How the Police Access Data to Obtain Criminal Information Assignment

How the Police Access Data to Obtain Criminal Information - Assignment Example He lives in California and was visiting us in Miami for a break from his work, about which we knew nothing about. It was a cool evening and we being late for the opening pitch, uncle Bobby was driving way over the speed limit when a police patrol car appeared from nowhere and told us to pull over which we did. My uncle told me to stay in the car while he went out to talk to this big cop. After a few moments the cop reached for his radio and mumbled something into it. After a few minutes to my horror he handcuffed my uncle, checked my license and told me to drive home, just after he told me that my uncle had a warrant out in California. Research How did a cop of MPD know about outstanding warrants in California? I got intrigued and started looking for answers. I came up with a few observations about the digital media and its integration with the modern police force. Firstly, my uncle had previous criminal record in California. Therefore the police Record Management System (RMS) in Cal ifornia had every piece of personal information of an offender in there state properly indexed and catalogued (Raymond, 2005). So now comes the query that even if a criminal has outstanding warrants and all sorts of records in the state of California, how a trooper retrieved that information on a highway from his car through a wireless radio.

A lost property Essay Example for Free

A lost property Essay A lost property is one which is found in a locality where it is likely that its true owner had no intent of placing it and the owner is not likely to find it. On the other hand, misplaced property is one which the true owner placed it somewhere and forgot to pick it up. Conversely, abandoned property is one which the true owner intended to leave somewhere due to the state it was in (Litka Inman, 1983). This plane could have been termed as lost or abandoned. The collector of the airplane Doug Chaplin, thus lost in the court ruling since the plane was a lost and found property (Stewart, Warner Portman, 2008). The plane could have remained to be the property of Chaplin but since The Navy found it and because they are the true owners; they have a right to repossess it. Chaplin should have turned the plane over to the proper authorities. Moreover, if the owner does not go to claim it for a certain time period, then the plane could be reverted back to Chaplin (Warda, 2005). The plane was ruled to be belonging to The Navy even though Chaplin could have been rewarded for his effort to recover the plane. The court could also have ruled that the plane constituted an abandoned property and thus was supposed to be a property of the government of which The Navy was also part of the government. Chaplin could never win the case because the plane’s true owners were claiming it, in addition, the law holds that lost property should be returned to the owner. Even if Chaplin collected the plane as a relic, the plane still belonged to The Navy since under the common law of America, relics are entitled to their collector unless the true owner reclaims them. References Litka, M. P. ; Inman, J. E. (1983). The legal environment of business: Public and private laws. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Stewart, M. ; Warner, R. ; Portman, J. (2008). Every landlords legal guide. Berkeley, California: Nolo. Warda, M. (2005). Landlords rights and duties in Florida. Chicago, IL: Sourcebooks, Incorporated.

How is National Income derived? What is the GDP? What information does

How is National Income derived? What is the GDP? What information does it give us about a nation? What is per capita income? If you wanted to know about the economy of a country, which would you consider more important, and why? (25 points) National Income is derived through the overall income earned by a country’s people, including labor and capital investment. Gross domestic product is the sum of gross value added by all resident producers in the economy plus any product taxes and minus any subsidies not included in the value of the products. It measures output generated through production by labor and property which is physically located within the confines of a country. The following excerpts are definitions of National Income and GNPas listed on this website http://members.shaw.ca/h-chartrand/Macro%20+%202.0.htm â€Å"National income is the sum of all factor earnings from production of current goods and services. Factor earnings are incomes of factors of production: land (rent), labor (salaries & wages), and capital (interest and investment income)†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Gr... How is National Income derived? What is the GDP? What information does How is National Income derived? What is the GDP? What information does it give us about a nation? What is per capita income? If you wanted to know about the economy of a country, which would you consider more important, and why? (25 points) National Income is derived through the overall income earned by a country’s people, including labor and capital investment. Gross domestic product is the sum of gross value added by all resident producers in the economy plus any product taxes and minus any subsidies not included in the value of the products. It measures output generated through production by labor and property which is physically located within the confines of a country. The following excerpts are definitions of National Income and GNPas listed on this website http://members.shaw.ca/h-chartrand/Macro%20+%202.0.htm â€Å"National income is the sum of all factor earnings from production of current goods and services. Factor earnings are incomes of factors of production: land (rent), labor (salaries & wages), and capital (interest and investment income)†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Gr...

Identifying the Major Causes of the Civil War Essay

The civil war happened between the years 1861 and 1865 when the history of the United States was still very young. It was a very costly war, leading to over 600000 casualties. Its origin can be traced to a number of causes, which I identify in this essay. First of all, there were tension between the North and the South due to economic and social differences (Catton, 1988). The economy of the south depended mainly on plantation agriculture, growing commercial cotton using slave labor. The north was industry-oriented, and this meant that two groups of people had to learn to live together. Secondly, there were ideological differences as some people were against according of greater rights for the state while others felt that more authority needed to be vested on the federal government (Catton, 1988). Many felt that the US constitution had given the state very few rights, and this led to conflicts. Third, there was continuous animosity between those who supported the use of slave labor and those opposed to slavery. These conflicts eventually spilled over to the Senate, and these tensions contributed to the outbreak of war. Growth of the abolition movement was another leading cause of the Civil War. The North generally opposed slavery while the South depended on it. African American slaves in the south started moving to the North where their rights were more recognized, and sympathizers there harbored them (Catton, 1988). This caused animosity between northern and southern states. Finally, the election of Abraham Lincoln, who was a supporter of the Abolitionist Movement, caused South Carolina to issue a declaration of secession Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia Louisiana and Texas soon followed suit, and action had to be taken to preserve the union (Catton, 1988).

Juvenile Court Characteristics Essay

A juvenile is a person who was less than 17 years old but more than 10 years old when he or she committed an act defined as a delinquent act or a conduct in need of supervision. This is an act if committed by an adult could lead to imprisonment. A conduct in need of supervision (CINS) is a conduct that if committed by an adult could result in a fine. Juvenile Court Characteristics in Texas According to Roberts (2004), when a juvenile has been found to have committed a CINS or delinquent conduct, he/she is adjudicated. Texas juvenile board is in charge of the juvenile justice operations. It’s made up of district court judges and country court judges. The juvenile board decides which court that will be used as a juvenile court in the county. There are different courts that are involved: district, Constitutional County or county courts. District courts are courts of general jurisdiction; constitutional county courts have concurrent authority with district judges and county courts may have concurrent authority with district judges or it may vary according to the statute that formed them (Zimring, 2005). When a juvenile has been found with an adjudicated conduct, the following is done: the person can be placed on probation, sent to the Texas youth commission (TYC) with an indeterminable sentence. However, this can only be done in victims of felony offences or it can be referred to the TYC with a determined sentence for certain offences. Juveniles put on probation and not sent to the TYC are supposed to be released by the time they turn 18. When sent to the TYC with an indeterminate verdict, the victims are released by the time they turn 19 and when sent to the TYC with a determined sentence, they can be transferred to an adult court depending on their behavior while in the TYC programs (Myers, 2001). If the juvenile is put on probation, the judge orders the juvenile to live with a responsible adult and gives the conditions that are to be followed. The conditions may range from a curfew, undergoing counseling or the juvenile may be required to attend a school. If the conditions given are not kept by the adult, the court may order the adult responsible to pay a fine or be imprisoned (Feld, 1999). Conclusion Many juveniles are found to commit crimes that if they were adults, they might have been convicted or fined. To deal with such cases, the Texas courts have come up with modes of dealing the culprits.

buy custom Impacts of Computers essay

buy custom Impacts of Computers essay We owe everything that we have today to technology. Technology has greatly impacted our lives. However, computer technology has completely outdone all the other forms of technologies. Computers have made the impossible possible, things that could not easily be achieved are now possible due to them. The history of computers goes back a long way. The first electronic computers were people. This is because the machines developed did things that were initially carried out by people. Originally, the term computer was a title assigned to human beings whose role was to carry out repetitive computation of calculations (Cnaan and Parsole, 2009). The abacus was invented to aid mans memory while carrying out calculations. In 1942, John Eckert, John Maunchly and their associates built the first electronic computer. It is undeniable that computers have made such a big impact in our lives and the society as a whole. It is no longer possible to find a place where computers are not involved in carrying out one or more activities. Whichever direction you turn into, there is always the need of a computer. Currently almost all business entities need computers and their respective technologies to carry out their activities. The past few years have seen this field of technology advance rapidly and due to this it has been transformed as the core tool in business today (Cnaan nd Parsole, 2009). Computer technology has seen unimaginable advancements prompting every organization to use it. Investors consider computers inexpensive assets that are a must have due to their conveniences in creating opportunities for investment. It is through computers that we are able to search for jobs online, learn a vast range of things, carry out research and buy stock. It is true to assert that computers have transformed the world a lot (Rosenberg, 2004). It is through the computer that man has been assisted to step forward and face the future. We owe a lot to computers. Thorough computers, space exploration is possible, new vehicle designs have been developed, entertainment is more interesting and science and medicine has been able to manufacture better and improved medicines to cure diseases. Though to some it may be difficult to notice how computers have impacted our lives, it is due to computers that life has become much easier and enjoyable. As stated by Rosenberg (2004), computers play a very vital and positive role in the education sector. Students are able to work on their assignments through internet research. Learners can also type their reports on the word processing program. This is a program thatt makes it possible for learners to type their work or assignments. Business entities and computers are inseparable. The entities use computers to keep track of their stocks, money, accounts and all things that are crucial for the running of the business. Computers have various programs which are important in presentation of information and ideas to people. The computer is not only essential for its word processing program but the device can carry a huge sum of data and information. Thinking that our past generation was able to live without computers is unbelievable. The uses of computers range from one thing to millions of activities. Commerce is unheard of and impossible without computers (Rosenberg, 2004). Computers regulate commercial activities and communicate to millions of people across all over the world in a matter of seconds concurrently. Computers have helped the world a lot and thus preparing for the future more comfortably. Entertainment and businesses entities use computers to make profits, education institutions use computers to assist learners to learn better. Similarly, the medical department cannot look down upon the importance of computers. Without the assistance of computers, many things that are possible today would not have been possible. The world would have been a primitive and dull place to live in without this important device. Buy custom Impacts of Computers essay

