Vaccine For Hiv Happen On The Horizon By 2030 - 924 Words

A Vaccine for HIV maybe on the horizon by 2030 HIV is Inevitable. It’s hard to believe that it has been 35 years since the first appearance of HIV in the US. It has claimed millions upon millions of people thus far. There is still a staggering number of people out there that are infected with this crippling disease. Everyone wants, wish, or even dream of a Cure, but a Vaccine could be a within reach in the near future. Through Money, Research and Development, we are sure to see a big changed in HIV by 2030. Predicted by Bills Gates (Business Insiders 2015). Understanding what we’ve learn from our past, and new ways on the developmental path for a vaccine; could be a game changer for a possible Vaccine for HIV yet to come. With our current statistic in front of us, we need to Act Now! This Movement Progression for a vaccine could be a true reality. First: HIV: The Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a lentivirus. It’s subgroup of retrovirus that causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome AIDS. A condition in humans that progressively lead to failure of the immune system. Without proper treatment, an average survival time after infection with The Human Immunodeficiency Virus is estimated to be around 9 to 11 years. We’ve learnt that infection with HIV occurs by the transfer of blood, semen, vaginal fluid, pre-ejaculate, or breast milk. HIV infects our T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells. With infection present, viral killing of infected cells demonstrate low counts of

Why is Dai Williams working to build a Japanese Restaurant Free Essays

In this essay I am going to examine the reasons why Dai Williams has been working to build a Japanese restaurant. I am going to discuss in detail the decline of the coal industry, the location of the Sony factory and what services the Japanese brought with them for their benefits. Before Dai Williams started work on the Japanese Restaurant, he was a miner in the local coal mines. We will write a custom essay sample on Why is Dai Williams working to build a Japanese Restaurant? or any similar topic only for you Order Now These coal mines were located in South Wales, Bridgend, and due to the decline Dai Williams along with many other people became unemployed. Location of the coal mines The decline of the coal industry was mainly due to the increase in Petroleum and Natural Gas, but another cause was the World War 2. During 1939 – 1945 the coal industry went down as men were sent to go and fight. In 1955 the demand for the coal industry never picked up again; and soon the requirements went extremely down. WW2 Begins WW2 ends Coal was also cheaper to import from abroad, so during the mid 1980s there was competition between Welsh mines and foreign importers. This meant that it was harder for the welsh mines to sell their coal. Soon after oil-fired stations were opened to supply power instead of coal mines. Most of the population was very skilled in mining and due to the decrease there was a mass of unemployment. The Bridgend Sony Factory was opened in 1973 and created hundreds of jobs; people were brought from Japan and people were employed from South Wales, this was good as there was a mass group of employment in Wales at that time of the decline in coal industry. The Sony factory was located in Bridgend; this was a good location as the M4 had just been built which connected South Wales to the Capital of England, London and many other big cities. This made it easier for Sony to sell their products as they could travel to all the big cities and people would also come to South Wales and buy there products. It was also near a port which made it easier and cheaper for Sony to import and export goods abroad. There was also a big demand for colour TVs in the UK and abroad which gave Sony huge advantages and profits. Sony then brought another site in Pencoed; this again created more jobs and again was to be found in a perfect location which was next to the M4 motorway and near a port. Location of the New Sony Factory Location of the Sony Factory. Many Japanese families settled into the area of Bridgend. People like Megan Jones benefited from the Sony factory. Megan Jones was employed to start working as a remote control assembler at the remote control factory; this benefited her as she was introduced to a new culture and even liked the Japanese food. To accommodate the needs of the Japanese, they brought along the services they enjoy in Japan, such as food and sport. A golf course was opened for the owner of Sony, which is Mr Ishiguru. This is a very common sport in Japan and when was brought to the UK, local people also started to engage themselves in this sport. Mrs Ishiguru also opened up a food co-operative which distributes Japanese food to the local community. This again attracts the local people to the Japanese culture. In conclusion to all this I think that Dai Williams is looking to build a Japanese culture because of the vast amount of Japanese families who have come over to Wales. It helps them adapt to this environment and helps the Wales population adapt to the Japanese. I think that in the future there will be an increase in coal again as other resources may start to decrease and run out. How to cite Why is Dai Williams working to build a Japanese Restaurant?, Papers

Economics Solutions Principles and Applications

Question: Discuss about the Economics Solutions for Principles and Applications. Answer: Introduction: The process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale is called globalization. It is the interchange between countries in terms of culture, commodities, views, ideas, finance, labor investment or the movement of technology (Investopedia, 2016). In recent times globalization has had its effect in both positive and negative ways for both developed as well as developing countries. Developing countries like India and China has benefitted via various ways. The openness between countries with increase in trade of goods and services has helped in boosting the balance of payments which boosts economic growth in the countries. Being introduced to new opportunities, there had been changes in economic performances in countries, their trade and political scenarios, change in ideologies and cultures, etc. Increase in growth in these countries has also helped in dealing with poverty with the benefits of trade being experienced by more of the mass population. But yes, globalization has also increased poverty in certain countries or areas in countries causing diversified inequality like that in Africa and rural areas of China, which have not been able to experience the benefits of globalization. Improvemnets in health systems has caused gr eater life expectancy rates as stated by World Bank (2004), 85% of world population has seen rise in life expectancy rates to more than 60 years. Just like globalization has resulted researchers to come up with better scientific or medical solutions to diseases it has also caused spread of diseases across nations. On the other hand, it has cause greater awareness too along with increase in demand for labor. As globalization increases production of goods and services, it creates a derived demand for more labor thus increasing employment. The phenomenon has also caused the desire to pursue higher education and get more skilled among individuals improving the human capital of nations. But one of the most critical impacts of globalization is on the domestic industries. Globalization is a boon for a nation only if the government or the nation itself adopts needful reforms and policies along with the changes globalization brings forward. Many developed countries like USA and Australia hav e domestic industries which on facing the competition from international markets have suffered from globalization. If the nations adopt the required policies and reforms to adapt to th economic changes caused by globalization, then it can experience the benefitial effects without any hurdles. Even though in these developed countries, globalization has tremendously benefitted in terms of trade and other factos, boosting economic growth and income, but the domestic industries had suffered. Turning towards Australia, globalization had made significant contributions to Australias growth with its diversification in the world markets but had affected its domestic industries. One of the sectors that suffered the most is the auto motive sector of Australia. The automotive industry of the country had been under considerable protection from international competition for many years, being one of the strongest components of the national manufacturing industry and cherished by the government. With international trade, since 1970, the auto motive industry had been facing tremendous competition from foreign producers along with its reduced efficiency. Among all developed countries, the highest tariff of 22% is imposed in Australia to protect its domestic auto-motive industry(Ilahi, 2014). The large Australian firms could not compete because of lack of economies of scale with the big OECD states like USA and Japan. Producers like the Chrysler, Nissan, VW and British Leyland ceased p roduction completely and soon to follow are the big four American firms like Ford, GM/Holden and Toyota and Mitsubishi from Japan (Market watch, 2014). Now these effects on the industry by globalization has caused Australia to impose high tariffs to keep off competition from domestic industry which has affected the economy in the following ways: Tariff increased the cost of goods and services to the consumers and reduced the national income. With the expansion of the industry protected by tariff involves more employment and investment. But all of this takes place in an inefficient sector of the economy. Excess profits earned by producers protected under tariff attract further investments driving away investments from the efficient sectors which do not need protection. Tariff alone is said to be not affecting in helping an industry grow and is said to be only followed for infant industries which have prospects of growing on its own in the longer run. After the second World War, the positive effect of tariff to protect the growing manufacturing industry was temporary for Australia as efficient industries faced lack of investments. Hence we see that necessary microeconomic and macroeconomic reforms were supposed to be taken by the Australian government to protect its domestic industry without pushing off the benefits of globalization. Excessive protection of the domestic industry gave rise to driving off resources to inefficient sectors making the efficient sectors suffer. Hence, globalization is completely beneficial for Australia and should be supported but legitimate reform and policy measures should also be adopted to adjust with the economic changes caused by Australia. Globalization has benefitted the world in several ways with increasing export demand, contributing resources through imports, helping in changing political scenarios with trade agreements between nations, etc. The current ad capital account improvements had helped the GDP growth of all nations opening up to the world market. If we consider the global economy as a broader perspective then the winners had been Asian countries like Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, India, China or countries like Australia or USA who all have experienced greater economic growth due to globalization whereas countries like Africa had turned out to be losers suffering from the effects of globalization or not been able to experience the complete benefits from the phenomenon. Parts of Eastern Europe or sub Saharan Africa had also not benefitted much along with the Islamic region (Harris, 2002). As for Australia there had been a section of gains as well as losses which we list as follows: Gains: Strengthening of industrial base with restructured capital markets, advanced technology and more of export markets. Increase in GDP per person ranking Australia has the fourth highest. Ratio of exports rising from 15 to 20% (Downer, 2003) Higher living standards and rise in real income with economic growth Losses: Labor outsourcing to low waged countries decreased the wages of unskilled workers. Unskilled workers from traditional industries had also been unemployed due to shut down of the industries on facing competition (Market Watch, 2014) Heavy industries and manufacturing plants suffered due to competition from international markets (Royer, 2014) The country is also facing growing inequalities with the increasing globalization since the 1980s. In 1996 the 72% of the nations wealth was the top most 20% of the population with the top 50% holding 98.4% of the wealth, hence not leaving out enough for the remaining half. The law of demand applies to all goods and services and similarly to food too. The law of demand states that with rise in price of a particular product the consumer would demand less of that product which implies that the overall demand of the product would fall. In such cases both substitution and income effects take place. There occurs both an income effect and substitution effect in case of food too. With rise in price of certain food products, consumers purchasing power falls which is like a negative income effect, consumer reduce their consumption of that particular product and shift to other substitutes or other products(Varian, 2010). This shows, how the law of demand applies to food too. As per the substitution effect, when price of a particular kind of food rises within the diverse division of food products, consumers shift from that particular food product to some other food product. For example, with rise in price of fish, consumers may shift to the consumption of more meat or chicken (Pindyck et al, 2009). As the price of tea rises, consumers would consume more of coffee or with rise in price of meat consumers may shift to fish or more vegetables or even eggs. If there occurs any changes in a consumers income which affects the demand for a particular product then that is an income effect. When the price of food rises, consumers feel poorer with the available money in hand this is like a negative income effect. In other words the purchasing power of consumers falls. For instance, if there occurs a rise in price of a particular food product then the consumers purchasing power for that particular food product falls and that acts like a negative income effect (Mankiw, 2007). This also implies the fact that food acts like a normal good. Just like all other normal goods, with rise in income, a consumer would consume more of food and vise versa. Housing prices are closely related to land prices. The growing land prices have been a crucial reason for the increasing housing prices. Now, if we consider a market for a product then its price is generally determined by the demand and supply conditions in the market. The same holds for land too. The supply and demand factors of land determine its prices. Use of land is dependent on the condition of land whether it is developed or non-developed and hence the cost of developing the land for making it usable also determines its supply. Similarly there are many other factors that affect the supply of land like land development industry structure, governmental taxes or levies on land, the non-housing uses relative returns and the effectiveness and rules of the planning system of land use. These factors affects both the supply of developed land and also the cost of land. Land being a natural resource of limited amount and of characteristics which needs time to change this result in takin g more time for the supply of developed land to increase compared to the increasing demand (Rahman, 2014). As demand goes on increasing for land to incorporate various land uses with the fixed supply of developed land in the short run, it gives to a rise in price of land. This inelastic supply of land in the short run leads to increase in land prices which are transferred to increase in housing prices. There are many other factors that affect housing prices like interest rates, economic conditions, demographic conditions, population statistics, geographic conditions, demand for investments, etc. For instance, low interest rates, induce higher demand for housing as this gives the incentive of consumers to buy new houses as the cost of getting a housing mortgage falls. Similarly, geographic and population conditions also affect housing prices. If the population is on an increasing trend then families with increasing members wish to switch to bigger houses and hence the overall demand for housing increases whereas geographic conditions if improved with more developed land induces people to buy more houses. The countrys economic conditions also matter as in with controlled inflation and unemployment and increasing income drives up housing demand and prices too (Helle, 2016). It is seen that since 1995, increased investment demand and tax benefits has induced housing prices to rise whereas a financial system deregulation with more of foreign banks and brokers has increased housing demand(ABS, 2005). Now, with rise in housing prices, if we look from the side of land owners or landlords, there occurs a wealth effect , i.e., these individuals feel more wealthier increasing their consumption and maybe even increasing their housing demand hence a further pressure on rising demand and prices. Lastly, a country with high economic growth rate is seen to have an overall increasing aggregate demand which also includes increase in housing demand due to increase in income. With the above answer it is clear to us that the main factors that are affecting the land prices and in turn housing prices are related to the fixed supply of land and the simultaneous increase in demand of land due to increase in housing demand. In such a case the increase in demand for land is represented by a shift of the demand curve upwards as here all things remaining the same the demand for land increases as it is derived from the increase in housing demand. Hence we see in the figure below the demand for land shifts from D to D, i.e., it shifts upwards. We also see that the supply of land is a straight line S representing the land supply to be inelastic in nature with change in prices as the supply of developed land in the short run is inelastic (Samuelson et al, 2010). Hence, with the shift in the demand curve upwards and the inelastic supply of land, the price of land rises from P to P with the equilibrium quantity of land remaining the same as Q, but the equilibrium point changes to E which shows the same quantity of land is now available at higher price. The supply of land in the metropolitan cities is perfectly inelastic in nature considering land to be a natural resource. Now housing is dependent on developed land, hence, land development takes time and would be seen in long run. Thus, with land development having its effects on land supply in the long run, the supply of land in the short run is perfectly inelastic in nature (Lipsey et al, 2011). References: Pindyck, R. Rubinfeld, D. Mehta, P. (2009). Microeconomics. South Asia: Pearson Varian, H. (2010). Intermediate microeconomics. New Delhi:Affiliated East-West Press Samuelson, P. Nordhaus, W. (2010). Economics. New Delhi: Tata McGraw Hill Mankiw, G. (2007). Economics: principles and applications. New Delhi: Cengage learning Lipsey, R. Chrystal, A. (2011). Economics. New Delhi : Oxford Market watch.(2014). How globalization destroyed Australias automotive industry?. Available at: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/how-globalization-destroyed-australias-auto-industry-2014-12-16. [Accessed 12 September. 2016] Rahman, M.(2014). Australian housing market. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228384641_Australian_housing_market_causes_and_effects_of_rising_price. [Accessed 12 September. 2016] ABS, 2005. Impact of rising house prices on the WA economy, Available at: https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/9e1dd9680bdd9821ca257090002029cc/9a108c68979298b0ca256fe8007df2ad!OpenDocument. [Accessed 12 September. 2016] Helle, M. (2016). Land prices now highest. Available at: https://www.perthnow.com.au/realestate/news/perth-wa/perth-real-estate-land-prices-now-highest-median-per-square-metre-in-australian-capital-cities/news-story/cd775fd475848160c204ca6cb2698556 . [Accessed 12 September. 2016] Investopedia. (2016). Globalization. Available at: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/globalization.asp. [Accessed 12 September. 2016] Ilahi, R. (2014). Globalization in Australia. Available at: https://ryanilahi.wordpress.com/2014/11/01/globalization-and-its-impact-on-australia/ . [Accessed 12 September. 2016].

