogens. Unlike, the immune system, pathogens do not exist as a system but different entities such as viruses, fungi, parasites, and bacteria. The immune system units are stored in the body at different parts such as spleen, appendix, lymph nodes, and tonsils. In that way, the defense becomes even much stronger than fighting pathogens as an unstructured defense. Additionally, dedicated cells, called "white blood cells," tour throughout the body searching for pathogens. The immune coordination is multifarious and plays a straight role in inoculation, communicable diseases, allergies, and autoimmune ailment (for instance autoimmune hepatitis and rheumatoid arthritis). Just like how a national defense security system has a structure, the immune system relies on a sequence of steps known as the immune response. The defense mechanisms of the immune system assault organisms and stuff that invade body systems and maybe cause diseases. The defense system can be achieved through networking of body organs and cells to protect their host, body. The white cells main work is to search and demolish pathogens. Leukocytes travel through the body amid the organs and nodes by means of lymphatic vessels and blood vessels. Leukocytes traveling scheme enables the immune system to work in a coordinated style to monitor the body for microorganisms or stuff that might cause diseases. The Leukocytes are dived into two, phagocytes, and lymphocytes (Parham Janeway, 2009). Phagocytes feed on invading germs, while lymphocytes act as buffer systems for the body to recognize previous pathogens of similar character. Where foreign substances invade the body, a system of body security detects the aliens and formulates how to respond. The defens system triggers the B-lymphocytes to manufacture antibodies, proteins that catch onto precise antigens. Once these antibodies are manufactured, they continue living in a person body so as to react when such foreigners come again. Every defense systems have a weakness, and dire consequences occur when a defense system crumbles down or malfunctions. When a component of the immune systems breaks down or stays inactive, the competence of the immune system to handle pathogens decreases. Poor immune system can be caused by creation of imbalance in the body through activities such as obesity, drug use, malnutrition, and alcoholism. Malnutrition is, however, the main cause of immunodeficiency in budding countries. Malnutrition mainly caused due to lack of a rich balance of protein in a diet. Break down of the body immune system makes the body susceptible to diseases, allergies, and death. Pathogens can rapidly grow and adapt to avoid discovery and annihilation by the immune system. Due to this, the witty immune system defense mechanisms have also advanced to recognize and counterbalance pathogens. Turmoil of the immune system can result in autoimmune illness, seditious diseases, and malignant cells growth. Immunodeficiency happens when the immune system is not as much of active as customary, consequential in chronic and life-threatening contagion. In the human being, immunodeficiency can either be caused by the presence of a genetic ailment, such as severe joint immunodeficiency, or gained environment such as HIV/AIDS or the employment of immunosuppressive prescription. In contrast, autoimmunity is the consequence of a hyperactive immune system attacking normal tissues as if they were foreign organisms. Therefore, it is essential to understand and take care of the defense system of the body. Taking care of the immune system of the body comprises of a few everyday health observation tips. The tips can boost both the immune system and the whole issue of personal health. >To maintain a healthy immune system one should consider feeding the immune system with the correct proportion of factors that enhance the survival of the immune system. Diet is the key balance checker for the immune system survival. Consuming a diet rich of fruits vegetables and whole grains enable s one to get the essential nutrients and mineral necessary for the immune system growth and repair. One should keep away from excessive consumption of high fat foods. Saturated fats are a veritable danger to the immune system (Lureen, 2012). Another indispensable aspect to the health of the immune system is working out; recommend s the International Food Information Council. American College of Sports Medicine advocates at least 30 minutes of fairly intense aerobic workout every day, or 20 minutes of dynamically powerful work out three times a week. Jogging is the simplest physical workout that all people enjoy. Otherwise, you can enjoy yourself through dancing. Additionally, ACSM advocates doing strength-training aerobics twice a week. Workouts help to boost the overall health and keep the immune system working properly. Another unlikely source of help to boost the immune system is sleep. Gathering enough sleep boosts the immune system by not suppressing the immune system. When one feels tired, so does the immune system. It is, therefore, necessary to respect the rest pattern of the immune system by listening to what the body says. Controlling the blood pressure perceptibly helps uphold cardiovascular health, but it may also be helpful in safeguarding your immune system (Lorrie, 2008). Despite all the consideration towards catering for the body in expectation of boosting the immune system, certain way of life choices may be counteracting. Smoking is the worst habit of all that can crush the immune system. Alcoholism and stress can also largely crash the health of your immune system. One should consider taking the time to quietly relax or enjoy some rest via sleep. Buy custom Immune System essay

IngramSpark Review Dont Use Until You Read This + PROMO CODE!

IngramSpark Review Dont Use Until You Read This + PROMO CODE! IngramSpark Review: Don't Use Until You Read This + PROMO CODE! IngramSpark, KDP Print, Lulu, BookBaby - there is no shortage of companies out there promising to help you publish and sell your print books and ebooks. Luckily, if you’re struggling over which platform to use, you’re in the company of thousands of other authors who have been in your shoes and can provide some guidance.That’s exactly why we’re here, to provide you with a breakdown, review, manual - and a promo code! - for one of the most popular platforms out there: IngramSpark.What is IngramSpark?What is the Best Service for Print on Demand Books? Read post As we mentioned, there are other POD platforms worth your consideration - such as KDP Print (good for Amazon distribution), Blurb (good for books with varied visual components), BookBaby (good for customer support), or Draft2Digital Print (still in beta but the rumors so far are promising). For a comprehensive breakdown of the top print on demand services for books - and to see actual print copies from each printer - check out this comprehensive POD post. Alright, if you’ve decided that IngramSpark is the self-publishing platform you want to put a ring on, your next move will be, well, doing just that. Below is a simple yet thorough guide to publishing via IngramSpark. Free promo code for IngramSpark's setup fee - and IngramSpark review!  Ã°Å¸â€œÅ¡ How to use IngramSparkIf your first instinct when signing up for any kind of fee-based service is to scour the internet for discount coupons, then you’re in luck - because we’ve got one for you! Just for reading this post, you get a 50% discount off IngramSpark’s $49 print and ebook title setup fee. All you have to do is enter this case-sensitive IngramSpark promo code: EXPERT. (Don’t worry, we’ll post another reminder about this coupon a little further down).Onto the publishing now. Below, we’ll break down the seven steps to publishing with IngramSpark. These steps may vary for you based on whether you’re going with print copies, ebooks, or both. In hopes of covering all the bases, we will outline the steps for an author who’s publishing both print and ebook copies of their book.Of course, the pre-first step is actually signing up for IngramSpark, which you can do here: https://myaccount.ingramspark.com/Account/SignupStep 1: A bout Your BookNext up, it’s time to deliver the goods: the manuscript you’ve worked hard on perfecting and the book cover that will do that manuscript proud! Both must be uploaded as PDFs.After you upload your files, IngramSpark will scan both the interior and exterior files for any errors. If it spots some, it will let you know and give you the choice to either a) fix the issues before you proceed with the process, or b) if you’re confident with your files, ignore IngramSpark’s alerts and continue as is.And that’s it! From here, you can decide how you want to market and sell your book. Our final recommendation is that, before distributing any print copies of your book, you first order a proof copy to ensure it looks good and there are no strange sizing inconsistencies.IngramSpark Promo CodeBefore we go, we wanted to quickly remind you about the IngramSpark promo code for Reedsy community members! When it comes time to pay your book’s $49 se tup fee, use the following code for a 50% discount: EXPERT - and yes, this code is case sensitive!Have you published through IngramSpark? What was your experience like? Or maybe you’re still on the fence and have some lingering question about IngramSpark - or other popular publishing options out there. Feel free to leave any thoughts or questions in the comments below!

