Monday, September 30, 2019
On the Sidewalk Bleeding by Evan Hunter
On the Sidewalk Bleeding Critical Essay Marianne Lavery The story ââ¬Å"On the sidewalk bleedingâ⬠by Evan Hunter deals with the issue of identity through the central character Andy, a young gang member who struggles with his identity as his death draws near. A young boy called Andy who left a nightclub to go and get cigarettes. He started walking through the alley when suddenly he got stabbed. As he got stabbed he heard a voice saying ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s for you Royal! Andy had always been proud to be a Royal because the Royals and the guardians were two of the biggest and he was a Royal. Now as he lay dying on the sidewalk with the rain surrounding him, he thought of being a Royal but now all he wanted to be was Andy. It is evident that Andy had felt very proud to be a member of the Royals: ââ¬Å"The Royals and the Guardians, two of the biggest. He was a Royal there had been meaning to the titleâ⬠. I think Andy was too involved in the Royals to understand that it was o nly a gang name and his life was ending at sixteen because of it. Andy decided to join the gang in the first place because it made him powerful, it made him feel like he was somebody. The extent of his pride was shown when it said: ââ¬Å"Even in his pain, there had been some sort of pride in knowing he was a Royal! â⬠This tells the reader that he didnââ¬â¢t regret ever becoming a Royal. A young person like Andy would join a gang so that they would feel safe from other gangs. Additionally, if they were in a gang they would feel important to be a member of that gang as it would give them a sense of belonging. After Andy was stabbed and he realized that he was going to die, he began to resent his identity as a Royal and just wanted to be known as Andy. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m Andy; he screamed wordlessly, Iââ¬â¢m Andyâ⬠. As Andy lay there dying, alone in the dark he wanted to shout out ââ¬Å"Hey, Iââ¬â¢m alive! Hey look at me! Iââ¬â¢m alive! Donââ¬â¢t you know Iââ¬â¢m alive? Donââ¬â¢t you know I exist? â⬠Andy was so frustrated and confused. ââ¬Å"He felt very weak and tiredâ⬠. As every second went by, Andy got increasingly weaker. Andyââ¬â¢s identity as a Royal not only got him stabbed it also prevented people from helping him as they walked past. An example of this was when Angela and Freddie came along and they saw him on the pavement hurt. They were going to hep him but as soon as they realised that he was a Royal, they quickly changed their minds. They said ââ¬Å"if we get a cop, the Guardians will find out who. â⬠I thought this was very cowardly and selfish of them to leave him there, dying just because they were scared. Andy knew he was at deaths door but he didnââ¬â¢t want them to find him and say ââ¬Å"oh heââ¬â¢s a Royal! â⬠So with great difficulty and determination, he rolled over onto his back. He felt the pain tearing at his stomach when he moved. He lay struggling with the shiny, wet jacket. Pain ripped fire across his body whenever he moved. He squirmed and fought and twisted until one arm was free and then the other. Taking this purple jacket off with the lettering on the back that read ââ¬Å"THE ROYALSâ⬠was very important to Andy because this jacket had ended his life at only sixteen years old. The final part of this story was very sad because Andy died. Andyââ¬â¢s girlfriend found him first, but when he did not answer her, she ran until she found a cop. The first thing the cop said when he looked at Andyââ¬â¢s dead body was, ââ¬Å"A Royal, huh? â⬠So Andy didnââ¬â¢t even get his final wish, which was to be remembered as just Andy. By reading this story it has made me think about my own identity and I have realized how important it is to keep out of trouble. As I most definitely do not want to be in the same situation as Andy was.
Sunday, September 29, 2019
How does Arthur Miller present the flaws and limitations of the American Dream in ââ¬ËDeath of a Salesmanââ¬â¢ Essay
The American Dream is an object of desire for many Americans as it is what they strive for their whole life. The American Dream is based mainly on wealth and materialism. The sense of freedom is what people are striving for. Freedom from bills and debt is what Willy Loman is striving for in ââ¬ËDeath of a Salesmanââ¬â¢. The American Dream is seen as a perfect life, which consists of a house with a white picket fence and perfect family: husband, wife, two children and a dog all living happily and comfortably without any financial troubles. But very few Americans achieve that goal in their lifetime, because thereââ¬â¢s also competition if everyoneââ¬â¢s aiming for it. Every person is competing with their friends and neighbours. These flaws show through in ââ¬ËDeath of a Salesmanââ¬â¢ as Willy tries to get to grips with his life and trying to pay off his house. ââ¬ËDeath of a Salesmanââ¬â¢ has been used by Arthur Miller to show what the American Dream is really like. The play is based around an average family man, Willy Loman, who has struggled all his life to make something of it; to strike it lucky, but his chance never came. He is presented as a ââ¬Ënormalââ¬â¢ character; the average ââ¬Ëmiddle Americanââ¬â¢, who wants to pay off all his debts and bills. This shows the lack of contentment in his life. Heââ¬â¢s not content having a roof over his head, or having a job, because he wants more. Willy wants to achieve more, just like his brother, Ben, who struck it lucky, because he happened to get lost and stumble upon some diamond mines, but Willy blames himself for not going to explore the world with him, ââ¬ËThereââ¬â¢s just one opportunity I had with that manâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬â¢ Willy regrets not going with his brother, but what he doesnââ¬â¢t realise is that he was too young to go with him; he was only 3 years old, when his brother left, whereas Ben was 17. But, despite this fact, he still admires his brother. Yet, thereââ¬â¢s barely any mention of his father, who earned his living and fulfilling the American Dream by working hard. Willy has a very flawed way of trying to fulfil the American Dream. He does everything the wrong way and what he doesnââ¬â¢t realise is that it takes some hard work. This may be the reason as to why thereââ¬â¢s a feeling of failure in the play. Both, Willy and his sons Biff and Happy are failures in achieving in what they wanted and this shows how Arthur Miller is presenting the flaws of the American Dream, because it can really take its toll on peopleââ¬â¢s lives and practically ruin their relationships with other people, such as their friends and neighbours. Willy has constantly been competing with his neighbour, Charley. However, Charley is running his own business, whereas Willy is still in the same job that heââ¬â¢s been in for years. Selling. The character of Willy Loman is perfect for presenting the flaws of the American Dream, because heââ¬â¢s just an average man; an average ââ¬ËJoe Bloggsââ¬â¢ and basically a nobody, because he hasnââ¬â¢t achieved the things that he wanted to achieve. He continues dreaming of making it big and he keeps on chasing this dream, because thereââ¬â¢s a feeling of hope in him, everytime his sons go for a job interview or have an appointment with their boss. He refuses to listen to what his sons have to say, because itââ¬â¢s not what he wants to hear. So, instead he just fills their mouth with words or keeps on interrupting them. Willy holds a lot of false hope of something that he wonââ¬â¢t be able to achieve and this is reflected within the play and its setting. The play is set in Willyââ¬â¢s house and this is one of the main reasons as to why there is a lack of contentment in the play, because he hasnââ¬â¢t been able to pay off his mortgage for the house. The setting gives off a boxed in feeling, because of the towering apartment buildings and the lack of greenery is a representation of a metaphor, as nothing can flourish or grow. This is why it is regarded as a limitation of the American Dream, which Arthur Miller presents in the play and through Willy. The lack of contentment is also shown through both sons. Happyââ¬â¢s name is pretty ironic, because his life doesnââ¬â¢t seem to be happy, even though he pretends to be. Both, Biff and Happy have a vengeful streak in them as they both take revenge on their bosses in one way or another. Happy has a tendency to sleep with his bossââ¬â¢s girlfriends/fiancà ¯Ã ¿Ã ½s/wives, whereas Biff steals from his boss. But the reason they are like this is because their father has made them think they can do anything and get anywhere without qualifications, ââ¬ËYou filled us up with hot air!ââ¬â¢ however, Biff seems to go against his father, probably due to the fact that he knows about his fatherââ¬â¢s affair. He has always gone against his fatherââ¬â¢s wishes, such as wanting to work with his hands rather than work in an office job. But, Willy is still very stubborn and proud. He doesnââ¬â¢t realise his children are happy doing what they want. This is why his pride has got in the way of him not being able to achieve anything. He has also made his sons proud; too, by making them think that itââ¬â¢s their personalities that will get them a successful job. This represents another limitation of the American Dream; people have to work hard to get where they want. Bernard, Biffââ¬â¢s high school friend, is an example of a hard working person because he worked hard to get where he wanted and yet he never mentioned it to Willy, ââ¬ËThe Supreme Court! And he didnââ¬â¢t even mention it!ââ¬â¢ This shows that Bernard isnââ¬â¢t the type to boast about how well heââ¬â¢s doing even though he climbing the ladder towards the American Dream. Heââ¬â¢s overtaken Biff and Willy regrets that, but isnââ¬â¢t quite sure who to blame. Himself or Biff? Willy is blinded by false hope and great aspirations of striking it rich, but heââ¬â¢s doing all this for his children, so that they donââ¬â¢t have to struggle the way he did. But Bernard and Charley show that people have to do things themselves to achieve what they want to achieve, because Bernard is a top lawyer and he did this without anyoneââ¬â¢s help. He doesnââ¬â¢t need Charley to provide for him, nor is he working for him either. The only things that Willy has ever been able to achieve in his life are solid material goods, such as his house, fridge, car and vacuum cleaner. But he doesnââ¬â¢t think that itââ¬â¢s enough, so he decides to go and crash the car and kill himself, just because he wants his children to lead a comfortable life. His death brings in money for his children, but it shows what lengths Willy went to just so that his children could lead the perfect life of an American Dream.
