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The characters of Abigail and Elizabeth Essay Example

The characters of Abigail and Elizabeth Essay How does Miller pass on the characters of Abigail and Elizabeth and shape our reactions to ...

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Romantic music and development of Renaissance painting Essay

Romantic music and development of Renaissance painting - Essay Example Another similarity between Romantic music and paintings during Renaissance lies in the fact that they both put a great emphasis on the importance of the figure of the artist. It would not be a mistake to suggest that the cultural titans of Italy were as much respected as their counterparts in the musical world of Europe during Romanticism. Indeed, in that period every person who was able to create a fine piece of music was considered to be extremely talented and was approved by the public. Just like art in the times of Renaissance, music during Romanticism was considered to be the highest of arts; so the people who wanted to devote their live to it were considered to be exceptional. There is one more point that should be mentioned while considering the development of the two concepts that were discussed above. Thus, just like during Renaissance, Romanticism in music contributed to the emergence of the new perception of this kind of human activity. One might point out that visual art, just like music have existed in within human civilization for thousands of years, it was those two periods when people started to treat them in a different manner. This process, accompanied by the revival of interest, is what truly differed those periods from others. Some researchers argue that Renaissance made the aesthetic thought of humanity look backwards, but move forward with what they saw in the past. However, in order to get a better understanding of the relationship between the two notions in question.

Monday, October 28, 2019

Video games good or bad Essay Example for Free

Video games good or bad Essay Are Video Games Good For You, by Steven Berlin Johnson a author and writer of numerous magazine articles. Johnson has stirred academia and parents alike by professing that video games have a place in education. Johnsons views on video games are so out of the mainstream most people dismissed his assertions without much thought. His ideas seemed to find traction though when he wrote his book on the subject advocating a controversial view point video games are good for you. Johnson makes a simple claim that video games can be beneficial. Is it possible the biggest distracter of teenagers and college students in America, could actually be doing some good? There are numerous studies on video game play and the amount of time people spend on them, especially our youth. Many previous studies do not reflect Johnsons view point. So, are video games educational, or just another distraction to traditional education and parents? Johnson argues that video games not only attract kids through sex and violence. He claims people are drawn to the structure and sense of adventure. Johnson contends that certain parts of the brain are stimulated that actually make you crave conquest. Johnson claims that video games are so complicated, filled with problem solving and realistic scenarios that they must be doing something positive. He asserts that television has some of the same characteristics as video games. The most debased forms of mass diversion video games and violent television dramas and juvenile sitcoms turn out to be nutritional after all, Johnson writes. They offer an increasingly rigorous cognitive workout. Whats more, the mental skills they hone are just as important as the ones exercised by reading books.(pp. 381-394 ). Johnson continues throughout his article to bring scientific data to light on the subject, but it does not convince this writer that video games are good for you. Johnson does not take all the blame on that data because there really isnt much available on the subject. Johnson tries to take liberty with IQ scores on the rise over the last few years but that is a stretch in his attempt link it to video game play. Johnson ignores any data that conflicts with his position, such as better education techniques or more access to information through the use of the internet. Inquiring deeper in the area of study, there seems to be quite a bit of data that Johnson doesnt mention in his article. Studies reveal that there is a great deal of harm caused by extended video game play. Links have been made to aggressive behavior and even physical altercations to video game play. Parents have nothing but complaints about video games. Most parents want their children to play the traditional way, outside. Parents also have a hard time getting children to do anything else when a video game takes over. Johnson himself backs away from his own argument when he makes statements like dont stop reading books or do not depend on video games for your entire education. Johnson has caused me to explore the idea that video games are more than just a distraction, but in the end they are not best way to educate our children-they are a distraction. References Johnson, S. (2012) Why Games Are Good For You, From Inquiry to Academic Writing, pp. 481-494Ã'Ž

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Comparing Dostoevskys Crime and Punishment and Ralph Waldo Emersons Self-Reliance :: Comparison Compare Contrast Essays

Comparing Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment and Ralph Waldo Emerson's Self-Reliance "It is only as a man puts off from himself all external support, and stands alone, that I see him to be strong and to prevail..." -Emerson Ralph Waldo Emerson's stance on human nature as seen in Self-Reliance is antithetical to that of Dostoevsky's in Crime and Punishment. It is my sincere hope that, had Emerson read this novel, he would have considered more carefully the implications of embracing a self-reliant human nature. A self-reliant nature infers that the self is not relying on the divine for wisdom, but on personal judgments, scientific conclusions, and moral convictions. A self-reliant human being is one that believes that (s)he is capable of arriving at the same plane as God; divinity lies within. Following this nature leads to pervasive feelings of isolation from others because one feels independent from the thoughts of all human beings and thereby rejects any commonality among humans. By failing to recognize the fallibility of the self and the limitations of personal thought and experience, one transcends and also defies his own humanity. Svidrigailov, the pernicious, obstinate character who successfully defies humanity, personifies Emerson himself. Emerson's words echo Svidigailov's resolute theory on human nature: "... If I am the devil's child, I will live then from the devil. No law can be sacred to me but that of my nature. Good and bad are but names very readily transferable to that or this; the only right is what is after my constitution, the only wrong what is against it. A man is to carry himself in the presence of all opposition as if every thing were titular and ephemeral but he" (Emerson, 260). Emerson and Svidigailov share in the amoral belief that Truth is found only by following one's own nature. Because divinity lies within one's nature, it is logical that not following one's nature is to reject the will of God. Emerson's words spell out the very point Dostoevsky wishes to refute. Dostoevsky conveys that this notion of a personal "constitution" is the very cause of immorality and misery among human be ings. For it is in one's personal "constitution" where isolation begins and the common Truth in all beings is defied. Raskolnikov, the self-righteous student who tests his ability to transcend human nature by committing murder, cannot fully accept his personal constitution as truth. He is dubious of Svidigailov's character and thus Emerson's theory.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Analysis of Robert Frost’s “An Old Man’s Winter Night” Essay

What is the goal in a poem? Why do writers write? Most poems are an attempt to pass on a message, to give a moral, or in any case, to communicate in one way or another. An example of a writer doing this in a poem may be seen in An Old Man’s Winter Night, by Robert Frost. Robert Frost (1874-1963) wrote An Old Man’s Winter Night, perhaps his most well conceived work and published it in the book ‘Mountain Interval’, released in 1920 as a fine peak to his career. The poem tells the story of the last night before an old man’s death. This man is portrayed as being lonely, and without meaning to anyone except for himself. The old man seems to realize this in a certain point in the poem, and decides that he no longer wants to live. He then goes to sleep, however soon after he is disturbed by the shifting of a log. He then shifts, as the log did, and dies seemingly without pain, â€Å"still sleeping† as Frost says. The poem appears to have a message to transmit, which can be unveiled through some close reading. There are several reasons which convince the reader that An Old Man’s Winter Night is memorable, impressive, and effectively passes on a moral. Firstly, the reader is engaged into the scene with no information about the old man, which parallels the old man’s situation, as neither does he know how he has become what he is: â€Å"What kept him from remembering what it was / That brought him to that creaking room was age.† Perhaps this was done to make the reader just as lost as the old man and able to enter more deeply into the old man’s character, thus being able to sympathize better with him. The old man seems to be lacking any interest in a long life and apparently has no real social life. This lack of friends is what draws us to feel for the man who clearly was not cared for in life, either due to a refusal to care for others, or because other unjustly neglected him. The man’s meaningless existence is accentuated by him constantly scaring away what seems to frighten him or makes him uncomfortable. However, the old man seems to be apathetic towards his own state. The fact that he does not even know how he got to be so in the first place adds to this notion, and makes him seem detached from his own situation. Another factor which makes the emptiness more apparent is the â€Å"barrels round him†. One may wonder: â€Å"What is in these barrels?† As Frost does not tell us what they are, we may assume that they are empty barrels, much like the life of the man. Another factor  which adds to the void of the man’s life is that the author uses possessive adjectives showing that the snow on the roof is â€Å"his† and that the icicles hanging along the wall are â€Å"his†. The reader may assume that there must be an enormous lack of subsistence to the man’s life for Frost to tell us that these completely insignificant matters are possessed by him. Overall, the reader pities the old man for his seemingly lonely, purportless, and depressing existence. Secondly, in An Old Man’s Winter Night, Frost has artistically created metaphors with light which are overflowing with meanings that can easily be missed and yet help in drawing the poem together with a sense of cohesion. â€Å"What kept his eyes from giving back the gaze / Was the lamp tilted near them in his hand.† This helps one to understand the way the man is feeling, albeit it in a minor way and in turn aids one in working out what he is doing. He is not sitting idly, but has a lamp, therefore is not trying to sleep. We are not instructed further as to what he is attempting to do but it clearly requires thought. He cannot cope with this mental surge as his age has drawn senility, â€Å"What kept him from remembering what it was / That brought him to that creaking room was age.† Frost tells us early in the poem that he was light â€Å"to no one but himself.† This informs us that he is the only one that is in touch with himself and his existence. This light he is to himself and the light he holds in his hand work together to make his isolation even more apparent, because the light that he holds is making him unable to see the outside. For him to be able to see outside he could simply have tilted the light towards the window, yet, one may understand that this metaphor shows that he is either unwilling to open up to others, or is afraid of what he may then see. He may have been intimidated by the out of doors which â€Å"looked darkly in at him†. This continues with the idea that he was only a light to himself because in tilting the light towards himself, he sees his reflection in the window rather than what may have been beyond the window. However, had he illuminated them so that he could see outside, they would no longer be darkly looking in at him. Frost then writes: â€Å"A quiet light, and then not even that.† One may speculate from this line that Frost is telling us that even the old man has lost touch with himself, and no longer cares about his own existence. Frost may possibly be calling our  attention to this line with the eye-rhyme between â€Å"what† and â€Å"that†. In the next few lines, the old man dies: â€Å"The log that shifted with a jolt / Once in the stove, disturbed him and he shifted, / And eased his heavy breathing, but still slept.† Perhaps the log shifting, breaking, and going out represented his light permanently going out as well. This link may be made with the repetition of the word â€Å"shifted†; the log shifts, and then the man shifts. In these lines there is also alliteration with the words â€Å"still slept†. Frost may have been drawing our attention to this to be sure that the death of the old man would have a strong impact on the reader. These lines are impressive and effective at expressing the death of the old man, and leave the reader feeling sorry for him. Thirdly, one may appreciate how clear the final moral is of the poem. â€Å"One aged man — one man — can’t keep a house, / A farm, a countryside, or if he can, / It’s thus he does it of a winter night.† Frost generalizes the situation, by broadening â€Å"one aged man† to â€Å"one man†. He resumes the whole story, giving the reader a clear moral at the end, identifiable to all thanks to the generalization. One may believe that, ultimately, Frost is trying to show one how not to end up, and how not to die, but offers no insight as to the better way of ending the spell one spends on Earth. Perhaps he is telling us to make sure that we do not end up like this man, and that we should â€Å"tilt the light† towards others instead of ourselves, and therefore to be in touch with others. Furthermore, it is telling us that if we do not open up towards others, and if we stay inside our own shell, with our icicles on the walls and our snow on top, isolating us from the outside world, that we shall end up in solitude and be a light to no one but ourselves, just like the old man. It may be out of context to wonder if this poem relates to the poet in any way, but it does seem rather in depth for any imagination. However, as Robert Frost was not a particularly lonely man, perhaps he was expressing a great fear of his brought forth by an incident in his surroundings. As one may now see, there are several aspects of the poem which make An Old Man’s Winter Night memorable and effective in transmitting the author’s message. These aspects are: the reader is engaged into the scene with no  information about the old man; metaphors which Frost has made with light are overflowing with many meanings; one may appreciate how clear the poem is fairly clear thanks to the generalization and how the whole of the poem thoroughly contributes to the moral. This poem transmits its idea superbly and majestically making its goal of communication accomplished.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Human Rights and Democracy of Filipinos Essay

