BIO Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

BIO - Essay Example John Scopes’s role in the Scopes trial was that of the defendant, owing to the fact that he was the teacher who went against the Tennessee State’s law that prohibited teaching of evolution in schools, by openly doing it at the high school he was teaching science (PBS, n.p.). Clarence Darrow was the defense lawyer for the accused in the Scopes Trial, who defended the right of John Scopes to teach evolution and the Darwin theory in class (PBS, n.p.). He did not only defend Scopes fiercely, but also used it as a platform to engage his longtime rival in matters of religion, William Jennings Bryan (PBS, n.p.). William Jennings Bryan testified in the Scopes Trial as an expert in Biblical matters, but behind the scenes the testimony was meant to create a platform where he would engage Clarence Darrow on the subject of evolution, which Bryan was completely opposed to (PBS, n.p.). In the courtroom, their contest of ideas between the Biblical stand and the concept of evolution in science almost sparked a physical

SWOT analysis Essay Example for Free

SWOT analysis Essay Pizza Hut, the most popular and prominent brand in the fast food industry is the largest chain food shop in the world. Starting from 1958, it has emerged as the market leader of the industry. The franchise has its own Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats but it is clearly enjoying competitive advantages over its competitors. The franchise has a strong marketing tool, large market share and a group of loyal customers. Based on these, if the company goes for a better and stronger marketing approach in the future, they will keep enjoying the edge over its competitors in the future as well. Marketing Plan for Pizza Hut (Part 1). Pizza Hut is the world’s biggest restaurant company and international franchise which has the origin in Texas, America. It has almost 34,000 restaurants across the world and is currently operating in 100 countries. Pizza Hut offers different types of pizza along with some other dishes like pasta, buffalo wings, breadsticks, and garlic bread. It has started its journey back in 1958 by brothers Dan and Frank Carney in their hometown, Kansas. Since then it has emerged as one of the most popular restaurants not only in America but also in the entire world. (Pizza Hut Corporation, 2012) Internal Environment. The mission statement of Pizza Hut is: â€Å"We take pride in making a perfect pizza and providing courteous and helpful service on time all the time. Every customer says, Ill be back! We are the employer of choice offering team members opportunities for growth, advancement, and rewarding careers in a fun, safe working environment. We are accountable for profitability in everything we do, providing our shareholders with value growth. † (Pizza Hut Website, Hawaii) So from the mission statement it is clear that the franchise wants to serve pizza of great taste and wants to retain its customer so that everybody gets the ultimate joy. They also want to be accountable to its shareholders along with quality team members and workplace. Over the years, Pizza Hut is working hard to establish the above goals and objectives through their dedication, sincerity and honest team members. That’s the reason today Pizza Hut has become the worldwide leader and a trustworthy name among the food lovers. Though today’s world is fast and mechanical people are still looking for the better quality of the food, service and also great taste. As a result, the goals and objectives of Pizza Hut is still very much correct with the peoples perspective. The present performance of Pizza Hut is very admirable as it has captured the largest market share in the industry and also has a loyal customer base. Because of their effective promotion, pricing. Food quality, distribution channel and most importantly unparallel taste, Pizza Hut has achieved a great success in the industry. The recent sale volume of Pizza Hut is also noticeable. In the year 2011, Pizza Hut had a turnover of $5. 5 billion (Financial Statement, Pizza Hut, 2012) where Dominos Pizza had $530. 6 million. (Financial Statement, Dominos Pizza, 2012) So, Pizza Hut is enjoying the edge over its competitors. Though the trend of the industry is downward because of the socioeconomic crisis hasn’t recovered still. The overall performance of the firm hasn’t declined much (only in 2007 it had a turnover of $6 billion) (Financial Statement, Pizza Hut, 2012). And the little decline is the result of the recession of 2008 as discussed earlier. In spite of those little drawbacks, Pizza Hut is trying their best to keep the pace with their mission statement and if they are unable to do that just because of external facts they will meet up with that with their honesty, service quality etc. Customer Environment. In a nutshell, everybody around the world is the potential customer of Pizza Hut. As people of all ages like foods like pizzas, they can enjoy the ultimate and different taste of Pizza Hut. The current customers of Pizza Hut have great variety. As they provide a wide range of pizzas, people from different ages can enjoy their foods. People of young age have a great attraction towards the Pizza Hut and they are a great portion of customers for Pizza Hut. In the process a few other players can be added as the young people may take money from their parents and can be influenced by their friends. The product is used only in one way and that is for eating. The great taste of the pizzas can amaze everybody and they can be the admirers of that. Customers can buy pizzas directly from the outlets and can hang around there. They can even order the food online and home delivery will be available. In the festival time with some special offers the consumption may be increased and customers may be attracted to consume more to get benefits. Because of taste, quality and service, the purchasers of Pizza Hut purchase the foods of Pizza Hut. There are other players in the market and they have a loyal customer base as well though that is not as significant as Pizza Hut. As a result, Pizza Hut are not getting those customers and they aren’t buying the pizzas of Pizza Hut. External Environment The competitors are quite a lot in the market for Pizza Hut. Some big names like McDonalds, Dominos Pizza etc. are strong contenders for taking away the crown from Pizza Hut. As it discussed earlier, Dominos pizza isn’t far away from Pizza Hut in sales volume and trying hard to get there. McDonalds also with their innovative products are looking to do the same. As it told, the recession of 2008 made a strong impact on the Pizza Hut as well as on the industry. It has experienced downward pressure in the sales volume. So, if the economy gets stabilized, the performance of the industry as well as Pizza hut is expected to be improved. Computerization is a must for the current world. Pizza Hut is computerized and centralized. As a result, the customers are enjoying digitized facilities like online ordering, home delivery etc. The sociocultural situation of the target customers are also very important factor which is needed to be considered. The target customers’ demography, economic and social condition all these things make impact on Pizza Hut as they are expanded their businesses in almost every corner of the globe. So, before going to open an outlet, they need to consider those factors and their probable profitability from that. The profitability shouldn’t be only factor for Pizza Hut. They must consider their ethical and social responsibility towards people and they have a close eye on those as well. They try to ensure the best quality and service of their food s before presenting them to their customers which made them unique in the industry. SWOT Analysis The SWOT analysis of Pizza Hut is like below: Strengths †¢ Largest chain restaurant of the world (Griffiths, 2009) 1. As the restaurant spreads in many countries of the world, it can reach a significant number of people in the entire world. As a result, the franchise can serve their products to many nationalities and because of that they have become e trustworthy name among the customers. People of the different parts of the world have different tastes and preferences. Pizza Hut by having so many outlets in different countries is doing that purpose quite successfully. 2. Pizza Hut enjoys the most branches around the globe (100) which the competitors of Pizza Hut aren’t able to do. As a result, the other restaurants can’t reach to people like Pizza Hut does which clearly makes a difference between Pizza Hut and its competitors and Pizza Hut is having the edge. †¢ Has large varieties and types of pizzas and known for its innovative range of pizzas under one roof (Free SWOT Analysis, 2010) 1. Because of having range of pizzas, Pizza Hut has become successful to meet up with the demands of various customers. Even the people from different countries are enjoying the different tastes of pizzas from Pizza Hut. So, the innovations from Pizza Hut are helping the franchise to be more reliable and popular to its customers across the world. 2. The other competitors like Dominos Pizza can’t offer such a variety of pizzas to its customers. As a result, they are lagging behind Pizza Hut on this regard. †¢ Strong marketing tools (Griffiths, 2009) 1. Pizza Hut has many media partners and uses television as a very strong advertising tool. That’s why their advertisements in television become so popular and has a strong impact on the people from the various parts of the world as Pizza Hut keeps the regional differences on their mind. 2. As Pizza Hut uses better marketing and advertisement tools than its competitors, the other companies of same type aren’t matching with Pizza Hut in the same way. †¢ Large market share and loyal customer base (Free SWOT Analysis, 2010) 1. As the market leader Pizza Hut enjoys the most of the profit of the industry and loyal customers encourage them to increase the number of their outlets in the 100 countries they are operating. 2. The competitors are not having as large market share as Pizza Hut has. So, they are lagging in regard of profit. They don’t have as large loyal customers as Pizza Hut as well. Weaknesses †¢ Loyal customers are feeling that the satisfactory level of the pizzas are not like before and it is in the declining process as other franchises are offering something better than that of Pizza Hut (Free SWOT Analysis, 2010) 1. If the trend of the above feeling among the loyal customers continue then the large market share that Pizza Hut is enjoying at present, will be reduced at some point which will lead the loss of market leadership for them. 2. The other players of the industry are coming strongly with new innovative ideas so that they can satisfy the customers in a better way than Pizza Hut which is be the minus point for Pizza Hut. †¢ Internal conflicts within the company regarding the computerization and centralization of processes (Free SWOT Analysis, 2010) 1. Whatever happens the customers seek the ultimate satisfaction and service from a company but because of this problem, they are not getting the desired services they expect from Pizza Hut. This will lead a bad spoken of mouth problem for the company. 2. The whole processes in Pizza Hut is centralized and computerized but those are causing internal conflicts among the franchises in different regions but the other organizations are not reported to have any problem like this. So, this problem will have an adverse effect on the image of the Pizza Hut. Opportunities †¢ Introduction of new fresh pizzas with innovation (The World’s Largest Online Library, 2009) 1. People are now more health conscious than ever. So, introducing the fresh pizzas will be great idea for attracting new customers and to meet their needs. Besides that, innovative pizzas like new flavors and sizes may create appeal to the customers especially to the young customers. 2. The needed time for innovation can be long as there is no time bindings for that but the fresh pizzas can be introduced immediately as it won’t take a lot of time. †¢ Opening new branches in the regions where the demand is increasing (Free SWOT Analysis, 2010) 1. Young generation in the countries like India, Bangladesh and Pakistan is probably the one big opportunity for Pizza Hut to explore. As the popularity of Pizza and other fast foods among these people is increasing day by day, Pizza Hut can use that for their market expansion. 2. As Pizza Hut already having outlets in those countries, the new branch opening won’t take too much time and will increase the profit for the company Threats †¢ Increasing cost of cheese (Griffiths, 2009). 1. The cost increase of cheese will increase of the price of the pizzas. As Pizza Hut tries to give the best taste of pizzas to its customers, it will face problems in doing that. As a result, attracting new customers and retaining the existing customers will be a big challenge for them. 2. As the price is increasing in a slow manner, at present Pizza Hut may not face the problem but in the long run with the increase of price of pizzas, they will feel the pressure. †¢ Threat from other companies and also from the local brands (Free SWOT Analysis, 2010) 1. McDonald already introduced McPizza and Dominos Pizza becoming more and more competitive. So, the competition is getting tougher and tougher day by day. So, customers who seek variety may tend to shift from Pizza Hut and in the process Pizza Hut may loss a significant portion of the existing customers. Also some local brands are trying to provide pizzas of different tastes to the customers in different countries which are alarming for Pizza Hut. 2. The threat of losing customers because of the above reason may arise very quickly. So, Pizza Hut should be aware of the fact. SWOT Matrix. |Strengths: |Opportunities: | | | | |Largest chain restaurant of the world |Loyal customers feel that the satisfactory level of the pizzas | |Large varieties and types of pizzas and known for its innovative |declining | |range of pizzas under one roof |Internal conflicts within the company | |Strong marketing tools | | |Large market share and loyal customer base | | | | | | | | |Weaknesses: |Threats: | | | | |Introduction of new fresh pizzas with innovation |Increasing cost of cheese | |Opening new branches |Threat from other companies | | | | Developing Competitive Advantages. From the SWOT analysis, it is quite clear that in spite of having some weaknesses, Pizza Hut is clearly enjoying some competitive advantages over its competitors. The three stronger points are discussed in the next section: Largest chain restaurant of the world As the restaurant spreads in many countries of the world, it can reach a significant number of people in the entire world. People of the different parts of the world have different tastes and preferences. Pizza Hut by having so many outlets in different countries is doing that purpose quite successfully. Strong marketing tools. Pizza Hut has many media partners and uses television as a very strong advertising tool. That’s why their advertisements in television become so popular and has a strong impact on the people from the various parts of the world. Large market share and loyal customer base As the market leader Pizza Hut enjoys the most of the profit of the industry and loyal customers encourage them to increase the number of their outlets in the 100 countries they are operating. Developing a Strategic Focus Focusing on marketing Among the three competitive advantages, Pizza Hut has the most prominent opportunity to develop a strategic focus on marketing. As the advertising tool of Pizza Hut is very strong they should focus more on this sector. As countries like India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are probable opportunities for Pizza Hut and they are looking to expand their business in these countries, a strong advertisement in the television and other media can be very fruitful for Pizza Hut. (Your file library, 2010). References Free SWOT Analysis. (2010, June 02). Free Online Providerof Quality SWOT Analysis. Retrieved January 20, 2013, from Free SWOT Analysis website: http://www. freeswotanalysis. com Griffiths, M. (2009, December 23). Documents Resources for Small Businesse Professionals. Retrieved January 20, 2013, from Docstoc website: http://www. docstoc. com Pizza Hut Corporation. (2012). About Us: Pizza Hut. Retrieved January 20, 2013, from Piza Hut Web site: http://www. pizzahut. co. uk The World’s Largest Online Library. (2009, March 03). Retrieved January 20, 2013, from Scribd website: http://www. scribd. com Your file library. (2010, May 21). Retrieved January 20, 2013, from Fliiby: http://fliiby. com Pizza Hut Website, Hawaii http://www. pizzahuthawaii. com Financial Statement, Pizza Hut, 2012 http://www. yum. com Financial Statement, Dominos Pizza, 2012 http://www. ft. com.