Saturday, September 28, 2019
A Critical Essay evaluating a published piece of research from a research skills and methods point of view
As the article contains a section identifying the methodology used in the article, this will form the basis of analysis. Through examination of the methodologies identified therein, the effective use of these techniques will be critiqued, as well as those present in the article, which have not been identified in the section. This paper will explore the methodology used in the article from a broad philosophical approach to the methodology, to factors of analysis, research methods, data collection and appropriateness of the sources used. Positivist Research Philosophy Positivism is a structured approach to interpretation of research and the use of this methodology aims to replicate or test theory. Use of this methodology sees the researcher making certain interpretations about the data that will be collected. These interpretations will be quantified and generalised using some form of statistical analysis (Carter New, 2004) and thus its application within the natural sciences to the study of a subject in a social reality. This approach is deductive in nature where the research develops a theory and then subjects it to testing in the form of measureable hypotheses (Feyerabend, 1981). This has clear application in the current article as the authors are looking to interpret the data collected to draw certain conclusions about the role of the media in intra-EU immigration. Against this research philosophy it is possible to then examine the different kinds of research methods undertaken. This research philosophy is not identified in the article itself, however it is clear that there is a positivist approach taken to the research as there is a strong representation of certain interpretations made on the basis of collected data. Qualitative and Quantitative Research Method From the outset it is clear that the paper makes use of both qualitative and quantitative research methodology. The article identifies the approach used in testing the hypothesis as linking media framing with normative political theory in a systematic way. This approach superficially indicates the inclusion of qualitative research due to the very nature of normative theory. Qualitative research centers around the idea that meaning is socially constructed by individuals based on their interactions with the world and that the world is not based on positivist or quantitative assumptions (Merriam, 2002; 32). Qualitative research suggests that instead, reality is based on multiple interpretations that change over time, and researchers concern themselves rather with understanding these interpretations at a particular time. This research in particular focuses on plurality of interpretations (Flick, 2009). If one understands normative theory as being prescriptive of how one ideally should o r ought to act, imposing a value judgment based on these interpretations (Over, 2004; 3), one can see the understanding of normative political theory as inherently qualitative in nature. By contrast, quantitative methods of research are those which concern data analysed in terms of numbers (Punch, 1998). It is conceivable therefore that normative political theory may be assisted by quantitative research methods, however essentially this requires a value judgment on what political theory ought to be, is essentially positions itself within qualitative research by its very definition, as a value judgment requires the consideration of factors that typically fall within the realm of qualitative research, such as context and evaluation.Arguably, the omission of this statement of methodology from the section in the article itself is justified through redundancy. That is to say, that to the extent that this is both understood as a methodology of normative theory application, as well as the assumptions made about this theory within the paper rather than a process of research or discovery as to what this theory is, perhaps the inclusion of this consideration in the methodology section is somewhat redundant and unnecessary. A mixed method of qualitative and quantitative research exists in this article further in the identification of content analysis as the primary method of analysis in the paper (Balabanova Balch, 2010; 386). Content analysis classified textual material by reducing it to manageable pieces of data by quantifying the occurrence of certain phrases or themes within a text (Weber, 1980). It is therefore clear that content analysis is quantitative to the extent that it attempts to quantify certain themes within the text itself. However, it is simultaneously qualitative in that it takes account of the context of text components, latent structures of sense, distinctiveness in individual cases and things that do not appear in the text itself (Ritsert, 1972). For this reason, the inclusion of qualitative content analysis in analyzing communication texts, such as the current case of media, these factors are important for including context in the process of analysis. This however is not the quali tative inclusion that is referred to by Balabanova and Balch (2010; 396), as the methodology section purports to include qualitative factors through qualitative reading of selected articles to identify the ethical position and the range of communitarian and cosmopolitan issues. Whilst it arguable that these factors are a necessary inclusion of qualitative factors in the research, this should not be the extent of this inclusion. This is a clear inclusion in the Balabanova and Balch (2010; 386) article if one considers the nature of sources analyzed as being media sources of a particular topic, particularly considering the ethical dimension thereof. There is a definitely inclusion of certain ethical judgments in the content analysis which is essential to the topic itself. To the extent therefore that the content analysis used in the paper is of mixed methodology, this is entirely appropriate given the multifaceted nature of the inquiry itself. By making use of the sources that take ac count of the context, particularly in the choice of sources, it is clear that there are features of qualitative content analysis present in the article. Frame Analysis A further method identified by the methodology section of the article is a framing analysis, which essentially works as a method of defining how an issue is problematised and the effect that this has on the broader discussion (Hope, 2010; 2). Framing, involves selection and highlighting of certain facets of events, making connections between them so that they promote a particular interpretation, evaluaà tion or solution (Entman, 2004). By framing an issue in a certain way the media organize and structure their presentation, in the process including and excluding ideas and arguà ments to produce a coherent construction and understanding of the issue (Pan and Kosicki, 1993). Despite the inclusion of this methodology, it is questionable whether the authors have made use of this analysis method, as there is no evidence of a discussion involving the framing of the problem statement in a manner that is consistent with this methodology. This is a precise methodology involving various st eps of conceptualization from the primary framework, to the metaframes and finally, the issue frame leading to the problem statement. Essentially, this moves from a very broad general understanding of the issue and moves towards the very specific (Hope, 2010; 5). Whilst it is clear that Balabanova and Balch (2010; 383) have clearly stated their problem statement in the introductory paragraphs of the article, this is not however consistent with the steps of analysis used in a frame analysis. The introduction to the problem statement arguably is well reasoned from the onset, and there is no development or discovery of logic as the process enfolds. Therefore, it is fair to conclude that there is an adequate formation of the problem statement, however this is not done by a frame analysis which purports to form the foundation of the research itself. Data Collection It is arguable that the method of data collection used by Balabanova and Balch (2010) is a qualitative data collection method. This is so because generally empirical or first-hand research is undertaken in quantitative studies which involves the independent collection of data by the researcher, rather than analyzing data that is already available. To this extent, the authors have circumvented a number of logistical issues with regards to the ethics of empirical research. Generally speaking, empirical research must be accompanied by a statement of ethics to ensure that the appropriate ethical standards are adhered to when dealing with research participants. Qualitative data therefore is representative of language data or the experience of the participants of the study, whereas quantitative data is a collection of numbers and figures (Polkinghorne, 2005). Whilst, the article does make use of quantitative data in terms of the fact that it uses this data to form the basis of the analysis , it similarly makes use of qualitative data which can be described as an ââ¬Ëaccountââ¬â¢ or ââ¬Ëevidenceââ¬â¢ of human experience (ibid). It stands to reason therefore, that if one considers the subject matter of the article, the findings are a reflection of an experience and otherwise described as evidence of a certain circumstance. To this extent, the quantitative figures are used as a supporting mechanism to add to the validity and reliability of these findings. Validity generally implies that the instrument must measure what it was intended to measure (Barbour, 2008). Therefore to the extent that this data collection method has been used to gather the appropriate evidence and therefore measure the topic of the article, it is a valid mechanism of doing so. The article however does not address the issue of data collection, although it is fairly evident that it is qualitative in nature considering that it was chosen from a specific demographic country, with specific interests in mind when collecting this data. There are certain superficial indicators of reliability in research relating to repetition or consistency in assertion. Golafshani (2003; 598) identifies three types of reliability referred to in research, which relate to, namely the degree to which a measurement, given repeatedly, remains the same, the stability of a measurement over time; and the similarity of measurements within a given time period. Arguably by the very nature of the means of analysis, namely content analysis, these results should prove to be reliable, as the subject of what this method measures is precisely the repeated incidence of specific themes and phrases within the data sampled. The reliability of the data therefore is reliant on the reliability of the tool of analysis in this case. It can be concluded that, despite the lack of discussion as to the reliability of the data, the nature of the test is one which is inherently reliability. This is mitigated further by the limited size of the population of the st udy itself. Sources Cases Generally speaking, it is not appropriate to rely solely on newspaper articles as the basis of academic findings, however for the purposes of the current research, particularly in that the article is based on the influence of the media on the perception of intra-EU migration. As a result therefore the use of these sources is appropriate. The reliability and validity of the research with regards to the sources is upheld in integrity, as there is the adequate inclusion of reputable academic sources, as well as the use of these newspaper sources which form the basis of the data analysis. Conclusion By and large the application of the outlined methodology in the article itself is successful. One could argue that the relevant theoretical considerations with regards to research methodology have been adequately addressed in the article given the length and depth of the subject matter. This however is not to say that the authors have not excluded the fundamental considerations of methodology that merit inclusion, such as more exploration of qualitative research methodology, which has been argued to contribute significantly to the outcomes of the study, yet are not sufficiently included. Despite this exclusion, the collection of data and the sources used to support the hypothesis of the article are sufficient and appropriate in the circumstance, considering that the topic at hand requires an inquiry into the opinions and role of the media in these circumstances. This is supported by a superficial, yet adequate methodological explanation that allows the reader a basic understanding of the methodology used in the paper. References Balabanova and Balch (2010) Sending and receiving: The ethical framing of intra-EU migration in the European press. European Journal of Communication, 25, pp. 382 ââ¬â 408 Barbour, R.S (2008) Introducing Qualitative Research. Sage Publications: Los Angeles Carter, B and C. New (2004) Making Realism Work. Routledge: London Entman R (2004) Projections of Power: Framing News, Public Opinion, and US Foreign Policy. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press Feyerabend, P.K. (1981) Realism, Rationalism and Scientific Method. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) Flick, U. (2009) An Introduction to Qualitative Research. (4ed) Sage Publications: London Golafshani, N. (2003) Understanding Reliability and Validity in Qualitative Research. The Qualitative Report, 8(4), pp. 597 ââ¬â 607 Hope, M. (2010) Frame Analysis as a Discourse-Method: Framing ââ¬Ëclimate change politicsââ¬â¢. Paper delivered to the Post-Graduate Conference on Discourse Analysis March 2010,University of Bristol. Merriam, S. (2002) Qualitative Research in Practice. (1ed) John Wiley Sons: New York Over, D (2004) Rationality and the Normative/Descriptive Distinction in Koehler, D. Harvey, N. (eds) ââ¬ËBlackwell Handbook of Judgment and Decision Makingââ¬â¢ Blackwell: New York Pan Z and Kosicki G (1993) Framing analysis: An approach to news discourse. Political Communication 10(1): 55ââ¬â75. Polkinghorne, D. (2005) Language and Meaning: Data Collection in Qualitative Research. Journal of Counselling Pyschology, 52(2), pp 137 ââ¬â 145 Punch, K. (1998) Introduction to Social Research: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches. Sage Publications: London Ritsert, J. (1972 Inhaltsanalyse und Ideologiekritik. Ein Versuch uber kritische Sozialforschung. Frankfurt: Athenaum Fischer Taschenbuch Verlag (as translated) Weber, R. (1980) Basic Content Analysis. (2ed) Sage Publications: London A Critical Essay evaluating a published piece of research from a research skills and methods point of view As the article contains a section identifying the methodology used in the article, this will form the basis of analysis. Through examination of the methodologies identified therein, the effective use of these techniques will be critiqued, as well as those present in the article, which have not been identified in the section. This paper will explore the methodology used in the article from a broad philosophical approach to the methodology, to factors of analysis, research methods, data collection and appropriateness of the sources used. Positivist Research Philosophy Positivism is a structured approach to interpretation of research and the use of this methodology aims to replicate or test theory. Use of this methodology sees the researcher making certain interpretations about the data that will be collected. These interpretations will be quantified and generalised using some form of statistical analysis (Carter New, 2004) and thus its application within the natural sciences to the study of a subject in a social reality. This approach is deductive in nature where the research develops a theory and then subjects it to testing in the form of measureable hypotheses (Feyerabend, 1981). This has clear application in the current article as the authors are looking to interpret the data collected to draw certain conclusions about the role of the media in intra-EU immigration. Against this research philosophy it is possible to then examine the different kinds of research methods undertaken. This research philosophy is not identified in the article itself, however it is clear that there is a positivist approach taken to the research as there is a strong representation of certain interpretations made on the basis of collected data. Qualitative and Quantitative Research Method From the outset it is clear that the paper makes use of both qualitative and quantitative research methodology. The article identifies the approach used in testing the hypothesis as linking media framing with normative political theory in a systematic way. This approach superficially indicates the inclusion of qualitative research due to the very nature of normative theory. Qualitative research centers around the idea that meaning is socially constructed by individuals based on their interactions with the world and that the world is not based on positivist or quantitative assumptions (Merriam, 2002; 32). Qualitative research suggests that instead, reality is based on multiple interpretations that change over time, and researchers concern themselves rather with understanding these interpretations at a particular time. This research in particular focuses on plurality of interpretations (Flick, 2009). If one understands normative theory as being prescriptive of how one ideally should o r ought to act, imposing a value judgment based on these interpretations (Over, 2004; 3), one can see the understanding of normative political theory as inherently qualitative in nature. By contrast, quantitative methods of research are those which concern data analysed in terms of numbers (Punch, 1998). It is conceivable therefore that normative political theory may be assisted by quantitative research methods, however essentially this requires a value judgment on what political theory ought to be, is essentially positions itself within qualitative research by its very definition, as a value judgment requires the consideration of factors that typically fall within the realm of qualitative research, such as context and evaluation.Arguably, the omission of this statement of methodology from the section in the article itself is justified through redundancy. That is to say, that to the extent that this is both understood as a methodology of normative theory application, as well as the assumptions made about this theory within the paper rather than a process of research or discovery as to what this theory is, perhaps the inclusion of this consideration in the methodology section is somewhat redundant and unnecessary. A mixed method of qualitative and quantitative research exists in this article further in the identification of content analysis as the primary method of analysis in the paper (Balabanova Balch, 2010; 386). Content analysis classified textual material by reducing it to manageable pieces of data by quantifying the occurrence of certain phrases or themes within a text (Weber, 1980). It is therefore clear that content analysis is quantitative to the extent that it attempts to quantify certain themes within the text itself. However, it is simultaneously qualitative in that it takes account of the context of text components, latent structures of sense, distinctiveness in individual cases and things that do not appear in the text itself (Ritsert, 1972). For this reason, the inclusion of qualitative content analysis in analyzing communication texts, such as the current case of media, these factors are important for including context in the process of analysis. This however is not the quali tative inclusion that is referred to by Balabanova and Balch (2010; 396), as the methodology section purports to include qualitative factors through qualitative reading of selected articles to identify the ethical position and the range of communitarian and cosmopolitan issues. Whilst it arguable that these factors are a necessary inclusion of qualitative factors in the research, this should not be the extent of this inclusion. This is a clear inclusion in the Balabanova and Balch (2010; 386) article if one considers the nature of sources analyzed as being media sources of a particular topic, particularly considering the ethical dimension thereof. There is a definitely inclusion of certain ethical judgments in the content analysis which is essential to the topic itself. To the extent therefore that the content analysis used in the paper is of mixed methodology, this is entirely appropriate given the multifaceted nature of the inquiry itself. By making use of the sources that take ac count of the context, particularly in the choice of sources, it is clear that there are features of qualitative content analysis present in the article. Frame Analysis A further method identified by the methodology section of the article is a framing analysis, which essentially works as a method of defining how an issue is problematised and the effect that this has on the broader discussion (Hope, 2010; 2). Framing, involves selection and highlighting of certain facets of events, making connections between them so that they promote a particular interpretation, evaluaà tion or solution (Entman, 2004). By framing an issue in a certain way the media organize and structure their presentation, in the process including and excluding ideas and arguà ments to produce a coherent construction and understanding of the issue (Pan and Kosicki, 1993). Despite the inclusion of this methodology, it is questionable whether the authors have made use of this analysis method, as there is no evidence of a discussion involving the framing of the problem statement in a manner that is consistent with this methodology. This is a precise methodology involving various st eps of conceptualization from the primary framework, to the metaframes and finally, the issue frame leading to the problem statement. Essentially, this moves from a very broad general understanding of the issue and moves towards the very specific (Hope, 2010; 5). Whilst it is clear that Balabanova and Balch (2010; 383) have clearly stated their problem statement in the introductory paragraphs of the article, this is not however consistent with the steps of analysis used in a frame analysis. The introduction to the problem statement arguably is well reasoned from the onset, and there is no development or discovery of logic as the process enfolds. Therefore, it is fair to conclude that there is an adequate formation of the problem statement, however this is not done by a frame analysis which purports to form the foundation of the research itself. Data Collection It is arguable that the method of data collection used by Balabanova and Balch (2010) is a qualitative data collection method. This is so because generally empirical or first-hand research is undertaken in quantitative studies which involves the independent collection of data by the researcher, rather than analyzing data that is already available. To this extent, the authors have circumvented a number of logistical issues with regards to the ethics of empirical research. Generally speaking, empirical research must be accompanied by a statement of ethics to ensure that the appropriate ethical standards are adhered to when dealing with research participants. Qualitative data therefore is representative of language data or the experience of the participants of the study, whereas quantitative data is a collection of numbers and figures (Polkinghorne, 2005). Whilst, the article does make use of quantitative data in terms of the fact that it uses this data to form the basis of the analysis , it similarly makes use of qualitative data which can be described as an ââ¬Ëaccountââ¬â¢ or ââ¬Ëevidenceââ¬â¢ of human experience (ibid). It stands to reason therefore, that if one considers the subject matter of the article, the findings are a reflection of an experience and otherwise described as evidence of a certain circumstance. To this extent, the quantitative figures are used as a supporting mechanism to add to the validity and reliability of these findings. Validity generally implies that the instrument must measure what it was intended to measure (Barbour, 2008). Therefore to the extent that this data collection method has been used to gather the appropriate evidence and therefore measure the topic of the article, it is a valid mechanism of doing so. The article however does not address the issue of data collection, although it is fairly evident that it is qualitative in nature considering that it was chosen from a specific demographic country, with specific interests in mind when collecting this data. There are certain superficial indicators of reliability in research relating to repetition or consistency in assertion. Golafshani (2003; 598) identifies three types of reliability referred to in research, which relate to, namely the degree to which a measurement, given repeatedly, remains the same, the stability of a measurement over time; and the similarity of measurements within a given time period. Arguably by the very nature of the means of analysis, namely content analysis, these results should prove to be reliable, as the subject of what this method measures is precisely the repeated incidence of specific themes and phrases within the data sampled. The reliability of the data therefore is reliant on the reliability of the tool of analysis in this case. It can be concluded that, despite the lack of discussion as to the reliability of the data, the nature of the test is one which is inherently reliability. This is mitigated further by the limited size of the population of the st udy itself. Sources Cases Generally speaking, it is not appropriate to rely solely on newspaper articles as the basis of academic findings, however for the purposes of the current research, particularly in that the article is based on the influence of the media on the perception of intra-EU migration. As a result therefore the use of these sources is appropriate. The reliability and validity of the research with regards to the sources is upheld in integrity, as there is the adequate inclusion of reputable academic sources, as well as the use of these newspaper sources which form the basis of the data analysis. Conclusion By and large the application of the outlined methodology in the article itself is successful. One could argue that the relevant theoretical considerations with regards to research methodology have been adequately addressed in the article given the length and depth of the subject matter. This however is not to say that the authors have not excluded the fundamental considerations of methodology that merit inclusion, such as more exploration of qualitative research methodology, which has been argued to contribute significantly to the outcomes of the study, yet are not sufficiently included. Despite this exclusion, the collection of data and the sources used to support the hypothesis of the article are sufficient and appropriate in the circumstance, considering that the topic at hand requires an inquiry into the opinions and role of the media in these circumstances. This is supported by a superficial, yet adequate methodological explanation that allows the reader a basic understanding of the methodology used in the paper. References Balabanova and Balch (2010) Sending and receiving: The ethical framing of intra-EU migration in the European press. European Journal of Communication, 25, pp. 382 ââ¬â 408 Barbour, R.S (2008) Introducing Qualitative Research. Sage Publications: Los Angeles Carter, B and C. New (2004) Making Realism Work. Routledge: London Entman R (2004) Projections of Power: Framing News, Public Opinion, and US Foreign Policy. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press Feyerabend, P.K. (1981) Realism, Rationalism and Scientific Method. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) Flick, U. (2009) An Introduction to Qualitative Research. (4ed) Sage Publications: London Golafshani, N. (2003) Understanding Reliability and Validity in Qualitative Research. The Qualitative Report, 8(4), pp. 597 ââ¬â 607 Hope, M. (2010) Frame Analysis as a Discourse-Method: Framing ââ¬Ëclimate change politicsââ¬â¢. Paper delivered to the Post-Graduate Conference on Discourse Analysis March 2010,University of Bristol. Merriam, S. (2002) Qualitative Research in Practice. (1ed) John Wiley Sons: New York Over, D (2004) Rationality and the Normative/Descriptive Distinction in Koehler, D. Harvey, N. (eds) ââ¬ËBlackwell Handbook of Judgment and Decision Makingââ¬â¢ Blackwell: New York Pan Z and Kosicki G (1993) Framing analysis: An approach to news discourse. Political Communication 10(1): 55ââ¬â75. Polkinghorne, D. (2005) Language and Meaning: Data Collection in Qualitative Research. Journal of Counselling Pyschology, 52(2), pp 137 ââ¬â 145 Punch, K. (1998) Introduction to Social Research: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches. Sage Publications: London Ritsert, J. (1972 Inhaltsanalyse und Ideologiekritik. Ein Versuch uber kritische Sozialforschung. Frankfurt: Athenaum Fischer Taschenbuch Verlag (as translated) Weber, R. (1980) Basic Content Analysis. (2ed) Sage Publications: London
Friday, September 27, 2019
The subject of assignment at the assignment criteria box Essay
The subject of assignment at the assignment criteria box - Essay Example Multinational companies are those companies with branches in several countries. A multinational company is a main company that produces in foreign countries through its branches or partners situated in several countries. The policies of the branches and partners are directly controlled by the parent company which sets strategies for all the activities of the company that go beyond the boundaries of the host countries. These include; product marketing, personnel, financial matters as well as production strategies. The policies may have host country orientation or parent country orientation (Feldman, 2008, pp.22-27). A multinational company may be owned by citizens of one, two countries or more. In another situation, a company may establish branches in different countries in order to reduce the cost of transporting raw materials in order to reduce the final cost of the products that is added to the consumer price. A company may also establish branches in countries that import its products in order to escape import tax that may be enforced by the importing country against foreign companies. An example of this is when external levy was enforced against outsiders by the European Community, companies from the United States engaged in Foreign Direct Investment in order to evade these tariffs (Howard Perlmutter, 1969). Fluctuating exchange rates are also a factor that leads to the establishment of multinational companies in order to avoid losses that are associated with these rates. This phenomenon arises when companies produce at a high value of the local currency and then the value falls during exportation. They opt to establish a subsidiary industry in the importing country. Competition is also a factor that gives rise to multinational companies. A company X in one country may be producing the same products as another company Y in a different country, both competing for a
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Fnancial analysis. Accenture, Wal-Mart, and McDonalds Essay
Fnancial analysis. Accenture, Wal-Mart, and McDonalds - Essay Example McDonaldââ¬â¢s is the largest fast food restaurant in the world. The company has over 32,000 stores worldwide. The global sales of McDonaldââ¬â¢s in 2011 were $27 billion. The use of aggressive advertising strategies has helped McDonaldââ¬â¢s gain popularity, increase its customer base, and achieve superior customer retention. Section two The annual reports of Accenture, Wal-Mart, and McDonaldââ¬â¢s were downloaded for review. Each annual report provided information regarding the financial statements of the companies. All three companies demonstrated having strong cash reserves. The firm with the largest cash account was Wal-Mart with $7.40 billion. Accenture ranked second between the three companies at $5.7 billion, while McDonaldââ¬â¢s had the weakest cash position at $2.34 billion. The current ratio was chosen as the metric to measure the companyââ¬â¢s ability to pay off its short term debt using current assets. All three companies are in good position to pay off their current debt due to the fact that all three companies had a current ratio above the 1.0 threshold. Wal-Mart utilized the most cash on investing activities out of the three firms at $12.19 billion. The firm that had the lowest amount of cash spend in investing activities was Accenture with $0.7 billion. The amount of cash spend in investing activities by McDonaldââ¬â¢s was $2.57 billion. The firm with the highest change in non-current assets during fiscal year 2011 was Wal-Mart with $5.55 billion. ... The amount of cash spend in investing activities by McDonaldââ¬â¢s was $2.57 billion. The firm with the highest change in non-current assets during fiscal year 2011 was Wal-Mart with $5.55 billion. The change in non-current assets of Accenture and McDonaldââ¬â¢s were $0.99 billion and $24 million respectively. Section five Net income 2009 2010 2011 Accenture $1.59 billion $1.78 billion $2.28 billion McDonaldââ¬â¢s $4.55 billion $4.95 billion $5.5 billion Wal-Mart $13.38 billion $14.37 billion $16.39 billion Cash flow from operating activities 2009 2010 2011 Accenture $3.16 billion $3.09 billion $3.44 billion McDonaldââ¬â¢s $5.75 billion $6.34 billion $7.15 billion Wal-Mart $23.64 billion $26.25 billion $23.64 billion From 2009 to 2011 Accenture, McDonaldââ¬â¢s and Wal-Mart all enjoyed increases in net income. The income of Accenture went up by 43.39% in comparison with 2009 and it rose by 28.08% in comparison with 2010. In 2011 McDonaldââ¬â¢s enjoyed a net income in crease of 11.11% in comparison with the previous year. Wal-Mart had a net income increase of 14.05% between 2010 and 2011. The retail giant enjoyed the greatest net income increase at $2.02 billion. The only company that enjoyed consecutive increases in cash from operating activities during the period between 2009 and 2011 was McDonaldââ¬â¢s. Section six Based on the financial analysis performed on the three companies in this paper I am going to choose the company that is the best investment alternative for investors looking to make some money. Wal-Mart Corporation was the company with the highest amount of cash reserves and it was also the firm with the highest current ratio. Wal-Mart has the greatest liquidity of the three firms. Wal-Mart
Carry out a critical and comparative analysis of early chidhood Essay
Carry out a critical and comparative analysis of early chidhood education and care in the united kingdom and Denmark or Sweden - Essay Example Different areas of early education will be critically analyzed, and a concluding solution will also be given. Statements supporting different early education systems will also be provided along with its limitations. Differences in curriculum, welfare, readiness for school, learning for school and construction of early education institutions will be discussed. How childhood is constructed in both these areas will be the main discussion, in which different arguments will be supported or refuted using various sources. When two years of age, a child starts developing attachment with parents or guardian. Therefore, early childhood care and education carries great importance. At the same time, the child starts learning after he is seven months of age. Thus, providing children with right blend of education and care in early ages can help mould them in well educated and nurtured individuals. UK and Sweden, both countries provide pre-school nursing and education. However, differences lie in other factors such as curriculum, structure, welfare, family care and society. Comparative analysis is made of both the countries based on various articles by BBC, national and UNESCO reports, national surveys, journals and views/comments and articles of residents of UK and Sweden. Reports and surveys by authorized and trusted sources are used as they are authentic. While articles of residents and their views are considered as they provide first hand knowledge. Where national reports have a tendency to be biased, articles by individuals are expected to show a more realistic picture. While carrying out Comparative analysis, difficulties are involved, such as authenticity, relevance and contradictions among different sources. Some case studies used are quite old and there relevance maybe questioned, however, they are used in order to support other arguments. Childcare in Sweden makes up the children belonging to the
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Reflection paper regarding the topic of Compassion, Empathy, as it Essay
Reflection paper regarding the topic of Compassion, Empathy, as it relates to Buddhist Meditation - Essay Example I found it quite excitingly that the teachings of Rinpoche is not only about calming of mind but also about having the emotions of compassion and empathy in the heart. I was excited because I found people, said to be on meditation, cold and indifferent. I began to understand the concept of compassion and empathy, described by Rinpoche as a tool to integrate the society with less expectations and more understanding. The way to reduce differences between people and our selves is to understand them and identify their needs like our own. This can also be called as Empathetic joy and Compassion. Every human being wants to avoid suffering, and his all objectives in life are set to achieve this one primary objective. However, we forget that in reducing our own suffering, we sometimes increase suffering for other people. It happens all around us but he, who tries to forgive it, considered as dumb. We try to hurt others because they hurted us in past, and we want to prove that we are not inferior than them. But in doing so, we dwell more on negative emotion like ego. We are defined by the feelings and emotions we feel most of time. If we dwell more on negative emotions like greed, jealousy and anger, we will become an angry, greedy and jeal ous person. To be a positive and happy person, we need to block negative thoughts in our mind. The barrier in the path of controlling emotions, is being judgemental. Since our childhood, we begin to label things as right or wrong, sometimes, even, without understanding them. The judgements make our negative thoughts just and deserving for the others. It make us think, that we are right in thinking bad for a person because he is a bad person actually. But we never think that what these negative thinkings are doing to ourselves. I have experienced it that the more you think negatively, the suffering gets deeper and deeper in youself, instead of
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Discuss the Standard industrial classification Essay - 1
