Written Report Essay

Written Report Essay Written Report Essay Elsa Pham-Minh Evaluation of the argument Group Minds by Doris Lessing 1. Provide a short summary Doris Lessing’s Group Minds talks about the fact that human nature belongs to groups. Throughout the entire essay, Doris Lessing talks about critical thinking. What she means by critical thinking is the ability to think for ourselves and to disagree. According to Lessing, being able to think critically also means that we are educated and have our own opinions. She talks about critical thinking, because the government has a different definition of it. Indeed, the government wants us to believe that we are free-minded and independent thinkers, when in reality they just want us to obey to their rules, to agree with them and therefore stay uneducated. Indeed, Lessing believes that the educational systems of the Western World see themselves as being â€Å"free to do as I will†, but in reality, it is through psychological and sociological experiments reveal that â€Å"we are group animals†. Humans want to belong to a group, because most people do not want to be alone and they are afraid of being outsiders. Doris also talks about the individualists who, â€Å"stubbornly insist on telling the truth as they see it, but most give in to the majority opinion, obey the atmosphere† (Lessing 1). Furthermore, Doris talks about the fact that we all have a lot of information about ourselves, but we do not use it to improve ourselves, which is the general idea behind her essays. It is in this essay that Doris Lessing claims that the problem is not belonging to groups, because humans need companionship, but in not understanding the social laws that drive groups (Lessing 1). Indeed â€Å"it is the hardest thing in the world to maintain an individual dissident opinion, as a member of a group† (Lessing 1). 2. Determine the view or views the argument is opposing. In Group Minds, Doris Lessing mainly opposes the idea that people think they are free minds as it is not true. She argues that intellectuals with a reputation are no better than anyone else, which she proves with an experiment she conducted herself. She believes that the government is abusing its power and that it claims to be democratic when it is false. Although Lessing opposes the ideas rather than the practices of the government, she argues that the government withholds information about the human behavior from educational systems in order to keep people’s obedience to â€Å"slogans, rhetoric, leaders, and group emotions† (Lessing 6). She also claims that it needs to be taught to children, because ‘in the last fifty or so years, the human race has become aware of a great deal of information about its mechanisms; how it behaves, how it must behave under certain circumstances. If this is to be useful, you must learn to contemplate these rules calmly† (Lessing 6). Lessing believes this would never happen, because those in power seek to stay in power by foreclosing access to â€Å"hard information† regarding human behaviour. 3. Determine the soundness of the argument To support her argument, Doris Lessing uses multiple experiments as evidence, which raises the issue in a serious manner.

The eNotes Blog After the Dash Ten LiteraryEpitaphs

After the Dash Ten LiteraryEpitaphs Its Halloween!   In honor of the creepiest of holidays, why not contemplate your own mortality? GOOD TIMES! Here are ten well-written or interesting conceived final goodbyes from folks (or folks who knew them) who have shuffled off this mortal coil. 1.   William Shakespeare (1564-1616) [Gravestone in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon] GOOD FREND FOR IESVS SAKE FORBEARE TO DIGG THE DVST ENCLOASED HEARE BLESTE BE Y MAN Y SPARES THES STONES AND CVRST BE HE THAT MOVES MY BONES 2.   Edmund Spenser (1510-1596) Here lyes (expecting the second Comminge of our Saviour Christ Jesus) the body of Edmond Spenser, the Prince of Poets in his time; whose divine spirit needs no other witness than the works he left behind him. 3.   The Seven-Year-Old Son of Ben Jonson (16th century) Farewell, thou child of my right hand and joy; My sin was too much hope of thee, lovd boy, Seven years thou wert lent to me and I thee pay Exacted by thy fate on the just day. O, could I lose all father, now. For why Will man lament the state he should envy? To have so soon scapd Worlds and fleshs rage, And, if no other misery, yet age? Rest in soft peace and askd say here doth lie Ben Jonson his best piece of poetrie. For whose sake, henceforth, all his vows be such As what he loves may never live too much. 4.  Ã‚  Dorothy Parker (1893-1967) Excuse my dust. 5.   Mrs. Aphra Behn (1640-89) Here lies a Proof that Wit can never be Defence enough against Mortality. 6.   Alexander Pope (1688-1744) For one who would not be buried in Westminster Abbey: Heroes and Kings! your distance keep; In peace let one poor Poet sleep, Who never flatterd Folks like you: Let Horace blush, and Virgil too. 7.   Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) [translated from Latin] Here lies the body of Jonathan Swift, Professor of Holy Theology, Dean of this cathedral church, where fierce indignation can lacerate his heart no longer. Go, traveller, and, if you can, imitate one who with his utmost strength protected liberty. 8.   Benjamin Franklin (1706-90) The body of B. Franklin, Printer, Like the cover of an old book its contents torn out, and stripped of its lettering and gilding, lies here, food for worms. But the work shall not be wholly lost, for it will, as he believed, appear once more, in a new and more perfect edition, corrected and amended by the Author. 9.   John Keats (1795-1821) This Grave contains all that was Mortal of a YOUNG ENGLISH POET Who on his Death Bed, In the Bitterness of his Heart at the Malicious Power of his enemies, desired these Words to be engraved on his Tomb Stone: Here Lies the One Whose Name Was Writ in Water.    10.   Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) Pere Lachaise Cemetery, Paris [from The Ballad of Reading Gaol.] And alien tears will fill for him Pitys long broken urn, For his mourners will be outcast men, And outcasts always mourn.

