Business system analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Business system analysis - Essay Example ructure is created to visually demonstrate the clients what their needs can seem similar to when they are applied into a completed system (Sommerville, 2009). Evolutionary prototyping method is a software development lifecycle model in which software prototype developed for illustration and requirements explanation. There are four main phases in Evolutionary prototyping model: (SoftDevTeam) Evolutionary Prototyping is also recognized as breadboard prototyping. Evolutionary Prototyping is moderately dissimilar from Throwaway Prototyping. The major objective to utilize Evolutionary Prototyping is to develop an extremely strong prototype in a prearranged way and continuously process it. The cause intended for this is that the Evolutionary prototype, at what time developed, shapes the compassion of the novel system, as well as the developments and additional requirements will be developed (Hanna Kulas, 2009). A class diagram graphically demonstrates classes and subclasses in a system(Shelly, Cashman and Vermaat). A class diagram is a diagram that demonstrates the associations as well as source code dependability amongst classes in the UML or Unified Modeling Language (Ambler, 2009). A class outlines the techniques and variables in an object that is a precise body in a plan or the component of code instead of that entity. The Class diagrams are practical in the entire shapes of OOP or object-oriented programming. The idea is a number of years mature on the other hand have been advanced like object-oriented programming modeling paradigms have developed (Searchsoa, 2009). Below is an example of Class diagram: A use case is a task that an actor who interacts with an information system can carry out(Shelly, Cashman and Vermaat). A Use case is intended to elucidate a series of events that offer something of quantifiable worth to an actor as well as is drawn like a horizontal ellipse (Ambler, UML 2 Use Case Diagrams, 2009). In software engineering, the utilization of a

Foreign Market Entry and Diversification Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Foreign Market Entry and Diversification - Essay Example The paper discusses the need for diversification strategies of the companies that adopt means and methods to excel in their respective industry and reap untapped profits from the market. Specifically speaking about the diversification strategies of Amazon and Campbell Soup Company, the discussion assesses the company overview and performance along with the outcomes of their implied diversification strategies. Discussion The diversification strategy is that the company adds new products and simultaneously existing markets. This access to new activities, either by internal or external growth the company does operate in competitive environments, new result is a set of physical and organizational changes affecting the structure of the company and represents a clear break with its past history Kenny, G., (2009). 1. A combination vertical merger implies that control various stages of production the same product. 2. A horizontal combination is one formed by companies in an industry that dev elop same products. Part 2 & 3 To address these two parts of the assignment we are taking example of Amazon and are going to describe its diversification strategy for entering in the foreign market Overview It was Jeffrey Bezos after leaving his job as a programmer on Wall Street, has set the objective to build the best online store in the world (not the first, the best) with an obsessive idea: given to the buyer as the best trading experience. And he founded in 1994 with based in a garage in Seattle - USA, the company Amazon as the first virtual library on the Web. Today is an online retailer of books, music and more, offering services that traditional retailers cannot offer low prices, selections and large well-documented information about the products. According to Bezos, the future of the electronic sale is in the identification of supply, for example, the buyer is setting out the products that best fit your tastes based on their previous purchases .Their policies are strategic expansion and diversification, since Amazon does not want its brand associated with a product category, but is associated with the idea that works for customers. Assessing the Success Amazon successfully adopts the strategy of vertical diversification and effectively collaborates with the suppliers, customers and all other stake holders who are related with the company. Indeed, Amazon was the first to explicitly numbered line every step of the process and accompanies their clients to visit them. Amazon created the Amazon's Publisher's Advantage with other publishers. Amazon has managed to revolutionize the market, thanks to a surprising relationship management with the customer and the supplier (Doebeli, M., 2011). Amazon follows the principles of convenience and peace of mind by ensuring customers the security of purchases. It was the first site to accept online credit card (explaining in detail its operation) and for customers who are still wary, offers e-mail or fax as an alterna tive method to provide the information in your credit card. Amazon has done an excellent job in recruiting and satisfaction of stakeholders: publishers, distributors and other online retailers. Since all find it easy to operate with Amazon, the overall customer experience improves substantially. The secret lies in attracting Amazon customer information to learn more and grow faster. For the first time since its creation, Amazon.com

