Saturday, November 30, 2019

The Patriot Summary Essay Example

The Patriot Summary Essay The movie I choose to watch as the title implies was The Patriot. I found this movie intriguing for many reasons, to start the movie not only tied in real historical locations and events, it did so while maintaining a good and deep story. To prove to you that I watched the movie I plan on highlighting some of my favorite scenes in no particular order. To start the scene after Benjamin son Gabriel is killed and there at a camp where Gabrielle body lies on a cot. Harry enters the tent where Benjamin and his deceased son reside and starts to talk of vengeance and the likes, to which Benjamin responds that he doesnt know why men think that they can get vengeance for the life of another man. At the moment I thought that he had turned a new leaf and he was done with the killing, but to my surprise he only felt passionate about what he said for a couple of minutes and then went straight back into the army to do exactly what he had Just questioned minutes earlier. The next scene that stands out in my mind isnt exactly my favorite for what happens during the scene but rather for the significance it carries throughout the entire movie. When the Martins farm Is raided and ultimately burned by the British the day after a battle near the home Benjamin son Thomas is killed by William Toboggan after trying to save his brother Gabriel from the gallows (which for the time he did). We will write a custom essay sample on The Patriot Summary specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Patriot Summary specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Patriot Summary specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer As Toboggan and his men ride way Benjamin grabs his weapons and kills a group of British soldiers, however before this the camera zooms In on a bag of tin soldiers that Thomas had played with. Later In the movie In multiple locations we can see Benjamin melting a tin soldier and making It Into a musket ball, another Interesting side note Is that you only see him melt little soldiers before they go Into battle and win. That sums up some of the scenes I found to be rather enjoyable In The Patriot.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Business Leadership

Business Leadership Leadership Development Contemporary business management strategies require businesses to have proper leadership and effective resources utilization; leaders are mandated with the task of enacting strategic management policies that will enable their organization attain competitiveness.Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on Business Leadership specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Organization should have programs to develop leadership skills in their human capital; organization with effective leadership development programs have smooth transition and succession plans (Milkovich Newman, 2006). This paper outlines a program of leadership development in contemporary business environments. Literature review Leadership development Management scholars are of the opinion that every human being has some potential to lead and influence others; however, the skills and capability need to be natured and developed. Emphasis on leadership development appeared in the 1980’s in the era of strategic management concept development. Since then the area has undergone numerous developments with management gurus coming up with new approaches. Leadership development entails enacting policies that will assist employees to get the confidence and loyalty required for making quality business decisions. When leadership has been developed in an organization, it facilitates the growth of employee’s innovativeness, and inventiveness; there is much relationship between employees’ empowerment, their creativity and innovativeness (Paauwe, 2009). Collaborative leadership development structures To develop leadership skills within an organization, management has the role of creating appropriate working environment that will build the skills, have the patient of seeing employees develop and utilize their leadership skills. There has been dramatic shift of knowledge; economies have generated a flurry of interest in workp lace creativity and innovation; focused on the need to develop the intellectual leadership capacity of employees in the wave to develop their leadership skills. When having leadership development programs, managers should focus on nurturing, coaching, developing, and training their human capital on the best leadership/management styles.The changing business environments have called for the need to have highly empowered staff to participate in decision making; with the calling, leaders have no option other than to develop effective leadership programs.Advertising Looking for proposal on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Today’s business environment requires organizations to develop strong capabilities to innovate for long-term success and survival. This requires businesses to develop creative work environment and develop innovative products and services; the above competitive traits can only occur if the management has enacted effective skill development and leadership development programs. Creative work environments are required for empowerment of employees since they are the platforms that empowerment dwells on; they should be given a chance to utilize their decision making capacity as this will facilitate growth in their leadership skills. Management gurus ascertain that creativity and innovation can be viewed as closely related constructs as they exhibit significant overlap in characteristics; to facilitate the discussion presented in the later part of this section, it is imperative to have a clear understanding of the two constructs. When enacting leadership development programs, there is need for collaboration of all leadership positions to create a good nurturing environment. Employees should be given a chance to participate in decision making as this improves their confidence and grows their intellectualism (McGoldrick, Stewart Watson, 2001). Conclusion When im plementing an effective leadership development program in an organization, management should engage their subordinates in decision making and giving them favorable working environment that facilitates the growth of their intellectualism. Business leaders should nurture, coach, train, and guide their employees on the best decision making approach as leadership entails making quality, reliable, timely, and responsive decisions. References McGoldrick, J., Stewart, J., Watson, S. (2001). Theorizing Human Resource Development. Human Resource Development International, 4(3), 287-290Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on Business Leadership specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Milkovich, T.,Newman, J. (2006). Compensation. 8th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill. Paauwe, J. (2009). HRM and Performance: Achievement, Methodological Issues and Prospects. Journal of Management Studies, 46 (1), 123

Friday, November 22, 2019

Analysis of Different Types of Partnership

Analysis of Different Types of Partnership Disclaimer: This work has been submitted by a student. This is not an example of the work produced by our Law Essay Writing Service . You can view samples of our professional work here . Analysis of Different Types of Partnership Introduction In this assignment I am expected to analyse different types of Partnership. During this I would be explaining and evaluating those types of partnership and be able to advise my clients which one is the best one for someone starting a business for the first time and also be able to states all the benefits of each type of business structure. According to the classic definition of partnership provided by s.1 of the Partnership Act 1890 is: â€Å"Partnership is the relation which subsists between persons carrying on a business in common with a view to profit.† Partnership is an incorporated body which means that the partnership does not have a separate legal personality from the partners. In the eyes of the law the partners is the business. If one partner make a decisions regarding the partnership and it goes wrong all partners are liable, they all can end up personally bankrupt because their personal assets can and will b e used to pay the partnership debts. In another hand if one partners become personally bankrupt the creditors can be entitled to his or her share of the partnership. This is why it is important to have a partnership agreement where the partners can ensure themselves against bankruptcy of individual partners. In the deed they can specify the outcome of any undesirable eventuality. It is the partnership agreement that rule the partnership. In case of no partnership agreement there is the Partnership Act 1890. The Act does not state any formal decision making structure of the partnership. According to the act a partnership does not requires one. The partners can set out the partnership agreement according to their needs. Usually the partnership deed is used to stipulate the dos and don’ts of the partnership and to delegate or retain the power and responsibility of the partners. It has to cover all eventualities, such as who owns the partnership premises; how new partners are to be taken in, and how they are to be paid; retirement of partners; circumstances in which a partner may be removed from the partnership Partners’ relationship must always be of the business’s best interest. It is very different from the relationship between employer and employee. Partners are business owners depend on their shares is the partnership which give them a number of co-existent rights. They have the right to take parts on decisions that affects the business; they have the rights to share profits and losses according to their shares on partnership; the rights to examine the accounts, to veto in the entrance of new partner and all partner are at liberty to the good faith of the other partners unless specified otherwise in the partnership deeds. There are three types of partnership: The general partnership, Limited Partnership and limited liability partnership. In general partnership all partners are liable for all debts of the business at the same proportions t hat they have in profits. The income and expense is reported on a separate return for tax purposes, but each partner then reports his or her pro-rata share of the profit or loss from the business as one line on his personal tax return. The most common form of partnership are group of people of the same family working together like a family plumbing firm and in another hand there are often group of professional people who work individually but have the benefit of shared support services like a firm of solicitors, doctors and accountants.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

