How Entrepreneurial Firms from Developing Markets Are Using Unique Essay - 1

How Entrepreneurial Firms from Developing Markets Are Using Unique Business Models and Strategies As They Transition Into Emerging Multinationals - Essay Example The paper tells that the developed world markets have experienced an influx of multinational companies or rather corporations (MNCs) with economies for countries such as Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico among others being among the key locations for growth in the near future. In the attempt to find a niche in these global markets, most of the MNC’s have concentrated their focus on the established and wealthy elite who rank top on the economic pyramid. This has given rise to an â€Å"imperialistic form of a mindset† where the existing products are sold to the established markets in the global markets. By the maintaining the focus on the affluent consumers and some partner-organizations who participated actively in the formal economy, it implied that much of general consumer capabilities were being taken for granted. Low-income markets also referred to as the base of the economic triangle offers both tremendous opportunities to tap despite the unique challenges. In the recent ye ars, entrepreneurial firms from developing markets seem to have noted a loophole in the global market that when capitalized on can aid in the tapping of the untapped sectors of the market. Tapping on the opportunities and challenges at the base of the economic pyramid. The opportunities linked with the market at the base of the economic pyramid are gradually becoming significant to both business managers and scholars. There is evidently more than meet the sight when considering the consumers having annual purchasing power parity of 1500 dollars or even less. In fact, any business trying to find its footage in a new environment is bound to face quite a number of challenges. As a business strategy for new global ventures, entrepreneurs have been turning on to partner organizations for resources and expertise they are lacking. Just as is the requirement by most governments, it becomes indispensable that the new entrants in the global market have a corporate partner in the host country who will ensure market accessibility in the new economies. Moreover, the entrepreneurial firms that are entering the base of the pyramid strata of the market economy have had to expand dramatically the field of potential alliance partners.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay Example for Free

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain develops criticism of society by contrasting Huck and Jims life on the river to their dealings with people on land. Twain uses the adventures of Huck and Jim to expose the hypocrisy, racism, and injustices of society. Throughout the book hypocrisy of society is brought out by Hucks dealings with people. Miss Watson, the first character, is displayed as a hypocrite by Huck Pretty soon I wanted to smoke, and asked the widow to let me. But she wouldnt. ?And she took snuff too; of course that was all right, because she done it herself (Twain 8). Huck did not understand why she does not want him to smoke, That is just the way with some people. They get down on a thing when they dont know nothing about it (Twain 8). When Huck encounters the Grangerfords and Shepardsons he describes Colonel Grangerford as, ? a gentleman, you see. He was a gentleman all over; and so was his family(Twain 86). On Sunday when Huck goes to church he sees the hypocriticalism of the families, The men took their guns along, ? The Shepardsons done the same. I t was pretty ornery preaching-all about brotherly love, and such-like? (Twain 90). Huck with his anti-society attitude, you would presume that he would have no problem in helping Jim. Yet he fights within himself about turning over Jim to the authorities, by this action within Huck shows that he must have feelings that slavery is correct so that the racial bigotry of the time may be seen. This decision for Huck is monumental even though he makes it on the spot. He has in a way decided to turn his back on everything that home stands for, this allows us to leave our thought of bigotry behind and begin to see Jim for what he really is a man. Hucks attitude for Jim is racist which is seen when he decides to play a trick on Jim during their voyage. After Huck plays his trick his attitude toward Jim begins to change, It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger; but I done it, and I warnt ever sorry for it afterward, neither (Twain 72). The dialogue throughout the book between Huck and Jim illustrates that Jim is more than property and that he is a human being with feelings, and hopes for a better future. The river provides a place for Huck and Jim to escape the harsh society around them and develops into a god. The river provides a pathway for the action to progress, unlike other forms of travel it proceeds to guide the book in one direction down a set path. The god-likeness of the river controls the adventures, It is the River ? that will not let them land at Cairo, where Jim could have reached freedom; it is the Rive that separates them ? the River that reunites them, ? (Eliot 333). Society has lost the moral meaning of the river, ? the river was forgotten, and precisely by the dwellers in cities, by the worshippers of the machine (Trilling 325). It is through the adventure of Huck and Jim that Twain tries to show the power that can only be displayed by the natural force of the river, ? the river was forgotten, and precisely by the dwellers in cities, by the worshippers of the machine (Trilling 325). Whenever Huck goes to shore he eventually seeks the refuge of the raft and the river. The problems of society become apparent to Huck when he goes ashore, while watching the gun fight between the Grangerfords and Shepardsons he becomes ill with the violence between these two families, I wished I hadnt ever come ashore that night, to see such things (Twain 94). The river never deals with the insignificant matters of society, and allows Huck the freedom to be himself. The river is freedom, the land is oppression, and that oppression is most evident to Jim. In Hucks dealings with society he sees people for who they truly are, He sees the real world; and he does not judge it-he allows it to judge itself (Eliot 329). Huck is rejuvenated by the river, when he goes ashore he faces society and all the injustices that it carries. When he returned to the raft he felt free again, Other places do seem so cramped up and smothery, but a raft dont. you feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft (Twain 96). The river becomes the place where freedom is felt for Huck and Jim on a grand scale. The end of the novel may appear to distract from the maturing of Huck and seem to regress Huck back to the state he was at the beginning of the novel. When Twain really was just trying to fade Huck out, Huck Finn must come from nowhere and be bound nowhere (Eliot 335). The return of Tom, with his elaborate scheme to free Jim is merely to set Huck into the background of the novel again. Tom returns to let the reader see the transformation of Huck, Mark Twain, ? Huck Finn whose fate it must always be to seek a freedom beyond the limits of any civilization, ended his novel by contrasting Toms and Hucks sense of the Territory. (Pearce 361). The ending simply shows the changes Huck has gone through during his voyage to the boyish attitude him and Tom shared at the beginning of the novel. Huck and Jims adventures allow us the chance to examine the society they live in. It also gives us an opportunity to examine society today along with ourselves. Freedom the one thing that both Huck and Jim are searching for they only find on the river. Twain is showing us in this story that sometime we must break away from society and what the world views as correct and just. He is showing us that we have the strength inside to stand on our own and make decisions for ourselves. Twain, through Huck, gives us the chance to see all the things in the world as they really are. Not so that we judge the world but so we can stand up for what is right.

Change Process Management Case Study: Baskin Robbins

Change Process Management Case Study: Baskin Robbins There are many definitions of change. Change can bring meaning to cause to become different or to alter or convert. Change can also mean to undergo alteration or replacement or to pass from one phase to another. Change has always been a necessity in an organization. People react, respond and adjust themselves to the change. Some people in the organization may resist change from happening, and some will follow without protest. Below is the basic cycle of change where people behave when changes take place. From the above, we can say that when changes take place in an organization, there will be denial, emotions, resistance, and acceptance towards the changes. Denial is where the leaders who want to make changes communicate the 5Ws and H that is who, when, where, what, why and how. Changes must also be communicated through various formats so that every people in the organization can aware of the changes. Examples are like email, newspapers, and television, besides using notice board in the organization. In this stage, leader must also state mutual benefits while acknowledging risks. Emotion is the stage where people react when they heard about the changes. A leader must accept that emotion is part of the human condition and they must acknowledge people’s feelings. Emotions can be in term of happy, sad, angry, calm, and others. Leaders must invite feedback from the people around the organization and accommodate their requests, postpone or explain obstacles. Resistance is where people refuse to change. It is a neutral concept and is best dealt with by respecting it, rather than downplaying, avoiding or suppressing it. People usually don’t resist change, but they resist pain or the possibility of pain. They are afraid of the unknown, for example, whether they will be fired, promoted, or even step down from their current position. Acceptance happens when people have no other choice other than accept the changes made by the organization. In this stage, the leader must hold whatever they have achieved or accomplished in the negotiation. They must also follow up all promises they made before implementing changes and reward and recognize the behaviour change when necessary. For example, if the organization promises to give bonuses to the employees that give their best in performance, the leader must make sure that the employees get what they deserve. Below is the illustration of 8 steps of change cycle. This change cycle can be illustrated as an action plan by Baskin Robbins to implement the necessary changes for the organization. The first step in the change process is performance gap. Performance gap means when there is a lack of performance from one organization, and then changes will take place. Based on Baskin Robbins, their mission is to make the Baskin Robbins neighbourhood store a tasty, fun place for our customers. Nowadays, Baskin Robbins has good customer service, online service, quality product and the others. Based on this performance, Baskin Robbins can provide a delivery good services online as a company changes. This changes can satisfy the customer need and wants, it also makes the customer happy in the future. The second step in the cycle of change is to identify a designed future where the changes are made to make sure the organization have a better prospect. In this step, Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins as the owner of Baskin Robbins for sure plan to expand their product to the nationwide in the future. To expand it, the organization should make all the people know about their product, they can provide the delivery online service to the customer and perform better in future. More and more customers prefer buying goods and services on the internet as it provides greater flexibility, speed and choice. As a result, organisations are adding more and more content to their websites, which is fuelling the customers thirst for knowledge. From there, recognize the need for making the changes in the organization. More and more customers prefer buying goods and services on the internet as it provides greater flexibility, speed and choice. As a result, organisations are adding more and more content to their websites, which is fuelling the customers thirst for knowledge. After recognizing the need for making the changes we can then go to the fourth step, which is problem diagnosis. This is where the manager will have to evaluate and understand the problem that the company faces which requires changes. For example, the problem in the company is due to unsatisfied employees such as not on time delivery, wrong delivery places, wrong delivery products and others. In this case, managers need to understand why employees are not satisfied and come out with several ways or methods to solve the problem. The fifth step in the change process is to seek environment alternatives, where managers have to find other alternatives to solve the problem. For example, rather than fire the unsatisfied employees which bring troubles to the company, managers can help the employees to understand the environment of the organization and make them comfortable. From the available alternatives, the manager will have to make a selection or seeking the alternative selection. After selecting the appropriate alternative to solve the problem, the manager will then carries out the plan or implement some action to solve the problem. The action may affect the organization. Whether the implementation is a success or not, managers have to evaluate the outcome of the action they have taken in making the changes. This is the last step in the change process. This is where managers will see whether the outcome or results match with the purpose of the change. Usually, when the company is going through the process of changes, there will be resistance among the members of the organization. This may be caused by their self-interest where they afraid on how the changes will give impact to them. Besides that, people resist changes because of lack of trust and they often feel comfortable with the old ways the organization has operated. The change cycle is the process that can be implemented for all organizations that want to make changes in the organization’s management. For overcoming the resistance to change, there are several methods that Baskin Robbins, who is in charged to implement the change, can take to make sure that the process runs smoothly. First is to educate and communicate with the members of the organization about the changes that they will go through. For example, Baskin Robbins must give enough information and ensure the change is clearly communicated to those it affects. This way, members of the organization can prepare themselves for the changes that will affect them. The second way to overcome the resistance to change is ensuring the participation and involvement of all members of the organization. For example, when there are meetings or activities held by the organization for the changes process, the managers must ensure that all members participate and involve in the activities and make them comfortable with the new changes. Thirdly is by negotiating and make an agreement. Negotiation is where there is an understanding dialogue or meeting between two parties, for example, the organization that want to implement changes and the members or employees. After these two parties have negotiated, they will come to an agreement between the unions and organization. In conclusion, the change cycle process can help the Baskin Robbins to make changes in the organization. When there are changes, there will be resistance by those who don’t want to come out from their comfort zone. Leadership in a change process involves helping people accept the current realities and make effective choices. One can then be helpful in assisting them in taking responsibility for pursuing these choices. However, Baskin Robbins may make the changes at any time because there is no perfect time to make changes in the organization.