Matchpoint vs oedipus Essay Example

Matchpoint vs oedipus Essay Example Matchpoint vs oedipus Essay Matchpoint vs oedipus Essay The assumptive assignment will have two parts. Part 1: Blob/Soundtrack Assignment For this part of the assumptive task, you are required to select at least 4 songs which, you believe, would work on a soundtrack to The Kite Runner. On the blob you will post a link to the song and write liner notes. For each song/poem, you must include the following in your liner notes: discuss the theme/message of the song; what is the Eng about? Identify at least three literary devices and explain their significance discuss why this song would be an appropriate selection for The Kite Runner Here are some ideas/themes that we discussed in class: Friendship and Brotherhood Rape and Sexual Abuse Gender Roles and Expectations Classicism and Chattels Betrayal, Guilt and Redemption The Immigrant Experience Escaping the past History and Politics in Afghanistan Your blob should have a title, unity, and flow. The songs should make sense together and the progression of the songs should create a drama, or arouse feelings from the Sistine. Think beyond simply the plot of the novel, and make connections to the themes, ideas, mood, tone, characters/characterization, locations discussed, etc.. As long as you can draw a clear connection between the chosen tracks and the novel, you have succeeded! NOTE: If you decide to quote something from The Kite Runner you must cite It using MILA format. To submit your blob, you Just have to post the link to the class Dà ©modà © page. You will also be presenting your blob to the class. As a part of your reservation, you will pick one song to play and present. In the presentation, you must discuss why you picked this song for the soundtrack, identify literary devices, and explain how the song relates to a theme in The Kite Runner. Part 2: Poetry Explication/ Analysis of a Poem (Test): This part of your assumptive assignment will be done in class. Category Knowledge Student has an appropriate selection of songs; student has Identified at least 3 separate literary devices; student has a clear understanding of the text and poetic elements Thinking Student analyzes the songs and establishes a clear connection to the novel; the songs work together and the progression of the songs make sense 110 Communication Student speaks clearly, is able to answer questions and back up their opinions by relating the song to events in the text; written communication: spelling, grammar, MILA citations Application shows evidence of thought and effort; blob is organized and creative, and clearly relates to the novel; unity between the design of the blob and the chosen songs

How to Use Khan Academy for ACT Prep Complete Guide

How to Use Khan Academy for ACT Prep Complete Guide SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Khan Academy has recently partnered with the College Board, the makers of the SAT, to produce free and official SAT prep materials. Unfortunately, there's currently no official Khan Academy ACT prep; however,students can still use Khan Academy’s resources to help them prepare for the ACT. This guide will go over what materials Khan Academy offers, why you should consider using them, and exactly which resources will be most helpful and which topics you will need to use additional review materials for so that you can be as well-prepared for the ACT as possible. What Is Khan Academy? Khan Academy is a non-profit education site that was founded in 2006. The site offers thousands of free videos on a wide variety of topics, including math, computer programming, and chemistry. The videos typically go over sample problems step-by-step to help viewers understand the concepts behind solving the problem.It’s free to join, and anyone can create an account. In 2015, Khan Academy and the College Board (the organization that designs and administers the SAT, PSAT, and AP exams) announced that they had created a set of free SAT study tools. These resources include quizzes, tests, video tutorials, and personalized practice recommendations. Because these tools were developed in collaboration with the College Board, they are official prep resourcesandgive an accurate representation of what the actual SAT will be like. Check out our guide to learn more about Khan Academy and its SAT prep resources. Can You Use Khan Academy for ACT Prep? Unfortunately, there is currently no official Khan AcademyACT test prep , however; students planning on only taking the ACT can still use and benefit from Khan Academy’s resources, including the SAT prep resources. How can you do this? And why would you want to? First, Khan Academy offers lessons on a wide range of subjects. Their emphasis is on math, but they also have lessons on other subjects the ACT tests, such as parts of speechand grammar. Therefore, you'll be able to find resources for many of the topics the ACT tests on Khan Academy. You can also use Khan Academy's SAT prep resources to prepare for the ACT. How is this possible when they are two different tests? First, there is a large overlap in the topics the ACT and SAT test, particularly since the SAT has recently undergone major changes that make it much more similar to the ACT. Both exams test math, science, critical reading, and writing and language skills.This means that much of what you study for the SAT, including Khan Academy’s resources, will be useful for the ACT, and vice versa. Additionally, Khan Academy’s SAT resources are official resources, which means they were developed by the same people who write the real SAT questions. This means that Khan Academy’s practice questions give an accurate look at how official test questions are written and which topics they cover. While these questions won’t be exactly the same as those found on the ACT, they can often be much closer to real ACT questions than many unofficial prep resources which can differgreatlyfrom thereal ACT. How to Use Khan Academy to Prepare for the ACT For full details on how to set up an account on Khan Academy and navigate its resources, check out our guide on how to get the most out of Khan Academy.After setting up an account (it only takes a few minutes), you’ll be able to choose which subject you want to start studying. We'll go over the most topics to focus on with Khan AcademyACT prep below. The sections below each over a specific section of the ACT: English, Math, Reading, Science, and the optional Writing section. For each section, we'll explain which Khan Academy materials are most useful and if thereare any topics you should use additional resources to prepare for. ACT English What the ACT English Section Covers The ACT English section is 45 minutes long and contains 75 questions. The section includes five essays or passages, each accompanied by a series of questions. ACT English covers two main topics: Usage and Mechanics and Rhetorical Skills. Usage and Mechanics tests your knowledge ofgrammar, punctuation, usage, and sentence structure, while Rhetorical Skills tests "bigger picture" ideas such as the ideas, style, and organization of each passage. Spelling, vocabulary, and obscure grammar rules are not tested on ACT English. Khan Academy Resources You Can Use for ACT English Within Khan Academy's SAT prep resources, there are two sections that correspond to ACT English: Writing and Language as well asGrammar and Effective Language Use. Writingand Language has three subsections which focus on making revisions to argumentative, informative, and non-fiction narrative passages.Grammar and Effective Language Use has 21 subsections focusing on different grammar and punctuation concepts such as possessive pronouns, modifier placement, and pronoun clarity. These sections will help prepare you for the majority of the ACT English section, particularly the Usage and Mechanics questions. Beyond the SAT prep resources, Khan Academy also has other grammar videosunder "Arts and Humanities." These videos focus on parts of speech, punctuation, and syntax, and they're a good resource to start with if you want to brush up on your grammar before answering practice questions. Topics Khan Academy Doesn't Cover for ACT English The SAT Writing and Language section recently underwent major changes, and, as a result, it is now much more similar to ACT English. Both test sections now use a completely passage-based format, and both test similar grammar rules. Because of this, Khan Academy's SAT prep resources and grammar resources cover most of what you'll need to know for ACT English. However, ACT English does include main-idea questions, which you won't see covered on Khan Academy, so if you want more practice with those, be sure to use other, ACT-specific resources (discussed more at the bottom of this article). ACT Math What the ACT Math Section Covers ACT Math is 60 minutes long and contains 60 questions. There are six main topics ACT Math covers. They're listed below, along with the percentage of the section that includes questions on that topic (the total is more than 100% because some questions fit into more than one category). Pre-Algebra (20-25%) Elementary Algebra (15-20%) Intermediate Algebra (15-20%) Coordinate Geometry (15-20%) Plane Geometry (20-25%) Trigonometry (5-10%) So overall, ACT Math has the most questions on algebra, along with a substantial amount of questions on geometry and a few trigonometry questions. Khan Academy Resources You Can Use for ACT Math The SAT Math section emphasizes algebra more than ACT Math does, so Khan Academy's SAT prep resources, specifically the Heart of Algebra and Passport to Advanced Mathematics sections, have a lot of material to help you study algebra. Khan Academy also has additional algebra videos under its Math resources to help you reinforce your algebra knowledge. For geometry, Khan Academy has geometry videos under its Math resources. These videos cover both coordinate and plane geometry. Within its SAT math resources, the Additional Topics in Math section includes geometry questions. There are only a handful of trigonometry questions on ACT Math, but you can still prepare for them by reviewing the Additional Topics in Math section under SAT resources and the Trigonometry videos under Khan Academy's Math resources. There are also two differences to note between SAT Math and ACT Math that you might be confused by if you use the SAT prep resources. First, a calculator is not allowed on part of SAT Math, but you can use a calculator the entire time for ACT Math, so disregard any remarks about not being able to use a calculator. Second, on the SAT, you'll get a formula sheet with relevant math formulas, but you won't receive this on the ACT, so you'll have to put in more of an effort to memorize important formulas. ACT Reading What the ACT Reading Section Covers ACT Reading contains 40 questions that you have 35 minutes to answer. The section contains three single passages and a set of paired passages. The five passages will always come from four topic areas: humanities, literary fiction, natural sciences, and social sciences.You're not expected to have any prior knowledge of the passage topics. The questions in ACT Reading test your skills in understanding main ideas, locating details, and interpreting purpose and voice. Khan Academy Resources You Can Use for ACT Reading The SAT Reading and ACT Reading sections are quite similar. All the questions are related to passages, the passages come from similar categories, and, for both exams, and both include a set of paired passages. This meansyou can use all of Khan Academy's SAT Reading resources to help you prepare for ACT Reading. Khan Academy's SAT Reading resources include videos, examples, and practice questions for four types of passages: science, literature, history, and social science. Using these resources can helpyou become more comfortable with critically reading different types of passages and answering questions on main ideas, vocabulary-in-context, inferences, and details from the reading. This is also good because Khan Academy doesn't have any general resources on improving critical reading skills, so only their SAT resources are relevant for prepping for ACT Reading. So Khan Academy's SAT Reading resources do a pretty thorough job of covering the topics ACT Reading tests, however; there are a few differences between the Reading sections of the two exams. First, the science passages on SAT Reading will include charts and graphs, which you won’t see in ACT Reading. However, you should still study and answer these questions since you will see similar questions on the ACT Science section. Also,on the SAT, questions for passages always go in chronological order. On the ACT, you can (and likely will) be jumping around throughout the passage as you move from question to question, so be prepared for that difference. ACT Science What the ACT Science Section Covers The ACT Science section is 35 minutes long and contains 40 questions. Like the Reading section, on ACT Science there will be several passages with questions following each passage. There are seven passages on ACT Science, and these passages could contain graphs, charts, diagrams, experiment summaries, or conflicting viewpoints from multiple scientists. Each passage will be followed by four to seven questions. As opposed to testing specific facts or topics, ACT Science tests your knowledge of scientific skills such as data analysis, hypothesis evaluation, and how to summarize research. Khan Academy Resources You Can Use for ACT Science Due tothe skills ACT Science tests and because there is no science section on the SAT, Khan Academy's resources don't prepare you for this section of the ACT as well as they do for other sections. Khan Academy does have a science section with videos on numerous scientific subjects, but this isn't much use to you because it mostly covers scientific facts you don't need to know for the ACT. For example, on ACT Science, you don't need to know the steps of cell division (which Khan Academy goes over), but if you're given a passage that explains research on cell division, you'll need to be able to analyze that research and its results (which Khan Academy doesn't focus on). However, there are some resources you can use to help you prepare for ACT Science. Under Khan Academy's SAT prep resources, questions from SAT Reading and SAT Writing and Language that include graphs or charts are oftensimilar to some questions seen on ACT Science. The SAT has no science section, so questions testing some of the same skills ACT Science tests are spread throughout other sections. Therefore, if you're studying the SAT Reading or Writing and Language sections and come across a problem with a graph or chart, know that you won't see questions like that on ACT Reading or ACT English, butit can help you prepare for ACT Science. Topics Khan Academy Doesn't Cover for ACT Science As mentioned before, this is the section of the ACT you'll need to use the most outside resources to prepare for. You can get some practice by answering SAT questions that include charts, graphs, and data analysis, but to be fully prepared for ACT Science, you'll want to spend time studying resources specifically focused on the topics thissection tests. We'll go over some of these resources at the bottom of this guide. ACT Writing ACT Writing is an optional section where you'll be given 40 minutes to write a persuasive essay. Khan Academy does not have any resources on essay writing, even for the SAT essay (which is different than the ACT essay so it wouldn't help you much anyway). If you choose to take the ACT Writing section, you'll need to use outside resources to prepare for it. Other Resources to Use for Your ACT Prep Khan Academy can be a helpful resource, but it definitely shouldn't be the only one you use to prepare for the ACT. Make sure to attack the ACT specifically withACT prep books and practice tests. Official ACT practice tests will be particularly helpful because they’ll help you become familiar with how the ACT words questions and how those questions differ from the SAT’s. Khan Academy ACT prep will give you the best preparation for the ACT English, Math and Reading sections. You will definitely need supplementary prep materials for ACT Science and, if you choose to take it, ACT Writing.Check out our ultimate guide for ACT Science, as well as these guides on the best way to prepare for ACT Science and the only science you need to know for ACT Science.We also have acomplete guide to ACT Writing and tips for how to get a perfect score on your essay. Another major skill you can't get from Khan Academy is strategies to help you answer ACT questions. The ACT asks similar types of questions on each of its exams, and by knowing different strategies, you can tackle specific problems faster and more easily. To learn these strategies, you'll need to use prep materials specifically designed for the ACT. The ACT prep books mentioned above often include strategies for different ACT problems, and you can also check out all our guides to the best ACT strategies you should know. Khan Academy ACT Prep: Final Notes Even though Khan Academy does not have resources designed specifically for the ACT, you can still use them to prepare for the exam. Because there is quite a bit of overlap on what the ACT and SAT test, much of Khan Academy’s SAT prep materials are relevant for the ACT, particularly because the SAT has recently undergone significant changes that make it closer in content and style to the ACT.Khan Academy also has general resources that can help you study for the ACT. You’ll definitely need additional review materials, particularly for the Science section, but Khan Academy can still be a useful resource and get you more prepared for how official test questions are worded and what they test. What's Next? Looking for a top ACT score?Learn how to get a perfect 36 on the ACTby reading our guide, written by an ACT full scorer. Wondering if you should take the ACT Writing section?Check out our guide to learn how to decide what to do. Want more information on ACT Science?Our guide goes over everything you need to know to ace the ACT Science section. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes your prep program to your strengths and weaknesses. We also have expert instructors who can grade every one of your practice ACT essays, giving feedback on how to improve your score. Check out our 5-day free trial:

What is an Islamic City and Where has the Idea Come From Essay

What is an Islamic City and Where has the Idea Come From - Essay Example As the report stresses that the idea of Islamic City simply originates from the works of the Western Orientalists, who purported to describe the essence of the Islamic cities that emerged on the eve of westernization to try and make sense of the ancient Arabic cities . It is the work of these Western Orientalists that spread the idea of Islamic City as it is known today. The city has been associated with the convergence of people with different ideas, life perspectives and philosophies of life that results in the generation of different fundamental ideologies that shapes the world. Religion is one of the fundamental principles that shapes different world cultures, and for that reason, it is also associated with urbanization and the city. This paper declares that Islam has been characterized as an urban religion since the days of Prophet Muhammad. This argument has been advanced by the western orientalists, who mainly for lack of full knowledge and understanding of the Islam and then whole Muslim culture made assertions that may not hold true in the true context of understanding the Muslim religion and culture. The western orientalists argued that Islam is an urban religion, due to the fact that the requirement that the solemnization of the Friday Islamic prayers be done at a congressional mosque made urbanization for the advent Muslim faithful a necessity. The early mosques, just like the early churches and synagogues, were mainly built in the urban areas, effectively making Islam an urban religion.

Environmental Policies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Environmental Policies - Essay Example The degree to which each or any of these policies will shape the law will depend on the extent of environmental damages in a particular area. Even so, sustainable development appears to be the most common policy driver among nation states with respect to environmental laws. Sustainable development not only responds to current needs, but also seeks to ensure that the needs of subsequent generations are not compromised in the process (UK Government 2010). There are a number of policies within the main sustainable development policy for protecting the environment against the incidents of air and water pollution. With respect to air pollution, sustainable development begins with national regulation of industrial conduct, this is tempered by reference to local controls of smoke, smog and nuisance as well as international controls that seek to safeguard against damages to the global climate. Cumulatively, these policies take into account the competing interests of the right to enjoyment of one’s property and the welfare and interests of society as a whole. In other words protection of the environment against air pollution must take into account that the owner of land has the right to enjoy the use of it. As Sir John Byles stated in Hole v Barlow [1858], the law permits the â€Å"reasonable use of a lawful trade in a convenient and proper place† (Hole v Barlow 1858). This right does not end simply because an individual might â€Å"suffer annoyance from its being carried on† (Hole v Barlow 1858). Sir John Byles’ observation of the law relative to air pollution therefore reflects a policy grounded in sustainable development. If the land is used reasonably, simply annoyance from others as a result of the use of the land does not substantiate environmental concerns with respect to air pollution. The case of St. Helen’s Smelting Co. v Tipping [1865] offers more insight into how sustainable development policies drive environmental protecti on laws. In this case the House of Lords distinguished between interfering with enjoyment of the property in question and physical damages. In order to permit interference in the use of land, that use of the land must be shown to be unreasonable. However, if there is actual physical damages, there can be sanction irrespective of how the land is used (St. Helen’s Smelting Co. v Tipping 1865). The right to make a claim for redress can only rest with an actual victim (Lopez Ostra v Spain 1995). Therefore air pollution resulting from the work carried out by a factory will only be actionable by a victim who suffers harm as a result of the manner in which the factory operates and releases pollutants in the air. The common air we breathe however, is regulated by policies seeking to prevent and control the threat of disease and the contamination of the air. The Clean Air Act 1956 not only demonstrates this degree of control and prevention, but also demonstrates the significance of su stainable development policies. In this regard, the Clean Air Act 1956 and now the Clean Air Act 1993 seeks to control toxic emissions in the air, provides for furnace designs, the height and design of chimneys and designates the smoke control zones (Clean Air Act 1993). It therefore follows that the Clean Air Act 1993, by statutorily controlling emissions, and smoke emissions via furnace and chimney designs and by designating smoke zones, attempts to ensure that the air is used reasonably. The idea is to ensure that the current needs are met without compromising the needs of future generations under the auspices of sustainable development policies. Other statutory provisions designed to meet current needs and

Financial Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Financial Analysis - Assignment Example Products that are used on a daily basis enhance the asset turnover. A supermarket has consumables products that are consumed on a daily basis that is why it will have the highest asset turnover followed by a steel company because of constructions. Pharmaceutical retailer will depend on health state of its client. The current lifestyle has impacted the health status of people, thus increase in pharmaceutical services is on the rise. However, asset turnover is concerned with the revenue, not profit. That being the case then musical instrument might have the highest profit than the others. Sales margin is also the gross margin. It is the revenue a firm earns after making sales. It should be known that sales margin is inclusive of the operating expenses thus it cannot be used to determine the profitability of a firm. A supermarket will have the lowest sales margin because a small mark-up is attached to the price it bought for the goods as a profit. The idea to add a small mark-up is the competitiveness of supermarkets and high sales rate. The prices of Tesco and Sainsbury’s supermarket are very competitive which attract consumers. A musical instrument retailer will have the highest sales margin this is because the sale of musical instruments is slow. To cover up the cost of operating expenses, the retailer will have to add markup that settle the income and operating expenses. Return on Equity (ROE) is a financial measure to determine how efficient a firm is in maximizing the return to the shareholders’ equity. A firm needs to have a high ROE to lure other investors. ROE has three components namely; return on sales, asset turnover, and financial leverage. In 1995, Chrysler had ROE of 20% while Ford had 8%. The difference can be explained by the three components. Firstly, it seems that Ford had low asset turnover meaning the sales in 1995 was low for its automobile. Secondly, it had a low return on sales. The profit generated

