Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Risk Assessment A New Standard Of Security For The...

Risk Assessment Vanhunnik, Tiffani HLSS302 After the events of September 11th 2001, the United States was left in a weakened state. What had happened? What had gone wrong? What did we miss? These questions are what faced a government scrambling to find a plan to ensure that these events did not have an encore. In the year following September 11th 2001 the United States government came together with selected delegates representing both parties of republicans and democrat and the 9/11 commission was erected. A new standard of security for the homeland had to be met and the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security. This brought about the question, what assets to we need to protected and how will we as government fund and protect the security of those assets? The 9/11 commission report was released on the 22nd of July, 2004. Within its pages it was discussed how the nation would move on from this tragedy in the security mind set. The document stated that between the years of 2001 and 2004 spending on Homeland Security rose more than 50 percent, increasing its allocation of funds from $354 billion for $547 billion. (National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, 2004) With a large increase of funds that would be allocated just for the Department of Homeland Security, mountains could be moved in the upgrade of the United States national security measures. The 9/11 commission report goes onto speculate that with sudden events comes extremeShow MoreRelatedU.s. Department Of Homeland Security1668 Words   |  7 Pages1. Purpose Among one of the missions of The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is to protect and preserve the security of the Cyberspace in the country. The principal objective of this Security Plan is to give instructions and direction for the Department’s workers and help the Homeland Security to create best practices and strategies in the IT security system. 2. Scope This policy needs to be applied to all users, employees, contractors, suppliers and to all IT resources such as e-mails, filesRead MoreCyber Security Role For Homeland Security Intelligence1153 Words   |  5 Pagescreation of the Department of Homeland Security and with it pooled federal agencies into in umbrella for it to be centralized in order to be effective. There are three categories in which the Homeland Security Intelligence face in the 21st century. Those categories are technological, political, and cyber security. In this day in age everything from critical infrastructure, government information to money is being digitalized to the internet. Furthermore, it gave a showed a new front in which our nationRead MoreThe Department Of Homeland Security1338 Words   |  6 Pagesits borders. Until that time the United States’ homeland security was under the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice (Masse, O’Neil, Rollins, 2007). After the attack the Executive branch of the government created a new organization that would be responsible for deciding where the biggest threats to the country were. This was the birth of the Department of Homeland Security. The Department of Homeland Security is responsible for assessing all risk to the Nation within its borders and developingRead MoreManaging A Strong Risk Management Program Essay983 Words   |  4 Pagesinevitable. In in order to maintain resilience it is important to establish a strong risk management program. It can be difficult to co nceptualize risk management as a program and a framework. It is first important to identify the critical infrastructure and key resources that require risk reduction and the mitigation of consequences. In this essay we will examine how risk management is used by the homeland security enterprise, and how that use benefits such aspects as resource allocation, strategicRead MoreInformation Security and Risk Management1473 Words   |  6 Pagesactivity. This reversal in focus by both individuals and institutions may simply be a natural response to the reduced capabilities of al-Qaeda and other terrorist networks, as confirmed by the leading authority on terrorism and its effects, and national security analyst for the CNN network, Peter Bergen, who observed recently that the Obama administration has played a large role in reducing terrorist threats by continuing and scaling up many of former President George W. Bushs counter-terrorist methodsRead MoreThe Department Of Homeland Security1 336 Words   |  6 PagesThe Homeland Security enterprise is tasked with protecting our country from all threats to include threats that have not yet revealed themselves. There’s a few methods used to identify these threats, but I’m going to cover just one of those methods in particularly. To better explain the role of risk management, first I’ll break down the steps of risk management and explain each one individually. After I have fully addressed the basics of risk management, I’ll go more in depth on why the DepartmentRead MoreThe Department Of Homeland Security Supplies A National Protection Plan1528 Words   |  7 PagesThe Department of Homeland Security supplies a national protection plan concerning critical infrastructure security. This plan targets a wide audience, including public and private critical infrastructure owners and administrators. Managing risks through identifying, deterring, and disrupting threats to critical infrastructure is th e direct focus of this plan. The ability of an organization to reduce the impact of a threat that has occurred and reducing the impact of one that may occur is essentialRead MoreRisk Assessment Of Homeland Security1371 Words   |  6 PagesRisk Assessment in Homeland Security Given the extreme variance of threats presented across the United States as well as its territories and the expensive nature of securing and protecting everything from citizens to critical infrastructure, a system has been developed in order to determine how to best manage risks and allocate resources to protect such elements. This system is composed of formula that has been devised in order to determine the risk to a potential target and the effects of variousRead MoreEssay On Containerized Shipping1724 Words   |  7 Pagesgrowing concern over the vulnerabilities of port security and the possible exploitation of these vulnerabilities by a terrorist organization; specifically, the use of containerized shipping. The vastness of the process of maritime operations alone creates a large opportunity for vulnerability, but add to it the different regulation requirements by all the different countries involved in the global market and there is a large difference in protection standards a nd the execution of them. This paper willRead MoreProject Part 1 Task 1 Essay1371 Words   |  6 PagesProject Part 1 Task 1 Draft Risk Management Plan Ernest Martinez Jr. C. Flack IS3110 October 22, 2012 Purpose The Senior Management of the Defense Logistics Information Services (DLIS) has decided to update the previous risk management plan with a developing, new risk management plan. This new risk management plan will not only minimize the amount of risk for future endeavors, but will also be in compliance with regulations such as the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), Department

Monday, December 23, 2019

Slavery and Freedom - 868 Words

For Edmund S. Morgan American slavery and American freedom go together hand in hand. Morgan argues that many historians seem to ignore writing about the early development of American freedom simply because it was shaped by the rise of slavery. It seems ironic that while one group of people is trying to break the mold and become liberated, that same group is making others confined and shattering their respectability. The aspects of liberty, race, and slavery are closely intertwined in the essay, Slavery and Freedom: The American Paradox. The contradictions between slavery and freedom are very apparent throughout history. America started out with the intentions of becoming separate and equal. To become this kind of nation they†¦show more content†¦They had to work because there was no land for backup. In these times owning property was an important part of being a free man. Perhaps this led to slavery for those who did not own land. Many think slavery was always race b ased, but Jefferson s position shows a different view. The problem with the landless workers escalated to its height in 1676 when about one fourth of freemen in Virginia did not own any land of their own (132). Many of these men wandered about, living dangerous and non goal oriented lives. These people were causing big problems among the Virginia population. While they needed the immigrants to work, when they were turned free they went out of control. Eventually this led to Bacon s Rebellion. The problem was similar to that in England so they treated it the same way, with many tough restrictions of liberty (134). In efforts to control everything the government ended up preserving the rights of Englishmen by destroying the rights of Africans (135). This decision led to the beginning of African slavery in Virginia. This new kind of slavery proved to be cheap and grew very quickly. These are the origins of the race based slavery that we are more familiar with. Virginia made se parate laws for the whites and blacks, basically punishing the black and protecting the white (137). While Virginia was worried about the slaves attacking them they ended up being very easily controlled. The slaves wereShow MoreRelatedSlavery Fight for Freedom804 Words   |  4 PagesSlavery Fight for Freedom During the course of the slave trade millions of Africans became involuntary immigrants to the New World. Some African captives resisted enslavement by fleeing from slave forts on the coast of West African. Others mutinied on board slave trading vessels, or cast themselves into the ocean, rather facing death than enslavement. In the New World there were those who ran away from their owners, ran away among the Indians, formed maroon societies, revolted, feigned sicknessRead MoreSlavery And The End Of Freedom912 Words   |  4 Pagespeaceful life in which they were able to enjoy their freedom. However, their lives rapidly changed when Europeans arrived in their homeland. The early sixteen hundreds was the beginning of slavery and the end of freedom for many Africans. Getting shipped into a new country against your will would certainly be a traumatic and painful adjustment. The Africans had to overcome unfathomable obstacles just to survive the journey to America. Slavery was just gain ing popularity in this time period, seeingRead MoreThe Dichotomy Of Freedom And Slavery Essay2041 Words   |  9 PagesThe dichotomy of freedom and slavery in rhetoric and rise of the United States of America has long been an enigma, a source of endless debate for scholars and citizens alike who wonder how a nation steeped in the ideals of republicanism could so easily subjugate and enslave an entire group of people. The Chesapeake region was home to America’s great statesmen, men who espoused ideals of freedom and liberty from tyranny. Yet at the same time, these men held hundreds of men, women, and children inRead MoreSlavery Is The Key For Achieving Freedom1672 Words   |  7 Pagesbecause we have to. But 200 years ago, things were much different. Slavery unfortunately existed in our society, and slaves weren’t granted the gift of education. By not having an education, they were not able to completely understand their situation, and therefore unable to get out of it. Slaves had a limited option in achieving freedom, and in order to do so, they had to become educated, enough to be able to understand slavery, and they had to be religious to be able to see through the hypocrisyRead MoreEssay about Freedom and Slavery772 Words   |  4 PagesHistory 141 Freedom and Slavery The United States promotes that freedom is a right deserved by all humanity. Throughout the history of America the government has found ways to deprive selected people this right by race, gender, class and in other ways as well for its own benefit. This is a boundary of freedom. Boundaries of freedom outline who is able to enjoy their freedom and who isn’t. These people alter with time and as history unfolds. Slavery and the journey of their freedom was a big partRead MoreHistory: Slavery and American Freedom1104 Words   |  5 PagesSummary I American Slavery, American Freedom written by Edmund S. Morgan captures the history of Virginia while keeping focusing on the social and political elements that uplifted the way of slavery. With the focus on Virginia, the book also probes the central paradox of American history: how a people could have developed the dedication to human liberty and dignity exhibited by the leaders of the American Revolution and at the same time have developed and maintained a system of labor that deniedRead MoreAmerican Slavery, American Freedom Essay1174 Words   |  5 PagesEdmund S. Morgan’s famous novel American Slavery, American Freedom was published by Norton in 1975, and since then has been a compelling scholarship in which he portrays how the first stages of America began to develop and prosper. Within his researched narrative, Morgan displays the question of how society with the influence of the leaders of the American Revolution, could have grown so devoted to human freedom while at the same time conformed to a system of labor that fully revoked human dignityRead More Slavery Fight For Freedom Essay802 Words   |  4 Pages Slavery Fight for Freedom During the course of the slave trade millions of Africans became involuntary immigrants to the New World. Some African captives resisted enslavement by fleeing from slave forts on the coast of West African. Others mutinied on board slave trading vessels, or cast themselves into the ocean, rather facing death than enslavement. In the New World there were those who ran away from their owners, ran away among the Indians, formed maroon societies, revolted, feigned sicknessRead MoreSlavery, Freedom And Sectional Conflict2170 Words   |  9 PagesSlavery, Freedom and Sectional Conflict in America prior to the Civil War In the United States of America after the Revolutionary War, freedom was a very relative term. According to the constitution all men were created equal and therefore all men are free. However, in this time prior to the American Civil War this was not the case. There existed, what would eventually be called an immoral evil by some abolitionists in, slavery. Slaves were African-Americans brought to the United States, specificallyRead More The Relationship Between Slavery and Freedom Essay852 Words   |  4 PagesBetween Slavery and Freedom For Edmund S. Morgan American slavery and American freedom go together hand in hand. Morgan argues that many historians seem to ignore writing about the early development of American freedom simply because it was shaped by the rise of slavery. It seems ironic that while one group of people is trying to break the mold and become liberated, that same group is making others confined and shattering their respectability. The aspects of liberty, race, and slavery are closely