Women Who Democratized South Africa free essay sample

â€Å"Women played a critical role in democratizing our nation†. It is often overlooked that women played a very important role in the struggle against apartheid. Today when we think of the leaders of the struggle we tend to think about Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo, Albert Luthuli and other prominent men. It is not often that people remember to look at not only the wives of some of these men, but also other women who got deeply involved in fighting apartheid. Black women faced three forms of oppression in South Africa during apartheid racial, social and sexual. For this reason they had more to struggle against. Although many women helped fight for freedom during apartheid, two names stand out as heroines of the struggle, Albertina Sisulu and Helen Joseph. Albertina Sisulu, the wife of Walter Sisulu, was a political activist during apartheid that not only fought for the freedom of the people, but also for the rights of black women. We will write a custom essay sample on Women Who Democratized South Africa or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In 1955 she joined the ANC Women’s League and also aided the launch of the freedom charter. Albertina Sisulu had five children and adopted her deceased sister-in-laws two children, supporting her family on her earnings as a nurse. She also became a major political figure in her own right getting herself arrested, banned, and imprisoned. She helped form the Federation of South African Women and became its president. On August the 9th 1956 she led huge demonstrations against the extension of the hated pass laws to women and against the introduction of the Bantu education system. Her opposition to womens passes brought her first jail sentence in 1958 with Winnie Mandela and others female liberators. Albertina Sisulu was arrested after Walter Sisulu went underground in 1963. Her arrestment resulted in her becoming the first female to be arrested under the General Laws Act. Her political acts frequently resulted in her being in and out of jail, but this did not put fear into her heart as she remained courageous and continued the resistance against apartheid. In 1994, she was elected to the first democratic Parliament, which she served until retiring four years later. That year she received an award from then-president Mandela. In my opinion Albertina Sisulu can be seen as a great heroine for the Apartheid struggle as she stood up for what she believed in and broke the stereotypical view of a black women, she showed courage and bravery to lead black women, who were considered to be at the bottom of the social ladder, to approach the apartheid government and express their beliefs. Albertina Sisulu died at the age 92 in her home in Linden Johannesburg on the 2nd of June 2011. In 1987 Albertina Sisulu made the following remarks in Soweto. Women are the people who are going to relieve us from all this oppression and depression. The rent boycott that is happening in Soweto now is alive because of the women. It is the women who are on the street committees educating the people to stand up and protect each other. In my opinion this statement can be seen as a bold and powerful statement because she is implying that women are the core of society and have the power to achieve great milestones in their life if they can believe in themselves. Women of today should look to Sisulu for inspiration as she was one of the great women of south African history and should truly be remembered dearly. Helen Beatrice May Fennell was born in Sussex, England, in 1905. She grew up in London. She graduated with a degree in English from the University of London. In 1927 She taught for three years in India, She then came to live in Durban, South Africa, 1930. she took a job with the Garment Workers Union (GWU) and came under the influence of Solly Sachs, Johanna Cornelius and Anna Scheepers. Helen was a founder member of the African National Congress (ANC)s white ally, the Congress of Democrats (COD), and national secretary of Federation of South African Women (FEDSAW) in the 1950s. In 1955, she was one of the leaders who read out the clauses of the Freedom Charter at the Congress of the People. The Womens March on 9 August 1956 was one of the defining moments in her political career as along with other female activist she led 20 000 women to the Union Buildings. Helen Joseph was Arrested on a charge of high treason in December 1956, and banned in 1957, Joseph Helen was constantly affiliated with the police as she was aiding black people, and she was a white women herself. She was the first person to be placed under house arrest in 1962, and she survived several assassination attempts, including bullets shot through her bedroom window late at night and a bomb wired to her front gate. Joseph was diagnosed with cancer in 1971, and her banning orders were lifted for a short time before being reinstated for two years in 1980. Helen Joseph passed away on 25 December 1992 in Johannesburg. In my opinion Helen Joseph is truly admirable as she was able to overlook the irrational thinking of the apartheid government and see people of colour as her equals, and seek to aid them in their struggle against the apartheid regime. She aided black nti-government groups like the ANC and was able to break social barriers by, instead of just feeling bad that black people were being treated unfairly, but instead, to act on that feeling which she did with meritorious efforts. Helen Joseph was awarded the ANCs highest award, the Isitwalandwe/Seaparankoe Medal for her devotion to the liberation struggle as a symbol of defiance, integrity and courage. Such a heroic icon should always be an inspiration to young minds of South Africa and should always be honoured and remembered as it is peop le like this who pave the future to brighter pastures in South Africa.

Gibe, Gybe, Jibe, and Jive

Gibe, Gybe, Jibe, and Jive Gibe, Gybe, Jibe, and Jive Gibe, Gybe, Jibe, and Jive By Maeve Maddox The verbs gibe, gybe, jibe and jive all begin with the sound [j] and are often confused. gibe (verb): to taunt, to insult. Example: â€Å"If he laughed instead of cried when someone  gibed  at him, often the  teasing stopped.†Ã‚   gibe (noun): a sneering comment, a taunt. Example: â€Å"The  teasing, taunts,  gibes  and hurtful acts are a part of me still.† gybe (verb): (sailing term) to shift suddenly and with force from one side to the other when a ship is steered off the wind until the sail fills on the opposite side. Alternative spelling: jibe. Examples: â€Å"As Phil slipped overboard, the  boom gybed.† â€Å"A gust of wind caught their  sail, the  boom jibed, nearly knocking Mr. Snider overboard.† jibe (verb): to make sense, to agree with, to fit in. Example: â€Å"The latest research findings jibe with those recorded in 1934.† The noun jive has these three meanings: 1. a type of fast, lively jazz Weve been wanting to  play Jive  since the band first started. 2. lively and uninhibited dancing. He doesnt quite bounce around like a rubber band during his jive, but does good enough to notch a 7-7-7. 3. talk or conversation, especially talk that is false, misleading, or worthless. It’s time to cut the jive and tell the truth. As a verb, jive can mean to play lively music or to dance to lively music. Example: They spaced each other about four feet apart and  were jiving  to the music. The verb jive can also mean, â€Å"to mislead or deceive.† Maybe the narcs  were jiving  him, maybe  they were  going to shoot him in the back. I searched his eyes for some clue that  he was jiving me. He wasnt.   The most common errors with these words are to spell gibe as jibe and to use jive in the sense of jibe. Here are some examples of misuse from the Web: Incorrect: Arizona Prison Privatization Proposal Doesnt Jive with Market Correct : Arizona Prison Privatization Proposal Doesnt Jibe with Market Incorrect:  But  my opinion  about that  doesnt jive  with everyone elses opinion.   Correct :  But  my opinion  about that  doesnt jibe with everyone elses opinion.   Incorrect: If your child is hurling his own silly  jibes at  the teaser, then its a mutual thing. Correct : If your child is hurling his own silly  gibes at  the teaser, then its a mutual thing. Incorrect: Put-downs, slurs, jibes, and innuendo of all kinds are never purposeless or harmless. Correct : Put-downs, slurs, gibes, and innuendo of all kinds are never purposeless or harmless. The Oxford English Dictionary validates the nonstandard use of jive in the sense of jibe as â€Å"U.S.† usage, but Merriam-Webster Unabridged (notorious for its tendency to embrace all types of questionable usage) does not. The only definition M-W offers for jibe is â€Å"to be in accord.† Its only definitions for the verb jive are related to music, misleading talk, and teasing. Two other much-cited American authorities are careful to distinguish between gibe and jibe: The Chicago Manual of Style A gibe is a biting insult or taunt; gibes are figuratively thrown at their target â€Å"The angry crowd hurled gibes as the suspect was led into the courthouse.† Jibe means to fit, usually with negation â€Å"The verdict didn’t jibe with the judge’s own view of the facts.† The AP Stylebook To gibe means to taunt or sneer: â€Å"They gibed him about his mistakes.† Jibe means to shift direction: â€Å"They jibed their ship across the wind.† or, colloquially, to agree: â€Å"Their stories didn’t jibe.† Summary The sailing term may be spelled either gybe or jibe. The latter is more common in US usage. The verb that means â€Å"to agree† or â€Å"to fit† is spelled jibe. The noun and verb that convey taunting are spelled gibe. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:"Based in" and "based out of"Best Websites to Learn EnglishDrama vs. Melodrama