The affect of in circle group on turnover intention in Saudi Arabia Research Proposal

The affect of in circle group on turnover intention in Saudi Arabia Business - Research Proposal Example However, argues some authors, motivation is essential in fostering impression management and relationships in an organization. While others believe the environmental compulsions has a become powerful antecedents that necessitate proactive participation of the workforce in the change process. Various scholars emphasize the importance of Guanxi that significantly influences the didactic relationship between the leader and a worker in an organization. Others believe employee commitment, extra effort, leadership effectiveness and satisfaction with the leader have a positive relationship with LMX. LMG (guanxi) has mixed effects on the turnover. In connection to this, the broad objective of this research is to examine the critical success factor of employees’ outcome turnover among the private enterprises of Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the sample size of 300 respondents randomly selected from three institutions representing the private sector will be issued with questionnaires and subjected to interviews. Qualitative data analysis will be used to analyses the collected data and represented through graphs, pie charts, and tables. The study will be highly significant for private sector in Saudi Arabia, in addressing the high employee turnover. Saudi Arabia is an important part of the Arab World and the Middle East as a regional power especially economic Zhou (2008). This can be demonstrated by the development of infrastructure, like a road network, and the effectiveness they exude in the region and the most conspicuous fast growing multinational organizations. Saudi Arabia’s characteristics in the determination of social developments and modernization methods have been influenced by the national conditions of history and reality. In the wake of this economic development, of most importance is the synergy developed between the

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Analzye a topic Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Analzye a topic - Assignment Example The artifacts depict the river of life as its prevalent theme. Through this representation, the artist intended to show the world the significance of environmental conservation. Moreover, the artwork shows that no matter how minute our contribution to the planet might be we are capable of transforming the universe. The painting is also utilitarian since it shows the spirit of restoration. On the other hand, the Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious by Alexander McQueen illustrate utilitarian themes (Alexander web). The artwork creates or utilizes space, which was a major theme in the 20th century. Through the creation, the artist demonstrates our ability to use minimal space through thoughtful designs. Due to economic and social demands, women were expected to undertake roles or duties that were performed by men. The black coat initially designed for women, also shows social changes that accompanied the 19th century revolutions. It was a utilitarian belief that economic and social prosp erities could only be achieved if women changed their thinking. The coat makes its wearer to appear huge. Indeed, the coat inspires its wearer, making them have a sense of pride and a conquering

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Parent governors Essay Example for Free

Parent governors Essay Parent governors are elected by parents / guardians of pupils that attend the school. If there is a vacancy parents are asked to nominate fellow parents, if more people are nominated than there is vacancies an election takes place. Staff governors Staff governors are in most schools and are appointed by support staff that work at the school. If they leave the school they cannot continue being staff governors. Teacher governors Teacher governors are elected by other teachers at the school. They must be permanent members of staff, again if they leave the school they cannot continue being a teacher governor. Community governors Community governors are people who live or work locally to the school and are chosen by the governing body. They are people who are committed to helping towards the success of the school. Foundation governors Foundation governors are chosen by foundation, voluntary aided or voluntary controlled schools. They represent the church or voluntary trust that set up the school. They have a responsibility to make sure the school is following the beliefs of the trust or charity. Sponsor governors Sponsor governors are people that have given financial assistance or services to the school. Head teacher The head teacher is a governor because of the post they hold. They do not have to accept the post but if that is the case the position stays open for them.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

War on Drugs: Germany compared to the Netherlands Essay -- Drug Enforc

The War on Drugs One of the key aspects to consider when evaluating domestic political actors preferences towards policies pertaining to illegal drug use in both the Netherlands and Germany is to evaluate their ideological differences. The Netherlands attitude towards drug policy revolves around limiting the negative impacts illegal drug use has on society by implementing laws catered towards decriminalization. On the other hand, Germany considers drugs a detriment to society and promotes legislation that proactively restricts the flow of supply and demand of illegal drugs within the country. Now that both countries ideological differences have been brought to light, we must also consider the origins of those ideas and how they transcended into public policy. One of the significant driving forces behind the shaping of any policy are those political actors who reside in the country. The objective of any political actor is to influence public preference by sponsoring changes in policy. Just like the U nited States, both Germany and the Netherlands have organizations within their own country that promote policies to the public in an attempt to sway their opinion on an issue. The investigation of political actors in Germany and the Netherlands will allow one to obtain a greater understand of why their stance on illegal drug use is the way it is. German policies reflect a hard-line approach on drug enforcement. Non-governmental organizations such as the Jeunesse Anti Drogue promote, â€Å"Stiffer penalties for individuals charged with the sale of illegal drugs within the proximity of a school† (Jeuness Anti Drogue 2005). Many organizations similar to Jeunesse provide a supportive platform for parties such as the National Democratic Party... ..., we are able to better understand why policies differ from country to country. Works Cited 1. German Youth Against Drugs. 2005. Jeuness Anti Drogue.2005. (Accessed February 3, 2012). 2. Netherlands Drugs Policy Foundation. 2009. Stichting Drugsbeleid. (Accessed February 3, 2012). 3. Startseite Der Webseite. 2006. Des Verein Fà ¼r Drogenpolitik (Accessed February 3, 2012). 4. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. 2005. German Non-Governmental Organizations (Accessed February 3, 2012). 5. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. 2005. Netherlands Non-Governmental Organizations (Accessed February 3, 2012).