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Hugo Boss Case Study Free Essays

Options 4/3/2012 Option: you have the choice to buy something for a certain price but if the price is less than that price forget about the contract. The most you ever pay is the contract price. You have the possibility of doing better. We will write a custom essay sample on Hugo Boss Case Study or any similar topic only for you Order Now Nothing to lose only gain since you locked in a certain price; seller of contract can only do worse. The person whom makes the contract charges a price to enter into the contract, the seller keeps this contract. This price is called the premium, options start life with a value, it is an impure derivative. The underlying is instrument is what the contract is about person whom buys the contract Is known as the option buyer/investor, seller is known as the option writer/issuer, what you pay if you exercise the contract is known as the strike price or exercise price. Options have expiration days after that we can not use them anymore, another parameter is the type of option that it is Six parameters: Underwriting asset, parties involved, strike price/exercise price, expiration date, type of option. The premium fluctuates with demand, the contract could be sold Underlying: SBUX 1,000 Strike Price: 60 a share 1 Month: Type: Call Premium: 8 If you do not exercise the option it is allowed to expire Options come in types, Styles, and classes Put option right to sell at a certain price Put option: Underlying: sbx, 1000 shares, spot price 55 Strike price: 50 Time: 1 Month Premium: in a put option you pay for the buy to sell Options come in three styles: European Style: You can exercise on a certain date, only at expiration American Style: You can exercise at any time, makes premium from an American option more but not by much only worth a lot more when dividends high dividends and low interest rates are present Bermuda Options: specific dates when you can exercise them Pay off diagram 50 55 60 (exercise price) Starbucks pricePayoff 300 400 500 60 0 7010 8020 10040 How to cite Hugo Boss Case Study, Free Case study samples

Saturday, December 7, 2019

B2B Marketing system Samples for Students †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: How Marketing To Business Buyers Will Be Different Will Be Different From Marketing To Home Consumer Buyers? Answer: Marketing to business buyers would be different from marketing to home consumers in the fact that business buyer purchasing decisions are less emotional and task oriented than home consumer buyers (Eric, 2016). This means targeting business buyers might not need a lot of efforts as compared to home consumers. The business buyers look for specific characteristics in a product. Some of these characteristics include economy in cost and use, quality, and productivity. This means the chances of increasing customer loyalty in business buyers are higher than in home consumers because B2B buyers tend to be more connected to an organization once they like its products. Although the evaluation process in business buyer is always longer and complex than home consumers, business marketing, in this case, will entail shorter and direct channels to the target buyers. In a business buyer marketing, different factors of promotional mix can be easily personalized than in home consumer marketing because of the relationship which exists between B2B sales people and the individual buyers. In a business buyer marketing, the process of identifying the needs and expectations of target buyers will be simpler because it does not involve dealing with a large number of people like home consumer market. Business buyer marketing will also allow inviting the buyer for private discussions concerning the dell products unlike in home consumer marketing where all customers cannot be invited for private discussions because of their size. The business buyers are always sophisticated and need to purchase the products to assist their enterprises to remain competitive, profitable and successful (Satya, 2014). This means the marketing strategy should be aimed at dealing with sophisticated buyers. Because the target buyers have high interest and some understanding concerning Dells products, coming up with a marketing strategy requires a lot of research to ensure the buyers are approached with necessary information and tactics. The Main Evaluative Criteria which the organizational buyers may use One of the main evaluative criteria that the buyer would use when purchasing Dell Laptops and Ultrabooks is engineering values. This will be based on the product quality, standardization, and testing. Organizational buyers always want to purchase products that are of high quality so that they may survive competition through selling goods that meet the customer expectations (Eric, 2014). Because dell deals with computers, the organizational buyers will evaluate whether they are of high quality, standardized and tested before they purchase them. The other evaluation criteria which organizational buyers would use when buying Dell laptops and Ultrabooks would be purchasing values. This is because organizational buyers purchase goods for resale purpose and therefore they must evaluate to see if the products will assist them in gaining profits (Dissanayake, 2012). Analyzing prices will assist them in making decision on their resell prices. The organizations will also evaluate different costs which they are likely to incur until the products are delivered to their customers. These costs include the amount of money the organization is likely to incur for shipping and forwarding the products. When the cost is too high, it means the organizational buyer will have to resell the laptops at higher prices. Being the marketing manager of Dell, these evaluative criteria will give me an advantage because Dell uses proper production process to ensure its products are of high quality. The laptops are tested to ensure errors are rectified before they are sold. The products are also sold at good prices which can assist the organizational buyers to gain profits. These criteria will assist my marketing strategies to succeed because they will build a role building loyalty and positive relationship with the buyer. They will also assist in identifying various aspects which the organizational buyers expect from Dell Company. Bibliography Dissanayake, D., 2012. Integrated Communications, Integrated Marketing Communications and Corporate Reputation: Evidences from Dell Computer Corporations. Researchers World, 3(3), pp. 45-67. Eric, G., 2014. Goodbye, B2B Brand Marketing: Developing Content-Based Marketing Programs for the Post-Marketing Era. International Management Review, 10(2), pp. 58-68. Eric, G., 2016. The Marketer's Action Plan (MAP): Six Steps to Developing Effective Marketing Plans in B2B Marketing Programs. International Management Review, 12(2), pp. 122-134. Satya, P., 2014. Strategic Brand Management for B2B Markets: A Road Map for Organizational Transformation. South Asian Journal of Management, 21(3), pp. 345-500.

Friday, November 29, 2019

Red Badge Of Courage Essays (1368 words) - The Red Badge Of Courage

Red Badge Of Courage The Red Badge of Courage, by Steven Crane, has been proclaimed one of the greatest war novels of all time. It is a story that realistically depicts the American Civil War through the eyes of Henry Fleming, an ordinary farm boy who decides to become a soldier. Henry, who is fighting for the Union, is very determined to become a hero, and the story depicts Henrys voyage from being a young coward, to a brave man. This voyage is the classic trip from innocence to experience. The story starts out with a heated debate between the soldiers. One boy had heard a rumor that the regiment would be moving on to fight a battle the next day. Some of the soldiers agree with this boy, while others think that their regiment will never partake in a real battle. While watching this argument, Henry, the protagonist, decides that he would rather go lay down and think rather then take part in the heated argument between the soldiers. Henry, a simple farm boy, is rather excited when he hears the rumor that they will be fighting soon. It had always been a dream of his to fight in a war, and become a hero, and now his dream was coming true. Henry begins to think about what life was like before he entered the army, and remembers the stories of war he has heard from old veterans. This flashback is very effective in showing how his previous experiences have affected his thoughts on war now. It is blatantly obvious that he is afraid that he will not be able to withstand the pressures of a battle. He keeps telling himself that if he wants to become a hero, he can not run away. He must stick out the battle with the rest of his comrades. While marching along, Henry sees the first corpse he has ever seen. He shows pity for the man, because the dead man had died in such poor conditions. The souls of his shoes were worn bare. When Henry sees the corpse, he begins to wonder if his generals actually know what they are doing. He thinks that the generals are leading him right into a trap, right into the middle of the rebels. Henry deals with his fear of battle by acting arrogant. He acts as if he has been in a thousand battles, and complains about the walking, even though the reader knows that he would rather be walking forever then go to battle at this point in time. It shows one of Henry's defense mechanisms, how he uses his arrogance to hide his innocence. Regiment 304 moves on to battle the next day. Henry becomes very scared, but is too proud to talk to any of the others soldiers about his fears. All the soldiers are very anxious to fight in the war, and Tom and Henry talk about how they are not going to run away from war, and how they want to become big time war heroes. This is ironic, because in the end of the book their wishes come true. When the battle starts, all the soldiers get very anxious and nervous. Tom and Henry don't turn out to be as brave as they think that they could be. While hiding, Tom finds Henry, and gives him a manila envelope of letters for his family. Tom believes that this will be his first and his last battle. Henry ends up fulfilling his worst nightmare. Instead of sticking out the battle with the rest of his regiment, he hides behind some brush in order to spare himself from dying. He listens in on the battle, and to much of his surprise, he hears cheering from what's left of his regiment. He then takes off into the woods in anger. While running through the woods his conscience begins to speak to him. His conscience calls him a coward, and a deserter. Out of guilt, Henry runs back to the battle site, and meets again with his regiment. These actions showed Henry's maturity, and desire to be a war hero. When Henry meets up his regiment and older tattered man begins to have a discussion with him. The old man asks Henry "where yeh hit, ol' boy?" meaning, where he got shot. With massive feelings of guilt, Henry shrugs away from the man and runs back into the woods. From behind a tree, he looks at all the wounded soldiers. "At times he regarded