1984 Themes, Symbols, and Literary Devices

'1984' Themes, Symbols, and Literary Devices Written at a time when dictatorships and totalitarian regimes were establishing a hold over much of the world despite the defeat of Hitler’s Nazis in World War II, in 1984 Orwell described what he saw as the inevitable outcome of any political movement that embraced authoritarianism and the cult of personality. Orwell was extremely frightened of political power being concentrated in a small number of individuals, correctly seeing it as a pathway to the loss of personal freedoms, and foresaw the technology that would make the erasure of those freedoms a simple task. Totalitarianism The most obvious and powerful theme of the novel is, of course, totalitarianism itself. A totalitarian state is one where there is only one political force legally permitted- all opposition to the state’s policies and actions is illegal, usually categorized as treason and met with violent retribution. This naturally stifles freedom of expression and makes change within the system impossible. In democratic societies, opposition groups can form political parties, express their ideas freely, and force the state to address concerns or be replaced. In a totalitarian society, this is impossible. Orwell’s Oceania goes further than even most existing totalitarian states. Where real-world authoritarian leaders seek to restrict information and control their populations in terms of their physical movements and spoken or written communication, Orwell’s government of the future seeks to inhibit thought itself and alter information at the source. Newspeak is a language invented by the state specifically to make independent thought literally impossible, and even Winston’s physical surroundings are designed to inhibit his freedoms, like the way his small apartment is dominated by the enormous two-way television screen, crowding him into a corner he incorrectly believes offers him some degree of privacy. That illusion is crucial to Orwell’s theme, as he strives to demonstrate that in a truly totalitarian society all freedom is in fact an illusion. Winston believes he finds ways to resist and meaningfully fight back against repression, all of which turn out to be gambits controlled by the state. Orwell argues that people who imagine they would heroically resist such a repressive regime are kidding themselves. Control of Information A crucial aspect of Oceania’s control over the citizenry is its manipulation of information. Workers at the Ministry of Truth actively adjust newspapers and books on a daily basis to match the ever-changing version of history that suits the purposes of the state. Without any kind of reliable source of facts, Winston and anyone who, like him, is dissatisfied or concerned about the state of the world, has only their vague feelings on which to base their resistance. More than simply a reference to Joseph Stalin’s practice of literally airbrushing people out of historical records, this is a chilling demonstration of how a lack of information and accurate data renders people powerless. Winston daydreams of a past that never actually existed and sees it as the goal of his rebellion, but since he lacks any real information, his rebellion is meaningless. Consider how he is tricked into overtly betraying the state by O’Brien. All the information Winston has about the Brotherhood and Emmanuel Goldstein is fed to him by the state itself. He has no idea if any of it is true- if the Brotherhood even exists, if there is even a man named Emmanuel Goldstein. Destruction of the Self Winston’s torture at the end of the novel is not simply punishment for his Thoughtcrimes and incompetent attempts to rebel; the purpose of the torture is to eradicate his sense of self. This is the ultimate goal of totalitarian regimes according to Orwell: A complete subservience to the goals, needs, and ideas of the state. The torture Winston undergoes is designed to destroy his individuality. In fact, every aspect of life in Oceania is designed to achieve this goal. Newspeak is designed to prevent negative thoughts or any thought that is not approved or generated by the state. The Two-Minutes Hate and the presence of Big Brother posters promote a sense of homogeneous community, and the presence of Thought Police- especially the children, who have been raised in the poisoned environment of the totalitarian state and who function as credulous and uncritical servants of its philosophy- prevents any sort of trust or true kinship. In fact, the Thought Police do not have to actually exist to achieve this goal. Simply the belief that they do is sufficient to inhibit any individual expression, with the ultimate result that the self is subsumed into Groupthink. Symbols Big Brother. The most powerful and recognizable symbol from the book- recognized even by people who have not read it- is the looming image of Big Brother on posters everywhere. The posters obviously symbolize the power and omniscience of the party, but they are only ominous to those who retain any kind of individual thought. For those fully assimilated into the party line, Big Brother is not an ironic term- he is seen as a protector, a kindly older sibling keeping them from harm, whether it be the threat of outside forces, or the threat of unmutual thoughts. Proles. Winston is obsessed with the lives of the proles, and fetishizes the red-armed prole woman as his main hope for the future, because she represents the potentially overwhelming power of numbers as well as a mother who will bear future generations of free children. It is notable that Winston’s best hope for the future takes the responsibility from his hands- he is not the one counted on to deliver this ill-defined future, it is up to the proles to rise up. And if they do not, the implication is that it is because they are dull and lazy. Telescreens. Another obvious symbol are the wall-sized televisions in every private space. This literal intrusion by the state is not a commentary on modern television, which did not exist in any meaningful way in 1948, but rather a symbol of the destructive and repressive power of technology. Orwell distrusted technology, and saw it as a grave danger to freedom. Literary Devices Limited Point of View. Orwell chooses to restrict our access to information by tying the narrative solely to Winston’s point of view. This is done specifically to keep the reader reliant on the information they are given, just as Winston is. This underscores the betrayal and shock that both feel when, for example, the Brotherhood is revealed to be fictional. Plain Language. 1984 is written in a very plain style, with few flourishes or unnecessary words. While many students take this to mean Orwell was a humorless man, or who simply lacked the ability to write in an exciting way, the fact is the opposite: Orwell had such control over his art he was able to match his writing style precisely to the mood and setting. The novel is written in a sparse, grim style that perfectly matches and evokes the grim, unhappy, and hopeless setting. The reader experiences the same dull, plodding sense of mere existence that Winston does.

Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Economics - Essay Example It was noted that ticket prices are relatively higher in 1978, wherein passengers disburse 19 cents per mile. As compared to the present price, which is 14 cents per mile, it is relatively higher. Thus, there is an increase in the influx of passengers (Bonsor, 2006). Airfare prices and travel time are considered the most important factors for passengers as compared to in-flight amenities. As William O’ Conner, an economist stated that â€Å"The speed, comfort, and safety aspects of the journey, whichever airline a passenger selects, are more likely to be the same† (1995). Thus, the amenities are not the priority of passengers in choosing the flight. People based their choice of flight on factors such as having the cheapest ticket price at the same time having the most convenient times of departure and arrival. The consequence is for airlines to increase the number of flights for a certain routes and maintain the price like the competitors (Kons, 2000). Reservation system serves a crucial role in an airline company. By being able to predict the passenger’s need and willingness to pay, the system sets up the scheme of pricing and setting from which passengers have no control on the differences the prices of tickets belonging t o even the same class (Watson, 2004). Pricing of airline tickets is a very complex process that is affected by various factors and considerations. These include the date of purchase and reservation wherein tickets bought several months before the flight schedule is normally lower in price than when it is purchased a day before the flying date. Normally these trend is known to the flying public and for those who wanted to grab these opportunity of buying cheaper tickets they will get one especially those people who travel regularly every week and month. Seat classification or the class is another factor being

Project Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 4

Project Management - Essay Example These individuals are normally picked from the team personnel in order to complete the project as planned. On the other hand, alternative scheduling has to be planned to enable successful completion of both tasks and progress on the project to continue (Pinto 357). Resource management is usually difficult in a multi-project environment because it creates several problems. A single project is advantageous because it fully depends on its allocated resources. However, a single project can lead to under utilization of available resources since it even relies on resources that are currently, not under use (Pinto 369). Team members in a given project are afraid to issue out their resources since they believe that it will be difficult recovering them. Similarly, sharing resources can create a delay in multiple projects. Finally, there can be a decrease in employees’ morality as they attempt to juggle through competing assignments (Pinto 371). Approaches use to allocate resources include mathematical programming, fist in line, greatest resource demand, and minimum late finish

Overseas Students Participate in Cultural Activities Essay Example for Free

Overseas Students Participate in Cultural Activities Essay Cultural activities are activities where people spend their leisure time attending cultural venues and events. For example, cultural activities include going to art galleries, museums, libraries, operas, concerts and the cinema. People want to get feelings of well-being and gain more knowledge by participating in cultural activities. Participation in cultural activities influences the development of students in many aspects, such as for entertainment and knowledge. The involvement of students in cultural activities can help them develop a well-rounded education. For overseas students in Australia, participating in native cultural activities can also help them reduce culture shock and provide a better way for students to understand more information concerning the history, customs and beliefs in Australia. In a survey concerned with participation in cultural activities among Australian people, it was found that about 85% of the Australian people who aged over 15 years old participated in at least one of cultural activity during the 12 months in 2005-06 (Australian Bureau of Statistics) (ABS) (2007). Going to the cinema was the most popular activity which had the highest percentages at 65% of people. Going to zoological parks and aquariums were the two second most common activities, at 36%; libraries and botanic gardens were at 34% (ABS, 2007). In addition, the same study found that people with higher educational background had considerably higher attendance rates than people with lower educational attainment at art galleries, museums, zoological parks and aquariums, libraries, popular music concerts, other performing arts and the cinema. Moreover, in previous research, it was found that about 25% of respondents went to the library over 20 times during the year. (ABS, 2007). However, little research has been done to compare differences in participation in cultural activities between overseas students in Australia and Australian people. The aim of this research is to find out whether overseas students’ cultural activity behaviors were similar to Australians. Methodology This research was carried out in Navitas English language school on 10th December 2010, and was concerned about the participation in cultural activities of overseas students. Data were collected through questionnaires in the school. The participants consisted of 50 overseas students (25 males and 25 females), who were aged between 18-24 and 25-34, just one person was over 35. The majority of the sample were Chinese; other subjects were from Thailand, Vietnam, Korea, Indonesia, and Japan. The questionnaire, which was administered informally and contained 8 questions, was made up of three sections: demographic information, the type and the frequency of cultural activities. Specifically, 4 questions were developed to record general information; one question was about which cultural activities students participated in; the other 3 items asked about how often students participated in cultural activities per year, involving all cultural activities, going to the library and cinema. The survey was conducted by several groups; each group consisted of 2-3 students. These groups respectively entered different classes to collect data using questionnaires. After collecting this, the data was shared by all groups. Data from questionnaires were then collated and converted to percentages. The results were compared according to gender, education and frequency in graphs.

