Learning Theories Essay

Lev Vygotsky, born in the U. S. S. R. in 1896, is responsible for the social development theory of learning. He proposed that social interaction profoundly influences cognitive development. Vygotsky’s key point is his belief that biological and cultural development do not occur in isolation. Vygotsky approached development differently from Piaget. Piaget believed that cognitive development consists of four main periods of cognitive growth: sensory motor, preoperational, concrete operations, and formal operations. Piaget’s theory suggests that development has an endpoint in goal. Vygotsky, in contrast, believed that development is a process that should be analyzed, instead of a product to be obtained. Marcy P. Driscoll stated (as cited in Riddle, 1999) that â€Å"Vygotsky believes the development process that begins at birth and continues until death is too complex to be defined by stages†. The major theme of Vygotsky’s theoretical framework is that social interaction plays a fundamental role in the development of cognition. Vygoysky states: â€Å"Every function in the child’s cultural development appears twice: first, on the social level, and later, on the individual level; first between people (interpsychological) and then inside the child (intrapsychological) (Funderstanding, 2001). This applies equally to voluntary attention, to logical memory, and to formation of concepts. All the higher functions originate as actual relationships between individuals. A second aspect of Vygotsky’s theory is the idea that the potential for cognitive development is limited to a certain time span that he calls the â€Å"zone of proximal development† (ZPD). Vygotsky believed that this life long process of development was dependent on social interaction and that social learning actually leads to cognitive development (Kearsley, 1998). Vygotsky describes it as â€Å"the distance between the actual development level as determined by independent problem solving and the level of potential development as determined through Learning Theories 3 problem solving under adult guidance or in collaboration with more capable peers† (Funderstanding, 2001). In other words, a student can perform a task under adult guidance or with peer collaboration that could not be achieved alone. The Zone of Proximal Development bridges the gap between what is known and what can be known. Vygotsky claimed that learning occurred in this zone. Therefore, Vygotsky focused on the connections between people and the cultural context in which they act and interact in shared experiences. According to Vygotsky, humans use tools that develop from a culture, such as speech and writing, to mediate their social environments. Initially, Children develop these tools to serve solely as social functions, ways to communicate needs. Vygotsky believed that the internalization of these tools led to higher thinking skills (Riddle, 1999). When Piaget observed young children participating in egocentric speech in their preoperational stage, he believed it was a phase that disappeared once the child reached the stage of concrete operations. Driscoll states (as cited in Riddle, 1999) â€Å"in contrast, Vygotsky viewed this egocentric speech as a transition from social speech to internalized thought†. Thus, Vygotsky believed that thought and language could not exist without each other. Vygotsky’s theory was an attempt to explain consciousness as the end product of socialization. For example, in the learning of language, our first vocal noises with friends or adults are for the purpose of communication, but once mastered they become internalized and allow â€Å"inner speech†. Traditionally, schools have not promoted environments in which the students play an active role in their education and in the education of their friends. Vygotsky’s theory, however, requires the teacher and students to play untraditional roles as they collaborate with each other. Instead of a teacher dictating the lessons to students and later evaluate them, a teacher should collaborate with her students in order to create meaningful ways that students can make their own evaluation. Learning then becomes a reciprocal experience for the students and the teacher. Learning Theories 4. The physical classroom, based on Vygotsky’s theory, would provide clustered desks or tables and work space for peer instruction, collaboration, and small group instruction. Like the environment, the instructional design of material would be structured to promote and encourage student interaction and collaboration. Thus, the classroom becomes a community of learning. Because Vygotsky asserts that cognitive change occurs within the Zone of Proximal development, instruction would be designed to reach a developmental level that is just above the student’s current developmental level. Vygotsky proclaims, â€Å"learning which is oriented toward developmental levels that have already been reached is ineffective from the view point of the child’s overall development. It does not aim for a new stage of the developmental process, but rather lags behind this process† (Social Development, 1996). Appropriation is necessary for cognitive development within the zone of proximal development. Individuals participating in peer collaboration or guided teacher instruction must share the same focus in order to access the zone. Samuel J. Hausfather states (as cited in Riddle, 1999), â€Å"joint attention and shared problem solving is needed to create a process of cognitive, social, and emotional interchange†. Furthermore, it is essential that the partners be on different developmental levels. In addition, the partner that is on the higher level needs to be aware of his partner’s lower level. If this does not occur, or if one partner continually dominates, the interaction is less successful. Scaffolding and reciprocal teaching are effective strategies to access the zone. Scaffolding requires the teacher to provide students the opportunity to extend the current skills and knowledge. Hausfather reports (as cited in Riddle, 1999) â€Å"the teacher must engage students’ interests, simplify tasks so they are manageable, and motivate students to pursue the instructional goal. In addition, the teacher must look for discrepancies between students’ efforts and the solution, control for frustration and risk, and model an idealized version of the act†. Learning Theories 5 Reciprocal teaching allows for the creation of a dialogue between students and teachers. This two-way communication becomes an instructional strategy by encouraging students to go beyond answering and discussing questions. A study (as cited in Riddle, 1999) demonstrated the Vygotskian approach with reciprocal teaching methods in their successful program to teach reading strategies. The teacher and students alternated turns leading small group discussions on reading. After modeling four reading strategies, students began to assume the teaching role. Results of this study showed significant gains over other instructional strategies. Cognitively Guided Instruction is another strategy to implement Vygotsky’s theory. This strategy involves the teacher and students exploring math problems and then sharing their different problem solving strategies in an open dialogue (Riddle, 1999). Vygotsky’s social development theory challenges traditional teaching methods. Historically, schools have been organized around recitation teaching. According to Hausfather, (as cited in Riddle, 1999) â€Å"the teacher disseminates knowledge to be memorized by the students, who in turn, recite the information back to the teacher†. However, the studies described above offer empirical evidence that learning, based on the social development theory, facilitates cognitive development over other instructional strategies (Riddle, 1999). School structure does not reflect the rapid changes that society is experiencing. Opportunities for social interaction have greatly increased with the introduction and integration of computer technology. Therefore, the social context for learning is transforming as well. Learning relationships can now be formed from distances through cyberspace, whereas collaboration and peer instruction was once only possible in shared physical space (Bacalarski, 1994). Computer technology is a cultural tool that students can use to mediate and internalize their learning. According to Kathryn Crawford (as cited in Riddle, 1999) â€Å"recent research suggest changing the Learning Theories 6 learning contexts with technology is a powerful learning activity†. If schools continue to resist structural change, students will not be as prepared as they should be for the world. Lev Vygotsky lived during the Russian Revolution, a time of great change in his culture. His theory was that biological and cognitive development does not happen apart from each other. These two developments sustain and grow from each other. This is when learning takes place. Because of this theory, his environment of change was a great influence in his own cognitive processes. Learning Theories 7 References Bacalarski, M. C. , (1994). Vygotsky’s Developmental Theories and the Adulthood of Computer Mediated Communication: a Comparison and an Illumination. Retrieved November 7, 2003 from http://psych. hanover. edu/vygotsky/bacalar. html. Funderstanding, (2001). Vygotsky and Social Cognition. Retrieved November 7, 2003 from http://www. funderstanding. com/vygotsky. cfm. Kearsley, G. , (1998). Social Development (Vygotsky). Retrieved November 9, 2003 from http://members. aol. com/daidpeal/vygotsky. html. Riddle, E. M. , (1999). Lev Vygotsky’s Social Development Theory. Retrieved November 7, 2003 from www. kihd. gmu. edu/immersion/knowledgebase/theorists/constructivism/vygotsky.

Analyzing Countee Cullen’s poem “Incident”