Monday, November 11, 2019

Antigone society

In, being self-centered about Ideas frequently affects peoples' judgement Sophocles raises this Issue in his play Antigone. He believes that listening to the wise benefits your judgement, but the result of refusing to listen leads to tragic outcomes. Sophocles uses Ate to develop the characters' Inability to take In others' perspectlve_ Sophocles first addresses the tragic results of not listening through Anugone's refusal to take advice. In Sophocles's prologue, Ismene states â€Å"[Shel has no strength† for burying Polynlces against the states' jurisdiction, while Antigone pronounces thatIsmene â€Å"use[s] that excuse† to avoid trouble (Sophocles 76-83}. Even though Ismene says she doesnt have the strength to go against the state, she really means that she doesnt have the willpower to choose between the Gods' and Creon's law because defying either law will result In punishment. Even though Ismene Is belng cautious ot her choices, Antigone believes Ismene is toolish t or not siding with her. Antigone chose to believe herselt without thinking about Ismene's point ot view. In result, Antigone ends up putting herselt between both the laws ot the lands and the God's law, which results in her entombment.In addition to Antigone putting off her sisters' point of view, Sophocles uses Antigones inability to take others perspective into consideration. During CreonS and Antigone's argument. Creon expresses his opinion of Polynices betrayal of the city by saying. â€Å"The good dont want to share honors with the bad† (Sophocles 534-6). Antigone retaliates by mentioning, Mho knows that is considered righteous below . . I cannot share their hate, only their love† (Sophocles 536-8). Creon's belief that Polynices shouldnt be honored in burial conflict with Antigones', in which Polynices deserves burial to honor the Gods' laviAntigone doesn't realize Creon's point of view, standing up for the city, and goes with her own belief without taking Creons' into account. Despite standing up for herself, Antigone's failure to acknowledge Creon's perspective causes her demise Even after being locked away behind a boulder, Sophocles proves Antigone's disastrous consequences when Antigone, â€Å"[hangs herself] by the neck, fastened by a noose of fine linen† (Sophocles 1226-7)_ Antigone, trapped In a cave due her actions, hung herself so she wouldn't die at the hand of Creon. Anugone's refusal to listen to others'Ideas, such as creons, lead her to trouble and death, supporung Sophocles's maln point that tragic consequences come from refusing to listen. Antigone's refusal to take advice results In her unfortunate demise. In addltlon to Antigone's downfall due to blind recklessness, Sophocles uses Creon to display how tragic consequences develop trom not listening. During the first scene ot Antigone, the Guard explains to Creon that he â€Å"[wlshesl to tell [Creon his time, Creon's reaction is that, â€Å"[The Guard] is trying to t alk around the problem. † (Sophocles 245).The guard is cautious of explaining the bad news, trying to void blame, while Creon assumes the guard is guilty due to him talking around the problem. Creon's lack of the guard's point of view causes him to blame the innocent, which later causes Haemon commit suicide because Creon punishes his love. Even though Sophocles uses Creon's actions to show tragic outcomes, he also uses Creon's frustration to demonstrate his inability to look at other peoples' perspective. During a dialogue between Creon and the Guard, the guards asks, â€Å"May I say something, or should I Just turn and go? (Sophocles 325) Creon, agitated due to the breaking of his aw, exclaims, miou have annoyed me Just by saying that† (Sophocles 326). Creon's frustration towards someone breaking his law resulted in him not fully understanding that the guard didn't want to bother the king while he was mad.. The guard was nervous to explain his point of view to Creon d ue to his recklessness after Antigone defied his law. In result to the guards inability to explain his perspective, Creon becomes even more agitated and promises to kill him if he doesn't find out who touched the body.Sophocles ends his play by showing the reader Creon's destroyed life after not taking advice through others' perspective. Creon's son guided the sword, leaned on it and thrust it into his ribs.. † while Haemon â€Å". Creon's wife † struck herself in the heart with her own hand. † (Sophocles 1240-1; 1321) Creon's wife and son both killed themselves due to his refusal to listen to others advice. If Creon had only listen to others and used their perspective as well, his family wouldn't have taken their own lives. Creon's self centered ways of not taking advice destroyed his family.Even though Creon is used to show that consequences develop through not taking advice, Sophocles also uses Creon's and Haemon's stubbornness to demonstrate the tragic result of not listening. Sophocles provides an argument between Creon and Haemon in which Haemon retaliates to Creon's saying, â€Å"At our age, taught reason by a man so young† by declaring â€Å"Taught nothing that is not Just! If I am young, I do not need more time to study what's right† (Sophocles 738-40). Creon believes that Haemon is too young to be credible and taken seriously because of his age.Haemon however, considers himself credible due to the fact that Creon is making horrible decisions . Creon, not yet knowing that his decisions are tragic, and Haemon, not knowing that his dad doesnt see what's going on, end up fighting. Because Haemon's nd Creon's stubbornness get in the way of them seeing each others point of view, Haemon runs away and ends up committing suicide. After discussing credibility and getting nowhere, the father and son discuss the distinction between what the â€Å"fellow- citizens deny' and â€Å"[how the city shouldn't] tell [Creon] how [he] ou ght to rule it† (Sophocles 745-6).Haemon brings up the issue of the citizens siding with Antigone to bury Polynices body. They believe Polynices should obtain a proper burial no matter what even if he betrayed the city or not. Creon argues that the citizens of Thebes shouldn't be telling the king how to rule the city. Creon believes that the king should uphold all the power and not give the citizens a choice. Creon and Haemon argue for two different sides of the law neither, which adds even more tension and perspective. After all of this arguing between Haemon and his father, Haemon â€Å". thrusts a sword] into his ribs† and Creon loses everyone who he cared about (Sophocles 1241). Haemon killed himself due to the lack of support he was shown by his father. Creon's inability to listen to Haemon's point of view cause his own son to kill himself. By not listening to each other, both Haemon and Creon suffer from onsequences with one of them dying and the other one having to go through life without anyone who cares for him. Creon and Haemon suffered because they both lacked the capability to express other ideas than their own.As a different way to express his theme, Sophocles uses Ismene's and Antigone's discussion to prove not taking helpful advice can ruin a relationship. After learning Antigone was caught, Ismene admits, â€Å"l did the deed if she consents, and I will take and bear the charge† (Sophocles 552-3). Antigone answered with, â€Å"But Justice will not allow this to you, since neither did you want nor did I share it. (Sophocles 554-5). Ismene, caring for her only family member left, tries to save her sister from death with the cost of hers.But Antigone doesn't allow Ismene to do this and convinces Creon that she definitely broke the burial law. This causes Antigone to be doomed by the law of the land, resulting in her death. After having her sister announced guilty, Ismene asks, â€Å"But now-what can I do to help you now' (Sop hocles 568). Antigone replies by telling her, â€Å"Save yourself. I do not grudge you your escape† (Sophocles 569). Ismene gives her last efforts to comfort Antigone through her time of need, but Antigone rejects Ismene's offer and declares she wants nothing.Antigone didn't listen to her sister, overcome with pride for burying the body, and Just gave up her only way to live. By letting her pride take place of her mind, Antigone gives up her life because she didn't listen to Ismene's offer. Due to Antigone's actions, she â€Å"[hangs herself by a noose]† and Ismene disappeared, never being mentioned again (Sophocles 1227). Ismene, not wanted by her sister in anyway, disappears from the play to never be spoken of again. Antigone however, suffers from not letting her sister take the blame and finally commits suicide to end the pain.Antigone would not be dead if she let her sister take the blame, but due to her inability to listen to good advice, she ends up dying. In the end, both Ismene and Antigone suffer due to Antigone's rejection of advice. Sophocles demonstrated listening to others' advice and the consequences of not throughout the play. From being stubborn and not taking beneficial advice to not opening your mind to another persons' point of view. Sophocles wrote Antigone with many lessons for our current society. His most important lesson being that listening to good counsel benefits you now but also in the future.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Coffee and Starbuck Essay