James Baldwins Fifth Avenue, Uptown Essay -- Nobody Knows My Name, Ja

In his collection of essays in Nobody Knows My Name, James Baldwin uses â€Å"Fifth Avenue, Uptown† to establish the focus that African Americans no matter where they are positioned would be judged just by the color of their skin. Through his effective use of descriptive word choice, writing style and tone, Baldwin helps the reader visualize his position on the subject. He argues that â€Å"Negroes want to be treated like men† (Baldwin, 67). Baldwin gives a vivid sketch of the depressing conditions he grew up on in Fifth Avenue, Uptown by using strong descriptive words. He makes use of such word choices in his beginning sentences when he reflects back to his house which is now replaced by housing projects and â€Å"one of those stunted city trees is snarling where our [his] doorway used to be† (Baldwin...

Goffman Traits Essay

His books have shown that in spite of total institution, people tend to break through their own personalities and redefine their established roles in regulated societies (Handler, 2012, p. 179). Total institution can be dived into five different categories. The first type of institutions are for harmless and helpless people who are incapable of taking care of themselves, such as aged, poor or blind. The second category of institution is mental hospitals that take in people who are helpless and could be harmful to the society; people who seek for treatment. The third category is for people who pose Page | 3 danger and threat to the welfare of the communities and are put into institutions such as prisons and concentration camps. The forth type of institutions are established to create a working environment among the societies, such as military camps, boarding schools and work camps. The final type of institutions is for people who want to be isolated from the rest of the world, such as church and convents (Davies, 1989, p. 77- 82). 2. 2. Four common traits of total institution In 1961, Goffman (as cited in Schaefer, 2004, p. 82) has pointed out four common factors that a total institution posses. Firstly he believes, â€Å"all aspect of life are conducted in the same place and are under the control of a single authority†. This trait illustrates the common ground used and a certain dominance enforced on the participants. Secondly, â€Å"any activities within the institution are conducted in the company of others in the same circumstances†. Thirdly, â€Å"The authorities devise rules and schedule activities without consulting the participants†. Here we understand that the members are forced to conform to certain practices. Lastly, â€Å"all aspects of life within a total institution are designed to fulfil the purpose of the organization†. This explains how the members in the group ‘working’ towards one goal (Schaefer, 2004, p. 82). 2. 3. Degradation ceremony Degradation ceremony is considered to be under the scope of the sociology of moral resentment. A degradation ceremony is a rite of passage sometimes used to initiate people into total institutions such as mental hospitals, prisons, and military units as discussed earlier (Garfinkel, 2011b). Degradation ceremony often aims to transform an individual’s identity and dignity to a lower form therefore allowing them to be more acceptant to the external control such as authorities. During this process one loss his ascribed or achieved social status that he or she possess. Garfinkel (2011a, p. 420). Garfinkel (2011a, p. 420) mentions in his studies, an observer will be unable to find a degradation ceremony in societies that are demoralized, since only in total anomie are the conditions of degradation ceremonies lacking. Page | 4 2. 4. Resocialization Resocialization is the process when an individual’s former behaviour pattern or social role is altered or replaced. After which retraining the person psychologically to fit the standards and behavior of the common society. Resocialization is often carried through the degradation ceremony when a person is stripped from his status so be able to apprehend the new behaviour patterns and values (Scheff, 2007, p. 85). Most of the time the term ‘rehabilitation’ and ‘resocialization’ are misunderstood for the same significance. However these two are interpreted the same way. Rehabilitation is just a small part or process of resocialization (Weinstein, 1982, p. 269). Goffman’s mental institute hospital study is a good example to illustrate resocialization. The staffs usually try to instil in patients that they had done something wrong in the society. And if they wanted to free themselves from the hospital and get back to the society, they would have to change themselves (Weinstein, 1982, p. 272). . 3. Self- reflection My two-year experience in the Singapore Police Force (National Service) was interesting and far challenging. The first six months of the job was known as the ‘stay-in training’ or otherwise known as total institution from the sociological perspective. Our intake, which had approximately 130 cadets, were required to stay at a camp for 6 months situated at the outskirts where there were no other human dwelling. I remember the very first day when we entered, we were shouted at by the superiors for no reason and were told to strip naked to have our bodies checked for tattoos. The superiors projected their dominance through their tone of voice. The second day all the cadets were issued with uniforms and had to shave our heads bald. We were given a time table on what had to be done everyday from the time we woke up to the amount of water we drunk to the schedule time that we had our Page | 5 meals. We had no say and were just do as we were told. Failing to comply led to punishments. The main purpose of this institution was to instil discipline into each one of us as we were preparing to represent the country’s internal security. Therefore to successfully carry out the resocialization we were put through the degradation ceremony where we had to shave our head bald and given uniforms and forcefully told what to do. Here we are able to associate all four traits that were identified by Erving Goffman. 4. Four major theoretical perspectives The four different perspectives would help us understand total institution from a clearer view. The functionalist perspective has three different categories; manifest function, latent function and dysfunction (Henslin, 2011, p. 16). If we take military camp as an example, the manifest function would be to recruit people to protect the country to maintain peace and order. The latent function is a hidden function such as creating job opportunities and instilling values and discipline into the cadets. The dysfunction would be if the cadets were to use the tactics and teachings learned in the camp for a negative purpose while off their duty. Conflict perspective is a common issue faced when looked at the military. The cadets who flow into the camp on the first day come from a many different backgrounds. Conflicts could arise not only between the views of superior and the cadets but could arise among members itself when work in teams due to the different culture, values and beliefs. Feminist perspective involves the history which back dates to when female where to stay home to look after the family while men went out for war to protect their country mainly due to their physics. However the norm on this perspective is being abolished and we tend to find female soldiers and officers involved in the military. According to my self reflection interaction perspective can be classified has the verbal and non- verbal communication styles used by the superiors, such as the authoritative tone of voice. Page | 6 5. Conclusion We have clearly understood the necessity of the five different types of social institution in a society. The essay had also covered the common traits present in the institutions. Also learnt the importance of degradation ceremony while resocialization and how it’s required to kill the former sense of an individual. However I personally believe three out of five of the total institutions are not preferable places to be at. The fact that many are not offered opportunities to work at their own free will deprives them from others and makes them feel less worthy of themselves. They are taught to obey their superiors, out of fear. In most of the occasions they are treated as numbers than a human being. Therefore allowing an individual to loose his or her sense of identity. Goffman’s discussion encouraged me to look at total institution characteristics, such as resocialization, through a positive and negative lens, depending on the situation and context. Page | 7 6. Reference list Davies, C. (1989). Goffman’s concept of the total institution: Criticism and revisions. Human Studies, 12, 77-95. El-Mafaalani, A. (2009). Do underachievers need sociology. Journal of social science education, 8(4), 35-42. Garfinkel, H. (n. d. ). Conditions of successful degradation ceremonies. (2011). American Journal of Sociology, 6(5), 420-424. GORDON MARSHALL. â€Å"degradation ceremony. † A Dictionary of Sociology. 1998. Encyclopedia. com. 16 Apr. 2013 . Handler, R. (2012). What’s up,doctor goffman? tell us where the action is!. Journal of the royal Anthropological Institute, 18, 179-190. Henslin, J. (2011). Essentials of sociology a down-to-earth approach. (9TH ed. , pp. 16-18). Boston,America: PEARSON.