The poem â€Å"Incident† (1925) is one Countee Cullen’s famous literary works which essentially narrates the experience of the speaker in Baltimore at a young age. Although Cullen is considered as Black, he did not want other people to refer to him as a Black poet but simply a poet for he believes that poetry is without race. In Countee Cullen’s poem, the speaker narrates the treatment the speaker received from a Baltimorean of almost the same age which reflects the idea that during those times discrimination based on color is evident. Being called a â€Å"Nigger† in the poem, the speaker attempts to emphasize the idea that the social atmosphere in Baltimore during those days was not conducive to Blacks. In analyzing the poem, I intend to use the structuralist frameworks of Ferdinand de Saussure and Roland Barthes. Although both are huge thinkers under the umbrella of semiology, there are apparent distinctions between the approaches taken by both philosophers. Moreover, these distinctions will help us look deeper into the poem from seemingly distinct point of views, thereby allowing the reader to acknowledge the fact that, under the helm of structuralism, there are structural relationships between concepts and that these relationships differ among various cultures or languages. Consequently, the theory asserts that these relationships can be explored and substantially exposed with an underlying purpose. In essence, the paper attempts to critically analyze Countee Cullen's poem â€Å"Incident† by using the structuralist theoretical frameworks of Roland Barthes and Ferdinand de Saussure. The analysis further attempts to elucidate several significant contentions embedded into the poem. Ferdinand de Saussure: signifier and signified Ferdinand de Saussure is the proponent of the dualistic notion of signs where he proposed the idea of signifier and signified. In essence, a signifier is the phrase uttered or the form of the word expressed while on the other hand a signified is a mental concept. Saussure further proposed that the signifier can be related to the signified or that there is a relationship between the two concepts. Distancing himself from the Platonic doctrine of the relationship between the signifier and the object it signifies, Saussure rather contended that there is no apparent or necessary connection between the sign and its presumed meaning. His contention rests on his presumption that the sign by nature is entirely arbitrary which corresponds to the idea that one can come up with a sign for a certain object yet there is no necessary or fixed connection between the signifier and its meaning for the reason that the sign is arbitrarily created. Perhaps Ferdinand de Saussure is also known for his claim that no word is inherently meaningful primarily because a word serves only as a signifier or as the representation of an object. Further, the signifier should be corroborated with the signified or the thing itself within the brain so as to create a meaning-imbued ‘sign'. Roland Barthes: bourgeois interrogations Roland Barthes can be credited for the claim that semiology is of substantial help in interrogating fragments of cultural material in order to reveal how the bourgeois society used these fragments of cultural material in order to assert the values of the bourgeois society upon other individuals. He explained that the ‘myths' created by the bourgeois society are mere significations or second-order signs such as the case where the portrayal of wine as a lively and healthy habit in the societies in France is an ideal perception of these bourgeois societies which, on the other hand, are contradicted by several realities such as the reality that wine can also be inebriating as well as unhealthy. Critical literary analysis In the first two lines of the poem, it can be noted that the speaker was traveling or, more precisely, â€Å"riding in old Baltimore† who appears to be happy that day. While riding, the speaker saw a Baltimorean kept on â€Å"looking straight† at the speaker. These first two lines give us the idea that there is a differing attitude of local Baltimoreans during those days towards Black people. At this point in the poem, it can be noted that a Black individual with a â€Å"heart-filled, head-filled with glee† is an ironic statement since Baltimore, Maryland has a history of Black slavery (Phillips 18). Hence, a Black individual roaming the locality of Baltimore with a cheerful countenance appears to strike the attention of those who have lived there and those who have an understanding of the historical context of the society. Hence, it is no surprise that the Baltimorean kept â€Å"looking straight† at the speaker. In the context of Saussure, the concept of â€Å"old Baltimore† may suggest the presumption that it may not necessarily be the case that the area of â€Å"Baltimore† is not to be taken strictly in the sense of being â€Å"old† in terms of age. Rather, there may still be other ‘meanings' which can be attached to it such as the concept of being ‘weak', ‘physically impaired', or ‘handicapped' in many different ways such as handicapped in terms of being able to provide the protection for its citizens or individuals who are situated in Baltimore. These are just a few of the possible meanings which can be attached to the concept of ‘old Baltimore'. Saussure opens several other possibilities other than what Cullen explicitly states in his poem. In essence, these first two lines indicate that the whole poem is open to several interpretations. The contention of structuralists can be juxtaposed with the reality during the time when the poem was written. Being a state that held slaves of which it was made legal prior to 1850 and where Blacks had a significant presence in the locality, the history of Baltimore and the larger state of Maryland encapsulates a significant degree of importance on the social roles and identity of blacks during those times. In the poem, the speaker highlights the fact that, although Blacks took an important role in the development of Baltimore historically speaking, treatment towards them from local people was still tainted with a discriminatory nature. Roland Barthes, for this matter, will contend that the concept of ‘old Baltimore' may reveal the idea that Baltimore is equivalent to that of a bourgeois society who maintained slavery as a common practice in order to sustain the perception that it is ideal in the promotion of the welfare of the whole society. In the second stanza of the poem, the speaker narrates his experience that time when he was â€Å"eight and very small†. Eventually, after noticing the Baltimorean who kept looking, the speaker â€Å"smiled† knowing that the Baltimorean â€Å"was no whit bigger†. The speaker, then, tried to highlight the idea that, while Blacks attempted to portray a cheerful countenance or at least a normal perception of their society that for once held their race as slaves, their society in return gave them a negative response. This is made evident in the last two lines in the second stanza of the poem where the Baltimorean â€Å"poked out his tongue† and called the speaker â€Å"Nigger† even though the speaker merely â€Å"smiled† at him. The act of poking out the tongue is a gesture that is commonly taken to mean as an unkind gesture, one that depicts sarcasm, mockery, or an insult towards one’s being. Moreover, for a child, the act of poking out the tongue towards somebody of almost the same age or size is an act that shows hatred, disgust, or ideas similar to that. Apparently, this observation reinforces the contention of Roland Barthes that, indeed, there is an underlying bourgeois precept lingering in Baltimore during those times. What is more striking is that the Baltimorean did not only make the gesture of poking out his tongue. He also called the speaker â€Å"Nigger† which, during those early days, translates into a form of mockery or insult. It highlights the idea that, by calling a person â€Å"Nigger†, that person is treated to be as someone who belongs to the lower levels of the larger society. And while Maryland is historically known to have made slavery legal back in the 1800s (Phillips 18), Black people would have been treated as lesser than being human beings. In essence, Barthes' contention of an underlying bourgeois precept in Baltimore during those days is easily seen in the poem. The system of slavery and the racial prejudice present the idea that these concepts are significations where, perhaps, the Baltimorean society altered the way in which the perceptions of races are viewed in order to favor the bias towards the white race and heighten the prejudice towards the Blacks. In the poem where the speaker is called by the Baltimorean as â€Å"Nigger†, one can note the idea that there is social segregation or the idea that there is the separation or delineation of Blacks from the rest of those who lived in the area. By suggesting the idea of social segregation, the poem attempts emphasize the separate treatment for Blacks, delegating them under a lower status and social indifference. It gives us the sense that, while there are perceived demarcations in social hierarchy at least in the context of Baltimore, Maryland, there remains the larger truth that slavery poses a great deal of role in this demarcation. Roland Barthes might very well agree with these contentions for the reason that the social indifference towards the Blacks is a result of the significations brought about by the individuals who hold the financial foundations for the means of building or maintaining the society. As a child of eight years, the psychological effects of the experience of being called a â€Å"Nigger† is emotionally or psychologically devastating which is the idea being presented in the last stanza (Piaget 81). In the third and final stanza, the speaker narrates that he was able to see and experience â€Å"the whole of Baltimore from May until December.† For some reason, the speaker went on to stay in Baltimore for almost seven months, lingering with various people in the place and experiencing many other things as a child of eight years. And during those seven months and â€Å"of all the things that happened there†, the speaker is only able to remember the day when he was given an indifferent treatment from the Baltimorean. Saussure may suggest the idea that the psychological impact of that experience which lingered for all those months, and even perhaps until the speaker grew older, is still open to further interpretation. When an individual is still able to remember every detail of an event or experience that transpired long ago, it might entail that the event or experience was unforgettable which was greatly absorbed into the memory of the person. It suggests the idea that being called a â€Å"Nigger† will not be forgotten. On the other hand, it might also entail that event being signified is relatively flexible in terms of interpretation such that the event experienced by the narrator will apparently be forgotten. In essence, what Saussure might suggest is the presumption that these events, including all of the signifiers and signified concepts and the relationships that appear to be involved, have no fixed meanings. These things are subject to human interpretation as the meanings of these things are not in any way fixed. Works Cited Cullen, Countee. â€Å"Incident.†Ã‚   Caroling Dusk: An Anthology of Verse by Black Poets of the Twenties. New York, N.Y.: Citadel, 1993. 187. Phillips, Christopher. â€Å"Slavery and the Growth of Baltimore.†Ã‚   Freedom's Port: The African American Community of Baltimore, 1790-1860 (Blacks in the New World). Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1997. 18. Piaget, Jean. â€Å"Memory and the Structure of Imge-Memories.†Ã‚   The Psychology of the Child. New York, N.Y.: Basic Books, 2000. 81.   

Comparison of Associate Degree and Bsn Essay

There are three pathways to become a Registered Nurse (RN) the first is a diploma nurse which consist of one to three years training in a hospital these nurses are strongest clinically since the training is usually hospital based. The other two choices are the Associate Degree Nurse (ADN) and the Baccalaureate Degree Nurse (BSN) all of these graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN licensing exam. This paper will discuss the differences in the competency levels between the ADN and BSN. The Associate Degree Nursing program provides an efficient, economical pathway to becoming a registered nurse. Graduates are competent in clinical and proficient in technical skills required to practice safely in multiple settings and to fully assume the RN role. Associate Degree Programs began in 1952 at Fairleigh Dickinson University. This type of nurse is usually educated at community colleges and completes training in twenty to twenty-four months after pre-requisites are met. The facts would suggest that ADN has less theory and more clinical training and according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing-Fact Sheet â€Å"Creating a More Highly Qualified Nursing Workforce† is less likely to notice a critical change in patient condition. The BSN completes their four years of education at the University level training is more focused on patient outcomes and nursing theories. Receiving more theoretical training they are better prepared for management. Also multiple studies show that due to their assessing, critical thinking,communication, leadership, case management, health promotion and their ability to practice across a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings the BSN trained RN has a lower mortality rate and better survival rates for patient resuscitation. (AACN Fact Sheet 2011) At the University of Pennsylvania it was found that surgical patients in Magnet hospitals had 14% lower odds of patient death, 12% lower failure-to-rescue rates when compared with non-Magnet hospitals. This improved outcome was attributed to the higher proportion of baccalaureate prepared nurses on staff. The Journal of Nursing Scholarship published an article in January 2011, researchers found that nurses with baccalaureate education levels had an impact on lowering patient mortality and failure-to-rescue rates. (AACN, 2012) To date it is not sure why advance training improves patient safety and saves lives RNs report a transformative experience when returning for their Baccalaureate degree with changed perspectives about nursing practice and finally seeing the big picture. Post BSN RNs noticed changes in the way they practiced nursing and in knowledge and professionalism they also reported becoming better patient advocates RNs reported noticing subtle changes in their perceptions which included changes in thinking, reasoning and questioning skills. (Whats all the Fuss; http://www. nsna. org/careercenter/fuss. aspx). Having a BSN opens more employment opportunities in 2005 the Department of Veteran’s Affairs began requiring all new hires to possess at least a BSN degree. (AACN 2013). And soon many more hospitals will be requiring the BSN degree. In time we may even see the passing of the ADN. As one of the most dynamic professions nursing requires us to keep our educational knowledge current and progressive to continually meet the ever changing needs of patients to provide excellent care. In 2007 the American Association of Colleges of Nursing based on the Institute of Medicines (IOM) report, â€Å" To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System†, found that most errors were due to system and process problems and felt that BSN and higher educated nurses were better prepared to find solutions because of the curriculum emphasis on leadership and management. (AACN, 2007) The BSN prepared RN has the educational knowledge to excel in leadership and management, wellness and community nursing. The need for higher education is required as the nurse role increasingly becomes more autonomous and as society depends more on the RN to complement the Physician shortage our nation is facing. The baccalaureate degree also leads to higher level graduate degree programs, which greatly benefits the health system. Overall in my opinion each type of nursing degree diploma, ADN or BSN contributes in its own way to the workforce environment. By bringing different aspects of nursing, they all provide quality patient care and become leaders in the workplace. Yet, ADN programs offer an affordable means to access the nursing profession and  offer the nation its largest population of RN’s. For those with adult responsibilities it gives one of the most flexible ways to earn their degree by use of LVN to ADN to BSN ladder of education. References: 1. (2011). Conceptual foundations: the bridge to professional nursing practice . (5 ed. ). Pageburst. 2. American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://www. aacn. nche. edu/media-relations/EdImpact. pdf Fact Sheet: The Impact of Education on Nursing Practice 3. Fulcher, R. , & Mullin, C. M. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://www. aacc. nche. edu/Publications/Briefs/Documents/2011-02PBL_DataDrivenNurses. pdf 4. AACN. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://www. aacn. nche. edu/publications/position/bacc-degree-prep The Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing as Minimal Preparation for Professional Practice 5. Orsolini-Hain, L. (n. d. )Retrieved from http://www. nsna. org/CareerCenter/Fuss. aspx What’s all the Fuss? Working Towards a Baccalaureate or Graduate Degree in Nursing 6. Robert, R. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://www. aacn. nche. edu/media-relations/fact-sheets/nursing-fact-sheet 7. Rosseter, R. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://www. aacn. nche. edu/media-relations/fact-sheets/nursing-workforce.

