Mathematics, Jazz, Zen An Existential Ribbon in Balance free essay sample

Math and jazz are different. Contradicting sometimes, complementing sometimes,  ­always side by side, sometimes parallel, sometimes intersecting. Theyre both important to me, and I think their unique interaction has helped me discover who I am in a few short years of high school. Jazz is so free – creative, lyrical, pulsing, raw, human. Music is emotion, while math is abstraction. Mathematics takes all we know in life and then takes it away. If music is the most human of the arts, math is the least. Yet there is math in music, and music in math. In jazz, inspiration can come to any soul, but it takes a trained musician to liberate it from the heart and set it in the hearts of others. Ive struggled as a student of music theory to balance my expression with the necessities of formal structure. I think soloing on a chart is a good analogy for life. We will write a custom essay sample on Mathematics, Jazz, Zen: An Existential Ribbon in Balance or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I can have a million ideas, but only by training my mind can I put them in a form others can digest. Only by training my pen and sharpening my mind academically can I turn my thoughts into arguments, and turn my arguments into ideas that I hope could someday change the world. In math, the process of proof is similar. Its easy sometimes to see the answer, but it takes perseverance and training to derive it logically. Its not enough to feel the answer; you have to prove it. Its not enough to feel the music. You have to prove it. Theres a little bit of irony in all this. Ive recently become a fan of Zen philosophy, which maintains that we must cherish the contradictions and hypocrisies of life, rather than try to blindly â€Å"resolve† them. This translates into Zen meta-philosophy – studying the Way only brings us farther from it – and the resolution of meta-meta-philosophy – the farther from the Way we are, the closer we approach it. The endless contradictions eventually cancel out to a universal truth of sorts: its tough to get to Enlightenment, but by training your spirit you can try to pave the Way for it. Thats jazz, and thats mathematics. John Coltrane for a period of time was living on a farm to practice without interruption (not unlike some Zen monks!). He spent 14 hours a day locked in his room, playing sax. Certainly he had the heart of an artist and was able to express himself pretty well beforehand. But he knew you dont move the souls of an entire generation without a little more practice. Thats what I want my education to do for me. I want to change the world in some way someday, and I can do it by making the most of myself, the most of everything inside me. Though it seems silly and almost hypocritical to say that I can enhance the arts of music and mathematics with the sciences of knowledge and self-discipline, its no stranger than noting one must study to become a Zen monk. I love taking in every bit of knowledge I can, because I think the touchable knowledge of the real world will enhance my creativity and expression, the intangible, emotional things that are really the most human.

King Ramkhamhaeng essays

King Ramkhamhaeng essays Throughout history, there have been many great rulers of many great ancient civilizations. Some of them might be Julius Caesar, Ramses II, Hammurabi, or Octavian Caesar. The list of them could go on forever. One of the most influential of his civilization, known for his wisdom, was King Ramkhamhaeng or Rama the Valiant, of the Thai people. He claimed to be the sovereign lord of all the Thai. Researchers guess that he lived from 1239 AD to after 1317 AD. During his lifetime, King Ramkhamhaeng invented the modern Thai script, expanded his kingdom far and wide, and made the Sukhothai Kingdom one of the greatest in Thai history. When the ancient Thai people moved into mainland Southeast Asia, they came across a people speaking the Mon-Khmer languages who had inhabited the region for a long period before then. During the first millennium, strong Indian and China influences brought Hindu and Buddhist beliefs to the area. Some of the groups that adopted these beliefs were the Mon of Myanmar who were the first people of Southeast Asia to adopt Buddhism. Between the sixth and ninth centuries, the Mon established several small Buddhist civilizations within modern-day Myanmar and Central Thailand. From their two capitals, Nakhon Pathom and Lop Buri, they extended their power east across the Khorat Plateau and north as fat as Chiang Mai. They extended their civilization northeast to present day Laos. This period was known as the Dvaravati period of Thailand. It was a period that was noted for its artwork; particularly its Buddhist sculptures made of terra cotta or stucco. When the Thai people moved south into the mainland of Southeast Asia, they also came across the Khmer from Cambodia. Between the 9th and 13th centuries, Khmer rulers expanded their civilizations from their capital of Angkor, establishing an empire that at its height, extended over approximately half of modern Thailand. This kingdom wa...