Discuss the Standard industrial classification - Essay Example The main purpose of the SIC codes is to represent each of the industries with the metrics that allows the agencies to conduct business analysis, regardless of the branches of the industry. In other words, the main purpose of the SIC code is to standardize the measures, analyze and share the data that enables the agencies to have understanding about the business. It assesses these agencies to conduct business analysis for the major businesses and industries. SIC codes have been assigned to the business and industries on the bases that they share common features, characteristics with respect to their products, services, production and system of business. The hierarchy of these codes varies with the top to down structure of the general characteristics of the business and industry that are than future down according to the specification of the business. For example: the first two digits of the code allow to detect the major industry sector that the business is operating, the third and fourth digit tells about the specification of the good, services and product line of the business. the SIC codes are used by the national census bureau of the country, labor statistic, internal revenues and social security administration that make use of these SIC codes to identify the type of industry that the business is operating in. These agencies make use of these codes for reporting for the academic and business sectors to analyze the progress and risks that the business may inherit. It is also used to analyze several business issues, relating to business processes, decisions, such as labor council, wages and prices. The social security administrat ion agency make use of the SIC codes to make use of the primary business activity on the employer ID. SIC codes are developed to identify the type of economic activity that the business is engaged in. it classifies the business with respect to their economic activities that have been used by the United Kingdom to develop
Monday, September 23, 2019
Ozone hole Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1
Ozone hole - Essay Example This layer does absorb 97 percent to 99 percent of the high-frequency ultraviolet light of the sun which can be possibly destructive to the life on earth. More that 90 percent of the ozone within the earthââ¬â¢s atmosphere is existing here ââ¬Å"comparatively highâ⬠meaning several parts/million- considerably higher than concentrations within the lower atmosphere, however, still lesser compared to the key atmospheric components. Its location is approximately 15 to 35 km above the surface of the earth in the hemispheres lower portion (Charles, 2014). This thickness varies geographically as well as seasonally. As mentioned earlier, prevents disastrous destruction of the life on earth through absorption of the harmful incoming sunââ¬â¢s ultraviolet (UV) potion hence minimizing this lightââ¬â¢s amount that reaches the surface of the earth (Paul, 2009). Such natural sunlight buffering is quite advantageous since the ultraviolet light of high energy is capable of penetrating uppermost skin layers.as a result, cells might end up damaged which is explained through sunburn as well as more threateningly, genetic material which resides within every cell (DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid) destruction. Damage of some DNA within skin cells by such ultraviolet light is associated with certain cancers development. Observation of the ozone hall has for a long time been done with great seriousness. Images of satellite offer observers the ozoneââ¬â¢s every day images over Antarctic region (Enviromental Protection Agency, 2010). The winter population of humans of the Antarctic comprise of researchers in several hundreds. These researchers get protection from the UV light which has increased from warm winter clothing, hence the ozone layer health effect concerns are minimal. The ozone holeââ¬â¢s existence as well as its increased size through 1990s up till 2006, the time when this hole was ever largest recorded, has come to be a great concern for researchers who study human activity
Sunday, September 22, 2019
Guitar Salon International Essay Example for Free
Guitar Salon International Essay The instrument I have chosen to research is the guitar. The history of the invention and manufacturing of this instrument can be traced as far back as 400 A. D, when Spain was occupied by the Romans. The guitar is seen as a direct descendent of the Roman tanbur or cithara; drawing influences from the Arabic ud and undergoing a number of modifications to finally become the acoustic or electric guitar that we see being used by some of todayââ¬â¢s biggest artistes. The following two websites contain information about the history of the instrument and the manufacturing process: Guitar Salon International (www. guitarsalon. com) Fender Guitars (www. fender. com) The influence of the guitar on music performance is perhaps most evident in the evolution of rock n roll and blues. The music movement that began with Bo Diddley and gradually separated into myriad styles like grunge, pop rock and punk that have dominated the last fifty years or so of popular western music is heavily dependent on the guitar. Although the list of famous performers is an exhaustive one, the two names that really stand out are Jimi Hendrix and Buddy Guy, for their innovativeness and their lasting impact on pop culture. The creativity of the two artistes might be rooted in the fact that neither received any formal training. The following two websites contain all the relevant information from the artisteââ¬â¢s biography to the details of his releases and performances: www. jimihendrix. com www. buddyguy. net Music 2 Apart from the famous performers like Hendrix and Guy who revolutionized guitar playing, the instrument has also been utilized quite often by composers. Given the tonal range of the instrument, from the delicate acoustic sound to the raw, driven electric guitar sound, composers often write pieces intended to be performed on the guitar. Once again, if we look at the realm of pop culture, where cross medium interaction is abundant, two guitar pieces jump to mind for their resonance with the other content; the Top Gun theme and the guitar piece from Tarantinoââ¬â¢s classic, Pulp Fiction. Harold Faltermeyer, the composer of the former is best known for his work in Top Gun and Beverly Hills Cop. The version of the Greek wedding song, Misirlou used in Pulp fiction was composed and performed by Dick Dale, the iconic guitar player who pioneered the Surf Rock movement. Detailed information on these two composers can be found on the following websites: www. dickdale. com www. haroldfaltermeyer. net The sheer volume of guitar pieces that have been composed over the years makes it near impossible to list the five most famous ones, but based on popular demand, here are the five that have captured the minds of listeners. Stairway to Heaven- Jimmy Page Eruption- Van Halen Free Bird- Allen Collins and Gary Rossington Eric Johnson- Cliffs of Dover Stevie Ray Vaughn- Texas Flood Music 3 The following two websites contain detail lists of the greatest guitar pieces of all time: www. guitarworld. com www. mahalo. com
Friday, September 20, 2019
Organised Crime and the Criminal Justice Process
Organised Crime and the Criminal Justice Process This essay will begin with a brief outline of the historical work of organised crime. Then the definition of organised crime will be given with examples of areas associated with organised crime. The Criminal Justice Process will then be explained and the role of the Serious Organised Crime Agency including the Assets Recovery Agency with statistics showing the economic and social impact of organised crime. Finally a brief outline of Cohenââ¬â¢s view of organised crime will be given and the role of the victims of crime as key players in the Criminal Justice Process and ending with Boxââ¬â¢s clues to understand most serious crimes. According to King et al; (2000) ââ¬Å"the battle over the origins of organized crime is one being constantly fought, and historians have utilized archive data, such as police and judicial reports, economic evidence, pamphlets, diaries and biographies, to disinter the professional and organized criminalâ⬠. Furthermore, King et al; (2000) states that ââ¬Å"organised crime seems to have been a feature of British society from Elizabethan times onwards and British studies of professional criminals, some of them displaying elements of organization, indicate a wide range of activitiesâ⬠. However, by the eighteenth century professional and organized criminal gangs, armed with a variety of criminal strategies from petty theft and violence to fraud, were firmly established in Britain (King et al; 2000). Criminals not only established their activities in London where the market place was most affluent and the control of the emerging working class was at its most ineffective, but also in coastal, rural and provincial areas (King et al; 2000). The definition of Organised crime is broadly seen as economically motivated offending which involves more than two people (Hale et al; 2005). Furthermore, Hale et al; (2005) suggests that ââ¬Å"unlike legally defined crimes or predicate offences such as murder, drug trafficking and money laundering, organised crime tends to be confined to its structures and relationships and the general nature of crimes committed by such associationsâ⬠. According to Hale et al; (2005) Article 2 of the ââ¬ËUnited Nations Convention Against Transnational Organised Crimeââ¬â¢ states that an ââ¬Å"organised criminal group must have at least three members operating in concert to commit a serious crime as part of an internally structured organization which has been in existence over a period of time preceding and subsequent to the commission of the criminal actâ⬠. Whilst such a definition provides a general framework of understanding, it can in practice undermine effective law enforcement responses (Hale et al; 2005). An organised crime group can include anything from a four person, low level racketeering group to a highly complex, international networks involved in human trafficking or money laundering (Hale et al; 2005). Get help with your essay from our expert essay writers Furthermore according to Marshall, (1998) ââ¬Å"organised crime is a term used for situations where a large number of people in a hierarchical structure are engaged in an on-going pattern of criminal activitiesâ⬠. The most common areas associated with organised crime are extortion and the provision of illegal goods and services, such as drink, drugs, gambling, money laundering and prostitution (Marshall, 1998). According to Marshall, (1998) ââ¬Å"these activities involve continuous relations with the victims or clients, who have contact with the lower echelons of the organizationâ⬠. In order to succeed organised or syndicate crime involves some element of corruption or intimidation of the police or other law enforcement agents (Marshall, 1998). Marshall, (1998) suggests that ââ¬Å"organised crime is often thought to be synonymous with a secret society, such as the Tongs of the Chinese diaspora, the Camorra of the nineteenth century Naples and the Mafia of Sicily and Costa Nostra in the United Statesâ⬠. Although, according to Marshall, (1998) ââ¬Å"it seems more likely that if such societies exist at all, they do not actually run criminal activities, but rather act as a fraternal organisations for some of the racketeersâ⬠. On the other hand, according to Marshall, (1998) ââ¬Å"organised crime is associated with violence and threats in the course of extortion, but also in the maintenance of control over subordinates, and struggles for power within groups and the struggles for monopoly control between groupsâ⬠. Furthermore, Hale et al; (2005) points out that ââ¬Å"organised crime can be argued as primarily a reactive phenomenon, exploiting gaps in a diverse and lucrative marketâ⬠. Also according to Hale et al; (2005) ââ¬Å"Its clientele are, for the most part, ââ¬Ëordinaryââ¬â¢ folk who seek, alternative routes to satisfying needs unmet or proscribed by the legislatures of the countries they inhabit or pass throughâ⬠. However, according to Hale et al; (2005) ââ¬Å"In many cases clients are also victims, obliged or enticed into cooperation, as in the trafficking of women and children and in areas of economic decline and acute social inequality organised crime can provide alternative employment and a reinstatement of status, a situation currently common in former communist statesâ⬠. According to Kelbie, (2007) ââ¬Å"Human trafficking is a growing trade and it is estimated that around 700,000 people are trafficked in Europe every year, and most of them are women and girls who are forced into prostitution, while others are brought in to work illegallyâ⬠. Furthermore, Kelbie, (2007) estimates ââ¬Å"that 4,000 women are trafficked into Britain each year and are forced to work in the multi-million pound sex industryâ⬠. As more numbers of Eastern European and African Girls are trafficked into Britain, some as young as 12 years old, the traffickers are shifting their trade outside major cities (Kelbie, 2007). Consequently, as a result of this growing trade in Human Trafficking, Glasgow is the only city outside London to provide help and support to victims of sexual exploitation (Kelbie, 2007). Furthermore, according to Kelbie, (2007) ââ¬Å"the cityââ¬â¢s organised sex industry is worth approximately 7 million pounds a year, earned from the exploitation of women who are forced to work in saunas, private flats and as escortsâ⬠. The women forced to work in these places are regularly sold and re-sold between organised criminals operating in all of Britainââ¬â¢s major cities (Kelbie, 2007). Meanwhile, there are millions of incidences of online crime in Britain each year (Sharp, 2007). Furthermore, according to Sharp, (2007) ââ¬Å"around 3 million internet crimes were committed in the UK last year and one of the most common is identity theftâ⬠. In 2004, two people were arrested in connection with an internet crime ring, the Shadow Crew, who planned