Summarize the overall strategy of Starbucks Management in its effort to create and develop a new concept and a rapidly expanding company. The overall goal of Starbucks Management was to create an American version of the Italian coffee bars that Howard Schultz had experienced first-hand in Milan. He believed that Starbucks should function as an important part of the community, as a meeting place for its customers. He wanted Starbucks to become an experience that would differentiate itself from its competitors. One of their key strategies in meeting this goal is a focus on customer service in order to create an experience for its consumers. Another one of their strategies is to ignite their emotional attachment with consumers. They also have a commitment to improving their business through better training, tools, and products and to give attention to store-level economics and operating efficiency. All of these are prongs to their strategy that will allow Starbucks management to turn Starbucks into a location where people don’t just go to grab coffee, but to experience the atmosphere of an Italian coffee shop. Another prong to their strategy is to offer many different products and to distribute them among a variety of distribution methods. Which one of the five generic competitive strategies discussed in Chapter 5 most closely approximates the competitive approach that Starbucks is employing? There are five generic competitive strategies that can be employed and they are low-cost provider strategy, broad differentiation strategy, focused low-cost strategy, focused differentiation strategy, and best-cost provider strategy. The strategy that Starbucks uses is broad differentiation where they seek to differentiate their product offerings from rivals’ with attributes that will appeal to a large variety of consumers. The key market characteristic for the strategy of differentiation to work is that buyers’ needs and preferences are very diverse and cannot be satisfied with a standardized product offering. This is an evident characteristic of the market because consumers all have different preferences on the way they like their coffee. Which is the reason why Starbucks offers many different product options like lattes, skinny lattes, coffee, iced drinks, blended drinks, etc. They also offer fruit cups, water, and bakery items to provide even more options for their consumers. If a differentiation strategy is successfully implemented the firm will be able to do one of the following: command a premium price for its products, increase unit sales, and/or gain buyer loyalty to its brand. Starbucks has some of the highest prices for the type of products they offer and people tend to be extremely loyal to whatever coffee they are used to purchasing, because they trust the quality. Methods to enhance differentiation 1. Create superior product features, design, and performance Starbucks has a superior knowledge of coffee and a commitment to providing customers with quality coffees. Providing top-quality, fresh-roasted whole-bean coffee was the company’s differentiating feature and a core value since the beginning of its founding. Couches, fireplaces, newspapers, drive-through windows, kiosks in supermarkets and other public places were added to locations depending on what would add value to their consumers. Due to their focus on providing a different experience depending on the location of the store, their international strategy is a multi-domestic approach. The core characteristics of each new store was based on local materials and craftsmanship, a focus on reused and recycled materials and exposure of structural integrity and authentic roots. Most important of all they believed that coffee should be central and that distractions should be removed. They believed that the combination of all these elements should tell a story that would engage the consumer’s five senses and provide them with flexibility to meet the needs of the many different consumers that would be attracted to Starbucks. 2. Improving customer service or adding additional features When Howard Schultz first became part of the company he realized that one key problem Starbucks was having was that first-time consumers often felt uneasy about their absence of knowledge about high-quality coffee. An additional problem was that the employees came off as arrogant and unapproachable. He then worked with employees to teach them about friendly customer service and created a pamphlet to teach new customers about coffee. He also began to offer part-time employees health insurance and a stock option plan for all employees, because he believed that if a company treated their employees well, then they would in turn treat their consumers well. The additional features that Starbucks offers are fireplaces, couches, music, Wi-Fi access, ability to use paid sites and services like Wall Street Journal’s site, exclusive content and previews, free downloads, local community news, and activities. 3. Pursuing production R&D activities Starbucks is constantly brewing new flavors and blends to offer their consumers a variety of coffee to try. Flavors are rotated daily or weekly to offer constant variety. They also test new product offerings like Frappuccino’s, Lattes, Skinny Lattes, and seasonal drinks. 4. Striving for innovation and technological advances One way that Starbucks was able to constantly strive for innovation was by controlling the cost of opening and renovating stores by centralizing buying, developing standard contracts and fixed fees for certain items, and consolidating work under those contractors who displayed good cost-control practices. Starbucks retail operations group outlined the minimum amount of equipment each store would need. This meant that standard items could be ordered from vendors in volume at 20 to 30 percent discounts. The items would then be delivered to the site from a warehouse or from the vendor. A technological advance was that they used computer software to build store layouts that would calculate costs as the design progressed. This cut costs by a significant amount and shortened the process of opening a store to 18 weeks. 5. Increasing intensity of marketing and sales activities Originally, Starbucks didn’t spend a lot of money on advertising, because they relied mostly on word-of-mouth. In 2008 McDonald’s stepped up their advertising to highlight their McCafe coffee drinks. In order to counter this Starbucks undertook the largest advertising campaign ever. 6. Seeking out high-quality inputs Starbucks promotes environmentally sustainable practices in coffee cultivation methods and have specific guidelines they follow called Coffee and Farmer Equity Practices that help farmers to grow high quality coffees in environmentally beneficial ways. In 2000 they began purchasing their coffee organically and a growing percentage of their coffees were grown organically as well as Fair Trade Certified. 7. Improving employee skill, knowledge, and experience Starbucks has a commitment to training their employees so that they are better able to serve their customers. All partners and baristas receive at least 24 hours of training in their first two to four weeks on topics such as coffee history, drink preparation, coffee knowledge, customer service (for a total of 4 hours), and retail skills. Baristas in particular are required to learn how to grind beans, steam milk, pull perfect shots of espresso, memorize recipes, practicing how to mix drinks, and how to customize drinks. Sessions also include how to operate the cash register, clean the milk wand, explain the Italian drink names, and making eye contact with customers. Management trainees are required to attend classes for 8-12 weeks and learn about store operations, practices, and procedures. When a new store is opened a Star Team of experienced employees are sent to make sure everything runs smoothly. From time to time, Starbucks conducts special training programs, including a coffee masters program, leadership training program, and career programs for partners in all types of jobs. When does a differentiation strategy work best? A differentiation strategy works best when buyer needs and uses of the product are diverse, there are many ways to differentiate the product or service that have value to buyers, few rival firms are following a comparable differentiation approach, and technological change is fast paced and competition revolves around rapidly evolving product features. Starbucks’ actions to differentiate their product line They have expanded their product offerings along many different distribution channels by capitalizing on their growing brand name and awareness. First they were able to market their product to restaurants, airlines, hotels, universities, hospitals, business offices, country clubs, and select retailers. United Airlines, Hyatt, Hilton, Sheraton, Radisson, Westin hotels, and Wells Fargo all began to serve Starbucks coffee. A joint venture with PepsiCo came with the sale of a bottled version of the Frappucino drink and Starbucks Doubleshot espresso drinks. In 2008, they partnered with Suntory to sell ready-to-drink Doubleshot drinks in Japan. In 2010 a partnership with Arla Foods spread Doubleshot products and Starbucks chilled cup coffees into retail stores in the UK. A 1995 partnership with Dryers created a new line of coffee ice cream under Starbucks names that was later disbanded in 2008. At this time the rights to manufacture, market, and distribute Starbucks ice cream was given to Unilever. In 1998 Kraft Foods began marketing and distributing whole bean and ground coffee to supermarkets in the US. Tazo Tea was acquired by Starbucks in 1999 and in 2005 they acquired Ethos Water. A partnership with Jim Beam Brands created Starbucks Coffee Liqueur in 2004 and Starbucks Cream Liqueur in 2005. In order to offer healthier options they began offering skinny lattes, banana walnut bread, fruit cups, yogurt parfaits, a farmer’s salad, and smoothies in 2008. Also in 2008, Starbucks responded to customer’s wishes to have a blend of coffee that was always in stores. They created the Pike Place Roast in order to satisfy these customers. 