The Issues When Using Qualitative and Quantitative Methodologies in Essay

The Issues When Using Qualitative and Quantitative Methodologies in Research and Is A Comparison between These Two Methodologies - Essay Example Furthermore, it will compare and contrast the two key approaches and its significance to obtain an in-depth understanding to the ideologies. Discussion According to Creswell, a researcher, while developing a proposal, should focus on the three key elements, namely, the philosophical hypothesis about the factors behind the knowledge claims, the general procedures for performing the research with due consideration towards the strategies of inquiry, and the development of comprehensive processes for data collection and data analysis often categorised as research methodology (3-6). The three approaches, i.e. the quantitative approach, qualitative approach and mixed approach include each of these three elements differently for formulating the research methods (Creswell 3-6). Thus, it can be stated that the researcher should emphasise on the three main elements irrespective of whatever approach preferred. Furthermore, the philosophical and social factors should also be considered while dev eloping the processes of analysing the opinions of the respondents to evaluate both the quantitative and the qualitative values of the research. As observed by Shadish, Cook & Campbell, quantitative research were those that raised the perspectives of the positivist (13-19). The research includes real and less accurate experiments which are known as quasi-experiments along with the philosophies of parallel studies which are related to specific single-subject experiments. However, the authors further stated that recently, the strategies of quantitative approach involved various complex experiments with numerous variable factors and conducts such as factorial designs and continuous measure developments. In other words, it can be concluded that researchers have been implementing various methods to the quantitative approach which were further diversified from the traditional process. Moreover, modern researchers have instigated elaborate structural models that have contributed towards th e identification of the collective strengths of the numerous variable factors engaged in a research process (Shadish, Cook & Campbell 13-19). In this respect, Walcott identified 19 strategies that could be implemented for conducting qualitative research approach (4-13). Thereby, the author emphasised more on the ethnographic procedures in which the researcher studies an integral cultural group in a natural situation over a long-lasting period of time principally collecting observational data. Such kind of research processes, are often termed to be flexible and normally evolve around the contextual responses from the respondents encountered in the field of research (Walcott 4-13). Thus, it can be stated that modern day researchers have identified numerous ways for measuring the qualitative value of the research question which have evidently rewarded a wide scope of conducting researches. According to Creswell, a quantitative approach is considered to be a unique framework in which th e researcher attempts to study the positive responses from the respondents for analysing the information gathered (118-178). The author also states that the researcher employs various strategies for performing the enquiry sessions in order to collect adequate information on predetermined processes which are further quantified and thus result in statistical data (Creswell 118-178). Accordingly,

Structuralism in Marxist theories Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Structuralism in Marxist theories - Essay Example Marxism has left a legacy of social theory upon which to critics construct literary theories in order to gain deeper insight into the belief systems of authors and the societies they represent. This kind of criticism is materialist; that is, deeply rooted in the economic structure of societies. Such theorists as Louis Althusser and Terry Eagleton represented structuralist ideas that built upon or added to the Marxist theory, and contributed new ways of deconstructing literature. The Marxist concept of base and superstructure considers the economic structure of the society as the base upon which all other components of society rested. Out of this base grows the superstructure, which contains all the ideologies and systems that are extant in a given society. Marxist theory states that "ideological positions are a function of class positions, and the dominant ideology in society is the ideology of its dominant class" (Chandler). Therefore the general beliefs that can be detected in any of a society's subjects would have been inculcated from birth, and would reflect ideas necessary to keep the ruling class in power. According to the way Althusser fashioned this idea, beliefs arising from these can all be traced back to the economic base, and all ideological aspects of the superstructure reflect man's interpretation of his own relationship to his environment. This relationship, though complicated, can be applied to all the forms of culture or ideological state a pparatuses that derive from the base, and of these literature is one. Because literature is a part of a society's superstructure it must represent the ideology dominant in a given society. Literature may, therefore, represent or even appear to legitimise the economy upon which a society rests, but in its representation it also uncovers the beliefs of the writer and the framework of the society in which the writer lives. So it is that in this framework, characters in literature are considered in terms of their roles. Structuralism seeks to establish a connection between appearance and meaning. It is involved with the knowledge of and interactions between subject and object, and this with all the use of metaphorical and mimetic language, wherein one thing represents another ("Louis Althusser and the theory of ideology"). According to Althusser, ideology as a structure is rigid, but its contents are variable. In this way Marxist ideas lend their contents to ideological structure in the production of literature. Works of literature lend themselves to this kind of treatment as texts can be considered objects and the relationships contained in them can be fit into a structural or ideological framework. Althusser's view of history as a "process without a subject" reflects a certain level of belief in the unimportance of the individual. It views "historical materialism [as] a science whose methods should describe the patterns of multiple interactions and reciprocal causations among different levels in a social formation" ("Louis Althusser and the theory of ideology"). Therefore, works of art such as literature, produced as they are by artists locked into ideologies based on the economic and social milieu, illustrate in their structures the interactions and causations of the

The Issues When Using Qualitative and Quantitative Methodologies in Essay

The Issues When Using Qualitative and Quantitative Methodologies in Research and Is A Comparison between These Two Methodologies - Essay Example Furthermore, it will compare and contrast the two key approaches and its significance to obtain an in-depth understanding to the ideologies. Discussion According to Creswell, a researcher, while developing a proposal, should focus on the three key elements, namely, the philosophical hypothesis about the factors behind the knowledge claims, the general procedures for performing the research with due consideration towards the strategies of inquiry, and the development of comprehensive processes for data collection and data analysis often categorised as research methodology (3-6). The three approaches, i.e. the quantitative approach, qualitative approach and mixed approach include each of these three elements differently for formulating the research methods (Creswell 3-6). Thus, it can be stated that the researcher should emphasise on the three main elements irrespective of whatever approach preferred. Furthermore, the philosophical and social factors should also be considered while dev eloping the processes of analysing the opinions of the respondents to evaluate both the quantitative and the qualitative values of the research. As observed by Shadish, Cook & Campbell, quantitative research were those that raised the perspectives of the positivist (13-19). The research includes real and less accurate experiments which are known as quasi-experiments along with the philosophies of parallel studies which are related to specific single-subject experiments. However, the authors further stated that recently, the strategies of quantitative approach involved various complex experiments with numerous variable factors and conducts such as factorial designs and continuous measure developments. In other words, it can be concluded that researchers have been implementing various methods to the quantitative approach which were further diversified from the traditional process. Moreover, modern researchers have instigated elaborate structural models that have contributed towards th e identification of the collective strengths of the numerous variable factors engaged in a research process (Shadish, Cook & Campbell 13-19). In this respect, Walcott identified 19 strategies that could be implemented for conducting qualitative research approach (4-13). Thereby, the author emphasised more on the ethnographic procedures in which the researcher studies an integral cultural group in a natural situation over a long-lasting period of time principally collecting observational data. Such kind of research processes, are often termed to be flexible and normally evolve around the contextual responses from the respondents encountered in the field of research (Walcott 4-13). Thus, it can be stated that modern day researchers have identified numerous ways for measuring the qualitative value of the research question which have evidently rewarded a wide scope of conducting researches. According to Creswell, a quantitative approach is considered to be a unique framework in which th e researcher attempts to study the positive responses from the respondents for analysing the information gathered (118-178). The author also states that the researcher employs various strategies for performing the enquiry sessions in order to collect adequate information on predetermined processes which are further quantified and thus result in statistical data (Creswell 118-178). Accordingly,

Rational Database Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Rational Database - Assignment Example The journalists write the story of the news they collect and enter it into a form. After they write their stories, they submit it to the database by pressing the â€Å"submit† on their screens. Immediately they press the "submit"; the data enters the database. The data is stored in the database in tables that are called store tables.   These tables are organized to have the headlines, the dates, the venues and cities, the content, the images and other attributes of the story. Then the query that will display which information is written down. Therefore whenever a visitor visits the website, the query runs and will show the news as HTML to him when he strikes on the query.   There are important things in choosing it as a good primary key for the database. First, it is unique; there is no other ‘formula 1’. Secondly, the key will be easy to see and easy to access the information from it. It will also be used as a link to the story in the table that cannot be written directly.

Discrimination in Healthcare Essay Example for Free

Discrimination in Healthcare Essay The new test is whether or not certain treatment was unfavourable to the person claiming discrimination, focusing on the consequences of the treatment on the person claiming direct discrimination because of a protected attribute. Examples of direct discrimination An employer advises an employee that they will not be trained to work on new machinery because they are too old to learn new skills. The employer has discriminated against the employee by denying them training in their employment on the basis of their age. A real estate agent refuses an African man’s application for a lease. The real estate agent tells the man that the landlord would prefer an Australian tenant. The real estate agent has discriminated against the man by denying him accommodation on the basis of his race. Indirect The definition of indirect discrimination has been simplified by removing existing technicalities and providing further clarity around the factors to consider in determining whether a requirement, condition or practice is reasonable in the circumstances. Indirect discrimination will occur where a person imposes, or proposes to impose, a requirement, condition or practice that has, or is likely to have, the effect of disadvantaging people with a protected attribute, and that is not reasonable. The new test for indirect discrimination: needs a person to show that the requirement, condition or practice causes, or is likely to cause disadvantage, rather than demonstrating that they cannot comply with a requirement, condition or practice removes the requirement that the person claiming indirect discrimination must establish that a substantially higher proportion of people without the attribute that they have can comply with the requirement, condition or practice places the onus of proof regarding the easonableness of the requirement, condition or practice on the person who imposed or proposes to impose it extends the factors to be considered in determining whether a requirement, condition or practice is reasonable.

