Company Analysis Famous Brands - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1909 Downloads: 2 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Marketing Essay Type Analytical essay Did you like this example? Bibliography www.famousbrands.co.za/ (15 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" 06 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" 2015) www.famousbrands.co.za/downloads/report/annual_report_2014.pdf (20 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" 06 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" 2015) www.famousbrands.co.za/brands/steers.php (20 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" 06 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" 2015) What is Famous Brands? Famous Brands Ltd is an investment holding company listed on the JSE Securities Exchange under the category Cyclical Services: Leisure amp; Hotels. The company is an integrated food and beverage company whose primary activities include the franchising of trademarks, either company owned or licensed, to Quick Service Restaurant franchises and the manufacture and supply of products to these franchisees and the retail trade. . Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Company Analysis: Famous Brands" essay for you Create order History of Famous Brands Famous Brands was started in the 50à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s by a family called Halamandaris (well thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s their actual name, but were referred to as Halamandres because of a mistake by an immigration official). The family had just 50$ between them and wanted to work hard to achieve something. An idea that was to pave the road of success for this family in the 1960à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s was by George, one of the brothers, to give Johannesburg an American style steakhouse by the name of Steers. Steers was a huge success and because of this many more restaurants were opened and franchising was introduced to the South African market. Unfortunately at the end of 37 years of hard graft the familyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s combined stake in the business only amounted to R35 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" R 40 million. The family wanted more than just a family business and so they turned to a man by the name Kevin Hedderwick (now currently the CEO of Famous Brands). Hedderwick joined what was then known as Steers Holdings as MD and revolutionised the business, turning it into a South African franchising giant. The five core members, Panayiotis, Theofanis, Periklis, John and Babis took the company public on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange on 9 November 1994 with a share price of R1. Then in August 2012 the company hits a share price of R74. From one store worth very little to over 2,000 stores and a company worth in excess of R6 billion. Every brand held by Famous Brands Limited is the leader in their category. Famous Brands is in fact so successful that they were voted as the first and overall winner in the Financial Mail Top 20 Companies. Famous Brands is today Africaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s biggest quick service and casual dining restaurant franchisor and also has representation in the United Kingdom. The global footprint of the group stands at more than 2 000 franchised restaurants spread across South Africa, 16 African countries and the United Kingdom. Following their already successful journey, the stock price hit R100 in August 2013 and is now as of April 2015 sitting at R122.00. The company owns many businesses, but their claim to fame and biggest mainstream brands include: Steers, Wimpy, Debonairs Pizza, FishAways, MB, Keg, Oà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢Haganà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s and Milky Lane. Swot Analysis No business can be truly successful unless they have undergone a SWOT analysis which aims to illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of the business as well as the opportunities and threats present. Strengths: First and overall winner in the Financial Mail Top 20 Companies The company has strong ethical values which allows trust, integrity and honesty within the business. Profits are more than adequate to grow the business. This is certainly the case for Famous Brands, they are a spiral of upward success. The symbol à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Famous Brandsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  is immediately recognised and trusted by customers. Competent planning means that there is always time for creative thinking and organisation Weaknesses: Business could become too dependent on Kevin Hedderwick Solution: It is important that every member of the business takes equal amount of responsibility. This will ensure smooth flowing and effectiveness within the business. Size and scale of global business Making it hard to control standards and quality Solution: This is actually a positive as it means the business is operating outside of its local barrier. The one thing that could be done in this case is having more members to make the global issue easier. The need for low cost products This needs to be balanced in order to produce good quality products. Solution: There is a need for low cost products amongst customers. This needs to be balanced, the business has to charge a reasonable amount so that they can make a profit whilst keeping customers happy with a price they are happy to pay because they know they are paying for quality. Differentiation of products from competitors à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" it is hard for the business to continually differentiate themselves in a market which has many similar competitors Solution: To have workers that are extremely creative and innovative; always 5thinking of new ideas to spark life into their products. Future competition à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Famous Brands has no control of new arrivals in the market, this could pose a threat to the profitability of the company Solution: nothing can be done about this, the business has no control. The best way to compete with this is to have a positive mind set and only focus about your own business. Opportunities: Kevin Hedderwick is an experienced entrepreneur and is the CEO of Famous Brands. The company is in good hands If proper market research is conducted, it will give the company a good idea of what they can do to improve their business as well as what their competitors are doing. Global business à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" companies oversees owned by Famous Brands are a healthy flow of income. This also raises company popularity Innovative business culture à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" have a culture within the business that allows for innovation and creativity to assist in staying on top of market trends and adapting to external factors to help the business thrive New products which are better than competition products Threats: Growing competition New entrants to the market who are selling the same good quality products Solution: Ensure that your business is the best. Make sure that there is a strong ethical value within the business. But most importantly, treat your customers with the utmost respect. Rising cost of raw materials à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" the business will be nowhere without the raw materials and if the price of those is rising, the company will lose money Solution: Try find a store that sells fresh produce at a reasonable price. But keep in mind, one must never substitute quality produce for a cheaper price. Market demand à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" shift in consumers tastes. Consumers might get à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"overà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ a particular taste (in this case a particular style of fast food) and switch to a competitor. Solution: This is a tough one. Because the reason you are successful is because of the original taste of your products. So changing this up may repel customers and send them to your competition. Famous Brands, like any business, will have competitors. Theirs are as follows: KFC McDonalds Spur Kauai Chicken Licken Burger King Nandos Romanà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Pizza Scooters Pizza Something Fishy Corporate Governance Famous Brands have certainly incorporated Corporate Social Responsibility as part of its corporate governance. CSR is all about getting businesses to move toward an involvement approach of giving time, skills and effort to improve the lives of other people. Famous Brandsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ corporate governance and sustainability is presented to show its shareholders how the company: Applies the principles of good corporate governance Manages risk Considers its ongoing sustainability Invests in the wellbeing of its people and society Just as an example of good CSR, Steers, a business owned by Famous Brands save a portion of their dough that is not used and bake it into bread to give to the poor and homeless. This is but a small example of where Famous Brands has initiated CSR and proves that they invest in the wellbeing of its people and society. The business itself competes quite well with its competitors and it clearly shows that their customers are loyal and respectful. Ethical Financial Reporting Financial reporting is the process of producing statements that disclose an organizations financial status to management, investors and the government. This section talks about whether or not Famous Brands implements ethics into their financial reporting. Financial Reporting 2014 Revenue Up to 8% to R1674 million Operating profit Up 17% to R305 million Headline earnings per share Up 29% to 206 cents Cash generated by operations Up 25% to R346 million Return on equity for 2014 Is 36% Code of ethics / Code of Conduct Code of Conduct Compliance with laws and Regulations Employees must follow applicable laws, rules and regulations at all times. Employees with questions about the applicability or interpretation of any law, rule or regulation, should contact the Legal Department. The Code of Business Conduct of Famous Brands serves to guide the actions of the employees consistent with the Company values. The Code helps the people do the right thing and play by the rules wherever they operate around the world. Conflict of interest A Conflict of Interest occurs when personal interests of an employee or the interests of a third party compete with the interests of Famous Brands. In such a situation, it can be difficult for the employee to act fully in the best interests of Famous Brands. Employees shall avoid Conflicts of Interest whenever possible. If a Conflict of Interest situation has occurred or if an employee faces a situation that may involve or lead to a Conflict of Interest, the employee shall disclose it to his or her Line Manager and/or the HR or the Legal or Compliance Function to resolve the situation in a fair and transparent manner. Code of Ethics A guide of principles designed to help professionals conduct business honestly and with integrity. A code of ethics document may outline the mission and values of the business or organization, how professionals are supposed to approach problems, the ethical principles based on the organizations core values and the standards to which the professional will be held. The main relation that Famous Brands has to ethics is that it must teach and educate the employees of the company on what is seen as ethical behaviour and what is not. The Company has a system in place where all new employees are required to pass a test. The test is very simple, but yet again ethics is not something difficult to grasp it is merely the correct way to act and behave when invo lved in the business environment. All new employees are required to pass the test before they are allowed to begin working for the company. Famous Brands also has a system in place that makers certain that existing workers of all levels act in an ethical way when conducting themselves in the Famous Brands business environment. The system also ensures that that all customers feel happy and comfortable when deciding to consult or support the Famous Brands Business. Sustainability With regards to the above information and the timeline, I believe Famous Brands is a sustainable business and if they keep going the way they are they will most certainly improve their reputation and continue to grow and develop under the watchful and controlling eye of Kevin Hedderwick. Business sustainability is often defined as managing the triple bottom line a process by which companies manage their financial, social and environmental risks, obligations and opportunities. These three impacts are sometimes referred to as profits, people and planet. Famous Brands manages their financial, social and environmental risks and obligations and opportunities. It is because of this that I am in favour of Famous Brands being a sustainable business. I believe they will be around for a long time if they carry on the way they are. Timeline of Famous Brandsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ Milestones

No Killing of Animals, Live in a Vegatative State - 788 Words

We walk happily through the supermarket isles browsing for the best price on a piece of fresh flesh. Bring it home and smother it in spices and sauces to make it appetizing and devour the juices on a daily basis. Every time we sit down to eat our favorite chicken sandwich we are consuming the bodily remnants of an animal, a creature that once had life but never any rights. Thus, eliminating the consumption of meat is the only logical way forward as a vegetarian diet considerably improves one’s health, benefits the overall environment and greatly lessens the suffering of animals worldwide. Being a vegetarian is beneficial to all aspects of life and is the only morally reasonable way to live life. Killing animals to simply fulfill our excessive gastronomic urges is not only immoral but also appalling. Meat consumption is and has never been necessary for optimal nutrition. There are many diseases associated with the consumption of meat and animal products including: cancer, heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, diabetes, and obesity among many others. Alternatively, many plant-based diets are proved to be healthier and are able to aid in reduce or even eliminate some of the risks. According to statistics from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, 1.45% of overall human deaths are caused by meat eating. This is due to all the antibiotics, hormones, and pesticides that are remained in the human body after the consumption of meat products. Moreover, meat