Hipsters Campus

Hipsters Campus Origin of Hipsterism The term â€Å"hipsters† commonly refer to a subculture of men and women in their 20’s and 30’s, living in urban areas that value and promote independent thinking, progressive politics, and enjoy things (clothing, music, food, activities, etc) not commonly found in the social mainstream. Hipsterism according to literature is a state of mind. Most hipsters are well educated, creative, and individuals who reject traditional attitudes, concepts, and norms. They often prefer to work in creative industries such as music, art, and fashion. Famous Hollywood actors Johnny Depp and James Franco including singer Miley Cyrus are hipsters. The origin of Hipster subculture can be traced back in the 1940s when the English word â€Å"hip† was first used as an equivalent to â€Å"hepcat†, a stylish and progressive young person well aware of the latest trend in music and fashion. In the 1950s, hipsters were called â€Å"beatnik† or â€Å"hippie†, a person with strong sense of alienation from a traditional social norm. Study of African-American slang traces the origins of hip in Wolof (a language of slaves from Senegal and coastal Gambia in the 1700s) verb â€Å"hippie† or â€Å"to open one’s eye†. The hipster subculture of the 1940s evolved from a group bored of mainstream routines and societal norms into trendy jazz lovers focusing on creating bonds with those of the same class and backgrounds through music. Today, although sharing a similar interest in music and bored of mainstream culture, modern hipsters are not necessarily members of the lower class, more independent, purposeful, and specific in the way they think, and determined to maintain the hip regardless of socio-economic status. They are more interested in fashion and appearance than ideology and societal issues. They express rejection of mainstream norms through clothing such as wearing an ironical expensive T-shirt made to look worn and ragged. Want to know more? Go here: Is High IQ a Guarantee of Academic Success? Leave a Message Relieving Students School-Related Stress Bright Sides of Academic Intellectuals We Call Nerds What Education Do You Need to Become a Master Chef? The Hipsters’ Campus Colleges and universities are â€Å"hotbeds† of hip seeking to practice and promote their diverse perspectives, ideas, and cultures. These hipsters commonly wear skinny jeans and fashionable clothes, outdoor oriented (skiers and snowboarders), liberal in their views, and vocal about their advocacy. Some college faculties are also hipsters in their trendy clothes, a liberal approach in teaching, and advocating eccentric academic practices. A hipsters’ campus appears one that is located in easily accessible areas, having a reputable or multi-awarded campus radio stations, offering liberal and fine arts, and practically surrounded by a number of thrift stores and boutiques. Hipsters interest in liberal and fine arts according to a Forbes magazine article created an imbalance in the American economy due to under-employment and lack of college graduates with math and science related degrees. For instance, since over ninety thousand Americans (mostly hipsters) graduate college with art degrees each year, the American workforce is dominated by artists rather planners, engineers, technicians, and others who can construct and operate machinery to boost economic performance and growth. In other words, America needs more nerds and fewer hipsters to ensure economic growth or â€Å"Up with scientist! Down with artists.† In order to the so-called â€Å"Epidemic of Hipsters†, the American government according to this article will be providing college loans, scholarships, and grants to students in fields with significant spillovers such as engineering and computer science. Unfortunately, application of hipsters majoring in dance, sociology, and English will be ignored.

Daisyworld Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 10000 words

Daisyworld - Coursework Example The surface temperature of a lifeless planet would have changed dramatically with the increase in luminosity of the sun over geological timescales; on Earth, it has remained remarkably constant around temperatures suitable for life (s Harvey, 2003). Daisyworld is a simplified model of an imaginary planet with just two species of daisies, black and white in order to demonstrate the way it happens. The growth rate of the daisies depends on their local temperature but the daisies modify this due to the differences in the way of absorbing radiation; black daisies have low albedo i.e. reflectivity and thus they heat up easily. On the other hand, white daisies with higher albedo tend to reflect the sun's radiation. The Gaia hypothesis (Lovelock, 1972, 1979, 1988) came into the scene with the problem of determining the possibilities of life on Mars1. To carry out the experiments, it was neither easy not necessary according to Hitchcock and Lovelock (1966), to go to Mars. They claimed that all that was required is determination of the composition of the atmosphere of Mars. The atmosphere of Mars should be at chemical equilibrium (which is true) in the absence of any form of life on the planet. Similarly, if the atmosphere were not at equilibrium just like Earth, then this would strongly support the possibility of life on mars. Lovelock believed that the Planet Earth should be studied as an organism due to the analysis that the general activity of the planet can effectively indicate the existence of life on it. The characteristic properties exhibited by the living things like respiration, metabolism, self-regulation, irritability and reproduction can be studied for the determination of life. To consider earth as an organism is just a matter of choice of great researchers but it certainly posses many properties similar to organisms. The key objections that have been raised to the Gaia hypothesis are based on the evolution theory. Arguments are there on the consideration of Earth as an organism believing that organism properties arise only through natural selection. There is no particular mechanism so that the Earth can maintain the favourable conditions for the biota and hence there is no need to consider the matter (Dawkins, 1982). Continuous arguments were present about the

CHINA PROJECT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

CHINA PROJECT - Essay Example elatively well and this prompts the rating of this sector as zero which implies that the performance in the financial markets of China are at their optimum or rather best levels (Frankel &Wei, 2007).The fact that China is a great nation anything that occurs on its state of financial market affects the entire globe since it acts as one of the major shareholders of investments. This kind of statistics indicates that China is placing a favorable environment for global financial market. The aspect of value chain has been extensively and intensively moved into classy commodities and services and this comes after the nation has fully dominated and controlled the least cost manufacturing firm. Even though the expansion in China in the service industry as one of the best economies internationally (Frankel &Wei, 2007).The state of China has not abandoned the manufacturing sector it has instead struggled in the transformation of the sector into greater levels through the creation and enhancement of the chains and the attributed value. The increased value chain has facilitated the state of China to move forward in terms of economic growth and development. Some of the features associated with this kind of trend involve the global value chains which China has developed and expanded intensively. In this kind of rating the aspect of is given zero since it makes the manufacturing sector of China the greatest contributor of the Gross Domestic Product and the contribution is approximately 50 percent (Frankel &Wei,

Business taxation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Business taxation - Essay Example Understanding Revenue and Capital Expenditures Revenue expenditures such as rent of premises for conducting business, employee wages, raw materials and many such items are ongoing expenditures that are necessary to generate business profits. Revenue expenditure is also known as circulating capital that means capital changes hands to produce profit and loss. On the other hand, capital expenditures such as purchasing land or building, plant and machinery or goodwill form a long-term expenditure that accrue benefits until its useful life. The Statute ICTA88/S74 (1) (a) provides that only those expenditures are allowed for deductions that are "incurred wholly and exclusively for the purpose of trade" (BIM37035). However, capital expenditures are not allowed for deductions fully, and its treatment is governed by different statutes, as incorporated by the governing office from time to time. Capital Expenditures – Differential Treatment in GAAP and Income Tax It is important to note that accountancy and income tax laws are not fully in alignment as far as treatment of capital expenditure is concerned. ... All revenue expenditures are allowed for deduction to profit and loss statement. All capital expenditures are not allowed for deductions unless allowed by statute. For example, ITTOIA/S58 and S59 are the statues that allow deductions for the incidental costs incurred while raising a loan for business purposes (BIM45800, 2012). The statutes deal with the costs incurred while raising loans or issuing loan stock. These statutes do not provide relief for the costs incurred while raising finance through other methods such as bills of exchange, leasing assets, hire purchase, buying assets on credit or any form of equity financing. The incidental costs to obtain finance have been defined in ITTOIA/S58 (2). The allowable costs include commissions, fees, advertising, printing and related matters. It is required that the costs must be incurred, wholly and exclusively, for the purpose of acquiring or repaying the finance including its security. Some of the costs that are included under this sta tute can be described as per the following (BIM45815). a. Introduction fees, underwriting commissions, brokerage. b. Professional and legal expenses for negotiating the loan and getting the document ready. c. Valuer's fees, land registry fees incurred towards the security of the loan. d. Commitment fees. e. The costs of issuing a prospectus, postage, and the costs of advertising etc (BIM45815). Statute ITTOIA/S59 (1) provides that expenditure incurred while obtaining loan is not allowed for any deduction if it has provisions of conversion into shares or if any other securities or conversion takes place before three years from the date of loan obtaining (BIM45810). There are several deductions

