A written strategic analysis report (strategic management Essay

A written strategic analysis report (strategic management - Essay Example Apart from these food services, they also sell coffee-related accessories and equipment. Starbucks offer and sell all these products and services primarily through its own retail stores, and also offer its trademarked products through other channels like licensed retail stores. Along with these coffee-centric services, Starbucks also has an entertainment division and Hear Music brand, through which it markets media content like music, film as well as books. Importantly, they also pepped up the ambience of its stores to provide the customers a wholesome experience for socializing, which came to be known as Starbucks experience. Schultz always viewed the employees as the company’s â€Å"partners†, and optimally involved them in various processes, thus eliciting good productivity from them, which also elevated Starbucks’ performance. With this diverse portfolio, extensive reach and effective functioning, Starbucks became one of the well-known American brands, also a chieving good financial figures. However, with the onset of economic downturn in 2008, its financial figures started showing negatively, with its revenues as well as stock prices dwindling. In addition, the strong strategies and performance put forward by its competitors like McDonald, Dunkins Donuts and other area centric coffee chains also ‘ate’ into Starbucks’ customer base. With certain operational inefficiencies also creeping and negatively impacting the sales, its founder Howard Schultz brought himself in. That is, Schultz after running Starbucks since its founding, as its CEO and President, took an hiatus in 2001 and he was succeeded first by Orin C Smith and then by Jim Donald. With sales and financial figures in the red, Starbucks took over the positions of CEO and President in 2008 and initiated a series of strategies mainly focusing on optimizing operational efficiencies and also Starbucks brand and ethical image, through a series of Corporate Social R esponsibility (CSR) initiatives. Although, Schultz was able to salvage Starbucks sizably, there is still room for further improvements in the future. Starbucks Story Starbucks Coffee or Corporation was actually founded by three persons Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegel and Gordon Bowker in 1971. In the initial stages, they sold coffee beans and other coffee related tools or equipments. Howard Schultz joined as an employee in Starbucks at its coffee shop in Seattle. Due to his optimum involvement and hard work, he was given a sort of leadership role and asked to go to Milan, Italy to study and understand the coffee market there. There â€Å"he discovered "the romance of the Italian coffee bar" and recognized the opportunity for Starbucks to be a place where people would come to share the experience of drinking great coffee rather than to simply buy coffee beans.† (Grant 2010). Finding that such type of coffeehouses, which not only offered services but also facilitated social experienc e, were non-existent in United States, Schultz advised the Starbucks management to sell coffee and espresso drinks along with the beans, seeing the potential to develop a similar coffeehouse culture in Seattle (starbucks.com 2008). However, the management team completely rejected his idea with a reason that entering the

Geomorphology of Kuwait Essay Example for Free

Geomorphology of Kuwait Essay Kuwait is a Arabic state, which lies in the North-West corner of the Persian Gulf between 28o and 30o latitudes and between 46o and 48o longitudes. It shares a border with Iraq on the North and with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. On the East it is washed by waters of Persian Gulf. It’s total area makes 17,820 square kilometers. The climate is dry desert with hot summers and cool winters. The terrain is flat with the lowest point of zero above the sea level and the highest point of 306 above the sea level (the location is unnamed). Most of the territory is a desert with only about 1% used as arable lands and for growing permanent crops. A great part of the territory is occupied by the city El-Kuwait – the country’s capital. Other major towns include Jahrah, Salmiya, Shuwaikh and Hawalli. Irrigated lands cover 130 square kilometers. Natural resources include petroleum, natural gas, fish and shrimp. The country suffers from lack of fresh water, so it possesses one of the world largest distillation facilities. Other geographic problems include sudden sandstorms, which usually happen between March and August and heavy rains which are usual for the period from October to April . Historical and Current Geology of Kuwait The country’s relief has been formed in the recent Quaternary geological era. The southern part of the country rests on a long, north-oriented dome of limestone laying beneath the surface. It is here where oil resources of Kuwait can be found. The western and northern parts of Kuwait rest on layers of sand, gravel, silt, and clay, covering limestone to the depth up to 210 meters. This layers of sediments have been formed by dried-up riverbeds called the wadis. The greatest of the wadis is Wadi al Batin – a broad and shallow valley forming the northern frontier of the country. Limestone geological formations, especially in the places where they lay close to surface, are principle suppliers of water for Kuwait. In 1960 a large aquifer has been discovered in the western portion of Ar Rawdatayn geological formation, which is now used for distilled water production, covering most of the country’s needs. On the south from the city of Kuwait another water field has been discovered in the top of the limestone of the Ash Shuaybah. The water here is salty, so it is used mostly for agricultural and commercial needs. Where waters come close to the surface, oases appears, enlivening the landscape of Kuwait . Basic Geomorphologic Terrains of Kuwait Mainland Most of the Kuwait’s land has no remarkable geomorphologic features like high mountains, rivers, ridges or depressions. A sandy desert of the country is mostly flat, gradually slopping to the sea. Some researchers point, that the land is not really a desert, but rather a semi-desert, because in winter there is a notable vegetation sufficient to support camel herds. However, for most of the year it is really sandy. This landscape is broken by the ridge at Jal Al-Zor – a series of low hills and shallow depressions. The highest point of the ridge is 145 meters above the sea level. The ridge is cut into two by Umm Al-Ramam Wadi. The southern part of Kuwait is flat with exception of Ahmadi hill (137 m) . In the centre of the country it’s coast bends forming the Gulf of Kuwait, where the capital of the country lays. The sheltered waters of the bay create a number of salty marshes, lagoons, and mud flats. In the center of the gulf lays a small Umm an Namil Island. About 40 kilometers to the south from El-Kuwait lays 120 meters high Al-Adan ridge, a series of heights similar to Jal Al-Zor . Another remarkable geomorphologic terrain in southern Kuwait Sabkha deposits – a number of irregular closed lowland areas. Two different types of Sabkhas are recognized: costal sabkhas and inland sabkhas. The costal ones are situated mostly in the Al-Jailaiaha and Al-Khiran areas, being extended along a costal depression. Inland sabkhas are situated in the desert areas of Al-Maqwa, Urafjan, and Al-Gurain. On the Kuwait’s west. Both types of sabkhas are subjected to changes after sandstorms. They may be entirely filled with sand an disappears, and new sabkhas may appear. Based on the study of sands and presence of bones fragments in most of the sabkhas, it has been concluded, that most of the sediments in the sabkhas come from Al-Dibdibbah deposits from the Arabian Shield igneous and metamorphic rocks . Coastal Area The coast of Kuwait is divided into nine geomorphological potions, out of which four are lie along the northern muddy shoreline and five in the southern sandy area. The northern part includes large portions of bays, which are filled with water during high tides and for most of the time they are areas of muddy ground. They are limited by costal sabkhas or sandy drifts. Intertidal channels form sandbars near the waterlines . In contrast to this, the southern portion of the coat is characterized by steep sandy beaches, narrowed by wide rocky intertidal platforms, covered with sand and other sediments. In many places those rocky surfaces are dissected by intertidal channels and shallow gulleys. The low water line is marked by numerous sandbars. Sometimes they are formed in berms by waves . Costal Islands Kuwait’s territory includes eight major islands and a number of minor ones, situated in the northern and southern part of the country respectively. Along the southern part of Kuwait coast five minor islands are situated: Miskan, Awhah, Kubbar, Qaruh, and Umm Al-Maradem and one bigger island Faylakah, which is the only inhabited island of all. The islands are subjected to variable tiding conditions and winds and this preconditions their roundish shapes. The northern islands of Miskan and Awhah rest on a shallow platform which is a part of a larger Faylakah Island structure. The three southern islands rest on separate platform each which is most possibly of reef origin. Beach sediments of the islands consist of sand and biologic measures, which makes them similar to the shores of Kuwait mainland . The Faykalah island is situated 20 kilometers away from the coast near El-Kuwait and has quite a different ecosystem in comparison to the mainland. It is used mostly as a recreational zone because the Iraqi have depopulated the island during the invasion in 1991, so there are only few local residents living there. 16 kilometers south-east of Faykalah lays the Auhah Island, which is 800 meters long by 540 meters wide and uninhabited except for a lighthouse. 29 kilometers off of the coast of Faykalah the Kubbar Island is situated. It is almost round in form and has flat sandy surface. Separately stands a large island of Bubiyan, which, under it’s geomorphological conditions, is very much similar to Kuwait northern mainland It is separated by Khawr Abd Allah channel on the northeast and Khawr as Sabiyah channel on the north. The latter channel also separates it from Warbah Island, which is 15 kilometers long and 5 kilometers wide and lays only a hundred meters away from the mainland. The surface of the island is a muddy flat. The Bubiyan is connected with the mainland by a concrete bridge, which is, however, for military use only. The terrain of the island is similar to the one of the northern Kuwait mainland. It is a flat desert and semi-desert area with shores being sandy or muddy. No remarkable depressions or heights exist on the island. Between Bubiyan and Faykalah lays the Miskan Island, which is uninhabited save for a lighthouse, but it is vital for the country as part of it’s defensive frontier. Other islands include Umm al Maradim which lays between Kuwait and UAE territorial waters. It is 1,5 kilometers long and 540 meters wide and is known for deep waters around it, which allow ships to safely anchor. 17 kilometers away from this island is Qaruh Island, which received it’s name after Qar – an Arabic name for petroleum sediments, great amounts of which can be found on the island. It is the smallest and the most remote island of Kuwait which is only 275 meters long and 175 meters wide. Works Cited: 1. 2007 CIA WORLD FACTBOOK. Kuwait (CD-ROM), Progressive Management, 20062. Francesca Davis Dipiazza. Kuwait in Pictures, Twenty-First Century Books, 2006 3. A. Al-Hurban , and I. Gharib, Geomorphological and sedimentological characteristics of coastal and inland sabkhas, Southern Kuwait, Journal of Arid Environments Volume 58, Issue 1, July 2004, Pages 59-85 4. Mohamed I. El-Sayed and Dhia Al-Bakri, Geomorphology and sedimentary/biosedimentary structures of the intertidal environment along the coast of Kuwait, north-western Arabian Gulf. International Journal of Earth Sciences. Volume 83, Number 2 / July, 1994

