Analyzing The Light And The Glory - 1725 Words

Analyzing The Light and the Glory: A Comprehensive Review of the Most Popular Christian Interpretation of American History Ever Written Of the fairly limited amount of books I have read in my lifetime regarding the origins of the country we live in today from a religious standpoint, the vast majority are rife with one scarcely mentioned and not infrequent pitfall of inaccuracy that glares at me as I flip through their pages: they sugarcoat the difficult parts. Any controversy that may mitigate their argument (such as the gruesome altercations between the early colonists and the Native Americans, Benjamin Franklin’s or Thomas Jefferson’s religious stances, or the Americans’ horribly violent recalcitrance against the nation they then considered home) is deceptively changed or mollified in attempt to please readers, or perhaps even more embarrassingly, omitted out of sheer ignorance on the subject. With The Light and the Glory, preacher Peter Marshall and New York p ublishing house editor David Manuel defy the stereotypes of American Christian authors and unapologetically disregard potential vitriol from their intended audience in the process. After conducting extensive research on the topics they planned to discuss in their book, Marshall and Manuel devised the following thesis for The Light and the Glory: (a) God has, or at least had, a definitive and demanding plan for America, and (b) our continual deviation from this plan is why modern America is so seemingly headed forShow MoreRelatedRacism And The Failure Of Alternative Methods Essay1541 Words   |  7 Pagesthat is the first way to change because with no conversation comes no change. These methods, in my opinion, are being deployed due to the failure of alternative methods. The methods used in the past were through film and music. Today I will be analyzing two of these films that had a similar message behind it, racism. But these films deliver this message in a different way and have different feelings within them. One uses racism to show that perseverance and love can transcend the level of hate thatRead MorePortrayal Of Female Sex Workers1063 Words   |  5 Pagesin the film Whores Glory1. Are the sex workers working in Thailand, Bangladesh, and Mexico seen as feminists? Do the women featured have control over their bodies? Finally, are these women recognized by society as workers in the film? I will be analyzing the production of the film through it’s themes and support my argument that the film Whores Glory1 is not feminist due to it’s depiction of female sex workers. Religion plays a major factor in the film by displaying how sex workers feel about certainRead MoreThe Iliad Herioc Code1444 Words   |  6 Pagesmaterial possessions, accountability, and respect are also contributors to one’s sense of honor. In this paper I will look primarily at three characters and examine the different ways that they approach the ultimate goal of honor. Before analyzing a couple characters within the book, one must understand the context of the times that these characters were living in. Most modern people view the Homeric code as brutal, senseless, shallow, or even stupid. Modern cultures have found alternativeRead MoreA Beautiful Pied Design1185 Words   |  5 Pageswithin the use of the poems now. Pied Beauty Can be found being read at funerals and other God praising/noticing events. Because it automatically gets the reader to notice God: With the opening line, Glory be to God [ ...] (1), Hopkins alludes to the Glory Be-Glory be to the Father, and to the son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. By beginning Pied Beauty with those words, HopkinsRead MoreMyths or Fictions: Gods vs. Superheroes Essays883 Words   |  4 Pagescomic rewrite, Superman is said to have been â€Å"a spineless, unbearable coward!† (Tye 31) by a woman that he is trying to pursue. Superman’s personality and character changes multiple times through the years making the reader think one thing, but if analyzing another comic make them think otherwise. It is believed that his purpose in crime fighting is not the same as most other superheroes tend to be. While Superman does have a personal trauma, he â€Å"cannot ritualistically redress this past by fightingRead MoreGreat Gatsby Film Analysis Essay903 Words   |  4 PagesThe Great Gatsby Film Analysis The 2013 drama/romance movie, The Great Gatsby, is the second movie adaption made based off the novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1925. Co-written and directed by Baz Luhrmann, this film received both glory and criticism upon its release. The Great Gatsby is well known for its â€Å"Gatsby era† as well as the love encircled between money and power. Without the glitz and glam of this story in conjunction with the forever love Jay Gatsby, a millionaire known for hisRead MoreThe Modes of Laughter1305 Words   |  5 PagesModes of Laughter There are a plethora of ways in which the prudent reader can discern the elements of modern laughter as noted within Daniel Grojnowskis Aux commencements du rire modern when analyzing Marcel Pagnols My Fathers Glory, Alfred Jarrys Ubu Roi, and Eugene Ionescos The Bald Soprano. Virtually all three of these works celebrate an irreverence that unabashedly admits them into the School of the Absurd, although Ionescos is probably the least ridiculous. Still, it would be difficultRead More Women of the Odyssey Essays1488 Words   |  6 Pagesstories—stories about men; those people often overlook the important roles that women play in the Odyssey. While there are not many female characters in the Odyssey, the few that there are, play pivotal roles in the story and one can gain a lot of insight by analyzing how those women are portrayed. Homer portrays the females in contradictory ways: the characters of Athena and Eurykleia are given strong, admirable roles while Melantho, the Sirens and Circe are depicted in a much more negative way. Penelope—theRead MoreCriminals And Their Crimes By Mark Jones1640 Words   |  7 Pagesindisputably guilty of the crime he and she committed of murder and subornation of perjury. Through Jones’ (2009) writing, he reminds his readers just like the characters illustrated in his book, everyone is not without error and all â€Å"fall short of the glory of God,† and that criminal law or what is considered crime is ever evolving as societies political views evolve. (Romans 3:23, ESV). Jones begins each illustration of a crime with the scriptural reference regarding that particular crime followed onRead MoreGilgamesh: a Heros Journey Essay1533 Words   |  7 Pagescommander of Uruk. Throughout the book, the adventures of Gilgamesh fit Joseph Campbell’s idea of the hero’s journey. After analyzing the pieces to the hero’s journey, Gilgamesh is proven to be a true hero because his journey parallels that of the hero’s journey described by Campbell. The latter part of this paper will prove Gilgamesh is a hero using Campbell’s model, by analyzing the pieces of the hero’s journey: separation or departure, the initiation, and the return. The first element of the

The power of an advertisement Free Essays

The power of an advertisement lies on its ability to provoke interest from its audience. The moment the audience sees the ad, it should have the capability to lure its audience into becoming its willing consumers and this charm must be strong enough to create a loyal market. Nowadays, however, this has become increasingly difficult to do. We will write a custom essay sample on The power of an advertisement or any similar topic only for you Order Now With the consumers getting wiser and more critical of what they perceive in society and the environment, advertisers must create more innovative ways to reach them. Advertisements today need a more global reach in such a way that they have to touch every aspect of daily life making new forms of address more essential. The ad by the clothing company Diesel cleverly attains this. At first glance, it immediately demands the attention of the consumer. The mere idea of a young man kneeling to pray evokes a sense of conscious reflection. In a world where everything seems to point to materiality and gratification of worldly desires, it is an ingenious idea to use faith to capture attention. The young man, in casual Italian Diesel jeans and shirt having that look on his face indicating that of an intent plea, creatively portrays a notion of spirituality or probably the ironic lack of it. It appeals to its audience and highlights the role that faith play in society; its importance and meaning. At closer look, the man is apparently praying while on the treadmill. This adds to the intrigue because it symbolizes the culture of the youth and society in general. The words â€Å"live fast† on the bottom, with text effects and all, enhances the appeal of a fast paced world. The fact that the man wears a watch also assumes the idea of a society where time is important and critical use of it must be employed. The identity that the ad has established is easily assumed and related. Combined together, the ad exploits the irony between the fast moving lifestyle of people and the slow realm of reflection and prayer. It is rather difficult to reconcile engaged prayer into a world that essentially inhibits it. With a lifestyle that seems to promote only stop and go, as to be seen carefully from the â€Å"pray runner† treadmill, the option of pausing for a moment in prayer and faith is unlikely. This striking image attempts to stand out among all the confusion that advertisements bring, and it succeeds. Jacobson et al discusses that most often, â€Å"ads speak directly to our innermost, unarticulated needs, proffering ineffective palliatives for real social and personal problems† (Jacobson et al, 1995). Ads may turn out to be ineffective solutions for real problems but the idea behind it is to create an avenue for deep thought and contemplation, a mode to capture the consumers’ inner reflections and influence and direct them towards the brand. In this the Diesel ad does well. The idea implied in the ad may be seen as to provide a social criticism while introducing a lifestyle geared towards consumerism. The idea commercial appeal and introduction of conflict creates a space for difference and being able to make the two meet means being able to conquer more diverse markets. As Giroux points out, those that shock people have become the most effective means of getting to the consumers. (Giroux, 1994) Moreover, as the ad is intended to promote to consumers its online stores; it effectively relays that fast lifestyles need fast ways of consuming. Thus, through the internet, Diesel provides the conveniences of â€Å"high speed shopping†. It works effectively as a target specific ad but it may be seen as an ad aimed for the general public as well. The impact that it implies and associates with the brand will linger on in the minds of its consumers, and it would not matter whether they purchase online or at the stores. The ad inculcates the idea of living fast on its audiences and thus the modern lifestyle of people today is held in close association to the brand. The ad strives to create a sense of relation, a connection to the modern consumers and it reinforces the idea that advertising ingratiates itself to the daily functions of modern life. (Vanderbilt, 1997) In all, the Diesel ad employs an ingenious way to address the consumers’ search for the meaning of public truths. It effectively captures the attention of its audience by creating an image directly intended to evoke human feelings of morals and principles. The ad uses irony to question society and the lifestyle that people currently have. It reminds people of their faith, values and inclinations but does so in a way that is not negative and condemning. At the same time it suggests a solution geared towards complimenting the fast paced world of society, successfully creating an impact for the Diesel brand. The ad becomes a powerful tool for Diesel to connect to its consumers and instill on them an enduring influence that would last even if the ad’s idea of prayer and faith had not. How to cite The power of an advertisement, Papers