Best Buy Managing For Competitive Advantage Commerce Essay

Best Buy Managing For Competitive Advantage Commerce Essay The paper is a critical examination of Best Buy managing for competitive advantage. The essay brings forth strategies Best Buy uses as well as how these strategies are put into action in order for it to gain competitive advantage over its competitors. Competitive advantage refers to set of strategic advantages a business have adopted that make it be in a better position to compete or even out shine its rivals. Thus attaining Competitive Advantage fortifies and places an organization in a better position within the competitive business world. According to Pfeffer 21, this theory of competitive advantage was brought forth by Porter Michael back in 1990. He suggested that business entities as well as other non-profit institutions need to adopt some policies, procedures and plans that will help it to develop very high quality goods and services that can be sold at higher prices to consumers. With the fact that almost all kind of business entities do meet very stiff competitions there is thus need for each and every organization to adopt the best strategies that will help them cut themselves an edge in this competitive world of business, Best Buy not being an exception. However various business and management scholars have come to a conclusion that having these strategies is not important unless they are adequately managed; hence competitive advantage management (Pfeffer 142). This refers to set of mechanisms and plans that not only places and organization at an upper hand as compared to its competitors but making it stand out in the business environment. The paper recognizes Best Buy competitive advantage as being it customer-centricity this implies delivering modified and extremely personalized service to clients. All this has been attained by automating the services it provides to customers by using online services. Best Buy customer centered strategy It has been argued out that once an organization clearly understands the need, wants and aspiration of its customers, there is nothing that will block it from excelling provided it takes corrective actions towards attaining the same. Additionally, research as shown that business entities that focus or are customer oriented do have higher chances of securing a competitive advantage which in most cases translates to higher revenue generation, price earnings ratio, highly satisfied customers thus creating customer loyalty. This concept seems to have been well mastered by Best Buy. For instance, since the plan was rolled out, the profit margin for the organization rose by almost 3% (Jaynie Flanagan 122). It is worth mentioning that the strategy has been successful thanks to technological innovation that has allowed customers to even buy good 24/7 even during the holidays. It is important to note although this strategy was recently launched, the organization adequately trained and educated its store-level workforce so that they could be in a position to have in mind the varied needs of the customers on the basis of how they were segmented. One strategy that was a milestone in taking the business where it is to day is customers segmentation. Best Buy segmented its customers into five different levels which include; small-business customers that utilize the business services and products to foster increased profits in their business, busy mothers leaving in suburban that aim at enriching their kids way of life with technological innovation especially in entertainment,, men having families that are in quest of bettering their general way of living through entertainment and other ways, young men who are is thirst of technological innovation and finally very rich professionals that seek the best in terms of entertainment as well as other life experiences. It is worth noting heretthat this I in line with the notion brought forth by Mentzer in his article titles Achieving Competitive Advantage through Supply Chain Management he suggested that not all customers are created equally because there are those that are very crucial to success of any organization while some are not as crucial as other and thus need to be treated by using a different approach. This has been adequately addressed by Best Buy by segmenting its customers (Mentzer 3). According to Mentzer 1 after successfully carrying out a survey, which included slightly over thirty of its stores, Best Buy started rolling the strategy of computerizing the quote-to-order process aimed at making it possible for customers to buy in a 24/7 hour basis even if it is on holidays. In total over hundred of the companys store adopted this strategy. Reports suggested that the company financial result could be boosted and indeed it was and that less cynical outcomes are expected as well as development of a stable link between the company and its customers. Additionally, it is important to remember that for any organization to be prosperous even in its best strategies, the part played by its workforce is of paramount, it is evident that the company did provide education and training to its employees so that they could be well equipped with knowledge to help customers. An example where customer centricity was attained through the efforts of store employees is in Pasadena store in which there was a reconfiguration of the place to appeal to suburban mothers (Peppers Rogers 4) It entailed transferring small electrical appliances to a low rack situated on the walk way of the store from high shelves, this boosted sales of the same to almost two folds. Generally speaking, the company strategy fundamentally rests on viewing its initiatives from the customers point of view, clearly understanding what they need as well as trying its best in meeting these needs (Jaynie Flanagan 211). According to the vice chairman and CEO of the company, this is what gives them a cutting edge in the business environment. On the same note, the company has adopted a way of distributing its goods that is inline with customers demand and aspirations. This has time and a gained been managed by using enterprise resource planning system that seem to have successfully synchronized the need of clients. Additionally, the company best strategy is also its ability to harmonize it various chains of supply together with what its stores need; (Peppers Rogers 2) this has resulted to those employees who work as sales representative having at their disposal a variety of products that meet the needs of those customers that are dear to the company. Similarly, it is worth mentioning that Best Buy has successfully adopted technological innovation whereby customers need not to come to their stores to select or see those appliances they plan to buy. This carries with it a number of advantages for instance convenience and lack of being pressurized by sales persons to buy (Pfeffer 164). Additionally, it give one enough time to scrutinize the features one desire to have in a given appliance. Conclusion From the review of competitive advantage management of Best Buy Company, it is evident that technological innovation adoption and focusing in customer and empowering its employees are among the strategies that have played a better part in shaping the company. What make the company different is that it has clearly understood what its customers need and have taken serious steps towards attaining those things desired by the customers. It is thus no doubt that the company has thrived despite stiff competition from other well known business organizations such as Wal Mart, Dell among other. In my view, every organization must adopt a set of strategies to help it thrive now and in future.

The Future of South Africa Essays -- African History

The Future of South Africa Some things in South Africa are becoming better as we move into the future, while others are becoming worse. The government in South Africa is better. All the provisions of the new constitution were in place as of the year 1999. In June of 1999, President Nelson Mandela’s term ended, and Thabo Mbeki was elected as president. There was a peaceful change in government, and Mbeki is doing many things to help the country. Some of these include eliminating hatred between races, ending poverty, and reducing violent crime. The government is also electing more people of different races and genders to the National Assembly and the Cabinet. The economy in South Africa is the best of all the countries in Africa, and should continue to improve. South African’s economy depends mainly on its mineral recourses which it exports to many other countries. South Africa’s government has invested in many other industries such as tourism and wine, which are fast-growing and important parts of the economy. The government is also encouraging businesses to hire more blacks and coloureds ( a term in South Africa used to identify people of racially mixed heritage) as they have the highest unemployment rate of any ethnic group in the country. South Africa has many plans for an â€Å"industrial renaissance,† and is using many more of the country’s natural recourses and is trying to strengthen its ties with the rest of the world. Education in South Africa is...

Ilu, the Talking Drum Essay

For too long, people have neglected to remember where their culture stems from. The culture that lies in our past is connected to our present and ultimately, our future. Despite the possibilities that learning about our past can offer, there is no limit to how much despair can be found during the search. However, it is because of those faults that allow us to move forward in life. This point of view is the main focus in the poem â€Å"Ilu, the Talking Drum,† a tale revolving around the remembrance of the author’s culture. In any case, we may not be able to look back, but we can certainly move forward. The main premise of â€Å"Ilu† is a tale of simplicity for the most part. It speaks about the simple pleasures of a nice day, beautiful areas, a serene silence, and the beauty of love making. However, with every bright side to a story, there is a darkness that accompanies it. Simply put, life is easily interrupted by the sight of chaos and the surrounding environments. Tunji, the designated main character of the poem, straps on his ilu, the eponymous instrument of the story, and begins to play a repetitive beat, â€Å"kah doom/kah doom-doom/kah doom/kah doom-doom-doom,† as a way to ward off whatever seems to be attacking the characters. At the end, the playing of the drum ends the poem, settling the story on a peaceful note. The poem, penned by Etheridge Knight, speaks about how something so simple, such as the beat of a drum, can soothe even the most threatening of situations. It also reveals a few examples of wisdom, such as saying that the simple things in life are often the best. It also plays the reader’s sense of having security and peace, as if they want to be comforted by the thoughts of the poem. It also makes use of racial epithets, but used in a way to convey it as an informal term for an African-American. The story relies on the use of intense imagery, as the poem utilizes a creeping darkness as the principal scene for the story and in a way, the main antagonist. It seems that the overall peaceful tone of the poem is perhaps its greatest strength, as well as its greatest weakness. One of the poem’s lesser faults is that it is short in comparison to other stories of similar content, but it is most ignored by the reader. Another fault of the story is it is unclear of what the story’s meaning is, even if one were to read it. As a result, it requires much consideration and thought in order to find the basis of the author’s reasoning for writing such a poem. As mentioned earlier, the poem’s inherent weakness makes it target for readers who do not have a taste for such poems, which can potentially turn away much of the reading population. As a result, the story may not see much use in the foreseeable future. In closing, the poem helps those interested in it to remember the easier times and can help to embrace a more peaceful existence. The story provides guidance and knowledge, which in turn imparts the necessities to lead this lifestyle. A culture cannot survive if all is forgotten, but by reviving its traditions and practices, it will live for all time.