Imperialism and Colonialism Essay -- Imperialism produces colonialism

Imperialism has been noted to be practice of foreign rule in a context of hierarchy and subordination, which can eventually lead to the formation of an empire. Imperialism refers directly to the enhancement of power and military superiority. At the time when developed nations were colonizing less developed nations around the 1870s, the age of Imperialism began. Referring to the time were nations such as the United States, Germany, and Japan began to employ imperialist doctrines to their governance, yet imperialist tendencies had been around for centuries. Even before imperialism there was mercantilism, and colonialism, which consisted of an extension of a nation's sovereignty over territory and people outside its own boundaries, to facilitate economic domination over their resources, labor, and markets. As well, the arrival of traders, settlers, and the establishment of governing systems, which reinforced the â€Å"peripheral† status of colonies. (power point source). There are also different phases of imperialism, there is high imperialism, which corresponds to the industrial revolution, and the second phase includes the use of new industrial power, creating high level of rivalry between high industrial powers. Imperial powers would ally themselves and aim their efforts in securing the territory, creating a new form of power, Imperialism being an imposition. Asia produces the majority of all the goods in the world, to go from an agrarian economy to an industrial economy through a surplus, that can later be used for industrial investments Triangular trade Patterns of imperial territorial acquisition A brief non-Eurocentric history: China, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Peninsula. Imperialism is part of the essential nature ... ...tp://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/Mercantilism.html>. Cannan, Edwin. "Smith: Wealth of Nations." Library of Economics and Liberty. Google. Web. 27 Mar. 2015. . "Mercantilism." WNEC FACULTY/STAFF HOME PAGES. Web. 27 Mar. 2015. . Koebner, Richard. "Imperialism: The Story and Significance." Google Books. Google. Web. 02 Apr. 2015. Emerson, Rupert. "Journal of Contemporary History." Http://iiiprxy.library.miami.edu:2086/stable/259788?seq=2. Web. 03 Apr. 2015. Patrick, O'Brien. Mercantilism and Imperialism in the Rise and Decline of the Dutch and British Economies 1585-1815. 4th ed. Vol. 148. Web. 27 Mar. 2015. .