Millie Dowler Essay Example For Students

Millie Dowler Essay Again, my analysis will consider whether all people have an equal right to participate in both capacities. The explanations outlined above provide a means whereby it is possible to investigate whether a global public sphere is emergent in the news. However, it is first important to outline the news production process. The news is supposed to be objective and neutral and is often described as a window on the world but this can be misleading. The news is a complex and bias process therefore in order to discuss the possibility of a global public sphere in respect of global news; it is valuable to define the key term itself. We will write a custom essay on Millie Dowler specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Although the proper definition of news is new information about events the real meaning of the term in our society is rather different. News has come to mean information which has been collected, shaped and then passed on or reported by professional, profit-making organizations. The extent to which perceptions of news and the role of the media have changed, is revealed in the contrast between the work of Franklin, who sets entertainment against the more desirable news and information, and the perspective found in with John Fiske. Fiske attacked what was then an established idea: the notion that news is somehow factual or objective. Speaking of television he wrote that the basic definition of news as factual information gives us only half the story10. In other words Fiske objected not to sensation dressed up as news, but the idea of news as fact. Fiske goes on to speak of norms, a set of values which embody the ideology of the dominant classes. 11 This point of view casts the news organization in a certain role-as the servant of the dominant forces in society. News is therefore, a reflection or embodiment of dominant interests and values. Television news is made via a routine production process through news selection and news values. News values derive from the ideas or assumptions which form the ideological background to the work of the journalist and the news editor. OSullivan et, al define news values as The professional codes used in the selection, construction and presentation of news stories in corporately produced mainstream press and broadcasting. 12 News values have been categorized by a number of writers. Mcshane sets out five central tenets which journalists are likely to follow in their news-gathering operations. These are conflict, danger to the community, the unusual, scandal and individualism. Dutton produced a list of twelve of the most significant news values. The list may be summarized as follows: Frequency, this refers to something Dutton calls the time span taken by the event. He cites the example of murders, which happen suddenly and whose meaning is established quickly. The murder of Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells is a prime example of this news value. The threshold or amplitude of an event refers to its size, the bigger the event, the better. There is a threshold below which an event will fail to be considered worthy of attention, and will not be reported. The more clear cut and uncomplicated an event the better, Dutton calls this Unambiguity. Although events do not have to be simple, the range of possible meanings they are able to generate must remain limited. In this way the event will be accessible to the public. Meaningfulness is an important news value. Dutton divides this into two categories, following Galtung and Ruge, who called this news value Familiarity. The first category is cultural proximity in which the event agrees of a specific culture. The second is relevance, where events will be reported and discussed if they seem to have an impact on the home culture. This impact is usually represented in terms of some type of threat. The threat of terrorism is a current issue after the September 11th attacks which changed the world. Britain and the USA are close alliances and so this story was culturally significant to the British and also to people all over the world. .uc9ffd78dbe1ab599a6ba9d02f6d40119 , .uc9ffd78dbe1ab599a6ba9d02f6d40119 .postImageUrl , .uc9ffd78dbe1ab599a6ba9d02f6d40119 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uc9ffd78dbe1ab599a6ba9d02f6d40119 , .uc9ffd78dbe1ab599a6ba9d02f6d40119:hover , .uc9ffd78dbe1ab599a6ba9d02f6d40119:visited , .uc9ffd78dbe1ab599a6ba9d02f6d40119:active { border:0!important; } .uc9ffd78dbe1ab599a6ba9d02f6d40119 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uc9ffd78dbe1ab599a6ba9d02f6d40119 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uc9ffd78dbe1ab599a6ba9d02f6d40119:active , .uc9ffd78dbe1ab599a6ba9d02f6d40119:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uc9ffd78dbe1ab599a6ba9d02f6d40119 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uc9ffd78dbe1ab599a6ba9d02f6d40119 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uc9ffd78dbe1ab599a6ba9d02f6d40119 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uc9ffd78dbe1ab599a6ba9d02f6d40119 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uc9ffd78dbe1ab599a6ba9d02f6d40119:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uc9ffd78dbe1ab599a6ba9d02f6d40119 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uc9ffd78dbe1ab599a6ba9d02f6d40119 .uc9ffd78dbe1ab599a6ba9d02f6d40119-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uc9ffd78dbe1ab599a6ba9d02f6d40119:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Secret Crimes of Compassion EssayAudiences are interested in events which contain reference to the values, beliefs and attitudes that it shares therefore, Ideology plays an important part in the construction of news. The meaningfulness of an event is linked closely to another news value, the reference to elite nations. Elections, natural disasters, wars and other significant events are more likely to be reported in the western press if they occur in the developed world. In terms of the September 11th attacks, the event automatically qualified as important news because importance was given to the number of deaths aswell as the country in which the event occurred. This is an example of events having to attain a certain threshold. Unexpectedness operates through the categories of the meaningful and the consonant. The rarity of an event leads to its circulation in the public domain, the story in which a woman was pregnant with eight babies or the boy who gave birth to his twin are key examples of sensationalism in the news. Similarly, negativity refers to the idea that bad news is good news. Audiences will flock to a story that has shock value but ignore one which is routine. Audiences are held by the dramatic power of the tragic narrative. to use the murders of Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells once again, the girls were very young and were taken advantage of by someone or people they trusted. The human interest angle is an important way of making events palatable or comprehensible to audiences. The story of the girls murders achieved importance in the news, just as the murder of Millie Dowler and therefore were both covered for some time on television and in the press and this refers to the news value of continuity. Composition refers to the idea that most news outlets attempt to balance the reporting of events, so in terms of composition if there has been a great deal of bad news, some items of a more positive nature will be added, for example the birth of a child in the royal family. This links to the reference to elite persons in the news. The famous and the powerful are often treated as being of greater importance than those who are regarded as ordinary, in the sense that their decisions and actions are supposed to affect large numbers of people.

The Victorian Man Essay Example For Students

The Victorian Man Essay Before publishing Far from the Madding Crowd in 1874, Thomas Hardys novels were known, by readers at the time, to be rather vulgar because of their concentration on country folk and not members of high society. This was an unusual choice for an author at the time, whilst other classics by Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters focused their attentions to tales of the aristocracy. Hardys many Biblical and Romantic allusions added a new dimension to the novel, and his often profound comments show there is more to this tale than just a simple love story. In Victorian England, farm workers were seen to be poor people who accumulated large families and were generally less presentable in appearance and often had a lower standard of living. However, Hardy attempted to alter feelings of city folk towards the countryside and its rustics by writing his pastoral tragedy with an aim to help educate the literate people of the city. We will write a custom essay on The Victorian Man specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The novel is an authentic depiction of people living in rural society during the nineteenth century. Each of the main characters represents the different personalities that existed in the social climate at the time. The story takes place in a rustic part of England in the late Victorian period and follows three suitors in pursuit of the female character whom, they feel, would be their ideal wife. The lady at the centre of attention in the village is Bathsheba Everdene. Being a wealthy, independent young lady, she is highly sought after. She is the protagonist, propelling the plot through her interaction with her various suitors. At the beginning of the novel she is a penniless young lady but she quickly inherits and learns to run a farm, from her uncle, in Weatherbury, where most of the novel takes place. The three suitors are William Boldwood, a middle-aged man of a serious and dignified character, Gabriel Oak, a humble and honest farmer, shepherd and bailiff, and Sergeant Francis Troy, the novels antagonist, an intelligent young man whose gambling addiction and impulsive behaviour thwart his determination to achieve his goals. Hardys love for the countryside is obvious in his novel, with the main characters either owning or managing a farm, except Troy. Hardy loved the culture of the town, the plays, the art galleries, and the music. Hardy disliked Londons contempt for the country lifestyle as well as those who sought change and modernisation. Rustics in the novel are attributed with honesty and integrity whilst outsiders with no feelings are displayed as insensitive, destructive and inhumane. Hardys novels were even considered to be dull, mainly because they were focused on the countryside. In Far from the Madding Crowd, Hardy therefore aims to alter the perspective that people had of the countryside. Gabriel Oak, one of the three suitors, is a man who is portrayed to be close to nature. His character is similar to Hardy himself who was born in rural Dorset, which has much natural beauty, and was also close to nature. The title itself also suggests that Bathsheba and her suitor would, ideally, like to move away from the lively, mad atmosphere of the town, Madding (meaning madly) Crowd. A further influence on Hardys novel was his own experience with the class system. Hardys family were working-class folk and were involved in masonry. This is reflected in Far from the Madding Crowd by displays of affectionate admiration for farm workers and rustics. In the 1870s society was still dissected into a class system, since the important rise in factory work and industrialisation. This was due to the industrial revolution occurring in Britain from 1820s to 1900s. The novel displays these clear hierarchies with the community but shows impartiality to all. .u708a30f1368f77ccbd90bafec152b92d , .u708a30f1368f77ccbd90bafec152b92d .postImageUrl , .u708a30f1368f77ccbd90bafec152b92d .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u708a30f1368f77ccbd90bafec152b92d , .u708a30f1368f77ccbd90bafec152b92d:hover , .u708a30f1368f77ccbd90bafec152b92d:visited , .u708a30f1368f77ccbd90bafec152b92d:active { border:0!important; } .u708a30f1368f77ccbd90bafec152b92d .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u708a30f1368f77ccbd90bafec152b92d { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u708a30f1368f77ccbd90bafec152b92d:active , .u708a30f1368f77ccbd90bafec152b92d:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u708a30f1368f77ccbd90bafec152b92d .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u708a30f1368f77ccbd90bafec152b92d .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u708a30f1368f77ccbd90bafec152b92d .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u708a30f1368f77ccbd90bafec152b92d .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u708a30f1368f77ccbd90bafec152b92d:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u708a30f1368f77ccbd90bafec152b92d .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u708a30f1368f77ccbd90bafec152b92d .u708a30f1368f77ccbd90bafec152b92d-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u708a30f1368f77ccbd90bafec152b92d:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Hemingway, In The Old Man And The Sea , Examines The Struggles Of Man EssayThe novel could be seen as simply a love story, which could be why it was a best-seller, as many people enjoy the thrills, betrayal and drama of romantic love stories. Hardy shows how marriage should not be disguised as a way of showing that you love someone, but that people need devotion, commitment and different atmospheres within the household to be satisfied with married life. The subject of feminism arises once Bathsheba receives a proposal of marriage from Boldwood. She shows that she has a strong mentality, and is not intimated into tamely accepting his proposal, attributes which were possess ed by Hardys own mother. Her independent status allows her to enforce her own decisions without the consideration of another persons viewpoint. This enables her to effectively choose her husband. Bathsheba shows that she has control of her life, and that she will not be forced to make decisions by any one person and so refuses Boldwoods proposal, realising that he could not give her the life she would like. Bathsheba feels Boldwood would work, and the income would not be spent enjoying themselves, and she does not want to be classed as a housewife. In the current social climate, over the years more and more women are working more and retiring later, with a factor being that women are fitter and they do not like the idea of being housewives.