Recycling in the US Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Recycling in the US - Essay Example It should however be noted that all this developments in waste management took place against the backdrop of lack of mandatory legislations on recycling. Consequently, states like New York, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Hawaii among others introduced measures to popularize and enforce recycling as a waste management strategy. Through legislations, disposal of recyclable wastes was penalized and the offenders had to part with heavy fines. Keywords: recycling, waste materials, legislations Recycling in the United States of America Recycling entails collecting and processing materials that would otherwise end up in trash. The recycling process converts such material into new products. As such, recycling is very beneficial to both the community and the environment. Many countries across the globe have embraced the concept of recycling. For instance, the United States has been in the frontline in ensuring that recycling is done in an effective way. As much as there lack any federal law that mandates recycling in the United States, various states and local government have taken it upon themselves to institute a wide range of recycling requirements and procedures. Various states have established law oversee the recycling of various products. In a nutshell, mandatory and voluntary methods were employed in implementing the introduction and adoption of recycling. While the mandatory strategy drew its backing from compulsory laws and regulations, voluntary techniques were enforced without coercion and were built around winning the goodwill of concerned parties and letting them participate at will. Many states employ the two strategies combined in order to increase the avenue for effective waste management and so far the results are tremendous. The country has lived to see trucks which collect garbage being combined with waste processing trucks to speed up the recycling of unwanted materials Waste management is currently a burning issue as the world dawns to the harsh realities of global warming together with the ever changing climatic patterns. Many conventions and declarations have been made to try reversing the trend but still there remains a substantive work to be done (Pellow, 2007).Garbage has been identified as a contributor to this threat to sustainable human, animal and plant life on the planet earth. The question then comes to how best can these wastes disastrous as they are be managed with the least of resources to attain an efficient pollution free environment? It is upon this basis that recycling as a waste management technique comes in. This presentation critically looks at the advantages and disadvantages of employing it as a waste management strategy in the United States of America (Pellow, 2007). Advantages of Recycling It promotes the conservation of scarce natural resources. Due to their limited availability, resources like timber, minerals and water need to be protected from depletion as they play a crucial role in ensuring the sustainability of life and minimizing conflicts that may result from the scramble for the little available resources. Trees play a crucial role in the gaseous exchange of the ecosystem besides providing ground cover and protecting water catchments. Water is a necessity of life for both the flora and fauna. Its absence or limited presence thus poses a great risk to the environment. Minerals are limited in supply meaning their continued extraction leaves nothing. It is thus

External and Internal Environments Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

External and Internal Environments - Assignment Example The study discussed the different strategies followed by the organization to utilize their strength and opportunities and eliminate their threats and weaknesses. The final discussion of this report is based on the analysis of its value chain with the help of the resource, capabilities and core competencies. The different external environment such as politically-economical, legal, social, technological and environmental factors have an important effect on the business decisions of AT&T. The economic and technological factors play the most influential role in the business decision of AT&T (Crandall, 2000). High inflation and interest rates are affecting the overall growth of the economy of the US. Different players of the telecommunication industry are reporting the decline in the profit margin due to the increase in competition and higher interest rate. The increase in disposable income is allowing the consumers to seek for better telecommunication facilities to match their fast life. The increasing demand of customers is directly affecting competition within the telecommunication leaders of US market. The different economical trends and currency rates of all the partner countries has affected the business decision of the organization. AT&T needs to have different market strategies as per the economical differences of all the outsourced countries (Crandall, 2000). The rapid growth of technology has an extensive impact on the business decisions of the telecommunication industry. Most of the organizations are investing to improve their research and development facilities to offer the latest technologies to their customers. The maturity of the technology is also affecting the business decisions of this industry. Most of the technological developments are facing maturity stage very fast due to the introduction of more innovative facilities. The organisation also needs to focus on the global technological trends to sustain their global customers.  

Information Handling Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Information Handling - Essay Example The source where accuracy posed the greatest problem was the marketing database.So I think usefulness informations need have accuracy and reliability, accuracy and reliability determine the quality of information."Information that is timely is available when it is needed for managerial action, not after the decision has been made" (Gareth, 2000,P614) In today's speedily changing world and technology 's developing, lead to information changing frequently. Real-time Information is reflecting current conditions. (Gareth, 2000,P614) For example, productions' price changing frequently in marketing because manager wants to make profit in competition's marketing. So manager should be pay attention to information's changing. Catch Real-time information is very importance. Look at timeliness in accounting"Timeliness: accounting information should be made available to external decision-makers before it loses its capacity to influence decisions." (Dyckman, 1992, P44) Like the news of the world, old financial information never carries the same impact fresh information carries. Otherwise lack of timeliness reduces relevance."Information that is complete gives managers all the information they need to exercise control, achieve coordination, or make an effective decision." (Gareth, 2000,P615) information's completive will provided good help to manager to decision. When you set up a new business, look at complete information is importance. Such as, how is this productions sold, how long can make profit.

External and Internal Environments Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

External and Internal Environments - Assignment Example The study discussed the different strategies followed by the organization to utilize their strength and opportunities and eliminate their threats and weaknesses. The final discussion of this report is based on the analysis of its value chain with the help of the resource, capabilities and core competencies. The different external environment such as politically-economical, legal, social, technological and environmental factors have an important effect on the business decisions of AT&T. The economic and technological factors play the most influential role in the business decision of AT&T (Crandall, 2000). High inflation and interest rates are affecting the overall growth of the economy of the US. Different players of the telecommunication industry are reporting the decline in the profit margin due to the increase in competition and higher interest rate. The increase in disposable income is allowing the consumers to seek for better telecommunication facilities to match their fast life. The increasing demand of customers is directly affecting competition within the telecommunication leaders of US market. The different economical trends and currency rates of all the partner countries has affected the business decision of the organization. AT&T needs to have different market strategies as per the economical differences of all the outsourced countries (Crandall, 2000). The rapid growth of technology has an extensive impact on the business decisions of the telecommunication industry. Most of the organizations are investing to improve their research and development facilities to offer the latest technologies to their customers. The maturity of the technology is also affecting the business decisions of this industry. Most of the technological developments are facing maturity stage very fast due to the introduction of more innovative facilities. The organisation also needs to focus on the global technological trends to sustain their global customers.  

Film art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Film art - Essay Example One of the elements of Citizen Kane that Brophy focused on is vocal performance of all the main cast members of this movie. He says that it was Orson Welles’ special talent to bring the most out of his actors as far as their vocal inflections and other aural aspects. For instance, he talks about the reporter’s bland voice, which was right for the part, because the reporter was supposed to be one of the least colorful characters in the film (Brophy, 2). Another vocal performance that was focused on was that of Susan Alexander, describing her voice as phlegmy, and full of repressed anger. The questioning of the librarian brings a scolding that is whispered, but full of indignation (Brophy, 2). In Psycho, there are similar aspects of the film that brings this film to life. The most obvious, of course, was Norman Bates and his â€Å"mother.† Bates has a pitch-perfect imitation of his mother, so much so that the audience could never suspect that the mother actually wa s not a separate person at that point. The arguments that emanate from the spooky old house on the hill that is directly behind the Bates Motel could never, in the audience’s wild imagination, be just one person arguing essentially with himself. The voice inflections and the pitch of the voice of the mother are so real that it is that much more shocking to find out, in the climax, that Norman’s mother had been dead for many years, and that the â€Å"mother† was, at that point, nothing but a skeleton with a robe and wig on, sitting in the apple cellar. This is not the only vocal performance that brings suspense to the film. Janet Leigh’s performance as the lead character, Marion, also brings a sense of suspense to the film. For instance, when she is stopped by the policeman early on in the film, her talking is way too fast. This, combined with her overall shifty-eyed look gave the policeman reason to suspect that she was hiding something, and she was, inde ed - $40,000 that she had embezzled from her employer. This same tone of voice is employed when she went to buy a new car – her speech was tight and quick. She was extremely nervous, and this nervousness was evident in her voice and her overall body language. Because the audience knew that Marion was not that good of an actress (although Leigh certainly was), it became obvious when she felt comfortable and when she felt uncomfortable. It was completely in her voice. Therefore, when she was talking to Norman in his room – while she ate her sandwich, while looking at the creepy stuffed owls and such – it was obvious that she felt completely comfortable. For whatever reason, there was nothing in Norman’s weird demeanor that gave her pause. If there was something, Marion would not have been able to hide it. She couldn’t hide nervousness, this was obvious. Therefore, the audience was clued into Marion’s state of mind throughout the film – it showed in her voice and her body language. Similarly, Brophy stated that this is an important part of the vocal characterizations – the changes in the voice of the character would signify the different states of mind that the character might go through during the course of the film (Brophy, 3). While the characters in Citizen Kane had different vocal inflections because the voices of the