Analysis of Vietnams Logistics Industry

Analysis of Vietnams Logistics Industry Vietnam has developed economy markedly after adopting economic reforms in 1986, becoming one of the fastest growing economies in Asia. The incessant efforts of the state towards international economic integration such as the implements of bilateral trade agreements, achieving memberships of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and, most recently, entering to the World Trade Organization (WTO), has made further strong changes in Vietnams trade and economic regime. However, to continue impression by state economic growth, Vietnam needs to pass challenges such as reforming its regulatory environment and legal framework and, equally important, improving the infrastructure for the transportation and logistics sectors. Transportation and logistics have important role in Vietnams development. This study will focus on Viet Nams logistics industry that can continue to be facilitators of countrys economic progress, however there are a number of potential challenges that must first be addressed. 1. Introduction Vietnam is one of fastest-growing sourcing and manufacturing locations in the world average export growth rate was the highest in the region during the last decade. The country has become a focal point for off-shore purchase for global manufacturers looking for even lower cost locations than others in Area. By favorable conditions, there are opportunities as well as challenges for the transport and logistics sector in Viet Nam. This research will analyze Vietnam logistics industry through models such as Porters five force, PESTLE analysis and Product life cycle to introduce recommendations for development of logistics industry in Vietnam 2. Porters five force analysis Source: http://www.caneval.com/images/pictures/fiveforcesmodel.jpg Threats of new entrants High Threat of new entry can be characterized as high due to Vietnam must entirely open the logistics market for foreign companies in 2012 following its commitment to the World Trade Organization (WTO). This is a big difficulty for Vietnamese logistics businesses that have to compete with foreign companies that have greater capital and better competitiveness. Threat of substitutes Medium E-commerce will open a new market for players in the logistics field. Logistics and distribution systems that function efficiently and effectively in all respects will be crucial for the success of the companies involved. This implies that manufacturing companies, and especially logistics companies, must identify and create effective logistics solutions in order to compete on the marketplace. Bargaining power of suppliers Medium The inefficiencies of the air and ocean transportation system and a lack of supporting infrastructure on the landside, including warehousing and depot facilities are hampering the growth of efficient logistics practices in the country. However, Government initiatives to improve logistics infrastructure and increased participation of international operators are expected to improve the logistics landscape in Vietnam. Bargaining power of buyers Medium/High The Vietnamese logistics industry has great potential for development, which domestic businesses have not yet made the most of. At this time, domestic companies handle just 18 percent of total import-exports, with the rest being catered for by foreign logistics companies. Inadequate logistics infrastructure including incomplete road systems running to seaports, warehouses, and airports has resulted in increased logistics costs. This disadvantage has hampered the development of the Vietnamese logistics sector. Rivalry among existing firms High There are more than 800 mostly small-sized logistics businesses in Vietnam, and they remain modest in terms of capital, technology and manpower. In addition, logistics infrastructure is inadequate, and there are many legal barriers hindering the development of logistics in Vietnam. Leading international logistics companies are expected to expand their presence in Vietnam through direct investment and joint ventures. The operating environment for service providers is likely to improve as the understanding of the benefits of an integrated logistics system increases among policy makers and end-users. Presently, the Vietnam shipping industry is dominated by international carriers who are able to provide global coverage and a wide range of services. The local carriers are largely focused on domestic and regional shipping services within South East Asia. As a result of the terms for accession to the WTO, Vietnam has allowed foreign shipping companies to establish joint ventures with majority foreign ownership. 2. Analysis on PESTLE of Vietnamese logistics industry PESTLE analysis is used to identify factors of macro environments of Viet Nam in logistics industrial development relying on five basic elements such as Politics, Economy, Society, Technology, Legal and Environment. Political factor Laws and regulations effected within the logistics industry are dependent on the political environment which formulates such laws and regulations. Governmental policies and regulations of Viet Nam on the logistics industry are not clear enough to create conditions for the countrys fledgling logistics industry to develop. Recently, favorable policies for industrial activity have led to the growth of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows and the establishment of more privately-owned Vietnamese enterprises. This has given great momentum to the nations industrial sector and resulted in the multi-fold growth of its international trade. Table 1 Strength of investor protection index (0-10) Indicator Vietnam East Asia Pacific OECD Average Extent of disclosure index (0-10) 6 5.1 5.9 Extent of director liability index (0-10) 0 4.6 5.0 Ease of shareholder suits index (0-10) 2 6.3 6.6 Strength of investor protection index (0-10) 2.7 5.3 5.8 Source: http://www.doingbusiness.org/ExploreEconomies/?economyid=202 Economic scale The businesses expanded beyond national boundaries and extended their global reach to take advantage of new markets and cheaper resources, so the movements of goods created new demands for the transportation and logistics industry. Rising inflation and global competition gave rise to greater pressures on businesses to minimise the costs of operation, including implementation of just-in-time inventory management systems, etc., and also created demands for speed and accuracy in all aspects of business. Vietnams imports and exports have been consistently increasing and the economy has shown a healthy growth rate of on average 7.6 percent per annum between 2001- 2006.   The countrys exports and imports for the year 2008 totalled US$ 144 billion, a 21 percent increase from 2007.   The increased trading activity had created strong demand and huge opportunity to the logistics service providers, especially in the freight forwarding sector.   Figure 1 Viet Nam total exports and imports 1990 2008 (Unit: Millions of USD) Source: General statistics office of Viet Nam Moreover, foreign investment has also been rising steadily in the Vietnamese logistics sector and is expected to increase further with the countrys entry to the WTO.   There are a large number of foreign logistics companies which are in the process of obtaining or have already obtained their licences to operate as a wholly foreign owned companies or joint ventures in Vietnam.   With the increasing penetration of multinationals, the market is expected to grow during the next five years, with service levels reaching international standards. In Vietnam, the Government aims to invest as much as 10 percent of its GDP on infrastructure including the transport, energy and telecommunications sectors.   The private sector is expected to play an expanded role in financing the highway, seaport and airport projects.   Improved infrastructure developments and ancillary services such as warehousing, depots and distribution centres will further boost the demand for logistics services and create huge business opportunities for the existing logistics service providers. Figure 2 Foreign direct investment projects licensed in period 1988 2008 Source: General statistics office of Viet Nam Social force The inadequate human resources for logistics services have not been well-trained and enterprises suffer a shortage of qualified logistics experts. In an effort to keep pace with these demands, as well as cater to the needs of the worlds 13th largest population, the Vietnamese Government has invested heavily in upgrading its transport infrastructure. However overall, its record of success can best be described as mixed. While Vietnams vast network of inland waterways transport goods efficiently throughout the country, an inadequate road network less than 20% paved and limited railway capacity have prevented Vietnam from meeting its full transport potential. On the other hand, Vietnams rapidly growing air and seaport industry has facilitated a higher volume of trade, lending hope that improvements across all transport networks will have a similar effect. Technological force The inadequate information system of Viet Nam logistics industry is  leading to be ineffective. Vietnam is legging behind others countries in the Region in EDI and E- Commerce applications. A number of ASEAN countries have made substantial efforts to build up a public- private EDI, inter- ministry network to share the logistics information and to improve the industrys operations. VICT (Vietnam Internal of Commercial Technology) system of Vietnam is the only port operator using the EDI system, on standalone basis, which processes automated container billing, automated inventory management (container yard operation), automated gate operation (truck arrival and departure check), automated vessel operation (container loading and unloading management), and CFS stock management. Legal force In Vietnam, the regulatory and legislative standards such as customs clearance, ground handling, and terminal operations are highly complicated and not always consistent.   The multiple layers of administration at district and provincial levels have also led to some reports of corruption and subsequent increase in both lead times and the cost of processing freight.   Many seaports and airports also lack supporting logistics distribution centres, which can result in increased inventory and idle time for trucks, ships and planes.  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   Currently, the boundaries between the operations of various businesses such as freight forwarders, warehouse operators, fleet operators and integrated logistics companies are not well defined.   They are often fragmented and do not generally complement each others business offerings, which can lead to duplication of effort, higher costs and lead times.  The lack of information sharing, clarity on roles and responsibilities pose great challenge and can further hamper the growth of the logistics industry in Vietnam.   Environmental factor The Vietnamese logistics industry also lacks experienced logistics professionals.   This is a major challenge and drawback for the local as well as multinational logistics companies since they find it difficult to hire the right talent.   Insufficient training and education in the field of logistics is also a major contributor to the scarcity of skilled personnel. The transport infrastructure is actually in bad condition and a corridor for multimodal transport has not been created while the needs for quality transport of goods between various means of transport are growing increasingly. Figure 3 Cargo transport of Viet Nam in 2009 Source: General statistics office of Viet Nam 4. The Drivers of change of the Logistics industry The regulations of government, national transportation and infrastructure system, business environment, cost and time of services are defined main forces that dives change of logistics industry in Viet Nam. Regulations of governments relevant policies Vietnam had acquired about US$ 80 billion (2008 state est.) in FDI, directed towards more than 6,000 projects. The FDI inflow will continue as more investors realise the potential opportunities that the country has to offer. However, the complex legal and regulatory environment, arising from an uncoordinated model of policy implementation, is a major concern for private and foreign investors. This is a significant reason for the low participation of private investors in critical sectors such as infrastructure development. National transportation and infrastructure system The road, rail and air transportation network lag significantly behind international standards and hence account for a low share of the overall transportation market. The improvement of these networks will greatly enhance the countrys ability to develop its domestic and international connectivity. This will bring significant benefits to its trade growth as well as the transportation, logistics and tourism industries. Trade environment Vietnam has good potential to develop into a major Asian shipping hub. However, the lack of world-class deep water port facilities is limiting its potential to fully develop shipping and related industries. Encouraging the participation of international shipping and port operators would add great momentum to the sector. However, there will be a need for greater transparency in policy making and to place greater emphasis on economic considerations over political expediency. In the past decade, Vietnams containerized volumes have grown every year by almost 20 percent, but the delay in upgrading and expanding of ports has resulted in continued inefficiency and potential congestion problems. Weak landside infrastructure is another major concern for both service providers and users. Table 2 Trading across borders in 2009 Region or Economy Documents to export (number) Time to export (days) Cost to export (US$ per container) Documents to import (number) Time to import (days) Cost to import (US$ per container) East Asia Pacific 6.7 23.1 909.3 7.1 24.3 952.8 Eastern Europe Central Asia 6.5 26.8 1,581.8 7.8 28.4 1,773.5 Latin America Caribbean 6.8 18.6 1,243.6 7.3 20.9 1,481.0 Middle East North Africa 6.4 22.5 1,034.8 7.4 25.9 1,221.7 OECD 4.3 10.5 1,089.7 4.9 11.0 1,145.9 South Asia 8.5 32.4 1,364.1 9.0 32.2 1,509.1 Sub-Saharan Africa 7.8 33.6 1,941.8 8.8 39.4 2,365.4 Viet Nam 6 22 756 8 21 940 Source: http://www.doingbusiness.org/ExploreTopics/TradingAcrossBorders/ Costs and time Lastly, the development of its logistics industry will significantly enhance Vietnams competitiveness through the reduction of transportation and inventory costs, shorter lead times for delivery to destination markets and an overall improvement in the efficiency and security of the movement of goods and materials. Currently, logistics costs are a significant contributor to the high cost of doing business in Vietnam. Over the last 10 years, increased competition and the improved level of logistics services has significantly reduced this cost. 5. The life-cycle model Source: http://alife4info.co.uk/images/stagesInTheIndustryLifecycle.jpeg Vietnams economy is expected to continue to grow at above 6% for the next five years and between 5 and 6% in the following five years. The share of the industrial and services sectors within GDP composition will continue to grow. Vietnamese logistics industry is considered stand between growth and shakeout stages (X). The experience of its neighbours (Singapore, China, and Hong Kong) will serve as useful examples of how to develop logistics industry. Government policies focus on transforming Vietnam into a market economy and continuing international economic integration. There is an opportunity to improve this further through investment in new infrastructure as well as new processes and technology to meet international standards. This will support for main national industries, including transportation and logistics to continue growth in the future. 6. Scenario Analysis Redesigning of regulations and business laws based on association of small units to facilitate trade operations faster, cheaper and more effective The industry is highly fragmented with an estimated 800 operators competing for business. Most operate on a small scale and have limited coverage, service range and information technology (IT) capabilities. Service providers face several challenges, including inconsistent regulations across various levels of administration and a lack of skilled manpower. It is necessary to encourage members to work in collaboration with each other on the basis of utilising enterprises advantages (physical facilities, information systems, and othersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) for one-stop shop provision of  services, and expanding domestic and overseas range of business operations. Improvement of technology, the national transportation system as development of roads, infrastructure, landside and international airport. There is a critical need, however, to develop road and landside infrastructure in order to facilitate the efficient movement of the increased volume of goods. Upgrading of the existing airports at Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to support larger volumes of cargo is also urgently required. The increased emphasis placed on developing the electronics and hi-tech sectors by the Government will give renewed impetus to further develop its air facilities, as these products require more sophisticated and secure modes of delivery and shorter transit times. Proposed new ports around the two major economic centres of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi could result in a significant improvement of infrastructure. The development of deep water ports is also likely to significantly boost international cargo activity linked with Vietnam and decrease overloaded flows of goods at two bigger ports as Ho Chi Minh and Hai Phong. The earlier development of the new international airport at Long Thanh, in the province of Dong Nai next to Ho Chi Minh City will bring about much needed additional capacity. Again, the concurrent development of an improved road network to connect to the new airport will be required to avoid the creation of new bottlenecks. Training and human resources The process of getting aware of the importance of logistics, building logistics management skills and enhancing the ability to translate logistics theory into logistics practice needs some amount of time. The Government is to have a policy to assist enterprises and schools in order to step up the task of training under various flexible forms, providing human resources for the industry. On their part, enterprises need to seek funding and cooperation in human resource training from foreign countries.

Wondrous Strange :: Character Analysis, Kelly Winslow

Life is the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death. â€Å"It is believed that in life no one can change your happiness but you; therefore, you have the power to change anything about yourself or your life that you want to change† (Barbra de Angelis). The Internal struggles that the main character, Kelley Winslow, faces in this novel is man vs. herself. This strongly affects the character as well as drives the plot because the character struggles with her decisions, physical/mental battles as well as trying to find her identity. Throughout this novel, Kelley has been trying to find her identity and who she really is. Some people may say that a person has not found themselves; however, you do not find yourself. You create yourself. During the process of creating yourself, you have to know what you fear, and what you cannot live without. Kelley learns what she is afraid of, and who she does not want to lose. â€Å"†¦fear of losing him, sorrow of what he has already risked for her† (Livingston 274). In the novel Kelley finds out that she is adopted. â€Å"Emma†¦ Was I†¦ adopted (Livingston 222). In continuation to this, Kelley learns from her aunt, Emma, that she is adopted. She also leans more about where she came from, who her birth parents are, and about faerie history. This proves that Kelley wants to know more about her heritage, which leads to herself creating her identity. In order to create herself, Kelley needs to know more about her heritage. She also learns what she likes, and does not like and what she wants to do with her life. â€Å"Kelley was speechless. She dreamed of this†¦ This is it. This is my big break! (Livingston 5), â€Å"Kelley was a Faerie princess. In defiance of the Faerie king, she had taken up her destiny on her terms" (Livingston 316-317). This shows that she accepts herself, in addition to gaining her goals. Kelley Winslow goes went through a huge development, and journey in finding herself, even through the many obstacles she faces. Decision is a mental process you conduct to result in a making of a selection of a choice. Kelley Winslow had made various decisions throughout her life, which had made an impact on her characteristics.

Are You Really Who You Wanted To Be?

A clear reflection of yourself is the most beautiful creature you can ever see in front of the mirror. † I can still remember signing a slumberous or autograph book during my high school life. It comes with a variety of questions regarding personal information, favorites, ambition, and a lot more. But one thing I will never forget is the part wherein I were asked to describe myself.Describing yourself is Just a piece of cake, isn't it? That's what I also think at first, but at the middle of describing how I look or what personality I have, I suddenly have to ask myself what I am really pertaining to? Am I defining myself base on how I see It? Or how other people see It? We are living In a world which Is full of uncertainties. Yet behind any uncertainty, Is a certain reason why we exist. It Is simply because we exist for a purpose.Unfortunately, we used to live with what other people think about us, and that Idea has the ability to destroy what we truly aim for. It Is an Issue t hat people didn't realize at all. Lucky are those who can define themselves as who they really are, with no pretension and no hesitation. So If you think of changing yourself In order to reach he expectation of others, think again! Is that really what you wanted? If not, then don't proceed because If you fall, you'll Just end up feeling worthless and frustrated.A YES to the question â€Å"are you really who you wanted to be? † Is an Indication of satisfaction In life. If you appreciate everything In life, It will be easy for you to live as the real you and meet the perfect state of happiness. A clear reflection of yourself Is the most beautiful creature you can ever see In front of the mirror. Remember, God's creature Is always beautiful In different ways, and we have to be thankful for that.