The Relationship between Secular and Sacred Europe between 1500 and 1700

The Relationship between Secular and Sacred Europe between 1500 and 1700 The period between 1500 and 1700 is known as an Early Modern Period, it is considered to be the period between the Middle Ages and Contemporary world. It was the most significant period in the development of the Western Europe culture, in particular such countries as England, German, France and Spain.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Relationship between Secular and Sacred Europe between 1500 and 1700 specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There were great changes in all spheres of human life: cultural, political, religious and scientific. The period is characterized by the growing secularism, development of the social and economic life. The period is characterized by contradictions between secular and religious power, the process that shaped the political and cultural life in Europe and became the most distinctive feature of the European society. Thus, there were two parallel lives in Europe: secular and sacred that in fluenced on other spheres of social development. The examples of the social changes can be found in a famous work by William Shakespeare Macbeth. In this essay, we will put a parallel between the work and distinctive features of the European society. So, the major features of the Early Middle Period between 1500 and 1700 include the growth of the bourgeoisie that developed relations with monarchs, changes in the family network. A particular feature of the Western Europe society was the decrease of the person’s status and change of the women’s status with was closely related to the husband’s work, moreover, many young women had to work to get endowment. The average age of people who got married rose because of the rise of education (young men had to finish their education) and young couples wanted to be independent of their families. Education became one of the prime necessities for men, consequently, the importance of schools and other educational establishments was exaggerated. Among the political events we can distinguish the following ones: German wars of religion, the conflict of king and parliament in England, War of Spain succession, etc. There were great changes in the religious life that was dependent on politics. For example, the defeat of the Roman Catholic Religion by Spain and France and a very significant episode in the English history when king Henry VIII declared himself a leader of the Church in order to get divorce.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Let us explore how religious reformation in the European society influenced on the future development of it. One of the greatest events in the field of religion and culture was the Protestant Reformation that greatly changed the attitudes to religion and politics, â€Å"In the second decade of the sixteenth century, the Christian church experienced the first in a series of religious divisions along geographic lines. The sequence of splits, beginning in the Holy Roman Empire and spreading to the whole of Europe by the end of the century, transformed the relationship of the reformed churches with state, society, and the individual† (Ferraro n. pg.). Two names mark this period, Martin Luther and John Calvin. The practices of indulgence were introduced into society. One could pay money and â€Å"reserve† place in the Haven. Thus, Church became dependant on government and higher layers of the society. The one who had money was â€Å"innocent† and the one who was poor was considered to be a â€Å"sinner†. Family and social lives were directed by the Catholic doctrines. There even were special rules of child’s upbringing. New family suggested that husband was a head of the family but all family responsibilities were divided between man and woman, it concerned a question of decision making and elevated the status of wife. We can find the example of this change in Macbeth when his wife, Lady Macbeth takes an active part in her husband’s activities. However, she is already not a classical obedient wife and has her own decisions to the problem. She is strong and independent woman who manipulates her husband. Thus, the change of relations between genders that occurred in the European society is reflected in the work. Shakespeare writes that she is a woman with a male soul, â€Å"undaunted mettle should compose / Nothing but males† (Shakespeare 75). However, we still notice that woman did not have full independence and she had to use other means to express her power. In Macbeth, she uses manipulation. The Protestant Reforms were not accepted by many people and they provoked a big number of wars of religion. The attempts to establish the power were made by church and could be observed in wars like French War of Religion and the English Civil War and a famous Glorious Revolution. These were the wars that are characterized by the conflicts between the â€Å"official† religions and new religions. The core idea of every war was the struggle for power and political dominance. In general, the church was more powerful then the king of the country and it was a basis for the conflicts and wars.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Relationship between Secular and Sacred Europe between 1500 and 1700 specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The dominant position of religion influenced on the transformation of the traditional way of thinking. Christian beliefs and folk traditions were mixed and resulted in the formation of the â€Å"European vision of the natural world†. People believed in the supernatural powers and, in fact, were afraid of them. A terrible period of the witch-hunting is another page in the European history. It also shows the power of church in the social and cultural life of people. It was als o a result of lack of education among poor people. Witches were the enemies of society and church, they were considered to evil creatures that could destroy the society. We can also find the example of this â€Å"social and religious belief† in the work by William Shakespeare. These are the tree withes that provoke Lady Macbeth to commit a murder. Thus, the author shows a particular trait of society, moreover, he add a great significance to these three mystique personages of his work. In Macbeth, we found another characteristic of the Early Modern society. First of all, the real historical personages had become the main characters of the work. However, Shakespeare did not focus on a true history and used those personages in order to describe social and political relations of the ruling class. Rivalry, and betrayal were the common features of it. The fact that Macbeth killed a king was a common thing for that period. Many rulers passed the same paths to get their thrones and t hey did not have any religious superstitions. As it has already been mentioned, the religious beliefs influenced on all aspects of human life. The change of role of woman in the society is one of the major characteristics that became a distinctive feature of the Early Modern Europe. The Puritanism was a widespread religion that formed the orthodoxy view on woman. On the one hand, her position of a mother made her a pure creature (association with the mother of Christ), on the other hand, socially and economically she had not any freedom and was dependent on man and her family. Some changes were introduced when Henry VIII legalized divorce, however, woman did not have such right as she was not â€Å"an autonomous individual†. In addition, she was not allowed to get education and she could not participate in political life of the country. A paradox in attitude to women is another feature of the period. As it has already been mentioned, a woman had a certain degree of a religiou s purity, however, she was also considered to have unnatural powers, in other words, woman was often associated with a witch. However, in this period, we can see the seeds of rise of women’s rights and William Shakespeare describes them it his work. He describes a woman of a new period, however he is still not liberated of superstitions of his time and revels the supernatural character of woman’s nature. Thus, we can see that there was a great tension between the secular and religious power and authority in the early Modern European period. The confrontation between church and â€Å"officials† was a major characteristic of the European society. Between 1500 and 1700 there were special relations between secular and sacred.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Those reactions influenced on different aspects of human life, including cultural, social and politic development. One of the major characteristics of the society was an attitude to woman and her social role. We can find some of the characteristics of this society in the work by William Shakespeare, Macbeth. Ferraro, Joanne M. Early Modern Europe. Web. Shakespeare, William. Macbeth: a Tragedy. London: Mathews and Leigh., 1807

Using Historic Context in Analysis and Interpretation

Using Historic Context in Analysis and Interpretation Historical context is an important part of life and literature and without it, memories, stories, and characters have less meaning. What exactly is historical context? Its essentially  the details that surround an occurrence. In more technical terms, historical context refers to the social, religious, economic, and political conditions that existed during a certain time and place. Basically, its all the details of the time and place in which a situation occurs, and those details are what enable us to interpret and analyze works or events of the past, or even the future, rather than merely judge them by contemporary standards. In literature, a strong understanding of the historical context behind a works creation can give us a better understanding of and appreciation for the narrative. In analyzing historical events, context can help us understand what motivates people to behave as they did. Put another way, context is what gives meaning to the details. Its important, however, that you dont confuse context with cause. Cause is the action that creates an outcome; context is the environment in which that action and outcome occur.   Words and Deeds Whether dealing with fact or fiction, historical context is important when interpreting behavior and speech. Consider the following sentence which, devoid of context, sounds innocent enough: Sally hid her hands behind her back and crossed her fingers before she answered. But imagine that this statement comes from a transcript of court documents in Salem, Mass., in 1692, during the famed Salem Witch Trials. Religious fervor was at an extreme, and villagers were nearly obsessed with the devil and witchcraft. At that time, if a young woman were to tell a lie, it was fodder for hysteria and a violent reaction. A reader would assume that poor Sally was a candidate for the gallows. Now, imagine youre reading a letter from a mother that contains this sentence: My daughter will be heading to California shortly after she marries. How much information does this statement give us? Not much, until we consider when it was written. Should we discover that the letter was written in 1849, we will realize that one sentence can sometimes say a lot. A young woman heading for California in 1849 might be following her husband on a treacherous treasure-seeking expedition for the gold rush. This mother would probably be quite fearful for her child, and she would know that it would be a very long time before shed see her daughter again, if ever.   Bettmann/Getty Images Historical Context in Literature   No work of literature can be fully appreciated or understood without historical context. What may seem nonsensical or even offensive to contemporary sensibilities, might actually  be interpreted in a completely different manner by considering the era it is from. A good example is Mark Twains  Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, published in 1885. It is considered an enduring work of American literature and a biting social satire. But it is also criticized by modern critics for its casual use of a racial epithet to describe Hucks friend Jim, an escaped slave. Such language is shocking and offensive to many readers today, but in the context of the day, it was​ the commonplace language for many. Back in the mid-1880s, when attitudes toward the newly liberated African-American slaves were often indifferent at best and hostile at worst, the casual use of such racial epithets wouldnt have been considered unusual. In fact, what is actually more surprising, given the historical context of when the novel was written, is Hucks treating Jim not as his inferior but as his equal- something rarely portrayed in the literature of the time. Similarly, Mary Shelleys Frankenstein  cannot be fully appreciated by a reader who is unaware of the Romantic movement that took place in art and literature in the early 19th century. It was a time of rapid social and political upheaval in Europe when lives were transformed by the technological disruptions of the Industrial Age.   The Romantics captured the publics sense of isolation and fear that many experienced as a result of these social changes. Frankenstein becomes more than a good monster story, it becomes an allegory for how technology can destroy us.   Other Uses of Historical Context Scholars and educators rely on historical context to analyze and interpret works of art, literature, music, dance, and poetry. Architects and builders rely on it when designing new structures and restoring existing buildings. Judges may use it to interpret the law, historians to understand the past. Any time critical analysis is required, you may need to consider historical context as well. Without historical context, we are only seeing a piece of the scene and not fully understanding the influence of the time and place in which a situation occurred.