Essays on Death and Suicide - Waiting for Death :: Personal Narrative Writing

Personal Narrative- Waiting for Death She suspects she has only ever had one true affair with the knife, and all those since have been meager attempts at regurgitation, petty rivalries borne of intention and tainted by the anticlimax of recreation. She sits daily watching the synthetic roses, virulent with red, fluoresce persistently on the porch. Moth bitten, with broken stems and a hairline crack running the length of the ceramic pot that marks their station on the brick step. She sits observing their activity, disassociates herself from the solemn sermon their blushing heads deliver, ducking in the wind. Waiting for something to happen. She has lost, or perceives she has lost (and looks for death on the horizon because she fears she has lost) the ability to make things occur. How useful youth was in the day to day creation of happenings. Now she has displaced the seasons, and the pleasant expanse of nothingness, a featureless backdrop, assimilates itself to her emotionless countenance, as she welcomes the weather. Her father’s house, in the Polish town. Its healthy walls, its strong bone structure. She found it easily, buried knee-deep in the liquid winter, and enquired of the locals as to whether anyone currently resided there. They regarded her, not more obliging than they were wary, with the heavy, knowing gaze of people carrying the burden of the past – both pervasive and private. Her accent was rusty, the native tongue had long since been liberated – a stray cut loose from its derelict cultural confinement. She spoke in dislocated dialogue; the secure, prosaic language of dinner parties and familial get-togethers. Of pleasantries exchanged between well-wishing strangers. Broken German from an elementary text-book. How she hated the sluggish tongue, the barren vowels that tripped reluctantly from the lips, imprisoned by the teeth. The English language seemed a positive ballad of elegant syllables. She had wished never to hear these sunken verbs again. She had tried to forget it all, but they spoke with a dramatic flourish, demanding that she remember, their tone didactic and intense with purpose. Those primitive villagers, deeply set in their archaic ways, the spit in the palm. Such old gestures seem a blessing on unimaginative bones, bones of gypsy ancestry; wrapped in incense and adorned with elaborate jewelry. She briefly caught the delicate, sickly scent of patchouli and lavender, an odor that seeped from their pores, traveled on the breath and suggested unrelenting hardship and wisdom and infinite strength.

Consequences of Syrian Conflict Essay

*Syria is now mired in an armed conflict between forces loyal to President Bashar al Asad and rebel fighters opposed to his rule. -Since major unrest began in March 2011, various reports suggest that between 22,000 and 25,000 Syrians have been killed. -U.S. officials and many analysts believe that President Bashar al Asad, his family members, and his other supporters will ultimately be forced from power, but few offer specific, credible timetables for a resolution to Syria’s ongoing crisis. -In the face of intense domestic and international pressure calling for political change and for an end to violence against civilians, the Asad government offered limited reforms while also meeting protests and armed attacks with overwhelming force. -Nonviolent protests continued, but their apparent futility created frustration and anger within the opposition ranks. -An increasing number of Syrian civilians have taken up arms in self-defense, although armed rebel attacks alienate some potential supporters. -The government accuses the opposition of carrying out bombings and assassinations targeting security infrastructure, security personnel, and civilians in Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, and other areas. -Accounts of human rights abuses by both sides persist, with the majority attributed to security forces and military units. Backgrounds *Syrians have long struggled with many of the same challenges that have bred deep dissatisfaction in other Arab autocracies, including high unemployment, high inflation, limited upward mobility, rampant corruption, lack of political freedoms, and repressive security forces. -These factors have fueled opposition to Syria’s authoritarian government, which has been dominated by the Baath (Renaissance) Party since 1963, and the Al Asad family since 1970. -President Bashar al Asad’s father—Hafiz al Asad—ruled the country from 1970 until his death in 2000. *Since taking office in 2000, President Asad has offered and retracted the prospect of limited political reform, while aligning his government with Iran and non-state actors such as Hamas and Hezbollah in a complex rivalry with the United States and its Arab and non-Arab allies (including Israel). -Syria’s long-standing partnership with Russia has remained intact and is now the focus of intense diplomatic attention because Russia is one of the regime’s only remaining defenders. -As unrest emerged in other Arab countries in early 2011, Asad and many observers mistakenly believed that Syria’s pervasive police state and the population’s fear of sectarian violence would serve as a bulwark against the outbreak of turmoil. -Limited calls in February 2011 to organize reform protests failed, but the government’s torture of children involved in an isolated incident in the southern town of Dara’a in March provided a decisive spark for the emergence of demonstrations. -The use of force against demonstrators in Dara’a and later in other cities created a corresponding swell in public anger and public participation in protests. -The government organized large counterdemonstrations. -For much of 2011 and early 2012, a cycle of tension and violence intensified, as President Asad and his government paired limited reform gestures with the use of military force against protestors and armed opposition groups. -Violence was initially limited to certain locations but now has affected most major cities, including Damascus and Aleppo. -Members of different elites may seek compromise with the opposition, but there has been little public dissent from top regime figures. -Defections from the armed forces and from the political and business elites continue, and international sanctions and the disruptions of the conflict are creating hardship for ordinary Syrians. -As the conflict has dragged on, protestors and opposition fighters have defiantly resisted government crackdowns, in spite of the arrest of thousands of citizens and documented cases of torture and regime-instigated massacres. -The regime argues that opposition violence and abuses make a negotiated solution impossible, and President Asad refuses to leave power. -In an August 2012 report, the United Nations Human Rights Council commission of inquiry on Syria found: 2 reasonable grounds to believe that Government forces and the Shabbiha( is a term used in the context of the Syrian civil war to describe armed men in civilian clothing who assault protesters against the government of President Bashar Al-Assad.) had committed the crimes against humanity of murder and of torture, war crimes and gross violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including unlawful killing, torture, arbitrary arrest and detention, sexual violence, indiscriminate attack, pillaging and destruction of property . -The commission found reasonable grounds to believe that war crimes, including murder, extrajudicial execution and torture, had been perpetrated by organized anti-Government armed groups. Consequences *Latest news from Syria shows that the West is not going to stop, continuing efforts to consolidate the â€Å"opposition† and give the military resistance more centralized character, with the division into districts and Action Front of the rebel army. *At the same time, the regular army of Syria increasingly showing signs of weakening. *Actually,the consequences of the fall of the Syrian regime are significantly differentiated for Russia, China and Iran but more vulnerable to such threats is the Islamic Republic, however a detailed consideration of these issues is beyond the scope of this article. -One can only assume that at the critical point, these countries are more prefer to engage in a post-conflict settlement of fragmented Syria, which will allow them to maintain a semblance of respect for their interests and lost regional role and influence, rather than spending more resources to preserve the regime. *Meanwhile, the consequences of military action in Syria, regardless of the outcome, can have an impact on the situation in Central Asia and in particular in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan and then create the conditions for the tension in Xinjiang along the entire borders of these countries. *Now in Syria, according to public information, in addition to the Free Syrian Army and various local rebel groups there are several number of groups of jihadist orientation, fighting in the ranks of the representatives of the Arab countries, as well as immigrants from Europe and other regions of the world, representing essentially gang mercenaries, under the auspices of the West, Turkey and the Arab monarchies. -But, for the countries of Central Asia, as well as Russia and China, should be of particular concern the so-called group of â€Å"Dzhebat al Nusra† (Jabhat al-Nusra=(â€Å"The Support Front for the People of Syria†), is a militant group operating in Syria.) or â€Å"Al-Nusra front to protect the Levant.† *According to the latest information, in the ranks of this group, which is considered by many experts as branch of al-Qaeda, involved citizens of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia (natives of the North Caucasus), as well as citizens of the China (ethnic Uighurs). (Rim(8090))

Anxiety Management and the Elite Athlete Essay

Exercise/Sport Science Introduction            IntroductionThe ability in managing anxiety and pressure is an integrated section in sport science, most importantly within the elite athletes. Over the ages sport science researchers have been on the move to bring out a clear line between performance and anxiety in the field of athletics. This article is concerned with relevance in the perceptive of cognitive perspective. Researchers in sport science have not been able to give a clear illustration between these terms: anxiety, stress, activation and arousal the terms have over the ages been used interchangeably. This has made the researchers to encounter some challenges in trying to explain the relationship between performance and anxiety. To get a good glimpse on this article is worth to first understand the profound definitions of the commonly used terms. Stress from a psychological point of view can be defined as the state that arises from the demands placed on the athletes requiring them to engage on coping be haviors (Chia & Chiang, 2010).            Arousal is that state that an individual enters in a stressful state which is characterized by some specific psychological symptoms. From the above definitions we can understand what anxiety is. Anxiety is considered to be more situational, it is associated with the art of deliberate arousal of autonomic nervous system, hence trait anxiety, is regarded as the view of the world that an individual use in dealing with the situation in their present environment. Performance has been realized to be influenced by trait anxiety that is individuals who are deemed to be associated with great trait anxiety tend to attend more to information similar to threats unlike their counterpart with low anxiety trait (Chia & Chiang, 2010). Effect of Arousal and Anxiety on performance            Sport scientists have been devoted to explain vividly the effects of arousal and anxiety in the elite athletic performance sport wise. For the case of armature arousal is very competitive especially in the athletes in the individual sports as compared to team sport athletes. Participants in individual the non-contact sports have been identified to report low levels of state anxiety unlike individual participants in the contact sports (Chia & Chiang, 2010).            Arousal and anxiety are found to highly to affect the individual athlete’s self-confidence levels regardless of their long earned experience and skills. Individual with high self-confidence responds to arousal and anxiety in different ways unlike their counter parts, they always view anxiety as a facilitator in their sporting endeavors. From this point of view, their field participation will actually have to be credible hence they will achieve improved and great performance. The strongest feature that the elite athletes possess is that of high self- confidence levels. Having this quality enhances the athletes to have a most crucial protective factor from the actions of cognitive anxiety (Petrie, 1998).            The athletes, who have realized their optimal limit of arousal for maximized performance, need to employ appropriate relaxation or energizing measures with the aim of increasing or decreasing arousal levels. The coaches need to insight some psyched motivation to their athletes to perform best. The level of motivation should be dependent on individual levels. High arousal can be detrimental for some athlete some may respond positively as the others respond negatively (Petrie, 1998). In conclusion, when the coaches or the respective captains give encouraging speech to their team mates, it is associated with some elements of arousal. Highly aroused athletes are bound to perform better than it is their usual performance levels hence the respective coaches should do an after event evaluation to see clearly that the athlete did improve in performance genuinely. References Chia, M., & Chiang, J. (2010). Sport, science, and studies in Asia issues, reflections, and emergent solutions. Singapore: World Scientific. Petrie, T. A. (1998). Anxiety Management and the Elite Athlete. The Psychotherapy Patient, 10(3-4), 161-173. Source document

