Interrogating the Museum Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Interrogating the Museum - Essay Example It is â€Å"is fashioned after the many cabinets of curiosities housed among princely palaces that originated throughout Europe during the 1500s. Ours follows this tradition with a stimulating mixture of books, games, costumes, and other hands-on activities for the entire family (Denver Art Museum). Perhaps the extra effort that was undertaken by the curator of the museum was consistent with its mission not just to house art works but rather to â€Å"enrich the lives of present and future generations through the acquisition, presentation, and preservation of works of art† which explains why the â€Å"unusual† presentation of the art works. The Bernadette Berger Discovery Library contains a mixture of artworks, artifacts, books and other printed artistic materials that it would be difficult to classify the discovery library as a mere museum or study area because it is a combination of both and even more because it encourages the visitors toward a self-discovery of the a rea. In addition, the discovery library in Denver Art Museum is also constantly rearranged to invite its visitors for a return. The moment visitors enter the library, they would notice unusually sized furniture where books, artifacts and artworks are nicely tucked on the walls and cabinets which includes an 18th century doll house, an Egyptian mummy case and several Greek vases. What is unusual with the framing of the artworks there is that some are contained in drawers that the visitors can roll out to see them which includes Egyptian jewelry. What is interesting in the discovery library were the artworks that early Native Americans would have which includes ceramics, basketries and even photos and paintings of the old American West. They are also constantly being rearranged but in general, the place could simulate a comfortable home with oversize furniture and air conditioned. It is also one of the very few museums where there are computers that we could use. Equally interesting, and perhaps the visionary approach of its curator is that there were no staff present when I visited the place and we were just left alone. It was not to neglect us visitors but it was more of encouraging us to explore what is in the library and to encourage that, staff presence were removed. And it was effective because I became engaged with the discovery center. The Bernadette Berger Discovery Library was opened between 1997 and 1999 which was deliberately created as a â€Å"themed† library and used the term â€Å"discovery library† for it to send a message to its visitors that they are welcome not to mention to become more comfortable with the place that would induce them to stay longer. The set up of presenting the books and artworks in the Discovery Library was intended to break the pattern where visitors see a museum with a permanent set up or presentation where they would only visit once not to mention that the visit would be a bore because they remain standing that they could only spend for minimum amount of time (Williams 160). Personally, this is the most interesting part of the museum because it is inviting, relaxing and engaging unlike in other places in other museum where there are no activities that all I have to do is stare at the artwork or listen to the explanation of the curator where I have been standing all along. With this kind of set up, the guests visit

Graduation project Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Graduation project - Research Paper Example The kingdom of Saudi Arabia is located in the Middle East and is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Characterized by numerous business opportunities, the country is among the top rated investment destinations of the world. To most people, the name Saudi Arabia is associated with religious oppression and fewer people always think of investment to this unique location. Located in the middle of the Asian desert, Saudi Arabia is a dry country with a rich number of oil wells that is one of the key economic boosters that the country has. Most of the oil is sold to the western countries that either promise cash in return or improve the living conditions of the Saudi people. Starting or doing a business in Saudi can be quite challenging especially for foreign investors. The country has strict Islamic laws that govern almost all the industries and sectors of the economy. In order to facilitate the writing of this paper, literature on how trade is affected in Saudi Arabia was c ollected with relevance to the topic of discussion kept in mind. The banks and the entire economy strictly follow the Shariah laws of banking that maintain that loans do not gather any interest at all. It is for this reason that most investors find it challenging especially if their field of business will be affected by the strict laws. Coming into power in 2005, his majesty king Abdullah has had a lot of impact on the economy and living standards of the Saudi people. The country currently enjoys peace and is one of the countries in the Middle East that experience peace and political stability. This paper is a critical review of the current laws and economic standards that affect businesses in Saudi and some of the challenges that one might face in order to establish a business in Saudi. It is however important to note that this guide is a general overview of the situation in Saudi and should not

The Community Partnership And Oriented Policing Criminology Essay

The Community Partnership And Oriented Policing Criminology Essay The evolution and refinement of Community Oriented Policing its philosophy and practice have had a significant positive impact on the attitudes and behaviors of citizens in previous high crime communities at every level by improving the quality of its residents. Community oriented Policing has allowed communities to take ownership of the communities and making it a socially healthy environment to raise kids and establish long lasting friendships. Every community oriented policing program should seek to meet the textbook goal, to establish A pattern of attitudes and behaviors directed both at reducing the threat of a crime and enhancing the sense of safety and security to positively influence the quality of life and to help develop environments were crime cannot flourish(Peak and Glender. 2004).   In Community Policing and Problem Solving, Community policing is a philosophy of full-service, personalized policing where the same officer patrols and works in the same area on a permanent basis, from a decentralized place, working in a proactive partnership with citizens to identify and solve problems (Trojanowicz, 1992) . These the goals that have been established through police and community input and how they can be enable Community Partnership Programs to establishing; suspicious crime activity hot lines, School Resource Officers, establish faith and non-faith drug prevention and education programs and forming Neighborhood Crime Watch associations are the building blocks of community policing. Each police department must realizes that to effectively  minimize all criminal activity within an specific neighborhoods, will only be accomplished through a collective effort of all members of  the  targeted community which may include; police officers that are assigned to our locals schools, establishing a suspicious (anonymous) illegal activity hotline, creating drug prevention programs community and enforcing local faith lead community programs and neighborhood crime watch programs. As always, individuals should always call 911 immediately  when observing a serious crime in progress or one that has just occurred, or to report crimes after the fact, police department have set up non-emergency numbers. In community oriented policing ,If suspicious  activity is observed that is not place the citizen at any physical or mental harm of an and does not warrant emergency response, the citizens are  encouraged to call the  Suspicious Activity Hotline   at anytime. In addition most police departments provide access to learning and informational material which might provide details on how to recognize and handle  specific  types of suspicious activity in  the participating neighborhoods. As part of the community oriented policing, Police  officers can also be assigned to local schools. At the school campus the majority of the officers time is spent on building relationships with the youth thus reducing the potential for minor crimes to occur. These campus officers may also become   a great resource to the teachers, counselors, students and most of all to the parents in maintaining a safe and crime free campus, by teaching law enforcement and criminal justice related courses.  Ã‚   The Police Department can also assist in the creation and support of faith and not-faith based drug prevention and education programs. These programs can also work with the local law enforcement agencies to aid in the prevention and reduction of drug related crimes. Neighborhood Crime Watch programs encourages minimal participation of the citizens in a neighborhood to organize  block watch programs in cooperation with law enforcement. It is sometimes called Block Watch or Neighborhood Watch, which, is a crime prevention program that enlists the active participation of citizens in cooperation with law enforcement to reduce crime .Neighbors get to meet one  another at these block watch meetings and discuss neighborhood problems and priorities. On many occasions a police officer will attend these meetings to give crime prevention tips and assist in organizing the block club. The Neighborhood Watch Program works by doing the following: Neighborhood Watch teaches citizens crime prevention techniques to reduce the risk of being victimized at home or in public. Citizens are trained on the importance of recognizing suspicious activities and how to report them. Participants are taught how to make their homes more secure and the importance of recording and identifying their property. Block watch Program allows neighbors to interact and get to know each other and their daily routines. Enforcement of block watch program allows the citizen to notice any out of ordinary activities that might need to reported and investigated by the police. As building blocks to a safer community the neighborhood watch program creates a cohesive body of concerned citizens who become the eyes and ears of law enforcement, thus becoming actively involved in the reduction of crime in their community. This program is always ongoing and continued enrollment is always accepted. An effective crime prevention (neighborhood watch) programs enable the active participation of citizens to cooperate with law enforcement to aid in the reduction of larceny, criminal property damages burglaries primarily the reduction of burglaries on the high rate of the fore-closed homes which will the reduce the other neighborhood crimes. By contacting the Buckeye Police department, I learned that the Buckeye Police department has taken the philosophy of Community Oriented Policing in effort to better serve the community. The police departments has established community partnerships thought the path of working with house developers and community house associations to develop and design neighborhoods in a such way as to deflect criminal activity. As a result of these associations citizens enjoy a lesser crime environment with a faster 911 response. Though community oriented policing the Buckeye police department can also strengthen and developed its community based policing to reflect the communitys needs and requests. (Lt.  Dave Hubalik,) The Buckeye police community out-reach program will also teach you the steps that citizens can take to aid in protecting ones home. The police department will also aid in organizing a neighborhood watch group, by making crime prevention part of every person in your community a daily routine, just by learning watching out for yours and your neighbors and safe wellbeing .The Buckeye Lieutenant Dave Hubalik reinforced that it is you job as a member of the community to report all suspicious activity to the police even if you have a doubts it might not be illegal activity. The lieutenant stated that is the sole job to handle the perpetuators the criminals The Buckeye police department believes that neighborhood watch programs are a proven and effective method to aid in the reduction of residential burglaries in specific developments. For example in the Sun Dance ,Tarteso or the Westpark Communities incidents of crimes reported can be tracked and responses logged by a specific geographic area(Buckeye 2010 Crime statistics). By, sharing local crime statistics with the community allows the police department to developed methods of targeting specific types of crime that for the most part can be reduced or eliminated by the activities of the community policing policies. A representative for the Buckeye Community outreach programs states that by combining neighborhood watch programs and though constant communication with our neighbors homes are not as easily accessible to burglars. By being actively involved in preventing crime in our neighborhood citizens are encouraged to hold block meetings that aid in the apprehension of criminals by police enforcement. These types of community oriented police programs, Community Partnership programs, suspicious crime activity hot lines, School Resource Officers, establish faith and non-faith drug prevention and education programs and forming Neighborhood Crime Watch associations are of no cost, they are free programs that mostly involved neighbors working together and by getting acquainted with police enforcement and community organization leaders. Community oriented policing is building block a sure way of making sure all neighbors are looking out for ones propertys yours and your neighbors and safe wellbeing. But most importantly is a great method of getting the opportunity to learn more about effective crime prevention and learning more about crime prevention. When community police work is not maintained street people take over parks and other public areas and make them unusable by families (Peak and Glender. 2004). Community Oriented Policing concepts and theories must be implemented within the police crime prevention departments and all local faith and non-faith community organizations. As responsible citizens we must accept and acknowledge that successful policing requires the active participation about solving our neighborhood crime problems.  Community policing, also acknowledges the dependence of police on citizens for information about the status of neighborhood problems and for help in solving crime (Peak and Glender. 2004).   Community oriented policing is a great idea but, in states, To be successful, community policing requires the total commitment of the five major groups: police; citizens and subgroups like business; media; political leaders; and social service agencies and other institutions of the community (Peak and Gle nder. 2004). We have the option to decide how we choose to live, but we must accept that shared property, the practice of taking decisions is the responsibility of both police enforcement and the community. Work Cited Peak, Kenneth J., and Ronald W. Glensor. Chapter 2: COPPS, Chapter 4: Crime Prevention. Community Policing and Problem Solving Fifth Edition. Ed. Vernon R. Anthony. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc., 2008. 39-101.

