Pina Bausch

Dance is an expressive art form, it gives the choreographer and dancers a chance to be able to release and engage their ideas through physical practice. Not all pieces have a meaning but may have an aesthetic level of semiotic content. As an audience we recognise and interpret movement, sometimes this is not conscious as this is an analysing tool that we all use to read situations in everyday life. This essay studies the piece The Rite of Spring (1974) by Pina Bausch (1940-2009). Bausch was a German modern dance choreographer who rebelled against ballet and made her own twist on dance. The rite of spring was one of her many frantic pieces. Bausch uses emotion, costume and staging to make this piece individual and unforgettable. Bausch uses a mix of responsive gestures and powerful unison movement; she goes into great depth and detail to portray the subject of human sacrifice. The choreography has been carefully thought out and you can see this by watching the piece, it has a phatic semiotic level. The music accompanying the piece is composed by Igor Stravinsky (1882- 1971) the piece has three sections: (Introduction, Omens of Spring–Dances of the Youths and Maidens, Ritual of Abduction). There are many instruments used helping the piece explore different pitches and tempos giving more scope to play with as a choreographer. Some of the instruments used : piccolos, flutes, English horn, clarinets, bass clarinets, bassoons, contrabassoons, French horns, piccolo trumpet, trombones, tubas, timpani, bass drum, triangle, and strings. Phrase one – Female solo explosion. Performer| Movement| Space| Sound| 1 vulnerable woman wearing a red dress. Her role is being sacrificed. She is trained dancer, her facial expression shows distress. Stillness, explosive movement, drops and falls, repetition of the motif of the head falling towards the floor and being flung back up again. | The spatial view was of one female and then the rest of the group huddled together in a staggered clump. Whilst dancing the women doesn’t travel far but covers a space and keeps moving within it. | The music used is very intense and dramatic, its use of tempo and pitch add to the nature of th e piece and adds effect to the dynamics in the choreographed movement. In this phrase the female performer wears a see through red dress exposing one of her breasts, this shows her vulnerability and is referential to the fact that red can mean ‘dying’. The piece has a phatic semiotic level as the stage has been set in a certain way which draws attention to the female, as the other performers are set in a staggered clump giving the impression of a group relationship. Whilst the woman explodes into dance the rest of the company stand watching in fear as she jerks herself to death. The choreography used is very repetitive as she collapses to the floor and back up again, the strength and ability shown through her movement is very believable as you see the tension moving through her body. The way the performer repeats the motif of her head swinging to the floor this could be a metalinguistic level as we associate this kind of movement with stress and frustration. Phrase two – circle sacrifice Performer | Movement| Space| Sound| A mix of male and female dancers. Males have just trousers on and women just chiffon dresses. They are all trained dancers, and their facial expressions in this phrase are neutral. Starts with slow walks and repetition of the same motif of the head being swung towards the floor. As the phrase goes on the movement turns jerky and more energy is put into the phrase as the movement is developed. | The whole of the stage is covered as the dancers create a spacious circle. Highlighting the main focus of the red dress that is in the centr e of the circle. | The music starts slow and quiet as the movement starts to pick up the music complements it as the tempo gets faster. There is a loud explosion of music twice in this phrase. | This phrase consists of many different devices such as unison work, canon, motif development and partner work. They start the phrase in a spacious circle, and the red dress is left in the centre this indicates the power of the dress and shows that they are all in fear of being the one chosen to be sacrificed. Again the as the dress is red in colour it is referential to the fact red could mean ‘dying’. There is a motif that is repeated throughout the piece but is more apparent in this phrase as they all dance it in unison and then it develops further; it is the motif of them swinging their head towards the floor and back up again. This could be metalinguistic as we associate this movement with frustration, aggravation and disturbance. As the motif is developed it gives the audience trace level signs as it is embedded in the work and creates the idea of the aggravation and frustration excelling further. As stated above there is also an element of partner work used the proxemics suggest an intimate relationship and the movement used suggests vulnerability from the women. The music starts quiet and gradually picks up as the movement and motif develops; this makes the audience feel the emotion and state that all the performers are in as it does not take the emphasis away from the movement content. In the phrase all the performers collapse to the floor, this sudden fall is accompanied by a loud explosion of music; it adds such effect and shows the phatic level of semiotics as it was obviously rehearsed that way to make the dynamic stand out. Bausch has put so much detail into the choreography, staging and costumes; the overall effect is the meaning and depth of the piece. The two phrases that are analysed above use similar choreography although both are unique in different ways. Phrase one – female solo explosion, the attention is drawn to the one female dancer that is dancing her solo. The impression that comes across is the thought of her being alone as the other performers are all stood together watching on. In comparison phrase two- the circle sacrifice, the feeling and staging makes the group seem as a whole and that they are all equal; this is because they all move the same in unison and no one is singled out. In phrase one the movement content is jerky, energetic and extremely emotional for the one female dancer; whilst the rest of the group are swaying gently this implies that the feeling that the female is experiencing is most defiantly not of which the group are. Phrase two on the other hand shows that the group are together and are dancing as a whole. The contrast between phrase one and two are not that different as they are both following the same theme of sacrifice making the choreography through the piece restricted into what style and practice is used. The Rite of Spring is an exceptionally meaningful piece that shows the difference between the royal ballet and modern dance. The twist widens the restrictions and enables people to dance without having all the Ballet technique. The two phrases above certainly stand out in the piece and add to the story telling ability. To conclude the analysis of this piece has been very intriguing to watch the performance in a different light, it helps you understand and helps you see the nature of the piece and how it was made. Bibliography

De Stijl and Bauhaus Movements: Modernism in the Soviet

Formed in Holland in 1917, De Stijl (The Style) or Neoplasticism is a movement constructed by artists whose concepts are in line with utopian approach to art. Its founders were painters Theo van Doesburg, who is also an architect, and Piet Mondrian, a painter. The group which composed of other painters, and published the paper called De Stijl. Recognizing the need to remerge art and design, the De Stijl movement promoted functionalism. The basics of their design include rectilinear shapes sliding across one another.Opposed to surface decoration and free space, De Stijl explored the use of cubic or 3-D shapes to fill in space. With a tendency to be aesthetically simple, it applies only pure primary hues, black and white (Matthews, n. d. ). From functionality, one can derive that the proponents favor the use of space for abstract function and style. Arts produced in this movement had their own way of expression, which opposes pure art and natural design, but promotes other possibilitie s with the constructivist’s use of plastic art.Artists of De Stijl movement include Le Corbusier, who constructed designs using bold 3-D geometrical shapes set on the exterior. For example, in his House at Weissenhof, the designer used a massive horizontal block for the upper structure to attain highlight. Windows are designed similarly to avoid irregularity, thus suggesting order and functionality. Such design with the geometrical boxes set on the exteriors is most commonly used nowadays in office buildings, condominiums, and malls. The square boxes are used either as terraces or box plants, and each is designed with uniformity.In some schools nowadays, this design takes the form of extended ledges, which serve as safety structures to prevent falling. The United Nations Headquarters designed by Le Corbusier is another example of De Stijl art. As one can see, the building which towers high above has a similar structure to the office buildings nowadays. This 39-storey building accommodates 3,400 employees. The side walls are made of tinted glass, while the narrow end walls are of white marble. Considerably, buildings made subsequently take on this example, with tinted glass windows as walls, which combine high aspects of functionality with aesthetics.Although short-lived, the influence of De Stijl has been very prominent in the modern era. For instance, the concept of the toy Lego, which uses plastic art to construct structures, has been very popular among children. Also, many buildings and houses have been constructed based on the philosophy of this movement. Influenced by De Stijl, the Bauhaus movement followed, with a philosophy of turning away from old structures, and employing modern or international art with a higher sense of functionality for social and political purposes.Led by Walter Groupis, the artists focused on urban planning, housing, and development for the common people or the masses. Included in the teaching of Bauhaus arts is industrial production. Unlike De Stijl which supports plastic art, students under Bauhaus are taught to work on handicrafts to gain understanding of theoretical principles. One Bauhaus artist well-famed for designing multi functional buildings is Walter Gropius. Designed in 1911, Fagus Works boasts of modern art and style.The exterior is a combination of glass and brick walls, which allows passersby to view the interiors. Steel staircases adorn the corridors and add to the eclectic impression when viewed outside. Influenced by De Stijl, this building employs elucidative design but limited colors of beige and grey, thus striking a balance between simplicity and grandiose. Moreover, the use of bricks and glass, steel and wood for staircases also sets a balance between smooth and rough surfaces, or hard and soft, which further suggests both permanence and impermanence—a universal theme in the modern world.References Jirousek, Charlotte. (1995). De stijl. Retrieved August 22, 2008, from ht tp://char. txa. cornell. edu/art/decart/destijl/decstijl. htm Matthews, Kevin. Le Corbusier. Retrieved August 22, 2008, from http://www. greatbuildings. com/architects/Le_Corbusier. html Matthews, Kevin. Walter Gropius. Retrieved August 22, 2008, from http://www. greatbuildings. com/buildings/Fagus_Works. htmlhttp://www. google. com. ph/search? sourceid=navclient&hl=tl&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLJ_tlPH259PH259&q=soviet+de+stijl+artists