Compare and Contrast a Doll House and a Streetcar Named Desire

Compare and contrast A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen and A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. Write a brief essay (of approximately 1000 words) to comment on the two female protagonists’ (Nora Helmer and Blanche Duboi’s) relationship with men. A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen and A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams are two well-known plays that give rise to discussions over male-female relationships in old society. The female protagonists in the plays are women who are dependent on males.However, the female protagonist in A Doll House is able to transcend her status by try to be dependent on herself at the end of the play, whereas the one in A Streetcar Named Desire still continues to depend on men. In this essay, I am going to discuss the relationships with men of the two female protagonists, Nora Helmer and Blanche Dubois. In A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen, Nora Helmer is the female protagonist of the play. She is a housewife in the Helmer’s family . She has undergone a transformation throughout the play that she reacts differently to her husband.Nora’s relationship with her husband, Torvald, is important in the development of the plot. In the first scene, Nora appears to be happy and have an affectionate family. Although she tries to defy her husband in some unimportant ways, for example, she lies to her husband about eating macaroons, she still maintains a good relationship with her husband. However, minor incident actually foreshadows the confrontation between her husband and her later when the play continues. As the plot develops, Nora is actually not as simple as other wives that she does not totally obey her husband.The contradiction between Nora’s independent nature and the tyrannical authority of Torvald arouses a climax in the play when Torvald discovered a lie of Nora. The lie shows a big contrast of their relationship before and after the disclosure. Before Torvald discovers the truth behind the decept ion, the relationship between his wife and him seems to be perfect and loving. At the beginning of the play, Nora does not seem to notice her life being manipulated by her husband; she does everything according to her husband’s taste and preference.Meanwhile, she manages to save her husband from poor health condition by breaking the law to borrow debt from Krogstad and repaying it with pocket money from her husband. It is apparent that Nora is very smart and clever to handle difficulties not only for herself but also her husband. But instead of being a capable woman, she chooses to live up to the expectation of her husband, seeming to be isolated from the outside world but to live in the world that her husband and father has set up for her. When it comes to other relationships with men, Nora respects her husband.She refuses to accept Dr Rank’s admiration of her, and she also defends and supports her husband in front of Krogstad. Besides, She practices the dance for him so as to defense her husband’s pride in front of people and not to embarrass him. These are the evidence proving that Nora is like a doll being controlled. She follows what men in her life, her father and Torvald, expect her to do, and this is the way she does to maintain good relationship with them. However, the relationship goes upside down after Torvald’s unveiling of the secret that Nora has been hiding from Torvald whom she borrows money from.At the end of the play, the climatic confrontation between Nora and Torvald shows that Nora realizes the need to live for herself rather than men. She wants to put the marriage to a halt just because she does not want to rely on men anymore by pretending to be someone she is not in order to please her husband. As she determines to be independent, she left her husband and family at the end of the play to show that she will never be related to anyone but herself. This action represents the idea of feminism and arouses the awar eness of woman’s rights. Blanche Dubois in A Streetcar Named Desire, on the other hand, is contrasted with Nora Helmer.When the play begins, she is portrayed to be educated and well-mannered woman. Blanche does not agree with the beastly lifestyle of her sister’s husband, Stanley. She thinks that he is so common and ape-like. This shows that they cannot get along well with each other during Blanche’s staying at their home. When the play develops, Stanley quickly seeks out that Blanche is actually a fallen woman. She lost her husband and her family fortune. She has sexual affairs with some men and addition to alcohol. Therefore, she needs much male admiration to maintain her remaining self-esteem.Besides, she wants to marry a man as a shelter so that she can escape poverty as well as her bad reputation in society. Mitch, therefore, is a chance for Blanche because he likes her very much. However, before they decide to be together, Stanley tells Mitch about Blanche ’s indiscrete sexual behavior in the past. This destroys Blanche’s pursuit of Mitch. After this incident, Blanche even makes up a story about going on vacation with a billionaire. It is obvious to see that Blanche always rely on men in her life, looking for admiration and a shelter for her from the tough reality.So, she always pretends to be someone men like in order to please them rather than being a true self. She even acts in front of men in the way that she does not really feel like that. Unlike Nora, Blanche is pathetic when it comes to relationship with men. While Nora undergoes a transformation from a controlled doll to a strong woman who determines to restart her life again for the better, Blanche continues to rely on men heavily. In the last scene, Blanche is still so willing to be led away by a kind male doctor to asylum just because the doctor is a gentleman.This tells us Blanche’s desperate and total dependence on men. When we compare Nora Helmer and Blanche Dubois, we can see that they are two females of the opposites. Although both of them shows a confrontation between men and themselves, and both of them seem to be manipulated by men, Nora demonstrates a more positive way to challenge with men’s dominance while Blanche shows a pathetic way which can be said a lack of feminism. The comparison of these two female characters stirs up a debate of women’s rights. It also brings us to a higher level of discussion on the tension of the gender roles in society.

Off Campus Lunches Essay Example

Off Campus Lunches Essay Example Off Campus Lunches Paper Off Campus Lunches Paper Open Campus Lunches Being a teenager is a great time. You start to gain certain freedoms that you were not able to enjoy when you were younger. Responsibility Is an Inevitable part of growing up. Although it may not be a necessity, eating lunch off campus Is not an option that our school offers, which Isnt fair to the students. In fact, only 1 In every 3 high school campuses are allowed to eat lunch off school grounds. In previous years students eve been given the opportunity to leave during their lunch hours. The chance to do this was revoked after the students were being Irresponsible with their time and violating school rules. Students In our class and classes below us should not be punished for the mistakes that the students before us made and should be given the opportunity to make decisions for themselves. Being able to leave the school during lunch hours is a privilege, but not all students are able to make smart decisions when given privileges. Administrators were unable to control what students could do once hey left the school property, which led to students taking part in illegal activities off school campus. Of course not all students were guilty of breaking the rules,which is why it is difficult for administrators to attempt to make a choice that is justifiable for everyone. Although I do not agree with the decision of the administrators who have taken away campus lunches, they also have their reasons for having doubts on letting students leave. With obesity rates being at an all time high in the United States, school administrators are debating on whether the students are able to make the lethal choices they need. Government officials are making low calorie diets mandatory in K-12 schools across the country. With obesity rates at 35. 7%, the medical costs are also at an all time high. The United States spent 147 billion dollars in 2008 on medical expenses related to obesity. The school has no way to control the nutritious value of the food that the students will be consuming. The government has begun putting strict restrictions on the nutritional value of the food students are eating, and with good reason. The average obese adult tends to spend $1,429 more on average on medical expenses alone. School meals are based on a low calorie diet In an attempt to lower the obesity rates. But the attempt to provide healthier lunches Is ruined when students are heading to their favorite fast food restaurant In order to save money and be back In time for class. The solution to finding a way to make sure that children are responsible enough to leave campus for lunch Is having them prove themselves throughout their high school career. I feel that open campus lunches would only be available to Juniors and seniors who have met certain requirements. Our school offers the black and orange cards, which gives students certain freedoms by meeting certain requirements through academics and attendance. The solution woo a De salary to tens program, except It would only De available to upperclassman. The requirements would have to include a good discipline history and a good attendance. This would help filter out the kids who would be abusing their privileges by not returning after they leave or partaking in illegal activities. By making sure that the responsible students are the ones who have the freedom, you would be protecting the students who have worked for the opportunity to have options at lunch. As for the health factor, students need to be in some sort of a physical education class, like most schools do. Lowering the obesity rate is not going to happen quickly, but there are preventative measures that we can take to help out our upcoming generations. I feel that keeping the country healthy is important but there should not be major restrictions to keep you from your freedoms. Teachers always say that they work to help prepare us for the real world. Well in the real world you have the ability to make your own choices, which makes giving us the responsibility to make our own decision a more helpful solution to preparing us for the real world. All in all, there are so many factors in the debate over open campus lunches that it is impossible to be able to be able to make one final choice, which is why high schools are so divided over the topic. In any situation there are going to be students who will e irresponsible with their privileges.