Lawyering for a social change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Lawyering for a social change - Essay Example ome aspects of economic, social or/and political status quo believing that the societal conditions hinder the participation and adequate benefits for the subordinate people. According to Professor Martha Minow, defines political lawyering as an art that involves exacting efforts by using the law to alter the allocation of power or change the society. She connotes law to encompass both the customs of opposition and authority arising from the public institution and the formal rules promulgated by the different branches of government (Loewy, 2009). Social connotes the important links between culture and politics where people shape their ambitions and awareness for the society. The change includes both the discrete alterations and the processes of continuing and refurbishing constant challenge. The first contention is the impact of political lawyering on the relationship between a lawyer and the client. The contention focuses on how the political lawyers can influence their clients and how they may elevate the advantages of the cause of the individual client. The institutional role of a lawyer is to immerse himself in the position of his client and forcefully represent that interest in a legal way as soon as possible. The state of being a legal advocate in the legal system where the causes are not chosen encourages a non-evaluative, non-critical and uncommitted condition of mind. Client-centered lawyering is a traditional model of the relationship between a lawyer and the client where the clients have to bear all the consequences of their decisions suggesting the best position in understanding both non-legal and legal importance of their choices. The lawyer always has a duty of counseling his or her clients in an efficient manner by assisting them to explore the results of their actions where they can be able to make best decisions, which will serve their needs. The second contention is the anti-majoritarian use of the courts. The contention is based with an idea

Hebrews essay 3 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Hebrews 3 - Essay Example Priesthood is relevant to a better covenant and a better relationship with God. Jesus brought forth a new covenant doing away with the old covenant. From doing so, Hebrews believe that they will have a stellar relationship with God by following Jesus & his new covenant (Douglas 48). The belief regarding Hebrews believing that following Jesus as the new covenant will lead to a better working relationship with God and fellow men. As such, it is only with probable cause that the author explains how such a faith in Jesus shows his authority and superiority. Upon believing in the new covenant, a Hebrew believes there is no need for the old covenant. Not only religion-wise but also custom wise where traditional practices in the old covenant like circumcision, various rituals, festivals & Sabbaths were refused hence spiritually held no merit. Christianity circumnavigates around the fact that Jesus is their true path to God. The title that Jesus holds as the high priest clothed with holiness, blamelessness, pure and holy constitutes the major requirements that a Christian needs. Notably so, Christians to accept Jesus and follow his ways shows his superiority as a leader & figurehead in the church (Douglas 48). Clergymen in the Old Testament had to create sin forfeit every day, displaying that the ultimate remedy had not arrived yet. The arrival of Jesus Christ was so efficient relevant to meeting the requirements of the church. The arrival of Jesus ensured that the church implemented policies that only glorified God and that idol worship was refused and rebuked. In order to fully implement this, Jesus gave instructions to the Levitical priests to offer sacrifices & offerings to God as a sign of worshiping him. As a sign of portraying the significance of offering sacrifices to God, Jesus offered himself as a sign of obedience to God & sacrificing himself for his people. He offered

Critical Discussion on Watson’s and Skinner’s Versions of Behaviourism Essay Example for Free

Critical Discussion on Watson’s and Skinner’s Versions of Behaviourism Essay Behaviourism concept emerged at a period when the societal disarticulation as a result of speedy industrialization of American society needed novel approaches of social organization. This was to act as a replacement to Victorian mores of minute-town rural lifestyle (Wightman Kloppenberg 1995, p. 68). At this time, positivists like Walter Lippmann invited psychologists to assist devise approaches, and the lately recognized science of psychology, enthusiastic to signify its position as an autonomous discipline, responded by assertively endorsing itself in terms of societal utility (Wightman Kloppenberg 1995, p. 68). That said, behaviourism premise emanated from the work of an American psychologist John B. Watson. He did assert that psychology as a discipline was never concerned with human mind or consciousness, but rather concerned with just behaviour. This way, Watson claimed that humans could be examined, studied or evaluated impartially just like apes and rats (Cohen 1987, p. 71). Behaviourism according to Watson’s version was a stab to shun the complexities of trying to study human consciousness by limiting scientific attention to evident, overt or blatant behaviour. This version was coupled with a pivotal ambition to put in place much more thorough ways or methods to experimental research as well as report writing. Thus, the key task of psychology was none other than recognition of laws governing the link between behavioural responses and environmental stimuli, and psychology was cast as an attachment to physiology (Richards 2009, p. 35). In this way, Watson believed that psychology would provide knowledge that could be utilized to the prediction as well as control of behaviour. Therefore, his version of classical behaviourism did possess several distinct characteristics, such as: †¢ It was tremendously environmentalist †¢ Its practical vocabulary was mainly limited to not many non-mentalistic terms †¢ Its explanations were exceedingly reductionist, and †¢ The version was majorly concerned with investigational methodology (Richards 2009, p. 35). In the early 1920s, Watson assimilated the concepts of Ivan Pavlov, a Russian psychologist and included Pavlov’s ideas of reinforcement and conditioning as key theoretical notions to his classical behaviourism version. Pavlov had done a number of studies on the animal’s responses to environmental conditioning. In his best triumphant experiment, he did ring a bell as he took a number of meals to some dogs. In doing so, each and every time dogs did hear the bell ringing they knew pretty well that a meal was ready, and would start salivating (DeMar 1989, p. 1). On one instance, Pavlov did ring the bell devoid of taking food, but the dogs continued salivating since they had been habituated, conditioned or trained to salivate each time they hear a bell ringing. Watson asserted in his behaviourism version that humans responded to environmental stimuli just in the similar way (DeMar 1989, p. 1). However, Watson’s classical behaviourism was regarded too crude, he himself did refrain from academia after a divorce scandal. In his wake, several neo-behaviourists, including B. F. Skinner, Clark L. Hull and Ernest R. Hilgard took over the doctrine in an array of directions. On a different perspective, the well-known architect of a radical or less mechanistic behaviourism version was B. F. Skinner, whose premises of operant conditioning did attest potent enough to be utilized in a number of settings (Wightman Kloppenberg 1995, p. 68). At times grounded in stylish mathematical learning theories, but much more frequently established on instinctive rules of thumb, behavioural techniques were used in psychotherapy, medicine, education, advertising, business and management of mental hospitals and prisons. Given its predictable comparing of lower animals to humans, together with its firm permeation into such conventionally humanist territories as the curative education and art, it’s doubtless that Skinner’s version of radical behaviourism has long provoked controversy (Wightman Kloppenberg 1995, p. 68). What’s more, today’s behaviourism is associated with B. F. Skinner, who attained his reputation as a radical behaviourist by experimenting Watson’s assertions in the laboratory. His laboratory experiments coupled with a number of researches led him to snub Watson’s exclusive allegations on conditioning and reflexes. Skinner avowed that humans not only respond to their surroundings, but operate on their surroundings to give rise to explicit consequences (Skinner, Catania Harnad 1988, p. 3). Furthermore, Skinner came up with the ‘operant conditioning’ theory, the notion that human behave the way they do as this sort of behaviour has had explicit effects long-ago. For instance, if a boy kisses a girl when she gives him flowers, then the girl will be expected to come with flowers when she wants a kiss from him. Thus, the girl will be acting in anticipation of specific reward. Contrary to Watson, Skinner rejected the idea that feelings or the human mind play a part in determining behaviour. He instead insisted that an individual experience of reinforcements determines his or her behaviour (Skinner, Catania Harnad 1988, p. 10). Therefore, according to radical behaviourism version, one of Skinner’s objective was to shape humans’ behaviour in away to respond in a much more socially tolerable way. In his operant conditioning theory he was absolutely clear that his theory ought to be applied to guide human behaviour (Shaffer 2005, p. 45). Moreover, Skinner’s experimental analysis of human or general behaviour has resulted in an effectual, effective and efficient technology, pertinent to psychotherapy, education, as well as the design of cultural practices generally (Shaffer 2005, p. 46). In conclusion, the ethical effects of both Watson’s and Skinner’s versions of behaviourism are immense. An individual is stripped off his or her freedom, dignity, responsibility and reduced to a merely natal being, to be ‘shaped’ by behaviourists who encompass the ability to apply the tools of behaviourism efficiently. Bibliography Cohen, D. (1987). Behaviorism, Oxford Companion to Mind, Richard, L. , ed. NY; Oxford University Press. DeMar, G. (1989). Behaviorism. [Online] available http://www. forerunner. com/forerunner/X0497_DeMar_-_Behaviorism. html Richards, G. (2009). Psychology, key concepts. Milton Park; Routledge. Shaffer, D. (2005). Social personality development. Belmont; Walworth. Skinner, B. , Catania, C. , Harnad, S. (1988). Selection of behaviour, operant behaviourism of Burrhus Frederic Skinner. Melbourne; Cambridge Syndicate Press. Wightman, R. , Kloppenberg, J. (1995). A companion to American thought. Massachusetts; Blackwell.