The case of “Janet Cooke and the Washington Post” in the frame of Robinson

Nowadays, our daily life can not be assumed without deviance being inherent in education, at workplace and other areas. The most common type of deviance can be observed at the workplace. Although this field is quite new, various conceptualizations are brought forward by different scientists. At this point the research of Robinson and Greenberg (1998) is worthwhile. These researchers distinguish five dimensions of deviance: perpetrator, intention, target, action and consequence. In the following paragraph, the case of â€Å"Janet Cooke and the Washington Post† will be analyzed in the scope of above-mentioned dimensions.Profound analysis of the case studyAccording to Robinson and Greenberg`s five dimensions, perpetrator might be insider or outsider (Robinson and Greenberg, 1998). In this case, being involved in an illegal action Janet Cooke can be described as a perpetrator. So, working as a reporter in the Washington Post, she is an insider (person) and not an organization. Deviant action can be executed intentionally or unintentionally (Robinson and Greenberg, 1998). Clearly, Cooke`s intentions were to get achievement and reputation, while using a spurious way to be on the list of well-known and recognized journalists. So, Cooke intentionally cheated both society and organization she was a part of, endeavoring to pursue her mercenary intentions. In my point of view, the action of this reporter was not intentionally harmful, targeting either organization or people. Obviously, while writing the story about Jimmy, she did not suppose that her action would bring great damage to the reputation of the Washington Post. In addition, she did not expect her article to be awarded â€Å"Pulitzer†. Robinson and Greenberg divide targets of deviant actions into these categories: inside and outside; individual and organizational; additional. So, Janet`s action directed toward both inside – organization (Washington Post) and outside – readers of newspaper. Apart from it, organizational (organization itself) and additional (people reading Janet`s article) targets can be defined in this case, as both of these categories were misled. Information given in Janet`s article was based on non-valid and exaggerated story. Consequently, the action of Janet, having an illegal basis, disrupts both organizational and societal norms. Certainly, if organizational norms and behavior are contrasted by actions of an individual, they are apparently focused on personal interests, being a workplace deviance. Although Janet did not expect, her action resulted in negative consequences. First of all, the reputation of the newspaper she worked for was seriously damaged. Apart from it, such kind of activity is shameful for the name of journalism. The core of journalism is to provide society with valid and credible information, whereas, her action ran counter to it. Conclusion After having analyzed this case, it can be concluded that all the actions having illegal intentions should be avoided, otherwise, consequences can be inevitably harmful for both society and organization, either intentionally or unintentionally. References Robinson, Sandra L; Greenberg Jerald. Employees Behaving Badly: Dimensions, Determinants and Dilemmas in the Study of Workplace Deviance. Trends in Organizational Behavior, volume 5. Edited by Cooper, C.L, and D.M. Rousseau, 1998.IACA – INTERNATIONAL ANTI-Concepts and Issues in CorruptionSince ancient times laws and regulations within countries all over the world have always been different, having their own principles and peculiarities. Clearly, laws have always been subject to amendment, though, some of them accepted in one country are completely objected at another one. So, this situation paves the   way for people and businesses to avoid law without breaking it in either their own countries or abroad. In the modern, rapidly developing world globalization and neo-liberalism heavily contribute to this process (Passas, 2005). The provided essay will discuss the concepts of â€Å"lawful, but awful† and â€Å"crimes without law violation† in the context of the Azerbaijan Republic, trying to find out differences and aspects they are based on. Moreover, there will be given examples to clarify it.The concept of â€Å"lawful, but awful†The concept of â€Å"lawful, but awful† was originally developed by professor Nikos Passas describing it as activities being legal while having negative consequences or eluding regulations and laws not accepted in this or that country (2005). Prior to giving examples reflecting the concept of â€Å"lawful, but awful† in the Republic of Azerbaijan, three categories of it defined by Passas w ill be given: Firstly, corporations have legal businesses while producing harmful or dangerous products such as cigarettes, weapons, and alcohol (Passas, 2005). Secondly, despite producing useful products for the society corporations release toxic materials, wastes, and etc., causing damage to society, environment and country (Passas, 2005). Finally, the third category describes some industries pursing public purposes mostly aimed at raising money rather than positively contributing to the society, thus resulting in negative outcomes (Passas, 2005). A few examples will be given to illustrate the concept of â€Å"lawful, but awful†:â€Å"Shadow education† in AzerbaijanThe â€Å"shadow education† is the term describing extra education provided by teachers for extra money beyond the official curriculum (Transparency International, 2013). It is a widespread example of this concept severely spreading in some parts of the world. Turning to Azerbaijan there are many factual examples of this term. Since the Soviet Union collapsed many public sectors have deteriorated including the education system. In recent years, people have intensively been concentrated on education and career making to cope with stiff competition on the labor market. A Additionally, the salaries of teachers do not conform to standards and cost of living in our country. Consequently, all the above mentioned circumstances have given teachers the opportunity to take advantage of them, getting involved in private tutoring to raise extra revenues. Studying for exams to enter universities and other educational institutions most of current students tend to take extra classes to get scores they target as curriculum taught at school is deliberately lowered by teachers to attract more students to their private tutoring. Although this type of activity is not prohibited by the law provided a teacher pays taxes to government, yet such type of private tutoring has a negative impact on the level of education within the country.Difficulties of entrepreneurship issuance in AzerbaijanSome years ago potential businessmen used to go through complex stages to have their entrepreneurships issued. Initially, they had to be involved in long procedures taking fourty days until they were implemented, thus preventing many of them to set up businesses. Apart from it paved the way for corruption, involving bribery, to accelerate the process of entrepreneurship issuance. Consequently, all the above indicated factors impeded the development of the private business sector being one of the important contributors in the economy of the country and well-being of the society. Due to the latest reforms this procedure has been reduced to only two days, stimulating the development of private sector.The concept of â€Å"Crimes without law violation†The concept of â€Å"crimes without law violation† is based on principles involving elusion of regulations and laws using various frauds and loopholes without infringing national or international legislation.Tax machinations in AzerbaijanIn the Republic of Azerbaijan a person involved in entrepreneurship is supposed to pay taxes to the government depending on their turnover of business. Having a turnover not exceeding 120000 manats per year physical and legal persons are supposed to pay four percent simplified tax. However, if this amount is over 120000 manats, entrepreneurs are supposed to pay 18% valu e added tax (VAT) (taxes.gov.az, 2015). Clearly, this large gap paves the way for tax evasion with many business people coming up with â€Å"tricks† to evade tax legislation. One of the â€Å"tricks† is to establish a few companies having different names and TINs sharing turnover among them so as not to pay 18% VAT. Consequently, this action is considered to be violation, however, no law is broken, thus reflecting the concept of â€Å"crimes without law violation†Sale and purchase machinations in AzerbaijanAccording to property and tax legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan, when selling or purchasing a real estate, an owner is supposed to pay taxes to government. One is supposed to pay four percent providing property price does not exceed 120000. However, the amount over this sum is subject to 18%. So, some tricks are also used to evade this tax. Usually, seller and buyer agree to reduce the cost of property in the sale and purchase agreement to the amount being less than 120000. Consequently, in fact, these people are not involved in tax evasion as official documents have valid information with no law violation, though, their machination involves â€Å"tricks† to defraud the government.ConclusionIt can be clearly concluded that, all countries over the world have laws and regulations, though they often differ from each other depending on a country. However, businesses and individuals having different intentions are often aimed at finding loopholes to avoid law violation and punishment, while pursuing their goals. Obviously, it is challenging for countries to monitor this activity with no law broken and anybody to bring to justice. Exactly, there are certain reasons contributing to the above-mentioned tendency. Primarily, shadow education arises from law salaries and drawbacks in educational system, making teachers and people turn to private tutoring. As regards the example of tax machination, it is obvious that it is based on some flaws in the tax code, such as a large gap between 4% and 18% tax, inciting people to use â€Å"tricks† to elude high taxes. Consequently, along with public awareness these loopholes should be filled in, otherwise, this tendency is not subject to healthy change.

International human resource management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

International human resource management - Essay Example The questions about how people are managed , are the substance of "human resource management" and key to organizational success. Management theorists have long argued that there is a 'right' way of managing people that can be implemented by management consultants throughout the world. The development of HRM theories in the US tended to reply on the examples of a small number of large private sector firms was based on a culturally typical US typical US independent , individualistic ,suffered from a poorly thought out approach to rigorous theory, failed to link theory to general practise and relied heavily on selected aspects of what was thought to be "Japanese" practice. Because of the hedgemony of the USA in management thinking ,their visions of HRM have tended to be the touchstone for HRM in other countries. However ,the US theories with their implications of virtually autonomous organizations , sit uncomfortably with the European reality. So,is the American vision of HRM a universal one that will apply anywhere in the world or is it a US-bounded one Organisational behaviour is influenced by social processes beyond the organisation's boundaries. Thus firms are located in settings not only of legislation but also of culture and social norms to which they have to react. Culture provides meaning and purpose , rules and norms. Each nation constitutes a unique institutional setting that skews firm behaviour in particular ways. American notions of HRM may have limited relevance to nations which do not possess identical or similar cultures. And there are clear differences , in Europe , HRM is less dependent , companies have less autonomy and freedom of action , trade unionism is more important , the social partners have more influence ,legal regulations are more important and there is a stronger tradition of employee involvement.Are European firms moving towards a North American HRM approach to managing their personnel Or is it that owing to the ongoing economic and political integration of European Union countries , a convergence towards a distinctly European practise is underway For this, w e have the convergence and divergence arguments. There are two distinct versions of the convergence thesis , the free market US model and the institutional European model. There is an underlying similarity to these theses. They all view firms' latitude in regard to selecting and developing personnel management strategies as being shaped , governed and given impetus by a mix of factors which may be broadly defined as either technological ,economic or institutional. The Market Force or US Convergence Model: This theory argues that the differences in management systems

The U.S Constitution Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The U.S Constitution - Research Paper Example According to Dahl (2003); the main way in which the constitution can be described as being democratic is the fact that it allows citizens of the land rights that can be found in the 10th amendment to the constitution. The document can also be amended in a very democratic process. This is because unlike in the document’s creation, it is elected representatives that participate in the constitutional amendment process. This brings this text to how the constitution is undemocratic. The creation of the document is itself a testament to this fact. Those who wrote the constitution were not by any means elected. They were no doubt great leaders, but the fact that there was no election proves that gave them the capacity to write the document on behalf of the entire country. It was created behind closed doors and then signed by the authors. It can therefore be argued that the undemocratic way through which the document cam to be nullifies the premise of democracy which it was meant to i nspire. Other undemocratic elements of the United States constitution are; its tolerance of slavery, suffrage, limitation of Congressional power and judicial power which gives judges the ability to deem a law unconstitutional even after it has been approved by the legislature and then sighed by the president. Amar (2005) exaplsins that since its inception, the U.S constitution has been democratized over the years. One way through which this has been done is by the bill of rights. The bill of rights came to give most rights needed in a democracy.