Will Books Become Extinct? :: Technology Writing Argumentative Papers

Will Books Become Extinct? â€Å"Little House on the Prairie† and â€Å"Goodnight Moon† are my absolute favorite childhood books that were a recurring part of my bedtime routine. My mom would tuck me into my cozy bed and make sure that I picked out a book for her to read and she would sit with me and read to me until I fell asleep. There was not a single night in my childhood that was story-less; I would not be able to fall asleep unless someone read me a book. I cannot imagine a world in which this option is no longer available. It seems as though the personal connection between people and printed books is so strong that they will never disappear but many people think that with the ever-changing technological advances, the printed book will become extinct or at least shoved into the background. I feel as though it is extremely important to keep the printed books around, and without them, a sense of comfort and identity will be lost. I am not alone in my apprehension towards the emerging electronic books. Parents and teachers rely heavily upon the printed book to teach their children and students. With the removal of such a valuable possession, what will schools do and how will they react? There are many questions to ponder when discussing the topic of printed books versus e-books or online print. One that comes immediately to my mind is the idea of picking up a book and lying in bed. How can this happen if we have a computer or hand held device? The electronic version seems extremely distant to me. When I was a child, I used to love looking at the illustrations and turning back a page if I wanted to see a previous picture. Will this be possible with the computer version of books? Also, will these computerized, book-like objects be available to everyone? What happens if someone cannot afford one, yet there are no printed books available? Is our attachment to the printed book based on the id ea that we have grown up with them and have grown to love them? Are our worries about the disappearance of the book concerned with the physical book itself, or perhaps just about the idea that the book represents?

`Examine the role in the witches in “Macbeth” Essay

In Shakespearian England witches were said to be in league with the devil. Shakespearian audience believed that witches were always up to no good and people thought they were wicked and devious. Old, Single or widowed women (who often kept pets for a companion) were often blamed as being witches and their pets were kept as servants. In those times people blamed any unexplained happenings such as bad weather, gone off food, deadly diseases, deaths of livestock and even murders. Despite this people were still fascinated by witchcraft they went to see horrifying plays just like we in modern days go to the cinema to watch horror films. Shakespeare wrote a play about witches to please King James 1, he was on the throne at the time when the play was written. King James wrote a book about witchcraft called Demonology because he was fascinated about witchcraft. Shakespeare knew he would win the king over by making a play like this. The witches were only in 3 scenes in Macbeth but they influence the atmosphere across the whole play. In the opening scene the audience would be thrilled because the witches created a theatrical atmosphere. The atmosphere was very negative because there was terrible weather â€Å"thunder and lightning† this would make the scene very frightening because of the loud noises of the lightning. The witches speak in riddles this unnerves the audience by their chants and riddles for example†fair is foul and foul is fair hover through the fog and filthy air†. The audience would find Macbeth is daunting because of the eerie atmospheres of the scenes and the spooky witches. At the beginning of act 1 scene 3 the three witches are talking about the things they have done to other people. Shakespeare does this because he shows what the witches are capable of. â€Å"I will drain him dry as hay† the first witch said this because she wanted to show what she could do. The three witches meet Macbeth and Banquo â€Å"upon the heath†. Meanwhile the witches predict that Macbeth and Banquo’ sons will be kings in the future. They say two facts that Macbeth is going to be thane of Cawdor and thane of Glamis. The witches do not tell Banquo or Macbeth what to do. Macbeth thought that it’s because the witches predict he is going to be thane of Cawdor. â€Å"Do you not hope that your children shall be kings, when these that gave the thane of Cawdor to me promised no less to them?† This shows that Macbeth trusts the witches by everything they predicted and he thinks that the witches gave him the role of being the king. Macbeth doesn’t believe he is the thane of Cawdor at first but eventually he learns he is. Banquo was really frightened about what the witches claimed but Macbeth was really excited. â€Å"two truths are told as happy prologues to the swelling act of the imperial theme† this shows Macbeth like what the witches tell him particularly that he is going to be king however, he has mixed feelings. â€Å"Why do I yield to that suggestion whose horrid image doth unfix my hair and make my seated heart knock at my ribs (against the youth of nature)?† this shows Macbeths reaction changes. In act 2 scene 3 Shakespeare makes the atmosphere dark and terrifying. â€Å"There’s husbandry in heaven their candles are all out† the dark represents evil and negativity which could be seen as a warning of trouble to come (foreshadowing). Macbeth’s original fear is demonstrated in his hallucinations after his immoral act of murdering. Macbeth shows signs of possessions â€Å"me thought I heard a voice say sleep no more† He says I thought I heard voices†. Macbeth shows he feels guilty by saying â€Å"amen stuck in my throat† he says this to show how he felt and whether he was regretting of the crime he just commit. The witches powers were demonstrated by strange happenings for example â€Å"tis’ said they eat each other† this was said because horses started eating each other which was very unusual and peculiar. This information was in the play to horrify the audience. Act 4 scene 1 begins with the witches chanting this reminds me of a spell. The witches always use trochaic tetrameter the effect of that makes it sound like a chant. The ingredients have unpleasant things in common for example animal parts and poisons. The most horrible point in the spell was â€Å"finger of a birthstrangled babe, ditch deliver’d by a slab† this means a baby born in a ditch from a prostitute strangled at birth. The Shakespearian audience would be horrified at the contents of the charm. In act 4 scene 1 Shakespeare included the spell in the scene to portray real witches and to show they made wicked spells considered associated with evil. The rhythm used is called trochaic tetrameter the effect of it makes it sound like a chant; trochaic tetrameter is always 4 beats per line. The witches added body parts of a Christian, Shakespeare knew it would affect the scene because people in those times didn’t trust non Christians and thought they were up to no good. Macbeth believes when he goes back to see the witches that they will tell him what to do. The witches make three prophecies, the first one warns†beware Macduff: beware the thane of fife† Macbeth thought to himself when this was shown I don’t believe Macduff anyway. The second one warns â€Å"a bloody chid† â€Å"for none of women born shall harm Macbeth† Macbeth felt he was invincible and decides to get Macduff and his family killed anyway. The third prophecy warns â€Å"Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinare hill shall come against him† this was meant by Macbeth will never be defeated until great Birnam wood comes and lives in his castle. Macbeth felt very pleased and assertive. The witches realise that Macbeth is now evil through the words they use just before he comes in â€Å"By the pricking of my thumbs something wicked this way comes† Macbeth asks the witches if Banquo’s sons will be kings. The witches reply†seek to know no more† they try to tell the truth and are warning him he doesn’t want to know. Macbeth realises he is evil and under the witches spell we know this because he says â€Å"infect’d be to air where on they rides and damn’d all those that trust them!†. â€Å"Macduff was from his mothers womb untimely ripped† At that point Macbeth realises the witches were deceiving him all along. One of the main reasons that Shakespeare included the witches in the play was because they influence the theme of deception across the whole play. The witches introduce the theme of deception in the opening scene act 1 scene 1 where they say â€Å"fair is foul and foul is fair† this affects not only Macbeth but all the characters this is shown when lady Macbeth says â€Å"look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under it†. Later on Macbeth realises he has to be deceitful in order to succeed he says â€Å"false face must hide what the false heart doth know†. The witches talk in riddles when they say â€Å"Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be until Great Birnam to high dunsinare hill shall come against him† Macbeth misunderstands this he thought this was impossible that the forest will come to his castle but the soldiers cut down the trees and bring the forest to the castle Macbeth is dumbfounded. Shakespeare creates typical witches to scare the audience the type of witches that fly, induce nightmares and stop people from sleeping. The witches predict the future but Macbeth thinks they are telling him what to do he then shows demonic possessions â€Å"I had almost forgot the taste of fear† Macbeth showed lack of fear. Shakespearian audience would go to see Macbeth to get a thrill for entertainment just like we nowadays go to the cinema to watch a horror film. The witches create an atmosphere of evil throughout the whole play.