Describing My Childhood Home Essays

Describing My Childhood Home Essays Describing My Childhood Home Essay Describing My Childhood Home Essay Essay Topic: Fun Home Quincy, Mass is where my childhood home stands Homes are places that people can go to for warmth, memories and comfort. My childhood home resides or stands in Quincy, MA. The home is full of comfort for me and my family. My home is your typical Cape Code style. It’s gray in color with Maroon shutters. There is a 2 car attached garage. Flowers, bushes and other landscape surround the house. The front living room window is a large bay window that allows a lot of sunlight into the home when the curtains are open. The large bay window allows you to see a lot of our neighborhood and people passing by as they are out for their daily stroll. Like all homes, my home contains a kitchen. The kitchen represents fond memories of my mom cooking large family dinners on Sundays and togetherness. One fond memory would be coming home from a ride around the neighborhood on my dirt bike and smelling the aroma of baking ham in the oven with a faint hint of freshly baked bread. Our kitchen was small, with one light on the ceiling. My mom complained a lot over the years about that one light in our kitchen. I’m not sure why, but it was never replaced to add more lighting options. Still to this day, that one light attached to the ceiling exists. The floor was covered by ceramic tile in an off white color and the walls were painted in a chocolate milk type of color. Remember, this is the 1970’s/1980’s when home decor was terrible. A large fork and spoon hung on one of our chocolate milk colored walls, as it did in many homes back then. It took a lot of time and effort to beg and plead my mom to switch out that spoon and fork for some more modern type of decor. Eventually she added some pictures that fit very well into the kitchen. Our kitchen held most of the memories of togetherness, but my room was my sanctuary. My room was upstairs along with 2 other rooms. I had the upstairs to myself since the other rooms were used as storage or for an occasional visitor. The walls in my room were a yellow in color with one wall covered in mock wood paneling. I hated that wall, I was not allowed to attach anything to it nor paint it, and I looked at it as a thorn in my side. When I was young, I spent a lot of time in my room, drawing, painting, playing my guitar and sometimes just day dreaming. As I grew older, the yellow painted walls were lined with child star pictures from magazines such as River Phoenix and Rob Lowe. My bed was a queen size bed with lots of pillows. I had a blue, white and gray comforter with matching sheets. In my world, my bed was the greatest; it was one big security blanket. I spent many days and afternoons daydreaming on my bed, along with an occasional nap or two. I had 2 windows in my room. One window I kept open a lot. I could hear and see my neighborhood street and watch for passing stray cats or even a raccoon or two. Many times I would lie on my bed and listen to the rain hitting the roof outside my window and I could smell that rain, that’s a great smell. Other nights I would fall asleep in my bed as a cool breeze flowed through my bedroom leaving the air a little crisp, but oh so comfortable. On winter days, I usually had the window closed, obvious reasons. I would lie on my bed drawing cartoon characters, listening to music, preferably Jimmy Hendrix’s or The Doors. I should have been born in the 60’s or a hippie in another life. I often fell asleep, just from being so comfortable and at peace in my room. My childhood home didn’t have much of a backyard, it was small. We had a deck that included benches and enough room to grill out and have family and friends over. My mom had lots of flower pots lining the deck and in the summer the flowers were in full bloom and you could smell them throughout the yard and if the windows were open or the patio door, the scents of the flowers would fill our house. On summer nights my friends and I would play basketball on our driveway. Some nights we would just sit around the yard and chat and make fun of each other. Laughing and joking around in the lush grass of our side yard and hoping my mom would bring us a snack. Sometimes we would even fall asleep in the 2 hammocks my dad had hung in our side yard. Swinging in the hammocks in the summer breeze listening to the quiet†¦..

Laissez-faire Versus Government Intervention

Laissez-faire Versus Government Intervention Historically, the U.S. government policy toward business was summed up by the French term laissez-faire leave it alone. The concept came from the economic theories of Adam Smith, the 18th-century Scot whose writings greatly influenced the growth of American capitalism. Smith believed that private interests should have a free rein. As long as markets were free and competitive, he said, the actions of private individuals, motivated by self-interest, would work together for the greater good of society. Smith did favor some forms of government intervention, mainly to establish the ground rules for free enterprise. But it was his advocacy of laissez-faire practices that earned him favor in America, a country built on faith in the individual and distrust of authority. Laissez-faire practices have not prevented private interests from turning to the government for help on numerous occasions, however. Railroad companies accepted grants of land and public subsidies in the 19th century. Industries facing strong competition from abroad have long appealed for protections through trade policy. American agriculture, almost totally in private hands, has benefited from government assistance. Many other industries also have sought and received aid ranging from tax breaks to outright subsidies from the government. Government regulation of private industry can be divided into two categories economic regulation and social regulation. Economic regulation seeks, primarily, to control prices. Designed in theory to protect consumers and certain companies (usually small businesses) from more powerful companies, it often is justified on the grounds that fully competitive market conditions do not exist and therefore cannot provide such protections themselves. In many cases, however, economic regulations were developed to protect companies from what they described as destructive competition with each other. Social regulation, on the other hand, promotes objectives that are not economic such as safer workplaces or a cleaner environment. Social regulations seek to discourage or prohibit harmful corporate behavior or to encourage behavior deemed socially desirable. The government controls smokestack emissions from factories, for instance, and it provides tax breaks to companies that offer their employees health and retirement benefits that meet certain standards. American history has seen the pendulum swing repeatedly between laissez-faire principles and demands for government regulation of both types. For the last 25 years, liberals and conservatives alike have sought to reduce or eliminate some categories of economic regulation, agreeing that the regulations wrongly protected companies from competition at the expense of consumers. Political leaders have had much sharper differences over social regulation, however. Liberals have been much more likely to favor government intervention that promotes a variety of non-economic objectives, while conservatives have been more likely to see it as an intrusion that makes businesses less competitive and less efficient. - Next Article: Growth of Government Intervention in the Economy This article is adapted from the book Outline of the U.S. Economy by Conte and Carr and has been adapted with permission from the U.S. Department of State.

Ellis College Admission Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ellis College Admission - Essay Example Ellis College believes in delivering superior education to the students. I can take the first major step towards achieving my career goal at Ellis. I do not have an American diploma but what I know is Ellis values the experience gained by the individual over the years, which will help me as I have plenty of experience in the profession. I am planning to join another organization because right now I have a decent job, but with not much of growth potential. I firmly believe that to grow up, there must be opportunities for capable persons, which in turn provide motivation to perform still better. 5. As you advance in your career, what are your priorities related to advancement? For example, these priorities may include finding a stable position, reaching a certain salary level, fulfilling a personal interest, using specialized skills, being challenged intellectually, or providing benefits to others. You may have other priorities than the examples listed here, and you are encouraged to discuss them. My short-term goal is to gain credentials as a qualified learner, who’s ready to accept the challenges and learn from them. Therefore my first priority is to reach a stable position using specialized skills. Ellis College will help me in polishing my skills. I’ll do all my sincere efforts to consolidate my position thereafter. And after reaching a certain salary level I’ll consider having my own enterprise. Having received so much from the society, I consider it my solemn duty to pay my due share back to the society as well. I’ll, therefore, do my bit to help in reducing the agony of orphan kids by providing them with toys and books. Ellis College is certain to provide me the edge in interpreting the challenges arising out of globalization and competition. I am sure Ellis can help me in restructuring my knowledge and broadening the knowledge base.

Discussion and self reflection assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Discussion and self reflection assignment - Essay Example Leaders constantly challenge the established process and improve on the areas in the process that needs it. The never cease in searching for challenging opportunities to change, grow, innovate, and improve. Hence, they are willing to experiment, take risks and learn from whatever mistakes they fall upon (Kouzes and Posner, 2007). They are not afraid of change and are willing to get out of their comfort zones to choose the best options. Leaders inspire a shared vision with their followers. They communicate their vision well enough for their followers to understand clearly, and together, they envision an uplifting and ennobling future (Kouzes and Posner, 2007) . Leaders enlist more people to share such a vision by appealing to their values, interests, hopes and dreams (Five Practices of the Exemplary Leader, n.d.) Leaders are also enablers. They are good at encouraging people to act on their own by providing them with the tools and methods to solve their problems. Leaders foster collaboration and among their members (Kouzes and Posner, 2007). When the followers are trusted to fulfill tasks delegated to them, they feel confident and capable to do more for the team. Leaders have to be good models, most especially when the going gets tough. They should exhibit an attitude and behavior of positivism that their followers can emulate. Leaders set examples consistent with their own values. They are not afraid to stand for their beliefs. To encourage their followers, they create opportunities for their followers to experience small wins with the hopes of eventually gaining bigger ones (Kouzes and Posner, 2007). Lastly, leaders should encourage their followers’ hearts by recognizing individual contributions and celebrating team accomplishments (Kouzes and Posner, 2007). Such positive response further motivates others to work even harder. I agree with Kouzes & Posner’s model