Monday, November 25, 2019

How does the first two scenes support the quote that Romeo and Juliet are Star-crossd Lovers Essays

How does the first two scenes support the quote that Romeo and Juliet are Star-crossd Lovers Essays How does the first two scenes support the quote that Romeo and Juliet are Star-crossd Lovers Essay How does the first two scenes support the quote that Romeo and Juliet are Star-crossd Lovers Essay Throughout Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet fate plays a huge part, this usually involves Benvolio messing things up who ironically is the one trying to keep the peace. But it is the results of his efforts to cheer up Romeo which indirectly cause nearly every death in the play. Benvolios name derives from to Latin words, Bene which means to wish and volio which means well. Star crossd lovers refers to any lovers whose affection for each other is doomed to end in tragedy. It is a romantic but tragic phrase just like the play.The prologue confirms that they are Star-crossd lovers by setting the current situation and enlightens us about the family feud between the Capulets and the Montagues. The Two Households have had an ancient grudge which has lasted for generations. Do with their death bury their parents strife, the death of Romeo and Juliet is the only way for the two families to be in peace. The prologue is telling us that Romeo and Juliet are going to fall in love and cause even more trouble and hatred between the families, and that they are going to die which will end in the eventual peace between the two families. The love between them is going to end in death: Death-marked love. In my opinion it also appears that the only way Romeo and Juliet will find peace is in their death.The first scene starts with some male conflict between household servants from both families. The Capulet servants Sampson and Gregory are having a conversation in Verona and they express their hatred for the Montagues, including the Montague women by saying, A dog of that house shall move me to stand: I will take the wall of any man or maid of Montagues. Both sides seem to be more verbally than physically violent but, when a fight breaks out the Capulet servants turn out to be cowards.When Abraham questions Sampson about biting his thumb at him Samson denies it No sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but I do bite my thumb, sir. Benvolio, who is Romeos good friend and a nephew of Montague, appears and makes an attempt at keeping the peace which nearly works until ruthless Tybalt comes storming in and, seeing Benvolio with his sword drawn, automatically assumes the worse and a fight breaks out between them. Tybalts arrival causes the situation to escalate because he has such a strong hatred for the Montagues ..peace! I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee: The fact that Tybalt arrived when he did highlights the Star-crossd theme of the story. Although Benvolio had tried to part the two sides Tybalts arrival had put a stop to this.I think the name Benvolio has come from the word Benevolent which means kind, helpful and charitable which is a perfect description of Benvolios character that would much rather that there was peace between the two families: I do but keep the peace. It is only when the prince intervenes that the civil brawl stops and Benvolio and Tybalt drop their weapons. This is followed by a long speech fr om the Prince who tells both sides that if a fight breaks out one more time their lives would be taken If ever you disturb our streets again, your lives shall pay the forfeit of peace.The tension between the families makes the situation all the worse for Romeo and Juliet: both sides are very passionate about the family conflict and neither is prepared to give in. Neither Romeo nor Juliet is yet introduced but we already realise that any relationship between two people of such opposed families is doomed.Away from all the conflict, when Romeo is introduced the mood of the story changes and becomes a lot calmer. The scene involves Romeo talking about Rosaline a girl whom he has never met, whom he is in love with but whom has sworn to live a life of chastity Shell not be hit with cupids arrow. Romeo speaks of her very passionately although he has never met her which really reflects his personality. Romeos passion and ability to fall in love so quickly plays a big part in the story and k eeps him and Juliet together until their bitter end.In scene two Lord Capulet is talking to Paris who is a Kinsman of the Prince, Capulet speaks about Paris marrying his daughter Juliet. Capulet promises Paris that in two years time when Juliet is sixteen he can have her as his bride She hath not seen the change of fourteen years, let two more summers wither in their pride, ere we may think her right to be a bride. Capulet would be happy to see her marry into such a rich and noble family although Juliet has had no say in this arrangement although this is not what Paris has been taught to believe.It is purely down to fate that Romeo ends up going to a feast hosted by the Capulets. Romeo is approached by a Capulet servant who is unable to read an invite to the feast God gi god-en. I pray, sir, can you read? Romeo agrees to read it for him and in return the servant invites him to the party I pray, come and crush a cup of wine. Rest you merry! Romeo decides to go when Benvolio persuades him that other beauties of Verona will be there and that when he sees them he will realise that Rosaline is not so beautiful. Although the only reason he really wants to go is so that he can stare at her.I think Shakespeare cleverly grasps the audiences attention in scenes one and two by showing the tension and hatred between the two families. We are slowly prepared for the anguish which will be destined if two people fall in love from the different families. Therefore love and hate play a big part in this story. However it is fate that they should meet and be together as Romeo should never have been at the party and Juliet was promised to marry Paris. All the conflict builds up and leads to the tragedy of the Star-crossd lovers.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Trade Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Trade - Essay Example It is a person's habit to give more emphasis on his/her success than failure and therefore he/she becomes overconfident. Barber and Odean (2001) present a belief that difference in gender has a relationship with the overconfidence level in particular field. They suggests that the men working in finance domain outnumber the women working by far, which marks that men are more confident than women in this field. Also that the attribute of self bias is seen more in men than women and therefore men are more likely to be overconfident. In order to justify the claim of overconfidence, been seen more in men than women, they quote the data from various surveys between 1998 and 2000 taken on a total of approximately 15000 respondents in which men expected their portfolio to outperform the index by a greater margin than women. Men trade approximately 45 percent more than the fairer sex, as per the data obtained from various brokerage firms. They also suggest that the average turnover rate for the common stocks for single man is sixty seven percent more than a single woman. Moreover Barber and Odean (2001) find out that women, at the end of the year, earn a return 0.143 percent lower than those earned by the portfolio at the beginning of the year whereas for men this number is 0.221 percent because of my churning activities seen in men than women. This justifies the fact that the stocks sold by both men and women outperform the ones they purchase. The stocks that men buy underperform those they sell by 20 basis points whereas the figure is 17 percent for women. At the end, Barber and Odean (2008) find out that the men on an average earn a monthly gross and net return of 1.501 and 1.325 respectively whereas for women this 1.482 and 1.361 respectively and concludes that the assumptions taken first that men trade more as compared to women and second that the men depletes the utility more due to excessive trading both holds good. An analysis on authors' finding:- There is a thin line of difference between confidence and overconfidence.While the authors appropriately suggest and prove that the number of trades executed by men is higher as compared to women, this may be because of better risk handling capacities in men than women. Authors aptly relate that trading is related to risk facing capacity and is also related to the income earned by an individual which well may be the only case and the data derived by the authors for the model may be necessary but does not seem sufficient to justify that the higher trades are a result of overconfidence. However the report generated by the authors definitely guides an investor in the following manner in his future

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Federalist paper declaration of independence Essay

Federalist paper declaration of independence - Essay Example s not secured against the violence of the stronger; and as, in the latter state, even the stronger individuals are prompted, by the uncertainty of their condition, to submit to a government which may protect the weak as well as themselves; so, in the former state†. Madison is expressing in this last paragraph the dilemma between majority and minority protection. Too much majority protection, and the society is like an anarchy: The strong form coalitions and rule by force, using the state as a narrowly-concealed bludgeon. But with too much protection for the weak, it is inevitable that â€Å"hereditary or self-appointed authority† take over, and a â€Å"will... independent of society itself† characterized by a social elite will dominate, which is even worse than the majority tyranny leading to the odious state of anarchy. Madison then argues that Rhode Island, without reform in the manner prescribed by the Federalist Papers and the eventual Constitution, is an example of this risk of majority tyranny. â€Å"[I]f the State of Rhode Island was separated from the Confederacy and left to itself, the insecurity of rights under the popular form of government within such narrow limits would be displayed by such reiterated oppressions of factious majorities that some power altogether independent of the people would soon be called for by the voice of the very factions whose misrule had proved the necessity of it†. Thus, Madison is proposing that Rhode Islands governmental form be used as an example to stray away from, lest the Constitution lead to the same risk of anarchy or majority tyranny. The â€Å"will independent of society†, of course, is the risk of going too far away from the pole of majority power, represented by Rhode Island, and towards a regime more like an authoritarian or monarchic one. The whole objective of the Federalist Papers was to craft another solution, a different way of going between the horns of the dilemma: â€Å"[B]y comprehending in the society so

Monday, November 18, 2019

What it takes to be #1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

What it takes to be #1 - Essay Example Determination leads the individual towards success despite of the failures that he comes across. Every cloud has a silver lining and determination is the mechanism that keeps a person’s morale high in finding a way to it. A person must be determined to achieve and should not step back even under the worst circumstances. A person needs to strive with the determination and confidence he has. Plans do not fulfill until a person practically puts some efforts to attain them. Goals are achievable only when plans are exercised. Hardworking makes individual’s way towards success. A hardworking person may distinguish himself from others by the way he acts under different circumstances. A person may attain a distinct position in any field by striving and achieving his goals. Competing with others for the reason of becoming the best in any field may lead to jealousy and selfishness. A person who is able to compete without letting these feelings harm anyone is the best. Morality and ethics should never be forgotten when dealing with situations where competition is high and determination is

