PR Campaign Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

PR Campaign - Essay Example The company’s strategy will involve a research analysis of the prevailing popularity and potential improvements to be made. In addition, it will focus on how to engage in creating public awareness, the mode of communication and the evaluation of the entire process. The goal of the entire campaign should be the efficient expression of Ashley Braddock’s talents and gifts. Building the audience is one of the major strategies to achieving the results. The audience should be drawn from people of diverse ages, social and economic classes. In particular, we endeavor to begin our campaign by reaching out to the middle class. The middle class are capable of exciting the masses hence building her reputation. The middle class are the majority in the population, therefore targeting them will increase the chances of success by a big margin. The middle class people have lavish spending patterns on leisure and are easy to reach. Another from of audience will be drawn from the peers, institutions will provide a platform for a reach out to the young in lower grades, high schools and colleges. The ultimate goal of the campaign shall be to build a lasting image to the public on the uniqueness of Ashley’s gifts and talents. The company will be confined to make maximum use of the $ 75,000 to achieve the goal. Another goal will be to see a stepwise development of the public perception about the starlet; this shall be achieved through the frequent evaluations to be done on the extent of achievement. The campaign will have to establish a mechanism of reaching out to the masses; this goal is captured clearly under the strategies. The other issue will involve management of the starlets’ time and opportunities to ensure that maximum utilization of each is achieved. Finally, the company will have an obligation managing Ashley’s public figure in order to shield her from the negative

Just in Time Essay Example for Free

Just in Time Essay Students will respond to the following: †¢Discuss the pros and cons of a JIT relationship from a supplier’s point of view and a buyer’s point of view. The con of the JIT relationship is that problems would occur if the company has sudden breaks to service and the supply. This may lead to labor strikes, and then eventually a failed business. A pro of the JIT relationship would be saving cost by not having unnecessary inventories. Also another attribute is flexibility, allowing the company to answer. †¢Analyze the short-term and long-term consequences that could come from implementing this JIT relationship. The short-term consequence of implementing JIT would be the cost that ties into the culture evolving, training staff on problem solving. The long-term consequence of JIT is improving the quality of the product along with the delivery of it. Once customers realize the proficiency of the company with its product that leads to a chance of a larger profit. †¢Discuss what factors Dixon and DS should consider before making a decision on this relationship. In regards to factors that Dixon and DS should consider before making a decision is: 1.Improved Quality- measuring the quality of service, timeliness, service consistency and courtesy. 2.Utilizing Multifunction Workers – Assist with improving quality and customer service. 3.Reduced Turn Around time – The competition is steady among companies that provide services, so a company that uses JIT concepts reduces the turnaround time and increase their speed.

Heartburn And Gallstones :: essays research papers

Heartburn and Gallstones   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Heartburn is the inflammation of the esophagus. It is also known as pyrosis. The major cause of heartburn is reflux. This is when the esophagus bottom edges are not tightly shut, and acid moves form the stomach up into the esophagus. Hiatus Hernia's also cause heartburn. This also occurs when the ends of the esophagus are not shut, and the stomach lining moves up the esophagus. There are many other causes of heartburn, some of which being: obesity, drinking hot or cold beverages, extensive alcohol usage, smoking, foods (acidic), certain types of medication, and types of syndromes (Zollinger, and Ellison). Posture also causes heartburn, for example, if after eating a large fairly acidic food, and lying straight back, the acid moves back from the stomach. Also, if you lean over while working, pressure builds in the organs, pushing the acids upwards.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Heartburn is often very uncomfortable for the individual who has it. There are not many symptoms, but the ones most commonly found are, a burning sensation in the chest and upper abdomen, sore throat, and when the mouth sometimes fills with a liquid called water brash.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Heartburn has many affects on the body, but I will focus now on the effect on the digestive system. Heartburn causes ulcers, which eat through the mucous layer of the organs in the digestive tract by means of enzymes and acids. It also causes an irritable bowel through syndromes. Stinosis is also caused by heartburn. This is when the esophagus passage narrows.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Heartburn is treated by taking He blackens, for example Axid and Pepsid. Proton Pump Inhibitors (Lozac), is the most powerful treatment of heartburn. Sulcrates are used to coat the lining of the stomach against ulcers. Antacids, like Rolaids, are used, as are Calcium Channel Blackens. To cure the problems of heartburn, you must cut down on the causes. Gallstones   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A gallstone is a stone about the size of a pea, or marble which is made in the gallbladder. It usually consists of bile, cholesterol, uric acid, and calcium phosphorus. The major cause of gallstones is the precipitation of chemicals in the gallbladder by stasis, which means that the substance is still. The liver produces bile, which is stored in the gallbladder until fatty foods come along, this is when the bile is released to digest the fat. The same happens with cholesterol secreted by the liver. When the bile or cholesterol is in the gallbladder for a period of time, the substance concentrates, forming stones. Also, an excess of certain bio-chemicals in the bloodstream (cholesterol) cause them. Blockage of the gallbladder neck, and infections are

Thailand and Hong Kong Religious Differences

Compare the religion in Thai and Hong Kong Introduction Religion is a way to review the cultural system of a country, it relates humanity to spirituality. Hong Kong and Thailand have a distinct history background, which interpret the big difference in daily cultural practices. This essay aims to provide a brief introduction of the religion in Thailand and Hong Kong and compares their differences and similarities. It will start from the history background and general information to the details of religious activities. General In Hong Kong, people are protected by the Basic Law, they have the religious freedom.There is a wide variety of religious groups such as Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, Islam and so on. With 150 years of rule as a separate British colony, although most Hong Kong people are ethnically Chinese, Hong Kong has a unique local identity. Elements of traditional Chinese culture combining western in? uences have shaped Hong Kong as a city with mixed culture. Apart from th e Chinese and British cultural in? uences, Hong Kong is a free trade port with people from different countries staying there which have a large variety of religion beliefs and ways of thought.According to a Gullup poll in 2010, 64% of Hong Kong residents are either agnostic or indifferent towards religion. Buddhism and Taoism are the major religious with more than 1 million Buddhists and about 1 million Taoists. The second large religious group is Christianity, it has been in Hong Kong since 1841. There are about 843,000 Christians in Hong Kong, most of them are Protestant or Roman Catholic. Temples and churches are omnipresent and ubiquitous on the streets, few of them have been there for more than 700 years ago.Although Hong Kong is literally no religion background, there are some public holidays related to religious festivals such as Christmas, Easter and Buddha’s Birthday. Adherents hold special celebration or ceremonies on these occasions. Those major religious bodies ha ve established schools, hospitals and provides social welfare facilities. Theomania is rare in Hong Kong, religion con? ict has never occurred so far. In Thailand, Buddhism has long been it national religion, about 95% of Thais are Buddhists of the Theravada tradition. In fact, there is no of? ial state religion in the Thai constitution, people are guaranteed to have religious freedom. However, Buddhism has spread widely in Thailand since 3rd century BC, it led the Buddha’s teachings becoming very famous. There is no of? cial state religion in the Thai constitution, which guarantees religious freedom for all Thai citizens, though the king is required by law to be Buddhist. According to the last census (2000) 94. 6% of Thais are Buddhists of the Theravada tradition. Muslims are the second largest religious group in Thailand at 4. 6%.There are more than 600 temples in the HKSAR. [5] The history of some of these temples can be traced back to more than 700 years ago, while some o thers have been built in recent years. Notable temples include the Wong Tai Sin Temple located in the Wong Tai Sin District in Kowloon. This popular temple is dedicated to the Taoist deity, Wong Tai Sin. Besides that, the Chi Lin Nunnery in Diamond Hill is a group of temple structures in the Tang Dynasty's architectural style. It is now open to the public following the completion of its redevelopment in 2000.