The Rise of Universal Liberal Values? Essays -- Essays Papers

The Rise of Universal Liberal Values? Democracy is one thing, and constitutional liberalism quite another. In the inexorable march of modernity, Fareed Zakaria argues in The Rise of Illiberal Democracy, the message of constitutional liberalism has gotten lost in the clamor for democracy. This is problematic because, without a strong foundation of pluralism and constitutional liberalism, the apparatus of democracy can easily be hijacked by forces that hardly espouse the liberal values that have, in the Western mind, become transparently conflated with democracy. The fact that liberal constitutional democracy has become the unmarked case for Western pundits serves and most likely will continue to serve, Zakaria points out, as a legitimizing shroud around illiberal democracies' practices. What is problematic is Zakaria's notion of legitimacy: who are we to say whether, to the extent that we find an illiberal democratic regime's actions questionable or worse, that regime is illegitimate? Such pronouncements not only fly in t he face of the democratic orthodoxy, but also dangerously destabilize the props of national sovereignty that comprise the underpinning of the current international system. Democracy, broadly defined, is a mechanism of governance, the participation of a people in the selection of its rulers. Constitutional liberalism, on the other hand, as sketched by thinkers from the Enlightenment onward, is a philosophy of governance, granting the governed a set of inalienable personal freedoms, in addition to ensuring the rule of law and the separation of powers (132). These are quite clearly not the same thing, although they have been bedfellows for some time in the governments of western Europe and North America. Zakari... ...notions of basic liberal rights and freedoms upon other cultures that do not, by necessity, share them all. He takes the almost-insulting stance that people that choose an illiberal government do not know what is good for them, when they may in fact have quite tenable reasons to do so. To further suggest that America and company aim to spread these uniquely Western concepts is further problematic in that to do so could destabilize these countries, or even turn them against the West, surely not a desirable outcome. It is important to recognize that culture plays an important role in the choices people make, including their choice of government. And just as some cultures find nothing wrong with eating termites or belching in public, so too are they entitled to find no problem with illiberality to an extent. As long as they choose it voluntarily, it is their own choice.

Case study in marketing Essay

By the end of your reading, you should be able to answer the following questions: 1. What do you understand by the term Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)? 2. Explain two actions that Amway and its IBOs are currently taking that involve CSR. 3. Analyse the key ingredients in Amway’s CSR strategy. Show how the strategy is designed to translate the vision into practical steps on the ground. 4. Recommend ways in which Amway could enhance and develop its impact on making every child matter. Introduction Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) means businesses and organisations working responsibly and contributing positively to the communities they operate in. It involves working with employees, their families, the local community and society at large to improve their quality of life. Companies that operate in a socially responsible way strengthen their reputations. In business, reputation is everything. It determines the extent to which customers want to buy from you, partners are willing to work with you and your standing in the community. The company  Amway is one of the world’s largest direct sales organisations with over 3 million Independent Business Owners (IBOs) in over 80 markets and territories worldwide. It is a family-owned business with a strong emphasis on family values. Its IBOs are often couples. Many of these are raising families. They therefore have a strong bond with children. These families are more than happy to partner with Amway, who, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility strategy, works with UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund. As a family company, Amway is committed to playing a part in improving the lives of children in need across the globe. In this way, the company is able to show its commitment to the support of global causes. Amway defines a global cause as ‘a social issue affecting many people around the world engaged in a struggle or plight that warrants a charitable  response’. This case study shows how Amway is a business that does more than provide customers with good quality products. It shows the practical realities of Amway’s global commitment and how it plays a key role in the communities in which it operates. Growth and responsibility An understanding of how Amway operates as an organisation gives a clearer picture of the contribution it can make to help children in need across the globe. Amway’s vision is to help people live better lives. It does this every day by providing a low-cost low-risk business opportunity based on selling qualityproducts. What does Amway do? Amway distributes a range of branded products. These products are sold to IBOs worldwide. The IBOs are Amway’s links with consumers and the communities in which they operate. The IBOs are self-employed and are highly motivated. They work within the guidelines of Amway’s Rules of Conduct and Code of Ethics, which are about being honest and responsible in trading. IBOs sell to people that they know or meet. They can introduce others to the Amway business. Typical products that IBOs sell include: personal care – fragrances, body care skin care and cosmetics durables such as cookware and water treatment systems nutrition and wellness products such as food supplements, food and drinks. IBOs play a key part in helping Amway to deliver its Global Cause Programme. In order to give many of the world’s children a chance to live a better life, Amway launched the global One by One campaign for children in 2003. The One by One programme: helps Amway to bring its vision to life declares what the company stands for builds trust and respect in Amway brands establishes Corporate Social Responsibility at a high level. Amway encourages staff and IBOs to support its One by One campaign for children. Since 2001, Amway Europe has been an official partner of UNICEF and has been able to contribute over â‚ ¬2 million (about  £1.4 million). The focus is on supporting  the worldwide ‘Immunisation Plus’ programme. This involves, for example, providing measles vaccines to children across the globe. The ‘Plus’ is about using the vehicle of immunisation to deliver other life-saving services for children. It is about making health systems stronger and promoting activities that help communities and families to improve child-care practices. For example the ‘Plus’ could include providing vitamin A supplements in countries where there is vitamin A deficiency. Since 2001, Amway and its IBOs across Europe have been supporting UNICEF’s child survival programme. The need is great. One out of ten children in Kenya does not live to see its fifth birthday, largely through preventable diseases. Malaria is the biggest killer with 93 deaths per day. Only 58% of children under two are fully immunised. The work of the One by One programme is illustrated by a field trip undertaken by Amway IBOs to Kenya. The IBOs travelled to Kilifi in 2006 to meet children and to find out what the problems are in various communities. They act as champions spreading the message throughout their groups. In Kilifi, the focus is on trying to reach the most vulnerable children and pregnant mothers. The aim is to increase immunisation from 40% to 70%. Other elements of the programme involve seeking to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS to infants. As the Amway organisation grows and prospers, it is able through CSR actions to help communities to grow and prosper too. Developing a strategy A strategy is an organisational plan. Implementing a strategy involves putting that plan into action. In other words a strategy shows how a business will achieve its goals. The strategy thus enables an organisation to turn its values into action. Values are what a company stands for. An important value for Amway is being a caring company. Amway believes in demonstrating this caring approach and this is why it has partnered with UNICEF. All Directors design strategies for the whole of an organisation. Effective strategies involve discussion and communication with others. The views of IBOs are influential in creating strategies for Amway. Amway’s strategies for corporate social responsibility are cascaded through the organisation as shown below. Amway’s Global Cause strategy involves creating responsible plans that make a difference. However, the strategy is flexible. In shaping the strategy, research was carried out to find out which global causes IBOs support. The results showed that many favoured a cause that helped children. There was a clear fit between Amway’s aims to help children and UNICEF’s ‘Immunisation Plus’ programme for children. Objectives From the outset, Amway set out some clear objectives for its strategy. These were to: build loyalty and pride among IBOs and employees enhance Amway’s reputation as a caring organisation  make a real difference to human lives. Child mortality is particularly high in developing countries because of infectious diseases. Many children could still be alive if they had been vaccinated. For under  £12 a child can be vaccinated against these diseases and has a fighting chance to reach adulthood. UNICEF’s world child ‘Immunisation Plus’ programme is a fitting focus for the activities of Amway UK and its IBOs. The UK initiative is part of a European-wide fundraising campaign for children. It recognises the importance of building good working relationships with UNICEF in each market in order to launch fundraising programmes through Amway’s IBOs and their customers. The objective is to raise â‚ ¬500,000 (about  £350,000) every year until 2010 across Amway Europe. In 2005 Amway UK’s partnership was deepened through becoming an official Corporate Partner of UNICEF UK. The Corporate Partnership is a closer longer-term relationship which benefits both partners. Working together the two parties raise money for UNICEF. Identifying stakeholders  Amway’s Corporate Social Responsibility strategy has been developed with the interests of the followingstakeholders in mind: Communicating the strategy  Good, clear communication is essential in making sure that the CSR strategy relates directly to the company business objectives. Communication also helps in putting the strategy into practice. A number of communications media are used: 1. Face-to-face communication: Regular meetings take place between UNICEF, Amway and its IBOs. Through meetings with UNICEF staff, Amway is able to discuss the vision and objectives. It then passes the message on by meeting with IBOs. In 2005 the two organisations arranged a joint briefing day for  IBO Leaders. They were able to hear firsthand experiences from UNICEF staff about their roles and UNICEF’s work as well as where the money goes. 2. Printed material: Amway produces a monthly magazine for all IBOs called Amagram. 3. Public relations materials are also important, particularly at launch events for the initiative (e.g. in Milton Keynes in 2006). 4. Email communication: Email is very important in the company – it plays a significant part in keeping IBOs up-to-date. 5. Online activities: There is a micro-site dedicated to the Amway UK/UNICEF partnership on the UNICEF UK website. Fundraising Amway Europe provides support for fundraising to the extent of â‚ ¬500,000 (about  £350,000) per year through selling items such as: greetings cards multi-cultural gifts and cards stationery and wrapping paper toys for children. However, Amway UK’s support goes well beyond these activities. In addition, it involves staff fundraising events and raffles organised by the IBOs. UNICEF attends IBO major events (usually supported by 1,000 or more IBOs) where requested. A UNICEF stand outlines the work with speakers, literature and merchandise. Conclusion Amway is a family business with family values. Its IBOs are people who want to make a difference to the communities in which they operate and to the wider world community. This is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in action. The clue to Amway’s success is the careful planning of its strategy and its involvement with manystakeholders in getting the strategy right. Of course, it is early days in the latest chapter of a strong relationship between Amway and UNICEF. Evaluation is taking place to measure the success of the initiative in terms of meeting fundraising goals. Customer research is carried out to test customers‘ views on the relationship and to find out how aware the general public is about what Amway is doing in the field of CSR. Sample study questions 1. What do you understand by the term Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)? 2. Explain two actions that Amway and its IBOs are currently taking that involve CSR. 3. Analyse the key ingredients in Amway’s CSR strategy. Show how the strategy is designed to translate the vision into practical steps on the ground. 4. Recommend ways in which Amway could enhance and develop its impact on making every child matter.