According to the United Nations, The values of freedom, respect for human rights and the rule of holding periodic and legitimate elections by universal suffrage are vital elements of democracy. In turn, democracy provides the natural environment for the protection and effective realization of human rights. These standards are embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and further developed in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which enshrines a host of political rights and civil liberties underpinning meaningful democracies. The relation between democracy and human rights is captured in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states: â€Å"The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.† With this notion, Martial Law in the Philippines only proves that during that time, Human Rights and Democracy is not totally practiced in the whole nation. The circumstances of arrests, detentions and searches made without court orders are common practice during the martial rule. The fundamental principles of legality and due process have been neglected, with security forces having unprecedented powers given by the head of state under this martial law. Election frauds were also perceived. Justice among those involve were deserted and abandoned and Justice for the country’s democracy were put in to trash. Martial rule and suspension of writ of habeas corpus, which allows warrantless arrests, detention and conduct of searches, have been a convenient solution for the police force’s incompetence in enforcing their rudimentary duties. The soldiers have cemented their de facto superiority over the police in conflict areas. But thirty one year had already passed, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines have repeatedly been accused of involvement if not actively engaging in the killing of defenceless political activists. The AFP restates that they never will have a rule of intentionally targeting civilians as well as those who may have a different political orientation from our government for as long as they detain their resist within legal and legislative means. The AFP remains committed in  their duty to help ensure that the Philippines progresses as a democratic society free by armed threats. Their answer is explicit in the AFP’s code of ethics in support for peace initiatives. Furthermore, the AFP will persist to fully assist with fact-finding bodies formed by proper authorities. But investigation should be based on valid pieces of evidence as determined by courts and not simply on given away allegations. With proper procedure the AFP makes it a point that Justice is served to each and every Filipinos. Their faults in the past should not be carried today, for the scenario and period is different. Changes in the agency only attest that they are coping with it in order to have Justice in every aspect of their post. References: * United Nation. 2012. Democracy and Human Rights.[Online] accessed from http://www.un.org/en/globalissues/democracy/human_rights.shtml on December 09, 2012 * Asian Human Rights Commission. 2009. Philippines: Martial Law Dilutes Human Rights [Online] Retrieved from http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00305.htm on December 09, 2012 * General Hermogenes C. Esperon Jr. 2007. The AFP in a democracy:protecting human rights [online] ebook downloaded last December 09, 2012

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Edgar Allan Poe Essays - Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven, Free Essays

Edgar Allan Poe Essays - Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven, Free Essays Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston on January 19, 1809. Orphaned at the age of three, Edgar was sent to a foster home where he lived with the Allans in Richmond, VA until he married his thirteen-year-old cousin, Virginia Clemm. Throughout his youth, Edgar experienced rocky relations with the Allans and was eventually disowned before his marriage. (Compton's, pp. 401-02) Edgar Allan Poe's short stories and poems induce disturbing emotions which stem from an unstable childhood as a result of a disjointed family life. After leaving his broken foster home, Poe enlisted in the army under the name Edgar A. Perry in 1827. Aspiring to become an officer in hopes to regain favor with Mr. Allan, Poe was granted an honorable discharge and sought an appointment at West Point. (Forrest, P., Who Was Poe?) While waiting for over a year to hear from the school, Poe resided with his widowed aunt, Ms. Maria Clemm in Baltimore. In 1830, Poe was sworn in as a cadet. However, the death of his foster mother led to Mr. Allan's remarriage and Poe's exclusion from the family will. Upon receiving such news, Poe deliberately neglected his classes and was expelled from West Point after only eight months of study. His writing career began soon after when he won a short story contest in 1833 and became a literary critic for The Southern Literary Messenger. Later writing opportunities brought Poe a small income, which paved the way for his marriage to Virginia Clemm in 1835. (Compton's, pp. 401-02) Virginia was half Edgar's age and represented the only sense of family Poe had ever known. When she became ill with tuberculosis in 1843, Poe fell into severe depression marked by bouts of drinking and gambling. His publication of The Raven in 1845 illustrated this unstable mind frame and foreshadowed Virginia's death in 1847. (Compton's, pp. 401-02) It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore- Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore. Quoth the Raven, Nevermore.' (Frazah, Homepage) Likewise, many of his works during this period reflect similarly disturbing emotions brought on by a need to express the rage of past events in his life through his short stories and poems. The erratic subjects and tones of Poe's works encompass not only his despair resulting from Virginia's death but also the angst of being robbed of a loving family in his earlier youth. His relations with Mr. Allan proved to be insincere after Mrs. Allan's death. Poe was left only with the realization that what scraps of a family he held on to for so long were false securities which led him nowhere. He struggled to gain favor with his foster father for years before grasping this concept. His marriage to Virginia Clemm was an effort to restore a sense of lost family which only ended in further despair. Clearly these events created so deep an impact on Poe that his writings reflect a tendency of lonely, desperate, and erratic tones which parallel the nature of his behaviors. Leave my loneliness unbroken!- quit the bust above my door! Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door! Quoth the Raven, Nevermore.' (Frazuh, Homepage) The standard trademark of Poe's writing is that it evokes disturbing images and emotions which instill a sense of loneliness. He has the ability to create a mirror image of himself in every short story and poem. The sadness, which plagued Poe throughout his life, laid the framework for all of his writings. Without such a motivation, Poe may have created equally beautiful works yet they would not have instilled a sense of the life he led so clearly. They leave behind a photographic image of the man he was. Bibliography cant find it

Monday, October 21, 2019

Find the best careers for your ISTJ personality type

Find the best careers for your ISTJ personality type When you’re thinking about your career path, you probably consider things like location, education level, skills you already have (or are willing to build), and other highly practical concerns. But have you ever thought about what job would match your personality? Finding a career that dovetails with your personality type can absolutely help you build long-term career satisfaction. What is an ISTJ, anyway?The steady, organized ISTJ is the third-most-popular Myers-Briggs personality type within the population. ISTJs are broken down into the following components.IntrovertedISTJs tend to stand alone and are comfortable working independently. When you hear the phrase â€Å"self-starter,† this fits an ISTJ perfectly. Introverts tend to be motivated and energized by their own inner drive, rather than feedback or praise from others. This isn’t to say that all ISTJs are lone wolves- rather, they know what they bring to a team and are likely to keep going with the work at hand regardless of what’s going on with other team members.SensingISTJs tend to make decisions based on a rationalization of the available facts and details, rather than abstract concepts. ISTJs like to have the info laid out in front of them. In a brainstorming session, the ISTJ is the one most likely to show up with an outline of evidence to support the ideas he stayed late to write down, the night before. The ITSJ is the one who always has homework done on time, and printed neatly in time for class.ThinkingLogic and reason are the guiding principles for an ISTJ’s thought process. Feelings and instincts tend to take a backseat to a thoughtful analysis of what’s most logical. The ISTJ will have considered all possible angles and all possible outcomes based on data gathered about what’s happened in the past and what’s happening now.JudgingISTJs were voted â€Å"least likely to be a loose cannon† in high school. They’re not impulsive or likely to make a decision based on a gut feeling; rather, they prefer to have a detailed game plan before embarking on a project or task.Careers for ISTJsWith these qualities, ISTJs are likely to respond well to careers that are detail-oriented and require methodical work. ISTJs thrive on organization, problem solving, and productivity. If you want someone to overhaul your processes to improve workflow, or impose order on workplace chaos, an ISTJ is the go-to.If you’re an ISTJ and thinking about what career path could work with your personality, here are a number of different jobs to consider in different fields.If you’re interested in business or finance†¦AccountantAuditorBudget analystCost estimatorFinancial advisorLoan officerManagement consultantOperations analystPurchasing agent or managerReal estate appraiserIf you’re interested in administration†¦Account collectorArchivistBilling clerk or managerBookkeeperExecutive assistant or secretaryFinan cial clerkInformation clerkLogistics managerOffice managerRecords clerkIf you’re interested in information technology†¦Computer engineerComputer network architectComputer programmerDatabase administratorInformation security analystIT project managerIT support specialistSoftware developerSystems analystWeb developerIf you’re interested in the legal world†¦Corrections officerCourt reporterCustoms inspectorDetective or investigatorJudgeLawyerLegal secretaryParalegalProbation officerSecurity guardIf you’re interested in healthcare†¦Biomedical technologistDentistExercise physiologistMedical records technicianMedical transcriptionistOccupational therapistPharmacist or pharmacy technicianPhysician assistantPhysician or surgeonSurgical technologistISTJs can be found in just about every field, so if you have diverse interests to go with your abiding love for paperwork and order, there’s likely to be a job out there for you that perfectly marries you r personality with your skill set. Good luck, ISTJ job hunter!

