Vodafone Marketing Strategy free essay sample

Vodafone UK gives NECTAR reward points for every ? 1 spent on calls, text messages, picture messages and ring tones. Promotion: Advertising on TV, on billboards, in magazines and in other media outlets reaches large audiences and spreads the brand image and the message very effectively. This is known as above the line promotion. Stores have special offers, promotions and point of sale posters to attract those inside the stores to buy. Vodafone’s stores, its products and its staff all project the brand image. Vodafone Products: Brand Image: David Beckham is more than a footballer. He is also regarded as a fashion icon, a caring family man and a nice guy: an overall image that attracted Vodafone to him. Beckham’s popularity with football fans comes largely from his England team captaincy. As a footballer, he is well regarded around the world. Other young men who might aspire to his success and style also tend to identify with him. We will write a custom essay sample on Vodafone Marketing Strategy or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He appeals to many females because of his reputation as a fashion and lifestyle icon. He is also married to a female icon in her own right. Vodafone’s sponsorship of the Manchester United team appeals to a broad section of the global football/sports audience, whereas aspects of Beckham’s broader image have grown to appeal to a much wider section of society. That suits Vodafone, who needs to appeal to different segments of the market. Beckham’s healthy lifestyle allied to his talent suggests an energy and a controlled passion for life; an image that Vodafone would also like to project for itself. On a football field, Beckham is innovative, creative, exciting; characteristics that Vodafone aspires to. Beckham the family man comes across as caring and empathetic; Vodafone wants people to appreciate that it too understands and cares about what people want and need. Beckham is generally seen as dependable; Vodafone wants to communicate a similar image. The synergy is clear. The campaign Beckham is supporting the campaign to promote Vodafone live! in the UK and in other markets. The UK campaign shows Beckham doing everyday things: a happy, relaxed, competent shopper sending pictures and accepting a message to remember to buy eggs. At the same time he is also clearly demonstrating what Vodafone live! can do. The TV campaign has been a huge success. Many people have seen it and can recall the adverts. The campaign captured the imagination of the press, and many newspapers covered stories about Beckham’s sponsorship deal. Slogans such as ‘Send it like Beckham’ help to further promote the Vodafone message. Beckham’s image is also used on a variety of other customer communications including in-store posters, billboards, in the company’s magazines and catalogues and in leaflets mailed to customers. Market Research High profile campaigns are a gamble. The campaign’s impact has to justify the time, money and effort spent on it. The marketing team must evaluate the campaign’s success. Vodafone UK has asked people across different sectors of society about the campaign, and has analysed their responses. Individuals were asked what they could remember about the campaigns. This is known in the marketing industry as recall. Recall % Another exercise assessed the effectiveness of the poster depicting Beckham being reminded to buy some eggs. People in the survey are shown different Vodafone posters and asked to say which of them they recall in relation to Vodafone live! Clearly, the Beckham poster is far and away the one that is best recalled. Other data has been used to assess the success of the Beckham promotion. Findings from UK Brand Tracking data reveal that the TV campaign has increased awareness of Vodafone with above average efficiency as measured by the Awareness Index, primarily because of the Beckham scenes. People are able to recall and describe the advertisements without prompting. The Beckham campaign has also helped to support Vodafone’s drive for brand migration. Vodafone can help to fulfil its aim to grow successfully by acquiring local companies in markets that Vodafone would like to enter. A good example of this is Vodafone’s purchase of J-Phone in Japan. The initial strategy was to use a dual J-Phone Vodafone logo alongside the powerful image of Beckham to emphasise the relationship between the two companies. The final transition removed the J-Phone logo altogether to a sole focus on Vodafone (Vodafone KK). This strategy warmed J-Phone’s customers to the idea of a global brand replacing a local brand. David Beckham is a popular figure in Japan and helped to smooth the way for the substitution of the global brand in place of the local one. Vodafone India: Conclusion In a highly competitive market, David Beckham is the latest in a number of high profile celebrities and sports personalities that Vodafone has used to promote Vodafone live! Market research and increased sales indicate that using Beckham’s image has been highly effective. Sponsorship using stars involves a partnership between the star and the company, and success depends on both remaining high profile and in the public eye The Beckham campaign is seen in many countries worldwide and reinforces his own image as well as communicating Vodafone’s brand values. Beckham is something of a phenomenon whose star status shows no sign of waning. Vodafone believes that it has gained an important advantage in a highly competitive market place as a result of having such a high profile, admired star attached to its name and its product.