Electronic Writing Will Not Make Books Obsolete Essay -- Internet Blog

Electronic Writing Will Not Make Books Obsolete Twenty years ago, the thought of instantly publishing your thoughts for the world to see with the simple push of a button, would have been a dream. Today, websites and on-line forums have made this dream possible. Through the years, technology has made advancements in many fields. Today, nowhere is that more apparent than in the field of writing. Electronic writing’s detractors fear that the increase of electronic writing will spell disaster for modern language. History does not support this claim however. Some additional complaints about electronic text are that it is not aesthetically pleasing and it is awkward to read. This is a copout for people unwilling to change with the times. Books will always have a place in writing, but doubters had better hop on the bandwagon soon, because computers and electronic writing are here to stay. In the educational arena, printed texts are becoming increasingly obsolete. The amount and variety of information availab le on the internet have made reading electronic text not only an option, but in some areas, a necessity. Electronic writing has changed the modern perception of who is a writer is by offering a wider range of places for authors to publish their work and opinions. Computers and the internet have become too mainstream to ignore. Electronic writing may never completely replace printed text, but its use is becoming increasingly more popular. In Into the Electronic Millennium, Sven Birkerts lists language erosion as his number one fear of â€Å"an all-electronic future (70).† â€Å"The complexity and distinctiveness of spoken and written expression, which are deeply bound to traditions of print l... ...tion. Electronic text is redefining our idea of what a writer is. It allows anyone with enough time and desire to post their writing on the internet. Anyone can now publish their volumes for the world to read. Books will always have their place, but technology is advancing, and electronic text is becoming a major force among modern forms of popular writing. Works Cited Birkets, Sven. â€Å"Into the Electronic Millennium.† Writing Materials. Eds. Evelyn Tribble and Anne Trubek. New York: Longman, 2003. 62-74. Landow, George. â€Å"Twenty Minutes into the Future, or How Are We Moving Beyond the Book?† Writing Materials. Eds. Evelyn Tribble and Anne Trubek. New York: Longman, 2003. 214-226. Sosnoski, James. â€Å"Hyper-readers and their Reading Engines.† Writing Materials. Eds. Evelyn Tribble and Anne Trubek. New York: Longman, 2003. 400-417.