Searchers essays

Searchers essays The Searchers (1956) is one of America's top one-hundred films ever made. John Ford directed this film with John Wayne as the leading role, his supporting actors/actresses were Natalie Wood, Jeffery Hunter, Vera Miles, and Ward Bond.The film tells the story of a man, Wayne, searching for his captured nice, but actually is searching for his humanity. This film dones not focus on Wayne as a hero, as much as it does on him trying to find himself. The montage, visual elements, action, and sound elements are what makes this film so great. The montage, or narative continuity and character explination is what hooks the viewer into watching the film. Narative continuity is how the film flows, or how the story is told. Throughout the movie the story is told, or percieved as if the viewer were there experiencing it all. When Ethan(Wayne) is comes home and the whole family is sitting in the livingroom by the fire they are telling the story through their dialouge and the actions. There is a part in the film that is nariated though.When Marty sends the letter back home to Laurie to tell her about his journey, she reads the letter aloud to the family and that is how that part of the film is shown to the viewers. When she reads the part about him finding a wife, the film shows much more detail than she reads. Like him finding wife, the film shows how he got his wife, how she followed them, and how he lost her. Character explination allows the viewers to get to know the characters. Through out the film the viewers will get to know little bits and pieces of information about the main characters. They are not as obvious, so the viewer needs to read between the lines. At the very beginning of the film when Ethan returns home, his nephew Aaron asks him, "How was California," and Ethan replies, " California? How should I know?...No, I ain't been to California. I don't plan to go either." Then Aaron asks him to tell them about the war, so...

The Concept of Privacy under the Fourth Amendment Essay

The Concept of Privacy under the Fourth Amendment - Essay Example The right to privacy is stipulated in the 4th amendment of United States Constitution (Hess & Orthmann, 2008). The court argued that making a telephone call is a personal affair; therefore, the FBI and Police Department illegally recorded Katz’s phone call. This is because the 4th amendment barres any state agency to engage in unlawful seizures and searches of American Citizens (Hess & Orthmann, 2008). The 4th amendment of the U.S. Constitution defines what is needed to trespass into any American’s right to privacy. It also defines what privacy right means. This amendment is what made the U.S. Supreme Court rule in favour of Katz. This test asks two questions; first, whether a person has a subjective, or actual expectation of privacy. This is evaluated in the context of individual behaviour, case by case, and is focused on the subjective or actual belief of the victim, who is the subject of the search (Hess & Orthmann, 2008). Second, whether or not there is an objective expectation of society. This tests whether there is a substantial expectation of privacy. The majority of the court rejected trespass doctrine, holding that the 4th amendment does not protect things that an individual exposes to the public, but what an individual expects to keep private, in all places, including public areas (Hess & Orthmann,

Food Stamp Challenge Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Food Stamp Challenge - Assignment Example The log below shows the meals that I bought and ate during the challenge. The meals in most cases did not meet the dietary requirements due to cost constraints. When these meals were compared to dietary requirements under the ChooseMyPlate chart, diet was not met. The main food groups which include fruits, vegetables, grains and protein foods were used in assessing the dietary requirements. For instance, I did not take any dairy products during this period and essentials oils were used in cooking food. From the chart we notice that an adult requires at least 3 cups of milk in a day. Moreover, an adult requires at least 3 cups of veggies in a day and this requirement was met by 1st and 3rd days of the challenge. While at least 4 ounces of grains that are contained in food such as Pizza, donuts and sandwiches. The major food intake that the body requires is proteins and this was achieved through eating Pizza, Chinese takeout and Double Cheese Burgers (Blatt 87). During the challenge I was able to cut down on intake of proteins due to the high cost of these foods. This requirement was met during the 4 day challenge. During the period of the challenge I was not able to meet the dietary needs but I improved on eating healthy by buying fruit and veggie salads (Counihan 104). The challenge was educational and enriching since it gave me an opportunity to improve on my eating habits. I learnt a lot concerning healthy foods and which food groups I could eat from and how much was required from each food group. However, eating under a tight budget made it difficult to buy some food items and this frustrated unnecessary eating. Especially when it came to indulging in stuff like chocolates, cakes, snacks or ice cream the money was not enough. This disturbed and made it difficult to concentrate during the day especially at meal times. The challenge was quite tiring since it

Wayne Williams Assessment Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Wayne Williams Assessment - Research Paper Example The route taken by the accused could be a human rights preference, and it is also highly probable that he took that route to dump the body of one of his murder victims. The taunts that Wayne directed at the investigators cannot be overlooked as they could have two implications to the case. The investigations were slated at a time when race related matters were at an all time high. This could mean that Wayne was reacting to the maltreatment that he received which was a direct result of his race. On the other hand, it could be that he was highly corky and overconfident because he knew that there was no evidence that would eventually link him to the murders (Deadman, 1982). This paper will support the conclusion that Wayne Williams was guilty in the murder of some of the victims, as an outcome of fiber evidence analysis and linkage. Despite all the numerous challenges in the provision of evidence, in the above stated claims, there are certain aspects of the case that remain hazy. It is not possible for Wayne to claim that he was travelling to scout and recruit Cheryl Johnson, who could not be traced. There is no existing evidence that shows that they had previously communicated or even agreed to meet on the said date. Evidence that was gathered from his home intimated that he had taken time to acclimatize himself on the procedures to follow when trying to beat a polygraph test. It is a result of non-binding evidence that the prosecutors thought it prudent to rely on fiber evidence (Deadman, 1982). It is prudent to note that fiber evidence has contributed greatly in drawing resolute conclusions in criminology. The process, analysis, correlation and merging of fibers has the capacity of solving mysteries that would have otherwise remain unresolved. In the case of Wayne, the fibers processed and analyzed from the murdered victims were of a rare kind (Ramsland, 1991). However, investigators were able to

CORRECTNESS TEST ESSAY Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

CORRECTNESS TEST - Essay Example I am fully aware that getting a good job is not a bed of roses and the competition in the market is sky-high. Additionally, current age is an age of economic recession with a scarcity of jobs. I know I have to work really hard to outshine my competitors once it comes to job and therefore, I am working very hard. My goal is to get to the executive post in whichever organization I am hired. Managers need to be extremely selective about their words once they deliver their speech in any form. The practice of writing not only polishes my interpretive skills but also adds tones to my existing vocabulary. In order to progress in professional life, it is imperative that one is equipped with good literary skills and one must be able to pen one’s thoughts down in the most appropriate manner to be a successful manager. Therefore, I write and consider it a practice that is favorable to the realization of my

KONY 2012 (my point is how the Internet ably change global social Research Paper

KONY 2012 (my point is how the Internet ably change global social structure and support children in Uganda) - Research Paper Example It has enabled connection of billions of individuals across the world, and has had them accessing, creating, and transmitting mega and terabytes of data. Like a super highway, flow of data and information follows a route to a specific location specified by the binary numbers contained within the packets of data being transmitted. The cyberspace is characterized by vast information sites, forums, blogs, and online applications. This, in itself, makes these virtual worlds an enigma to many. Internet innovation has virtually made the world to do away with boundaries and become a digital village. The speed of information flow is also unbelievable. At a click of a mouse button, chunks of data are sent, received, and shared by billions of tech savvies. It then remains a wonder what internet revolution can be. Internet revolution comes with hype and excitement, and promises heaven for the tech savvies. At the same time, if not responsibly used, it brings hell closer to humanity. Huge number s of high level cybercrimes have been reported in the recent past. Highly regarded and sensitive information of governments has leaked; unauthorized sensitive information has been leaking to the public. The other question that arises is whether the right to privacy of individuals in organizations will stand a test of time in the advent of the internet revolution (Burstein and Kline 145). ... The challenge to humanity is how to best harness the positive impacts of internet technology, and at the same time keeping to minimum the possible negative effects to individuals and the society at large (Burstein and Kline 356). Personal and Family Empowerment The net is one of the most powerful empowerment tools to persons and families as it provides more than three-dimensional benefits that include a wider range of information baskets to select from. It helps then to meet their needs, wants, special interests, and entertainment demands.   Quick accessibility of information as a result of internet revolution has enabled individuals to take advantage of opportunities for the betterment of their lives. The Internet can possibly feed one’s imaginations and fasten people’s emotional commitment to great ideas (Firestone and Garmer 124). It has enabled families and individuals to join discussion groups about social issues. They can also publish their works and keep others informed about grassroots action groups and locally-based businesses (Firestone and Garmer 146). Things we wonder can, therefore, direct our ability to create something that brings the world closer, which is a desire of the humanity (Egan 166). To be more specific, the Internet separates the mind from ethnicity, class, gender, and other discriminatory characteristics used to marginalize people (Green 452). The internet renders physical disabilities irrelevant (Hackman and Kato 454). This is because people do not â€Å"present† themselves. Instead, they â€Å"represent† themselves on the computer. Green states that people are encouraged to evaluate the relevance of their concepts over any physical discrimination (7). The internet adds some extra power