Six Glasses by Tom Standage Essay Example for Free

Six Glasses by Tom Standage Essay Throughout history certain drinks have marked a trend that has changed the face of the earth. Each drinks including beer, wine, spirits (distilled alcohol), coffee, tea, and coca-cola have been a catalyst for the development of our society. As a result, the alcohol and the caffeine in the drinks have not only quenched our thirst through history, but have done much more than that; they have helped different cultures intertwine. Each one of them set humankind on a path towards modernity. Six beverages precisely, three alcoholic, and three caffeine marked the tendency; the first beverage to mark a trend was beer that both served as a currency and for political purposes. Later came the Greeks with a fermented grape juice, named wine that with the help of formal drinking parties helped diffuse ideas and thoughts. With the coming of the age of exploration and the discovery of America, raw goods and the distillation process arrived and helped the development of distilled drinks such as brandy, rum, and whiskey which were used as currency to buy slaves and became popular in North America. As alcoholism spread, other people especially professionals looked for that drink that instead of confusing the mind rather promoted clarity. Coffee, the black gift from the Arabs promoted clarity that was what professionals were looking for such a long time. However the emergence of the British Empire as a world dominion helped Chinas flagship drink, tea helped to open lucrative trade routes with the east. Perhaps, the most affluent of all, or at least the one single drink that reached every corner of earth is the carbonated soft beverage called Coca-Cola; Coca-Cola marked the start of the globalization period. Six drinks, six different stories that mark our world today. Beer, the first alcoholic beverage appeared as a result of a change of lifestyle from the humans that migrated from out of Africa. Before, these people were nomads meaning that they life was based on hunting and gathering. However, starting twelve-thousand years ago, Humans in the Near East abandoned the Paleolithic lifestyle and adopted farming rather than hunting and gathering. Beer was not invented but rather discovered since it was found that cereal grain could be stored for a long time a would not be spoiled. With the introduction of beer, people no matter their social rank were able to enjoy a drink that at the time was considered a gift of god. All along the Fertile Crescent people drank beer from the same container. This was considered a mayor development because it showed that beer was both a drink that united social classes, and it was a universal symbol and friendship and hospitality since drinking from the same container through a straw meant that the one offering the drink did not intoxicate the beverage. Beer abundance and invigorating flavors convinced the consumers of making ceremonies to god, whom in their conscience gifted such drink. Beer was used in religious ceremonies, agricultural fertility rites, and funerals by the Sumerians and Egyptians. Beer rich contents cannot be denied. Without such stimulating and rich content, beer would not have the same popularity as it has. When stored for a long period, beer starts the fermentation process. In the Neolithic period, beer was rather drunk much sooner than todays standards. Most people left it fermenting for about a week or less. As a result, the beer drank had a relatively low alcohol content but would be rich in yeast which would provide protein and vitamin, especially vitamin B. The rich contents of beer were essential for the development and survival of early civilizations since vitamin B provided the nutrients meat provided; so when there was a shortage of food, especially meat, people would opt drink beer. Although extremely important for the development of early societies, beer is constantly associated with drunkenness and unclear thinking. Even many scholars consider beer as just a drink that it is used to quench special cravings or just simply to get drunk. However, beer importance in the development of writing is more important than common thinking. The earliest written documents are Sumerian wage lists and tax receipts that were used to record several things; amongst them was beer. Since beer by this time was considered the drink of the common man, beer was used as a form of payment for many people. Some people were given the drink as it is the case during the construction of the pyramid of Giza, and others were given tokens so they could exchange them with beer. Beer importance in the development of our civilized world is often under regarded, especially by those whom believe that beer sole purpose is to get people drunk. Departing from Assyria, King Ashurnasirpar II gave a drink to his guests which aroma and taste was far more refined than that of beer. Even more, this vitalizing drink was not a universal drink for the common man, but was rather a way to show their wealth. As a result, wine development as the next popular drink, especially in Greece and Italy. Wine consists of a fermented juice of crushed grapes. Despite the availability of grapes through human history, wine did not emerge until later since in order to ferment the fruit it is necessary to use a pot. As wine became more widely available, it came to be seen as a social drink as well as a religious beverage. Its main consumption was based on the Near East and the Eastern Mediterranean. Furthermore, its increasing accessibility demised wine as an all elite drink. Despite its high cost, wine is a determining factor for the development of non-barbaric settlements such as Greece and Rome. Thucydides, a Greek writer described, the peoples of the Mediterranean began to emerge from barbarism when they learnt to cultivate the olive and the vine. When wine emerged in the Eastern Mediterranean wine price decreased and it was widely available. As a result, wine became increasingly important especially in the economic sense. Wine was now not considered as just a drink, but rather a form of income. Italys and Greece convenient location helped wine become easy to trade amongst other European and Muslim nations. Therefore, vineyards became prime targets in the Peloponnesian War between Sparta and Athens. Different from beer, old wine was a badge of status; the older the wine, the better. For Greeks and Romans wine drinking was associated with civilization and refinement. Also, wine was also a form to test someones personality. As Aeschylus, a Greek poet said, Bronze is the mirror of the outward form; wine is the mirror of the mind, referring to the ability of a person to speak truth when drinking wine. Some Greek philosophers considered wine as treacherous for the human society; they believed that placing too much power in human hands (wine alcoholic content), could ultimately lead to revolution and anarchy. Wine social is so important that is often undermined. For example there is a Roman story, that once Marcus Antonius sought for refuge  and someone accept it. In order to delight and give tribute to their guest, the house owner sent their slave to buy the most expensive wine, the kind only people such of Marcus Antonius would drink. As a result, the authorities discovered Marcus Antonius as a result of just the wine he drank, marking wine as a social drink. Therefore, wine became a symbol of social differentiation and a rentable way of business. Wines riches and development of trade led to the discovery of America. With the riches of wine European nations now sought more resources and other form of transporting beverages. For voyages such as those to America, wine was not that convenient. Instead in the Spanish city of Cordoba, the distillation process was developed. Distilled drinks provided a durable and compact way to transport alcohol on board ships. The first distilled drink was distilled wine and it was considered a therapeutically drink. Arnald of Villanova, a wine distiller, believed that the true water of life will come over in precious drops, which, being rectified by three or four successive distillations, will afford the wonderful quintessence of wine, he wrote we call it aqua vitae, and this name is remarkably suitable, since it is really a water of immortality. It prolongs life, clears away ill-humors, revives the heart, and maintains youth. As Villanova said, aqua vita godlike powers were tempting for many see king immortality. During the Pre-Columbian period, people believed that drinking a regular dose of aqua vita could improve the functioning human body and mind. Following the discovery of America and the establishment of the European colonies in the Americas, slavery soon out spurted, especially in the Caribbean colonies. In these colonies, especially in the British sugar cane was the main crop. However, in order to obtain the man power to extract the resource, the British sought to exchange Brandy for slaves in West Africa. Europeans soon realized that it was far more efficient to use distilled alcohol extracted from the sugar cane. Rumbullion as it is called was far superior for high seas since it didnt spoil like wine since it had a high concentration of alcohol. Rum was perhaps the most profitable spirits, or distilled drink of