Profile of Serial Rapist and Killer Cesar Barone

Profile of Serial Rapist and Killer Cesar Barone Cesar Barone was a convicted serial rapist and murderer whose preferred victims who were senior-aged women. Even the hardest of criminals found Barone repulsive and his crimes so inhuman and revolting that there was an exception to the rule among the inmates, that in his case, snitching on him was acceptable. Childhood Years Cesar Barone  was born Adolph James Rode on December 4, 1960, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. For the first four years of his life, Barone received loving attention from his parents and his older brother and sister. But soon after turning four, his mother fell in love with another man and left the family. Rodes father worked as a carpenter and struggled to maintain a balance between working and raising three children on his own. It was not long before he had a girlfriend, Brenda, who would often care for the children when Rode had to work. During that time, she developed a special relationship with Jimmy because he was the youngest and because he was the most difficult of three children to discipline. In March 1967, Rode and Brenda married and she seemed to naturally glide into the role of step-mother. She had a good relationship with the two older children, but after caring for Barone for two years, she had developed some real concerns about his development. She told Rode senior that the child needed psychiatric care. Although he agreed, he never made the arrangements. Other than having to deal with disciplinary problems with Barone, life in the Rode home was going along nicely. Rode senior was making more money in his new job as superintendent and the family moved to a new home in an upscale neighborhood. The children enjoyed their own swimming pool and visited Brendas mother regularly at her ranch where there were ponies for the kids to ride. However, life began to sour after Barone started going to school. Brenda received regular calls from Barones teachers in regards to his bad behavior. He was always stealing toys in nursery school. He was expelled from kindergarten because he was such a troublemaker. In the first grade, his behavior grew even worse and he began to threaten the other children, sometimes with knives, other times with lit cigarettes. Barone was so difficult to deal with that that he was banned from coming into the school lunchroom. Brendas attempts to discipline Barone failed. Barones father dealt with his sons problems by making an effort to show him more attention. He would take Barone and his older son Ricky to play golf and attend sporting events. Teen Years By the time Barone reached his early teens, he was out of control. He had become a regular drug user, often smoking pot and downing LSD or snorting cocaine. He regularly shoplifted especially for beer, burglarized nearby homes and harassed his elderly neighbors for money. The pressure in the Rode home became intense, as did the family arguments over how to deal with Barones poor behavior and his obvious lack of respect for Brenda. Unhappy with the situation, Rode and Brenda separated, and Barone got what he had hoped for - Brenda was out of the picture. Without her constantly monitoring his behavior and reporting it all to his father, Barones behavior grew even worse as did his obvious disdain for women. Alice Stock Alice Stock was a 70-year-old retired teacher that lived alone, not far from the neighborhood where the Rodes lived. On the evening of October 5, 1976, Stock called a friend for help. She told her friend that Barone had broken into her home, threatened her with a knife, and demanded that she remove all of her clothing. Frozen in fear, the elderly woman did nothing and Barone left without harming her. Barone was arrested and sentenced to two months and 11 days in a Florida reform school. From Shoplifting to Burglary April 1977 - Barone was questioned and then released after he admitted to burglarizing three homes of elderly women who lived alone.   August 23, 1977 - Barone was arrested on another burglary charge, but released. August 24, 1977 - Barones fingerprints were found inside a home that had been burglarized near the Rodes home. Barone ultimately confessed to nine other burglaries and unlawful entry into two other homes, but only because the detective questioning him agreed not to press charges if Barone was honest. First Prison Sentence Barone, now 17 years old, never faced charges on the multiple burglaries, but he was arrested and charged with burglarizing the house where his fingerprints were found. On December 5, 1977, Barone was sentenced to three years in the Florida State Penitentiary.   At the time, Florida had a system that allowed young, nonviolent offenders to bypass the hardcore state prisons. Instead, Barone was sent to Indian River, a low-level prison that was more like a reformatory and that had liberal parole policies for inmates that adapted to the environment, did their jobs and behaved. At first, Barone appeared to be going along with the program. By the middle of January 1979, he was transferred to a low-security institution and permitted to work outside of the prison. If he continued on as he had been doing, he was looking at being paroled by May 1979, seven months short his three-year sentence. However, it wasnt in Barones design to be good, at least for not long. After being there for a month, Barone was cited for failing to be at his assigned job and also suspicion of stealing money from the job. He was promptly sent back to Indian River and all parole dates were off the table. Barone quickly cleaned up his act again, followed the rules and by November 13, 1979, he was released from prison. A Second Attack on Alice Stock Two weeks after Barone had returned home, Alice Stocks nude body was found in her bedroom. The autopsy report showed she had been beaten, raped, and sodomized with a foreign object. All evidence, although only circumstantial, pointed to Barone. The case remained officially unsolved. No Boundaries In January 1980, Barone and the rest of the Rode family, including the ex-stepmother Brenda, were still mourning the tragic death of Barones older brother Ricky, who had died in a car accident three days after Christmas. Ricky was the proverbial perfect son, a nice young man and a great brother to Barone, despite that they were opposites in every aspect of life. Most anyone who knew the Rodes probably shared a similar thought that the wrong brother had died. According to Brenda, she said as much directly to Barone during the funeral  but instantly regretted it.In an effort to make amends, she gave Barone a car that she no longer needed, a gift he readily accepted. A month later, Barone, now 19 years old, showed up at Brendas home and said he needed to talk and that he was upset about Ricky. She invited him in and although they did talk for awhile, that was not the real intention behind Barones visit. Just as he was about to leave, he viciously attacked Brenda and raped her, telling her he had thought about doing it for years. After the rape, he began to strangle her, but she fought and managed to escape to the bathroom. Barone left after several failed attempts to open the bathroom door. As soon as she felt it was safe to leave the bathroom, Brenda contacted her ex-husband and told him about the attack and showed him the bruises on her neck. Brenda and Rode decided not to call the police. Barones punishment was that he would no longer be part of the Rode family. Their relationship was forever severed. A Call to Mother Around mid-March 1980, Barone was arrested for attempted burglary. If found guilty, he was also going to be in trouble for violating his parole. He called his real mother and she posted his bail.   Mattie Marino Mattie Marino, age 70, was Barones grandmother on his mothers side. On the evening of April 12, 1980, Barone stopped by Matties apartment and said he needed to borrow thread. Then, according to Marino, Barone attacked her, hitting her with his fists and then beating her with a rolling pin. He then choked her and smiled while he applied more pressure. She begged him not to hit her again and he abruptly stopped, took her checkbook and money and left the apartment. Barone was found not guilty of the attempted murder of Marino. However, he was not a free man. His parole had been revoked for the March burglary charges and he went from the courtroom to a jail cell to await his trial that was scheduled for the following August. A Real Prison This Time In August, Barone was found guilty of burglary and sentenced to five years, but this time in a prison for adult criminals. Despite the judges sentence, if he followed the rules, he could be out in two years.   Typically, Barone could not follow rules and in July 1981, with just a little over one year left before being paroled, Barone attempted to escape while working on a highway. He continued to violate prison rules over the next month. This earned him an additional year onto his original sentence. Because of the attempted escape, Barone was moved to another prison.  It was decided that the best place for him was the Marion Correctional Institution. Barone was a trouble maker at Marion, just like he was at the other prisons. His infractions included fighting with other inmates, leaving his assigned work areas, and shouting obscenities at prison employees. He went from being categorized as a medium risk to the next highest level, a close (or high) risk inmate. He was transferred to the Cross City Correctional Institution and his new release date, if he stayed out of trouble, was October 6, 1986. Gladys Dean Gladys Dean was a 59-year-old prison employee that had worked for several years overseeing the prison kitchen. Barone was assigned to cleaning the room where the kitchen garbage was thrown and Dean was his supervisor. On August 23, 1983, Barone physically attacked Dean and tried to remove her clothing, then began to strangle her, but Dean managed to get the upper hand and Barone fled the kitchen. Barone continued to the test the system and during a search of his cell, pieces of a hacksaw were discovered under his mattress. Prison officials decided he was too high risk and at the end of October  1983, he was moved to the Florida State Prison, which was considered in the world of convicted criminals as being hard time. There he received an additional three-year sentence for the attack on Gladys Dean.   Barone was now looking at being in prison until 1993. Had he behaved he could have been out in 1982. This was possibly a wake-up call for Barone. He managed to stay out of trouble and was given a new parole date of April 1991. Ted Bundy During his time at Florida State Prison, Barones work assignment gave him the opportunity to meet and talk with serial killer Ted Bundy who was awaiting execution. Barone, who was in awe of Bundy, took pride in their supposed conversations and he liked to brag to the other inmates about it.   Prison Romance In July 1986, Barone and a woman from Seattle, Washington, 32-year-old Kathi Lockhart, began corresponding through letters. Lockhart had placed an ad in the singles section of the newspaper and Barone had answered it. In his first letter to Lockhart, he described himself as being an Italian from Milan and he inflated his educational background, saying he had studied languages in three different countries. He also added that he had been in the Italian Special Forces. Lockhart found his profile interesting and they continued to write to each other on a regular basis. It was during their correspondence that Barone (who was still going by his birth name, Jimmy Rode) decided to officially change his name to Cesar Barone. He explained to Lockhart that he had always felt that he should have the family name of the people who raised him in Italy.   Lockhart believed all of the lies that Barone fed her and they formed a relationship which was solidified face-to-face in April 1987 when Barone received an early parole date and was released from prison. With nothing left for him in Florida and with a feeling of liberation of having a new name, Barone headed to Seattle.