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Work Definition in Chemistry

Work Definition in Chemistry The word work means different things in different contexts. In science, it is a thermodynamic concept.  The SI unit for work is the  joule. Physicists and chemists, in particular, view work in relation to energy: Work Definition Work is the energy required to move an object against a force. In fact, one definition of energy is the capacity to do work. There are many different kinds of work. Examples include: Electrical workWork against gravityWork against a magnetic fieldMechanical work Key Takeaways: Work Definition in Science In physical science, such as physics and chemistry, work is force multiplied by distance.Work occurs if there is movement in the direction of the force.The SI unit of work is the joule (J). This is the work expended by a force of one newton (N) over a displacement of one meter (m). Mechanical Work Mechanical work is the type of work most commonly dealt with in physics and chemistry. It includes work moving against gravity (e.g., up an elevator) or any opposing force. Work is equal to the force times the distance the object moves: w F*d where w is work, F is the opposing force, and d is the distance This equation may also be written as: w m*a*d where a is the acceleration PV Work Another common type of work is pressure-volume work. This is work done by frictionless pistons and ideal gases. The equation to calculate the expansion or compression of a gas is: w -PΔV where w is work, P is pressure, and ΔV is the change in volume Sign Convention for Work Note that equations for work employ the following sign convention: Work performed by the system on the surroundings has a negative sign.Heat flow from the system into the surroundings has a negative sign.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Introduction to Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Introduction to Accounting - Essay Example Fixed costs are the costs that do not change even if sales of a product changes. These costs are incurred even if there no sales made. On the other hand, the cost will not change even when sales made are very high. An example is the printer that prints newspapers. The cost of producing incurred con the printer when it prints 10 newspapers is the same as the cost for printing 1000 newspapers. Therefore, the cost of producing newspapers in terms of printer’s cost is a fixed cost. Contribution is the amount that remains after all variable costs have been subtracted from the sales revenue. Contribution caters for the fixed costs and it leads to the net income. Contribution mainly deals with the profit made by selling the products. It is very important because it helps in determining the amount of goods that need to be sold in order to recover the costs incurred during production. For example, it helps in determining the amount of whisky products that have to be sold in order to get the cost of producing the whisky. This is a point in production that occurs when the amount of cost is equal to the amount of the total sales of the products. Although many businesses are after making profits, there are some points when the businesses neither undergo loss nor get profits. This is the breakeven point of the business. Graphically, breakeven point is achieved when the total cost curve meets the total revenue costs. An example of breakeven point is when the cost of producing whisky is equal to the amount achieved from the sales of the whisky. This means that the company neither gets profit nor loss. Breakeven point is important in recognizing the relevance of variable costs and the fixed costs. Despite this importance, breakeven point cannot be overstated since it cannot help in business decision making. This is a resource that is scarce and its supply is very low. Limiting factor is also known as the principle budget factor.

Friday, October 18, 2019

What are the key factors in developing successful brand Dissertation

What are the key factors in developing successful brand - Dissertation Example The present study would analyse the branding strategies of FMCG major Procter and Gamble. The choice of organization assumes significance considering the fact that it is one of the most reputed brands of the globe that has a large array of product offering in different and diverse markets across the globe. The study would include an analysis of the literature that would highlight the essential ingredients of a good branding strategy. This would be followed by an analysis of the existing brand strategy of Procter and Gamble and its effectiveness in the present business environment. The study would finally present a conclusion that would summarise the findings of the study and would also try to suggest few points that could be used by the organization to create a sustainable competitive advantage in the market. The present age of business environment largely calls upon business organizations to induce greater distinction between their brands and the competitors so as to gain competitive advantage. In this regard it has become immensely important for business organizations to concentrate towards improving their brand image. ... ars owning to the fact that consumers are largely using brands as a distinctive element to segregate among products and services available in the market. Brands are essentially being used by consumers across the world to recognize their preferred products and services. Companies like Apple, Starbucks draw competitive advantage based on their brand image. A good and formidable brand image not only helps in attracting new customers but also helps in retaining the existing customers by promoting customer loyalty (Mansfield, 2005, p.17). In addition to customers brand image and identity also plays a major role in shaping a firm’s image towards its employees and the prospective employees. Employees have a tendency to resort towards less switching if they work for a reputed brand. This further makes an organization more efficient as human resources are the most valuable assets for an organization. Brands also have considerable influence on the aspect of positioning of the product or service in the minds of the consumers. It has been stated in numerous research reports that successful brands have a formidable positioning that largely helps these brands to retain their competitive edge in the market (Peca, 2009, p.106-161). The present study would analyse the aspect of branding particularly in relation to Procter and Gamble. Procter and Gamble established in the year 1837 is presently one of the most formidable brands in the industry. The company has its business operations spread across numerous areas of the globe and has a wide range of product offering under its brand that seeks to cater to the needs and wants of every section of the customers in the market. The core principle in the organization is to remain as close to the customers as possible so that they can have a

What is the purpose of on-line video sharing Essay

What is the purpose of on-line video sharing - Essay Example This type of online free video hosting websites has offered an open opportunity to share and offer the facility to watch video of everyone on the web. Additionally, the online video sharing websites helps anyone connect to the website to share and upload videos easily. However, the basic aim of this type of video sharing is to share someone’s ideas, views, likings, and disliking with other people. In addition, at the present the online video sharing websites have become active and popular due to their free of cost services. These websites allow the small independent video publishers the capability to share and publish personal, event, entertainment or some public video files to anyone without size related problems (Loeffler, 2009) and (Robertson, 2007). According to the recent research, one-half of all participants shared videos via e-mail to family and friends. Twenty-three percent participants used social networks to sent videos out to friends, 21 percent used instant messengers and 14 percent people used video-sharing web sites for instance YouTube and Hulu to share videos to their friends. Additionally, according to same research YouTube was the most commonly used web site for sharing, finding and watching video online, after that music sites, e-mail, Yahoo! and other news sites. In addition, this video sharing appears to take place mostly among close friends, relatives, and colleagues, since 72 percent of participants shared video to just one, two or three people (Hotel Marketing, 2009) The answer to this question is that we live in a society, we want to meet people, we want to share things and want to view and present our ideas to others. Another new aspect that emerges in 21st century is defining the way of entertainment by us. In the past, TV, Film, or Radio presented and defined the ways of entertainment. However, in this age of internet and web based technology firms for instance YouTube and

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Subjective Well-Being Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Subjective Well-Being - Research Paper Example Corey Keyes notes: â€Å"Well-being has been a paramount concern of thinkers since ancient times as witnessed in much of Greek philosophical writings. It became a topic of scientific inquiry during the 1950s when interest in fostering a better life was facilitated by the Zeitgeist following World War II.† Earlier studies mainly focused on the relationship between subjective well-being and mental health and merely examined the concept of happiness. Marc Hooghe and Bram Vanhouette reveal: â€Å"While local communities apparently have an impact on happiness levels, this is not necessarily the case for subjective well-being. Subjective well-being indicators are strongly influenced by national-level determinants (culture, income level) but it remains to be investigated what kind of community levels can have an impact on subjective well-being.† Even though happiness is an important factor in subjective well-being, it was later discovered that other aspects needed to be includ ed in order to have a more accurate evaluation of the concept. Subjective well-being is not only about the positive affect, negative affect and life satisfaction, but it involves other multidimensional factors that contribute to an effective evaluation. The inclusion of these factors makes later research more extensive and reliable because it incorporates new aspects never before considered. These new studies analyzed the social, political, cultural, environmental, economic aspects and other elements that may interfere with individuals’ well-being. A better analysis and understanding of the external factors that turn around individuals’ lives allow a better evaluation of their subjective well-being that takes into consideration all components. The issue of subjective well-being has been around for a long time; however, the scientific research started after World War II. People have always evaluated their

Comparing between iPhone and Blackberry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Comparing between iPhone and Blackberry - Essay Example The different features of the Blackberry make it an exceptional tool for office tasks and work. It has new features that allow for corporate leaders to make conference calls using the handheld devices. The iPhone is somewhat limited in this application. In terms of e-mail, it can help in office management by allowing for office managers to communicate to their subordinates. It is also reliable and efficient when it comes to its security features (Dann & Dann, 2011). When it comes to work related issues, the Blackberry is the device for the job. This is because; its security and support for Microsoft tools are exceptional. This makes it a device that protects information that needs protecting when it comes to company issues. In terms of voice recognition, the Blackberry is limited in this capability, unlike the iPhone. The introduction of the iPhone is creating challenges for the Blackberry, and this competition is nothing like what the Blackberry has ever seen in the industry. The iPhone is offering the Blackberry competition in terms of the features it has that capture a wider audience than just the corporate individuals. It is changing the manner in which people use their handheld devices. Some of the features it has include its applications, entertainment, its usability, and typing capabilities. These are what most people need to watch out for in the iPhone. However, some of these features are also in the Blackberry device, and it is the most preferred device by corporate, business people (Dann & Dann, 2011). In terms of applications, the iPhone offers more than what the Blackberry does. Many applications on the iPhone are the easiest to make. This makes it one of the simplest devices to make applications for, thus; the worldwide acceptance. Corporate heads are the target market for the Blackberry. It, therefore, has less