Final paper about the Marshall Plan Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Final about the Marshall Plan - Research Paper Example This was after the Second World War. The major aim besides the rebuilding is that it targeted to avert the percolation of the Soviet Communism. It is important to highlight that this plan was employed from April 1948 for a span of four years (Nicolaus, 2008, pg 32). This came into being after the European cities had underwent some serious destructions and even the individual families seriously affected. This was a serious incident and the trade in the continent was adversely affected. The people thereby lived in the refugee camps and got assistance from the United Nations Administration. This was consequently followed by food shortage which was experienced in the harsh seasons of winter. Various infrastructural facilities were attacked aerially while the sea vessels were sunken (John, and Nicholas, 2004, pg 42) This was a speech that was given when the United States could not hold it any longer for the several unsuccessful mediations with the Soviet Union. This was by George Marshall who was the Secretary of the state at Harvard University. In the speech, he assured of the support from America in the making the economic status of the European states to grow through a gradual recovery system. In the speech, what came out so clearly is that Marshall believed that for the country to recover, grow and be economically stable, there has to high levels of cool political climate in the sense that a country has to be peaceful with no form of political violence that would stimulate high massive investments to flow into the economy (Robert, 2008, pg 71). It is important to highlight that the negotiation with the Soviet Union was in January 1947.this was after Marshall was appointed into the office. The officials thereby had to make arrangements on how they could meet the Soviet Foreign minister. The move was aiming at the recovery of Germany for financial economic states. It is important to highlight that for the effective and efficient implementation

Cell biology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Cell biology - Essay Example 2010). Without ECM, higher life forms such as mammals, or truly any multi-cellular organism, could not possibly exist. When issues occur with the ECM, though, many problems can then arise. This is seen through the role of the ECM in two pathological states: healing after myocardial infarction, and the degenerative phase of multiple sclerosis. Extracellular Matrix in Healthy Mammals The definition of ECM is extremely broad, now more so than in past years. As it is currently defined in the scientific literature, ECM includes â€Å"all secreted molecules that are immobilized outside cells† (van Horssen et al. 2007). Every body tissue has ECM between the cells. In every case, the ECM plays some vital role in the functioning of that tissue. For example, the ECM of the lens of the eyes is responsible for cellular contraction. Cellular contraction, in turn, is what regulates growth rate of the cells on the surface of the eye (Wormstone 2004). The ECM of the periodontal ligament, comm only known as the gum between the jawbone and teeth, is extremely strong. Without it, the teeth would not be able to remain attached to the jawbone, which is vital to the development and maintenance of the bony jaw. This tissue gains such strength mainly through the levels of the collagen type I protein, which are extremely high in the ECM of the periodontal ligament (Bildt et al. 2009). One specialized type of ECM is the the basement membrane. Recently, the role of the basement membrane has been expanded past its previous place as a simple structural feature. This membrane has been shown to be an extremely important regulator of cell behaviour. It helps control tissue compartmentalization and â€Å"sends signals to epithelial cells about the external microenvironment†, telling the cells where to grown and how (Kalluri 2003). Balance between creation of new extracellular matrix and its degradation is required for the maintenance of healthy body tissues. This is accomplished t hrough production of matrix metalloproteinases, or MMPs, which are enzymes produced to break down this matrix. The cells which produce these MMPs are known as fibroblasts. Conversely, fibroblasts are also responsible for the synthesis of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases. These inhibitors, known as TIMPs, unsurprisingly impede the degradation activity of the MMPs (Bildt et al. 2009). ECM is also responsible for another process in the maintenance of healthy tissue: apoptosis. ECM regulates apoptosis, or programmed cell death, through intracellular signalling (van Horssen et al. 2007). Extracellular matrix could be used as biological scaffolding material for regenerative medicine (Badylak et al. 2009). It can be â€Å"decellularized† and the ECM alone used to support new transplanted cells (Soto-Gutierrez et al. 2010). Also relevant to regenerative medicine is the fact that ECM has â€Å"constructive remodeling† capability, though the mechanism behind this is not y et fully understood (Badylak et al. 2009) ECM seems like the Holy Grail of biological scaffolding, as it can be constructed and then completely degraded through â€Å"bioactive molecules† that are produced naturally within the body (Badylak 2007). Functioning of the ECM in Disease States With the extremely broad and vital roles played by the

SET ASIDES Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

SET ASIDES - Research Paper Example On analysis the justification for why VA and Defense Department are chosen as providing the best contracting opportunities for NAICS 561730 is shown and supported with evidence. Finally, the best available contracting opportunity for NAICS 561730 is identified and the reason stated. Set Aside Introduction Set aside contract is ‘’a federal contract under which only small business are allowed to bid’’ (HJ Ventures, 2004). The set aside small business contracts are mainly awarded to start ups, minority owned businesses, women-owned businesses, disabled people businesses, veterans group businesses and other special groups businesses. These type of businesses mostly lack capital and experience to start or expand thus they lack the machinery to compete with large or other successful businesses. In order to help them overcome those challenges that why the government reserves some of it contract specifically for them. A part from the special treatment in bidding fo r the contracts the small business owners stands to gain the following benefits under these programs: training courses and counseling on owning or managing a business, and additionally they are eligible for various loans and advance payments within the program (Guthrie, 2011). Set-asides though awarded on special basis have been quite controversial in business context since the projects from the private sector are mainly awarded on the basis of price, performance, value added and quality, while set-asides are awarded on basis on size, class, race, gender, thus harming legitimate businesses and breeding corruption (Bbutkins, 2010). Under the Small Business Act, the law bids the federal agencies to carryout various procurements that are partially or wholly reserved for small business participation (FSD, 2010). Under this act there are several set-aside categories for the different small businesses ventures which include: Competitive 8(a), Emerging Small Business, HUBZone, Partial Hist orically Black College or University (HBCU) / Minority Institution (MI), Partial Small Business, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, Total HBCU / MI, Total Small Business, and Veteran-Owned Small Business (FSD, 2010). Therefore small business set-aside categories will award certain acquisitions exclusively to eligible small business concerns. Hence a set-aside may totally or partially open to all small businesses, a single acquisition or a class of acquisitions. In the procurement bidding process the set-asides are conducted through simplified acquisition procedures, sealed bids, or competitive proposals. The small business set asides are awarded contracts either as the primary contractor or sub-contractor. According to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) categories 561730 Landscaping Services is defined as ‘’ventures that specialize in providing landscape care and maintenance services and/or installing trees, shrubs, plants, lawns, or g ardens and ventures that specialize in providing these services along with design of landscape plans and/or the construction of walkways, retaining walls, decks, fences, ponds, and similar structures’’ (NAICS, 2007). Landscaping services provide employment to a quite sizable portion of the American population and also improve the outlook of households. They also significantly improve the value of homes. More than 14500 businesses in the United States are classified as landscaping services (NAICS 561730), with majority of these ventures comprising of a workforce

Should Sugary Drinks Be Taxed Like Cigarettes Essay

Should Sugary Drinks Be Taxed Like Cigarettes - Essay Example The people who oppose the imposition of taxes on sugary drinks include Mohammed Elzofri, a reported store owner; Corky Booze, an alleged former auto racer; and various agencies such as the American Beverage Association, which governs the beverage industry and particularly supports companies such as â€Å"Coke, Pepsi, Red Bull, and Gatorade† (Should Sugary Drinks Be Taxed Like Cigarettes? Calif. City Considering Idea par. 25); as well as the Americans Against Food Taxes. According to Elzofri, imposing taxes on sugary drinks, particularly on sodas would significantly be detrimental to the poor people and to business owners like him. His support was that more than 80 percent of people who purchase from his store buy sugary drinks and thus, imposing a tax on these would definitely make the drinks more expensive and possibly prohibitive. It was revealed that a tax on a two-liter drink would be tantamount to an addition of 68 cents to the current selling price. Concurrently, Booze w as reported to have averred that the government should not dictate what people should or should not consume and the imposition of the tax on sugary drinks would be most hurtful to the local community. He noted that the poor people who do not have the means to leave the city and purchase these drinks in other cities that do not impose taxes on them would be left with no options except to contend with these or not to purchase them at all. While other local citizens who could afford to leave Richmond would just purchase these drinks in other cities. This was corroborated by the American Beverage Association which shared Booze’s contentions that the imposition of taxes on sugary drinks would be most hurtful to those who could not afford. On the other hand, the people who were reported to openly support the imposition of taxes on sugary drinks include Dr. Jeff Ritterman, a cardiologist and also the city councilman; Doria Robinson, a noted community activist; and Dr. Kristen Bibbin Domingo, who is allegedly an internist at the University of California, San Francisco. According to Ritterman, the imposition of taxes on sugary drinks is seen as an effective way to prevent obesity. This was supported by Domingo, who apparently conducted a study on the effect of a tax imposition on sugary drinks to health and medical costs. As disclosed by Domingo, â€Å"a nationwide penny-per-ounce soda tax would reduce consumption by 15 percent and would, over a 10-year period, prevent several million diabetes cases and nearly 100,000 heart disease cases, as well as saving $17 billion in medical costs† (Should Sugary Drinks Be Taxed Like Cigarettes? Calif. City Considering Idea par. 30). In addition to substantial savings on medical costs, the tax imposition would allegedly generate as much as $3 million in revenues, as alleged by Ritterman. These are definite benefits for the city and for the health of the constituents. As added by Ritterman, the revenues could be earmar ked from programs such as â€Å"local sports fields, diabetes treatment for low-income children, and school-based nutrition classes† (Should Sugary Drinks Be Taxed Like Cigarettes? Calif. City Considering Idea par. 12). Likewise, Robinson, the community activist concurred that a tax on sugary drinks would eventually assist in breaking the addiction on sodas; and therefore, corroborates Ritterman’