Collaboration Worksheet Essay

†¢ What are the advantages of having diversity in a collaborative learning environment? Some of the advantages of having diversity in a collaborative learning environment are that each person has something to bring to the group. Diversity makes it easy for each person in the group to learn more about the topic at hand, because each person comes from a different background and had different experiences, and brings something different to the collaborative group. When working with other people, you get the chance to go into depth about the topic, and you get the chance to have a different teacher. Maybe the teachers teaching style doesn’t fit with your personal learning style, so having someone in your group that understands what is being taught may be able to help you to understand the topic better. Bring more light to the subject per say. †¢ How might factors such as diversity, attitude, learning, and work styles affect collaboration? Factors such as diversity, attitude, learning, and work styles can affect collaboration in a number of ways. Diversity affects collaboration, because there may be someone in the group that is very intolerant to diversity, and closed minded. Attitude plays a big role in collaboration, because if everyone in the group has a good attitude then collaboration is easy, however, if even one person in the group has a bad attitude, it can turn the entire group attitude negative, making collaboration difficult or even impossible. Learning and work styles also greatly affect collaboration, because as I mentioned previously, everyone has a learning style, as well as a teaching style, so the more people in a group, the more likely it is that everyone learns the topic to the best of their ability. As for work styles, this can cause problems when it comes to collaboration, because everyone in the group has to agree that the assignment should be done in a particular way, and a particular work style may not fit with that persons said work style. That also goes with learning how to be open-minded. †¢ How does personal responsibility influence the work and success of a group? Personal responsibility influences the work and success of a group, because each person in a group has to put forth equal effort in completing the task at hand. If I did not have a since of personal responsibility, I might not put forth my share of work, and therefore hindering the success of my group. Personal responsibility pushes a person to excel in the school or work place, and the better a person is doing, the more effort a person puts forth reflects on the group as a whole, and makes them more successful together. This is why when working in a group, or even by yourself, it is important to put forth every bit of effort possible.

Employee Relations HND 2013 Assignment 2 Essay

It is a very common thing in the workplace for people to not be satisfied, being it either the employer or the employee; this could be in regard to the needs, values and interests in general. It takes many forms in organizations and there is always an unavoidable clash between formal authority and the groups affected. The list of reasons are limitless but some are disputes over how revenue is divided, how work must be performed, how much time one is allocated to work, etc. A lot of disagreements among individuals, departments and between unions and managements result to jurisdictional matters. Why Does Conflict Occur? There are many reasons and some can be; Expectations, Different Knowledge, Fear, Poor Communication, Attachment, Incompatible Values, Stress, Past Trauma, Scarce Resources, Different Paradigms, Misunderstanding, Perceived Oppression and many more reasons. The types of conflicts are Substantive Conflicts (Technical Conflicts) and Emotional Conflicts (Interpersonal Conflicts) that can occur being it within two or more individuals, two or more groups or between individuals and groups as well. Conflicts between Individuals; Interpersonal Conflicts take place due to several factors, most commonly they are due to personal dislikes or personality differences. Taking into consideration differences of opinion between individuals regarding task related issues, it can be labeled as technical conflict rather than interpersonal conflict. However technical and interpersonal conflicts can influence each other due to role-related stress. Conflicts between Individuals and Groups; These sorts of intra-group conflicts mainly arise due to an individual’s incapability to follow group rules and regulations. An example would be when groups have an idea of a ‘Fair day’s work’ and may pressurize an individual or punish him/her in regard to the rules of the groups productivity he/she could result with conflict towards the group and other individuals. There are various levels of conflicts that are classified like this: Intrapersonal Conflicts that involve: Pressures from incompatible goals Approach-Approach Conflict Avoidance –Avoidance Conflict Approach – Avoidance Conflict Interpersonal Conflicts: Occurs between two or more individuals who are against each other. Intergroup Conflicts: Occurs amongst members of different groups or teams. Interorganizational Conflicts: Occurs due to competition and rivalry of firms operating in the same markets. Occurs between Organizations and Unions employing their members. Occurs between government monitoring organizations and organizations regarding their scrutiny. Occurs between Organizations and Companies who supply raw materials. Functional/Constructive Conflicts: This results in positive attributes to an individual, a company or groups. The likely effects are: Important problems are revealed so they can be discussed. Causes an important discussion and evaluation of decisions. Causes re-considerable decisions. Increases the amount of information available for making decisions. Permits room for creativity Dysfunctional/Destructive Conflicts: These result in negative attributes and are a downside to individuals, a company or groups. The likely effects are: It diverts energy into negative things. Destroys the unity of groups. Encourages interpersonal conflicts. Overall it destroys the environment for employees. Culture and Conflict: There is usually a chance for conflict to be high when: People from short-term cultures are working with people from long-term cultures. People from individualistic cultures work with people from collectivist cultures. People from high-power distance cultures work with people from low-power distance cultures. Resolving Conflict: Some people believe the best way to resolve conflict is to ignore it or to vote which only suppresses the true problem without confronting and resolving it. These are some of the ways to resolve conflict effectively; Discuss or Debate, open communication, learn to compromise or reach an agreement, However the way organizations manage conflicts as of today are quite different and yet effective. They use conflict resolution, this is used: In a situation that the original reasons for a given destructive conflict are eradicated. Effective conflict resolution begins with an analysis of the stage where the conflict has reached and understanding the reason behind the conflict. Stages Of Conflict: Conflict History, Prioritize the circumstances for conflict. Conflict Precursors, Note down the circumstances for conflict. Perceived Conflict, Functional or emotional variations are identified. Felt Conflict, Stress generates incentive to act. Manifest Conflict, Resolving the Conflict. Conflict Outcome. Question 2: I will be using a conflict issue that was found at Radiant Montessori Nursery, Abu Dhabi during the year 2011. (http://www.rmn4me.com/) During the time since the nursery had been set up there were a lot of disputes over finding drivers who would be safe, efficient and loyal, The owners had various disputes regarding finding suitable drivers and from where they would find them. One owner suggested a driver who apparently was a relation of his friend. This conflict of interest led to many problems and disputes within the company and was eventually solved but even doing so it tarnished the owner’s reputation and business. The driver appeared to be a very trustworthy and loyal person and was always on his best behavior whenever the owners were around, later on they started receiving various speeding tickets on the Montessori van, it was found to be at 3-4a.m, no nursery is open at these times and it was later proven that the driver had been running his own routes along the city after office hours, when confronted he started absconding and was not being reasonable or trying to negotiate with the owners, he was in direct violation of his job permit and as well as his visa, Even then he was given chances because of the conflict of interest in him by the owner , therefore later on he was jailed by the police for misusing school property and the owner was charged a heavy fine. The manner in which the conflict was resolved was not a good manner and if the owners had sought to other measures and planned everything properly it wouldn’t have reached this stage. Question 3: Judging by the case study shown, the stage of which the case is by the time it reaches negotiation stage it is less likely to be solved, the positions are most likely fixed as to who is what and the relationship is not redeemable after all the disciplinary action and demands from each other. Petunia might think that she is the successor over the issue but judging from the company’s point of view it was a loss, not just by losing Lerato, by the costs put in for the hearings, the time allocated for the case and the witnesses brought forward, the influence of productivity and morale and the further cost of getting a new employee. If only there was someone who was able to explain to lerato regarding the situation when she refused to take the job or before that it would have been a positive conflict. The arbitrator would have provided Lerato with a confidential means and method by which Lerato and Petunia could have both discussed their interpersonal conflict and come out with a negotiation regarding the outcome. These are the stages: Petunia is a senior manager and Lerato a manager reporting indirectly to her which is a reason for Petunia to feel superior t Lerato. The initial case of conflict was when Lerato perceived that Petunia was the one responsible behind her moving to a different office. (Perceived Conflict) This caused her to rethink and analyze that it was because Petunia had accused her of insubordination. (Conflict Antecedents) Lerato starts lobbying against Petunia.(Felt Conflict) Lerato subject to disciplinary measures and dismissed.(Manifest Conflict) The believed reason behind the conflict from Lerato’s side was Power or value asymmetries. Procedures that went by: It started out by perceived pressures then moved on to an approach-approach conflict and then to an approach-avoidance conflict the avoidance did not allow for negotiation or understanding which resulted in the firing of lerato. The dysfunctionality of this conflict is seen by the way it was resolved, My view of the case study is that the way it went along was not right and this is not the way to solve a conflict, In my opinion lerato should not have perceived and acted stubborn she should have asked for guidance or confronted Petunia directly and found out if it was her who had gotten her changed from department to department. Secondly even if this was the case she should have come to an understanding with Petunia regarding the situation and tried to resolve it in a more diplomatic way, not by being stubborn and accusing blindly as Petunia is her senior. Thirdly, the department should have been involved about the case and should have taken immediate action and seen to it that both of them came to an understanding regarding what had happened and not let it escalate to such a high level. Lerato should have addressed the board and seen to it that a proper evaluation of her work and skills be made in regard to her transfer and whether or not it was truly needed. The way things were going impacted the company and the work environment of other employees as well. The way in which Petunia did it was right where she addressed the Human Resources Department and asked them to take action against lerato. All of this could have been prevented if there was proper conflict recognition and conflict resolving matters that could have been done. References: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/four-types-conflict-organizations-174.html http://www.uni-muenster.de/Politikwissenschaft/Doppeldiplom/docs/Organizational.pdf http://smallbusiness.chron.com/ways-managing-conflict-organizations-2655.html

Blackrock by Nick Enright: Dramatic Play

The author of the play â€Å"Blackjack†, Nick Nearing has written a very dramatic play towards today's society. During the play he uses lots of techniques to make it relate to the audience, therefore making it more appealing to the readers. Friendship is also a major factor in the play, â€Å"Blackjack†. Throughout this play, many different attitudes and values are brought up. It is very appealing towards teenagers, because of today's society and how it relates to the problems of today.In the play, the attitudes towards women are very negative, such as the females Ewing thought to be the less powerful gender, compared to the males as being the powerful ones. This is always seen in today's society as the men over powering the women, because men are meet to be the big tough ones. The guys in the play treated the girls badly. They were always talking to them badly, acting like they were unimportant and less powerful. One of the main offenders of this was Rick. He appears t o be one of those people that only care about themselves and doesn't care about what happens to anyone else.Family and friends are a major part of the play. For example, When Rick asked his mate Jarred to try and cover up for him from the night of Tracey Warder's death. He wanted Jarred to say that Rick was with Jarred on the night of the incident, so that the police wouldn't be after him. Jarred asked his father what he thought he should do. His father said, if you think it is worth getting into to trouble with the law to help your friend then go ahead and back Rick up. This shows that you can't always be backing your friends up 100% of the time, if it meaner you may get into trouble for doing so then it isn't worth the risk.