all became it is relatively easy to distill and it was also made with the leftovers of sugarcane plantations. Therefore, rum did  not only serve as a way to use the leftovers but it consequently was used as a form of income. Inevitably, rum became the American typical drink, rather than brandy, the British counterpart. Rum was far cheaper then brandy and was made from leftover molasses. Rum amongst the American minds alleviated hardship and provided a liquid form of central heating during harsh winters. More importantly alleviated the dependence of foreign imports. In some cases, rum was so cheap that a one day wage could get drunk a person for weeks. Indirectly, rum triggered the American Civil war. The story goes like this, as the colonies grew economically and constantly became more independent of foreign goods, the British felt that they were losing money from a market that before they controlled in a monopolistic manner. As a result, they decided to put taxes on the molasses, the main ingredient of rum. However, the British felt that they could exploit the Americans and kept increasing the taxes to see if the Americans once and for all opted for brandy. Instead, the number of rum producing factories increased and smuggling molasses became a normal business. During the fight for independence, the American soldiers opted for rum. As Henry Knox said in a letter, Besides beef and pork, bread and flour, Rum is too material an article to be omitted, he wrote, No exertions ought to be spared to provide ample quantities of it. Distilled drinks helped shaped the New World since it served as a form of income and as a form of enjoyment. After the age of exploration, came the Age of Reason where everything was put into contest. No longer were Greek and Roman scientific commonly accepted. As Bacon expressed, There is no hope of any major increase in scientific knowledge by grafting or adding the new on top of the old, referring that in order to develop new thoughts have to be accepted. Along with this advance came coffee, which promoted sharpness and clarity of thought. It became the preferred drink for scientists, intellectuals, merchants and clerks. Coffee instead of relaxing the mind instead sharpened it and was usually drank during the mornings or during continuous working time. Coffee drinkers argued that with alcohol people had a clouded view of the world; therefore, coffee was there to clear it. Coffee success is mainly as a result of the coffee houses. The coffee houses differed from the taverns in which they were often visited by scholars rather than by the common man, and had an environment more tranquil and better to think. Coffee houses were used as information hubs; there you could tell your thoughts of the book you just read, talk about new scientific developments, simply any information you could find in a coffee shop. These were so important that for example, after Hooke demonstrated an improved form of astronomical quadrant a the Royal Society, he repeated his demonstration at Garraways coffeehouse. In a certain manner, coffee helped European nations to develop at a faster rate since with coffee and coffee shops people were able to discuss and exchange ideas amongst them. Even today, coffee plays a major role in keeping our society awake and up to task. Despite its reach, coffee was not able to compete in England with a drink similar to coffee called tea. During the 17th, 18th and early 19th century, British enjoyed its golden reach. As Sir George McCartney described, this vast empire on which the sun never sets. Indeed it was true since Britain had colonies in America, Asia, and Australia, meaning that the sun was always seen in any one of the colonies. Britains reach during this epoch was immeasurable and its power imaginable. However as any other empire they needed a national drink. The British opted for tea that had been invigorating the Chinese for quite some time. As coffee, tea promoted, clear thought and the spread of thought. However tea was not well known in Britain until Catherine of Braganza, the wife of Charles II introduced tea to the English court. As any other mayor power, the citizens view their rulers of examples of what to do, so they inferred that drinking tea was good. Even some scientist said that tea had special powers. Such was the case for Cornelius Bontekoe who said, We recommend tea to the entire nation, and to all peoples! he declared, we urge every man, every woman, to drink it every day; if possible, every hour; beginning with ten cups a day and subsequently increasing the dosage-as much as the stomach can take.One of the most important aspects of tea was its economic factor. The East India Company, the largest at its time recorded that sixty percent of its profits derived from the tea trade. Moreover, ten percent of British tax revenue  derived from the tea. Clearly, teas economic influence is undeniable. With tea, Britain was able to develop settlements so far away, such as that of Hong Kong. Tea influence in Britain colonies helped Britain input more revenue since they created the drinking of tea as away of life. Everyone no matter their social class needed to have their tea at least once a day. As a result, tea was a drink that was s o popular that Britain it spread through the world and became the main association with Britain. Coca-Cola, perhaps the most well known brand in the world is a carbonated drink that was developed from Carbonated Water, or just simply Soda. Coca-Cola was developed by John Pemberton, a pharmacist who lived Atlanta, Georgia. Most people believe that the creation of Coca-Cola was a mistake. However this is false because in fact Pemberton was an experienced medicine producer and while creating Coca -Cola he was trying to find another remedy for stomach ache. While devising the formula, Pemberton added Coca that has a stimulating effect; later he added the koka leaf from Western Africa. In order to put a name for his invigorating, refreshing, quenching beverage he named it Coca-Cola referring to the two main ingredients of the product. Coca-Coca introduced globalization into our minds. Rather than thinking for a single market, Coca-Cola owners believed in mass production and versatility of the product. Advertisements such as, Drink Coca-Cola. Delicious and refreshing, showed the world that the age of reason was light years away and that now it was the dawn of globalization. For Asa Candler the Coca-Cola business turned out to be really profitable. First the product was easy and cheap to produce and people paid a lot for each drink. Following his purchase of the company came the prohibition period; a period were alcohol consumption was illegal in the United States. Therefore, as a remedy people opted for Coca-Cola. As a result, Coca-Cola enjoyed a relative monopoly in drinks. However this hit hard by the end of prohibition when alcohol reanimated its sale. Right after the prohibition, people said, Who would drink soft stuff when real beer and he-mans whiskey could be obtained legally? Furthermore, Coca-Cola was hit even harder with the innovating drink sizes of Pepsi that offer a similar flavor for a reduced price. Coca-Cola globalization was marked when Coca-Cola set a policy that those  fighting the war (World War II) would have a Coca-Cola no matter where they were. The refreshing drink inside that remarkable bottle was so important for the soldiers since it made them feel at home. Also, as people outside the war effort saw the soldiers consuming the drink, they opted to start drinking it. Coca-Cola influence today is undeniable; Coca-Cola is simply globalization in a bottle. Six drinks, each drink including beer, wine, spirits (distilled alcohol), coffee, tea, and coca-cola have been a catalyst for the development of our society. Each one has had its glory period and its place in history without them, the world would not be the same, nor as developed as it is today. From the start of civilization, to today globalize society each drink has played a major role in our development as a civilized world. However, the drink that we have to pay more tribute is water. Through history water has been essential for sustaining human life, but no one has paid respect to such precious item. In less than a century, water will become the transparent oil since only two percent of the whole planets water is drinkable. Although we live in a place where we believe there is sufficient water, there isnt, and we have to face it. In places such as Darfur and other dry places water has become so essential that instead of fighting for diamonds or any other resources; they are fighting for land in order to obtain at least was necessary for survival. If us (the youth), dont stop consuming that much we will have to find another remedy for survival because at its pace water could start lacking in many critical places. In the end, we cannot be self-centered and just think of ourselves, we have to also think of taking care of unacknowledged earth. American Beverage Association History of Beverage Products and Companies. American Beverage Association Beverage Industry News Resources Home. 14 Apr. 2008 . Beverages and Drinks History and Origins of Beverages and Drinks. Inventors. 14 Apr. 2008 . Standage, Tom. A History of the World in 6 Glasses. New York: Walker Company, 2005.