Atomic Bomb Essay Conclusion Example For Students

Atomic Bomb Essay Conclusion The atomic bomb ended a war of massive death and destruction, but began what is now known as the Atomic Age. At the time of the disasters in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the bomb appeared as a promise of peace to the entire world. It had ended a costly and gruesome war, beginning a time of peace. Compared to the technology of 1945, the atomic bomb looked too powerful and unethical ever to be used again. It was seen as the weapon that would put an end to war. In Keith Eubanks The Bomb, he shows the development of power and the increasing threat to the United States from other nations that might be building a weapon of mass destruction; moreover, he shows the responsibility of dropping such a bomb. The development of the atomic bomb, although slow at first, quickly sped up as more research proved it a significant weapon. At the beginning, the U.S. didnt think developing a weapon could contribute to defense. Consequently, after quick research from scientists and the realization that the war would be a technical one in which the U.S. was unprepared, Americans came to the conclusion that better relations had to be created between science, technology and the American government (p. 8). The government soon realized that the bomb was likely to have a decisive result in the war. Roosevelt immediately gave orders to determine if a bomb was possible. When he found out the news, the national defense demanded urgent development and more research. The United States undertook the development of the atomic bomb not only because it may prove useful, but also because it thought other scientists were doing the same. After testing the bomb, the U.S. realized the significant role the weapon would play in the war. In addition, President Truman learned that the bomb might well put (the U.S.) in a position to dictate our own terms at the end of the war (p. 49). Truman, to the opposition of some, decided that the Japanese would receive no warning about the bomb. Many would argue Japan was largely responsible for their own destruction. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the war in the Pacific was fully underway. An aggressive expansion policy forced the United States invasion. However, this invasion would mean severe casualties of tens of thousands of U.S. soldiers alone. After American casualties reached into the thousands in Japan, the U.S. could not afford to lose more lives. It seemed as if the only solution to save American lives and stop further Japanese expansion was to drop an atomic bomb. After the Big Three conference at Potsdam on July 16, 1945, a warning was issued to Japan in the form of the Potsdam Declaration: to surrender unconditionally or face prompt and utter d estruction. An unconditional surrender, to Japan, meant humiliation to the ancient warrior tradition and the Emperor. Therefore, on July 29, 1945, the Japanese rejected the Potsdam Declaration and every man, woman, and child prepared to fight to death if that is what it would take and it did. They saw the declaration as propaganda, which would play on the public opinion of Americans. They soon learned that action would be taken. They wanted to wait until the Soviet Union mediated in the conflict, so Japan told its people to ignore the declaration. However, when the Soviet Union joined the Allies, Japan knew it was in trouble. Only a change in the weather could save the lives of Japanese now. On August 6, 1945, the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, and a few days later one was dropped on Nagasaki. Nevertheless, the time has come when we must bear the unbearable (p. 87): A quote that sums up not only Japans feelings but Americans feelings as well. It was the only way the United States knew how to end a war that had killed many of its own men. READ: Martin luther king jr. EssayIndeed, Eubanks exemplifies that Germany had already begun research on atomic energy. The Manhattan Project, which built plants for production of the atomic bomb, helped to set up a centralized lab to get everyone working on the bomb together. This step was vital for the U.S. in constructing this weapon. German scientists had begun research on nuclear physics around the same time as Americans. German scientists, unlike Americans however, lacked leadership, drive, listening skills and trust. In fact, Hitler thought of nuclear research as Jewish physics. Furthermore, Hitler didnt want to use funds on something that he had not had to use. Conventional weapons had worked just fine for the German army up to this point. But when Germans learned of the importance of uranium and heavy water, they started massive production of the water and had it delivered to them. When British intelligence found out about the production of the heavy water, they destroyed t he plant. This loss of heavy water played a major role in wrecking Germans hopes for the atomic bomb. Officers of Alsos (the allied effort to find out about German atomic bomb developments) found out later that German research activities had not gotten much beyond the research and development stage. Given the necessary time and resources, however, the Germans wouldve probably succeeded (p. 45). Nevertheless, Eubanks illustrates that the Soviet Union got much further than the research and development of Germany. Like Germany, Russians didnt want to spare the funds at the beginning for massive development and research of atomic energy. The Soviet Union development of the atomic bomb was small in comparison with the United States, but after learning of tests and the dropping of the bombs on Japan, the Russians changed their policy. They could not stand back and let the U.S. take over the world as they saw it. Joseph Stalin knew of the atomic bomb through secret operations, but he didnt realize the importance of the weapon until it was used. By dropping the bombs, the U.S. demonstrated not only the possession of atomic weapons, but also the willingness to use them. Moreover, the weapon shocked Soviet leaders because it reduced the value of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany (p. 110). Therefore, Stalin ordered a crash program to develop the weapon as quickly as possible to show that the United States was not superior to the world. Stalin realized that the atomic bomb had become the symbol of technological strength as a superpower. In fact, between 1949 and 1953, the Soviet Union had tested four atomic weapons, launching and intensifying what was known as the Cold War. As the atomic bomb ended war, it began a new age, creating new philosophies on human existence, technology and society. Socially, the grief from the destruction of the atomic bomb was immeasurable- it expanded outside the borders of Japan to the hearts of the entire world. Not only did grief exist, but the atomic bomb also laid guilt on some citizens of the United States for the destruction of so many lives. At the time of the war, Americans hatred of the Japanese was so strong that they wanted to see the bomb dropped. In fact, they wouldve liked to see more bombs dropped to prove that the United States would not give up. In retrospect, the bombs today are criticized by some as being an unfair loss of life to the Japanese.The atomic bomb, however, wouldve eventually been used by another country if they had the technology. Overall, the United States had the money, power and weaponry to undertake such a project. Regardless, the atomic bomb may have killed thousands, but it saved millio ns. Today, we face similar problems with the situation in Iraq and Saddam Husseins lack of cooperation with arms inspectors. If hes holding nuclear or thermonuclear weapons, it can only be hoped that we are ready for another war.The atomic bomb forever changed the rules of war. It is a weapon so powerful it can annihilate the enemy, a weapon that can destroy humanity itself. The people who built this weapon hoped that they had invented a weapon that would put an end to war. They hoped this new weapon was so awful, so terrifying and so destructive that it would never be used again. We may soon see if that is true. Bibliography:Reference:Dick Geary. Hitler and Nazism. London: Routledge, 1993.