He published Poor Richard’s Almanac and the Pennsylvania Gazette

Benjamin Franklin will always be one of America’s greatest influential leaders. He’s known for his tremendous contributions in the world of politics, science, philosophy, among others. His discoveries and theories in electricy made him a significant figure in physics. During the American revolution, Franklin was able to secure the French alliance making independence a reality. Franklin was born in Boston, Massachusetts on January 17, 1706. According to Houston (2004), Franklin took his knowledge in printing from his older brother and became a newspaper editor, printer and merchant in Philadelphia.He published Poor Richard's Almanac and the Pennsylvania Gazette during his stint in England (Houston, 2004). When in the united States, he is behind the establishment of the first public lending library and fire department. Benjamin went to Boston Latin School but was not able to graduate instead, he continued his education through tremendous reading. When he was 17 years old, Franklin went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to seek a new start in a new city. There he worked in several printer shops.After several months, Franklin was persuaded by Pennsylvania Governor Sir William Keith to go to London, purposely to achieve the necessary equipment for establishing another newspaper in Philadelphia. He returned to Philadelphia in 1726 with the help of a merchant named Thomas Denham, who gave Franklin a position as clerk, shopkeeper, and bookkeeper in Denham's merchant business. The Author, Inventor, Philosopher, National Hero, etc. A person’s character was so important to Franklin. To cultivate his own character, he developed thirteen virtues at the age of 20 which became his guiding principles all throughout his life.These virtues, as mentioned in Houston’s book (2004) as well as other references on the life and works of Franklin, are lested below with their corresponding meanings: 1. Temperance which he meant as to eat not to dullness, drink not to elevation. 2. Silence is the next virtue which goes to mean that speak not but what may benefit others or yourself, avoid trifling conversation. 3. The virtue of Order directly means, let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time. 4. Resolution.Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve. 5. Frugality. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself. What he wanted everyone to understand was to waste nothing. 6. Industry. Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions. 7. Sincerity. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly. 8. Justice. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty. † 9. Moderation. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.10. Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation. 11. Tranquility. Be not disturbed at trif les, or at accidents common or unavoidable. 12. Chastity. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation. 13. And the last virtue is Humility wherein he emphasized that we should imitate jesus and Socrates who according to him were the greatest examples of people who practiced humility. These virtues are indeed powerful and may be adopted by anyone.They were purposely created by franklin to make a person’s character stronger. Among other things, Franklin was so fascinated in science and technology. Famous from his line of inventions attached to his name are the lightning rod, the Franklin stove, catheter, swimfins, glass harmonica and bifocals. His contributions in electricity earned him recognitions such as the one from the Royal Society's Copley Medal in 1753 and in 1756 he became one of the few eighteenth century Americans to be elected as a Fellow of the Society.The cgs unit of electri c charge has been named after him: one franklin (Fr) is equal to one statcoulomb. Steven M. Gillon and Cathy D. Matson (2003) illustrated that franklin also played a major role with the establishment of the University of Pennsylvania and Franklin and Marshall College. In fact, in 1769 he was elected the first president of the American Philosophical Society Held at Philadelphia for Promoting Useful Knowledge. Perhaps, the most lasting legacy of Benjamin Franklin is the appearance of his image in the American $100 bill.These days, $100 bills are often referred to as â€Å"Benjamins† or â€Å"Franklins† as mentioned by authors Gillon and Matson (2003). The city of Philadelphia is a living tribute to Franklin with about 5,000 likenesses of Benjamin Franklin in the city’s various areas. When he returned to the United States in 1762 after his stay in London, Franklin became actively involved in the Paxton Boys' affair, writing a sarcastic attack on their massacre of C hristian American Indians and eventually asking them to break up.A lot of the Paxton Boys' supporters were Scotch-Irish Presbyterians and German Reformed or Lutherans from the rural west of Pennsylvania, leading to allegations that Franklin was biased in favor of the urban Quaker elite of the East (Gillon and Matson 2003). These attacks led to Franklin losing a seat in the 1764 Assembly elections. This occasion became an opportunity for him to return to London earning the reputation of being a pro-American radical. Houston (2004) noted that Franklin was dispatched to England as an agent for the colony in 1764 to petition the King to take over the government from the hands of the proprietors.This visit would also become instrumental in becoming the colonial agent for Georgia, New Jersey and Massachusetts. While he was living in London in 1768, he improved a phonetic alphabet in A Scheme for a new Alphabet and a Reformed Mode of Spelling. This new format discarded six letters which he believed were redundant and substituted six new letters for sounds he felt lacked letters of their own; however, his new alphabet never caught on and he eventually lost interest. When Franklin arrived in Philadelphia on May 5, the American Revolution has been going on with battles at Lexington and Concord.With this development, he was chosen by the Pennsylvania Assembly as their official delegate to the Second Continental Congress (Gillon and Matson 2003). Then In 1776 he became a member of the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence and was part of the group responsible in making several small changes to Thomas Jefferson's draft. In 1787 he served as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia where he played an dignified role, but seldom participated in debate.Franklin, according to Houston (2004) is the only Founding Father who is a signatory of all four of the major documents of the founding of the United States which include the Declarati on of Independence, the Treaty of Paris, the Treaty of Alliance with France, and the United States Constitution. Benjamin Franklin died at the age of 84 in April 17, 1790. His funeral was historically graced by about 20,000 people (Gillon and Matson 2003). He was laid to his final resting place at the Christ Church Burial Ground in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.This is actually the same church which is also the home of Benjamin Rush. One of the houses he lived in Craven Street was previously marked with a blue plaque, and has since been opened to the public as the Benjamin Franklin House which has attracted tourists from across the globe. In 1728, according to Gillon and Matson (2003) when he was just a young man, Franklin wrote the following words to be his own epitaph: â€Å"The Body of B. Franklin Printer; Like the Cover of an old Book, Its Contents torn out, And stript of its Lettering and Gilding, Lies here, Food for Worms.But the Work shall not be wholly lost: For it will, as he believ'd, appear once more, In a new & more perfect Edition, Corrected and Amended By the Author. He was born on January 17, 1706. Died 17. † But in his will, Franklin's actual grave simply reads â€Å"Benjamin and Deborah Franklin. † Works Cited: Alan Houston, ed. Franklin: The Autobiography and other Writings on Politics, Economics, and Virtue. Cambridge U. Press, 2004. 371 pp. Steven M. Gillon and Cathy D. Matson. The American Experiment: A History of the United States, Volume II: Since 1865 (Boston: Houghton Mif

Complete BUSINESS PLAN on sports store FOUR SEASONS.

Complete BUSINESS PLAN on sports store FOUR SEASONS. EXECUTIVE SUMMARYFour Seasons is a sports good retailer that sells a range of football (soccer, rugby league, rugby union and AFL) apparel, (boots, socks, shorts, etc) and equipment, (balls, shin-pads, etc).Four Seasons will not be producing any products themselves, but rather on-selling existing products from wholesalers such as Nike and Adidas etc.Four Seasons will satisfy the need for football equipment and apparel and an individualistic service. A need for high quality products and customer service that match.The Four Seasons products will not be unique, as they are not exclusive to the store, but rather the service provided by the sales equipment is what sets Four Seasons apart from the rest.The name of the business is Four Seasons.The mission statement of Four Seasons is as follows:"Our mission is to empower our customers to reach their full sporting potential, by addressing and meeting the physical and material needs of each individual."English: Skyscrapers in the Brisbane CBD , taken fr...TABLE OF CONTENTSBUSINESS PROFILE 4The Business Concept - Industry, SWOT 4The Distinctive Competitive Advantages 4THE MARKET 6The Market Size and Trends 6The Target Market 7The Competition 8The Market Share 8THE MARKETING PLAN 10The Marketing Strategies 10The Marketing Mix - Product, Price, Promotion, Place 10THE OPERATIONS PLAN 14The Production Facilities 14The Production Logistics 15The Production Costs 15THE ORGANISATIONAL AND HUMAN RESOURCE PLAN 17The Key Personnel and Responsibilities 17Human Resource of the Future 18The External Advisers 18The Legal Structure and Ownership 19THE FINANCIAL PLAN 20The Financial Forecasts and Analysis 20The Sources and Uses of Finance 20The Risks and Responses Error! Bookmark not defined.THE SCHEDULE OF KEY ACTIVITIES 22The milestones and Relationships/The Timetable 22Appendixes 23BUSINESS PROFILETHE BUSINESS CONCEPT...

Symbolization in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Essay Example