Virgin Mobile Usa Analysis

Virgin Mobile USA Analysis [pic] August 08, 2009 Table of Contents Table of Contents2 Introduction3 Internal Factor Evaluation (IFE Matrix)4 External Factor Evaluation (EFE Matrix)5 Porter’s Five Forces6 Porters Generic Forces6 Financial Analysis7 Competitive Profile Matrix8 The Marketing Mix-The 5 P's9 Key Issues10 Boston Consulting Group (BCG Matrix)11 GE / McKinsey Matrix12 Space Matrix14 Recommendations16 Introduction Virgin Mobile is a great company that has been successful based in the U. K. The company is well known for its brand extension and was the first company to introduce the Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) in the U. K. , where they leased network space form another firm instead of running a network in-house and as a result avoiding infrastructure and large fixed cost. The company was well known for its hip and trendy position in the U. K. , and catered to the youth market. Although they have had a couple failures in the past including launching the MVNO in Singapore, the company decided to venture into the U. S. Virgin Mobile positions itself to come up with an appealing offer and ensure a run rate of one million subscribers in the first year and three million by the fourth year. Keeping with the brand strategy and philosophy of making a difference, it enters areas, which are not well served which in this case is the age group of 15-29 due to their low frequency of usage and poor credit rating. While targeting this segment lifestyle and psychographics factors are important as usage is inconsistent, and based on school and, vacation periods. Virgin customers are attracted to the products and services because of the flexible monthly terms, easy to understand pricing structures, stylish handsets offered at affordable prices and relevant mobile data and entertainment content. Virgin offers products and services on a flat per-minute basis and on a monthly basis for specified quantities, or â€Å"buckets†, of minutes purchased in advance in each case, without requiring customers to enter into long-term contracts or commitments (Virgin Mobile USA). Internal Factor Evaluation (IFE Matrix) Internal Factor Evaluation | |Matrix (IFE Matrix) | |CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS |Weight |Rating |Weighted Score | |What are those factors in the internal environment which are critical to the future success of the |Relative |How well has the firm, | ; 2. 50 = the firm and | |organization? Importance of that|or its strategies, |its strategies are not | |Does management have control over them? (The answer should be yes) |factor in the |res ponded to the |capitalizing on | | |firm's industry |factor? |opportunities or avoiding| | |0=Not Important; |1 = poor response |threats. | | |1=Very Important |2 = average response |> 2. 0 = the firm, and/or| | |or Critical |3 = above average |its strategies, is/are | | | |response |responding well to | | | |4 = superior response |threats and opportunities| | | | |in its industry. |STRENGTHS |   |   |   | |Virgin brand name [Globally recognized brand name] |0. 25 |4 |1 | |Competitive Price of Phone Package |0. 03 |2 |0. 06 | |On-line Store 24/7 |0. 2 |2 |0. 04 | |Excellent Sales Promotions |0. 1 |3 |0. 3 | |Pro-active and quick to act |0. 12 |3 |0. 36 | |Friendly staff – Good at understanding and meeting customer needs |0. 04 |3 |0. 2 | |Targeting a narrow target market [less advertising costs] |0. 02 |4 |0. 08 | |50-50 joint venture with Sprint no worry for fixed costs or physical structure |0. 1 |4 |0. 4 | |An exclusive multiyear content and marketing agreement with MTV networks to deliver music, games and|0. 05 |4 |0. | |other MTV-, VH1-, and Nickelodeon based content to Virgin Mobile subscribers | | | | |Unique mobile features and extras |0. 02 |3 |0. 06 | |Channel strategy that is more closely aligned to its target market selection. |0. 02 |3 |0. 06 | |Unique image youth oriented other providers focus on business people. 0. 02 |3 |0. 06 | |Unique advertising strategy |0. 02 |4 |0. 08 | |WEAKNESSES |   |   |   | |Limited [Low] advertising budget |0. 3 |4 |0. 52 | |No contract option means that there is a chance of having higher churn rates. |0. 01 |3 |0. 03 | |New Foreign Brand associated with Music/Travel |0. 01 |2 |0. 02 | |CBD Location is busy/inconvenient for Suburb Customers |0. 02 |1 |0. 2 | |Mobile Coverage |0. 01 |1 |0. 01 | |Separate Billing/Account information (More Direct Mail) |0. 01 |2 |0. 02 | |Total |1 |   |3. 44 | |   |   |   |3. 4 > 2. 5 | Virgin Mobile exhibited internal weaknesses and strengths wit hin its environment rated above weighted score of 3. 44 on a scale of 1 to 4. This can be attributed to the good leadership that includes friendly staff, the market niche that is image youth oriented, unique advertising strategy, channel strategy on the other hand limited advertising budget, potential higher churn rates and poor mobile coverage expose Virgin Mobile’s weaknesses that must be addressed. External Factor Evaluation (EFE Matrix) |External Factor Evaluation |Matrix (EFE Matrix) | |CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS |Weight |Rating |Weighted Score | |What are those factors in the internal environment which are critical to the future success of|Relative Importance of|How well has the firm, or| < 2. 50 = the firm and its| |the organization? |that factor in the |its strategies, responded|strategies are not | |Does management have control over them? The answer should be no) |firm's industry |to the factor? |capitalizing on | | |0=Not Important; |1 = poor response |opportunities or avoiding | | |1=Very Important or |2 = average response |threats. | | |Critical |3 = above average |; 2. 0 = the firm, and/or | | | |response |its strategies, is/are | | | |4 = superior response |responding well to threats| | | | |and opportunities in its | | | | |industry. |OPPORTUNITIES |   |   |   | |Penetration among consumers 15-29 is significantly lower and the growth rate among this |0. 12 |4 |0. 8 | |demographic is projected to be robust in the next 5 years [this segment hasn’t been targeted | | | | |yet] | | | | |Revenue for mobile entertainment projected to increase steadily over the next few years. |0. 1 |4 |0. | |Open more Virgin Mobile Stores across Capital Cities/Regional Markets |0. 05 |3 |0. 15 | |Integrate into Music/Travel packages |0. 25 |4 |1 | |Wider Mobile Phone Coverage-National & International |0. 1 |3 |0. | |THREATS |   |   |   | |Market seems to have reached maturity |0. 14 |3 |0. 42 | |Market is overcrowded |0. 15 |2 |0. 3 | |Customers ages 15-29 are low value subscribers [don’t use their cell phone regularly] |0. 3 |2 |0. 06 | |Limited National Coverage |0. 01 |2 |0. 02 | |The age group targeted tends to have poor credit quality |0. 03 |3 |0. 09 | |Competition from A T & T, T-Mobile USA, Cellco and Verizon etc |0. 02 |2 |0. 4 | |Total |1 |   |3. 26 | |   |   |   |3. 26 ; 2. 5 | Virgin Mobile’s response to external opportunities and threats within its environment is rated above weighted score of 3. 26 on a scale of 1 to 4. There are wide opportunities for Virgin Mobile to open more Virgin Mobile Stores across Capital Cities/Regional Markets. Make the offers more attractive by Integrating Music/Travel packages. Provide wider Mobile Phone coverage-National & International. On the other hand there are threats that are looming due to the market that seems to have reached maturity and overcrowded. There is limited National coverage which needs to be expanded. There is also Competition from A T & T, T-Mobile USA, Cellco and Verizon etc. These threats must be countered effectively. Porter’s Five Forces Supplier power (Weak) – Lots of cell phone providers, therefore companies like Kyocera lower prices to contract with service providers. Buyer power (Strong) Current cell phone service providers are numerous, which allows for many options for buyers. Barriers to Entry (Weak) – There is nothing that will prevent Virgin from competing to an untapped market. The threat of substitutes (Weak) – There are very few substitutes available that offer mobile and immediate communication. Alternative like pagers are outdated & this target market cannot afford sophisticated PDA service. Degree of Rivalry (Strong) – Competitors have brand recognition in the US and have the majority of the market share. Porters Generic Forces Virgin Mobile applies the three generic strategies. Cost leadership strategy that seeks to minimize costs and maximize profits. For example the company had entered into distribution agreements with Target and Best Buy, both of which charged lower commissions than traditional industry channels $30 per phone, versus an industry average of $100. 6. They also sought to hire talented staff that is friendly and good at understanding and meeting customer needs. In terms of differentiation, the team decided that a key part of the Virgin Mobile service would involve the delivery of content, features, and entertainment, which they called â€Å"VirginXtras. To this end, the company signed an exclusive, multiyear content and marketing agreement with MTV networks to deliver music, games, and other MTV-, VH1-, and Nickelodeon based content to Virgin Mobile subscribers. Therefore Virgin Mobile focuses on unique image that is youth oriented while other providers focus on business people. Virgin Mobile also differentiated it’s service by good customer care. There are advantages and risks exhibited with each strategic option. Virgin Mobile’s opportunities in this market were based on determining the unmet needs and creating new ways or means for satisfying these unmet needs. And it had to be based on buyer types, buyers’ needs and the technological means of satisfying those needs. Virgin Mobile used a more concentrated approached; they identified buyers’ needs by focusing on the age group 15 to 29 with specifically those with no credit and may not have usage or a lot of minutes; The Company put an emphasis on usage of minutes, style, fashion, fun, honesty and great value for money. This segment represented a possible opportunities for market penetration. It identified two attitudinal and lifestyle markets in their chosen segment; those that had no credit and wanted a phone with no contracts but can indulge in text messaging, downloading information into the cell phone and they were more likely to use ring tones, faceplates and graphic and those that wanted a phone as a fashion statement. Even people with similar usage needs, often have differing lifestyles representing various value sets. For example some people have an active lifestyle in which sports and fitness play an important role, while for others, art, fashion and trends may be very important. Financial Analysis Virgin Mobile USA, Inc. Key numbers for fiscal year ending December, 2008: Sales: $1,323. 5M One year growth: 0. 8% Net income: $7. 9M Income growth: 88. 4% AT Mobility Key numbers for fiscal year ending December, 2008: Sales: $124,028. 0M One year growth: 4. 3% Net income: $12,867. 0M Income growth: 7. 7% Cellco Key numbers for fiscal year ending December, 2007: Sales: $43,900. 0M One year growth: 15. 5% T-Mobile USA Key numbers for fiscal year ending December, 2008: Sales: $1,323. 5M One year growth: 0. 8% Net income: $7. 9M Income growth: 88. 4% Verizon Key numbers for fiscal year ending December, 2008: Sales: $97,354. M One year growth: 4. 2% Net income: $6,428. 0M Income growth: 13. 7% Reference: http://www. hoovers. com/virgin-mobile-usa/–ID__156760–/free-co-competitors. xhtml The main competitors are AT&T, Cello, T-Mobile USA and Verizon. Initially, Virgin may have no great profits since they are trying to be the low cost provider. Although they were profitable i n the UK, they have no brand recognition in the US to fall back on. Based data, Virgin Mobile is able to compete effectively with their major competitors as far as sales are concerned. They are also able to do this will less employees, meaning low operating cost. The company’s ability to compete effectively gives a good indication on their ability to keep their current market share and expand operations into new target markets. Competitive Profile Matrix |Competitive Profile Analysis | |Competitive Profile Matrix | | |Virgin Mobile |AT & T |Cingular |Verizon |Sprint | |Critical Success factors |Weight |Rating |W. T. Score | |Overall Market Size |0. 20 |5 |1 | |Annual Market Growth Rate |0. 20 |5 |1 | |Sector Profitability |0. 12 |4 |0. 48 | |Competitive Intensity |0. 14 |1 |0. 4 | |Global Opportunities |0. 12 |4 |0. 48 | |Regulatory Regime |0. 05 |3 |0. 15 | |Opportunity to Differentiate |0. 04 |5 |0. 2 | |Technological Requirements |0. 5 |1 |0. 05 | |Entry Barriers |0. 02 |1 |0. 02 | |Distribution Structure |0. 06 |5 |0. 3 | |Total |1 |   |3. 82 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Business Unit Strength Factors |Factor Weighting |Business Unit Rating |Value | |Market Share |0. 2 |1 |0. 2 | |Share Growth |0. 2 |4 |0. | |Product Quality |0. 05 |2 |0. 1 | |Brand Reputation |0. 1 |1 |0. 1 | |Distribution Network |0. 31 |5 |1. 55 | |Promotional Effectiveness |0. 05 |5 |0. 25 | |Production Capacity |0. 2 |4 |0. 08 | |Cost Management |0. 01 |5 |0. 05 | |R Performance |0. 02 |5 |0. 1 | |Management |0. 04 |4 |0. 16 | |Total |1 |   |3. 39 | [pic] McKinsey model above shows us strong business attractiveness and that the business strength for Virgin Mobile is fairly low. The fact of the matter is that competition in the cellular phone business is strong with many competitors. Currently the top providers operate to benefit themselves and not the consumer with high prices and limited features for the money. Consumers have various choices as far as provider is concerned, but no company has differentiated themselves to benefit the consumer’s pocket. Virgin Mobile must strive to excel. Space Matrix Strategic Position & Action Evaluation [pic]    |   |   |   |   |   | |   |Internal Strategic Position |External Strategic Position | |   |Competitive Advantage |Industry Attractiveness | |   |Ratings |   |   |Ratings |   | | |(-6 worst, -1 Best) | | |(+1 worst, +6 Best) | | |   |-5 |Market share |   |5 |Market Growth potential | |   |-4 |Product quality |   |2 |Profit potential | |   |-3 |Produc t life cycle |   |4 |Financial stability | |   |-5 |Brand & Image |   |5 |Resource utilization | |   |-3 |Customer loyalty |   |2 |Capital intensity | |   |-3 |Technological know-how |   |2 |Barriers to entry | |  Total |-23 |   |  Ã‚  Total |20 |   | |Avg |   |AVG 3. 33|   | |-3. 83 | | | | |   |   |Total axis X score: |-0. 0 |   |   | |Financial Strength |Environmental Stability | |   |Ratings |   |   |Ratings |   | | |(+1 worst, +6 Best) | | |(-6 worst, -1 Best) | | |   |4 |ROI |   |-3 |Technological changes | |   |2 |Leverage |   |-5 |Demand Elasticity | |   |3 |Liquidity |   |-3 |Price range of competition | |   |3 |Capital required/available |   |-6 |Barriers to entry | |   |3 |Ease of market exit |   |-6 |Competitive pressure | |   |2 |Risk involved in business |   |-5 |Price elasticity | |  Ã‚  Total |16 |   |  Ã‚  Total |-28 |   | |Avg |   |Avg |   | |2. 67 | |-4. 67 | | |   |   |Total axi s Y score: |-2. 00 |   |   | With the given the Space Matrix data we realize that the company should pursue a defensive strategy. The implication is that the firm is operating within a market that is experiencing negative to stable growth and that Virgin Mobile is experiencing severe financial constraints. Virgin Mobile knows that the market is saturated and very competitive they went ahead and positioned themselves to pursue their niche in the market share. I recommend applying a combination of retrenchment, divestiture, liquidation and concentric diversification. Recommendations Virgin Mobile wants to compete within a new market and not have the competition beat them in this game. Several options as far as pricing were developed by the company. They can either clone existing prices, price below the competition, or create their own unique pricing strategy. Cloning the industry, will not allow them to differentiate themselves in order to stand out from the competition, although, it would be easy to promote. Pricing below the competition would still be copying the competitor’s strategy, but just offering a lower price. Their only differentiating factor would be that they were cheaper. I recommend a different strategy. Creating the new plan would bring about the changes that consumers want such as eliminating contracts, offering pre-paid services, lower priced phones, and eliminating hidden fees. Although this strategy could be risky, they will ultimately do what they set out do which was to gain the market share of the under-30 crowd. With the options that MTV, VH1 and Nickelodeon networks will offer, I believe consumers will see the added value in the product as opposed