Business and Marketing strategy (case Study) Essay

Business and Marketing strategy (case Study) - Essay Example Beverage industry is one of the most dynamic industries that are applying this concept to great effect (Boone et al. 2009, p. 194). Beverage industry is broadly classified as alcoholic and non alcoholic. In both categories there are exemplifications of global marketing. World’s non alcoholic industry is grappled with tough competition by the two large players Coca Cola and PepsiCo. Both the giants are expanding their value horizon across different countries. Though there are numerous companies engaged in providing global beverages, the two giants are at top with extensive portfolio of products tailor made for countries. Though both companies are equally successful, Coca Cola leads the global market, with PepsiCo being on its tail continuously (Cardello 2011). Provide a detailed assessment of the environmental issues affecting Coca Cola global business and marketing strategy. Given guidance in terms of opportunities or threats they may pose for the company in the future. Coca C ola Company is one of the leading companies in the world that is dealing in the manufacturing and distribution of non-carbonated beverages. The brand portfolio of the company entails more than 400 brands including beverages, juices, tea, sports and energy drinks, coffees etc. Strong brand name and brand portfolio has led the company ahead of its close competitors, Pepsi which has a brand value of $12,690 million as compared to $67000 million of Coca Cola (The Coca Cola Company 2011). Since its inception, it has continuously improved upon its marketing strategy that has facilitated the customer recall and recognition of brand overall the world making it easy for Coca Cola to explore new markets. The international marketing strategy of the company can also be quoted as the major reason behind its huge success. However, intense competition and threats are ever-present elements of the external environment that might have a large impact on the company’s profitability. SWOT ANALYSI S SWOT analysis can provide a snapshot of the current performance of the company and of the dark areas that are required to be eradicated so as to avail the new opportunities that can further enhance the company’s performance. SWOT analysis is the best way to study the impact of external environment on the organization’s marketing and global strategy (Mind Tools Ltd. 2011). STRENGTHS: Leading Brand: This is a recognizable fact that Coca Cola has a strong brand name and brand value that is incomparable. From the last few years, company has invested a lot on the promotions that has enhanced the brand’s customer recall and recognition as well. Large scale of operations: Coca Cola is known as the largest manufacturer, marketer and distributor of non alcoholic beverages in the world having a large scale of operations. Currently, Coca Cola is successfully operating in more than 200 countries due to having a support of the strong infrastructure across the world. WEAKNE SSES Negative perception of coke: It is a known fact that a recognizable product â€Å"coke† can be harmful for a body. Therefore, this shift of trend towards weight reduction and health can adversely affect the company’s profitability in the future. Lack of popularity of many Coca Cola’s brands: Furthermore, many of Coca Cola’

Pre-sentence Investigations Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Pre-sentence Investigations - Research Paper Example This research will begin with the statement that a pre-sentence investigation usually consists of three elements.   These elements, according to the article â€Å"Presentence Investigation†, include an interview with the defendant; a review of the defendant’s criminal record; and a review of the specific facts of the crime. The interview could be the most important element that would save one’s client from being needlessly harangued in the courts.   According to Auten, Hasbun, and Mebane, â€Å"Having a well-prepared client can have a substantial impact on the sentencing outcome†.   It is of elemental priority that one’s client is absolutely prepared for any kind of questions that could come to light in the presentencing interview.   One’s client should be regaled in an innocent light as possible, in order to ensure that the client gets the shortest sentence possible.   After all, now that the client has been convicted as having bee n guilty, the presentencing interview can go a long way in terms of deciding whether the client stays in jail for 2 months or 2 years.   Depending on the seriousness of the crime, whether it was a misdemeanor or a felony—and also upon federal and state sentencing guidelines—there are many variables which can affect the sentencing.   Therefore, the presentencing interview cannot be underestimated.   It is an integral part of representing one’s client and this opportunity should not be wasted.  Ã‚  