Harmonium: Acidic Soil Essay

The poem harmonium examines the relationship of a father and son. I think Armitage has written this poem for parents and children as they would be able to relate to the emotions in the poem. The Author uses the Farrand Chappelette which is a type of Harmonium or small organ to help him reflect the love that he has for his father. In the first stanza the poet talks about the Farrand Chappelette which was â€Å"gathering dust† telling us that it is getting old and it was due to be taken to the skip if Armitage had not wanted it. In the final line of the first stanza Armitage declare that he could have it for a â€Å"song â€Å" an idiom which means that he could have had it very cheap. In the second stanza the poet talks about the sunlight through the glass which could â€Å"beatify saints† in other words bless them and make them more god like and above normal people. Armitage the contrasts this positive statement by saying it had â€Å"aged† the harmoniums case and â€Å"yellowed the fingernails of its keys†. I the last few lines Armitage tells us how the harmonium is played by telling us the organist plays it by continuously pedalling the pedals. In the 3rd stanza the poet talks about the age of the organ and how he and his father had sung there and were good singers. The 4th stanza is the most powerful one as he talks about his father coming to help pick up the harmonium and his father jokes saying that one day he will â€Å"shoulder† his father’s â€Å"dead weight meaning his coffin when he dies. Armitage finds it hard to reply to such a poignant remark because of the emotion of he feels at the thought of his father’s death. I think the poem has a mixture of moods from the first verse to the last and moods that are very contrasting such as the first 2 stanzas are quite happy emotions about how the sun gleams through the glass and the last verse is about the emotions of his father dying. The poet uses many techniques in the poem such as metaphors for example â€Å"fingernails† describing how the sun has ruined the keys of the organ. Also the poet uses personification saying that one of the notes has â€Å"lost its tongue. In the 3rd stanza Armitage uses alliteration twice in the same line, the â€Å"hummed harmonics still struck a chord†. I think this the poet is trying to tell us that the harmonium is close to his heart even though it is old and aged and i think that â€Å"struck a chord† has a double meaning that it also triggered a memory of him singing in church which the verse then goes onto say. I think the message of the poem is that one day your parents will die and the thought of that is not very comforting but remembering the good and bad times can help you get through this. The poem for me is written from the heart and is emotionally very overpowering and the last verse is so powerful that it makes me understand that someone close to me will die one day and I will be too shocked and late to prevent it. When the unfortnate event of acidic soil strike some farms, plants are unable to grow. Using slakes of lime which is a base cancels out the acid in the soil. You need to check the righ amount of acidity in the soil in order to put the same amount of base so that you do not over do it and keep it neutral. This process is called NEUTRALISATION. After the lime is inserted the acidity will fade away and the plants will grow. Farmers add lime, calcium oxide, to soil to help neutralise the soil as most plants grow best in neutral or slightly alkali soil. The lime can cancel out the acidity caused by acid rain. In agriculture, calcium carbonate may be added to acidic soil. The calcium carbonate enters into a neutralization reaction with some of the acid in the soil water, and the soil pH becomes more basic. In farming nitrogen oxide reacts with OH from the rain to form nitric acid which then acidifies the soil making it hard for the plants to grow. The acid stops the growth of the roots therefore the plant cannot absorb enough nutrients which makes the plant grow very slowly and sometimes turn a yellow colour due to the large amounts of acid. N02 + OH = HNO3 This is a huge problem for farmers so they spray calcium carbonate onto the acidic soil to neutralize the soil so that the pants can grow better and faster which is needed for farmers to make a better profit it and the reaction produces produces the calcium nitrate. CaCO3 + HNO3 = Ca(NO3)2 + H2O + CO2 The plants can then use these nitrate ions in the soil and combine them with glucose to make amino acids which the plant the uses for proteins which help it grow and turns the acidic soil into more nutrients for the plant which it needs to grow.

Great Education Leaders

From Corporate America to the Classroom Jon Williams University of Phoenix From Corporate America to the Classroom Leadership by definition is a person who guides or inspires others. In corporate America, we can consider Jack Welch a true pioneer in defining leadership. Jack Welch was able to lead and make General Electric a very competitive enterprise in the world (100 Ventures) during the 1980s. Jack Welch is bringing his lifelong management skills to a new online university program (Glader, 2009). Biography Jack Welch was born in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1935. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering.In 1960, Jack Welch joined General Electric and worked his way through the ranks to become the Chairman and CEO of GE, making him the eighth and youngest leader (Woopidoo- Biographies- Business Leaders). During his 20 year reign of General Electric, one of Americas largest and most well known companies Jack Welch's management skills became almost legendar y (Woopidoo- Biographies- Business Leaders). His no nonsense leadership style gave him a reputation of being hard, but fair when making business decisions and his style of leadership has been used a model in corporate America. His techniques have been studied and implemented in the U.S. Army (Day, 2001). Jack Welch’s success was the ability to effectively communicating keys ideas, and constantly repeating them to ensure all employees shared the organization’s goals. Goals In order to become a leader, people should lead more and manage less. As a leader, goals or vision must be created to ignite an organization and make those goals into reality (100 Ventures). Do not micro manage instead inspire others to execute the goals of the organization. Jack believed in seeing change as an opportunity. Change is going to happen and the willingness to change is actually strength.Much has been said and written about Jack Welch and his success. Many managers struggle daily to lead a nd inspire their subordinates to perform. In order to close the gap in a lack of leadership in the business world, Jack believes in educating then next generation of leaders (Glader, 2009). Education Jack has partnered with Chancellor University and plans to use his methods of teaching leadership. Chancellor University will name its Master of Business Administration program â€Å"The Jack Welch Institute. † Jack says the MBA program will integrate his philosophy and human resources into a 12-course curriculum designed for managers (Glader, 2009).Conclusion Since retiring in 2001, Jack, 73, has taught management classes at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Glader, 2009). He has written many books about leadership and has shared his success throughout his life. The one key lesson from Jack every manager should practice is, â€Å"Genuine leadership comes from the quality of your vision and your ability to spark others to extraordinary performance,† (100 Ventures) . References 100 Ventures. (n. d. ). 25 Lessons from Jack Welch- Business Leadership and New Management Secrets. Retrieved December 26, 2009, from eCoach: http://www. 1000ventures. om/business_guide/mgmt_new-model_25lessons-welch. html Day, D. H. (2001, April). Leadership Development: A review of Best Practices. Retrieved December 26, 2009, from U. S. Army Research Institute for the Behavior and Social Sciences: http://www. dtic. mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc? AD=ADA391440;Location=U2;doc=GetTRDoc. pdf Glader, P. (2009, June 22). The Jack Welch MBA Coming to Web. Retrieved December 26, 2009, from The Wall Street Journal: http://online. wsj. com/articles Woopidoo- Biographies- Business Leaders. (n. d. ). Jack Welch Biography. Retrieved December 26, 2009, from Woopidoo Web Site: http://www. woopidoo. com/biography/jack-welch. htm

Researching Educational Leadership Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Researching Educational Leadership - Assignment Example The Falk article draws data from a dozen vocational education programs and training sites throughout Australia. The facilities are known as vocational education and training sites. (VET) the accumulated data is derived from a series of 44 written surveys including interview responses. Five focus groups were also included from the various facilities around Australia, resulting in a total of 64 respondents to the questionnaires. In essence the data paints a picture of a four stage cyclical process, a process of leadership interventions which is characteristic of greater effectiveness. The cyclical process culminates with a leadership style that is enabling for the teacher leader and of the achievements of professional associates. Every individual, including teaching professionals possess their own unique traits, strengths, and personal aptitudes. Among these personal abilities natural leadership qualities can and will emerge in virtually any professional setting. The Falk study identif ies the necessary role of these individual capabilities, and their contribution to the classroom setting. But it also illustrates a higher-level process of leadership that exists within the organization and which is defined by the cyclical process of the leadership intervention cycle. The key issues involved in this particular study hinge upon a question of whether or not the organization will have better overall direction with many individuals that display leadership qualities, or whether a single over all leader/administrator has more of an influence upon the success of the organization. The collective skills of individual teachers according to the study, are not sufficient to explain the overall culture of enabling leadership. A healthy organization, in which leadership principles are nurtured and developed will accrue a form of social capital, this can be instrumental in easing management burdens as well as facilitating diplomacy within the organization. Within a school district , as with other hierarchies often there can be tensions between the demands for efficient leadership as it pertains to risk management, as well as the necessary drive towards innovation, as it pertains to superior efficiency, and the vigorous fulfillment of the organization's mission statement. Thus, an over arching mediator becomes the crucial link in the chain that connects the resources of leadership as they exist on the individual level, amongst teachers themselves. Within the healthy organization this is required to achieve a synergistic effect that provides leadership, and improves the quality of lower – tiered leadership for the institution. This of course, raises questions about the potential of leadership training. Additional professional development to facilitate training of the institution as a whole in some cases can provide more effective leadership for the organization from a top-down perspective, as well as strengthening leadership potential amongst individuals within the organization. The benchmark establishment of professional goals for the school or institution can assist in this process. Q2 Many researchers in this field will cite a community of inquiry model, as core to their theoretical framework (COI). This model comes in many shapes and sizes, with a considerable breadth of information therein.