Event Management Essay Example for Free

Event Management Essay Introduction To fulfill their various roles within destination planning and place promotion, events must be managed as high-quality products with a strong tourism orientation. This is a major challenge, given that most festivals and special events are managed by non-profit organizations in which volunteers dominate. One-time events employ project management techniques to produce an event on a prescribed date, often with years of planning and development. They face special challenges, including protests or political interference, fast-tracking through regulatory channels, shifting priorities and uncertain resource commitments, staff turnover or burn-out, and the temptation to make quality compromises when time and money run low. Event programs are composed of a number of generic elements of style, and managers have unlimited scope in combining them to achieve uniqueness. Celebration is the essence of festivals. Spectacle, including entertainment, consists of those components which please the eye or are larger than life displays. Commerce is a feature of many events, including exhibits and merchandising. Hospitality refers to both the reception and service quality experienced by guests and the opportunity for sponsors to host their clients, staff and associates. Games is a broad element involving competitions, gambling, humor and surprise. Educational components are often important, and cultural authenticity must be considered. A marketing audit can be performed on events to determine their attractiveness and readiness to host tourists. Some of the key elements are sufficient in appeal and quality to attract and satisfy tourists, a theme and setting which conveys an attractive image, a targeted communications campaign with identified tourist segments, a program which provides generic benefits for all visitors and targeted benefits for special tourism interests, provision of special services need by tourists (for example, accessibility, reception of tour groups, additional information, languages, reserved seating), packaging for tourists, relationships with the tour and hospitality sectors, cooperative marketing involving destination marketing agencies and other events, sponsorship which extends the reach of the events appeal and communications, and site and community capacity to accommodate substantial numbers of visitors. Recent research has given an added attention to the theme of event management. event marketing The sponsorship or production of events as a marketing tool, specifically to connect with target audiences, build relationships, sell merchandise and achieve positive publicity, includes some of what is known as event marketing. In return for money, goods or services, events provide sponsors with specific benefits such as visibility, sales promotions, onsite exhibitions and hospitality venues. Explosive growth in event sponsorship occurred during and following the Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games of 1984. The events sector has since been revolutionized, giving rise to larger budgets, more attention to marketing, merchandising and media coverage, and the forging of corporate partnerships. Sponsors often augment the reach of event promotions and provide valued technical expertise. Tourism and event development organizations actively promote destinations through events, and this process is largely dependent on the creation of media-oriented events with international sponsors. One consequence of this trend has been a rise in ambush marketing, in which corporations seek to gain advantages through surrounding promotions without actually sponsoring the event. Confusion can also result when event sponsors differ from the sponsors of participants, such as athletes, and from media advertisers. Another trend had been for corporations to seek equity in events, or even to create their own events. This could threaten relationships with some events and result in less sponsorship money. Similarly, moves in some jurisdictions to ban advertising and sponsorship, especially from alcohol or tobacco companies, is also viewed as a threat to the events sector. To be sustainable in the long term, there must be a congruence of goals and styles among sponsors and event organizers, with clear benefits to each party, customers and other participants (Cooper Press, 1995). In some cases these partnerships are leading to environmental and educational programs at events, to heightened community involvement by corporations, and to a resurgence of the arts. Event marketing has had the effect of elevating event tourism into prominence, not just as a special-interest market but as a major tool in destination image-making. Feasibility Study/Overview Report The structure of the fashion market is illustrated in Figure 1. FifthElement produces collections termed either ready-to-wear or designer wear, or prà ªt-à  -porter. Garments are highly priced. Designs are produced in limited numbers and the quality must be of a high standard. There are two main collections a year (plus mid-seasons). The collections may be shown on the catwalks of London, Paris, Milan and New York. In the 1980s and early 1990s,FifthElement was producing two collections a year to show on the international catwalks. The event process for a collection is outlined in Figure 2. The stages are as follows: Figure 1 Structure of the Fashion Industry Figure 2 The event process for a collection at FifthElement Menswear †¢ The initial theme or story for the collection. Themes have to be innovative and somewhat original as what these designers create will trickle down to the high street. †¢ The International Wool Secretariat, ICI, the Silk Board, the Cotton Board all provide predictions for colors and fabrics they think will sell next season. The color palette should be decided upon before the fabric show is visited. How much per meter of cloth the designer can spend depends on that particular collection, cash flow, sponsorship and the designers preference (Sproles Burns, 1994). †¢ Mood boards/Story boards. Usually numerous A1 or A2 boards convey the collections themes, images, fabrics and color palette (Davis, 1992). It becomes a reference point while designing. It visually pulls all the research together. †¢ Designing. Sketches working drawings and/or illustrations are made. Because of the type and size of the company, FifthElement does not need to produce specification drawings. They collaborates with their pattern cutter to ensure designs are interpreted correctly. Clothes may be modeled on the stand (tailoring dummy) in which case a toile (a prototype of a half-garment used to construct a pattern) is used to create a pattern or a block (standard pattern) may be adapted. A calico garment is constructed from the pattern to assess its function, aesthetics and styling. †¢ The sample garment or final garment is made. This is the garment the model will wear down the catwalk and orders will be made from and further manufacturing will be based on (Chenoune, 1993). †¢ The fashion show will require more than just the garments as it is a marketing event. Within the industry it is usual for companies to have sponsorship from other companies. Enigma Fibres sponsored FifthElements 1994-5 Autumn/Winter collection. This allows FifthElement to reduce their costs and the sponsor to gain publicity. At the show, buyers will order designs they like. It is also where the designer either receives good or bad publicity, depending on the quality of work at the show. †¢ Manufacturing and retailing of collections. When a suitable price is negotiated with a manufacturing company, the range goes into production. Fabric is re-ordered in bulk. Orders are delivered or shipped out. FifthElement will not retail their collection in-store until orders are received and prices are standardized (Dunn, 1996). As a consequence, this will ensure that the supplying company does not undercut their customers. Table 1 Requirements for FifthElement Autumn/Winter 1999-2000 collection The Collection (54 garments shown) Budget Fabric 100 meters @  £10.00 per meter (average)  £1,000 4 models for the fashion show @  £650 per model  £2,600 4 models for fittings @  £100  £400.00 Sound, light and seating  £1,000 Styling  £750.00 Hair and make-up  £400.00 Accessories  £250.00 Hospitality based on 100 people  £1,000 Invitations  £500.00 Total  £7,900 The company has to have a significant amount of cash to participate in designer shows (see Table 1). To research and stage a collection costs over  £10,000. To show the collection together costs  £10,000, plus another  £10,000 to produce customer orders. There will be no return on investment on the initial collection for about a year. After six months, work begins on the next collection. Before any profit is made a cash flow sum of  £40,000- £50,000 is needed. Due to the large amount of money required and to increase the choice to customers in the retail outlet, small collections are put together in-store. Usually in-store ranges are planned four to six months in advance. The timescale of a collection can take up to a year (see Table 2). Table 2 A collection plan produced by Flash Box Studios Timescale Collection tasks Estimated costs Oct-Nov 2002 Research and Development for Autumn/ Winter 2003/9 Collection  £10,000 March 2003 Paris Catwalk A/W 2003/9 Show  £10,000 April 2003 RD for Summer 2004  £10,000 March-Sept 2003 Orders and Production  £10,000 By Sept 2003 Wholesale orders out and in-store retailing October 2003 Next designers show s/s 2004  £10,000 Oct-Nov 2003 Return on Investment Proposed Organizational Structure and Monitoring Systems Wholesale collections are similarly conducted. Cost is worked out by fabric per meter, the actual cloth consumption, patterns, buttons, trimmings and how long the garment takes to make or how much the factory charges. As a general rule, the mark-up is 100 per cent for wholesale and 250 per cent for retail. Buying Buying operates for Autumn/Winter and Spring/Summer like the ready-to-wear. Items must fit in with the seasons theme. New suppliers are researched from trade magazines, trade shows, suppliers phone calls and word of mouth (other designers). A performance management system, which cascades an organizations top level objectives down through successive layers of managers and front-line staff, may be one useful method of communicating goals, such as the need for effective event management (Turner, 1999). A budget is set for each supplier depending on the seasons requirements (Feldwick, 1991). Suppliers are kept depending on the sales performance of previous merchandise and whether the product is classed as trendy or classic as the former has a higher turnover but a shorter lifecycle. Suppliers who have remained constant over time include John Smedley, N-Peal, Burlington and Creed Harris. Technology The company attempted to integrate CAD/CAM into the bespoke side of the business to automate the process of tailoring. The idea was that a shift towards technology would enable the company to offer the service on a larger, less expensive scale. Two systems were introduced (Behling Wilch, 1988). The range of sizes is wider than off-the-peg suits, but not as precise as traditional manual methods. There are forty-one different jacket sizes available without vents or with one or two vents, and in twenty-eight different finishes available on the Scabal Iota system. The CAD/CAM system brings up the nearest pattern match from its database and adjusts the pattern on the Gerber system. Regardless of how vast the database is, it still is somewhat limited and inflexible in comparison to traditional tailoring practices. In contrast, fabric technology helped to increase the companys market position and status in the industry. Enigma Fibres sponsored FifthElement Menswear Winter 1994-5 collection by providing the fabric Tencel. The collection marked the re-launch of FifthElements ready-to-wear collections and their return to commercial fashion. The association between the two companies ensured an increase in press coverage, which was beneficial to both parties. The technological, environmental and functional aspects of Tencel produced in classic designs were popular but for a company which only produces limited designs the research and uses of technologically advanced fabrics are costly (Aaker, 1991). Identifying and evaluating the FifthElement brand The primary aim of organizational analysis is to illustrate how market research can be used to create a strong brand identity (UK Marketing Guides, 1995) for FifthElement and to establish that identity as an effective form of communication between the company and its respective audience. The audience for FifthElement Menswear is shown in Table 3. Table 3 The audience and aims of FifthElement Menswear Audience Aims Customers To instill loyalty General public Enhance awareness of the company and products The media Communicate new strategy and performance/increase awareness Financial Communicate new strategy The industry Differentiate products and services from that of competitors Local community Communicate commitment to growth Internal Set an agenda and common objectives team work Influential groups Show commitment to the environment Government Communicate commitment to growth and global markets The aims are communicated to by the various designed elements of the company. What these elements (or channels of communication) are is relative. In a market characterized by products with little generic differentiation, the fashion own brand has emerged as the cornerstone of marketing strategies (Moore, 1995). Wilson suggests (1982) brand image can be broken down further into: †¢ current image how audiences see the company; †¢ mirror image how the company sees itself; †¢ wish image the way the company would like to be seen. Figure 3 shows how a brand identity program is created. The FifthElement brand will be identified by: †¢ explaining motivation and design policy; †¢ identifying how the company would like to be seen (the wish image) established from the company mission and philosophy; †¢ investigating the design elements of the company and what they communicate (involves observing the mirror images); †¢ auditing design elements on an evaluation scale based on the wish image; †¢ describing the brand according to six levels of meaning; Figure 3 Creating a brand identity program †¢ comparing competitors brands (names, symbols and logos) and finding common elements and characteristics of the industry; †¢ the FifthElement sample logo; †¢ conclusion of findings and recommendations. Purchasing motivation and design policy Design communicates messages about the company to its audiences. Audiences must be able to decode these messages with minimum effort and this is achieved by a strong coherent and consistent brand identity. An effective design policy, which describes the context and constraints within which a company carried out design work can ensure this (Forsythe, 1991). It describes in design terms how customers needs and wants are being met. Design policy at FifthElement Menswear is not documented, nor is their design process. Because the company has a typical entrepreneurial structure, little is formalized. The managing director rarely has time to communicate the policy verbally, therefore they cannot communicate it to customers or ensure that work meets set standards (Goffee Scase, 1995). Design policy must be formalized and standards set to measure the effectiveness of design if the company is to move forward. Van Der Wagon Carlos (2005) identified that the role of the coordinator was often imprecisely defined, with real responsibility remaining with the recurring-event manager. The wish image The companys specific mission, or the purpose for the companys existence is: †¢ to design modern classics; †¢ to create aesthetic garments of unmistakable quality; †¢ to ensure the company conveys comfort (in its clothing and environment); †¢ to ensure the company conveys quality; †¢ to provide traditional skills and expertise; †¢ to support and exhibit art. After investigating the style and content of design communication, it can be audited against these objectives. Passing trade At just under six square miles, Islington is one of the smallest boroughs in London, with a population of 164,000. It is characterized by contrast, vitality and modern cultural diversity. Upper Street is home to the Business Design Centre (BDC) which separates two distinct shopping areas. On one side towards Angel, there is the high street multiple chains, which are easily recognizable. On the other, towards Highbury and Islington there are independent retail outlets very high in design content and product price. FifthElement is situated in the latter part at 186 Upper Street. Renowned for its innovative window displays, the company changes them every 1-2 weeks. The windows of the shop front are curved with a tiled path. The window display area has a polished wooden floor with a backdrop of mirrors. Often done in conjunction with a company called Urban Roots, examples of displays include a window full of daffodils in spring, with a merchandised mannequin in the centre. Sometimes the window display is a piece of artwork combined with merchandise, such as the yes/no heads and two wooden/mechanical heads, shaking and nodding. Not only does this promote local art but also provides local artists with a place to sell their work. Customer service The bespoke service is as it was fifty years ago the customer is made to feel important with personal attention and advice. FifthElement understands fully their craft, enabling him to provide an impeccable consultancy service to bespoke customers. The only problem is enabling customers to visualize a 3D-product prior to its construction (Huddleston, et. Al, 1993). Once the customer has the suit, it is more or less guaranteed for two years. FifthElement will even press the suit after its first dry-clean, out of courtesy. Repairs are part of the service. Merchandise can be exchanged if unsuitable, but there is no formal policy on returns and no set complaints procedures. Assessing general service is also fundamental, as this is an asset which can differentiate a company from their competitors. Below are some questions that the company may need to ask about their general standard of service: †¢ Is the telephone answered in 3-4 rings? †¢ Is there somewhere for clients to rest? †¢ Are the staff attentive? †¢ Are products guaranteed? †¢ Are customers served immediately? †¢ Are individual complaints handled effectively and efficiently? †¢ Are refreshments offered to bespoke customers? It would also be advantageous for the company to have a complaints book to log all complaints, so they could be prevented from recurring. This will help the company assess in the short term what customers expect. However, it must be remembered that for every customer who is dissatisfied and complains, there are many who are equally dissatisfied yet, for reasons best known to themselves, they say nothing (Leppard and Molyneux, 1994). Products as objects Fabrics and patterns are sent to manufacturers who make a sample garment before the line goes into full production. Generally, fifty garments at a time is regarded the maximum, possibly in five styles. FifthElement himself checks quality control. It is a general check of the cut-make-trim (CMT).Although visual defects are checked manually, garments or cloth are not checked for quality assurance. Performance characteristics are neither checked nor presented to the customer as a measure of quality. These include: †¢ shrinkage (BS 5807); †¢ colourfastness (BS 1006); †¢ dry cleaning/washing (BS 4961); †¢ durability and maintenance (BS 5807); †¢ other care characteristics; †¢ fire resistance. It is not suggested that the company attempts to comply with British or European Standards. BS 5750 (ISO 9001) is often difficult in its application for companies, particularly of this size, to comply with. However, there is nothing to prevent the company producing its own standard based on BS/ISO 9000. Conclusion Effective Event management needs to be focused upon processes and assets as means to an end. The growing reliance of organizations upon one another, and upon technology and infrastructure, has also been cited as supporting the view that Event management matters more today than at any other point in history. Soft and hard system elements must be considered together and that organizations themselves may incubate the potential for interruptions. Managerial intervention plays a vital role in causing crises or in mitigating their effects. Whilst no methodology can guarantee that interruptions will be avoided, it is argued that adopting a broad methodology will assist organizations to be better prepared. The Event management process should be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure that the resulting plans remain appropriate. It is appropriate to examine some general principles of planning which apply equally, in which the planning processes specifically concerned with recurring-event are considered in greater detail. One of the first issues facing an organization setting out to develop a recurring-event plan is that of who should be primarily responsible within the organization for the research, planning, analysis and drafting of preliminary plans. Although the planning process requires a dedicated project manager it also normally needs senior management support. Given that the planning process requires information which can only be gathered and ascertained from individuals across many parts of the organization, participation in the process is considered essential. Many successful organizations place recurring-event within a central department that has responsibility for strategic planning and analysis amongst other tasks (Barnard, 1996). A useful model includes a steering group to support the project manager. This steering group should include senior and influential staff from different units or departments. A further problem which arises from the outset of any planning process, whether this be strategic, functional or recurring-event oriented, is the legacy hindrance. Organizations are complex socio-technical systems which reflect antecedents such as decisions, systems, structures, values and beliefs. The influence on strategy of an organizations structure has long been recognized (Chandler, 1962) and, despite considerable debate in this respect, structure should remain a focus of attention since it offers one manner in which the organization can be viewed and, therefore, analyzed. The way in which one perceives an organization can often determine the decisions and actions that are taken. In a recurring-event context (and in practical terms) many organizations find themselves in a brownfield planning context. This means that managers involved must recognize that they cannot make sweeping changes to the organization and its social and technical systems. They must plan in their context. This does not necessarily mean that they should eschew possibilities for greenfield planning. Analysts have observed that organizations may design in redundant computer-processing capacity and facilities as a contingency for interruptions. Hence, the challenges facing planners in brownfield and greenfield situations are not dissimilar from those which emanate from process redesign (Baugh Davis, 1989). The perception of failure may also influence the discovery process that precedes the development of recurring-event plans. In some organizations, failure is considered to be a positive side-effect from which discovery and subsequent improvements can be effected. Managerial recommendation is clear: Awareness has to be developed first (Catherwood Richard, 1992). Equally, planners should be aware of the symbolism that failure can bring. The plan itself could be blamed, or specific individuals could be blamed. The failure itself is more nebulous, and unless it is thoroughly understood, there could be little, if any, improvement should similar circumstances arise in the future. Resources Aaker, A.D. (1991) Managing Brand Equity. Capitalizing on the Value of a Brand Name, New York: The Free Press. Barnard, D. (1996) Fashion as Communication, London: Routledge. Baugh, D.F. and Davis, L.L. (1989) The effect of store image on consumers perceptions of designer and private label clothing, Clothing and Textiles Research Journal, 7 (3), p. 15. Behling, D. and Wilch, J. (1988) Perceptions of branded clothing by male consumers, Clothing and Textiles Research Journal, 6 (2), p. 46. Chenoune, F. (1993) A History of Mens Fashion, Paris: Flammarion. Cooper, R. and Press, M. (1995) The Design Agenda, Chichester: John Wiley Sons. Catherwood, Dwight W., and Richard L. Van Kirk. The Complete Guide to Special Event Management. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1992. Davis, F. (1992) Fashion, Culture and Identity, Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Dunn, B. (1996) Lauren to himself, GQ, April, p. 157. Feldwick, P. (1991) Defining a brand, in D. Cowley (ed.) Understanding Brands, London: Kogan Page, pp. 19-28. Forsythe, S.M. (1991) Effect of private, designer and national brand names on shoppers perception of apparel quality and price, Clothing Textiles Research Journal, 9 (2), 1-6. Goffee, R. and Scase, R. (1995) Corporate Realities, London: Routledge. Huddleston, P., Cassill, N. and Hamilton, L. (1993) Apparel selection criteria as predictors of brand orientation, Clothing Textiles Research Journal, 12 (1), 51-6. Model-Netics. ( 1980). Sacramento, CA: Main Event Management Corporation. Moore, C.M. (1995) From rags to riches creating and benefiting from the fashion own brand, International Journal of Retail Distribution Management, 23 (9), 23. MCCURLEY LYNCH, THE VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK, Heritage Arts Publishing, Illinois, 1996 Sorensen, C. (1995) The fashion market and the marketing environment, in M. Easy (ed.) Fashion Marketing, Oxford: Blackwell Science. Sproles, G. and Burns, L.D. (1994) Changing Appearances: Understanding Dress in Contemporary Society, New York: Fairchild, p. 7. Turner, JR (1999) Handbook of Project-Based Management, McGraw Hill Maidenhead UK Marketing Guides (1995) Postcode Targeter of Great Britain: A Guide to Postcode Sector Marketing, (vols 1 and 2), London: HarperCollins. Van Der Wagon, L. Carlos, B. (2005) Event Management for Tourism, Cultural, Business and Sporting Events, Pearson, Sydney. Wilson, (1982), Marketing Audit Checklists, Maidenhead, Berks: McGraw-Hill.