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Subjective Well-Being Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Subjective Well-Being - Research Paper Example Corey Keyes notes: â€Å"Well-being has been a paramount concern of thinkers since ancient times as witnessed in much of Greek philosophical writings. It became a topic of scientific inquiry during the 1950s when interest in fostering a better life was facilitated by the Zeitgeist following World War II.† Earlier studies mainly focused on the relationship between subjective well-being and mental health and merely examined the concept of happiness. Marc Hooghe and Bram Vanhouette reveal: â€Å"While local communities apparently have an impact on happiness levels, this is not necessarily the case for subjective well-being. Subjective well-being indicators are strongly influenced by national-level determinants (culture, income level) but it remains to be investigated what kind of community levels can have an impact on subjective well-being.† Even though happiness is an important factor in subjective well-being, it was later discovered that other aspects needed to be includ ed in order to have a more accurate evaluation of the concept. Subjective well-being is not only about the positive affect, negative affect and life satisfaction, but it involves other multidimensional factors that contribute to an effective evaluation. The inclusion of these factors makes later research more extensive and reliable because it incorporates new aspects never before considered. These new studies analyzed the social, political, cultural, environmental, economic aspects and other elements that may interfere with individuals’ well-being. A better analysis and understanding of the external factors that turn around individuals’ lives allow a better evaluation of their subjective well-being that takes into consideration all components. The issue of subjective well-being has been around for a long time; however, the scientific research started after World War II. People have always evaluated their

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Abuse in the Movie Unleashed Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Abuse in the Movie Unleashed - Research Paper Example The research paper "Abuse in the Movie Unleashed" talks about the abuse within the film "Unleashed" particularly the kind of abuse with the utter disregard of the rights and needs of a fellow human being. The film Danny the Dog also released as Unleashed is a stark and compelling reminder of the segments of society that promote and condone abuse for their own selfish ends, and how victims are treated. These sordid details are often never brought to light as they are shameful to civilized societies, yet they persist in secrecy either with or without the support of corrupt officials and criminals. Fighting to the death is common in Taiwan, Bangkok, Vietnam and many other nations where this illicit sport draws crowds yearning to see one human being inflict punishment on another till he gives up, is maimed for life or worse still, loses his life just to please the organizers, his manager and a bloodthirsty crowd who are looking for cheap thrills but should clearly know better. All such a ctivity is illegal and punishable by Law in all civilized cities of the world. Originally released as Danny the Dog, French director Louis Letterier’s action thriller starring Jet Li in the lead role was his first experiment with the action thriller genre. He was originally interested in music but began his foray into films by studying at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. Louis has gone out to direct such action thrillers as the Transporter & Transporter 2, The Hulk, and the Titans.

Monday, October 14, 2019

External Environment Analysis Essay Example for Free

External Environment Analysis Essay The Coca-Cola Company owes the success of its internal operations to its principles of corporate responsibility. The firm has incorporated an apt ethics program; this will guide their employees, and ensure them growth, achievement, and satisfaction for their jobs. In order to make this possible, The ideology of corporate responsibility is moderated and promulgated by the Public Policy and Corporate Reputation Council. The Council is comprised by a group of senior managers from each beverage and bottling company in the industry. It ascertains the risks and opportunities that each company in the industry encounters. The PPCR Council advises beverage companies in their employee management and operations. Feasible business strategies are generated in order to achieve growth and progress for beverage companies like the Coca-Cola Company (The Coca-Cola Company,2008). The firm believes there is no Coke without the presence of its prolific employees, which is the major force behind more than satisfactory results for the growth and progress of the company. Its operations are bolstered by innovative thinking, unique perspectives, and operational excellence of the workforce, which sustains profit margins of the firm as well as its image. With this in mind, the company recognizes the crucial role of its workforce plays in its worldwide operations. The Coca-Cola Company puts a premium on job satisfaction. The firm ensures that the Coca-Cola workplace is an environment where people can generate excellent input and augment their performance while enjoying what they do (The Coca-Cola Company,2008). Porter’s Five Forces Analysis Supplier Power Coca-Cola’s suppliers have been clamoring for increased prices for raw materials used in manufacturing their products. Usually, these suppliers are responsible for the prices of raw materials to increase. Suppliers have gained the notoriety of manipulating the cost of raw materials, which generates a deliberate effect on the firms part. Suppliers are more manipulative whenever the number of suppliers is low. This gives the handful of suppliers to raise the price of raw materials, which in turn leaves firms line Coca-Cola’s no further options to purchase commodities of lower cost. An international brand like Coca-Cola’s is usually responsible for improving the working conditions within their factories (Foust, 2006). The firm provides the much-needed technical assistance, which help augment the performance of both factory workers and shop floor employees. Buyer Power Buyer power is also considered the spending capacity of the consumer. In the athletic shoe industry, the buyer power is strong. This aspect simply states that the buyer or the consumer has always has a â€Å"say† on the price of particular good. Furthermore, buyer power is considered crucial due to the fact that it has a deliberate impact on the industry. However, softdrink companies like Coca-Cola’s has a discreet mutual arrangement regarding the aspect of buyer power. These intangible mutual contracts between the firm and its consumers have been apparent for quite some time now (Foust, 2006). Firms have been empowering consumers to augment their buyer power. Buyer power has a relationship with supplier power as well. A firm like Coca-Cola’s opines for the cost of raw materials it acquires from its suppliers. Buyer power is quite a delicate matter to elaborate on. The asymmetry between the buyer and the industry generates a bevy of discrepancies, which contributes to an inconsistent market condition and prevents forward integration. Barriers and Threats of Entry Perennial rival companies like PepsiCo and RC Cola are not the only ones who pose a threat for the company. Neophyte softdrink companies both domestic and international are always attempting penetrate the industry will also have a deliberate effect in the industry. The outcome will be a fluctuation in percentage of the market share of softdrink companies. Coca-Cola’s does its part through studying potential market segments to entice. Firms that tend to enter and exit a market are subjected to nominal profits (Foust, 2006). Competitive Rivalry Coca-Cola’s always strives to survive in a competitive industry through the aid of its competitive advantage. For the plethora of softdrink companies, competition always matters in order to bolster profitability. Coca-Cola’s augments their advertising and marketing strategy by its charismatic approach to its advertising. The global softdrink industry is highly competitive (Foust, 2006). The company has to compete with national and domestic retailers such as discount store chains, department stores, independent retail stores, and internet retailers that cater to a particular market segment of similar merchandise. The company has encountered stiff competition in Asian markets, which range from regional to national chains. Threat of Alternative Products Substitutes The apparent threat of alternative or substitute products is a common adversity for Coca-Cola’s. A number of softdrink companies have always attempted to overwhelm Coca-Cola’s s market share through attempts in cheaper price movements in order for consumers to consider other brands aside from Coca-Cola’s. The subject of price elasticity surfaces whenever the price change of an alternative product affects as the demand for such product. The industry where Coca-Cola’s thrives is saturated by a bevy of substitute products, which to tend to constrained the ability of these companies to make an increase in prices. The softdrink industry is always sporadic and innovative in terms of manufacturing products, which can draw consumers to purchase their products. The outcome is a letdown in sales for the Coca-Cola Company (Foust, 2006). Reference The Coca-Cola Company. (2008). Governance Ethics. Retrieved June 29, 2008, from http://www. thecoca-colacompany. com/citizenship/governance_ethics. html The Coca-Cola Company. (2008). Engagement. Retrieved June 29, 2008, from http://www. thecoca- colacompany. com/citizenship/engagement. html Foust, D. (2006). Queen of Pop. Business Week. New York: Aug 7, 2006. , Iss. 3996; pg. 44 Foust, D. Byrnes, N. Gone Flat. (2004). Business Week. New York: December 20, 2004, Issue 3913: page 76