Arthur Millers personal experience Essay Example For Students

Arthur Millers personal experience Essay All of the above suggests that authorities in Salem are corrupt and unreasonable. They pressurised the victims and twisted and turned what they said into another matter. People like Danforth take advantage of the authority they had. This is because he used his power to accuse the innocent and make their lives a living hell. The good people are helpless and without power so they have no say for example Nurse Rebecca. In the town of Salem authority is a virtue. The final way in which act 3 can be interpreted as an attack on the severity of the authorities is by Arthur Millers personal experience. When Miller wrote this play there was a cold war going on between the U.S.A and U.S.S.R. Arthur Miller himself was on trial and jus like in The Crucible he was asked to name names or else. The authorities in 1950s America pressurised him and twisted and turned whatever he said and the authorities were very similar to Salem. The purpose of writing The Crucible was so that Miller can show what happened in the courtroom and convey how the authorities pressurised and questioned the people on trial and also to show what happened during the McCarthyism period. The first way the extent to which this courtroom scene presents innocent characters risking their lives in order to tell the truth is an attack on the injustice of Salem as well as 1950s America is conveyed through the feelings and emotions of Arthur Millers characters. We see the love and passion of Proctor and Francis for their wives. The pair of them are prepared to risk their lives for their wives. The courage, bravery and determination of the men get the authorities listening and for once take in what they are saying rather then pressurising them and tricking them. The audience at this stage of the scene would have a lot of sympathy for two because they are putting their lives at risk to save someone that they love dearly. The audience would feel sorry for them and most probably hate the authorities! This again can be interpreted as an attack on elements of society because it shows that the judges were unfair and that innocent people like Francis and Proctor were prepared to put it all on the line for their beloved lives. For example when Giles Corey the husband of Martha Corey presents his case he talks in helpless sobs the effect this has on the audience is that he is ever determined to save and get his wife back and he has realised the mistake he has made. This again can be interpreted as an attack on elements of society because the innocent characters are risking their lives in order to tell the truth to the town that its the girls that are lying. This shows that the authorities are so cruel, callous and inconsiderate that Proctor and Francis are pleading and crying for the court to only listen to the truth and only the truth. Secondly Danforths reaction to the plea of Francis Nurse is a blatant shock. He takes the comments made by Francis that the girls are a lie and fraud and also the girls are a threat to Danforth. Danforth then asks do you know who I am? and then goes onto to state that he has jailed near to four hundred and condemned seventy two by saying this he is making his presence felt and also is mocking Francis like he doesnt know who he is. By stating the figures and facts it shows that he is a big man and a man with lots of authority and if he isnt careful he maybe next. It may also suggest that no Nurse is going to influence his decision because if he does call of the trials out the blue hell be a laughing stock and his reputation and his loyalty will be in tatters. Personally I think hes trying to avoid the embarrassment rather then convicting the people that are guilty. .uc18197255830ddaab3d693d5f5656c92 , .uc18197255830ddaab3d693d5f5656c92 .postImageUrl , .uc18197255830ddaab3d693d5f5656c92 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uc18197255830ddaab3d693d5f5656c92 , .uc18197255830ddaab3d693d5f5656c92:hover , .uc18197255830ddaab3d693d5f5656c92:visited , .uc18197255830ddaab3d693d5f5656c92:active { border:0!important; } .uc18197255830ddaab3d693d5f5656c92 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uc18197255830ddaab3d693d5f5656c92 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uc18197255830ddaab3d693d5f5656c92:active , .uc18197255830ddaab3d693d5f5656c92:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uc18197255830ddaab3d693d5f5656c92 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uc18197255830ddaab3d693d5f5656c92 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uc18197255830ddaab3d693d5f5656c92 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uc18197255830ddaab3d693d5f5656c92 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uc18197255830ddaab3d693d5f5656c92:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uc18197255830ddaab3d693d5f5656c92 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uc18197255830ddaab3d693d5f5656c92 .uc18197255830ddaab3d693d5f5656c92-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uc18197255830ddaab3d693d5f5656c92:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: "Please Be Honest With Me Even If It Hurts Me EssayHowever Danforth isnt all harsh and hard because he does listen to Giles when he is speaking. Danforth at this moment is silent which shows that he has some respect. This can be interpreted as an attack on elements of society because it shows how corrupt the authorities were and also that they arent fair but biased. This maybe because if they are seemed to be judging wrong this could lead to him being stripped of his title Judge and again be hated for the trouble he has caused. It shows that the judges like Danforth cared more bout their name in the society rather then finding out the real culprits and thats the girls. In act 3 Parriss role is to agree and go along with the judges decisions and he is also interfering and creating more trouble and havoc for the people on stand. We know this because hes always cutting in and saying Beware this man and this man is mischief. This jus proves he is siding with the girls and when he says these lines Proctor is on stand and wants him to be hanged. The shocking thing is that a religious man of his calibre a Reverend is siding with the girls and judge but yet a high religious man like him doesnt see the truth. To me Parris is evil because a person of God is meant to help out people especially in this case but he doesnt, where as the other reverend Hale is supportive and tries to get both sides of the story to come an conclusion In act 3 Hale realises that everything is a lie and that the witch trials are not right, and accusations are being made to people that are really innocent and the result is that they are being punished. Reverend Hale goes that there is a prodigious fear of this court. By saying this hes trying to interpret that innocent people in Salem are being hanged. Take for example Giles in act 3. He refuses to name names of the source of information because he knows that if he does grass the source the authorities will immediately go after the source and will be put on trial. This again can be interpreted as an attack on elements of society because it shows that no one could tell the truth and shows how religion can make the authorities stronger. In act 3 Mary is probably the most disturbed and emotional character in the scene because she is faced with a dilemma that makes her change her decision back due to the pressure that being put on her by John Proctor. Proctor takes Mary to the court to confess that the girls are lying and only pretending. He tells her to tell the truth by saying do that which is good. But the two judges Hathorne and Danforth again pressurise Mary and talk her into saying that Proctor had threatened her to say that the girls were lying because of the sudden change in her decision. But we know that Proctor didnt. It was Abigail, the leader of the girls put pressure on Mary by imitating and copying what she says. From this we can tell that Mary was pressured on telling the truth or either goes with Proctor or the girls and this wasnt an easy decision. If Mary confessed that Abigail and the girls were lying she wouldnt be popular with the girls and be hated especially by Abigail. On the other hand Proctor knew exactly what the girls were trying to do and that was lying.

The Synthesis of Zinc Iodide (ZnI2) an Example of the Topic Science and Technology Essays by

The Synthesis of Zinc Iodide (ZnI2) Zinc iodide, ZnI2, is a while (hydrated) or yellow (dry), granular, odorless, hygroscopic (absorbs water in the atmosphere) solid compound that is soluble in water (1g:0.3 mL water). It turns to brown when exposed to heat or sunlight, showing decomposition with release of iodine gas (DeMeo, 1995, p. 836). It is extensively used in the laboratory to illustrate the Law of Definite Proportions and Law of Conservation of Mass, two of which are the foundations of chemical reactions and basis of stoichiometry. Need essay sample on "The Synthesis of Zinc Iodide (ZnI2)" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Students Very Often Tell EssayLab professionals: I need to write a 500 word government and law essays. But I don't have the time EssayLab writers recommend: Buy An Essay Which Will Lead You To Your Academic Success Custom Papers OnlinePaying For PapersCoursework Writing Service A balanced chemical equation best describes how many atoms, molecules, or charged species come in contact to produce certain product, but does not illustrate the mechanism of the reactions. Reactant are driven by e.g. exposure to heat, air, or by just mixing them up, etc. to proceed reaction. The amount of product formed is based on the quantity of the reactants and how well the reaction was taken out. One of the reactants can be the limiting reactant, which is consumed in the course of the reaction, and the other one is the excess. Reactants are of known initial quantity and measured for the change in amount after a successful reaction has been performed. The masses of the reacted species are relative amounts required for complete reaction met. The chemical or physical properties of the reactants should no longer be observed in the product, which can be further verified by physical, chemical and electrochemical tests. 0.5g sample of iodine (I2), 2mL H2O and four drops of CH3COOH were mixed in a large, clean test tube. H2O was added for the immediate addition of the same mass of the Zn metal, whereas CH3COOH (a weak acid) was used to prevent the formation of Zn(OH)2. ZnI2 reacts with H2O via a double displacement reaction mechanism (Demeo, 2003, p.797): ZnI2(aq) + 2H20(l) -> Zn(OH)2(s) + 2H3O+(aq)+ 2I-(aq) Careful weighing of the reactants was done to avoid errors. The mass of the Zn weighed before the reaction was above 0.5g, which is 0.510g. Observed in the reaction mixture upon agitation was the gradual loss of color of iodine (reddish-brown) as the reaction progressed. Since the Zn metal was used as the excess reagent, iodine was expected to be totally used up in the reaction. To obtain the un-reacted Zn metal, a gravity filtration was performed. Quantitative transfer was employed by washing with very minimal amount of water to facilitate faster evaporation as the dry, un-reacted Zn was weighed in a watch glass later on in the procedure. It was noted that all the washings should also be quantitatively obtained since there were dissolved Zn species in it. The amount of Zn left was measured to be 0.348 g, giving the amount of Zn consumed to be 0.162g. On the other hand, the amount of I2 consumed was 0.503g. These values were used in the determination of mole equivalents and the mole ratio as shown in the computations in the results portion. ZnI2 was recovered through medium heat evaporation which prevented losses due to splattering as excessive heat is applied. Cooling down the weighing vessels was first done to avoid also the lowering of the mass to be measured as the air below the weighing vessel may push it upwards because heat can push the air up. The moles of Zn and I2 were used in the computation of the theoretical yield. The percent yields from Zn and I2 were found to be 39.8% and 47.2% respectively. A positive error that was also avoided was the entrapment of water during evaporation. It might seem confusing but as crystallization happens during the evaporation, water may be trapped underneath the bulk of the ZnI2 crystals. It was also confirmed that dehydration has properly taken place by heating back the crystals and checking if the weight has lowered. Although the crystals may look dry, water of hydration may still be present, making the species be called hydrates (salts with water molecules in their crystalline structure). A chemical equation that can be proposed based on the experimental results would be: Zn(s) + I2(s) - Znl2(s) Since both used approximately 0.002 moles each, which would give a ratio of 1:1, thus we can write the balanced equation as such. An error that cannot be avoided in the experiment was the absence of the previous knowledge on the quality of reactants that may affect its reactivity. Factor such as contamination may lead to the wrong computation of the theoretical yield. Also, while weighing the I2 crystals, a negative error might occur because the I2 crystals sublime, making the amount of the limiting reactant less than what was weighed, since the some of the crystals have already been converted to gas. References DeMeo, S. (1995). Synthesis and Decomposition of Zinc Iodide: Model Reactions for Investigating Chemical Change in the Introductory Laboratory. J. Chem Educ., 72(9), 836. Demeo, S. (2003). Synthesis and Decomposition of Zinc Iodide Revisited. J. Chem Educ., 80(7), 796.