Effect of Eating Fast Food Essay

In the past, people in the Jakarta city always ate healthy and fresh food. But today, many people like to eat fast food such as pizza, hamburgers, and fried chicken. Many reasons why people prefer to consume fast food. This essay will explain some negative effects of fast food. There are several reasons why fast food grows quickly in Jakarta. The first reason is changing lifestyles in society. In Jakarta, many people are working in offices or companies. The workers do not have much time to search for food because the working hours are very solid. Advertising is another reason. Jakarta is a big city that through advertising always informs new products to society. For example, internet and television report every day about development of different types of fast food. All of these ads influence people to buy fast food. Moreover, price of fast food is very cheap. Therefore, every day many people buy Hamburger, Pizza and other fast foods. However, fast food has negative effects on the people of Jakarta. The greatest influence is the effect on health. It can be seen from many people in Jakarta became fat because of these foods. As a result, these people will become less productive and have a condition such as heart disease and diabetes. Another consequence of the fast food is losing tradition of eating together with family at home. Now, children and adults rarely eat together at home. As a result, parents and children seldom communicate each other. The next effect is on the economy. Fast food is not too expensive, more expensive when cooking at home; however, all fast food comes from foreign-owned franchise company, so the benefits of these foods for foreigners. In generally, I think that a lot of people consume fast food in Jakarta because of the lifestyle, the influence of advertising, and low prices. However, I believe that these foods have serious consequences in the community such as health problems, loss of traditional family meals, and economic problems. Therefore, people in Jakarta should leave fast food for a better life.

Birthday Wishes and Quotes for Friends

Birthday Wishes and Quotes for Friends Friends make your birthday special. They may not shower you with expensive presents, but their presence makes the celebration complete. Likewise, your friends expect you to shower them with love and attention on their birthdays. Friends Like Unexpected Birthday Surprises On your friends birthday, show your dearest friend how much you care. As long as your surprise does not cause embarrassment, your friend will enjoy being surprised on her birthday. The surprise need not be extravagant. You can throw a surprise birthday party with close friends. Your friend will be touched by your gesture, however big or small.With little investment, come up with creative birthday surprises. You can plan a treasure hunt for your friend, or a picnic at her favorite holiday spot. You can even plan a special trip to a rock concert. Or take her to a karaoke bar, and dedicate a birthday song to your friend. Connect With Friends on Birthdays Birthdays are the perfect occasion to catch up with friends. If your friend has moved to another part of the world, send birthday wishes through text messages or social networking sites. If you have not been in touch with your childhood friends, surprise them by sending them birthday wishes. Everybody loves to be remembered on birthdays. Your birthday wish will come as a pleasant surprise. Also, you can use birthdays as the perfect excuse to befriend someone. Birthday Quotes for Friends Add a Special ZingYou want your gift to stand out in a pile of presents. While it would be foolish to empty your pockets and buy the most expensive presents, you can gift your friend something you hold dear. Or you can gift her a handmade present, such as an engraved handkerchief, or a personalized t-shirt. While choosing a birthday gift, keep your friends preferences in mind. If you are unable to make a choice, simply gift your friend a small present with a happy birthday wish written on it. Your eloquent words can make any gift special. Use these birthday quotes for friends to add that magic touch. Larry LorenzoniBirthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest.Menachem Mendel SchneersonBecause time itself is like a spiral, something special happens on your birthday each year: The same energy that God invested in you at birth is present once again.Edna St. Vincent MillayMy candle burns at both ends; it will not last the night.But, ah, my foes, and, oh, my friends; it gives a lovely light!Robert BraultIn childhood, we yearn to be grown-ups. In old age, we yearn to be kids. It just seems that all would be wonderful if we didnt have to celebrate our birthdays in chronological order.Chili DavisGrowing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.Oscar WildeThirty-five is a very attractive age; London society is full of women who have of their own free choice remained thirty-five for years.E. W. HoweProbably no man ever had a friend that he did not dislike a little.Robert Brault I value the friend who for me finds time on his calendar, but I cherish the friend who for me does not consult his calendar. Margaret Lee RunbeckSilences make the real conversations between friends. Not the saying but the never needing to say is what counts.John LeonardIt takes a long time to grow an old friend.Ralph Waldo EmersonIt is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.Barbara Kingsolver The friend who holds your hand and says the wrong thing is made of dearer stuff than the one who stays away.Elbert HubbardThe friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you.Antoine De Saint-ExuperyThe tender friendships one gives up, on parting, leave their bite on the heart, but also a curious feeling of a treasure somewhere buried.Jean Paul RichterOur birthdays are feathers in the broad wing of time.William ShakespeareWith mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.Chili DavisGrowing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.Cherokee ExpressionWhen you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice .Bishop Richard CumberlandIt is better to wear out than to rust out. John LennonCount your life by smiles, not tears,Count your age by friends, not years.W. C. FieldsStart every day with a smile and get it over with.Bob HopeYou know you are getting old when the candles cost more than the cake.Samuel UllmanYears may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.William W. PurkeyYou’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching,Love like you’ll never be hurt,Sing like there’s nobody listening,And live like it’s heaven on earth.Markus Zusak, I am the Messenger Sometimes people are beautiful. Not in looks. Not in what they say. Just in what they are.George Harrison All the world is birthday cake, so take a piece, but not too much.Mae WestYou only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.Ralph Waldo EmersonTo laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends. To apprecia te beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.Ralph Waldo EmersonIt is not the length of life, but the depth.Maya AngelouLet gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.Martin BuxbaumSome people, no matter how old they get, never lose their beauty- they merely move it from their faces into their hearts.Elizabeth Cady StantonThe heyday of a womans life is the shady side of fifty.