Deontological Vs Utilitarian Ethics Essay Example for Free

Deontological Vs Utilitarian Ethics Essay Kant believed that morality is dependent upon reason, that to act rationally was the same as acting morally. He placed a high value upon duty in determining the moral worth of an action. Kant’s deontological ethics is essentially an ethics of duty or obligation. As such, he claims that the moral worth of an action depends solely on whether or not it was done exclusively from a sense of duty. If an act is done simply because one is so inclined, the act has no moral value. This principle holds true even if inclination happens to be in agreement with duty. To illustrate this point, he uses the example of a truly beneficent person. He says that while kindness to all man is a duty, there are some who are naturally inclined to be kind. He asserts â€Å"But I maintain that in such a case an action of this kind, however proper, however amiable it may be, has nevertheless no true moral worth, but is on a level with other inclinations†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Gregory and Giancola, 82). When these spread kindness while motivated by their own inclination to be kind, their kind acts have no moral value, because in his view in order for an act to be moral, it must be done for the sake of duty alone. Essentially, deontological ethics says the less inclined one is to perform an act that duty calls one to, the more moral worth the act has. While deontological ethics is completely independent of inclination, utilitarian ethics is in many was based upon it. Utilitarianism is built on hedonism, which is the claim that pleasure is the supreme good for man. The main idea of utilitarianism is that man is naturally inclined to seek pleasure and avoid pain and this natural inclination is to be embraced as it will lead man to the supreme end, which is happiness. Utilitarian ethics says that moral acts are those that promote pleasure and avoid pain while immoral acts do the opposite. In is definition of utilitarianism, John Mills says that as far as possible, pleasure in its highest quantity and quality should be promoted and this for the greatest number of people possible. He says, â€Å"†¦that standard is not the agent’s own greatest happiness, but the greatest amount of happiness altogether†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Gregory and Giancola, 92). In my view this means that according to utilitarian ethics, the moral act is the o ne that brings pleasure to the greatest amount of people.

To What Extent Did D.C. Stephenson Affect the Fall of the Ku Klux Klan

A. Plan of Investigation The focus of this investigation was to understand and determine to what extent D.C. Stephenson affected the fall of the Ku Klux Klan during the 1920s. During the 1920s the Klan had an all time high of membership across the United States and was a large part of American society. The Klan was prevalent in everyday society and in politics, and was a positive presence for many Americans. However, the Klan was pushed into a negative light due to Stephenson kidnapping and raping Madge Oberholtzer. Membership in the Klan dropped shortly after, and many blame Stephenson. In order to decide whether or not Stephenson was responsible, the Klan was examined during Stephenson’s involvement, and the aftermath of his involvement. D.C. Stephenson was also examined to better understand how he could have changed the course of the KKK. Sources that discussed the Klan and Stephenson were looked at, like They Called Themselves the KKK, and. Citizen Klansmen: The Ku Klux Klan in Indiana. Those sour ces, among others, helped give a better understanding of D.C. Stephenson and how he affected the KKK. B. Summary of Evidence The Ku Klux Klan began in Pulaski, Tennessee in 1865 (Martin). It started out as a group of men creating a social club, mainly for confederate soldiers who had fought in the war. Its name is derived from kuklos, meaning circle of friends (Martin). It was a secret society with rules and codes, and men were given special titles (Bartoletti,25). The nature of the Klan was not originally to be destructive, but as it began to grow and more white men and confederate soldiers joined, the purpose changed. Tension grew across the country as Reconstruction went under way and white southerners were unhappy. The Kl... ...." Dying Declaration of Madge Oberholtzer. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. "Ku Klux Klan." Civil Rights in the United States. Ed. Waldo E. Martin, Jr. and Patricia Sullivan. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2000. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. "Ku Klux Klan." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2014. Lutholtz, M. William. Grand Dragon: D.C. Stephenson and the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana. West Lafayette, IN: Purdue UP, 1991. Print. MacLean, Nancy. Behind the Mask of Chivalry: The Making of the Second Ku Klux Klan. New York: Oxford UP, 1994. Print. McDonnell, Janet, Ann Angel, and Carolyn Kott. Washburne. America in the 20th Century. North Bellmore, NY: Marshall Cavendish, 1995. Print. Moore, Leonard Joseph. Citizen Klansmen: The Ku Klux Klan in Indiana, 1921-1928. Chapel Hill: U of North Carolina, 1991. Print.

