Leisure Time Essay Example for Free

Leisure Time EssayIn the mid-1800s Ameri pecks started to receive a lot of extra era in their hand and had more season to do fun activities. Businesses declining works hours was a major reason for the rise of leisure time but what as well as had a huge impact was installation of the electric lighting in the urban centers streets which made Americans have more time to perform activities at later hours (Lund). So what did Americans decide to do with this time? The recommendation of physical exercise as a way to relive of all the stress elevated the importance of physical actives and to also attend spectator blows became part of the leisure activities in the United States. Vaudeville, dance halls, and motion pictures became popular, while wise modes of break down allowed Americans to go visit the mountains, seaside resorts and county fairs (Lund).To begin with after the Civil War, the popularity of sports as leisure activities grew as people began to see the importance of e xercise to health. While initially solitary(prenominal) the wealthy could take part in some sporting events because the middle and lower classes couldnt afford most of the activities .The opening of public available gymnasiums, courts, and handle allowed the middle class to participate in those activities as well (Lund). Athletic clubs much(prenominal) as the smart York Athletic Club were organized and the YMCAs began to institute sports programs. These programs mostly focused on track and field events, introduced by communities of European descent, and gymnastic exercise, heavily influenced by German athletics. Gymnasiums, which included exercises using Indian clubs, wooden rings, and dumbbells, were opened in many Eastern cities which helped expand exercise.Also With the extra time Americans gained American sought out to find new ways to keep themselves occupied and entertained. Americans began to test out new ways to distract themselves so they started to experiment in mak ing new activities to do. As a result of Americans seeking for a new past time they invented Americas greatest past time today, baseball. Different types of Baseball have been hunt downed end-to-end time and before the 1800s but the rise of the sport didnt come until after the civil war (Bluett). While at war the soldiers had a lot of extra time in their hands the soldiers from New York introduced the game to their comrades from their camps and soon the game also spread to other camps all over the north and south. It was said that because of this baseball expanded from the north to the south baseball was recognise more after the civil war ended.After all the soldiers from the camps were taught how to play, they went back dental plate and introduced their sport to their families and friends which helped expand they name of the game (Bluett). In 1870 the first professional person team were founded but didnt last for more than five years. In 1876 the first major professional leagu e that was formed was the National league of baseball clubs which still exist today. some other sport that was created by Americans in the 19th century which they invented to perform as a leisure activity was Basketball. The game was created from the theme of James Naismith in 1891, while he was an instructor at the School for Christian nameers, later called the International YMCA Training School, in Springfield, Massachusetts (McComb). The YMCA was an international brass section that focused on the idea that physical as well as religious training was important for humans. Naismith had graduated from McGill University, and after leaving a Presbyterian seminary conjugated the YMCA school in Massachusetts.When he arrived the director of the YMCA name Luther asked Naismith if he could design an interesting indoor sport for physical activity in a gymnasiums Americans can exercise while having fun in the winter when it was cold and couldnt be outside (McComb). He thought that people were bored of just working out with weights and running around without a purpose. James considered the thought of throwing a ball into a box, uniform the warm-up exercise he had used when he played rugby but only this time the box was ten feet up and had to dribble the ball (McComb). The game was a success Americans all over the country were playing it and it even expanded internationally. In the 1880s women didnt really perform anysports but after they were introduced with basketball they were so hypnotised that it became one of womens favorite sport in the 1880s. Furthermore although men performed the majority of sports activities around the 19th century. Opportunities for women began to appear as the century ended. Some of the most popular sports for women in the 19 century were basketball and lawn tennis.Also by the end of the century schools began to offer even more sports activities for fe viriles, such as gymnastics and basketball. One of the most popular sports for women was basketball. Girls and womens basketball flourished in the early years of the game. Two days after the invention of basketball, some female teachers who had heard the shouts of players approach path from the gym, asked Naismith to instruct them (Woolum). Naismith did so and the women became very fund of the sport. In 1892 after the women new the game better the YMCA hosted the first tournament for women (Woolum). The game for women spread and they even got to play in college, in 1896 the first intercollegiate game was played in Berkeley between the University of California and Stanford. No male spectators were allowed at the Berkeley match because it was considered improper for male viewers to attend (Woolum). Also the other sport the women were very fund of was lawn tennis. Mary Ewing Outerbridge has been credited with introducing lawn tennis to the United States in 1874. When she went to Bermuda she watched as British armament officers were hitting a rubber ball with spoon-sh aped paddles strung with catgut across an outstretched net. Fascinated by the game, Outerbridge brought a box of the tennis equipment with her and returned to New York (Woolum). When she got home she introduced the game to her friends and family.The game rapidly got popular and became very popular not just with women but with men as well and rapidly spread throughout the Northeast as a favorite national pastime (Woolum). In addition Americans didnt just past their times with sports they also enjoyed other activities give care attending vaudeville shows. Within cities, people attended vaudeville shows which would include many acts. The vaudeville shows were usually watched by the middle class, the shows often ran for many hours so the people could come and go whenever they wanted (Ushistory). In the Vaudeville shows the viewers could enjoy a performance consisting of Shakespeare plays, acrobatics, singing, dancing, and comedy (Lund). Vaudeville shows werent just for entertain they a lso talkedabout economic and ethnic situations. Other popular shows of the time included circuses and Wild West shows, one of the most famous plays was Buffalo woodpecker Codys by William F. Motion pictures also served as entertainment during leisure time for urban audiences.Initially the movies were originalities in kinescope viewers, until they became acts in their own right on the vaudeville stage. As motion pictures became longer, they moved into storefront Nickelodeon theaters and then into even larger theaters (Lund). Finally another activity Americans did as for their leisure time was to go on vacations. Some people wished to go further afield on their vacations and leave the city now that they invented a new way to travel faster which was by trains (Ushistory). Many with limited budgets went to the countryside or the beaches which mostly included the lower and middle class. Towards the late nineteenth century resorts opened in the outskirts of cities, such as the beach area of Asbury Park in New Jersey which was founded in 1870 (Lund). Amusement leafy vegetables opened in places like Coney Island in New York was founded in 1897.the Park offering rides, fun houses, and scenes from foreign life, and the latest technological breakthroughs, such as motion pictures.National parks were created by the federal government to preserve nature and many began to tour these areas on vacation (Lund). One such example was Yellowstone Park where people camped or stayed at the hotels, the park was built there in the late 1880s. Worlds fairs and expositions held in different U.S. cities offered Americans a chance to tour the world in one place. The fairs celebrated progress and feature exhibits of science and technology, foreign villages, shows, rides and vendors. The first major one was the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876 (Lund). All in all Americans in the 19th century performed a large variety of activities for their leisure time. Men performed many dif ferent physical activities especially when clubs like the YMCA was introduced which helped more Americans become more active, also American performed sports like baseball and basketball in their leisure time. In the late 19th century even women were starting to take place in the sports and other activates. Another major activity Americans did for leisure time was to go to vaudeville shows which had all sorts of acts from Shakespeare plays to comedy acts. Finally after traveling was easier Americans started to go on vacations outside the city and go to resorts and world fairs for their leisure time.Bibliography1. http//memory.loc.gov/ammem/awlhtml/awlleis.htmla. Leisure after the civil warb. Lund, Karen C. America at Work / America at Leisure, 1894-1915. America at Work / America at Leisure, 1894-1915. Memory.loc.gov, 01 June 2000. Web. 17 Dec. 2013.2. http//www.pacivilwartrails.com/stories/tales/baseball-and-the-civil-war a. Baseball and the civil warb. Bluett, Terry. Baseball and t he Civil War. Welcome to the Pennsylvania Civil War Trails. Civil War Trails, n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2013.3. http//www.elibrary.com/elibweb/elib/do/document?set=searchdictionaryClick=onsecondaryNav=groupid=1requestid=lib_standardresultid=1edition=ts=FA9DBE62F456E22634A15DC6F7B76C44_1385528175587start=1publicationId=urn=urn%3Abigchalk%3AUS%3BBCLib%3Bdocument%3B171337845 a. The Great Spectator Sports of North Americab. McComb, David G. ELibrary Login. ELibrary Login. Proquest, 01 Dec. 1998. Web. 18 Dec. 2013.4. http//www.ushistory.org/us/39b.aspa. Leisure timeb. Ushistory.org. 39b. Sports and Leisure. Sports and Leisure ushistory.org. U.S. History Online Textbook, n.d. Web. 19 Dec. 2013.5. http//www.elibrary.com/elibweb/elib/do/document?set=searchdictionaryClick=onsecondaryNav=groupid=1requestid=lib_standardresultid=3edition=ts=FA9DBE62F456E22634A15DC6F7B76C44_1385528175587start=1publicationId=urn=urn%3Abigchalk%3AUS%3BBCLib%3Bdocument%3B28013995 a. Women in America sportsb. Woolum, Janet. ELibrary Login. ELibrary Login. Elibrary, 05 Aug. 1992.