The Unity of the Old and New Testament Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The Unity of the Old and New Testament - Essay Example Matthew and the Revelation of St. John the Divine, so as to see how they relate with the Old Testament. First, it is important to acknowledge that the New Testament is premised upon, and works on, and from the substance and the religious and cultural heritage in the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, there is the reality of the beginning: the beginning of God’s creation and all life forms, the beginning of sin, suffering, sickness, senescence and death, the first declaration of the plan of redemption and the coming Messiah, and the establishment of covenants. As God establishes His covenants with man, He interacts with man and this forms the bulk of religious and cultural heritage for the Jew. The New Testament then comes up and interprets, re-interprets and gives the encounters, realities and institutions newer meaning. In respect to the above, about 1,800 BC, Abraham is called and made the father of the Jews (Genesis 12:2 and 17:4-7). A covenant is made and circumcision is instituted as the seal of the covenant. Later on, Abraham’s descendants are taken into bondage for 430 years in Egypt, and after that, a 40-year wilderness experience. These experiences forge Israel into a common nation, having a common religious, socio-cultural and linguistic heritage. The tabernacle, the temple, the 490 years stay in Canaan, the Babylonian Exile and the post-exilic experiences are all Old Testament realities and substance that later add to the Jews’ cultural and religious heritage. Thus, when Jesus Christ comes into the scene, He comes against the backdrop of the development above. The messages He preaches are understood by the Jews in light of the Old Testament. For instance, Matthew 21:33-46 presents the Jewish audience (as the immediate audience) with the parable of the wicked tenants and since this audience is well acquainted with the Jewish tradition. The Jewish religious history in this case is replete with the killing of God’s prophets and servants, as can be seen in Matthew 23:31. As Jews, even the Pharisees understood the meaning of the parable, and this is why they sought to kill Jesus. In a closely related wavelength, during Jesus’ forty-day fast and subsequent temptation by Satan, the Old Testament Scripture is revisited heavily. Satan quotes from Psalm 91:11-12, while Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy 8:3, Deuteronomy 6:16 and Deuteronomy 6:13 or 10:20. Because of the foregoing, one can rightly surmise and posit that between the Old and New Testament, there is a strong element of continuity. The aspect of continuity is underscored by the fact that: the New Testament message addresses the same nation which was formed from Abraham; the same religious and socio-cultural traditions and heritage are used to enhance the New Testament message and give it new meaning. It is this aspect of continuity which allowed the Jews to understand the teachings of Jesus and later, the apostles. According to Stark, the aspec t of continuity is carried over to St. John’s Revelation which is heavily littered with Old Testament themes, particularly, Exodus. Exodus 15 presents the Jewish nation and Christians with the first song in the Bible, the Song of Moses. It is interesting that the last book of the Bible and New Testament is also graced with the Song of Moses (Revelation 15:3). That the object of God’s attention is His people, the nation of Israel is a matter

Competencies for International HR Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Competencies for International HR - Essay Example Referring to Stroh and Caligiuri (1998), one of the most critical factors for the success of a company is its management of the human assets. The most important issue for HR in global organisations to decide at present is to decide whether they should depend on convergence or divergence. Convergence refers to developing the same basic rules and regulations for all locations, and divergence refers to allowing diversity according to local requirements. As Amstrong (2006) points out, the decision to make a company centralised or decentralised is dependent on a number of factors. These factors are: the extent to which there are well-defined local norms, the degree to which a unit is embedded in the local environment, the flow of resources from parent company to the subsidiary, and the nature of the industry (ibid). Admittedly, one thing becomes evident from this description: HR has an important role to play in this situation. A study in Malcrum(Alexander et al , 2009) with the support of HSBC looked into the role of internal and external communication in the present day international HR. It is found that the purposes in enhancing internal communication for businesses are creating understanding of the company strategy and direction, supporting organisational change, keeping people informed of company news, building company pride, and helping people to live values (ibid). Thus, it becomes evident that the purposes all are linked to HR. The main purpose of internal communication is employee engagement. Then, the study looked into how this internal communication is linked to external communication. In the present day business world, companies undergo rigorous scrutiny from the part of media and governments. That means companies will have to ensure that they practice what they preach. As Alexander et al (2009) states, if a company makes a public statement, it should make sure that the employees are aware of the same, and vice versa. When this point is discussed, it beco mes necessary to point out how a lack of relationships with external media, governments and local communities can be destructive at times. An example is the crisis faced by Shell Oil in Nigeria. To illustrate, it was during 1990s that Shell Petroleum came under heavy fire from the part of international press and local media for alleged environmental pollution of the delta. Noted public figures like Saro-Wiwa raised their concern against the company, and mass agitation began in no time. The company realised that it had little chance for improving its image or to bounce back to its previous glory as it had not cared to keep relationships with international media or the local community. In order to improve its image, the company took the following public relation initiatives. Firstly, it started balancing its business with active citizenship/working in partnership with communities. Secondly, the company decided to position itself as a company that respects human rights and environment. Thirdly, the company started publicising itself as a law-abiding, non-sectarian company. As Turk and Scanlan (1999) reflect, the company decided to propagate what it did for community and environment. Thus, one thing becomes very evident. International HR needs to be able to keep both internal and external

Manifest Destiny Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Manifest Destiny - Essay Example happy millions.†1 In 1845, O’Sullivan wrote yet another article entitled â€Å"Annexation† where he expounded the doctrine and used it to justify the annexation of Texas to the union and called it â€Å"the fulfillment of our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence.†2 Since then the ‘imagined’ divine right has been used to justify American expansionism to the west by American politicians. Despite the fact that O’Sullivan first coined the term Manifest Destiny, expansionism however was not his original idea but has already been in practice since the dawn of the country’s history. English settlers first came to the New World, specifically along the eastern seaboard of the North American continent not as a divine right as O’Sullivan would have it but for more practical reasons. England was then at that time experiencing economic difficulties and settlers came to the New World for better opportunities, while others to evade political and religious persecution. The New World likewise became an imprisonment camp outside of England. 3 The first attempt of the English to establish a colony in the New World turned out to be a disaster. In 1585, Sir Walter Raleigh brought a company of soldiers and mercenaries to the outer banks of North Carolina to establish the first English colony in the New World. 4 In 1607, one hundred colonists established the first permanent settlement in the Chesapeake Bay and survived with the help of the Algonquians under the leadership of Powhatan, the father of Pocahontas. John Rolfe, an English settler who married Pocahontas, developed the tobacco Virginia became famous of – a hybrid of North American and Indian tobacco – and made the colony a success. However, the English colonists wanted more land from the natives, pushing the latter farther until the Algonquians revolted and launched an attack against the surprised colonists. The war dragged on for ten years but because of the success

Independent Commission on Banking reforms and Basel III Essay

Independent Commission on Banking reforms and Basel III - Essay Example Basel III contain set of reforms that were developed by the Basel Committee created for banking supervision so as to strengthen supervision, regulation, and management of risk in the banking sector (Angelini, 2011). Basel 3 aims to discover the ability of the banking sector to absorb shock that is experienced from economic and financial stress and improve governance and risk management. In addition, the reform measures aim to strengthen the bank's disclosures and transparency. These reforms targeted the micro-prudential or rather bank level regulation that is entrusted with raising the resilience of personal banking institutions to stress periods. In addition, Basel 3 targets the micro-prudential institution risk that can be experienced across the banking sector and amplification of those risks over time. Basel 3 analyzes it objectives into three essential parts that include capital reform, liquidity reform and other elements that are related to the financial system. The capital refo rms include quantity and quality of capital, leverage ratio, the introduction of buffers for a capital observation, complete risk coverage and a counter-cyclical capital buffer. The liquidity reforms include the long (Net Stable Funding ratio) and short-term (Liquidity Coverage ratio) ratios.   The independent Commission on Banking, on the other hand, came out with a final report that contained their recommendation on the reforms to promote competition and stability in the banking sector in the United Kingdom.

Social Networking on Relationships Essay Example for Free

Social Networking on Relationships Essay Social networking sites have a negative influence on children, teenagers and adults. â€Å"A social networking site can be defined as an online service that is based around the building and reflecting of social relations among individuals with common interests or social ties,† . Social networking sites such as Facebook, Skype, and Twitter all vary slightly. They can enable users to create a profile and them to interact through email, IM and other integrated communication channels within the site. The popularity and growth of social networking sites over the past five years has been enormous. Today, there are more than 1 billion active users on face book and users spend over 700 billion minutes per month on this social networking site. As the technology improves and advances, social networking sites have biggest impact on society and human relationships, both positive and negative. I’m going discuss the three main reasons why social networking sites bring many negative impacts pose on today’s media. One main reason social networking has an negative effect is because it ends relationships. One thing is for sure these sites are the breaking point of relationships in conversations amongst our friends and peers. Recent studies have shown that the use of social networks is a contributing factor to break ups of relationships and marriages. Studies show that the significant amount of time spent on these social networks engaged in contact with members of the opposite sex tends to create jealousy and a lack of trust which can lead to the relationship ending. â€Å"The internet makes it much easier to start a relationship, get caught and make a relationship come to an end. From what could be deemed inappropriate comments or postings, to friends of the opposite sex that stirs up feelings of jealousy and mistrust. Also, inboxes being â€Å"overly flirtatious†, lying and cheating. The second reason that social networking is bad for society is that it makes people lazy and overweight. About two decades ago, when people were bored, they would go outside and do something. Nowadays, many people just go on their phones and â€Å"tweet† about how bored they are or scroll through a friends new pictures and click the â€Å"like† button a few times. Sure, social networking might give you something â€Å"to do,† but really, you aren’t doing anything! People sit at computers and eat their self away. Children today don’t know how to communicate face to face with people. They would rather text or IM their friends than even think about having a verbal conversation with them. Children are going to school accessing the network over their phones instead of doing their work. For example, in my home town, a student saw that another student posted a status threatening to bomb the school. Everyone had to evacuate immediately. Another reason to be aware of is the illegal actions that can be performed, such as piracy, fraud, virtual shoplifting, cyber bullying, cyber stalking, sexual harassment, fake identities, or worse death. Can you imagine all of the kids approving a bunch of random people, they do not know being able to come in contact with them? Social Networks create an open access towards exposing individuals’ personal information. â€Å"This includes full name, date of birth, addresses, phone numbers, precise locations, emails, and more. † Exposed private information of adolescents causes them to be at risk with dangerous situations previous listed. Individuals attacked are highly exposed to having psychological problems, becoming afraid of outcomes, becoming depressed and using suicide as a method to stop attacks. Social networks have changed people by allowing them to befriend and contact more people more frequently and more efficiently. Unfortunately, they have also limited some face-to-face conversations with family and friends. Although social networking sites are efficient in providing ways to communicate, we need to limit our use of social networking sites in order to become stronger as individuals and to strengthen our relationships.