Low Cost Model For Long Haul Airlines

Low Cost Model For Long Haul Airlines As most industries reach a stage of maturation, the changing nature of the airline industry is evolving to integrate novel strategies and business models needed to comply with consumer needs. The low-cost airline sector is a model that generated large financial gains but saturation is observed, leading companies to discover new opportunities in the long-haul low-cost market. The article explains the principles behind the idea, justifying the failure of previous attempts and proposing a novel business model that can be adjusted to todays economy. 1. Introduction The airline industry is characterized by instability and unpredictability making it one of the most risky to invest in, succeeded only by the hospitality industry. Due to significant exposure to external factors, the airlines are subject to financial losses and damages, with the most recent being the terrorist attack on the US on September 11th in 2001. The global airline industry suffered greatly and any financial stability plummeted reports show losses of $10 billion only by US airlines in 2002 (Wensveen et al., 2007) In order to adapt with the continuously changing environment, airlines employed a cost-reduction policy by reducing capacity, in-flight amenities and management expenditure. The effectiveness of this method urged many companies to reconstruct their strategy to comply with consumer demand and lifestyle (Taneja, 2005). As a result, passengers were starting to prefer the more cost-effective approach of Low-cost carriers (LCCs) than conventional methods. A form of low-cost travelling had already emerged in the 1970s by Southwest Airlines, who kept low-unit costs by reducing aircraft turn-around time at the gate which inspired current companies follow its business strategy (Bamber, 2009). Today modern development of the strategy lead to a low-cost revolution with LCCs controlling 30 and 40% of the market capacity in the US and UK respectively since 2005 (Taneja, 2005). Due to the success of the model and the inevitable future saturation of the short-haul LCCs, companies focused their interest in converting the same business model for long-haul flights and turning it into a profitable business plan. However the concept of a low-cost long-haul airline is not new but previous attempts have not been successful. The earliest example is Freddie Lakers Skytrain which offered no frills transatlantic flights from London Gatwick to New York with single class tickets costing only  £59 one-way. The competitive pricing from established airlines that ensured after the relaxation of transatlantic market fare regulations, lead to debt accumulation of  £270 million and the company ultimately failed in 1982 (Calder, 2006). This review will examine the issues raised by the entrance of low-cost airlines to the long-haul route market and assess the factors that lead that prevented growth and establishment of such companies. By assessing how the elements of low-cost travelling are transferable to long-haul operations and the sustainability of such projects, solutions to building a successful business model could be found. 2. Other LCCs and proposals Shortly after the demise of Lakers venture, a US based low cost airline named People Express commenced flights from New York to London Gatwick in 1983 and later added Brussels. By providing connecting flights at its Newark hub and charging $3 for checked baggage, the company proceeded to expand from a successful low-cost carrier to offering economical long-haul flights. However, due to over-expansion and management problems the company was terminated in 1987. Recent attempts to adopt the Skytrain model of low-budget travelling include Oasis and Zoom Airlines. Oasis, based in Hong Kong, offered non-stop service between Hong Kong and London Gatwick in 2007, generating huge success due to the low cost of  £75 for one-way flights. Due to growing competition by leading airlines which landed in the more centrally located Heathrow and rapid accumulation of losses due to the unsustainable fares, the company failed just after 18 months. On the other hand, Zoom Airlines which operated between Toronto and several UK airports since 2006, had a longer lifespan but was forced to shut down after outstanding debts and bankruptcy were reported. A variety of ideas and proposals for long-haul travelling were suggested but were unable to raise the necessary finance. One of the most controversial cases is Civair, which was scheduled to start up a low cost flight between Cape Town and London Stansted in March 2004. However in December of that year, 7,400 passengers were left stranded when the company did not have an aircraft for the flight and no alternatives could be funded leading to closure. 2.1 Long-haul vs. short-haul flying Low-cost carriers have inherent differences in various factors when distinguishing between short-haul and long-haul flights. These include crew and security requirements, turn-around times, airport facilities, route authorities and route density. The competitive advantage acquired in short-haul LCCS cannot be transferred to long-haul, low-cost carriers because the only means of being profitable is optimizing aircraft capacity. Theories that could possibly create revenue by using the low-cost, long-haul model fall in two categories: either using a long haul airbus, charging higher baggage fees, buy-in food and beverages and fly to secondary airports or acquiring many cheap long-haul aircrafts with two-class service and secondary airport bases which will conduct multiple flights per week(Wensveen and Leick, 2009). The former theory would only be viable in practice if high volume city pairs could fill all the seats in the aircraft while the latter relies solely on getting cheap aircraft . However before developing hypotheses and specifications, attention should be given on the business side of airline operation. Judging from previous attempts, despite the original promising profits, most companies failed due to improper business planning. 3. Airline business planning and airline failure Every attempt of an airline entering the low-cost, long-haul flight market lead in failure, despite all the positive indications in the beginning. While there are hundreds of reasons leading in an airline failure, several common errors in business planning are shared between all of the cases. 3.1. Inability to maintain competitive advantage A company should be able to establish a sustainable, competitive advantage by analyzing and targeting the correct market while having the ability to compete with other carriers in the long-term. In the case of Skytrain, where Laker Airways entered the market of LCLH market without any competitors, it generated significant gains which were quickly diminished after the introduction of other airlines in the market. Uniqueness of an airlines business concept is important as it sets it apart from the competition otherwise will fail to raise necessary funds. 3.2. Inadequate income growth and profitability In most cases, many airlines business often dont demonstrate income growth and profitability. By displaying unrealistic financial projections in order to sell the business concept, the airline will fail. Bottom line growth is vital for the financial establishment of a company and that growth should be based on valid financial assumptions which can be backed up by quality measurements. 3.3 Incompetent leadership While the importance of a capable management team is underestimated, its one of the most imperative factors I gaining the interest of potential investors, as its believed that an average idea can be made profitable by the correct mindset. In most airlines the management team is overlooked in the business plan and this discourages investors from investing money. On the contrary, a good team is able to highlight any risks involved in the strategic objectives of the company and create a business plan that will ensure growth. A prime example is the introduction of Gordon Bethune as a new Chief Executive Officer of Continental Airlines the company had already filed for bankruptcy but Mr. Bethunes actions reinstated the fading airline into the most thriving carriers(Bethune et al., 1998). 3.4 Limited initial funding Most airlines require large funding throughout their development which cannot be obtained easily and combined with poor business plans lead to untimely failing. Airlines such as Oasis and Zoom were closed due to inadequate funding while competition by other companies was rising (Bradsher, 2008) . Correct estimations of the funding required and also taking into account the money lost during setup and initial operations, will lure investors for money investment as the potential for profitability will be significantly displayed. 3.5. Overexpansion and lacking flexibility Airlines often tend to expand their destination and aircraft base, with the impression that it will increase income revenue. In most of the cases, it was the limiting-step towards failure. Moderate growth and balanced route frequency can prevent overexpansion and sustain optimal gains. Additionally, the ability to compromise and adjust to the changing economical and social environment can subsequently increase the popularity of an airline among passengers. Continuous operation will lead to dependence on financial support from loans or subsidies and eventually bankruptcy. 4. Can the long-haul, low-cost model work? Studies have examined the possibility of the low-cost model integrating in long-haul flight business and clear advantages and disadvantages have been noted. At first, due to the absence of direct substitute for long-haul flights as well as the already competitive prices, there isnt adequate evidences that lower fares can increase demand in the same manner as in short-haul flights. Moreover, secondary airports cannot be used for the landing of large-aircrafts due to size and time limitations and also cost-effectiveness (Maertens, 2010). However, a cost advantage of 20 to 25% is possible if a carrier can offer online booking to reduce distribution costs and only point-to-point services where connective flights to the desired destination can be arranged by the individual passenger. Today, companies such as AirAsia X and Jet Star have managed to find a balance between price and service in order to provide low-cost flight opportunities. 