Honda City Marketing Research

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The project in its present form and state would not have been possible had it not been for the able guidance and support of Prof. Sandip Anand whom we always looked up to, when faced with any difficulty and have disturbed him at all times and hours. We would also like to thank our seniors and classmates who provided us with references required for collection of data. No research would be successful, without the active involvement of the respondents and we take this opportunity to thank our various respondents for having patiently filled our response sheet. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY BACKGROUND The first automobile was steam powered vehicle invented in 1672. Since the first car rolled out on the streets of Mumbai (then Bombay) in 1898, the Automobile Industry of India has come a long way. During its early stages the auto industry was overlooked by the then Government and the policies were also not favorable. As a result automobiles were not a common sight. However with liberalization policy adopted y the GOI, significant changes have been made. Today, India is one of the largest markets for automobiles in the world. Our research is concerned with the sedans. A sedan car or saloon car (British English) is a passenger car with two rows of seats and adequate passenger space in the rear compartment for adult passengers. The vehicle usually has a separate rear trunk for luggage, although some manufacturers such as Chevrolet, Tata, and Volkswagen have made rear-engined models. It is one of the most common body styles for modern automobile LITERATURE REVIEW We studied some current literature and news reports available on the growing mid segment sedan market in India. There is a huge shift that is currently happening as far the car market is concerned. Companies are now starting to believe in the â€Å"India Growth Story†, and changing their focus to lure high spenders and people who are connoisseurs of luxury and premium cars. All companies have either entered or planning to enter this segment. Some of the latest reports from the executives (or the company) of some of the leading players in the market are as mentioned below. Speaking to Business Standard, Fumihiko Ike, chief operating officer of regional operations, Asia Oceania, Honda Motor Company, said: â€Å"There will be multiple models coming out of the small car platform after its launch in 2011. We will explore a sedan, too, using the same platform to make maximum use of our resources. † While Japan's third largest auto company, Nissan, had stated earlier that it would also pull out a mid-sized sedan from the small five-seater car that it would launch this May. Toyota Kirloskar Motors will be launching a sedan based on the concept compact model, which it had showcased at the recent Auto Expo held in Delhi. Company officials decline to reveal the targeted price, but state it will be available in the same range as the Swift Dzire, which is Rs 4. 90-5. 5 lakhs. Czech-based car maker Skoda Auto is also working on a car which it is keen on positioning below the Octavia, a premium car sold above Rs 10 lakhs. Thus, this area presents a huge marketing opportunity for companies and so is an exciting subject for study as well. CATEGORY The brands this study would cover are Ford Fiesta, Maruti Suzuki SX4, Hyundai Verna, Fiat Linea and Honda City. Research Methodology Prime focus of the research: To find the value positioning of Honda City among the mid segment sedans. Target Group Since we were studying the mid and the premium segments there are three groups that we targeted in our study: Existing consumer who buy cars. Probable consumers who can convert into active consumers into near future. Consumers who shall be converting into such category in distant future. We basically studied the following categories of people for our analysis: Working professionals Youths in the age group of 25-40 with high disposable income Students and other youth about to join service or start up on their own First year students of XIMB were also considered for the study Methodology The attempt of this study was to cover the growth of the premium segment watches as a lifestyle statement, the coverage included quantifying or finding the strong and the weak attributes that pursues the sales of these watches hence the methodologies used are: Focus Group Discussions (2) In-depth Interviews Survey methodology (Sample Size = 101) While the group observation and discussion helped us to identify the qualitative aspect of the study at length the survey methodology helped us to reach to a various inferences related to percentage of people preferring the sedans, the primary drivers for the various mid segment sedans, the strengths and weaknesses of the brands, stochastic share of brands etc. which is discussed in detail in the report at a later part. Process Since we are targeting such diverse consumer group our survey has to extend beyond regional level. The focus of our survey shall be: Pan India Survey Respondents from metros- Prime target study Mini metros Class 1 towns Online questionnaire: We used this as our method for collecting data so as to reach customers from all possible segments and various cities. Sampling The traditional sampling approach, i. e. the sample was selected before data collection began and sampling without replacement was performed. The following techniques were used: Sampling Technique The traditional sampling approach was used, i. e. he sample was selected before data collection began and sampling without replacement was performed. The following techniques were used: For the qualitative analysis, i. e. in-depth interviews and focus groups discussion, subjects were selected based on the attributes and the parameters for buying the mid segment sedans mostly from students and working population. For the quantitative analysis, snowball sampling was adopted. Recent buyers helped to send the questionnaire to ot her people who were passionate about mid segment sedans. Sample Size Around 150 people were included in the study with the following rough breakup. Around 10 people for the focus group discussions and the in-depth interviews (Qualitative Analysis) Around 101 people for the Sample survey (Quantitative Analysis) Aspiring groups comprising of students, young working people and executives were considered. Variables Dependent Variable Independent Variables Now we have a look at the various independent variables that in turn have helped us to decide the preference of a particular mid segment sedan. Affordable Price – Whenever customers go to buy a car, some of them may have a particular budget in their mind while some may be willing to spend any amount. Many a times it happens that a customer goes to a showroom and asks the dealer to show cars with a particular price range while at times they are willing to spend any amount if they like a particular car. Hence this variable helps us in understanding the attitude of customers with respect to the price they are willing to spend when they go to purchase cars especially in the segment of 5 lakhs to 12 lakhs. This variable also helps us to understand very important factors like whether the customer is willing to compensate quality to save cost because if he is not willing to spend more if he is getting a better quality car in a price beyond his budget then it shows that the customer is strictly limited by his price range while making the purchase. Comfort – Comfort is one of the important aspects while deciding on the choice of cars. When a customer is willing to pay any amount over 5 lakhs for a sedan that means he or she is looking for a car which provides good comfort. Comfort in a broader aspect touches upon the experience of a customer when he or she is travelling in car. Sufficient leg space, seats and a good shock absorbing system are quintessential in determining the comfort of a car. Interior and Exterior looks – Aesthetics and looks are always an important criteria for purchasing a car. Sedans are typically considered as mid segment cars because of its superior exterior looks and good interiors. This variable helps us to determine whether people consider exterior and interior looks as one of the defining criterion while going for a sedan. Safety and additional Features – With increase in the options available in the market, many a time customers may want to look for additional features being offered in different mid segment cars. Air bags, power steering, alloy wheels, music player, central locking and multiple colour options are various other additional features which customer are looking for when they purchase a car. This variable will give us an idea as to how much priority a customer gives to these features. Mileage – Middle and upper middle class people always look out for a car which has a good mileage. As fuel prices are increasing year after year, mileage has definitely been a governing criterion for all car takers. This variable will help us measure the importance of mileage as one of the deciding parameters. Power – One of the most important features of a mid segment sedan is the power. There is a substantial increase in power from the small cars thereby giving more pick up and stability in the long run. This variable will help us to determine whether people perceive power as a criterion to select a sedan or not. After-Sales Service – Possessing a good car does not solve one’s purpose. Customers are looking for cars which not only are affordable, give good mileage but also which have good after sales service. Therefore, after sales service is very important in today’s competitive environment. This variable will give us an idea how important is after sales service when customers go for a particular brand. Status Symbol – India has been growing at a fairly fast rate which eventually has raised the per capita income. With the growth in income people have become more conscious about the kind of cars they possess. Therefore, status symbol is an important parameter when we go for a particular brand. This variable will tell us whether status symbol is one of the criteria to go for a particular brand. In addition to the above independent variables we have also gathered some demographic data of the people so that we can have a better understanding of the pattern of preference of people coming from different locations, belonging to different age group, having different annual incomes etc. Some of these demographic variables are listed below Name: Name of the respondent Gender: To find out the gender of the respondent Occupation: To find out the current occupation of the respondent Household Income per annum: To find the income group to which the respondent belongs. Price willing to pay for a sedan: To find out the price range which respondents are comfortable while going for a sedan. Qualitative Analysis Qualitative Analysis was carried out using focus group discussions to generate hypothesis about purchase decision of a car for people and how different factors affect their decision. Qualitative analysis will be helpful for getting a detail insight into the problem. Focus Group Discussions Honda City has been regarded as a prestigious brand in India since its launch in 1998. It maintains a significant market share in its class and enjoys a very high level of popularity. The luxurious sedan has a lot to offer to its potential buyers- new engine, new design, more grandeur, increased cabin space, and of course top notch performance. Objectives: To find out the perception of people about Honda City among the mid segment cars in terms of factors that affect the purchasing behaviour of customers. They are factors like: {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} To check the status of Honda City as compared to its competitors like Verna, Ford Fiesta and Linea in the sedan segment of cars. Target Population: Young Professionals in the age group of 22-35 years. Users of Honda City and users of other brands Non users of cars Students with no work experience and others with substantial work experience of 2-4 years. Content Analysis: Table 1 CONCLUSION BASED ON QUALITATIVE FINDINGS From the overall Qualitative Analysis, it seems that customers of premium watches are very conscious and careful buyers. For them the most important features are the Quality of the watch and are very particular about its Performance as well. They view it as a strong status symbol and an accessory, which adds to their personality. Also, people these days lay a lot of stress on the additional features like Embedded Jewellery, chronographs etc Quantitative Analysis Quantitative data analysis has been done in the following way. An Excel Analysis of the demographic profile was done first to understand the respondents’ background and to check the general attributes of the respondents. Then the Factor Analysis was done, the result of which has been explained below. Then the top 2 boxes scores were analyzed for various attributes based on respondent profiles. Then Jaccard Analysis was done to find out the primary drivers for the mid-segment car category. It was followed by stochastic share analysis and SWOT analysis. Then cross tabulation was done to measure Brand Preference with the top 2 boxes for all the important attributes. This is how an extensive quantitative analysis for our research was done. Demographic profile of the respondents Gender Profile {draw:frame} The gender profile of the respondent base is tilted towards the male category as they constitute 76% of the total base. Age Profile {draw:frame} Occupation {draw:frame} Of the total number of people surveyed, the service and self employed categories almost constitute 50% of the responses. All the respondents provided their employment status within these three categories and nobody opted for the â€Å"Others† category which was provided. A lot of respondents were from our institute making the student population half of the total responses. Students make the aspiring group and also form an important part for the emerging market. Total Household Income {draw:frame} Pilot Testing Initially a questionnaire was developed as per the requirements of the research proposal. This questionnaire was subject to pilot testing to find out the errors in it if any as per the attitude of the people. To find out if any question is confusing or not conveying the intended meaning it was done. For this we selected around 15 people according to the sample needed for the study. These people were asked to fill up the questionnaire. We noted down any possible problem that these respondents faced while filling up the questionnaire. After this we worked on such problems found out and the suggestions from these respondents with respect to the questionnaire. Some questions those were conveying double meaning or creating confusion was omitted from the questionnaire. This edited questionnaire was then used as the final questionnaire and then the study was carried out. Bi-Variate Analysis Total Household Income Vs Amount Willing to Spend on a Sedan It can be inferred from the above figures that the people want to own a car mostly in the range of annual salary they earn. But majority of the people are willing to buy a car in the range of Rs. 5-7 lakh. It is interesting to find that a very few people want to buy a sedan in the range of above Rs. 12 lakh among the first four income groups. Still people having income below Rs. lakh have shown interest in buying such a sedan possibly due to aspirational reason. Total Household Income Vs Preference of Respondents for Various Brands It can be observed that for those people earning less than Rs. 300000, there is not much difference between the preferences for the different brands. Nonetheless, Honda City and Ford Fiesta are the winners with equal percentage of fan following. In the higher categories of to tal household incomes, it can be inferred that Honda City has a clear cut upper hand over the other brands. Only Suzuki SX4 comes close to it in some cases. This shows that people with higher earnings definitely would like to choose City over other given brands in the mid segment category. People with lower incomes are open to any brand FACTORING Factor analysis is a data reduction technique that aims at grouping the input variables, which have dependency with each other, into factors that underlie the input variables. Initially the total number of factors in the factor analysis is equal to the total number of input variables. But after the factor analysis the total number of variables in the study can be reduced by discarding the insignificant factors based on certain criterion. We have performed factor analysis on all the questions that we had in our questionnaire treating each one as an independent variable. The extraction method chosen for factor analysis was Principal Component matrix. This is the most popular technique for factor analysis, which determines loadings of variables on different factors by using the standard normal values of the observations of the original input variables. The rotation method used is Varimax with Kaiser Normalization. We have given the SPSS output as a separate attachment with the report. Extraction communalities are the variances of the variables accounted for by the factors in the factor solution. Large values of communality of all the variables indicate that they fit well with the factor solution, and thus should not be dropped from the analysis. Clearly all the fifty-two variables have fairly high value of extraction communality and thus should not be dropped from the factor analysis. Scree plot is the curve obtained by plotting Eigen values against their corresponding factors. The eigen value of a factor captures the variation in all the variables captured by it. The Scree plot above clearly shows that the slope of the curve falls after the fifteenth factor and also eigenvalue drops below Due to these only fifteen factors are taken into consideration. The total variance table also gives the details of the fifteen variables of the factoring output. The second column indicates that there are 15 factors for which Eigen value is greater than 1. The last column ‘cumulative %’ gives the percent of variance accounted for by all factors or components up to and including the current one. The fifteenth factor has a value of 82. , which indicates that all the fifteen factors till the current one total account for 82. 6% of variance. The following manifest variables were used for factor analysis: Price on mind while buying Price is the deciding factor Japanese cars of superior quality Warranty important Spare parts availability Serviceability Engine life After sales value Additional features 10. Mileage 11. Engine power 12. Performance feedb ack 13. Status symbol 14. Uniqueness 15. Investment source 16. Superior functionality of premium cars 17. Necessity 18. Affordability reduces attractiveness 9. Perceived as successful by colleagues when driving premium cars 20. Great interior and exterior looks KMO and Bartlett’s Test KMO test indicates if the sample size is adequate with respect to number of variables being considered. 0. 815 indicates that the sample size is adequate. We can also reach the same conclusion by multiplying the number of manifest variables by 5, which is 100 (=20Ãâ€"5) and that is less than 101, the sample size. Bartlett’s test has a chi square distribution and if significance is greater than 0. 1, then data is unimodal. But the high significance level here shows that the data collected is not skewed and has more or less a uniform distribution. Communalities Total Variance Eigen cut-off value has been set to one here. As we can see in the appendix attached, there are four factors which explain 60. 97% of total variance. {draw:frame} Screen Plot Scree plot shows how the Eigen value varies across factors. The points above the Eigen value of 1 in the scree plot constitute the factors. The first four factors have thus a steep value after which the slope flattens. Rotated Component Matrix draw:frame} The rotated component matrix shows all the manifest variables grouped together in various classes which are called factors. They are called latent factors because they are the underlying variables which determine the dependent variable. Also the first factor and the manifest variables under it explain the dependent variable more than the second and third factor. As can be seen from the rotated component matri x table below, eight manifest variables can be grouped under one factor. Another 5 variables under the second factor and so on. Each factor has been provided by a name. A list of the factors and the manifest variables involved is given below: Factor 1 – Features of car/sedan Warranty important Spare parts availability Serviceability Engine life After sales value Additional features Mileage Performance feedback Factor 2 – Social/Perceived Factors Investment source Superior functionality of premium cars Necessity Affordability reduces attractiveness Perceived as successful by colleagues when driving premium cars Factor 3 – Prestige Factors Japanese cars of superior quality Status symbol Uniqueness Factor 4 – Monetary Aspects Price on mind while buying Price is the deciding factor _ _Top of Mind Analysis {draw:frame} The above chart shows the percentage distribution of the various car brands which were provided by the respondents when asked for four various car brands which came to their minds in the mid segment. A total of 45 different car brands were given as response by them consisting of vehicles in the low, mid and the high segments. The most prominent brands were selected and the data concerning them was analyzed. It can be clearly inferred that Honda City enjoys a very good share of the respondents’ top of the mind with a share of about 27%. Maruti SX4 comes next with a share of 14% followed by Ford Fiesta at 11%. When asked about the first brand which comes to their minds, again Honda City was the clear winner by a large margin with about 37 respondents providing the brand name. Jaccard Analysis Jaccard analysis is used in market research to establish which attributes of a brand are important to the customers and the extent to which each of the attributes satisfies their expectations. Jaccard analysis is primarily done to find out the variables in order of their importance for their ability to govern groupability or similarity with the dependent variable. In our marketing research, we have used Jaccard scores to identify the attributes which are important for the brand category using five brands, namely, Honda City, Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Verna, Fiat Linea and Suzuki SX4. These attributes will constitute the primary drivers of the brand. We calculate the Jaccard score as follows: The respondents are asked about their brand preferences in the category and their responses are noted down. Then they are asked if they associate a particular attribute with each of the brands under study and their responses are again noted down as follows: YY: If the respondent prefers a brand and associates with a particular positioning. YN: If the respondent prefers a brand but does not associate with a particular positioning. NY: If the respondent doesn’t prefer a brand but associates with a particular positioning. Jaccard Score = YY / (YY+YN+NY) We calculated the Jaccard score for each of the attributes and ranked the attributes from highest to lowest in descending order of the scores. That means in Jaccard analysis, higher the Jaccard score, better is the attribute. After they are ranked, the attributes with scores above a benchmark score are listed. These attributes are named Primary Drivers. The table given below gives the primary drivers for the brand category of Honda City: Based on a cut-off of 0. 4, we find that the following attributes are the primary drivers in the brand category concerned: Exterior/Interior Looks Comfort Affordable Price Power SWOT Analysis SWOT analysis is done to find the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of a particular brand with respect to other brands in the same category. When studied along with the help of Jaccard analysis, it becomes a powerful tool to identify the areas of strengths and weaknesses. In SWOT analysis, strengths and weaknesses are internal to the organization while opportunities and threats are external to the organization. A positive SWOT score indicates strength and a negative SWOT score indicates a weakness. It is also observed that the SWOT analysis works on the principal of zero-sum game. A gain on an attribute of a brand is counterbalanced by a loss in another attribute. SWOT scores are calculated as follows: SWOT SCORE = (Brand Attribute score – Attribute Average) – (Brand Average – Grand Average). Here, Attribute’s average is average of all brands’ scores for that particular attribute (Row Average) Average of Brand’s scores on all attributes being considered (Column Average) Grand average of scores (Average of row averages/column averages) The following table is generated for the SWOT scores of different attributes and brands: We have categorised the scores on the basis of the above table. As shown, the attributes with a SWOT score of more than 2 are identified as strengths and are shown in dark green colour. Attributes with SWOT score between 0 and 2 are weaknesses and coloured red, those between 0 and -2 are threats and coloured yellow. Lastly those attributes with SWOT scores less than -2 are labelled as weakness of the concerned brand and coloured red. Now we focus on the brand under question – the Honda City. The attributes of the brand based on SWOT scores can be summarised as strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the table given below: Honda City STOCHASTIC ANLYSIS When we are talking about the strength of a brand there are few parameters using which we judge the strength of the brand based on the share it has like: Share of Market This measures the hold of the brand of the market. The problem with this kind of analysis is that it tells the strength of the brand today it reflects no projections and possibilities for future. Share of Mind and Heart is the one that highlights the prospects of the brand in the coming future. It tries to capture what the consumer thinks and believes of a particular brand and thus helps us to determine the prospects of the brand in future based on present perceptions. While conducting the market research for Honda City we have resorted to stochastic share analysis, to see the strength of the brand Honda City relatively to other brands in terms of share of mind The analysis has two parts: Preferred set size of the brand Stochastic share of the brand Preferred set size analysis This part of the analysis hovers to procure the data regarding the preference of the brands in the market. It is the simple process in which the respondent has been asked for preference for the brand from the given choices. Respondent’s response for each brand is treated as a unit for each brand; he can prefer more than one brand. All the brands for which the respondents has respondent in affirmative get allocated a unit i. e. if the respondent says he is aware of Honda City and Fiat Linea, both of them will be appended to the column of Honda City and Fiat Linea. In the end summation of the response is taken and the preferred set size is calculated. Of a brand = ————————————————————————————— Total no of respondents that has a preference for that brand Following table has been extracted from our analysis OBSERVATION The preferred set size for all the brands lies between 1. 38 and 2. 41. Honda City has the value of 1. 38 which essentially means people are pretty clear when it comes to Honda City than any other brand. In fact the total data exhibits far lower preferred set size. If see the preferred set size of the other sedans, we can see that they are pretty well distributed which means preference of a particular brand are clearly visible. Inference The ideal score for any preferred set size is 1 which means this is the only brand preferred by the respondent. This sends a very strong message that there is no close competitor to the given brand, when we are talking in terms of preference set of consumer. For the given analysis we observe that some of the sedans have a preference set greater than 2 and some have a score significantly less than 2. The scores which are less than 2 are a good signal because the customer has more clarity and Honda City enjoys higher preference as compared to its competitors. Stochastic Share Analysis This is the second part of the analysis here we approach the core of the analysis. Taking data from the preferred set size analysis we proceed to calculate the stochastic share of the brand The number of respondents that have responded in affirmative for any brand represents the set, which can become the buyer of the brand hence they represent the future market share for the brand and today’s share of mind this is calculated as No of respondents who responded in affirmative for the brand preference __ Total set size of the respondents considered Now this is the market share of the brand but as we have analyzed before the brand is preferred alongside other brands as well so this share of the mind includes the respondents who prefer other brand as well. Thus to get the actual % representation of a brand in the market we calculate Proportionate market share = % of market calculated earlier ——————————————————- This is now the actual share of the brands but this is not the actual share of mind of the brands that is represented by the share of the brand among he brands considered for study. Proportionate share of the brand Stochastic Share = —————————————————————————- ? Proportionate share of all the brands in the consideration set Fol lowing is the table from our analysis Observation There has been a conformance in the data pattern from that noted in the Preference set analysis. Honda City has the least preferred set size, and has the stochastic share of 56. 40% where as the other sedans have stochastic share between 8% and 17%. Inference This reiterates the fact of the preferred set size analysis where Honda City had the lowest preference set score, thus Honda City could be a leading brand in the market. This analysis emphasizes that Honda City is the brand with the highest share of mind of all consumer. This would or already has translated into highest market share in the segment of sedans, as people are all for this brand when it’s up against the other considered brand. Unparallel attributes that are highlighted by the brand Honda Aggressive marketing effort, which has left a lasting impression on the respondents Precaution in adaptation of analysis The analysis has been done based on the respondents and following points have to be kept in mind The analysis has been drawn on the basis of the respondent set thus depending on the response for the sample set the analysis is done. The competitor set size has been defined with deliberate efforts but the share output could vary with the competitor set. Conclusion Honda City definitely enjoys a good top of mind share in the mid segment cars. So, it shows it is enjoying a good position in the sedan segment. But the pricing is obviously becoming a deciding factor in a small city like Bhubaneswar. Most of the people are willing to spend around 5-7 lakhs on Honda City and not more than that. The most important factors that people look for while purchasing a car are features present in the car, prestige issue linked with the purchase, factors like after sales service, availability of spares, etc and of course monetary factors. Comfort, looks, status symbol and maintenance are the strengths of Honda City. But there are other things like after sales service where Maruti SX4 is the leader. It is also lagging behind competitors like Hyundai Verna, Ford Fiesta, and Maruti SX4 in areas like power, mileage and additional features that people expect to be present in a sedan. Honda has got a high stochastic share which means that it has a large potential market. People want to go for it but are not doing so presently due to some factors. So, Honda should try improving on its weaknesses and keep its strengths intact. It should also be alert for new threats in the market. This can lead Honda to be the market leader in the Sedan segment.