Saturday, November 16, 2019

John Locke And 18th Century Materialists Philosophy Essay

John Locke And 18th Century Materialists Philosophy Essay John Locke, the British philosopher and physician, is considered to be one of the most prominent figures of the Age of Enlightenment; he is also sometimes referred to as the Father of Liberalism. Drawing on the philosophical principles of Francis Bacon, his predecessor, and the progress of contemporary natural science with what it could offer philosophy in terms of contributing to its progress John Locke developed the theory of empiricism that had a profound influence on French materialists of the Enlightenment Age. In his first book Essay Concerning Human Understanding John Locke laid down his major principles of the human mind being what can be described as tabula rasa, a blank on which people write what they acquire from their experience. He contrasted his major principle of cognition to Descartes ideas of innatism claiming people would not be able not to recognize the existence of such ideas if only they possessed them. Lockes also referred to the way different people learn throughout their lives, and how basic principles they are guided with vary for different people and at different periods of time. As human experience is the only source of knowledge, people depend on their senses in acquiring knowledge. Thus Lockes theory is also known as sensualism. According to Locke, the experience should be seen as either external or internal. The former, also called sensation, provides us with what we know about the objects of the external world (or what we suppose to be such, as there is no evidence, according to Locke, of their actual physical existence). These can be, for example, sounds, motion, color, size, etc. The internal experience, or reflection, is expressed in such human processes as knowing, believing, doubting etc., all of which are related to our internal operations of the spirit caused by the influence of objects. Also, Locke discriminates between simple and complex sensations and reflections, depending on whether they can be reduced to more simple elements (e.g. rotundity) or they are such that cannot be reduced to more simple components. Complex ideas that we have about complex elements can be also distinguished into three groups: ideas of substance, ideas of mode and ideas of relationship. The first group includes certain simple ideas of a given object that has its core characteristics; the ideas of mode are a combination of ideas presented by human mind, which are the reflection of the mode or features of existing things. The ideas of relationship derive from human comparison of ideas and may include certain relationship and cause or other types of relations. Besides, Locke stipulated the existence of general ideas that come as a result of isolating the universal, abstract idea from the actual object due to its being common to several sensations. Thus the humans collect abstract ideas, which are regarded as the cognitive process of nominalization. Having given a detailed theory of human cognition process, John Locke emphasized the value of education by claiming that he thought that it may be said that of all the men we meet with, nine parts of ten were what they were, good or evil, useful or not, were made by their education. (Locke, 1979). It is important to see what implications Lockes ideas had for ethics and political theory both of his contemporaries and further periods of human history. In his ethical principles Locke approaches Rationalism. As there are no innate moral ideas human well-being becomes the key the criterion of moral actions. Human experience demonstrates that all people try to find more pleasure and avoid pain. Yet if people are rational in their pursuit of pleasure they will come to principles of cooperation that will result in the general happiness and welfare coinciding with individual emotions. Therefore it is in the best interests of people to think of others, to be focused on general good, both in terms of their daily routine and what may come after their lives in this world. Locke supported religious freedom (being himself born into a Puritan family) and was against dogmatic approach to religious principles emphasizing on the ethical principles of Christianity. Specifically focusing on tolera nce, Locke rejected atheism and Roman Catholicism. Those ideas and principles expressed by an outstanding philosopher that were probably most valued by different people and prominent political leaders in different countries are those associated with political theories. Locke postulated that all people were created equal (the principle referred to by the US Constitution and its founders expressing their admiration of Locke). No person had the right over other persons life, health, liberty, or possessions. The state had to be result of peoples concession and had to be guided by natural laws. Rights of property had to be valued, and each person had to exercise his or her right over the products of their labor. Therefore Locke is justly looked upon as the founder of liberalism in politics, with his influence extending far to other thinkers and their theories. Similarly to Locke, La Mettrie was a man with broad academic background typical for great thinkers of his time. He, like Locke, also found his main opponent in the personality of Rene Descartes contrasting his principles to the latters principles of rationalism, or truth through knowledge. For La Mettrie truth came through experience, and this principle of empiricism makes him what can be described as Lockes disciple. Another point of debate was that Descartes claimed animals were machines. La Mettrie argues with Descartes about what he termed as an absurd system. In his best-known work Man a Machine, though, La Mettrie comes closer to principles of Descartes who considered the soul as a separate entity from the body and denied the soul in men, thus recognizing only the mind, which, according to him, was merely a function of the brain. Further in his book, La Mettrie surveyed the philosophy of materialism and atheism. In contrast to John Lockes principles, La Mettrie denied that the natural world could serve as the evidence of God. According to him, all the evidences of a creator, repeated thousands and thousands of times, were the evidences that placed far above the comprehension of men. The natural consequence is his next idea that life might be completely without purpose. La Mettrie considered the essence and attributes of matter. He claimed that its main property was the ability to move. This feature is universal for describing any objects in the world and therefore can be hardly argued with. For La Mettrie the human soul was not more than the physical functions of the body not proved by any evidence of physiology. Being consistent in applying his theories to humans La Mettrie brought to the maximum the principles of the philosophers of the Age of Enlightenment. Having the medical academic background, La Mettrie cited examples from anatomy, physiology, and psychology showing the functions of the body as the basis of what philosophers considered to be a soul. His claim was that people were so closely related to animals that there hardly was a difference between them. La Mettries man was organic, self-moving (as part of any matter), active; the philosopher made no distinction between conscious, or voluntary movement and unconscious, or instinctive move ment. Other important implications of La Mettries theory were those connected to moral issues. He viewed the moral problems as something that needed to be associated with physiological nature of human beings. For him the good and the evil were merely arbitrarily notions constructed social structures out of their own interests and with the aim of serving their own needs, which not only could not be corroborate by natural science but also contradicted it and the nature of an individual. La Mettrie went as far as stating that by recognizing the arbitrary nature of moral principles developed by mankind and its institutions people would get better chances of getting happiness for them and accept wider frameworks of behavior patterns. According to him, the society could not dispose of its members that their behavior aimed at personal happiness was contrary to its principles. The objects of La Mettrie acute criticism was in particular Christianity as a moral systems, because he believed that it was based on an adequate and distorted principles of addressing the human nature. La Mettrie philosophy can be seen as starting from John Lockes basic principles of empiricism, sensualim and liberalism but then departing from them far enough to get to atheism and the kind of materialism that exaggerated the physiological nature of human beings, underestimating the principles of their social behavior and thus reducing them to creatures not bound by moral principles or social laws.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Judicial Activism :: essays research papers

Judicial Activism: A Necessary Action   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Judicial activism is rarely needed, but when it is employed, it is only in the most dire of circumstances. It is the broad interpretation of the constitution of the United States by the Supreme Court. Some argue that this should not be done, but if it had not been, slavery would still exist in America. It is obvious that in some cases, it is necessary to expand civil rights beyond what the constitution explicitly states. This was the case in Brown v. Board of Education. 9 black students were allowed into a white school, previously segregated. This was the landmark case in the battle for black civil rights. The judicial activism displayed by the Supreme Court led to an end to segregation, social equality for blacks and allowed them to reach respected positions in the American society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A major effect of the Supreme Courts decision was the desegregation of schools everywhere. Integration became federal law, and schools could no longer bar applicants based on race alone. By enforcing this law, the Court allowed blacks to recieve the same education as whites and effectively removing their status as second-class citizens. They were one step closer to being fully accepted by the white majority. The integration of children's schools was a controversial step, and many southerners opposed it with extreme prejudice. There were riots to oppose this move, but eventually the chaos was subdued and after order was restored, schools were fully integrated. Black children were now on equal footing with white children and could no longer be called less intelligent, as they would recieve the same education. Also, this case led to the 15th amendment, giving blacks the right to vote. This was an important event, effectively making them complete citizens, legally equal to white men in every way. They could now vote for the president, a key part of the representative democracy present in the United States. They became able to directly affect the law, by voting.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Social equality was a major gain for the blacks. As a result of this case, and others after it, they became increasingly accepted in a previously white-dominated society. With any form of discrimination outlawed and punishable by law, there was no way they could be kept from their rightful position as equals in every respect. Lawsuits against discriminators became increasingly common, and the mindset of the common American was one of tolerance and compassion for