Market strategy of Nokia

Market strategy of Nokia This report concentrates on the performance of Nokia in the year 2009 and the strategies which led to the same. The report begins with a brief introduction of the company and follows with PEST-G and SWOT analysis for the same. In addition to this a competitor analysis has been done to compare Nokias performance to its competitors and thereby analyzing its market share. Nokia seems to outperform its competitors due to a larger market share it enjoys. As we go further, a more detailed discussion of its marketing strategies can be seen. Nokia faces more competition today than a few years ago. The invasion of Android operating systems are more preferred than Nokias Symbian operating system. Targeting, positioning and segmentation have been analysed on the basis of a few key models. The report finally concludes with the evaluation of these strategies adopted by Nokia and how effective they have been or will be in the future. INTRODUCTION Around 1.2 billion (17%) people in the world connect through Nokia every day thereby proving their claim of, Connecting People. Nokia is a public limited company that is listed on three stock exchanges: NYSE, FWB and OMX. Nokia was founded in 1865 on the banks of the Nokianvirta River in Finland to produce a product very different from what it is commonly known for. It evolved from manufacturing paper to rubber to cables to electronics and then finally the mobile phone. The company owes its diversification and entry into mobile communications to its former President and CEO, Jorma Ollila who decided in 1992 to capitalize on the potential of this upcoming and growing sector. He decided to move out of their other businesses to focus on the development of communication products which was more profitable than their other business ventures. (Nokia online) THE MARKET ENVIRONMENT Nokia is a multinational company headquartered in Finland. It employs a total of 123,553 people worldwide and sells its products in over 160 countries. Nokia has Research Development Departments in 16 countries with 17,196 employees. Its major markets are in China, India and UK. From 2008-09, Nokias market share increased in China but decreased in India and UK. The reason for its declining market shares is possibly due to increase in competitors in India and the markets already being saturated in UK. Nokia produces technological products like mobile phones and smart phones, mobile computers and networks. PEST-G Analysis Under this section, the environmental factors affecting Nokia will be highlighted. The Competition Nokias top competitors in mobile devices are Samsung, LG, RIM and Sony Ericsson but in its smart phones, they face competition from Apple and RIM. According to the 1Q reports in 2010 (table 1.1appendix), Nokia shows declining market share. Samsungs share increased in India, one of Nokias top markets. RIMs market share also went up while LG and Sony Ericssons market shares declined in value. (Gartner online) Nokia may enjoy the larger share of the market but being complacent may have its adverse effects on the firms profitability. The operating system Symbian used by Nokia is user-friendly but has very limited applications. Whereas, the operating system Android being adopted by most of its competitors is an open system that allows its users to have access to a large number of applications. Also, the operating systems of RIM and I-Phones are quickly eating up Nokias market share. The Company Increasing competition and saturation of markets is causing Nokias sales to decline causing a major decline in its profits. Source (Annual reports) Drawn on the basis of table 1.2 appendix In 2009, Nokia predicted slight improvement in their market share in 2010 but were faced with negative outcomes. According to the 3Q report of 2010, Nokias shares have fallen to about 30%.The downward trend of profits is of great concern to the company. (Total Tele online) Nokia is the manufacturer of mobile phones but it does not sell directly to its end users. It engages in transactions between businesses (B2B), for instance it sells its products to wholesalers and retailers locally and internationally. This allows Nokia to make higher volumes of transactions. This chain of distribution is explained in greater detail under the marketing mix. SWOT Analysis Nokias internal and external factors can be summarized as below Internal Strengths: Market Dominance: Its market share is more than its top 3 competitors combined Good brand name and brand loyalty Takes into account customer preferences Nokia ranks 41st in Fortunes Worlds Most Admired Companies (http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/mostadmired/2010/snapshots/6652.html) Reliable good quality products Value for money and has good resale value Weaknesses: Playing catch up with its competitors failing to bring differentiated products with a high level of competitive advantage to the market It has failed to make a brand of their models. For example, there is Samsung Galaxy S, LG Chocolate, Apple I-phone while Nokia is still using serial numbers to name its models. Their market share is declining constantly due to lack of innovative products and failure to capture the first mover advantage Insufficient marketing as opposed to its competitors Their software Symbian is under great criticism EXTERNAL Opportunities: Emerging markets like India and China hold great potential Middle East and Northern African nations are potential markets New innovative products with high competitive advantage Secure weakening position by entering into contracts with network operators to expand market share Acquire better software systems Threats: Direct competitors and threat from companies not considered as competition Their software system is no match to the Android and I-Phone software. Recession Smart phones are not competitive enough Brand image weakening/boring image Imitation (fake) and cheap products claiming to be Nokia can damage brand Nokias Marketing Strategy Based on several similar characteristics Nokia can segment their market: Demographic Features: Age and Gender: Nokia products appeal to most age groups and are more unisex. They are now introducing mobile phones with vibrant colors that would appeal to women and also the younger generations Income: Low Eg- C-series and dual sim phones Middle to High -Eg- N-series, E-series, Communicators Very High Eg- Vertu Phones Occupation: Businessmen they need phones that look professional and have multiple features: 3G technology, web access on-the-go, support organizing functions and connecting with clients. The Nokia E-series, N-series and Communicators are targeted at satisfying certain needs of businessmen. Students social networking, gaming features, and music options are the eye-catching characteristics sought by this demographic class. The N-series and Xpress Music models are quite popular in this segment. Level of Education: The user-friendly aspect of Nokia phones makes it easy for even illiterates to operate the phones. For those who like to read and use their phones aside from their communication functions, the latest Nokia phones like the N900 and other smart phones would be of great interest to them. Behavioural and Psychographic: Benefits Sought: Most Nokia products provide its users value for money as they satisfy multiple needs. For instance the Xpress Music models not only allow you to stay connected but also keep you entertained with its walkman features. Usage: Suitable for heavy or light usage. Perception and Personality: Customers perceive Nokia as a reliable and user friendly brand. Varying models for different personalities and tastes. Targeting And Positoning After Nokia has segmented its market, they develop a differentiated strategy for different segments. They aim to increase their market share by catering to all the segments. Even though their history of past products show their suitability for all age groups, recently launched products seem to be targeting the younger generation with a high level of involvement in this field. Nokia alongside its competitors Samsung, LG and Sony Ericsson offer its users a wide range of products at higher prices. They are able to charge such prices because of their brand image and benefits received by the customers in relation to the price they pay to obtain it. RIM and Apple also sell their products at high prices but they focus only on a narrow range of products. There strategy contradicts the former group as they focus on generating high revenues on the basis of the success of fewer product ranges. Nokia already enjoys a good position in relation to its competitors. Their brand is a self promoting tool. They like to market themselves as a brand that prioritizes its customers and adds value to their products. Nokia benefits by being an all-rounder in the manufacturing of mobile devices and the perception of being one of the best reliable brands in this industry. By supplying products of all ranges, low income to high income, professional to gaming, fancy to elegant, premium luxury to necessity the brand clearly displays its presence and dominance. MARKETING MIX The marketing mix consists of 4 elements (Product, Price, Place and Promotion), each of which will be discussed in detail below: Product No longer is the mobile phone a mere means to make phone calls but to perform more diverse functions like access the web, click photographs, share data, enjoy music, connect with friends through social networking sites, play games etc. Nokia manufactures a large number of differentiated handsets to cater to their wide and diverse target segments.Their products vary according to their features and serial numbers. They have successfully sold the Nokia C-series, N-series, E-series, Xpress Music models, Communicators and other mobiles with the power of their brand name. Recently they have launched the Ovi Stores which enable its users to download applications of their interest online. The most notable feature of the Ovi stores is their Ovi maps. In order to compete with their competitors, they are reducing their reliance on the Symbian operating system and developing models with the Maemo and Maego Operating Systems which are more open and allow users to develop their own games and share it with the rest of the world online. Product Life Cyle The N900 can be considered to be in its growth stage where the company has already reached its Break-Even-Point and is generating profits. Phones like the N97 and N91 have already matured and are generating constant returns and competing against its rivals. The Nokia Communicators are in the decline stages as the demand for older versions has fallen and competitors are offering better alternatives. In order to grow their market share, Nokia goes for product development i.e. launching new products in existing markets. Applying the BCG matrix (Boston Consulting Group), Nokia can be classified as the Cash Cows as they hold a greater share of the market but are not growing at the same pace as the growth of the market. As the market is growing, their share is reducing. This leads to implementing strategies to defend their position. Price Nokia adopts 2 pricing strategies. They price their products on the basis of: Market skimming technique i.e. setting high prices at the launch of the product and gradually reducing the prices when competitors enter the market. Competitors price they price their products more or less at the same price as their competitors. Place Nokia does not sell directly to its end users. It uses indirect channels through which it distributes its products to the mass population. They are engaged in Business-to-Business transactions. For example, Nokia sells their products to Sharaf DG, Axiom Mobiles, Jumbo, Jackys, etc in the UAE who then sell it to its end users. Promotion Nokia promotes itself mainly through advertising and sponsoring events. They use strong brand ambassadors like Priyanka Chopra and Shahrukh Khan in mass media advertising through Televisions. They develop effective and catchy advertisements where their brand name is the main selling point. Evaluation of Nokias Strategies Nokia has performed remarkably well in securing the position it enjoys today of being the market leader. But the real challenge they face is securing and maintaining this position. Being the dominant player, it should have been able to easily drive away the competition in the Smartphone market and grabbed the first mover advantage. Whereas it is playing catch up with RIMs BlackBerry and Apples I-Phone. Their efforts need to be more effective and their products more competitive as they have not been able to launch a product recently that can be classified as a paradigm shift. Conclusion: Nokia has performed well in the year 2009, however failure to overcome technologies of other smart phones can lead to a big damage to Nokia. Even though the brand name Nokia is sufficient to drive sales, the aggressive marketing and advertising strategies undertaken by its rivals can cause sufficient damage to their cash flows. Hence they need to focus more on not only advertising their brand but also their competitive advantages over its rivals. None the less, it is by far the most preferred brand of consumers according to a survey conducted in the UAE (Arabian business online) APPENDIX Table 1.1 Market Share of Top 5 Mobile Vendors from 2009-10 Table 1.2 Sales and Profit of Nokia for the past 5 years YEAR 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Sales 34191 41121 51058 50710 40984 Profit 3616 4306 7205 3988 891