Anthropology Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Anthropology - Assignment Example This is together with the upper caste of Muslims, which metamorphically transformed Yoga Gurus in the Islamic cultural arena. The Milieu, on the other hand, are preachers of peace, uniting people without giving regard to cultural background. For instance, in history they have been known for supporting things regarded as an abomination by the leaders rooted in Ulema. For example, they initiated a historical chastity when they supported and accepted a girl who had been accorded with blasphemy claims. This shows the large rift of contrasting differences existing between the leaders rooted and the ones, not rooted in Ulema (Shadid 112). The only common ground shared by the two calibers of religious leadership is the complete trust in Muslim lasts with few common interpretations. It is essential to note that, the interpretation, which differs, but the religious laws are the same. This, therefore, remains the reason for differing sub religions who have common laws with different ways of

US monetary policy Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

US monetary policy - Term Paper Example When the Fed wants to â€Å"expand the money supply† (create money), it steps in and buys bonds from these dealers with newly-issued dollars acquired by the Fed for the cost of writing them into an account on a computer screen. The Federal Reserve is overseen by board of governors based in Washington, which is a government body (Solomon 1996). This board of governors comprise of 7 members appointed by the president of the United States of America, each of them has the capacity to serve for 14 years. All this members must pass through senate for confirmation and are eligible for reappointment. The chairman is the head of the board being deputized by the vice chairman. Both the chairman and deputy are appointed by the president and must pass through senate for approval (Solomon 1996). Ben Bernanke is the current chairman; he took over from Alan Greenspan. The most common tool used by the Federal Reserve is the buying and selling of government securities in order to increase or r educe the amount of money in the banking system and this is done through an open market (Timberlake 1993). When they buy securities, they pump money into the banking system and accelerate growth  while sales of securities siphon money from the system. Federal Reserve's aim is to use this technique to  adjust the federal funds rate, that is, the rate at which banks borrow from each other (Timberlake 1993). ... the ones required by the law or rather set by the Federal Reserve board of governors can use the money to bring those changes back to stability (Timberlake 1993). The board of directors of each reserve bank sets the discount rate every 14 days. It's considered the last resort for banks, which usually borrow from each other. The Fed uses the discount rate to check the supply of available funds, which will in effect have impact on inflation and in extension interest rates (Degen 1987). If the available money is abundant, there is more likelihood of inflation occurring. It will become more expensive to borrow from Federal Reserve if interest rate is increased. Short term interest rate will, therefore, be increased by lower supply of money and the opposite is true. Quantitative Easing† (QE) is a kind of operations within markets that assist the Federal Reserve achieve its policy targets (Degen 1987). QE involves open market operations that are not different from the way the Federal Reserve often operates in its quest to attain certain policy objectives. When Federal Reserve changes their target interest rate, it is doing so in order to involve open market operations that alter reserves in the banking system so as to get to its preferred rate.    Open market operations often include moves such as adjusting the existing reserves in the banking system so as to assist reaching a target interest rate.  Many people believe that QE operates to achieve its objectives in ways that are different from standard monetary policy, e.g. influencing demand for loans, the wealth effect and interest rate channels (Wells 2004). Much of the misconception is also due to the untruth that QE helps to fund the US government or is equivalent to â€Å"money printing†.   This is not true. The main

Power of Multinational Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

Power of Multinational - Essay Example t its CEO in the five years prior to its rise to power (1995-2000) is Richard Cheney, the Vice President of the United States of America since 2000 and who lies second only to George W. Bush as the most powerful man in the world. This paper investigates the company’s rise to power, the perceived role of Mr. Cheney in the company’s success, and how the company exercises its growing power in the world’s political and economic environments. Beginning with a review of available literature on the power of multinational enterprises and how they exercise this power over nations and governments through the instrument of foreign direct investments, the paper looks at the techniques of strategic analyses to gain a deeper understanding of the company and the nation where it took root: America. Using the SLEPT/EE strategic analysis framework provides an in-depth look into the workings of the multinational enterprise and the thinking processes of its managers to discover a link between American history and the behaviour of America’s business and political institutions. The paper concludes by establishing a link that explains the consistency between the known American past, the traditional links between business, politics, and democracy, and the justifications for Halliburton’s exercise of power. This paper investigates the economic and political power of American multinational enterprises and explores the thesis that this explains America’s rise to globalism. Focusing on the American oil industry and specifically the Halliburton Oil Company, an analysis is made of the dynamics of business and government power in the light of contemporary issues using the SLEPT/EE strategic framework. The findings determine the accuracy of the thesis. This research paper looks at how a formerly obscure oil company rose to prominence in the past decade, investigates the role played by its former CEO who happens to be the incumbent Vice President of the United States of

Analyse different representations of Australian colonial history, and Essay

Analyse different representations of Australian colonial history, and of the suffering of Aboriginal people - Essay Example I would agree that these are admirable goals. However this is still not enough in my view. I don’t see a definition of â€Å"Reconciliation† in either speech. Actually I don’t think it can be precisely defined in this context. However, I would argue that a degree of Reconciliation is achieved when (1) both societies are economically viable and one is not excessively dependent on the other, for example for welfare benefits and medical assistance for societal problems such as alcohol and drug abuse, (2) members of one society can move into the other if they chose, feel comfortable and prosper as long as they respect cultural differences, (3) while major criminal and civil laws must be universal, those that relate only to local community customs should be allowed some variance. For example if it is acceptable in aboriginal culture to go nude in public they should be allowed to do so within their communities and this should be accepted by visitors and (4) both societ ies actually but also perceive that they benefit both economically and psychologically by remaining in a unified Australia in spite of required compromises and accommodations.

Instrumental analysis and testing of counterfeit Viagra suspected to Essay

Instrumental analysis and testing of counterfeit Viagra suspected to contain amphetamine - Essay Example phRMA has requested China, Mexico, Indonesia, Lebanon and many countries in the Central America to have a close watch on the drugs used in their countries. They have also warned those countries that the illegal drugs were found to get originated from Czech Republic, Sweden and Switzerland. (Oslen et al., 2002).The Drug manufacturer take many necessary steps to prevent counterfeiting of the drugs but their efforts are getting veined off because of the different methods that they adopt in trade and their distribution systems are very complex for tracing off. The illegal drug manufacturers are very smart enough to steal the name, basic formula, holograms and are able to prepare the counterfeit drug very smartly as the real drug. This has become a head ache for all the drug manufacturers. The only possibility for them is to develop analytical methods that can easily identify the authentic and fake products through simple testing methods. Sildenafil Citrate is a drug that is used to treat the pulmonary arterial hypertension and erectile dysfunction. Its Brand Name is Viagra, developed and marketed by Pfizer.the chemical composition of Sildenafil citrate is 1-( [3- ( 6, 7- dihydromethyl -7- oxo -3- propyl -1H – pyrazolo [4,3 - d] pyrimidin – 5 – yl ) - 4- ethoxy – phenyl ] sulfonyl ])- 4 – methyl piperazine. Viagra is used as a novel oral medicine for penile erectile dysfunction, the inability to keep hard erect penis for satisfactory sexual intercourse. Sildenafil citrate inhibits the cyclic guanosine monophosphate- specific phosphodiesterase present at the penis and making the cGMP to get accumulated at the corpus cavemonsum. This pill when taken inside, starts its effect after the twenty minutes of inhalation and lasts up to three hals lifes ( 18 hours ). Viagra came in to the market by 1998 after the US Food and Drug Administration approved it. Viagra was recommended for Erectile dysfunction as the over the counter drug. By the year 2002, Viagra sales accounted for about 92% of the global market for the pill to treat erectile dysfunction. The safety of this medicine was established in many pre- and post- approval studies. Phosphodiesterase family type five classes.(PDE). The PDE - 5 class receptors are found in corpus cavernoscum, platelets, skeletal muscle, vascular and visceral muscles. Of these at penis there are larger amount of PDE-5 than any other region. PDE-5 breaks down cGMP which causes the contraction of the penile arteries and smooth muscles. As the chemical structure of sildenafil is similar to the cGMP, the binding of sildenafil inhibits the cGMP from binding to the PDE-5 through the competitive inhibition mechanism. (McCullough, 2002). Amphetamine is a phenlyethylamine class drug that acts as a psycho stimulant drug. This drug is generally used as a performance enhancer. Amphetamine is found to increase the energy level, wakefulness and they are able to make the body work even at appetite an d fatigue conditions. Because of these characteristics Amphetamine is chosen as a counterifeit drug for Viagra by the illegal drug manufacturers. In the counterfeit Viagra’s, Sildenafil was present at lower concentration and the other drugs such as amphetamine, methamphetamine and ring substituted analogs. A rapid screening technique is essential for the quick identification of the counterfeit drug from the real ones. Various

Faith and Vocation-Child and Family Services Coursework

Faith and Vocation-Child and Family Services - Coursework Example I have a strong vocation for child and family services because this field offers the most opportunity for integration of faith. Following discussion seeks to illuminate the reality of this claim that â€Å"developing a strong bond between faith and vocation can help one give a definite spiritual meaning to professions like child and family services.† Fea (2010) claims that people are obligated to use whatever knowledge they have in promoting common good according to how it is stipulated in the Bible. According to Hughes & Hughes (2005), it is our duty as Christians to use our skills in a manner that reflects the position we are given by God. Christians believe that God is very pleased when He sees His people using their skills in accordance with the Holy Scriptures. In Matthew 5: 44, Jesus announces the desire of God saying, â€Å"Love your enemies, bless them that curse you† (cited in Scheele, 2006, p. 131). Therefore, it is a religious obligation of children and family service providers to remain professional under all circumstances and help their clients despite their inadequacies. We are not sent by our Lord to greedily advance our personal interests while eschewing the welfare of humanity. It is due to the fact that we have stopped seeing faith and vocation as two entities inextricably linked to one another that such despair and anguish has taken the place of peace in our lives. Remembering the teachings of Jesus Christ when interacting with disadvantaged children and families is bound to motivate us to give our best to those in need because of this influential message in our minds that we have to die one day and answer God. It is important to enumerate just how faith can be expressed by a professional within the field of children and family services. For example, a child of divorced parents can be assisted by a certified specialist in dealing with pressures of daily life by encouraging his/her faith. Every time a disadvantaged child is brought by children

Annotated bibliography Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Annotated Bibliography Example Over 1000 samples were drawn from the population under study, this being a reasonable and practical sample size for such a study. Culture is found to impact the reward preferences, such impacts not being straight forward though. The study also reveals that reward preferences may not be impacted by cultural influences alone. It is instead influenced also be factors such as economic conditions among other contextual factors. The research was conducted using data drawn from one industry alone as opposed to several industries. There is a chance that other industries could reveal different results. Also, the countries featured in the sample share certain cultural characteristics which could lead to results only practical to countries with the same characteristics. It is also noted that the results may also have been affected by the difference in importance in the various cultural dimensions. Reward variance could have been impacted by organizational factors including the size of the organization and ownership. It is important to take culture into consideration when determining the reward schemes or strategies to apply for an organization’s workforce. In addition, other factors must be taken into consideration given that it is not only culture that influences these preferences. Understanding people’s culture in a multinational environment is greatly important to the human resource manager and to the reader. The reader gets to appreciate Hofstede’s framework as it provides practical contributions with respect to culture. The reader realizes the importance of culture as a factor in rewarding employees especially when dealing with multinational companies and organizations that are served by people from of different cultural backgrounds. The audience furthermore gets to appreciate how much employee preferences affect reward management at the international