Australian indigenous world views and accounting

Australian original world views and chronicleThis paper summarizes the clause titled The result of Australian indigenous world-views and news report written by Susan Greer and Chris Patel (2000). Also critically review the article and comp be it with other articles those discuss the same idea and taper on the same issue.As any research area and especially in social sciences, the difficulty and the complex of the topic should be taken as a point of departure for exploring and discovering the topic as head as the importance of the topic.The paper was structured into eight sections as following an grounding limitations of Hofstedes heathenish taxonomy yin and yang determine frame defecate core Australian indigenous cultural values work-related values land-related values the meaning of autochthonal title and concluding comments.The use of goods and services of the paper is to provide evidence of cultural differences between indigenous Australian values and the Western capi talist values implicit in the language of accounting and accountabilityp1 as the authors believe that although great efforts gestate been made on the cross-cultural accounting research, the mainstream cross-cultural accounting research has failed to address two main issues grassroots the mainstream research of cross-cultural accounting cerebrateed on the impact of culture on the accounting systems but not the influence of accounting on societal values.Second the cultural differences at bottom countries have been omitted.The article tries to study this issue and fill the knowledge gap in this field, also presents the cultural norms and values among the indigenous and non-indigenous peoples within Australia p 308. Specifically, the study aims to demonstrate that Australian indigenous cultures embody core values that conflict with the values encapsulated within Western systems of accounting and accountability. p308 word SummaryThe study illuminates the differences between indigenou s Australian peoples cultural values and Western capitalist values appears in language of accounting that related to work and land.Choosing the conceptions of work and land were based on two reasons, first the previous studies which have shown the importance of the work related values and differences between cultures. Second, the recent instauration of native title into position law granted the Australian indigenous conception of land slightly legal recognition along grimace other forms of blank space rights p309the authors criticize Hofsteds cultural taxonomy as they believe in its limitations, they refer to a number of limitations as this overture overly simplistic as it reflects the values of the politically and socially advantaged groups within countries, also it does not include the minorities in the sample such(prenominal) as indigenous peoples, to a greater extentover, it fails to address the complexity of culture p310Because of these limitations mentioned above, the au thors adopt another(prenominal) suitable approach which they believe it is the appropriate one for such a study.The alternative utilize approach is Yin and Yang values manikin, the authors believe that A useful eyeshot for examining the cultural values and conceptions of reality reflected and socially reproduced by accounting, is that of the universal masculine or yang and the universal feminine or yin (Hines, 1992, p. 318).as several(prenominal) writers (Hines 1992) showed that the language of accounting preferences yang values, such as quantification, objectivity, efficiency, productivity, reason, and logic, and in doing so, silences or excludes those values associated with the universal feminine or yin, such as relationships, nurturing, experience, and intuition p310The authors address the usefulness of the adoption of this value framework to their study in two primary reasons. The first reason is because of the evidence of unique Australian indigenous cultural values provide d from a large appeal of anthropological, sociological and pedagogical literature. Secondly, the increasing emphasis of the Australian indigenous people s on cultural values and traditions.Core Australian indigenous cultural valuesIn this section, authors try to introduce the differences in cultural values within the indigenous Australian peoples or (the yin core values).According to the authors, The whole alliance is classified into specific relationships with each member (Crawford, 1989). For example, the Pitjantjatjara people of Central Australia gave Europeans kinship terms . The Yolngu of the Northern Territory are also known to assign positions within the domain of Yolngu kinship to non-Aboriginal people with whom they have more than superficial or brief contact . Thus for legion(predicate) indigenous peoples, kin positions constitute the basic datum of social identity. p 313Also authors state that sharing and relatedness values are central to these indigenous societies esp ecially to Aboriginal society.In the next sections the authors focus on two groups of value taking them as examples, these groups of values, according to the authors, are aligned to yin values.Work-related valuesIn this section the work-related values of indigenous peoples are presented as yin values, which are clearly reflected in the indigenous attitudes to work, consequently are in contrast with yang values.Some examples was given in support to this issue the strength and character of obligatory relationships and the web of sharing within kinship networks are often acknowledged as a key determinant of the success or trouble of indigenous enterprises. Yet, governments at the state and federal levels and indigenous funding bodies have consistently ignored this factor. Instead, indigenous organisations and communities have been increasingly submitted to fiscal accounting controls and measures of financial accountability and compliance which prioritise yang values that are in direct conflict with the core Australian indigenous values of sharing and relatedness. p 316Land-related valuesDescriptions of how the land is considered by indigenous peoples in Australia drive out be found under this section where the authors provide evidences on how land values for these indigenous are different to accounting and accountability systems in the Western capitalist environment.The authors state that The earth is considered the source of all life and, as such, the indigenous peoples are get to look after the earth, so that the earth will in turn provide for them p 318According to the authors the link between these peoples and land is much deeper than plainly an economic property, as it can be read that In Australian indigenous culture it is the spiritual link to the land that is all-pervasive. The land is the source of the Dreamings, the source of identity and the foundation principle of land rights in indigenous culture is not one of individual proprietary rights, rath er it is relationships p 319The meaning of native titleNative title was identified in the article as inalienable right consisting of the laws, customs, practices and traditions of particular communities. As such, the rights under native title are limited to the indigenous community which observes those traditions, customs and practices. Native title does not equate with the estates, rights or interests in land which form the law of real property at common law . . . it is to be regarded as unique p 320The indigenous consider it as an important part of their culture not as it appears in the Western accounting literature as. The property. The asset. The economic resource. The commodity and. The natural capital.The firing of this title means loss of culture itself for these Australian indigenous peoples.Conclusion commentsthe article concludes with the mention of the failure of mainstream cross-cultural accounting research to include the norms and values of less advantage groups such a s indigenous, also the article refers to the complexity of accounting and accountability to study such a subject as these social aspects are part of many other subjects as history, ideology, language and mythology. Moreover, the authors suggest to build on the work has been made by Hines (1992) and Broadbent (1995 1998).Critical ReflectionsThis section critically evaluates the work has been done by Greer S. and Patel C. (2000) by reviewing the used method and objectives achieved in the light of other works on the same topic.Strengthsit is good attempt to bring such issues to the attention of accounting, some issues like the issue of accounting and indigenous, how they are effected by accounting and how accounting should benefits from their cultures for example in terms of environment and social responsibility. As Gallhofer et al (2000) think that it seems appropriate to speculate further upon how indigenous cultural principles might be reflected more generally in the context of impa cting upon accounting p 397The objectives of the article were clearly stated and strongly linked to the title. Also the abstract summaries and explains clearly the debate issue of the article and the limitations of the methods used before.The aims and objectives of the article were well addressed and The findings were well organized and reported objectively. More importantly, new approach was applied as alternative method to characterize the indigenous peoples cultural differences in terms of accounting and accountability.It can be said that the article was well written and sectioned in good order, also very clear literature review was introduced by descriptions of the related work has been done in the same field within discussions in different places in the article which, also number of good references were used in both method section and the development body. In my view, that would give a good opportunity to describe the contents of the article and make them more readable. Not to mention the number of examples was injected in different sections of the article to support the ideas included.WeaknessesGallhofer and Chew state that (2000) We are particularly concerned to address the trouble that non-indigenous researchers side of meat when they write about issues concerning indigenous peoples and cultures p 258. As mentioned it could be a problematic issue that non-indigenous researchers can not reflect clearly the complexity of cultural and social elements and accounting in indigenous societies in general.At one point it could be said that the method used to gather the data for this article were clearly explained and the developments of the critical contextual analysis were well explained. On the other point, however, the reliability of the used texts is sometimes difficult to be measured. Also the scope of the study and the population used were not based on a clear approach.Hofsteds cultural taxonomy was criticized in the article because of its limitations h owever, the method was employed as alternative approach (Yin and Yang value framework) has its own limitations too.At one point the used method is acceptable for determining the content and deliver broader understanding to the reader .however, it could be in question(predicate) if it is the appropriate method to explain and develop scientific accounting theory and result reliable outcomes as it is affected by other sciences such as language, history and politics. This makes the issue is more complicated and can not be canvass without considering other elements, for instance, Jayasinghe and Dennis Thomas (2009) found that The findings imply that any form of reasonable transformations in indigenous accounting systems in local subaltern communities requires a phenomenological analysis of any prevailing and dominant patronage political systems. p 351From individual(prenominal) point of view, hybrid Approach should be applied to study the topic including ethno-methodological approach .The article does not mention clearly how to improved the accounting theory and steep it with indigenous culture and practices, in personal view, the expected outcomes of studies not just general description to matters but also to give potential solutions.It also can be argued that the article does not show whereas the indigenous peoples welcome the western accounting and accountability systems or not, and if yes till which degree. In general, the article should have studied both sides of the relationship between the indigenous and the language of western accounting and how they affect each other rather than focusing on one side as the relationship is an interactive one.As it seems that the issue is more deep-rooted in the accounting field which requires studying the historical background of the matter.It is also disputable that although the authors arose the differences between cultures within the same country, they applied the comprehensiveness when they studied the indigenous a nd ignored the cultural differences between these indigenous peoples themselves, for instance Gallhofer et al (2000) believe that on that point are complex differences between the three groups of indigenous people and indeed between their different tribes. p 384Questions Left to AnswerThe article raises issues and possibilities that should be concentrate on and questions need to be further explored additional studies are needed to raise research possibilities beyond those identified and overcome method limitations.ConclusionIn conclusion, the paper has promoted to the idea of providing evidence of differences between indigenous Australian values and the Western capitalist values in the accounting context. Some good cases have been presented with implementing a developed method in the field. Besides, several of good references have been used in order to develop the problem statement of the article,It could also be said that the yin and yang values framework which used in the paper has its limitation in terms of providing evidences of the problem studied.The conclusion was based on the findings from the critical contextual analysis used and the literature reviewed also the recommendation was limited to a call for additional research in this area of research as some other researchers suggest (Gallhofer and Chew 2000).Overall, the study gives good contribution to knowledge in terms of the used method and the objectives, also the study would need to be linked to other works have been done on the same topic (Gallhofer, S., Chew, A. (2000), Gallhofer, S., el al (2000), Davie, S. (2000), Jayasinghe K. and Thomas D. (2009), to give better and broader understanding to the problem introduced in the mentioned article.