Crimson Craving †My Fascination with Vampires

Crimson Craving – My Fascination with Vampires Free Online Research Papers Crimson Craving Blood sucker. Leach. Succubus. Cold one. They have been called many names. They have remained a mystery for many years. Songs have been written about them. Many movies have been made about them. Vampires are one of the many mysterious entities that have been of great interest for as long as I can remember. Every time a new movie comes out about them, a new curiosity is sparked and a fad is reborn. However, one of the movies recently made from a popular novel about vampires has become one of the most popular of all time, and has three more parts in its saga. A plethora of memorabilia was created about Twilight. It quickly became a hit. It is definitely a popular culture of the current times. If you were alive in November 2008 when the movie came out, you witnessed the craze. If you did not witness it and you were alive, then you must have been hiding under a rock somewhere. My fascination with Twilight grew from a fascination with vampires I have had for many years. I have seen Interview With a Vampire, the myriad of remakes of Dracula, and even watch television series’ about vampires, such as True Blood. I can remember listening to a song by Sarah McLachlan over and over that she wrote about vampires called â€Å"Building a Mystery†. The lyrics that most interested me were, â€Å"You come out at night. That’s when the energy comes. And the dark side’s light, and the vampires roam†¦..You’re so careful when I’m in your arms† (McLachlan, 1997, track 1). Twilight put a whole new twist on everything I had already been intrigued by for so many years. Twilight, written by Stephenie Meyer in 2005, came to the theater in November 2008. I had already read the book, actually all four of them. This was a must see for me. I have been deeply intrigued by vampires for quite some time. So many aspects about them beckon to me to research and learn all I can about them. I have seen countless movies about vampires. Twilight swept them all away. The way vampires were presented as being so graceful, depicts them to be more than vicious, blood thirsty beasts as they have been portrayed. They are graceful and careful creatures, almost â€Å"feline-like† in their demeanor, as Meyer referred to them numerous times throughout the series’ (Meyer, 2005). Twilight was an addiction of mine, as well as the other three novels in the saga, to the point of reading at a stop light just to be able to get in a few more pages. It was so exciting and I wanted to be Bella Swan, the main female character. The characters being made to seem so real captivated me also. By the time you see the movie, you feel as if you know them. Meyer describes them in such detail that you get a mental picture which is justified upon viewing the movie. They are all described as so astonishingly beautiful, â€Å"I stared because their faces, so different, so similar, were all devastatingly, inhumanly beautiful. They were faces you never expected to see except perhaps on the airbrushed pages of a fashion magazine.† (Meyer, 2005, p. 19.) Twilight starring so many beautiful male characters did not hinder my addiction either. As many other females, and probably males alike, I fell for Edward Cullen, the main male character, and his romanticism. I wanted to meet someone like him. I wanted to be swept off my feet by him like he did Bella. I wanted to feel like he made her feel. Bella’s character is one that every young female can relate to. Meyer does an excellent job epitomizing how it feels to be falling in love. Everything about this book and movie enthralled me. Twilight displays many theories that we have discussed in class. The most outstanding are controlling images, life chances, and the Theory of Socialization, or Looking Glass Self. Bella and Edward were from two different worlds; Bella is human and Edward is not. This alone implicated many sociological theories. Vampires are rarely portrayed as kind or gentle. They are stereotyped as blood thirsty monsters that kill at will. This is an example of a controlling image. Since vampires are looked upon as bad creatures, the good creatures of the world, humans, have maimed their image. We are taught to fear vampires. Meyer works with that theory and tries to make Edward out to be a good, caring, warm, and loving partner for Bella. As Meyer does describe his hunts in the book, he is very tender when Bella is around. When he has to attack, he gets very embarrassed and ashamed and does not want Bella to fear him. The Looking Glass Self theory is definitely one that is used in Twilight. Cooley theorized that the impression of our self roots from two reasons: â€Å"by ones actual experiences and by what one imagines others ideas of oneself to be† (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009). Because of the image society has on vampires, Edward is insecure and embarrassed and feels like he is a monster. Because the idea behind vampires is so negative, no matter how much good Edward does in the world, he will always be damaged due to this theory. The image that has been given to vampires is directly reflected back on how Edward sees himself; he does not see himself as a beautiful, gentle, loving man. Edward asks Bella â€Å"You don’t care if I’m a monster? If I’m not human?† (Meyer, 2005, p. 184). The way Meyer has presented him to us is just the opposite of how he views himself. Max Weber introduces the theory of life chances in which an individual is given opportunities to improve their life (Marshall, 1998). Bella sees becoming a vampire as an opportunity to not only permanently be with the man she loves, but also not to ever grow old. Bella’s biggest fear is that she will age and Edward will not love her anymore. Meyer presents Bella with an opportunity to obtain that forever young status. However, Edward sees that chance as a negative one as Bella will have to give up so much of her life. He sees staying mortal as a life chance and tries to dissuade Bella from desiring to become a monster, like him. Edward tells Bella, â€Å"So ready for this to be the end. For this to be the twilight of your life, though your life has barely started. You’re ready to give up everything† (Meyer, 2005, p. 497). Edward wishes he could have that chance at life again. He tells Bella â€Å"I don’t want to be a monster.† (Meyer, p 187). This t heory applies to both main characters, but in opposite ways. The values of a culture often mirror its suggestion about what is right, good, fair, and just. American values mimic this. These values vary among groups within a culture. Bella was caught in the realm of her own values and trying to fit into life with Edward. It was a constant battle for her to accomplish this. Some of the values that were exposed in Twilight were responsibility, accountability, competition, moralism, individualism, external conformity, and youth orientation. The main characters were in constant battle within themselves to adhere to these values. Both Edward and Bella show that they value responsibility throughout Twilight. Bella’s responsibility is shown when she becomes concerned for the safety of her mortal family after getting caught in the middle of an ongoing vampire feud. She fears that the â€Å"bad† vampires will go after her family to get to her. Edward in turn feels a responsibility to keep her safe, since he feels like he got her caught up in the first place. Edward also shows responsibility in their relationship. He knows how physically strong he is and that his powers are superhuman; he knows he could really hurt Bella if he is not extremely careful. He tries to warn her that their relationship could be catastrophic. At one point in the book, he tells her, â€Å"It’s better if we’re not friends. Trust me.† (Meyer, 2005, p. 74). He practices caution at all times when he is handling her. Then again later on he warns her that, â€Å"Sometimes I have a problem with my temper, Bel la† (Meyer, 2005, p. 164) and also tells her that her â€Å"number was up the first time I met you† (Meyer, 2005, p. 175). Showing responsibility for someone you love is a value that we learn early on in life. The two main characters also take accountability for their actions, which is another American value represented in Twilight. Bella and Edward know what they are possibly getting themselves into when they begin a relationship between a mortal and an immortal. They also come to understand the consequences of Bella knowing that Edward is a vampire and the repercussions that could arise, and do later on in the series, from knowing this. Not once in the movie or book did either of them try to place the blame on someone else for their relationship. This shows that accountability was a value to the writer. It teaches us that we are responsible for our own decisions and it shows us that we have to be accountable for what may come of those decisions at any cost. The one value that Bella and Edward always were faced with was competition. Bella felt like she may have to compete for Edward’s attention with any female vampire who should come along. She also felt like she had competition in her face with Edward’s sister Rosalie, who is absolutely beautiful and was originally supposed to be Edward’s mate. Even though Edward truly only had eyes for Bella, she still felt like she had to compete to win his affection. Edward also felt like he had to compete with boys who were more like Bella. Edward could not participate in everything that â€Å"normal† teenagers do since his strength was overpowering, his skin was ice cold, he does not eat or drink or need sleep, and can not go in the sun; he could not risk being found out so he opted out of many activities. He also felt like he could never reveal his true self to Bella, so she might find herself feeling closer to someone else that opened up to her. This made him feel inse cure and like he had to compete. Most of us have felt like we had to compete for the attention of someone or to get something we want in life, so this value being depicted in the movie made it extremely easy to relate to. Moralism is another American value Meyer displays in Twilight. Many Americans tend to be moralists who view the world through the lens of right or wrong and are therefore quick to judge. Obviously being with a vampire who kills as a way of life and to exist is going to disagree with the value of moralism in many ways. Bella fought with this once she figured out that Edward was a vampire. None of her friends or family could ever know of this because she feared that she would be judged. She loved him from the very beginning and wanted to do the right thing. Edward did too. He would have never wanted anything bad to happen to Bella, so moralism played a part in every decision they made in regard to being together. We take on the issue of moralism in every day life every time we are trying to make a decision, big or small, since our actions ultimately affect more than just ourselves. We ponder on if the choice we are about to make is morally right or wrong and what society will think ab out us. The next American value I think was symbolized in Twilight was individualism, which is defined as â€Å"belief in the primary importance of the individual and in the virtues of self-reliance and personal independence† (Merriam-Webster online). Bella needed to hold onto her individualism and still be able to be a part of Edward’s world. She wanted to still be able to fit in with her friends which meant she needed to keep a part of her individualism alive. However, Edward valued this more so than did Bella for herself. Edward was very afraid that Bella would lose herself and be disappointed later in life if she became one of him. Edward had been mortal at one time in his life, though very long ago, and did not want Bella to regret losing her individuality. As humans, as much as we try to convert and mesh with someone else’s lifestyle, it is very important for us to remain an individual. Along the same lines as moralism, external conformity was one of the most prominent values portrayed in Twilight. As we struggle to fit in throughout our lives, Americans believe in conformity to group patterns. Bella wanted to fit in with her friends who were dating amongst each other and doing all the teenage activities. She wanted to conform and fit in so she could feel normal. She also wanted to conform to the way of life that her beloved Edward lived. However, these two worlds clashed and she could never safely do both. Therefore, Bella struggled with the value of external conformity and never really mastered it. The one value that was shown time and time again in Twilight was youth orientation. Bella was not like Edward and his family. They were hundreds of years old and still described as â€Å"the most beautiful people she had ever seen† (Meyer, 2005, pp. 18-19). It was made apparent to Bella early on that she was aging and she would never be able to keep up with Edward’s youthful beauty. She tells him, â€Å"I may not die now†¦ but I am going to die sometime. Every minute of the day I get closer. And I am going to get old.† (Meyer, 2005, p. 476). Americans are constantly reminded by popular culture messages that it is more appealing to stay young at all costs, and that old is ugly. Bella’s biggest fear was that Edward would no longer find her attractive when she started to age, although he constantly reminded her that this would never happen. Bella had nightmares about growing old and Edward no longer being interested in her. She is consumed with not aging and keeping her youth alive. Youth orientation is a major value for Bella, as she is the only mortal among the accepting Cullen family. This pop culture phenomenon has caused controversy. Many people refused to read the books or see the movie because vampires are considered demonic and evil. Another issue I have heard or read is that society worries if being in love with a vampire is healthy, that it is giving young tweens false hope and a distorted sense of reality. I do believe that the book sold many more copies than many other books by long time famous authors and continues to, so this could cause some envy of other authors. I have not heard anything in the news or tabloid other than that people were disappointed that the movie did not give as much to us as the book did; I agree. This is probably not a controversy, but may cause people to be reluctant on seeing the next movies in the saga. It did, however get major media attention due to its overwhelming popularity. The truth about Twilight is that is very popular. When one reads it, one gets captivated and wants to read more and continue on reading the next book and the next book and the next book. It is known world wide. When the movie came out, it was all about â€Å"team Edward† or â€Å"team Jacob†. There were countless posters and t-shirts and bags and blankets that boasted the characters, usually Bella and Edward†¦..you name it, they made it. It was more than a movie and a book. It was something that most young people, especially females, could easily relate to. As a young female, most of us fall for the wrong person, a bad boy, the one from the wrong side of the tracks. It is addicting. Although it was geared towards young readers, it did not stop there; people of all ages read it. It swept across our country as well as others and soon became the talk of the town. Everywhere I went, I heard blurbs about the book and how excited people were to see the movie. Twilight an d its books to follow, entranced many generations and is definitely a popular culture phenomenon that will be remembered as one of the most popular series of novels. References American values. Retrieved from aboutsociology.com/sociology/Value on June 25, 2009. Cooley, Charles Horton. (2009). In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved June 28, 2009, from Encyclopedia Britannica Online: http://search.eb.com/eb/article-9026130 Gordon, M. life-chances. A Dictionary of Sociology. 1998. Retrieved June 26, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: encyclopedia.com/doc/1O88-lifechances.html McLachlan, S. (1997). Building a Mystery. On Surfacing CD. Arista Records. Meyer, S. (2005). Twilight. New York: Little, Brown and Company. www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/individualism retrieved on June 26 2009. Research Papers on Crimson Craving - My Fascination with VampiresWhere Wild and West MeetTwilight of the UAWHip-Hop is ArtThe Fifth HorsemanAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug Use19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfDefinition of Export Quotas