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WHY DO WE CARE ABOUT HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION Essay

WHY DO WE CARE ABOUT HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION - Essay Example Nocera (2007) Hence, the usage of information has drastically been enhanced since the advent of human computer interaction. This paper will discuss many facets of HCI which include: information systems, analog and digital systems, Artificial intelligence and speech recognition. One cannot understand the importance of HCI without comprehending what actually an information systems. Human Computer interaction is a collaborative effort that strives to connect people, network, software, hardware, and data in order to facilitate the daily operations of a business. There are many types of information systems that consist of: manual, informal, formal, and computer-based. Systems engineering derived from HCI in essence give valuable data to organizations that can be given evaluated upon, analyzed, and enhance the value of the key goals that the organization possesses managing information systems stems from internetwork enterprises. Foulds (2006) Information systems with Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a huge element because it allows children and technology. It is clear that internet and technology are vital components of the future. With the advent of technology, the internet has become a very strong force. Internet is a monumental channel that can have a positive and a negative impact on children. This paper will examine the pros and cons of the internet and its effect on children. Before dwelling into HCI, it is imperative to understand the history behind it. Human Computer Interaction has been a prominent idea from the beginning of 1970s when computers and humans began interacting with each other. Spreadsheets and computer games became highly critical because user interface became common. Nocera (2007) This was very basic interaction as modern technology have not been developed. Calculations, word processing, and excels also came later as basic processing and storage were the primitive examples of HCI. As years progressed, the logic behind