Symbolization in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Essay Example Symbolization in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Paper Symbolization in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Paper Essay Topic: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Symbolization in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Symbolism is a literary technique used in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight to give a deeper significance to the plot. The poem is littered with symbolisms. The symbols juxtapose one another and provide structure and symmetry within the story. The symbolisms also have specific historical context that adds to the story line and influences how the reader interprets the poem. Sir Gawain’s pentangle on his shield and the acceptance of the girdle from Lord Bertilak’s lady are two of the most prominent symbols presented to us in this authors tale. The pentangle painted in pure gold on Sir Gawain’s shield and embroidered on his shawl can be seen as a symbol of Gawain’s perfection and power over evil. According to Garald Morgan, â€Å"Gawain’s courtesy is associated with his virtue in the symbolic device of the pentangle in his shield. † (Morgan 770) The poet uses 46 lines to describe the meaning of the pentangle. No other symbol in the poem is described in such detail. Such a long explanation seems out of place in a poem full of fast-paced action, beheadings and temptations. The narrator acknowledges this but proceeds to delve into his description after establishing a disclaimer: â€Å"And why the pentangle was appropriate to that prince I intend now to say, though it will stall our story. † (Armitage 623-4) This passage alerts the reader to pay attention; the symbolic meaning of the pentangle is important to a proper understanding of the narrators message. The poet illustrates the pentangle as a symbol of faithfulness and an â€Å"endless knot† saying, â€Å"It suits this soldier in his spotless armor/fully faithful in five ways five times over. (Armitage 631) The five points of the pentangle represent five virtues attributed to Gawain. Gawains life at this point is the perfect application of the virtues the pentangle signifies. The poet states, â€Å"the figure is a five-pointed star and each line overlaps and links with the last so it is ever eternal,† (Armitage 627) and then goes on to say, â€Å"So these five sets of five were fixed in this knight, each linked to the last through the endless line† The pentangle is a unity in which all parts are interrelated just as the spiritual, moral and social qualities are united in Gawain. In the poet’s account of the â€Å"five sets of five† he specifies the spiritual, moral and social virtues that constitute the pentangle by including religious faith in lines 642-643 and the operation of the senses in line 640. The first attributes mentioned in the â€Å"five sets of five† is being flawless in the five senses and his five fingers never being at fault. According to Morgan’s interpretation of the poem he states, â€Å"From the poet’s attribution to his hero of perfection in the five senses it would seem that we are to understand that Gawain does not sin through mere sensual gratification† (Morgan 774). What he is saying is, Gawain is able to appropriately control his sensitive desires by reason. Next, the five wounds of Christ and the five joys of Mary specify religious dimension. This appeal to faith symbolized by the pentangle is not at all out of the ordinary as we can see from other works of this time; â€Å"the appeal of metaphor and symbol was especially strong in a time that not only drew on the treasuries of the Christian tradition and classical literature and mythology, but invented the new â€Å"sign- language† which was one of its real innovations. † (Bruce 15) These aspects of Gawain’s chivalry are the source of his courage. A lot of attention is given to this, suggesting that, â€Å"courage is a significant element in the moral scheme of the poem† (Morgan 775). The fifth set of five presents five virtues: fraunchyse or friendship, felawshyp or fraternity, clannes or purity, cortaysye or politeness and pite or pity; all of which have a specific social extension in the poem. That is to say, the five qualities are relevant to the subsequent events of the poem. Following the beheading test at the Green Chapel, Gawain accuses himself of â€Å"cortayse† and â€Å"cowarddyse† for his acceptance of the girdle. As translated by Simon Armitage, he says, â€Å"A curse upon cowardice and covetousness† (Armitage 2374). He claims the girdle as his downfall stating, â€Å"I gave into greed, and in doing so forgot the fidelity and kindness which every knight knows† (2380-1). We see Gawain’s failing in friendship and fraternity with his failed loyalty to Bertilak by accepting the girdle. According to Conor McCarthy’s interpretation, fraunchyse and felawshyp are linked on the pentangle because â€Å"it is in these two senses that Gawain will fail in his quest. (McCarthy 299) In this context then, it could be said that clannes and cortaysye are paired together because Gawain succeeds in preserving both qualities, despite temptation. The final quality attributed to Gawain is pite, translated as pity by Armitage. The word pite is rather ambiguous, and although Armitage translates it as pity, meaning compassion (an important attribute for a chivalric knight), it seams as a w hole that piety, meaning moral virtue or faithfulness, is a better fit for the poem. Piety draws us back to Gawain’s religious faith which in a sense links the other four qualities. Not only is the pentangle a symbol in itself clearly described by the poet, it is also often times linked as a symbol to magical traditions. The Gawain poet states, â€Å"It is a symbol that Solomon once set in place† (Armitage 625). Some scholars claim that the pentangle had magical defense against evil spirits. This could be supported by the inclusion of Solomon in the poem. Solomon, the third king of Isreal, in 10th century BC, was said to have the mark of the pentagram on his ring, which he received from Archangel Michael. The ring was said to give Solomon power over demons. The reason why the pentangle, in popular superstitions, has come to be adopted as a mystical symbol to ward off evil is not hard to see when we consider other medieval symbolism. The number five itself is deeply significant in medieval numerology. V. F. Hopper points out how important numbers were in medieval thought. He states that numbers were deeply rooted in medieval thought â€Å"not as mathematical tools, nor as the counters in a game, but as fundamental realities, alive with memories and eloquent with meaning† (Hopper viii). According to Hopper, the most potent numbers in magic appear to have been three, four, five seven and nine. Of the number â€Å"five† he states as a â€Å"holy† number in the east. The number five was also said to be â€Å"incorruptible by virtue of its reoccurrence in multiplication† (Kitely 45). The question of how the magical side of the pentangle affects one’s reading of the poem is important to look at. Also important to question is why the poet focuses on the moral aspects of the pentangle and not the magical ones. Kitely notes, â€Å"Gawain sets out to meet a magical creature of unknown power†¦he is a creature of malignant magic. What more suitable device could Gawain, therefore, bear than the five pointed pentangle†¦Gawain therefore leaves with the dual moral-magical defense of the pentangle. Superstition and philosophy are equally satisfied† (Kitely 47). The poet reveals through the poem that magic of itself is insufficient to combat against another species of magic. Kitely says, â€Å"Paradoxally, the poet has revealed that he was after all, correct to focus on the moral and religious side of the pentangle. (Kitely 49) If Gawain had placed total reliance on this thought, then he would have been unscathed. The pentangle might have seemed like a dual symbol of defense, but it is ultimately only reliable in its moral defense. Medieval audiences who knew of the magical association might have been left feeling that only total reliance on Christian virtue would help when faced with uncertainty in medieval times. Kitely affirms saying, â€Å"In the poem, as it stands, the magical side of the pentangle serves to underline the basic moral themes. (Kitely 50) It seems that rather than clashing with the moral side, the magical aspect emphasizes the poet’s attitude towards superstition and a reliance on aids other than Christian virtue, as we see costly toward Gawain. There is an ingenious symmetry in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and can be seen prominently between the pentangle and the green girdle. The poet spends 46 lines carefully, and almost laboriously, expounding the symbolism of the pentang le and yet he says nothing explicitly about the girdle. Its symbolic value is simply what Gawain assigns it and what the reader believes it to be. Jan Solomon calls the girdle â€Å"the thematic and symbolic nexus of the poem† (Solomon 274). The girdle is a tangible object upon which the climax of the poem focuses. The girdle unites two major plot lines, the temptation and the beheading game, and yet the girdle remains somewhat of a debated mystery. The anonymity of the author has allowed more latitude for scholars to make it what they will. Some scholars such as Roger Loomis (pg. 154) and Larry Benson (pg. 40) believe the girdle to be a â€Å"love token†. Martin Stevens however, contests references to the girdle as a â€Å"sexual symbol† or â€Å"sexual trophy† (Stevens 77). He believes such descriptions arise from confusing the medieval girdle with the modern undergarment. According to the medieval dictionary, a girdle is â€Å"a belt worn around the waist, used for fastening clothes or for carrying a sword, purse, etc. † Considering the girdles importance in the poem it is a good idea to fully understand the nature and meaning of the girdle more precisely. This will provide a better conception of what the girdle really was and what it symbolized and should affect how one reads the poem. We can all concede that the girdle is a belt of some sort. We see it then as an accessory. Originally, however, the girdle was not worn for warmth or ornament but as a magical binding either as a protective amulet or sign of the individual’s mystical incorporation into a social group. Later leaves or cloth panels were attached for modesty’s sake. Wilhelm Wundt states, â€Å"the celtic use of champion belts among the Greeks and Semites, even the Church’s corona of tonsure, derive from the principle of binding or encircling as magically promoting divine protection and positive good fortune† (Wundt 86) This is true in other parts of the ancient world as well. The wrapping of the toga by the Romans can also be seen as a species of engirdling magic. Zoroastrians had a similar custom; at the initiation rite by which a Cathar became a perfectus, the initiate was â€Å"girt† about the body with a thread, which was called his garment. (Onians 453) The girdles magic can even be seen in the Bible when God has Jeremiah carry out with his linen girdle to demonstrate that â€Å"as the girdle clingeth to the loins of men, so have I cause to cleave unto the house of Judah† (XIII 1-11) and in Isaiah’s prediction â€Å"And the Righteous shall be the girdle of his loins and faithfulness the girdle of his reins† (XI. ). These passages have been analyzed by Onians: â€Å"God and medicine man use the same means and no less in blessing than in cursing† (Onians 367). The girdle, as one can see, in some form or another is littered throughout pre medieval history and literature. The archaic magical force of girdling continued then into the Middle Ages. Male girdles began to represent sovereignty, authority and power. Freidman and Osberg state, â€Å"To get someone’s head under your girdle meant to conquer him† (Freidman and Osberg 304). A vassal, or one who entered into mutual obligations with a monarch, was supposed to take off his belt in the presence of his suzerain, or superior. From Roman times to medieval romances foot soldiers surrendered by unfastening the cords around their hips which held up their undergarments. The woman’s girdles on the other hand, involve somewhat different magical and symbolic associations. The girdle of Ishtar, the goddess of fertility, love, war and sex, became a girdle of fertility. When she unfastened it in the underworld, the earth became infertile. The most famous of all girdles, the cestus of Aphrodite-Urania, became as early as Homer a â€Å"gurdel of lecherie†, excluding all enticements of lust. (Freidman and Osberg 304) It also is seen frequently in medieval and Renaissance poetry. The proponent girdle was the maiden’s sash or belt. According to Freidman and Osberg, it was â€Å"an amulet to preserve by advertising the virginity of the wearer, it was credited with, among other things, holding wolves at bay† (Freidman and Osberg). Another instance of the girdle can be found in religious legends as such: the maiden rescued by Lydgate’s St. George was able to lead the dragon into the city by her girdle. The girdle was also seen as a husband’s trophy, suggestive of the sexual act and fertility and a pledge of marital chastity. Interestingly enough, in medieval England prostitutes were forbidden to wear girdles of any sorts. Now, with all of that history at the forefront we have to ask; what fashion of girdle was the one Gawain received from Bertilak’s lady and what did it symbolize? Can this question even be answered or is it to be left to the readers’ interpretation? The connotations of the girdle explain why the lady wanted Gawain to conceal it from her husband and why Gawain finds her request completely legitimate. Gawain felt justified in concealing it for upon showing it to Bertilak, he would surely think things that never were. Gawain’s overriding reason for keeping the girdle was to preserve his own life and to level the playing ground with the Green Knight. The magical connotations of the girdle strengthen his rationalizations. By an understandably devious process, the girdle becomes exclusively associated in Gawain’s mind with the adventure of the Green Chapel, not as a relevant item in the exchange agreement, which is just a game. The girdle complicates the motivating impulses and refracts the lines of moral action. With the acceptance and concealment of the girdle Gawain is removed from the unnatural category of systematic perfection, as symbolized by the pentangle, and brought into the reach of human relatability. According to Friedman and Osberg, â€Å"his final succumbing to the lady’s wiles to the extent of accepting the girdle, retrospectively soils the resolute but polite skill with which he had parried her onslaught up to that event† (Friedman and Osberg 312). The possession of the girdle, even though it is left ambiguous how much Gawain really trusts the magic of it, could be seen to undercut his bravery. Although it could also be said that it is no more cowardly than relying on the pentangle to give him strength. Aside from the connotations associated with the girdle, the fashion in which Gawain wears it is also important to discuss. It is easy to fall into the error of believing that the girdle is concealed under his armor when he leaves the castle. We are deceived by the fact that Gawain initially conceals it from Bertilak. Gawain, in fact, wears it on the outside. The poet explains that he wraps himself with the girdle after he clothes himself with his coat which was emblazed with the pentangle. He wraps it over his coat, which is a symbol of his parting from the virtues of the pentangle. Spiritually and physically the girdle superseded the pentangle. Gawain wearing it in sight also shows his reliance on the magical symbol of the girdle. As Gawain sets out for the Chapel he notably displays is to bring the magical influence into play. This indicates that he does have some faith in the girdle’s magical implications, though these implications prove to be trumped in the end just like those of the pentangle. There is symbolic polarity between the image of the pentangle and the image of the girdle given to Gawain by Bertilak’s wife in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The pentangle or â€Å"endless knot† illustrates Gawain’s virtuous perfection and the girdle becomes an indication of the knight’s lapse of perfection. There is however a significant link between the two symbols. Both of the figures’ definitions change by the end of the poem. The shield and the girdle are real objects and function in the poem as living articulate symbols dynamically paired. The pentangle evokes the chivalric ideal. In the beginning, when Gawain sets out on his quest, the pentangle is emblematic of his knightly virtue. He is seen as a flawless knight. Gawain embarks on his adventure and along the way deviously accepts a girdle from Lord Bertilak’s lady. Upon his meeting with the Green Knight at the Chapel, his blunder is revealed and the girdle becomes emblematic of his fault. The whole movement of the story hangs upon his yielding to temptation, accepting the girdle, and having his failing revealed to him. When we reach this point the poem is shifted and the meaning behind the two symbols is altered. The pentangles â€Å"endless knot† is seemingly broken. In desperation to save his own life, we see Gawain fail in friendship and fraternity, two parts of the pentangle that are placed together. The pentangle, which once symbolized his faithfulness and honor, is broken and morphed into a reminder of his shortcomings. The girdle, on the other hand, starts out as a symbol of Gawain’s imperfection and fault. When Bertilak reveals himself as the Green Knight and confronts Gawain for the acceptance of his wife’s girdle, Gawain says, â€Å"My downfall and undoing; let the devil take it† about the girdle. The girdle is a sign of Gawain’s sin. On his homeward journey Gawain wears the girdle across his chest and knotted at the hip. When he arrives back in Camelot he recounts his trip to the Green Chapel and describes the girdle as a band of shame. King Arthur and the rest of the court laughs and provides comfort to lift their noble knight. The girdle changes to a symbol of honor. It is redefined by the collective as a symbol of greatness. Collectively the brotherhood had the power to bear the shame and wear the girdle as a symbol of nobility. Sir Gawain’s pentangle on his shield and the girdle given to him by Bertilak’s wife are two of the most prominent symbols presented to us in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The pentangle’s appropriateness to Gawain is outlined in an explanation of its fivefold symbolism. The author goes to great lengths to illustrate the importance of the pentangle. The pentangle in its self is a symbol of Christian perfection. Also, it would have magical implications to the readers familiar with medieval superstition. Knowing the â€Å"other† characterization of the pentangle can change how the reader perceives the text. The girdle also has magical and historical connotations that affect the way the poem is read; proving that the history behind certain aspects of the poem was important to the poet’s overall moral of the story. The one question that remains is; if the girdle is so important to the poem, then why does the poet go to the painstaking lengths to lay out the symbol of the pentangle, but leave the meaning of the girdle open to our interpretation? The symbol of the pentangle is artificial and therefore must be meticulously defined, whereas the meaning of the girdle defines itself in the eyes of the reader. The two symbols are juxtaposed throughout the poem and their meanings oppose each other to provide a symbolic representation of the moral of the story. That is, human reality is not pure Christian perfection, neither is it absolute shame on those who sin, but it is found somewhere in between.