Quality – Market Leader

UNIT 10 – QUALITY QUESTIONS 1. What does it mean by â€Å"Quality† and â€Å" Quality Control†? 2. What should companies do to maintain the quality of their products/services effectively? 3. What do you think about the quality of Vietnamese products? What should companies do to enhance their competitiveness in competition? ANSWERS 1. The definition of quality depends on the different circumstances and perceptions. The meaning of quality is also time-based or situational. a. The definition of quality in manufacturing organizations is often different from that of services. Quality de? itions in manufacturing usually focus on tangible product features. The most common quality de? nition in manufacturing is conformance, which is the degree to which a product characteristic meets preset standards. Other common de? nitions of quality in manufacturing include performance— such as acceleration of a vehicle; reliability— that the product will function as exp ected without failure; features— the extras that are included beyond the basic characteristics; durability—expected operational life of the product; and serviceability— how readily a product can be repaired.The relative importance of these de? nitions is based on the preferences of each individual customer. It is easy to see how different customers can have different de? nitions in mind when they speak of high product quality. b. In contrast to manufacturing, service organizations produce a product that is intangible. The intangible nature of the product makes de? ning quality dif? cult. Also, since a service is experienced, perceptions can be highly subjective. In addition to tangible factors, quality of services is often de? ned by perceptual factors.These include responsiveness to customer needs, courtesy and friendliness of staff, promptness in resolving complaints, and atmosphere. Other de? nitions of quality in services include time— the amount of t ime a customer has to wait for the service; and consistency— the degree to which the service is the same each time. Quality control Quality control is a process that is used to ensure a certain level of quality in a product or service. It might include whatever actions a business deems necessary to provide for the control and verification of certain characteristics of a product or service.Most often, it involves thoroughly examining and testing the quality of products or the results of services. The basic goal of this process is to ensure that the products or services that are provided meet specific requirements and characteristics, such as being dependable, satisfactory, safe and fiscally sound. 2. What should companies do to maintain the quality of their products or services effectively? In order to maintain the quality of what we sell, we need to carry out wise quality control program as well as good customer services. 3. 1.Total Quality Control (TQC) program. 3. 2. 1. We have to focus on continuous improvement, tend to think of improvement in terms of plateaus that are to be achieved, such as passing a certification test or reducing the number of defects to a certain level. Because we can never achieve perfection, we must always evaluate our performance and take measures to improve it by using The Plan–Do–Study–Act Cycle. Another way companies implement continuous improvement is by studying business practices of companies considered â€Å"best in class. † This is called benchmarking. . 2. 2. We should also consider empowering all employees to seek out quality problems and correct them. The new concept of quality, TQC, provides incentives for employees to identify quality problems. Employees are rewarded for uncovering quality problems, not punished. In TQC, they are considered a vital element of the effort to achieve high quality. Their contributions are highly valued, and their suggestions are implemented. In order to pe rform this function, employees are given continual and extensive training in quality measurement tools. . 2. 3. Teamwork Approach TQC stresses that quality is an organizational effort. To facilitate the solving of quality problems, it places great emphasis on teamwork. The use of teams is based on the old adage that â€Å"two heads are better than one. † Using techniques such as brainstorming, discussion, and quality control tools, teams work regularly to correct problems. The contributions of teams are considered vital to the success of the company. For this reason, companies set aside time in the workday for team meetings. . 2. 4. Use of Quality Tools To control the quality of products or service, some company use quality tools. These are often called the seven tools of quality control and are shown in the picture. They are easy to understand, yet extremely useful in identifying and analyzing quality problems. Sometimes workers use only one tool at a time, but often a combi nation of tools is most helpful. Those tools include Cause-and-Effect Diagrams, Checklists, Flowcharts, Control Charts, and Scatter Diagrams. 3. 2. 5. Product DesignA critical aspect of building quality into a product is to ensure that the product design meets customer expectations. To produce a product that customers want, we need to translate customers’ everyday language into specific technical requirements. 3. 2. 6. Process Management A quality product comes from a quality process. This means that quality should be built into the process. Quality at the source is the belief that it is far better to uncover the source of quality problems and correct it than to discard defective items after production.If the source of the problem is not corrected, the problem will continue. TQC extends the concept of quality to a company’s suppliers and ensures that they engage in the same quality practices. If suppliers meet preset quality standards, materials do not have to be inspe cted upon arrival. Today, many companies have a representative residing at their supplier’s location, thereby involving the supplier in every stage from product design to ? nal production. 3. 2. Customer Services It is wrong to think that the sales process ends right after the moment our customers buy the products.We had better keep an excellent relationship with them by an annual customer satisfaction questionnaire towards our products/services, by offering the products they bought routine checks to ensure that they are well-maintained, by giving them warranty that lasts for an adequate time, or by guarantee our offering compensation if there is still a faulty products. 3. The quality of Vietnamese products Quality is an abstract definition which is usually judged by customers. The fact that a product is said to be of good or bad quality is all depend on each customers’ view.Generally speaking, Vietnamese products are quite good and their quality has been continuously enhancing. An evidence for this is that Vietnamese people have now increased using them, and the value of products exported to other countries also goes up. However, our products still have a lot of limitations. They are hard to compete with the products coming from other countries in both domestic market and global market. What the limitations are and also the reasons for them are mentioned below: * Low quality owing to technological level: Our country is still a developing country.Our corporates are limited about expenditures, capital, experience, and other elements. They cannot afford to buy the advanced machines. Besides, they do not have enough qualified experts to operate the modern new equipment. Made by old techniques and ineffective manufacturing process, our products are usually of lower quality and uncompetitive. Moreover, this has led to a consequence in the structure of Vietnam’s trade balance: exporting mainly agricultural products, crafts and other kinds of un processed goods but not high-technical or processed ones. Popularity of unsafe products and loss of customers’ trust: Some corporates still just focus on their profits but not their value propositions. They try to cut their costs without taking notice on improving product quality. Some small companies even conduct their manufacturing process inappropriately, using some poisons, preservatives improperly or releasing waste directly and polluting the environment. The products made by those companies are not only bad for customers’ health but also unfriendly to the environment. This has a serious bad impact on consumers’ belief on Vietnamese products. Product quality does not commensurate with their price. In the correlation between quality and price, Vietnamese products have to face a lot of pressure from those of other countries. Their tastes, durations and many other criteria of our products are still uncompetitive and unattractive to customers. * Prices and desi gns of products are hard to compare with those of foreign goods. For example, our products are competed by the imported ones coming from China, Thailand, India and many other countries. Especially, Chinese goods are really varied, diversified and at extremely low price.Besides that, the favorite of using foreign products of Vietnamese people also limit competitiveness of Vietnamese goods. * Low position in customers’ mind: The government has made a lot of regulations on products quality and also carried out many methods to test products’ safety. However, not much enhancement is made. Consumers still have to worry about cleanliness as well as safety of Vietnamese products. Moreover, the issue of counterfeiting goods is still serious and this contributes to lower our product position. * The difference in quality between domestic-use products and exporting products due to corporates’ behaviors.In reality, because of the difference in value, exporting products are u sually of higher quality than domestic-use ones. This discrimination has a negative effect on how consumers judge our products. * Infamous and low-trusted brands: Although we are a large exporter in some kinds of goods, our products are still not subject to any specific standards. Not having any national or international standards to ensure their quality, our products are not appreciated by customers. Their brands are also unpopular with them. In some cases, some brands have been certificated by Globalcap standards such as Nam Roi Grapefruit.However, they are now still threatened because our government does not have enough expenditure for recertification. In sum, Vietnamese products have a lot of limitations that need to be changed to raise their competitiveness. Enhance product’s competitiveness All we have to do is to fix the limitations as mentioned above. * Consumers only want to buy necessary goods of high quality. Hence, after investigating the demand of them towards ce rtain goods, we upgrade our production chain so that we can satisfy our customer totally. But how do we pgrade our production chain? A survey carried out in 2012 showed that among nearly 8000 enterprises in the field of manufacturing, 96 per cent claims the crux of the problem is that they cannot afford to invest in new technologies. Assistances from our state are not enough. Therefore, to do this really difficult thing, companies have to recruit qualified experts who can help them develop new ways, new methods of production. Once they have been successful, they are truly bailed out to provide customers with high quality items. * Create a unique image for our products.This is the only way to retain customers’ faith towards our products. They will know well where our products are and buy them, not faked ones. Also, using a signal or friendly slogan for products can help customers to remember us, typically. A practical action to solve this problem is to teach customers to reali ze us among the crowd. * Make our products value for money. Enterprise must be wise when performing price strategies so that customers gain the satisfaction when using our products, without whispered complaints on them being too expensive.High quality, but value for money. And, don’t try to lower the prices as what our rivals do, set the lowest level for our prices. This determines our true value. To some extent and in some segment, consumers they no longer pay the best attention in prices, but value – or quality. Keeping our prices at a reasonable level can create a good impression on our customers, that they are our life. * Gain the diversity when design our products. Imagine we have a large market for one kind of product. We make items the same as the others, and customers are fed of them.Especially girls, they don’t want others to â€Å"copy† their style. Thus, our product designers had better be innovative ones, or we have to hire more and more desig ners. * Once it is Vietnamese product, it must be as good as each other. The markets where we sell our products cannot decide the quality of them. This thinking will help our products to win the trust from our customers everywhere, for its being always of high quality. * We also need to change our mind of doing business. Vietnamese people tend to think they are never as good as foreigners.This one-track thinking indirectly do foreign business people a favor. We can do better than them if we can draw carefully a practical and effective plan. And the most important thing is that enterprises have to take actions to maintain the quality of the products for the forthcoming periods in which the state of the global as well as the local economy may come unexpected. Besides, we need to get help from other factors including productivity of motivated employees, wise and effective advertising campaigns or applying new methods in delivery.