4.1 Jetstar The Australian airline has managed to become one of the most successful start-ups in the recent years. While being a fully owned subsidiary of a legacy carrier, Quantas, is managed and operated separately. After commencing flights in the domestic Australian market in 2004, Jetstar operated its first international flight to from Melbourne to Singapore on December 2010, marking a new era for economical long-haul flights. Their low fares are based on the notion of offering point-to-point routes between Australia, Asia and the Pacific, in order to complement Quantas main international flight schedule. The company also offers choice between two ticket types, economy and premium economy, which various in-flight meals and snacks can be purchased or complimentary, respectively. 4.2 AirAsia X The Malaysian AirAsia which was the pioneer of low-cost carrier operations across Asia introduced the long-haul service AirAsia X in 2007 to provide more options and greater affordability to a wider marketing spectrum. Based in Kuala Lumpur, the worlds biggest low-cost hub, it has covered many destinations in Australia, Europe and Asia. A key principle in order to keep costs low is high frequency of flights and providing point-to-point medium or long haul services. As a true no-frills service it includes lots of seats and passengers purchasing in-flight meals and entertainment. It also offers a premium class which is similar to economy fare of legacy carriers while in June 2010, a US$10 million refurbishment was introduced introducing flat beds in the premium area with a small rise in the ticket fare (Anonymous, 2010). 5. Building an efficient low-cost long haul airline By evaluating the facts and figures of the previously mentioned airlines, Jetstar and AirAsia X, its evident that that reasonably priced long-haul travel can become a reality by utilizing specific cost-effective methods and business strategies. While this increase in long-haul travelling maybe attributed to the expanding economy in Asia (Hooper, 2005) and the rapidly increasing competition among emerging low-cost airlines in the continent, it has been shown that intercontinental travel as demonstrated by AirAsia can be profitable while maintaining low fares. These techniques can also be employed for any up-and-coming LCLH airline in Europe or US, to ensure their development. 5.1. Ensure faster turnaround of aircraft Short-hauls are considered to have more cost-advantage than long-hauls due to landing at secondary and less congested airports which allows higher crew and aircraft utilisation. Long-haul flights usually require more time refuelling and servicing, therefore less rotations can be performed compared to short-hauls. However, by landing at a specifically designated low-cost hub, such as Kuala Lumpur, can minimize refuelling times and costs of servicing while providing adequate support for larger aircrafts. 5.2. No frills services All-economy seating and in-flight food and beverage which can be purchased can aid in the revenue of sales while pre-booked in-flight entertainment such as hand-held devices could be useful in long-haul flights. 5.3. Point-to-point travelling only This method employed in short-haul flights ensures short turnaround times and prevention of time-consuming services which would affect timetables. Modern long-haul airlines could seek interline partners to expand their flight capabilities, similar to the co-operation of the Australian company Jetstar with its partner company Quantas (Jetstar, 2007). 5.4 High density cabins and lower input prices Gains from the long-haul flights will be possible if high seat densities exist which could make up for the low ticket fare, as more passengers equal to increased revenue. Also by importing dual-seating system with premium seats which can be charged at higher prices and have extra amenities, a market for passengers requiring conditions similar to business flights can be created resulting in more profit. New entries in the airline industry are benefited from very low unit aircraft prices in large orders as well as hiring younger and cheaper pilots. Moreover, costs of advertisings and website/call centres can be avoided to cut down expenses, since the low price is a sufficient reason for passengers to choose those companies. 6. Novel business models Because of the limited solutions and benefits on directly developing a low-cost, long-haul airline, new business models have been developed for potential exploitation into a low-cost model. 6.1. Network specialists These companies cater mainly to business passengers and are specifically operated as a corporate shuttle for routes with high-yield. A prime example is PrivatAir, a Geneva-based airline which has survived through contracts with major corporations to transport their employees between locations (Wensveen and Leick, 2009). It offers business class seating on trans-Atlantic flights using several Airbus and Boeing planes. It can also operate as an operator for existing airlines such as Lufthansa and KLM which utilize the company for their business class services in Germany. 6.2. Product specialists Airlines which focus on business and affluent leisure travel and are all-business class, all first class or both. These types of airlines are on par with legacy airline yields and offer premium cabins for long-haul flights. Companies in this market include Eos Airlines, MAXjet Airways, Silverjet and LAvion. While the first three carriers had gone bankrupt, LAvion which seemed promising and was recently acquired by British Airways did not make any profit as well (Lagrorce, 2008). Eos and Maxjet airways both operated between London Stansted and New York JFK using Boeing 757-200 while Silverjet operated between London Luton and Newark as well as Dubai. All three airlines ceased operations in 2008. LAvion operated between Paris Orly and Newark and is currently a subsidiary of British Airways OpenSkies unit. While the original offer of low fares and premium facilities seemed promising, all four companies filed for bankruptcy, citing rising fuel and oil prizes, limited funding resources an d newly formed competition on the specific routes by legacy carriers. While this business problem does not seem to be problematic, adjustments should be made in order to give motives to increase passenger preference. 6.3. Price specialists These airlines mainly adopt lower-costing strategies to compete with existing companies solely on price. This includes the low-cost, long haul flight plan which has been employed by various airlines such as Oasis Hong Kong, Zoom, Jetstar, Viva Macau and AirAsia X. In order to compete with legacy companies, larger aircrafts with high-seating configuration should be used to make profit. With the exception of Oasis and Zoom, which were bankrupt, the rest of the companies flourished with expanding their flight schedule beyond Asia and Australia. The problems leading to failure in the two named companies mainly involve insufficient business planning as discussed in a previous section. However long-term effects of the plan remain to be seen as sustaining low prices can be proven difficult with the current economy. 6.4. Long-haul charter carriers While unit costs for charter carriers is 10-20% more expensive than LCCs (Teckentrup, 2007), their increasing use for long-haul travelling made them an attractive alternative to network airlines, usually for summer destinations. Many European charter companies now target specifically long-haul destinations, such as Corsair which operates an all-economy Boeing 747-400 between Paris and Overseas French territories in the Caribbean; such high density planes are not used on other long-haul international travel by the company. Due to competition and projects bearing no success such as Britannia Airways, which discontinued flights from UK to Australia, charter airline long-haul flights have been restricted to limited time frames and leisure destinations. However, charter flights represent a large percentage of long-haul market and could potentially be exploited beneficially. 7. Sustainability of the low-cost model and future projects As the long-haul market becomes successfully grown and becomes profitable for major carriers again, it is likely that other carriers will be interested to obtain a share of the market. Due to the over-saturation of the low-cost short-haul airline industry in Europe, established LCCs such as Easyjet may utilize point-to-point flights by co-operating with long-haul flight companies to lower prices for distant travelling. Employing new aircraft types such as Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 can fly longer distances offer denser seating that would be possible to fit 800 seats flying between main hubs such as London-New York. Deregulation can also create a potential increase in new services, as many markets are limited to one or two national carriers. As this breaks down, the introduction of new entrants, such as Virgin Atlantic in the India-UK and India-USA markets can spur new competition and lower prices in international travel (Phadnis, 2012). For now, the low-cost, long-haul market appears to be decreasing as one of the pioneers of this sector AirAsia X pulled its European services citing the damaged economy of European countries and exorbitant government taxes affecting its ability to offer low-cost fares (Thomas, 2012). Even Ryanair, which declared that will commence transatlantic flights in 2007, has recently confirmed that long-haul flights are not happening for some years (Olorenshaw and Sturke, 2007). 8. Conclusions The substantial success of certain LCCs has certainly led to the perception of an attractive business model and its implementation is being utilised by various long-haul operators. Established LCCs are reluctant to join the long-haul market due to the dangers present but that is rapidly changing. Experience and expertise gained by short-haul markets can be transcribed successfully in the long-haul operating scheme, which will greatly compensate to the losses that will occur as the markets become saturated with myriads of low-cost carriers. On the other had, traditional airlines are equipped with an array of qualities such as established clientele, reducing economy seat fares to attract new passenger and experience in international flights puts the beginner low-cost carrier in a disadvantageous position. By employing a long haul point-to-point model to promote cross-selling and service integration with more established, traditional companies allow passengers to fly from smaller markets in other regions via LCCs. As with any new business model, achieving cost advantages is not enough to deem it successful. Theres a long history of competitors which offered subsidised low fares to combat new entrants in the long-haul market, leading them to financial difficulties and bankruptcy. Continuous innovation is needed in the evolving air transport market and adjusting to emerging carrier types could be beneficial. Combining a solid business plan which is flexible, manageable and competitive with a long term vision will guarantee a successful transition to the long-haul business.