Essay On Du Mauriers Rebecca Essays - Rebecca, Mrs. Danvers

Essay On Du Mauriers Rebecca Essays - Rebecca, Mrs. Danvers Essay On Du Mauriers Rebecca Rebecca is a classic, suspenful , and romantic novel written by Daphne du Maurier. It tells the tragic and emotional story of how the memory of a woman named Rebecca haunted the lives of newleweds Maxim and Mrs. De Winter, and their estate of Manderly. The story opens in Monte Carlo, France and later moves to a small town outside of London. In a hotel in Monte Carlo, France, a young, simple servant girl, who at first remains nameless is acquainted with Maxim de Winter, a wealthy man who owns the estate of Manderly outside of London, England. She falls deeply in love with him, and the two are wed abroad. Upon their return to Manderly, the new Mrs. de Winter is instantly enchanted by the exterior beauty of the estate, and can's hardly wait to be the Madam of the house. She is introduced to the staff of the house, and her impression of them is very well, except for Mrs. Danvers. Mrs. Danvers had been the personal maid of Maxim's deceased wife, Rebecca, and she had been quite fond of her. Mrs. de Winter is constantly being compared to the late Mrs. de Winter, and this makes the new Mrs. de Winter quite uncomfortable, as Mrs. Danvers makes each day a challenge to survive; as well as distancing her from her husband, who she believes is still thinking of Rebecca, and still in love with her. One day, the mystery of Rebecca's de ath is revealed by Maxim. He tells his wife the truth: Rebecca didn't drown to her death, Maxim murdered her. Instead of the angel she was percieved to be, she was rather a devil, who cheated on Maxim with her first cousin, and never loved Maxim from the start. A body is soon found by the shores of Manderly: Rebecca's body. There are suspicions that Maxim killed her, and an inquest is carried out. He was almost caught, but Maxim's name is eventually cleared. As he and Mrs. de Winter return from the inquest in London, they watched Manderly burn to the ground. The first aspect of the novel that appealed to me is the modest character Mrs. de Winter. Her manner is very humble and reserved. She appears to be the un-authoratative type of person, as she doesn't do what pleases her, only others: Oh, well . . . let me see, Mrs. Danvers, I hardly know; I think we had better have what you usually have, whatever you think Mrs. de Winter would have ordered.(pg. 92) She is also very young in the story, young enough to be Maxim's daughter. This explains her shyness in conversations with Maxim's relatives and many friends, as well as her feeling of inferiority to people of better breeding than her. Mrs. de Winters is a developing character in the story, and she is much altered when Maxim reveals the truth of Rebecca's death. Her naive and young nature is gone as she is entangled in the web of Rebecca's evil ways, and Maxim realizes that her innocence is now gone: I can't forget what it has done to you . . . It's gone for ever, that funny, young, lost lo ok that I loved . . . I killed that too, when I told you about Rebecca . . . you are so much older . . .( pg. 313) Mrs. de Winter never lost her feelings of hope, and optemism through the novel. She always found the 'bright side' of things and situations, especially regarding her marriage with Maxim. She had faith that in time, Maxim would love her as she loved him, and of course he had all along. It had only been her feelings of insecurity that inhhibited her from realizing this. She was always willing to mend their marital problems: It's not too late . . . I love you more than anything in the world...(pg. 280) It is interesting that Mrs. de Winter doesn't have a first name, but her character is the most interesting. Setting was of particular interest, because it enhanced the events which took place. The estate of Manderly is by far the most appropriate place ever imaginable for Rebecca .

Thinking styles and forces of essays

Thinking styles and forces of essays This paper will discuss an organizational problem that occurred in my workplace. The problem is that of a growing business faced with either expanding and training to meet the needs of a growing client base or loosing business to competitors. I will first describe the control measures. I will then frame this problem in several different settings. Next, I will describe some of the different types of thinking used for each problem. I will then forces of influence on the problem. I will explain some of the symptoms of the major problem and give solutions for them. Lastly, I will provide an answer to the dilemma of "How do we accept each other's differences and still get anything done?" To describe a recent organizational problem, I need to explain my workplace. I work as the Automations specialist for a non-emergency medical transport company called LifeStar Ambulette (an Ambulette is a vehicle that transports non-emergency patients). We transport non-emergency stretcher, ambulatory and wheelchair patients to doctors appointments, dialysis, and events that they need to attend. We provide a service that is cost affective for insurance companies, hospitals and private patients. The cost of transporting with an ambulette is one-third the cost of using a regular ambulance. Now that you have a basic understanding of the company, I will present our organizational problems and their forces of influence. A larger ambulance company that operates in a very different way and on a larger scale bought the company. The former name of our ambulette company was Laidback Transport and they were just that, laid back. The company that bought out Laidback Lifestar Ambulance was more organized and meticulous in its way of doing business. Lifestar Ambulance bought out the former owners and it retained all of the employees. This created a problem ...

4 Tips for Writing A Strong Cover Letter

4 Tips for Writing A Strong Cover Letter While a well-written resume shows off a job candidate’s skill set, an effective cover letter offers a different yet related opportunity: the chance to demonstrate why you’re the right candidate for the job on one pithy page. Consider these four tips designed to help your cover letter stand out from the crowd. 1. Make it PersonalWhile you might be able to get away with recycling your resume for multiple jobs, this is an absolute no-no when it comes to cover letter writing. Why? Because cover letter are all about showing off how your background, skills and experience match the needs of a company as they pertain to the job for which you’re applying.Effective cover letters are anything but cookie cutter. Rather, each cover letter should be carefully crafted to match with the job at hand.Making it personal also means addressing the letter to an actual human person. While it may take a little time to identify the proper department head or hiring manager, doing so demon strates initiative and resourcefulness.2. Focus on FitEven if you’re the most amazing candidate in the world, this attribute is worthless if your cover letter fails to convey how your skills match the position. Pay careful attention to the job description when writing your cover letter, using keywords and key phrases to showcase your qualifications.However, keep in mind that anyone can throw some keywords on a page. Don’t arbitrarily stuff your cover letter with keywords; instead, come up with specific examples which align with what the company is looking for.In addition to researching the job, also research the company, along with its products and services. More and more companies are prioritizing â€Å"cultural fit† when it comes to filling open positions. Understanding a company’s culture can help you focus your cover letter for best success, while further enhancing your status as a desirable candidate.3. Catch Their EyeHundreds of resumes may cross a hiring manager’s desk every single day. How do you make sure yours gets noticed? Skip the conventional â€Å"five paragraph† letter, and instead use bullet points to highlight your strengths. This spares hiring managers the task of sorting through your essay trying to identify its main points. Instead, it does the work on their behalf. You will still need an introduction and closing paragraphs, but stick with bullets to deliver the content you want to emphasize.4. Assert YourselfMany cover letters lack one essential element: a call to action. While expressing your gratitude is important, ending with a follow-up is a much stronger appeal. Whether you mention that you’ll call to check in on the status of your resume next week or express that you’re looking forward to further discussing why you’re right for the position, including a call to action not only demonstrates confidence, but also gives you the chance to show you’re accountable.Ultimat ely, if a good cover letter is a foot in the door, a call to action is the chance to leverage that food into something greater.One tip, however: if you say you’re going to follow up, FOLLOW UP.While it’s impossible to fully understand what’s going through a hiring manager’s mind when evaluating candidates, a cover letter gives you the opportunity to make a positive first impression. These four tips can help you take your cover letter from average to amazing.