What Is GPA What Does GPA Mean

What Is GPA What Does GPA Mean SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Many students get very hung up on GPA in high school - is it high enough? Will it pass muster in college admissions? What does your GPA even mean? In this article, I’ll go through what GPA is, what GPA means, and how it can help or hurt you in the college admissions process. What Is GPA? Let’s start with the basics!Your GPA is just a way of converting your grades into a numerical scale.The grades that you receive in your high school classes are all averaged together to arrive at one cumulative grade, which is then converted into your GPA.The traditional GPA scale ranges from 0.0 to 4.0. Here’s a conversion chart that shows all the possible GPAs and their corresponding letter grades and percentiles: Letter Grade Percentile GPA A+ 97-100 4.0 A 93-96 4.0 A- 90-92 3.7 B+ 87-89 3.3 B 83-86 3.0 B- 80-82 2.7 C+ 77-79 2.3 C 73-76 2.0 C- 70-72 1.7 D+ 67-69 1.3 D 65-66 1.0 F Below 65 0.0 This 4.0 scale is for unweighted GPAs.Some schools may get even more specific with GPAs if grades are given on a scale of 0-100 and not just as letters. For example, a student with a 90 average in all of her classes would have a 3.5 GPA and a student with a 92 average would have a 3.7 GPA. At many schools, GPAs go up higher than 4.0 because they use a weighted scale.A weighted GPA takes into account the difficulty of a student’s coursework, not just their grades.For example, a student who gets all As in lower level classes will earn a 4.0, while a student who gets all As in the most challenging classes will earn a 5.0. Different high schools have different standards for what counts as a "challenging" course, but this usually means AP classes if your school offers them or Honors classes if not. Colleges use GPA as a measure of your engagement in learning and willingness to work hard to meet academic standards and expand your knowledge.GPA is very important because it provides a comprehensive look at your academic strengths and weaknesses and ability to challenge yourself.GPA and standardized test scores are given relatively equal consideration in the application processes for most schools.At schools that don’t require standardized test scores, GPA takes on an even more critical role in your application. How Much Can GPA Help or Hurt You? High school GPA is one of the most important factors considered in the college admissions process. A high GPA (in the 3.5 to 4.0 or A range) can really help you, but it depends on the circumstances. Your High GPA Will Be a Big Asset If: You Earned It in High-Level Classes Above all, colleges want to see that you're willing to challenge yourself intellectually.If you managed to earn a high GPA while taking difficult courses, this will show them that you’re both intelligent and driven.Even if you took easier classes at the beginning of high school and then went on to take more challenging ones later,your course record will demonstrate that you're engaged in learning and willing to push yourself. Your Standardized Test Scores are Just OK If you aren't a great test taker and didn’t get awesome scores on the SAT or ACT, your GPA will help you to rise above the crowd despite this.More and more schools are starting to see GPA is a more reliable metric than standardized tests for judging academic potential.A high GPA shows determination over time and is the most reliable indicator of a student’s ability to ultimately graduate college. Your GPA Stands out from Other Students in Your Class If very few other students at your school achieved a GPA similar to yours, this indicates that you were willing to go above and beyond to get high grades in difficult classes. Your High GPA Won't Matter As Much If: You Earned It in Easy Classes You may have a 4.0, but if you took the easiest classes available to get it, colleges won’t look as favorably upon your application.If you think about it, it makes a lot of sense - colleges are looking for students who are willing to apply themselves and make full use of the resources they're given.If you just go for the easy A, you won't make a good impression. Your Standardized Test Scores Are Very Low Even if you earn a very high GPA, if your standardized test scores are average or below average, you might have problems.This is still one of the most important factors colleges consider besides GPA, so you shouldn't take these tests lightly.If you study diligently, you should be able to boost your scoreseven if you don’t consider yourself a great test taker. Many Other Students Have Similar GPAs If your GPA doesn’t stand out from the pack, this points to grade inflation at your high school (high grades for work that might not fully deserve them).This is a problem at many schools, and is really frustrating for students who are high-achieving but can’t stand out because of low standards.This might not be as much as a problem as the other factors because admissions officers will know whether or not your school has this issue and will take it into account when looking at your record.It may mean an increased emphasis on standardized test scores, so you should work on improving your scores if you grade inflation is a concern. "YOU get a 4.0 GPA! And YOU get a 4.0 GPA! You all get 4.0 GPAs!!!!" Now let's look at the other side of things. With a low GPA (anywhere below the national average of a 3.0), you might think you’re out of luck, but that’s not necessarily true. Though it may be difficult to get into very selective schools, colleges will consider other factors in their admissions decisions as well. Your Low GPA Might Not Be a Huge Problem If: It’s Above a 2.0 As long as your GPA is higher than a 2.0, there will be some colleges where you have a good chance of acceptance. If it's below a 2.0 it will be very hard to get into most schools. You Did Well on Standardized Tests As I mentioned earlier, standardized tests are the most important thing colleges will consider apart from your GPA.If you do extremely well, they will be more likely to give you a chance despite your low GPA.Studying for standardized tests and improving your scores is much easier than improving your GPA, so if your GPA isn’t where you want it to be, try to focus on score improvement to get the most bang for your buck in the college admissions process. You Challenged Yourself If your GPA is on the lower side, but you earned it in difficult classes or challenged yourself more and more over the course of high school, colleges will take this into account.Your GPA itself is less important than the road you took to get there. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. Can GPA Be Improved? It's difficult to improve your GPA because it's the average of all your grades over the course of high school. If you end up with a C average your freshman year, for example, you could technically bring it up to a B+ average by the end of your junior year if you earned A averages during your sophomore and junior years. If you have a C average for both your freshman and sophomore years, the best you'll be able to do is a B- because the Cs from the first two years of high school will bring down your average so much. That's not to mention that going from a C average to an A average in all classes is not something that most people can manage since it requires such a drastic change in study habits and motivation. That being said,if you’re only in the first half of high school, you still have a fair amount of time to make some changes and show colleges a trend towards better grades. You Can Improve Your GPA By: Asking for Extra Help This is always a smart choice if you feel yourself falling behind in a class.As soon as you start to struggle, ask for clarification so you don’t end up getting totally lost.You might just need things to be explained a different way! Reassessing Your Study Habits Your problems may also be related to procrastination of lack of studying.These bad habits are difficult to change, but it’s really important to step back and fix fundamental problems like this that are holding you back before they get out of hand. Challenging Yourself More This may seem paradoxical, and I would only advocate it if you have a very good GPA in low level classes.Your GPA will look better to colleges if you work harder for it, so you should be proactive about pursuing more challenging coursework.Even if your grades end up slightly lower, moving up a level shows that you were willing to push yourself outside your comfort zone for a more productive learning experience. On the flip side of this, if you're in a situation where a class is extremely difficult for you and your grades are unsalvageable, you should consider dropping it so that you don't end up with an F on your transcript. If it’s already your junior year and you don’t have much time left to make improvements, you should focus more on standardized testing. With a few months of dedicated studying, you can significantly raise your scores and increase your chances of college admission.The main thing for GPA is to start out strong and finish up stronger; with the way averages work, it’s hard to make significant changes later on. Earning a good GPA is like running a cross country race. It's pretty painful and you have to maintain a strong pace throughout, but in the end it's worth it because of the sense of accomplishment. Yes, I used to run cross country, and yes, it was the worst. Conclusion A regular unweighted GPA is measured on a scale of 0 to 4.0.Your GPA may be weighted, which means it goes up higher (usually up to a 5.0 but some schools have an even bigger scale).Weighted GPAs take course difficulty into account apart from grades so that students in high level classes earn GPAs that reflect the difficulty of the courses they take.College admissions officers will use your GPA to judge whether you are prepared for college coursework and are truly engaged in learning. Your GPA can help you a lot in college admissions if it’s in the A range, or above a 3.5, but that often depends on the difficulty of your coursework, your class rank, and the quality of your standardized test scores.If your GPA is especially low, focus on improving your standardized test scores and make an effort to bring up your grades by asking for help and fixing any bad habits you’ve fallen into.Your GPA is one of the most crucial aspects of your college application, so if you feel like things aren’t going well in your classes, speak up! What's Next? Working on raising your standardized test scores alongside your GPA? Take a look at some of our best tips for the SAT and the ACT. Your GPA is one of the most important components of your college application, but there are also a lot of other things you should consider if you're aiming for the best schools in the country. Find out how you can increase your chances of acceptance at very selective schools. If you're starting to look at colleges, check out this guide on how to choose schools that are right for you! Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Conflict Resolution at General Hospital Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Conflict Resolution at General Hospital - Essay Example In the case of General Hospital, the conflict was intergroup, pitting the CEO Mr. Mike Hammer and Marge Harding, the chief operating office on one hand and, the director of medicine Doctor Williams and the company’s physicians on the other (WordPress.com, 2011). There are various sub-categories of intergroup conflicts including those among teams, divisions, departments, employees, and management. In the conflict at General Hospital, while physicians were more interested in the correct and timely readings of the EKG and proper diagnosis of patients, the CEO and the operating officer were more concerned with cutting costs. This paper thus explores the conflict at General Hospital, touching on the management style employed to resolve the stalemate. In addition, the possible use of teams and negotiation skills to resolve the conflict are also discussed. The Conflict at General Hospital Some years back, renovation activities at the General Hospital led to a drop in the number of pa tients admitted at the Hospital. Consequently, bed occupancy went down by about 65% (WordPress.com, 2011). The other effect of the renovation exercise at the General Hospital besides the dropped occupancy was a rise in the number of Medicaid and Medicare patients. In other words, the number of patients under private health insurance covers dropped, implying that General Hospital could not make profits from attending to patients with private health insurance covers (WordPress.com, 2011). Realizing the hospital was on the verge of failing to obtain its objectives and remain profitable, the CEO, Mr. Mike Hammer decided to implement certain changes, which he thought would stabilize the hospital. The first option to Hammer was to cut costs and increase the Company’s revenues. In addition, Hammer intended to initiate changes that would ensure the hospital retained its current services and even expanded into new areas. To implement these strategies, Hammer hired one Marge Harding, e mpowering her to make crucial decisions such as the firing of the hospital’s employees, more so those serving under the at-will employment status (WordPress.com, 2011). The first opinion of Harding’s was that the electrocardiogram (EKG) readings could be done electronically. Therefore, according to Harding, a physician was not needed to read the EKG. In fact, she suggested that at least $100,000 could be saved by computerizing the reading of the EKG. After the installation of the new equipment for EKG proposed by Harding and the training of EKG technicians, the physician, a Doctor James Boyer, was informed that his services were no longer needed at the General Hospital (WordPress.com, 2011). Harding’s plans soon started to flop as EKG’s arrived late, cases of misdiagnoses increased, and the staff became irritated as they looked incompetent, making them feel that Dr. Boyer was rather important and was needed at the facility. Nonetheless, Harding completely ignored these complaints from the General Hospital’s staff. Therefore, the main conflict at the General Hospital pitted cost control and management against physician agreement. To realize any positive results from his cost reduction strategies and policies, Mr. Hammer had to win over the physicians making up his staff. This was just another of the instances and incidence in which

English 10 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

English 10 - Essay Example For example, Putzer and Park (16) document how healthcare practitioners use smartphones to attend to their patients at whatever time and whatever location thus save lives. The extended information processing functionalities of smartphones as documented by Osman et al. (275) enables the phone to be used to detect any dangers to human life such as earthquakes as discussed by Riley-Smith, thus improve on human safety. Finally, smartphones have improved on the economy of communities by creating job opportunities for application developers and providing a larger market for mobile devices as statistically documented by Evans. Albeit various researchers have pointed out the benefits accruing from the smartphone technology, there has been criticism on the negative impact of this technology to the society. According to Cornell, high cost, distraction, typing difficulty and compromised data security are among the limitations of smartphones. Putzer and Park (16) cite users’ discontent wi th smaller screen sizes of smartphones which jeopardizes readability. According to Ullman, the Internet has created â€Å"a world of little wordless pictograms† (640). ... The Internet has indeed transformed the use of mobile devices, allowing for versatility and portability. Smartphones, particularly, provide the capability to check emails, manage social accounts and surf the Internet as noted by Ismail et al., thus allowing users to continue with their tasks wherever they go. However, Ullman (642) considers this as a killer to the art of communication in communities as users would be engaged on such activities most of the time. Whereas men have majorly been considered as being attracted to technology, Ismail et al. in their studies find out smartphone technology to be more popular among female healthcare practitioners. Thus, this technology could be said to be popular across genders. Its popularity keeps rising with Evans projecting sales of over a billion smartphones in 2013.With a constant upgrade of its capabilities, smartphones will continue taking over markets initially dominated by other mobile computing devices such as tablets. Works Cited Cor nell, Scott. â€Å"Disadvantages of Smart Phones.† The Chron. Web. 5 Oct. 2013. http://smallbusiness.chron.com/disadvantages-smart-phones-54076.html Evans, Benedict. â€Å"Smartphones are Eating the World.† Infographics n.d. Web. 5 Oct. 2013. Ismail, W. K. W., et al. â€Å"Acceptance of Smartphone in Enhancing Patient-Caregivers Relationship.† Journal of Technology Management & Innovation 17.3 (2012). Web. 5 Oct. 2013. Osman, M. A., et al. â€Å"A Study of the Trend of Smartphone and its Usage Behavior in Malaysia.† International Journal on New Computer Architectures and Their Applications 2.1 (2012): 274 – 285. Putzer,

Does totalitarianism rise out of the shadow of Liberty and Democracy Essay

Does totalitarianism rise out of the shadow of Liberty and Democracy - Essay Example Totalitarianism is defined as the autocratic tyrannical rule of one, who assumes indefinite powers with respect to all subjects governed. Democracy has typically been defined as the rule of majority, where all individuals are considered equal by law, all having equal say in their governance. Liberty, on the other hand, means the freedom of people with respect to religion, speech, property etc. and it has been traditionally affiliated with Democracy, theoretically and practically absent in Totalitarianism. But history holds evidence that Totalitarianism indeed stems from Democratic and Liberal forms of the government – a fact in spite of the contradictory theories. Writers all across the globe have written innumerable articles on this subject, and people continue to deliberate on the linkage between Democracy and Totalitarianism. Indeed, thinkers have continually predicted the collapse of Democracy into Totalitarianism since the beginning of governance. It is said that a Democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It only exists till the time voters realize they have voted themselves out of treasuries which collapse due to lose fiscal policies, and Democracy is always followed by dictatorship (Tyler, 1970). This clearly implies that early contemplators clearly predicted this vicious cycle whereby Democracy will lead to Totalitarianism or Monarchy. Tyler had summed up the history of governments of the past two centuries, which clearly depict this phenomenon. Also, some people have recognized this cycle in slightly different way. Some believe the founders of government types knew how Liberty (0% government and 100% liberty) could span into Anarchy and consequently into Totalitarianism (100% government and 0% liberty). The cycle of democracy in this case is recognized as Democracy leading to Socialism, Socialism leading to Fascism, which in turn leads to Totalitarianism