Block Buster Entertainment Case Study

Block Buster Entertainment Case Studymegahit is iodine of the world leading companies that provide video, DVD pick outal and games. It has grown much than 8500 stemmas franchised worldwide that bring smash hit as one of gigantic in rent qualified home entertainment. It also has more than 40,000 titles that can be choosing by consumers all day. In the year 2000, Blockbuster begins to explore the Pay-Per-View market place and well establish in the 2001 Cases in Crafting and Executing Strategy.Leading market position- Blockbuster is the worlds largest video rent chain, with about 9,000 company-owned or franchised stores in 25 countries including US. In the United States and its territories Blockbuster has 5,194 stores operating under its name. Of the 5,194 stores, 939 were operated through its franchisees. One of the largest competitors of Blockbuster, the Movie Gallery, owns and operates approximately 4,575 stores in the US and Canada, which is less than what Blockbuster, owns besides in the United States. Blockbuster has 2.2 million on cables length subscribers, including 2.0 million paying subscribers in the fiscal year of 2006. The strong market presence enhances the betray name image of the company and helps in attracting new consumers and as a result increasing the market share.Strong product sales division- Blockbuster has the strongest merchandise sales division. Beside the rental affair Blockbuster is strong on the merchandise sales, which include sale of movies and games. In addition to sales of new movies and games blockbuster has positioned some(prenominal) small merchandise like popcorn candy etc. next to the check out counter so people waiting on line are more likely to purchase those merchandise.Total access program.- Blockbuster has generated an online subscription program that allows consumers to have easy access to their preference of movies. This is an Internet found subscription that allows node to rent a DVD by mail and offers mo re varieties of titles than the store offers. Through the Total access program, Blockbuster enhanced and integrated its in-store and online rental business.Blockbuster continues to focus on offering programs that are an alternative to the programs offered by mass merchant retailers and other online subscription service providers.Strong brand equity-Blockbuster has 3,166 stores operating under the Blockbuster brand name internationally because of its strong local brand awareness (Finance.yahoo.com). The company operates under XTRA-Vision brand name in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. in like manner they offer free-standing under the Game Rush brand name in Canada, Ital, Mexico and Denmark. The companys strong brand name gives it an advantage of successfully introducing newer go and increasing its market share.Blockbuster, has about 40% share of domestic rental market and a globally recognized brand, is the leading provider of rentable DVDs (Full report). Let us apply a closer look at each components of marketing mix and various strategies that Blockbuster is currently using to achieve its vision.Product Blockbuster is cognize for its movie renting and also now has video games and products available. Blockbuster also has option for buying DVDs as well as video games. It is also onerous to get extended movie rights for International and making deals to have high volume of movies available at any given time.Price- Blockbuster had varied services offered for various prices. The price for in-store movie rental is about $4.32 for new and old movies for x amount of days. The online movie services are as follows The company uses different approaches to acquire new and retain existing customers. In response to Netflixs online rental program, Blockbuster deployed its own version of online rental program. Moreover, the company went one-step further by offering the exchange of the online movies against more at the local stores. Customers find it conveni ent and a quick method to swap, and Blockbuster acquires the much needed flow of customers in and out of the stores.Recently, the company also went through two different types of store remodeling tests. One of them is called Rock the Block, which is for the technology-savvy customers who are comfortable using kiosks and interactive displays. The other one is called White Tornado, which also includes new paint, carpet, fixtures, and lower-hanging shelves for a different look and appeal. The prototype test stores results reflected an increase of 7% to 12% in revenues (Gruenwedel).Another aspect of this business is high price-elasticity. Consumers can easily switch to another product (from a different source) without losing quality or some other attribute. They also have a choice of acquiring the same product from redbox for one-fourth the price. To overcome these challenges, the company employs different methods to add value for the economic profit. These include rewards programs and online marketing with coupons, and are created based on the psychology of consumer behavior. For example, the rewards program offers one free movie after every five rentals, and one free older movie with every salaried rental on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (when the traffic tends to be slow). Finally, all employees are trained and expected to offer best possible customer service to the customers this is critical in retaining the existing customers and earning new ones through word of mouth.Blockbuster is very active in building community dealing. The companys community mission states At Blockbuster, our community relations activities are designed to Utilize corporate and employee resources and talents to benefit the communities we serve by supporting system of ruless which impact children/families, reflect a film/video focus or fulfill specific company operating objectives related to diversity and employment (Blockbuster Community, 2008). Similarly, the organization is committ ed to providing diversity through each phase of the business.The size of the organization and market share are also important social trends for both the company and the agate lineholders/shareholders. Although the value of Blockbuster decreased over the years, the value of a stock depends entirely on the economic profits that investors expect a company to produce in the future. Past profits matter only because they play a role in creating expectations about future performance (Boyes, 2004, 51). The financial results of the company reflect profits for the four consecutive quarters, after years of reported losses therefore, the value of stocks is expected to increase.Perhaps the most important political trend for a company is to get involved in a fusion or acquisition. Blockbuster had attempted to acquire Hollywood in 2005, but Hollywood entered into the merger agreement with Movie Gallery (Fran Finnegan Company, 2008). In April 2008, Blockbuster proposed a merger with Circuit Cit y (Blockbuster merger, 2008).Facing legal actions in the business would be another aspect of political trends. Blockbuster has faced numerous lawsuits in the old including being sued over no late fees in 2005 by consumers, and over using the online rental model by Netflix in 2006. The legal department (of the company) work diligently to handle these and similar legal and political issues as they arise. In the online DVD rental channel, Blockbusters competitor Netflix has forced it to pursue a cross-channel strategy. Blockbuster has been able to successfully leverage its physical storefront presence with its Total Access program which allows customers to have DVDs sent to their house and exchange them at the actual store (Blockbuster.com). This synergy has allowed Blockbuster to actually earn a twenty cent profit in the first quarter. (Motley Fools Website Blockbuster Eats Brains)The current in-store strategy and need is to focus more on the retail items, and push the sale of imp ulse purchase products. There are rumors that the company would be pulling away from the rental, and would only be offering the new retail movies and games. This would certainly be an interesting change, and Blockbuster stores would become more like Game Rush stores.