When The Air Hits Your Brain Essays - Neurosurgery,

When The Air Hits Your Brain This is the book that every neurosurgeon would like to have written his or her version of, but probably hadn't the time. It is the account of a neurosurgeon's training from medical school to the end of residency, in this case in an American training programme in the 1970s and 80s. Although aimed at the public rather than at neurosurgeons, I could not put it down. Of course, I am biased: I am probably much the same age as the author and shared many of his experiences, or at least the British version of them. I recognise the same pressures on junior staff, the same developments in our specialty, and the same types of character, and I could tell as many tales. He even worked for a spell at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, and, though they are disguised, I certainly recognised several of the doctors described. In his excellent preface, the author sets out the raison d'?tre for the book?to desanctify neurosurgeons and to expose the random nature of their selection and the dehumanising aspect of neurosurgical training which produces a standardised product. That he fails in some of these objectives is not really a criticism. His bosses and colleagues, as all surgeons, were not standardised but shared some common characteristics. Despite the training process, he seems not to have been dehumanised, for he writes about neurosurgical tragedies with sensitivity, even if he suggests that some of his friends were. The random selection does not seem to have been too bad a thing either; I am sure it leads to a more interesting group of trainees. For the author, and for me as well, training was a wonderful time, learning from a bunch of real characters who central casting could not have dreamed up. It was extremely tiring in those far off days of rotas of one in two and worse, but always exciting and totally involving. Only after training the anguish begins, when the buck stops with the surgeon at the top. Vertosick's story is admirably clear. It is enthralling my mother as I write, and she says it all makes sense. Explaining neurological disease to your patients is difficult; to do it effectively throughout a whole book is a real achievement. It is all there?the ghastly experiences of severe brain injury, the macho world of subarachnoid haemorrhage and aneurysms, the frustration of pain management, the tragedies of primary malignant brain tumours, the sometimes unexpected triumphs of benign tumour surgery, and much more besides. Medicine Essays

Seek First to Be Understand Before Being Understood Essays

Seek First to Be Understand Before Being Understood Essays Seek First to Be Understand Before Being Understood Paper Seek First to Be Understand Before Being Understood Paper Stephan Covey is one of the speakers that will inspire you to truly listen to what the other person is trying to say. If a person does that, one will be able to reflect what the other person is saying and therefore be more able to assist him/her in what they are feeling. Communication is the most important skill in life. We spend years learning how to read and write, and years learning how to speak. But what about listening? Most people probably seek first to be understood; we want to get our point across. And in doing so, we may ignore the other person completely, pretend that we are listening, selectively hear only certain parts of the conversation or attentively focus on only the words being said, but miss the meaning entirely. So why does this happen? Because most people listen with the intent to reply, not to understand. Covey warns that giving out advice before having empathetically understood a person and their situation will likely result in rejection of that advice. In order to participate in communication fully, one should be sure to understand the speaker by asking questions and then replying in a way that lets the listener know that you understand the situation. This could be done by trying to mimic the other person’s feeling by repeating what he or she says, a topic that we went over in class when the professor mentioned that this a tactic some interviewers do when interviewing a job candidate. They try to do some bodily gestures and if the interviewee follows their actions, this means that they are on the same level of understanding each other. Seeking understanding is a two-way street that relies on the ability of each listener to ‘actively listen’. Generally speaking, our first impulse in communication is to make sure that we have been understood. Especially as managers and leaders and parents, we often give instruction to others. While this sort of directed communication is important, it is not the only way that we communicate. There are many times that others will come to us with problems, with needs, or with conversation. And I as a mother can attest that my first impulse is to help, to solve the problem or to offer solutions even before I know all the facts. After listening to Covey, sometimes it is a good idea to just listen and say nothing for the first few minutes so I can be able to gather all the facts before offering any assistance. It is in those times that we practice listening with empathy. This means turning our communication practice around and seeking first to understand, rather than first to be understood. This puts the power in the hands of the other person, the power to communicate their feelings. The responsibility then lies with us to accept, and understand the source of, these feelings and then seek to offer any help, if necessary.

Analysis of Financial Article Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Analysis of Financial Article - Essay Example The author believes that in all cases, fractal structures and non-periodic cycles were found, which accordingly suggests and provides evidence that capital markets have a non-linear system, which thus makes the EMH doubtful. The author begins the article by asserting that logarithms will be applied to analyze data instead of percentages as logarithms can calculate cumulative returns and percentages cannot. Thus, the steps to analyzing R/S for capital markets include first converting prices into logarithms and then applying the suggested equations. Then each capital market instrument and data is analyzed turn by turn to gauge volatility, cycles, and price changes. The author uses Hurst statistics to analyze various capital market instruments and implies at the end of the article that prices are reflections of investors’ concept of ‘fair value†. While some may believe this to be a single value, this can actually be a range of values which is based on information such as the earnings from an investment, the management system, the new products offered, and the economic environment in that area. After fundamental analysis and technical analysis of what other investors believe their counterparts are willing to pay, the price is automatically adjusted to what is perceived as fair price and thus other investors become attracted to the investment and begin to purchase it. A Hurst statistic of more than 0.5 suggests that new information and previous events may affect the future prices of securities while one, which is lower than 0.5 implies the opposite. The author claims that the capital markets have a fractal nature and thus models such as the CAPM, APT, and Black-Scholes model fail. It is mainly due to their simple assumptions and their lack of acknowledging the importance of time when making vital decisions. Hence, the author believes that fractal analysis is a better measure of the reality of capital markets and the outcomes of human decision maki ng. Fractal analysis is a reflection of the reality of life and how messy and complicated results can be. Thus, while it makes mathematics more difficult, it also explains the qualitative aspects of decision making and capital markets. It also gives capital markets a number of air values, cycles, trends, and recognizes the fact that there are innumerous possibilities. Thus, in the author’s point of view, fractal analysis is a better measure of the capital markets rather than the simple models as it accounts for a number of things, which are not accounted for in simple analysis. Hence, even though it is more complicated, the author encourages its use. The important points in the article are as follows: Logarithm returns are a better measure than percentages when calculating changes in price The author suggests that enough data is collected when the natural period of the system is visible and several cycles are available for analysis The first regression analysis is applied to the S&P 500 from 1950 to July 1958 The high value of H suggests the fractal position of the market The stock market results are not in accordance with the efficient market hypothesis The author suggests that market returns are persistent and have a fractal probability distribution The system is non-periodic and reinforces trends According to CAPM, a higher beta stock value is riskier than a lower beta stock value This is due to higher volatility The author suggests that high H values pose less risk and low H values may pose more risk High H values have less noise in the data while lower H values have more noise High H values may change abruptly Portfolio diversification reduces risk Market efficiency can be determined by the level of noise in the