Is there a best age to begin kindergarten Research Paper

Is there a best age to begin kindergarten - Research Paper Example Every child is brilliant and intelligent. That is a fact. There is no doubt that he will perform well in school. Nevertheless, the real concern is not related as to whether the child has the talent or not but is related to the child's emotional and social preparedness. Basically, these things affect or manipulate each other. Some of the most common child modifications are contingent to the teacher’s manner of teaching and some other factors that influence how a child may perform in the classroom - factors like the attitude and the personality of the teacher as well as the method in which the class is being managed. If the child is more inclined to social interactions and on his personal volition would be willing to submit to the instructions of his or her teacher, then he may easily conform and adapt to this new test by the age of five. [Student’s Last Name] 2 Psychologists, sociologists, researchers and policy makers have poured in an overwhelming effort in order to de termine whether there is a best age for children to start school. In the United States alone, the usual age of kindergarten children is around five years old and obligatory attendance age plays between the ages of five and eight years old. Many policymakers in the United States expressed their dissenting opinions regarding the acceptable age for school admission and many schools based their decisions on the child’s birthdate. ... Due to the intricacy and the difficulty of the educational system that we have today, most of us, especially educational institutions for pre-schoolers place a strong substantial significance on the child’s competence in reading and mathematical sciences. Is the determination of the ideal age to begin kindergarten important? Does it really matter? The significance of early and repeated standardized tests for young children in order for them to meet the academic challenges in school is being accentuated and supported by education reforms and more so by The No Child Left Behind Act of 2002. While this was ratified in order to ensure the academic success in high school as well as in college, the testing begins early in order to guarantee that the children are headed in the right direction when it comes to â€Å"grade-level requirements†. A comparatively easy approach to enhance the performance in earlier years of education is to increment the average age of children enroll ing for kindergarten classes. Accordingly, this can be done by setting a â€Å"cut-off date† for kindergarten admission or by [Student’s Last Name] 3 advising parents to delay kindergarten admission for an additional one year (1 year). Mostly, school administrators and pre-school teachers are positive that the more mature the child is once he is admitted in kindergarten classes, the more potential there is for academic success. A lot of parents have faith in the idea of delaying the kindergarten entry of their children because they concede that it will contribute to their children’s edge in terms of academic performance. This is what they call as â€Å"redshirting†. In most cases, children who were admitted to kindergarten classes develop boredom and disinterest in school activities than those

Alan Mathison Turing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Alan Mathison Turing - Essay Example Alan Mathison Turing was an English mathematician, logician, and cryptographer. He is often considered to be the father of modern computer science as he has contributed immensely towards the field of computer science through his Turing test. Though not considered a philosopher, he is cited by many modern day philosophers. The Turing Test which is named after him is the most significant contribution he has made in the world of modern computers. Though there are many who has opposed this test, it has undoubtedly a turning point in today's world. In a very short span of life, Alan Turing has provided significantly. This paper describes briefly Alan Turing's Life and his achievement through the Turing Test. This paper also gives a brief overview of the future that this test holds and concludes that the Turing Test has been, and will continue to be, an influential and controversial topic.Alan Mathison Turing was an English mathematician, logician, and cryptographer and he was an original thinker. He is often considered to be the father of modern computer science as he has contributed immensely towards the field of computer science through his Turing Test. Even though Turing never designated himself as a philosopher, his 1950 paper "Computing Machinery and Intelligence" is most frequently cited in modern philosophical literature as it gave a new approach to the traditional mind-body problem, by connecting it to the mathematical concept of computability (Hodges, 2002). Today, it is well known fact that the Turing Test is one of the most discussed topics in artificial intelligence, philosophy of mind, cognitive science, and mechanical science. This paper describes in detail about the life of Alan Turing and also how his Turing test has an influence in the modern science. Besides, in this paper Turing's ideas are discussed in detail and also present the important comments made by many philosophers and others. Turing's test and criticism by different people are also discussed. Finally, the paper concludes looking at the future applications of Turing's test and looks at the current situation and analyzes programs that have been developed with the aim of passing the Turing Test. Alan Turing Life Alan Mathison Turing was born to an upper middle class British family in London, 23 June 1912. He was educated at Sherborne School. While in his school, he was criticized for his handwriting by his teachers. He also struggled at English and mathematics as he was too involved with developing his own ideas to produce solutions to problems using the methods taught by his teachers. From his early years of schooling he has amazed many of his teachers. He tried to always find his own solutions and in spite of producing unconventional answers, Turing did win almost every possible mathematics prize while at Sherborne. This has amazed many of his teachers. The one subject he liked was chemistry. However from a very early age, he carried out experiments following his own plan which did not please his chemistry teacher. As a result of these Turing's headmaster once wrote:- "If he is to stay at Public School, he must aim at becoming educated. If he is to be solely a Scientific Specialist, he is wasting his time at a Public School". In spite of the difficult schooling years, Turing entered King's College, Cambridge, in 1931 to study

Arabic Coffee Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Arabic Coffee - Essay Example This paper explores the history of Arabic coffee, its uniqueness, preparation and drinking, advantages and disadvantages among other interesting facts about Arabica coffee. Arabic coffee can be traced back to Ethiopian highlands over a thousand years back, where it grew as coffee forest (Schmitt 113). The Arabs are known as the very first people to grow coffee as well as commence its trade. As early as the 15th century, the Arabs of Yemeni district, Arabia were already growing coffee. By the 16th century, coffee cultivation had spread to other Arab nations such as Egypt, Persia, Syria as well as Turkey. Besides drinking in homes, coffee was also served in public coffee houses commonly known as qahveh khaneh. The public drinking houses grew in popularity and people engaged in every type of social activities in the houses. In the early years, an open fire was used to roast coffee beans. The roasted beans were then prepared in dallah, a coffee pot over an open fire too. Today, coffee preparation is done over stovetop and other heat supplies rather than the traditional open fire. Of the world’s total coffee production, coffee Arabica constitutes about 70 to 80 percent. It takes approximately seven years to mature. It grows best at altitudes of about 1,300 to 1500 meters with evenly distributed rainfall the whole year. Coffee Arabica can withstand low temperatures performing best at 15 and 24  Ã‚ °C. Commercial plantations are usually left to grow to about 5 meters. However, trimming is done to about 2 meters to enable easy harvesting. The trees are susceptible to frosty conditions. Cultivation of Arabica coffee has spread from the Arab world into other parts of the globe. Arabic coffee is currently one of the most precious beverages, not only in the Middle East, but in the entire world. Anyone who has had time to visit the Middle East and gotten the opportunity to sip Arabic coffee must be having a whole lot difference to tell about how the coffee compares

Food win and cutler in California Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Food win and cutler in California - Essay Example Q: Are there any set rule of table etiquettes? A: No, as long as you’re not eating with hands or in an uncivilised manner it’s fine. Q: Does Guatemalan food have any therapeutic uses? A: Not really, Guatemala is a third-world country. People are lucky to barely feed their families. However, old men sometimes consume roots in order to increase their sexual prowess. Q: Does the Guatemalan culture affect the food that you eat or the way you eat it? A: Food unifies the Guatemalans. It is always very family-oriented. Q: What are your meal cycles? A: Guatemalans eat three times a day, with breakfast or dinner being their heaviest meals. Q: How does food vary on special occasions or celebrations? A: Guatemalans celebrate Independence Day as well as Christmas and Easter, and at these occasions candied fruit as well as tamales are served with punch. Interview with a person from California: Q: What foods do people in California usually eat, or is indicative or their culture? A: F ood in the US is very diverse. The popular items for people in California include donuts, fast food (pizza, burgers, sandwiches etc.), corn as well as fresh fruit. However, there are no set foods that are indicative of this culture. People here admire diversity in their cuisine, however due to their lifestyle it is convenient to eat out or consume frozen meals. Q: Are there any set rules or table etiquettes? A: No, Americans use fork and knives when necessary. However, several foods like pizza are eaten with hand. Q: Does the food have any therapeutic uses? A: To my knowledge, no it doesn’t. Q: Does your culture affect the way you eat food or how it is prepared? A: Yes, because we’re always on the go, families don’t usually have time to eat together. Also, it is more convenient to grab a takeaway rather than cooking a meal at home. Q: What are your meal cycles? A: We eat three times a day; however there may be several snacks in between. Q: How does food vary on special occasions or celebrations? A: Turkey is served on thanksgiving, and on Christmas cookies as well as desserts are common. Most Americans love to go out to eat on special occasions. PHASE II I. Guatemala is a country which does not have a national dish; however there are several foods that have now taken a position as a portion of the everyday diet. Similar to the times of the Mayans, corn maintains its position as a staple food in Guatemala; hence it can be termed as the core food of the country. It is more or less always eaten in the form of a tortilla, or a thin corn pancake, served warm wrapped inside a cloth (Fodor's Travel Publications, 1999). Another Mayan essential are the black beans (frijoles) that are consumed in almost every meal and have a place in their staple diet. Hence, these can also be termed as the core or primary food in Guatemala. These can typically be refried (volteados), squashed, or basically eaten fully( parados). Rice, eggs, as well as cheese are al so widely eaten in Guatemala and form a part of their primary foods (Let's Go Publications, 2000). Moreover, recently characteristic Spanish dishes, in the form of enchiladas, tamales, guacamoleand tortillas, have paved their way into the Guatemalan diet. These can be included in the periphery foods. In addition, several countries and their cultures have also had an effect on the

Confucius Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Confucius - Essay Example One such prominent leader was K’ung-fu-tzu ( Great Master Kong)? and to the world he is better known by his Latinized name? Confucius? Confucius? born in BC 551 in the Lu Province? was one of the greatest philosophers witnessed by the world and in particular China? He was also a teacher as well as a political theorist who founded his own system based on his thinking and philosophies? He is often paralleled with the Greek philosopher Socrates so it becomes clear how important and significant his teachings are? He was born a descendant of the Shang Dynasty and was also a member of the ruling clan? Shih? However his family was not one that had a lot of wealth under its name? His father was a petty official whose marriage did not end very well as he divorced his wife for bearing him only three daughters and a son who was disfigured? The father than married a fifteen year old girl and the great philosopher took birth? Confucius was forced into different kinds of labor like working as a keeper of the granary? supervising the fields etc mainly because he lost his father at an early age? Despite the fact that he was engaged in manual labor? he was more inclined towards the system of education? that is? learning as well as teaching? He was responsible for the school of thought known as ‘Confucianism?’ which believes that â€Å"familial relationships are the foundation for society† (McDevitt, p.46). Although Confucius is the father of this school of thought? he was not seen as the Lord or the Savior? he was just considered to be a ‘Sage teacher?’ Confucianism is not a religion that was founded by Confucian? rather it is â€Å"a tradition generally rooted in Chinese culture and nurtured† (An Introduction to Confucianism, p.17). by him and his disciples .Though he started out with working petty jobs? he gradually â€Å"rose through the administrative hierarchy† and around the time when he was 40 years old? he became â⠂¬Å"the prefect (Zai) and director of public works† (Huanyin,p.1). in Lu and began to spread Confucianism? He traveled to different provinces and began to inscribe in the minds of the audience his teachings and his wisdom in order to show the people the right path of life? He developed his teachings into a book during the later stages of his life when he returned to Lu and this collection of his philosophical thoughts and teachings came to be known as ‘analects?’ During the time he faced a lot of problems as his only son had passed away and so did a very loyal disciple of his? He was also deeply grieved by the fact the leaders of his own state would not accept his teachings? Confucius’ journey of life came to an end in 479 BCE and he was mourned by followers all over China. For any great leader to think and ponder deeply about particular things? there needs to be some sort of external stimulus that influences these thoughts? When does one actually think? Wh en he sees things around him that he fails to understand why they happen and also things that cause trouble than that make one happy? Needless to say? Confucius’ thinking was influenced by various external factors and experiences that he went through? Now in order to understand Confucianism, one needs to possess a clear knowledge about the political and historical context from which it has arisen. Throughout the history of China? it becomes clear that the country has witnessed the rise and fall of a lot of dynasties? some of which were more