IUPAC Atomic Weights of the Elements List

IUPAC Atomic Weights of the Elements List This is the 2013 list of atomic weights of the elements in increasing atomic number, as accepted by the IUPAC. The table is based on the Standard Atomic Weights Revised v2 (Sept 24,2013). The list includes the 2013  changes to the atomic weights of 19 elements: arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, cesium, cobalt, fluorine, gold, holmium, manganese, molybdenum, niobium, phosphorus, praseodymium, scandium,  selenium, thorium, thulium and yttrium. These values remain current until the IUPAC sees the need to revise them. Values given by the [a;b] notation highlights the range of atomic weights for the element. For these elements, the atomic weight is dependent on the physical and chemical history of the element. The interval reflects the minimum (a) and the maximum (b) values for the element.Values given in chevron brackets (e.g., Fm 257) are the mass numbers of the longest-lived isotope of elements that do not have stable nuclides. However, atomic weights are provided for Th, Pa, and U because these elements have a characteristic abundance in the earths crust. For detailed element facts, consult the  Periodic Table  for individual elements. Atomic Number - Symbol - Name - Atomic Weight 1   H   - Hydrogen - [1.007 84; 1.008 11]2   He - Helium - 4.002 602(2)3   Li - Lithium - [6.938; 6.997]4   Be - Beryllium - 9.012 1831(5)5   B   - Boron - [10.806; 10.821]6   C   - Carbon - [12.0096; 12.0116]7   N   - Nitrogen - [14.006 43; 14.007 28]8   O   - Oxygen - [15.999 03; 15.999 77]9   F   - Fluorine - 18.998 403 163(6)10 Ne - Neon - 20.1797(6)11 Na - Sodium - 22.989 769 28(2)12 Mg - Magnesium - [24.304, 24.307]13 Al - Aluminium - 26.981 5385(7)14 Si - Silicon - [28.084; 28.086]15 P   - Phosphorus - 30.973 761 998(5)16 S   - Sulfur - [32.059; 32.076]17 Cl - Chlorine - [35.446; 35.457]18 Ar - Argon - 39.948(1)19 K   - Potassium - 39.0983(1)20 Ca - Calcium - 40.078(4)21 Sc - Scandium - 44.955 908(5)22 Ti - Titanium - 47.867(1)23 V   - Vanadium - 50.9415(1)24 Cr - Chromium - 51.9961(6)25 Mn - Manganese - 54.938 044(3)26 Fe - Iron - 55.845(2)27 Co - Cobalt - 58.933 194(4)28 Ni - Nickel 58.6934(4)29 Cu - Copper - 63.546(3)30 Zn - Zinc - 65.3 8(2)31 Ga - Gallium - 69.723(1)32 Ge - Germanium - 72.630(8)33 As - Arsenic - 74.921 595(6)34 Se - Selenium - 78.971(8)35 Br - Bromine - [79.901, 79.907]36 Kr - Krypton - 83.798(2)37 Rb - Rubidium - 85.4678(3)38 Sr - Strontium - 87.62(1)39 Y   - Yttrium - 88.905 84(2)40 Zr - Zirconium - 91.224(2)41 Nb - Niobium - 92.906 37(2)42 Mo - Molybdenum - 95.95(1)43 Tc - Technetium - 9844 Ru - Ruthenium - 101.07(2)45 Rh - Rhodium - 102.905 50(2)46 Pd - Palladium - 106.42(1)47 Ag - Silver - 107.8682(2)48 Cd - Cadmium - 112.414(4)49 In - Indium - 114.818(1)50 Sn - Tin - 118.710(7)51 Sb - Antimony - 121.760(1)52 Te - Tellurium - 127.60(3)53 I   - Iodine - 126.904 47(3)54 Xe - Xenon - 131.293(6)55 Cs - Cesium - 132.905 451 96(6)56 Ba - Barium - 137.327(7)57 La - Lanthanum - 138.905 47(7)58 Ce - Cerium - 140.116(1)59 Pr - Praseodymium - 140.907 66(2)60 Nd - Neodymium - 144.242(3)61 Pm - Promethium - 14562 Sm - Samarium - 150.36(2)63 Eu - Europium - 151.964(1)64 Gd - Gadolinium - 157.25(3)65 Tb - Terbium - 158.925 35(2)66 Dy - Dysprosium - 162.500(1)67 Ho - Holmium - 164.930 33(2)68 Er - Erbium - 167.259(3)69 Tm - Thulium - 168.934 22(2)70 Yb - Ytterbium - 173.054(5)71 Lu - Lutetium - 174.9668(1)72 Hf - Hafnium - 178.49(2)73 Ta - Tantalum - 180.947 88(2)74 W - Tungsten - 183.84(1)75 Re - Rhenium - 186.207(1)76 Os - Osmium - 190.23(3)77 Ir - Iridium - 192.217(3)78 Pt - Platinum - 195.084(9)79 Au - Gold - 196.966 569(5)80 Hg - Mercury - 200.592(3)81 Tl - Thallium - [204.382; 204.385]82 Pb - Lead - 207.2(1)83 Bi - Bismuth - 208.980 40(1)84 Po - Polonium - 20985 At - Astatine - 21086 Rn - Radon - 22287 Fr - Francium - 22388 Ra - Radium - 22689 Ac - Actinium - 22790 Th - Thorium - 232.037 7(4)91 Pa - Protactinium - 231.035 88(2)92 U   - Uranium - 238.028 91(3)93 Np - Neptunium - 23794 Pu - Plutonium - 24495 Am - Americium - 24396 Cm - Curium - 24797 Bk - Berkelium - 24798 Cf - Californium - 25199 Es - Einsteinium - 252100 Fm - Fermium - 257101 Md - Mendelevium - 258102 No - Nobelium - 259103 Lr - Lawrencium - 262104 Rf - Rutherfordium - 267105 Db - Dubnium - 268106 Sg - Seaborgium - 271107 Bh - Bohrium - 272108 Hs - Hassium - 270109 Mt - Meitnerium - 276110 Ds - Darmstadtium - 281111 Rg - Roentgenium - 280112 Cn - Copernicium - 285113 Uut - Ununtrium - 284114 Fl - Flerovium - 289115 Uup - Ununpentium - 288116 Lv - Livermorium - 293118 Uuo - Ununoctium - 294

Impact of Reservoirs in the UK on the Surrounding Community Dissertation

Impact of Reservoirs in the UK on the Surrounding Community - Dissertation Example Center of discussion in this paper are reservoirs, man-made bodies of open water serving as public water supply sources, as winter storage for crop irrigation or as flood storage facilities in association with river corridors. FWR describes two types of reservoirs – upland reservoirs and lowland reservoirs. Upland reservoirs are built across river valleys and so they are described as upland reservoirs. Reservoirs such as those to which water is pumped from a nearby river source rather than filling naturally as with impounding reservoirs are known as lowland reservoirs. According to FWR much of the water supply infrastructure in the UK was developed at the end of the 19th century when impounding reservoirs were constructed in upland locations in order to provide water supply to conurbans which were often many miles away. Reservoirs were often located in areas where the catchment encountered little or no disturbance and so the quality of water supplied was in most cases fully ac ceptable without any need for either filtration or disinfection. However, as the standards relating to public hygiene evolved, many of these supplies were improved with the provision of chlorination systems. The regulation in relation to water quality ensures that all supplies are now provided with full treatment, including coagulation and filtration. FWR points out that in England and Wales two-thirds of drinking water comes from surface water, including reservoirs, lakes and rivers, and the rest from ground waters. There are also areas that receive water from mixed sources. Water is treated and tested along the way to ensure the highest quality. As it is with lakes reservoirs support rich and diverse flora and fauna and some rely on these habitats for their entire lifecycle. The classification is based on their nutrient status. Eutrophic standing waters are usually highly productive as they consist of lot plant nutrients. Legislation relating to Dam Safety Reservoir safety is crit ical to the British Dam Society which they indicate as the driving force behind many of the meetings, events and research work that they undertake (British Dam Society 2011). The Reservoir Act 1975 provides the legal framework to ensure the safety of dams with capacity of 25,000 cubic metres of water above natural ground level. Safety legislation in the UK was first introduced in 1930 after several reservoir disasters which resulted in loss of life. This was later superseded by the Reservoir Act 1975 (Environment Agency 2011). The Act indicates that reservoir owners have ultimate responsibility for the safety of reservoirs. They are also required to appoint a Panel Engineer – a specialist civil engineer who has qualifications and experience in reservoir safety to continuously supervise reservoirs and carry out periodic inspections. Supervision and inspection will be provided by qualified persons performing in the capacity of supervising and inspecting engineers respectively. Those reservoirs that are below the 25,000 cubic metres capacity are managed by the Health and Safety Executive and the Local Authorities under the Health and safety at Work, etc Act 1974 and the Building Act 1984 respectively. The Flood and Management Bill was given Royal Assent in April 2010, thus making it possible to bring aging reservoir safety legislation up to date by providing clarity on roles and responsibilities of those persons who manage flood and coastal risks in England and Wales (Environment Agen