How we can reduce the nature deficit disorder among todays youth Essay

How we can reduce the nature deficit disorder among todays youth - Essay Example In this paper I will discuss in detail the nature deficit disorder that is prevalent amongst the youth today. In the earlier times, the most favorite and treasured time for children of all ages was the time they were allowed to play outside. This remained true, till the times machines took us over and now our lives and actions are invaded by electrically operated gadgets. They are better known as children of the digital age and have developed into more and more estranged from the natural world, with devastating implications, not simply for their bodily fitness, but in addition for their long-term psychological and spiritual heath as well. There are many causes behind this nature deficit disorder and children alone are not to be blamed. It is not the same safe world any more. Parents fear their children's safety and hence restrict them indoors (Tenenbaum). Sensational media reporting and obsessed parents have factually "petrified children away from the playgrounds and have confined them in front of their X-boxes and Play stations. While endorsing a controversial culture of apprehension that favors "safe and sound" restricted sports over creative engaging in recreation. Well-meaning basic school syllabus may educate students the whole thing there is to recognize about the nature and its vast spread beauty but the generation of the yester years was more sensitive towards it because most of them had spent their childhoods playing amongst trees and floating boats along river banks. All this seems to be a fantasy for the children today who would sit an enjoy some stranger's movie on you-tube instead of experiencing the fre sh air out of their rooms. And progress in expertise, while opening up an affluence of "virtual" familiarity to the young, has prepared them for children to expend fewer instances outside (McKee). By reducing pressure, whetting concentration, and encouraging original trouble solving, "nature-play" is also rising as a promising treatment for attention-deficit confusion and other early days problems. Indeed amplified contact to natural world may establish a salve for a lot of of the childhood disorders that at the present run out of control, the extremely ubiquity of those disorders is proof that two generation of estrangement from nature might have by now resulted in substantial damage to our kids. I believe that though children are said to be the direct victims of the nature-deficit disorder, it is not limited to the children alone (Tenenbaum). Infact it's a disorder that exists amongst the whole society; amongst parents who confine children indoors, amongst schools who have cut down on field trips due to safety reasons and so on. But one preliminary qualification must be made. Suppose we do discover certain significant deficiencies in the conduct of our young. Then the question will arise, where did they go wrong That question resounds of youth bashing. The better question is where did we, the current adults--or at least some of us adults--go wrong Our children's behaviors, for better or worse, largely reflect the demands and opportunities we adults provide them. Thus, the real issue is, how much are we adults willing to change to stimulate constructive changes in our young And what and how should we change YOUTH DISORDER Until a year or two ago,

Dulux Paints, a Hospital, a leisure centre and a GPs Surgery Essay Example for Free

Dulux Paints, a Hospital, a leisure centre and a GPs Surgery Essay For this project I have sent a letter to each company, I have emailed 1 of the companies and visited 2 of the companies in order to help me with my research. Although not all companies gave me the relevant information, I also used the internet to help me fill in the missing gaps. Production Organisations The only product organisation I have chosen to do is Dulux. Dulux is a paint company. Dulux Customer Care Centre ICI Paints Wexham Road Slough SL2 5DS Tel: 08444 817 817 Dulux produce a wide range of different paints and products both interior and exterior to help you paint. Here are a few examples of what products they make. Paint Paint is any liquid liquefiable or mastic composition which after application to a substrate in a thin layer is converted to a solid film. Products made for interior: Paint pod: Paintpod roller system, Paintpod matt emulsion, Paintpod silk emulsion, Paintpod 2m extension tube, Paintpod extra reach handle, Paintpod roller sleeve, Paintpod dip tube, Paintpod edging brush, Paintpod spare parts Main Range: Matt, Natural hints matt, Feature wall matt, Soft sheen, Solid emulsions matt, Solid emulsions silk, Non-drip gloss, Satin wood, Professional liquid gloss, Pure brilliant white eggshell, Quick dry gloss, Quick dry satin wood, Tile paint, Cupboard paint. Exterior products: Products made for exterior: Main range: non-drip gloss, professional liquid gloss. Once: Gloss. Weathersheild: smooth masonry paint, textured masonry paint, ready to roll smooth masonry paint, exterior gloss, exterior satin, exterior one coat gloss, exterior undercoat, exterior stablishing primer, multi-surface fungicidal wash, exterior preservative primer. What Science is involved? Paint is manufactured with mineral fillers (clay and limestone) and pigments from various minerals. Paint contains four basic ingredients pigments, resin solvents and additives. Each has a different purpose. The pigment is for colour, resin is a binder, the solvent carries the pigment and resin from the paintbrush to the wall, the additive is added to change or improve its characteristics, in paint it is added to help the paint stick better. Making the paste: Pigment manufacturers send bags of pigments to the paint factory where it is them premixed with the resin, the solvent and additives to form a paste. Dispersing the pigment: The paste mixture is then routed to a sand mill (shown below) this agitates tiny particles of sand to grind the pigment particles to make them smaller then dispersing them throughout the mixture. The mixture will then be filtered to remove the sand particles. Although not all paint companys use a sand mill, instead they may be used in a high speed dispersion tank. (Shown below) here the premixed paste is subjected to high speed agitation by a circular toothed blade attached to the rotating shaft. Using this process will blend the pigments into the solvent Thinning the paste: No matter how it is dispersed whether by sand mill or dispersion tank the paste must be thinned to produce the final product. The paste is transferred to a large kettle where it is agitated with the right amount of solvent to match the paint desired. Canning the paint: The paint is then pumped into the canning room. Empty cans are rolled horizontally onto labels the set upright for the paint to be pumped into them. A machine will then place the lids onto the filled cans and a second machine will press the lid so it is sealed. The handles are then made and cut by a bolometer before hooking them into the holes made on the cans. The cans are then boxed and sent to the warehouse. Health and safety act: The health and safety act defines general duties on employers, employees, contractors, suppliers of goods and substances for use at work, person in control of work premises and people who manage and maintain them. The act enables a regime of regulations by the government ministers through the statutory instrument. They created an extensive system of specific provisions for various industries, including discipline and risks. It enforces powers backed by criminal sanctions extending to unlimited fines and imprisonment for up to 2 years. The act provides a critical interface with the law of European Union on workplace health and safety. How is the HS act used in Dulux? The health and safety act will be used in Dulux to make sure that paint is not left on the floor and so that the company is a safe environment to work in. listed below are a few ways in which they will ensure health and safety: * They are to make sure there is no paint left on the floor to ensure no accident occur * They are to make sure Special clothes will be worn to protect the workers from toxic chemicals * They will Ensure that all equipment is safe to use to help prevent accident occurring * They will ensure that All fire exits are clearly marked and not covered so easy access incase of a fire * All rules and regulations are clearly stated, visible and always followed. * There is a fire safety point Cleary situated. * Ensure all fire alarms work Service organisations The 1st service organisation I have chosen to do is within the health care system. I have chosen to do a hospital. I will research manor hospital. Manor Hospital Moat Road, Walsall, WS2 9PS 01922 721172 Manor hospital offers a wide range of services from AE to Vascular surgery. I have listed a few below: * AE * Cancer services * Care of the elderly * Dermatology * Ear, nose and throat surgery * Maternity * Orthodontics * Pharmacy and medicines * Sexual health * Therapy services * Urology * Vascular surgery Manor hospital is a place where you can get medical treatment. They help you in a variety of different ways. I have chosen to do focus my project on the AE What Science Is Involved? In the AE there are a variety of different sciences involved. Although not all are used daily. There are some things that you may not be aware off that use science. The AE is a place where you go if you have been involved in an accident. They deal with all accidents and emergencys ranging from a sprain up to a breakage of a bone. Although this may seem like no science is involved there is. Biology is mainly used because its deals with the human body. They need to have a biology degree. For example if somebody were to come into AE with a nail in there hand, they would have to use the biology in order to figure out the best treatment n how to go about getting the nail out. Would they just pull it out or would they operate? After deciding this they will need to sterilise the nail in order to stop the micro-organism infecting the wound. This is another form of science involved. After that if they choose to operate they will use anaesthetic. Although this may seem as if this is not using science it is. This is used to temporarily reduce sensation so that painful procedures or surgery can be performed. There are 2 types of anaesthetic: * General; makes the patient unconscious * Local; numbs the part of the body that would feel pain. So what is in anaesthetic? * Benzocaine * Dibucaine * Liudocaine * Tetracaine * Novocaine * Prilocaine * Mepivacaine * Bupivacaine * Articaine * Procaine Health and safety: As stated above manor hospital will also have health and safety regulations to help ensure nobody is put at risk, listed below are some examples of where health and safety will be used in the AE: * They will ensure that when using needles or checking a patient they will use gloves, that are to be changed after every patient * They will ensure that all needles used are put into a container and only used on 1 person. * They will ensure that all the toilets are clean. * They will ensure that no fire exits or covered and are fully accessible. * They will ensure that if a patient is highly ill they will be put into quarantine. * They will ensure that all medical equipment is clean and able to be used. * A fire safety point clearly stated * Ensure all fire alarms work * They will ensure that there are enough seats available so that people are not standing around. The 2nd service organisation I have chosen to do is Berkley practice. This is a GPs practice. Berkley practice Churchill Road Walsall West midlands WS2 0BA The Berkley practice provides a wide range of services such as: * Blood tests * STI Tests * Pregnancy tests At the Berkley practice there is more than one GP available to suit your needs, as each GP may have a different area of expertise. This also may be so that it is easy access to your GP if you live close by. Although you may have a personal GP you may also chose to use a different Doctor. What Science is involved? As a dentist they will need to know a variety of different thing that involve science such as x-ray machines and chemicals. Here below are some of the sciences used. A dentist will diagnose and treat problems relating to the teeth and gums in the mouth. This means the dentist will need to know the science of the body but specifically the mouth and teeth. This will be so they can give advice about brushing and healthy eating for looking after teeth and gums. They will also need to know the science of chemicals and antibiotics so that they are able to provide proper protection and pain relief. Dentist will also need to know the science of x-rays machines and other equipment so that they can be used safely and easily without accidents occurring. Finally dentist will need to know the science of infectious diseases so that he can prevent them happening whilst providing treatment. Health and safety: Like in the hospital the GP may have some of the same constraints to ensure safety. * Ensure all equipment is clean and safe to use * Ensure that gloves are worn when treating a patient * All needles will be put into a container * A fire safety point clearly stated * Ensure that all rules and regulations are stated, visible and always followed. * Ensure that all fire alarms work The 3rd service organisation I have chosen to do is Darlaston leisure centre Victoria Road Darlaston Walsall WS10 8AP Telephone 0121 526 7473 Fax 0121 568 7379 Darlaston leisure centre offers a wide range of activities and facilities such as: * Childrens gym * Adults gym * Swimming pool * Tanning studio * Swimming lessons * Vending area * Spectators area * steam rooms * holiday camps Darlaston leisure centre also caters for disabled people by providing disabled access, parking and disabled changing facilities. What Science is involved? Chlorine: Chlorine is the chemical that is often used to keep swimmingpools free of bacteria that can be hazardous to humans. It kills bacteria through a simple chemical reaction. The chlorine solution breaks down into different chemicals including hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite ion. Both of these kill micro organisms and bacteria by attacking the lipids in the cell walls and destroying enzymes and structures inside the cell, thus making them harmless. If not enough hypochlorous acid present the cleaning process can take much longer. After the cleaning process both chemicals either combine with another or are broken down into single atoms, this then makes the chlorine harmless. Although chlorine is good for swimming pools it may also produce side effects such as; * Itching; chlorine may have an itching effect on some skin, more likely to affect people with sensitive skin. * The smell; chlorine has a distinctive smell that some people may find sickly * Fading clothes; clothes may begin to fade if being exposed to chlorine for to long, such as your swimming costume around summertime. * Inhaling; inhaling a massive mount of chlorine may be hazardous to your breathing. Health and safety Darlaston leisure centre will also be a service provider that uses the health and safety act 1974. They will use this to ensure that all children using the facilities are safe. They may do this by: * ensuring there are ore than 2 staff watching the pools at all times * ensuring all fire exits are clearly labelled and visible * Ensuring that staff is watching children whilst in the gym children should not be in the gym as accidents may occur. Children should be out having fun. The equipment used may be too complicated for them. The age range for this gym is 8-16. * ensuring all food available is able to eat * clearly stating the rules and regulation of the centre and are always followed * making sure that there are qualified first aiders available * ensure that a fire safety point is clearly situated * ensure that all fire alarms work Below are copies of the emails and letters sent to the companies in order to help me with my research? Letters: This is the letter that I used to send to all of the companies. I edited the letter in order for it to be suitable for the companies. Dear whom ever this may concern, My name is Jaymie lee Howard I am 17 years old and am currently at 6thform, I am studying applied science. At the moment we are currently doing organisations using science. I am using your company as part of my coursework and was hoping you could answer these questions for me in order to help me. I would like to ask you if you could please answer these questions for me. 1) What type of work takes place within your company? 2) What science is used to help make the products offered for service? 3) What health and safety constraints do you have? 4) Does everybody follow the health and safety act? It would really helpful if you could answer these questions for me as they are not displayed on the website.