Datril Case Essay

My recommendation to Marvin Koslow is to follow the first approach of pricing Datril at par with Tylenol ($2.85 retail price, $1.69 trade cost), leveraging Bristol-Myers’ brand name, and positioning Datril as an analgesic with similar relief effects to the those of the already successful, aspirin-based Bufferin and Excedin, but more gentle on the stomach, and without the side effects of aspirin. By doing so, Datril will primarily target aspirin users, specifically those from Bufferin’s and Excedin’s current consumer base, who suffer from upset stomach. I explain my rationale below. According to the case, when Datril was introduced to test markets per the strategy I recommended, it failed to achieve the projected sales figures within the first month. Although I have no access to those sales projections, I could argue that the may have been overoptimistic. The reason is that Tylenol was well established (8% market share) in the analgesic market which has traditiona lly been dominated by aspirin-based products. Therefore, directly competing against Tylenol at the same price is unlikely to result in quick market share and monetary gains within a month. Koslow should have allowed more time, say a medium run of 6 months to match duration of the marketing expenses to be committed, before thinking about switching to the other strategy. In addition, it can also be argued that the early success of Datril in the test market with the lower selling price may not be representative of its true performance over the medium to long run. Before defending my recommendation in detail, I would like to highlight the most prominent risk of introducing Datril as a cheaper alternative to Tylenol: not accounting for the competitor’s repositioning or defensive marketing strategies. Those could include the following: o One of the quickest responses that McNeil Labs could come up with is to reduce the price to trade, and subsequently the selling price, of Tylenol to match that of Datril. Doing so could result is public accusations of false advertising, thereby reversing the quick gains that Datril could make, and potentially wasting the $6 million on inaccurate communication of information to the public, which could potentially result in insulted, angry and dissatisfied customers due the feeling that they have been deceived. Bristol-Myers will have to incur the cost of pulling all current advertisements, and an additional cost of having to launch another advertising campaign. o McNeil could also respond by changing its currently conservative advertising approach (i.e. focusing on physicians and trade) by aggressively advertising Tylenol to the public, exploiting the fact that its current advertising expenditure is less than $2 million a year and possibly even utilizing the power and expertise of the mother company, Johnson & Johnson. This could potentially solidify the sales and market share of Tylenol, making it an even tougher competition to Datril. Given Tylenol’s market share, the speed of executing either one of the above strategies, or both together, could heavily minimize Datril’s penetration of the market. Furthermore, per Exhibit A, Datril will need to sell 13.3 million bottles (at a trade cost of $1.05) or 60 million (at a trade cost of 70 cents) just to break-even. This is highly inefficient, in terms of both numbers contribution margin, compared to Tylenol. Moreover, given the actual quantities of Tylenol sold in 1974 (around 19.1 million bottles per Exhibit B), Datril’s achievement of break-even quantities seems even more doubtful, given the risks highlighted above. Quality cannot be a differentiation because both products are virtually identical as pain relievers; therefore the best strategy is to combine the well-established reputation of Bristol-Myers, the well-known effectiveness of Bufferin and Excedin, with the value or differentiation being the gentleness of the product on upset stomach. Furthermore, Bristol-Myers possesses a large consumer base for its aspirin-based products, a base that is larger than that of McNeil Labs’ Tylenol users. This is Bristol-Myers’ main competitive advantage; its own consumers who may suffer from the typical side effects of aspirin. Targeting those specific customers and communicating to them the value of eliminated side effects should be Datril’s positioning and differentiating strategy. Cannibalization from Bufferin and Excedin, should it happen, should not necessarily be viewed negatively, since my recommended selling price of $2.85 is double that of these aspirin products. Exhibit A – Break-Even Analysis for Tylenol and the different pricing scenarios for Datril (per bottle of 100 pills) Breakeven Analysis for Product Tylenol Approach 1 – Same price as Tylenol Approach 2a – Cheaper than Tylenol Approach 2b – Cheaper w/lowered trade cost $ $ $ $ Unit Cost (Variable Cost) 0.60 0.60 0.60 0.60 Trade Cost (Selling Price to Retailers) $ 1.69 $ 1.69 $ 1.05 $ 0.70 Fixed Cost (Advertising) 2,000,000 6,000,000 6,000,000 6,000,000 Break-Even Quantity [Fixed Cost/(Trade Cost-Unit Cost)] 1,834,862 5,504,587 13,333,333 60,000,000 Contribution Margin (Unit) 64% 64% 43% 14%