Are women trated differently in the legal system Essay

Are women trated differently in the legal system - Essay Example Although conditions are very much different between these two periods, this particular research will discuss arguments why women should not be treated differently in the legal systems. A. Discrimination of women in the past. There are conditions wherein women were treated separately in the legal systems of the past and today. During the 19th century, women were not allowed to vote and were denied of their legal rights to exercise the right to suffrage in the U.S. At that time, women were not treated equally with male counterparts and were subjected to the social tradition and English common low that denied their rights to vote, own property, keep their own wages, or obtain the charge of their own children. Even the wife of US President, Abigail Adams, took note of this women’s condition, and reminded Pres. John Adams in 1776 as she wrote to him, â€Å""In the new code of laws, remember the ladies and do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands." John Adams replied, "I cannot but laugh. Depend upon it, we know better than to repeal our masculine systems" (Francis, Roberta, n.d.). This author recalls in her article that the fight to win women’s right to vote took 72 years before it was finally acknowledged in the 19th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The heroines of the movement for the constitutional rights, as related in the history, suffered long years of persecution and humiliation but were not moved out of their protests. Accordingly, the specific written guarantee of the 19th Amendment, when won, was the following, "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex" (Francis, Roberta, n.d.). This victory of women led to other protests on further amendments to equal rights to women; similar to their first protest, it took many years because of many laws in the workplace and in the society that had categorized women as second class citi zens and perpetuated gender inequalities. In the past, the proposal of women for equal rights for employment was contradicted by the labor movements on the reason that it was a threat to power structures and also by business interests because of economic costs. 2. Should the current law system be changed in order to treat women equally? This issue is still very much debated upon today, that even the United Nations took it upon as one of their duties to be responsible of ensuring that it promotes and protect gender equality and women empowerment (Gender Equality, n.d). The U.N. argues that gender-based discriminations are often times permitted by laws, policies and practices of institutions and nations. For instance, in many countries in the Middle East, women do not have the same rights for inheritance and property and even are not allowed to testify in court. According to the writings of J.Arlandson, the superiority of men over women was drawn from the rulings of the Islam’s Qu’ran, which Islam followed to the letter. Wage gap also exists in the U.S. today, as shown in the Pay Equity information of the National Committee on Pay Equity, which states that women are paid an average of $36,931 in comparison with $47,715 paid to male counterparts. The Pay Equity Information also stated that working women, particularly colored ones, were undervalued due to sex, and race; the numerous cases filed in several courts in the US could attest to inequality in

CORRECTNESS TEST ESSAY Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

CORRECTNESS TEST - Essay Example I am fully aware that getting a good job is not a bed of roses and the competition in the market is sky-high. Additionally, current age is an age of economic recession with a scarcity of jobs. I know I have to work really hard to outshine my competitors once it comes to job and therefore, I am working very hard. My goal is to get to the executive post in whichever organization I am hired. Managers need to be extremely selective about their words once they deliver their speech in any form. The practice of writing not only polishes my interpretive skills but also adds tones to my existing vocabulary. In order to progress in professional life, it is imperative that one is equipped with good literary skills and one must be able to pen one’s thoughts down in the most appropriate manner to be a successful manager. Therefore, I write and consider it a practice that is favorable to the realization of my

Are women trated differently in the legal system Essay

Are women trated differently in the legal system - Essay Example Although conditions are very much different between these two periods, this particular research will discuss arguments why women should not be treated differently in the legal systems. A. Discrimination of women in the past. There are conditions wherein women were treated separately in the legal systems of the past and today. During the 19th century, women were not allowed to vote and were denied of their legal rights to exercise the right to suffrage in the U.S. At that time, women were not treated equally with male counterparts and were subjected to the social tradition and English common low that denied their rights to vote, own property, keep their own wages, or obtain the charge of their own children. Even the wife of US President, Abigail Adams, took note of this women’s condition, and reminded Pres. John Adams in 1776 as she wrote to him, â€Å""In the new code of laws, remember the ladies and do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands." John Adams replied, "I cannot but laugh. Depend upon it, we know better than to repeal our masculine systems" (Francis, Roberta, n.d.). This author recalls in her article that the fight to win women’s right to vote took 72 years before it was finally acknowledged in the 19th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The heroines of the movement for the constitutional rights, as related in the history, suffered long years of persecution and humiliation but were not moved out of their protests. Accordingly, the specific written guarantee of the 19th Amendment, when won, was the following, "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex" (Francis, Roberta, n.d.). This victory of women led to other protests on further amendments to equal rights to women; similar to their first protest, it took many years because of many laws in the workplace and in the society that had categorized women as second class citi zens and perpetuated gender inequalities. In the past, the proposal of women for equal rights for employment was contradicted by the labor movements on the reason that it was a threat to power structures and also by business interests because of economic costs. 2. Should the current law system be changed in order to treat women equally? This issue is still very much debated upon today, that even the United Nations took it upon as one of their duties to be responsible of ensuring that it promotes and protect gender equality and women empowerment (Gender Equality, n.d). The U.N. argues that gender-based discriminations are often times permitted by laws, policies and practices of institutions and nations. For instance, in many countries in the Middle East, women do not have the same rights for inheritance and property and even are not allowed to testify in court. According to the writings of J.Arlandson, the superiority of men over women was drawn from the rulings of the Islam’s Qu’ran, which Islam followed to the letter. Wage gap also exists in the U.S. today, as shown in the Pay Equity information of the National Committee on Pay Equity, which states that women are paid an average of $36,931 in comparison with $47,715 paid to male counterparts. The Pay Equity Information also stated that working women, particularly colored ones, were undervalued due to sex, and race; the numerous cases filed in several courts in the US could attest to inequality in

Native americans Essay Example for Free

Native americans Essay Native Americans are known for many different qualities they had as a part of their lifestyle. Native Americans have been living in the Americas for many years. During their time period, we learned so much from them. Most of the information that was found, was by the movie â€Å"The Last of the Mohicans† and the three origin myths. There are many different Native American tribes that factor out cultural differences, in which usually includes nature, hybridity, and a culture clash. Nature is one of the main aspects that Native Americans show respect to. In the movie â€Å"The Life of the Mohicans† the Mohicans, one of the Native American tribes, show respect to the animal that they killed by giving thank you to him. Sometimes nature can be a bad thing, in which it surrounds the characters and complicates their battles and their chances for survival. In the movie, the Mohicans used nature in order to track their enemies, which in this case the Hurons In the origin myths, nature was what started this world and created mankind. Many Native Americans now in days still show respect for nature. There were many kinds of hybridity shown in the movie. Hybridity is the mixing of separate elements into one whole. Hawkeye is an example of hybridity because white by blood but Indian by habit. In the novel, Cora is a hybrid because her mother was black and her father was white. When nature and culture collide it makes a hybridity, just like what the Mohicans did in the movie. By the end of the nineteenth century, hybridity became very popular by rapid developments in genetic. When the Native Americans lived in the Americas, they were not alone. There was a culture clash between the Native Americans and the Europeans. In the movie, the Hurons and the Europeans did not get along. The Europeans would take by force the Native Americans Most of the Europeans killed the Native Americans for no particular reason. At the end, the ones getting involved in the small battle were the Mohicans and the Hurons. Even though both of the tribes were related, there were some differences that they had. Native Americans were well known for their culture and different lifestyles. The Native Americans had many beliefs of their different gods. The Native Americans had different tribes, but they all show respect to nature, some kind of hybridity, and the culture clash that they were involved in.