2009 saw the introduction of VIA instant coffee. In 2009 the retail sales mix of Starbucks was 76% beverages, 18% food items, 3 percent coffee-making equipment and other merchandise, and 3% whole bean coffees. What are the key policies, practices, business principles, and procedures that underlie how Howard Schultz and Starbucks’ management have implemented and executed the company’s strategy? Key Policies, Practices, Business Principles, and Procedures The key policies that have been implemented can be broken down into five groups. First is how the company goes about expanding the number of Starbucks stores. The second is their international expansion practices. The third group is their staff training. The fourth is their principles towards ethical business practices. Fifth, is their coffee roasting practices. Store Expansion Starbucks management’s approach to store expansion is using a hub city approach. After a suitable demographic area is chosen Starbucks begins to open up stores in a large city that serves as its hub. After about 20 stores are opened in this hub city, they will then move on to the surrounding areas that are the spokes. This expansion strategy serves to create buzz and brand recognition for the company in an area that has a high amount of foot traffic before moving into a location that has less customer traffic. When a new area was selected for expansion a group of professionals were sent to facilitate the opening. Starbucks also had zone vice presidents who would oversee the expansion process and instill the culture of Starbucks in the new stores. International Expansion When expanding internationally Starbucks has two options; they either open company-owned and operated stores or license to a company that has a good reputation and the knowledge of retailing in that area. Starbucks prefers to license, rather than franchise because licensing provides more assurance of quality control. When they move into foreign markets one of their practices is to use a partner or license to help recruit individuals for employees, set up relationships with suppliers, find store locations, and learn how to cater to local market conditions. For stores that were licensed Starbucks would receive a license fee and a royalty on sales. Companies that were licensed to supply Starbucks coffee were required to follow their detailed operating procedures. Not only that, but managers and employees were required to attend the same training as employees at company-owned stores. Staff Training As mentioned previously, employees are put through an extensive amount of training to learn daily practices and how to treat customers. They are put through this training because customer service is so integral to their organization. Some of the things that baristas learn in their 24 hours of training are coffee history, drink preparation, coffee knowledge, customer service, retail skills, and beverage preparation. Beverage preparation includes grinding the beans, steaming milk, pulling a perfect shot of espresso, memorizing the recipes, practicing the drinks, and learning how to customize drinks. Finally, partners were trained on cash register operations, how to clean the milk wand, how to explain Italian drink names, how to sell espresso machines, making eye contact, interacting with consumers, and taking responsibility for the cleanliness of the store. Not only that but they had many rules that needed to be learned as well such as: milk needs to be steamed to 150 degrees Fahrenheit but not more than 170 degrees, an espresso shot not pulled within 23 seconds needs to be thrown out, coffee can’t sit in the pot more than 20 minutes, and disgruntled customers were given a coupon for a free drink. Managers were required to go even more in depth with their training. Ethical Business Principles Starbucks purchases products that are Fair Trade Certified, meaning that farmers make a fair amount of money for their products. They are very involved in Corporate Social Responsibility and take a number of measures to reduce, reuse, and recycle. They are also committed to purchasing from companies that use environmentally sustainable growing practices. Coffee Roasting Practices Coffee recipes are put together by the coffee department once all components have been tested. In order to be sure of consistency computerized roasters are used. Trained personnel are required to monitor the process by using hearing and their sense of smell to check when the beans are perfectly done. There are extremely exacting standards that must be met and the color of the beans is tested in a blood-cell analyzer and if it doesn’t meet the requirements the batch is discarded. Directly after roasting and cooling coffee is vacuum-sealed into bags that are guaranteed to preserve freshness for 26 weeks. However, policy says that after three months they need to be used. Once opened the shelf life is seven days. What â€Å"values† does Starbucks have? How well do they connect to the strategy and to the manner in which the company conducts its business? Are they successful in implementing to them? The values that Starbucks consider important are included in their mission statement and those are: 1) Coffee: They are committed to providing their consumers with top-quality coffee that is ethically sourced, and to improve the lives of the people who grow the beans. They do this through a variety of methods. First is their Coffee and Farmer Equity Practices (C. A. F. E Practices). These practices specify product quality, that the price received by farmers/growers is fair, that safe and humane working conditions are being used, and that the methods of growing are environmentally responsible. Second, they do not add artificial flavorings to their coffee beans. Third, they have Farmer Support Centers in Costa Rica and Rwanda. These support centers were staffed with agronomists and experts on environmentally responsible coffee growing methods and worked with coffee farming communities to promote best practices in coffee production They also worked to improve coffee quality and production yields. 2) Partners: In order to better care for their employees Starbucks has a health care plan available for all employees, a stock purchase plan, employee training, and employee recognition. Some of their employee recognition awards include Coffee Master awards, Certified Barista awards, Spirit of Starbucks awards, Manager of the Quarter, Green Apron awards, Green Bean awards, and Bravo! Awards, 3) Customers: They value connecting with customers and uplifting the lives of consumers by providing the perfectly made beverage and going the extra mile for their customers. Employees are trained to take heroic measures to make customers happy. 4) Stores: Starbucks management’s goal was to create the stores to be a haven where customers belong and meet with friends. They do this by creating a store ambience, having interesting music playing, leather couches to sit and read newspapers in, and they make sure that nothing overpowers the smell of coffee. 5) Neighborhood: Their stores are part of its community and to be a force of positive good in the area. One way they do this is by using local materials and craftsmanship. They are also extremely involved in Corporate Social Responsibility. The commitment to do the right thing has been a significant part of how Starbucks operates as a company ever since Schultz became CEO. Starbucks has been named to Corporate Responsibility Magazine’s list of â€Å"The 100 Best Corporate Citizens† for the 10th time in 2010. 6) Shareholders: Starbucks is committed to getting all of the above values right so that they can help everyone that is involved and affected by Starbucks thrive. What is your evaluation of Starbucks social responsibility strategy? How much does it help to create their public image? Starbucks CSR strategy has four main parts which are: 1) Ethical sourcing of products: They do this through their C. A. F. E Practices, purchasing Fair Trade Certified products, and buying from manufacturers that have a commitment to environmental and social responsibility. 2) Community involvement: Starbucks has several organizations to foster community involvement. First, is the Starbucks Youth Action Grants which involves young people in community involvement projects. Second, is their program to give medicine to people suffering from HIV in Africa. Third, is the Ethos Water Fund where they donate 5 cents every time somebody purchases a bottle of Ethos Water. Fourth, they donate money to the Starbucks Foundation which was the fund that was started in 1997 to handle all the Starbucks’ philanthropic actions. 3) Environmental Stewardship: In order to achieve this goal they have several methods. First, they focus on increasing recycling and reducing waste which they do by giving discounts to people who bring in their own mugs, coffee grounds are donated for use as a soil amendment, they take part in Earth Day activities, they purchase paper products with recycled content and unbleached fiber, and they encourage their suppliers to provide energy-efficient products and eliminate unnecessary packaging. They also have commitments to be more energy efficient, use renewable energy sources, conserve water resources, use green facilities, using environmentally friendly building materials and energy-efficient designs. They also have plans to achieve LEED certification globally. In 2009 they became part of the Businesses for Innovative Climate Change and Energy Policy coalition. They have also collaborated with the Earthwatch Institute and work on replanting rain forests, mapping water resources, and biodiversity indicators, and sharing sustainable agriculture practices with coffee growers. 4) Farmer loans: They provide funding to organizations that make loans to coffee growers. Their goal for 2015 is to donate $20 million dollars to these funds. They have also committed money to hurricane Rita and Katrina victims, as well as to help the devastation after the earthquake in Haiti. Having a strong CSR campaign adds to the value of Starbucks’ products if consumers know that they are involved in these activities. It lets consumers know that part of the money they are spending is going to a good cause. By getting on the Corporate Responsibility Magazine’s list of â€Å"The 100 Best Corporate Citizens† for the 10th time in 2010, it increases the knowledge that people have about their CSR strategy. Compare the US and International share of yearly revenue, revenue growth, and operating income/revenue. What do these ratios tell you? What is your overall assessment of Starbucks’ financial performance during fiscal years 2005-2009? Explain the performance of Starbucks stock. Exhibit 1 Comparison of Starbucks’ Financial Performance in the US and Internationally| | | 9/27/2009| 9/27/2008| 9/30/2007| 10/1/2006| 10/2/2005| Yearly Revenue ($ millions)| | | | | | | United States| $ 6,572. 10 | $ 6,997. 70 | $ 6,590. 20 | $ 5,495. 20 | $ 4,359. 50 | | International| $ 1,608. 00 | $ 1,774. 20 | $ 1,437. 40 | $ 1,087. 90 | $ 852. 50 | Revenue Growth ($ millions)| | | | | | | United States| -6. 08%| 6. 18%| 19. 93%| 26. 05%| | | International| -9. 37%| 23. 43%| 32. 13%| 27. 61%| | Operating Income/Revenue ($ millions)| | | | | | | United States| $ 531. 80 | $ 454. 20 | $ 1,005. 20 | $ 955. 20 | $ 818. 50 | | International | $ 92. 90 | $ 110. 00 | $ 137. 70 | $ 108. 50 | $ 82. 