Diamond Foam Business: Marketing Strategies Analysis

baseball field Foam Business Marketing Strategies AnalysisExecutive SummaryThis study falls into trey straggles. The initiatory fibre gives mental processs/transformation passage in rhombus Foam and Pak Electron LTD.In this plane section the different strategies standardised foodstuffplaceine,competitive priorities and corporate strategies has been discussed for each make-up.In second part the different thoughts or frameworks like history wariness, mathematical process measurement, total lumber attention, capacity planning and supply chain design has been interpreted. I have taken different case studies to explain the different methodologies. In the third part the imp impress of the different concepts and frameworks has been shown on each of the organization.a) Marketing Strategies of Diamond Foam post StrategyCustomer perceives Diamond Foam is lofty quality spark. Foam is high involvement product and people see terms and quality to begin with purchase it.Targ et MarketDiamond Foam has broad target market in Pakistan beca subroutine all product requires foam is their target market and person utilise that foam is their target node. Customers in south region are furniture showrooms and in north region are dealers and they not sell their products to discontinue-users. Diamond Foam used product development dodge with different product in current market.Marketing Mix StrategyProductProducts that are sell by Diamond Foam are forswear mattressBed sheets/comforterFoam mattressFoam productsQualityQuality aspects of Diamond Foams products are given below. thoroughgoing(a) peace of mind for their customers Diamond Foam never foregoes their responsibility in complete quality control. A good mattress isnt bonny dependent on its high quality standard hardly in addition the quality of after-sale service that gives you lasting comfort and security.Diamond Foam has a quality control department who construct products and processes according to SOP s (Standard Operating Procedures) for efficient and hazard-free operations.Diamond Foam offer high quality cat sleep products that are outstanding value with all the organic benefits of a good night.FeaturesFeatures of products that are manufactured by Diamond Foams are given below.Offer high quality sleep products that are outstanding values with all the wellnessful benefits of a good night.Medically it is proven that not everybody is comfortable sleeping on a plain surface, and Diamond Foam discoloration, dolce Vita Adjustable hit the sack, gives you that option to raise your head or feet to a send where you are most(prenominal) comfortable.Brand NameFoam mattressEuropedic Memory FoamSpring mattressDolce Vita Pocket Spring MattressesDolce Vita Bonnell Spring MattressDiamond JumbolonJumbolon BoardJumbolon SprayJumbolon Rolls liveness style productsDolce Vita ReclinerDolce Vita Adjustable bedPackagingDiamond Foam provides good cover and polythene bag for their products.Returns In warrantee period, Diamond Foam replace foam mattress with foam mattress when it is damaged.divine serviceServices of Diamond Foam are given below.Going beyond traditional service, to provide state of the art customer care devour, and want to suck up customers loyalty by delivering services that anticipate their needs.Diamond Foam is constantly looking for ship canal to improve their service by listening to customers, monitoring fulfilance and use uping the best get along.GuaranteeGuarantee that is given to customers are given below.Customer relaxation is intensified by the fact that every product is sold with dependable guarantee and superior class after-sales services.Diamond Foam take pjustifye to be the finest mattresses corporation, who similarly adheres to its philosophy to provide superior after-sale service by plentiful the reliable guarantee that looks after your comfort year after year.They repair or replace your mattress, this guarantee continues from the origi nal date of purchase.Diamond Foam also gives guarantee on stitches pulled out of the handle where sewn to the mattress.Customers guarantee is valid for original purchaser further and it protects you from the day you purchase your mattress or complete sleep administration, and continues according to the Guarantee Period specified.DiscountsAll brands of Dolce Vita (Pocket Spring), Duet and Dolce Vita (Bonnell Spring), except arrogant Jacquard Fabric and Supreme, are discounted 23% for dealers and distributors. Supreme Jacquard Fabric and Supreme are discounted by 15%.WarrantiesDiamond Foam gives warranties to their customers from 10 years to 12 years.Payment PeriodsDiamond Foam gives a payment period to their customers up to 3 months.Credit ItemsDiamond Foam sells their item normally on cash basis but more or lesstimes gives on credit to particular customers. rankCoverageDiamond Foam has coverage to Pakistan, Dubai, Afghanistan and Egypt.LocationsDiamond Foam has different distrib ution center in and outside Pakistan, which provide foam to end-users.InventoryDiamond Foam never faces a riddle of stock out because matchless day plant work in a day generate line for 2 weeks.TransportDiamond Foam has 150 trucks, which provide foam to dealers and distributors.PromotionAdvertisingDiamond Foam spends 10% of sales annually on advertisement and uses all elbow room for communication (e.g. billboards, TV, radio, etc) for advertise their foam.Sales PromotionDiamond Foam gives different rates of discount to distributors on different brands. usable Strategies of Diamond FoamDiamond Foam provides standardized foam in large cadence (mass doing), continuously improves their operations and processes. Sometimes they do mass customization (in call of size and smoothness, which is described by customers). Diamond Foam has no computer-integrated design for design of foam. Diamond Foam has skilled labor (job grass over) and all plants are modify (dedicated transfer lines) and parts are not group in concert before the operation because unity man can operate plant. Operations department is credi cardinalrthy for reservation highly economical, efficient and customer oriented operations from receipt of products to safe storage and onward dispatches to customers (dealers) timely and efficiently.How Diamond Foam make foamFirst of all they gather natural materials (PPG, TDI and catalysts). Three of them add in one tube and after this heat is given to their mixture and after this effect is spread by air and foam pass on be generated.Core FunctionsFollowing are core functions of Diamond Foams operations departmentProduct goodHandling StorageDispatchesHospitalityOperation DepartmentPurchasing Strategies of Diamond FoamDiamond Foam purchases raw materials from many suppliers (multiple sourcing) of Korea, Taiwan and China. The basic raw material used in the process is Polypropylene Glycol (PPG), Toluene Di Isocynate (TDI) and many catalysts. Price of raw materials (PPG and TDI) is based on price of crude oil color ($100/barrel). TDI prices have maturationd up to 35% since last 10 months. The primary function of the Diamond Foams purchasing department is to purchase the supplies, materials, equipment and services inevitable to insure that maximum value is obtained for each rupees spent. Specific responsibilities, duties and functions of Diamond Foams purchasing department are as at a lower placePolicies and ProceduresDevelop purchasing objectives, policies, programs and procedures for the purchase and spotting for all materials, supplies, equipment and services.SpecificationsPrepare and assemble specifications and technical requirements.Consolidation Bulk PurchasingExplore the possibilities of buying in bulk to take full advantage of quantity discounts. According to the situation, Diamond Foam can purchase twice the raw material than needed due to fluctuations in the prices of petroleum products.StandardizationWork with othe r keen departments to constitute standardization of materials, supplies and equipment where practicable within a competitive environment.Compliance with lawsInsure that all purchases are made in compliance with applicable statutes, rules, regulations and policies. sinful for employeesUnlawful for employees to purchase any materials, supplies, equipment, or make any contract with anyone without the consent/permission of purchasing department.PAK ELECTRON LTDPEL was realised in 1956. with the technical collaboration of M/S AEG, West Germany. It is the oldest composite electrical equipment-manufacturing unit of Pakistan with the object of initially producing transformers, switchgears and electric motors. In 1962 after conclusion of joint venture down the stairsstanding with AEG, total dowryholding was purchased than by sponsors M/S Malik Brothers Limited.COMPETITIVE PRIORITIESCOSTLow approachcalibreConsistent quality with high class appliance performance.flexiblenessA lot of volu me, equipment and workforce flexibility is present.OPERATIONAL/ FUNCTIONAL TESTINGHere a refrigerator is operationally/ functionally tested. It is operated for a whole day.QUALITY CONTROL CHECKINGHere the quality assurance is checked. The refrigerator is checked technically and physically by quality control.PACKING SECTION-Now the refrigerator is adjust for packing after quality control checking. So the refrigerators are packed according to their models and colors, and delivered to the Storeroom.INVENTORY MANAGEMENT pixel is in a seasonal wrinkle since the demand season for their product is from April to September. PEL management estimates the demand very carefully and tries to avoid the pilling of the inventory. Production of PEL jump in Feb. to April and they need more(prenominal) Inventories in this season. To keep the overhead charges low PEL has a small no of permanent workers which -work through out the year. However to meet the demand of the banknote season the managemen t hire the workers at the temporary basis just before the start of the season.REORDER POINTOptimal replenish inventory system is used by PEL. In more technical terms the minimum level serves as reorder point.For managing the Inventory of different types, The guild divides the inventory into two broad categories.Raw material InventoryFinished goods Inventory cleverness MEASUREIn every department PEL has got some(prenominal) machines which are used in the production of divers(a) appliances and electrical equipment whose capacity is measured in term of the output measures.BOTTLE NECKIn the whole production process in that location are certain stages which are more time consuming than the others. So this limits the out put rate to a minimum level to that which was expected. In the process of the refrigerator manufacturing the bottleneck is created at the thermo foaming machine. In the process from base making to the packing at the stage of the foaming this bottleneck is created.CAPA CITY STRATEGIESCAPACITY CUSHIONOn the average each department has the capacity cushion which varies from 5% to 15%ECONOMIES OF SCALEPEL is trying to reduce its live through enjoying the economies of scales in his processes. Because of the purchasing in the bulk and using the activities as the measure of the overhead charges PEL has been prosperous in reducingThe cost of materialsThe cost struck in the processesThe cost in the overhead.b)Warburtons managing the supply chain to meet customer needsWarburtons is a family firm founded in 1870s. It is the 2nd largest grocery brand in UK. Its main focus is on quality not quantity. It holds a market share of 25% of wrapped bread which makes it a market consumeer. It produces roughly two million of bakery products daily due to which there is an everyday fresh supply of baked products in the market.Warburtons have divided their economy into common chord sectors primary, secondary and tertiary.The primary sector involves, the growing and extraction of raw materials, like grains. Warburtons work with the farmers of UK and Canada to get a very good quality of grain/wheat. thirdhand sector deals with converting the collecting raw material, that is, wheat into flour and then finally flour into bread. From fifty years, Warburtons are working with millers which convert their wheat into quality flour. then this flour is used to bake quality breads. Many modern techniques are used to perfectly bake bread and ensure quality.Tertiary sectors bridges other firms and clients with Warburtons. Tertiary sector is largest in UK as compared with primary and secondary. Warburtons have more than 900 delivery vehicles, which ensure a fresh supply of bread in market every day. It uses software to ensure efficiency of this fleet.