Malaysias Luxury Goods Sector

Malaysias Luxury Goods Sector Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Introduction In the 80s, luxury goods that used to belong to the upper class became visible, recognizable, and accessible to the public. Hence, the market for luxury goods went through an enormous demand growth spurt, and developed into a significant economic sector in the 90s (Roux and Floch 1996). Louis Vuitton reported sales of nearly 2.5 billion Euros, increasing its net income by 80% between 2002 and 2004 (LVMH 2005). LVMH Moà «t Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the worlds leading luxury group, achieved revenue of 4 billion euros in the first quarter of 2008. Organic revenue increased by 12% compared to the same period in 2007, which was also a period of strong growth. As a result of the negative impact of exchange rates, reported revenue growth is 5%. All business groups recorded double-digit organic revenue growth in the period, with the exception of Wines Spirits. The Group continued to record excellent performances in Asia, the US and Europe. A good attains the label â€Å"luxury† when it has the particular design, quality, performance or durability that is remarkably superior to the comparable substitute. Luxury goods have a lot to do with the consumers psyche and how it makes the person feel. In generally, luxury goods are considered to be the highest quality, and price in the market. Brand consciousness among the Malaysian society has been increasing over the past few years, especially with the young generation who are now appetite for the luxury goods and brands especially from college, university students and young working adults. The population of the youth for aged between 20 and 29 aged is 20% which nearly make up the entire population in Malaysia. Understanding the consumer behavior in this age group would be pivotal in ensuring luxury brands can better position themselves in the market and will be useful in marketing building brands. It makes good reason that research on the factor influences generation Y on the purchasing decision of luxury goods. 1.2 Background of Research â€Å"Asia is considered by many international brands as a major sales region, with the improving personal financial status of Asian consumers and with the opening up of various developing markets, there is huge room for growth in the luxury sector,† said Karen Watson, Chief Communications Officer, ACNielsen Company(Consumer and Designer Brands , April 2008). In Malaysia, the luxury goods sector has been growing along with the rest of the world over the past ten years. We can see that some of the shopping complex such as Kuala Lumpur City Center (KLCC) Mall that sell luxury goods and for up market. Over the years, the setting up for the up market such as Pavilions, The Garden and Star Hills have catered to the increasing demand of luxury goods. â€Å"In Malaysia the apparel industry has undergone great transformation with more and more brands entering the market, and the recent past years have seen the entry of numerous international brands. The apparel industry is worth RM 3.26 billion (approximately USD 1.1 billion) (Protà ©gà © Associates‟ Independent Market Report (2007)† (Khan and Khan, 2008) The study on consumer behavior in relevance to luxury goods has gained a lot of interest over the course of the decades. Early research on a framework to define luxury and that of luxury seeking consumers started in the 19th century by Rae (1834). The early research was showed that a summary of the luxury seeking consumer behaviour which can be seen by Vigneron and Johnson (1999) where the values are conspicuous, unique, social and quality. Conspicuous and quality could be seen in the summary luxury seeking framework by Vigneron and Johnson (1999) who presented the luxury value perceptions., It has been stated as the notion of â€Å"buying to impress others† by concerning the motives for consuming luxury goods (Wiedman, Hennigs, Siebel, 2007). Other researches were instrumental on other factors which influence purchase decisions, Khan and Khan (2005) provided the result by showing how reference groups influence on purchase decisions. It focuses on reference groups which are groups that individuals refer when making a purchase. From a consumer behaviour perspective, reference groups are important because they inform and make individuals aware of specific products and brands; provide individuals with opportunities to compare their own thinking with the attitudes and behaviour of the group; and influence individuals to adopt attitudes and behaviour that are consistent with the norms of the group (Khan and Khan, 2005). Aesthetics appeal on purchasing decision also gained the attention of the researchers. Researchers such as done by Virginie, Irina and Pierre (2009) and Dubois, Laurent, Czellar (2001) influence the purchase decision on luxury goods. 1.3 Research Question Most of the consumers purchase the luxury goods for one of the following reasons. Purchasing decisions could be influence by the social factor example noted by (Khan and Khan, 2005).Other factors that should be taken into consideration include brand image, conspicuous and quality value which effect the purchase decisions before making the purchase. Aesthetics are also playing a crucial role influence on purchase of luxury goods Based on the Literature Review in Chapter 2, which provides a detailed look at all the factors and variables above, the research questions at hand has to do with the present variables and the purchase decisions. The questions addressed in this research are: What are the critical factors (reference groups, perceived conspicuous, perceived quality, brand image and aesthetics) influence generations Y in purchasing decision of luxury goods in Malaysia? Is there any interaction between critical factors (reference groups, perceived conspicuous, perceived quality, brand image and aesthetics) and generation Ys purchase decision on luxury goods in Malaysia? How the critical factors (reference groups, perceived conspicuous, perceived quality, brand image and aesthetics) have impacts on generation Ys purchasing decision on luxury goods in Malaysia? 1.4 Research Objective This study aims to address the following objectives of the study: Main Objective: To determine and identify the factors influence generation Y in purchasing decision of luxury products in Malaysia. Specific objectives: To identify the critical factors (reference groups, perceived conspicuous, perceived quality, brand image and aesthetics) influence generation Y in purchasing decision of luxury products in Malaysia. To determine relationship between critical factors (reference groups, perceived conspicuous, perceived quality, brand image and aesthetics) and generation Ys purchasing decision of luxury goods in Malaysia To determine the effect of critical factors (reference groups, perceived conspicuous, perceived quality, brand image and aesthetics) on purchasing decision of luxury goods in Malaysia. 1.5 Significant of the Study The luxury goods market is growing rapidly and it is important for research to be done to understand the factors and variables that influence Generation Y purchase luxury goods in Malaysia. The research is important for a number of reasons. The factors influence purchasing decision or consumer behaviours toward luxury goods research has been done in American, Europe or Asia but there is a lack of research regarding purchase decisions on luxury brand products in Malaysia. The only research has been done was by Khan and Khan (2005). The research was about the gender differences in the purchase of luxury goods and covered with social influences and marketing influences. 1.6 Scope of the study In this research, the research will be conducted under the scope of the purchasing of luxury goods. The research will investigate the factors that influence the generation Y in purchasing decision of luxury goods in Malaysia. This research is going to focus on generation Y which includes males and females in Malaysia. The age the range of this research on generation Y between 20 to 29. This group of generation Y was chosen because they are college students, university students and young working adults. They are the consumers that showing the greatest purchasing power in the luxury goods market. Questionnaire will be given to the generation Y to know the factors that influence them in purchasing decision on luxury goods. 1.7 Organization of the Research Project The outline of this thesis can be divided into three main parts. Chapter 1 would be the introduction to the paper, where an understanding of the luxury goods market would be presented, along with the trends the market is heading. A background of the study is also provided, citing the work done by past researchers and their findings. This chapter also provides a clear understanding of the problem statements as well as the objectives of this research paper. Chapter 1 would also justify the need for this research to carried out and provide a summary of the research methodology used to carry out the survey. Chapter 2 would provide a review on the findings and results of past researchers. Chapter 2 titled literature review would be the assessment on research topics of interest to the researcher, such as topics concerning the factors that influence the purchase of luxury goods. Factors or variables that are being discussed in this chapter include the social influences, perceived conspicuous value, perceived quality value, brand image and aesthetics Onwards to chapter 3 which is titles research methodology, this chapter would detail the relationships of all the variables present with the theoretical framework. The development of the research hypotheses would also be presented in this chapter along with the sampling design and procedures that would be used in the data collection process. Chapter 3 would then round up by pointing out the methods that would be used for data analysis as well as the variety of tests that would be used to test the hypotheses. Chapter 4 is the â€Å"Data Analysis†, presents and analyses the raw data collected from the survey. After that, SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) will be used to present the most accurate statistic data and graph. Chapter 5 explains the outcomes of the testing of the hypotheses determined from Chapter 4: Data Analysis. The acceptance or rejection of the hypothesis is discussed as well. Additionally, the concluded results of the hypothesis testing from this study are compared with results from previous researches to identify the differences and similarities. 1.8 Conclusion This chapter has laid the foundation for the entire research. A background of the study was also given to show the progress made by past researchers on the topic at hand. An understanding of the luxury goods industry was presented along with the research questions and objectives this research intends to meet. Thus, the research question, research issues, limitations of the research and outline of the research have been presented, which will provide a guideline for the research. The above information can work as a base and lead into the detail interpretation on the research afterwards. Chapter 2: Literature Review 2.0Definition of Luxury Goods The word ‘luxury can be defined as state of life in which has uses things that please the senses or pleasing to have but not essential. â€Å"A good attains the label as a â€Å"luxury† when it has a particular design, quality, performance or durability that is remarkably superior to the comparable substitutes† (Snapshot of U.S Luxury Good Market, 2007). Dubois, Laurent and Czellar (2001) and Survanasuddhi (2007) stated a definition of the nature and characteristics of the concept of luxury. The six facets are excellent quality, very high price, scarcity and uniqueness, aesthetics and polysensuality, ancestral heritage and personal history and superfluousness. Luxury goods are rising in popularity especially as consumers buying behavior is becoming more symbolized. Consumers feel that by owning luxury products can express their personality and set them apart. Thus, â€Å"luxury goods have been defined as goods for which the mere use or display of a particular branded product brings prestige on the owner, apart from any functional utility† (Nia and Zaikowsky,2000) The term ‘prestige was defined as it consists of consumers motivations for chasing technical superiority, uniqueness, signaling wealth and status well as aesthetics appeal (Vigneron and Johnson, 1999). ‘Prestige and ‘luxury are used synonymously in the VIgneron and Johnsons research. Vigneron and Johnson (1999) categorized three types of prestige brand as upmarket brands, premium brands and luxury brands, respectively in an increasing order of prestige. Hence, it was expected that people would have different perceptions of the level of prestige for the same brands, and that the overall prestige level of a brand would consider the prestige perceptions from different people. â€Å"Luxury brands can be described as premium priced brands that consumers purchase for their psychological values (symbolic and hedonic), and not predominately for their economical and functional value† (Nueno and Quelch 1998; Stegeman, 2006). However, the definition of luxury goods or brands cannot be fully recognized. The definition of luxury will be different and may not be the same for another researcher. Chadha Husband (2006) definition limits itself in that it only pertains to luxury fashion goods instead there are other luxury goods that are also both universally available and accepted as luxury. The definition of luxury brands have been defined as fashionable and high quality consumers goods made by reputed luxury brands which contained wearable fashion goods such as handbag, wallet, shoes and belt (Chadha and Husband, 2006; Heinemann, 2008). Fashion can be reflection of the social, economic, political and artistic forces of the time. Accoding to Gao, Norton, Zhang, To (2009), â€Å"luxury fashion goods are apparel, accessories, handbags, shoes, watches, jewellery, and perfume for which use or display of particular branded products brings prestige to owners, apart from any functional utility†. Snapshot of U.S Luxury Good Market (2007) stated fashion group represent the major product sector in the luxury goods market. It is important to know that the survey showed that â€Å"one sixth (16%) of the worlds consumers claim to buy designer brands† (ACNielsen, 2008). For this research, the term luxury goods can be defined as the brands that are defined as luxurious in the annual â€Å"Consumer and Designer Brand Report 2008† by the global Nielson firm which the survey is the largest and it identified the following goods as the luxury fashion goods. Calvin Klien Giorgio Armani Celine Ralph Lauren Louis Vuitton Ferragamo Diesel Burberry Chloe Chanel Versace Marc Jacobs Christian Dior Prada Gucci Givenchy DKNY Emporio Armani Valentino Hermes Fendi Yves Saint Lauren Max Mara The fashion goods that show above are not the only goods that are stated as luxury in this research. Consumers allow to evaluate and include other brands which they think is luxury fashion goods for them. Furthermore, there are many opinions and views of luxury from different leaders viewpoint stated in KPMG research (Managing Luxury Brand Growth, 2006). Luxury is explained in the table below as following: Leaders Name and Company Definition 1. Guy Salter Private Investor, Deputy Chairman of Walpole, the British Luxury goods organization Because luxury matters in a way that didnt matter before. Increasingly, luxury is big business: the luxury segment is growing and according to most projections it will continue to grow for the next ten to fifteen years. 