Feasibility of Mango Shake Essays

Feasibility of Mango Shake Essays Feasibility of Mango Shake Essay Feasibility of Mango Shake Essay Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION Background of the Study Food is arguably the most important thing when it comes to a person’s life. Everyone eats, no matter what kind of diet they tend to have. Everyone just really eats food and that. The great thing about food, however, is that they tend to be quite unique to its location. A dish could be popular worldwide, but it can also be very local and specific to an area. This is mostly due to the fact that food largely reflects local culture. The ingredients and how the food is cooked say a lot about a specific region or country. Siomai in general is a popular food, not only in the Philippines but also in other countries. This is due to its delicious taste and simple preparation. Globally, this type of dimsum originated in Guangdon China (shumai). The other names for siomai are shaomai, shuimai and shewmai or which are traditional Chinese dumplings serve in dim sum. There are many regional version of shumai in China such as huhhot version and cantonese version and from Jiangnanregion. Its introduction and wide acceptance in parts of the world like in the Philippines and other south East Asian Nations, inevitably resulted to the evolution of many varieties, methods and preparation and using different ingredients(The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English, 2009). That’s why siomai industry is becomes very popular because of its unique taste and one of the easiest to make. In Inner Mongolia,huhhotshaomaiis considered one of the oldest varieties of shaomai. Within the dimsum tradition of the southern china, it is one of the most standard dishes. : This is also popular in Vietnam they called it as â€Å" xiumai† one of the producer of siomai and in Japan â€Å" shumai† has also great indication demand of siomai. (Dictionary. coms 21st Century Lexicon, 2011). And in Hongkong many large dim sum restaurants offers scores of different varieties and one of those varieties is the siomai. The larger specialist dim sum restaurants will usually prepare up to 100 of them on any day. In the Philippines, food scene siomai has been causing quite a stir. Low total investment but faster Return on investment (ROI). With the proliferation of all kiosk and roadside stores selling freshly steamed and sometimes friedsiomai at a very affordable price. The family can now fully enjoy the delicious Chinese dumplings any days of the week without losing a big chunk of the already tightbudget (HsiungDeh-Ta. , 2005). In Pangasinan,specifically in Dagupan City, siomai also serves as one of the most popular light meal or snack in malls and sup ermarket. It is a welcome reprieve for the mothers who have kids and who love the tasty dumplings so much, but do not have the required time to regularly prepare one. There are franchisedstalls, such as MasterSiomai, Red Ninja, Siomai House and Shaolin shomai which targets students amp; working people. Chinese restaurants such as a Chowking, North Park, Davids Tea House, Flavors of China, Gloria Maris and many other restaurants also serve this. The proponents decided to enter in this kind of business not only to gain profit but also for their business to generate more employment in Dagupan City, Pangasinan. This is not only for the proponents benefit but also for the community of Dagupan City and to other places as well. Conceptual Framework The researchers used the Input-Process-Output Model in this study. The inputs of this study consist of the five aspects of the business as to market aspect, technical aspect, organizational and management aspect, financial aspect and socio- economic aspect. Descriptive survey method was used in gathering data and information. The formulation of questionnaires, conducting of surveys and one-on-one interview were the instruments used. The output of this study is the feasibility of Q-mai. Feasibility of Q-mai House Input ProcessOutput Descriptive Survey Method, Formulation of questionnaires, Conducting of Surveys, One-on-one interview Figure 1. 1 Research Paradigms As to Market As to Technical As to Organizational and Management As to Financial As to Socio-Economic Statement of the Problem The study sought to determine the feasibility of Q-Mai House, Oh my Q-mai!. Specifically, it sought answer to the question:What is the feasibility of Q-Mai House, Oh my Q-mai, as to: a) Marketing aspect; b) Technical aspect; c) Management aspect; d) Financial aspect; e) Socio-Economic aspect; Assumption The researchers assumed that: 1. Q-mai can be consumed in all seasons, thus, the demand is said to be highly relative. 2. There is no market that offers quail egg siomai in Dagupan City, hence, there is no direct competitor in the industry. 3. The application of a sole proprietorship as a form of business organization is an advantage because it is relatively simple to manage and control. 4. The Q-mai House will help the economy by providing employment and will also help the Government raise its revenues to settle expenses by paying taxes. Significance of the Study This feasibility study onQ-mai House in Dagupan City will benefit the following; Businessmen. This study will provide business people especially the beginners, a background about this business. It will answer the questions: How to start? How to do it? What is needed? And most especially, whoare the potential costumers? Thus, it will prepare the would-be-businessmen on what are the possible risks that should be anticipated involving this type of business. Customers. This study will benefit the customers because they could avail of a product that is affordable, nutritious, safe and readily available. Students. This is useful and interesting as a study guide and basis for those who are taking as a Bachelor of Business administration, that will undergo research, thesis and feasibility subject. Government. This studyhelps to improve our economy as a new and successful business through the business tax that should pay by the proposed business. With effort and interest the government may benefits more, though to the market being collected upon it. Scope and Limitations This study sought to determine the feasibility of Q-mai House as to market aspect, technical aspect, organizational and management aspect, financial aspect and socio-economic aspect. The proponents used descriptive survey method with questionnaire and interview as the primary sources of data and internet and library research as sources of secondary data. To gather data on the market aspect, questionnaires were distributed to and answered by a total of 378 students of University of Luzon. As to the technical, financial, management and socio-economic aspects, observation and interview of existing competitors, internet and library materials were the sources of data. Further, SPSS 17 was used in analyzing the data collected. Definition of Terms Business. Thisisan economic system in which goods and services are exchanged for one another or money, on the basis of their perceived worth. (BusinessDictionary. com , 2011) Entrepreneur. This is someone who exercises initiative by organizing a venture to take benefit of an opportunity and, as the decision maker, decides what, how, and how much of a good or service will be produced(BusinessDictionary. com , 2011). Feasibility Study. This is an analysis and evaluation of proposed project to determine if it is feasible to market, technical, organizational and management, financial and socio-economic aspect. Financial Aspect. Thisis a study which includes total project cost, major assumptions, projected financial statement and financial analysis. Market Aspect. Thisconsists of market programs and strategies, description of the product, the analysis of demand and supply, and price study. Organizational and Management Aspect. Thisincludes nature and form of the business, legal requirements, organizational structure, human resource management process, management style and pre-operating activities. Technical Aspect. Thisis the discussion of the basic and operation flow of the project. This factorresponds to the technicalities and basic structure of the proposed study. This includes the list of equipments, materials, structure plan and also the source of the supplies use in the proposed project. Business plans, utilities, facilities, layout designs and location. Social Responsibility. Thisis the obligation of an organizations management towards the welfare and interests of the society in which it operates (Baker, 2008). Socio- economic Aspect. This is a field of study that examines the social obligation and responsibilities, and economic contribution of the proposed business.