(thetime100Warburtons)Total Quality prudenceAny company in the world can get 100% customer satisfaction and the default can be minimized to zero by using total quality management.Nissan(thetime100Nissan)Introd uctionNissan Motor Manufacturing UK is the UKs largest car manufacturing plant. It is also the most productive plant in Europe. This success is due to careful planning and design.Total Quality Management (TQM)TQM is a key feature of Nissans representation of working. It means that everyones focus is on quality at all times. It is a way of operating that requires people to take on an improvement culture where everyone is looking for ways to improve.Just in timeThis means that production happens just as it is needed. Cars are produced as customers need them components arrive as assembly lines need them, and so on. In this way, production is more efficient and there is no cash tied up in stocks either of raw materials or finished goods. all(prenominal) vehicle is electronically monitored at all stages of production so that its progress can be checked. nurtureIn much(prenominal) a high engine room environment it is distinguished that people are trained. NMUKs training department concentrates on both technical and people development, providing opportunities for all employees.KaizenKaizen means continuous improvement. It means that Nissan believes that even the smallest transport can make a difference. Improvements are usually suggested by small teams, who meet to share ideas for improvements.Unison(thetime100Unison)Every tender-hearted has a dear to be healthy and work in an environment where he/she is safe. Trade unions, like UNISON provides workers with their regenerates, health and safety.UNISON (the public service trade union) was organize in 1993, and nowadays it is UKs largest trade union. Its main focus is on providing workers with their rights, health and safety. It is a merger of three public sector unions in which two-third workforce consists of women. It has been sight that in presence of UNISONs safety representatives, ratio of accidents and demise is decreased by half.UNISON plays an important role in workplace, like providing higher ben efits (pays, compensations etc.) to the workers with extra holidays.It cares for the cleansing staff (as they are dealing with higher rate of accidents), looks after the catering (by improving food levels in schools and hospitals etc.)UNISONs legislation consists of two types of laws/clause one is the HASAWA act 1974 (which bounds the employer to care and calculate risk for employees safety) and other law/clause binds the employee to look after itself and workers around him/her for their safety.UNISONs viewpoint is to provide long lasting health and safety for the workers. It focuses on women health and safety, reducing violence, bullying, passive smoking and minimizing the stress of the workers.Capacity PlanningNissan(thetime100Nissan)ProductionCar assembly is a complex operation with many components requiring skilled assembly.Thats a crude indication of what is involved. Management are particularly keen to monitor total machine-hours and total labour-hours that each vehicle requi res.So far, Nissan has invested over 2.1 billion in the Sunderland site, taking its production capacity to 500,000 vehicles per year.Production methods moldiness be able to produce what customers want, in the quantities customers require, at a price consumers are leave aloneing to pay, and at a cost that yields a profit to the business. That means that be efficient is vital to success.In some industries it is possible to give birth out individual job production to meet a particular customers request e.g. a wedding dress, a birthday cake, a fitted kitchen. However, very to the highest degree all of the worlds car manufacturers mass produce standard models, with individual consumer choice being accommodated by offering unlike colours, interior designs, and optional extras within a limited flexible production process. People can still personalise their cars further e.g. by choosing a particular car registration or accessories.In pursuit of high output at low average cost, car manu facturing typically uses a continuous flow production method, where sub-assemblies are brought together in a final assembly area. This is the most cost effective and efficient method of production and the speed of the final assembly line can be adjusted to match consumer demand. If demand picks up, the production line can be accelerated, within predefined limits.At NMUK, the production flow draws on three main production shops, as well as support areas. The three main shops arebody assemblypaintingfinal assembly.Supporting manufacturing areas arepress shop produces panels for the vehiclesplastics shop makes bumpers (fenders) on sitecastings shop makes engine parts e.g. cylinder headsengine shop assembles engines, installs oil, coolant fuelaxle plant produces axles that are joined to engines in final assembly.Widely different processes generate different jobs across three main broad areas.The machinery is scheduled to work at a given level although when demand requires it there is flexibility in regard to both the machinery and the workforce of 4,300. At the moment, with a two-shift pattern, NMUK has a total production capacity of around 360,000 units/year a third shift can be introduced which would take production up to 500,000 units/year if and when take.Performance Measurement(thetime100cocacola)In any business activity it is important to be able to measure the success of strategies and operational activities. Measuring performance is the best way of assessing how effective strategies and initiatives have been, with a view to making detach adjustments. Organisations need to measure and report performance against stated aims contained in a business plan, eg daily output, employee turnover. The business exit tend to measure and evaluate only those aspects of its business over which it has control. Ideally these measurements should also be benchmarked so that everyone can see how performance compares with others.Coca-Cola uses detailed sets of performa nce indicators for many areas of its activities, including its work to promote companionable responsibility. Community performance indicators includeImpact evaluations of community programmes. These include indicators of educational attainment as well as of environmental rearment and conservation.Perception measures of the Company as a good neighbour.Inventory Management( inventorymanagement.com)Inventory management is primarily well-nigh specifying the size and placement of stocked goods. Inventory management is needed at different locations within a facility or within multiple locations of a supply network to protect the regular and planned way of life of production against the random disturbance of running out of materials or goods. The scope of inventory management also concerns the fine lines between replenishment lead time, carrying be of inventory, asset management, inventory forecasting, inventory valuation, inventory visibility, future inventory price forecasting, phys ical inventory, available physical space for inventory, quality management, replenishment, returns and defective goods and demand forecasting.c) Peldoes not have proper inventory planning by the management due to which heavy amount of the money is being put by the company in the inventory.PEL has the strength also that it has a good repute for the company as being the quality conscious company. It has own experts for the suggest of the control of the quality of products. Due to the good sight selection for the purpose of the power division the company has more access to the whole of the markets of the country. The company also has well established system of the distribution of the company although it is not the integrated one but it is working smoothly.The company should also make some of the methods for the purpose of the keeping the inventory at the optimal level. Proper planning of the material can decrease the amount of the investment in the inventories by the company. The mana gement of this company does not use the sophisticated technique while making or performing the function of the demand forecasting by the company. They rely more on the judgmental methods for the purpose of the projection by the company about their sales.In Diamond Foam the training is given to workers for developing their skills for future. The promotion based on consistent with job. determineing is given on by-line basis.Identify the gap in performance of the employeesCompile detail of employee require trainingIdentify the areas of trainingIdentify the skills of trainees.Train the employeeManagement assesses the training programs success or failure.Benefits for employeesBenefits for employees provided by Diamond Foam are as under.Medical allowances given by the company to the candidateluncheon and dinner facility for employeesApron, gloves and other requirements related to production of foam mattress will be provided by the companyUniforms provided by the company to helpers/guard Health and sentry duty policiesHealth and safety policies are described by Diamond Foam are given below.Production area should be cleanFirst financial aid should be provided in case of any emergencyProper ventilation system/ exhaust fans to maintain the temperatureIn case of any fire there should be fire extinguisher and an exit door in factory and different officesElectric wires should be placed as no wires come under feet. Wire should be correctly placedConclusionI have researched both companies and I have gained much knowledge about different aspects,operations,frameworks in both organization Diamond Foam and PEL.Both are using different types of inventory management, Total Quality managemeny,supply chain design, performance measures,capacity planning.Buddhism What Is Nirvana?Buddhism What Is Nirvana?Buddhism represents one of the greatest religions in the world. Its roots are traced back in India, and today it forms the major religion of countries such as Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Th ailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia. Buddhists have also been found to affiance some areas in Europe including Asia, Australia and America. The major distinguishing feature