Abercrombie and Fitch Analysis

Abercrombie and Fitch Analysis 1. Introduction The following report explores the company Abercrombie Fitch within its US and UK market. Key external factors have been explored such as PEST, SWOT, TOWS and the companies competitors, as well as Porters Generic strategies and Ansoff Matrix. SMART Objectives have then been formulated considering all of the above factors and then a Strategic Plan, Implementation Measurement of each SMART Objective has been created. 1.2 Company Background Abercrombie and Fitch were founded in 1892 by David T Abercrombie and offered prestigious sporting and outdoor clothing for males and females. Today the company is an upmarket US fashion retailer striving to offer their consumers casual luxury to the 18-22 year old market segment. The company has over 300 stores in the US and is also situated in the UK, Japan, Canada and Italy. They also have ongoing plans to expand into other foreign markets such as Asia in the near future. Abercrombie Fitch have three subsidiary sister companies consisting of: Abercrombie: very similar to the main brand but for children aged 7-14 Hollister Co: for teenagers 14-18 offering lower priced products to Abercrombie Fitch but very similar in style Gilly Hicks: offering lounge wear, underwear and a body care range for people aged 18+. Abercrombie Fitch also had a subsidiary company called Ruehl No.925 which offered clothing products to the 25+ age segment, however the store closed at the beginning of 2010 as it did not take off. 2. External Analysis- PEST Factors Table 1: PEST 2.1 Political/Legal Import Duty: As Abercrombie Fitch manufacture their products within the USA and Asia, products that are imported into the UK accrue an import duty. Import duty is calculated on the type of goods, their value and the country of origin. (Business Link 2010) If the product is made up of 20% or more of parts from other countries then this has to be stated to the countries customs as this may affect the price of the import duty. Labelling: As Abercrombie Fitchs products are imported from the US to the UK the company needs to ensure that all their clothing products meet the UK labelling requirements stated in the Textile Products (Indication of Fibre Content) Regulations 1986, to ensure that they are in accordance with the law. Employment law: The UK has very strict employment laws against discrimination. Abercrombie Fitch were recently faced with a law suit in June 2009 when an employee was allegedly told that her prosthetic limb was not in accordance with the companies look policy. The employee aimed to sue the company for  £20,000 for discrimination against her disability. It is important for Abercrombie Fitch and their employees to be aware of UK legislations as high profile law suits could affect their image leading to bad publicity. 2.2 Economic The Recession: Although some reports may state that the recent recession may be drawing to an end, Abercrombie Fitchs latest Fiscal-fourth quarter earnings (Talley 2010) paint a different picture as they fell 31% (Talley 2010) due to the continuing decline in their sales. This is due to the company not being prepared to reduce their prices during the recession, forcing their customers to look for cheaper competitors (see Competitor Audit for detailed list of competitors). UK Pricing: Abercrombie Fitch are constantly striving to maintain and promote the prestige image they have successfully created in the US in the UK. However when the UK flagship store in London opened in 2007 the company was criticised for over pricing, as the products cost double those offered in the US stores. This could have had a major impact on the companys success in the UK. However, so far they have found that their consumers have had strong brand loyalty to them and have been willing to pay the price for the products. Although as mentioned above, the companys earnings have been affected by the recession. 2.3 Socio-Cultural Sexual Imagery: Over the years Abercrombie Fitch have been attacked about their sexually explicit advertising within their advertising campaigns and quarterly catalogue. It is against many different religions values and beliefs for example the Muslim religion to show sexual or naked imagery within advertisements. Therefore Abercrombie Fitch need to be aware of the different values and beliefs different communities and religions have in order not to offend anyone. Market research should be undertaken as to what the best form of advertising is for any new campaigns and to determine what type of imagery should be used. However in many westernised countries, shock advertising works well and this is what they use. The company strives to be different and stand out in any which way they can. Ageing Population: With increasing life expectancy and an aging population prominent across the world, it is unwise for Abercrombie Fitch to continue into their future just focusing on consumers aged 18-22. With the recent failure of their high end brand Ruehl No.925 which focused on consumers aged 25-35 a strategy to re-brand and reinvent Ruehl may be a wise decision for the company. 2.4 Technological Internet online purchasing: With the ever increasing popularity of the internet and consumer online purchasing, it has meant that Abercrombie Fitch have been able to advertise their products to consumers via their website and also allowing the consumer to purchase products, if they wish to, around the world. Online advertisement is an excellent way to catch a younger target audiences attention. Improvement of Transport: Transport has changed dramatically over the past 50years. Roads have improved and with many more flights take off each day from large airports, companies are seeing quicker delivery times for products that are sent by sea, road and air. This is good news for Abercrombie Fitch as their products are reaching consumers quicker. As the companys products spend a lot of time in transport, some of the manufactured goods are imported from Asia then dispatched around the world to their many stores. 3. External Analysis- Competitor Audit As Abercrombie Fitch are situated in many different global markets the following competitor audit will focus on Abercrombie Fitchs main competitors in the UK and the US. 3.1 US Competitors: 3.1.1 American Eagle Outfitters American Eagle Outfitters is Abercrombie Fitchs main competitor in the US. Like Abercrombie Fitch they target 18-22 year olds, offering young fashionable products to their consumers. They have a larger range of products than Abercrombie Fitch but are not seen to be as prestigious. Unlike Abercrombie Fitch, some consumers find the American Eagles shopping experience much more pleasant, as the music is quieter and there is more lighting. The company recently opened a store in the UK in London. 3.1.2 Aeropostele Aeropostele is cheaper than Abercrombie Fitch, however it is still seen as one of their main competitors as they target the same market segment. Like American Eagle they have a large range of clothing products and accessories for the male and female markey which Abercrombie Fitch do not offer. 3.2 UK Competitors: 3.2.1 Jack Wills Like Abercrombie Fitch Jack Wills target segment is 18-22 year olds. The company call themselves the University Outfitters and often situate their stores in University towns. Although Jack Wills call themselves this name under 18s are also found to be keen Jack Wills wearers. However the company do not have a strong market share in the UK as they are seen to offer, like Abercrombie Fitch specialised clothing. 3.2.2 Urban Outfitters Urban Outfitters offer branded clothing to a unique market. Unlike Abercrombie Fitch they offer edgy, different styled fashion products to their competitor, targeting the same age segment. Urban Outfitters is a very popular US company and is very up and coming in the UK in London. 