Analysis of the Case Oticon Using the Political Metaphor Essay Sample

1. IntroductionThe metaphors of organisations and direction have been discussed by Gareth Morgan in his book â€Å"Images of Organizations† ( Morgan. 2006 ) . Morgan exposed eight metaphorical images of organisations including machine. being. encephalon. civilization. political system. psychic prison. flux and transmutation. and instrument of domination. Each one of these metaphors creates insight. but besides obscures some corners. They have both pros and cons. They enable seeing. but besides non seeing. No 1 of them is said to be right and right. 2. BackgroundChattanooga Ice Cream Division is one of three major incorporated industries to CFC. Chattanooga Food Corporation. The division lost third-largest client for no logical grounds. Charles Moore. the president and general director of the division conducted a direction meeting to discourse current state of affairss. look into the root causes. and happen out proper solutions. Many struggles occurred during the meeting. The actions and reactions can be projected to reflect how the division maps as one of metaphorical images. In this study. the instance is analyzed utilizing the political system metaphor. In other words. it discusses what we could see and reflect when projecting the division’s behaviour on the rules and attacks of the political system metaphor. 3. TheoryAn organization’s political relations is most clearly manifest in the struggles and power dramas that sometimes occupy halfway phase. and in the infinite interpersonal machinations that provide recreations in the flow of organisational activity. More basically. nevertheless. political relations occurs on an on-going footing. frequently in a manner that is unseeable to all but those straight involved ( Bacharach A ; Lawler. 2000 ) . There are three relationships to be considered when speech production of organisations the systems of political activities. which are involvements. struggle and power ( Morgan. 2006 ) . Politics accepts the world of multilateralism. Therefore. the construct of political relations is strongly connected with the diverseness of involvements. Projecting that on organisations by and large. they could be regarded as spheres for accommodating different involvements ( Culbert A ; McDonough. 1980 ) . Different involvements are natural and must be handled. For that intent. the general involvements are analyzed as single involvements. There are three types of single involvements including undertaking. calling. and extramural involvements. Undertaking involvements are connected with the work one time has to execute. while calling involvements are connected to what the individual want to accomplish with the work. The extramural involvements are connected what we want to accomplish as a private self’s. There is a structural diverseness of involvements in organisations. That could be bounded by two extremes along hierarchal graduated tables. where bureaucrats’ inclination represents the upper portion. and professionals’ inclination dominates the lower broad countries ( Benson. 1973 ) . When involvements collide. struggles arise. The political position admits the presence of struggles. There are three major signifiers of struggles including. struggles between individual. groups/departments. and value systems/structures ( Brown. 1983 ) . There are five chief attacks for struggle declaration. including avoiding. viing. suiting. compromising and collaborating manners ( Burrell A ; Morgan. 1979 ) . Power is the medium through which struggles are resolved ( Bacharach A ; Lawler. 1980 ) . There are two relevant positions of power signifiers including resources and societal relation or dependence. Furthermore. there are 14 beginnings of power. That may affect formal authorization ; control of scarce resources ; usage of organisational construction. regulations. and ordinances ; control of determination procedures ; control of cognition and information ; control of boundaries ; ability to get by with uncertainness ; control of engineering ; interpersonal confederations. webs. and control of informal organisation ; control of counterorganizations ; symbolism the direction of significance ; gender and the direction gender dealingss ; structural factors that define the phases of action ; and the power one already has ( Morgan. 2006 ) . 4. Analysis4. 1. InterestsWhen looking through the instance of Chattanooga Ice Cream Division. many manifestations and contemplation could be analyzed from the political system metaphor position. One of the worlds that political relations accept is that all political systems embrace different involvements ( Culbert A ; McDonough. 1980 ) . The meeting Moore conducted reflects this world every bit good. As we noticed. many frailty presidents of the division’s sections tried to depict and analyse the job the division experienced in a manner that made their sections out of lending causes. For case. Billy Fale. the frailty president of production. tried to justify his section by explicating their immense attempt to acquire stock lists manageable despite the limited efficiency the division’s information systems had. Whereas. Stephanie Krane. the division’s accountant. blamed the complexness of the information systems that required long clip to develop. trial. and put in. Furthermore. for forcing herself off of the causation factors. Krane explained her experience to retrieve old problems. The other frailty presidents manipulated the description of the state of affairs so that the possible solutions go in their departments’ favours or involvements so to talk. Barry Walkins. the frailty president of selling. attributed the job to the disregard of his recommendations. He asked sing mixed-ins in the division’s production program. establishing that on his selling research. He might be seen as a director who wanted to enter a triumph for his manner of thought. researches. or departmental sphere. Another contemplation could be built on the reaction of Les Holly. the division’s gross revenues director. He tried to drive the sentiments judgmentally. Holly started reflect the root causes of the job from the sense that the remainder of directors didn’t have the broad image he had. since he used to pass most of the clip in the shops. He focused on operational lacks. such as stockouts and back orders. to do it rational to counterbalance that with the promotional allowances. irrespective any other conducive factors. Moore has accepted the difference of involvements of the directors. This is evident from the manner he dealt with their sentiments. He considered all solutions in malice of his familiarity to the background of motivations for each director. The single involvements could be classified into undertaking involvement. calling involvements. and extramural involvements ( Culbert A ; McDonough. 1980 ) . Fale showed his involvements of maintaining everything under control by rejecting the alteration Walkins proposed. All his reactions during the meeting seemed to be operational and numerical contemplations. That sort of involvements could be seen as undertaking involvements. The same is to be said for Krane. Her remarks reflect her involvement of lodging to certainty and non doing mistakes. On the other manus. Holly’s involvements may be classified as calling involvements. as he emphasized on the promotional allowances many times. Possibly. he wanted to better his external personal relationships utilizing such allotments. In the same context. we think that Walkin’s involvements could be classified as extram ural involvements. since he wanted to turn out his endowment of marketing research practically. His proposal was rational and strongly relevant to the job. He tried to demo his trueness through his honest efforts to do the division changes positively. This manner of categorization doesn’t needfully mean that this categorization is an absolute affair. All of them may hold overlapped involvements that belong to each class. ConflictsAnother common facet of the political system is struggles. Conflict will ever be present every bit long as the involvements collide. That may include struggles between individuals. sections. and constructions ( Coser. 1956 ) . In Chattanooga. the struggle arose between Fale and Walkins were more personal. Walkins criticized Fale’s disregard to his suggestion. and Fale in bend criticized Walkins’ thoughts. Both reviews were directed to the personal behavior. Additionally. Holly criticized the policy concerned with cost decrease at the disbursal of gross revenues section. The struggle arose between him and Krane could be seen as departmental struggle. There are five common manners of struggle declaration including avoiding. via media. competition. adjustment. and coaction ( Burrell A ; Morgan. 1979 ) . For Chattanooga. and before the age of Charlie Moore. his male parent led the show wholly. He was the first responsible for about everything. while Charlie wanted to travel the division toward the collaborative manner. During the meeting. he gave manner for everybody to demo their contemplations. But they were still unfamiliar with this sort of communicating. When struggles arose. Moore played the function of moderator. which was doing certain that everybody would show about their ideas and sentiments reasonably. However. he kept the concluding determination to himself. We find the behavior Moore showed in struggle declaration is more like the adjustment manner. PowerPower is a really important histrion in the political systems. It is the medium through which struggles are resolved. There are 14 beginnings of power ( Morgan. 2006 ) . many of them could be projected on the instance. One of that is control of scarce resources including money. stuff. forces. and engineering ( Emerson. 1962 ) . Krane. as the division’s accountant. had the control to apportion resources including wages. disbursals. and information systems. She had extra beginning of power that represents a structural factor that defines the phase of histrions ( Bachrach A ; Baratz. 1962. 1970 ) . This beginning of power came from her being monitored. non merely by Moore. but besides by Arthur Silver. the main fiscal officer. Therefore. she had more considerable power to accept or reject any thought. which interprets her confident reactions during the meeting. Fale. as the frailty president of production. had besides the power of engineering ( Child. 1985 ) . boundaries ( Millar A ; Rice. 1967 ) and resources control ( Emerson. 1962 ) . He had besides the ability to ge t by with uncertainnesss ( Hickson et al. . 1971 ) . His contemplations were cardinal and referral. since he managed the production procedures and could judge any suggestion wanted to be implemented. Fale had extra power of interpersonal confederations ( Pfeffer A ; Salancik. 1978 ) . which is represented by his friendly relationship with Frank O’Brien. the frailty president of forces. They used to hang out with each other for angling. When Frank changed his place during the meeting. Fale became more flexible to accommodate with Walkins’ proposal. That reflects a serious impact of interpersonal confederations within the organisation ( Pfeffer A ; Salancik. 1978 ) . Krane and Fale had the power of Moore’s trust in run intoing their promises ( Bachrach A ; Baratz. 1962. 1970 ) . In the same context. Walkins had besides the power of information and cognition ( Crozier. 1964 ) . which is represented by his familiarity to the market tendencies and competitory advantages. Moore admitted his endowment and that was besides extra credits for Walkins. Bing the division’s gross revenues director. Holly had besides the power of cognition and networking ( Pfeffe r A ; Salancik. 1978 ) . He could lend in the solution by happening new clients. His direct exposure to the market added more power to him. In general and as a direction squad. all directors had the power of the usage of organisational construction. regulations. and ordinances ( Crozier. 1964 ) . But Moore might hold the biggest portion of power. non merely due to him being a general director. but besides as a descendent of the household to the full owned the division ( Kanter. 1977 ) . He controlled the determination doing procedure wholly ( Bachrach A ; Baratz. 1962. 1970 ) . He started that by analysing the job. Then. he motivated the directors to portion their ideas. Finally. he ended up with choosing the most efficient solution that might accommodate the client orientation and budget. 5. CONCLUSIONSEven though the organisational political relations may be recognizable by everybody within any organisation. it is really rare to discourse it openly ( Morgan. 2006 ) . The instance of Chattanooga shows clear illustrations of subjects discussed in private. as we found when the caputs of sections questioned the competency and trustiness of each other. As discussed before. we can acknowledge that it is necessarily that political relations is indispensable characteristic of organisational life. The political metaphor emphasizes that the usage of power is cardinal of organisational analysis. The metaphor helps to better understand organizations’ reason. as it enforces the thought that actions within organisations are more political than rational ( Morgan. 2006 ) . In Chattanooga. each director suggested solutions so that to increase the benefits for his/her section instead than the benefit for the division as a whole. Furthermore. the political metaphor helps to happ en solutions to the thought that organisations are incorporate constructions. which is non ever the instance ( Morgan. 2006 ) . Moore failed to merely use the collaborative values of squad work in Chattanooga. while that worked successfully when he worked at National Geographic. The political metaphor focuses on involvements. struggles and beginnings of power in order to understand and pull off them ( Morgan. 2006 ) . That besides helped Moore to understand the force drivers within the division. Finally. the metaphor has great influence to actuate persons to move politically. The chief drawback of utilizing the political metaphor is frights of change overing every activity within organisations into political Acts of the Apostless. This may sometimes make ambiance of uncertainness and misgiving ( Morgan. 2006 ) . That appears in the Chattanooga instance when most of troughs reflected negative feelings about each other. Another restriction is that the coevals of penetrations through different involvements possibly misused to accomplish personal ends. Last. but non least. it is complex to cover with pluralism’s inquiry. As a consequence. the political metaphor must be used carefully ( Morgan. 2006 ) . 6. Reference Bachrach. P. and Baratz. M. S. ( 1962 ) . †Two Faces of Power. † American Political Science Review. Bachrach. P. and Baratz. M. S. ( 1970 ) . Power and Poverty. New York: Oxford University Press. Bacharach. S. B. and Lawler. E. I. ( 1980 ) . Power and Politics in Organizations. San Francisco: Iossey-Bass. Bacharach. S. B. and Lawler. E. I. ( 2000 ) . Organizational Politics. Stamford. Connecticut: IAI Press. Benson. I. K. ( 1973 ) . â€Å"The Analysis of Bureaucratic-Professional Con?ict. † Sociological Quarterly. Brown. L. D. ( 1983 ) . â€Å"Managing Con?ict Among Groups. † pp. 225-237 in D. A. Kolb. I. M. Rubin. and Mclntyre. I. Organizational Psychology. Englewood Cliffs. Nickel: Prentice Hall. Buroway. M. ( 1979 ) . Manufacturing Consent. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Burrell. G. and Morgan. G. ( 1979 ) . Sociological Paradigms and Organizational Analysis. London: Heinernann Educational Books. Child. I. ( 1935 ) . â€Å"Management Strategies. N ew Technology and the Labour Process. † in D. Knights. H. Willmott. and Collinson. D. Job Redesign. Aldershot. United kingdom: Cnnlpr. Coser. L. A. ( 1956 ) . The Functions of Social Con?ict. New York: Routledge A ; Kegan Paul. Crozier. M. ( 1964 ) . The Bureaucratic Phenomenon. London: Tavistock. Culbert. S. and McDonough. I. ( 1980 ) . The Invisible War: Prosecuting Self-Interest at Work. Toronto: Iohn Wiley. Emerson.