Defense Ethics Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Defense Ethics - Assignment Example In this regard, any decision is evaluated, reviewed and premised on protecting the rights and interests of people, which, as noted, â€Å"is consistent with accepted views on ethics, since ethics is generally concerned with principles and obligations that govern all actions and practices† (Defense Ethics Program, January 2002, p. 6).More precisely, the three general principles contained in the DEP are as follows: (1) Principle 1: Respect and dignity of all persons; (2) Principle II: Serve Canada before self; and (3) Principle III: Obey and support lawful authority† (PSE402, 2010, p. 6/8).b.   Ethical obligationsFrom a review of Lesson 10 and from the guidelines presented under the Fundamentals of Canadian Defence Ethics,   the six ethical obligations contained in the DEP are: (1) Integrity (â€Å"the requirement to consistently give precedence to ethical values in our decisions and actions† (Defense Ethics Program, January 2002, p. 11); (2) Loyalty (â€Å"sta nding by their commitments to the nation† (Defense Ethics Program, January 2002, p. 12); where keeping promises (identified as closely related to the obligation of loyalty where in this case, honouring promises are identified as crucial) fall under this category; (3) Courage (â€Å"facing up to and dealing with anything that is recognized as dangerous, difficult, or a cause of pain, instead of avoiding it†; (4) Honesty (practice of being open, frank and sincere in dealings and endeavours).... To response to the question on moral grounds, one can use the readings from Lesson 11 stipulating that although â€Å"loyalty is a functional military necessity, which also implies the need for obedience... (where) most orders do not require blind obedience or instantaneous obedience... (and where) loyalty should be broadly based on personal integrity and trust† (PSE 402: Lesson 11, 2010, p. 4). Further, as emphasized in the same discourse, â€Å"although immediate obligation is to the chain of command, the highest obligation is to humanity at large† (PSE 402: Lesson 11, 2010, p. 6). In addition, another relevant point presented under Lesson 11 is Huntington’s discussion of justifying obedience versus disobedience, to wit: â€Å"Huntington is only referring to lawful orders. He does not imply that a subordinate is obligated to obey a clearly unlawful order† (PSE 402: Lesson 11, 201, p. 8). With the foregoing supporting statements, as AWWO, one should clear ly disobey the Captain’s order (presuming scenario 2 that the Captain deliberately intends to report inaccurate results) due to unlawful order, which is contrary to moral grounds and disregards professionalism in terms of integrity and the obligation to uphold the highest standards of the military profession for the sake of humanity. When one decides to obey the order, which in the first place was unlawful, it would be a precursor for future orders that could be given and expected to be followed despite of being based on lies and immoral grounds. One should remain steadfast in adhereing to the values of truth, integrity, and honor above loyalty to unworthy and compromising cause. 2. Using the Statement of Defence Ethics in the Fundamentals of Canadian Defence Ethics (2002), identify ethical

Early Childhood Curriculum Essay Example for Free

Early Childhood Curriculum Essay While being in this course I have learned about the different curriculums, philosophies and theories. In this paper I will be discussing how to develop an appropriate curriculum for preschool children. This paper will include the following topics: the theories and/or philosophies of Montessori; concepts learned throughout this course, how to apply them into an early childhood classroom focusing on the understanding components to design a curriculum for a preschool classroom based on ages 3 to 5 year old children. First let’s discuss the philosophies of  both Maria Montessori and Jean Piaget. Maria Montessori ideas and beliefs are embedded throughout every early childhood program and her influence on our thinking about curriculum has been profound. She was a tireless child advocate and believed that all children deserve a proper education. Montessori insisted that through proper early education, underprivileged and cognitively impaired children could be successful if they were given a chance to learn. She was one of the first to establish a preschool for poor and mentally retarded children in Rome; these preschools were called â€Å"Casa  dei Bambini†, which translated in English as â€Å"Children’s House. † Dr. Montessori proposed that children that are at risk and the notion that society had a moral responsibility to devote resources to early child intervention. Our textbook states that. â€Å"Montessori embraced and expanded Froebel’s kindergarten concept; she felt that children were natural learners and should drive much of their own learning. She asserted that children should be grouped in multiage (2 ? to 5 years) classes to allow flexibility and opportunities for peer mentoring. Montessori developed an  extensive set of â€Å"didactic† materials and lessons designed to be attractive to children and used by teachers to teach specific concepts and skills. She adapted furniture to child size as a gesture of respect for the unique needs of early learners† (Jaruszewicz, 2012). I agree with her philosophy and theory, because children do need the freedom to learn at their own pace and not to be pressured to do what they see other children do. It is also important the classroom learning environment to be attractive so that it will draw the children to be there and learn new and exciting things. In order to use the teaching method, the teachers must be trained to work with all children and understand that no one child develops the same as another. The other philosopher that I will discuss is Jean Piaget. A contemporary of both Montessori and Dewey, Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget proposed a theory of cognitive development that initiated a constructivist view of curriculum (Jaruszewicz, 2012). Piaget conducted several experiments with young children that proved that their mental concepts are learned through trial and error experiences. Young children will continue to do  things that they have been told not to do, until the consequence of their actions has been reached. For example, when a parent tells their child not to stack the building blocks up too high or they will fall on them which could lead to them being hurt; the child continues to do that the same thing over and over again to see if what their parent said is true. Once the child has seen the building blocks fall over on them is when they have learned that they don’t need to do that. His work confirmed early learning as distinct from other developmental periods, implying, therefore,  that materials and activities for young children should reflect the idiosyncratic way in which they think and process stimuli (Jaruszewicz, 2012). Piaget proposed that cognitive development occurs in four different stages, three of which occur during early childhood. In the sensorimotor stage, infants and toddlers process experience and begin to coordinate movement through sensory exploration. Preoperational thinking of preschoolers emerges spontaneously, as they are internally motivated to make sense of their environment by testing ideas and theories in play and  exploration with materials (Jaruszewicz, 2012). Piaget and Montessori are the main philosophies that stood out to me in this course the most. Next I will discuss the Core knowledge preschool sequence curriculum and the areas inside it. With strong focus on challenging, but appropriate content, the Core Knowledge Preschool Sequence and Teacher Handbook is unique among early childhood programs. It outlines a cumulative and coherent progression of knowledge and skills in all developmental areas and integrates developmentally appropriate practices for both content and instruction. Using the core knowledge curriculum helps with creating appropriate activities that prepare the preschool age children to learn. Children are always ready to learn; as long as the teacher understands that, each child will be eager to learn in new and exciting ways. It is important for teachers to make sure that the information that they wish to teach the children in the classroom is appropriate and fun. The Core Knowledge Preschool Sequence Curriculum focuses on five different areas: Social Skills, Early Literacy skills in reading and writing, Mathematics, Science and Visual Arts. It is important for children to learn how to interact with other children their age early in their lives to develop their social skills. One of the many things I love about Montessori is that Montessori teachers see the whole child-developmentally, academically, socially, emotionally, and physically. There is a myth out there that says simply placing children in the same room and having them do activities helps them develop social skills. I disagree. Developing social skills needs to be a value in the classroom as well as modeled by the teachers/adults who are around  the children. Using manners, demonstrating what Montessori called Grace and Courtesy and always being respectful of the child are key ingredients to helping a child develop social skills. There are several ways to help expand children’s social skills. The activity that would be used to develop social skills would be to have the children sit in a circle on the floor, pass an object around each child to take turns telling the class something about them. Whether it is there name, favorite color, parents name, how many sibling they may have, etc. When are playing together in  the classroom they learn to take turns, shared things and playing with others in general helps them develop social skills. The development of language in early childhood classrooms is an umbrella for the Montessori curriculum. The teachers and parents consider activities on the shelves of the Language area as the heart of actual language learning. The techniques used in a Montessori classroom are different when it comes to teaching language and literacy. Teachers, parents, and administrators need to recognize communication as the foundation for the meaningful  development of language concepts and skills. Effective communication depends on authentic relationships between communicative partners. Teachers have the responsibility (actually, the opportunity) to develop and expand learning relationships with young children. This is truly the ultimate opportunity to make a difference. Seen in this light, conversations with young children on the playground, during field trips, on the way to the bathroom, in the midst of conflict resolution, during lessons, and countless other times create the context for the development of language skills. Relationships of trust are built between children and teachers and among peers. Classroom work further contributes to language concept and skill development within this context of meaningful communication. It is important to talk children especially infants constantly, so they can develop a strong sense of vocabulary. Children catch on to everything that they may hear. So it is definitely important to be cautious what language you use around children. Printed materials and images are strongly important in an early childhood classroom. These materials make the classroom attractive to  children as well as make them want to learn about what those images and books mean. Phonemic awareness is part of a balanced literacy program, and can be developed in several ways during shared reading and shared writing. Shared reading and shared writing typically occur during the language arts time block, but may also occur during content-area learning. On to my favorite subject any grade level or age is mathematics. In an early childhood classroom, teaching young children mathematics somewhat easy and in some cases not so much. Getting children ages three to four year olds to learn their numbers and one to one  correspondence can be a challenge, but it requires patience to teach the children the meaning of number awareness. Provide children with authentic, hands-on learning experiences-DO NOT USE WORKSHEETS. In preschool you should play to the childrens natural curiosities and look to your students interest to guide lesson planning. You are setting up children for a lifetime of learning and you should create excitement around what you. Also, the more hands on the activity is, the more learning styles you are engaging, and the more the child enjoys it the more they will  learn and retain! Create activities that children are actively involved in learning something new, such as how to count and recognize numbers. Numbers are not the only thing that children can learn that is related to mathematics. Shapes are how to perceive and recognize them are important as well. Teaching children about shapes and how many sides each one has involves numbers as well. Mathematics and Language go together because you are using vocabulary words to decide the shapes, numbers, etc. In conclusion, this paper touched on some important factors to help develop a  developmentally appropriate curriculum for preschool/pre-K age children. It is important to provide activities for young children and make sure the environment is a positive, warm and inviting one that children will want to come to school and learn new things. In this paper I discussed the standards for each core knowledge area to develop an appropriate curriculum for young children. References Jaruszewicz, C. (2012). Curriculum and Methods for Early Childhood Educators. In C. Jaruszewicz, Curriculum and Methods for Early Childhood Educators. San Diego: Bridgepoint Education.