The psychological implications of workplace violence Assignment

The psychological implications of workplace violence - Assignment Example Workplace violence is one of the major causes of fatalities in the workplace, especially for women. Violence in the workplace is a wicked and dangerous problem that deprives organizations with efficiency, high productivity, resources, and even the capacity to operate fully. Therefore, workplace violence remains a grave threat to employees and the larger community. This paper argues that victims of workplace violence experience perceived fear and psychological distress or mental problems immediately after the unpleasant incident. These negative outcomes of workplace violence cause dysfunctions in an organization. Hence it is important to implement effective prevention policies against workplace violence. Workplace violence is an issue that demands immediate consideration and prevention. An exact definition of workplace violence can generate more precise statistics and more effective strategies to deal with the issue. For the purposes of this paper, the International Labor Organization (ILO) definition of workplace violence is used (Privitera, 2010, 43): Internal workplace violence is that which takes place between workers, including managers and supervisors; and External workplace violence is that which takes place between workers (and managers and supervisors) and any other person present at the workplace. Although the above definition only highlights the physical features of workplace violence, it does indirectly imply the potential psychological impact of this incident on victims and third parties. Perceived Fear and the Psychological Effect of Workplace Violence Numerous studies have reported the effect of workplace violence on the victims’ psychological or emotional wellbeing, as well as on their self-perception. After a violent incident in the workplace, the victims, those who witnessed the violence, colleagues, peers, family, and other individuals in the organization may go through psychologically distressing outcomes. For the victims and their col leagues it is apparent that the workplace has become an unsafe place. Besides physical injuries, workplace violence usually leads to severe and incapacitating psychological impact. Some examples of the psychological impacts of violence in the workplace are lowered self-worth, distress, vulnerability, anger, fear, depression, denial, humiliation, and guilt. Several researchers have identified post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as an outcome of violence in the workplace among those victimized. Several of the warning signs of PTSD are damaged concentration, weakened memory, recurrent nightmares, disturbance, isolation, bad temper, physiological stimulation, and anxiety (Cavanaugh et al., 2012). Moreover, according to Kamery (2004), employees usually blame themselves for their victimization, and quite often management provokes this self-blaming attitude. Victims of workplace violence immediately feel physical and psychological numbing, distress, denial, and suspicion. Immediately aft er the unpleasant incident, the victims go through three kinds of effects (Browne-Miller, 2012): (1) withdrawal effects such as truancy, social isolation; reliving effects such as nightmares, recollections; and (3) other effects such as excessive shock, anger, fear, and irritability. Employees who have been involved in interpersonal violence will perhaps suffer from a negative disposition and intensified fear at work. This consequently will lessen employee motivation and satisfaction at work (Mueller & Tschan, 2011). This discovery is significant because it is widely known that employee motivation and satisfaction are an exact determinant of voluntary turnover. Many studies have found out that the lower the employee motivation and satisfaction, the greater the likelihood of voluntary turnover. Thus it is apparent that not merely does workplace violence have a major and considerable psychological effect on victims and other people; in addition,

Confucius Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Confucius - Essay Example One such prominent leader was K’ung-fu-tzu ( Great Master Kong)? and to the world he is better known by his Latinized name? Confucius? Confucius? born in BC 551 in the Lu Province? was one of the greatest philosophers witnessed by the world and in particular China? He was also a teacher as well as a political theorist who founded his own system based on his thinking and philosophies? He is often paralleled with the Greek philosopher Socrates so it becomes clear how important and significant his teachings are? He was born a descendant of the Shang Dynasty and was also a member of the ruling clan? Shih? However his family was not one that had a lot of wealth under its name? His father was a petty official whose marriage did not end very well as he divorced his wife for bearing him only three daughters and a son who was disfigured? The father than married a fifteen year old girl and the great philosopher took birth? Confucius was forced into different kinds of labor like working as a keeper of the granary? supervising the fields etc mainly because he lost his father at an early age? Despite the fact that he was engaged in manual labor? he was more inclined towards the system of education? that is? learning as well as teaching? He was responsible for the school of thought known as ‘Confucianism?’ which believes that â€Å"familial relationships are the foundation for society† (McDevitt, p.46). Although Confucius is the father of this school of thought? he was not seen as the Lord or the Savior? he was just considered to be a ‘Sage teacher?’ Confucianism is not a religion that was founded by Confucian? rather it is â€Å"a tradition generally rooted in Chinese culture and nurtured† (An Introduction to Confucianism, p.17). by him and his disciples .Though he started out with working petty jobs? he gradually â€Å"rose through the administrative hierarchy† and around the time when he was 40 years old? he became â⠂¬Å"the prefect (Zai) and director of public works† (Huanyin,p.1). in Lu and began to spread Confucianism? He traveled to different provinces and began to inscribe in the minds of the audience his teachings and his wisdom in order to show the people the right path of life? He developed his teachings into a book during the later stages of his life when he returned to Lu and this collection of his philosophical thoughts and teachings came to be known as ‘analects?’ During the time he faced a lot of problems as his only son had passed away and so did a very loyal disciple of his? He was also deeply grieved by the fact the leaders of his own state would not accept his teachings? Confucius’ journey of life came to an end in 479 BCE and he was mourned by followers all over China. For any great leader to think and ponder deeply about particular things? there needs to be some sort of external stimulus that influences these thoughts? When does one actually think? Wh en he sees things around him that he fails to understand why they happen and also things that cause trouble than that make one happy? Needless to say? Confucius’ thinking was influenced by various external factors and experiences that he went through? Now in order to understand Confucianism, one needs to possess a clear knowledge about the political and historical context from which it has arisen. Throughout the history of China? it becomes clear that the country has witnessed the rise and fall of a lot of dynasties? some of which were more

Judaism religion and practices Essay Example for Free

Judaism religion and practices Essay Judaism is a religion that is practiced mostly by the residents of the Jewish country, all followers of Judaism whether they are born in the Jewish country or not are called Jews. Judaism is the Jews monotheistic religion which traces its genesis to Abraham, its ethical and spiritual principles are engulfed mainly in the Talmud and the scriptures of the Hebrews. This religion is mostly characterized with the traditional rites and ceremonies of the Jewish people and religion. Its practices are also deeply rooted in the religious, social, and cultural practices of the Jewish people who consider themselves as one community or people (Steinberg, 1965). Judaism religion and practices Judaism is based on the premises of monotheism, the belief of a special covenant with the almighty God that makes the Jews to claim that they are the God’s chosen people. It is also based on the territorial and ethnic identity, whereby the territory of the Jews is known as the Promised Land. This religion has specific laws and practices. The origin of Judaism finds its roots either from the formulation of monotheism by Moses or God’s covenant with Abraham, the religion recognizes that the laws attributed to Moses incorporated the Pentateuch. However, the political part of Judaism is much related to King David, the king who had Judah as his capital and who planned the Jerusalem temple, which was later built by Solomon who was his son. During the period of the Jewish captivity in Babylon the Judaism religion was much consolidated, the Mosaic was also written during this period (Grabbe, 2000). The Jews believe that the difference between civil and divine law is not clear at all. They believe that the supreme power comes from God and thus the command of God is law, whether it is civil or religious. The Mosaic Law dates back to the 5th BC. This law was then interpreted by Midrash and the Talmud. The Talmud incorporates civil and religious laws that are not in the Torah as proper and thus goes ahead to explain them (Steinberg, 1965). The Jews firmly believe that they are the God’s chosen people who have the duty of shedding light to all other nations around the world. God made a covenant with the Jews through Abraham and later renewed the same covenant with Moses, Isaac and Jacob. The worship of Yahweh was mainly centralized in Jerusalem ever since the time of King David. The demolition of the 1st Jerusalem temple by the people of Babylon which was later followed by the Jews exile ushered in a new hope of national reinstallation under messiah leadership. The Persians later freed them from exile, but the rebellion failed against the Romans made the second temple to be destroyed and the subsequent dispersal of the Jews around the world (Grabbe, 2000). Judaism religion emerged to substitute the practices and beliefs linked with the Jerusalem temple, this was mainly because the Jews carried with them their religion and culture through their strict observance and via a scholarship of tradition. The greatest part of the commentaries and oral law were written down by the Mishna and Talmud. Judaism religion continued despite that it experienced very harsh persecutions by several nations around the world (Steinberg, 1965). The Judaism religion regards itself as a widespread religion; this is due to the fact that it views is laws to be appropriate for all mankind. It has a distinction between the non Jews and the Jews. The traditional Judaism requires all the Jews to follow all the commandments found in the Bible. On the other hand the non Jews should only follow seven laws out of the six hundred and thirteen laws. These seven laws demand that everyone whether a Jew or a non Jew to believe in only one God, they forbid murder, blasphemy, sexual immorality and theft. They also prevent anyone from feeding on a living creature’s limb. The seven laws also mandate the setting up of law courts. The Jews believe that, a non Jew who follows all the seven laws to be righteous, and is therefore, just like a Jew who follows all the six hundred and thirteen laws that are upon him (Fine, 2001). The fundamental orientation of Judaism is practical. It has no body of doctrine that is officially recognized, but it has various beliefs that are quite essential to all the Jews. The Jewish belief is rooted in the Jewish law and not in any systematic Theology. The issue about punishment and reward in life after death is a new development in this religion. Pre occupation and asceticism with life after death are discouraged. Redemption is obtained via good conduct and not through faith. Judaism believes that everyone has a duty to contribute towards perfecting this world (Steinberg, 1965). The practice of this religion of Judaism has never been restricted to only the people who were born of the Jewish community. However, the attitudes towards one being converted to Judaism have varied significantly in various localities and periods. It has always been doable for the non Jews to join Judaism. In fact, some of the greatest individuals of Judaism were either people who had been converted into Judaism or their descendants. A good example is King David; he was one of Ruth’s descendants. Since people hood and religion are quite inseparable in the religion of Judaism, acceptance of the beliefs of Judaism makes one to eventually become one of the Jewish people (Grabbe, 2000). Judaism emphasizes that each and every Jew should be responsible for the other and they should therefore live like one big community, this has made the Jews to develop a great sense of unity. No Jew should look at another Jew nonchalantly when he or she is suffering. They are required to do all that is possible to make sure that they alleviate such Jews from the suffering they are going through. Hebrew does not have charity, but it uses tsedakah which means justice. It means that it is only proper and just for those Jews who are blessed with more to share them with the less fortunate Jews in the society. The Jews mutual responsibility for each other stretches to include even violation of law cases: if a Jew finds another Jew violating the law, he or she is supposed to rebuke the Jew who is violating the law (Fine, 2001). Judaism religion also emphasizes on the need to elevate profane to the holiness state. Thus, most of what would have been considered ordinary includes ritual components which are intended to sanctify. For example, while eating there has to be benedictions before starting to eat the food and after eating it. This makes the table to be similar to the altar. Judaism has a lot of laws which are meant to regulate the daily life of the Jews; the aim of this regulation is to modify the actions of man into God’s service. Judaism also regards the restrictions of Torah myriad upon the conduct of a Jew as ones that elevates him. It views the uncontrolled expression of mankind’s appetite similar to that of the animals and the control measures placed upon mankind serves him by raising him higher. Thus, before a Jew eats any food, he has to first consider whether the food in question meets all the dietary law requirements. If it fails in any then he cannot proceed to eat it as he will consider doing so as violating the law (Fine, 2001). Asceticism is not considered as a virtue in Judaism. The Midrash provides that when everyone accounts for herself or him self following his or her death, such a person has to account for all the allowed pleasures of the world which he restricted himself from doing while on earth (Grabbe, 2000). Conclusion Judaism religion is mainly found in among the people of the Jewish nation but has never been restricted among these people only as it also accepts people from other origins to join them and thus practice the doctrines of the religion. The Jews, who are the members of Judaism, consider themselves to be the people who have been chosen by God and thus all other tribes in the world should follow them. The laws of the Jews, according to Judaism are applicable in all circumstances to all nations around the world which makes the Jews to claim that their religion is universal. Reference: Fine, L. (2001): Judaism in practice: from the middle Ages through the early modern period; ISBN 0691057877, Princeton University Press. Grabbe, L. L. (2000): Judaic Religion in the Second Temple Period: Belief and Practice from the Exile to Yavneh; ISBN 0415212502, Routledge. Steinberg, M. (1965): Basic Judaism; ISBN 0156106981, Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich.