Business Communication - how to become more effective within the Essay - 1

Business Communication - how to become more effective within the organization - Essay Example in today’s business environment ushered in by technology and globalization, which is characterized by dispersed work groups that operate away from the home office. The current vogue in such a flexible working arrangement has added to the difficulty of getting business communication right. As it is, there are already enough sociological and psychological factors that prevent business communication from going around the organization in the sense that it was intended. This paper thus discussed all the perceived shortcomings in communication practices that have made businesses falter, and subsequently explored the methods by which business communication can be made more effective for the immediate and long-term benefit of the organization. People in organizations spend over 75 percent of their time in an interpersonal situation (Van Acker, online). Thus, it is no surprise to find that at the root of a large number of organizational problems is poor communications. Effective communication is an essential component of organizational success whether it is at the interpersonal, inter-group, intra-group, organizational or external levels (How-to Books, online). For human communication to be high in quality or effective, it must take into account not only the choice of language but also the movement of vocal cords, the reception of sound and its translation into neural signals, syntactic and phonological processing (Hauser, 1996). Even facial expressions and gestures influence the quality and outcome of communication (How-to Books). As for the communication message, social psychologists give it three components: content, context and treatment. Content is the essence of what one person desires to communicate to another, whil e context is the way the communicator presents the content of his message to his audience. As for treatment, it is how communication is arranged and conducted by the speaker, which supports the content and context of the message. In a business

Finance and risk management,Shipping finance Essay - 1

Finance and risk management,Shipping finance - Essay Example Financing the ship industry has always evolved with the prevailing market conditions. More investment has always been required in the industry above the owner’s potential to finance hence the need for banks. The industry has its strengths and weaknesses, there have been opportunities, and it has also seen threats. This paper examines the relationship between shipping financing and shipping markets, the major sources of capital available in the shipping industry, the strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) in the industry. The shipping industry represents a substantial percentage of the world trade. The industry is one of the most effective forms of transport and the costs are relatively low. It costs 11 percent and 20 percent of the transportation cost on roads and rails respectively. If the business is doing well it can have a high capital return of about 25 percent per annum ( Nizam and Ghanem 15). Shipping industry is also a dynamic industry; there is continual investment in research and development of new technology. This contributes to the global technological growth. This industry is cyclical and relies on the changes of the global market. This makes the industry to be uncertain. The industry also experiences a shortage of skilled labour and management because there are few people who are professionals in this field. The image of this industry is poor; people tend to perceive the industry to be archaic and therefore outdated. Vessels also cause pollution of the environment through emission of CO2 and noise. There are initiatives to make ships more environmentally friendly. This will make ships more acceptable. There is also a long term plan to recruit, educate, and train skilled seafarers. This will close the gap pertaining to lack of skilled labour. There is an initiative to improve propulsion technology of ships through building bigger ships, nuclear powered ships,

The Case of GlaxoSmithKline Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The of GlaxoSmithKline - Case Study Example While the blockbuster strategy at GSK has been so successful in the past, it is nearing a period where it is more likely than not to become obsolete. This is as a result of a diverse number of challenges which have made blockbusters less profitable when compared to the past few decades. Among these challenges is the decline in R&D productivity where only a single compound out of nearly 13 discovered enters the market after clinical trials have been carried out and this is a big blow to pharmaceutical companies such as GSK. Moreover, because of the need to make the public aware of newly discovered drugs that enter the market, it is essential for companies to commercialize it. This takes increased funding and creates a situation where recent years have seen an increase in the costs of commercialisation for GSK in such a way that the processes of discovering, developing and launching new products have increased substantially. In addition, in recent years, patents to blockbusters have in creasingly been challenged not only by smaller pharmaceutical companies but also by governments and this has created a situation where GSK has come face to face with serious limits to the revenue potential of its products. The shorter exclusivity periods that have come about as a result of competition has seen companies develop similar yet cheaper drugs than GSK’s blockbusters which have received the approval of numerous governments across the world. This situation has increased pressures on GSK’s patent protections.