An alien species Essay Example for Free

An alien species Essay An alien species (also known as ‘exotic or nuisance species’) is the entry of any species into the ecology of which in the past it was not a part of. This species can travel to the new ecosystem from a neighboring ecosystem or from another part of the world. An alien species can cause damage or harm to animal, plant and human life thus completely disrupting the ecosystem. Two of the alien species that have seriously affected the other inhabitants of the ecosystem in the US and the other parts of North America include the Green crab and the zebra mussel. In the home ecosystem, an alien species may not be able to thrive well due to the presence of certain factors such as diseases, presence competitors, lack of space, natural enemies, etc. However in the new ecosystem, the alien species is able to thrive uncontrollable due to the absence or restrictive factors. In the past, many alien species have been introduced into various environments. Some have entered due to human factors, whereas other may have entered due to certain natural factors. Some species may have benefited the environment, which they are entered, whereas other may have seriously destroyed the native population. Invasion by alien species can have both, economic and environmental implications. The Zebra mussel is originally from the Caspian Sea and the Green crab is from Eastern Seaboard. These are classic examples of ‘Aquatic Nuisance Species’ (ANS) (ACS, 2007, MDNR, 2006 NOAA, 2007). The Zebra mussels were identified in the Great Lakes and later spread to the other parts of North America via the major rivers and waterways. They may have spread into the US from ships that have traveled through the freshwaters of Europe. They compete for plankton in the waters and in this way seriously jeopardize the food chain. They also damage parts of boats and ships. The Green crabs had spread into the San Francisco Bay region and later through California and Oregon States. They have a strong appetite for food in their territories and in this way deprive other organisms of food. The native crabs of US have seriously suffered from the invasion of the Green crab into their home territory (ACS, 2007, MDNR, 2006 NOAA, 2007).