A Swot Analysis of Starbucks

Introduction Starbucks is a famous coffeehouse. Until the mid-1980s it was only a provider of coffee to fine restaurants. Thereafter Howard Schultz, director of retail operations and marketing, was impressed of the popularity of coffee in Milan while he was in Europe . His idea was born. He wanted to bring the coffee bar culture to the Americans. So Starbucks started to realise his idea and so created a new trend. The clue is not only to sell coffee, but to sell an experience. Today Starbucks has got about 20 million customers each week in about 5500 coffeehouses all over the world . While haunting to increase sales more and more, Starbucks has got a special growth strategy. They open a lot of stores in a very short period of time, expanding numerous food offerings and also getting into new segments, for example supermarkets. They develop new products like bottled coffee or Starbucks-flavoured ice cream. In addition to that, Starbucks tests new coffeehouse concepts, for example with live music. Since a few years, Starbucks opens more and more stores outside America. The important question is, if Starbucks’ growth rate will continue within next years because on the one hand critics say that Starbucks grows too fast and is loosing the focus while on the other hand some critics compare Starbucks’ coffee with Mc Donald’s? hamburger and believe that they will grow up more and more as the dominant player on this market . With the help of the SWOT analysis and the BCG matrix the situation of Starbucks can be analyzed after finding out, why people pay more money for a coffee, than in other coffeehouses. What has suddenly made people across the world willing to pay three to four times more for a cup of coffee than they used to? Starbucks has created a new trend. They do not just sell coffee, they sell an experience. To drink coffee at Starbucks is different from drinking coffee in another coffeehouse according to a Starbucks executive who said, that â€Å"Starbucks is not in the business of filling bellies but in the business of filling souls† . They recognised that they were getting into a new niche, which did not exist before. While having great success, Starbucks grows rapidly to have an advantage according to a bunch of competitors who also entered this new niche. With the high-quality coffee, Starbucks creates besides a new brand a new lifestyle which is known all over the world. Furthermore, they offer a lot of different flavours which differs from other coffeehouses. But coffee is not the only reason why people are willing to pay a lot more there than in other coffeehouses. The mission statement declares that the employees’ job is not only to sell coffee. They should enthusiastically satisfy every customer to give him the special feeling and experience at Starbucks . All in all Starbucks recognised a new niche and satisfied the customers with their special flavoured and high quality coffee. To get an idea of Starbucks’ success, it is necessary to take a close look at the company by using the SWOT analysis and the BCG matrix. A SWOT analysis of Starbucks Strengths The company has a strong presence in the United States of America and a good reputation for creativity and coffee. Starbucks has started a real trend and many people enjoy drinking a Starbucks coffee. However, it is not just coffee but rather an experience Starbucks sells. Starbucks operates in more than 5,500 stores worldwide. This presence provides a wide and strong customer base. It is a global brand and is widely known. Starbucks built up a reputation for fine products and the name is a common brand label and this gives Starbucks a competitive advantage because people connect coffee with Starbucks. Every week more than 20 million customers visit Starbucks to get a coffee once or twice a day. In the last years the company could tripled their earnings. Another strength is that Starbucks has a strategy they follow. These strong principles include that Starbucks looks after their employees and threat each of them with respect. They create a nice and friendly environment that they also reflect outwards. Starbucks offers different flavours through its position as a disciplined innovator and introduces diverse products. They also pay attention to the high standards and want to offer the best quality. Starbucks decided to push into supermarkets because the majority of people bought their coffee in stores before. Therefore Starbucks came to the conclusion to make a deal with the Kraft company. This deal combines Starbucks experience in producing premium coffee with Kraft’s knowledge of marketing, selling and distributing. That was a good step for Starbucks to reach a new channel and to get the entry to 25,000 supermarkets. It makes sense that the company wants to reach the people at home and to include more people into the Starbucks lifestyle. Beyond stores, Starbucks sells its beans to hotels, several airlines and airports. Starbucks sells gourmet coffee, beans as well as gifts and related goods. (Starbucks also signed a deal to operate coffee shops within Waterstones bookshop superstores. Also the homepage of Starbucks has become successful and a ‘lifestyle portal’, where the company sells a variety of products like tea, coffee making equipment, compact discs and collectibles to satisfy their customers needs with different products. Weaknesses One of Starbucks` weakness is that their primary product is just coffee. They are therefore dependent on this main product line. Starbucks is however testing to launch food offerings like sandwiches and chips in combination with coffee. Its goal is not only to expand more and more in its offerings but also to reach further target groups . A problem is that Starbucks has a slow ability to diversify into other sectors which could be fatal because the company believes in being successful not only because it is selling coffee but rather it is selling an experience . This makes them different from other competitors who might only sell coffee. â€Å"Coffee Lifestyle† may vary from time to time due to the fact that the global coffee market is a very competitive sector . Another weakness are high prices of its products. People pay up to $3. 15 for a caffe latte. One supposes that people buy this product only because they think that it is a premium product . But it is especially the brand name which tempts customers to buy the product without taking the high prices into consideration. As already mentioned before, the customer is not only buying the product, he is buying it with an experience. Another weakness of Starbucks is that they are simply relying on the philosophy that coffee is just an experience. There exists no doubt a good marketing strategy but it is questionable if this is helpful to maintain over time on the market with the strategy of only focusing on one product. â€Å"We are not in business of filling bellies; we’re in the business of filling souls† says one Starbucks executive. That shows another very good and appealing philosophy of Starbucks. This makes the product and its uniqueness but it is only a question of time when people are saturated of this experience. You have to point out that Starbucks itself tries hard to achieve this effect by the people through a competent public relationship. Opportunities Starbucks has a widespread presence and practices in about 1. 415 stores and just last year they build up 400 new stores. The company has seen opportunities to open further stores all over the world due to the heavy demand and space to expand. For example Indiana in the US has only one Starbucks. Furthermore, Starbucks has the opportunity to expand its global operations. The company is now expanding rapidly and in 2003 the number of stores has increased in 24 international markets compared to 1996 when they had only 11 stores outside the United States. Starbucks also tests new food which represents that food might be the next step they want to go. With this the company would have the chance to offer food that could be successful as its coffee. They test everything from doughnuts to Greek pasta salads. Starbucks also teamed up with PepsiCo to adopt the brand on Frappuccino drinks and a newDoubleShot expresso drink. Beyond this Starbucks ice cream is nowadays a leading brand of coffee ice cream after Starbucks established a joint venture with Breyer’s. In addition, Starbucks invested in Cafe Starbucks, a European-style family bistro, where the costumer has a wide choice from huckleberry-pancakes too oven-roasted seared sirloin. Alongside, Starbucks is testing Circadia, a new food venture, where the customers have Internet access and listen to live music. Starbucks has always been able to offer new coffee experiences as well as creating new products or opening new kinds of stores. Threats One of the biggest threats of Starbucks is its grand expansion all over the world. When launching a new product numerous customers are visiting the company’s stores world wide each week. It is especially Starbucks growth strategy which stands for a threat for the company. Starbucks especially concentrates on store growth. Almost 85 per cent of sales are generated through its stores. Although they have great success, Starbucks always finds new places for further expansion on the local as well as on the national market with being aware of the fact that the local as well as the national market may be saturated of its product. The creation of new retail channels also shows that Starbucks is not concerned about peoples` rejection or about failing to be successful. Apart from their strong presence in kiosks, several airlines, hotels and the co-operation with Waterstones’ bookshop superstores, Starbucks enters 25,000 supermarkets to sell their products next to their strong competitors like Nestle and Kraft. They also offer coffee, tea and