30 | These ratios tell us that overall they have been increasing their revenue growth by significant percentages of an average of 20% internationally and 12% domestically. Domestically the amount of revenue growth per year slowed down in 2008 and went negative in 2009. Revenue growth also went negative in 2008 internationally. This makes sense because 2008 was the beginning of the economic downturn which affected the company’s bottom line. Operating income has fluctuated quite a bit since 2005 and since its peak in 2007 ($1,0005. 20 million) has decreased significantly to $531. 80 million. Internationally it has remained steadier at an average of $106. 28 million. Again these numbers make sense because it was in 2008-2009 that the economic downturn occurred and Schultz instituted strategic initiatives and revamped strategy execution efforts to fix these financial problems. One reason that the economic downturn affected Starbucks’ bottom line badly is because it was considered a treat to go to Starbucks and to get coffee that wasn’t brewed at the home. Less people were indulging in coffee by the cup. In 2006 and 2007 Starbucks reached its peak growth in the period displayed in exhibit 1. This is represented in the stock chart because it is also when their stock performance reached its peak at 40. The lowest point on the stock chart was in 2008 which makes sense because this is when the economic downturn occurred so many people were selling stocks. In 2008-2009 Schultz’s measures to institute strategic initiatives and revamp strategy execution efforts began and clearly worked because in the period of time from 2008-2010 stocks returned to almost 30. What are the key elements and your evaluation of Howard Schultz’s transformation agenda for Starbucks during 2008-2010? What do you think of the letters shown on page C-364 and C-365? Has Schultz done a good job since his return as Starbucks’ CEO? Why or why not? Elements of the Transformation Agenda Howard Schultz’s transformation agenda during 2008-2010 had several key elements. First, he planned on slowing new store openings to 73 internationally. Second, 900 underperformed company-owned stores were closed in the United States. The goal of this action was to raise sales and traffic at nearby sales. Around 75% of these stores that were considered underperforming were within three miles of an existing store which shows that their strategy of having a Starbucks everywhere was cannibalizing their sales. The third element of the transformation agenda was raising the projected return on capital requirements for proposed new store locations. This is a way for Schultz to be more particular about new store placement and to have a better chance of making a significant amount of profit and not losing traffic to existing stores. Fourth, he planned on revamping the company’s locations in Australia with a focus on Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney as the hub cities. He planned on closing 61 under-performing locations in order to do this. Fifth, it was important to Schultz that there be an emphasis on developing new store designs in order to promote a refreshed customer experience. In order to do this the character of each store would be a reflection of the area it was in to make the customers feel more at home and to make Starbucks the center of that community. Sixth, customer experience would be heightened through a variety of methods. The first method was by removing warmed sandwiches from the menu, because it inhibited the aroma from the coffee. Second, high-quality baked goods and pastries would be offered at the store along with new menu items for healthy eating on the go. For example, fruit cups, skinny lattes, yogurt parfaits, salads, smoothies, and healthier bakery selections were all a result of this step in Schultz’s transformation agenda. The seventh part of the agenda was to create a program to share best practices in stores globally, this would promote quality control and improve customer service, which was one of the things that Schultz had found lacking when he became CEO again. Eighth, Schultz thought it was important to provide resources and tools for store employees such as laptops and internet-based software for scheduling. Ninth, there were cost-containment initiatives put in place in order to improve the bottom line that included a reduction of 1,000 people in staffing. Finally, the last part of the agenda was to renew the attention placed on employee training in order to reignite the enthusiasm to please customers that is vital to the mission of Starbucks. Evaluation The goal for 40,000 stores worldwide as a long-term objective and the rapid expansion that Jim Donald began led to a decrease in customer traffic in the US stores, new store openings that continued at a rate of 6 per day worldwide, and the emphasis on increased store operations efficiency put financial strain on the company and led to a decrease in customer service. Good customer service is one of the cornerstone values of Starbucks and was a central idea during Schultz’ leadership. Schultz’ return to CEO and his strategic initiatives mentioned above will help to return Starbucks to the values it originally held as very important and to return it to profitability by slowing down on expansion to focus more on the three main themes Schultz saw as important to his strategy. These themes are: strengthening the core, elevating the experience, and investing and growing. Before he can focus on growing the company, they need to have a strong base of employees and a focus on the experience that Starbucks is meant to provide its consumers. Letters from Schultz The letters that are shown on page C-364 and C-365 of the case show that Schultz is dedicated to his shareholders, which is one of the values in their mission statement. He is being extremely open and upfront the concerns of shareholders and about the actions that will be taken to address those issues. The first letter is addressed to customers and he explains that he has come back to Starbucks as CEO in order to ensure that the customers receive the experience that he believes Starbucks is known for. This letter shows that he truly cares about the thoughts and concerns of consumers. The second letter is to the employees of Starbucks. In this letter Schultz addresses them as partners in the path to revitalizing Starbucks’ mission. He even says, â€Å"I am proud to be your partner†¦Ã¢â‚¬  By treating his employees like this he is able to foster accountability for the actions that everybody can take in helping to turn around Starbucks to what Schultz’ vision for it is. Evaluation of Schultz’ work. Schultz has done a good job by creating strategic initiatives in order to return Starbucks to where he thinks the company should be. His vision includes becoming the authority on coffee, engaging and inspiring Starbucks’ partners, igniting the emotional attachment with customers, expanding global presence and making each store the neighborhood’s heart, being a leader in ethical sourcing and environmental impact, creating innovative growth platforms, and delivering a sustainable economic model. Every one of these visions is addressed in some way in his agenda, which shows he has a clear idea of where the company should go and how to get it there. In 2008-2009 the company experiences five quarters of deteriorating sales, but from 2009-2010 had five quarters of improving sales, which shows that Schultz’ transformation agenda has been working. What issues confront the company as of mid-2010? What should Starbucks’ management be worried about? What are the challenges in expanding internationally? Issues as of mid-2010. 1) Oversaturation of the market: With the â€Å"A Starbucks Everywhere† approach and the rapid expansion steps taken by Donald, there was a decrease in customer traffic at the stores, resulting in a loss of profit. 2) Lack of emphasis on customer relationships: The emphasis on increased efficiency in store operations led to a decrease in good customer service. 3) Drifting away from the original values of Starbucks: Starbucks was built with an emphasis on high-quality coffee, good customer service, and a commitment to creating an experience for customers. However, when Schultz became CEO again he noted that this was lacking. 4) Offering high-quality products: As Starbucks moves into new locations in order to draw attention away from local popular spots they will need to offer a product that is of high enough quality to keep consumers coming back. 5) Differentiation: Again, as they move into new markets they will need to do significant research to find out what those consumer’s value. They need to be able to give it to them in order to achieve their goal of being the heart of the neighborhood. 6) Coffee prices: Coffee prices fluctuate significantly due to weather, economic, and political conditions in the countries where they are grown. What should management be worried about? Management should be worried about offering high-quality products. If they cannot prove that their product is better due to quality or differentiating features then locations that sell coffee and consumers are already loyal, they will have issues drawing consumers away. However, Starbucks does have an extremely strong brand image and hype associated with their name, which is an asset for them in entering new markets. International Challenges Some challenges that Starbucks will face internationally are: 1) Adapting their stores to fit the location they are in 2) Creating partnerships and licensing agreements with reputable companies to offer their products abroad 3) Regulations on foreign businesses moving into their country 4) Having enough control over the quality in the international stores that are licensed. 5) Higher production costs Starbucks has chosen to follow a multi-domestic approach to international expansion, meaning that they customize their product offerings to match the tastes and preferences of local buyers. The main challenge that Starbucks will face in entering international markets is knowing what that group of people wants and prefers. Another problem is that they will need to make partnerships and licensing agreements with reputable companies in order to be sure that the culture of Starbucks is continued to their new stores. Finally, they will have the issue with tailoring their stores to fit the environment they are in, because they will be unable to use a set design which could raise production costs. What recommendation would you make to Howard Schultz to sustain the company’s growth and support continued strong financial performance in the years ahead? Consider both the US and International strategies. Recommendations * Coordinate with suppliers to address consumers’ needs better: By coordinati.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Challenger Essays - Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster, Free Essays