Special needs- children Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Special needs- children - Essay Example By this system the people who were excluded will be reached and will be provided with a safe and comfortable environment, in which they will grow all together leaning cooperation. I belief true inclusion provides an opportunity to the children and youth with special needs to develop a sense of belongingness through nurturing relationship outside their family, acquiring the knowledge of support system and access to community. The children without special need can also benefit from this inclusion by getting acquainted to the atmosphere of value diversity. Previously the schools did not address the issue of varied learning style for the children instead they have one size fit for all curriculum that did not included the children with special need. To change this and to promote inclusion special education legislation and research has developed special services that will provide service and placement to all students regardless of their disability. Inclusion of special need children is a very controversial topic but my personal experience says that it leads to a substantial affect on the upbringing of a child. On this note I would like to share one of my personal e xperiences, which makes me belief like this. One of my friend’s son was suffering from Partial Autism. Though he was fine in communication but he lack some of the normal communications like he used to repeat the same sentence again and again. Whatever his parents said he didn’t paid attention towards them instead he did things as per his own wish. My friend consulted many doctors but there was no improvement. He got him admitted to a school where inclusion was followed. It worked as a miracle. He has now got his own friend circle, which makes him learn the normal ways of talking, playing and writing. He gets the feel of the normal society which he was devoid of before. He has now become more confident than before. Now he has started listening to his parents and follows their instructions. I

Flag-Draped Coffins from Iraq Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Flag-Draped Coffins from Iraq - Essay Example Whatever the costs of this war, however gruesome its details; the American people should know the real cost of this war. The Bush administration claims that its decision to forbid news organization from publishing pictures of war dead at military bases is not new. It argues that this has been the policy of administrations since the first Gulf War in 1991. The purpose of this decision it claims is to protect the feelings of the families of the victims. Scott McClellan the White House press secretary had stated that those who had made the greatest sacrifice in the service of the country should be honored and shown the greatest respect. And this she said is the president's primary concern. The administration Kathy Moakler, deputy director of government relations at the National Military Family Association, emphasized that the only purpose in banning publication of pictures of military dead being brought back to the country was to protect the privacy of the families who had lost a loved one. "At the devastating time [of loss], being sensitive to the families is what needs to be done," she said. (Madore) Another reason the administration cited for its objection to the publication of pictures of war-dead, was that this would be depressing to the families involved and attenuate the sacrifice our troops are making in the service of the country. The administration also stated that its objection to the publication by news agencies of photographs of flag-draped coffins was in keeping with the sentiments of the mourning families. It claimed that such publication invariably led to the invasion of the privacy of these families. The News Media Has its Own Conviction The news media has its own conviction. It is of the view that the American public has the prerogative to also know the cost of this war in terms of American lives. Besides the Freedom of Information Act of 1966, gives the American public the right to information relating to the operations of federal agencies. 3 It reasons that reporters in the actual field of battle are given unbridled access to the war. This being the case, it claims that the administration's ban on the publication of photographs of war-dead is its attempt to censor crucial war images. The news media claims that the policy of administrations on such matters has not been consistent. And in support of this it cites the instance of President H. W. Bush allowing media coverage of war-dead being brought back home from Panama and other wars in which the US was involved, but banned it during the first Gulf war. It also states that in 2000 the Clinton administration allowed publication of photographs of the victims of the terrorist attack on the warship USS Cole. It contends that the ban of 1991 was the consequence of some TV networks simultaneously airing split screen images of the then-president laughing in one portion, and coffin ceremonies of Gulf war I, in another. This time around the imposition of the ban on photograph publication was the Government's desire for secrecy. The news media contends that pictures of dead servicemen were being published as "a

Special needs- children Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Special needs- children - Essay Example By this system the people who were excluded will be reached and will be provided with a safe and comfortable environment, in which they will grow all together leaning cooperation. I belief true inclusion provides an opportunity to the children and youth with special needs to develop a sense of belongingness through nurturing relationship outside their family, acquiring the knowledge of support system and access to community. The children without special need can also benefit from this inclusion by getting acquainted to the atmosphere of value diversity. Previously the schools did not address the issue of varied learning style for the children instead they have one size fit for all curriculum that did not included the children with special need. To change this and to promote inclusion special education legislation and research has developed special services that will provide service and placement to all students regardless of their disability. Inclusion of special need children is a very controversial topic but my personal experience says that it leads to a substantial affect on the upbringing of a child. On this note I would like to share one of my personal e xperiences, which makes me belief like this. One of my friend’s son was suffering from Partial Autism. Though he was fine in communication but he lack some of the normal communications like he used to repeat the same sentence again and again. Whatever his parents said he didn’t paid attention towards them instead he did things as per his own wish. My friend consulted many doctors but there was no improvement. He got him admitted to a school where inclusion was followed. It worked as a miracle. He has now got his own friend circle, which makes him learn the normal ways of talking, playing and writing. He gets the feel of the normal society which he was devoid of before. He has now become more confident than before. Now he has started listening to his parents and follows their instructions. I

State and Society in 20th Century China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

State and Society in 20th Century China - Essay Example s made it possible â€Å"to fight corruption, remove superfluous political intrusion in the economy and launch the rule of law, democratic culture and democratic institutions† (Li, 2003). Deng’s policy made a great emphasis on correct organizational line. His ideas made policy of China well-structured and coherent. He took into account experiences of previous years under guidance of Mao. Deng insisted that this politician had a lot of achievements and though he had mistakes in his policy, the first and foremost were his advances. Thus Deng was guided by concept of socialism: â€Å"The ends justify the means.† Further on Deng made out a perfect unification of Communist Party strategies and Chinese cultural issues. â€Å"Socialism with Chinese characteristics† was of his primary concern (Gittings, 2005). An open policy, integration of Four Cardinal principles (following path of socialism, support of the dictatorship of the proletariat, guidance by the Communist Party and Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought) political and economic reforms signified Deng’s policy (Gittings, 2005). His policy had two basic poles: socialist democracy development and intensification of socialist legal system (Gittings, 2005). A holistic approach to changes made Deng-era a landmark in Chinese history. On the basis of crucial role of leadership and through strategic directions of economic reforms led to totalitarian regime of the country. If to sum up his political reforms, they were as follows: innovations of state apparatus, development of incentives among working class people. He claimed on delegation of power from governmental level to lower levels and further cooperation on all power levels. Deng’s policy made a great emphasis on correct organizational line. His ideas made policy of China well-structured and coherent. Of course, his political incentives were hard to be embodied to the fullest extent, thus it required a complex political approach. Economic system has also

Self Forgiveness Essay Example for Free

Self Forgiveness Essay Research on Self- Forgiveness is a topic that does not have much information, but the research known on this topic makes a distinction of the theoretical analysis of self-forgiveness is offer. In the recent years more questions has surface about interpersonal forgiveness, however intrapersonal and self-forgiveness has received little attention. Self forgiveness, interpersonal forgiveness, and pseudo forgiveness is a theoretical model that is use to explain the difference amongst the three forgiveness. Self-forgiveness can be found in social science literature. In this philosophy it explain how it necessary to have good-will toward self during the process of one self- forgiveness A person has who has offend must be able to accentuate self-love and respect in the face of one’s own wrong doing to be able to truly forgive someone and refrain from hurting someone else. The offender must recognize severe things and be willing to go through all the stages no matter how painful it is to assure true forgiveness, which should restore his self respect. In self-forgiveness restoration must be part of the process. There are three stages: Holmgren (1998); first, self-forgiveness, requires an objective fault or wrongdoing; second, negative feelings triggered by this offense must overcome; and third, an internal acceptance of oneself must be achieved. The psychology literature stated that self-forgiveness is when a person is willing to accept what he or she has done wrong to others, while still showing love and compassion to one self. Self-forgiveness can use a model called the uncovering phase where the individual goes through different cycles, which involves (denial, guilt, shame), decision phases is when a person has a change of heart. Work phase is self awareness comparison and the finally outcome for the offender which is to find a meaning or purpose to life. Self-forgiveness 3 Self-forgiveness has a set of motivation for the offender which helps them with the process of being able to avoid stimuli with the offense this process of self-forgiveness has begun. As for forgiveness avoidance is direct toward the victim’s thoughts, feeling and situation associated with moving to the next step with forgiveness avoidance. When this is achieved the person becomes at peace with his or her behavior and its consequences. When using the self-forgiveness and interpersonal forgiveness model it help the offender with retaliation and benevolence issue to be able to reconcile with oneself. Interpersonal forgiveness focuses upon the harm of the victims. An offender may try to avoid the negativity thoughts, feeling and behavior that can happen without forgiveness to the victim. If the offender does not accomplish this task when dealing with the transgressor this type of behavior may surface. This may also result in a self- estrangement or self destruction. Self-forgiveness 4 Forgiveness is one of the subjects that come up at my job and everyday conversation all the time for either the offender or the victims. This article concentrates on forgiveness and suggests that there are several ways that the process must be done to be successful for client. I do believe that it takes a lot of effort and hard work to truly forgive oneself for harming another human being. I believe that you must forgive yourself before you can forgive the transgressor. I agree you must be able to show love and respect in the face of one’s own wrongdoing, but if you can’t accept this or you don’t care I guess this would make forgiveness not an option. Holmgren suggests the elements of forgiveness is necessary for restoring self-forgiveness, which I think could be possible hold some type of connection. In psychology literature Enright stated one must be willing to abandon self-resentment in the face of one’s own acknowledged objective, wrong while fostering compassion, generosity, and love toward oneself. I agree that because if you have not let go of the past or forgiving yourself, then how is it possible to forgive someone else. If you hold on the hurtful memory from the past then you will not be able to forgive yourself or anyone else we must realize that we are merely human. Most of the time we do have set back for whatever reason I do believe have to continue to work at forgiving yourself if not it possible to become self-destructive, which could overpower the self-constructive motivation. Interpersonal forgiveness deals with does not imply reconciliation with the offender whereas reconciliation is necessary in self- forgiveness. Intrapersonal is not about condoning heinous behavior, glossing over the hurt or ignoring deep feeling you have inside. It’s about making yourself aware of how you feel about what you did to the victims. Forgiveness is a process of acknowledge and working through your feeling. Try to gain perspective on situation and letting go of being the victims and painful memories and emotions that exist. Forgiveness 5 When counseling a client who is having problems with forgiving himself for his actions. I would recommend that my client seek therapy for this type of behavior. I would use the model that includes mindfulness, self-awareness, self-knowledge ,experience, focus, and balance,because this seem to be a a good method for a client I like the step in this program. Grieco, (2009) she defines forgiveness as functionally rather that sematically. She believes that healing in a process that begins with eight steps. To forgive is to release all angry and hurt within, so you can release all negative energy. With her eight step she suggest: You must be willing to make change in attitude, express your emotions about what happen, don’t make expectation (s) ask for what you want with word or mouth and inner feelings. Open up and be honest to everyone what you need, make limitations and and take responsibility for their action and yours, visualize your personal space sphere a light around you FINISH THIS. Always use unconditionally love to person, see good in them and see good.