Answering Questions Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 11

Answering Questions - Research Paper Example Suspense keeps readers on the article besides boosting their understanding of the effects of the illicit trade as he explicitly develops them. Causal analysis refers to the process through which a writer espouses on the issues related to the cause of a problem or issue. Gardner is analyzing the cause of violence in major American cities which he identifies as the trade in illicit drugs. However, she does not simply put this boldly in the beginning of either the page or the essay because, in the process of identifying the cause to the problems, he builds the problems as well. He achieves doing this by drawing the larger picture of the frequency of the violence and the nature of the very violence. It is only after satisfactorily discussing the issues that he brings the cause into context. Causal argument, on the other hand, refers to the articulation of points to ascertain that in deed the stated reasons are the cause to the problem under scrutiny. Gardner identifies the cause of the violence as the illicit trade in drugs. To prove these, he gives reasons and alternatives to what may occur without the drug peddlers in the eq uation (Gardner 266). Drugs and drug peddling is in deed a menace in the country and in the city of Vancouver. However, pushing for legalization of the very drugs would be akin to anarchy. Currently, the drug peddlers are not known and are considered criminals by the state. They operate in the shadows and in dark alleys. The crimes they commit are brought about by betrayals within their circles. Briefly, the peddlers kill or hurt their fellow peddlers. Legalizing the drugs would mean legalizing the trade of the drugs. Entrepreneurs of all sorts will flood the drug industry; this dilutes the trade and reduces profits for the investors. Secret elimination of competition is more likely to result and it may result in the loss of very many innocent lives. The drug business does not simply begin and end with the traders. It

How to move into a new home Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

How to move into a new home - Essay Example It requires a high level of commitment that is demanding, both financially and physically. Further, moving into a new home is a long process that should begin well before the final day that a person moves. Following a systematic procedure however reduces the involved strain. The first step in moving into a new home involves planning for the proposed move. Even though many people who think that it is not important overlook this stage, it determines the efficiency of the entire process. Planning for the move should be done prior to moving out of the old home and include many considerations such as when to move out of the old home, when to move into the new home, agency to use for moving and possible intermediary processes and challenges between moving out of the old home and moving into the new home. The major significance of planning is that it identifies possible challenges in the process and prepares an individual. Once planning has been done and the moving dates established, renovation of the new home follows. This is done according to the plan and needs to be completed well before the scheduled dates for moving. This stage ensures that possible problems in the new home such as required paintings and repair of broken pieces are fixed. All this can be done through renovation agencies or through direct contracting of renovating personnel. It is followed by, or may be concurrently done with packing of belongings in the old home. Determined by the period in the planning, packing of the property to be moved should be done in such a way that it is complete before the moving out date. This can be done personally or with the help of contracted individuals. It also involves making decision on what to move out with so that one does not pack unnecessary things. Once packing is complete, an individual should consider the things that will lack in the new home. These

How has friendship changed because of the spread of social networking Essay

How has friendship changed because of the spread of social networking are these changes more positive than negative, or have they caused more harm than good - Essay Example When friends are connected through a social media site, it is easy to find out the whereabouts of one another. It is also easy to find out what the other people are up to over the weekends, upcoming events, relationships and their current location. One can have as much time on social media as they want since the only charges that apply are those of internet connections. Friendship has changed from physical meetings and contact, to the internet sites. This means that one does not have to go through the hustle of arranging for a meeting when all the information required can be communicated through web platforms. It is easier and convenient to communicate through social networking because it is done at the convenience of the two parties involved. This element is useful; however, friends lose touch with one another in terms of physical approach. There is no much effort placed in making eye to eye contact with friends. The physical boundary has become independent. Friendship has become casual (Farah web). Friendships and how individuals make friends has changed ever since the invention of social media. Individuals prefer to be in a virtual world where one cannot be known fully but only at the superficial level. Social media has the option of adding individuals as friends. However this definition of friend is an online one. The two people may not even know each other but are friends on Facebook because one of them added the other. This kind of friendship is only superficial and shallow and exists in the virtual world. The two people, who call themselves â€Å"friends†, have no real life experiences (Barett web). On the other hand, social media has led to mistrust and deception among individuals. Some people have put a vetting mechanism for all people who add others as friends to avoid misleading characters in the name of â€Å"friends†. Social media can lead to breaking of good relationships (Parrack). Information

The Role of Social Media as a PR Tool Research Proposal

The Role of Social Media as a PR Tool - Research Proposal Example The paper tells that the choice of the social media platform as a component of the public relation strategy for VIVA is based on strong grounds. It does not only bring together friends, families, colleagues and acquaintances together but also strangers in remarkable number through its networking characteristic. Â  It is important to note that, in Bahrain, Internet is available to 961,228 users or about 77% of the entire population. The statistics place the country as a regional Internet leader, besting most countries in the Middle East in terms of subscription, usage and freedom of access. This underpins how the social media enjoys strong popularity in the country, figuring prominently in recent upheavals such as the 2013 unrest. Depending on the point of view, such role could be positive or negative. But, for the purposes of this paper, this role is most certainly beneficial. It highlights the potency of social media as a communication tool and its ability to persuade or influence VIVA’s market to action. This proposal is divided into four parts: the objectives of the study, the literature review, methodology and the method of analysis. The first section outlines four proposed research goals. The literature review section cites and analyzes the available sources that cover the theoretical and empirical work on social media and its capability as public relations tool. The materials used include secondary and primary sources, consisted of documents published by the organization as well as books, journals and online content.

Interview Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 7250 words

Interview - Research Paper Example Moreover, the interviews conducted have been aimed at determining the opinions held by the mentioned officials regarding the participation of their respective companies towards the furtherance of the efforts to transform the city of Abu Dhabi into an international field. Also, the conducted interviews sought to gain the view of said officials on employment, training and development, role of the private sector and Abu Dhabi’s local infrastructures. These then are believed to provide proper and complete information regarding the economic diversification of Abu Dhabi from the vantage point of Mudabala and Siemen’s as key players in the said undertaking. The purpose of this study is to understand the role played by Mudabala and Siemen’s in the economic diversification of Abu Dhabi. Mudabala Development Company (Mudabala) is an investment vehicle wholly-owned by the Government Abu Dhabi. Mudabala aims to further the economic of Abu Dhabi through diversification. The primary undertaking of the company is to enter into long-term capital-intensive investments so as to provide Abu Dhabi with strong financial returns and aggressive improvements in the city. On the other hand, Siemen’s, as an important member of the Masdar Institute has been instrumental in the process entailed by transformation. As a result, this paper endeavored to seek the opinion of the standard-bearers of the two companies taking the helm of the economic diversification of Abu Dhabi. The views expressed by the Chief Operating Officers of Mudabala and Siemen’s has been instrumental in establishing a clear and in-depth view as to the steps necessita ted by the â€Å"Plan Abu Dhabi 2030: Urban Structure Framework Plan.† The interviews conducted will provide the readers with a comprehensive look into the economic progressive course that Abu Dhabi is currently undertaking. Context has been defined as the manner by which people ascribe certain meaning to the

The Role of Social Media as a PR Tool Research Proposal

The Role of Social Media as a PR Tool - Research Proposal Example The paper tells that the choice of the social media platform as a component of the public relation strategy for VIVA is based on strong grounds. It does not only bring together friends, families, colleagues and acquaintances together but also strangers in remarkable number through its networking characteristic. Â  It is important to note that, in Bahrain, Internet is available to 961,228 users or about 77% of the entire population. The statistics place the country as a regional Internet leader, besting most countries in the Middle East in terms of subscription, usage and freedom of access. This underpins how the social media enjoys strong popularity in the country, figuring prominently in recent upheavals such as the 2013 unrest. Depending on the point of view, such role could be positive or negative. But, for the purposes of this paper, this role is most certainly beneficial. It highlights the potency of social media as a communication tool and its ability to persuade or influence VIVA’s market to action. This proposal is divided into four parts: the objectives of the study, the literature review, methodology and the method of analysis. The first section outlines four proposed research goals. The literature review section cites and analyzes the available sources that cover the theoretical and empirical work on social media and its capability as public relations tool. The materials used include secondary and primary sources, consisted of documents published by the organization as well as books, journals and online content.