its equipment on its website to be internationally present for a wider target group. To intensify its presence they are not deterred by joining with other companies to have its logo to be seen everywhere. Several ideas should achieve various people. They are full of ideas only of the fact of not wanting to stop their expansion. However, the international growth is remarkable. While having only 11 coffee-houses in 1996 outside North-America, they now launch their products into 24 international markets. The great success of Starbucks has also brought negative consequences for the company because many competitors try to imitate them. These are companies like Caribou Coffee, Costa Coffee, and Coffee Republic. However, it is very hard to maintain on the global coffee market which is a very competitive sector. These days one speaks about an increasingly over caffeinated marketplace. So Starbucks must compete against the offers of restaurants, coffee shops and street carts. A major competitor with substantially greater financial, marketing and operating resources than Starbucks could enter the market at any time and compete directly against the company. Starbucks must be aware of competition on all levels and maintain its operational performance if it is to retain status as the world’s leading specialty coffee retailer. Finally you could say that Starbucks is more concerned about the fact that there are still plenty of local places as well as internationally places which is not taken over by them. Instead of being worried about the fact that their rapid expansion could also lead to a rapid decrease and failure in several markets. The whole marketing strategy of Starbucks may cause to a loss of the main focus through stretching its resources by further expansion. Main focus should be first put on the product itself and not on international expansion in this way. Why not ensure the popularity of the product itself than making it something normal due to the fact that it is present almost everywhere. It can be seen undoubtedly that Starbucks has the potential for development in many different ways but it has to have its growth under control. This may be a challenge for Starbucks. BCG Matrix The BCG matrix is an instrument, developed in the early 1970? s by the Boston Consulting Group to analyze the product portfolio of a company or a business unit. The matrix is based on the product life circle. The matrix is mainly used in the strategic marketing sector. The matrix shows in a coordinate plan the positions of different strategic business units. The interesting categories are on the one side the business growth rate on the y-axis and the market share on the x-axis. The method brings cognitions in three relevant areas: ?Analysis of the strategic position of a company. ?Determine the capital in the several business units with a view on the whole company and therefore the cash flow in the company. ?Every quadrant responds to a norm strategy which could be used as a guideline to verbalize strategic activities in the company . It is also necessary to look after the whole portfolio especially on the statistical financial compensation. The products in the portfolio should be based upon on another and finance one another. To create a long-term value a company should have a portfolio of products that includes fast growing products which need a high input of money and slowly growing products which are creating a high amount of cash. The BCG matrix has two dimensions: relative market share and market growth rate. The idea behind this matrix is: if a product has a high market share or the market of the product is growing fast than it is an advantage for the company. Analysis of Starbucks using the BCG Matrix Cash cows: Benefits from the generation of cash should be high. Because of the low-growth rate capital expenditures which are necessary should be hold low. Often cash cows are the stars of yesterday and build the base of a company . One of Starbucks’ cash cows is their coffee ice cream. This is a relatively risk free investment that doesn’t absorb great amounts of cash. Through the partnership with Breyers, Starbucks doesn’t need to spend money on the production process. With Breyer? experience and the Starbucks name the ice cream was sure to succeed on the market. With it now being one of the market leaders on the coffee ice cream market, Starbucks can â€Å"milk† it and benefit from the sales, knowing that there is not a high cost factor. Another, but quite small cash cow is their bottled Frappuccino drink. Once again Starbucks took on a similar strategy by working with an already established beverage manufactur er. The investments are once again a lot lower than their sales, giving them a high profit margin. Stars: Stars use a high amount of cash. These are leader in the business and hence they should create a high amount of cash. Stars are often in balance with the net cash-flow. The company should do their best to hold the market share on stars because stars will become cash-cows if the market-share is held by the company . Starbucks’ biggest star is the coffee sold and consumed in their coffee shops (stores). With an incredible 85% of sales coming from their stores it is their biggest source of cash intake . Although competitors offering similar products have emerged, the market growth still looks promising. Some states like Alabama and Mississippi don’t have any Starbucks stores meaning that there is still a large market to expand onto. The people living in these states have not been able to enjoy a cup of Starbucks coffee. The revenues from their coffee sales should therefore be used to invest in new stores making it possible to sell their coffee. Another one of their stars is the packaged coffee sold in supermarkets. With the help of Kraft Starbucks has gained quick access to the packaged coffee market. Thus they have been able to quickly increase their market share on a rapidly growing market . Unlike their other joint ventures with PepsiCo and Breyers, Starbucks has done more than just put their name on the product. As they are still roasting and packaging their own coffee they need to invest a lot to further establish their position on the market. Dogs: Dogs are discontinued models of the company. A company should minimize, better avoid the number of dogs. Dogs have to make cash, otherwise they are divested . Starbucks? dog is the sandwiches sold in their stores. Although they experiment with different foods in their stores, they do not make a lot of profit from food sales. Furthermore it can be said that the sandwich market is not growing and Starbucks do not have a high market share. However, this SBU should not be divested immediately as it may help them to draw in further customers who know that they will be able to grab a sandwich to go with their coffee. Question marks: Question marks are the newcomer of the products. The have a high growth-potential. They have the worst cash features of all, because they have a high demand of cash but perform low outcomes because of their low market-share. If the market-share is unchanged are question marks using a high amount of cash. The management has to decide to invest in the product or to give it up. Starbuck’s further attempts to boost their growth such as selling coffee to airlines and hotels can be classified as question marks. At the moment the demand for premium coffee to be sold in airports and hotels might be high, but so far only Marriott, Sheraton and Westin have deals with Starbucks meaning that there are a lot of hotels not selling their coffee . If they want to expand on this market they will need to invest a lot of money into new deals with other hotels. It will take time before they can increase their market share and make a profit. Cafe Starbucks and Circadia, two new store concepts are also question marks. At the moment they are only experimenting to see how customers will react to a different kind of Starbucks experience. Setting up a chain of these new concepts will require a lot of money and time before they can establish themselves on the market. If they succeed in competing with other cafes of a similar style this SBU could be another profitable SBU in the future After positioning Starbucks? products on the BCG matrix it can be said that they have a stable source of revenue. With the majority of their sales coming from the coffee sold in their stores and two profitable, if on a smaller scale, joint ventures they have enough money to invest in other new products or stores to ensure that they will be as successful in the future. Besides investing this money in new stores enabling them to serve an even larger market, it can be invested in their coffee sold in supermarkets. Rapid growth of the premium coffee segment indicates that it won’t be long before a number of competitors force their way onto the market. Investing into this SBU will enable it to develop into a cash cow in the future. Regarding the sandwiches sold in their stores they need to reconsider if this is something they should continue to invest in the future. The prospects for the future look promising as they have two strong stars and other smaller products that can carry the company in the future. Looking at Starbucks as a whole it can be seen as a star. Although there are a number of â€Å"copycats† trying to move in on their market share, there is still the potential for the company to grow. Up until now not all states have their own Starbucks store, an indication that the market is still growing. Although they have tripled their sales and profits over the last 5 years, they need this money to invest in new stores in states such as Alabama and Mississippi and their new store concepts such as Cafe Starbucks . If they are able to expand successfully and the market ceases to grow they will eventually turn into a cash cow.