Supply Chain Management Creating Competitive Advantage

Supply Chain Management Creating Competitive Advantage According to extensive Christopher (2005) the supply chain can basically be described as a triangular relationship between three Cs, the customer, the company and competitors. Christopher and Hines (2004) both suggests that the term chain should be replaced by network as the number of inter-connections between suppliers can be extensive. A well-managed supply chain can be a resource that enables an organisation to develop and sustain competitive advantage in a global market in a volatile economic environment together with industry re-organisation and increases in internet driven sales. Supply chains compete not companies is Christophers motto on his web page and summarises how competition is a key issue for organizations. With the advent of internet shopping there is an abundance of competitors ready to provide ever demanding consumers with the products they desire. Consumers want better quality, faster delivery and at a lower cost. Individual businesses cannot function alone, but have an inter-dependent relationship with integrated supply chains, whose success or failure is ultimately determined in the marketplace by the end consumers (Christopher and Towill, 2001; Monczka, Handfield, Giunipero Patterson 2009). Organisations that focus on developing the most cost effective and efficient supply chains will be the market winners and achieve a competitive advantage. A companys competitive advantage can be defined as the ability to make a higher profit than competitors through differentiation of products or services from those of competitors and better products or services in terms of quality and cost than competitors. Good supply chain management (SCM) enables quick response from supply chains to meet customer demands. In order to maintain competitive advantage dynamic businesses need short lead times, the ability to manage the peaks and troughs of demand (Sabath, 1998), and incorporate time-based competition (Stalk, 1988; Droge, Jayaram Vickery 2004). The aims of the literature review are to examine what contributes to a dynamic company in respect to a sustainable competitive advantage, responsive supply chain management (RSCM) with relation to dynamic industries including the fast fashion industry. The literature review will examine the factors that contribute to a companys strategy development for product differentiation and competitive advantage. Porters (1990) five forces analysis provides organisations with a framework to identify competition and market position will be discussed. The relevance of time-based competition and a review of different types of supply chains including supply chain management will also be presented. The different types of supply chains to be examined include value supply chains, agile and lean supply chains and Responsive Supply Chain (RSC). The literature review concludes with an assessment of the apparel industry in the UK and implications and impact of the supply chain. Is the supply chain as effe ctive as the literature depicts? Internal analysis of an organisation An internal analysis of a company provides managers with an insight into the success of the business for example how effective are its current strategies? Are its resources deployed effectively to support its strategies? In addressing such questions it is the business itself that determines it competitiveness. If a company undertakes an internal analysis it can identify competencies and core competencies which can be developed the importance of which will be discussed again later in this review. The internal analysis can also examine value-added activities and again these will be discussed in more detail later. Managers can also evaluate financial performance particularly in relation to competitors and identify areas of weakness. In many companies the majority of products go through the following stages; research and development prototyping, and then introduction of the new product, if the product is successful there will be market growth and profitability and competitors will become apparent. There will be a period of growth during which the product matures and this is the stage of product differentiation where the product dominates the market. Eventually the product declines as either new products are developed or improved upon by the competition. Management should know what stage their products are in as they can then develop their strategy. Business strategy analysis Business strategy is a process consisting of three phases; strategic analysis, strategic selection and strategic implementation. Strategic analysis evaluates the companys position in the market, the strengths and weaknesses of the product, and evaluates other companies who represent the main competitors. Strategic selection and implementation involves obtaining the goals identified as a result of the strategic analysis. Porter (1990) developed a framework known as the five forces model which assists with the analysis of factors contributing to a competitive advantage and to develop a competitive strategy based on positioning in the market. In a similar way to a SWOT analysis the five forces analyses competitive intensity and the attractiveness, in terms of the profitability of a company. Figure 1: from The five competitive forces that shape strategy by Michael E Porter Harvard Business Review 2008 The five factors illustrated in Figure 1consist of; the risk of entry into the market by potential competitors; the bargaining power amongst buyers; the bargaining power of suppliers; the closeness of substitutes to an industrys product all four of which contribute to the final factor which is the intensity of competition amongst established companies within an industry There are factors that moderate the threats firstly; the threat of new entry competition may be moderated by factors such as economies of scale, product differentiation, capital requirements, or switching the cost to buyers. Second, the buyers power may be moderated by the number of buyers relative to sellers, product differentiation, buyers profit margins, switching costs to other products and how important the product is to the buyer. The third force is the threat of substitute products moderating factors includes the relative price and quality of the substitute product and switching the cost to the buyer. The fourth force is the determinants of supplier power, supplier concentration, availability of substitute inputs, importance of suppliers input to buyer and suppliers product differentiation. These factors all contribute to the fifth force the competition and rivalry amongst existing firms which depends on the diversity, size and number of competitors, how quickly the industry i s growing and the range of product differentiation. Porters views have been disputed by Booth and Philip (1998) and Edwards (1997) who suggest that organisations should be flexible and unite both cost leadership (lowest production cost or higher rate of return) and differentiation in order to give customers unique value. Other criticisms include Porters emphasis on analysis and little information about formulation or implementation as van den Bosch de Man (1994) argue diagnosis does not necessarily lead to health (p. 14). According to Mintzberg (1990) the organisation must gain market power diminishing the buyers and suppliers power which although the five factors may mean economic power it could be mistaken for political power and finally bias towards large, established businesses as new companies or industries can only be analysed once they are established (Hamel and Prahalad 1989). Other critics (e.g. Sharp Dawes) have also labeled Porters conclusions as lacking in empirical support; have been justified using selective case studi es to support his perspective and for inconsistent logical argument in his claims. The sources-position-performance model (SPP) (Day and Wensley, 1988; Hunt and Morgan, 1995) is also a strategic framework for competitive advantage and reflects Porters 1985 proposal of positional advantage in respect of either cost or differentiation. The SPP model proposes that an organisations sources (for example superior skills or resources) can be maximised to achieve a positional advantage (for example differentiation in lower costs or higher value) which finally results in a superior performance outcome (for example an increased market share and/or higher profitability). Day and Wensley (1988) suggest that a differential positional advantage can be achieved with the brand name, features that are innovative and a product that is of high quality. These factors contribute towards the potential for obtaining a secure market position and a profitable market performance. Doyle and Wong (1998) support this viewpoint reporting that successful companys differential advantage was acqui red through product differentiation, services and the reputation of the company. Competitive advantage can also be maintained by re-investing some or all of the profit back into the company. For better customer satisfaction and market understanding, companies are striving to achieve the best performance from their supply chains by three key components (Fisher, 1997) these include responsiveness of the supply chains, accurate demand forecasting and inventory management. In a dynamic, globalised and competitive environment, companies are under pressure to improve their supply chain strategies in order to be more responsive to customer demands. Christopher (2000) defines responsiveness as the ability of a supply chain to respond rapidly to changes in demand, in respect of amount and variety. (Fisher, 1997; Christopher, 2000, 2005) Uncertainties in demands are unavoidable due to the changing market conditions and customer expectations. In supply chains, inventory is the currency of service that helps deal with uncertainty and provides flexibility, though it can be costly (Chase and Aquilano, 1995; Bernard, 1999) Time-based strategies In current competitive markets if customers cannot get what they want from one company they will go to the competition. Leading companies such as Federal Express and Honda have demonstrated that if organisations are able to implement time-based strategies in areas such as production, developing new products, selling goods and the supply chain this can represents a powerful competitive advantage. In a survey of American companies Davis (1995) found that a high priority for the majority of organisations was time-based competitive strategy. Customers appreciate receiving their products promptly and this also encourages market growth as prompt delivery is a competitive advantage. It is not necessary to have a large stock of goods because efficient manufactures can deliver an order on the day it is received. The concept of time-based competition was introduced by Stalk (1988) and emphasises time as an important factor in developing and maintaining a competitive advantage. A time-based str ategy aims to reduce time in the stages of product proposal, development, manufacture, marketing and delivery. The business cycle time can be defined as the total time between receiving an order and getting the product to market which is particularly relevant to the fast fashion sector. If a company adopts a time-based strategy there appear to be a few strategies that can be implemented. Examples include starting afresh as it is not sufficient to just attempt to speed up existing activities. Another approach is to use a systematic framework to evaluate the requirements of customers and suppliers and then only undertaking only those tasks that fulfil the requirements. This strategy could reduce cycle time and could be implemented as part of the Total Quality Management (TQM) process. Another area that could be re-assessed is the approval process which means that the number of times a product or service needs internal approval before reaching the customer could be reduced. Stalk and Hout (1990) reported that successful companies that utilise time-based strategies will be able to offer a wider variety of goods at low cost and faster delivery times in comparison to the competition. Stalk and Hout also argue that there are a number of myths in business concerning increases costs when reduced lead times and response times are reduced however, when offered together with an increase in the variety of products which customers have requested there can be a very profitable upsurge for a time-sensitive company in comparison to the competition. It is also argued that time-consumption is quantifiable and therefore manageable. Successful companies focus on reducing delays and perhaps eliminating them altogether in order to gain a competitor advantage. Stalk and Hout argue that the majority of businesses can use time in a positive and constructive way and increase profitability. An example of flexible manufacturing and rapid response systems is presented by Ruch (1997) reports that in the past Motorola used to take three weeks to complete an order for a pager whereas an order is now completed in two hours. In relation to the fast fashion industry distribution is a major factor as the demand for current fashion trends require an efficient distribution system and competitive advantage will be lost if products are delayed in the distribution chain. There are two time-based strategies used; fast to market and fast to produce. Companies that are competitive regarding the to-market speed emphasise reductions in design lead-time. The company has the ability to minimise the time it takes to develop new products or make rapid design changes. Fast-to-product companies emphasise speed in responding to customer demands for existing products. Wal-Mart has been able to dominate its industry by replenishing its stores twice as fast as its competitors (Stalk 1998). Vickery, Droge, Yeomans and Markland (1995) found that new product introduction was the most consistent predictor of business performance. Development cycle time was second and production lead time and delivery speed were not as significant predictors of success as the first two. However this research is now quite old and it is possible that it is not relevant to the fast fashion business in terms of speed of delivery not being such a strong predictor of success As an example of a fast fashion company using time based-competition Gunasekaran (2001) cites Benetton an Italian company which produces distinctive casual wear for children, men and women and is a good example of an agile organisation using time compression. Benetton has centralised management and operations for a global market using more than 400 sub-contractors. The company has found that the fastest way to utilise a distribution system was through rapid feedback from over 400 travelling sales representatives, producers and the warehouse. If an item is selling the producers will work in fast-turnaround which has had a huge impact on reducing the time for replacement items. In order for this to be successful there needs to be a flawless flow of materials to allow agility in the production stage and this is organised by the production division. Benettons competitive advantage is the customer ordering system and the companys advance use of IT (p. 389-390). Gattorna and Walters (1996) report that Benetton delay dyeing their jumpers until the end of the supply process so standard jumpers are customised at a late stage and therefore allows some customer choice but without long lead-times and the risk of the product being outmoded. Davis (1995) states that Benettons system cost $30 million to build yet only eight people are required to operate it and the company can move 230,000 items of clothing each day. The warehouse is mechanised and the bar codes are scanned, goods are selected and