FRESHPLUS SUPERMARKETS Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

FRESHPLUS SUPERMARKETS - Research Paper Example The planning of business operations in a successful manner is important for higher productivity (Jacobs and Chase, 2011). Every morning the previous day’s workings are analysed by the manager and this way the manager is well aware of the status of work progress of the supermarket. By conducting a check on the previous day’s sales, the manager accordingly plans the task for the current day. All issues that were present in the previous day’s working that took place in his absence are addressed by the manager and the way it was handled is reviewed by the manager. After reviewing these tasks, the manager then takes a round in the supermarket and visits the shop floor and the morning staff and asks if they have any problems or any issue that they want to discuss. He asks the employees if everything is working in order and also about if they require anything of any sort for conducting their job properly. The manager’s future planning regarding his job role is that he wants to continue working as a store manager for further two years and then he would like to get promoted to a higher level. He would like to get promoted in the head office as a CEO or General Manager of Freshplus Supermarkets in future. Mr Mohamed Buday has planned his future career on a 5 year timeline and he has sets his personal goals and objectives so that he accomplishes his future career plan. He has organized his priorities according to the level of importance and follows it accordingly. Organising is another major function of management and this is one of the most critical functions as through proper planning and organising of tasks, further work can be progressed (William and McWilliams, 2010). For achieving the goals successfully, the manager needs to organise all work tasks in a systematic manner and accordingly assign tasks to each employee so that productive results can be attained. The organising of tasks and employees

Sports Event Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Sports Event Management - Assignment Example Tourists are often people from regions outside the venue in which the activity is happening. However, there are incidents of domestic tourists i.e. people from the region within the venue of the tourist attracting event. Tourism is often a source of income to the organising organisation which may or may not be affiliated to the government of that specific country in which the event is taking place. Most of the time the planning of the tourist event involves a government organisation and in such a case the income gained goes to the government. If the event is organized by a non governmental organization then the organization is under obligation to pay tax to the government. Therefore regardless of who is organizing the event, the government earns revenue. The organisers of any tourism event need a strategy to maximize the revenue gained. An event that recurs maybe annually or after a number of years requires that the organisers make it attractive for the visiting tourists so as to encourage a possibility of them coming back again in future and their enjoyment may lead them to favourably sell the destination country (hosting a tourist event) to their friends and family back home. Security is yet another important thing that has to be taken into consideration to guarantee the safety of the visiting tourists. Some events have been cancelled in the past based on security concerns. The organizers have to guarantee the security of every individual attending the tourist event before they can be given the right to host the event. One such tourist event is the world cup 2006 which took place in Germany. Being the 18th instance of the world cup which happens after every four years, Germany was chosen to host the event. German won the right of hosting the event in 2000 and this means that they had six years to prepare for the event. In this event 198 soccer teams representing their nations took part in a qualification process that started in 2003 to see only 31 teams qualify for the finals in Germany (Coleman, 2006). Germany is ranked 7th tourist destination worldwide. The number of tourists visiting German keeps on increasing annually. For example the number of tourists visiting German rose from 23.6 million to 24.4 million in 2006 and 2007 respectively. The number of tourists visiting Germany annually is nothing though compared to France which receives more than twice what German receives annually. Germany therefore set out to utilize the worlds popular and biggest sporting event, world cup 2006, to market itself as a tourist destination. With more than a million visitors that were expected to visit German courtesy of the world cup event, Germany was more than jubilant to receive them because this was a sure boost to it tourism industry. Actually, according to the managing director Tourist Board, Petra Hedorfer, the event was projected to boost the German's domestic economy by more than 9 billion euros. This is extremely impressive for a short term event. The 2006 world cup event was to be more beneficial to German than to boost its domestic economy from the revenue that would come from the more than 1 million visitors most of which were soccer fans. The tourism board planned to use the event as a marketing tool. Through television, German intended to reach the more than 40 million viewers worldwide. This is relatively large audience for the German's tourism promotional advertisements and commercials. German intended to

European trade Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

European trade - Essay Example mber states (Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom)’. In the near future more states are going to be added to the above list. The decision on the requirements related with the entrance of a new country in the Union is taken within the Union in a relevant meeting of the representatives of the member states. It is this ‘body’ that also decides for the policies followed in all sectors of European Union including the commerce. It should be noticed though that specific criteria should be used for the above decision otherwise the relevant decision can be doubted from the interested parties (potential members of the Union) as of its validity and credibility. On the other hand, in a relevant report published in Social Education (2002, 1) it is noticed that â€Å"the EU has a unique structure; it was created by and is composed of sovereign countries; but it is more than an international organization; it has common institutions similar to those of a national government in that they can enact and implement laws throughout EU territory; these institutions also formulate Europes `common policies, for example in trade, agriculture, transport and the environment, which are paid for by the EUs own budget’. In accordance with the above, European Union has a particular character which is related with the characteristics of the member states. It is for this reason that any decision taken in the context of the community has to be verified by the appropriate ‘body’ in accordance with the nature of issue under examination. The use of treaties for the creation of standard practices in the community is a common practice among the me mber states. Regarding this issue, it is stated by Savage (2001, 46) that ‘treaties and other forms of budgetary agreements create

IFRS(or IAS) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

IFRS(or IAS) - Essay Example Following a series of recent discussion after the collapse of some large companies such as the Enron a recent discussions of the United States (US) financial reporting include implicit or explicit recommendations that the U.S. abandon the current allegedly "rules-based" system in favor of a "principles-based" system, with the implication that some or all of the current difficulties facing U.S. financial reporting would be alleviated or even eliminated by such a shift (Chand 2005). In addition, Section 108 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 instructs the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to conduct a study on the adoption of a principles-based accounting system (Chand 2005). International accounting standards (IAS 36) requires companies to test assets for impairment. Basically, the standard requires that tangible assets should be tested for impairment when there is an indication that an asset might be impaired. (Epstein and Jermacowicz, 2007). IAS 36 Impairment of Assets was issued in March 2004. It is applied to goodwill and intangible assets acquired in business combinations after 31 March 2004, and to all other assets for annual periods beginning on or after 31 March 2004. IAS 36 prescribes the procedures that an entity applies to ensure that its assets are carried at no more than their recoverable amount. According to Epstein and Jermacowicz, (2007), IAS 36 applies in accounting for impairment of all assets other than : - Inventories (IAS 2 Inventories); - Assets arising from construction contracts (IAS 11 Construction Contracts); - Deferred tax assets (IAS 12 Income Taxes); - Assets arising from employee benefits (IAS 19 Employee Benefits); - Financial assets within the scope of IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement; - Investment property measured at fair value (IAS 40 Investment Property); - Biological assets related to agricultural activity that are measured at fair value less estimated point-of-sale costs (IAS 41 Agriculture); - Deferred acquisition costs and intangible assets, arising from insurance contracts within the scope of IFRS 4 Insurance Contracts; and - Non-current assets (or disposal groups) classified as held for sale in accordance Epstein and Jermacowicz, (2007) further states that, the recoverable amount of an asset is measured whenever there is an indication that the asset may be impaired. At each reporting date, an entity assesses whether there is any indication that an asset may be impaired. However, intangible assets having an indefinite useful life must be tested annually for impairment. The impairment test is required to be applied to a cash generating unit, that is, the smallest group of assets for which the entity has identifiable cash flows. Here the impairment test carried out according to Cairns (2005), If the recoverable amount of an asset is less than the asset's carrying amount the asset is impaired the asset's carrying amount should be reduced to recoverable amount debit expense, credit assetIn other words, the carrying amount of an asset or group of assets in the cash generating unit is compared with the fair value or value in use ( calculated as the present value of the cash flows expected to be generated from using the asset). The higher of value in use and fair value is taken and compared with the carrying amount and an impairment loss is recognized if the carrying amou

Discuss the arguments for and againts the reform of the international Essay

Discuss the arguments for and againts the reform of the international trading systems in general and the World Trade Organisationvin particular - Essay Example There has been greatest movement of resource to other countries and most of the companies have gone international. This has been a positive development in the business world as more and more companies in the world embrace e the concept of global operation. (Cancun 2003, p. 3) International trade can be described as trade between nations. This can be described as trade between national in different continents or it can mean trade between one neighbouring nations. International trade is the trade that happens beyond the boundaries of a continents and which in particular involves the subjects of that country. Unlike domestic trade that it controlled by the government, International trade is subject to the control of world and it comes with more regulation than the domestic trade International trade has been used as a yard stick for measuring the transparency and governance of a nation by the international community. In the recent past the wave of globalization has made it difficult for one a country to live as an island and the economic systems are moving more towards a dependency market structure. Globalization has brought about a cycle of dependency in which a country is depending on other for as structured by the world economic systems. This has been one of the reasons why international trade has become very important to the whole world. globalization has opened countries to the scrutiny of the international community and the world trade system has been used to force nations hat have been seen as deviating from the world economic system in order to force them to conform to world policies. One of the most important way in which world trade has been used to streamline the operation of nations is on mater that concerning respect of human rights. As we said earlier globalization has been characterized by opening of national police to the whole world and hence there is a scrutiny on how a nation is respecting issue of human rights and other.

Language Use and Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Language Use and Culture - Essay Example Informal language on the other hand is used in situations that are more relaxed and often involve people that we are very familiar with. Formal language is mostly used in writing, whereas informal language is used in speech. There are times, however, when informal language is used in writing. Such situations involve writing letters, emails and text messages to friends or family members. Informal Use of spoken language can also be formal. For instance, when a lecturer is giving lectures to students mostly the language is formal. For instance, a statement like ‘We went to Barcelona for the weekend. We have a lot of things to tell you’, is a formal statement. When said informally the statement would be ‘Went to Barcelona for the weekend. Lots to tell you. In his speech, John McWhorter says that people have stopped giving speeches formally and have now changed gradually to give informal speeches. He says that the kind of speech given in an old movie where one clears his throat before giving the speech I and go, â€Å" Ahem, ladies and gentlemen,† is a thing of the past. He continues to say that even the way we write has gradually changed from formal to informal. John says that people, especially young people write as if they are talking not giving about capital letters or punctuation especially when texting. John refers to texting as fingered speech because it is basically a form of speech in writing. Informal language sometimes involves use of slang. Slang may be described as a subset of a language used by a particular group of people. Slang usually consists of words and phrases which are not in the English dictionary. These words and phrases could be distortions of already existing English words or entirely new creations. Slang is used by almost all groups of people in society who have common interests or situations. The group of people that uses slang

Uprising in Middle East Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Uprising in Middle East - Essay Example A clear view of the entire episode can be comprehended and truly understood only by looking into the factors and elements that contributed to it, the factors and the course that was adopted and what have been the short term outcomes of the entire event as it has unfolded. Egypt faced the heat in form of massive gathering across the Tehrir square which later on became an emblem of revolution and uprising. Egypt has had a history of dictators and usurpers ruling over the people against their wishes and with little political or social participation. It is something that was in offing for a long while, and any place where human rights violation, social and political depravity becomes order of the day, a revolt and revolution finds its way in return. The focus of study is other factors and the neighboring social circumstances as well that ran in parallel and how they propelled an atmosphere of uprising. Understanding the overall scenario of Egypt uprising requires understanding and exploration of the reasons, impact and background of the revolutions that took place in Yemen and Libya. This also includes the study of the regions and the countries that were mostly likely to face and taste revolution yet they survived it and till date have no events and signs on instability that would be seen in form of revolution and overthrow of the government. On economic front it was the downtrodden state of the masses that compelled them into revolt and rebellion, where large percentage of the people lived below poverty line, with no basic facilities of life, no proper education, no health care facilities and far from the basic commodities that are right of every individual. .Religious element and their role cannot be undermined for they provided a platform of awareness and social and political activity which was needed in the environment