2. Belinda Earl, Jaeger Groups chief executive Jaeger is a luxury British brand renowned for designing stylish, innovative and superb quality womenswear, menswear and accessories. None of us are in the business selling necessities; luxury is the business of creating and satisfying desires. 3. Richard Purdey of gun makers James Purdey and Sons Famous British gun maker of London, and the name is synonymous with the very finest sporting shotguns and rifles. Purdeys hold or have held numerous warrants of appointment as gun and rifle makers to the British and other European royal families. A real luxury brands has got to have total integrity. It has to be the buyer that says ‘this is luxury. 4. Theo Fennell Theo Fennell is the jewellery maker by using his name for his company ‘Theo Fennel in London Luxury is something that everyone wants and nobody needs. 5. Joseph Wan of Harvey Nichols CEO of retailer Harvey Nichols Harvey Nichols is an international luxury lifestyle store, renowned both in the UK and internationally for the breadth and depth of its exclusive fashion merchandise. It offers many of the worlds most prestigious brands in womenswear, menswear, accessories, beauty, food and home. Luxury is about history. A luxury brand is a lifestyle concept and to be sustainable it has to have history, including a history of quality merchandise and of real luxury customers.. 6. Raphael le Masne de Chermont, of Shanghai Tang Executive Chair of Shanghai Tang Shanghai Tang is the first luxury brand emerging design from Chiana It is not in the price, it is in the pleasure you give to the customer. It is to do with creativity, a harmonious aesthetic with attention to details. 7.Christian Hafner Head of Branding at Swarovski Luxury is about history, authenticity, depth and being a partner. Buying a luxury product is like a love affair. 2.1Generation Y Generation Y are also referred as the Millennial Generation or Generation Next or Net Generation describes the demographic cohort following Generation X. Its members are often referred to as Millennials or Echo Boomers. According to Shareef Mahdavi (2008), Generation Y is the term used to describe children of the Baby Boomer generation, typically born between 1977 and 1995. McCrindle (2008) described the generation Y born in between 1980 and 1994. They are also referred to as ‘Millenials and ‘Echo Boomers in the western society, especially American Society. Generation Y are individuals who born between 1977 to 1994 that have a free spending spirit and consist of 71 million 8 to 25 year olds (Horovitz, 2002; Sriviroj 2007). The wealthiest groups of people are between the ages of 19 to 25 year olds who are either employed in full time jobs or part time work even though there are group amount of generation Y consumers. The greatest purchasing power in the Generation Y college student takes place within the part-time student, who spends over $400 monthly on discretionary purchases while often maintaining full-time employment (Gardyn, 2002). Those who are either part time or at full time work are college students (Martin Turley, 2004). Students always work as part time work to find extra funding for their excessive spending during the university hopdays or breaks. There are average 80% of students attending college or university are employed (Martin Turley, 2004). The financial knowledge of the average Generation Y consumer also earns them the awareness and respect of marketers even though their spending power alone is enough reason to pay significant attention to this group of consumers. The financial knowledge of the average Generation Y consumer also earns them the respect of marketers today. Generation Y consumers have a remarkable amount of disposable income due to the increasing of greater level in the economy over the past decade (Martin Turley, 2004). Besides that, the research suggested that â€Å"Generation Y has more discretionary income than the previous generations and prefer to spend it on themselves rather than others. A reason for this may be because they are starting families later in life and therefore are able to spend their income on themselves without having to worry about others† (Angela Hughes, 2008) The important of this group of consumers has taken on the greater level of meaning for marketer. â€Å"While the Baby Boomers grew up with television advertising influencing how they were marketed to and how they bought products, Generation Y has many different mediums that they grew up with, which is what makes marketing to them so much more difficult† (Angela Hughes, 2008). Marketers are playing the large part influence consumers behaviour through the knowledge of fashion. The reason is that teenagers are concerned about fashion value more than any other age groups (Koester and May,1985; Sriviroj 2007). One of the most influencers is the media because of media consist of a wide range of technology such as television, internet, mobile phone and DVD. (Angela Hughes, 2008, Sriviroj 2007). The internet has permanently changed the way that this generation shops by giving the information about products than the companies give the consumer. According to Angela Hughes (2008), he in ternet is also a powerful tool for this generation in spreading opinions about products to their peers. The largest differences between Generation Y and those that preceded them are Generation Ys tremendous awareness and confidence. Generation Y is more likely than any previous generation to look up information before purchasing a product. Generation Y is more desirable to own the products that they know their peers will accept just to show they are part of the group. On the other hand, in the research of Sriviroj (2007) stated that television is strongly influence these generation which affect them as they will reflect their perceptions in â€Å"reality† as they have seen in television world. â€Å"Of the paid advertising channels of online, outdoor, newspaper, magazine, radio, TV and Theatrical, TV and newspaper are the most trusted media† (Nielsen Global Online Consumer Survey, 2009). â€Å"Generation Y is poised to take over as the largest and most lucrative consumer group for marketers, a position that has long been held by the Baby Boomer generation† (Angela Hughes, 2008). In order to understand the generation Y consumers, it is important to think about factors that motivate these individuals towards the purchasing of luxury goods. 2.2 Social Influence Previous research shows that group influences play an important role in influencing the purchase decisions (Brinberg and Plimpton, 1986; Martin and Bush 2000; Mascareches and Higby, 1993). The group members have been recognized as determinant of behavior. The fact that the people act in accordance with a frame of reference produced by the group to which they belong is a long accepted and sound premise (Merton and Rossi, 1949). However, many individuals did not behave like the majority of people in their recognized group (e.g., social class or educational level).The casual observation showed perplexing contradictions between group membership and behaviors. According to Merton and Rossi (1994), â€Å"a partial solution was found in the concept of â€Å"reference group†, which recognizes that people frequently orient themselves to other than membership group in shaping their behaviors and evaluations and that reference groups can perform a diversity of functions.† Reference groups are generally defined as â€Å"actual or imaginary institutions, individuals, or groups conceived of having significant relevance upon an individual‟s evaluations, aspirations, or behavior† (Lessig and Park, 1975; Pertina, Prybutok, Zhang, 2008). Besides that, reference group also can be defined as â€Å"a group of people that significantly influence an individuals behavior† (Bearden and Etzel, 1982). Reference group are important because they make the individual aware to a specific goods or brands and influence individuals to adopt attitude and behaviour that are consistent with the norm of the group. The normative and informative social influences are the most widely accepted influence. Normative social influence is based on the tendency to conform to the expectation of others while informational influence is based on the desire to make informed decisions and optimize the choice (Stephen Yang and He, 2009; Khan and Khan, 2005). Berden and Etzel (1982) examined that the reference group influence by product and the brand purchase decision. Previous research studied group influences in marketing strategy and consumers purchasing behaviour. Specifically, three types of group influences are studied which is information, utilitarian and value expressive influences (Stephen Yang and He; Bearden and Etzel, 1982; Makgosa and Mohube, 2007; Pertina, Prybutok, Zhang, 2008). Informational influence is reflected when an individual perceives enhancement of knowledge and ability to cope with environment when using information from opinion leaders, experts, or product users. Utilitarian influence manifests through the process of compliance with those who can exercise reward or punishment power. Value-expressive reference group function is based on the identification process whereas an individual who associates oneself with a group to enhance self-concept adopts this groups consumption patterns. Reference groups have been found to specify what the desirable and undesirable goods are (Bristol and Malengburg, 2005; Khan and Khan, 2005). Many researchers have argued that individuals are more susceptible to reference groups influence when the goods is conspicuous and publicly consumed (Bearden and Etzel, 1982; Makgosa and Mohube, 2007; Batra, Homer, Kahle, 2009; Morris and White, 2009). The influence of a reference group on consumer behavior can be done in one of two ways, either directly or indirectly. In the research Stephen Yang and He (2009), reference groups refer the group that individual has frequent contact with (such as family members, work associates, classmates, friends, etc.). These group is refers to the groups used by an individual to direct one purchasing behaviour in particular situation. These are generally referred as direct reference group (Schiffman and Kanuk, 1994). On the other hand, it included â€Å"the groups that does not have the membership in or direct contact with, such as certain expected groups or people in a certain social level (Stephen Yang and He, 2009). Based on the work of Khan and Khan (2005), the direct reference group influence was illustrated as â€Å"families, friends, co-worker, formal social groups and other leisure groups†. This differs from the indirect reference groups comprise of â€Å"individuals and groups t hat influence consumers purchase intentions without having and direct contact such as celebrities and sport personalities† (Khan and Khan, 2005). 2.2.1 Direct Reference Groups Direct reference groups can be defined as direct contact from the individual or groups with the consumers. With the reference from †¦.., it showed that families, friends, co-worker, formal social groups and other leisure groups are under this categories. A person has several reference groups for various subjects or different decisions normally. For example, â€Å"a woman may consult one reference group when she is purchasing a car and a different reference group for lingerie† (Consumer Behaviour, no date).These direct reference groups are the one who frequently contact with the consumers, It can be seen that the groups views from direct reference groups whether purchase the goods in order to be like group members, believing in group members decisions or a sign of wanting to fit in the group. The previous researchers have carried out the investigations on how the role models (parents, relatives, peers) influence teenagers purchase intentions and behavior (Martin and Bush; Subramanian and Subramanian, 1995)) and how parents and peers influence various products and brands purchase decisions (Bearden and Etzel, 1982). Researcher has shown that overt family communication can and often does influence younger consumers attitudes toward purchases and their consumption patterns (Martin and Bush). Consumers always do not feel confident enough to evaluate alone. They will consult a friend or partner by inviting them along to a potential purchase can enhance the process. â€Å"Having a peer present meant that shop assistants become largely irrelevant and that evaluation of a brand centered largely on initial peer reaction to fit, style and price-based decisions† (Guy W.Mullarkey, 2001). â€Å"It is also interesting to note that of all the three direct reference groups, friends tend to exert the greatest influence where individuals purchase brands because they identify themselves with their peers† (Khan and Khan, 2005). From the numerous researches that have been done, direct reference groups influence make an immediate impact to the consumers. Therefore, it can be concluded that direct reference groups play a significant role in providing relevant information, deemed necessary to make a purchase and conform the group norm. 2.2.2 Indirect Reference Groups Indirect reference groups is the group that influence consumers purchase decisions without having any direct contact with the consumers such as celebrities and sport personalities. Khan and Khan (2005) defined celebrities as â€Å"individuals who are well known to the public for their advertisements in areas other than product class endorsed† and that they represent â€Å"an idealisation of life†. In luxury goods industry, it will be much easier by connecting the brand to a celebrity and is even viewed, in some instances, as a necessity. This is because a luxury goods company is in the business of building and selling dreams, and nothing is more helpful in making such dreams concrete and thus more believable in the eyes of the consumer, than communicating it through a famous personality. Celebrities are being increasingly used in marketing communication by marketers to lend personality to their products in India (Matrade Chennai, 2005).