Consumerism and Marketing Essay -- Marketing Retail

Simply Food use their brand image to capitalize on holiday celebrations such as Christmas and New Years. Authoritative performance plays a key role in their increased sales during these periods; people across the United Kingdom await a traditional Christmas meal in their homes (Data Monitor, 2010). These consumers are lured by the Simply Food elegant image and therefore psychologically they link the Simply Food meal to the festivity of the season. Tesco have discounted many products and extended their finest range in the run up to the 2010 Christmas period. As a consumer this gives a reason to sacrifice the ideal worthy product for a less superior one. From a personal perspective, it makes me more in inclined to consider shopping for my meal at Tesco’s for Christmas. However, there are conditions in my case, the meals must be cheaper, and should be comparable to Simply Food for quality. As an individual who frequently shops at Tesco, I would further be rewarded for my loyalty, in the form of attaining more ‘club card points’ on my loyalty card. I have been a Tesco loyalty ‘club card’ holder for nearly a year now building up my points with every purchase at the retailer. My research required that I visit Simply Food to see what benefits I would receive by shopping with them. To my disappointment a staff members informed me that Simply Food did not have a similar scheme to Tesco unless a credit card was taken out through them. I was left feeling utterly mad and disappointed. Tesco have managed to apply and implement a co-creation of value through their use of a loyalty program. The supermarket chain has directed their aim at business-to-customer initiatives which is an example of relationship marketing – in essence, profit and the ... ...ent. Works Cited Aslam M., 2006. Are you selling the right colour? A cross-cultural review of colour as a marketing cue. Journal of Marketing Communications. Vol. 12, pp15-30. Billings, S., 2008. Design Week Magazine. Vol. 23, Issue 20. Borgerson, J and Schroeder, J., 2005. Identity in marketing communications: an ethics of visual representation. Marketing communications: new approaches, technologies, and styles. Data Monitor, 2008. Marks & Spencer Simply Food case study, pp1-11. Data Monitor, 2010. Market Watch: Food. Company Watch: Tesco, pp 88-93. Hilton, M. 2003. Consumerism in Twentieth-Century Britain. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ‘Marketable entity’ – Lecture Slide Presentation 11.10.2010 P17. Venkatesh, A. 1992. Postmodernism, consumer culture and the society of the spectacle. Advances in Consumer Research. Vol. 19, pp199-202.

Communication Strategies for Leaders Essay

A leader must be able to communicate effectively. When asked to define leadership, theorists and practitioners alike frequently use the words â€Å"influence,† â€Å"inspire† and â€Å"transform,† all of which depend on communication, verbal and nonverbal. Leaders lead through their words and actions. This text focuses on both, thus the emphasis throughout on emotional intelligence, the ability to understand the self and others (Barrett, 2011). Effective leadership communication requires the ability to anticipate to the potential interruptions in the transmission of the message, appreciate the context, understand the audience, select the right medium and craft a clear message that allows the meaning to reach the specific receiver as intended (Barrett, 2011). In my quest to achieve superior communication leadership skills I have had the opportunity to assess and evaluate my effectiveness in communication leadership. This personal assessment has indicated I must become more strategic as strategy is the foundation on which any effective communication depends on. Leaders must be able to analyze their audience in every situation and design a communication strategy that facilitates accomplishing their communication. Communication is critical to every organization and for any aspiring leader. I plan to be strategic in developing a plan to be a more effective communicator by reaching out to external constituents as that is an area for communication improvement. Overall, effective communication strategy depends on ones thinking and planning strategically understanding your audience, and structuring your communication for different situations, delivery methods, and audiences to ensure that you connect with your audience and deliver your intended message (Barrett, 2011). III. As a leader and manager in my organization I take pride in being an effective leader and communication. I have been at my non-profit organization for the  past 6 years and have made significant improvement and learned to grow my communication skills. Owens (1998) mentions two key features of leadership which are: (1) the engagement of persons in a process that identifies them with goals, and (2) the potential to change the institutional environment (e.g. values, beliefs, etc.) by implementing diversity goals into the organizational culture. At the same time, I am a leader that promotes integrity to motivate ethical behavior across the entire organization. Also, it is important for me to create an open environment in which followers and employees feel free to speak up and come forward to me when any action needs to take place. Overall, I am always striving to be a better communicator in all situations as it teaches as I want to be recognized by others as a transformational leader. IV. Score Skill Area 3 Communication Strategy 2 Written Communication Skills 1 = substantial need to improve 3 Oral Communication Skills 2 = some need to improve 3 Ethos/Image 3 = little need to improve 3 Skills at Dealing with Others 4 = no need to improve at this time 3 Observation and Feedback Skills 3 Team Communications and Dynamics Skills 3 Skills at Dealing with Your Own Feelings 3 Internal Corporate Communication 2 External Corporate Communication I consider my oral public speaking skills to be my major strength when communicating to internal colleagues at my organization. I am always poised to conduct presentations and participate in public speaking engagements. I always maintain a sense of confidence and take pride in my public speaking skills. At the same time, I feel much more comfortable in situations where I can communicate effectively with my team members and demonstrate my dynamic skills to engage them effectively. I tend to be a coach and a motivator among my employees. I use different means to get my employees to want to be better at their duties and take full ownership of their tasks and goals. I also have a lot of confidence in being able to utilize my skills in dealing with others feelings and communicating with them solutions to help them with their particular situation. I would consider my interpersonal communication skills with external relations as an area for improvement. I tend to be an extrovert when it comes to public speaking and very confidant with communicating with large audiences but I tend to be introverted when it comes to communication in smaller groups or individual communication with members of external organizations. Barrett (2011) suggests that selecting the right spokesperson to deliver external messages can be almost as critical as the message themselves. I need to work on this part of my communication leadership by participating in more social and networking events to work on my confidence in communicating with external constituents. I also plan to travel more with my executive leadership team and attend meetings and events to get a better understanding of how to communicate more effectively in my external communication. Improvement Goal Action Steps to Achieve Goal (Program) Deadline Method to Measure Success Develop better oral communication skills with external corporate relations Attend more external corporate events and meetings with the executive team. Solicit feedback from executive team members concerning areas for improvement and change any behavior based on feedback Participate in more networking events with external constituents. December 31, 2013 Attend various events. Listen to the feedback given and start to implement that feedback in my future interactions. Achieved: No Further development of my written communication skills Solicit feedback from my supervisor and other employees about my written communication. Conduct more proofreading and be more strategic in my research. December 31, 2013 Compare written material from previous months. Have others review my written communication. Effective leadership communication requires the ability to anticipate to the potential interruptions in the transmission of the message, appreciate the context, understand the audience, select the right medium and craft a clear  message that allows the meaning to reach the specific receiver as intended (Barrett, 2011). I always maintain a sense of confidence and take pride in my public speaking skills. At the same time, I feel much more comfortable in situations where I can communicate effectively with my team members and demonstrate my dynamic skills to engage them effectively which include motivating and coaching. I would consider my interpersonal communication skills with external relations as an area for improvement. I tend to be an extrovert when it comes to public speaking and very confidant with communicating with large audiences but I tend to be introverted when it comes to communication in smaller groups or individual communication with members of external organizations. I have action steps in place to help me in my leadership development which include attending more external corporate events and meetings with the executive team. Solicit feedback from executive team members concerning areas for improvement and change any behavior based on feedback. Also, I plan to participate in more networking events with external constituents. References Aamodt, M. (2013). Industrial/Organizational Psychology: An applied approach. Seventh edition. Cox et. al (2007). Evaluating organizational-level work stress interventions: Beyond tradition methods. Work & Stress, 21, 348-362. Ebbers, L., Conover, K., Samuels, A. (2010). Leading from the middle: preparing leaders for new roles. New directions for Community Colleges.Wiley Periodicals. Frese, M (2009). The changing nature of work. In N. Chmiel (Ed.) An introduction to work and organizational psychology (2nd ed., pp. 397-413). Oxford: Blackwell publishing. Lawler, E.E. (2001). Organizing for high performance. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Owens, Robert. (1998). Organizational Behavior in Education (6th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.