Dna Extraction From A Kiwi Experiment Biology Essay

Dna Extraction From A Kiwi Experiment Biology Essay Label all samples before putting them into wells. Fill a micropipette with sample A (it must be filled from end to end). Insert a micropipette into the glass holder. Immerse the end of pipette below the surface of the TBE and gently dispense its contents into the well (first well from the left). Cell Transformation Cell transformation is the genetic difference of a cell caused from the uptake of DNA. It is most common in bacteria (bacterial transformation) and occurs naturally in some species. It can also be affected by artificial means (for example: different temperature, different chemicals such as CaCl2 i.e. Calcium chloride transformation). Cell transformation is also used to insert a new genetic material into non-bacterial cells including animal and plant cells. Vector is a DNA molecule which is used as a vehicle to transfer foreign genetic material into another cell. There are various types of vectors such as plasmids, bacteriophages, cosmids (have large amount to store DNA as compare to plasmids) and artificial chromosomes. The choice of vector is important because it affects so many of the processes such as cloning which includes expression, protein processing. Types of vectors and how they work varies. For example, plasmid vectors are used to multiply or express particular genes. They act as a vehicle to transfer genetic material into host cells. Viral vectors are designed for permanent incorporation of the inserting material into the human genome. These vectors leave genetic markers in the hose genome after incorporating the gene. Comparing viral and plasmid vectors, viral vectors cannot be used to multiply genes. That is because; host in a plasmid vector is immuned to have a reaction to virus. Viral vectors can be used for gene therapy; providing a way to cure genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis. Because these diseases result from mutations in the DNA sequence for specific genes, gene therapy trials have used viruses to deliver unmutated copies of these genes to the cells of the patientà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s body à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ this has been very successful. However, several problems of viral gene therapy must be overcome before it gains widespread use. Immune response to viruses not only inhibits the delivery of genes to target cells but can cause health risks for the patient. Plasmid vectors can also be used for gene therapy because some methods of gene therapy depends on the efficient insertion of genes at the appropriate chromosomal target sites within the human genome, without causing cell injury or mutations (cancer). Bacterial cell transformation is a process by which the genetic content of bacterial cell is changed. In this process, DNA is introduced into bacterial cells. Bacteria which have ability to take up foreign DNA are known as competent cells and they are made competent through use of calcium chloride. That is because; the membrane of bacterial cell is permeable to chloride ions. When chloride ions enter the bacterial cell, water molecules get attached with charged particles. This causes the cells to swell. The CaCl2 treatment (to make cells competent) is followed by heat or heat shock (at 42oC); a new set of genes (also known as heat shock genes) is expressed. This set of genes help the bacteria in surviving at such or low temperatures. Heat shock is necessary for the uptake of DNA because at temperatures above 42oC, bacteria start to lose ability to uptake DNA. Bacteria cell transformation How is the recombinant plasmid created? And how was it put into the bacteria? Explain the diagram you include (Remember: How + Why (for M2) Polymerase Chain Reaction Introduction: PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) is a technique used for the amplification of a small quantity of DNA over one million fold. This technique was first used to diagnose sickle cell anaemia and is now used for cloning and paternity testing. To perform DNA amplification, PCR machines are used. PCR machine helps to prepare DNA and in a short time, it increases the amount of DNA to billions. Experiment: PCR reaction has been done using a thermal cycler (the vast majority of PCR methods use cycling). PCR reaction involves different stages such as control reaction (initial stage), cycling and so on. Apparatus: 3 Tubes (0.5 ml) Tube (for PCR reaction) Ice DNA template for amplification Primer Mix 10x gel loading solution Enzyme grade ultrapure water Agarose gel InstStain Methylene Blue Distilled/Deionized water (optional) Buffer (optional) Electrode terminals Content Reason of Usage Primer Mix Primers are (short strands of mRNA binded by complementary base pairs) are bonded to each DNA strand. Primer mix is a powerful tool which helps to copy every DNA sequences. It contains primers which decrease the chances to target the wrong sites on DNA. They are required to start the process of making DNA. DNA template DNA template means pattern of DNA (to be amplified). When DNA is taken apart between the nitrogen bases, then each side acts as a pattern for the parts (such as complementary strands) that are missing. DNA template is used for amplification of DNA. Nucleotides These are the genetic building blocks which make DNA molecules. These are used to create billion copies of DNA. Method Reason Initialising: DNA sample is heated at 940C -960C for 1-9 minutes. To break the hydrogen bonds in the couple-stranded DNA, creating single-stranded molecules that are susceptible to copying. This is called denaturing. The longer the strand to be copied, the longer the denaturing process lasts. Annealing At this stage, the temperature is lowered to 40oC-65oC for about 20-45 seconds. This allows annealing of the primers to the single-stranded DNA template. The primers are short DNA strands, designed to bond to sites at the beginning and end of the segment to be copied. If the primers are incorrectly designed or the temperature at this stage is wrong, the primer will bind randomly to the DNA, resulting in the wrong segment copy. Elongation At this stage, 72oC-80oC temperature (optimum temperature) is used because of DNA polymerase i.e. Taq Polymerase (it is an enzyme which is used to make a new copy of DNA). This activates DNA polymerase. When DNA polymerase finds a primer (attached to a single DNA strand), it adds nucleotides on to the strand. It continues to do this until it reaches to the end of the strand and falls off. There is a possibility of DNA contamination in preparing a PCR sample. For example, using a same pipette to add different components or using the same tip for different components. But precautions can be taken to reduce the risk of DNA contamination such as using new pipette and tip for each different component. Wearing gloves and safety goggles can help prevent DNA contamination. Washing used equipment or discarding equipment such as used tips.