Transactional and relationship marketing

Transactional and relationship marketing In this age of modernization and technological advancement one must be on top of the game to succeed in a competitive business market. And to accomplish this task a firm need not only produce high quality products but also effectively handle customer queries and complaints, which results in maintaining good customer relationship. Two different types of marketing approaches have been discussed here. Transactional marketing which focuses only on individual transactions and gives no importance for customer relationship. On the other hand, Relationship Marketing gives top most importance for building long term customer relationships and concentrates on customer satisfaction. Differences between these two approaches have been provided for better understanding of the concepts. Detailed study has been done on customer relationship management techniques, how it is beneficial for the organisation, etc. In the end, we will be discussing the best practices followed by ICICI Bank Ltd, a successf ul and leading organisation in the banking industry. Transactional Marketing is a traditional marketing approach that concentrates only on individual transactions. It mainly focuses on the single sale formula, pushing the sales through mass marketing and promotions of the product. It is based on short period of time, with little or no emphasis on customer service. It is a theory that includes low-price competition, cost cutting, promotion, return on investment etc. They also believe that they can gain market share with only price and customer loyalty is not a major factor. Effective use of the internet helps them to reach customers in a cost effective manner. Transactional Marketing is done by the purchase of consumer information in the form of databases. The company then reaches the consumer by telemarketing, mass e-mailing and other promotional activities. It is not very popular currently as there is no post sale consulting or service. Example: A sales agent who is given commission for each successful sale. He / she tries to persuade the customer to buy the product by describing the features of the product, and then never get back to the customer after closing the sale. http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1146/541909499_13501229b7.jpg In simple words, we can say that Transactional Marketing focuses on maximizing the profit of the company by attracting more customers to purchase the firms product. Relationship Marketing Relationship marketing is concerned with developing and strengthening the relationship with both current and prospective customers. It is more focused on providing the valued products and services to the customers rather than advertisement and promotion. It differs from other marketing schemes as it aims to value the long term relationship and customers contribution towards the business. The main emphasis will be on retention of existing customers for the long term benefits of the company, not on attracting new customers on a daily basis. This gives the organization a competitive gain over its rivals. The biggest threat every company face is the fear that their customers could switch to its competitors. But, if an organization follows a good relationship strategy, their customers are less likely to switch to the competitors. Today, companies are trying their best to build long term relationship with the customers, which will lower the cost of attracting new ones. This ongoing process of building and creating new values with individual customers, and sharing lifetime benefits with them is vital and very important for the organisation because it creates the sense of loyalty in customers and long-term profit for the company. Customer loyalty, particularly to a small business is the key to companys survival. Example: In banking industry, it is very important to maintain a very good relationship with the customers. More number of happy customers will help in terms of expanding customer base, which will result in more revenue and gaining competitive edge over others in the industry. http://www.cxo.eu.com/media/media-news/news-thumb/100517/customer-relationship-management.jpg Comparison between Transactional and Relationship Marketing Transactional Marketing Relationship Marketing Short time scale Long time scale Focus on single sale Focus on retention of the customer No importance to customer service Top priority for customer service Orientation to product features Orientation to customer values Limited commitment towards customers Higher commitment towards customers Focus on product quality while production Ensure product quality in all aspects No post sale consulting or services Follow up after sales to ensure customer satisfaction Mechanical and production oriented business model More humanistic and relationship based business model In conclusion, we can say that Relationship Marketing is a much more affordable approach in terms of a companys budget as it focuses on current customers and prospective clients rather than blindly searching for individuals who may have no interest in the product or services offered by the company. http://courseware.finntrack.eu/images/RelationshipMarketingIsNotJustLoyaltyPrograms.jpg Customer Relationship Management Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is a comprehensive approach for creating, maintaining and expanding customer relationships. An excellent customer relationship management is at the heart of every business success. With CRM, you will easily understand customer requirements, meet those needs effectively, predict market trends and enhance your bottom line. A good CRM will help the business to become more efficient and effective. CRM is the strategic use of Information, processes, technology and people to manage the customers relationship with your company (Marketing, sales, services and support) across the whole customer life cycle. CRM will help the business to improve customer satisfaction, increase staff productivity, slash operational costs and maximize the effectiveness of each customer interaction. CRM programs enhance the customer-friendly services by automating all proceedings and procedures in a company. All CRM systems are primarily large customer databases capable of storing all customer information such as customers name, address, customer contacting method, ability to spend money on products, money spending per visit etc. The specific programs built in these systems integrate the stored data on demand to identify good customers and help to create better service plans for them. The finest CRM system chiefly computerizes the customer service process and also makes it more competent and user friendly. Customers can effortlessly navigate their way to the exact information, so that personal exchanges such as phone calls, emails can be put away for, out of the ordinary situations. http://www.masternewmedia.org/images/customer_relationships_management_handshake_id180610_size485_b.jpg The key to targeting new customers is relatively straight forward, holding onto them is another thing altogether, and this is where good customer service plays an important role. Taking all the efforts to keep a client happy, will vastly improve the chances of them returning with their custom in the future. Effective CRM is central to any successful business. In short, it is the process a company follows to track and organise its current customer base. If implemented correctly, a holistic CRM approach can help businesses of all sizes to make better informed marketing decisions, offer more efficient customer service and support and, ultimately, create shorter sales cycles. CRM software enables companies to proactively create sales that otherwise may not have happened. And ultimately, the long term success of any business will depend on the effectiveness of their overall customer relationship management strategy. Success of any business small, medium or large greatly depends on customer satisfaction and the manner in which an enterprise makes attempts to cater to client requirements and boost customer relationships. It is herein that the concept of CRM becomes vital to win customers and sustain their growth. Benefits of CRM Customer Satisfaction: Using CRM, marketing, selling and servicing your customers will be organized and systematic. As every customer interaction is done in a consistent way, your business exceeds customers expectations. A well-implemented CRM will increase customer satisfaction. A Customer Relationship Management for your company is a worthwhile investment and a smart solution to keep your business stay competitive. Today, CRM programs have become the most effective tools for all marketing and service providing companies to enhance their customer satisfaction. Increased Revenue: CRM will result to shorter sales cycles because of efficient management of accounts and orders. This will then naturally encourage business growth and long term profitability as the number of customers increase and opportunities are maximized. In the cut throat environment of modern times, a CRM system then emerges as a valuable tool to help build customer loyalty. CRM as the acronym suggests is all about managing the customer. If the customer is managed in an effective manner, the profit on a continuous basis is the logical by-product. A business can generate profit only when it has a committed and faithful following of customers. It does not matter whether your business is small, or you are running a large business, the longevity of your business relays on the information you acquire about your customer. Profits can be maximized first and foremost on a continued basis by having retaining satisfied customers. It can be done only through a personal touch. This personal touch can be ensured through maintaining a database on the needs and preferences of your customers. Building a relationship of trust and understanding by knowing their needs and wants will help you and your customer develop a long term relationship, or more importantly, partnership. Reduced costs: Through the use of CRM, work and activities become systematic and coordinated. This will eliminate waste of funds and leads to reduced labour costs. CRM solution providers bring in healthy solutions to enable companies to better serve their customers and recognize their target customers, manage marketing campaigns and generate quality leads for the sales team. Statistics reveal that expenditure is much higher in acquiring a new customer than to retain an existing one. This can be guaranteed by keeping a database on the requirements of your customers. CRM system allows you to have a better grip on your customers. This in turn saves a lot of time and money thereby by being twice as more beneficial to your concern than any other similar system. Why CRM is crucial? CRM is an effective tool to take the business forward as it helps to evaluate the companys customer base and manage their customer data efficiently and effectively. It is required to have a proper planning and a strategic device to expand their footprint as well as retain their old customers, while also winning new clients; CRM becomes imperative in the current situation. CRM also helps businesses to simplify sales and marketing processes, while also reducing costs. http://www.thebmrant.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/crm-12.jpg The main objective of CRM is to maintain a better understanding of the customer requirements and manage customer relationship through the use of software, Web-based integration of business processes and methodologies. Besides, CRM programme provides a swift mechanism to monitor all contact points between a client and the company, thereby reducing the hassles of handling customer complaints. Loyal Customers are Most Important Profit Drivers Best customers, allow you to earn your acquisition cost and generate a positive return on investment. The longer you keep them, the more positive your returns will be. Loyal customers are more likely to buy more things from you. They dont have to be sold as hard because they understand your value proposition and, since they have a relationship with you, they are more likely to see your marketing, which increases revenue and profit, and reduces acquisition cost. Loyal customers will pay a higher price. They understand your product and see its value. You dont have to bribe them to buy again. This further improves the profitability of the company. Experienced customers cost less to service. Because they know how your product or service works. All this reduces your cost, which improves profitability. Loyal customers will happily tell their friends and associates about your product. This brings in more great customers with no acquisition cost. http://images04.olx.com.ph/ui/13/95/62/1300216362_177789362_2-Pictures-ofBuild-Your-Business-With-Loyal-Customers.jpg http://themarketbureauwebsite.businesscatalyst.com/images/blog/growth2.jpg Impact of CRM on Marketing and Operations of an Organisation This view of CRM completely changed the operations of the organisations. Companies became more concerned about keeping the existing customer than searching for new ones. This new dimension of marketing changed the entire approach, companies changed their marketing strategies, and every customer is different than other, so each one is being treated differently. Different CRM strategies are used by the companies, which allow them to identify their best customers, try to satisfy their needs and continuously increase their level of satisfaction and take them up to the loyalty level. CRM has affected the marketing of the organisation in a sense that it made organisations to change all its marketing strategies and operations. CRM based organisations are concerned about the customers. Organisations now attempt to define the characteristics of the best customers, estimate their lifetime value, and are changing their marketing strategies accordingly. CRM system is mostly technology based, and it affects the customers behaviour a lot, if it is not implemented properly. CRM has a huge impact on marketing of the organization. It has almost shifted the focus from mass marketing to individual customer. Managing each customer relationship is the heart of CRM, while traditional market metrics hardly allowed the companies to make operational decisions that affect individual customers. CRM helped the organizations to improve its mass marketing and campaign measures. These retention campaigns cost a lot but its very effective in longer run. Furthermore, having a regular client base also alleviates a lot of the pressure that comes with continuously having to target new customers, which is not only costly and time consuming, but there is no guarantee how much revenue any new marketing initiative will generate. http://www.divessi-indo.com/images/loyalty-cycle.gif By having access to customers detailed buying history, its possible to offer related products and services. Known as cross-selling, this is an extremely effective means of generating additional revenue. Then there is what is known as up-selling, which is where the customer is encouraged to buy upgrades or add-ons at the point of sale. Traditional marketing approach was more focused on the sales while CRM has a view of long-term relationship with the customers. This idea of retaining the customers made huge changes within the organizations and changed its marketing and operations. Organisations started building and maintaining databases of the customers information. CRM made businesses more conscious about customer services, acquiring and serving the customers, increasing their value towards the company, retaining good customers and determining which customer should be retained or given a higher level of services. Businesses today put a lot of efforts on analysing the purchasing behaviour of the customer; they manage several databases where they keep records of each customer. According to the information each customer is targeted separately. Different schemes and campaigns are being organized by the business to retain the customers. These schemes include different promotions to create a sense of loyalty among the customer. Like different newspapers give a free copy to its regular customers. http://securitysystemprice.com/images/opfso-2.jpg http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSbDzvInkO7kX_1BM9EIfTILUYrMayXiYqzJKgmmVjN5SsYzG5goAt=1 A CRM system could run better if the organisation have the right employees, who have knowledge of the CRM system, so organisations now have to spend more on training the employees and make them aware of the system. CRM system is more or less technology based so certain tools should be upgraded continuously like Web Pages. Organisations now tend to make databases of the customers, which have increased the burden because this approach of one-to-one marketing and customer loyalty expects a lot. With the implementation of CRM system in the organizations, their marketing strategies seemed to be customer centric (striving to create the customer loyalty rather than making new customer every time) and focus is being given to One-to-one marketing, rather than mass marketing. Today, organisations are more customer centric. In simple worlds organization makes sure that its customers could easily contact it. The best example of customer centric organization could be Amazon.com. They have personalized web pages with wide range of products to select, the low price lead towards the customer loyalty and a long-term relationship of Amazon.com. One-to-one Marketing: It is also expressed as 1:1 Marketing. Its a CRM strategy which emphasis on personalized interaction with customers. It is thought that this personalized interaction will grow customer loyalty and will give a better return on the marketing investments. This one-to-one marketing term could be new but the approach is quite old. And its been taking place since the commerce came into existence. For example: the owner of a grocery store would naturally take this one-to-one approach while dealing with customers, i.e. remembering the customer details about their preferences and their characteristics and ultimately providing the services based on that knowledge. http://www.websitepromotionsltd.co.uk/images/customer-focus3.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1295915031625 http://kiranmendekar.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/customer_focus.jpg In Conclusion, we can say that CRM has given organization great benefits in terms of improved marketing methods, customer retention, a growth in the market share and an analysis of customer profitability. CRM provides the organization with a sustainable competitive advantage. CRM is the comprehensive approach of creating and maintaining long term relationships. This one to-one marketing approach has impacted a lot on different aspects of the organization; this is more technology-based approach to stay in touch with customers, striving to make them loyal with the company. Due to this relation maintaining approach, companies have also affected in terms of their marketing strategies, and their operations. Companies have to change all of their previous strategies and start working on this new approach. http://www.awinsjclarke.com/wp-content/uploads/diag_serv_crm2.gif Case Study Best CRM Practices followed by ICICI Bank Ltd CRM at ICICI involves increased communication between the bank and the customers. ICICI believes that a true customer-centric relationship can only be accomplished by considering the unique perspectives of every single customer. ICICI also believes in one to one marketing strategy by tracking complete customer life-cycle history. Effective use of Cross Selling technique helped the bank in terms of generating more revenue. Implementing CRM at ICICI Bank Business Focus: There are various components of CRM like customer information, sales, marketing trends and marketing effectiveness that acted in tandem to improve relationship between ICICI and its consumers. ICICI captured customer data and analyzed them while dealing with customers at these very touch points. A CRM solution from Siebel was implemented for the automation of customer handling in all key retail products of the Group. The solution allows customer service agents to track all customer complaints and requests. It also allows target setting and centralized tracking of turnaround times for request fulfilment. The bank has also undertaken a retail data warehouse initiative to achieve customer integration at the back-office. This central view of the total customer relationship is being used extensively for identifying opportunities to cross-sell new products and services to the existing customer base. Technology Focus: ICICI Bank continues to leverage information and computer technology as a strategic tool for its business operations to gain competitive advantage. Its technology strategy emphasizes enhanced level of customer services through 247 availability, multi-channel banking and straight through processing, and cost efficiency through optimal use of electronic channels, wider and focused market reach and opportunities for cross-selling. The Technology Management Group (TMG) is the focal point for the ICICI Groups technology strategy and Group-wide technology initiatives. This group reports directly to the Managing Director CEO. A key to ICICIs success has been its ability to harness business information to CRM initiatives that have fuelled growth and helped attract more than 30 million customers. http://www.foxif.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/ICICI-Bank.jpg http://thezerolife.com/kobnaghar/wp-content/uploads/ICICIBankCustomerFirstTheZeroLife.Com_thumb.jpg Components of CRM Cycle Understand and Differentiate: Organisations need to understand their customers in order to have a relationship with them. ICICI understands every individual and offer products and services based on their learning. Develop and Customise: In a customer-focused world, Organizations are increasingly developing products and services, and even new channels based on customer needs and service expectations. ICICI believes that the extent of customization should be based on the potential value delivered by the customer segment. Interact and Deliver: ICICI is strongly of the opinion that value is not just based on the price of the product or the discounts offered, but are based on a number of factors including the quality of products and services, convenience, speed, ease of use, responsiveness, and service excellence. Acquire and Retain: The more ICICI learns about customers, the easier it is to pinpoint those that are producing the greatest value for the organization. They aim to continue to learn more about each customer segment and use it for successful customer retention. As ICICI moves step further in CRM they hopes to gain insight and understanding that enhance the subsequent efforts. Successful customer retention is based on the organizations ability to constantly deliver the best services to its customers. http://cdn.information-management.com/media/editorial/dmreview/199911/199911_060_1.gif We can say that ICICI Bank has achieved this level by way of focussed and customer centric approach using various customer relationship management techniques. CRM plays a vital role for organisations growth and success. Effective use of the latest and proven CRM techniques will help organisations to be competitive in this changing world. http://www.gwtindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/crm_internship.jpg