Sunday, October 13, 2019

The Debate Regarding The Hijab Theology Religion Essay

The Debate Regarding The Hijab Theology Religion Essay Literature on this topic is abundant as research has been conducted globally on the topic of the hijab as to the reasons why women should and should not wear the hijab. The research conducted was made possible through the use of surveys, interviews, questionnaires and observations. Katherine Bullock in particular, a Canadian community activist, author and lecturer did extensive research on the topic of the hijab and published her findings in the form of a book called Rethinking Muslim Women and the Veil which challenges Historical and Modern Stereotypes.  She has also published articles on Muslim women and the media, and Islam and political theory. Purposes of the research The objectives of the study are to examine if the dominant negative Western perception affects the reasons why the Muslim community is divided on the subject of hijab. This research addresses the concern for a dialogue that could inform westernised societies about the personal reasons why some female Muslim students wear hijab and why others do not. I want my research to be meaningful, relevant to local communities and to open my mind and that of others by being taught through research and personal interviews about the subject. Scope and limitations This study was conducted in a very short period of time with a very small sample group as the pool of participants was limited to the Muslim students at TSiBA Education. The data set is meaningful, but not representative of the vast range of Muslims in different contexts. It will however show a diversity of views within a common theology and faith. A more sizable sample within the target group would have provided a larger and more conclusive amount of data. This can have a bias that favours the educated and the youth of Cape Town. Another limitation of my study, was that all of the participants belonged to one ethnic group being from the race regarded in South Africa as Coloured. This was due to the fact TSiBA Education is a relatively small university whose Muslim female population is a fraction of the total students of which there were no Muslim women from a different race or culture. The research conducted could have benefitted from a more diverse pool of applicants. Plan of development This research report was compiled in the following manner. Firstly I provide my literature review which I put together for the purpose of exploring what has previously been written on the topic so that you and I may learn from it and be aware of it as we go about this research. Secondly I made a survey form of 3 pages long that contained relevant questions which I derived from the process of compiling the literature review. Thirdly, At random I selected 10 Muslim women studying at TSiBA to be my participants and followed through by conducting my survey about each one of them. Lastly, I analyzed the data obtained from the surveys and make this information available to you while also comparing my research findings to the findings derived from my literature review. METHODOLOGY Literature review The first piece of work I did was conducting research on the topic of the hijab in order to compile a literature review. My literature review took a significant amount of time in relation to how long the actual research demanded. Information was abundant regarding the topic of hijab, modernization, the dominant Western perception and the medias role in the portrayal of Muslim women that I found it particularly challenging to sift out important points from the all information available. My literature review saw two sessions of editing with my Communications lecturer who helped me construct and organized the important information once I identified it. Participation The target group for the research was initially 20 South African Muslim women between the ages of 18 and 40. This age group was the target of this study because they were the current generation of TSiBA students and were experiencing modern South Africa in a time when it seemed there was an ever increasing influx of Western culture after Apartheid. The age group is also likely to include married women who might be inclined to think differently about the hijab as their marriage might have changed the way each looks at the hijab. The participants of my research were all female as I had hoped, but unfortunately all of them belonged to one ethnic group being from the race regarded in South Africa as Coloured. There were 2 married women, and 8 unmarried women. 5 of them wore hijab and 5 of them were women who choose not to. Method of data collection One method of obtaining data was employed. The research draws on qualitative data from comprehensive surveys conducted on 10 Muslim students regarding hijab. The survey was constructed in a manner that it took students approximately 5 minutes to complete. After many different drafts of the survey I went to the Tertiary School in Business Administration (TSiBA) Education to distribute the final version. My survey included the opinions of both young women who wear the hijab and those that do not. I did not ask for names in any section of the survey to ensure the anonymity of all my human subjects. In the end I collected 10 surveys in total which was a smaller sample group than I had initially hoped. After gathering the surveys, I analyzed the results manually. LITERATURE REVIEW Introduction The debate regarding the wearing of religious garb in public, specifically coverings worn by Muslim women has increased over the past few years resulting in a lot of controversy among those who agree with the practice and those who do not (iqraonline.net). Hijab is seen all over the world, especially in places with a high concentration of practicing Muslims. The hijab has resulted in severe media disputes and now denotes the difference of cultures. The French, along with the west expected that the hijab would pass away into history as westernization and secularization took root. However, in the Muslim world, especially among the younger generation, a great wave of returning to hijab was spreading through various countries. This current resurgence is an expression of Islamic revival (Nakata, 1994). The Topic of Hijab External to South Africa The views of feminists The Western media and feminists often portray the  hijab  as a symbol of oppression and slavery of women (www.al-islam.org). A theory of Orientalism has been in existence since 1978 which argues that the Muslim population is deemed backward, uncivilized beings who are outcasts in Western society (Said, 1978). Many feminists, both Western and Islamic argue that the hijab is a symbol of gender oppression and that the Islamic veiling of women is an oppressive practice. Fadel Amara, an Islamic feminist and Muslim female member of French government describes the burqa as a prison and a straightjacket which is not religious but is the symbol of a tyrannical political project for sexual inequality (King, 299.). Feminists argue that public presence and visibility is important to Western women. This overlaps sexism and racism as well as there are two arguments made by feminists who are divided on the topic of the hijab. a) The argument of oppression One argument is for hijab to be banned in public as they encourage the harassment of women who are unveiled and because public presence and visibility represents their struggle for economic independence, sexual agency and political participation. In the Western culture, celebrities are regarded as trend-setters defining what is acceptable. The hijab is therefore also seen as a problem because it poses challenge to the view of unconventional visibility and freedom of self-expression. (www.theage.com). Although it is true that many women do choose to wear the hijab, it is not the case for all women. In many Middle Eastern and North African countries women are forced, persecuted and abused for noncompliance with the hijab. This was demonstrated in Pakistan where an extremist killed a womens activist and government minister because she refused to wear the hijab. King states, From Afghanistan to Algeria to Sudan, Pakistan and Iran- women are systematically brutalized and caught in a deadl y crossfire between the secular and fundamentalist forces. Some Islamic feminists argue that although the statement in the Quran about women covering themselves was not meant to oppress women, the interpretation of those verses by Islamic societies does in fact oppress women. Although it can be argued that the hijab is a symbol of the oppression that occurs against women in Islam, many Islamic women dont agree. It is true that under some Islamist rule, specifically in some North African countries, Afghanistan, Iran, and Saudi Arabia women are oppressed and forced to wear the hijab, but in an international context, this is the exception to the rule regarding womens practices of wearing the veil. Salma Yaqoob, a Muslim woman who chooses to wear the hijab explains the veil is not only an oppressing force in Islamic countries that require the veil, but also in Western countries that ban the veil. Yaqoob adamantly contends that by infringing laws that restricts womens choice on whether or not to wear the veil, they are also being oppressed. I am opposed to the Saudi and Iranian governments imposition of the veil and that of the Taliban previously. But this is also why I oppose the ban on wearing the hijab. In both cases the woman herself is no longer free to make a choice. In both cases her dignity is violated.. Yaqoob explains that more women are currently banned from wearing the hijab, than are required to wear it. b) The argument of liberation It can be argued that rather than oppressing, the hijab is liberating. The second argument made by feminists supports the argument of fundamentalist Islamic leaders who argue that Muslim women have the right to choose to wear or not to wear a hijab as it is part of a Muslim womans duty to wear a hijab. These feminists demand that the French ban be withdrawn because they believe the oppressing force behind the veil is when authority figures, both Islamic and Western, take away a womans right to choose. They defend the veil as a mark of agency, cultural membership, and defiance. Tayyab Bashart, a feminist scholar and Muslim who teaches in France explains her beliefs A woman in hijab, who is a functioning member of society, symbolizes an empowered, independent woman, rather than someone who lacks self-determination and is a puppet of society (Basharat, 2006). The veil itself is just a piece of cloth. Human beings interpret the hijab according to social and religious constructions. Throu gh the Western discussion and banning of the hijab in public schools, the Muslim school girls of France lose their freedom to express their spirituality. The desired effect of the 2004 law is to fight gender oppression and inequality in the public school system, but as a residual effect, it actually diminishes womens freedoms rather than enhancing them. The law on the headscarf supports the oppressing Western discourses about veiled women and attempts to Westernize French Muslim schoolgirls. Western Governments In Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and Iran, the full covering, more commonly known as the burqa, has been made compulsory upon female citizens. In contrast to this, the unwillingness to understand the religion and culture of Muslims has resulted in traditional clothing such as the burqa and the hijab being banned with the hope of Westernised societies achieving secularism in Islamic countries. Katherine Bullock shines light on the differences in judgment over hijab by having identified themes from her research on women and the religion of Islam. She divides these themes into the descriptions of those who are for and those who are against the hijab. According to Bullock, critics of the veil rely on secular liberal assumptions about society and human nature and therefore the veil is supposed to be and described as a symbol of oppression because it: Covers up (hides), in the sense of smothering, femininity Is apparently linked to the essentialized male and female difference (which is taken to mean that by nature, male is superior, female is inferior); Is linked to a particular view of womans place (subjugated in the home); Is linked to an oppressive (patriarchal) notion of morality and female purity (because of Islams Emphasis on chastity, marriage, and condemnation of pre- and extra-marital sexual relations); Can be imposed; and Is linked to a package of oppressions women in Islam face, such as seclusion, polygamy, easy male divorce, unequal inheritance rights. Western countries has developed this view and disregarded other views of what public visibility may be to different women with differing beliefs. (www.theage.com). An example of this is that France has decided upon the banning of the hijab to be worn in schools. Frances 2004 law, popularly refered to as the law on the headscarf, reveals the difficulty of respecting conflicting ideas between diverse communities, especially when one community, in this case the Muslims of France, is a minority. According to this law, female students are banned from wearing the hijab as well as all other openly religious symbols in public schools. France bans women from wearing the hijab in public schools because many feminists and lawmakers argue that veiling women serves as an oppressing force, a force that silences women. Alia Al- Saji states in her article The Racialization of Muslim Veils: A Philosophical Analysis many feminists see the headscarf As a symbol of Islamic gender oppression that à ¢Ã¢â €š ¬Ã‚ ¦should be banned from public schools, a space where gender equality is presumed (or desired). Supporters of the law believe it fights gender oppression and gives equality to women in the school system. Media attitudes in reporting Islam and hijab While the media cannot be the only party held accountable or blamed for societal attitudes towards smaller cultures and religions, theses media moguls create the lens through which reality is perceived (Bullock Jafri, 2000). Western media sees itself as a democratic powerhouse and therefore is frequently answerable for legitimising and distributing racism and bias against religious communities such as Muslims (Bullock Jafri, 2000). The media in Westernised socities portrays Muslims as tricky, sleazy, sexual and untrustworthy, as uniformly violent, as oppressors of women, and as members of a global conspiracy (Bullock Jafri, 2000). For example, in 1998 a shift was noted regarding the European medias depiction of women who wear the hijab. Veiled women were no longer portrayed as exotic but instead as a threat to society (Macmaster Lewis, 1998,). This highlights the contrasting representations of Muslim women as concurrently being oppressed and threatening. In 2005 Begum argues that these images of Islamic dress were increasingly used in the media as visual shorthand for treacherous extremism, and that Muslims living in Europe were suffering from the consequences of these associations (Begum, 2005). The increase of these media portrayals and political deliberation has segregated the Muslim community and had a further disruptive effect on society and feminism at large. (Begum, 2005) Since then, the media in France reported on a women who was suspended for wearing a hijab under her hat while working as a meter reader, a fashion show of veiled women that was banned, the hindrance of hijab-wearing mothers from volunteering in schools, the refusal of cafeteria service to a student wearing a hijab and the banning of a witness to a civil service wedding from signing the documentation based on the argument that hijab prevented her from proper identification. Many authors on this topic dispute that because of the medias cultural fascination with Muslim womens dress as symbols of oppression, Muslim women often have to resort to focusing on that facet of their identity as well, even if they would rather discuss something else. These authors state that even cases of responsible journalism have a propensity to devalue Muslim women. This is because Muslim women are primarily depicted as exotic, victimised, or threatening outcasts rather than your ordinary peaceful next door neighbours. (www.reportingdiversity.org.) It is evident that the hijab remains a hot topic in Western countries and that the wellbeing and identities of Muslim women in Westernised societies are related to the wearing of the headscarf as a consequence. The Topic of The Hijab Within the Muslim Community The opinions of Muslim women vary in their decision about whether or not to wear the hijab. The hijab, according to many Muslims, has multiple uses and meanings. The hijabs symbolism is one of modesty and morality. According to Islam, the hijab functions as a shield for a woman against the lustful gaze of men. The hijab also serves as a cover to preserve the modesty and piety of the woman, as that is her main role as stated in the Quran. The most basic debate over the hijab is over the requirement of the hijab. This is an issue that is debated by many Muslim scholars. First in order to understand why there is an issue it is important to understand the power of the Quran. The Quran is the word of God brought to humanity by his last messenger the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). Islam is the religion of total submission to Allah (God the Father) and obedience to Allah. As the Quran is Gods word then it also means total submission and obedience to Quran. The first issue with the requirement of the hijab comes from whether the hijab is in the Quran or not. There are two sides to this argument; there are those who say that the hijab is a requirement because it is in the Quran and those who say that it is not because it is not part of the Quran Reasons why Muslim Women wear the hijab The laws of the Quran Amr Khaleds, a popular Islamic scholar, layman, and highly influential Muslim speaker, represents the school of thought that considers the hijab to be directly in the Quran and thus a requirement for Muslim women. He quotes these Quranic verses that make the hijab obligatory to Muslim women. O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies. That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And ALLAH is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful (Surah 33: verse 59). In this verse women are told to cover their bodies so that they should be known as modest women and are not harassed. According to Amr Khalads lecture Al-Hijab, the hijab also serves the purpose of forcing men to not sexually objectify women but to see her as a vessel of intelligence and high moral values. Khalad says that the hijab reinforces the fact that Islam has placed the beauty of a female on a higher value in the eyes of men by providing protection of her beauty from uncontrolled lusts and desires, and instead ordering men to respect greater the inner beauty of her soul. Thus, the real value of women is associated with the degree of her modesty and her abidance by it (Khaled Al-Hijab). Yaqoob states her personal reasons why she wears the veil, For me, the wearing of the hijab denotes that as a woman I expect to be treated as an equal in terms of my intellect and personality and my appearance is relevant only to the degree that I want it to be, when I want it to be.. This is the traditional Islamic rational for the hijab and why it is important in Islam (Khalad AlHijab). A symbol of resistance A study about hijab in the West also provides another theory that I believe can also be applied in South Africa because it is a country heavily influenced by the West. The idea of the hijab as a symbol of resistance is explored by Tarik Kulenovic but not necessarily one that is strictly political. Tarik Kulenovics theory suggests that the hijab in the West is a matter of identity, a physical symbol of a womans Muslim identity. This symbol also carries a message of religiosity in a modernizing society which encourages a secular life style and scorns tradition. Kulenovic asserts that the modern identity of Muslim women, which includes the wearing of the veil, is primarily the identity of resistance to the values that individuals find foreign to them and as such imposed on them (Kulenovic, page 717). Thus, in modern society, the hijab can be thought of as a means of retaining a religious life style while assimilating to the demands of the modern world. Another reason women choose to wea r the hijab is that they find that the hijab serves as an empowering factor. The Interpretation of the hijab by those who wear it Katherine Bullock, through her research, provides some reasons why women wear the hijab. The hijab to these wearers: 1. Does not smother femininity; 2. Brings to mind the different-but-equal school of thought, but does not put forward essentalized male-female difference; 3. Is linked to a view that does not limit women to the home, but neither does it consider the role of stay-at-home-mother and homemaker oppressive; 4. Is linked to a view of morality that is oppressive only if one considers the prohibition of sexual relations outside marriage wrong; 5. Is part of Islamic law, though a law that ought to be implemented in a very wise and women-friendly manner, and 6. Can and should be treated separately from other issues of womens rights in Islam. Spirituality Some women have a deep spiritual and religious connection to the veil and firmly disagree with the view of it as a sign of oppression. Many Muslim women feel uncomfortable without wearing it because the hijab is deeply-rooted in their personal values and religious tradition. A main reason women choose to wear the hijab, is as expression of spirituality. Bashart states in his book that Muslim women carry with them their sacred private space into the public space by use of the Hijab. In this view of the hijab, the veil is not simply an article of clothing; or a symbol of oppression it is a tool of spirituality for women. Fadwa El Guindi, author of The Veil: Modesty, Privacy and Resistance, says veiling patterns and veiling behaviour are. about sacred privacy, sanctity and the rhythmic interweaving of patterns of worldly and sacred life, linking women as the guardians of family sanctuaries and the realm of the sacred in this world Reasons why Muslim Women do not wear the hijab In the Quranic this verse although it says to draw the cloak all over their bodies, it does not specifically say the hair. In addition, it does not specify in what way, to what extent, and in what manner women should cover themselves. There are many modern alternative views to this idea that the hijab is compulsory because it is in the Quran. For example, Dr.Reza Alsan, an internationally acclaimed writer and scholar of religions, the founder of AslanMedia.com and also one of the leading scholars in the alternative view, considers the hijab not an obligatory aspect of being a Muslim woman. Aslan claims that the hijab is shockingly not compulsory upon Muslim women anywhere in the Quran. Instead he claims that the veil was an Arab culture before the arrival of Islam, through contact with Syria and Iran, where the veil was the sign of the upper class women. According to Lelia Ahmed and those who fall in the second school of thought like Aslan, the only places that the hijab is applied t o women is when it is addressing the wives of Prophet Muhammad. Thus the veil was only associated with the prophets wives and his daughters not all women of Islam. This school of thought does not deny that modesty was expected of all believers. Believing women are instructed to guard their private parts and drape a cover over their breasts when in the presence of strange men (Surah 24:31-32) as quoted by Aslan. Here specific parts of the body are named that women should guard and cover including the private parts and the breast but the hair is not mentioned. Thus those in this school of thought like Leila Ahmed and Reza Alsan do not believe that the hijab is mandatory for Muslim women because it is not mentioned in the Quran. Conclusion of Literature review This research investigates the reasons why the Muslim community is divided on the subject of the veil and if the dominant negative perception of hijab (as the hijab being oppressive) has affected, if at all, the wearing of hijab in TSiBA Education. In the attempt to answer this question, the research has presented two hypotheses: (1) Living in South Africa, a country with great Western influence, causes some Muslim women to fear wearing the hijab and to abandon it all together (2) Some Muslim women choose to wear the hijab for spirituality reasons despite constant the pressures of the West Data obtained from the research My data collection was a result of 10 surveys this research revealed that my two hypotheses were in agreement with a majority of this small sample of subjects. The data collected represents the opinions and beliefs of a total of 10 human participants which is 50% of the total intended target group. Thus, the data collected must only be interpreted as speculative and cannot be assumed applicable to all Muslim women or all Muslim female students. What constitutes the debate Regarding the Hijab and what pressures are felt by Muslim women studying at TSiBA Education: A point of view unknown to me before starting my research was that there are Muslim women who did not know that there were differing interpretations about what the hijab is tangibly. In fact, from the surveys it is evident that amongst Muslims there is a concept of a correct hijab and an incorrect hijab. Before my research commenced, the purpose of the research was not intended to identify whether my target population was aware that many Muslims have differing beliefs about what hijab is tangibly. 60% of participants claimed that the correct physical hijab is a head scarf and long loose fitting clothing that conceals the shape of the body and everything but the face and hands. Interesting to note is that four of the 10 answered that all forms of wearing hijab including: a. just covering your hair b. covering your face and hair c. covering your hair and wearing loose clothing are acceptable. 3 of the 5 women who claim to wear hijab said they wear a fashionable coloured hijab. I find these results consistent with my observations which are that tight, colourful head-scarves worn with jeans and a blouse are the most popular hijab style worn by the females on the TSiBA Campus and throughout the University-going Muslim women in Cape Town. The fact that surveyed two married mothers may have resulted in that they would be more likely to wear a more modest and more Islamically correct hijab. Hijab Decisions The rationale for why women do or do not wear the hijab in this study is very interesting. 40% of my participants said they decided to wear the hijab by choice for purely religious reasons because they wanted to submit to Allah. Reasons For Wearing the Hijab Five of the 10 participants wore the hijab of which 3 participants said that they strongly agree that they wear the hijab for religious reasons while 2 participants said they agree that they wear it for religious reasons but that religion is not the main reason why they wear the hijab. Culture From this data we can deduce that 3 out of the 5 Muslim wear the hijab even though the hijab makes them feel like they dont fit in with their peers. 1 person however does feel that she fits in with her peers and in her community because she wears the hijab. Security The hijab makes all five participants who wear the hijab feel protected and safe in public. 3 of them strongly agreed while 2 agreed. Interesting to note is that five of the 17 answered that all forms of wearing hijab including: a. just covering your hair b. covering your face and hair c. covering your hair and wearing loose clothing are acceptable.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Essay example --