Challenger Essays - Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster, Free Essays Challenger It was a cold, crisp, and damp morning on the Florida Space Coast as the space shuttle Challenger raced through the sky at speeds approaching mach 2 at an altitude of 104,000 feet when something went perilously wrong. All of America watched, including the family members of the seven doomed crew members, as Challenger exploded into an expansive ball of fire, smoke and steam. An "Oh. . . no!" came as the crew?s final utterance from the shuttle as the orbiter broke-up. As the reality of what she was seeing became apparent, Pilot Michael John Smith?s daughter, 9 year old Erin Smith, could be heard yelling, "Daddy! Daddy! I want you, Daddy! You promised nothing would happen!" Unfortunately, the events of that tragic day could have been easily prevented. Weather had been the main cause for five delays during the last month. The launch had been carried out in spite on the fact that weather was the worst it had ever been in NASA?s history of manned space flight. With so many ! delays encountered in that twenty-fifth shuttle mission, NASA had become careless in getting Challenger on its way. As Challenger sat on the pad awaiting it?s ill-fated mission, there were signs that there was something wrong with the Right hand SRB (Solid Rocket Booster). Nevertheless these signs were ignored by a neglectful staff whose only concern was scheduling and not safety. Also, at the time of the accident, for purely monetary reasons, the shuttle had not been fitted with a means of escape for the crew in the case of an emergency; a fact not revealed until after the accident. Though the Space shuttle was the cutting edge of technology at the time, new advancements in technology make the Space Shuttle old, unsafe, inefficient, and not cost effective. However, because of cut backs in funding, NASA is unable to make any advancements in it?s technology to prevent another catastrophic accident for the space program. Also as a result of the cut backs, NASA has had tro! uble keeping the existing space shuttles? hardware kept up. The effects of the accident were numerous; the space program was shut down for three years. Also the effects on the NASA staff were immense, leaving a feeling of guilt and fear. On January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger and it?s crew embarked on a mission to broaden educational horizons and promote the advancement of scientific knowledge; their mission was cut short in one of the most tragic and most easily prevented tragedies in America?s history in space. Before the accident, the 51-L (This mission?s assigned number) mission was supposed to be remembered for many reasons. One reason was that this was to be the twenty-fifth space shuttle mission. Another reason was that this was to be the first shuttle launch from pad 39-b which hadn?t been used since the Apollo missions. However, The major reason was this was to be the first crew to include a civilian member. Sharon Chista McAuliffe was chosen from a pool of 11,400 applicants. McAuliffe, 37, was a social studies teacher in Concord High School in New Hampshire. While in space, she planned to still teach two lessons entitled, "Where we?ve been, where we?re going, why?", to her class. Then, at T plus 1:13, the mission and its crew became remembered for other, more disastrous reasons. An O-ring in the right SRB shattered in the extreme cold and began allowing liquid hydrogen to leak then explode incinerating the seven crew members, destroying the valuable payload, and bring! ing the space program to a halt for nearly three years. America listened a long ten seconds before "?the commentary was resumed in a tense monotone"(Lewis, p21); "Flight Controllers are looking very carefully at the situation. Obviously a major malfunction. We have no downlink. We have a report from the flight dynamics officer that the vehicle has exploded. The flight director confirms that. We are looking at checking with recovery forces to see what can be done at this point. Contingency procedures are in effect. We will report more as we have information available?"(Lewis, p21) "Major Malfunction", a phrase that stuck with everyone watching the launch that day. Although later, flight commentator Nesbit would be