The Circulatory System Essay -- Papers

The Circulatory System The circulatory system is one of the most important systems in the human body. It consists of the heart and blood vessels. It is what makes the blood in our body go round. The blood carries oxygen, nutrients and hormones and takes them to where they are needed and removes the waste products like carbon dioxide. The circulatory system nourishes every cell, tissue, organ and organ system in the body. There are approximately ten pints of blood constantly circulating through seventy- five- thousand miles of blood vessels. These blood vessels reach every cell in the human body. Once they reach the cells they deliver much needed oxygen and remove carbon dioxide and other poisonous waste products. The circulation to and from the lungs is called the pulmonary circulation; the circulation round the rest of the body is called the systemic circulation. On average, a red cell would go round the whole circulation in 45 seconds. Our blood is pumped to two places: the right side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs, and the left side of the heart has to work harder pumping blood to the rest of the body which is why the left side of the heart is bigger and more muscular than the right side. Blood is pumped from the heart to the lungs and then travels back to the heart, where it is then pumped to the body. To get all the way round the circulation, blood has to go through the heart twice and this is why it is known as a double circulation. Blood is carried round all parts of the body by small tubes called blood vessels. The human Circulatory system is composed of three types of vessels; arteries, veins and capil... ...ood and waste products back to the heart. The blood in the veins moves slowly due to low pressure. Semi-lunar valves are found at regular intervals throughout the veins. These force the blood to move in only one direction. The veins walls are thinner, wider, less elastic and less muscular than those of the arteries. The veins are compressed when body muscles, particularly in the limbs, move so the valves in the veins have to prevent the blood flowing backwards. The blood in most veins is deoxygenated and contains more carbon dioxide but less food than the blood in most arteries. This is because respiring cells have used the oxygen and food and produced carbon dioxide. The pulmonary veins, which return blood from the lungs to the heart, are an exception. They contain oxygenated blood and reduced level of carbon dioxide.

Aylmers Sin and Guilt Essay -- Character Analysis, Georginas Birthmar

The sin that Aylmer shows throughout the story is in relation to Georgina’s birthmark, which dramatically and suddenly grabs hold of his character. Aylmer becomes egotistic in the ways of his actions and thoughts, not considering that he himself has a problem but that his wife’s imperfection is the problem. By Aylmer’s immoral and obsessive desire for perfection, he took Georgina’s liberty and self-confidence away, which reveales his sins. First, before the marriage, Aylmer had not been bothered by the birth-mark on Georgiana’s cheek. James Quinn and Ross Baldessarini note that â€Å"[s]oon after marrying, however, Aylmer discovered that he can think of little else but the birth-mark,† and that it disturbed him and took away from her true beauty. In relation, it is implied that this omission in Aylmer â€Å"seems to suggest that insights into human behavior are likely to be subjective, imperfect, unsatisfying† (Quinn and Baldessarini). Subsequently, Aylmer’s sin is presented through a dream in which he is conducting a surgery on Georgina to perfect her beauty. Aylmer’s idea of having a perfect wife â€Å"is characterized by Hawthorne as a mark of ‘original sin’† (Quinn and Baldessarini) or even that mankind’s race is born with imperfection. This is stated by Hawthorne as â€Å"the fatal flaw of humanity, which Nature, in one shape or another, stamps ineffaceably on all her production . . . to imply that they are temporary and finite† (120). Most considerable is with the intention of Aylmer’s dream, clearly â€Å"suggests the intense, violent and remarkably sexual reaction the birth-mark evokes in Aylmer† (Quinn and Baldessarini). Alymer is so wrapped up in his own world that he forgets reality, for he â€Å"senses that escape from the human condition is hubr... ...n Aylmer’s obsession of removing her birthmark, so she encourages him to do what is required so that their lives won’t be torn apart by this birthmark of hers, as to have it removed, even if it is to take her life. Through the actions of Aylmer’s obsession, greed, guilt, sin, his intolerance to imperfection and his ability to not except himself for who he is, he must therefore, reap what he sowed. Giving Georgiana the poison to drink, watching as the mark faded away; Aylmer feels he had successfully rid himself from the imperfection that troubled him so, unknowing the birthmark was actually the key to Georgiana’s heart and her life. As the poison took hold of her life she said to Aylmer â€Å"do not repent that with so high and pure a feeling, you have rejected the best the earth could offer† (Fetterly 172) and then she died, leaving Aylmer alone and empty.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee :: To Kill a Mockingbird Essays

Irony is the opposite of what is and what seems to be. Harper Lee uses irony in her novel To Kill A Mockingbird on several occasions to illustrate the difference between appearance versus reality. An example of this is the cementing of the tree.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jem and Scout received many gifts from the oak tree like: chewing gum, a ball of twine, soap carvings of Jem and Scout, a spelling medal, Indian-heads, and a pocket watch. Jem and Scout write the gift-giver a thank you note intending to put it in the tree hole the very next day. When they arrive at the tree they noticed that the hole had been cemented. Jem and Scout asked Mr. Radley why he filled the hole with cement and his reply was, 'Tree's dying. You plug 'em with cement when they're sick. You ought to know that, Jem'; (pg. 67). Later that same day Scout finds Jem crying because he had realized that Mr. Radley was preventing his brother Boo from pursuing a friendship with them. The difference between appearance and reality comes into affect. First, Mr. Radley tells Jem and Scout that he cemented the tree because it was sick when it was not. Secondly, Jem realized that Mr. Radley had lied just to keep Boo from having any friends from the outside world. Harper Lee uses irony when Aunt Alexandra hosts the missionary circle.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The ladies that attended Aunt Alexandra's missionary circle acted as hypocrites. She says, '...I made a pledge in my heart. I said to myself, when I go home I'm going to give a course on the Mrunas and bring J. Grimes Everett's message to Maycomb...'; (pg. 233-234). The are speaking with compassion of neglected Blacks somewhere in Africa while treating the Negroes that live in and around Maycomb with very little respect. Later in the conversation Mrs. Merriweather tells Scout, 'Out there in J. Grimes Everett's land there's nothing but sin and squalor'; (pg. 234). Harper Lee was showing us the difference between appearance and reality at the missionary circle. The ladies feel sorry for the Blacks in Africa but not the ones in Maycomb. They are both black, what difference does it make where they live? All the Blacks in Maycomb country are being prejudiced against by all the whites. A lesson on democracy teaches us that even whites can become prejudiced against other whites.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cecil Jacobs talks about his current event article about Adolf Hitler persecuting

Gregor Samsa

Not only was he underrepresented by his undeserving family, but constantly taken advantage of. This awakening resulted in malnutrition and soon after death. The Metamorphosis is told from a third person limited perspective. Thus, a speaker Is never profoundly Introduced; however, the story heavily focuses on Gorge's perspective of events. Because a speaker Is not acknowledged It Is fairly difficult to assume any information, however, one can infer that the speaker comes from a higher middle class based on the characters lifestyle, such as the presence of a maid.Perhaps one can also assume the narrator is male due to. Of course, many would probably disagree with this assertion that a speaker is never clearly addressed, and thus may assume that that the speaker is Gregory himself. And though on one hand, I may agree that Gregory Is Indeed the speaker, I still Insist that the speaker Is simply a narrator. Why? I believe by making the speaker a narrator, It makes any argument or statemen t the speaker wishes to portray more credible. A third person perspective allows the audience to better understand all the characters, or at least feel as though they understand all the characters.The Metamorphosis may be written in third person perspective, but it tends to greatly focus on Gregory and his feelings causing the audience to feel great sympathy for Gregory instead of any other character. I'd Like to change the subject to something that not yet been addressed, the subject. The subject of the book seems to be the grand â€Å"metamorphosis† that is experienced. We as an audience not only experience the physical transformation from Gregory Same as a human to Gregory Same as a bug, but we get to see the aftermath and how it affects each of the characters directly.These â€Å"metamorphoses† are illustrated throughout the plot with the help of the third person limited perspective. Greet Same, Gorge's sister experiences her own transformation from being a girl at the beginning of the book to becoming a woman. She does not just grow physically, but she matures emotionally, but taking on adult duties not required of her before her brother's transformation. Gorge's father also undergoes his own transformation. He goes from a man with no pride or motivation to a man who takes great pride in his work and becomes heavily invested in money. Lastly, Gorge's family as a whole undergoes a separate transformation.At the beginning of the book, the Same family Is hopeless and feels as though their responsibility until completely free from, Gregory. Their separation from Gregory completes their metamorphosis allowing them to feel relieved, secure, and optimistic once again. The author, Franz Kafka articulates a nonchalant attitude about the transformation that has occurred. This attitude is expresses through the characterization used throughout the book. For example the Gorge's character can illustrate the nonchalant tone of the story through his percept ions of his current situation.When Gregory is first transformed into a bug he isn't very distraught or worried, but indifferent. He is only worried about being able to continue in his daily activities and as time continues, Gregory seems to slowly lose interest in becoming â€Å"normal† once again thus, expressing Franz Kava's feelings toward social acceptance and isolation. To a large extent, the entirety of the book appears to be extremely absurd and ironic in that Gorge's transformation though appears a great burden to al, helped released Gregory of all the pressures of daily life.The metamorphosis saved Gregory from his unwanted Job and forced Gregory to trade positions with his family in that they now where in charge of caring for him and everything else they owned. In conclusion, The Metamorphosis, does not simply tell the story of a naive man who turned into a bug, was betrayed by his family, and died. No. The Metamorphosis, I believe is a metaphor something other than Just transformation. I believe in plain context The Metamorphosis, tells the story of an average man, who soon wakes ups and finds he lives a life he is not proud of.This man now see the world in a new light and feels isolated from all those who once understood him. He no longer has the same motivation and feels as though he is a burden to all those he loves resulting in suicide. My point is this: The Metamorphosis entails the story of a typical depressed man. Because the book is told from a third person point of view we see the â€Å"burden† Gregory has caused. However, this idea is not necessarily certain. So it is fairly simple to assume that he was never truly a burden, but delusional as any clinically depressed person would be.