Women Rock Musician in History from the beginning in Unites States Essay

Women Rock Musician in History from the beginning in Unites States - Essay Example Rock and roll resulted from the convergence of rhythm, blues, and country musical genres plus a series of hi-tech developments, which creates an innovative market for the music. Blues are known to have developed from songs sung by African-Americans while working; they had originally been brought to the USA as slaves. While working at plantations, they used to communicate by means of â€Å"call and response,† fooling the plantation owners, saying that the music was happy though they actually used it to discuss issues about the owners; and just as rhythm and blues developed from blues, rock and roll developed from rhythm and blues (R&B). Among the great women that have made a contribution in the history rock and roll especially when it comes to playing instruments in bands or in singles included; Wanda Jackson (guitarist), Nancy Wilson (guitarist), Meg White (Pianist), Bonnie Rait (guitarist), and, other artists of today like Lady Gaga, who started playing the piano at a tender age and Taylor Swift who plays the guitar. Some of the technological advancements during the commencement of rock and roll in the 1940s included phonographs, which were initially bulky and could be damaged easily, so most people were tired of them, even though they were common. However, during the same time when rock and roll started, significant transformations were evident; the records that primarily played at 78 rpm (rounds per minute) were enhanced, and those that replaced them played at 33 and 45rpm, making them less bulky and easy to handle. American Rock (United States Rock) Women played key roles in the growth and development of the rock and roll genre, starting with early blues artists like Ma Rainey (Mother of the blues) and Bessie Smith (Vocalist from the black community), who were surprisingly the only women who recorded blues in the 1920’s, and Mother Maybelle Carter who recorded the first country music in 1927. These three plus other prominent women put on great effort towards establishing equality and basic human rights for the female gender emphasizing on the right to vote and working towards social justice (National Museum of Women Arts, 1). Moreover, other women involved in the campaign included; Ruth Brown and Lavern Baker (R&B singers), the famous rockabilly queen Wanda Jackson, Mahalia Jackson, Sister Rosetta Tharpe who mastered the guitar by the age of six, Memphis Minnie and Billie Holiday; some of who were talented and creative when it came to the different genres and were definitely trailblazers of rock and roll in the 50s. Significantly, as from 1950, rock and roll dominated most of the other music genres, making it a major force in American record sales, and crooners such as Patti Page found themselves pulled out of the pop charts due to the development and growth of rock and roll artists (Saatchi Gallery 1). Rock and roll bands and artists that dominated the pop charts during the 1950s included the Shirelles and the Supremes hence later on there were others like Janis Joplin, Grace Slick, Joni Mitchell, Carole King and Laura Nyro who ruled in the 1970s, setting a platform for the artists that are there today i.e. Carrie Underwood. Concomitantly, as rock and roll advanced, more divisions of it continued to emerge, such as surf music, which involved instrumental rock and roll, garage rock that was in the form of amateurish rock music, blues rock that often emulated jazz, folk rock that was identified with progressive or labor politics, and country rock that emulated country music. Others not so common were roots rock, psychedelic rock and southern rock, and by the 1970s there had been more such as progressive rock, glam rock, soft and hard rock (that are even common today), early

There are two questions. I need to analyze and give my opinion Research Paper

There are two questions. I need to analyze and give my opinion - Research Paper Example Economic theory covers the four major fields of human society i.e. consumption together with aggregation, household production and the choices concerning investments to be made over the time, uncertainties, the influence of competitive equilibrium over crime, social interactions, economic growth, etc. and lastly the imperfect competitions like monopoly (Becker). Economic theory has a great significance in forming a sound social order. There is nothing eccentric and strange about its place in the social life of humans. Rather it is highly applicable and provides solutions to many problems(Wellington 384-388). Considering the given scenario in the light of economic theory, the basic commonalty that I have identifiedis that they both are the result of consumption and aggregation issues on the micro economic level. In both the situations Sam Slime has exploited the victim.However, in the first scenario he has used the usual criminal tactics of robbing and therefore he got trapped by the police but in the other situation he used the political influence so as to get hold of his hidden motives. As stated in the economic theory the fundamental force behind the criminal activities is the competitive equilibrium which indicates that the fluctuation in the market prices of fundamentally required commodities effected the overall consumption of Sam Slime.This enabled him to indulge into such criminal acts while on the other hand his social interactions withpoliticians helped him to achieve his evil desires. In the second situation he benefitted from the poor political structure prevailing in the country. He just simply became a loyal supporter of the politician who then imposed tax over the victim so as to get $50 from him which was eventually given to Sam Slime.Research indicates that in a consumer-capitalist society prevalence of justice is comparatively difficult than other social systems. Irremediable acts such as the one committed by Sam Slime are a consequence of conv entional economic theory and overall unethical practices(Trainer 7-23). Stealing money using any means is not only a criminal activity rather it is also a highly unethical conduct. However, when such an act is committed using the laws and political influence than it causes greater damage which is the most significant difference in both the situation. In the first case, Sam Slime robbed $50 though it was the only amount left with the victim.Yet it was not that detrimental for him as he was able to save his life by giving the money.But in the second case when he refused to pay the tax so as to keep safe his $50, he was caught up by the police and was convicted for law violation although his act was completely justified. This indicated that theft done on the national level or through the use of political influence as in the given scenario produces much more detrimental consequences. Is stealingthrough the political process any less morally reprehensible than  stealing done individual ly? Ethics are the fundamental driving forces of human life whose absence might lead to irreparable consequences not only for the individual but also for the people around him. Ethics are responsible for the rational humanactivities and also to keep humans far away from offense (Bruno). Stealing is yet another criminal act which is condemned legally, morally and socially. However when it is correlated with the political process then it is slightly difficult to analyze its moral status. In

Studying Language Variation in Singapore Essay Example for Free

Studying Language Variation in Singapore Essay This paper is a study of code-switching in one Singaporean Chinese household (my own). It will consider the hypothesis that age correlates significantly with proficiency and/or usage of more than one code. To test this hypothesis, three subjects, from the household, reflecting three different generations have had their speech recorded. The subjects S1, S2 and S3 are my grandfather, my uncle and my cousin respectively. General information on the subjects such as their ages, occupations and medium of education can be found in Table 1 (see appendix). Data Collection The data for this study was collected through tape recording of spontaneous conversations during a relaxed and informal family gathering held at an aunts house. Extracts from the recordings were then appropriately selected for analysis such that they will help quantify the nature and number of code-switches. In order to keep as close as possible to actual language usage, all unnatural instances of code alternation, such as deliberate code-switching resulting from an over-consciousness of the tape-recorded or a wish to impress, were excluded. Basic Terminology Code-switching is the case of multilingual speakers making switches between different languages or varieties depending on audience, setting and purpose; or the juxtaposition within the same speech exchange of passages of speech belonging to two different grammatical systems or sub-systems (Gumperz 1982: 59) The verbal repertoire of each subject, including the different languages or varieties they speak, can be found in Table 1 as well (see appendix). Subject 1: Grandfather (Age: 69) My grandfather can speak more than 4 different varieties- Teochew, Mandarin, English, Malay and most of the other Chinese dialects. Teochew is the dominant Chinese dialect which my grandfather speaks. He is very proficient in Teochew and uses it most of the time, with family members of the 1st (grandmother) and 2nd (father, mother, uncles, aunts) generations. He uses the other Chinese dialects only with his friends of a different dialect group or when talking to hawkers or shopkeepers. He communicates with the 3rd generation (myself, cousins) in Mandarin and sometimes in English, which he is not very proficient in. He uses Malay only when speaking to the maid, as she is from Indonesia and can only understand minimal English and no other languages or dialects. In my recordings, I found that he only switched between 4 of the varieties- Teochew, Mandarin, English and Malay. I suppose it was not necessary to speak in any other Chinese dialect because it was a family gathering. Speaking mainly Teochew, he code-switched quite frequently, but not as much as S2. The nature of the switches was mainly, but not solely, due to his interlocutor. I will discuss the various factors further.

Exploratory Data Analysis Essay Example for Free

Exploratory Data Analysis Essay Exploratory Data Analysis Using the dataset Chamorro-Premuzic. sav, exploratory statistical analysis was carried out on the variables in the dataset. Scatter plots were formulated t give a clear visual view of the data for Extroversion and Agreeableness. Descriptive statistics were also formulated for the variables. 2. Decision about the missing data 3. Correlation A correlation analysis was carried out on the data for Extroversion and Agreeableness. 4. Regression.  A regression analysis was carried out on the data for Extroversion and Agreeableness to examines whether or not one can predict if a student wants a lecturer to be extroverted using the student’s extroversion score. The analysis was two-tailed since the answer sought to determine if the student wants a lecturer to be extroverted or not, and hence any deviation from the answer either positively or negatively would lead to rejection of the null hypothesis. (Triola, 2009) 5. Multiple Regression A multiple regression analysis was carried out to determine whether age, gender, and student’s extroversion can predict if a student wants the lecturer to be extroverted. (Lewicki, 2007) Part B. Applying Analytical Strategies to an Area of Research Interest 1. Research area of interest. The research was aimed at examining the relationship between extroversion and Agreeableness by lecturer and students on what to consider for extroversion. a. Pearson Correlation A parametric correlation analysis that seeks to identify any relationship between two variables. b. Spearman’s Correlation This is a correlation analysis that is non-parametric and aimed at identifying any relationship between two variables. c. Partial Correlation vs. Semi-Partial Correlation Partial correlation analysis is an analysis that seeks to identify the degree of a relationship between two variables when controlling factors has been introduced in the analysis. Semi-partial correlation analysis is an analysis that seeks to control the effect of a third variable in multiple regression and then finding the relationship between the remaining two variables. The method however retains the variation caused by the third variable that is removed from the equation. d. Simple Regression e. Multiple Regression f. Logistic Regression Logistic regression is a regression that seeks to identify the probability of occurrence of an event in a logit function. The regression model is used for binomial regression models. References Hill, T. and Lewicki, P. (2007). Stataistics Methods and Applications. London: Croom Helm. Triola F. (2009). Elementary Statistics (11th Edition). New York, ACM.