Introduction to Internet Addiction

Introduction to Internet Addiction Ten years ago, the only people who spent a majority of their leisure time on the computer were paid members of the technology industry. Today, however, surfing the Web has become a pastime as social and marketable as bar hopping or going to the movies. As the web has become a part of mainstream life, some mental health professionals have noted that a percentage of people using the web do so in a compulsive and out-of-control manner.In one extreme (1997)  Cincinnati case, unemployed mother Sandra Hacker allegedly spent over 12 hours a day secluded from her three young and neglected children while she surfed the Web. For better or for worse, this phenomena of compulsive Internet use has been termed ‘Internet Addiction' based on its superficial similarity to common addictions such as smoking, drinking, and gambling. Internet Addiction has even been championed as an actual disorder, notably by psychologists Kimberly Young, Ph. D and David Greenf ield, Ph. D.. However, at this time the true nature of Internet Addiction is not yet determined.In a true addiction, a person becomes compulsively dependent upon a particular kind of stimulation to the point where obtaining a steady supply of that stimulation becomes the sole and central focus of their lives. The addict increasingly neglects his work duties, relationships and ultimately even his health in his drive to remain stimulated. In some cases of addiction (such as addiction to alcohol or to heroin), a phenomenon known as tolerance occurs, wherein more and more stimulation is required to produce the same pleasurable effect.A related phenomena, withdrawal, can also occur, wherein the addicted person comes to be dependent upon their source of stimulation and experiences dramatically unpleasant (and even potentially lethal — as can be the case with alcohol) reactions when he goes without it. Sources of addictive stimulation can be chemical (as is the case with addictive d rugs such as alcohol, cocaine, nicotine and heroin), sensual (as in sex) or even informational (as in gambling or workaholism).What all sources of addictive stimulation have in common is that they provoke a strong, usually positive (at first) reaction in the potential addict, who then seeks out the source of that stimulation so as to obtain that feeling on a regular basis. While many people like to engage in sexual relations, or gamble, or have the occasionally drink because of the pleasure to be had, clearly not all people who do so are addicts. Rather, the term ddiction only applies when someone's stimulation seeking gets to the point where it starts interfering with their ability to function normally and non-neglectfully at work and in relationships. Mental health professionals are split as to whether or not Internet addiction is real. No one disputes that some people use the Internet in a compulsive manner even to a point where it interferes with their their ability to function at work and in social relationships. What is disputed is whether people can become addicted to the Internet itself, or rather to the stimulation and information that the web provides.The controversy surrounding Internet Addiction is precisely whether people become addicted to the net itself, or to the stimulation to be had via the net (such as online gambling, pornography or even simple communication with others via chat and bulletin boards). Some psychologists do not believe in addiction to the Internet itself, but rather in addiction to stimulation that the Internet provides. They suggests that new Internet users often show an initial infatuation with the novelty of the Web, but eventually lose interest and decrease their time spent online back to a normal, healthy amount.Those users who do go on to show compulsive Internet utilization, for the most part become compulsive only with regard to particular types of information to be had online, most often gambling, pornography, chat r oom or shopping sites. This is not an addiction to the Internet itself, but rather to risk-taking, sex, socializing or shopping. In essence then, the chief addictive characteristic of the Internet is its ability to enable instant and relatively anonymous social stimulation. Addicted† Internet users are addicted to a favored kind of social stimulation and not to the Internet itself, although it is also true that the Internet has made it vastly easier and more convenient for someone to develop such a compulsion. Because the Internet is used by many people as a normal part of their career or education, knowing how to separate excessive from normal use becomes difficult and cannot be accomplished using simple measures such as amount of time spent online in a given period. Most fundamental in differentiating normal from problem Internet use is the experience of compulsion to use the net.Normal users, no matter how heavy their usage, do not  need  to get online and do not neglec t their occupational duties or their relationships with family and friends to get online. Help for Internet related addiction is available from multiple sources. Anyone concerned about serious problem Internet usage should consider consulting with a local licensed psychologist, social worker or counselor, specifically one with experience treating addictions. Cognitive therapy based approaches are recommendable due to their systematic and direct focus on reducing problem use and preventing relapse, and the strong scientific support for the approach.Marital and or family therapy approaches may be useful as well when an individual's Internet Addiction is affecting their larger family system (such as might be the case when a husband uses Internet-based pornography as his sole sexual outlet, leaving his wife frozen out). More than a few books and self-help resources (such as audio tape sets) are also available for those who want to educate themselves on the problem. Our Internet Addictio n Treatment article provides further detail.

Mid Term Review Essay

Mid Term Review Essay Mid Term Review Essay Services Marketing Midterm Review Chapter 1: Understanding Services Marketing * Four characteristics of services (pg. 9-11): * Intangibility: cannot be seen, touched, held, or put on a shelf, because they lack a physical existence or form * Customer cannot purchase physical ownership of an â€Å"experience† (entertainment), â€Å"time† (consulting), or a â€Å"process† (dry cleaning). This intangible nature prevents customers fro, examining services before their actual enactment. * Inseparability: the production and consumption of the service occur simultaneously * Suggests that interaction between the customer and the service provider must occur for the service to happen * Often, the customer is in the physical presence of the service provider; and in many instances the customer must also come to the site where the service is produced. * Variability: it is hard for a service organization to standardize the quality of its service performance * Unlike physical goods, services often rely on human p erformance, which can vary across workers and customers and from one time to the next. Further, because services are consumed as they are produced, little or no opportunity arises to correct a defective service before it reaches the customer. * Perishability: most services cannot be produced and stored before consumption; they exist only at the time of their production. * After-sales service agreement is a supplementary service (pg. 9): * Manufactured goods come with after-sales service, and other manufactured durable goods come with a warranty * Even nondurable and consumable products often possess a customer service element * Services and physical good often have both tangible and intangible characteristics (pg. 8-9) * At one end of the continuum are pure services, at the other end pure goods; although it is hard to argue that pure services and pure goods exist, counseling services and table salt would clearly fall at opposite ends of the continuum * Both physical goods and servic e marketers need to exercise creativity (pg.9) * Services marketing is relevant not only to service producers but to physical goods manufacturers as well; many successful manufacturing firms have differentiated their products by offering superior customer service Chapter 2: Frameworks for Managing the Customer’s Experience * Service Frameworks (pg. 21-26) * May perform several important functions: * Help services marketers understand service experiences by breaking services down into their individual components * Make communicating about diverse services much easier, because frameworks may include components applicable to all services * Identify specific issues organizations should consider in designing their service delivery * Specify relationships among various components that combine to produce the customer’s service experience * Any service experience can be categorized into four components: * (1) the service workers: those who interact with the customer and those who contribute to the service delivery out of the customer’s sight * (2) the service setting: both the environment in which the service is provided to the customer and areas of the organization to which the customer normally has little access * (3) the servi ce customers: the persons receiving the service as well as others who share the service setting with them * (4) the service process: the sequence of activities necessary to deliver the service * Three types of frameworks: * The Services Marketing Mix * Most common version of the marketing mix , known as the â€Å"Four Ps† of marketing, emphasizes the key roles of product, price, promotion, and place in the development of a marketing strategy * Services marketing mix adds three new Ps- participants, physical