Roleplaying)

Watergate Scandal erupts in D.C. (Creative Writing/ Roleplaying) Yesterday, June 17, 1972, the Democratic Party's National Committee offices, located at the Watergate Hotel in Washington D.C., were broken into yesterday by several men. Though the number of people involved is not yet known, five burglars have been identified. One even said he used to work for the CIA. They were arrested at 2:30 a.m. trying to bug the offices of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate hotel and office complex. The men have been identified as Bernard L. Barker - a realtor from Miami, Florida, Virgilio R. Gonzales - a locksmith from Miami, Florida, James W. McCord - a security coordinator for the Republican National Committee and the Committee for the Re-election of President Nixon, Eugenio R. Martinez - worked for Barker's Miami real estate firm and Frank A. Sturgis - another associate of Barker from Miami. Thanks to the quick thinking and reactions of the security guard on duty, Frank Willis, the trespassers were caught.Barker at the grounds at the Vermon t state fair, R...The trespassers were apparently trying to bug the phones in the building in order to listen in on the Democratic Party's conversations and discover their most important interests. President Nixon has not yet been linked with the break in but one of the other accused burglars, John Mitchell, is a GOP security aide. He is also former attorney general and head of the Nixon reelection campaign. He has denied any link to the operation. We can only hope that in the coming days, more information will be released and found and those guilty will be put to justice.

Our Class Field Trip to the Zoo Essays

Our Class Field Trip to the Zoo Essays Our Class Field Trip to the Zoo Essay Our Class Field Trip to the Zoo Essay Can bizarre events actually happen on a field trip with a typical teacher, a normal class, coming from an ordinary school? This was one question nobody had considered In Mrs.. KS class before their extensive, I-day field trip to the zoo. The class did not know the unfortunate events that would follow their Jovial mood prior to their first step on the old and musty bus. Many preparations had been made for the field trip on the luminous Monday morning. The birds chirping was a sign that the weather would stay serene throughout the day. Among the excitement, there was one very poignant boy who as sitting on a couch in Mrs.. KS blissful classroom. This boys mother had not signed the field trip form, therefore forbidding him to go. Nobody had sensed this discrepancy in the room, except a petite, blonde girl, named Gabby, who looked to be refined, but was very clever and tricky. She bent down and looked straight at the gloomy face that lay on the couch in front of her. Whats wrong, Matt? Matt looked up at Gabby smiling face. He wanted to say go away, but he knew that would Just make him feel worse. My mom never signed the permission slip. Now I have to sit In the library and read boring books. Gabby looked up In the air, with a smile that only came when she had an Idea. You have an Idea? Matt asked eagerly. HIS pupils dilated, and he suddenly felt hungry for a trick to go on the field trip. Gabby scowled at Mats eagerness. Well, did you tell Mrs.. K about the permission slip not being signed? Matt shook his head, his face still looking excited. Okay, well you could forge the signature, but Gabby suddenly lost her balance, because Matt Jumped off the couch and ran to his seat to get out the permission slip. Gabby fell on the floor, and just rolled her eyes. Okay, class, settle down! Mrs.. K tried to scream over the hustle and bustle in her classroom. The class eventually quieted down, however not at the alacrity the teacher was hoping for. Dont forget to take only your lunch and your permission slips. When you walk out the classroom, I will collect them from you. And dont forget any of the rules! The class promptly got out of their seats, brought their belongings, and hurried out the classroom door. Matt was the last one to get out of his seat. As he got up, he brought his hands toward his lunch. However, he TLD let go of the pen that he used for a very dire purpose. As he sauntered out the door, Mrs.. K. Glanced toward Mats hand that held the pen. She looked at him suspiciously, then shrugged her shoulders, and followed the rest of the class to the busses waiting outside. When the whole class had gotten on the bus, Mrs.. K. Motioned the thumbs- up sign at the bus driver. The bus driver nodded his head, and started up the bus. Mrs.. K. Leaned her head on the back of the first seat of the bus, and carefully pondered the moment when she thought Matt had forged his mothers signature. Matt and Gabby sat next to each other on the bus, ready for the two hour ride to the o. Matt, Gabby said, In a wincing tone. Why did you forge your mothers signature? You are the one who l Just said It was an Idea, Gabby disrupted, And then you Interrupted me! I was going to say that It could get you In a lot of trouble. l wont get Into trouble, Matt declared. l wont get into trouble as long as you dont tell anybody. Tell anybody want salad a vole, wanly seemed extremely Tambala to Matt Ana 1 Doom looked up slowly and saw a tall shadow hovering above them. As slowly as a baker ices a cake, they figured out who the shadowed figure was. It was none other than heir teacher, Mrs.. K.! Tell anybody what, Matt? Repeated Mrs.. K. Uh L Uh Matt kept stuttering until Mrs.. K. Gave in. Mimi forged your mothers signature on the permission slip, didnt you Matt? By now, the whole class was looking at the two kids. There were whispers, then stares, then more whispers and stares. Matt looked down at the gray seat he was sitting on. He whispered a tiny, mien. Mrs.. K. Just smiled and said, Well, we are already a half an hour away from school, so I guess youre Just coming with us. But when we get back to school, dont think that youre off the hook. Youll be spending a week with me in detention. Mrs.. K. Smiled again and walked away. Matt and Gabby Just looked after Mrs.. K. And Matt quietly sobbed, saying phrases like detention! Detention! and what will my mom say? Another half hour had passed before Matt had stopped his weeping. Gabby had her elbow leaning on the window. Her eyes kept fluttering, but she didnt want to go to sleep, because she didnt want to miss anything that happened. Gabby was thinking about nothing in particular. She Just wanted to go to the zoo, and come back. Just as Gabby was about o fall asleep, her elbow unexpectedly slipped down onto the sill of the window. This hurt Gabby elbow, and it started bleeding. Everybody in the bus was screaming. There were masses of shouting saying foolish things like, The bus is falling in quick sand, and Were all going to die! The bus was merely under the case of two flat tires. However, there was no gas station for three miles. The bus couldnt survive for even a minute with only two working tires. Mrs.. K. And the bus driver were talking about this inconvenient disaster. It seemed like hours when Mrs.. K. Finally turned award her class. The bus became pin-drop silent. We have tried to reach the school, but apparently, the signal is very bad out here. We have looked at the map, but the nearest gas station is pretty far away. If we want to get out of here, we are going to have to Mrs.. K. Hesitated, Push the bus. WHAT? screamed the class. The silence had turned into severe commotion in no time at all. Mrs.. K. Tried to clam the class down, but to no avail. Eventually the class figured out that they were not going to go anywhere until they pushed the bus to the gas station three miles ahead. So, he class filed out of the bus in an orderly fashion while Mrs.. K. Kept trying her phone. It was extremely hot outside, so by the time the bus was pushed, everyone was sweating. It took more than forty minutes for the bus to be pushed the whole three miles. Gratefully, the class took water bottles provided by the gas station. Finally, the class got to settle back on the bus. It was hotter in the bus than it was outside, so everybody opened their windows. Another half hour passed before Matt and Gabby got bored on the bus. They finished playing hand games, and word games, and they couldnt think of anything else to do. Ugh! exclaimed Gabby. Im so bored! Theres nothing to do, and the bus is extremely stuffed! Me too! whined Matt. Why couldnt they Just request a truck to haul us to the gas station? As Matt and Gabby thought up all the reasons why this field trip would be the worst, they, along with the rest of the class, had no idea what Mother Nature was cooking up for them. As soon as Gabby felt a raindrop on her shoulder, and looked outside the window, she knew that Mother Nature was being extremely cruel. She had brewed up a storm, something ten wangle class was moping not to nave. Can person on ten bus had their own version of saying, Monomania! While they closed their windows. It was raining cats and dogs! None of the meteorologists had predicted a severe storm. First a week of detention for Matt, flat tires on the bus, and now rain. What else could go wrong on this wacky field trip? The streets were almost flooded. There was a large amount of traffic. On top of that, the bus was moving exceptionally slow. Instead of having a half an hour left of the bus ride, the time doubled. The classs Jovial and buoyant mood was turned into a miserable and distressful mood. The once loud bus had turned down the volume a great deal. Cacao! sneezed one Cacao! Sneezed another. Cacao! Cacao! Cacao! sneezed the Wickers brothers. Suddenly the whole class started sneezing and coughing. Well, it is allergy season, commented Mrs.. K. In a wincing tone. She didnt know what to do. She finally faced the fact that this was the worst field trip ever to be taken. She had already given out a seven-day detention because of a forged signature. She got all sweaty, sticky, and dirty from pushing the bus three miles. Mrs.. K. Also got wet from the harsh storm. On top of that, the signal on her phone wouldnt work, and they were already delayed at arriving at the zoo. Mrs.. K. Oldest take it anymore. The whole class was becoming sick and there was no way they were going to make it to the zoo. Mrs.. K. , as well as the rest of the class, fell asleep, ignoring the fact that everything that could possibly go wrong went wrong. On the bright side, the rain had stopped and the traffic decreased. When the class eventually got to the zoo, they were an hour late. Apparently, the tour guide had given up waiting and left. Because of the amount of work put into getting to the zoo, Mrs.. K. Decided to lead the group herself. The sky around them was still dark and cloudy, but the sky was starting to clear up. It was also extremely humid, with a slight wind. As Mrs.. K. Took attendance and went over the rules, Gabby became Jaded. She made a lets go motion with her hands aimed towards Matt. He got the signal and followed Gabby, without Mrs.. K. Seeing the both of them. The two children snuck through a bush nearby, and passed the entrance of the zoo. They started walking around the colossal zoo together. They had no idea what was headed their way. Back outside the zoo, Mrs.. K. To up to Mats name. Matt Mrs.. K. Looked around the horde of students. Matt, please say here when I call your name. Matt! Suddenly Mrs.. K. Started panicking. She frantically searched through all the students. Oh no! First, he forges his mothers signature and now he has wandered off Where can he have gone? All at once, Mrs.. K. Also grasped the fact that Gabby was missing too. Mrs.. K. Started gathering up the class and talking about a search party. Okay, you guys go this way, and you guys go that way. She moved her hands frantically in the air, pointing her finger in different directions. When everybody was given their places to search, Mrs.. K. Said, Remember, when you find Matt or Gabby, make sure you yell as loud as you can. Okay, go ahead. The whole class rushed into the zoo, ready to search. All this while, when Mrs.. K. Was trying to calm herself, Matt and Gabby had finally realized that they had gotten lost. They didnt have a map with them, and they have never been to this zoo. They both panicked, as they were trying to find the entrance. This is tattletale going to AAA to my week AT attention! Matt moaned. on stop worrying about yourself, Matt. Try and look for the entrance. As Matt and Gabby kept searching, they had no idea how far into the zoo they had gotten. In the front of the zoo, all of the small animals were shown, such as birds and monkeys. The middle of the zoo held water animals, such as reptiles and seals. Finally, the back of the zoo held large animals such as elephants and gorillas. These are the animals Matt and Gabby ran into. After several minutes of walking aimlessly around the zoo, Matt leaned on a few metal bars that were within his reach. Im so tired! How much longer will it take to find the entrance? Gabby faced Matt, ready to contradict him, but her air skin turned to a deathly pallor. Uh Matt, Gabby said in a shaky tone. Mirrored leaning on It was too late. Matt was leaning on a gorilla cage. The gorillas hand held on to Mats shirt through the bars. Matt started screaming hysterically. Since Matt had a skinny figure, he easily fit through the extensive bars. Help, Gabby! Dont just stand there! By now, the gorilla had Matt lying face-down on its back. The gorilla started walking to its bowl of food. Okay! Okay! Gabby, whose face was still pale, turned and walked away. She was determined to find help. On her way to find help, Gabby knew that she was getting lost even more. Just as she was about to give up, her foot stepped into something mushy. Ewe! Gabby squealed as she looked down at the elephant poop on her brand new shoes. Oh! This is so disgusting! Out of the corner of her eye, Gabby sees a large water fountain that was big enough to use as a bathtub. Gabby ran towards it, with her sullied shoes. Her footprints left their mark on the once clean sidewalk. As Gabby got nearer and nearer to the water fountain, Gabby imagined what was happening to Matt. She pictured Matt, his face cared to death, and the gorillas mouth coming closer and closer. Fortunately, that was not what was happening at all. Matt was actually attempting to communicate to the gorilla. Over here! Over here! said one of Gabby and Mats classmates. A few other kids ran over to the enormous gorilla cage. Matt! one of them shouted, Get out of there! Dont worry! said Matt without any fear or panic. The gorilla is feeding me. Its really nice! Matt turned his attention back towards the gorilla and went on with the conversation. Another group of kids from Mrs.. KS class saw the elephant poop footprint marks Gabby left. Smartly, they followed the footprints which led straight to the fountain where Gabby was floating on. Hey guys! Gabby said cheerfully as he saw her classmates approach. Mimi should definitely try this. Its so much fun! Gabby had her back on the water, with her hands behind her head. Although her clothes were soaking wet, she didnt seem to care. Along with the shouting of Gabby finders and Mats finders, Mrs.. K. Came rushing over to where she heard the shouts. She first went to Gabby. Dear God, Gabby! What do you think you are doing? Gabby immediately got up from her resting position and made her ay toward the edge of the fountain to get out. L Uh Was Just, you know, um Bathing? Never mind, sighed Mrs.. K. Lets Just get you dried up and find Matt. Gabby nodded her head and faced the floor. The shouts for Matt were getting louder and louder, ensuring Mr.. K. She was going in the right direction. Eventually, she arrived at the gorilla site. When she saw Matt in the gorilla cage, Mrs.. K. Almost fainted. Oh my god! First Gabby is bathing in a fountain and now youre in a cage with a gorilla! Matt thought of explaining how kind the gorilla was, but decided gallant It Matt gave ten gorilla a quickly mug Ana clammed out AT ten cage. Dropped down, he saw Gabby shivering with excitement. Matt was going to ask what happened, but Mrs.. K. Already started leading the class toward the bus. They didnt want to get lost again so they obediently followed. When the class neared the bus, Mrs.. K. Cleared her throat and bean speaking. All of you did a wonderful Job in finding Gabby and Matt. Everyone in the class, except Gabby and Matt, were high fifing and patting each other on the back. Mrs.. K. Walked towards Gabby and Matt with anger in her eyes. As for you two