Lion Capital and Blackstone Essay Essays

Lion Capital and Blackstone Essay Essays Lion Capital and Blackstone Essay Essay Lion Capital and Blackstone Essay Essay Question 1: Why would Lion make a trade with Blackstone? Why would Blackstone make one with Lion? What does each hazard? What can each derive? Lion and Blackstone are fall ining together to leverage industry expertness and funding power. Lion has a strong apprehension of consumers of such trades include Weetabix and Jimmy Choo. Blackstone has the power to convey really big funding into a trade. capable of puting up to $ 1 billion in a company. while besides holding an international presence. conveying synergisms across boundary lines. However. this partnership besides brings in a lagging gait in shutting trades and public visibleness and examination. Lion typically moves rapidly on trades. and already has decided in front of Blackstone on timing and monetary value. Blackstone. nevertheless. still needs to carry on due diligence and have the trade reviewed by the investing commission. Furthermore. Lion’s partnership with Blackstone brings it into the Financial Times’ forepart page and pressures it further to execute. Question 2: Is Orangina a good trade? It seems that Lion and Blackstone are paying a reasonably full monetary value ; what angle might the Blackstone-Lion pool have found to warrant it? Yes. Orangina is a good trade. for its trade name power. its resiliency. its financing-friendly nature. and its operating and distribution web in France and Spain. Orangina has iconic trade names that are good known in France and Spain. and it commands a strong presence in its niche without irrupting on the soft drink infinite of trade names such as Coca Cola. It can be levered easy. as it is in a defensive sector. has strong hard currency flows. and with touchable assets that can be claimed. Despite being undermanaged. it continued to execute good in bad times. bespeaking that it has a working operating substructure and does non depend on a personality to steer the concern. Furthermore. the squad has a good apprehension and tantrum with the company. Javier Ferran of Lion. a Spanish national who speaks French. is good suited to understand a company with operations concentrated in Spain and France. and is besides ideal for his past experience in the soft drinks sector. Question 3: Based on the information provided in the instance. how would you value Orangina? We will NOT value the company based on any price reduction hard currency flow theoretical account. including LBO rating or APV theoretical account. as we are covering with a private company. whose beta and future capital construction are impracticable to gauge. Private companies have no estimable beta. since they are non publically traded and are illiquid – their value does non travel in any way with regard to the market. There are besides no strong barriers to entry in a soft drink market. so terminal growing besides can’t be easy estimated. However. we can first try a simple Venture Capital rating theoretical account to acquire a speedy ballpark for our rating. We find that a sensible equity rating for a private equity purchaser lies between $ 900 million and $ 1. 9 billion. This implies an equity rating between 760 million euros and 1. 6 billion euros. With programs to put 900 million euros of debt. Orangina can be priced at 1. 7 billion euros to 2. 5 billion euros. We can presume that the 1. 85 billion euro rating of Blackstone and Lion is rather sensible. Question 4: What is the best trade attack? The squad needs to do a command that will do them one of the sure and approved purchaser campaigners instantly. even with the hazard of overpaying. They need to go one of the groups with entree to the Orangina direction squad and their advisers. and get down inquiring the inquiries they need answered on the company – such as the execution of a stable direction squad in a clip of a high direction turnover. the ability to turn in the nutrient channel or obtain higher command power in the out of nutrient channel. and a turnaround scheme for France. Given that Blackstone and Lion have a particular border that Lion’s squad understands the sector. the concern. and the geographics good. they should be willing to pay up forepart in the early auctions. so that they can extinguish strategic purchasers such as Pepsi. while besides detering other fiscal purchasers who don’t have the same degree of understanding. border. or angle on this sector. Once the likeliness of a trade is strong plenty. Blackstone and Lion can get down negociating a unequivocal amalgamation understanding with monetary values and footings that are a bit more suited and just for it. However. the current precedence should be to acquire into the bargain and cut others out every bit shortly as possible.

Spanish Verbs Comprender vs. Entender

Spanish Verbs Comprender vs. Entender Both comprender and entender are usually translated as to understand, and in many cases - in fact, most of the time - you can use them interchangeably. However, there are some subtle differences in how they may come across. Differences Between Entender and Comprender The main difference between the two verbs when they mean to understand can be seen in the saying Te entiendo, pero no te comprendo, which obviously makes little sense if you try translating it as I understand you, but I dont understand you. Perhaps a better way of understanding this sentence would be something like I understand the words youre saying but I dont understand what you mean. Comprender, then, can suggest a deeper type of understanding. If you speak with an accent and want to know if youre getting your words across, for example, you might ask:  ¿Me entiendes? But if what youre looking for is whether the listener understands the implications of what youre saying, the question  ¿Me comprendes? may be more appropriate. In real life, though, these differences may not be all that distinct, and you may hear one verb used when the above guidelines suggest using the other. For example, I know exactly what you mean could be translated as either Te comprendo perfectamente or Te entiendo perfectamente (the latter appears to be more common) and the same goes for Nadie me comprende and Nadie me entiende for Nobody understands me. In other words, as a Spanish student you neednt worry too much about which verb to use in most contexts. As you hear and use the two verbs, youll pick up on whatever subtle differences exist between them in your locality. Note that comprender can also have the meanings to cover, to enclose or to include (and thus have a meaning related to the English word comprehensive rather than to comprehend, both of which come from the same Latin source). Example: El territorio de la provincia comprende tres regiones bien diferenciadas. (The provincial territory includes three distinctive regions.)  Entiende cannot be substituted in this sentence. Sample Sentences Using Entender and Comprender Here are examples of these two verbs in use: Si yo quiero comprender a alguien, no puedo condenarlo; debo observarlo, estudiarlo. (If I want to understand someone, I cant judge him; I need to observe him, study him.)Todavà ­a no puedo entender de lo que se me acusa. (I still cant understand what Im being accused of.)Mis padres comprendà ­an que esta era mi personalidad y no trataron de cambiar mi modo de ser. (My parents understood that that was my personality and didnt try to change how I was.)Si hubiera entendido el frà ­o que iba a sentir, no me hubiera depilado. (If I had understood how cold it would feel, I wouldnt have shaved.)Comprendemos perfectamente las dificultades y errores que se cometen en una lucha tan larga. (We understand perfectly the difficulties and mistakes that are made in such a grand struggle.)La pelà ­cula la entendà ­ a medias; hay ciertas cosas que se escapaban a mi comprensià ³n. (I didnt completely understand the movie; there are certain things that eluded my understanding.)Solo los sabios lo comprendern. (Only the wise will understand it.) Creo que son pocas las personas que lo entienden como realmente es. (I believe that few are the people who understand it as it really is.) Using Entender With Prefixes Entender, although not comprender, can be combined with prefixes to form several other verbs, although none are in widespread use. Malentender can be used for to misunderstand, although both entender mal and misinterpretar are more common. Malentendà ­ algo y me ayudaste a entenderlo. (I misunderstood something and you helped me to understand it.)Es una broma que muchos malentendieron. (It is a joke that many misunderstood.) Desentenderse can be used to refer to the avoiding of understanding, intentionally or otherwise. Poco a poco me desentendà ­ de las partituras y empecà © a improvisar. (Little by little I ignored the sheet music and began to improvise.)Nuestros là ­deres se desentienden del nuevo escndalo econà ³mico. (Our leaders are looking the other way from the new economic scandal.) Sobrentender (sometimes spelled sobreentender) refers to complete understanding. Sobrentiendo que no soy adicto y que no he substituido una droga por otra. (I know full well I am not an addict and that I havent substituted one drug for another.)Espero que sobrentiendas el costo de tus acciones. (I hope you completely understand the cost of your actions.)

The Development of Art and Music Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Development of Art and Music - Assignment Example The term â€Å"classical† in Western culture refers to the two cultures of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome which dominated Europe and large parts of Asia from their Eastern Mediterranean base. The art of this period is preserved in magnificent marble statues, mosaics such as those at Pompeii and some paintings. Human figures were favorite subjects and there is a cleanness of line and a celebration of physicality in the art of this time. Mythology was often depicted, but also ordinary citizens and famous people of the age. Not very much is known about music, except that it was a part of most dramatic performances, from plays in the theatres to spectacles with gladiators in the Coliseum. This period ends with the fall of Rome in the fifth century and then everything is rather quiet through the period known as the â€Å"Dark Ages†. The earliest evidence we have of dark ages and medieval music shows a close connection with religious activities, which is not surprising since the Church was the place where most intellectual activities and almost all reading and writing activities took place. Illustrated books show psalms and hymns, sometimes with basic musical notation, and a key innovator in this field was Pope Gregory the Great (540-604), who promoted the use of plainchant, monotone single voice or choir delivery of short uplifting texts across the increasing territories of Christianity. One of the most notable composers was Hildegard of Bingen ( 1098-1179) who wrote chants and â€Å"sequences† which were used in worship, again using voice as the main carrier of the melody but some more daring intervals than those common in the Gregorian chants. In art religious subjects dominated and the pictures of saints or Bible figures were designed to convey a narrative, for example by depicting objects which had sy mbolic significance, or which reminded the viewers, most of whom could not read, what the key elements of the story were.

Does copyright needs to be changed in Digital era Essay

Does copyright needs to be changed in Digital era - Essay Example This paper explores the controversy by presenting both points of view, examining the historical origins of intellectual property protection and modern development in the field. U.S. and British laws and alternative (non-legislative) methods of intellectual property protection are analysed. Possible future developments in this field are discussed from the positions of the current situation. Throughout the history of mankind information has been playing increasingly important role in various fields of human life and activity. The uses of information and different methods of its collection and storage have long historical traditions. Institutional structures created specifically for that purpose - libraries and museums - are as old as modern civilization itself. Each of the past inventions associated with transmission and storage of information could be addressed as the major factor that affected the course of social development: invention of writing, the printing press, telephone, radio, and television have stimulated profound changes. Similarly, development of new information technologies - computers and the Internet - deeply affects contemporary society in many ways. However, the same technologies have led to dramatic changes that turned protection of informational assets into a highly controversial issue. Traditionally, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) represent an excep... Abundant literature covering various aspects of IPR management and protection is very indicative of this complexity. Recent technological developments have contributed to the challenges associated with protection of intellectual property. The new technologies have substantial implications for literally each aspect of traditional IPR practices. It has become very difficult to keep any information protected these days. Copying materials from another medium, encapsulating content and software for emulation, or migrating content to new hardware and software, all involve activities that can potentially infringe IPR. Digital images and electronic texts can be easily altered, and people may easily transform or incorporate them as a part of some other documents, images, etc. The challenges imposed by the developing technology are likely to increase rapidly in future. IPR holders are perfectly aware about the risks imposed by this trend, and try to protect their rights. Such inclination is absolutely natural granted the fact that similar situations have already occurred in the past when emergence of new circumstances resulted in amendments in the relevant intellectual property laws. For example, in 1992 the US Congress accepted the Audio Home Recording Act that allowed people making copies of copyrighted songs or music for personal use. In 1998 amendments to the Act were made to cover digital technologies of copying, reproduction and distribution (Chebium, 2000). Similarly, the recently emerged Digital Rights Management (DRM) technologies are meant to increase the quality and scope of control that IPR holders can assert over their intellectual property

Project management assignment NO.2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Project management assignment NO.2 - Essay Example During construction, activities are done based on the order that they should be carried out. Duration for each activity is estimated based on current data available. A network model is established to show the relationship among the activities and a critical path method is used to determine the critical and non critical activities. CPM is important because it shows the management the activities that need much attention and monitoring to avoid unnecessary delays in project completion (Taha 267). As shown in Diagram 1, constructing foundation and framing are the first two important activities to do because they serve as the framework of the house. Several activities such as plumbing, roofing and wiring are done right after framing since these activities are associated with the different parts of the house and so, they can be started anytime without any delay. Landscaping requires a stable water system so it should be done only after plumbing is finished. Finishing activities and painting are both done after plastering since the house is considered almost finish by that time. Lastly, activities such as making curtains and laying carpet are considered as final activities and should only be done after the whole structure of the house is built and painted. This means that these two paths constitute the time period of project completion. According to the computed critical path (Table 1), the project will be completed in 42 working days. Therefore the project should be started on November 17, 2008 in order to finish it by January 19, 2009. Working days exclude weekends and holidays like New Year and Thanksgiving Day. All the critical activities are shaded in Table 1. This means that these activities are the most important tasks in the project and therefore must be done on schedule. Non critical activities are plumbing, wiring, landscaping, finishing and attaching TV antenna. They are considered non critical because they can be done in advance or