to defraud consumers and banks out of hundreds of millions dollars (Sharp, 2007). British organised crime has itââ¬â¢s ââ¬Ëfamiliesââ¬â¢ modelled along the lines of Mafia families in the United States. One of the most powerful recent criminal families has been the Arifs from Stockwell, in South London. They were involved in armed robberies and drug smuggling in the 1980s, and also owned a string of pubs, restaurant and clubs, and it is certain that these establishments were bought from the proceeds of their criminal activities (Giddens, 1977). According to Giddens, (1977) ââ¬Å"Bekir Arif was jailed for five years at the end of the 1980s after being convicted of robbery with violence, and the reign of the Arifs ended in the early 1990s, following a series of police operationsâ⬠. The head of the family, Dogan Arif is currently serving a fourteen year prison sentence for his part in a à £8.5 million drug smuggling deal (Giddens, 1977). In order to regulate and manage the risks that organised crime presents, investigation and law enforcement play important roles in bringing offenders to justice. According to Davies et al; (1998) ââ¬Å"in exploring what a criminal justice aims to do, we need to distinguish between the goals of the system as a whole, and the functions of the different agencies who make up the systemâ⬠. The cross-system goals of the criminal justice system according to Davies et al; (1998) are ââ¬Å"protecting the public by preventing and deterring crime, by rehabilitating offenders and incapacitating others who constitute a persistent threat to the community, upholding and promoting the rule of law and respect for the law, by ensuring due process and proper treatment of suspects, arrestees, defendants and those held in custody, successfully prosecuting criminals and acquitting innocent people accused of crimeâ⬠. Furthermore, ââ¬Å"maintaining law and order, punishing criminals with regard to the principles of just deserts, and registering social disapproval of censured behaviour by punishing criminals, and finally aiding and advising the victims of crimeâ⬠(Davies et al; 1998). The ââ¬ËNational Crime Squadââ¬â¢ was put into effect by the Police Act 1997 and came into operation on the 1st April 1998 (Newburn, 2003). Furthermore, it merged with all regional crime squads. They targeted serious and organised crime, such as immigration crime, illegal arms and drug trafficking crimes and money laundering and counterfeiting (Davies et al; 2005). Following the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, the Serious Organised Crime Agency was created and the agency officially came into being in April 2006, and its function was to tackle the growing problem of international criminal gangs. (Home Office, 2008). The agency was formed from the amalgamation of the National Crime Squad, the National Criminal Intelligence Service, the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit, the investigative and intelligence sections of HM Revenue and Customs on serious drugs trafficking and the UK Immigration Service responsible for organised immigration crime (Home Office, 2008). The Serious Fraud Office continues to be a separate agency. According to the (Home Office, 2008) ââ¬Å"the economic and social impact of organised crime in the UK is staggering and statistics show that global profits from people smuggling is estimated to be $10 billion annually, 280,000 problem drug users cause half of all crime, every à £1 spent on heroin is estimated to generate about à £4 of damage to the national economy and there are around 400 organised crime bosses in the UK with an amassed criminal wealth of approximately à £440 millionâ⬠. The economic and social cost of organised crime is estimated to be in the region of à £20 to à £40 billion per year (Home Office, 2008). Furthermore, the Home Office, (2004) strategic plan for Criminal Justice 2004-2008 was ââ¬Å"the criminal justice process will relentlessly target the top 15-20 prolific offenders in each Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership area, and more in bigger areas, and give the police, the Crown Prosecution Service and the |Serious Organised Crime Agency the powers they need to take on the most serious and organised criminalsâ⬠. Also, the police, Crown Prosecution Service, courts and other agencies like the Serious Organised Crime Agency would be able to keep at least 50% of the value of all the criminal assets they help to seize (Home Office, 2004). The recovery of criminal assets would be the role of the Assets Recovery Agency which was set up under the Proceeds of Crime act 2002 and plays an important part in the governmentââ¬â¢s plans to seize the profit out of crime, and separate and prevent the criminal organizations from continuing with their activities by removing the money which motivates their activities and their major source of income (Assets Recovery Agency, 2008). Meanwhile, the (Assets Recovery Agency, 2008) has three strategic aims ââ¬Å"to disrupt organised criminal enterprises through the recovery of criminal assets, thereby alleviating the effect of crime on communities, to promote the use of financial investigation as an integral part of criminal investigation, within and outside the Agency, domestically and internationally, through training and continuing professional development and to operate the agency in accordance with its vision and valuesâ⬠. As, the Assets Recovery Agency was formed to stop organised criminal activities through the recovery of assets, on the 16th January 2007, the government introduced the Serious Crime Bill to Parliament setting out their suggestion to amalgamate the operational elements of the Assets Recovery Agency with the Serious Organised Crime Agency, and the Agencyââ¬â¢s training and accreditation function with the National Policing Improvement Agency (Assets Recovery Agency, 2008). On the 1st April 2008 the operational section of the Assets Recovery Agency merged with the Serious Organised Crime Agency. Commenting on the merger Hughes, of SOCA, (2008) said ââ¬Å"we are gaining important skills and expertise with the arrival of Assets Recovery Agency staff and we welcome them into SOCA. Now that the merger has taken place we will get on with the job that parliament want us to do, namely depriving crooks of their ill-gotten gainsâ⬠. However, the Home Office minister Coaker, of SOCA, (2008) said that ââ¬Å"assets recovery is critical in the fight against all levels of crime and we are determined to stop criminals profiting from crimes which affect the lives of law abiding majorityâ⬠. Meanwhile, Goggins, SOCA, (2008) said ââ¬Å"this merger will strengthen the fight against crime in Northern Ireland as it combines the intelligence expertise of SOCA with the hands on practical experience of ARA. This combination will make the recovery of assets even more effective and strengthen our fight against those who profit from organised crimeâ⬠. Under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 on 17th January 2008 the Asset Recovery Agency recovered assets worth at least à £4 million from the High Court in Belfast. Also, on 5th February 2008 the agency obtained a Civil Recovery Order in the High Court in London worth an estimated à £750,000 from a couple who had obtained the assets through the human trafficking of people, mainly from Eastern Europe into Britain to work in brothels (Assets Recovery Agency, 2008). According to the Home Office, (2008) ââ¬Å"the Serious Organised Crime Agency Second Annual Report showed another record year in the war against drugs with almost 90 tonnes of class A drugs seized with partners at home and abroad, a 20 per cent increase on the previous year. The cocaine alone, cut to usual UK street quality, could have realised à £6bnâ⬠. Furthermore, according to the Home Office, (2008) ââ¬Å"53 disclosure notices, requiring individuals to co-operate with investigations by producing documents or answering questions, and 46 warnings on crime threats issued to over 2,500 private sector organisations throughout the UK. Meanwhile, the Home office, (2008) quotes ââ¬Å"over à £46m criminal assets restrained by the domestic courtsâ⬠. All SOCA operations now include financial investigations with an additional 35 financial investigators appointed during 2007/2008. According to Wright, (2006) ââ¬Å"For Cohen, it is necessary to map the interactions, processes and patterned relationships both within and outside organisations in a more holistic way. It is necessary to establish the social context of the criminal activities of ââ¬Ëorganised criminalsââ¬â¢, as well as the structure of their associationsâ⬠. Furthermore, for Wright, (2006) ââ¬Å"Cohen points out that criminology has done little work on the nature of organisational processes in crime groups. It has overlooked such things as recruitment, socialisation of members within organisations, and the way in which subcultures are developed and maintained. It has also to a large extent ignored such things as the protection and insulation of participants from the impact of conventional moral definitionsâ⬠. For Cohen, according to Wright, (2006) ââ¬Å"criminal groups should be subject to assessment of their internal structures and to analysis of all societal activity as it bears upon the production of their criminal behaviour. It is necessary to show that the functional problems of human systems take a distinctive form in criminal enterprise and that this distinctiveness provides a justification for the specialised study of criminal organisationâ⬠. Victims of crime are now recognised as key players in the Criminal Justice Process. According to Zedner, (2002) ââ¬Å"without the cooperation of the victim in reporting crime, furnishing evidence, identifying the offender, and acting as a witness in court, most crimes would remain unknown and unpunished. The reliance of the Criminal Justice System on the victim has proved to be a powerful bargaining tool in the recognition of the victimsââ¬â¢ interestsâ⬠. The Victims Charter was first published by the Home Office in 1990 and at the time signified an important way forward in the recognition of victimsââ¬â¢ interests, though it had been criticized for offering little by way of enforceable standards (Zedner, 2002). The clues to understanding most serious crimes according to Box, (1983) ââ¬Å"can be located in power, not weakness, in privilege, not disadvantage, in wealth, not povertyâ⬠. In conclusion, since the launch of the Serious Organised Crime Agency in April 2006 and the merging of the Assets Recovery Agency in April 2008, the Criminal Justice process in dealing with serious organised crime has had a huge impact on criminal gangs operating within the UK, with the recovery of their assets from their criminal activities and to make it harder for them to continue in their criminal ways. BIBLIOGRAPHY Assets Recovery Agency, (2008), ââ¬Å"Making Sure Crime Doesnââ¬â¢t Payâ⬠. Available at: http://www.assetsrecovery.gov.uk http://www.assetsrecovery.gov.uk/AboutARA/AimsandObjectives/ http://www.assetsrecovery.gov.uk/AboutARA/History/ Box, S. (1983), Power, Crime and Mystification, Tavistock Publications, London. Davies, M; Croall, H. and Tyrer, J. (1998), Criminal Justice: An Introduction to the Criminal Justice System in England and Wales, (2nd Edition), Pearson Education Ltd, Harlow, Essex. Davies, M; Croall, H. and Tyrer, J. (2005), Criminal Justice: An Introduction to the Criminal Justice System in England and Wales, (3rd Edition), Pearson Education Ltd, Harlow, Essex. Giddens, A. (1997), Sociology, Polity Press, Cambridge. Hale, C; Hayward, K; Wahidin, A. and Wincup, E. (2005), Criminology, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Home Office, (2004), Cutting Crime, Delivering Justice: A Strategic Plan for Criminal Justice 2004-08. Home Office, London. Home Office, (2008), ââ¬Å"Organised and International Crimeâ⬠. Available at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime-victims/reducing-crime/organised-crime/ Kelbie, P. (2007) ââ¬Å"Kirk acts on human trafficking in Scotlandâ⬠. Available at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/may/20/humanrights.internationalcrime/print King, D.R; and Wincup, E. (2000), Doing Research on Crime and Justice, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Marshall, G. (1998), Oxford Dictionary of Sociology, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Newburn, T. (2003), Crime and Criminal Justice Policy, Harlow, Pearson. News Distribution Service, (2008), Home Office (National), ââ¬Å"Tackling serious organised crime in new and different waysâ⬠. Available at: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.asp?ReleaseID=367603NewsAreaID=2Navig.. Proceeds of Crime Update, (2008). Available at: http://www.assetsrecovery.gov.uk/MediaCentre/ProceedsOfCrimeUpdate/2008/ Serious Organised Crime Agency, (2008), ââ¬Å"Merger of SOCA and ARA strengthens Government drive to deprive criminals of their assetsâ⬠. Available at: http://www.soca.gov.uk Sharp, R. (2007), ââ¬Å"Cybercrimeâ⬠: Uncovered. Available at: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/cybercrime-uncove Wright, A. (2006), Organised Crime, William Publishing, Devon. Zedner, L. (2002), ââ¬ËVictimsââ¬â¢, in M. Maguire; R. Morgan and R. Reiner (eds), The |Oxford Handbook of Criminology (3rd edition), Oxford University Press.