Value-Belief-Norm Theory The aim of this research paper will be to depict the difference between criminals who engage in money laundering and tax evasion. In this regard, the theory of Value-Belief-Norm can be taken into concern. According to this theory, actions of an individual are directly influenced by his/her moral and personal values that impose considerable impact upon the behavioral attitudes (Boersema & Reijnders, 2008). Hence, these psychological aspects further forms as a difference between a normal individual and a criminal. Money Laundering Money can often be duly considered as one of the prime reasons for which most of the criminal activities happen in this world. In this regard, one of the commonly identified crimes associated with money is the aspect of money laundering. Money-laundering is regarded as the process through which criminals of all sorts cover the origin of their wealth in order to avoid suspicions from various law-enforcement agencies. This is also performed by the people with the intention of hiding evidences that could lead to their trail in front of the law. Money laundering can be executed through several ways that include structuring and round tripping among the primary ones. In the method of structuring, money is broken into several small deposits that reduce the chances of any suspicion from various law enforcement agencies. In relation to the method of round tripping, money distorts the market, further lessening the chances for law enforcers to detect the money (UNODC, 2013; [1] Legal Informatio n Institute, n.d.). In terms of law, money laundering is considered as a crime and penalty is thus imposed on people involved in laundering money. E.g. 18 USC Â § 1956 of law dep... ...inals Who Engage In Money Laundering and Tax Evasion From the above discussion, several differences can be depicted between criminals engaged in money laundering and tax evasion. In this context, criminals involved in money laundering are influenced to conduct the crime in order to hide the destination or the source of their income. On the other hand, a criminal involved in tax evasion mainly tends to hide real financial status in the form of paying less tax to the concerned authorities. One more dissimilarity between the two can be apparently observed as the legal actions that are imposed over these criminals. Criminals of money laundering are expected to get stern penalty as compared to that of tax evasion. Additionally, moral values, according to Value-Belief-Norm theory also differ in nature between the criminals engaged in money laundering and tax evasion.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Moral Mutation and the apocalyptic future Essay