Quotes That Will Help You Understand Yourself Better

Quotes That Will Help You Understand Yourself Better When asked to describe yourself, you will most probably list your achievements, qualifications, work experience, and designation. To make your profile sound complete, you may even throw in a hobby for good measure. But are these the things that really make up who you are?  The toughest questions to answer are the ones about you. Who am I? What do I know about myself? When you begin to reflect ponder on these questions, you will find yourself squirming uncomfortably. Probe a little deeper and you will find that your name, race, gender, and other personal details are merely tags. To know yourself, look beyond superficial embellishments. It does not matter whether you are a Nobel Prize winner or not. Rediscover yourself through these quotes, perfect for self-reflection.   Muhammad AliIts lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believed in myself. Oscar WildePerhaps, after all, America never has been discovered. I myself would say that it had merely been detected. Mark TwainI dont like to commit myself about heaven and hell you see, I have friends in both places. Mark TwainAs an example to others, and not that I care for moderation myself, it has always been my rule never to smoke when asleep, and never to refrain from smoking when awake. Marilyn MonroeI have feelings too. I am still human. All I want is to be loved, for myself and for my talent. Marilyn MonroeI restore myself when Im alone. Maya AngelouI long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself. Thomas JeffersonI do not take a single newspaper, nor read one a month, and I feel myself infinitely the happier for it. David AllenYou can do anything, but not everything. Lin-ChiWhen hungry, eat your rice; when tired, close your eyes. Fools may laugh at me, but wise men will know what I mean. John WilmotBefore I got married I had six theories about bringing up children; now I have six children and no theories. Jean RostandMy pessimism extends to the point of even suspecting the sincerity of the pessimists. Lily TomlinSometimes I worry about being a success in a mediocre world. Richard LewisI quit therapy because my analyst was trying to help me behind my back. Clarence DarrowWhen I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President. Now I’m beginning to believe it. Cullen HightowerLaughing at our mistakes can lengthen our own life. Laughing at someone else’s can shorten it. Cyril ConnollyThere are many who dare not kill themselves for fear of what the neighbors will say. Albert EinsteinThe person who reads too much and uses his brain too little will fall into lazy habits of thinking. Andre GideBelieve those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it. Aryeh FrimerI’d rather live with a good question than a bad answer. Bill VaughanWe lear n something every day, and lots of times it’s that what we learned the day before was wrong. Cale YarboroughDon’t ever wrestle with a pig. You’ll both get dirty, but the pig will enjoy it. Christopher HamptonAsking a working writer what he thinks about critics is like asking a lamppost how it feels about dogs. Cyril ConnollyBetter to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self. Dame Edna EverageNever be afraid to laugh at yourself, after all, you could be missing out on the joke of the century. Edith SitwellI am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it. Gordon R. DicksonSome people like my advice so much that they frame it upon the wall instead of using it. Lily TomlinThe trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you’re still a rat. NapoleonNever ascribe to malice, that which can be explained by incompetence.Thomas Szasz When a person can no longer laugh at himself, it is time for others to laugh at him.