Strategic Management Case Analysis Of Airtran Airways

Strategic Management Case Analysis Of Airtran Airways This case analysis examines the impacts AirTran Airways has on the airline industry with respect to its competitors. AirTran Airways is an airline company that provides domestic flights (U.S.) to travelers flying in the United States. AirTran also became the first airline to offer Wi-Fi to its travelers. AirTran is the successor of its predecessor ValuJet Airlines that was founded in 1993 in Atlanta, Georgia. AirTran, better known as ValuJet Airlines in the mid 1990s, grew economically stable because of its low airfare prices. In 1995 and 1996 however, ValuJet also obtained the highest number of air-travel accidents than any other airline company. One example was the famous crash of Flight 592 in 1996 that killed 110 people in Florida when the plane crashed into the Florida Everglades (river). After the accident and further investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the crash had resulted from several safety violations of ValuJet aircrafts. These violations also led the FAA to ground ValuJet Airlines. In order words, any new aircrafts purchased by ValuJet had to be approved by the FAA to determine the safety level and compliance to the FAA standards for aircrafts. In 1997, ValuJet was experiencing financial hardships and was on the road to bankruptcy. As a result, ValuJet partnered with AirTran Holdings and move their operations from Atlanta, Georgia to Orlando, Florida. A short time after the merger of AirTran and ValuJet, ValuJet decided to remove its name from the merger, letting AirTran Holdings obtain control of the entire merger. As of September 2010, AirTran Airways (AirTran Holdings) has experienced financial hardships since the 2008 world-wide recession. As a result, AirTran made an agreement for Southwest Airlines to purchase the low-fare airline since AirTran was on the road again to bankruptcy. The information constructed and used for this case analysis pertains to proposed vision and mission statements for AirTran, internal and external audits of AirTran, types of strategies, and a conclusion that will determine what AirTrans next plan of action should be. Vision Statement Actual: Proposed AirTran has NO actual vision statement. AirTrans vision is to be recognized and become the leading competitor in the airline industry with affordable airfares, a safe environment, and excellent customer service. Mission Statement Actual: Proposed Innovative people dedicated to delivering the best flying experience to smart travelers. Every day. (AirTran, 2008). Our mission is to supply safety and affordable flights to our travelers including our employees in the airline industry. We are committed to being honest and loyal to our travelers while providing a fun and safe environment for our crew members and our customers. We are focusing more on technology including offering Wi-Fi satellite radio to our traveling customers. AirTran is also focused on teamwork and taking pride in everything we accomplish because communication among our crew members is the key for success here at AirTran. Discussion and Analysis of Mission/Vision Statements In judging the actual vision and mission statements of AirTran, the proposed statements give a better insight on what AirTran is about. AirTrans vision does not answer the question of what we want to become, because a vision statement for AirTran do not exist (David, 2011). Instead, a proposed vision was created in order to fill the void of a missing vision statement. The vision statement is the most important statement because it defines what the company plans to do and it is the foundation of defining the mission statement. AirTrans actual mission statement does not clearly answer what AirTran is about. For example, AirTrans current mission statement only states what the employees goal is about, which is providing the best flying experience to smart travelers. It does not satisfy the mission statement components including customers, technology, concern for employees, or a philosophy the company can follow. The actual mission does not build a foundation for strategies, plans, and priorities for AirTran. In the proposed mission statement however, the mission includes customers, the services AirTran offers, the markets, technology and concern for employees. The proposed philosophy of AirTran is: communication among our crew members is the key for success here at AirTran (David, 2011). Discussion and Analysis An EFE matrix is a tool that is used by companies to determine and study economic, demographic, political, technological, competitive, etc. factors outside of its company (David, 2011). The unemployment factor under opportunities received the highest weight because it unemployment increases, more people will drive vehicles and travel less by plane to save gas and money. Currently, the unemployment rate is 9.2% in the US (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010). If the unemployment rate decreases, more people are likely to travel by airplanes, especially if the airfare cost is low and demand for air travel is high (Travel Agent Central, 2010). Another major opportunity is that one of AirTran competitors Mexicana de Aviacià ³n ceased operations in the United States and Mexico. The use of wireless technology and Wi-Fi is another opportunity that could attract potential travelers who dont have access to the internet when traveling on other Airline company planes. The largest threat to AirTran is the increased competition from Delta and Southwest Airlines. The increased competition factor received the highest weight because the most important factor that affects another business is the competition from its competitors. Another threat to AirTran is that its highly dependent on the fluctuations of fuel costs. Since fuel is one of the largest costs to AirTran a slight adjustment can mean the difference between a loss and a profit. Along of fuel, labor costs are one of the largest costs to AirTran and a slight adjust can mean the difference between a loss and a profit. Political policies enforced by the US and other countries in which AirTran operates can have a huge impact on the company as a whole. With terrorism a top priority of the government, new policies can cause a huge burden on AirTran for new technologies or more labor costs (security and maintenance). As with any business, labor strikes can halt a companys operations causing the company to lose millions in revenue. Labor strikes received a rating of 4 because it is a threat that could cause AirTran to be driven out of business. AirTran is performing average in their external environment. Most of AirTrans opportunities and threats need to be addressed more aggressively, such as decreasing operating costs, expanding internationally, and increased competition (David, 2011). Competitive Profile Matrix Discussion and Analysis A Competitive profile matrix for a business helps them determine major competitors weakness and strengths in their strategies (David, 2011). AirTran has the highest weighted score because AirTran has an advantage in charter services, business class services, and the navigation of their website. Based on the research found, the lowest fare costs ranked from AirTran being the lowest to Southwest Airlines being the highest and Delta Airlines falling between the two. AirTran received a rating of 4 under technological advances because it was the first airline company to introduce and provide Wi-Fi to travelers and customers. AirTran however, received a rating of 2 for both the market share and the financial position because AirTran is becoming bankrupt, in which AirTran was just bought out by Southwest Airlines. Airfare costs and market share are weighted heavily because if a companys airfare costs are too high, many customers will reject the idea of buying airfare tickets. Charging too l ow for airfare tickets would attract more customers, but would decrease the market share since the company would be losing profits while selling at a low price. Discussion and Analysis An IFE Matrix is a tool that summarized the major strengths and weakness for many companies based on the functional areas of that business (David, 2011). Being the first airline company to provide Wi-Fi Internet to travelers is classified as minor strength because it provides an opportunity for travelers to surf the web or complete business objectives. AirTran also has a 1st place ranking in overall air quality from the Airline Quality Report of 2008 (AirTran Airways, 2008). Having rewards for frequent flyers encourages their frequent flyers to be a committed customer. AirTran includes their $1 billion annual revenue, which helps their airline purchases better equipped airplanes. Also, AirTrans high number of daily flights helps their revenue while increasing their safety rating from by riding passengers to their destination safely. Lastly, their low cost structure encourages more customers which will result in an increase of their profit revenue. Having customer complaints and a decrease in stock prices can result in negative effects. A weakness is a negative strategy of a business that has negative impacts upon that particular business (David, 2011). These are a few weaknesses that AirTran currently possess, which could cost them thousands of potential customers.. Another weakness of AirTran includes spending more money for maintenance equipments, which resulted in a net loss, which can also affect the liquidity of the business. High labor costs also have a negative impact on AirTran because it decreases net income. Key Financial Ratios: (in thousands) Discussion and Analysis The financial ratios above are based off the 2009 balance sheet and income statement data from AirTrans annual report. Financial ratios are statistical data that analysts use based on the companys balance sheet and income statement for that fiscal year (David, 2011). Liquidity ratios help measure a firms capacity of meeting short-term obligations. Leverage ratios help determines how much a firm is in debt. Activity ratios describe how well a firm is allocating its resources effectively. Profitability ratios help determines the overall effectiveness of management based on the firms investments and sales. Growth Ratios help determine the firms ability to remain liquid during the growth of both the economy and the industry (David, 2011). Strategy Analysis SWOT Strategy Matrix: Strengths Financial stability Global presence Brand recognition Low cost air fares Weaknesses Speed of customer service High rate of accidents involving AirTran planes Quality of airline services Opportunities Possible company expansion with Southwest Airlines. Possible gain of new fleet Increase in profits Expanding AirTran into foreign countries. SO Strategies Utilize brand recognition by expanding operations and partnering with Southwest Airlines (S3, O1). Increase global presence by expanding operations into foreign countries such as Mexico, Canada, and the Middle East (S2, O4) WO Strategies Eliminate high percentage of airplane accidents by acquiring new fleet that uses efficient technology to decreases the risk of accidents (W2, O2). Improve the quality of airline and customer service with new methods such as customer surveys, questionnaires, and joining forces with their major competitor to improve quality (W3, O1) Threats 1. Stronger Competition from competitors 2. Rising Labor Costs 3. Anti-terrorism policies and laws 4. Economic conditions ST Strategies Sustain financial stability by monitoring expenses and changes with the competition (S1, T1) Maintain low air fares and maximum profits by monitoring the economic condition for the airline industry (S4, T4) Eliminate retrenchment by expanding operations globally (S2, T4) WT Strategies Establish a positive public image regarding the high rate of accidents to avoid criticism from people who are affected by post 9/11 laws and policies (W2, T3) Focus on improving customer services to help combat against other airline competitions customer service (W1, T1) Improve the quality of airline services by monitoring the competition that has a stronger competitive advantage (S3, T1) Discussion and Analysis The SWOT (Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats) matrix is an important type of framework used by companies to develop four types of strategies based on SO (strengths-opportunities), ST (strengths-threats), WO (weaknesses-opportunities), and WT (weaknesses-threats) (David, 2011). SO strategies are based upon the companys internal strengths, which are used to capitalize upon the external opportunities outside that company. An SO strategy for AirTran would include using their brand recognition of low costs to expand their operations globally. ST strategies results from a companys strengths thats used to help eliminate or condense external threats. An ST strategy for AirTran would include monitoring their expenses and economic conditions to maintain financial stability. WO strategies are used to help capitalize on opportunities by improving the companys internal weaknesses. For example, AirTran has a high number of plane crashes, which is a major internal weakness. A WO strategy fo r AirTran would be to acquire new technology advanced fleet and aircrafts to eliminate the high number of airplane accidents. A WT strategy is used to help