PESTEL five forces and SWOT analysis of Apple

PESTEL five forces and SWOT analysis of Apple Introduction This study is an analysis of the business environment of Apple, Inc., which is typically undertaken as part of the strategic analysis of Apple’s operations for the medium and long term. The aim of this analysis is to assess the prospects of Apple, Inc. as a potential investment for consideration. There are three aspects of environmental assessment that are undertaken: the macro-environmental analysis makes use of the PESTEL model, industry analysis employs Porter’s Five Forces model, and the organisational analysis is performed using the SWOT model. PESTEL Analysis The business of Apple shall be evaluated within the context of its operations in the UK. Investor sentiment attached to the country plays a major role in determining the level of confidence reposed by investors in the country itself. Negative sentiment in the country overall may cause an investor shift that would affect stock prices even for companies in industries normally unaffected by the particular events or developments, thus consideration should be extended to indirect repercussions or contagion effects due to perceived weaknesses in the country environment (Chittedi, 2014; Haß, et al., 2014; Ioan, et al., 2013; Liu et al., 2014, Syriopoulos, 2014; Trenca Dezsi, 2013; Yaqing Hongbing, 2013). 2.1 Political The United Kingdom is a democratic country with a stable governance system, and maintains strong influence over the laws and customs of those countries that were formerly part of the British Empire, and now comprise the Commonwealth of Nations. The UK thus holds a strong and enviable position in global politics. However, there are risks posed by terrorist elements such as members of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) recruited from among the British nationals. Current political challenges include the increasing tensions in the ruling coalition and the sagging government popularity (UK Country Profile, 2013; USCIA, 2014). 2.2 Economic The UK is a world economic power, with a highly developed economy that gained its footing after the Second World War. According to the World Bank’s assessment, as of 2003 the UK is the seventh best country to invest in or do business with. It is however burdened by a growing government debt problem (currently at  £1.38 trillion) and a huge budget deficit. In order to strengthen the financial system, the Bank of England (BoE) was given the authority to oversee the macro-prudential health and stability of the financial system. The BoE coordinates interest rate movements with the European Central Bank during times of crisis, however Britain still remains outside the European Economic and Monetary Union (CEEDR, 2012; UK Country Profile, 2013; USCIA, 2014). 2.3 Social The standard of living of UK citizens is comparable with other First World countries. The education and health care systems are among the world’s best, and the social goals of the government include the alleviation of income inequality and eradication of child poverty. As a member of the European market, the UK benefits from the free flow of young people into the country to offset the problems posed by an aging population. Demographically, the population is aging (i.e., 35% of the population are 55 years and older, only 30% are below 25 years), with average life expectancy reaching 82 years for women and 78 year for men (CEEDR, 2012; UK Country Profile, 2013; USCIA, 2014). 2.4 Technology The United Kingdom is renowned worldwide for its scientific expertise and cutting-edge research and development (RD). Intellectual property rights are stringently protected by legislation. Among the challenges to the UK with respect to technology is the increasing shortage of RD workforce, a trend that has persisted since 2008. The number of engineers and technicians in the physical and life sciences, as well as IT and telecom specialists, continue to decline. The lack of technical personnel and RD specialists is a serious threat to the continued competitiveness of UK industry. Patent applications have also been on the decline, meaning that innovations may slow down, further compromising competitiveness (UK Country Profile, 2013; USCIA, 2014). 2.5 Environmental The UK is a strong participant in the formulation of global policies, particularly with respect to agreements dealing with the environment, emission reduction, and sustainable energy source. However, the UK is also known to have a high level of air pollution. The European Commission issued a final warning to UK for the poor quality of its air, prompting the country to expedite a solution to the problem (BBC, 2014; Mathiesen, 2014). High air pollution, due to exhaust fumes and emissions from power stations and factories, prevails in London, while dangerous levels of NO2 have been recorded in Birmingham, Glasgow and Manchester (BBC, 2014; Dugan, 2013; Mathiesen, 2014; UK Country Profile, 2013). Government policies, however, will continue to tread the middle ground between environmental protection and economic development (UK Country Profile, 2013; USCIA, 2014). 2.6 Legal The UK has a legal system that is organised, transparent and efficient, and efforts are being exerted to make the processes in the courts simpler and more efficient and transparent (Great Britain Ministry of Justice, 2011). The legislative system favours a high level of freedom in business, primarily to enable investor trust and confidence. There is effective enforcement of the law; in the World Bank’s Doing Business indicators 2013, UK ranks at the 21st position among 185 countries with regard to enforcement of contracts. Challenges remain, however, in terms of tax evasion, and balancing personal liberties against the threat of terrorism. These challenges are being addressed by current proposals to amend legislation (UK Country Profile, 2013; USCIA, 2014). Porter’s Five Forces Porter’s Five Forces analysis is a model used for industry analysis. Apple plays a significant role in four businesses, namely the communication equipment industry, the music and video industry, the mobile phones industry, and the personal computer (PC) industry. Because its participation in the overall PC industry is comparatively small compared to its other products, only the first three industries shall be analysed here. Apple’s overall business includes eight product lines: iPhone, its related products and services; iPad and related products and services, Mac portables and other music related products and services, Mac desktops, iPod, software, services and other hardware (Apple, Inc., 2014; GCEIP, 2014). 3.1 Bargaining Power of Buyers Communication Equipment Industry Buyer power is moderate. Apple communications equipment caters to individual buyers, but each buyer has little bargaining power as he/she bargains for him/herself alone. If the company loses just one consumer, the effect on the company will be insignificant. Collectively, however, buyer power may be more significant, as switching costs are low. Fixed line telecommunication devices have a low degree of differentiation and there is little innovation taking place in this area, for which reason buyers are sensitive to price levels and could easily transfer from one supplier to another. Apple’s major competitors in this market include Lenovo, Nokia, and Samsung (GCEIP, 2014; CEIPUK, 2014). Music and Video Industry The bargaining power of buyers is moderate. As with the communications equipment industry, there are many buyers in this market, thus reducing their bargaining power. Offsetting this, however, is the low switching costs that enables customers to transfer brands quite easily. Also, there is a trend towards greater preference for online retail channels and digital download sales due to their greater convenience. Buyers are therefore sensitive to price, recommendations, availability, loyalty schemes, and brand image. In the global music and video industry, Apple’s key competitors are Amazon, Tesco, and Wal-Mart Stores (GMVIP, 2014; MVIPUK, 2014). Mobile Phones Industry The bargaining power of buyers is moderate. There are two types of buyers in this market, the retail outlets (e.g. Europe’s Carphone Warehouse, Walmart) which purchase handsets for sale to consumers, and the mobile network operators that now make their own retail sales bundled with the service they offer. The large retailers are at a disadvantage because they need to stock up on the latest innovations to meet end-user demand. When new innovations or models appear, unsold inventory of earlier models become obsolete. Apple is at an advantage because the firm is capable of forward integration – i.e., they conduct their own retail operations. As a result, buyer power is diluted. Apple’s closest competitors in this industry are LG Electronics, Nokia, and Samsung (GMPIP, 2014; MPIPUK, 2014). 3.2 Bargaining Power of Suppliers Communication Equipment Industry Mobile Phones Industry Supplier power is moderate. There are only a relatively small number of large multinationals who supply parts and components to this market, reducing market players’ options when sourcing for products. While backward integration is difficult due to high costs of telecommunication manufacturing, it is however not impossible; for instance, British supermarket brand Tesco will launch its own smart phone device, which if successful and followed by other retailers will reduce supplier power. Aside from their scarcity, suppliers are also benefitted by the level of customer loyalty that firms develop for their manufacturers. Apple, however, is one of those few companies which sell their products online and which operate their own retail shops (GCEIP, 2014; CEIPUK, 2014). Music and Video Industry Supplier power is relatively high in the music and video industry. The suppliers in this industry pertain to the purveyors of content, such as the record companies, TV studios and film studios. End-user tastes drive demand, and when the particular content is specifically in demand then market players are compelled to stock on popular products so as not to miss out on revenues for songs, movies, or shows that have high appeal. Also, suppliers such as large film and TV studios tend to integrate forward, that is, they sell directly to the retail market through their own websites. In these situations, there is strong supplier bargaining power (GMVIP, 2014; MVIPUK, 2014). Mobile Phone Industry Supplier power is moderate in the mobile phone industry. Mobile phone manufacturers are much larger than their suppliers, and are therefore in a position to better influence supply contracts. Operating systems are vital components to smartphone manufacturers, but in the case of Apple and Blackberry the operating systems are developed by the manufacturers themselves, and therefore one element of supplier power is diminished (GMPIP, 2014; MPIPUK, 2014). 3.3 Threat of Substitutes Communication Equipment Industry The threat of substitutes is moderate to strong, as product substitution may potential exist within the market. Landline phones and mobile devices are substitutes for each other, although mobile devices have the advantage of flexibility, portability and mobility. In developing countries, counterfeits may proliferate, drawing demand away from legitimate retailers, but such risk is gradually being eroded by regulation, law enforcement, and security measures. Cheaper second-hand products are also substitutes for new models, which may challenge the higher-priced Apple products in certain market segments (GCEIP, 2014; CEIPUK, 2014). Music and Video Industry The threat of substitutes, particularly from counterfeit media, is very strong; this becomes apparent when one considers that digital video and audio content are easily duplicated. Pirated titles appear online, on CDs, and more recently through streaming and file sharing websites. While lawsuits have been filed and litigation pursued in some cases, the lawsuits are so slow that by the time they take effect, damage has already been done that cannot be undone for the titles thus distributed. The same contents made legally accessible online also act as substitutes for the same content formatted on CDs and DVDs. Although demand for the latter may decline, there will still remain buyers who prefer their music or shows on a physical device (GMVIP, 2014; MVIPUK, 2014) Mobile Phones Industry The threat of substitutes is low. The threat posed by landline telephones as substitute for cellular phones is weak, due to the greater flexibility, portability and wide area coverage offered by mobile phone usage. Neither are laptops a strong substitute due to disadvantages in size, weight, and the capacity for outward calls (GMPIP, 2014; MPIPUK, 2014). 3.4 Threat of New Entrants Communication Equipment Industry The threat of new entrants is moderate. There is a low degree of differentiation among the products and services that players in this industry can offer; this signifies that customer loyalty is low, and customers tend more to follow the brand of the manufacturer rather than the retailer. Since buyers can easily switch retailers, low cost entry into the market is possible. Entry barriers are thus low, and threats of new entrants is strong, despite the fact that more established and larger-sale retailers would have developed better relationships with their suppliers as well as enjoy economies of scale (GCEIP, 2014; CEIPUK, 2014). Music and Video Industry The threat of new entrants is strong, and entry barriers to this market are low. If the prospective player already runs a retail business, then entry into the market becomes easy. Switching costs among vendors is low, and enables customers to transfer among players depending on the price, stock or brand image. Larger players carry strong brand images; however, this alone will not be sufficient basis to draw market share away from new entrants (GMVIP, 2014; MVIPUK, 2014). Mobile Phones Industry The threat of new entrants is moderate. The popularity of smartphones continue to attract new players which offer the same features as the established brands, such as Apple and HTC. A good number of the more mature mobile phone manufacturers offer their own smartphones. A market for cheap feature phones thrives in developing economies. New entrants are nevertheless faced with challenges, such as the huge amount and the specialist skills and experience required for capital outlay for RD in which Apple is well entrenched (GMPIP, 2014; MPIPUK, 2014). 3.5 Internal rivalry Communication Equipment Industry Internal rivalry in this market is low to moderate. The market for global communications equipment is highly fragmented; market participants are numerous and diverse, including large foreign companies as well as local independent shops. Competition is slightly more intense among specialty shops than it is for the larger firms that have a presence in several markets. Even so, competition tends to ease because the demand for digital communications products is still expanding, enabling all firms to acquire a reasonable share of the market (GCEIP, 2014; CEIPUK, 2014). Music and Video Industry Internal rivalry is strong, mainly due to the similar choice of products offered by competing players and the low switching costs among market players. Unless the content is originally produced or published by the player, it would not be able to sustain any long-term competitive advantage over its rivals as content and processes are common and indistinguishable (GMVIP, 2014; MVIPUK, 2014). Mobile Phones Industry Internal rivalry among mobile phone manufacturers is moderate, with the lion’s share of the market being shared among a few large and well-known firms (i.e. Apple, Nokia, LG, Samsung). A second tier of smaller manufacturers are directed towards specific niches and do not really pose strong competition to the larger firms (GMPIP, 2014; MPIPUK, 2014). SWOT Analysis (Datamonitor, 2011; MarketLine, 2014) 4.1 Strengths Apple’s several businesses are the result of a combined horizontal and vertical integration. Horizontal integration is comprised of its wide range of products, while the interconnectivity among such products is the result of the vertical integration. This has enabled the firm to create strong competitive advantages that competitors find difficult to challenge. Apple continues to enjoy strong growth rates and cash flows, as sales remain brisk particularly on its online stores. Apple commands high Application Service Providers (ASPs) which continue to perform well in the market while demand for ASPs of other company providers has declined. 4.2 Weaknesses Apple failed to anticipate certain product categories such as phablets, and therefore was a later entrant into them. Until recently, Apple had not launched a larger screen phone, despite having invented the tablet. Samsung outperformed Apple in this respect, having pioneered in the phablet with Galaxy Note in 2011, and now has a commanding presence in the phablet market. Apple positions itself in the premium category and prices itself at a single price point. Consumers who could not afford the premium price therefore turn to Samsung and other brands that have a range of differentially priced products for different markets. Apple has an overdependence on the iPad and iPhone for its revenues and growth rates; the revenues from these two products comprise 72.1% of its total revenues for 2013. Eventual decline in the sales of these products will threaten the company’s sustainability and viability. 4.3 Opportunities The iPhone and iPad remain popular in the personal gadgets market, and further growth in their sales could still be explored in the corporate arena. A trend known as bring-your-own-device has become popular in the workplace, as people have appropriated these personal devices for their business purposes. Companies have only begun to exploit mobility strategies to offer better choices to the customers, and iPads may be tapped for this. Apple has yet to fully tap the growth prospects in the emerging markets. There is a rising middle class in India in which Apple may carve out a greater market share. It should be recalled that India is a member of the Commonwealth with which the UK is developing increasingly closer ties. The vast market in emerging countries is far from saturation, and Apple in UK is in a position of take advantage of it. 4.4 Threats One of the weaknesses of Apple cited is its premium pricing policy. This policy shall prove detrimental to any efforts to penetrate an emerging market, because few if any will be able to afford it. Therefore, in the event of any economic downturns that tend to erode the buying power of consumers, demand may shift from Apple’s more expensive products to lower-priced competitors like Samsung. The complex environment of electronic communication devices is constantly innovating and poses a serious challenge to Apple’s position in the market. Players are aggressively competitive, principally because of the fluidity of this disruptive innovation that allows for constant redesigning and modification. Conclusion The business of Apple, Inc. is a viable investment in the UK, although recommendation of entry stock price will have to await a valuation analysis of the stock based on financial and economic models. Being an investment that relies in technological innovation, Apple will have to be a growth buy, that is, it may not have long-term prospects but it will continue to have a strong market presence in the medium term. The principal concern of investors will be the sustainability of Apple’s cutting-edge innovations in the post-Steve Jobs era. Apple should continue to maintain its core competence in technological innovation and its competitive advantage in its horizontal and vertical integration to remain a viable investment. References Apple Inc.: The Steve Jobs Effect (2012) Apple Case Study: The Steve Jobs Effect, pp. 1-16 Apple, Inc. (2014) ‘Apple Info.’ Retrieved 25 October 2014 from https://www.apple.com/about/ BBC News (2014) ‘Air pollution needs more monitoring, says GMB union.’ BBC News UK. 8 June. Retrieved 25 October 2014 from http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-27753072 Centre for Enterprise and Economic Development Research (CEEDR) (2012, May) Early Assessment of the UK Innovation Investment Fund. Department for Business Innovation Skills. Retrieved 25 October 2014 from https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/32236/12-815-early-assessment-uk-innovation-investment-fund.pdf Chittedi, KR (2014) Global Financial Crisis And Contagion: Evidence For The Bric Economies, Journal of Developing Areas, 48, 4, pp. 243-264 Communications Equipment Industry Profile: United Kingdom (CEIPUK) (2014) Communications Equipment Industry Profile: United Kingdom, pp. 1-37 Datamonitor: Apple Inc (2011) Apple, Inc. SWOT Analysis, pp. 1-10 Department for International Development (2013) Multilateral Aid Review: Assessment of Climate Investment Funds (CIFs). Retrieved 25 October 2014 from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/multilateral-aid-review-assessment-of-climate-investment-funds-cifs Dugan, E (2013) ‘Government fights Europe over air pollution reduction.’ The Independent, 2 March. Retrieved 25 October 2014 from http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/government-fights-europe-over-air-pollution-reduction-8517922.html Global Communications Equipment Industry Profile (GCEIP) (2014) Communications Equipment Industry Profile: Global, pp. 1-35 Global Mobile Phones Industry Profile (GMPIP) (2014) Mobile Phones Industry Profile: Global, pp. 1-34 Global Music Video Industry Profile (GMVIP) (2014) Music Video Industry Profile: Global, pp. 1-34 Great Britain Ministry of Justice (2011) Legal Aid Reform in England and Wales: The Government Response. London: Ministry of Justice Haß, L, Koziol, C, Schweizer, D (2014) What Drives Contagion in Financial Markets? Liquidity Effects versus Information Spill- Over, European Financial Management, 20, 3, pp. 548-573 Ioan, T, Nicolae, P, Eva, D (2013) An Inquiry Into Contagion Transmission And Spillover Effects In Stock Markets, Annals Of The University Of Oradea, Economic Science Series, 22, 2, pp. 472-482 Liu, Y, Ouyang, H (2014) Spillover and Comovement: The Contagion Mechanism of Systemic Risks Between the U.S. and Chinese Stock Markets, Emerging Markets Finance Trade, 50, pp. 109-121 Mallin, M, Finkle, T (2011) Apple Inc.: product portfolio analysis, Journal of The International Academy For Case Studies, 7, p. 63 MarketLine (2014) Apple Inc. SWOT Analysis, MarketLine, pp. 1-10 Mathiesen, K (2014) ‘Does London have the worst NO2 pollution on Earth?’ The Guardian: The Eco Audit. 10 July. Retrieved 25 October 2014 from http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jul/10/london-worst-no2-pollution-earth Mobile Phones Industry Profile: United Kingdom (MPIPUK) (2014) Mobile Phones Industry Profile: United Kingdom, pp. 1-37 Music Video Industry Profiles: the United Kingdom (MVIPUK) (2014) Music Video Industry Profile: United Kingdom, pp. 1-32 Syriopoulos, T (2014) Stock Market Volatility and Contagion Effects in the Financial Crisis: The Case Of South-Eastern Europe, n.p. EBSCO Trenca, I, Dezsi, E (2013) Connections Between the European Stock Markets, Review of Economic Studies Research Virgil Madgearu, 6, 2, pp. 151-171 United Kingdom Country Profile (2013) UK Country Profile, pp. 1-67 US Central Intelligence Agency (USCIA) (2014) ‘United Kingdom’ The World Factbook. Retrieved 25 October 2014 from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/print/country/countrypdf_uk.pdf Yaqing, L, Hongbing, O (2013) Identification and Measurement of Contagion Effects Among Main Markets in Financial Crisis, Pakistan Journal of Statistics, 29, 6, pp. 1105-1116