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL CASE STUDY Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL - Case Study Example The culture of Chinese demands them to take tea as opposed to coffee and this proved to be the first cultural challenge for Nestle. Their culture demands strict trust before conducting businesses with foreigners (Allen, 2009). The trust is earned through complying with their culture, demands and offering them gifts time and again. This proved to be quite a challenge for the company and especially the adoption of Chinese culture in its business. The gift part was against their code of conduct and especially because it was seen as a form of corruption (Hanson and Rothlin, 2010). The code of ethics and conduct of the Nestle Company had to be changed to adopt and accommodate the cultures of the Chinese people or the company would lack support and hence have to move base of operation to another country. China was just starting to succeed and hence Nestle wanted to create a strong base and outdo its competitors. Culture of China demanded that majority of the management of the company had to comprise of Chinese people. This therefore meant a complete change in administrative process as the managers in some positions had to be removed and taken to head other branches in other nations. This process was not only costly but took time to enforce hence delaying the process of Nestle establishing its market niche in the country. China’s cultural demands which need to be enforced made a mockery of the administrative processes and procedures of the company (Sun, 2012). The cultural demands made the company have ultimatums of carrying out changes and the administrators were reduced to mere puppets. With the many cultural demands which were being led by the government agencies, the company’s administration faced leadership challenges and internal conflicts. The administration eventually in order to comply with the ever growing cultural demands had to fully change from their norm

Islams Problems come from within Essay Example for Free

Islams Problems come from within Essay * Criticism of propaganda type which world leaders try to persuade the world this isnt about Islam * Rushdie argues that by giving examples how it is a) support of Bin Laden b) the Islamic together coming for the jihad c) the anti-Semitism blaming Jews for the September 11th issues etc. * Rushdie suggests a reasoning for the above written from fear of the west taking over there old-fashioned traditional way of life. * He emphasizing how it is about Islam : many political movements are now guided by radical Islamic organizations such as the revolutionary Shiite of Iran or the Taliban. * Rushdie continues by introducing a vital key point to his article. He criticizes such political groups for blaming outsiders for all the ills of Muslim societies. He then suggests that they are to accept responsibility of their problems and then they may be able to solve their problems by themselves. * Rushdie continues by showing how many Muslims are beginning to ask themselves such questions. He gives some specific examples of intellectuals of the Muslim world relating to that question. * He concludes by suggesting that the way to overcome the problem with terrorism today is by secularist-humanist principles which must be taken on by the Islam. In terms of what we have learned, we would have to say that Rushdie argument is valid. We can come to that conclusion by simply looking at his arguments; Rushdie doesnt introduce new information in his conclusions relating to an argument. If the question of validity refers to the fact that Islam is the topic related to the terror attacks in September, then the argument can well be valid to a certain extent. However, it would morally be wrong to blame a religion for this mass murdering, as we know that generalizing that all Muslims are murders, is wrong and invalid. Although, one could argue the majority of the arguments Rushdie makes, the way he wrote them they are valid. Rushdie presumably has a strong historical knowledge to support his articles arguments. However, I believe a great deal of emotions came in play while expressing himself. We must not forget that Rushdies experience with the Islamic, (in direct reference to the fact he was ordered to be killed by a major Islamic leader) hence a possible bias on the issue. I fully understand such a standpoint as that of Rushdie; I too, when am asked to support my countries actions in regard to the Palestinian terror attacks, tend to become emotional and very protective. Therefore I understand the pressure release Rushdie experiences while expressing himself. Therefore I can also say from experience that I do not think that in such a state Rushdie would exaggerate to a point of absurd.

Violence and Oppression in Wrights Black Boy :: Wright Black Boy Essays

Violence and Oppression in Wright's Black Boy "You are dead to me dead to christ!" In the following paragraphs, violence and oppression in Ch. 5 will discussed and analyzed through examination of Richard Wright's --author of Black Boy(1945)--use of diction, tone, and metaphors. Were people of his time to read this book it's probable that they would understand, wheather they agree with the author's point of view or not, the amount of violence and oppression witnessed by a boy his age. Richard Wright, through the the use of the words his senses produced, brought his past into light for the children of the future. He allows his readers to feel as he did under the light of strong persecution with the use of an intimidating, heartfelt tone. "The cosmic images of dread were gone and the external world became a reality, quivering daily before me. Instead of brooding and trying foolishly to pray, I could run and toam, mingle with the boys and girls, feel at home with people, share a little of life in common with others, satisfy my hunger to be and live." Wright fills the chapter with a calm and mesmorizing tone; like that of a preecher drawing his audience into a hymm. Omisdt violence, under anger and fear, Wright converses with the reader as though he were a youth leader telling a story to a group of boyscouts outside by a campfire. His spellbounding words chant the reader into his world and produce a map through which the reader follows his life in the shadows of others. " I mingled with the boys, hoping to pass unnoticed , but knowing that sooner or later I would be spotted for a newcomer. And trouble came quickly- a bloabk boy came bounding past me, thumping my hat to the ground and yelling." To keep his audience from dazily drifting into a state of semi-consiousness, Wright interjects into his prayer with action in an excited and staggering tone. "A blow landed on the back of my head. I turned and saw a brick rolling away and I felt blood oozing down my back. I looked around and saw several brickbats scattered about.

The Effects of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies on Humans Essa

The Effects of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies on Humans Abstract Humans have to deal with many different diseases and the ones most disliked are the ones with no cures. Like cancer, transmissible spongiform encephalopathies have no cure, but they are more rare. These diseases are prion diseases which cause the brain to deteriorate. Prions are proteins that sometimes behave like viruses, which mean that they should have some form of nucleic acid, but since they don’t, they cause abnormalities. The nervous system contains many normal prions, but when an abnormal prion comes along, it transforms all the normal prions into abnormal ones. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy is found in cattle, but it can be transmitted to humans. The Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease affects the elderly for reasons unknown, while Kuru affects those who practice cannibalism. Scrapie is found only in sheep and the Chronic Wasting Disease is found in deer and elk. As of right now, Kuru and Scrapie are not known to infect humans. Prion diseases affect many animals, such as cattle, sheep, deer, elk and humans. All mammals have prions, which are proteins that are found abundantly in the nervous system. The brain contains the most prions and is therefore dominantly affected by disease. The prion disease found in cattle is called bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease. Humans contract this disease by eating infected cows. The elderly usually contract the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease for reasons unknown, and Kuru, which is extremely rare nowadays, is contracted by cannibalism. Scrapie infects sheep and the Chronic Wasting Disease infects deer and elk. Though there is no link to either Scrapie or Chronic Wasting Disease infecting humans, it is ... ...missible Spongiform Encephalopathies 6 References †¢ American Veterinary Medical Association. (2002, May). About Scrapie. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 7/25/05: http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/may02/s050102i.asp †¢ Australian Academy of Science. (1997, February). Mad Cow Disease-A Human Problem? Science. 7/25/05: http://www.science.org.au/nova/003/003key.htm †¢ CBC. (2003, December). Science and Symptoms. CBC News. 7/26/05: http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/madcow/science.html †¢ University of Toronto. (2003, June). Researchers Discover Possible Diagnosis, Treatment, Vaccine for Mad Cow, Prion Diseases. Science Daily. 7/26/05: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/06/030602025719.htm †¢ U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2005, February). Prion Disease. Genetics Home Reference. 7/26/05: http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=priondisease

Violence in The House on Mango Street

In the novel The House on Mango Street, Sandra Cisneros reveals how violence affects women on Mango Street. The women in Mango Street have abusive husbands and fathers. They don’t do anything about it because they seem to be used to being abused. Esperanza tries to deal with the violence in her neighborhood by trying to protect her friend Sally from some boys but it turns out being a failure for her. Esperanza finds it important to try and protect her friend Sally from kissing some boys. She goes to tell the boy’s mother what happen and the mother said was â€Å"That’s all? What do you want me to do she said, call the cops? † (97) The mother of the boy clearly didn’t care about what was happening, she probably thought they were just playing a game. Esperanza seemed disappointed and angry because all she wanted was for her friend to be back with her. Not the boys who made her kiss them or who knows what else they might have made her do to get her keys back. Sally didn’t really seem to be bothered from what Esperanza told. She just wanted to protect her friend, but she clearly couldn’t do anything about it. The chapter â€Å"Red Clowns† depicts how Esperanza had to deal with sexual violence by some boys who touched her at the carnival. Esperanza didn’t realize what had happened to her because she didn’t know anything about sex. She expected sex to be like in the movies she watched, so she believed everyone had lied to her about it. Girls like Esperanza see things about sex in media and believe it has to be like in the movies, shows, and in novellas. In fact, teens report that their main source of information about sex, dating and sexual health comes from what they see and hear in the media. † (Sexual Behavior. What Teens Learn From Media). It basically says that media is a high influence on the way kids see sex. This is clearly what happened to Esperanza since she said it wasn’t what she saw in the movies. It was a big let down for her even though she didnâ€⠄¢t want to be touched by the boys. â€Å"Linoleum Roses† is another chapter that depicts how Esperanza’s friend married an older man who brings violence to her life. Sally married an older man to get away from the violence she got at home from her father, who would beat her so she wouldn’t bring shame to his family. Sally ended up getting married with an older man who now beats her. Sally’s husband doesn’t allow her to go out or to communicate with her friends because he believes she belongs to him and finds the need to control her to keep her with him. â€Å"He also won’t appreciate the younger women being close to family and friends. † (Advice Women Need When Dating Older Men). This is what is happening to Sally she just doesn’t really mind because to her he is only violent once in awhile not all the time. She needs help and Esperanza notices that but she can’t really do anything about it but continue being her friend. Violence is a big part in the life of Esperanza’s best friend who she thought she had to protect because she truly cared for her. Esperanza just wanted her friend Sally back for them to be young and reckless. In the end Esperanza got past the violence in her neighborhood and what had happened to her because she wanted to live in her dream home alone.