Monday, November 11, 2019

Lady Macbeth and Lady Macduff Essay

Shakespeare cleverly creates sorrow for Lady Macbeth and Lady Macduff through various techniques such as order of their scenes, their company on stage and most importantly by their circumstances. In the case of Lady Macbeth we know her from the start of the play while in the case of Lady Macduff we are introduced to her with no prior knowledge only in Act 4 scene 2. Moreover with the use of dramatic irony Shakespeare lets the audience know certain events about to happen which naturally influence the emotions of viewers. Even though we feel sorrow for both the ladies there is a considerable difference in the range and type of sorrow. The basic similarity in their situation is that they cannot be helped. Shakespeare uses the basic human tendencies such as the urge to help the helpless, who in this case are both the Ladies, to amplify the feelings of sorrow and pity. We see lady Macduff first time in act 4 scene 2 talking with her cousin Ross a high ranking nobleman. She is angry with her husband for fleeing the land without them as can be inferred from lines 8-16. She feels that he has left them in mortal danger. Thus we know that the overriding emotion she experiences is fear. The fact that he ran away without any obvious reason scares her more. The audience already knows through Macbeths words- the castle of Macduff I will surprise..,give to the edge of sword his wifes, his babes, and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line (act4 sc1 171-174) that he is going to massacre Lady Macduff and her children. We come to know a lot about this woman through the company of people that Shakespeare places with her. First of all we have Ross who clearly as her cousin does her the honor of visiting her and comforting her. His replies to all of her questions are short and terse. They do not give any new information but do the task of soothing her fee lings. His words in lines 25-30 I take my leave of youTo what they were before.-My pretty cousin, Blessing upon you indicate that she is a woman of honor and he does not wish to stain that honor by staying longer with her considering that she is alone. Next we have her conversation with her son which reveals that she is aware that it is not her sons fault that his father has fled and that she will not blame him for Macduffs mistakes. Lady Macduffs jokes with her son are based on reality, yet are pleasing and tell of a loving relationship between her and her son. Moreover by using the weakest group of people that  is woman and children Shakespeare creates an added feeling of sorrow. The entry of the messenger increases the tension and heightens emotions as it is right after a jolly and normal dialogue. His words are the harbinger of evil acts and they warn lady Macduff and advise her to run swiftly to safety. The very fact that the messenger is willing to put his life in jeopardy in order to try to save her life is testimony to her character. Specifically his lines 76-78 To fright you thusis too nigh your person. tell us that he not telling her this cruel truth would be more evil than telling it to her as she was a person of high stature in his eyes. Her response Whither should I fly? I have done no harm. But I remember now I am in this earthly.Do I put that womanly defense To say that I have done no harm? (Lines 81-87) to the warning shows political awareness and wisdom. At this point she knows that she is about to die and there is nothing anyone can do about it. Her end also tells the audience that she is a loyal wife for in lines 90-91 she says I hope in no place so unsanctified where such as thou mayst find him. . Her son dies so as to give his mother time to run and save herself. Thus Shakespeare creates the ultimate concept of Good vs Evil but instead of allowing good to triumph he lets evil rule. Lady Macduffs death is that of an scared, confused, loyal, loving, honorable, wise and defenseless woman dying a savage death for no reason whatsoever. On the other hand we have Lady Macbeth with whom the audience has been acquainted for a long time. Till act 5 sc 1 we have always seen Lady Macbeth as an forceful, ruthless and intelligent woman who has no remorse. In this act we see her through the eyes of a doctor and an gentlewoman. It is obvious that she is ill for a long time. Her company is not an jolly one, they are a doctor and a gentlewoman who after hearing and seeing her state of mind pity and feel sorrow for her. The gentlewoman has seen her in this state before whereas the doctor who sees her for the first time is clearly shocked. All her torments and troubles are within her mentally which is why no doctor can cure her. The words spoken by lady Macbeth speak of such darkness and blood that the doctor and the gentlewoman dare not repeat them to anyone else. All of her words in lines 37-42 refer to her past murders and crimes except for the sentence Hell is murky. Her diction and sentence structure is terse and tense. It is almost as if she reporting all her  deeds. It is very different from the loud convincing diction of the lady Macbeth we see in previous acts of the play. Even though she talks of her crimes, she never even once confesses or accepts her crimes. She is also scared and fears the blood spots on her hands will never be cleaned (lines 53-55). She is also extremely afraid of the darkness which is why she has commanded that she always have light beside her. She fears her past actions and that she always pushed Macbeth when he hesitated in murdering. Macbeth had not confided in her about the murder of lady Macduff which suggests that Macbeths taste for murder has outgrown hers. These fears are shown symbolically through her fear of darkness which compares with evil and her fear of dirty and bloody hands which compares with guilt. What is however heartbreaking and is the greatest factor in creating sorrow for her is that her suffering cannot end. She is locked in a circle of pain and only she can break out of it, no one can help her. The only way out of this circle would be by asking for forgiveness, by redeeming herself in the eyes of god. But to show remorse one needs to be sane and sadly as seen from her sleepwalking and other unnatural acts she is clearly mentally ill. Her pain is never-ending and everlasting. She is bound for hell and she cannot escape it. There are several similarities and contrasts between the two woman and the sorrow we feel for them. I personally felt more sorrow for Lady Macbeth than Lady Macduff since the suffering of Lady Macduff was short and painful while Lady Macbeth is never ending and painful. Lady Macduff suffered externally though physical pain while lady Macbeth suffered mentally. In case of Lady Macduff she was innocent and the suffering was brought upon her by Macbeth while in case of Lady Macbeth she herself had brought his suffering upon themselves. Lady Macbeth had a grim past and faces a grim future while Lady Macduff had a loving past and faces a heavenly future. Even though everyone wanted to help Lady Macduff they could not, similarly even though the doctor and gentlewoman wanted to help Lady Macbeth they could not. When death came Lady Macduff faced it by growing stronger but Lady Macbeth grew weaker. The diction of Lady Macduff drew out fear while Lady Macbeths diction imbibed it. Both the woman undergo intense emotional suffering before they die. Both of them are helpless and isolated. Though people would like to help them they cannot. Both of their husbands are not with them. Macduff went to  England thinking that his wife and children would be safe while Macbeth has probably grown so addicted to murder that he has forgotten his wifes suffering. As an audience the impact of these two sorry tragedies is huge and they come right after each other thus amplifying the impact. By playing upon natural human tendencies, cleverly placing the right characters and creating a sense of helplessness for both women Shakespeare leaves the audience with deep sorrow. Shakespeare also cleverly places brief interludes between intense scenes to increase the overall effect. The emotions depicted are intense and break the hearts of the audience. The death of Lady Macduff is unwarranted while the death of lady Macbeth is too painful and horrific. The main ideas that Shakespeare uses are that we empathise with the weak and helpless, we want to see good triumph evil and that no one wants to give anyone everlasting suffering without a ray of hope. He uses these instinctive human feelings to create sorrow for Lady Macduff and Lady Macbeth.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

International Project Management Association Essay

?International Association of Project and Program Management (IAPPM) Vision- (iappm. org 2013) To enhance and add value to our global members and the project community at large allowing them to manage projects and programs successfully using the right tools, skillsets and methods. Mission- (iappm. org 2013)As a worldwide global project organization IAPPM will create value together with our members, project communities, business partners and corporations by leveraging our content, collaboration and business management insight. The IAPPM focuses on project and program management in the private sector, offering their insight to partners, PM communities, and members globally. International Project Management Association (IPMA) Vision- (ipma. ch, 2013) Our Vision: IPMA is the leading authority on competent project, programme and portfolio management (PPPM). Through our efforts, PM best practice is widely known and appropriately applied at all levels of public and private sector organizations. IPMA directs attention to the portfolio aspect as well as project management on a global scale. IPMA also includes public sector project management for governments and other public agencies. American Society for the Advancement of Project Management (ASAPM) Vision- (asapm. org, 2013) asapm is the U. S. A. ’s premier Project and Program Manager performance-based credentialing organization, and a tireless advocate of effective project management practice throughout all organizations. Appropriate and effective elements of PM Performance are widely demonstrated and acknowledged, not just by PM practitioners, but by all individuals in all organizations. ASAPM acknowledges interest and membership for any individuals for membership. ASAPM also claims to be part of IPMA as an American focused branch. Project Management Institute (PMI) PMI does not have a vision statement. They do however, have list of core values. From these values I infer PMI focuses on certifying and advancement of PM professionals. They also clearly define and explain project management to inquisitive and unaware. References http://www. iappm. org/about. htm http://ipma. ch/about/ http://www. asapm. org/a_home. asp http://www. pmi. org/

Thursday, November 7, 2019

NORTH AND SOUTH BY ELIZABETH GASKELL essays

NORTH AND SOUTH BY ELIZABETH GASKELL essays Elizabeth Gaskell's North and south is one of the most influential novels of the industrial age with its clear depiction of social, economic and political conditions prevailing in that era. We are all well aware pf the fact that capitalism was the biggest problem in the industrial age and it was viewed as the sole enemy of mankind since it gave rise to numerous social and economic problems for the urban poor. Gaskell has captured all these problems skillfully in her novel thus focusing on the major problems of these times. However it is not just the social or economic conditions that make this novel a success, but also the depiction of the religion and religious controversies that set this work apart from other novels of 19th The author has tried to maintain an objective stance on the subject of religion but she has written clearly about doubts and various other problems that Christianity suffered during this troubled times. As man himself was undergoing severe social and economic problems, his religious beliefs also suffered a setback and author has transferred these doubts carefully yet clearly onto the pages of her novel. Many people believe that it is Nicolas Higgins who represents the center of religious controversy but that is not entirely true. We notice a religious motif running throughout the novel and various religious doubts and belief surface from time to time through different characters beginning from Margaret Hale's father. However it is true that it is in Higgins that religious controversy is most pronounced. It is important to study the many different references to religious doubt and controversy that occur in this novel to fully comprehend the problem that had surfaced in those days. While people suddenly began doubting religion is unclear from the novel, however it appears that the problems of the age had created doubts in the minds of some people who later decided ...

Monday, November 4, 2019

Environmental Audit Concerning Entry of TESCO in Bahrain Essay

Environmental Audit Concerning Entry of TESCO in Bahrain - Essay Example are (1) The Political Environment (2) The Economic Environment (3) The Socio-Cultural Environment (4) The Technological Environment (5) The External Environment and (6) The Legal Environment (Boddy & Paton, 2009, 5). Analysis of each of these elements separately will indicate the opportunities and threats they hold for a business entering that particular local environment- it is largely country specific. Michael Porter has mentioned in his book ‘Competitive Strategy’ that there are five forces impacting on the survival of any firm in a particular industry. These are (1) Barriers to Entry and Exit (2) Bargaining Power of Buyers (3) Bargaining Power of Suppliers (4) Threats of Substitutes and (5) Competitive Rivalry (Porter, 1980, 15). Obviously TESCO has to take a look at all these elements while considering its proposed entry into Bahrain. PESTEL Analysis of TESCO from the Perspective of a Setup in Bahrain I will start this part of my paper by narrating a short history o f TESCO’s origins and its methods of expansion as I believe these have an impact on organizational culture and management’s thinking and analysis of opportunities and threats. I will next launch into the particular environments in Bahrain and see what opportunities or threats each of the six forces discussed above in PESTEL provide for TESCO in terms of setting up business here. Tesco began operating in the UK in 1919 after its founder Jack Cohen purchased a running business from one T.E Stockwell: he took the first three initials TES and added the first two of his last name CO from Cohen to serve as a name for the newly acquired enterprise. TESCO initially was a grocery store type outlet in which the founder sold surplus items. The first branded TESCO store made its appearance in 1929 in Burnt... This assignment is an attempt to conduct an Environmental Audit for an international brand TESCO entering Bahrain market. A company like TESCO must think very carefully before it embarks on an international expansion. The author believes conducting an environmental analysis and using the PESTEL format to analyze forces in the local environment of Bahrain may give positive or negative signals to TESCO management. Therein lies the importance of an environmental analysis to TESCO or any other firm considering investment in Bahrain. The work provides the description of a typical environmental audit. It involves the analysis of the following six forces affecting the business environment, in terms of the opportunities and threats they provide for new entrants. These are (1) The Political Environment (2) The Economic Environment (3) The Socio-Cultural Environment (4) The Technological Environment (5) The External Environment and (6) The Legal Environment. The analysis of each of these eleme nts separately indicate the opportunities and threats they hold for TESCO. The author also conducts the Analysis of Opportunities and Threats, Strengths and Weaknesses (SWOT), where the opportunities, threats, strengths and weaknesses regarding TESCO’s proposed entry into Bahrain are discussed. The conclusion of the work is TESCO will not go wrong in entering the Bahraini marketplace if it chooses to position itself as a low-cost provider and a premium goods seller, targeting all and different segments of the market.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