Nokia vs Apple Case Study

Nokia vs Apple Case Study The Board of Apple iTunes has requested a report that seeks to examine the key macro and micro environmental factors within the music download industry and provide significant information regarding the current threat of Nokia entering the music download market. Also, recent trends should be observed and a strategy has to be developed that will limit Nokias impact and protect Apples market share within Europe. In order to do so, we used significant instruments to analyse the market and we formulated a strategy accordingly. 2.1 Apples Mission Statement: Apple is committed to bringing the best personal computing experience to student, educators, creative professionals and condumers arounf the world through its innovative hardware, software and iternet offerings. Apple continious to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the online phone market this year with its revolutionary iPhone. 2.2 Apples strategy: Apple inc. is a vertically integrated company, manufacturing and supplying all hardware and software as well as its own operating systems. Apple Inc. chose this strategy so they could retain profit and ensure profit is not lost by financing other companys profit margins. The practice behind this theory is to heavily finance research and development and have have the necessary means of production to cover all areas of the business. Marketing and advertising are also a key component in Apple Inc.s strategy to have a better market position. 2.3 Apples market: To exactly define Apples market is nearly impossible as the company takes part in the multimedia download market by offering a wide range of services like music, ringtones, games, Podcasts and movies (most popular is their iTunes service) as well as having recently entered the mobile phone market with its new iPhone. The multimedia download market is described by Mintel as anything that can be copied from the Internet to a PC, other portable devices (mobile phones, PDA), game consoles or multimedia devices (Mintel, 2007). This includes music, video/television programmes, games, wallpapers, icons and ringtones. For our report we will focus on the music part which is of special interest to the Board of Apple iTunes although some consideration about the whole multimedia download market will have to be done, as Apple provides a variety of multimedia services and a reduction of the market to the music download market might be to narrow sometimes. Apple is not yet part of the mobile download market (unlike Nokia that has entered this market with its new Ovi service and the launch of its N-Series devices) as this market is strictly defined by Mintel as products that are downloaded to a mobile phone, including ongoing subscription purchases or single one-off downloads. These products include icons, wallpaper, ringtones, music, news or video clips, jokes and games. These services are for mobile phones only and similar items downloaded to a PC are excluded (Mintel, 2005) . The mobile phones market is being defined by Mintel as handset manufacturers and network service providers (Mintel, 2007). 3. Overview of the multimedia download market: This overview has been generated on the base of a Mintel report about uploading and downloading in the UK in 2007 and the figures provided only show the UK market. Since it can be assumed that the UK market does not differ dramatically from the Europeen market since network providers, third party providers and mobile manufacturers taking part in this market are accessed through the world wide web and therfore are also being used from Europeen customers, the facts given can be transformed to the Europeen market. The multimedia download market and especially the music download market is a fast changing and fast growing emergent market that is characterised by high fragmentation as more and more players such as mobile phone manufacturers, network- and third party providers enter the market. Market Size and Segmentation: The UK value for the download market in 2006 has increased 179% above 2002 to  £343 million and especially the growth of music downloads is acting as a main driver for the market and is overtaking mobile phone downloads that have been the largest segment of the market in the past. Mintel forecasts further expansion of the market between 2007 and 2009. Market Share: The multimedia download market is a highly fragmented market with many players, that is being dominated by Apple iTunes with nearly 80% market share. Third-party providers like Napster, MonsterMob, iTouch and Zed are also an imporant source of the market, although in the case of mobile downloads network providers are significant too. Key Points of the Internal Market Environment: An increasing desire of consumers to benefit from new technology can clearly be recognized and especially in the music download market, consumer interest has increased due to innovative product launches, such as the Apple iPod. Also, theres a trend for technology devices to blend functions that have been associated with only one product, as recent examples like the Apple iPhone or the freshly announced Google Gphone show. Key Points of the External Market Environment: The current lack of legislation regarding copyright issues, encourages people away from legal download services. A trend being recognized by Mintel is that ad-supported content is getting more and more accepted from customers as they are more willing to download from official sources if the content is free. The Future: Mintel predicts that rather being an add-on downloading will become an activity carried out on most devices. As a result mobile Internet surfing will increasingly become mass market! 4. Key factors to success for Apple: The companys wide and always up-to-date range of downloadable files. The companies fresh and exiting presentation of services and devices that delivers the attitude towards the customer that downloading is fun. Design and fashion have proved highly important for the company, as their products are being regarded as hip and stylish. The ease of use for its products and services. The companys innovative technologies. Strong branding that attracts new customers, keeps older ones and creates additional value. Highly effective advertising Many formal and informal cooperations with big multinational firms 5. PESTEL-Analysis: Economical aspects: Consumers currently feel very safe about their financial situation and about their prosper life. As a result to that, they are willing to spent more in fast moving goods and luxury. However, costs evole to be the most important factor for customers when it comes to purchasing a mobile phone and additional services as well as downloads. Socio-cultural aspects: Theres a trend in the mulimedia download market towards targeting younger consumer groups, since these groups show higher interest in downloading and are less restrictive towards new technologies. Despite this trend Apple have to consider that older consumer groups are usually wealthier than younger people and have more money to spent and it is also important for the furture to meditate that the overall population is growing older. Technical aspects: The wide range of fast changing high-tech/high-quality download possibilities, encourages consumers to download but it also puts more pressure on competing firms, as they have to stay up-to-date with the newest technologies. Considerable developments in the mobile phone market (3G handsets becoming reality and expanded features available to the customer) will push the multimedia download market into new spheres and will open up great opportunities for Apple. Still, since Apple is taking part in a highly competitive market with new technologies arising and changing in a very fast rate product-life-cycles are short and companies have to invest strongly in RD in order to stay competitive and to fullfil the market demand. Legal aspects: Issues of copyrights and illegal downloads greatly affect the music download industry and are a major problem for active legal providers. A former lack of legislation in this area has encouraged consumers away from commercial downloading services and as a response to this, new technologies have been introduced that protect the copyright of owners and prevent customers to download and share files illegaly. Digital Rights Managment (DRM) was created to controll the number of copies that can be made from a download and although for the music industry there are many positive aspects to DRM, there are surely as many negative for the consumer. Therefore, some companies have already planned to open big portals on DRM-Free tracks, that will legally enable the consumer to download files without being limited to a certain number of computers, portable digital devices and CD burns for a reaonable price. Moreover DRM-Free tracks can be played on any MP3 capable device! Although Ap ple has already updated its offer with DRM-Free tracks, the choice for customers is still very limited, as Apple could only strike deals with EMI that allow them to offer DRM-Free tracks. Also, Apples DRM-Free tracks are more expensive than those of its competitiors which could become a major problem in the future, if the company doesnt adapt its pricing to the market. 6. Porters 5 Forces: Substitute products: A substitute product is not a direct alternative to the product a company is selling. For example, the new Sony Walkman media player is not a substitute for the iPod Touch, it is a competitor. However, a personal CD player or MP3 player could be if certain aspects of the market were to change, e.g. price and there was a high elasticity of demand. In the case of iTunes, with music there is a wide range of options for buying music and therefore are many substitutes within the music industry, for example tapes, CDs, vinyl and DVDs. All of these are easily accessible and just as convenient as downloading from the internet. The benefit which iTunes has is that you do not have to buy whole albums; you can download songs individually and at a fraction of the cost of a single song on another format. Also you are able to buy movies, TV shows, audio books and Podcasts, all available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Reports by Mintel have shown that sale price and the volume of sales is falling for non digital media, consequently as a result of internet downloading. Album sales are in dramatic decline; largely due to a boost in single downloads. High definition gaming and music channels have also deflected consumers away from buying into the music industry. However, for the future, it is likely that technological innovation will replace popular digital mediums and formats but we asume that this is not a very big threat for Apple, as the company has proved to always be up-to-date with the newest technologie and will do so in the future. The Threat of new Entrants: Already, there are hundreds of media downloading sites available to use on the internet. Some are legal and some are not. It is more difficult to block and put barriers up for illegal entrants into the market because they are not abiding by the law and therefore do not have patents, licences or the rights to distribute media, but still do. With legitimate start up companies, there are capital requirements, possible patents licences to obtain and ultimately the prospect of competing with already well established and reputable companies such as iTunes. Mintel predicts that there will be an influx of new companies willing to invest in the online downloading industry. A big threat for Apple constitutes the entrance of Amazon into the market. The company announced the launch of a new music download portal that offers a wide range of DRM-Free tracks to a reasonable price. Since there are many advantages to DRM-Free tracks, like the fact that users can legaly co py the files without being restricted to a certain number of copies, consumers are expected to highly welcome the new download store. Apple has to be aware of the fact, that it could loose both new and old customers by restricting them to Digital Rights Management tracks that can only be played on Apples iPod and not on any MP3 capable device, as it is the case with Amazon. Another threat of new entrants Apple has to face is, that the download industry is likely to change towards add-driven downloads, which means that customers wont have to pay for their downloads if they agree to watching adds. Google will launch its own mobile phone, the G-Phone. Googles strategy is to give its services for free to customers and than sell adds to pay for them. Apart from that, Nokias launch of the new Ovi Store together with its new N-Series will be the greates threat of new entrance as it will allow customers to directly download files to their mobile which Apples iPhone currently doesnt do. Bargaining Power Of Customers: Due to the vast range of direct alternatives and substitutes, iTunes needs to price competitively as well as maintaining reputation and range availability. Consumers are easily swayed to alternative products, especially the ease and free use of illegal downloading sites and therefore need to be drawn in to using legal downloading sites like iTunes. Consumers have great power due to their ability to buy from any one competitor in the music industry and can therefore potentially dictate prices by constantly buying from the cheapest company, thus forcing competitors to reduce prices. Obviously one customer would not make a difference, but collectively customers are strong. As for the Apple iPhone, it has to be considered that network providers have great power over the company, as they could decide not to sell the iPhone or put pressure on the company that forces them to pay a certain amount of their revenues to the provider. At the moment, Apple has rest ricted itself to one provider, O2, and therefore greatly depends on them selling the iPhone but this will surely change over time. Bargaining Power of Suppliers: Similarly to bargaining power of customers, there is the bargaining power of suppliers. iTunes have to submit to the requirements of the consumer market to be competitive, but on the other hand have the ability to bargain with their suppliers due to the size and reputation of the company, thus they are a supplier and a customer. Due to the volume of sales that iTunes have, it would be foolish for companies such as SonyBMG, Universal, Warner and EMI to not compromise on the costs and rights to distribute their music, as their success in the music download market highly depends on the successful distribution of their music, mainly through Apple. This fact clearly limits the bargaining power of suppliers to a certain degree, although Apple has to consider that without their music iTunes could not function as efficiently as the market demands. Therefore a compromise must arise that suits both companies, a possible agreement could be initial fees plus percen tage of sales. Intensity of Rivalry: Although the amount of companies operating in the music download market is pretty high, Apple is the clear market leader. Still the multimedia download market is a market in its growth phase with fast changing technologies and many new companies entering the market. At the moment, it seems very unlikely that a company could seriously threaten Apples market position but the company has to be aware of the fact that there are other big multinational companies trying to enter the market with new technologies and ways of offering their services. 