Contracting and Procurement in Project Management Essay - 1

Contracting and Procurement in Project Management - Essay Example Project procurement management is "the process of purchasing goods or services from the vendors" (Phillips, 2003). This very definition of the process suggest that the procurement is the process which involves external organizations as well as persons in the whole project management process. It therefore not only makes it more complicated but also a delicate job too as maintaining relationships with the vendors and suppliers sometimes become a very important element for the overall success of the project. Thus, it is of great importance that the procurement management should effectively be integrated into the overall process of project management so that project can get completed within budgeted times, costs and schedules. It is also important to understand that the process of procurement management is a phased process therefore it is not only time consuming but also need to have a more strategic outlook as it also provides an opportunity to develop long term relationships with the vendors. This presentation will present an overview of how the process of procurement management can fit into the whole project management besides discussing the various other aspects to get a braoder view of the whole process. Procurement is a process which requires the involvement of different resources including people, goods, services as well as other resources. It also involves the evaluation of tenders as well as estimation of different costs involved in the procurement process. This therefore requires that the project managers must take extreme care to manage different risks involved in the process. Since the process of procurement management involves different persons outside the project therefore project managers need to follow a systematic procedure. A procurement management process generally involves following processes: 1) Purchase and acquisition decisions 2) Contract Planning 3) Solicitation of seller responses 4) Selection of sellers 5) Administrating the contract 6) Contract closure The first phase of purchase and acquisition is about the determination of the different goods and services required to complete the project. This therefore requires that the project managers must clearly identify which project needs can be fulfilled through the procurement process. The emphasis, during this phase of the procurement, is mostly on what, how and when to acquire the resources required for the project. (Ghosh, 2007). Contract planning is the next important steps which require not only close monitoring of the existing policies and procedures of the firm but also require that the organization's strategic objectives and aims are achieved. It is important to understand that the very crux of the procurement management process is to make a conscious decision of whether to buy or build the resources required for the project to complete. It has also often been argued that the while planning for contracting, project managers must also take into account the various legal aspects of the contracting and that the drafting of the same should be done after taking into different legal as well as operational aspects of the contracting. While at the phase of the purchase and acquisition decisions, it is also important that the project managers must evaluate the seller responses after making acquisition decisions. It is quite possible that the project

Religion can be used to promote hate and this results in violent acts, Annotated Bibliography

Religion can be used to promote hate and this results in violent acts, including rape and murder of our LGBTQI neighbors - Annotated Bibliography Example This source is a book. The Bible, Christianity, & Homosexuality will be used two ways. The first is to show what types of myths exist about the Bible and homosexuality. The Bible only mentions homosexuality several times in the Bible. The first time was when angels visited Sodom and Gomorrah. Thus the name Sodomites were given to homosexuals. The Bible does not speak of domestic partners in a homosexual relationship. A mob wanted to rape the male angels. On this account most Christians think homosexuality is equal to rape. Justin Cannon does his best to show that one account does not represent all homosexuals. This source will be useful in laying a foundation for religious bias against the LGBTQI community. It will also show that homosexuals can also be Christian. This resource is a book. Candace Chellew-Hodge shares her experiences as a gay Christian. This is a biography about how the author dealt with hatred from religious zealots. She shows how her religion, Christianity, can be used against the LGBTQI community. This book also shows specific incidents of hatred and violence against members of the LGBTQI community. Despite the violence and hatred against the LGBTQI community due to religion, many LGBTQI individuals still retain their belief in their religion. This source will also show that even LGBTQI individuals that are Christian do not escape violence of discrimination. Sexuality or being defined as a LGBTQI community member is more important to the opposition than the individual’s religion or beliefs. This book is another source that studies homosexuality and the Bible. Dwyer numbered all of the references of homosexuality in the Bible to seven. Each circumstance is examined individually. Like the case of homosexuality in Sodom and Gomorrah, Dwyer presents each instance. This source is important to show that Christianity does not promote violence. Everyone is a sinner, no matter their sexuality. If Jesus

On Commercial Photography's Impact on Modern Visual Culture Essay

On Commercial Photography's Impact on Modern Visual Culture - Essay Example The cultural influence which has altered the way in which photography is viewed the most is the commercial photographs. There are also public photographs which have intertwined with various ideologies for different level of influence. However, the movements within photography intertwine together to take a specific approach to creating and capturing the perfect image for a given subject matter. Impact of Different Types of Photography The impact of commercial photography is one which has grown since the early 1900s, specifically with the focus from corporations. The first concept of the photography which was used was based on the corporate image and the approaches which were required for those working in this specific field. The corporations were known for having difficult work pressures, specifically with the growth of the industrial age. Work stations, factory style lines in the various places and the need to reproduce mass amounts continued to be a main component with the corporati ons. To alter this, photography and advertisements were added into the mix, specifically which was able to present a different image to the consumer and change the focus of the internal environment. The image presented was then one which was based on value of the product as well as the overall environment of the corporation (Brown, 2008). The initial impact of commercial photography then led to the idealization of cultural production. The images which were taken became significant in creating a sense of identity of the product, image of the corporation and the response which was associated with society. The concept of cultural production was based on the outlets which were presented with the photography as well as how this was associated with the idealization of individuals. Fashion, food, sports items, cars and other high – end products used commercial photography to create a sense of identity in culture. From this, many began to respond with imitating the photography and be ing a part of the cultural production. The photography then not only painted an image about a specific corporation, but also related to and communicated with groups in society which may have been interested in the brand product (Frosh, 2001). The second concept associated with photography is the public photograph. This particular image is one which is similar to the commercial image, specifically because it captures groups, individuals and different components which make up society. Usually, the images are associated with making a statement about what is occurring within the public and is based on creating a level of accountability or recognition through the picture. The impact of this is based on the needed communication for a given situation while bringing awareness to the public arena. When the photographs are displayed, an individual is able to see the reality of the situation and becomes engaged with the public issues. Within this particular photograph, there is the ability to create an icon with a specific aspect of society. The importance of this comes from creating public judgment while responding to situations based on the level of communication that is a part of society (Hariman, Lucaites, 2003). The concept of public photography is important in terms of creating a set of private images that would be seen in a given segment of society and making them into a public spectatorship. The impact which this has is based on the sociological response which is created from the image and

Religion can be used to promote hate and this results in violent acts, Annotated Bibliography

Religion can be used to promote hate and this results in violent acts, including rape and murder of our LGBTQI neighbors - Annotated Bibliography Example This source is a book. The Bible, Christianity, & Homosexuality will be used two ways. The first is to show what types of myths exist about the Bible and homosexuality. The Bible only mentions homosexuality several times in the Bible. The first time was when angels visited Sodom and Gomorrah. Thus the name Sodomites were given to homosexuals. The Bible does not speak of domestic partners in a homosexual relationship. A mob wanted to rape the male angels. On this account most Christians think homosexuality is equal to rape. Justin Cannon does his best to show that one account does not represent all homosexuals. This source will be useful in laying a foundation for religious bias against the LGBTQI community. It will also show that homosexuals can also be Christian. This resource is a book. Candace Chellew-Hodge shares her experiences as a gay Christian. This is a biography about how the author dealt with hatred from religious zealots. She shows how her religion, Christianity, can be used against the LGBTQI community. This book also shows specific incidents of hatred and violence against members of the LGBTQI community. Despite the violence and hatred against the LGBTQI community due to religion, many LGBTQI individuals still retain their belief in their religion. This source will also show that even LGBTQI individuals that are Christian do not escape violence of discrimination. Sexuality or being defined as a LGBTQI community member is more important to the opposition than the individual’s religion or beliefs. This book is another source that studies homosexuality and the Bible. Dwyer numbered all of the references of homosexuality in the Bible to seven. Each circumstance is examined individually. Like the case of homosexuality in Sodom and Gomorrah, Dwyer presents each instance. This source is important to show that Christianity does not promote violence. Everyone is a sinner, no matter their sexuality. If Jesus

Carbon, Phosphorus, and Nitrogen Cycles Essay Example for Free

Carbon, Phosphorus, and Nitrogen Cycles Essay Humans impact the cycles in different ways. All three elements are affected by us as humans and our activities. Humans can either hurt the ecosystem or we can help it. The cycles include in our ecosystem are Nitrogen, Carbon, Phosphorus. They are all important to us and all living things to go hand in hand to survive on earth and to work together to produce new materials. All three of the cycles have been tremendously sped up by our human impacts. The carbon cycle is very significant to us as humans; it’s made up of several processes from our forests to our oceans. The cutting down of our trees, the carbon cycle is in danger or being disrupted. It has been found in very large amounts in our atmosphere in a form that can be directly taken in from our plants; the carbon has a limiting factor in the growth of our vegetation. The Phosphorus Cycle is the representative of the cycles of all the biologically important mineral nutrients. Of those elements that have their own origin in our rocks and soil minerals in our atmosphere such as our iron, calcium, and potassium. We generally focus on this cycle because it has a shortage that tends to be limited in a number of the ecosystems. This cycle can cause excess stimulate that have unwanted algal growth in our freshwaters. Nitrogen is an important factor for the importance of the bacteria that is in our driving cycle to fertilize our soul to produce plants with the air needed to grow.