Do Truth and Right Change over the Course of History Essay

Interpretations of the concepts of Truth and Right absolutely change over the course of time. The most important reason for this is that, as time moves on, technology improves, political leaders change, and the social constructs of â€Å"good† are warped to fit the needs of the people. Whether or not the core definition of Truth and Right change is completely open to interpretation, because these internal ideals are subject to the development and growth of the person holding them. The ideas of Truth and Right are ideas developed by social psychology that are completely open to change depending on authoritarian figures and the development of social thought. I would like to re-establish my previous point; Truth and Right are social constructs. This means that the common interpretations of Truth and Right are based on social and environmental psychology, which, no one can disagree, plays a huge role in the development of ideas of â€Å"good† and â€Å"bad†. Social psychology is the scientific study of how people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. The terms thoughts, feelings, and behaviors include all of the psychological variables that are measurable in a human being. The statement that others may be imagined or implied suggests that we are prone to social influence even when no other people are present, such as when watching television, or following internalized cultural norms (Wikipedia). Studies over the years have shown that people are more likely to behave according to the social norm when they think they are being watched. In not-so-unrealistic novels such as 1984, the people of the society behave in a fashion deemed acceptable by their leader because they think they are being watched. Even more important is how authority figures influence the behaviors and actions of the masses. In the famous Milgram Experiment, Stanley Milgram sought to determine how far people would go when ordered by an authoritarian figure. The experiment involved giving electrical shocks, increasing in voltage, to a person behind a wall for every wrong answer they gave to a set of questions handed to the actual test subject. The subject, unaware that the shocks were, in fact, fake, was urged to keep going by the test giver, despite shouts and complaints coming from the other side of the wall after every shock. The results were, of course, terrifying. Milgram found that over 65% of the test subjects administered the final shock, consisting of 450-volts (Atkinson). The results of this experiment point to a more terrifying idea. People are essentially sheep; for the most part, they will listen to anyone that looks important or holds authority. This can be detrimental to the ideas of Truth and Right that are generally agreed upon in modern society. We do the things we do because authoritarian figures tell us to. No one is free from this; if everybody did what they wanted all the time, nothing would ever get done. But at what point is enough enough? We like to think we don’t listen to anybody. We like to think we won’t steal or rape or murder because it’s wrong. But, at the core of it, it is because most people are scared of punishment. Political leaders learn this and manipulate it to sway people in their favor. The simple fact that people will listen to authority automatically changes their view of Truth and Right. If the man with the gun to your head says what you’re doing is wrong, eventually, you will believe what you are doing is wrong. An authoritarian, Big Brother society can easily be structured. Some people may argue that demonstrations such as Occupy Wall Street counteract my argument. However, they fail to see that the right to protest is also a social construct. People have developed the idea that protesting when regulations are unfair is Right because, in this country, it is not punished. Once police beatings, pepper sprayings, and riot officers show up, the numbers of protesters will drop dramatically. In other countries, people do not think it is right to protest, even peacefully, because their society severely punishes them for it. Their ideas of Truth and Right are shaped by the society they live in. Right now, our society can be seen as unstable and in a state of turmoil. Financially, we are in a huge mess, and it won’t be long before the strife will lead to violent reactions. It’s times of political strife that our ideas of Truth and Right are manipulated and changed by authoritarian figures. Through social psychology, political leaders can essentially control people and their internal thoughts on the concepts of Truth and Right, showing that they most definitely do change over the course of time, dependant on who is in power.

Counselor’s Role

Counselors are those who listen and help resolve difficulties (Gladding, 2007)). Nonetheless, most people have a vague idea on what counseling is about. This is rooted to how counseling is done in the past. Counseling exists in different trades as advisers or experts in the field. As a profession, counseling is important since it focus on the growth and wellness of people who suffers from mental disorders. It differs from psychotherapy and guidance.Guidance is achieved through helping the person find the best choice. Whereas, counseling is about helping the person create changes to overcome his present condition. Psychotherapy involves with analytic therapy that try to create constructive changes that can take several sessions. It deals with serious mental disorders that are compounded by emotional, social, physical issues and conflicts that was experienced, is experiencing and perceived by the individual (Gladding, 2007).According to the American Counseling Association, (as quoted i n Gladding, 2007), counseling is concerned about an individual’s wellness, pathological concerns and personal growth, it is done in a short-term (not more than a year), their therapies are largely theory based and the process requires developmental intervening. The responsibilities of a counselor to his/her professional association is on the way he/she conducts counseling which is based on his/her intention and/or purpose (Gladding, 2007)). The counselor must be able to establish rapport.He must have enough background knowledge on what was to be counseled, for instance family problem or child delinquencies. The counselor must identify the problem then assess how it will be delivered. In the process of problem solving, the counselor must be open-minded for alternative actions since everything depends upon the client’s reaction/s and participation. It is the ‘responsibility of the counselor to inform the client/s of the confidentiality that an organization (Gorlin, 1999)’ or one’s professional association place on counselors.Counselors must respect the client’s right to know the results, the interpretations made, and the bases for their conclusions and recommendations (Pope-Davis and Coleman 2001). To be able to promote the awareness of the profession to consumer groups and organization, a counselor can try to create blogs and articles regarding how they resolve problems. Counselers can write in news or magazine articles giving out their opinion and somehow differentiating their role from psychologist, educators and trainers (Gllading, 2007). They must engage in public presentations during seminars of civil groups and clubs.They need to make themselves known and how they different from psychologist and educators. Voicing out their opinion on what needs solving and attention could be a great way to promote the awareness of people regarding their profession (Gladiing, 2007). For instance, counsellors in university can affec t the behaviour of the institution concerning color and racial discrimination. When as student ask for their help regarding the matter, most specifically, if a professor made a discriminatory claim, the counsellor can ask the institution for proper actions (Pope-Davis and Coleman, 2001).Through extending their influence to political matters, counselors can best benefit by subjecting the law through their findings and observations to limit the chances that the problems that they resolved or trying to resolve would happen again. Through being informed about the laws, counselors depends their position regarding certain issues (Pope-Davis and Coleman, 2001). Laws about abortion would help the counselor chose the most effective way to resolve a young girl’s dilemma. Establishing connections with prominent legislators would also advance interest.Understanding the political jargon would give a counselor an edge if he/she wants to propose certain changes in law. Lastly, through being persistent, a counselor might affect how legislator think (Gladding, 2007). References Gladding, ST. (2007). Counseling: A Comprehensive profession. GGS Pearson Education, Inc, New Jersey.. Gorlin, R. (1999) Codes of Professional Responsibility. BNA Books. Washington D. C. Pope-Davis, D. and Coleman, HLK. , (2001). The Intersection of Race, Class, and Gender in Multicultural Counseling: Implications for multicultural counselling. Sage Books. Michigan.

Deontological Ethical Theory Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Deontological Ethical Theory - Essay Example The deontological ethical theory has its own weakness. For example, t makes room for using logical reasoning in determining what is right (Hoy, 2005). Once this is done, interpretation of the rules becomes a very difficult thing to do since everyone has their own discretion within which the rules are explained. In such a situation, it becomes very difficult to have a single modality under which ethics are applied.Consequentiality is another ethical view point that can be applied in the use of technology. In the premise of this ethical theory, there is the need to strive to increase utility. The strength with this is that the greater good of most people is sought instead of the subjective needs of a few people. This way, ethics are enforced because workers are made to look for the interest of other external stakeholders.What this theory lacks however is the fact that it fails to set the parameter as to who should be responsible for evaluating the consequences that affected people suff er. As a result, even though there is quest to satisfy people’s needs and values, the willpower to do this can be missing. Within the modern technological society, deontology can be said to hold more easily than consequentiality. This is because companies seem less concerned about the consequences of their actions on the public. Rather, they only focus on their profits. It is not surprising that global warming continues to be alarming as the number of technological companies continues to increase.

The Post-Washington Consensus policies should be completely abandoned Essay

The Post-Washington Consensus policies should be completely abandoned and countries left to choose their own development paths. Discuss - Essay Example nomic level to be adopted by these developing states, especially the Latin American states and the ex-communist bloc, to help them come out of the dire economic crisis. The main idea behind the propagation of the ideals behind Washington Consensus implied that there would be fre flow of capital across borders, including the free flow of services along with the goods, increasing market efficiency by monitoring and assistance via International Financial Institutions i.e. the IMF (International Monetary Fund). However, during the 1990`s the definition and the context of the Washington Consensus was revised, and consequently what is now being termed as the â€Å"Post-Washington Consensus† was deemed as a product of this development. As opposed to the earlier definition, where the ideals of Washington Crisis were being adopted for the well-being of the developing states, the ideals now being implemented were rather aimed at dictating biased policies on the part of the IFI`s with th e sole purpose of maintaining their status quo which is now being rejected by the mainstream intellectual community in the developing world. The Post-Washington Consensus must policies must be replaced by a progressive set of policies, considering the needs and economic feasibility of the developing world. Also, instead of imposing the neo-liberal policies on the Global South, the states must be left with an option to adopt a set of policies more suitable to their socio-economic setup. The Post-Washington Consensus was inherently flawed in understanding the basic economic structure of the developed states, and adopting generic measures for intrinsically complex state of affairs governing in each setup (Jomo & Fine 2006). Thus, the tools and techniques being applied in this context failed to produce desired results, and thus the wave of disappointment amongst the economically weaker states was instigated. Also, instead of coming off as industrially developed nations, these states turned into

Media Coverage of Women's sports Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Media Coverage of Women's sports - Dissertation Example This research is intends to bring to light how the media contributes in the exclusion of women within sports from view and discourse by public something that affects their participation within sport, the manner in which media’s limited coverage for women within sports promotes gender stereotypes, as well as, contributes towards bias access to services by women as well as their potentiality fulfilments in relation to their right to sport. The key principle within the research will be that satisfying the right to sport has not just to do with satisfying physical access to sport, however, as well about making sure that the facilitation happens. The research will be conducted in London, United Kingdom. 1,000 grownups will be surveyed to find out where individuals stand as far as women’s sport is concerned. Within the discussion, sports will be examined, in general, since the human right to sport acknowledges sport for professional engagement, for recreation, and for health and social benefits. Sport is an established competitive activity, which involves specialised equipment or facilities and physical skill, and is governed by a set of rules that are accepted to determine a winner. Recreational sport, on the other hand, involves activities whose key purpose is participation with regard to fun, enhancement of physical fitness, as well as social involvement frequently prominent. Leisure sport involves physical activity for leisure time and relaxation. Educational sport includes physical education within schools.