Critical analysis of page 41-42 of the Great Gatsby

Fitzgerald describes the ‘music’ coming from Gatsby’s house which is effectively used to foreshadow the images of music in the party later in the passage. He also uses the term ‘summer nights’ which presents the reader with the impression of a continuous party and demonstrates more clearly the hedonistic world that the rich inhabited in 1920s America which is further confirmed when Fitzgerald refers to the ‘champagne’ in the next sentence suggesting this expensive delicacy was the normality at these lavish parties. The ‘blue gardens’ in the following sentence gives the reader a vivid picture of the evening light whilst also using the metaphor to evoke a feeling of beauty regarding Gatsby’s party within the readers mind. The image of the comings and goings being ‘like moths’ gives the idea of the fleetingness of the upper class guests that have no real purpose or aims but to drift at these parties. Fitzgerald uses the term ‘men and girls’ as opposed to referring to the ‘girls’ as women, perhaps suggesting at the immaturity of these women, so much so that they appeared to be like little girls. The use of the word ‘whisperings’ creates a sensual feeling in the reader as it appears romantic and furtive but also could refer to the gossiping ways of the wealthy party guests. The image of ‘the stars’ induces both a vision of peaceful night sky, which contrasts the lively atmosphere of the party and therefore highlighting this further to the reader, but also presents an image of the affluent party guests as stars, some in their own rights, and some whom only saw themselves this way. Fitzgerald describes ‘his [Gatsby’s] raft’, ‘his beach’ and ‘his two-motor boats’ in the following sentence to portray the sense of wealth and affluence of Gatsby and this detailed visual imagery enables the reader to relate with the narrator as they share in his feeling of awe at Gatsby’s affluence. The warm light imagery of the ‘sun on the hot sand’ adds to the ongoing sense of romance in the passage, which reflects the numerous romances and affairs within the book, primarily that of Gatsby and Daisy. Fitzgerald effectively uses a metaphor to describe the Rolls-Royce, a relatively small car, becoming an ‘omnibus’ to further emphasize to the reader the massiveness of these parties and the copious people that attended. The simile of the station wagon scampering ‘like a brisk yellow bug’ not only makes the inanimate object more realistic to the reader but reflects the urgency of the guests to attend these magnificent parties. The immensity of Gatsby’s parties is further shown through the statement that ‘eight servants, including an extra gardener’ had to work all of Monday to restore the mansion to its former grandeur and to get rid of the after effects of the party. The image of ‘several hundred feet of canvas’ being used just for Gatsby’s party once again indicates his enormous wealth and success and makes it more realistic to the reader by using measurements. Fitzgerald uses colour imagery to describe the party food such as ‘glistening hors-d’oeuvre’, ‘salads of harlequin designs’ and ‘turkeys bewitched to a dark gold’. This creates a more realistic and physical aspect to the food that makes it more vivid for the reader. The use of the ‘dark gold’ image also symbolises Gatsby’s wealth and the grandeur of the party. Fitzgerald combines the visual images of the ‘gin’, ‘liquors’ and other drinks with the sound imagery of the ‘oboes’, ‘trombones’ and other orchestra instruments in the following paragraph in order to appeal to more of the readers senses. By using sound imagery alongside visual imagery, the party appears more realistic to the reader and they instantly become more involved. The listed instruments depict to the reader the vastness of the orchestra, suggesting it was in competition with the ‘chatter’ and the vast amounts of party guests. During this paragraph, Nick also changes tense from past to present, as he describes that ‘the bar is in full swing’. This also makes the passage more realistic to the reader as it is more inclusive and engages the reader to feel like they are also attending this party. The use of the image of ‘Castile’ a wealthy Spanish town, indicates the affluence of the people at the party as their fashion was ‘beyond the dreams’ of even the most wealthy towns. Fitzgerald describes the cocktails as ‘floating rounds’ indicating how insignificant the party guests thought of the servants, so much so that they appeared to be invisible. This shows the shallow, snobbish nature of the wealthy Americans of the time. Personification is used effective to describe the air as ‘alive with chatter’ highlighting to the reader the enormity of the noise of the party that must have been audible for miles around. The idea of the ‘enthusiastic meetings’ of women who ‘never knew each other’s names’ compels the reader to consider how genuine this enthusiasm was in someone they did not know or whether it was fake interest from possibly fake and shallow women of the time. There is further light imagery as it grows ‘brighter’ mentions of the ‘sun’ which evoke images of wealth and beauty. Fitzgerald creates both visual and sound imagery when he describes the ‘yellow cocktail music’ in which the light imagery again indicated wealth to the reader and also creates a soft, sensual feel. The ‘opera of voices’ further highlights the noise of the party and connects both the orchestra noise and that of the guests conversations. The groups changing ‘swiftly’ gives the impression of elegance and restlessness, as people are reluctant to stay in the same place as groups ‘dissolve and form in the same breath’. Fitzgerald stresses the self obsessed, egotistical nature of the party guests when he reveals their aim; to become centre of attention which, when fulfilled, makes them ‘excited with triumph’. The passage comes to a close with the ever recurring light imagery of the ‘constantly changing light’ perhaps symbolising not only the beauty of the scene but also the fleetingness of the people that inhabit it.