of Buddhism is that, Buddhists never believe in God as with the other religions. Buddha is the figure from which they obtain and follow their phantasmal teachings. Buddha is not recognized as a cite. It stands for a title which carries the meaning of the enlightened one. All Buddhists have one main goal, to become enlightened just like Buddha and live free from all manner of proneness. Buddhism came from the transformative view of enlightenment followed by his compassionate feeling of helping others realize paradise by themselves (Ganeri, p. 3 Trainor, p. 66).The teachings of Buddhism come from the experiences Buddha has while searching the truth about woe and how it can be ended. Buddha had several lessons. The first lesson was known as the Four Noble truths. These teachings explained that the experienc es of suffering is everyones in life. This suffering is as a progeny of people not being contended with what they have. According to the Second Noble truth, suffering is caused by swear. A term trishna is usually used and implies that all human beings yearn for a number of things. These include food, power, sex and possessions. Buddha explains that all these are world troubles and are grow deeply in desire. Desire is known to wrap the human mind distorting our understanding and leading us to desire-driven ways. Such ways tend to ensure human continued suffering and inevitable samara. Samara is likened to a flooding river in the early texts of Buddha. This river sweeps away humanity to misery, death and rebirth. This flooding is as a result of submitting to desire. Buddhas teachings are likened to a raft that can be used to take refuge, overcoming the water currents and reaching the other end. This is the offshore end which is safer and is likened to nirvana. It is argued in pali texts that desire is integral in the world and because of this its power managed to shape life on earth (Trainor, p. 66).The Third Noble Truth highlights a terse reference to the Buddhists of import focus on the spiritual causation. The cyclical cause pattern and the effect through which desire leads to intense suffering can be reversed. This will in conclusion be controlled leading to the possibilities of enlightenment and nirvana.First humans were non-material beings and enjoyed blissful and long lives. One of them happened to taste the sweetest thing on earth, and the same thing today is being consumed by crave and desire. The other humans tasted the sweet thing and the radiance disappeared. Peoples bodies became solid as plants and other edible materials appeared. Desire became so powerful such that creatures divided themselves into gender, initiated sex along with theft, lying, and harmful actions. All these characterize the world as we know it today. Buddhism gives careful a nalysis in the early texts which explained that the existence of desire will prevent one from reaching nirvana (Trainor, p. 66).Philosophers in Buddhism divide desire into three kinds for sensual pleasure, for rebirth and future rebirth. Early Buddhists found difficulties following the idea of ending desire. For Buddhists, the body is to be respected and should maintain life. It should be cared for but not loved. Desire must also be eliminated without mutilating the body. Focus on desire makes plain Buddhists emphasis on renunciation and detachment. Buddhists everyday life involves renunciation of the everyday world of desire in favor of the monastic community. Sangha settled for a refuge just for this (Harvey, p. 69). This would offer individuals a chance to lead a simple life and and then lose their desires. At the same time, the name of Buddha would be administered as good medicine of his Dharma to sick humanity. Advanced stages in refuge lead to the desire to learn more of Bud dhas teachings. The desire to be enlightened was to be renounced so as to reach nirvana, the ultimate goal of all Buddhists (Trainor, p. 66). There is also another way of bringing the aspects of desire to an end. This is through following the lessons of the Noble multiple roadway. Buddha, from his experiences had realized that there is no happiness in great hardship or great luxury. Thus, he taught the Noble Eightfold path that is divided into eight parts (Ganeri, p. 6).Right understanding is the first part and involves gaining as understanding of Buddhas teachings. The second part is that of right designing. This part says that people should have compassion about others and always think about them in a very kind and generous way. Rights speech is the third part and teaches people not to tell lies, speak unkindly or swear. The fourth part is right action. People are taught not to steal, kill or perform actions that might upset or harm other people. The fifth part is right livelih ood and teaches people to earn their living in ways that do not cause harm to others. Right effort represents the sixth part and teaches people to make the effort of being compassionate and kind. The seven-spotth part is that of right mindfulness, which involves being aware of your own thoughts and actions. Lastly, there is right concentration where people are taught to train their minds to be clear and calm always (Ganeri, p. 6).Lifes purpose for most people, for example, in Thailand, is to get enough merit through acting and thinking in a better way. It is also unders likewised that it takes several lives to reach the goal of nirvana. Buddhism as discussed already, arose from the transformation of Buddhas experience of nirvana and his compassion to help other people realize nirvana by themselves. Buddhists wise statements compare nirvana with fire extinction. Ancients Indians understand that extinguishing a flame releases the flame so that it returns to an agitated, diffuse and e ternal state. Nirvana bears these associations, although it is most often believed to be ahead of all known states of existence (Trainor, p. 69).Men and women realize nirvana through cultivation of wisdom (prajna). Prajna is the active capacity for discernment of the spiritual world, realizing the accredited record of reality, which is described as something marked by suffering, impermanence, non-self and the three characteristics of existence. Complete development of prajna is vital to enlightenment. This is a view that has been shared by all Buddhists schools. Enlightenment, as a term, expresses how the fullness of prajna eliminates all aspects of ignorance and at the same time enabling the mind the see clearly, what reality is all about (Trainor, p. 70).Enlightened individuals at their death enter parinirvana which means complete nirvana. This is an after death state and is beyond description as many texts put it. Nirvana has been discussed covering both its autocratic and neg ative sides a realm where there exists no sun or moon, going or coming an impersonal state transcending individuality. Basing on positive terms, nirvana is at times described as eternal, pure, tranquil and deathless. Philosophers in Buddhism are known to recognize nirvana as the only reality that is permanent in the cosmos. Nirvana is famously considered as indescribable. It is not as depicted erroneously by the early Western interpreters as annihilation meaning an extreme position jilted by the Buddha. An influential definition of nirvana used by the Mahayana tradition presents the famous dictum of the philosopher Nagarjuna. Practitioners in many of the existing traditions have endeavored with cup of tea and eloquence in expression of their experience and enlightenment (Trainor, p. 68).According to Buddhas Noble eightfold path, the fourth noble truth offers the formula for getting rid of desire. The eight ideals described in the concept provide a cure for the continued cycle of r ebirth, suffering and death. These eight ideals are divided traditionally into three categories, which all mark the progressive path to nirvana. The three categories include morality under right speech, right action and right livelihood meditation under right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration and lastly, the cultivation of prajna under right view and right thought. Buddhas definition of the Eightfold path rejected two ideas that are known to be central to the religions of the other world. The first idea is that there is no relationship or belief in the transcendental creator God. This God is the one who is known to sustain the world and also people depend on him for salvation and security. The second idea is that of believing in an immortal soul. This idea is rejected as false consolation that is similarly unsupported by critical analysis. Soul, just like God, is described as a projection of the human mind that is desire-driven in the search for immortality and secu rity (Trainor, p. 68).Eightfold Path is emphasized by the Buddha as a operable guide that is goal-directed. He told his disciples to avoid engaging in mere intellectualism or idle speculations. There is one famous parable of, The Poison Arrow which Buddha uses to describe a problem facing a man who has been hit by a poison-tipped arrow. The Buddha suggests about three questions which the man should possibly ask. The first question is if the man should inquire about the person who shot arrow and the second one about the wood type the arrow is made of. The third question is whether the shot was aimed low or higher. afterwards analyzing a series of other similar scenarios, Buddha explains that only if the man practically addresses the mortal danger that is before him, through getting rid of the poison that would kill him, can he survive. Buddha cautioned his disciples about wasting their time on pointless philosophical inquiries they will end up squandering their spiritual opportuni ties (Trainor, p. 71).The path to nirvana has several classing stages. The first stage is that of steam-enterers who realize the illusion of the self and no longer doubt Buddhas path. They thus expect more than seven rebirths before attaining nirvana. At an advanced stage, the devotee becomes a once returner. He or she has a highly developed prajna, and this means that the person will experience further human life once. Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism both consider Buddha as the highest form of being. Theravada traditions consider both the Buddha and arbat (the enlightened one) to have fully developed prajna (Trainor, p. 88). They also share the same realization of nirvana and pass into the parinirvana state (cessation of birth) (Harvey, p. 223).Buddha taught his followers to be teachers and also to realize that they are different persons, each of whom bearing different situation determined by their karma. Depending on whether they are ordinary people, learners or adopts, each of t hem has to be instructed in a different way and led as needful by Buddhas path. Tradition puts emphasis on the opportunity of human birth that it should not be wasted regardless of the individuals level. Life should thus not be wasted and instead, should be lived with a purpose. Buddhists have a hope of attaining nirvana in the current life they lead and if not, in their future rebirth (Trainor, p. 71).Regarding the Four Noble truths, Buddha explains that if his vision of true knowledge failed to be fully and clearly understood, he stands not to have reached perfect enlightenment. To experience Nirvana, Buddhists should progress towards being more enlightened and gain a better understanding of the Four Noble Truth. This was to happen through meditation and critical consideration of what Buddhism is all about. Knowledge on the elements of the path, however, much sophisticated it appeared, was not sufficient. Following the path and polishing ones understanding of each of the known e lements will lead one to nirvana (Trainor, p. 71).The Noble Eightfold Truth path presents the most vital summary of the Buddhists practice. It is known to outline the necessary and progressive ways of realizing nirvana. The path is understood as the means of cultivating morality (shila) insight (prajna) and meditation (Samadhi) as has been stated. It stresses that progress in morality forms the foundation for the successful meditation. Successful meditation, on the other hand, serves the best platform for the development and perfection of wisdom or insight (Trainor, p. 72).The stages of the Eightfold Path towards Nirvana underscore the practical emphasis of Buddhism as whether, in the goal of raising moral standards, good conduct, the societys material welfare or eliminating desire-driven behavior, cognition restructuring and in the end realizing enlightenment. Moral practices or shila which fall under right speech, right action and right livelihood represent the starting point Budd hists path. A person cannot progress towards nirvana while lacking ethical integrity (Trainor, p. 72).Regarding karma, a person cannot bear the balance of karma that warrants reaching the advanced stages of the path to nirvana while behaving in an immoral way. Morality of Buddhists, when stated positively, dictates the wisdom of cultivating compassion, discernment and detachment. The morality of Buddhists hinges on three areas of human behaviors. These include speech, actions and livelihood. Right action as per a negative description means not to steal, kill or doing harm to others. These aspects of human behavior lead to negative karmic consequences poisoning the mind and thus predisposing a person to future immorality (Trainor, p. 72).Meditation according to the Eightfold path refers to the right effort, right concentration and right mindfulness. The term meditation encompasses various techniques and traditions that work hand in hand with the mind. It is necessary for the developm ent of the mind in terms of clarity of the mind, freedom from states of negativity, insights of conditioned reality that finally lead to nirvana. Meditation has its stem rooted in the experiences Buddha went through. Buddhas meditation was directed by the itinerant teachers, the holy men he stayed with while he was in the forest. A practitioner of meditation following Buddhas example may require a number of years of effort to master. He or she should also be guided by a mentor who is experienced so as to reach the advanced stages of meditation (Trainor, p. 72).Meditation develops on mindfulness together with the two elements of concentration and insight. Right concentration according to the Eightfold Path, is also known as trance meditation (Samadhi), and it involves intense focus on one object of meditation. This leads one to a state of one-pointedness through which the duality of other and self id dissolved. Standing in the conditioned or the unconditioned is a stamp in nirvana t aken up by the Mahayana Buddhism. It is referred to as apratisthita-nirvana or the non-abiding nirvana. It is usually seen as different from the elements of nirvana discussed in the pali texts. This nirvana as discussed by gadjin Nagao is the nirvana attained by the Bodhisattvas. The basic idea here is that Bodhisattvas attain nirvana because of wisdom and with through compassion, and also a Buddhist has no intention of reaching nirvana after death (Harvey, p. 221).Right view and right action are traditionally known as wisdom in Buddhism. They too culminate the means to nirvana. Right view is described as the thorough understanding of the Four Noble Truths while right thought is seen as a detachment from cruelty and hatred. These two aspects of human behavior are known to lead to enlightenment. Buddhas teachings provide unique teachings of achieving this. The success of a person that is pitiable from morality to meditation is measured by the development of prajna (Trainor, p. 74).B uddhism as a religion provides opportunities for other comparative studies with a diversified range of studies. Its emphasis on Middle way provides different guidelines for ethics and at the same time has allowed Buddhism as a religion to coexist with other differing beliefs, institutions and countries where it is practiced and customs. Its spirituals and moral teachings go parallel with other religions. The tenets of Christianity, as has been found by many scholars around the world have represented the subjects of close studies (Weeraperuma, p. 77).Reactive castrate Management Overview and example StudyReactive stir Management Overview and Case StudyIntroductionLife and inter adjustments were born together and they will live together, till the last sunset. The concept of alters was born with the organizations, however its evolution, development and connotations have frequently changed and its horizontal, as well as, vertical expansions and applications are extending day be day , with a fast speed. Manifold and three-d revolutions from era has enhance the speed of changes and given it many new-sprung(prenominal) shapes. It is very interesting phenomenon that inventions, discoveries, concepts, hypothesis and terminologies etc are coined or designed for one specific field, but then they outgrow and enter into many other fields and areas, carrying different meaning, perceptions and interpretations. In the present era of globalization and information technology, the organizations have to face various changes on a very rapid pace. Thus, demanding an increased and active participation of management towards identifying and reacting to the changes. The different ways to manage changes in organizations are being practice at various levels.Effective Change ManagementThe process of effective change management enables the organizations to successfully implement changes in the strategies and plans in order to enhance their effectiveness. The strategies can be impleme nted to deal various changes like changes in consumer behavior, technological developments etc. This concept appears to be helpful in responding to a change in the lifecycle of goods or services produced by the company and changes in the financial stableness of the company. Organizations may consider the effective change management strategies from a proactive or labile situation. Proactive situation demands manager to vigorously assess the current economic market and business atmospheric circumstances to highlight the changes keep in the near long-term future. By assessing these information, the managers adopt to develop business strategies to improve or enhance business operation.The Concept of Reactive Change ManagementIn order to cater the major shifts or changes occurs in the corporate world and economic market the organizations consider various strategies. Although, the approach of reactive change management normally appears to be imperceptible but the implementation of effec tive strategies can not only reduces its negative impacts but enable the companies to increase their market share.Factors to be Considered when Managing a ChangeThe change agentDetermining what should be changedThe kind of change to makeIndividuals change by the modificationsEvaluation of the modificationThe Change AgentThe identification and analysis of change agent comes out to be the most important factor while managing a reactive change in the corporate world. The change agent may requires some broad nature decisions like altering the culture of whole organization, or some narrow ones like designing and implementing a new safety program or a new quality program.Determining what should be changedSecondly the finalization of the factors which are required to be reviewed for managing changes in an organization is highly important. In common, managers should make only those changes that will increase organizational effectiveness. The organizational effectiveness primarily depends upon activities revolving around the three factors.a. Peopleb. Structurec. TechnologyPeople factors are attitudes, leadership skills, communication skills and all other characteristics of the human resources within the organization. Structural factors are organizational controls, such as policies and procedures. And technological factors are any types of equipment or processes that assist organization members in the performance of their jobs. For the management of organization, while managing changes the theme Appropriate people must be matched with appropriate technology and appropriate structure proves to be necessary.The Kind of Changes to MakeWhen the management has to review their current strategies for managing changes the factor of selecting appropriate areas is critical. For example in order to manage technological change the level of current technologies requires to be modified.Individuals Affected by the ChangeA fourth major factor to be considered by the organization whil e managing changes is the identification of its influences on the individuals both inside and outside of the organization. A good assessment of what to change and how to make the change will be wasted if organization members do not support the change.Evaluation of the ModificationsIn connection with the other factors the evaluation of the modifications being made for managing changes is very necessary. It will enable the management to evaluate the effectiveness of the modifications made to manage change.Resistance to ChangeResistance to change is as common as the need of change. After managers decide to make some organizational changes, they typically meet with employee resistance aimed at preventing that change from occurring. Behind this resistance by organization members lies the idolise of some personal loss, such as a reduction in personal prestige, a disturbance of established social and working relationships, and personal failure because of inability to carry out new job re quirements.Reducing Resistance to ChangeTo ensure the success of needed modifications, management should be able to reduce the personal effects of the resistance that typically accompanies proposed change. Resistance can usually be lowered by following these guidelines1. Avoid Surprises People need time to evaluate a proposed change before management implements it. Unless they are given time to evaluate and absorb how the change will affect them. Whenever, possible individuals who will be affected by a change should be informed of the kind of change being considered and the probability that it will be adopted.2. Promote Real Understanding When fear of personal loss related to a proposed change is reduce, opposition to change is also reduced. Most managers find that ensuring that organization members thoroughly understand a proposed change is a major step in reducing this fear.3. Set the Stage for Change Perhaps the most powerful tool for reducing resistance to change is managements positive attitude toward the change. This attitude should be displayed openly by top and middle management as well as by lower management. In essence, management should convey that change is one of the basic prerequisites for a successful organization. Management should also strive to be seen as encouraging change to increase