The 9 Best Places to Do Community Service

The 9 Best Places to Do Community Service SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Community service is a great way to help others, as well give you valuable skills and experiences.There are a lot of ways to get involved in community service, and choosing the best place to volunteer your time can be difficult. Our guide gives examples of some of the top places to do community service, as well as steps to help you decide which place is best for you. What Is Community Service and Why Should You Participate in It? Community service is work done by a person or group of people that benefits others. It is often done near the area where you live, so your own community reaps the benefits of your work.You do not get paid to do community service, but you can include your experience on your resume and college applications. There are many benefits to participating in community service; some of the most common are listed below: Gives you an opportunity to help others Helps you gain experience and new skills Helps improve your community Chance to make new friends Can cause personal growth How Can You Decide Where to Do Community Service? There is no community service location or activity that is â€Å"best† for everyone.You should decide where to perform community service based on your interests and skills, as well as your community’s demand for volunteers. Ask yourself the following questions: What Do I EnjoyDoing? Do you like working with kids? You may want to consider volunteering at a school. Are you an animal lover? Maybe a local shelter is the best place for your community service.Doing something you like will make your community service more enjoyable, and make it more likely for you to continue volunteering. What Kind of Career Do I Want? It’s not a requirement, but if your community service helps you get skills needed for future jobs, that’s an added bonus that will give you extra motivation as you volunteer.For example, if you want to be a doctor, you may consider doing community service at a hospital or nursing home. Which Problems Do I Want to Help Solve? Are you concerned about the environment? Animal cruelty? Education standards?Chances are you’ll be able to find a community service project related to an issue you care about. Which Places in My Community Are Important to Me? When I was a teenager, I chose to do community service at my local library because I had spent many afternoons there while growing up. Participating in the library’s summer reading program as a child had led to my love of reading, so when I got older, I felt good about volunteering for the program and helping other kids learn to love books.If there is a particular place in your community that’s important to you, whether it’s a park you played at as a child or the nursing home where your grandfather lives, performing community service there lets you show your gratitude and appreciation. Where Can You Find Ways to Participate in Community Service? Your School If you are a student, see if your school has any clubs for people interested in performing community service; many highs schools have a volunteering organization or something similar. Your Community Center This is wherever your community posts notices and information. It could be at a town hall, community meeting place, or on your town’s website.In addition to other information about your community, people and places looking for volunteers will often post notices here. Places Where You'd Like to Volunteer If you have a specific place where you’d like to perform community service, such as a nursing home or animal shelter, contact them and ask if they take volunteers. Online Sometimes a simple internet search can get you numerous volunteer opportunities. Search â€Å"community service ideas near [your town]† and see what comes up. The 9 Best Places to Do Community Service Below is a list of the most common places to perform community service. Each place has a brief description, examples of work you might perform as a volunteer and suggestions for the types of people who might be most interested in performing community service there. Hospitals Hospitals are often in need of volunteers for a variety of activities, and while you probably won’t start off with a lot of responsibility, if you volunteer at the same hospital for an extended period of time, you will likely be given more duties that you may be able to tailor to your interests. Examples of work:Delivering gifts to patients, interacting and playing with young patients, stocking medical supplies, and transporting patients to different rooms. Good for people who:are considering a career in the medical field, enjoy fast-paced work, and aren’t squeamish around illness. Schools Schools are one of the most popular places to perform community service, and many are in frequent need of volunteers. You can volunteer at your own school, a school you used to attend, or a different school. Examples of work:Tutoring students, chaperoning events, creating school murals, and supervising after-school programs. Good for people who:like working with children or teenagers, are creative, enjoy teaching, or are considering a career in education. Animal Shelters Animal shelters often have small budgets and a large number of animals who need to find homes, requiring many of them to need volunteers so that they can maximize the number of pets they care for. Examples of work:Feeding animals, cleaning cages, providing basic veterinary care, walking dogs, and interviewing potential owners. Good for people who:enjoy spending time with animals or are considering a career in animal care. Nursing Homes Many nursing homes and retirement communities rely on volunteers to keep residents active and organize fun events. Examples of work: Reading to or interacting with residents, hosting events like dances and bingo nights, and assisting residents with daily activities. Good for people who: enjoy spending time with senior citizens, are considering a career in health care, or have an outgoing personality. Food Banks Food banks, also known as soup kitchens or food depositories, are places where people can donate food that is then given to homeless or low-income people. Food banks provide several billion meals a year, and they rely on volunteers to continue their work reducing hunger. Some also grow their own food and serve meals on-site. Examples of work: Sorting food donations, organizing food drives, and delivering meals. Good for people who:enjoy cooking or gardening, don't need a lot of interaction with their beneficiaries or enjoy helping the poor as a social issue. Places of Worship Churches, synagogues, and other places of worship regularly have opportunities for community service. These activities can be related to the religion and spreading its message, but other times they are completely secular. Examples of work: Participating in mission trips, building houses, collecting donations, and teaching a religion class for children. Good for people who:enjoy their place of worship's sense of community or are interested in spreading their religion’s message. Libraries Your local library probably has multiple options for community service. Demand tends to be particularly high in the summer when more families visit and participate in library programs. Examples of work: Helping with a summer reading program, organizing donated books, helping with office work, and greeting and assisting patrons. Good for people who:enjoy reading, like working with children, or are good at organizing things. Museums Museums often need volunteers, and they can be a great place to do community service because you can choose a museum that focuses on your interests, whether that’s art, history, or something else. Examples of work:Cataloging specimens, leading tours, greeting guests, and assisting at special events. Good for people who:enjoy teaching, are interested in the museum’s exhibits, or are considering a career in the museum’s focus, such as natural history or art. Parks or Natural Areas Many natural areas are in need of volunteers as well. These places can range from a famous national park to the small playground down the street. Examples of work: Planting trees, collecting trash, designing gardens, creating new walking paths, and collecting data on wildlife. Good for people who:are interested in the environment or enjoy being outdoors. Note that these ideas are just starting points- definitely think about your own interests, research the options, and then branch out to find a really good fit! What's Next? Thinking about doing community service in a foreign country? Read our guide on whether you should participate in a volunteer abroad program. Do you want to know more about community service in general? Read our guide on what community service is, how it benefits you, and how to start getting involved. Wondering how your community service can help you apply to college? We have a guide that explains how to write about your extracurriculars on college applications.