7. The Industry Life Cycle: The multimedia download market is a market in its growth phase that is being stimulated by an increasing desire of customers to benefit from multimedia technology and services. Technical innovations are leading to an increasing number of consumers seeking to interact through the internet and to download their music. The market value of the music download market has shown very strong and is going to rise even more in the future as customers familiarise themselves more and more with the internet and are increasingly aware of innovative technologies. Especially the youth segment pays great interest to the digital download of music and holds out good prospects for long-term growth. At the same time more and more firms are entering the music download market and prices for technology and services are expected to fall. Add-driven content services and the entrance of firms offering download services from online portals directly to the mobile will bring new perspectives into the market and co nstitute a threat and a opportunity at the same time. 8. Four Links Model Lynch: Informal co-operative links: Google: There are many informal ties that form the alliance between Google and iTunes. The reasoning for the alliance has long been speculated and many believe it is to overthrow the dominant leader in the market; Microsoft. With Google developing an Office type package and Apple inc. already having an operating system well established, an alliance could be the key to outsmarting Microsoft and decrease their market share. The main features that form the alliance are as follows: Google currently have a video application that has been made available for users to browse freely but cannot download from. Therefore a link to the iTunes website where consumers can download the video can be made available. The link is perfect because customers can view on Google Video and then download from iTunes if they wish. iTunes can be integrated into the Google toolbar or software pack. Also, Google have a sponsored search for the iTunes website where users are directed to the iTunes website and a sma ll fee is provided to Google from the company for the service. CEO of Google Eric Schmidt is currently sitting on the board of Directors for Apple inc. due to the past possible development of the Google iPhone, but this development never really took off. However, he has said recently that Apple and Google are doing more and more things together and there is a possible tablet style personal computer on the horizon. We have similar goals and similar competitors. Though there is no formal agreement or alliance yet. Starbucks: Currently only available in the USA, when in a Starbucks Coffee Shop, any iPod touch, iPhone or PC with iTunes on can connect to the iTunes website for free. There is a Starbucks option on the webpage that can allow you to see the current song that is playing and also the last 10 tracks played. Songs can be previewed and downloaded and will automatically sync to your PC when next connected. This is convenient for the customer and benefits both Starbucks and Apple. Formal co-operative links: Nike: Bringing sports and music together, Apple and Nike have produced the Nike+iPod which is designed to give the ultimate workout experience. In order to benefit from this, the customer must own a pair of Nike+ trainers (Nike+Air Zoom Moire), an iPod and the Nike+iPod sport kit which is what connects the trainers to the iPod. It is connected via wireless receivers. The idea was realised when Apple CEO Steve Jobs conducted research that showed 50% of the 50 million who bought iPods last year used them during a workout. Both companies define their core markets by lifestyle, (Kraft, 2006). Nikes target audience a sports culture and for Apples target audience it is the creativity culture. Both have come together to create a new profile, thus being the lifestyle and technology that has founded the partnership. The two huge brands have come together to create a fusion brand that will attract massive attention. Coca-Cola: Coca-Cola and iTunes teamed up to promote the release of a coke branded music website that had iTunes services integrated into the website. The website would be available across Europe and allow viewers to see the latest up and coming artists and to download podcasts from iTunes. Were excited to announce this partnership with AppleTogether we are creating a unique and exciting platform that gives young people a voice and allows them to refresh their music experience every day. (Dominique Reiniche, president of Coca-Cola European Union Group, 2006) 70 million free songs would be downloaded from iTunes in the promotion due to special codes printed on coke bottles. The strategic decision was made by Coca-Cola to join with iTunes because of the failure of its own digital downloading website MyCokeMusic, which lost out to iTunes quite badly. The alliance means that Coca-Cola can sell music but it is only iPod compatible due to DRM restrictive measures. Network Operators:Apples strategy was potentially to play the network operators off each other to ensure they got the best deal possible. Apple decided to go for the biggest operators in each of the countrys that they were supplying the phone in: UK O2; France Orange; Germany T-Mobile. O2 secured their deal by offering 40% of any revenues made from the iPhone and possibly more in commission and other areas. The tactics employed have left Apple highly unfavourable with other Network operators. (Wray, 2007) Complementors: It is the complementors who add the value to a company without there actually being agreements or strict negotiations. Companies such as SonyBMG, EMI, Universal and Warner all benefit iTunes because obviously if it wasnt for these companies iTunes would not function as well as it does and would not generate anywhere near the amount of money that it currently does. Ultimately, Steve Jobs listened to the concerns that music companies had regarding illegal downloading, piracy etc. He came up with the idea for iTunes and this was basically an external source for music companies to make money in the digital downloading industry with minimal effort. It wasnt strictly a way of how it would help Apple, but how it would help the music producers and the industry. Therefore the collaboration of iTunes with the big players in the music industry complemented each other. 9. SWOT-Analyses: Strengths: Apple is the clear market leader in the music downloadand steady financial performance. Revenues have grown from $5,742 million in 2002 to $19,315 million in 2006 and the companys net profit has increased from $65 million in 2002 to $1,989 million in 2006 (Datamonitor, 2007). Steady financial growth shows the good financial state of the company and builds the base for future growth and expansion. Also, the company has a very strong branding and enjoys a high level of brand recognition and brand awarness that allows the company to differentiate its offers and stimulate sales. Another strengths of the company is defined by its successful distribution of the iPod and its software iTunes. With every iPod sold, the consumer automaticaly installs iTunes on his pc, as it is only possible to download music from Apples original software to an iPod. Moreover, Apple procucts are being considered as hip, stylish and fashionable which is increasingly becoming important for consumers. F urthermore, Apple devices and software attract customers for their convinience, their ease of use and for always being up-to-date with the newest technology. Apple has also collaborated with large brand companies like Nike, Starbucks, CocaCola and Google,which has had beneficial impacts on both Apple and their partners and has created a new profile, e.g. linking sports and music culture. Weaknesses: First off all there is to say that although the interconnection between the iPod/iPhone and iTunes has been a key factor to Apples success this restriction could become a problem in the future, as more and more customers are looking for devices and online portals that allow them to download MP3s to any MP3 capable device. Moreover, Apple has only a very limited offer of DRM-Free tracks on iTunes, which can be defined as a strong weakness since an increasing number of customers fancy DRM-Free downloads. Another weakness for Apple lies in its pricing, especially for its iPhone. A Mintel research about the mobile phone market in the UK defined pricing and costs to be the most important factor when it comes to purchasing a phone (Mintel, 2007). Also, the iPhone currently doesnt allow the costumer to directly download files to the mobile, which, compared to the new Nokia N-Series, is a enormous weakness, since it could prevent customers to buy the Apple device and go for the N okia handset instead. This could lead to a loss of Apples market share to its competitor Nokia. Also, technically, the iPhone isnt quiet as good as its competitor the Nokia N95, as it runs on a slower mobile data service and comes only with a 2 Megapixel camera. Another weakness for Apple is, that theyve only chosen one operator in each country where the iPhone is available and thus has restricted the consumers choice of network operators. Threats: The comanys biggest threat probably constitutes the entrance of Nokia into the digital download market. By providing the opportunity to directly download files to a handset device, Nokia could gain some of Apples a market share in the digital download market, since customers are increasingly fancying mobile downloads that dont restrict them to a bulky pc or laptop. The mobile download market is one of the most opportunity-rich markets the world has ever seen, as Nokias Chief Executive Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo states (Halper,2007), and if Apple doesnt catch up fast on this opportunity it is running risk to loose its superiour market position to Nokia. Another threat for Apple constitutes the launch of online portals that are specialized in marketing DRM-Free tracks. More and more customers are looking for music that doesnt restrict them to a certain number of copies or to a special device as it is the case with iTunes and the iPod. Although Apple is currently trying to improve it s choice of DRM-Free tracks, it still lacks the greater choice and lower price of companies such as Amazon which could lead to custmers switching over from Apple to those in terms of DRM more convinincing sites. Also the threat of illegal download sites would have an negative impact, due to the availability of free digital content that could sway customers away from Apples iTunes. Opportunities: Although currently especially the youth customer segment is seen as the major target group for downloading, as these customers seem to be less restrictive towards new technologies, providing more substantial and sophisticated products and services for older and wealthier people could proof very profitable for Apple. With the launch of its iPhone Apple has already done an important move into the mobile phone market that might allow the company to challenge its biggest threat Nokia on their home market. As more and more customers are increasingly becoming aware of innovative techologies and of the benefits arising out of Internet downloading Apple should now take advantage of the great opportunities arising from the fast growing mobile phone download market by making its services directly downloadable to its iPhone as its rival Nokia has already done. Also, the upcoming change in the digital download industry towards ad-supported content could be an opportunity for Apple , if the company manages to strike advertising deals with companies that allow Apple to offer services for free to customers who agree to watching ads. This could bring a whole new bunch of customers to the company. Although these customers wont have to pay for the add-supported services, they will probably buy an iPod or an iPhone or another Apple hardware device. 10. 1 About Nokia: Although having its origins in the wood-pulp industry the finnish handset manufacturer Nokia has become a global leader in the manufacturing of mobiles and mobile networks and is now the market leader in the mobile phone market with 36% of the worlds market share. In 2006 the company sold 290 million units and therefore it sells more phones than its three nearest competitors combined. More recently the company has made a move into the mobile download market, which was considered by Nokias president and chief executive Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo to be one of the opportunity- rich markets of all time (Fildes, 2007), by launching its new multimedia online portal Ovi, which consists of the three components Nokia Music Store, N-Gage Service and Nokia Maps and acts as gateway for consumers to Nokia services. The company has done this as an answer to the announcement of Apple that it would launch a new iphone and therefore enter the mobile phone market, which constitutes a serious threat to the f innish handset manufacturer in its home market. Nokia is now going from a purely hardware-driven company to the service sector and is becoming a player in the multimedia solutions market. 10.2 Nokias Mission Statement: Nokia focuses on bringing people together by providing consumers with human technology that fulfills peoples need to communicate and share. Nokia aims to provide technology that is intuitive, beautiful and a joy to use. The companys strategy relies on growing, transforming and building its business to ensure its future success and it sees the internet as its main quest, due to the continously changing communications industry with the internet at the center of this transformation. The companys vision is a world where everyone can be connected. 10.3 Nokias new N-Series compared to Apples iPhone: Nokia has launched its new N-Series which consists of the totally new N81 device and an upgrated version of its flagship N95. The N81 is a music-orienated handset which enabels the consumer to directly download songs from the Nokia Music Store to the mobile. This opportunity makes the handset superior to Apples new Iphone as consumers no longer rely on a PC or iPod but can directly download their files to the mobile. The N81 has a 8GB memory with the capacity to store 6000 music tracks, which is about the same as the new Iphone, and it uses a 3G connectivity. The Apple iPhone uses a slow mobile data service called EDGE and that makes it about four times slower than the N81. The new N81 will cost about EUR 360 and is therefore slightly cheaper than the Apple iPhone which comes about EUR 399. The upgrated version of Nokias flagship N95 is being marketed as a multimedia device and could take on the highly praised iPhone. It comes with 8 GB of storage, a 2.8 inch screen and 3G connectivi ty and will feature a 5 Megapixel camera, which is a lot, compared to the rather dissapointing 2 Megapixel camera of the iPhone. The N95 costs about EUR 419 and is therefor sligthly more expensive than the iPhone. Technically the Nokia N-series appears to be better than the Apple iPhone since it offers a faster connectivity and a better camera but what makes it really superior to the iPhone is the fact, that the consumer can download files from the Nokia Music Store directly to the mobile. Still the highly anticipated iPhone looks more fashionable and its got the greater consumer attention since many costumers are already familiar with the Apple iPod and Apple iTunes and cant wait for the