Aristotles Doctrine Of The Four Causes

Aristotles Doctrine Of The Four Causes Aristotles four causes theory uphold that all the causes can be grouped into varies divisions. The 4 causes are based on general laws, and these causes are associated with the question of why a thing is. To answer such question is to give a cause. Any artifact can be broken down to these four causes. There is the Material Cause, Formal Cause, Efficient Cause and the Final Cause. The Material Cause is the basic element that makes up a thing, in other words the cause of the object. For example the Material cause of a table would be wood, without the wood the table could not exist unless they were present in its work. The Formal Cause pertains the appearance or pattern with which these materials are accumulated. For example the Formal Cause of a table would be the arrangement, shape, and the design. Efficient Cause is the source or designer of that from which the thing became what it is. For instance the Efficient Cause of a table would be the carpenter who made it. Thus, the table is t he table it is, because of the particular carpenter who made it. Lastly, the Final cause is the end (telos), the ultimate purpose or exact form of this object that comes to be. The final cause of a table would be to place meals or to place objects on top of it. For Aristotle its very important to understand the purpose of something in order to understand how to live ethically particularly human beings. This is part of the explanation of the tables existence, for it would never have been built in the first place. Give a brief critical analysis of Aristotles idea of Happiness. The central question of ethics for Aristotle is, what does it take for human beings to lead a good life? Aristotle outlines 3 points that he thinks have to be fulfilled for some purpose to be ultimate. Ultimate goal has to be self- sufficient. Final goal. In other words something you want for its own sake, not as stepping stone for something else Attainable. Since All activities have a final cause, or leads to some other desire, Ultimately for Aristotle the one goal that seems to fulfill all these stipulations was Happiness (eudaimonia). Not in the narrow sense of mental or emotional state but rather in the sense of well being or flourishing. If human beings can find happiness, happiness by its self is self- sufficient. Aristotle says that people need to make choices and in order to make choices we have to develop certain habits or virtues, which will allow you to make the right choices. People need to understand and even necessary to be taught the virtues habits. You need to develop these virtues to develop a happy life, but the virtues are the means to the end. How do we achieve this end? In order to understand that, we need to understand how Aristotle understood the human soul. Aristotle divided the soul into 3 parts. The basic part of the soul is basically vegetative. Our bodies grow and develop by itself without any kind of consciou s control. Similarly, to the vegetable world because it takes place totally without rational control. Above the vegetable soul, its the animal level, the level of desires. As human beings Aristotle says we have certain responsibility to control our desires otherwise we would simply be no different then animals. And finally there is the rational part of the soul which controls the animal desires, as well as seeks for higher types of learning, education and higher types of gratification. Happiness is the activity of the soul according to reason and these activities must be according to virtue and excellence. If there are several virtues excellences then they must be the highest activity. If you detain happiness, you could only die happy. Aristotle distinguishes 2 types of virtues. 1. Intellectual Virtue and Moral virtue. Intellectual Virtue comes from teaching and Moral virtue comes from Habituation. We acquire these virtues through virtues acts. Aristotle considers the life of the G ods, because the activity of a God is contemplation. Which is the highest form of activity of the soul to achieve Happiness. The Gods are engaged in intellectual virtues. The Gods are not interested in human affairs. If there is a perfect life for Aristotle, which happiness it is in this existence, its the here and now not in the afterlife. The wise person is the one that studies the most, and the one that studies the most is the one that is loved by the Gods, because he is performing an activity the is accepted by the Gods. Therefore, Aristotle would say that if you reached happiness then you have achieved the ultimate human existence. Does Plato make a convincing case for why philosophers should rule society? According to Plato, the society is to consist of three classes workers, warriors and rulers. Each of which must stick to completing their direct commitment. As to the rulers, Platos opinion regarding them is very interesting and different from the views of other philosophers. In the Republic, he dwell on different types of rulers, which vary from democrat to tyrant, and he come to the conclusion that philosopher would be best choice for the country due to number of characteristics. For example, considering the aspect of love for honor, the dialogue between Plato and Socrates is shaped in the following way: What about an honor-lover? A rich man is honored by many people, so is a courageous one and a wise one, but the pleasure of studying the things that are cannot be tasted by anyone except for a philosopher.(Cohen M.C., p. 567) Another reason for the philosopher to be considered the best ruler according to Plato is the fact that unlike the rest of the rulers (monarch or tyrant), the philosopher is inclined to look for truth rather than prove his rightness to others. The philosopher is always open to new ideas and is not likely to use conventional methods which do not suit the situation. As the ideal candidate for the position of the ruler of the state is considered by Plato to be a philosopher, there are two logical ways of realization of this idea: a philosopher must become a king or a king mist become a philosopher. Either way leads to building a harmonious and strong state where everyone knows his place and fulfills his obligations honestly. It goes without saying that Platos works are full of bright ideas, inspiration and desire to improve the society he lived in. Moreover, they are still very topical and most of them underlie modern philosophical concepts. However his theory is hard to implement in real life due to its idealistic nature and the nature of the human animal. What is the relationship between the sun simile, the divided line and the allegory of the cave in Platos Republic? The Allegory of the cave in the Republic illustrates the effects of the education on the soul. It is a story showing how true reality is not always what we think it is. It is a story of tolerance and the power of possibility. Plato sums the Plato imagines a group of prisoners who have been kept in the cave their whole lives. They have been chained so they could not see behind themselves and they are forced to stare at the cave wall in front of them. Behind them a fire is burning and between the prisoners and the fire is a raised walkway. Each day a menagerie of objects cross the walkway such as animals, and people. Their shapes create a shadow play on the wall in front of the prisoners. This is the only world the prisoners have ever known. Then one day a prisoner was dragged out of the cave into the sun light, after some time adjusting to the blinding light, he noticed that it was the sun that governed everything in the visible realm and which was in one way or another responsible fo r everything they use to see. This is obviously the next stage. The free prisoner began to experience the world outside of the cave for the very first time and it was nothing like he could have ever imagined. With his new perception of the world the man returns to his friends and wants to convince them that what they were seeing was just an illusion. But the prisoners cannot recognize their own friend, he appearance as all things do, a shadow with distorted voice. This does not make the world outside of the cave any less real. The divided line explains Platos theory of how knowledge works and how we come to have knowledge and clarity of the soul. In the Allegory of the Cave the line simile explains the four types knowledge from lowest to the highest. They are, Illusions, Belief or Trust, Mathematical Knowledge and lastly Philosophical Knowledge. It illustrates that the truth works once we deal with reality. The Allegory of the Cave explains that if we want to seek the real truth we have to accept the pain of dropping all of our preconceived notions of what truth was before. The light of the fire inside the dwelling is the power of the sun, which represents the form or character of the good. Once its seen the conclusion must be that it turns out to be the cause of all that is right and good for everything. Aristotle appears to argue that we are responsible for our moral character. However, if childhood training counts for so much in developing moral character,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.if we ourselves are not responsible for the training we receive? Virtue is a disposition involving choice. There are 2 parts to virtues. Intellectual virtue and Moral virtue. Intellectual virtue comes from teaching and moral virtue comes from habit. A decent person raises their children in a virtues way, since virtue comes with training and habituation. Therefore, we can say that it is obvious that we are not born with these characteristics but acquired them through nature of act.. We are responsible for the type of people we became, because we shape our moral character through choices and actions. For instance, a relationship (virtue), can be nourished through love and commitment to one another. Its not something that can be done inevitably but rather, voluntary. We are what we are, because of the things that we repeatedly do, and should not act ignorant nor make excuses. Example, becoming pianist by playing the piano, we became just by doing just actions. If it werent for our actions then teachers wouldnt be needed, for we would be born with suc h qualities. Explain Aristotles Doctrine of the mean. The doctrine of mean is Aristotles declaration to search for the middle ground, extremes exist in almost every aspect of life and one should seek for the mean. This mean is not an absolute one but a relative one, customized to the situation and person. But the location is always in between the two. For example in Nicomachean Ethics he lists the following examples; with respect to fear and confidence the mean is courage, excess in confidence leads to foolhardy and excess in fear leads to cowardice and with respect to honor and disgrace the mean is high-mindedness, excess of honor is called vanity and deficiency of it might be called humility or small-mindedness.

A True Hero in the Poem, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Essay examples

A True Hero in the Poem, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight "What makes a man a hero? Where lies the line which, when crossed, changes a mortal man into a legend? World leaders of our generation are mockeries of real men, more like Pilates than Thomas Mores." ( Gagne) In the poem of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the definition of a hero is clearly explained. Gawain is faced with trials and tribulations throughout the poem, but what clearly defines the crossover from man to hero? "Tests and decisions are as numerous in any man's life as are the beats of his heart." ( Gagne) But what draws the line between a man and a hero is what he learns from life's lessons. " In destines sad or merry, True men can but try." ( Gawain) " It tells a reader that Gawain means to do his level best in ...

Egyptain Foreign Policy In Regards To Israel & The United States. Essay

The History of the conflict in the Middle East is long and well documented. To both, and to many biased observers the history of the Egyptian/Israeli conflict is very one sided, with one government, or one people causing the continued wars between the two neighboring states. But, as any social scientist of any reputation will state, all international conflicts have more than one side, and usually are the result of events surrounding, and extending over the parties involved. Thus, using this theory as a basis, we must assume that the conflict between Israel and Egypt is more complicated than a partial observer would see it. For the purpose of this paper, we are going to examine the basic factors of Egypt’s Involvement and conflict with Israel, with some emphasis on the involvement of the United State, and the Western Nation in this conflict. Also, I wish to pay particular attention to the question of who, or what brought these countries into conflict. Were they both victi ms of their situation, or did they become actively involved in promoting conflict, or perhaps a third party source, such as the US pushed them into conflict? In 1948, the Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel was read by David Ben-Gurion in Tel Aviv. The Egyptians, like most of the Arab states saw this as a creation of a Western State, backed by the British Empire, and thus an imperialistic entity in the Arab homeland. Considering the past 20 years of the Egyptian state, and of most of the Arab nations, was a continual conflict again imperial powers, the Egyptian were naturally weary and afraid of any new imperialistic powers developing in the Middle East. In September 1947, the League of Arab States decided to resist by force the plan for the partition of Palestine into an Arab and a Jewish State, and when the Jewish state was created, the armies of the various Arab states entered into Palestine to save the country for the Arabs again "Zionist" aggression. The Arabs were defeated and the Arab Countries saved a small amount of land, the Transjordon, and the West Bank. Similarly Egypt saved strip of territo ry around Gaza. The causes of this war, and Egypt’s involved can be examined in several ways. Obviously, the creation of the State of Israel ... ... Israeli withdrawal from Sinai took place as scheduled. A multinational force of observers took up positions in Sinai to monitor the peace. Egypt was allowed to station only one army division in Sinai. Since then, Egypt has had a decent relationship with Israel and the United States, and it has been seen by many Arab Countries as the traitor in many circumstances. It is perceivable that without the influence of the United States the peace in Israel would have been different, if not sooner. The United States, in order to push the cold war policies saw Israel and Egypt as pawn in their global game of politics. Especially in the early years, neither country saw the United States as a enemy nor as a ally, and thus depended on it for little. Yet, both countries saw the possibility of gaining resources from the great western power, or at least its enemy the USSR. Under Carter, however the United States, perhaps for the first time, played a peace-making role in the Middle East. Perhaps Carter was being the peaceful President, or more likely he realized the need for peace in the middle east in order to lower the gas prices, and for the US to harness the immense resources of the region.