Let Gays Marry

Let Gays Marry Andrew Sullivan â€Å"A state cannot deem a class of persons a stranger to its laws,† declared the Supreme Court last week. It was a monumental statement. Gay men and lesbians, the conservative court said, are no longer strangers in America. They are citizens, entitled, like everyone else, to equal protection—no special rights, but simple equality. For the first time in Supreme Court history, gay men and women were seen not as some powerful lobby trying to subvert America, but as the people we truly are—the sons and daughters of countless mothers and fathers, with all the weaknesses and strengths and hopes of everybody else. And what we seek is not some special place in America but merely to be a full and equal part of America, to give back to our society without being forced to lie or hide or live as second-class citizens. That is why marriage is so central to our hopes. People ask us why we want the right to marry, but the answer is obvious. It's the same reason anyone wants the right to marry. At some point in our lives, some of us are lucky enough to meet the person we truly love. And we want to commit to that person in front of our family and country for the rest of our lives. It's the most simple, the most natural, the most human instinct in the world. How could anyone seek to oppose that? Yes, at first blush, it seems like a radical proposal, but, when you think about it some more, it's actually the opposite. Throughout American history, to be sure, marriage has been between a man and a woman, and in many ways our society is built upon that institution. But none of that need change in the slightest. After all, no one is seeking to take away anybody's right to marry, and no one is seeking to force any church to change any doctrine in any way. Particular religious arguments against same-sex marriage are rightly debated within the churches and faiths themselves. That is not the issue here: there is a separation between church and state in this country. We are only asking that when the government gives out civil marriage licenses, those of us who are gay should be treated like anybody else. Of course, some argue that marriage is by definition between a man and a woman. But for centuries, marriage was by definition a contract in which the wife was her husband's legal property. And we changed that. For centuries, marriage was by definition between two people of the same race. And we changed that. We changed these things because we recognized that human dignity is the same whether you are a man or a woman, black or white. And no one has any more of a choice to be gay than to be black or white or male or female. Some say that marriage is only about raising children, but we let childless heterosexual couples be married (Bob and Elizabeth Dole, Pat and Shelley Buchanan, for instance). Why should gay couples be treated differently? Others fear that there is no logical difference between allowing same-sex marriage and sanctioning polygamy and other horrors. But the issue of whether to sanction multiple spouses (gay or straight) is completely separate from whether, in the existing institution between two unrelated adults, the government should discriminate between its citizens. This is, in fact, if only Bill Bennett could see it, a deeply conservative cause. It seeks to change no one else's rights or marriages in any way. It seeks merely to promote monogamy, fidelity and the disciplines of family life among people who have long been cast to the margins of society. And what could be a more conservative project than that? Why indeed would any conservative seek to oppose those very family values for gay people that he or she   supports for everybody else? Except, of course, to make gay men and lesbians strangers in their own country, to forbid them ever to come home. Andrew Sullivan, â€Å"Three's a Crowd,† The New Republic (June 17, 1996). Reprinted by permission of The New Republic, (c) 1996, The New Republic, Inc. William Bennett, â€Å"Leave Marriage Alone. † From Newsweek 3 June 1996. (c) 1996,   Newsweek, Inc. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission. Andrew Sullivan, â€Å"Let Gays Marry. † From Newsweek 3 June 1996. (c) 1996, Newsweek, Inc. All rights reserved.

Swot Analysis Rim

The following is the SWOT analysis for Blackberry Smartphone, a tool for auditing the organization and its’ environment and used to evaluate the strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats of the device, which provides a better understanding about its position in the marketplace, where it stands, and where it needs to move forward to see what its future predicaments will have for them. As you can see below, the growing/expansion market share of Blackberry is able to capture, its current strengths outweighs its weaknesses.In order for Blackberry’s opportunities to outweigh its threats they must make sure that their competitors do not excel in areas in which they are lacking and meet level of security. The main question we should ask ourselves is will Blackberry set the challenge in order to begin taking more market share for its competitors and produce products that will appeal to a broader target market by upgrading their interfaces and applications to the level that their security has. Blackberry has several strengths including high brand awareness because it is a very recognizable brand with consumers.The company is known to have a good reputation of value for money and convenience because their products costs are worth the value the consumer receives. Blackberry does have a strong market position in the mobile market in comparison to its competitors. Blackberry also has the advantage of having the best e-mail and/or diversity device combination-organizer, internet, mp3 player, GPS, and social networks built into their products. The company is also leading in Smartphone technology because they have strong product depth.Blackberry has durable products because they have high capacity battery, built-in QWERTY keyboard, stylish/powerful features, and unique operating system. Although Blackberry has its strengths, the company also has its weaknesses such as having its products used and/or created more toward business professionals than general con sumers; their lack of compatibility-not making decisions in a timely manner. There is also the possibility that Blackberry is in the mature phase. There also patent problems that they encounter.Their products lack in web service and also have a problem with application-long loading time and does not turn on/restart quickly which makes it frustrating for its consumers that like for their phones to be faster. Blackberry’s products also have lack of size and/or products because they don’t have as much variety as its competitors. Blackberry also lacks in social networking because it doesn’t provide any entertainment for other individuals and/or the younger generation, which is an entire consumer market that would be beneficial to Blackberry if they’re able to address this issue.There is also the problem of having a high cost of ownership which makes blackberry devices quite expensive. RIM has not created a new marketing strategy for its products that are clos ing the technological gap. Blackberry has the opportunity to expand its profits by further expanding into North America and into International markets and taking advantage of the availability of markets for new technology. The company can also consider entering into partnership with large growing corporations.Blackberry’s customer loyalty and their brand loyalty allows for an assurance in producing new products because they know that its consumers will loyal in purchasing those products as well. They need to take advantage of the industry explosive growth so that they can grow alongside the industry’s demand for it products. The company can increase their growth rate and their power within the industry by expanding their target market by creating new appealing phones that include a variety of features that will attract new customers other than the business professionals that it currently appeals to.Blackberry can also take an opportunity by reaching out to iTunes to tr y and create software that will be compatible to its products since that is something that a lot of consumers would really enjoy, and also by creating great products that include advanced technology. Blackberry faces some threats from the Apple iPhone, HTC, HP, Sony Ericsson, and Sony smart phones because they constantly have new products entering the market, they are strong within the industry, and this increasing competition may cause demand for products Blackberry’s products to decrease.These competitors also have a greater span in technology and products which may cause consumers to see Blackberry as outdated when it comes to Smartphone technology. The economy also plays a role in Blackberry because some consumers are unable to afford the company’s products and can therefore decrease its demand. They also face the problem of having a large demand for a niche product which may cause a lack of innovation when it comes to creating new products and having those product s become successful.Since Blackberry is a reputable brand it has become the target of competition and has created price wars with third parties that make similar phones to the Blackberry and then sell those products at lower prices. SWOT Analysis for Blackberry Positive Negative InternalStrengths ?High brand awareness ?Reputation for value for money and convenience ?Strong market position ?Best E-mail/ Diversity device combination-organizer, internet,mp3 player, GPS, and social networks ? Leading in Smartphone technology ?Strong product depth Durable ?High capacity battery ?Built-in QWERTY keyboard ?Stylish/Powerful features ?Unique operating systemWeakness ?Know to be used /created more toward business processionals than general consumers ? Lack of compatibility-not making decisions in a timely manner ? Web service and application-long loading time ?Lack of size/products ?Possibly in mature phase ?Patent ?Does not turn on/restart quickly ?Social networking- no entertainment for oth er individuals/younger generation ? High cost of ownership are quite expensive RIM has not created a new marketing strategy for its products that are closing the technological gap ExternalOpportunities ?Further expansion into North America & international markets ? Availability of markets for new technology ?Partnership with large growing corporations ?Customer loyalty- allows for a assurance in producing new products ? Industry explosive growth ?Brand loyalty ?Expand target market-new appealing phones with a variety of features that will attract new customers other than business professionals ? Still at growth rate/rising in power Software compatibility with iTunes ?Great product with advance technology Threats ?The Apple iPhone, HTC, HP, Sony Ericsson, and Sony smart phones ? New, strong, and increasing competition may cause demand for products to decrease ? Competitors have greater span in technology and products ? Possibly seen as outdated in Smartphone tech ?Economy environment ?Large demand for a niche product may cause lack of innovation ? Being a reputable brand makes blackberry the target of competition ? Price wars with third parties –make similar phones to the blackberry and sell at a lower price