transported. From order to store the overall cycle time for goods in stock is one week, if not in stock four weeks. Getting the right products to the customer at the right time, cost, place, condition and quantity, information technology and logistics networks are very dependent on the supply chain management and the type of supply chain used which will now be discussed in the following sections. Supply Chain Management The logistics involved in providing the consumer with the required products is complex. Issues such as time (as discussed above), outsourcing, off-shoring and global competition are a few examples and this means that the supply chain has taken on increasing importance (Monczka, Handfield, Giunipero and Patterson 2009). The supply chain is defined by Mentzer, Dewitt, Keebler et al (2001) as a group of three or more companies connected by an upstream or downstream flow of goods or services. Supply Chain Management (SCM) is the strategic organisation and proactively management of all the inter-related activities. The activities can be internal or external to an organisation and may also be across international and cultural boundaries. Supply management is defined by Monczka et al (2009) as a strategic approach to planning for and acquiring the organizations current and future needs through effectively managing the supply base à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦..with cross functional teams (CFTs) to achieve the organisations mission (p. 8). SCM includes operations such as the evaluation and selection of the supplier; New Product Development (NPD); ensuring the implementation of the customers order; and maintaining demand and supply. According to Gattorna and Walters (1996) there are five basic functions required for a balanced supply chain which include procurement (maximum purchasing discounts); inboard logistics (low transportation costs); operations (low production costs), marketing and sales (wide product variety and high availability); and outbound logistics (low transportation costs). In order to develop an integrated supply there also needs a flow of information at three stages, strategic, tactical, and operational SCM differs from purchasing or procurement as Kalakota and Robinson (2000) state they much broader concepts, Purchasing is often described as the five rights; right quality, right quantity, right time, right price and right source (Baily, Farmer, Jessop, Jones 1994). SCM is a more dynamic and strategic approach than purchasing which is also referred to as strategic sourcing in the literature (e.g. Gottfredson, Puryear and Phillips 2005). The phrase strategic sourcing originated as a buzz word in the 1980s from management consultants such as PricewaterhouseCoopers when working with Blue Chip companies however the development of the term raises an significant and relevant issue concerning the emphasis that sophisticated, world-class leaders (WCL) place on SCM (Kasul, Motwani, 1995). Other companies may aspire to be WCL and this drives competition. An organisation particularly a newcomer to the market might benefit from trying to identify characteristics in WCLs as it might provide an opportunity to implement and improve their internal and external processes, core manufacturing strategies and develop a global strategy to achieve company-wide improvements towards WCO status and global competitiveness. A starting point could be the strategic management of the supply chain and there are four main factors that characterise supply chain management these are information, time, customer demand, and response strategy for problems. Firstly, there must be a good flow of information between groups or individuals who may be culturally diverse. Good communication promotes good relationships and reduces time delays in the chain. Cost and accessibility are issues that management must consider. The second factor is time, whether the supply chain is efficient which, as previously discussed, is seen as competitive advantage. As the amount of competition in both the domestic and international markets increases organisations must have an efficient supply chain in order to compete. The third point also previously discussed involves the increasing demands and expectations of consumers and also the range of alternative options available to them therefore management may also want to consider customer loyalty. The final point in supply change management is the organsations response strategy to any major disruptions in both supply and downstream production which will the lessen the impact on lost sales. SCM necessitates good team work as it involves those who are purchasing the goods, the supplier, quality assurance and other associated roles the relationship is not adversarial as may have been the situation in traditional purchasing but in business SCM encompasses a win-win situation for the supplier and the company purchasing the goods. The relationship needs to be beneficial for all parties to allow for rapid change which is particularly relevant for the fast fashion industry. When developing a supply chain strategy Fisher (1997) stated that in order to implement the optimal approach the relationship between supply and demand must be coordinated to take into account the type of product, demand and sales predictability. Products can be categorise into two generic types, fashion and commodities. Fisher states that fast fashion has a short life-cycle and high demand uncertainty, and that there is the risk to the supply chain of both stock out and outmoded products. Popular, trendy clothing requires a management strategy that can co-ordinate the supply and demand and allow companies to respond faster to the marketplace. Commodities that are basic products, such as tinned food, they have comparatively long life cycles and have a low demand uncertainty usually because they are well-established products with a known consumption pattern. The driving force for commodity supply chains is the reduction of cost. Hills (1993) manufacturing strategy metrics, notes that the main difference between the two groups of products for fashion products is the emphasis is on availability, while for commodities is the emphasis is on price. Supply chains and value chains A business can be considered as a system that converts inputs (resources or materials) into an output (goods or services). All of the internal actions of a company add value to the inputs. The value of the completed product is equal to the price a consumer is prepared to pay. The activities of a business can be broken down into a sequence of activities know as the value chain. Porters value chain model was developed in the 1980s and proposes that an organisations supply chain can lead to a competitive advantage (Porter 1985; 1996). Porter original model proposed that the value supply chain was focused on the companys internal employees. Porter stated that a supply chain is a subset of a value chain, for example all personnel within the organisation are part of a value chain whereas they are not part of the supply chain. A diagram of Porters model is shown in Figure 2 two components are shown the Primary and Support activities. Support activities are shown in the horizontal flow and are the operational part of the value chain (the supply chain). Primary activities directly add value while support activities add value indirectly by supporting the effective implementation of the primary activities. At an organisational level the value chain is depicted as being broader than the supply chain because it includes all activities in the form of primary and support activities. The difference between the end value and the total cost is the margin. Figure 2: The Value Chain (Porter 1996) The value chain has developed and expanded from Porters original concept (the internal employees of an organisation) to include suppliers and customers and is referred to as the extended value chain or extended enterprise. This development has occurred because progressive companies acknowledge that successful management of cost, quality and delivery may depend on suppliers that are located several levels away from the producer. Porters value-chain analysis provides an explanation of how much value is added to an organisations final products or services in comparison to the original cost of the materials or resources. There is a clear relationship between value-adding activities, such as the core competences and competences which provide knowledge and skills necessary to undertake the value adding activities and resources which form the inputs to a companys value adding activities. In order to maintain a competitive advantage a company should be able to undertake an analysis of the value chain which should enable a company to obtain a breakdown of all the activities the organisation undertakes and to identify the core activities and their relationship to core competences. A competence is a quality or a collection of qualities which the companies in a particular industry possesses A core competence or distinctive capability is a quality or collection of qualities which is specific to a particular organisation which enables it to produce above the average performance of the industry as a whole. As a result of a distinctive capability is an output that customers value more highly than those of competitors, the competitive advantage. In order to be successful in business companies certain competencies are necessary but the core competences are the differential. The company should be able to identifying areas where the cost of adding the value is greater than the value added; the identification and assessment of non-value adding activities. A good TQM process involves defining the process for producing products or services, using mapping or flow-charting techniques to identify non value-added tasks these tasks are then either improved or eliminated. Management can develop strategies to find new ways to acquire value (for example a new production plant near to the companys head office with add value because transportations costs will be less). In respect to SCM the amount of the value added by teams within an organisation should be assessed and periodically reviewed and any blockages that reduce a companys competitive advantage must be identified. The assessment of the organisations value chain should not be undertaken in isolation but considered together with its association with suppliers, distributors and customers. It is also necessary to verify whether the value chain supports the organisations current strategy for example if strategy is to cut costs the analysis should focus on this. If strategy is the production of high quality goods the focus should be on strategies to improve quality outcomes. Outsourcing is an activity that can be used as part of the overall sourcing strategy for services. Outsourcing entails the transfer of staff and assets to an external or third-party company which then provides them back as a service. Outsourcing is an example of companies concentrating on their core activities and competences while getting the support activities done by someone else as such outsourcing has the potential of giving both parties a competitive advantage. The role of SCM is to evaluate which activities the company should undertake and which should be outsourced. An important consideration is that there will be different value chains for different organisations because not all activities within a company are of the same importance in adding value to its products. Activities that do add value are the core activities and are usually linked closely to the core competences. An organisations value chain will also be part of the value chains of other companies, for example the suppliers and distributors and customers. It is unusual nowadays for a solitary organisation to undertake all the value-adding activities ranging from design, production, delivery and service provision for a product. Three different types of supply chains will now be discussed in the following section, agile supply chains, lean supply chains and RSC Agile supply chain Supply and demand has been identified as the Increasing volatility in demand and competitive pressures force more frequent product changes (Gattorna and Walters 1996) agile supply chains are usually dominated by surge (Fisher 1997). An agile supply chain has to be created to manage uncertainty, satisfy consumer demand and ensure profitability. The definition of agility Agility means using market knowledge and a virtual corporation to exploit profitable opportunities in a volatile marketplace (Naylor, Naim, Berry, 1999 p. 62) Todays consumers demand variety and companies need to demonstrate customer responsive behavior with suppliers, being able to adjust quickly to meet market demand and to replace one product for another. In a genuinely agile business the strategy and supply chain relationships are developed to such an extent that volatility of demand is dealt with (Christopher 2000). Uncertainty is characteristic of todays markets as a result of a combination of factors which include the globalisation of the supply chain, concurrent inexpensive IT and communications; increased ability to develop product variety and reduce product life cycles while remaining cost competitive. These drivers promote end-consumers promote these drivers to demand greater choice and improved value (Li 2009). These dynamics are especially relevant in the context of the fashion industry and clothing retail in general (Sparka and Fernie, 1998; Jones, 1998; Jones 2002). With economic changes in recent years and greater global co mpetition responsiveness is essential throughout the supply-chain (Gattorna, 1998; Pine, 1993; Goldman, Nagel, Preiss 1995; Christopher, 2005) with such significant changes, successful organisations have to remain competitive while adapting to changing marketplace conditions (Brown and Eisenhardt, 1998). A significant feature of an agile organisation is flexibility (Christopher 2000) and this idea originates from flexible manufacturing systems (FMS). Agility is necessary in environments that are not predictable with volatile demand and consumers require variety. If a product is highly fashionable then, by its very nature, its demand will be unpredictable (Mason-Jones, Naylor, Towell 2000) Agile supply chains are market sensitive which means there is a quick response to consumer demand. This is quite different to many organisations which are forecast driven rather than demand driven. Technology can assist in demand driven organisations as data can be quickly accessed from the point of sale. As mention in the section on SCM communication between the members of the supply chain is an important factor in its success. Shared information between supply chain partners requires collaborative working and process integration between buyers and suppliers, joint product development, common systems and shared information. This form of co-operation in the supply chain is becoming ever more prevalent as companies focus on managing their core competencies and outsource all other activities. Mason-Jones and Towell (1999) undertook a simulation model of the fashion trade supply chains and corroborated that enhanced agility resulted from enrichment information along the supply chain. Lean supply chain The agile supply chain is closely connected to the lean supply chain although they are separate and have different purposes. Lean supply chains work well in environments where demand for variety is low and the environment is predictable whereas agile manufacturing is implemented where demand is volatile, and lean manufacturing is put into effect where there is a stable demand. Mason-Jones et al (2000) offers a further third option which they term the Leagile Paradigm a hybrid mixture of both types of supply chain. Responsive Supply Chains