How the Draft has changed since the Vietnam War Research Paper

How the Draft has changed since the Vietnam War - Research Paper Example How the Draft has changed since the Vietnam War? Men found to have been insincere by the board for military tribunals tried various offenses with seventeen sentenced to death, three hundred and forty five to penal labor camps, and one hundred and forty two to life imprisonment. In the United States, conscription, or the draft, has been used a number of time, normally in the event of war, as well as when there is nominal peace, such as during the Cold War. The draft was discontinued in 1973 by the US government, which shifted to a military force that was all-volunteer. For this reason, mandatory draft is not in effect at the present time. The Selective Service System (SSS), however, is still in place for contingency purposes. Men aged between eighteen and twenty-five must register for quick resumption of the draft should there be a need for conscription2. However, most military and political experts do not consider conscription likely under the current conditions. The Military Draft While the United States did not initially join the Second World War, the Selective Training and Service Act (STSA) was signed by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1940. This required all American men aged, between twenty-six and thirty-five, to register for drafting into the military3. This acted as the United States’ first draft during peacetime, and it was responsible for the establishment of an independent federal agency, the SSS. Because of increasing threats from Japan and parts of Europe, President Roosevelt decided that it was prudent for the United States to train military personnel in case they had to defend the motherland. Germany had already invaded France and Poland, and it was becoming clear that Hitler was involved in persecution of European Jews, and Great Britain was his next target. In response to the distress that Great Britain was in, Roosevelt decided to sell more weapons to repel an attack by the Nazis, as well as to increase the humanitarian effort for the increasingly isolated British. On appending his s ignature to the STSA, he warned the American citizenry that America was caught in the middle of a war for her destiny with the distance and time that separated the US and Europe becoming smaller4. In his opinion, which was shared by a majority of Americans, it was not possible to remain neutral in a world of increased and rampant force. It was now up to the Americans to be prepared in the event that the war in Europe and the Asia-Pacific got to their shores The Americans were receptive of the draft after that impassioned appeal from President Roosevelt. Whatever resistance there may have been to the draft dissipated with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 19415. This event led to massive enlisting by American men and enlisting continued until 1973, both in peacetime and when the United States was involved in conflict, such as during the Korean War. Men were also drafted in order to fill the vacancies left by retiring or killed service men, which could not be filled using volunta ry conscription. In December of 1969, the United States military reinstated the lottery drawing, unused since 1942, in Washington D.C.’s Selective Service National Headquarters. This was meant to determine how men born between 1944 and 1950 would be inducted into the army. This lottery was a change from the earlier method where 366 plastic capsules with birth dates, representing the days of the year, were put in a large jar, after which they were drawn manually to assign all men born between the said years with

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Hooke's Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Hooke's Law - Essay Example The resistance force is directly proportional to the amount of stretch of the material being stretched. This relationship is described by Hooke’s law of Elasticity which states that, ‘when an object such as a spring or a metal is stretched by a distance say x, the restoring force, F which is exerted by the object is directly proportional to the stretch until the material reaches the elasticity limit’ (Pickover, 2008). Elastic limit is the point at which beyond it, the material is not restored to its original shape. This relationship is indicated in equation below in which F stands for restoration force, x is the stretch length and k is the constant of proportionality. From Newton’s second, force is directly proportional to mass, i.e. , Replacing F with mg in Hooke’s law equation, the equation becomes This can be re – arranged to give Plotting a graph of extension versus mass gives a straight line whose gradient is the ratio of since g is known , which is the elasticity constant can be calculated by dividing gravitational field strength by the slope. Also, the Hooke’s law can be interpreted by the equation Whereby F is the force, K is the elastic constant and x is the extension / stretch. Plotting a graph of force against the stretch distance results in a line passing through the origin of the graph and its gradient is k, which the elasticity constant of the material. The elasticity constant of a material varies with the type of the material. In this experiment, the elasticity of various materials will be investigated by studying the extent to which they obey hook’s law (Raymond & Chris, 2011). Also, the periodic motion of a spring will be studied. Apparatus The following apparatus were used in this experiment, Metre stick mass hanger Steel spring 10 g and 100 g masses Retort stand Rubber cord Methodology One end of the rubber cord was fixed firmly onto the retort stand while the other end attached to the mas s. This is as indicated in the diagram below. The relaxed length, of the rubber cord was measured with no mass attached and then determination of suitable mass ranges to be utilized in measuring the rubber cord extension was done. The masses were then successfully applied onto the rubber cord and the extension length recorded. Several masses were added successfully and the length extension measured making sure the cord is not overloaded to prevent permanent deformation. This procedure was repeated using two different springs and the resulting data were recorded in form of a table as below. Results and discussion Results for spring 1 Extension, x (m) Mass 0.0093 2 0.0225 4 0.0415 6 0.0588 8 0.0710 10 From the graph, a graph of force against extension was plotted as below. The equation of the resulting graph is . This implies that the slope of the line is 0.6538, thus the constant of elasticity, k is 9.81/0.6538=14.9088. Spring 2 results Mass Extension(m) 0 0 2 0.002644 4 0.005288 6 0 .010575 8 0.013219 10 0.015863 The equation of the resulting graph is. This implies that the slope of the line is 0.0017, thus the constant of elasticity, k is 9.81/0.0017=57.7. Spring 3 Results Mass Extension 0 0.00 2 2.64 4 5.29 6 10.58 8 13.22 10 15.86 The equation of the resulting graph is This implies that the slope of the line is 1.66 and therefore It’s expected that the graph passes through the origin, but in this case,

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Differences between men and women Essay Example for Free

Differences between men and women Essay What is the difference between males and females? We notice the different dressing styles, different roles in the workplace and how we spend our leisure time, how we wear our emotions, and also how differently we think. But a question arises. Are males and females really different in every aspect? The first question we ask when a baby is born is: Is it a boy or a girl? Though most people accept most of the socially prescribed roles for the gender they were born with, some struggle against what they see as rigid and arbitrary social norms. In this essay, I will describe and give my input on the roles of human sexuality and gender. Most people think of sex and gender as one and the same when in fact they are not. Wood, Wood, and Boyd (2005) define sex as a biological term, while gender is more commonly used to refer to the psychological and social variables associated with ones sex (p. 410). In the biological approach, when defining the sociocultural characteristics of masculinity and femininity, cultures look into the behaviors each gender should act upon. Males should be the dominant figure. They should be strong, competitive, be able to stand their ground, confident, and independent. Women on the other had are expected to be the exact opposite. They should be dependent, caring, encouraging, emotional, and nurturing. As children approach the age of two or so, they start to realize the roles such as attitudes, interest, and behaviors, in which males and females are supposed to portray. This is referred to as gender typing. When understanding which roles are to be taken, then they can start their development. In the psychoanalytic theory, Freud asserts that childrens thoughts about gender occur out of a clash relating to their feelings about their parents. Generally, they would like to tie a bond between the opposite-sex parent but end up doing so with the same-sex parent in order to settle this clash, taking on thats parents gender-related behavior and ideas. At the same time, they defer their love for the opposite-sex parent in the hope that someday they will be able to achieve a sexual relationship with a partner who is similar to him or her (Wood et. al., 2005, p. 411). I can agree with Freuds psychoanalytic theory to a certain extent. What  would the opposite-sex parent do in a family with no boys or no girls? Would he/she take over some traits that the same-sex parent would give to the children? My mother and father had four boys including myself. Being in the situation my mother was in considering there were no girls, she felt a need to rub off some of her traits to us boys. While my father taught us the game of baseball and how to mow the lawn, my mother taught us our table manners and to how to do the laundry. We shared a bond to both of our parents equally. But overall, we all feel the same way in which we want our future wives to be close to, if not exactly like our mother. In the social learning theory, children look for role models to follow, where they imitate that person and want to be like him/her. But say if a boy started doing something that is out of his gender role, such as trying on his mothers high heels, he will be informed by his father that it is not appropriate for him to do such a thing. Psychologists say that yes imitating and reinforcing may play a part in the gender role development, but it does not offer a complete clarification of this occurrence. Lawrence Kohlbergs cognitive developmental theory suggests that an understanding if gender is a prerequisite to gender role development (1966; Kohlberg Ullian, 1974, p. 412). This theory explains that children go through three stages that are necessary to developing the concept of gender. The first stage happens when the child is around the ages of two and three, which is gender identity, or the sense of being male or female. The next stage occurs at four and five, which is gender stability, the understanding that boys will be boys and girls will be girls forever. Then the last stage is when the child has reached six and eight. It is known as gender constancy, or the knowledge that gender will not change, despite the clothes they wear or the activities they participate in. But Kohlberg failed to mention why many gender-role appropriate behaviors and preferences are observed in children as young as age 2 or 3, long before gender constancy is acquired (Bussey Bandura, 1999; Jacklin, 1989; Martin Little, 1990, p. 412). I guess it just depends on the educational techniques used on the children. My brothers and I were taught a lot at a very young age, so we had a little bit of a head start. Like the cognitive developmental theory, Sandra Bems gender schema theory (1981) emphasizes that children begin to use gender as a way to pick up and sort out information. But the gender schema theory says that this process happens earlier with the gaining of gender identity other than gender constancy. Also like social learning theory, the gender schema theory indicates young children are motivated to pay more attention to and behave in ways consistent with the gender-based standards and stereotypes of their culture (Wood et. al., 2005, p. 412). I think television can become a major factor in a childs behavior because they can watch shows that are unsuitable for their viewing, and while growing older they can become more fascinated with sexual activity. When becoming sexually involved with another person, both males and females experience four phases of when engaged in sex, called the sexual response cycle. The first phase is the excitement phase, and this is simply when the female undresses for the male and the male uses verbal expressions of affection to stimulate the female. The blood flow starts pumping and the heart beats faster and faster until they reach the second phase, which is the plateau phase. Here excitement keeps rising for the preparation of the third phase, the orgasm. While males only have one, females can have multiple. After that, everything starts to slow down and goes back to its unaroused state. This is known as the resolution phase or the tapering-off period. Sexual activity varies from culture to culture. Furthermore, what is perceived as sexually attractive in males and females may differ dramatically (Woods et. al., 2005, p. 421). Agreed, differences in attraction may occur, even with the same sex. Someones sexual orientation describes the preferences at which someone is attracted to either the opposite or that of their own sex. Studies show that males are twice as likely to be homosexual than females. Berenbaum Snyder (1995) say that if the androgens, or hormones that make one masculine, are too high or too low, can make the brain develop more masculine or feminine which homosexual orientation is more likely. Most of the time it is all in the genes, but other times it is that persons choice to be homosexual, even  if others may not be on the same page. Some people can be homophobic, which in my view is extremely improper. Whoever thinks that it is wrong should take a step back, let those people live their lives and start worrying about their own. I have known many people who were homophobic and it just pushed my buttons to see how cruel they can be to someone with a different sexual orientation. I do see where they are coming from, on the other hand. I do think it is weird to see two homosexual men holding hands or kissing, but I always come to an understanding that they are who they are and nothing can change that. They want to feel the comfort of another. In general, they want to love just as much as heterosexual couples do, so I praise them for that. With homosexual activity and even heterosexual activity, there comes a price if a couple chooses to have unprotected sex. There are many sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), but the major ones are Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, which all can be cured by antibiotics. Chlamydia and gonorrhea are critical to women because if they in fact do have any of these, they do not have any early stages of infections. Since they do not treat it on time, then it can lead to infertility. Viral STDs include genital herpes, genital warts, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), which cannot be cured. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes AIDS. It attacks the immune system, and can cause cancer or other dysfunctions. In order to prevent spreading STDs one should avoid sex with multiple partners, and also use a latex condom with a spermicide. With the growing rate of STDs nowadays, and the amount of television commercials informing teenagers and adults to practice safe sex and get tested for HIV or AIDS, I do not understand why people still have unsafe sex. It is not that difficult to strap up before doing the deed or keep it in your pants, that is unless you are prepared to have a child and have been tested along with your partner. I have known many males and females who have had unprotected sex and regret ever doing so, a couple of which becoming pregnant. From their point of  view, they feel lost because they cannot support their children and give them the attention they need in order to have a secure, fulfilling childhood.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Volkswagen International Strategy