MBA Admissions Essays - International Business :: MBA College Admissions Essays

MBA Admissions Essays - International Business    Ever since I was young I have always been interested in businesses and how they operate, as well as being fascinated by other languages and cultural differences. My passion for the subject expanded when I chose business studies and french, as part of my A-level education. Although these subjects are somewhat demanding, I find them extremely interesting. I believe that a degree combining both these aspects is the correct choice for me. I am confident that a course in international business studies and modern languages satisfies both these interests. I will be looking forward to learning about the international business world and I am relishing the thought of learning to integrate with other European countries. The idea of learning to communicate with other people across the world is something that has always appealed greatly to me.    I am currently attending Sprowston High School which is a school located on the outskirts of Norwich. I am currently studying three A2 courses after completing four AS-level courses. The subjects that I am currently studying include physics, french and business studies, whilst information technology was taken at AS-level. I am confident with my grades at the end of the first year of studies. I am confident that with extra effort I could improve my grades and push them past my expected target minimum grades.    In my spare time I enjoy a wide range of sporting activities. These include: cricket, skiing, badminton, tennis, long distance running, football and table tennis to name but a few. I have many trophies in my room for cricket. I am hoping to carry on these activities whilst conducting my studies at university. I also have a part-time job working in the local supermarket. I believe that I have gained invaluable experience in dealing with customers and trying to deliver customer satisfaction, whilst learning to work effectively and efficiently in a well structured team. Hopefully I will be able to carry on within the organisation whilst at university as a transfer to a local store is possible. I have also completed two work experience programs. The first at Viking Computers Norwich, the second at the school involving administrative work. These were both valuable experiences and gave me an insight to how a business operates. I enjoy my spare time and try to use it to the best of my use.

Eco Tourism

Ecotourism in the Philippines The  Philippine  Department of Tourism's hat has been thrown into ecotourism game for awhile now. They've made it part of their plan for economic development. The  country's ecotourism program  strives to install processes and procedures that are economically beneficial, socially responsible, ecologically sustainable and advantageous to the local communities by creating jobs and improving living conditions overall. Palawan is the second biggest province in the country in terms of land area and has been recommended by the tourism department as the top eco-destination in the country.The Ethics of Ecotourism in the PhilippinesAround thirty percent of the people in the Philippines live in poverty, and there are 85 million people who live there. That's nearly 25. 5 million impoverished and suffering people. In 1991, the The World Trade Organization, the United Nations Development Program along with various organization in the Philippines worked to mak e the the nation a bastion of  ecotourism. It wasn't until 1999, however, that an executive order was passed that helped structure the development of ecotourism.The Executive Order: â€Å"The State shall develop and promote sustainable tourism while enjoining the participation of the Filipino people in enhancing the growth and competitiveness of the Philippine economy; and, The State shall ensure the sustainable use, development, management, protection and conservation of the country’s environment and natural resources and cultural heritage for the enjoyment of the present and future generations. † That executive order lead to the development of the  National Ecotourism Strategy.The outline of this strategy includes spreading the wealth to the very impoverished rural areas, the conservation of cultural sites, promotion of conservation awareness, educational programs and more. Eco-Friendly Adventures in the PhilippinesThere are a variety of eco-friendly activities a vailable for the  ecotourist  to enjoy: Swimming with whale sharks in the their natural environment or getting out the binoculars and watching for the rare Philippine Eagle or 600 other varieties of birds.A traveler can also go to a jungle environment survival training camp where he or she can be taught to drink from a water vine, cook in a bamboo steamer and dine off a bamboo plate. Eco-friendly ResortsThe Department of Tourism Recommends The El Nido, Lagen and Miniloc Island Resorts, Club Noah Isabelle and the Bohol Bee Farm. These hotels all carry out environmentally friendly practices: Coastal clean ups, prohibiting the gathering of shells and coral, eco-safe cleanser and many others. Ecotourism in the Philippines| | | | ———————————————— Top of Form Bottom of Form Philippine News and Updates| â€Å"The Philippines offers diverse tourism activities and destinations for tourists with various inclinations. The competitive advantages of the country are its ambiance and natural attractions that are excellent for rest and recreation. Its tropical climate is perfect for outdoor recreational activities. Being an archipelago, the coastline of the country is spiced up with thousands of natural coves and beaches that offer tourists great satisfaction and relaxation.The country’s various government agencies are conducting continuous product development activities to promote tourist destinations. † Arturo M. Alejandrino, narrates in his book, Ecotourism in the Philippines. On this website, one is provided with things to know with regards to Philippine Ecotourism and how it gives emphasis to natural surroundings, local livelihood, protection of the resources and culture within the archipelago.We will also show you essential information related to Philippines Ecotourism — from the latest news, local traditions, cultural heritage, travel ing to natural areas, and anything which conserves the environment and sustains the well-being of local people. Eco-tourism is sustaining the well-being of the natives and the government in the Philippines with responsible and appropriate travel to natural areas which protects the environment and the resources. It is a travel to destinations where biodiversity and cultural heritage of a local culture is given much emphasis and importance.Philippines eco-tourism: * promotes conservation measures as it educates the guests about the local issues with regards to the conservation of the environment; * encourages meaningful community involvement amongst locals in relation to tourism activity; and * is profitable and can sustain by itself as it improves the livelihood of poor people in the rural. Furthermore, Ecotourism works to reduce the adverse effects of what traditional tourism has done to the natural environment. It promotes recycling, energy efficiency and the efficient use and reus e of water. | |