GIS

GIS GIS in Fighting Wildfires Recently there has been an onslaught of wildfires throughout southern California, New Mexico and Florida. GIS and the USGS have come to the aid of firefighters fighting these wildfires. New digital maps that are the combination of aerial photographs and the geometric qualities of a map were used in the recent New Mexico wildfires. These maps DOQ's (Digital Orthophotoquads) which are aerial photographs are supplied by the US Geological Survey in Menlo Park California. DOQ images can also be found on the Microsoft TerraServer site at http://terraserver.microsoft.com/default.asp These maps allowed firefighters to have a more accurate picture of the terrain where a fire is burning and where it might spread. On DOQ's trees look like trees rather then a green shaded area on a topographic map. Buildings are more visible and there shape and possible use can possibly be determined. Because these maps were in high demand during the wildfire, these maps were delivered electronically, downloaded and printed by the recipient, thus speeding up the process of determining a way to get these fires out.Topographic map of the OxbowThis is in sharp contrast to a time when topographical maps had to be updated by hand scribers and printed on special presses.USGS began producing these maps in 1991. Images are derived from the archives of the National Aerial Photography Program (which is housed in Sioux Falls, S.D.). Today nearly 165,000 DOQ's available in the U.S. Because DOQ's can serve as a layer in a GIS system, they are especially useful for community and special event planners. Ex.. They were used in Atlanta for the 1998 summer Olympics and are being used to create maps for the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics to layout event sites and plan transportation corridors.With USGS's DOQ's New Mexico was able to contain...

DD121 TMA03 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

DD121 TMA03 - Essay Example But Darwin also stressed the role of interaction between individuals, and equally important is the effect of the dynamic interactive environment. â€Å"Our differences are also a product of our social relations, cultural processes, the kinds of environments we are born into, the environments we live in, our bodies and so on.† (Hinchcliffe, 2000) So, natural differences exist but complex and interactive processes play a very significant role. IQ tests are designed to measure intelligence and claim to be culture-free. The problem with these tests is that they are designed to â€Å"measure problem-solving skills in the abstract rather than in the world of social relations and experience† (Hinchcliffe, 2000) i.e. they do not measure social intelligence. Also, the skills required for being successful in IQ tests can be easily practiced but they are a result of education, which is a social experience. Moreover, they are not independent of culture. The criticisms apply specially to verbal tests because they are â€Å"totally dependent on Western knowledge which is only available in certain cultures.† (Hinchcliffe, 2000) This puts children who have not been exposed to the same environment at a distinct disadvantage. Studies on twins for example, who largely share their upbringing in the same socio-cultural environment show that they have similar IQ scores. Albeit a restrictive definition, a market is â€Å"a physical place where many buyers and sellers come together to trade goods and services, exchanging them usually for money.† (Hinchcliffe, 2000) But exchange can take place in many ways e.g. through a catalogue or over the Internet, and the goods exchanged are not necessarily tangible. Thus, there are two economic agents who interact in a social space; rules govern how they interact and â€Å"a sale results in the transfer of property rights† (Hinchcliffe, 2000), and markets neither

Recommendation memo for business trend Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Recommendation memo for business trend - Essay Example Starbucks' clients have less money in their pockets than they used to. They may have lost their jobs or cut back on consuming luxury coffee like Starbucks. Furthermore, as the housing bust has unwound, whole neighbourhoods have changed. They will want to reconsider the placement of cafes. These are just several of a number of recommendations included below to help Starbucks weather this storm and once again get back on top of the coffee world. Starbucks is a very strong brand with a loyal following. They are well positioned to storm back to the top of the charts. Over the years, Starbucks has proved itself to be a very successful company. It is has expanded substantially and is a recognized brand. But the financial crisis and economic downturn had a severe impact on its revenue (see figure 1, appendix). Now is the time to consider a number of steps which can help Starbucks restore itself to its former glory. It is not a matter of simply returning Starbucks to the position it held bef ore the crisis. Many things have changed in the marketplace since then. Success may well mean something different now. Starbucks must look around at a changing marketplace and seize new opportunities. In some cases it may have to shift its focus in order to maximize returns. What follows are five recommendations to ensure the Starbucks does not become a relic. The recommendations aim to help Starbucks focus on its customers and its future. Lower cost and rebrand The era of conspicuous consumption is over. The economic crisis made sure of that. It resulted in serious damage to national economies worldwide and the cuts that will have to result to bring down the deficit have not yet been made. Things are going to get worse before they get better. This is a problem because the price of Starbucks coffee is too high. Competition with MacDonalds may be negatively impacting Starbucks sales (Ordonez). The truth is that the climate has changed and cost is a big factor for many people these da ys. We need to see a small reduction in the price of a cup of coffee at Starbucks. That alone will be worth media attention and will be a kind of signal to consumers that Starbucks takes this issue very seriously. A lot of the coffee is overpriced and this overpricing is not sustainable with new competition in the market. Reducing the price even ten or fifteen per cent will show consumers that Starbucks is willing to change and adapt to new economic realities. This can be part of a rebranding that will make Starbucks more appealing to a larger audience. The communications element of branding is key to attracting more customers (Capon, 296). Currently, Starbucks is seen as a hipster place where the elites go to sip an expensive latte. There is no reason to lose this cache, but it makes sense in this economic climate to try to create a larger tent in which many different types of people can come and enjoy themselves. Starbucks needs to think long and hard about who it wants to attract in 2012 and beyond. The larger the customer base the more stable the company. It is important to remember that rebranding can be a risky proposition (Muzellec, et al, 802). Approach it with caution. Expansion into new markets Starbucks is seen primarily as an American company, with most of its cafes in North America and Western Europe. These generate a lot of