all the kIngs men :: essays research papers

The amount of change people go through in their lives is remarkable. One day, a person can be a devious criminal, while the next day that same person could turn a new leaf and become a saint. The change that Jack goes through in All the King’s Men, by Robert Penn Warren, is comparable to that of the schizophrenic patient who receives a lobotomy. Although Jack undergoes no physical change, the events he witnesses change his personality, and transform him into an entirely new man. While Jack views the world in a schizophrenic fashion, in the end he changes his philosophical mind frame and finds the cure for his disease. Jack does view the world in a schizophrenic manner. According to Webster's dictionary, the psychosis for schizophrenia is a retreating from reality. Jack retreats from reality a lot. When Jack found out that Anne was having an affair with Willie, he disconnected himself from reality. He went west, to Long Beach, where he commenced with his great sleep. The great sleep was a very important thing for jack because it allowed him to avoid reality. He would sleep and everything else would go on. While in Long Beach, Jack thought that he had discovered the greatest thought he ever had. That thought was the great twitch, a belief that there are no consequences for actions since they are only â€Å"twitches† of impulses. This thought was probably the biggest attempt to evade reality. Believing in the great twitch, Jack set himself apart from the rest of the world. By thinking that no one could be blamed for anything, he dodged blame from himself. By acting out the great sleep and the Great twitch, he was able to act like a schizophrenic until he had a change in philosophical views. Jack's philosophical views changed, just as the view of the patient would have after the surgery. Jack was, in the beginning of the novel, a believer in The Great Twitch. He becomes, in the end of the novel, a believer in the Spider Web Theory, a belief that all things are connected and every action has some effect on everything else. At the scene of the lobotomy, Jack comments that someone should baptize the patient "in the name of the Big Twitch, the Little Twitch, and the Holy Ghost, Who, no doubt, is a Twitch, too." Towards the end of the story, Jack "woke up one morning to discover that he did not believe in the Great Twitch any more.

Duke basketball :: essays research papers

Duke Basketball If you want to talk about success stories, Duke basketball is the one to talk about. This miracle didn't just happen overnight, it took time. Krzyzewski became coach in 1980-81 with not a lot of talent. He makes big moves in recruiting in 1982. Some of the people he recruited included Johnny Dawkins, Mark Alarie, David Henderson, Jay Bilas and Weldon Williams. People looked at this new and approved team as one of the nations best team. This started the miracle the still lives on today. Joining this powerful team was guard Tommy Amaker in 1983. Duke won 24 games in 1984 and earned the first NCAA bid under Coach K. With the same boys, they were now seniors, the 1986 Duke team won an NCAA-record 37 games while claiming titles in the Big Apple NIT, ACC regular season, ACC Tournament and the NCAA East Regional. They made a school record with a 21-game winning streak during the year. They were undefeated at home, advanced to the NCAA Championship game in Dallas and played more games than any other team in college basketball history. With the loss of the five seniors, many expected Duke to start losing again. Coach Krzyzewski was going backwards, he wanted to keep moving forward. . The team won 24 games and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament before losing to eventual national champion Indiana in 1987. Amaker closed out his career as the National Defensive Player of the Year, while Coach K looks back at the season as the one that showed people how Duke was going to become a winning basketball program. The 1987-88 season began the school's amazing streak of five straight NCAA Final Four appearances as the Blue Devils won 28 games, again swept to the ACC title, won another East Regional championship and ended up in Kansas City. Senior Billy King followed Amaker by winning the National Defensive Player of the Year award, the second in a row by a Blue Devil. The role of leadership again fell to the senior class in 1988-89. This time it was the National Player of the Year Danny Ferry, Quin Snyder and John Smith taking the role. They lead the team to another trip to the NCAA Final Four with a win over favored Georgetown in the East Regional final. In 1989-90, seniors Alaa Abdelnaby, Robert Brickey and Phil Henderson again took a big role.

Management and Steel Industry Essay

1. List and elaborate some strategic issues facing NUCOR. Key strategic issues challenging NUCOR include legislation related to climate change, fluctuating cost and supply of iron ore and scrap steel, increasing amount of steel imports, production technology improvements and economic weakness. Changes in legislation could have severe impacts on the firm’s numerous production facilities and could be costly to become compliant. The fluctuations in both the cost and supply of iron ore and scrap steel directly impact the firm’s profitability because it is difficult to pass those costs on to the customers due to the price-driven level of competition in the steel industry. The rise of low cost steel imports increases the domestic U.S. supply which puts pressure on NUCOR. The firm must stay at the front of technological advances for the production and processing of steel in order to stay competitive. Common for many firms and industries, economic weakness is an issue that challenges NUCOR’s strategy because it can impact the demand for its reputable high quality steel products. 2. What are the key elements of NUCOR’s low cost strategy? What factors have helped NUCOR achieve a low cost position? Key strategy elements for NUCOR: Conservative financial strength Team-based culture and decentralized operations Vertical integration Diversification Innovation – information technology, speed of design process Close proximity to important customers Financially stable employees – higher than average wages and non-discretionary incentive programs Employee empowerment Honesty and openness within the company No employee lay-offs Factors that have contributed to NUCOR’s low cost position: Strong, long-term relationships with outside parties for services such as research and development, purchasing recommendations, advertising, public relations, and  legal or environmental regulation compliance Stepping away from the steel industry’s tradition of equalized freight and offering all customers the sales terms of price plus actual shipping costs Not offering customers volume discounts Fleet of nearly 150 trucks for product delivery Vertical integration from joist manufacturing into steel production Steel production utilizing mini-mill technology Holding workstations responsible for identifying bottlenecks to increase efficiency Sophisticated computer program is used to compute accurate bids Improvements in the melting and casting processes for steel production including â€Å"continuous casters† Flat organizational hierarchy 3. Please apply Porter’s Five Forces model to the steel industry. While doing so, clearly identify who is behind each force and what the impact is of each force on the profitability of the industry (high/medium/low). At the end, also provide a summary of all the five forces and propose whether you think the steel industry is attractive or not. The bargaining power of buyers is high due to minimal product differentiation, low switching costs, excess capacity of steel production and large volume purchases. The threat of substitutes is medium because substitutes such as aluminum and plastic would not provide equivalent strength and durability but could still serve the same purpose as steel. The bargaining power of suppliers is low primarily due to the product being a commodity, high ratio of imported raw materials, and low switching costs. The threat of new entrants is low due to the trend toward consolidation and high amount of capital required to establish production/processing facilities capable of achieving economies of scale. Rivalry is intense because the steel industry is mature with little differentiation among products and mergers both in the U.S. and across the globe creating giant companies with deep pockets. Generally speaking, I think the steel industry is unattractive primarily due to its maturity, significant capital requirements and intense price-based competition that ultimately lead to low profitability. 4. What are NUCOR’s resources and capabilities? Resources: Team-based organizational culture Alliances with outside parties for support services Joint ventures with Physical locations of plants in proximity to key customers Loyal employees comprised of production workers, department heads, support and administrative staff, and senior management Innovative mini-mill technology Own fleet of nearly 150 trucks for distribution Computer program to generate bids Plants, mills, equipment, and machinery Reputation Financial capital Capabilities: Management’s philosophy and leadership skills Successful quality control process Flat organizational hierarchy and incentive program that keeps the workforce cooperative and productive Acquisition management Multidivisional coordination Speed of design process 5. Elaborate on some of the key lessons you have learnt from the case analysis. The most significant lesson I learned from this case analysis is that management style and culture can be key to being competitive. These really are the two things that will give NUCOR sustainable competitive advantage  because they are the most difficult to find and imitate. Building such an impressive employee loyalty takes time and cannot be replicated easily. In addition, the minimization of the corporate bureaucracy is something that makes employees at all levels feel comfortable and as if they are part of a family. I think there are many companies, including the one I work for that could really benefit from adopting this management style.