Documentary Critiques Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Documentary Critiques - Essay Example These three boys and the other children on the top of the freight train, tell Rebecca Cammisa about their life in their hometown and the things they have experienced (Kung). The location of the documentary is Central American and America, where the journey is taking place, to the U.S. border. The freight train on which the children are travelling is known as â€Å"la bestia†, which means the beast. It is known as â€Å"la bestia† because many children have lost their lives travelling on a freight train, and many have lost their lives residing in the desert, with no food and water. The documentary is all about the hardships faced by the children and how they reach the U.S. border; it has been produced and the directed by Rebecca Cammisa; the executive producers include Lianne Halfon, John Malkovich, Russell Smith, Jack Turner, Bristol Baughan and Better Cerf Hill. The production company of this documentary is Mr. Mudd and it was distributed by HBO Films; the documentary was made in 2006 but release in 2009. The documentary holds significance because immigration is an issue, which has been seen from different perspectives, like how illegal immigrants impact the security and economy of the USA. This documentary looks at immigration in a different way, as it tells about the difficult conditions through which children emigrate from Mexico to the USA; some of these children are sent by their parents, because they can no longer feed or support their children in any way. Most of the children run away from home, looking for a better life in the USA, because no one cares about them at home and they have to bear different types of abuse. Mexico is a place where drug dealing and violence is quite common, and these children have a dream to go to the USA and find peace and a better lifestyle, where they won’t be at the hands of criminal predators. The mode or approach used in the documentary is

Business and Marketing Strategies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Business and Marketing Strategies - Essay Example There has been a recent increase in health-related issues because now people are concerned about their diet more than ever before. The number of diseases caused by unhealthy eating have increased due to the rise chemical additives and genetically modified foods. Therefore, the number of people choosing to opt for organic food is increasing all the time. Organic foods are produced naturally, without using chemical synthetics or fertilizers, and not processed by irradiations. This report analyses how to carry out marketing for a restaurant offering healthy meals for public consumption.  There has been a recent increase in health-related issues because now people are concerned about their diet more than ever before. The number of diseases caused by unhealthy eating have increased due to the rise chemical additives and genetically modified foods. Therefore, the number of people choosing to opt for organic food is increasing all the time. Organic foods are produced naturally, without us ing chemical synthetics or fertilizers, and not processed by irradiations. This report analyses how to carry out marketing for a restaurant offering healthy meals for public consumption.   Spud BAR is focused on the restaurant industry; more specifically, organic and healthy meals. Another component is delivery services to customers.These meals should be prepared using only natural foods such as vegetables, fruits, and meats.   This project will look at peoples’ need for healthy food and will try to educate society about decreasing the rate of diseases caused through bad eating habits. A. The Purpose of this Project Spud Bar is a Melbourne-based health-food restaurant that is planning to open up branches in Adelaide. Our project will give recommendations as to whether this move will be a success or not. We will base our recommendations on various conditions such as economic, cultural, and demographic factors. The major purpose for this move is to increase the company†™s profits while still offering good service to customers. Also, the report will provide the company with suitable business and marketing strategies to improve competitiveness and help the company become successful in the marketplace. B. Target Market 1. People who suffer from obesity The rates of obesity in Australia as a whole, and more specifically Adelaide, have risen over the last decade. The types of people who will benefit from this project are those who look to minimise the number of calories that they eat every day. This project will focus on these types of people by offering them a variety of foods that are suitable for them and can be arranged in advance. 2. Old people and patients Due to their health conditions, those who are either retired or ill are recommended to eat specific dietary meals. More specifically, these meals should have less fat in conjunction with being nutritious. It is very difficult to get this balance right, and this presents to us a target market that is relatively untapped. 3. Local universities students and employees The Adelaide Central Business District (Adelaide CBD) includes three universities (University of Adelaide, University of South Australia, and Flinders University) along with the Adelaide Royal Hospital and a large number of companies. Opening a branch in this location will help us to reach thousands of local students. 4. Preparing meals for events: The company can organise meals for events such as birthday parties, graduation ceremonies, and so on. Discounts can be given to such events, as the order will include large quantities of

Nuclear power plant Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Nuclear power plant - Essay Example This is due to their devastating effects on the environment and people generally. Radiation exposure can also lead to DNA damage and this can result in dysfunction or cell death. Underground uranium mining is the most dangerous than other underground mining because uranium ore emits radon gas. This has led to miners in uranium ores developing small cell carcinoma a lung cancer. Even the decay product of uranium has been shown to be cancer causing agent which is a serious health problem. Employees in nuclear reactors and the surrounding society can be affected by radioactive radiation which can leak through the piping system or pressurizers. Radioactive substances released to the air or rivers leads to contamination which ends as a cause of cancer. Nuclear power is however clean because it does not involve projection of dust to the environment like in the case of fossil burning. Most power plants are located near a large water body like an ocean or a lake to get enough supply of water for cooling effects to expel heat from the reactor. The use of natural water bodies adversely affects the aquatic life e.g. fish, of the ecosystem under which heat has been released to because this heat can be the cause of anomalies in the sea or cause fluctuations in the river flow rates. This use of water bodies can be avoided through the use of cooling towers in the nuclear reactors which are located beside the reactors to cool the reactor. The civilians living near nuclear reactors should be properly educated to avoid responsible response during disasters. It can be described as healthy since they produce clean energy that does not pollute the environment while it’s used. Accidents in nuclear reactors are very rare but devastating when they happen. The worst nuclear reactor accident at Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine was as a result of flowed reactor design and mistakes of the plant operators. It destroyed the reactor killing 30 people within 3 months and

Hazard and Vulnerability Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Hazard and Vulnerability Analysis - Essay Example Hazard vulnerability analysis is defines as the identification of potential disasters or emergency situations and the effects, both direct and indirect, that these situations may have on operations (Cutter 9). The main purpose of hazard and vulnerability analysis is to help the affected community to make the right choices that will help them address the vulnerabilities that they face. The analysis also helps in mitigating hazards and in the preparation for response and recovery efforts. Every emergency program should have a mechanism for hazard and vulnerability analysis (Wisner, Blaike and Cannon 17). In order to make accurate predictions for future events, it is important that the analysts collect the relevant information from different sources. This information should be relevant to the current situation and it should help in the creation of mitigating measures. The kind of data that should be collected during analysis includes everything about the nature and the causes of previous events. The frequency and/or intensity of previous disasters, as well as their magnitude should be included in the analysis. Information about the effects that the disaster may have had in a given area is also important for the purpose of analysis of the current situation (Turner and Kasperson 37). When the data has been collected, it is easy for the analyst’s to map the location of the potential and past hazards. This way, it easy to get information through the use of satellite images, aerial photography and remote sensing technology (Cutter 52). Predictive information can be derived from hydrology, seismology, meteorology and volcanology data. This kind of information can be found in most government agencies and some private institutions (Wisner, Blaike and Cannon, 47). Other data can be found in core databases to help in decision making (Turner and Kasperson 42). The business sector is most likely to be affected by earthquakes. This is because

Na Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Na - Essay Example The main characters are described in the House behind a Weeping Cheery as people who come to America for freedom only to realise that it was a living hell in the cells. They find themselves slaves, predators and blood suckers. However, in the book, A Good Fall: their personal life is explained as being uneconomical. It argued that it is their own way of doing things in the prisons. The two books differ on personality of individuals as some choose freedom while others find themselves entangled in the freedom arena. The characteristics of the third eye in the book, the crossfire are evident. One of them is that the third eye is observant. He is able to observe that people still stick to their old ways of life. He quotes, â€Å"still thinking of your boyfriend or girlfriend ten years after breakup†. This statement shows a lot of observation and keenness is part of the third eye. He is also courageous as he shuns away the immoral things in the society. He is able to counteract a bullying boss at work and warning about procrastination of activities. This is simply to tell how the third eye is determined to bring things in order. The third eye is also a freedom fighter. He broadly fights the immoral things that take place in the society. The oppression from the governments, bosses and general administrators. The third eye is in frontline to explain the things that take place in the prisons where prisoners are

Red Bull GmBH Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Red Bull GmBH - Case Study Example According to the study  U.K. market already flooded by big market players like that of Coca-Cola and Pepsi Cola has created a tougher competition for the Austrian based company to make a market of its own and further generate business. The company has been among the top selling companies but it makes no mark in the quantity of the products sold. It can be understood as the companies sought to benefit the socials for individual well-being and much better lifestyles. Certainly demographic impacts have been seen by the company in segmenting the market. They have been targeting the youth, middle aged and elderly people of the society and subsequently these people are attracted to products that rejuvenate and regenerates. The market is said to be functional with variety of products in the food and beverages segments are launched each day. Each company had its own unique way of attracting the customer base. Red Bull also thought out a process of marketing and advertising its most valuabl e product. It introduced ‘buzz marketing’ or it can be said as word-of-mouth. It was a strategical concept introduced by the company to attract UK customers. To make marketing of the product much more different from the traditional concepts, Red Bull resorted to campaigns in the sports arena. It got itself associated with various youth drinks especially in the extreme sports zone like motor racing, mountain biking, snow boarding and dance music. Gradually Red Bull started to get results for their hard work. With growing demand for the product Red Bull became clear market winner in energy drinks consumption in the U.K.