Monday, November 4, 2019

The Chicago World's Fair and the the impact on urban life and cities Research Paper

The Chicago World's Fair and the the impact on urban life and cities in America - Research Paper Example Atwood terminating the vista out to Lake Michigan† (Burnham 1989, pg. 17) In addition to these architectural structures a number of other exhibits exited that features cutting edge technology and designs that have since made an indelible impact on the American city. These influences coupled with influences in music, art, literature, and even the very leaders of the organization have all been argued by researchers to have had a considerable influence on American cities and urban life. This essay considers the impact these objects of culture and commerce that were featured at the Chicago’s World Fair have had on American cities and urban life by tracing the impact through the considerable effects of the Beaux Arts architectural style, to the various cultural influences, and finally the influences in the very fabric of consumer culture and society that were developed and have remain prominent in contemporary American culture. In an effort to create a unifying effect among the newly designed structures that surrounded the Court of Honor, building designs followed the style of the Italian Renaissance. The exposition was regarded as an enormous success by the architects and visitors of the day and the white stucco used in the buildings stood out against the Chicago tenements, leading to the structures being referred to as the White City. These buildings also featured, â€Å"a common material, stucco (plaster), painted white; and would maintain a uniform sixty-foot-high cornice line† (Moffett and Wodehouse, 2008, pg. 232) As a result of the exposition’s critical and popular success, the ornate Beaux-Arts style was adopted by many American buildings and civic projects including trains stations, art museums, city halls, post offices, and churches. In great part the success of the exposition overshadowed the fact that the buildings it featured weren’t notably technically advanced and

Saturday, November 2, 2019

What is Conflict Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

What is Conflict - Research Paper Example Humans experience conflict everyday in their personal lives and in the organizational culture. Conflict can be interpreted in two dimensions: the theorist’s perspective of the conflict and the environment where the conflict takes place. The environment may include conflict between individuals or families or nations. The conflict can also be inter-psychic in which the conscious mind and the unconscious mind conflict with each other. Thus, conflict can occur in many contexts. How the mediators interpret conflict and its resolution paves the way to their selection of an appropriate approach towards reconciliation. Sarah Netter’s article, â€Å"Was Southwest passenger too fat to fly?† (2009) describes a conflict according to the above mentioned definitions of a conflict. The main character of the incident is an Illinois man, Emery Orto, who is 6-foot 350-pounds by size. He was returning to Midway to celebrate his wife’s birthday but the Southwest Airlines refu sed to let him fly from Las Vegas. He was not at all ready to purchase a second ticket despite his large size. Although Orto had been able to gain many people’s sympathies, the fact remains that he acted irrationally. Critical analysis of the incident tells that Orto was at mistake, not the Airlines. The personnel informed him that the customers unable to lower both armrests should book the additional seat at the booking time and that with only one seat, he was going to make himself uncomfortable as well as the co-passengers. The Southwest Airlines’ customer of size policy has it that the additional seat will be offered at a discounted rate and refunded afterwards if goes unoccupied, which is a very good offer which Orto should have availed. He had also been offered the opportunity to show to the Airlines that he could accommodate only one seat without upsetting his seatmates, but he refused. One cannot make out what was the reason he did not take the chance of boardin g the plane and letting the personnel see that he was right. According to the Southwest Airlines (2009), putting forward the rule of an additional seat for large passengers became vital when the customers who felt terribly uncomfortable sitting next to an obese seatmate started raising objections. Moreover, the over-weight passengers disturb the plane’s weight and balance which is very dangerous. Since it is the responsibility of the Airlines to assure safety to all passengers, Orto had to be enquired. Hence, this conflict goes very well with the textbook’s definition of a conflict. 2. I would approach this conflict according to the Human Needs Theory, according to which basic human needs of a human being must be satisfied in order to resolve the conflict. Orto needs to be satisfied; however, he must also understand the policy of the airlines. The question that what factor decides which passenger is stout and which is skinny has a straightforward reply. The Airlinesâ⠂¬â„¢ policy says that it is the size of the person that determines his obesity, not his weight nor the extension of the seat belt. If an obese person gets allowed to fly with only one seat, that would only happen if he is able to lower or extend the seatbelt. If he cannot lower it, this decides that he is obese. A good example can be of a pregnant woman. Despite her being over-weight, if she can lower the armrest, it is okay if she books one seat. Staff can be also instructed to use measuring tape to