a company not only avoid external threats, but to help improve internal weaknesses also. A WT strategy for AirTran may include focusing on better customer service to gain potential customers from its competition (David, 2011). The SPACE Matrix for AirTran Airways INTERNAL STRATEGIC POSITION EXTERNAL STRATEGIC POSITION Financial Position (FP) Stability Position (SP) Technological changes Rate of Inflation Competitive pressure Price elasticity of demand Price range of competing products Financial Leverage Liquidity Inventory Turnover Return on investment Cash Flows Earnings per share Competitive Position (CP) Industry Position (IP) Growth potential Profit Potential Financial Stability Resource Utilization Ease of entry into market Market share Product quality Product life cycle Customer loyalty Technological know-how Discussion and Analysis A space matrix is a type of framework that companies use to designate which type of strategies should be pursued, whether those strategies are aggressive, competitive, defensive, or conservative (David, 2011). An aggressive strategy demonstrates that a company has great financial strength in that specific industry for that company while a conservative strategy indicates that the status of a company (positive or negative) in a industry thats decreasing in growth and sales. A competitive strategy demonstrates that a company has major competitive advantage(s) in either a high-growing or low-growing industry. Companies categorized under a defensive strategy indicate that a company has competitive disadvantages in a low-growing industry. AirTran is currently taking a defensive position in the airline industry because AirTran has a weak competitive position in an industry thats becoming more unstable as time progresses (David, 2011). The value assigned to the financial position is a 2 beca use of AirTrans financial struggle to remain liquid as a business. AirTran received a -6 under the stability position since competitive pressure is high and the high risk involved for AirTran. The Industry position received a score of 4 because AirTran has the potential to grow, but at the same time, the financial stability of AirTran is relatively weak. The competitive position received a -5 because of the low market share and control AirTran has over its competition (David, 2011). The Internal-External Matrix Discussion and Analysis An Internal-External Matrix is a tool that companies use by dividing their divisions into nine cells and basing the data from the IFE and EFE weighted scores (David, 2011). The grow and build section received a medium score because the EFE weighted score for AirTran fell around 2.68. Since it has a medium score of 2.68, it would also be classified as an average internal position. The IFE weighted score for AirTran fell around 2.70, which is also classified as an average internal position with a medium score (David, 2011). Since AirTran is struggling financially, the harvest and divest area received an average score also with the grow and build section being in the low quadrant score. The Grand Strategy Matrix Discussion and Analysis A grand strategy matrix is a tool that analysts use in order to formulate alternative strategies for that business. There are four quadrants that represents whether a firm is classified in a competitive or market position based on the growth of the market (David, 2011). AirTran would be classified under quadrant III because the airline industry has slowed in growth and AirTran is on the verge of bankruptcy. AirTran needs to make changes quickly; however, due to the lack of financial support, Southwest Airlines has bought AirTran Airways from the owner of the company. Since all the other options have failed for AirTran, selling its business to another competitor is the only way to suppress bankruptcy (Schlangenstein, 2010). QPSM for AirTran The Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix QSPM Strategic Alternatives For AirTran Airways Discussion and Analysis The QSPM (Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix) is a type of framework thats used by companies to determine the comparative attractiveness of alternative strategies (David, 2011). These new strategies are based upon the previous strategies formulated from the SWOT matrix. The key factors of the QSPM are generated from the EFE, IFE, and the competitive profile matrix strategies. The alternative strategies formulated are based on what the company should consider implementing. In other words, AirTran decides to use product development as an alternative strategy. The alternative strategy involved intends to increase sales by creating an express lane for customers to quickly purchase airfare tickets. Some of the key factors involved for the new express lane strategy include an increase in Floridas population, while studying the weakness of increased customer complaints. An attractiveness score is formulated based upon how well the alternative strategy can improve the key factors, whether its an opportunity, threat, strength, or weakness. For the express lane alternative strategy, an attractiveness score of 2 for the increased population of Florida factor indicates that the idea is somewhat attractive. On the other hand, one of AirTrans competitors Mexicana de Aviacià ³n ceased operations and received an attractiveness score of 4 because AirTran can capitalize o n this opportunity by gaining more potential customers (David, 2011). Evaluation of AirTran worth analysis: AirTran Worth Analysis **In Thousands (2009) 1. Determine Net Worth or Stockholders Equity Sum of Common Stock, Additional Paid-in Capital, and Retained Earnings (in thousands) Discussion and Analysis In evaluating AirTrans worth, the worth can be categories into what AirTran owns, what AirTran has earned, and what AirTran can bring to the airline industry. The net worth of AirTran is approximately $525,740 (in thousands). The net worth includes common stock, paid-in capital, and AirTrans retained earnings (David, 2011). The price-earnings ratio for AirTran is a (-$525.81 thousand), which is a negative earnings per share because of AirTrans low stock prices. The current enterprise value of AirTran, according to yahoo.com is around 1.60 billion dollars. In other words, if Southwest Airlines decides to buy AirTran as Southwest have already done, Southwest would more than likely pay around 1.60 billion dollars (AirTran Holdings, 2009). Recommendations: Specific strategies and long term objectives that would benefit AirTran would include expanding its operations internationally to countries such as Europe, Asia, and Africa due to the high population, especially China. Chinas economy is currently on the rise and AirTran moving its operations to China could greatly benefit the company. With nearly 1 billion people in China, if only 10% of the people buy airfares from AirTran at $50 each, thats 100 million people per $50 ticket, which would equal to around $5 billion, 5 times the annual revenue. Moving from a domestically controlled environment to an international control environment is beneficial also because it will provide the US citizens an inexpensive opportunity to travel to foreign counties. The estimated time for expanding AirTrans operations should take no more than 1 year, if not before. New policies that should be implemented for AirTrans foreign operations would include outsourcing employees such as the employees that live in the country thats holding AirTrans operations. For example, if AirTran expands to China, then it is only logical that AirTran should only hire individuals from China and neighboring areas to run the operations. If AirTran however continues to experience financial instability, AirTran should sell all of its assets for their intangible worth, which would be classified as liquidation (David, 2011). Discussion and Analysis A projected income statement allows an organization to predicted expected results based on particular actions and approaches (David, 2011). Based on the above income statement, it is projected that AirTran will decrease in total revenue by about 50% because of the recent drop in sales and net income. Since AirTran also has negative retained earnings, it is only reasonable that the total revenue will decrease by a percentage. Since total revenue directly affects gross profit, the gross profit is projected to fall about 75% in the year 2010, based off 2009 financial data. Operating expenses are predicted to increase by 10% because of the decrease in profits and possible increase in expenses. Based off the projections, it is projected that the net income will also decrease by about 50% because of the decrease in revenues and gross profit. Discussion and Analysis A projected balance sheet is a financial statement that allows an organization to predict future total assets and project total liabilities based off the income statement (David, 2011). Since the revenue decreased on the income statement, the cash of the balance sheet would decrease around 9% since cash is created from total revenues. Inventory will decrease by 8% because AirTran will not buy as many aircrafts for their airline company due to the recent drop in net income and increased expenses. As a result, the total assets would decrease by 9.8 percent due to the decrease of inventory, cash, and other contra-asset accounts. The liabilities are project to remain about the same with exception to the long term debt. Since AirTran is losing money, they are not likely to purchase any new aircrafts that may require them to take out a loan. The long-term debt account is projected to decrease by 25% because of the decreased reliability of taking out a loan for inventory purchases. Common s tock under owners equity will remain the same since the number of shares outstanding will not change from its previous value of 135,000. Since the retained earnings are currently at a negative value, a prediction of an addition of negative $6,000 is projected for the retained earnings account. In addition, the total assets and total liabilities/stockholders equity match, so the projected balance sheet is complete for 2010 (David, 2011). Discussion and Analysis The financial ratios above are based off the 2010 projected balance sheet and projected income statement data for AirTran. Financial ratios are statistical data that analysts use based on the companys balance sheet and income statement for that fiscal year (David, 2011). The liquidity ratios for AirTran describe how well AirTran can meet short term liabilities. Both the current and quick ratios have a calculation of 1.02 based off the projected financial statements. The leverage ratios, which measure how much a firm is financial by debt include debt to total-asset ratio and debt to equity ratio. The debt to total-asset ratio has a calculation of 0.78, which indicates that AirTrans total assets is about 22% higher than AirTrans total debt. Activity ratios demonstrate how well AirTran is using its resources. The fixed assets turnover has a ratio of 1.00 exactly, indicating that AirTran is effectively using its resources and equipment utilization. The profitability ratios will measure A irTrans overall effectiveness based on sales and investments. The net profit margin has a ratio of 6% indicating that after taxes, per dollar of sales, AirTran will receive a 6% profit. The growth ratios measure how well AirTran can growth depending on its economic positioning. Based on the net income data, net income has a ratio of about 50% because of the increase of net income from $67,331 to $134,662 in 2008 and 2009 respectfully. Discussion and Analysis A balance scorecard is a type of framework that companies use for evaluation of objectives such as financial performance and customer knowledge (David, 2011). The expected financial and nonfinancial objectives recommended for AirTran include customer service/loyalty, revenue growth, and quality of customer service. The desired measure for the customer objectives include customer feedback and rewards such as giving customers questionnaires to answer and provide an A+ reward to frequent travelers. The time expected to implement the customer objective will take around 1 month to complete. The desired measure for the financial objectives includes the changes in finances such as net income and stockholders equity. The estimated time to implement the financial objectives may take up to 6 months or a year because of the financial instability AirTran is currently experiencing. The operations/processes objective has a desired measure of a scale rating from A to F. The higher the letter grade, the better AirTran will look to potential customers, creditors, and investors (David, 2011). Conclusion: AirTrans future plan is to sell its company to Southwest Airlines instead of shutting down its operations. Although AirTran will no longer be operated as AirTran Holdings, the owner feels that this is an opportunity for AirTran to become an even greater entity. AirTran could have possibly rethought the situation of selling its assets to Southwest Airlines and formed an alternative strategy. The alternative strategy could have been to expand its operations to foreign countries that will create opportunities to reach a new variety and number of people. However, it appears now that Southwest Airlines is back to the top as being one of the most dominant airline companies to exist today.