Na Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Na - Essay Example The main characters are described in the House behind a Weeping Cheery as people who come to America for freedom only to realise that it was a living hell in the cells. They find themselves slaves, predators and blood suckers. However, in the book, A Good Fall: their personal life is explained as being uneconomical. It argued that it is their own way of doing things in the prisons. The two books differ on personality of individuals as some choose freedom while others find themselves entangled in the freedom arena. The characteristics of the third eye in the book, the crossfire are evident. One of them is that the third eye is observant. He is able to observe that people still stick to their old ways of life. He quotes, â€Å"still thinking of your boyfriend or girlfriend ten years after breakup†. This statement shows a lot of observation and keenness is part of the third eye. He is also courageous as he shuns away the immoral things in the society. He is able to counteract a bullying boss at work and warning about procrastination of activities. This is simply to tell how the third eye is determined to bring things in order. The third eye is also a freedom fighter. He broadly fights the immoral things that take place in the society. The oppression from the governments, bosses and general administrators. The third eye is in frontline to explain the things that take place in the prisons where prisoners are

CONTRACT LAW ASSIGNMENT 3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

CONTRACT LAW ASSIGNMENT 3 - Essay Example It also depends upon the liability of the company. Here the company seems to have committed gross negligence resulting in grievous injuries on the customer and also damaged the car to the tune of 1500. Company is liable despite disclaimer notice, because disclaimer notices are mainly for the protection of the person who has placed it and will not stand in the Court of Law. The fact that company has installed car washing machines in its premises providing washing facility to customers is sufficient for the contract between users and company. If disclaimer has legal effect, they the customer will not be able to sue the company. In spite of disclaimer there is an implied contract between the Petrol Company and people who go for car wash, as it is installed in their premises with proper guidance and advertisement and this fact will go in favour of the injured person. Maintaining a definitely faulty washing machine that could break the skull of a customer will not work in favour of the petrol company. In contract, implied terms carry almost as severe legality as written contracts. This is not a very significant area of law any more. Still, conceptually speaking about specific contracts, sometimes we come across contracts where a certain term is used for a specific number of years, for example, rent contracts or employment contracts which run for a certain time, longer than some other contracts. Every term in such contract is rarely specified; but it is implied, understood and it exists. Most of the employment terms are implied because they are based on common sense, natural law and accepted in society. The other category comes under 'giving effect to intention of parties'. This type is more common and regularly used. These terms might not have been mentioned due to careless draftsmanship or inadvertently and usually Court takes it as existing. It adds the terms of implement presuming the intention of the contract parties1. These are the prima facie terms which are too obvious to be stated. Courts acknowledge that if all terms under all circumstances have to be stated, there is no end to terms of contracts and rest of the terms could be implicated if main terms are stipulated. But these terms have to be intended by both the parties2 and not by just one party3. Also there are terms which could be implied by statute and here initial intention of the parties does not matter4. New and old legislation terms could be implied to contracts to protect either one or both the parties. This need not have acceptance of any party and Court could do it independently5. Legislation could be primary or delegated and parties cannot contract out of the implied terms as they become mandatory. These are mainly consumer protection legislations; but need not be always so. New legislations, amendment to the old legislations, revoking of earlier legislations in favour of new legislations all fall into this category. For example: The sales of Good Act and its Amendments. There are certain terms which are inspired by other acts and closely touch the present act also could be added as implied terms according to the circumstances. QUESTION THREE: Contractual attempts to exclude all liability for economic loss are not always

Suport individuals to eat and drink Essay Example for Free

Suport individuals to eat and drink Essay It is important to give people some choice in the food thay eat. This will make mealtimes more enjoyable. Just imagine being unable to prepare meals for myself and having to sit down day after day to eat boring, unappetising or badly cooked food. Choice should be offered in the type of food, he way it is cooked and the quantity of food that is provided. It may also be helpful, if possible, to vary the times at which food is provided, so that people can choose the tome at which they wish to eat rather than having to fit in with the arrangements of their care setting. Of course, this is not easy as there are always considerations about staffing and running any care facility. Knowing the types of food and drink a person likes will help to build a trusting relationship. Some people choose not to eat meat because of their concern for animals. Some people have foods that they just do not like. Some people choose not to eat certain food because of religious easons. People from some groups will only eat food that has been prepared in certain ways depending on their religions laws. It is important to know what a healty and balanced diet is encouranging people to make suitable choices about what they eat is a very important part of supporting them. Some people may need to have a special diet for medical reasons, such as diabetes. A healthy balanced diet gives people all the nutrients in the right amounts for their age and gender. The amount of food taken in by a person needs to balance with the energy they use. If these are not balanced, the person will lose or gain weight. For example, an energetic teenager aets more than a older person who is not very active, because the teenager uses more energy. Everyone should eat a variety of foods, so that our bodies get all the nutrients that we need. This is especially important if people are recovering from an accident or an operation. The nutrition pyramid above typically shows the amount needed from each food group every  day. If dietary choice permits, try to choose low fat dairy foods and lean meat. Eat two portions of fish each week. Alcohol should be kept within the recommended limits or, better still, to occasional use only. The long-term effects of too much alcohol include conditions that can cause serious damage to the liver, of the stomach. It can also lead to dementia. It is important to encourage people to drink on a regular basis. For example, I could offer water, fruit squash, fruit juice and other drinks. However, too many sugary drinks, suck as fizzy drinks, and drinks that contain high levels of coffeine should be avoided. A lot of reseach has been carried out about what we eat. It has shown that too much salt is bad for me because it can lead to high blood pressure and heart disease. Research has also shown that eating enough fruit and vegetables can help to prevent some cancers. A person who eats too much and does not exercise enough may become obese. There can be many reasons why a person does not choose a healthy, balanced diet. They may not know what a healthy diet is. Diet can also be linked to social class because poorer people may not be able to afford good-quality food; however, with some thought it is possible tto eat a healty diet on a budget. Busy lifestyles mean that some people eat a lot of processed or conveniene foods, which usually contain a lot of salt and fat. Other peope just do not want to follow the advice to eat well, because they feel that the unhealthy option tastes better! Make sure that I know what a healthy diet is so that I can help people to make healthy choices. If I help them to develop independent skills by supporting them to do their own shopping, point out the healthy options and alternatives, I may also need to knowwhat the consequences of a poor diet choice might be. For example obesity can lead to heart disease, varicose veins, diabetes and arthritis. High cholesterol and diets high in salt can lead to heart attacks and strokes. If I am aware of the consequences, this means that I can offer sound advice. People may be reluctant, or may even refuse, to eat certain types of food which have been noted in their support plan as a requirement for their condition- such as a diabetic diet, a weight-reduction diet or a gluten-free diet. This can cause difficulties in terms of being able to offer freedom of choice. I may feel that this places me, and other care staff, in a very difficult position. If someone is determined to ignore medical advice and to follow a different diet, this should be reported and discussed among the care team and the  madical staff responsible for the person’s care. Ultimately I have little control over a diabetic who buys and eats chocolate bars and sweets. However, I do have a responsibility to provide full information and explanations, and to repeat the explanations regulary to the person, making every effort to persuade them to comply with the dietary requirements. If a person chooses, in full knowledge of the consequences, to ignore medical advice, then that is their choice.

Justice in Platos Republic :: Papers Justice Plato Republic Essays

Justice in Plato's Republic Justice. What is justice? In this world where many people look out only for themselves, justice can be considered the happiness of oneself. But because selfish men do not always decide our standards in society, to find a definition, society should look at the opinions of many. Just as in the modern society to which we live, where everyone feels justice has a different meaning, the society of Plato also struggled with the same problem. In this paper, I will look into the Republic, one of the books of Plato that resides heavily on defining an answer to the meaning of Justice, and try to find an absolute definition. I will also give my opinion on what I personally think justice is. During the time Socrates and his fellow citizens spent looking for a definition, they came across many different examples. Well-known Athenians, such as Polemarchus, bring out their own definitions of what justice is, with examples like Justice is "Doing the right thing, or "Giving everyone his due." But soon after these definitions on justice were given, they were shot down by the quick wits of Socrates. Throughout the books of The Republic, I enjoyed reading the many ways that Plato picked apart the flaws in examples by others. It seems that Plato could find flaws without spending much time actually examining the definition. Friends and men of Athens had to restate and restructure their definitions time in and time out during the search for the meaning of Justice. Without the skill that Plato possessed in examining faults in definitions, one can quickly assume that a faulty definition works to be true. I did this many times while reading through different definitions. For example, the definition Polemarchus gives in section two of book one, saying that justice is giving everyone what is "appropriate" to him. To me, an example like this would fit as a definition, because without much examination, it works well for most situations. For example, if a man is good, then an appropriate return for his goodness is to be good back to him. But if a man acts in a bad or troublesome way, an equally bad punishment is needed to counter his actions. I see this fitting, but Socrates of course easily found a flaw, finding this definition useless if followed, because of there not being a person best at benefiting friends and harming enemies.

Female Ideals and Their Roles in Icelandic Society Essay -- Iceland Wo

Female Ideals and Their Roles in Icelandic Society Female ideals in medieval Icelandic society revolved around a woman's behavior and actions in her marriage, work, and family domains. The historical background of Icelandic women, women’s general function in society, and the roles of female characters in the Icelandic sagas provide hints towards the common attitude towards women of the time, that is, how women were expected to act, what they were expected to do, and essentially, what the ideal woman was. To examine what an ideal Icelandic woman would have been like, it is first necessary to look at some background information on the life of women in the period. While women were nowhere near the status of men in terms of the amount of power they had, they did enjoy a lot more rights than other women in medieval Europe (Simpson 129). A woman could own her own property (Simpson 128). Being able to manage her own property and refuse a second marriage, widows enjoyed the most independence (Simpson 129). At the same time, there were many things a woman could not do. For example, a woman could not vote at the Thing, be a judge, or conduct her own lawsuit. The approval of a father, husband, or other male guardian was needed for a woman to buy or sell anything above a low value (Simpson 128). While a woman did not have power over other people, especially men, she did have power in her own domestic sphere to make decisions in the household (Dommasnes 71). In her essay "Women, Kinship, and the Basis of Power" Liv Helga Dommasnes states, "As managers of all kinds of farm products, such as food, textiles, and hides, it was in the hands of the wife to see to it that the often quite big household of many generations, serva... ...sible to get a very clear picture of women in Icelandic society through the sagas alone, the coupling of historic background with the sagas provides a clearer image of the ideal woman - strong, confident, married or widowed, loyal to her family, concerned with her family's honor, and an extremely hard worker. 12 Works Cited Dammasnes, Liv Helga. "Women, Kinship, and the Basis of Power." Social Approaches to Viking Studies. Ed. Ross Samson. Glasgow: Cruithne Press, 1991. Jochens, Jenny. Women in Old Norse Society. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1995. Simpson, Jacqueline. The Viking World. New York: St. Martin's Press. 1980. The Sagas of Icelanders. Ed. Thorsson, Ornolfur. New York: Penguin Group, 2000. Sawyer, Birgit and Peter. Medieval Scandinavia: From Conversion to Reformation, circa 800-1500. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1993.