Critical Risks Assessment and Milestones Schedule Essay

Critical Risks Assessment and Milestones Schedule - Essay Example 1). In this regard, the critical risk assessment and milestones schedule for Dr. McDougall’s would encompass the following: (1) a SWOT analysis; (2) an identification of the contingency plans; and (3) a description of the preferred timing and objectives of your business plan. The strengths of the organization were identified in products they offer using all natural ingredients, are easy to prepare, and are consistent with the needs and requirements of health conscious people who are always on the go. The use of product ingredients and packaging that comply with standards imposed by environmental advocates increase the competitive advantage of the company over other producers in the industry. The weaknesses were identified in the need to offer diverse and new product variances that would cater to a wider market base. Further, the costs of all natural ingredients are relatively higher and more suppliers need to be solicited to ensure a steady supply at the least possible cost. There are vast opportunities facing Dr. McDougall’s ranging from producing other product variants to cater to diverse ethnic and cultural groups. Further, with the government’s thrust of focusing on organic products and the use of healthier ingredients, there is an expected increase in demand, both in the local and international markets. On the other hand, the threats come in terms of increasing competition and substitutes due to the lure of profits and high demand for healthy food products that are easy to prepare, buy and consume. The Porter’s Five Forces Analyses provide ample information on the organization’s threats and even bargaining powers of both suppliers and buyers that influence their current and future operations. To address the weaknesses and threats, Dr. McDougall’s should solicit alternative sources of natural ingredients to extend the scope

Teacher Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Teacher - Essay Example â€Å"Performance is a developmental process that needs to be supported and facilitated.† (Maloy & Seidman, P. 28) However, tradition and qualifications on paper alone does not guarantee success in teaching profession. In the case of tradition, learners of today have different learning styles and come from diverse backgrounds. In addition to this, the integration of technology into the curriculum demands a shift in the teaching styles of teachers since new set of skills must be utilized to impart learning. Traditional method is only focused on intellectual learning and it is teacher –centered. Contrastingly, non traditional styles which promotes cooperative learning lead to increased motivation and academic performance ( Johnson, R. T., and Johnson, D. W.p.25). Similarly, academic qualification alone does not guarantee effective teaching. Other aspects as such as teaching styles and behavior which have been acquired through training and experience is more important than academic qualifications. In a study of teachers style published by Grasha, it was reported that teachers who exhibit medium intellectual excitement and high interpersonal rapport â€Å" are generally excellent for any group of students and teaching situation† ( Grasha P.35 ). It is important therefore that teachers do not only have academic qualifications but a set of skills as well as positive interpersonal behavior to be able to perform his role in the school setting. In the modern school setting, the teacher will not only deal with students but with the whole organization as well; thus, making him responsible to all stakeholders in the learning process. Some basic skills required for becoming a successful teacher are; Pedagogical skill, Interpersonal skill, Organi zational skill, Subject matter (content) & methodology skill , Skill in cooperating with colleagues and Skill in cooperating with the

Clearwater Technologies Essay Example for Free

Clearwater Technologies Essay Clearwater set a per-seat manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP) that decreased with higher quantity seat purchases, reflecting the customer perception of declining manufacturing cost per seat. Clearwater also saw this as advantageous because it encouraged customers to maximize their initial seat purchase. Clearwater typically sold its products through value-added resellers (VARs). A VAR was typically a small local firm that provided sales and support to end users. The value added by these resellers was that they provided a complete solution to the end user/customer from a single point of purchase and had multiple information technology products available from various vendors. Using VARs reduced Clearwaters sales and service expense significantly and increased its market coverage. These intermediaries operated in several steps. First, the VAR combined the QTX from Clearwater with database software from other suppliers to form a turnkey customer solution. Second, the VAR loaded the software with customer-specific information and linked it to the customers existing sales history databases. Finally, the VAR installed the product at the customers site and trained the customer on its use. Clearwater sold the QTX to resellers at a 50 percent discount from the MSRP, allowing the VARs to sell to the end user at or below the MSRP. The discount allowed the VARs room to negotiate with the customer and still achieve a profit. The Upgrade Initially, the expectation had been that the 30-seat unit would be the largest volume seller. In order to gain economies of scale in manufacturing, reduce inventory configurations, and reduce engineering design and testing expense to a single assembly, Clearwater decided to manufacture only the 30-seat server with the appropriate number of seats enabled for the buyer. Clearwater was effectively giving away extra memory and absorbing the higher cost rather than manufacturing the various sizes. If a customer wanted a 10-seat server, the company shipped a 30-seat capable unit, with only the requested 10 seats enabled through software configuration. The proposed upgrade was, in reality, allowing customers to access capability already built into the product. Clearwater knew that many original customers were ready to use the additional capacity in the QTX. Some customers had added seats by buying a second box, but because the original product contained the capability to expand by accessing the disabled seats, Clearwater saw an opportunity to expand the product line and increase sales to a captive customer base. Customers could double or triple their seat capacity by purchasing either a 10- or a 20-seat upgrade and getting an access code to enable the additional number of seats. No other competitor offered the possibility of an upgrade. To gain additional seats from the competitor, the customer purchased and installed an additional box. Because customers performed a significant amount of acceptance testing, which they would have to repeat before switching brands, the likelihood of changing brands to add capacity was low. The objective of this mornings meeting was to set the price for the two upgrades. As QTX product manager Rob Erickson stopped to collect his most recent notes from his desk, he reflected: What a way to start the week. Every time we have one of these meetings, senior management only looks at margins. I spent the whole weekend cranking numbers and Im going in there using the highest margin weve got today. How can anybody say thats too low? He grabbed his notes, calculator, and coffee and headed down the hall. From the other wing of the building, financial analyst Hillary Hanson was crossing the lobby towards the conference room. She was thinking about the conversation she had late Number MSRP to VAR Unit Unit of Seats End User Price Cost* Margin** 10 $8,000 $4,000 $500 87. 5% 20 $14,000 $7,000 $700 90. 0% 30 $17,250 $8,625 $900 89. % TABLE 1 *Unit cost reflects additional $200 for memory capability for each additional 10 seats. **Margin _ VAR Price _ Unit Cost VAR Price Number Original Original Actual Actual of Seats Unit Cost Unit Margin Unit Cost Unit Margin 10 $500 87. 5% $900 77. 5% 20 $700 90. 0% $900 87. 1% 30 $900 89. 6% $900 89. 6% TABLE 2 Friday afternoon with her boss, Alicia Fisher, Clear waters CFO. They had been discussing this upcoming meeting and Alicia had given Hillary very clear instructions. I want you to go in and argue for the highest price possible. We should absolutely maximize the profitability on the upgrade. The customers are already committed to us and they have no alternative for an upgrade but with us. The switching costs to change at this point are too high since theyve already been trained in our system and software. Lets go for it. Besides, we really need to show some serious revenue generation for the year-end report to the stockholders. Hillary had not actually finalized a number. She figured she could see what the others proposed and then argue for a significant premium over that. She had the CFOs backing so she could keep pushing for more. From the parking lot, Brian James, the district sales manager, headed for the rear entrance. He, too, was thinking about the upcoming meeting and anticipating a long morning. I wish marketing would realize that when they come up with some grandiose number for a new product, sales takes the hit in the field. Its a killer to have to explain to customers that they have to pay big bucks for something thats essentially built in. Its gonna be even tougher to justify on this upgrade. At least with the QTX, we have something the buyer can see. Its hardware. With the upgrade, there isnt even a physical product. Were just giving customers a code to access the capability thats already built into the machine. Telling customers that they have to pay several thousand dollars never makes you popular. If you think about it, thats a lot of money for an access code, but you wont hear me say that out loud. Maybe I can get them to agree to something reasonable this time. I spent the weekend working this one out, and I think my logic is pretty solid. Price Proposals Once everyone was settled in the conference room, Rob spoke first: I know we have to come up with prices for both the 10-seat and 20-seat upgrades, but to keep things manageable, lets discuss the 20-seat price first. Once that number is set, the 10-seat price should be simple. Because the margin on the 30-seat unit is the highest in the line, I think we should use that as the basis to the price for the upgrade. He went to a whiteboard to show an example: If a customer is upgrading from a 10-seat unit to a 30-seat unit, they are adding two steps of capacity costing $200 each to us, or $400. $400 /1-0. 90 _ $4,000 to the reseller, and $8,000 to the end user. We keep the margin structure in place at the highest point in the line. The customer gets additional capacity, and we keep our margins consistent. He sat down feeling pleased. He had fired the first shot, had been consistent with the existing margin structure, and had rounded up the highest margin point in the line. Brian looked at Robs calculations and commented: I think thats going to be hard for the customer to see without us giving away information about our margins, and we dont want to do that, since they are pretty aggressive to begin with. However, I think I have solved this one for us. Ive finally come up with a simple, fair solution to pricing the upgrade that works for us and the customers. He walked over to a whiteboard and grabbed a marker: If we assume an existing 10-seat customer has decided to upgrade to 30-seat capability, we should charge that customer the difference between what the buyer has already paid and the price of the new capacity. So . . . New 30-seat unit $17,250 Original 10-seat unit $8,000 Price for 20-seat upgrade $9,250 Its consistent with our current pricing for the QTX. Its fair to the customer. Its easy for the customer to understand and it still makes wads of money for us. It also is easy for the customer to see that were being good to them. If they bought a 20-seat box in addition to the 10-seat box they already have, it would be costing them more. He wrote: New 20-seat unit $14,000 A new unit provides customers with redundancy by having two boxes, which they might want in the event of product failure, but the cost is pretty stiff. Upgrading becomes the logical and affordable option. Hillary looked at the numbers and knew just what she was going to do. That all looks very logical, but I dont see that either of you has the companys best interests at heart. Brian, you just want a simple sale that your sales people and the customers will buy into, and Rob, you are charging even less than Brian. We need to consider the revenue issue as well. These people have already bought from us; are trained on our hardware and software and dont want to have to repeat the process with someone else. It would take too long. Theyve got no desire to make a change and that means weve got them. The sky is really the limit on how much we can charge them because they have no real alternative. We should take this opportunity to really go for the gold, say $15,000 or even $20,000. We can and should be as aggressive as possible. All three continued to argue the relative merits of their pricing positions, without notable success. Jefferies listened to each of them and after they finished, he turned to a clean whiteboard and took the marker. Ive done some more thinking on this. In order to meet the needs of all three departments, there are three very important points that the price structure for these upgrades must accomplish: 1. The pricing for the upgrades shouldnt undercut the existing pricing for the 30-seat QTX. 2. We want to motivate our buyers to purchase the maximum number of seats at the initial purchase. A dollar now is better than a potential dollar later. We never know for sure that they will make that second purchase. If we dont do this right, were going to encourage customers to reduce their initial purchase. Theyll figure they can add capacity whenever, so why buy it if they dont need it. That would kill upfront sales of the QTX. 3. We dont want to leave any revenue on the table when buyers decide to buy more capacity. They are already committed to us and our technology and we should capitalize on that, without totally ripping them off. Therefore, while Hillary says the skys the limit, I think there is a limit and we need to determine what it is and how close we can come to it. If we assume that those are the objectives, none of the prices youve put together thus far answers all three of those criteria. Some come close, but each one fails. See if you can put your heads together and come to a consensus price that satisfies all three objectives. OK? Heads nodded and with that, Jefferies left the conference room. The three remaining occupants looked at one another. Brian got up to wipe the previous numbers off the whiteboards and said: OK, one more time. If our numbers dont work, why not and what is the right price for the 20-seat upgrade?