Mary Wollstonecraft`s Vindication of the Rights of Woman

Mary Wollstonecraft is considered as the â€Å"mother of feminism† or rather the ‘first feminist†. Her book, â€Å"A Vindication on the Rights of Woman†, published in 1792, revolves around the central issue of women’s rights especially with respected to women education. The book is addressed to Edmund Burke and is considered a milestone in the history of feminism. Mary Wollstonecraft was born in London, in 1759, to John Edward Wollstonecraft and Elizabeth Dickson.She had an older brother, Edward (Ned), and four younger siblings. Mary Wollstonecraft lived in Paris during the most climactic episode of the French Revolution: the trial and beheading by guillotine of King Louis XVI. Mary's father was gruff and abusive and her mother passive and neglectful. Despite this, Mary acquired her education in Yorkshire and made friends with clergyman Mr. Clare who recognized her intelligence and introduced her to the Bible, the works of Jonathan Swift, William Shak espeare and John Milton. In 1788 Wollstonecraft began to establish herself as a writer.She was a prolific writer and she wrote for Joseph Johnson’s monthly periodical, The Analytic Review. In 1790 Mary wrote â€Å"A Vindication of the Rights of Men† in response to Edmund Burke's â€Å"Reflections on the Revolution in France,† and thereby established her credentials not only as a woman of opinion, but as a woman who was happy to voice her opinions on an equal platform with other intellectuals of the period.Edmund Burke, a champion of American Independence as saw the Glorious French Revolution of 1688 as a moderate and cautious settlement. In his â€Å"Reflections on the Revolution in France†, (1790), Burke aimed to denounce Price, to attack the French revolutionaries and their principles, and to defend the British constitution and the notion of prescriptive right. He argued that vice and individual selfishness rather than government were the cause of socia l unhappiness.Supporting the aristocracy, Burke made part of his argument through sentimentalized pictures of sexual and familial relationships, especially of the French queen Marie Antoinette as mother and lady, worthy object of chivalric devotion. These pictures were particularly revolting to Wollstonecraft, who did not admire much, the aristocratic families. This book, then, is a reply to the arguments of Edmund Burke.In â€Å"A Vindication of the Rights of Woman†, Wollstonecraft calls for a revolution in female manners.   Wollstonecraft argued that females are in all the most important aspects the same as males and women are superior in the context of strength of mind, perserverance and fortitude. On the basis of these philosophical arguments of sexual equality Wollstonecraft called for the reform of female education, arguing that girls should be educated in the same subjects and by the same methods as boys.She further advocated a radical revision of British law to enab le a new, egalitarian marriage in which women would share equally in the management and possession of all household resources. She demanded that women be paid equally for their labor, that they gain the civil and legal right to possess and distribute property, that they be admitted to all the most prestigious professions. And she argued that women should be given the right to vote.On Love, Sentiment, Passion and Emotions:Wollstonecraft accuses men of sentimentally viewing women as females rather than human beings and hence has been â€Å"more anxious to make them alluring mistresses than affectionate wives and rational mothers† (Wollstonecraft, xxxi). Wollstonecraft questions why females should always be degraded by being made subservient to love or lust. Wollstonecraft says that love is indeed a noble emotion but it should not be allowed to act as a block to reasoning. Sentimentally, a woman is considered as someone who needs to be trained to be a good wife.However, a woman who is trained only in pleasing her husband will not be able to appeal to a man’s sexuality in the long run. When her sentimental and sexual appeal fades off, she is likely to seek approval from other men and become bitter. The author eloquently says: â€Å"love, perhaps, the most evanescent of all passions, gives place to jealousy or vanity† (Wollstonecraft, page 27). Thus, Wollstonecraft indicates that there must not be too much sentiment should not be considered in the context of women education.Wollstonecraft points out to women who tend to acquire a certain artificial mode of behavior because of popular sentiment as to how they should behave. These people under the cloud of sentiment tend to lose their original powers of thinking. â€Å"The greater numbers of people take their opinions on trust to avoid the trouble of exercising their own minds, and these indolent beings naturally adhere to the letter, rather than the spirit of a law, divine or human† (Woll stonecraft, 185).She says it’s because of their foolish sentiment that makes them fear the â€Å"eye of man†. Their sentiment based behavior is based on having a good reputation and not because of chastity or other virtues. To prove the above conclusion, Wollstonecraft cites the examples of affairs that married women of high class society indulge in, and contrasts it to the degradation suffered by a young woman in love. This is mainly because of the sentiment that married women have good reputation.The respect for the sentiment of the world has, however, been termed the principal duty of woman in the most express words, for Rousseau declares, ‘that reputation is no less indispensable than chastity. According to Wollstonecraft, â€Å"A sentiment that often exists unsupported by virtue, unsupported by that sublime morality which makes the habitual breach of one duty a breach of the whole moral law† (Wollstonecraft, 197). Thus, according to the author, sentim ent should be one that is supported by virtue and values. Only such sentiment based on values can lead to morality and truly great character. This value-based sentiment can be had only through education and a thinking mind, which is why the author supports the right of women to education.The author also points to the fact that the sentimental image of a woman is provided through novels. She feels that women rights in particular write works of fiction that are all steeped in sentimental jargon, which tend to corrupt the mind and the heart. The female characters are often stereotyped and shown as submissive and having no thinking brain of their own. Women writers tend to prefer unnatural sentimental flights of fantasy in their works and in the process they create damaging stereotypes.   Wollstonecraft complains of Elizabeth Inchbald's A Simple Story (1791).She points out that all female writers tend to give a sanction to the libertine reveries of men, poison the minds of their own s ex, and strengthen a male prejudice that makes women systematically weak? Contrary to sentimental novels, novels of sensibility matter because they shape behavior and serve as an index to broader cultural ills. Woman is â€Å"made by her education â€Å"the slave of sensibility,† Wollstonecraft observes (174). She holds that novels, music, poetry, and gallantry make women â€Å"creatures of sensation† (78) through their sentimental content. Thus she holds that sentimental stereotypes of women tend to create emotional women: â€Å"All their thoughts turn on things calculated to excite emotion; and feeling, when they should reason, their conduct is unstable, and their opinions wavering† (77). She says that education that tends to inflame the passions must indeed be miserable. Education should strengthen the passions and not inflame them.The sentiment of being always a woman is the â€Å"very consciousness that degrades the sex† (135). Here, Wollstonecraft points out the subtle connection between emotion and reason. She agrees that a man, or a woman, of any feeling, must always wish to convince a beloved object that it is the caresses of the individual, not the sex, that are received and returned with pleasure; and, that the heart, rather than the senses, is moved. â€Å"Without this natural delicacy, love becomes a selfish personal gratification that soon degrades the character† (135). She carries the sentiment still further.She says, affection can justify many personal gestures, but accepting liberal gestures in the name of gallantry is despicable. â€Å"When a man squeezes the hand of a pretty woman, handing her to a carriage, whom he has never seen before, she will consider such an impertinent freedom in the light of an insult, if she has any true delicacy, instead of being flattered by this unmeaning homage to beauty† (135). The understanding can come only by eradication of sentimental notions. She questions Roussea u as to how he can expect women to be virtuous and constant when reason is not the foundation of their character or truth the pursuit of their inquiries.Wollstonecraft opines that women must try to improve their character but they cannot do this as long as they are attached to their sentiments. They need to â€Å"curb the wild emotions that agitate a reed, over which ever passing breeze has power?† (28). According to the author, love, the common passion replaces choice and reason with chance and sensation. This passion however subsides like a fever once the security of marriage sets in. On the other hand, reasoning can allow a man and woman to enjoy the calm tenderness of friendship and the confidence of respect.Underlining the fleeting nature of love, eloquently Wollstonecraft says: â€Å"Passions are spurs to action, and open the mind; but they sink into mere appetites, become a personal and momentary gratification when the object is gained, and the satisfied mind rests in enjoyment† (28). She even says wickedly, that â€Å"caresses which should excite confidence in his children are lavished on the overgrown child, his wife† (28) thereby indicating in a subtle manner that all emotions only serve in keeping her stagnant at her childhood state of mind.She describes the sentiment of a woman as the outcome of â€Å"a mistaken education, a narrow uncultivated mind, and many sexual prejudices† (31) that tend to keep a woman loyal to her husband; if sentiments were to rule, she says, life is better spent in eating drinking and loving. But then, it is only a fleeting shadow. She says that reasoning should be able subside love into friendship. But here, the author clarifies that she does not allude to romantic passion which cannot be clipped, but rather she refers to the small enjoyments of life.Thus we find that the book â€Å"A Vindication of the Rights of Woman† is one that surpasses the test of time. Women today still remain tie d to their emotions either by choice or by society. This makes the book relevant even in the modern day context. A revolutionary figure in a revolutionary time, Wollstonecraft took up and lived out not only the liberal call for women's educational and moral equality, but also virtually all of the other related, violently contested questions of the 1790s– questions pertaining to the principles of political authority, tyranny, liberty, class, sex, marriage, childrearing, property, prejudice, reason, sentimentality, promises, suicide, to mention only a few. Clearly, she struck many a raw nerve and faced huge opposition. That her views are relevant till today, mark Wollstonecraft and her book as classics in feminist literature. The book is a must read for anyone interested in the history of feminism. Bibliography:Wollstonecraft, Mary (1792). A Vindication of the Rights of Woman.