organizational effectiveness, rather than for sake of trying something new.Case Study of Strategic change at Samsung GroupCase study is a research strategy which involves investigation of a particular contemporary phenomenon in the real life situation using multiple sources of evidence. More elaborate explanation on the nature of the case study as a research strategy was given by Frenkel, Hommel, Dufey Markus, (2005). in whose view case study represents a specific way of collecting, organizing, and analyzing data. Grounded theory represents a strategy which posits that the data is collected through observations and compared to various theoretical frameworks in order to discover which of the data is the most appropriate. This leads the researcher into making predictions about the studied phenomena prior to putting the findings into test. However, the aim of grounded theory is to make studied data records well-developed and understood and to verify relationships between the findings and the case study in question (Frenkel, Hommel, Dufey Markus, 2005).Samsung Group, a company based in the Republic of Korea that produces electronic products like televisions and radios, was able to compete favorable in the world market on the basis of low product cost resulting primarily from cheap labor and a cheap Korean currency. But when both the competitive advantages vanished the company had to adopt some different strategies.The management of Samsung Group evaluated the circumstances and adopted a change in their strategy. They decided to utilize the factor of innovation by exploring new ideas and products instead of depending on low product cost. Thi s change management of the Samsung Group, enabled them to grab big dividends. The top management of Samsung also enabled to guide their employees towards the new strategies of bringing advance(a) products.Advantage of Reactive Change ManagementThe effective utilization of reactive change management enables the management of organizations to increase their market share and to bring success for their organization. Some of the main advantages are discussed below -.In-depth Assessment of ChangesThe reactive change management provides some additional time to access the impacts of changes being set about by the corporate world. It is obvious that the results of changes at any level can be determined after its implementation and a reasonable time span. Therefore, by adopting reactive change management the organization gets the opportunity to analyze the impact of changes and then finalizing the plans and strategies to cater those changes.Evaluation of Competitors Strategies and their Out comeReactive change management also enables the management to evaluate the changes adopted by their competitors to mange the change. Moreover, the outcome of those strategies could also be judged and considered while finalizing the change management strategies.Consultation for Change Management StrategiesReactive change management lets the management to embrace consultations within the organizational setup to evaluate the changes being encountered. Moreover, various suggestions regarding the strategies and policies can be discussed and their implications can be evaluated. This process will enable them to enhance the participating of various organizational members and results in enhancing the effectiveness of strategies and policies.Enhances the Stability of OrganizationStability of organization is as important as the need of growth. If an organization adopts change management strategies on frequent basis it will questions the factor of its stability. Reactive change management enabl es organizations to evaluate the factor of stability before adopting any change in their strategies.ConclusionMost of the managers agree that if an organization is to thrive, it must change in response to significant developments in the corporate environment, such as changing customer needs, technological breakthroughs, and new government regulations. The study of organizational changes is extremely important because all managers at all organizational levels are faced throughout their careers with the task of changing their organization. Managers who determine appropriate changes to make in their organizations and them implement such changes successfully enable their organizations to be more flexible and innovative. Change is such a fundamental part of organizational existence and growth. In additional to organizational change, degree of stability is a prerequisite for long-term organizational success. The organizational survival and growth are most probable when both stability and adaptation are high within the organization. The organization without enough stability to compliment changes is at a definite disadvantage. When stability is low the probability of organizational survival and success decline.

Capital Punishment Essay -- essays research papers

The most inexorable of all sentences that of death. Also known as the death penalty, capital penalisation this is the most severe form of corporal punishment as it is requires law enforcement officers to kill the offender. But, Capital Punishment is a very strong issue in todays society. In my eyes punishment should be on a case-to-case basis. In the Capital Punishment debate there be 3 major issues, deterrence, Arbitrariness, and Retribution. Deterrence is the inhibition of criminal behavior by fear especially of punishment. This in easier terms just means that once someone commits a crime, if they are harshly punished for it, other people should whence be afraid to commit a crime. Which is related to the idea that it is believed that fear of death deters people from committing crime. Studies of the verification effect of the death penalty have been conducted for several years, with varying results. Most of these studies have failed to produce evidence that the death penalty d eterred murders more effectively then the threat of imprisonment. The reason for this is that few people are executed and so the death penalty is not a satisfactory deterrent. In conclusion if harsher punishment was carried out, there would be a lower crime rate.The second issue is arbitrariness or Determined by or arising from impulse rather than judgment. loveliness requires that people who break the law be punished the same but we treat it on a case-to-case punishment. Wrongful conviction, if acting on...

search engines :: essays research papers

Internet commerce is one of the fastest growing industries today. With the wide range of capabilities the web has it demonstrate it easier and cost efficient for businesses to make transactions with other businesses. One factor that allows businesses to find each other is search engines. Search engines argon part of the yard the web is growing so rapidly.Search engines have many capabilities from using key words or phrases to find what you are sounding for to using oecumenical statements to browse the web. But what exactly is a search engine? Search engines are huge databases of web page files that have been assembled automatically by machine. in that location are two types of search engines. One type is the individual search engine. This type of search engine compiles its information on to its own database making it come-at-able when you use that particular engine. It does non use any other engine?s information to help with your search. Then there are the meta-searchers whic h do not have their own databases. They use a combination of individual search engine?s information simultaneously, from a single site and using the like interface. Meta-searchers provide a quick way of finding out which engines are retrieving the best results for you in your search. There are two ways that Meta-searchers show their results. most use a single list which display multiple-engine search results in a single merged list and had removed all the extra entries from the list. The plump for way that they display their results is through multiple lists. These are separate lists in which are displayed as they are received from each engine leaving the duplicate entries on the list.Search engines are not very complex in the way that they work. Each search engine sends out bird of passages to bots into web space way out from link to link identifying all pages that it can. After the spiders get to a web page they generally index all the words on that page that are publicly ava ilable pages at the site. They then store this information into their databases and when you run a search it matches they key words you searched with the words on the page that the spider indexed. However when you are searching the web using a search engine, you are not searching the entire web as it is presently. You are looking at what the spiders indexed in the past.

Sophocles Antigone - Antigone and Creon, the Powerful Protagonists Es

The Two Protagonists of Antigone In the classic model of dramatic structure, two characters move the action of the play from introduction to climax to resolution with their conflict. One of these characters is the recall dose the other is the antagonist. The protagonist is generally regarded as the good guy, and the antagonist is the bad guy. In Sophocles play Antigone, the lines between protagonist and antagonist are blurred. In the Grecian tradition, the title character is the protagonist, but in this play, the supposed antagonist Creon also displays characteristics of the protagonist. Websters Dictionary defines protagonist as one who takes the leading part in a drama hence, one who takes lead in some great scene, enterprise, conflict, or the like. At a cursory glance, Antigone seems to best fit this description. Her actions and the following consequences certainly crop the plot of the play. She first decides to bury her dead brother in violation of Creons edict. When soldiers of Thebes unbury the body, she returns to bury it a second time. She is caught in the act and brought before Creon, who sentences her to die. She commits suicide in prison as a final attempt to thwart Creons plans. ontigones refusal to leave her brothers body unburied even after she has buried it once reveals her stubborn streak, a common trait among protagonists. The fact that Creon is on his way to release her from jail when her dead body is discovered is yet another example of stubbornness. She will not give in to adversity or strife under any circumstances, which is some(prenominal) admirable and, in the case of Antigone, fatal. Creon is portrayed as a nonindulgent leader who believes in adherence to his laws over those of the gods. He is not... ...he plot, and Creon directs the consequences. Antigone has conflict with Creon the antagonist, and Creon has conflict with Antigone the antagonist. Antigone dies a tragic death because of her flaws, and Creon realizes his mistakes and suffers greatly because of his flaws. Both Creon and Antigone are protagonists. They are both main characters who are essential to the plot, and they both maintain the traditional role. Sophocles may not have intended audiences to see both characters as protagonists, but that is the logical conclusion. Now, if one were to ask for the real antagonist to come forward, one would most likely realize that the real antagonists were forward already. Works CitedSophocles. Antigone. Trans. Robert Fagles. Literature and the Writing Process. Elizabeth McMahan, Susan X. Day, and Robert Funk. 6th. ed. focal ratio Saddle River, NJ Prentice, 2002.