The two texts, the film and the book, were set in a post-Hiroshima world where arsenals were being further improved to generate a more efficient way to participate in warfare and be the leader in these developments. By lumping two stories together in an analysis, it is inevitable for traits to be observed in the chosen texts. Dewey in his analysis of Cat’s Cradle described Dr. Hoenikker as a â€Å"man-child curiously unfamiliar with concepts such as sin and God† (57). He then identified in the doctor a â€Å"moral mutation who believes with Faustian pride that humanity can manipulate, dominate, even annihilate nature† (57). When the Russians and the Americans in Dr. Strangelove developed their own military hardware in order to upstage the enemy and scare them into submission they demonstrated the characteristics of this mutation. Because of the belief that man can dominate nature, these weapons were made to possess qualities that rivalled the greatest strength of the natural world. Hence, should the enemy ever attack, they could immediately launch a counter-attack and prove their superiority. The will to dominate and annihilate nature is not the only characteristic of this moral mutation. Egocentrism plays a focal point in this mutation, for it fuels the foolishness of the characters and magnifies their ignorance. Dr. Hoenikker announced that he saw himself as a child that allowed curiosity to get the better of him and strove to study anything that caught his interest. All his studies he did for himself and he seemed to have no regard for others: he did not take good care of his wife who turned her back on everything for him; he pulled out Angela from school because he wanted someone to take care of him; and he never considered the effects of his inventions, he saw them only as playthings and never thought of the consequences that will affect the lives of millions of people. Westfahl interprets this as a jab at notion that the scientist can be relieved of responsibility in developing such instruments because he is only interested in science and not in wealth and fame (957). After his death, his children distributed the ice-nine between themselves, as he had neglected to keep such a dangerous substance in an appropriate place. The children used the seed crystal to suit their own wants, provided warring powers with the weapon and caused the apocalypse. General Jack D. Ripper acts as the Dr. Hoenikker of Dr. Strangelove. He allowed a theory that he had formed out of sexual fatigue to dictate his decisions as a general; he was too confident in his analysis of the situation and stubbornly stood by his actions, not bothering to consult with other officials. In the last stages before the explosions, he never checked on how the people around him were doing and only worried of what will become of him should his building be stormed and his enemies come after him. In the end, he chose to save himself rather than face the consequences of his actions. The two texts present the end of the world in a manner of a ticking bomb. The countdown in Cat’s Cradle starts after the reader is made aware that the events presented lead to the unfortunate end. In Dr. Strangelove, the countdown is in the form of time-measure; the length of time it would take for the B-52s to reach their targets thus activating the doomsday device. Looking at the two texts, the direct causes of the end of the world stand on a far distance from the other. Dr. Strangelove’s tension before the cataclysm was between two world powers, and elements that sprout from this tension eventually sprouted the doom. The film’s end was caused by the actions of people and abrupt: showing only scenes of the bomb explosions but none of what happened after. Perhaps this hinted that nothing survived after the event and it was truly the there were no more stories to tell. In Cat’s Cradle, what caused the end was the body of a dictator of a small island which nobody wanted to rule. The narrator believed that this was destined and all that he experienced were pointing to that event and to his destiny after the apocalypse. As he still had something to accomplish after the ice-nine incident, Jonah kept accounts of what had happened up until the point he meets Bokonon face to face. The two texts tackle different viewpoints regarding scientific development and the participation of people in history. The suggestions and portrayals of Cat’s Cradle may not completely coincide with those of Dr. Strangelove’s, but similarities still exist between the two texts. Dewey, Joseph. In a dark time: the apocalyptic temper in the American novel of the nuclear age. Indiana: Purdue University Press. 1990. Dr Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb . Dir. Stanley Kubrick. Perf. Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, Slim Pickens, Sterling Hayden, James Earl Jones. 1964. DVD. Columbia Pictures, 2004. mininova. Cat’s Cradle. 1 June 2009. Westfahl, Gary. The Greenwood encyclopedia of science fiction and fantasy: themes, works, and wonders. Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group. 2005.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

5 Essential Factors to Improve Memory

5 Essential Factors To Improve Memory What factors help improve memory? Here are five factors that are proven to significantly improve memory, help you learn and recall more and be less forgetful. 1. Positive Attitude While ever you think you have a bad memory that is exactly what you will have! If you say, I can’t remember numbers or, I’m no good with names you are making a self-fulfilling prophesy. You are conditioning your brain with negative thoughts and statements.Your brain will ensure that what you say and think is true and make it almost impossible for you to improve your memory. So banish those thoughts from your mind right now! If you ever catch yourself thinking or saying something negative about your memory, immediately say, Cancel! Cancel! Every day my memory is getting better, better and better! You CAN improve your memory; commit to doing so and celebrate every achievement no matter how small. 2. Healthy Lifestyle Maintaining a healthy lifestyle pays huge dividends.Practise these healthy habits that improve memory: * Exercise. Any form of aerobic exercise such as running, cycling, or even walking briskly, performed for 15 minutes per day will increase the flow of blood, oxygen and nutrients to the brain. This will enhance your brain performance, improve memory and reduce the risk of disorders that lead to memory loss. * Diet. A balanced diet is essential for a healthy body and a healthy mind. Research indicates that certain nutrients enhance brain function and improve memory.These include: the B vitamins (especially B6, B12 and folic acid) found in spinach and other dark leafy greens, broccoli, asparagus, strawberries, melons, black beans and other legumes, citrus fruits, soybeans; antioxidants like vitamins C and E, and beta carotene found in blueberries and other berries, sweet potatoes, red tomatoes, spinach, broccoli, green tea, nuts and seeds, citrus fruits, liver; and omega-3 fatty acids found in fish such as salmon, herring, tuna, halibut, and mackerel, walnuts and walnut oil, flaxseed and laxseed oil. * Sleep. Sufficient good quality sleep is essential for memory consolidation (storing things you have learnt during the day). Lack of sleep impacts your concentration and ability to absorb new information. 3. Organisation Give yourself less to remember by organising your life. Keep a To Do list of all the tasks, big or small, that you want to get done. Use a diary to keep track of birthdays, anniversaries, appointments, events and due dates for bills and to schedule tasks from your To Do list.Use sticky notes for reminders; for example, stick one on the front door to remind you to switch the answer machine on when you leave the house. Organise your possessions; a place for everything and everything in its place is a good maxim. Even if being organised does not improve your memory, you will receive a lot of the same benefits, for example, you will not have to search for your keys anymore! 4. Memory Techniq ues and Systems Memory techniques and systems help you learn and recall information.Start with simple techniques such as chunking, breaking up information into smaller, easier to remember chunks, and build up to the more complex systems. You will then have an arsenal of tools to help you memorise anything you want. 5. Practise Use it or lose it! The brain needs exercise just as your body needs exercise to perform at its best and not deteriorate. When you learn a new memory technique practise it until it becomes second nature.Keep your brain active: play memory games and brain games, do puzzles. Try something new: a new hobby, learn to play a musical instrument, learn a foreign language. By regularly exercising your brain with new challenges you will stimulate the development of new nerve connections that can help improve memory. Pay attention to these essential factors to improve memory and you will soon find yourself less forgetful and able to learn and recall new information with ease.