HP Case Study †Strategy Essay

Hewlett-Packard’s personal computer (PC) division operates in a hyper-competitive, highly-commoditized industry subject to dynamic shifts. The PC industry is driven by technological advancements requiring continuing commitment to research and development to capture the ever-changing PC market. For most of the past five years, Hewlett-Packard led the PC industry in terms of market share. However, Hewlett-Packard’s market share is currently declining and recent industry reports indicate that a Chinese low cost PC manufacturer, Lenovo, is now the market share leader. Over four primary sections, we performed an analysis of Hewlett-Packard’s strategy in the PC industry. First, we performed an external industry examination to obtain information on the current conditions of the market, including industry trends, buyer and supplier marketplace power, and emerging market concerns, such as the threat of PC substitutes. Second, we conducted an internal analysis to determine Hewlett-Packard’s top resources, assets and liabilities, and potential capabilities from its value chain. Third, we documented Hewlett-Packard’s current strategic position within the PC industry. Fourth, we examined and scrutinize Hewlett-Packard’s current industry strategy of returning to its core competencies while consolidating aspects of its PC manufacturing and sales. From the information in these sections, we conclude that if Hewlett-Packard is to sustain (or regain) its place as the market leader in the PC industry, it must leverage its brand recognition, economies of scale advantages, and product integration features to capture market value while producing technologically competitive products. Introduction This analysis is focused on the personal computer (PC) segment of Hewlett-Packard (HP). For clarification, HP’s PCs segment includes desktop, laptop, and notebook / netbook computers. Hardware devices falling outside of the PC category are mobile personal computing devices, such as tablets and cellular phones. HP’s PC sales for fiscal year 2012 were $41. 5 billion, which represents 26. 5% of HP’s $120 billion total revenue from all products and services. HP’s PC sales captured a 16% share of the total PC market (Trefis, 2012). From an analytical standpoint, HP has made many significant moves over the past three to four years, including numerous changes in company leadership and distinct shifts in business strategy. As a result, the ultimate effectiveness and success of HP’s strategies discussed has yet to be seen. Therefore, some of the conclusions we draw regarding HP’s forward strategy will be measured by whether HP’s strategic decisions align with its competitive advantages and obligations to stakeholders. External Analysis The global PC industry is led by a small number of large scale manufacturers who are homogenizing products and looking to capitalize on low cost labor resources. Industry demand is driven by technological developments, disposable consumer spending, and corporate spending cycles (First Research, 2012). Although global demand for PCs has increased, profit margins are decreasing, creating an industry focused on price rivalry and little differentiation (MarketLine, 2012). In addition, PC substitutes are a major threat to the PC industry (Indigo, 2012). The traditional PC industry, with its focus on desktops and laptops, is in the mature or declining stage of its life cycle. Our external analysis examines the significant factors influencing the current PC environment, including potential market threats and opportunities during the next five years, and how HP is performing relative to its industry competitors. Exhibit One illustrates the forces currently affecting the PC industry. Threat of New Entrants Overall, the threat of new entrants is low because any new entrants face numerous competitive obstacles in order to obtain industry relevance. The PC industry has significant fixed entry costs and the challenges to compete with the economies of scale of major companies would be exceedingly difficult for potential entrants to overcome. Brand recognition creates another distinct entry barrier because PC consumers have high brand awareness (MarketLine, 2012). With that mentioned, Microsoft and Intel are powerful industry suppliers so the threat for forward integration is reasonable. In addition, the oversaturation of basic PC component suppliers in Southeast Asia poses an additional concern for potential entrants to the industry. New firms could originate in Southeast Asia by leveraging the low cost labor force and avoiding expensive supply chain expenditures. Buyer Power Differentiation: The industry trend is to move manufacturing abroad in order to capture low cost labor efficiencies. There also has been a trend to homogenize products across the industry (Krabeepetcharat, 2012). In order to drive manufacturing costs down, most basic components used in the PC industry are standardized and lack significant differentiation (MarketLine, 2012). The exception differentiators are memory size, processor speed, and product form features (Bradley, 2012). Overall the industry has moved toward commoditization, which strengthens buyer power. Network Effect / Brand Recognition: Regardless of particular PC brand, consumer brand awareness is high in this focal industry. Apple has carved out a unique and loyal customer following largely because its users have higher switching costs than other PC users due to Apple’s specific computer operating system. If Apple consumers were to change to a non-Apple computer, they would be required to learn a new operating system. Apart from Apple computers, the majority of the other PCs run on Microsoft Windows-based operating systems. Consumers of PCs operating on Windows have lower switching costs overall, allowing more independence in switching brands. Despite this, brand awareness is still high among consumers of Windows-based PCs, thus contributing to an overall moderate buyer power rating. Supplier Power Microsoft and Intel are two powerful suppliers to the PC industry. Intel is the leading manufacturer of the processors inside all PCs. Intel’s brand name carries significant brand recognition to end-level consumers providing Intel with a powerful industry position. Similarly, Microsoft’s widely-used Windows operating system provides Microsoft a powerful industry position as well. As mentioned earlier, the manufacture of most basic component PC parts is being outsourced to Southeast Asia to capitalize on low cost labor. Since Southeast Asia is replete with component suppliers competing with one another, major PC manufacturers face low switching costs when deciding on basic component suppliers. Therefore, supplier power in the PC industry is divided between powerful suppliers, such as Microsoft and Intel, and basic component suppliers with relatively little power. However, any examination of supplier power must acknowledge a growing socio-cultural concern regarding working conditions in low-cost labor regions that may factor into business decisions. Substitutes The PC industry has been significantly impacted by the threat of substitutes in recent years. Emerging mobile technologies, such as smart phones and tablets, now account for 61% of total PC market volume (MarketLine, 2012). While smart phones and tablets are strong substitutes for consumer PC purchasers, up to this point mobile devices have not had the same impact on business-end users, who generally chose the robust functionality of traditional PCs over less powerful smart phones and tablets. It is important for PC manufacturers to leverage these capabilities to diminish the functionality gap between PCs and PC substitutes. Degree of Rivalry Market Value Forecast: Future PC sales are projected to generate slimmer profit margins than the current 3. 8% industry average (Krabeepetcharat, 2012). As major manufacturers leverage manufacturing efficiencies abroad, product costs are lowering, creating a degree of rivalry and a focus on end-level costs. Manufacturers are essentially looking to cut costs and offer cheaper products to gain market share (First Research, 2012). Since products within the industry lack differentiation, price competition becomes the default battleground, resulting in ever-shrinking profit margins (Porter, 2007). This is very apparent in the PC industry market forecast (exhibit two), which projects a 10% decrease between 2011 and 2016 (MarketLine, 2012). Apple’s position in this analysis is noteworthy. Apple is the only pure hardware/software integrator, which has allowed Apple to create an incredibly strong position that is unique to the PC industry. Apple’s five-year rolling profit margin average is approximately 23%, significantly higher than the PC industry (exhibit two) at large (YCharts, 2012). Large Scale Manufacturers: Computer manufacturing is labor intensive. Major industry participants have moved manufacturing abroad to take advantage of low cost labor and geographic proximity to electronic component manufacturers (ECMs) in Southeast Asia. This close proximity to ECMs contributes to low switching costs for PC manufacturers (Krabeepetcharat, 2012). Shifting production of PC manufacturing to low cost labor regions and having access to numerous component suppliers creates economies of scale advantages for these large PC manufacturers. HP’s Performance Relative to PC Manufacturing Competitors Since 2007, Hewlett-Packard held the market share leader position (MarketLine, 2012). However, in the fourth quarter 2012, Lenovo, Chinese PC manufacturing firm (formerly IBM’s PC division), overtook the market share leader position (Gaudin, 2012). HP’s brand still carries superior brand integrity in the PC industry. The integration of multiple HP products, such as laptops seamlessly linking to HP printers, help differentiate an HP consumer’s experience. Additionally, HP’s ancillary products and services are still a strong differentiator (Bradley, 2012), and HP was able to capture a 5. 6% profit margin in 2011 (Hughes, 2011), a margin higher than the industry average of 3. 8% (MarketLine, 2012). Exhibit two captures HP’s competitive advantage over top rivals in regards to profit margins. In the United States, HP remains the largest domestic PC manufacturer (MarketLine, 2012). With the high degree of rivalry in the industry, the maturing/declining PC industry is shifting manufacturing to low cost regions abroad. Since the United States is the second-largest PC consuming country in the world, HP must continue to delicately balance its outsourcing activities (Krabeepetcharat, 2012). Once considered a technological leader in the PC industry, HP now struggles with competition from PC substitutes such as tablets and phones. Looking forward, it is critical that HP retains market share and re-establishes profitable growth in the PC industry by being first-to-market with new technologies or higher performing capabilities (First Research, 2012). Internal Analysis As a whole, the PC industry is currently in the mature or declining stage of its life cycle. During the six-year period spanning 2005 to 2011, HP’s unfavorable strategic decisions caused a refocusing and restructuring of its PC division. Listed below are HP’s top resources from its VRIST and top capabilities from its value chain. Comparing these resources and capabilities against HP’s past and current weaknesses allows an analysis of whether HP is propitiously positioned to regain its former status as the world’s leading PC manufacturer. HP’s PC Resources and Capabilities R&D / Intellectual Property Trusted Brand / Profit Margin Interoperability Market Share HP’s PC Weaknesses Acquisitions Substitutions Market Share Trends PC Revenue Trend Value Chain In the Technology section of HP’s Value Chain, HP is returning to one of its long standing core competencies by increasing investments in its Research & Development department (R&D). According to exhibit three, prior to 2004, HP’s R&D budget was more than $3. 7 billion. But after Mark Hurd became CEO in 2005, the R&D budget was reduced to as little as $2. 8 billion in 2009 (Y-charts, 2012). As shown in the lag metrics for new products over the past two years, this significant decrease in R&D correlates directly to the middling success of HP’s recent product launches. HP’s initial launch into the smart phone and tablet market offers tangible evidence of mediocre product development as both the Palm webOS and touchpad were subsequently discontinued. In 2010, HP started to increase its R&D budget again and the reporting for calendar year 2012 shows the R&D budget is over $3. 