Thursday, September 19, 2019
Health Care Industry Essay -- Business, Employee Satisfaction
Health care industry is healing from the recent shortage in qualified professionals. The retention of professionals and overall employee satisfaction has been affected by the recent economical changes. Need for change has been pressured amongst health care managers for almost a decade now. The federal government has predicted, by 2020, retirement will contribute to a shortage of approximately 24,000 doctors and nearly one million nurses. The organizational environment appears to be the focus of the human resource consultants that are providing input in the change. The most challenging aspect of management today in the health care industry is employee satisfaction because retaining qualified professionals has decreased. To survive and be successful in this industry will require flexibility and adaptability. The author intends to help explain how changes in the health care environment necessitate changes in how health care managers actively manage. A move from traditional health care w orkforce model to the future will likely be positively viewed by staff and the organization, once thoroughly reviewed. It is more frequently being suggested that health care managers are so focused on increased size that they are no longer appropriately serving the employees concerns. Ensuring employees are motivated in these uncertain times are daily challenge for managers. Factors that will help to improve employee satisfaction are acknowledging the possibility of work-family conflict, and improving the work environment. Health care professionals have power to dictate the terms of their employment, and employers are finding that flexibility is central to attracting and retaining quality professionals. The authorââ¬â¢s findings are based on experience in ... ...etention, and offer a more realistic job preview. Research indicates a few ways to successful strategies leading to improving work environment by utilizing employee satisfaction on the job. They are: linking employee satisfaction with patient satisfaction, using fun to increase employee satisfaction and ling employee satisfaction with employee retention. Health care human resource managers will continue to monitor the levels of employee satisfaction within the industry, reduce turnover, through a well planned strategy. Future research should attempt to determine if there is a gender bias in employee satisfaction in the industry. More emphasizes on procedural justice affects on the work environment along with gender specific views. New hires would be attracted to an organization in the industry with a reputation for fairness in work schedules and work life balance.
Acquiring Target Corporation Essay -- Business
ACQUIRING TARGET CORPORATION INTRODUCTION The current economic recession has taken a toll on corporations. Those who survive stay within their financial means, are innovative in retaining and attracting customers, and use technology to distinguish themselves from their competitors. Target Corporation is a company that possesses all of these characteristics. While some companies have cut payroll or ceased to exist, Target Corporation has survived in the economic recession and is positioned to gain further market share as economic conditions continue to improve. The purpose of this report is to analyze Target Corporationââ¬â¢s financial statements, determine the future growth potential of the company, and make a recommendation for or against the acquisition of the company. POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH Although many competing companies are projecting insignificant profit growth over the next few years, Target Corporation is projecting profit growth in the near future. Target expects 2012 annual sales to increase by four to five percent (Target Corporation, 2011). When combined with their continued emphasis on technology, customer rewards, and customer relations, the future of Target Corporation looks bright. Making Use of Technology Target Corporation recognizes the importance of technology in reaching its customers. In 2011 the company launched a completely redesigned website that focuses on ease of use. Target also has an industry leading mobile application that allows the company to reach its customers regardless of where they are located. In fact, Mobile Commerce Daily named Target the ââ¬Å"2010 Mobile Retailer of the Yearâ⬠(Target Corporation, 2011). It is in this sector that Targetââ¬â¢s potential for growth is the highe... ...ved March 11, 2012, from http://sites.target.com/site/en/company/page.jsp?contentId=WCMP04-031794 Microsoft Network. (2012, March 8). Target Corp. Retrieved from MSN.Money: http://investing.money.msn.com/investments/ Moore, P. (n.d.) Target to add PFresh grocery concept at 350 stores. Business News ââ¬â The Business Journals. Retrieved March 13, 2012, from http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2009/11/16/daily32.html Target Acquisition. (2011, January 13). Target Pressroom. Retrieved March 13, 2012, from http://pressroom.target.com/pr/news/target-corporation-to-acquire-real-estate.aspx Target Corporation. (2011, March 11). Target 2010 Annual Report. Retrieved March 9, 2012, from http://investors.target.com Target Corporation. (2012, February 23). Target Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2011 Earnings. Retrieved March 5, 2012, from http://investors.target.com
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
How Conan Doyle Successfully Uses Setting in The Hound of the Baskervil
How Conan Doyle Successfully Uses Setting in The Hound of the Baskervilles Conan Doyle started his career as a doctor. He opened a surgery but was not very successful as he didn't have many patients. He needed money so he began to write short stories. He invented Sherlock Holmes in 1888 who featured in his stories as a private detective who possessed unusual analytical skills. The detective genre used in his stories was perfect for the time as there was a great interest in puzzles and psychology. The growing interest in literature made it a great time to start writing. He manage to include all the major features of a good detective novel, including the brilliant criminal and even more brilliant detective, the victim, a mystery, clues which the reader could pick up on, and some that they couldn't or were puzzled by, a strange and complex crime, the eccentric character o the detective, and an ending were good prevails and evil is punished. Conan Doyle's "The Hound of the Baskervilles" was first published in Strand magazine in serial form, and later made into a book. This novel satisfied the key elements of a detective story. It is an adventure to find out the who or what is behind the mysterious murders. The murder of Sir Charles Baskerville I said to be strange and unnatural by the people living nearby, and this backed up by the legend of the hound. Sir Henry Baskerville arrives from Canada, not long after the death of Sir Charles, to inherit the premises of Baskerville Hall. He sets out to the deserted moors with the guidance of Holmes and Watson. They are there to try and solve the mystery surrounding Sir Charles death. Conan Doy... ...l context to the event in the plot. Setting can also give a moral context to the event in the plot. For example, the contrast directly with the ordered, secure, moral world of 221B Bakers Street, London. Setting does not just indicate place, but also the condition associated with it, in particular the atmosphere and weather conditions. The weather then mirrors the mood of the characters. This is an example of the way setting can play an active part in a novel. It is quiet good to start a novel by setting it in a very sedate London because readers feel secure, which makes the impact of been thrown into the countryside stronger. Reader is caught unaware and trusted into the atmosphere of gloom. The book is structured by setting the conclusion in London, so that the atmosphere is stored to that of calm and tranquil state.