LaFleur Trading Company Essay

LaFleur Trading Company is an international food supplier located in Vancouver, British Columbia. They handle a large amount of different food and wine products and ship to consumers around the world. Their trading partners are listed to be in 38 different countries and they are based in Canada (which makes 39). LaFleur’s website lists the company mission as â€Å"We will provide our customers with the highest quality foods at a reasonable price.† (LaFleur, 2009) The list of products includes seafood, cheeses, wines, and fruits. Most of the customers for LTC come through the internet. The only real interaction that the company generally has with clients is through emails and phone calls. The desired reputation of the company is that of a high standard for product quality. The website says that the company â€Å"will act fairly and justly in the conduct of our business† and also acknowledges that customers get their perceptions of the company from the interactions with employees. LTC goes on to assure customers that their buyers â€Å"only deal with reputable producers and exporters† (LaFleur, 2009). With such an avid focus by consumers on labels, it is critical that LTC uphold their claim to maintain Canadian organic standards for all their organic products and to be able to regularly inspect products from each different country to ensure it all meets the same strict standards. Reasonable prices and high quality are the two promises that the company makes throughout their website. Certainly the ability to keep their promises will be determined solely by the dedication of the employees to do their jobs to the best of their ability. LTC employs individuals that are responsible for customer service, shipping, business to business relations, and quality assurance. Salesmen in the customer department as well as representatives responsible for securing purveyors can be eligible for commission bonuses. Quality assurance team members can be offered rewards for continuing to keep the standards set by the trading company rather than letting certain products slide. The organic label is one that must be more rigorously inspected, as the standards in this area are constantly being improved as environmental standards worldwide become stricter. The shipping team must be responsible to compare rates as well as the delivery times and  package conditions upon arrival. This area can lead to many challenges since the company is involved in shipping in so many different countries. Certainly it is a huge challenge to run a company with so many different cultures represented in their partners. Learning to merge local cultural ideology with the company’s ethical standards is something that must be addressed. One Boston, MA based company found a solution to this challenge when they opened their Bangkok branch. They built an entire team for such enterprises and appointed a director of worldwide culture and communications. The team, called Winning Operations Worldwide or WOW, had a purpose of building a bridge between the home office and the regional offices. The goal, according to the director was to decentralize operations so that the regional office employees would be able to successfully make their own decisions. They began providing extensive training exercises. â€Å"taught Team WOW members how to inject corporate values–teamwork, the interplay between speed and quality, risk taking, and thriving in change, and open communications–into their training programs† (Dunn, 2000) LaFleur Trading Company receives most of their customer orders online through their website. Safeguarding customer information received such as credit card or bank account information from being stolen or fraudulently used is a pertinent concern. Another issue that plagues online consumers is personal information such as e-mail, phone numbers, and mailing addresses. Customers value their privacy and companies that take the initiative to honor that wish for privacy are able to build better e-commerce. Fast Track 500 companies are working diligently to disclose any uses for customer information. â€Å"Nearly 95 percent of FastTrack respondents said top executives at their companies consider protecting customer privacy a critical part of their e-business strategy. According to the survey, top managers with profitable e-commerce ventures are even more likely to have this issue as a top priority† (Paul, 2000). LTC is an e-commerce company that would benefit tremendously from this type of focus. Customers want to know that their purchases and their information are protected. With partners in 39 different countries it would be virtually impossible not to have heightened security on their website and in their company policy. One potentially difficult ethical challenge to a trading company dealing in food would be the assurance that each product is free from harmful contaminants. This is an  issue that would start at the local level with the production of the food (or wine) and then involve the shipping process. Because of dealing with so many partners in different countries, it would take an entire team full-time attention to make sure that one set of standards is maintained throughout the product range. Customer service would be fairly inv olved at LaFleur Trading Company. Service specialists must have the ability to potentially communicate in multiple languages. Special translation software can help for online communications but phone representatives would need to include individuals who speak a variety of languages. Also, there would be cultural differences to take into consideration, such as some cultures prefer to only have men conduct business. Some cultures do not allow certain products, and most of the time customers will expect business to be conducted in the manner of their own culture rather than the manner of the parent company’s culture. Sometimes it is easy to offend someone of a different culture without even realizing it. â€Å"When in Rome do as the Romans† is an old adage that would apply here. Another possible solution would be to hire customer service representatives in each local market and route orders through the local affiliates. Providing a quality product at a reasonable rate through ethical business practices is a good standard for any company. Organizations such as LaFleur Trading Company have a very complex task to consistently provide that same level of service in such a large international market. Focusing on quality assurance, secure transactions and cultural diplomacy are three ways that organizations can succeed in the new global market. Keeping the concept of â€Å"local† as part of â€Å"global† will ensure long-term success as a grassroots effort spreads across countries worldwide. References Dunn, K. (Feb 2000). Values Training Spans From Boston to Bangkok. Workforce, 79, 2. p.90. Retrieved November 09, 2010, from General OneFile via Gale: http://find.galegroup.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/gps/start.do?prodId=IPS&userGroupName=uphoenix LaFleur Trading Company (2009). Mission. Retrieved November 09, 2010, from https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/aapd/CIST/VOP/Business/Lafleur/intranet.ht

Aspects of Narration and Metaphor in Melvilles Bartleby the Scrivener essays

Aspects of Narration and Metaphor in Melvilles Bartleby the Scrivener essays Herman Melville examines the complexities of human character in his short story, "Bartleby the Scrivener." By using strong metaphors, Melville illustrates the difficulties we encounter when we attempt to communicate with someone. Additionally, Melville demonstrates how human beings can affect each other in ways through the narrator's experience with Bartleby. Melville uses many metaphors in this story. For instance, the use of walls is a predominant image that is used to describe the nature of the business world. We are told the narrator's office, "looked upon the white wall of the interior of a spacious sky-light shaft" (Melville 992) and "the other end of his office viewed a "lofty brick wall" (992). We also know that there are "glass folding-doors" (996) that divided the narrator from his scriveners. In addition, we also know that the narrator placed an "high green folding screen" (997) between him and Bartleby. This entire setting provides us with the image of the office and working conditions as well as the narrator's mindset toward his workers. The walls represent the stagnant, dead-end nature of the work that the scriveners performed and the glass doors and screen signify the narrator's desire to control situations. Additionally, the narrator is a metaphor for capitalist society and the law and order that exists in such circumstances. Bartleby can be seen as a metaphor for a nonconformist attitude. Melville does an excellent job in portraying both characters in contrast to each other in the story. In many ways, we feel sympathy for the mysterious Bartleby and an irritation toward However, it is Bartleby's behavior that has a direct affect on the narrator. Because Melville is telling this story from the narrator's perspective, we are allowed to witness his transformation. We know from the beginning of the story that he lacks ambition and seeks nothing abov...

Easy Steps to Get Book Review Writing Help

Easy Steps to Get Book Review Writing Help One of the typical tasks for students in different educational institutions is a book review. The reason for it is clear – you dont only need to read a book, but your teachers want you to think while reading, analyze all the thoughts and ideas you come across. If you have to write a book review and need to consult someone to cope with the task well – this article is just for you. The very first step you have to take is to choose a book, unless it is already chosen for you by your teacher. If not, try to make your task more enjoyable by choosing a book you like, or the one you have already read and know it well. That way you can both cope with the task and enjoy reading. So, writing a good book review requires you to read a book at least twice. The first time you read you have to concentrate on the plot, main characters, and the general idea and subject-matter of a book. Having done that, you will definitely have some ideas of how and what to write in a review. Thats why you had better take notes, even if you think that the idea is not worth it. So, the second time you read a book, you will have to pay attention to small details like figures of speech, stylistic devices, authors unique writing style, or you may also write down some quotations you want to use in your review. Once you have done that, you will need to write a plan of your review. It is also a good idea to do so, because it will help you express all your thoughts in a logical order. By the way, you also have to mind your grammar and punctuation. Once the review is ready, it is advisable to read it once again to avoid mistakes. If all of the written above seems to be too complicated for you to cope with, or you dont really have enough time to write your review, you will definitely want some help. That is what our custom writing service does. Choose from a wide range of tasks that can be easily written by our skillful and experienced writers. So, if you really feel you need help, fill out an order form and specify all the details of your order. Tell the writers what exactly you need and we will do our best to satisfy your demands. The writer assigned to work on your order will read a book and write a review taking into consideration all your requirements. Writing book reviews with us is fast and easy.

Litirature review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Litirature review - Essay Example Strong leadership is a very important ingredient in the success of an organization. A change in the leadership of an organization might result in changes in the organization structure, strategies, policies and the way the organization does it business. Moreover, with the movement of a leader from the organization, the close subordinates also move with the outgoing leader which might result in substantial change in the management of an organization. At the same time, it is important that the employees of the organization must relate to the new leadership. It is important that whenever there is a need to change the leadership of organization, suitable candidates are identified as soon as possible. For this, it is important to identify and nurture young talent in the organization. The transition to a new leader shall be smooth so that the employees do not feel uncomfortable under the changed leadership. Any organization will, for surely have change in its leadership and because of the s ignificant changes undergoing during this period, it is important that the transition is managed in the best possible way. Hence it is important that the area of leadership transition and succession planning is carefully reviewed. This paper will analyze the already existing literature in the area of succession planning, its important and identify the best ways to manage leadership transition. ... Often the area of succession planning is concerned with the succession of leaders. Types of succession planning The process of succession planning needs a thorough understanding of the strategy of the organization. There have been various models of performing succession planning such as ‘relay succession’, ‘horse- race successions’ and ad-hoc succession. While in relay succession, the leaving person identifies an individual, and then grooms the person, horse-race successions are more competitive in nature and the Board decides the successor amongst many candidates. An ad-hoc succession involves selecting the best possible candidate who is present at that particular point of time. In case, firms are not able to identify a potential successor, boards often appoint an interim leader who occupies that position until a permanent person is hired for the position. Of all the ways, relay succession is the most common type of succession planning undertaken by compani es (Brickley et al., 1997). Relation between firm performance and succession planning Previous research has suggested that the performance of an organization is significantly impacted by the succession process adopted. More disruptive succession processes impact the performance of the firms negatively (Zhang and Rajagopalan, 2004). At the same time, the performance after a change in leadership is also impacted by actions of the successor and the internal and external situation of the change (Rowe et al., 2005). The success of a succession planning exercise depends on various factors such as involvement of the outgoing leader, sincerity of the performance review of all the candidates, accurate prediction of the talent need that might arise, and the consistency of

Civil engineering Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Civil engineering - Essay Example The main goal of site assessment is to conduct preliminary a evaluation of the potential development and provide screening analysis. Here the construction company develops a site feasibility checklist in order to provide basic information required to determine if a site meets basic requirements and to provide basic economic analysis. This process also identifies strength and weakness of the retail project and to determine whether or not to pass to the next stage of retail development. (Plummer, F. 2007) There are stages followed in site assessment in the construction of a retail project and they include planning for site assessment, Data collection, data analysis and finally plan development and project layout. Planning for Site Assessment is important stage before designing and laying out the retail project. This will be vital for the Plan Engineer in making informative decisions about the project. Data collection about the site is the next important stage in site assessment. This stage involves a collection of resourceful information pertaining to the site. This information can be obtained from maps, existing publications and other resources. Going to the site to have a visual appreciation of the site and site features is valuable. Important information collected includes vegetative cover, soil information, topographical information, hydrological information and evaluation of adjacent properties and their land use. Analysis of the collected information on the parameters listed above to identify various needs and modification the site may require .Evaluation of the impact of that parameter may help to reduce the negative economic burden and environmental impact of the project. As data analysis takes place the Civil Engineer should be to determine the permits required for the retail project. (Plummer, F.