The Role of Formal and Informal Groups

The Role of Formal and Informal Groups Within the University of Phoenix Online By: Stephen Ruiz MGT 340 – Organization Theory and Behavior December 2011/January 2012 – Online Mondays Professor Robert Schlagheck, MS January 20, 2012 Formal and informal groups play a significant role within The University of Phoenix Online (UOP). A formal group would be â€Å"one defined by the organizations structure, with designated work assignments establishing tasks† (Robbins, 2011, p. 276). A typical organizational chart would be an example of a formal group, where places and roles within a hierarchical organization are clearly defined. An informal group would be â€Å"neither formally structured nor organizationally determined† (Robbins, 2011, p. 276). Informal groups often â€Å"develop around social or project groups† (Schatz, 2012). An example of an informal group could be a few employees who chose to take a walk during their break time each morning. UOP has several formal groups. First, there is a leadership team that is comprised of a Vice President, Senior Directors, Associate Directors and Managers. Their roles are defined and collectively they are in charge of measuring and maximizing productivity and defining organizational objectives. Lately this group has been focusing on employee satisfaction after it was revealed, through employee surveys, that there was a growing dissatisfaction among employees. Things like inflexible work schedules and inconsistent communication from the leadership team were to blame. To improve this situation I would do many of the things this group is doing now but in a more aggressive manner. In addressing the inflexible work schedules, employees are now able to flex time more easily. I would implement alternative work schedules, more specifically, 4-10 work weeks. Regarding the inconsistent communication, we now have all division teleconferences to make the communication more uniform. Again, this strategy has been too infrequent and reactive instead of proactive. I would hold implement more frequent communication opportunities. Perhaps a weekly all finance or all enrollment communication. Next there are work teams. These are formal groups with a manager and ten employees. These team are formed based on the geographical regions that they service. The manager is responsible for motivating and providing support to the team members. The team members or advisors are responsible for assisting students. In my case, processing financial aid files, and providing customer service to students, while maintaining acceptable retention and accounts receivable levels. An improvement I would implement would be similar to the Fiedler model discussed in the text. In the past year, I have had 5 different managers. I would try to establish manager-team that have styles that compliment each other. There are a plethora of informal groups at UOP. These groups are encouraged at UOP. There are reading groups, walking groups, and even a ping pong group to name a few. Personally, I am a member of a small lunch group and a larger social group. The lunch group is made up of 3 others. We all are in the same position and have common interests such as movies and sports. I would refer to these employees as friends. The larger social group is less defined but is a network of past and present team members and we share information, â€Å"the grapevine†. I would refer to these members as acquaintances. In the end, formal and informal groups can be both positive and negative. The structure and defined roles and objectives are positive. Personal conflict and gossip would be examples of negative attributes of groups References Robbins, S. P. & Judge, T. A. (2011). Organizational Behavior. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Educational, Inc. Schatz, T. (2012). Basic Types of Organizational Structure: Formal and Informal. Retrieved from http://smallbusiness. chron. com/basic-types-organizational-structure-formal-informal-982. html

Prehistoric Saber-Toothed Cats

Prehistoric Saber-Toothed Cats Despite the way theyve been portrayed in movies, saber-toothed cats werent just big felines with enormous front teeth. The whole lifestyle of saber-toothed cats (and their close cousins, the scimitar-tooths, dirk-tooths and false saber tooths) revolved around using their canines to wound and kill prey, most often giant herbivorous mammals, but also early hominids and other big cats that are now extinct. Now we need to dispense with a couple of other misconceptions. First, the most famous prehistoric cat, Smilodon, is often referred to as the Saber-Toothed Tiger, but the word tiger actually refers to a specific, modern genus of big cat. More properly, Smilodon should be called a saber-toothed cat, just like its large-fanged contemporaries of the Tertiary and Quaternary periods. And second, as so often happens in nature, the saber-tooth head plan evolved more than onceand not just in cats, as well see below. Saber-Toothed Cats - True or False? The first carnivores that could reasonably be described as saber-toothed were the nimravids, primitive, vaguely cat-like mammals that lived about 35 million years ago, during the late Eocene epoch. As closely related to early hyenas as they were also early cats, nimravids werent technically felines, but genera like Nimravus and Hoplophoneus (Greek for armed murderer) still boasted some impressive canines. For technical reasons (mostly involving the shapes of their inner ears), paleontologists refer to nimravids as false saber tooths, a distinction that makes less sense when you take a gander at the skull of Eusmilus. The two front canines of this leopard-sized nimravid were almost as long as its entire skull, but their thin, dagger-like structure places this carnivore firmly in the dirk-toothed cat family (dirk being the ancient Scottish word for dagger). Confusingly, even some primitive felines are categorized as false saber-tooths. A good example is the aptly named Dinofelis (terrible cat), whose somewhat short, blunt canines, though bigger than those of any large cat alive today, dont merit its inclusion in the true saber-tooth camp. Even so, Dinofelis was a continuing menace to other mammals of its time, including the early hominid Australopithecus (which may have figured on this cats dinner menu). Exclusion from the true saber-toothed cats makes more sense in the case of Thylacosmilus. This was a marsupial that raised its young in pouches, kangaroo-style, rather than a placental mammal-like its true saber-toothed cousins. Ironically, Thylacosmilus went extinct about two million years ago when its South American habitat was colonized by true saber-tooths migrating down from the North American plains. (A similar-sounding predatory mammal from Australia, Thylacoleo, wasnt technically a cat at all, but it was every bit as dangerous.) Smilodon and Homotherium - Kings of the Saber-Toothed Smilodon (and no, its Greek name has nothing to do with the word smile) is the creature that people have in mind when they say saber-toothed tiger. This long-fanged carnivore was shorter, stockier and heavier than a typical modern-day lion, and it owes its fame to the fact that thousands of Smilodon skeletons have been fished out of the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles (its no wonder that Hollywood has immortalized saber-toothed tigers in countless caveman flicks). Although Smilodon probably snacked on the occasional hominid, the bulk of its diet consisted of the large, slow herbivores crowding the plains of North and South America. Smilodon enjoyed a long time in the prehistoric sun, persisting from the Pliocene epoch to about 10,000 B.C., when early humans hunted the dwindling population to extinction (or, possibly, rendered Smilodon extinct by hunting its prey to extinction!). The only other prehistoric cat to match Smilodons success was Homotherium, which spread across wider swathes of territory (Eurasia and Africa, as well as North and South America) and was perhaps even more dangerous. Homotheriums canines were sleeker and sharper than those of Smilodon (which is why paleontologists call it a scimitar-toothed cat), and it had a hunched, hyena-like posture. (Homotherium may have resembled hyenas in another respect: theres evidence that it hunted in packs, a good strategy for bringing down multi-ton Woolly Mammoths.) The Lifestyles of Saber-Toothed Cats As mentioned above, the gigantic canines of saber-toothed cats (true, false, or marsupial) existed for more than strictly ornamental reasons. Whenever nature evolves a specific feature multiple times, you can be sure that it has a definite purposeso the convergent evolution of saber teeth in various types of carnivores points to a more functional explanation. Based on current research, it seems that the largest saber-toothed cats (such as Smilodon, Homotherium, and Thylocasmilus) pounced suddenly on their prey and dug in their canines - then withdrew to a safe distance as the unfortunate animal wandered in circles and bled to death. Some of the evidence for this behavior is strictly circumstantial (for example, paleontologists rarely find broken-off saber teeth, a hint that these canines were a crucial part of the cats armament). While some evidence is more direct - skeletons of various animals have been found bearing Smilodon or Homotherium-sized puncture wounds. Scientists have also found that Smilodon had unusually powerful arms - which it used to hold down wriggling prey, thus minimizing the possibility of breaking off those all-important saber teeth. Perhaps the most surprising fact about saber-toothed cats is that they werent exactly speed-demons. Whereas modern cheetahs can hit top speeds of 50 miles per hour or so (at least for short bursts), the relatively stubby, muscular legs and thick builds of the bigger saber-toothed cats indicates that they were opportunistic hunters, jumping on prey from the low branches of trees or executing short, daring leaps from the underbrush to dig in their deadly fangs.

Your 100 Fan Club

Your 100 Fan Club The older I get, the more simplified I seem to want my life. Thats why I toned FundsforWriters down over the years from four newsletters, to three, to two. . . and now one, just like I started years ago. More time to write. More time to enjoy myself while writing. I love losing myself in a story. But marketing, publishing, and so on tend to distract us and rob us of the joy. At  a recent conference speaker, I spoke to writers about corralling all the to-do things on their plates and learning how to focus on writing. I suggested they do what Im doing. . . write for their most avid 100 fans. You know who those are. They are the ones who review, who respond to your blog, who converse with you on Facebook, who like your Instagram posts. They dont just say they love your work, but they talk it, naming characters and plot points that resonated with them. Why just 100? Because those are your concentrated dose of energy. You have a better feel for what they like. Since theyve contacted you somehow, you feel a few degrees closer to them. You owe them more, and in turn, they deliver back with reviews, emails, and that oh-so-precious word-of-mouth to others about you and your stories. Simply your writing. Write the stories that you think your top 100 will love. Dont have 100? If you keep making an appearance in person, on social media, in writing guest posts on blogs, that 100 will materialize. If you keep writing and quit banking on one book. If you keep reminding the few you have in a newsletter who you are (avoiding saying BUY MY BOOK), that 100 will happen. Who doesnt feel warm and cozy having 100 fans? And that number grows faster the more you cater to that tribe. Theyll practically spread the word for you.

A Case Study of Property Developing Firm Using Soft System Methodology Dissertation

A Case Study of Property Developing Firm Using Soft System Methodology - Dissertation Example The author of the essay "A Case Study of a Property Developing Firm Using Soft Systems Methodology" assumes that SSM study fits the concept of action research arising first in the behavioral sciences. Researchers view of the limitations of studying complex real social events in a laboratory, the artificiality of splitting out single behavioral elements from an integrated system. The action-research method fits the Soft System Methodology in which it involve in a change progress, in the system itself, as a means to both practical action and an experience relevant to the research aim of developing systems concepts. Being concerned with intervention in purposeful systems, the action researcher, unlike natural scientists, can express his research aims as hopes but cannot with certainty design them into his ‘experiences’. He is prepared to react to whatever happens in the research situation. He has to follow wherever the situation leads him or stop the research. This study advocates that the continues use of SSM on the property development help firms on the organization learning, this allow users to learn from their action systematically, as well as generating creative problem solving strategies for their growth and continuity. The strength of SSM comes from familiarity of the systems and knowledge of users; however, users need patient and practice to be able to explore the usefulness of SSM. Lastly, SSM seems to be a useful tool for large co-operations, which consist of many people, departments and operation entities.