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Cutco Case Write-up Essay
What is direct selling?Direct selling is the face-to-face selling away from a business location. It is technically a form of non-store retailing. The manufacturer sells directly to the consumer or business customer as does Dell, Inc.Direct sellers are not employees of the company. They are independent contractors who market and sellthe products or services of a company in return for a commission on those sales.Direct selling is a push-marketing strategy where there are no physical stores. Orders are usually placedin person or via the consultantââ¬â¢s Web page. Sometimes the phone is used to place orders or reorders, but only about 12% of sales take place this way. Home shopping parties are the most widely recognizedsales method, where friends, family or acquaintances get together for a few hours to learn about orsample a range of products or services. However, the majority (about 70%) of the direct selling industryââ¬â¢s sales actually occur using a oneà -to-one approach wher e one seller may present the productsor services to a single consumer. According to the direct selling association (DSA), some recent statistics are as follows- 85% of the sellersreport a good, very good or excellent experience with direct selling. 74% of U.S. adults have purchasedproducts from a direct seller. 70% of direct selling takes place in a residence, and almost two-thirdstakes place on a one-to-one basis.The popular form of direct selling is multilevel marketing. Multi-level marketing, which is commonlyreferred to as MLM, is one type of distribution method found in direct selling. You may also hear of theterm multilevel used to refer to a type of compensation plan that pays its representatives based on the individualââ¬â¢s product sales as well as that of their ââ¬Å"downline,â⬠which refers to a group of people thatconsultants bring into a company to generate sales.2. How would one respectively characterize Cutco Corp. and Vector Marketing Corp?Cutco Corporation, formerly Alcas Corporation, is the parent company of Cutco Cutlery Corp., multi-levelmarketing company Vector Marketing, KA-BAR Knives Inc. and Schilling Forge. Its primary brand is alsothe name Cutco. The company was founded in 1949 by Alcoa and Case Cutlery (hence ââ¬Å"Al-casâ⬠) tomanufacture knives. The management purchased the company from Alcoa in 1982, and the companyacquired Vector Marketing Corporation in 1985. In early 2009 Alcas changed its name to Cutco, thename of the primary product. See Figure 1 Figure 1www.cutco.com/aboutus More than 100 kitchen cutlery products are sold under the Cutco name, as well as a variety of kitchengadgets, utensils and flatware. The company also carries a line of cookware, sporting and pocket knivesand garden tools. As of 2012, Cutco was purchased by more than 15 million satisfied customers. Over700 manufacturing and administrative people are employed at the Cutco/Vector headquarters in Olean,N.Y. Cutco products are marketed directly, by appointment only, to consumers in the convenience of their homes, at fairs and shows, and sold in specialty Cutco retail stores located in:St. Louis, MO, Indianapolis, IN, Lansing, MI, Erie, PA.Vector Marketingà CorporationVector Marketing is both a multi-level and direct sales company that sells Cutco. Earlier on there werehundreds of small independent sellers of Cutco. In 1981, Vector was created as an independent seller.From 1981 to 1984 Vector sold way more than all the other independent sellers. In 1985, CutcoCorporation (back then it wa s called Alcas Corporation) bought the company from its owners toreplicate Vectorââ¬â¢s success across the nation. Vector is now the exclusive seller of Cutco Cutlery. Vectorââ¬â¢s home office is in Olean, New York, and has over 250 year-round, independently run locations throughout the United States, Canada, and PuertoRico. Vector has over 300 more temporary locations that open each year for the peak summer season.The sales efforts are organized by geographic location. Currently six regions exist and are combined intotwo companies-Vector East and Vector West.The sales representatives are primarily students who sell Cutco products during their summer vacations.Sales are made through in-house presentations in which representatives display the superiority of Cutcocutlery by cutting unconventional materials such as rope and leather. The operating margin of VectorMarketing is approximately 7 percent. Vector also runs a catalog to maintain a continuing relationshipwith customers after the summer peak season. Sales representatives continue to receive commissionson catalog sales as long they maintain a modest sales level. Vector also runs a we bsite to recruitstudents and service current customers and provide product information. 3.à How is Cutco Cutlery marketed?Cutco cutlery was designed to be the finest cutlery in the world. Cutco cutlery has always beenhistorically marketed through direct selling primarily via Vector Marketing Corporation. The peopleactually selling Cutco cutlery are independent contractors who effectively operate their own business.Sales RepresentativesThe sales representatives (mainly students) are paid a commission on the products they sell but do notreceive a salary from the company. These sales are made through in-home presentations in which salesrepresentatives validate and prove the superiority of Cutco cutlery through demonstrations. The onlydownfall to this method is that many of these college students join as aà Cutco representative to makemoney for the summers and the customers they create often lose contact with Cutco products and thecompany afterwards. Catalog SalesCutco created a small catalog mailing in 1985 that is now sent to 4 million customers around four timesthroughout the year. In 2011, this catalog generated 120,000 orders and approximately $18 million insales. This is important to continue because, as stated before, sales representatives often lose contactwith customers after the summer and this is a great way to retain customers and continue acquiringnew customer in the September through December months.Internet ActivitiesInitially a customer-oriented website focusing on customer service and product information only,customers soon started wanting to order directly off the website. This demand for e-commerce resultedin a closed customer site in 2000, in which only existing customer were allowed to view prices and placeorders. As of 2011, approximately 56,000 purchases were made online generating revenues of $8.7million and operating margins of 9 percent.Other Marketing initiativesThese included booths at county fairs and shows. In 2011, nearly 1,800 fairs and shows were bookedand revenue exceeded $9 million. Another initiative existed where realtors purchased Cutco products asgifts for potential customers/clients generating $4 million in revenue. Cutco also used other avenuessuch as Cutco retail locations to reach customers and social media to reach future representatives andcurrent customers to keep them abreast developments in product line changes and updates viamediums such as Facebook and Twitter. 4.à What factors should be considered when evaluating the possible growth drivers?Several factors should be considered when evaluating potential growth drivers: The current economic situation is an important factor in determining how inclined consumersare willing to spend their income on cutlery. Sustainability of brand recognition and brand presence. This needs to be considered becausewith virtually no mass-market marketing, word-of-mouth becomes very important to spread theword about the brand and its offerings. Creating more consumer exposure to the brand wouldbe needed to be evaluated to gain customers in the direct selling environment Availability of recruits is another factor that can influence potential growth drivers- as thenumber of recruits increases; the potential number of impressions can be increased. Investing in diverse recruiting procedures and multi-channel approaches to acquiring potentialrecruits instead of web-only efforts could be considered. Potential entry into international markets via joint ventures could be considered. This wouldobviously dependent upon the state of the global economy . The cost to expand supplementary channels (internet and catalog) and the potential impact ondirect sales. Effect of aggressive marketing on field sales and potential conflict arising from sales throughretail stores. What growth driver(s) should serve as a strategic focus? Why?Growth drivers for strategic focus should be as follows: Increasing the number of recruits will directly drive Vectorââ¬â¢s revenue growth. Additional growthcan be achieved through investment and energy to improving recruiting approaches andstrategies. To generate more consumer product sales in the future, Cutco must invest in brand recognitionefforts. Consumers are more likely to buy a brand that they are familiar with and recognize. Ascompetition increases in the future, this will be one of the determining factors in increasingsales in a fragmented environment. Dependence solely on the domestic economy could spell disaster for sales. Therefore,expanding to international markets could be key for the brand in order to gain an edge on thecompetition. Traditionally direct sales representatives could sell to homes easily since one key decision makerin the family was always at home. Today with dual-earning households, supplementary channelssuch as the internet and catalogs are necessary to reach households. One of the riskiest strategic options is a retail channel. However, in todayââ¬â¢s micro -segment retailenvironment consumers need choices and strategically this could easily complement the directsales efforts of Vector to reach more consumers and increase revenue. Co-branding withcelebrity chefs is one example of taking advantage of a pull-marketing retail environment.
Monday, September 16, 2019
How Far Do You Agree with Death Penalty Essay
Do you agree or disagree. There is never a reason for death penalty to be used. In some countries, serious criminals such as serial murderers and terrorist bomber hardly escape death sentence. While many complement on such tough justice, others condemn it mainly for religious reasons. It appears to me that those who are against the death penalty have failed to notice the more humane aspects behind this seemingly inhumane charge. My essay will look at those humane aspects as against those to the opposite. First of all, death penalty proves to be an effective ââ¬Ëkill one to warn allââ¬â¢ approach I law enforcement. Crime rates in China have reportedly been fallen to a certain level since the implementation of death penalty. By nature, whether it has to do with the fear caused by uncertainty of afterlife or not, human beings would be afraid of death. Death sentence, in as sense, is kind of psychological approach to put off the evil flame in mankind. Secondly, some people do deserve this harsh punishment for their wicked act against humanity. A serial murderer who slaughtered dozens of innocent children, a terrorist who launched an attack that killed hundredsââ¬âcan you figure out a better penalty to resort to for paying the blood these beasts have spilled? Even relatively lighter crime like corruption might result in life long imprisonment, what then, the crime a degree higher like mass murder should be punished with other than ââ¬Ëan early road to hellââ¬â¢? I just wonder how many people in the world would be willing to spare a terrorist who blasted off 3200 lives in 9.11 attackâ⬠¦ Thirdly, death sentence can serve as a means of psychological therapy and mental compensation for the victims and their loved ones. For instance, the Tokyo Trial, which ended up sentencing to death a group of Japanese chief war criminals, is said to provide an efficient psychological relief for those victimized Asian nations during the war. Death sentence, apparently, is not aimed against morals and ethics, it is, on the contrary, put up to preserve humanitarian codes by assuring the security of the society and the safety of each individual as it can intimidate potential criminals. Considering the matter this way, it becomes evident that death penalty is more of help than harm. Be it psychologically or politically beneficial, it contributes to the maintenance of social order. I, therefore, suggest we be for it.
Sunday, September 15, 2019
Management and Golden Rule
At work, we should always be aware of the ones that do not appear to be ethical with decisions made for the company. Golden Rule 1 Samuel 19:1-3: How does Jonathan live by the Golden Rule in disclosing this information to David? Saul is on the hunt to kill David, but Jonathan, the son of Saul, is very fond of David. So Jonathan tells David about the plan and tells him to go hide. Jonathan Is living by the Golden Rule by telling Jonathan of the plan, because he feels that he should warn Jonathan as he would Like the same done to him if the tables were turned.In the working place, you should always show your coworkers respect and you would want the same In return. Causes Significant Harm Samuel 16:1-3: Does Samuel have a duty to disclose this Information to Saul? If not, why? No Samuel does not have a duty to disclose this information, because the Lord, the most high, has asked him to do this. The Lord is the highest leader and his rules should be followed. Sometimes you are asked to f ulfill a task at work in confidence.When asked by the team leader, rules should be followed. Chapter Eleven 1. Human Dignity Isaiah 58:3: Why doesn't God hear the prayers of these managers? God doesn't hear the prayers of these managers because they are fasting, but the fasting ends with arguments and fist fights among each other. They cannot expect to be rewarded for these things. Getting along with each other In the office Is essential to get the Job done. One cannot be rewarded when each other cannot get along. 2.Reciprocity Daniel 2:48-49, 6:1-4: Why is Daniel promoted? What admirable characteristics does he display? Daniel was promoted by the King because he was able to interpret his dream. The dream was interpreted correctly, and the King promoted him. Daniel displays dignity and loyalty to the king and all of its wise men. Being loyal to your am members promotes dignity and trust among the workplace. 3. Servant Leadership Mathew 20:24-28: What are the primary characteristics of Jesus' view of leadership?His primary characteristic view is servant leadership. Leadership is based on power and self-interest. Authority is not an avenue for self-promotion but should be used to serve others. Being a leader you should still have respect for your team. 4. Gift Recognition Acts 6:1-6: Why are these seven men chosen to become early church leaders? These seven were chosen because they were spiritual and full of wisdom. These leaders
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