Volkswagen International Strategy INTERNATIONAL MARKETING STRETEGY Companys Snapshot. Volkswagen AG. is a German automaker that operates in the global automotive industry as a manufacturer and distributor. Volkswagen of America is one of its subsidiaries that is based in the United States. The Groups principal activities are to design, manufacture and distribution of cars and other vehicles worldwide. The Groups activities are carried out through two divisions: Automobile and Financial services. The Automobile division comprises the development of vehicles and engines, as well as the production and sale of passenger cars, commercial vehicles, trucks and buses. The Financial Services includes dealer and customer financing and leasing, banking and insurance activities, vehicle rentals and the fleet management business. Overview of Volkswagen Group of Companies. It is Europes no one car maker. The Groups main product lines include the Volkswagen Passenger, Audi, SEAT, Skoda, Lamborghini, Bugatti and Bentley ranges of vehicles. Volkswagen aims to increase its focus on core business, reduce production costs, and enhance profitability. To achieve these goals, the company is considering various strategic and business development initiatives such as divesture of the non core business segments, adapting modular strategy in production process, restructuring, and introduction of new models. Company at a Glance. Major Industry: Automotive Industry. Sub Industry: Diversified Automotive Mfrs. 2008 Sales: 113,808,000,000 (Year Ending Jan 2009). Employees: 357,207. Market Cap: 30,656,317,749. Share Type: Stammaktie. Stock Data: Current Price (12/30/2009): 76.58 In Euro. Revenue generated in the year 2008:113.808 BLN EUR. History. It was in 1930 when Ferdinand Porsche had just set up an automotive design company, which became known as the Porsche Buro in Germany. In the early 1930s the German car industrys made mostly luxury cars. In those days it was not possible for everyone to afford a car. An average German could afford nothing more than a motorcycle. In 1934, Ferdinand Porsche was commissioned to build a small inexpensive car at the request of Adolph Hitler. Hitler required a basic vehicle capable of transporting two adults and three children at 100km/h (62mph). And this car would be available at the price of a motorcycle. By then an already famed engineer, Porsche was the designer of the Mercedes 170H, and worked at Steyr for quite some time in the late 1920s. He landed two separate Auto fà ¼r Jedermann (car for everybody) projects with NSU and Zà ¼ndapp, both motorcycle manufacturers. Neither project come to fruition, stalling at prototype phase, but the basic concept remained in Porsches mind time enough, so on 22 June 1934, Dr. Ferdinand Porsche agreed to create the Peoples Car for Hitler. Changes included better fuel efficiency, reliability, ease of use, and economically efficient repairs and parts. The intention was that ordinary Europeans would buy the car by means of a savings scheme, which around 336,000 people eventually paid into. Volkswagen honoured its savings agreements in West Germany after World War II. Prototypes of the car called the KdF-Wagen appeared from 1936 onwards. The car already had its distinctive round shape and air-cooled, flat-four, rear-mounted engine. The VW car was just one of many KdF programs which included things such as tours and outings. The prefix Volks- (Peoples) was not just applied to cars, but also to other products in Europe; the Volksempfà ¤nger radio receiver for instance. On 28 May 1937, the Gesellschaft zur Vorbereitung des Deutschen Volkswagens mbH was established by the Deutsche Arbeitsfront. It was later renamed Volkswagenwerk GmbH on 16 September 1938. Erwin Komenda, the longstanding Auto Union chief designer, developed the car body of the prototype, which was recognizably the Beetle known today. This let to the production of the car Beetle. Only a handful of cars had been produced before the 2nd WW started in 1939. Post war existence owed to a British major Ivan Hirst who took control of the bomb chattered factory. Hirst intended to dismantle the factory and ship it to Britain. No British car manufacturer was interested in the factory as it lacked the fundamental technical requirements of a motor car. The company survived by producing cars for the British army. Volkswagens were first exhibited and sold in the United States in 1949, but only sold two units in America that first year. On its entry to the U.S.market, the VW was briefly sold as a Victory Wagon. Volkswagen of America was formed in April 1955 to standardize sales and service in the United States. Volkswagen advertisements became as popular as the car, using crisp layouts and witty copy to lure the younger, sophisticated consumers with whom the car became associated. Even though it was almost universally known as the Beetle (or the Bug), it was never officially labeled as such by the manufacturer, instead referred to as the Type 1. The first reference to the name Beetle occurred in U.S. advertising in 1968. Although the car was becoming outdated, during the 1960s and early 1970s, American exports, innovative advertising, and a growing reputation for reliability helped production figures surpass the levels of the previous record holder, the Ford Model T. On February 17, 1972 the 15,007,034th Beetle was sold. Volkswagen could now claim the world production record for the most-produced, single make of car in history. By 1973, total production was over 16 million. VW expanded its product line in 1961 with the introduction of several Type 3 models, which were essentially body style variations based on Type 1 mechanical underpinnings, and again in 1969 with the larger Type 4. These differed substantially from previous vehicles, with the notable introduction of monocoque/unibody construction, the option of a fully automatic transmission, electronic fuel injection, and a sturdier powerplant. In 1964, Volkswagen succeeded in purchasing Auto Union, and in 1969, NSU Motorenwerke AG (NSU). The former company owned the historic Audi brand, which had disappeared after the Second World War. VW ultimately merged Auto Union and NSU to create the modern day Audi company, and would go on to develop it as its luxury vehicle marque. However, the purchase of Auto Union and NSU proved to be a pivotal point in Volkswagens history, as both companies yielded the technological expertise that proved necessary for VW to survive when demand for its air-cooled models we nt into terminal decline as the 1970s dawned. Volkswagen was in serious trouble by 1973. The Type 3 and Type 4 models had sold in much smaller numbers than the Beetle and the NSU-based K70 also failed to woo buyers. Beetle sales had started to decline rapidly in European and North American markets. The company knew that Beetle production had to end one day, but the conundrum of replacing it had been a never-ending nightmare. VWs ownership of Audi / Auto Union proved to be the key to the problem with its expertise in front-wheel drive, and water-cooled engines which Volkswagen so desperately needed to produce a credible Beetle successor. Audi influences paved the way for this new generation of Volkswagens, known as the Polo, Golf and Passat. Companys mission statement. Provide a quality product. Create a safe environment. Enhance productivity. Eco Friendliness. Volkswagen projects. Engineers at Volkswagen are constantly working to produce cars that offer great performance with better fuel economy and fewer harmful emissions. It is involved in developing Resource efficient vehicles such as its BlueMotion models, researching into alternative powertrain technologies and in supporting projects for environmentally sound driving. Golf BlueMotion SE for example, is currently one of the most fuel efficient cars of it class, with CO2 emissions of just 107g/km. Volkswagen was one of the first companies to become a member of the Business and Biodiversity Initiative in February. They use recycled and recyclable materials where possible and the most environmentally friendly construction techniques. They are constantly working on developing fuel efficient vehicles which have minimum impact on the environment. The company engages in a multitude of projects relating to biotopes, the environment and protection of the species, and supports research programs. Marketing Strategy. Volkswagen uses double marketing to position its brand. Double Marketing is NOT stuffing multiple messages into one campaign. Its running multiple campaigns on different messages concurrently.Coke was the only company that typically tried this, because of their huge marketing budget by engaging different ad agencies and pitting them against each other. Many times they would run different ad campaigns at exactly the same time. This is close to Double Marketing, but the campaigns didnt really work together. In the span of the last few months, they have launched the edgy Unpimp my ride campaign about design, control and the obeying your fast for the GTI as well as the safe happens jarring TV ad spots for the Jetta. Companys major emphasis is on easier availability of its products. And to make that possible it has 44 production sites all over the world. Its major marketing strategy is branding its products into different segments of production lines. Its brands go from Skoda (economically priced family vehicles) to Rolls Royce. Use of Latest Technology. Blueprinting is the latest technology used by Volkswagen. Blueprinting is the exact science of engine rebuilding. The careful measuring, fitting, and balancing done during the blueprinting process creates an engine that returns improved performance, fuel economy, and dependability. The engine becomes, in essence, brand new. Engine blueprinting is the process of setting every tolerance in the engine to its optimum value. Volkswagen also uses recycled and recyclable materials where possible and the most environmentally friendly construction techniques. Volkswagens Competitors. Ford, Toyota, Mercedes and General Motors are the major competitors. Out of which Volkswagen claims that Toyota is its major competitors. Company Sales Revenue(Year 2008) Loss (%) General Motors $148,979Billion 8% Ford $146277Billion 11% Mercedes $23.8Billion 7% Toyota $204352Billion 8% Volkswagen made a profit of about 1.2 Billion in the year 2008. Their sales revenue was 113.808 BLN EUR. SWOT Analysis. Volkswagen AG Strengths Strong Market Share Strong RD Activities Strong Brand Equity Geographic Diversification Strong Growth Prospects Volkswagen AG Weakness Limited Liquidity Position Declining Market Share in Sector Volkswagen AG Opportunities Strategic Alliances Demand for Fuel Efficient and Hybrid Vehicles Growth Opportunities in Emerging Markets Volkswagen AG Threats Intense Competition Global Economic Slow Down Stricter Emission Standards Conclusion. Volkswagen is successful mainly because of manufacturing automobile parts, rather than waiting for the manufacture of a new car and launching it. Most of the major brands that they own were purchased by them. People were to some extent aware of those brands. But they did not hold much bigger market value. REFERENCES: Volkswagen Chronicle Volkswagen Beetle History 1938 to 2003 Jpost.com Volkswagens American assembly plant Rumors.automobilemag.com Companiesandmarkets.com Corporate information snapshots IBISWorld . Institute for Sustainability and Technology Polic