4 billion through November. This increased financing and refocus into technology development is a promising indicator, but any resulting intellectual property will take time to build back up. VRIST Analysis HP continues to be a trusted PC brand name (FTSE, 2012). Next to its intellectual property, HP’s brand name is its most valuable extraordinary resource. HP manages to earn higher profit margins than the rest of the leading hardware PC manufacturers based in part on this brand awareness (MarketLine, 2012). HP’s trusted brand image is a competitive advantage that it must sustain. Through brand recognition and interoperability with other products across its platform, HP is able to charge consumers a slightly higher premium over other leading PC manufacturers. Interoperability HP expects the interoperability of its Ultrabooks, ElitePad, and smart phones with other HP products and solutions, such as ePrint Cloud Services, to be its distinguishing competitive advantage (video link). HP’s next generation Ultrabooks boast stylish form features, low power consumption, world-class security features, and preserve mainstream price points. HP and its partners anticipate that these features will differentiate its PCs from its competitors (Bradley, 2012) and could one day be an extraordinary resource much like it is for the Apple brand. Since the PC market is facing continued encroachment from tablets and other PC substitutes, HP is marketing its enterprise tablet (ElitePad 900) in early 2013. Additionally, HP’s managers feel its enterprise tablet has the opportunity to differentiate with other products HP offers by providing interplay between the physical and digital worlds (Bradley, 2012). Overall, the size, scale, and connection that HP products have will enable customers to create, store, consume, and share information safer than before (Bradley, 2012). Market Share Since 2007, HP was the leading global PC manufacturer (MarketLine, 2007). But in the fourth quarter of 2012, Lenovo, a Chinese PC manufacturing firm overtook HP and now leads all manufacturers in global PC sales (Gaudin, 2012). Furthermore, China is now the largest global PC consumer market (Dauod, 12). HP faces substantial difficulty regaining its prior spot as market leader because Lenovo’s is a Chinese company with greater access to the China’s PC market; the largest and quickest growing PC market in the world. HP currently manufactures 16% of all PCs shipped worldwide, however that market share has declined since 2010 (MarketLine, 2012). Once a technological leader, HP is now an industry laggard and must develop new marketable technology to maintain its market share position in this hyper-competitive market. Acquisitions HP recently made some costly acquisitions with the goal of reaching product segments with higher profit margins (Krabeepetcharat 2012). Autonomy, a British software firm which specializes in â€Å"unstructured data† or human information, was purchased for nearly $11 billion dollars. HP is now accusing Autonomy of overvaluing its financial records and has taken an $8. 8 billion write-off against its balance sheet for this acquisition (Rushe, 2012). HP also purchased Palm in 2010 for $1. 2 billion with the hope of capitalizing on the emerging tablet market. But consumer sales of HP’s new tablet, the TouchPad, failed to support the product line, and the TouchPad was discontinued less than a year after product launch (Panzarino, 2012). Beyond these noted questionable acquisitions, HP made numerous other eyebrow-raising acquisitions under past CEOs that were not in line with HP’s core competencies. Internal Analysis Conclusion In August 2011, HP’s last CEO announced that HP planned to divest of its PC division (Krabeepetcharat, 2012). However, HP’s current CEO, Meg Whitman, has stated a renewed commitment to the PC segment. Part of HP’s internal strategy is to rebuild the balance sheet through the newly formed Printer and Personal Services (PPS) division in order to accommodate acquisition-related charges (Thacker, 2012). This is part of the CEO’s five-year plan to rebuild HP (Whitman, 2012). While multi-billion dollar write-offs are staggering hurdles for any company to survive, if HP can return to its core competencies and re-brand itself as the company of innovation (as it was once known), then HP can remain a dominant participant in the PC industry. Current HP Strategic Position Our strategy diamond analysis, shown in Exhibit five, determines that HP plans on implementing the following five strategies in the PC industry: (1) Focus on R&D (vehicles) (2) Pursue emerging markets (staging) (3) Reduce SKU’s offered (arenas) (4) Integrated products & services (differentiators) (5) Economies of scale & Consolidation (Economic Logic) Vehicles HP’s primary strategy vehicle is a commitment to R&D in order to re-establish HP as a technologically focused hardware company (Times, 2012). Exhibit 2 illustrates HP’s changing strategy regarding R&D investment. Starting in 2005, HP’s investments in R&D steadily decreased. After reaching its lowest figure in 2010, the R&D budget was increased. In 2011, HP invested $3. 25 billion on R&D, a significant improvement from 2009, when HP invested just $2. 77 billion in R&D (Yarrow, 2012). Interestingly, the bottom chart on Exhibit 2 shows that Apple spent less on R&D than HP but delivered technologically superior products. This exemplifies how R&D spending does not always equate cleanly with results. R&D is critical to generating a pipeline of intellectual property. Intellectual property is critical to HP’s growth because it is one of HP’s extraordinary resources. Strong R&D investments are often a good leading indicator of well-received future products. On the other hand, the lag metrics arising from HP’s previous R&D slashing indicate numerous problems. Of most concern is the failed WebOS that affected both HP’s initial smart phone and tablet touch pad releases (Davis, 2011). After the poor reception of HP’s WebOS, it became open-source software available to the general public to freely use and modify. HP is currently working on developing its own WebOS but is opening the system to the free market to encourage outside development of mobile applications. Staging Pursuing emerging markets such as China will enable HP to produce and distribute PCs more cost effectively. In fact, China is the future hub of both HP’s manufacturing and distribution plan (Bradley, China, 2012). HP’s executive team is aware of China’s increasingly vital role in consumer PC sales. China currently accounts for 20% of the market and is expected to double the United States’ PC consumption by 2016 (Bradley, Shanghi summit, 2012). HP is acting early by building PC manufacturing facilities in China, both to act as a distribution hub for other Asian suppliers and to distribute PCs directly to the Chinese market. Since HP began this strategy two years ago, HP seems to have been correctly following leading indicators and should see a beneficial pay-off over the coming years as China’s market surpasses the United States’ PC market. Arenas HP intends to reduce the number of its PC and printer stock-keeping units (SKUs) by 25% and 30% respectively by 2015 (Bradley, Newsroom, 2012). The maintenance cost of servicing over 2,100 types of laser printers is neither sustainable nor conducive to continued growth and profitability. Instead of divesting the PC division, as considered in 2011, HP now intends to re-invent its existing product line by focusing on quality innovation over quantity of product offerings. Geographically, HP will also be building a Chinese-based manufacturing facility which will help them operate more cost effectively in that emerging market. Differentiators HP expects to differentiate itself from other PC manufacturers by integrating products with services solutions, a process HP has already begun. In March 2012, HP combined its Personal Systems Group (PSG) with its Imaging and Printing Group (IPG) to form a new segment named Printing & Personal Systems (PPS) (Bradley, 2012). According to a HP director, merging the two groups into PPS â€Å"was a key strategy to provide consumers and business customers with better products and solutions that are seamlessly integrated with each other. † For example, upon purchasing a HP laptop, a consumer can expect his or her new laptop to wirelessly find and automatically connect with any of the consumer’s HP printers or other products. In addition, by integrating internal supply chain processes between the old PSG and IPG, and having a single HP sales person selling both PCs and printers, HP can keep the prices of its products and services competitive. It is business strategies such as these that show HP is still forward-thinking and seeking innovative or cost effective technologies. Refer to Exhibit 3 to view one of HP’s marketing videos (HP marketing, 2012). Another example of how the newly-formed PPS group integrates products can be seen in their â€Å"Exstream† product, which has been put to use by Humana and saved millions Humana millions by integrating static and dynamic content for easier communication with clients (HP marketing, Humana, 2012). Economic Logic Economies of Scale: As HP seeks to differentiate its PPS group to drive product innovation, there will be significant cost-saving effects due to increased economies of scale. Essentially, HP will save money by manufacturing more products directly in emerging markets like China. With China’s consumer PC market expected to double that of the United States, HP is ideally situated to take advantageous benefit of China’s emerging market through manufacturing plants and distribution channels located within China. Consolidation: By consolidating its PC and Printing groups, HP strengthened its position in many ways, including lowering costs in the supply chain. In addition to consolidating its supply chain functions, HP is also streamlining its sales teams and reducing its functional support organizations (Bradley, 2012). HP’s current PC strategy of consolidation is a direct byproduct of both a planned decrease in SKUs and the PC manufacturing and consumer sales reaching the ending stage of their lifecycles. If HP can successfully set new standards for PC and printing synergies through consolidation, then HP can create a viable path to maintaining its history of premium pricing via product features. HP Strategic Implementation Based on our analysis, the facets of HP’s strategy diamond are internally consistent. HP’s analyzed strategies are both interconnected and overlapping. For example, being focused on China provides HP with a strong arena given China’s anticipated growth in the consumer PC market. But a presence in China also validates HP’s economic logic by producing lowered costs. Overall, HP’s PC strategy is sound because HP is returning to its core competencies, such as hardware innovation. On a larger scale, HP’s renewed focus on R&D coupled with the creation of the PSG division supports HP’s current desire to grow organically rather than through mergers and acquisitions. One weakness that continues to hamper HP is operating with over $20 billion in debt derived almost entirely from acquisition costs related to fruitless assets. Looking back, HP could have benefited from smarter business plans, including a balanced scorecard, prior to some of these acquisitions. With such information, HP would have had a more realistic chance to make each acquisition profitable, or perhaps it would have had enough qualitative metrics to realize that the acquisition may not integrate with its core processes. Since change in the PC industry is highly iterative, HP must continually adjust the implementation of its forward strategy. Fortunately, HP appears to be taking the necessary steps to address its past failures and to capitalize on future opportunities. Since HP still has industry-wide brand name recognition, its return to market dominance is entirely feasible. But as technology progresses and markets shift, HP’s ability to maintain sustainable growth will depend largely on whether HP’s new PC business strategy can capture value while simultaneously producing competitive, cutting edge products.