Marks And Spencer Plc Commerce Essay

Get downing in UK as a penny shop in 1880s, Michael Marks and Top Spencer started the company we know today as Marks and Spencer plc. Simon Marks, the boy of Michael Marks took over the running of the concern and introduced the nucleus principals of the concern. The nucleus principals, which remained unchanged for most of their history, included the usage of simple monetary value policies, first-class quality of merchandises under the â€Å" St. Michael † trade name name, promoting and working with the providers straight to guarantee their procedures were modern and of the highest criterions and better the concern in efficiency and besides by organizing close relationships between the employees and the clients. By runing with a centralized distribution system and holding control over the full procedure, enabled to them have the same quality and make consistent shop experiences. This besides meant that the local shops were unable to run into the demands, as the directors were restricted in their powers. The powers seemed to be concentrated to the CEOs, who were besides the chair of the board of members. Sir Richard Greenbury, known for his strong sentiment and about allergic reaction to bad intelligence ran the company from 1988 to 1999. The jobs started in 1998, when the portion monetary values were hit badly, and the company was get bying with lifting costs due to the their trust on expensive providers in Britain ( while it seemed every other rival was outsourcing to Asia ) , increased competition in the market sections they were present and the traditional bureaucratic direction. After his surrender, the new CEO Peter Salsbury did small and lasted merely a twelvemonth, before being succeeded by Luc Vandervelde in 2000. Until his going in 2004, he made important alterations such as a new construct of â€Å" shop in shop † , recognition card fecilities, trueness plans, â€Å" Simple Food † trade name and the â€Å" Per Una † joint venture. However he excessively held the place of both the CEO and the chair. These alterations little consequence in the stock market, and many companies, who were their rivals were seeking to take over the company. Their commands were fought away and besides meant the debut of a new caput, Rose Stuart. Rose, made several more alterations, the most celebrated being the 11-point strategic program based their nucleus values of quality, service, trust and value for money. He made several cuts to halt blowing money, better efficiency and besides doing ascents in the shops. The public presentation was good, and in 2008, Ross officially took over the function of chair ( he was already the CEO ) , and despite being controversial. 2009 proved to be a twelvemonth of slow growing for the company, and this caused relationships between the board and the investors to go rancid. Ross, announced his connotations to step down as the CEO, nevertheless he would retain the place of Chair until 2011.Theory and constructsThe instance survey is based around alteration direction and the schemes involved. Every company faces alterations, and must do them to run into the demands of the concern. Many factors can convey about this alteration and influence it. The writers ( Witcher & A ; Chau 2010 ) depict one such model as the PESTEL model. It consists of: Political affairs such as the influence from the authorities, Economic factors that are caused due to affairs related to cost incurred, Social factors which are the alterations that are related to the alterations in the society, Technological factors which involve alterations in the engineerings that are invented and proficient alterations made in procedures, Environmental factors which are caused by environmental events or considerations of environmental impact, and in conclusion Legal factors which are alterations in the legal institutes and models. Harmonizing to the writer ( Henry 2008 ) the alteration influences can besides be described by the â€Å" Porter ‘s five forces model † , which can demo the success or failure of a merchandise or service. The five forces are: menace to new entrants, the bargaining power of the purchasers, the bargaining power of the providers, the menace of replacement merchandises and services and in conclusion the strength of the competition among the rivals in the market. These forces can be examined to measure the whether the company will be able to vie in the market, and put its resources. These factors have all influenced M & A ; S plc to do alterations. To do these alterations nevertheless a proper direction is required. The company can take many paths to recognize the alterations, and many attacks can be taken to implement the alterations. These are detailed in the subdivisions that follow.Aims of the assignmentThe aims of the assignment are to: Analyse the strategic paths taken by the company. Identifying the nucleus competences of M & A ; S plc. Analyze and discourse the types of alteration direction used in M & A ; S plc.II. Beginnings of competitory advantages of M & A ; S and routes takenCompetitive advantages of M & A ; S plcDegree centigrades: UsersuserDesktop ew.PNG Figure: Strategic Clock The archer scheme clock is used to do an analysis of the place of a company with its rivals. From the writers ( Needle 2010 ) and ( Thomson & A ; Baden-Fuller 2010 ) we understand that, the â€Å" Strategic Clock † is set against two factors, the â€Å" Perceived Value of the merchandise to the consumer † and the â€Å" Price † . It came from an earlier stiff theoretical account, by Michael Porter, which was seen as deficient. Companies can be analyzed utilizing this theoretical account, falling non merely in a peculiar section, but taking a assorted way. In the clock we can see, the low priced, low added value, which is focal point on supplying basic merchandises and minimal pricing. From at that place, we see the low priced, which is for companies supplying merchandises that are cheaper discrepancies of similar merchandises offered by their rivals. The intercrossed way is taken to set supply both a distinction factor and a low monetary value factor, which is me rely possible with high volume gross revenues. The distinction way is for merchandises which are offered merely to supply distinction, and the focussed distinction way allows the company to bear down higher by offering different, advanced and merchandises which are merely available from them. On the other side of the clock we see that hazardous, monopoly pricing and loss of market portion, which are all bad for the company, unless under extreme fortunes where the company has a monopoly over the merchandise. These schemes combine to organize of import factors to see in order for bettering the place of the company in the market. The paths taken by Marks and Spencer are based on the loanblend and distinction of its merchandises to acquire a competitory advantage in the market. These allow the company to be: Loanblend: The Company provides merchandises which are merchandises in a sensible cost, but due to its repute and the long history of attending to inside informations, the company is able to portray a higher sensed value for the merchandise. For this ground they are able to construct a trueness from the clients. Differentiation: In this path the company is supplying the client with a higher sensed value for the merchandises. They increase the borders of the merchandises and have been making so for some clip, basking higher net income borders. This distinction is based on the many factors harmonizing to ( Obitz 2009 ) such as image distinction which allows for the trade name image to distinguish their merchandises in the market utilizing the company ‘s image. Support distinction is where the company provides the clients with convenient and advanced services such as shopping hours, price reductions, shop layout etc. Quality Differentiation is where the company differentiates its merchandises based on the quality. This has been achieved by proper trading which is controlled by the company, the attending to inside informations of the demands of the merchandises and invention. And in conclusion the design distinction where the importance is to maintain it different and advanced in the marke t.CompetencesThe nucleus competences of M & A ; S plc can be identified as: The trade name is known for quality. This is one of the chief competences, which provide them with extra value from their rivals. From the early yearss, the company has been able to concentrate and command the quality of the merchandises it sells in the shops, from design, production and distribution. This allows for the merchandises at their shops to be of the highest quality and design. The merchandises of the company are known for their value for money. Although they are more expensive than their rivals, they are able to maintain the monetary values at a degree that is justified by the quality they provide. This can be important when competition with rivals who provide lower cost merchandises. The trade name of the company has been present in the market for a long clip. Therefore it is good known by about everyone. Due to this, they can vie with new trade names that are non so good known in the market, and hence demands to pass more money in advertisement. The company ‘s direction has ever been a closely knit clump. The work civilization at the company, being closely related to the clients can intend that the client service is better. This is of import to supplying the clients with a great shop experience. Other rivals might non be able to supply the same degree of client satisfaction. The company has been spread outing and is present in many states, with many shops. The shops are able to supply entree to many clients. This is an advantage for the company, in contrast with some of their rivals who do n't hold such a immense planetary range.III. Type of alteration employed by M & A ; SChange direction is an of import portion of any organisation. ( Harrington 2006 ) argues that, clients demand betterment and alteration in merchandises invariably, maintaining up to which requires the changeless focal point of any company to guarantee they run into these demands in an effectual and efficient manner. In add-on to this, the gait of alteration is increasing as the population of the universe is increasing. While points out that there are two ways in which alteration can be done. There are different types of alteration. The writer ( Martin 2003 ) point out these alterations as: Incremental Change: This type of alteration is when the company makes alterations as the demand for them rises. The demand comes from the consumers and is met in a uninterrupted manner. To enable this sort of alteration it is of import for the people involved to do accurate Hells about the types and graduated table of the alteration that is required and meets all the demands. Measure Change: This type of alteration effects the full organisation, and involves doing important alterations in one or many countries within the organisation at one spell. The alterations have a Domino consequence, which means that alteration made in one portion normally causes alterations to other parts of the organisation. For illustration, the company can present a wholly new merchandise or service in the market, which would intend a important alteration from its yesteryear. Transformational alteration: This involves the complete alteration of one concern procedure or the full concern as a whole. This is a radical alteration, which means a wholly different set of individuality and process. The alteration is deep and involves everyone in the company. An illustration of this type of alteration is a amalgamation between two companies that provide the same services, to organize a new company ( like in the recent instance of two Bankss in Oman, unifying into one ) . The alterations made in M & A ; S have been fundamentally incremental. Throughout their history, they have been doing alterations on a regular footing as the demand presented itself. For illustration, when the demand in the market appeared for betterment in engineering use such as recognition cards, the company made those alterations. Even more, when the company was confronting challenges and concern from the investors, the top direction was changed to let them to run into the demands as a company. In times of alterations in the market, and client demand for better merchandises, the company introduced the trueness card strategies, recognition card strategies and such. It would non be incorrect to state that they have failed to even run into the incremental alteration demands. However, they have besides made some measure alterations. During the term of Philip Green as CEO, the company closed down many shop, acquired Per Una trade name, cancelled many nutrient merchandises, and restricted their direction to do it more efficient. These were important alterations that were introduced to better the company and caused the first growing in gross revenues since two old ages prior. The company has yet to do transformational alterations, and they are right in making so. One of the cardinal competences of the company is its trade name value, which has been a symbol of quality and invention. Changing this would do a important strain to its fiscal stableness and besides do it to be at a disadvantage in the competitory market.IV. DecisionM & A ; S plc has had to do important alterations in their history. Organizations have to do strategic alterations due to the many factors that can be defined utilizing models such as PESTEL and Porter ‘s five forces. These alterations have to be managed decently to be effectual. As such, companies take waies, as M & A ; S did, to supplying their merchandises and being competitory in the market. Furthermore they have made these alterations in an incremental and few in a transformational mode to run into the demands of the consumers. We have been able to analyse and understand strategic alteration direction. Change is necessary for any concern, and of import for any organisation to win.V. MentionsHarrington, HJ 2006, Change Management Excellence: The Art of Excelling in Change Management, Paton Press. Henry, A 2008, Understanding Strategic Management, Oxford University Press. Martin, V 2003, Leading Change in Health and Social Care, 1st edn, Routledge. Needle, D 2010, Business in Context: An Introduction to Business and Its Environment, 5th edn, South Western Educational Publishing. Obitz, C 2009, Supermarket distinction in the UK: A theoretical and empirical probe, Diplomica Verlag. Thomson, N & A ; Baden-Fuller, C 2010, Basic Strategy in Context: European text and instances, 1st edn, John Wiley & A ; Sons. Witcher, BJ & A ; Chau, VS 2010, Strategic Management: Principles and Practice, CL Business Press.