Friday, October 25, 2019

Options for Financing the Purchase of a Website :: Sell Websites Buy Websites

Options for Financing the Purchase of a Website Reprinted with permission of VotanWeb.com Financing a website purchase, or getting cash for a down payment can take many forms. Hopefully the options listed below will give you some ideas where you can find the money to buy a website! Credit Cards - many buyers these days are tapping their credit cards for their down payment to buy a website. The downside of this option is that if you are getting an SBA loan to buy a website, they won’t let you use â€Å"a credit card/loan – borrowed money† for the down payment. Other than that this option works for many since there is no waiting for the money or cumbersome approval process. SBA Loans – Many websites today are purchased with 7(a) SBA loans. There are conditions however in getting one to buy a website. You still have to put down between 15%-30% depending on the lender, you must have good or excellent credit, and the website has to have sufficient cash flow to support the debt service of the loan. The loans are typically 10 years in duration and 2-3 points above the prime interest rate. The process of getting an SBA loan to buy a website can be a tedious one and can take one month to six months to complete/fund. Home Equity – With home equity growing rapidly, many buyers utilize these funds to either buy a website or utilize it for a down payment. Lenders are eager to give out home equity loans. Loans can usually be secured rather rapidly, but plan ahead and move quickly so you don’t miss out on any great websites that come out on the market for sale. Owner Financing – This form of financing is only applicable we=hen you have a willing website owner. Usually the buyer will put down 40 to 60% (utilizing one of the methods above), and the owner will carry back a note for a duration of usually two to five years. Interest rates vary but they usually will be higher than banks or commercial resources. Sometime there will be â€Å"combo† financing with the owner taking back a partial note and the rest of the financing will come from the above resources. Retirement Plans – Many buyers have built up sizeable amounts in their work 401(k) plans. There is a way to tap this money tax free – put it into a â€Å"special trust† that then buys the website for you.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Comcast Marketing Strategy

|Marketing Strategy | |Comcast Corporation | | | | | | | | | | | EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Comcast Corporation is facing strong new competition in markets where it used to have none. Comcast has been losing analog cable television customers while at the same time seeing reduced growth of subscribers for its new services. For example, Comcast added 247,000 digital cable subscribers in the 4th quarter of 2008, which is less than half of the 530,000 subscribers they added at the same time the previous year (businessinsider. com). Comcast is the largest cable company in the United States. In most of the regions that they operate, they are almost a monopoly. In Maryland alone, they command 82% of the cable market (allbusiness. om). Unfortunately, Comcast has taken the attitude of a monopoly when it comes to customer service and pricing. In 2004 and 2007, Comcast had the worst customer satisfaction rating of any company in the country (wikipedia. org). Comcast's legacy of terrible customer service has their customers ready to jump to a new company's service as soon as it becomes available. Telecommunications companies have begun to capitalize on this by implementing new technologies to provide digital television, high speed internet and internet telephony services over their existing networks in order to compete directly against Comcast. In order to fulfill Comcast's mission of offering the best products and the most customer-friendly and reliable service in the market, we are proposing a new Customer Service initiative as well as a Total Content Distribution strategy. This involves acquiring media content providers in order to provide exclusive content and to offer a one-stop shopping experience for consumers for all their entertainment and communication needs. Market Definition and Opportunity Comcast identifies its target market size as 50. million homes, located in 39 states and the District of Columbia, which can be connected to its distribution system without further extension of transmission lines. Currently, Comcast has 24. 2 million video customers (47. 8% penetration), 14. 9 million high-speed internet customers (29. 7% penetration), and 6. 5 million phone customers (13. 9% penetration). Comcast generates approximately 95% of its consolidated revenue from its Cable segment. Its cable systems simultaneously deliver video, high-speed internet and phone services to its customers (2008 Annual Report). Appendix A: Example Customer Satisfaction Survey In your most recent customer service experience, how did you contact the representative? ( )In Person ( )By Telephone ( )Internet ( )Other About how long did you have to wait before speaking to a representative? ( )I was taken care of immediately ( )Within 3 minutes ( )3-5 minutes ( )5-10 minutes ( )More than 10 minutes Did our representative†¦ (Select all that apply) ( )Quickly identify the problem ( )Appear knowledgeable and competent ( )Help you understand the cause and the solution to the problem ( )Handle issues with courtesy and professionalism About how long did it take to get this problem resolved? )Immediate Resolution ( )Less than a day ( )Between 2 and 3 days ( )Between 3 and 5 days ( )More than a week ( )The problem is still not resolved How many times did you have to contact customer service before the problem was corrected? ( )Once ( )Twice ( )Three Times ( )More than Three times On a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 represents â€Å"Extremely dissatisfied† and 5 rep resents â€Å"Extremely Satisfied,† please answer the below questions and provide any explanation that could help us to improve our customer service. How satisfied are you with the customer service experience? Overall, how would you rate your level of satisfaction with Comcast? If you were less than totally satisfied, what could have been done to serve you better? WORKS CITED â€Å"Comcast. † Wikipedia. org. Wikipedia. org, 2009. Web. 24 November 2009. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Comcast Comcast Corporation. Annual Report, 2008. Philadelphia, PA: Comcast Corporation, 2008. Frommer, Dan. â€Å"Comcast Beats Street, But Growth Hits the Wall. † The Business Insider. Silicon Valley Insider, 2009. Web. 18 February 2009. http://www. businessinsider. com/comcast-beats-street-but-growth-hits-the-wall-2009-2 â€Å"HD Market Penetration at All-Time High. † Afterdawn. com. AfterDawn Ltd, 2009. Web. 19 October 2009. ttp://www. afterdawn. com/news/archive/16014. cfm/ Herman, Josh. â€Å"Consumers on the Move. † Direct, 1 June 2006: pp 30-31. Mello, John P. â€Å"DVR Market Penetration: Riding a Provider-Powered Wave. † TechNewsWorld. com. E-Commerce Times, 2007. Web. 19 October 2009. http://www. technewsworld. com/story/media-conver gence/59497. html. â€Å"New Verizon Wireless Advertising Campaign Introduces the People Behind the Nation's Most Reliable Wireless Network. † World’s Technology News. Technology News, 2009. Web. 25 November 2009. http://www. mirror99. com/20060514/new_verizon_wireless_advertising_campaign_introduces_the_peo le_behind_the_nation_s_most_reliable_wireless_dfjg. jspx O’Donnell, Jayne. â€Å"Gen Y Sits on Top of Consumer Food Chain. † USA Today, 11 October 2006: p. 3B â€Å"Research: Internet connected TVs the trend for 2009. † Copypaste. nl. Copypaste Media, 9 August 2009. Web. 19 October 2009. http://www. copypaste. nl/788/research-internet-connected-tvs-now-officially-the-trend-for-2009. Waddell, Ray. â€Å"Comcast Center Title Deal Is One For Record Books. † AllBusiness. AllBusiness, 2000. Web. 24 January 2000. http://www. allbusiness. com/services/amusement-recreation-services/4560069-1. html