Research report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Research report - Essay Example Prior to the split up, the entire central Asian region fell under administration of Moscow. Moscow’s administration had structured mechanisms meant to ensure equitable distribution of water and energy resources within the region (Murodbek 261). However, independence from Soviet Union ushered in unprecedented challenges to the nations under consideration. Main rivers supplying domestic and agricultural water to the five nations originate from mountain ranges within Tajikistan and the neighboring Kyrgyzstan, and then flows downstream through the other remaining three nations and finally drains into Aral Sea. From a rational perspective, the two nations within the upstream region should ensure undisrupted flow of water to nations lying on the downstream region. On the other hand, downstream nations are rich in oil and gas energy sources. This means that they will return the undisrupted water supply favor by pumping oil and gas to Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan (Murodbek 261). This pla n worked efficiently under the Soviet Union administration before secession of Central Asian sovereign territories. Despite the fact that this resource sharing strategy sounds simple and logical, current state of affairs between the nations involved does not conform to this strategy. Consequently, lack of conformance to equitable sharing of resources has led to technical hitches within economic, social and political relationships between nations in the entire region. As an illustrative example, generation of hydro-electric power by nations in the upstream region like Tajikistan as met vehement disapproval from downstream counterparts (Murodbek 263). At this juncture, this essay will develop a comprehensive analysis on causes and effects of the water-energy crisis. In addition, an extrapolation of the theme will examine existence of similar problems in other nations around the globe. Nations lying within the upstream section of Central Asia, especially Tajikistan engages in intensive agricultural activities as their main economic activities. In the recent past, necessity to expand the nation’s economic sector led to expansion of agriculture through irrigation. As a result, Tajikistan diverted large volumes of water from the two main rivers serving the region into the irrigated tracks of land. This increased supply of water to farms was not going to be seasonal. The huge tracks of land lie within an arid and semi-desert regions of the nation. This means that irrigation requires sustained amount of water supply to meet agricultural production demands. In this case, extensive irrigation of cotton and wheat farms remained as the central economic activity in the lower part of Tajikistan (Murodbek 263). In addition, other nations including Kazakhstan tapped river water in the middle of flowing channels conveyed them directly to their farms. In this regard, every nation tried to expand its agricultural sector by utilizing the only available water from the two m ain river channels. Consequently, this caused a pronounced shortage of total water flowing down stream. This means that economic and social activities of people living within the affected nations would experience difficulties (Murodbek 265). At this juncture, expansion of irrigation fed agriculture featured as one of the main cause in the water-energy crisis in Central Asian region. Apart from irrigation, energy generation through hydro-electricity played a significant role in causing the water-energy

Business law case study questions Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Business law questions - Case Study Example Thus under the general notion, the company is liable for its debts and not the shareholders. (Ridley 2011) The landmark decision in respect of company incorporation was of Salomon v Salomon ([1897] AC 22) where Mr. Salomon, formed a company which included his wife, five children and himself (so as to fulfill requirements of shareholders as per the Companies Act prevailing at that time). He went on to purchase the sole trading business which was operated by him albeit overvaluing the business, but that too because of his confidence in the business. The company went into liquidation and the liquidator evaluated that the company was a sham and was an agent of Salomon and conclusion was that he should be held personally liable to the debts of the company. The House of Lords reversing the decision of the Court of Appeal observed that it was reasonable if shareholders held shares merely to fulfill technical requirements and so the procedure of setting up a business could be used by any per son and if so done it would be a separate legal entity. The current Companies Act 2006 (s.7) allows a company to be formed by a single person. The next decision that was made by the House of Lords was Macaura v Northern Assurance Co. ([1925] AC 619) the court went on to say that under corporate personality assets belong to the company (Dignam et al 2012). The courts have scrutinized the concept of separate legal entity by lifting the veil of incorporation, whereby rights and liabilities of company and shareholders are treated as the same thereby removing the concept of limited liability as a result of which the shareholders are held liable for the acts of the company. This is known as lifting the veil, which is done mainly where the company is found to be a â€Å"sham† or â€Å"fraud†. The current position in respect of lifting the veil is that of Adams v Cape Industries plc where it was held that the veil would be lifted only if the company is created with the intent or purpose of fraud or where the reason was for avoidance of an existing obligation. (Dignam et al 2012) In respect of the position of McDaid Development (Ireland) Ltd and its shareholder, it is important to note that McDaid is a private limited company and has one shareholder who owns all the shares. Under the Companies Act 2006, a single person can also set up a company. The benefit that the shareholder would derive from the company is that of limited liability which means liability would be limited to the extent of unpaid shares and the shareholder would not be held accountable for the losses that have been incurred by McDaid Development (Ireland) Ltd. Q2. The Companies Act 2006 prescribes several duties on company directors. Discuss the general duties of directors according to the law. Analyze and discuss the duties breached by Peter McDaid as the managing director of McDaid Developments (Ireland) Ltd. In accordance with the provisions of section 171 of the Companies Act 2006, t he directors must act within powers and to exercise them for a proper purpose. If a director breaches the same such breach is generally considered to be a breach of the director’s duty to act in good faith. Difficulties have arisen when the directors act in good faith but not for a proper purpose. In the decision of the Privy Council in Howard Smith Ltd. v.