Business Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 4

Business Report - Essay Example The most recent count of the dead in 7,000 and rising, and as rescue efforts escalate various problems are starting to emerge relating to the difficulties in distributing aid, and the challenges in successfully managing the logistics tied to the relief process. In some areas that are the most badly hit and where the people have been chronically in need of help, the aid simply has not arrived. It is in this spirit that this business report is written, with an eye to exploring new products that can be deployed and used in disaster areas such as Nepal, with the aim of helping the displaced Nepalese in the most effective manner. The logistics of delivering aid to those who are most in need of them in disaster-struck areas such as Nepal require novel solutions, and require creativity in the use of available new technologies and products in order to crack seemingly intractable problems, save lives, and give hope to both rescue providers and the most desperate and destitute victims. The ear thquake in Nepal and the dire situation of the people who are in the disaster areas highlight the importance and the urgency of the use and availability of such new products. The problem lies in unearthing these products and creatively making use of them for them precisely in order to help in the direst situations in badly hit parts of Nepal and other such zones of disaster. The purpose of this business report is to present new products that can be deployed and used in disaster-hit areas (Khan; Burke).

Allocating a Scarce Resource Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Allocating a Scarce Resource - Assignment Example According to FAO Director-General Dr. Jacques Diouf, â€Å"agriculture is the number-one user of freshwater worldwide. The agriculture sector must take the lead in coping with water scarcity by finding more effective ways to conserve rain-fed moisture and irrigate farmlands† (FAO Newsroom 2007). As validated by Rogers and Wilson (2000), â€Å"irrigation represents by far the largest use of water in the state of Kansas†. In recognizing the need to conserve this limited resource, the state has outlined guidelines for an irrigation water conservation plan which aims to assist irrigators in preparing plans for water conservation in their respective local areas (Kansas Water Office, et.al. 2006). As properly identified by state authorities and by the farmers themselves, and by preparing said guidelines for water conservation for irrigation purposes, the local residents of Kansas have recognized the imminent danger of water resource scarcity and state water conflicts. The state recognizes the need to â€Å"curtail waste of water and ensure that water use does not exceed reasonable needs† (ibid). Three state agencies are closely monitoring water irrigation practices of farmers. These are the Division of Water Resources (DWR), the Groundwater Management Districts (GMD) and/or the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). In an important study conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Kansas Water Office, the effect of irrigation practices on water usage was determined. The results of the study revealed that despite increased efficiency in irrigation practices, water usage did not decrease or even increased significantly (US Water News Online 2006). Another study conducted by Perry (2006), â€Å"although irrigation water use for all Groundwater Management Districts showed no statistically significant trend, an apparently increased efficiency of center pivots irrigation systems with drop nozzles has allowed more water-intensive crops to be grown on  more irrigated acres†.