What Is A Shaman Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

What Is A Shaman - Essay Example According to the research "What Is A Shaman" findings shaman also foretells the future events and controls the spiritual forces because they have the power to predict the unknown and command the spirits to do as they wish. Shamans have visions and dreams that equip them with information and contexts of the supernatural worlds (Kallen 13). The shaman deals with only mysterious and dangerous events such as illnesses, malevolence, impotent, and death. Spirits impose shamanic power into people through intensive initiations and ordeals. Regardless of the difficulty process through which they acquire them, shamans may be exposed to lose their powers in battles with spirit foes or if they fail to perform the rituals appropriately (Wilson 22). Shamans differ with the practices of priests since their powers are personal and intermediate. The supernatural world is believed to be linked to occurrences in the natural world. Shamans allow their souls to venture into spirit worlds in order to find the causes of undesirable events. They launch immediate intercessions, fighting, or requests to the spirits to cure the affairs of human beings. In contrast, priests are concerned with the conduct of several events that enables them to bring the congregation into sacred forces (McNamara 19). Priests do not encounter supernatural worlds and their expectations are not immediate. It is critical to understand the contrast between shamans and priests as it enables people to distinguish their faiths from those they do not believe in and devote themselves to thorough the understanding of their option.

Coffee and Starbucks Essay Example for Free

Coffee and Starbucks Essay 1. Introduction In the UAE the coffeehouses take the first concern of the residents. The residents look for the coffeehouses as a place of enjoyment and the perfect place for hangout with friends. One of the most popular coffeehouse in the UAE is Starbucks; the branches of Starbucks cover all the emirates in most popular places. In this report we’ll conceder The Coffee Bean Tea Leaf as a competitor of Starbucks and analyze both of them depending on the SWOT and Marketing Mix analysis. 2. Client Company â€Å"Starbucks†. This company founded in the UAE in 2000, it is especially brand for coffee with Coffeehouses. Starbucks features a variety of coffees, hand-crafted beverage, teas, water, freshly baked pastries, sandwiches and salads. It is including also in their product compilation of music CD’s ranges for all testes. Starbucks have very friendly employees make the customers feel comfortable to visit them again. The qualities of the products Starbucks provide make them reach this level of popularity. 1 Target Market. Starbucks focus on the demographics, psychographics and lifestyle of their customers. Also with the information that Starbucks collected regard the target market segment for the better to its customers. The demographic helps Starbucks to locate its target market. It is target the both male and female, around 18-30 years old, but you can see that’s it provide product for everybody. Starbucks provide non-coffee beverage for children to supply for the whole family. It is customers primarily in their final years of high school, in university or just working. Most of them have a good education, and the people who have job, it include a high salary. The psychographic of Starbucks based in charity and the arts. Also it is sponsored the different kind of events. Starbucks aims to target people who are generous and charitable, also people who like fun and enjoy their time. It sells a lifestyle to both customers and employees, it appeals a new style to it’s coffees an age-old beverage, so that’s today it is one of most famous coffees around the world. 3. Competitor Company â€Å"The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf† It is an international coffeehouse company, founded in 1963 in California. They provide a variety of hot/cold coffee and tea drinks and related. Beside snacks like sandwiches, salads, muffins, cakes and a selection of pastries. There are 11 branches in the UAE 9 in Dubai (Sahara Shopping Center, Ibn Battuta Shopping Center, Zayed University †¦). The Coffee Bean provides it’s customers with a well trained friendly customer service to satisfy them and ensure their loyalty. 4. Major Finding of Competitive Analysis 2 SWOT analysis |SWOT analysis |Starbucks |Coffee Bean Tea Leaf | |Strengths |-Brand name recognition |-Changing the menu and adding new products regularly | | |-Good reputation |-Providing variety of products coffee tea products | | |-coffees bottled beverages sold at retail (Frappuccino|-Breakfast meals light lunch meals | | |bottles sold in petrol stations) |-On-line store at www.coffeebean. com | | -Location (significant markets / crowded shopping malls/| | | |airports) | | | |-Free internet wireless access | | | |-On-line store at www. starbucks. com | | |Weaknesses |-Little promotion / offers |-Locations (little number of branches in less crowded | | |-Considering more on coffee products than other products|places) | | |(Tea juices) |. -Small awareness of brand name | |Opportunities |-Widen Product Range to reach new target market |-Expand branches in the market | | |-Improve the speed and efficiency of service |-Apply marketing strategy to increase brand awareness among| | |-Increase promotions offers |customers | | |-Internet wireless access grabs new market (Students and| | | |tourists) | | |Threats |-Change in consumer tastes and interest |-Customers prefer recognized brand | | |-Increase in competition |-Local competition | 3 Competitive Advantage. By searching the two organizations we got a clear knowledge about them and the tools they use to grab customers and reach success. Referring to table1 the SWOT Analysis table; it shows the differences between the two coffeehouses in the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats areas. The major different which make Starbucks stronger than Coffee Bean is the recognized brand name and the reputation that Starbucks have. These make Starbucks more known and preferred from customers who look for famous places that sells good quality products. Also the location and number of branches plays a significant impact in this case. This is because Starbucks is more spreading in the market in strategic and core places like the airport (see appendix 1). 5. Strategic recommendation: Even though Starbucks is more popular than Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf for its high quality coffee and products, it has more than 40 branches in UAE, but it need to achieve its competitor advantage to maintain its market leadership. However Starbucks has some weakness that covers its strengths that needs to be looked at and improved. One of the most noticeable difference about Starbucks and other competitor is its menu that is rarely changed and its prices that the competitor has trampled them by their less price and good quality. Even that there are promotions done in Starbucks but not as much as others, for that they need to increase their promotion to rout their competitor who has attractive promotion threw their advertisement that Starbucks has some weakness in. They should focus on creating their own way of advertisement that can be shown everywhere which advertise their promotions and not relay on Starbucks name popularity only. Also one of the significant weaknesses that Starbucks has is their products that are more specified on coffees more than other kind of products such as tea and Fresh juices for this they have to widen their products range to grab new market and win customers. 6. Conclusion As it shown and known Starbucks in one of the biggest companies in the whole world that has its own reputation in its products. Starbucks has its own way of rousing it sales and improving its organization. However, they are special than other coffeehouses by their brand name, products and services, but they have some weaknesses at the same time, which can be overcome by reaching their competitors strengths. Even more Starbucks is well known of their spreading in the market by the number of branches which is increased daily approximately one by day in the world. Appendix 1 Marketing Mix Analysis (7 Ps). |Marketing Mix elements |Starbucks |Coffee Bean Tea Leaf | |(7ps) | | | |Product / Service |Coffee, hand-crafted beverage, tea, ice blended drinks, freshly|hot and cold coffee and tea beverages, sandwiches, salads and a | | |baked pastries, fresh sandwiches, salads, cakes and cookies. |selection of pastries and cakes | | |Plus coffee related accessories | | |Price |-The prices are in a middle range not too different from other |-Middle range prices | | |coffeehouses. Example : |-lower a little than Starbucks | | |(Frappuccino = 15 AED) |Example : | | |(Cappuccino = 12 AED) |(Ice blended drink = 14 AED) | | |(Cheesecake = 14 AED) |(Cappuccino = 11 AED) | | | |(Cheesecake = 10 AED) | |Promotion |-Advertise for new products in newspaper |-Special promotion for Breakfast Meal | | |-Seasonally products (summer / winter) |-Free drink after 12 purchases | | |-Promotion banners and brochures in the shop |-limited Belgium coffee for this season | | |-on-line website |-Promotion banners in the shop | | | |-on-line website | |Place |41 branches around the UAE in significant crowded places |11 branches in the UAE | | |like the air port |9 in Dubai | | |27 in Dubai |1 in Al Ain | |. |5 in Abu Dhabi |1 in Sharjah | | |5 in Sharjah | | | |2 in Al Ain | | | |1 in Ajman | | | |1 in Ras Al Khaimah | | |People |-Most of Starbucks employees are educated and special trained |-Staff are well trained to serve customers | | |to work in Starbucks |-Employees are welcoming and friendly dealing with customers | | |-Starbucks apply a friendly polite customer service to comfort |-Coffee Bean apply a great customer service to win the customers | | |it’s customers | | | |. Employees are trained to satisfy customer’s wants by asking | | | |their preferred taste and providing information on each product| | | |plus giving some suggestions | | |Process |Order, pay and get the order |The process of ordering takes normally maximum 4 minutes as branches are| | |This process takes 2 – 3 minutes normally, but in busy branches|usually not too busy | | |customers will have to wait more | | |Physical evidence |-Starbucks apply an international uniform and decoration for |-Coffee Bean apply a relaxing atmosphere for their customers decorating | | |all it’s branches around the world |the branches in light colors like beige and soft music | |. |-Starbucks trade mark is appearing all over the Cafe from the |-Employees working in Coffee Bean, ware practice uniform | | |decoration to the cup of coffee and tissue |-The Coffee Bean logo appears everywhere in the cafe letting the | | |-Starbucks atmosphere is unique and comfy, they provide |customer recognize it | | |customers with different choices of seating from chairs to | | | |couches while playing music that suites different tastes .