The Inditex-Zara case

The Inditex-Zara case INTRODUCTION In todays highly competitive and global marketplace, the pressure on organizations to find new ways to create and deliver value to the customers grows even stronger. Market development combined with new sources of global competition has led to over-capacity in many industries. Putting an incredible pressure on price, as often is the critical competitive variable. This leads to the need of more effectiveness and efficiency inside a business. It is against these new conditions that the use of supply chain management has moved to the centre stage over the last two decades (Christopher, 2004). To manage the supply chain better, is to serve the customers more effectively and yet reduce the cost of providing that service. There has been a growing recognition that it is through this kind of management that it can be achieved a twin goal of cost reduction and service improvement. Even if the concept of integration within the business and between businesses is not new, the acceptance of its validity by managers is. According to Chris Zook managing the supply chain is not an easy task (Zook, 2001). Most companies do not manage to achieve their intended goals. Nevertheless, those which are doing well today have on average low odds to be doing so in the next five to ten years. An important key to do well is to understand why some companies succeed and others do not. This to avoid common pitfalls and instead of spending time recovering from previous mistakes, the company can focus on the future. With this in mind, this coursework will look into how businesses manage their supply chain. This by looking into the supply chain of the fastest growing clothing brand in Europe and the world today, Zara, and highlight the main characteristics of the supply chain management as well as its application ( market chain). If the chances are small to succeed, what do successful companies do right that others do wrong? COMPANY PROFILE Zara is the flagship chain store of Inditex group owned by Spanish tycoon Amancio Ortega. Zara is the most internationalized of Inditex ´s chains. The group is headquartered in A Coruà ±a, Spain, where the first Zara store opened in 1975. Now Inditex, the holding group that includes the Zara brand, has over 1300 stores in 39 countries with sales of over â‚ ¬3 billion. (Zara 2009) The Zara brand accounts for over 75 per cent of the group ´s total retail sales, and is still based in northwest Spain. By 2003 it had become the world ´s fastest-growing volume garment retailer. The Inditex group also has several other branded chains, including Pull and Bear, and Massimo Dutti. In total it employs almost 40,000 people in a business that is known for a high degree of vertical integration compared with most fast fashion companies.(Cowe, et.al.2008:271) It is claimed that Zara needs just two weeks to develop a new product and get it to the stores, compared with a six month industry average, and launches around 40,000 new designs each year. Zara has resisted the industry-wide trend towards transferring fast fashion production to low-cost countries. While it spent little on ads, it spent heavily on stores. Zara is a vertically integrated retailer. Unlike similar apparel retailers, Zara controls most of the steps on the supply-chain: It designs, produces and distributes itself. The business system that had resulted was particularly distinctive in that Zara manufactured its most fashion-sensitive products internally. Zara did not produce classics, clothes that would always be in style. In fact, the company intended its clothes to have fairly short life spans, both within stores and in customers ´ closets. LITERATURE REVIEW Value Chain The idea of the value chain is based on the process view of organizations, the idea of seeing a manufacturing (or service) organization as a system, made up of subsystems each with inputs, transformation processes and outputs. Inputs, transformation processes, and outputs involve the acquisition and consumption of resources-money, labor, materials, equipment, buildings, land, administration and management. How value chain activities are carried out determines costs and affects profits. Most organizations engage in hundreds, even thousands, of activities in the process of converting inputs to outputs. These activities can be classified generally as either primary or support activities that all businesses must undertake in some form. (Cowe et al.2008:81). The outlined process of Porter ´s value chains is presented in see Figure 1. According to Porter (1985), the primary activities are: Inbound Logistics: involve relationships with suppliers and include all the activities required to receive, store, and disseminate inputs. Operations: are all the activities required to transform inputs into outputs (products and services). Outbound Logistics: include all the activities required to collect, store, and distribute the output. Marketing and Sales: activities inform buyers about products and services, induce buyers to purchase them, and facilitate their purchase. Service: includes all the activities required to keep the product or service working effectively for the buyer after it is sold and delivered. Support activities are: Procurement: is the acquisition of inputs, or resources, for the firm. Human Resource management: consists of all activities involved in recruiting, hiring, training, developing, compensating and (if necessary) dismissing or laying off personnel. Technological Development: pertains to the equipment, hardware, software, procedures and technical knowledge brought to bear in the firms transformation of inputs into outputs. Infrastructure: serves the companys needs and ties its various parts together, it consists of functions or departments such as accounting, legal, finance, planning, public affairs. Supply Chain Management Supply Chain Management (SCM) is the management of the relationships and flows between the string of operations and processes that produce value in the form of products and services to the ultimate consumer. It is a holistic approach to managing across the boundaries of companies and of processes. Technically, supply chains are different from supply networks. A supply network is all the operations that linked together so as to provide goods and services through to end customers. In large supply network there can be many hundreds of supply chains of linked operations passing through a single operations. Internal supply network, and supply chain, management concerns flow between processes or departments. Confusingly, the terms supply network and supply chain management are often used interchangeably. (Cowe, et.al.2008:244) It is worth emphasizing again that the supply chain concept applies to internal process networks as well as external supply networks. Many of the ideas discussed in the context of the operation-to-operation supply chain also apply to the process-to-process internal supply chain. It is also worth nothing that the flows in supply chains are not restricted to the downstream flow products and services from suppliers through to the customers. Although the most obvious failure in supply chain management occurs when downstream flow fails to meet customer requirements, the root cause may be a failure in the upstream flow of information. Modern supply chain management is as much concerned with managing information flows (upstream and downstream) as it is with managing the flow of products and services. (See Figure 2) Information System Management In the current competition of the modern world, information relating to inputs, the transformation process and outputs is the vital resource organization owns to add value. An information system management is a planned system of the collecting, processing, storing and disseminating data in the form of information needed to carry out the functions of management. (Kotler 2006) The development of an ISM is nowadays greatly facilitated by the increasing sophistication and affordability of powerful personal computers and various other aspects of information technology (IT). Thus, technology is improving the speed and reliability with which information is passed not only around the individual organization but also around the globe, and `dramatic reductions in the cost of obtaining, processing and transmitting information are changing the way we do business (Porter and Millar, 1991). Porters value chain (Porter, 1980, 1985) was developed as a method for analyzing the sources of competitive advantage available to a firm. IS assumes that competitive advantage results from a combination of the many different activities a firm pursues during the course of its business, rather than coming from one individual source. CASE STUDY ZARA Operation Management Different organisations have to target customers in order to offer some services or product that someone is willing to pay for it. Operation management is pretty much involved with making this possible. Operation management is the activity of managing the resources and processes that produce goods and services and more specifically operation management examines how the operations function of a business produces products and services for external customers. (Cowe, et.al.2008:204). The general transformation process model (Figure 4) shows an arrangement of resources that transforms inputs into outputs that satisfy customer needs. In the case of Zara (Figure 5) the inputs of the organization are comprised of the raw materials, such as the fabrics that after design and manufacturing-retailing will produce the garments, information such as products protocol, human resources such as the designers that has the skills and knowledge to produce the garments. The transformation process consists of the manufacturing and services operations that are necessary to transform input into output, which are spitted into three basic product divisions: mens and womens and kids apparel, such as lower garment, upper garment, shoes, boots, bags, cosmetique and complements. All processes differ in some way, so, to some extent all processes need to be managed differently. In addition processes also differ in terms of the nature of their demand that is why we have to take into account those next four characteristics, which indicate how process need to be managed: Volume, variety, variation and visibility. In the case of Zara the operations process is unique and envied throughout the world: Volume: In terms of volume Zara is high. Although there is a high degree of systemization of the process to produce garments, due to the turnover in each shop is replaced every two weeks is a unique case. Variety: In terms of variety Zara is as high as the volume is. It has a wide range of products for men, women and children such as cosmetiques, suits and sport clothes respectively for each one. Variation: The variation in demand is quite high; because the demand is unpredictable and cannot be planned in advanced, extra resources will have to be designed into the process to provide a mechanism which can absorb unexpected demand. Zara will have to cope with the general seasonality of the garment market together with the uncertainty of whether particular styles may or may not prove popular. Visibility: In terms of visibility of the process is to the customer is low as they are simply presented with the final product to try on and finally purchase. All the above are summarized in Figure 6. Due to the high volume and variety involved in the process the key process choice is the batch process. A high volume of identical Items are produced together hence the flow is intermittent as each batch although requiring the same basic skills requires different variety and expertise in detail. The lay out type is undoubtedly the product layout type. Once the goods have been produced on the factory floor they are moved to store houses and quickly shipped to the high streets. Hence we can say the fit between the layout and the process type is correct as product based processes are used for high volume processes in general. Supply Chain Management Supply chain management is the management of the interconnection of organizations that relate to each other through upstream and downstream linkages between the processes that produce value to the ultimate consumer in the form of products and services. (MacKerron, G. (2009) Lectures slides for MBA) Zara operates using a vertical supply chain, which is a unique strategy in the fashion industry. Vertically integrated business undertakes a variety of activities from designing, manufacturing, sourcing, and distribution to retail stores around the world. They choose to handle design, production, and distribution in-house and concentrate the whole production close to their headquarters in Spain. By integrating the entire process, Zara can react much faster than its competitors do to both the ephemeral trends in the world of fashion and the capricious tastes of its customers. At the end of every working day the manager of a Zara store reports exactly what has been sold to headquarters. This information is quickly relayed to the design department where product lines can be altered, supplanted or created in a matter of days. This gives the company total business management. (See Figure 7) In an interview with CNN, Jose Maria Castellano, chief executive at Inditex, talked about Zaras supply chain and indicated its unusual structure by saying: Investment banks used to say that this model did not work, but we have shown that it gives us more flexibility in production, sales and stock management, (Zara Who we are, 2001) The Zara  ´supply chain management operation leads to customer visit the store over four times more frequently than other stores. Spontaneous design, just-in time production and rapid turnover of merchandise lead to a higher level of fashionable clothes. Even though the labor cost in Europe is higher, the efficiency of this system allows Zara to keep costs down by spending less cost on transportation and keeping inventories low refer. (Figure 7) Design Zara emphasize the importance of design in this market, its design functions are organized in a different way from those of most similar companies. Conventionally, the design input come from three separate functions: the designers themselves, market specialists, and buyers who place orders on to suppliers. At Zara the design stage is split into three product areas: women ´s, men ´s and children ´s garments. In each area, designers, market specialists, and buyers are co-located in designs halls that also contain small workshops for trying out prototype designs. The market specialists in all three design halls are in regular contact with Zara retail stores, discussing customer reaction to new designs. In this way, the retail stores are not the end of the whole supply chain but the beginning of the design stage of the chain. Zara ´s around 300 designers, whose average age is 26, produce approximately 40,000 items per year of which about 10,000 go into production. The retailer company has moved away from the traditional industry practice of offering two collections a year, for Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter. Their seasonless cycle involves the continual introduction of new products on a rolling basis throughout the year. This allows designers to learn from customers reactions to their new products and incorporate them quickly into more new products. In the case of Zara the garment is designed; a batch is manufactured and pulsed through the supply chain. Often the design is never repeated; it may be modified and another batch produced, but there is no design as such. (Cowe, et.al.2008:271) Manufacturing In the fickle world of fashion, even seemingly well-targeted designs could go out of favor in the months it takes to get plans to contract manufacturers, tool up production, then ship items to warehouses and eventually to retail locations. But getting locally targeted designs quickly onto store shelves is where Zara really excels. The average time for a Zara concept to go from idea to appearance in store is 15 days vs. rivals who receive new styles once or twice a season. Smaller tweaks arrive even faster. If enough customers come in and ask for, say a round neck instead of a v neck, a new version can be in stores with in just 10 days (Tagliabue, 2003). To put that in perspective, Zara is twelve times faster than Gap (its direct competitor), despite offering roughly ten times more unique products. (Helft, 2002) Nearly 60% of Zaras merchandise is produced in-house, with an eye on leveraging technology in those areas that speed up complex tasks, lower cycle time, and reduce error. Profits from this clothing retailer come from blending math with its data-driven fashion sense. Inventory optimization models help the firm determine how many of which items in which sizes should be delivered to stores during twice-a-week shipments, ensuring stores are stocked with just what they need(Gentry, 2007). Outside the distribution center in La Coruà ±a, fabric is cut and dyed by robots in 23 highly automated factories. Zara is so vertically integrated, the firm makes 40 percent of its own fabric and purchases most of its dyes from its own subsidiary. Most Zara factories and their sub-contrators work on a single-shift system to retain some voume flexibility. (Tokatli, 2007) Distribution Zara has invested in highly automated warehouses, close to their main production centres that store, pack and assemble individual orders for their retail networks. These automated warehouses represent a major investment for both companies. In 2001, Zara caused some press comment by announcing that it would open a second automated warehouse even though, by its own calculations, it was only using about half its existing warehouse capacity. Zara is able to deliver the new design apparel from the drawing board to the stores in one or two weeks and therefore can respond very quickly to fast-changing tastes of their young urban customers (Walker et al., 2000). Retail All Zara stores (average size, 800 square metres) are owned and run solely by Inditex. Perhaps the most remarkable characteristic of Zara stores is that garments rarely stay for longer than two weeks. Because product designs are often not repeated and are produced In relatively small batches, the range of garments displayed in the store can change radically every two or three weeks. This encourages customers to avoid delaying a purchase and to revisit the store frequently. Below is a diagram that shows the cycle how a product is made. The companys success is because of the total control in every aspect of the business, from designing, to production, and to distribution. By having total control of the entire process, the company can quickly react to the fast changing fashion trend and customer taste, this provides the company an idea of the latest fashion trend. Having total control in all business activities allows Zara to produce and release new design in a short span of time. Key success factors of Zara SCM Zara concentrates the perfect success formula pretty much based on: Short Lead Time = More fashionable clothes Lower quantities = Scarce supply More styles = More choice, and more chances of hitting it Firstly, by focusing on shorter response times, the company ensures that its stores are able to carry clothes that the consumers want at that time. Zara can move from identifying a trend to having clothes in its stores within 30 days, this means that Zara can quickly identify and catch a winning fashion trend, while its competitors are struggling to catch up. Catching fashion while it is hot is a clear recipe for better margins with more sales happening at full prices and fewer discounts. In comparison, most retailers of comparable size or even smaller, work on timelines that stretch into 4-12 months. Thus, most retailers try to forecast what and how much its customers might buy many months in the future, while Zara moves in step with its customers. Trend identification comes through constant research not just traditional consumer market research, but a daily stream of emails and phone calls from the stores to head office. Unlike other retailers, Zaras machinery can react to the repo rt immediately and produce a response in terms of a new style or a modification within 2-4 weeks. Many other retailers have such long supply chain lead times that for them it would seem a lost cause for them to even try and respond to a sales report. Secondly, by reducing the quantity manufactured in each style, Zara not only reduces its exposure to any single product but also creates an artificial scarcity. As with all things fashionable, the less its availability, the more desirable the object becomes. The added benefit of lower quantities is that if a style does not work well, there is not much to be disposed during the season-end sale. The result of this is that Zara discounts only about 18 percent of its production, roughly half the levels of competitors. Thirdly, instead of more quantities per style, Zara produces more styles, roughly 12,000 a year. Thus, even if a style sells out very quickly, there are new styles already waiting to take up the space. Zara can offer more choices in more current fashions than many of its competitors. It delivers merchandise to its stores twice a week, and since re-orders are rare the stores look fresh every 3-4 days. Fresh produce, moving in step with the fashion trend and updated frequently the ingredients are just right to create the sweet smell of success. Now, the question is how does Zara achieve its three key success factors which would be a nightmare for most other retailers to achieve in such short time spans? So, let us look at the mechanisms that enable Zara to deliver on these parameters as well as some unique aspects of the retailers business model on figure 7 Supply Chain Objectives The objective of an effective supply chain management is to meet the requirements of end customers by supplying appropriate products and services when they are needed, at a competitive cost. Doing this requires the supply chain to achieve appropriate levels of the five operations performance objectives: quality, speed, dependability, flexibility and cost. (Cowe, et.al.2008:249) The quality objective: Zara brand name is synonymous with quality and the right price. Stores are located on emblematic streets likeOxford Street and5th avenue; the highest standards of products are demanded in these areas. 65% of products sold in Europe are produced in European plants where quality controls are higher and easier to manage. Flawed clothing items would erode the brand name eventually. The speed objective: hectic changes in fashion and high street tastes imply a need for logistic speed. Goods can be designed and delivered to the shelf within 6 weeks. In fact items spend so little time in the warehouse that they are already sold before they have to be paid for to their suppliers. The flexibility objective: demand for different types of clothing will changes and Zara must react accordingly. Sizes, color, quality and quality will change continuously. The customer has an active role from the start of the chain and is the drive for its business model. Customer requests are considered by the commercial and design team. The dependability objective: delivering on time to stores in a must. Customers have come to expect new items on a weekly basis on the shelves. The cost objective: affordability is vital to Zaras strategy however only 35% of goods are produced in Asia. This implies that operations management must be at its leanest as they operate within Europe where the cost structure is much higher. Zara ´s senior managers seem to comprehend intuitively the nonlinear relationship between capacity utilization, demand variability, and responsiveness. This relationship is well demonstrated by queuing theory which explains that a as capacity utilization begins to increase form low levels, waiting times increase gradually. But at some point, as the systems uses more of the available capacity, waiting times accelerates rapidly. As demand becomes ever more variable, this acceleration starts at lower and lower levels of capacity utilization. (Figure ) Information System Management of Zara Information and communications technology is at the heart of Zaras business. Zara is careful about the way it deploys the latest information technology tools to facilitate these informal exchanges. The company undertake different devices in order to increase the speed which basically gives them the competitive advantage over its competitors. The information system management of Zara are the followings: Collecting information on consumer needs; customized handheld computers support the connection between the retail stores and La Coruà ±a. These PDAs supplement regular, often weekly, phone conversations between the store managers and the market specialists assigned to them. Through the PDAs and telephone conversations, stores transmit all kinds of information to La Coruà ±a, such hard data as orders and sales trends and such soft data as customer reactions and the buzz around a new style. While any company can use PDAs to communicate, Zaras flat organization ensures that important conversations do not fall through the bureaucratic cracks. PDAs are also linked to the stores point-of-sale (POS) system, showing how garments rank by sales. In less than an hour, managers can send updates that combine the hard data captured at the cash register combined with insights on what customers would like to see. All of this valuable data allows the firm to plan styles and issue re-buy orders base d on feedback rather than hunches and guesswork. The goal is to improve the frequency and quality of sense making for the design planning teams. In this way, Zara avoids costly overproduction and the subsequent sales and discounting prevalent in the industry. (Rohwedder and Johnson, 2008) Standardization of product information different or incomplete specifications and varying product information availability typically add several weeks to a typical retailers product design and approval process, but Zara warehouses the product information with common definitions, allowing it to quickly and accurately prepare designs, with clear cut manufacturing instructions. Product information and inventory management being able to manage thousands of fabric and trim specifications, design specifications as well as their physical inventory, gives Zaras team the capability to design a garment with available stocks, rather than having to order and wait for the material to come in. Distribution management: its State-of-the-art distribution facility functions with minimal human intervention. Approximately 200 kilometers of underground tracks move merchandise from Zaras manufacturing plants to the 400 chutes that ensure each order reaches its right destination. Optical reading devices sort out and distribute more than 60,000 items of clothing an hour. Zaras merchandise does not waste time waiting for human sorting. CONCLUSION Zara has an unordinary supply chain, which gives them a highly competitive advantage. In a time of globalisation and a constant search for lower cost, Zara is a notable exception. 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