3.2.3 Hollister Although Hollister is a sister company to Abercrombie Fitch, there seems to have been some inter-company competitiveness in the UK. Abercrombie Fitch have only one store in the UK situated in London whereas Hollister have ten stores situated around the country. Although in the US Hollister targets 14-18 year olds, many older people in the UK have been wearing the brand due to accessibility of the store, as travelling to London to purchase Abercrombie Fitch clothing is not an option for some people they choose to wear the next best thing which is clothing from Abercrombie Fitchs sister company Hollister. 4. SWOT Analysis 4.1 Strengths Strong portfolio of brands other than the main Abercrombie Fitch brand appealing to consumers aged 9- 24 Annual Abercrombie Fitch Challenge which raises money for charities and organisations, raising their profile Sponsor of the Elite Racing Team In 2007 offered $75,000 scholarships to the National Society of High School Scholars Expansion plans in Canada, Europe and Asia The ability to capture 18-22 year olds attention and condition them into wanting the brands products In 2007 the company had a 2.3% market share of the US clothing retail market which put them at 3rd largest market share. In 2008 Abercrombie Fitch started modifying and upgrading their information systems 4.2 Weaknesses Money being lost to counterfeit products Company portrays a sexual image, this is not acceptable in some countries and societies Look Policy often seen to be too strict by employees With the recent closure of Ruehl No.925 there is no longer an Abercrombie store that appeals to consumers aged 25+ Expensive prices in the UK compared to US Many law suits have been seen due to Discrimination Many of the loyal customers feel that too many people are now wearing the brand and it is starting to lose its prestigious image The recent upgrading and modification on information systems within the business is a long process and could affect day to day running of the business 4.3 Opportunities Celebrity endorsements Increase brand awareness New range of products for pre 9 year olds Reinvent Ruehl No.925 and recapture the 25+ market segment Increase market share Increase sales outside of the two main selling seasons of August and November/December Completely new product launch Female jewellery Recapture prestigious image with new range Larger sizes Male and female watches Introduce real looking models (models sized UK 12+) as it is not how the clothes look on the individual, it is how they make the individual feel In store music album available to purchase Change shopping experience to include, more lighting, quieter music, clothes more readily available Completely rebrand company image from casual to smart wear e.g. suits Expansion into Eastern Europe 4.4 Threats Threat of substitution due to high prices Import taxes may rise Piracy in foreign waters, potential threat of loss of stock Economical/political change in countries in which Abercrombie Fitch operate Law suits against company for example acts of discrimination Exchange rates could affect companies profitability Change in fashion trends The availability and price of raw materials could affect the cost of manufacturing Due to global warming unforeseeable weather changes could affect consumer preference on products 5. SWOT to TOWS Table 3: SWOT to TOWS Internal elements External elements Organisational Strengths Organisational Weaknesses Strategic Options Environmental Opportunities (and risks) Strengths into opportunities: Strong portfolio of brands other than the main Abercrombie Fitch brand appealing to consumers aged 9-24. Therefore Abercrombie Fitch have the brand power to be able to introduce other product ranges into the existing markets Annual Abercrombie Fitch Challenge which raises money for charities and organisations. The Annual challenge could be made bigger, therefore raising more money for charities. The Annual event could even be brought into other countries in which the company are present to raise money for their charities Sponsor of the Elite Racing Team, this is not widely known that they sponsor the team. Therefore awareness could be increased thus enhancing brand awareness of the company In 2007 offered $75,000 scholarships to the National Society of High School Scholars. Scholarships could also be offered in other countries in which the company are present in to similar schools Expansion plans in Canada, Europe and Asia means that profits are to increase as well as brand awareness The ability to capture 18-22 year olds attention and condition them into wanting the brands products. Abercrombie Fitch have the ability to condition their customers into needing their products, therefore if a limited edition range of products were to be realised, consumer would respond to this well In 2007 the company had a 2.3% market share of the US clothing retail market, thus making them the 3rd largest market share in the US. Having the 3rd largest market share in the US gives the company the opportunity to strive to have the second largest or even beat the Gap and have the largest market share. Abercrombie Fitch should also look to increase their UK market share as currently they are not seen to be strong competition to UK brands In 2008 Abercrombie Fitch started modifying and upgrading their information systems. This therefore means that the company will soon have stronger information systems thus meaning smoother and easier running of the company Weakness into opportunities: Money being lost to counterfeit products. Abercrombie need to ensure that all products have copyright and anyone who counterfeits their products have a law suit brought upon them Company portrays a sexual image, this is not acceptable in some countries and societies, therefore Abercrombie could look towards toning down the sexual imagery within countries and societies that find this offensive Look Policy often seen to be too strict by employees. The company should therefore hold in store meetings to gather information as to what the employees find strict about the policy, then this should be raised in the Annual conference With the recent closure of Ruehl No.925 there is no longer an Abercrombie store that appeals to consumers aged 25+. Therefore information by the means of market research should be gathered from consumers as why they felt the brand failed. As well as information from store staff and stakeholders. The company could then formulate strategies to rebrand Ruehl No.925 thus penetrating the 25+ age market once again Expensive prices in the UK compared to US. Consumers are currently prepared to pay the higher prices that are at present in the UK, if the situation changes then the company should investigate the price of importing the clothes into the UK against the price they are charging and the profit that is being made. If profit is high then the company could look towards lowering their UK prices Many law suits have been seen due to discrimination. Increased awareness should be made about discrimination within the work place and more minority groups should also be introduced into the company. Many of the loyal customers feel that too many people are now wearing the brand and it is starting to lose its prestigious image. Therefore a new prestigious range could be introduced to encourage said consumers back to the brand Environmental Threats Strengths used to minimise threats: Threat of substitution due to high prices. However one of Abercrombie Fitchs strengths is that they have the ability to catch their target audiences attention and make the consumers feel they need the products Import taxes may rise. However the company are constantly expanding therefore profits should rise thus meaning if import taxes should rise it should not affect the company substantially Change in fashion trends. As Abercrombie Fitch have a strong market share within the US, it would be wise to assume that they have an excellent team of fashion forecasters that would be able to foresee this potential threat. This strength can also be used for the threat of, due to global warming unforeseeable weather changes could affect consumer preference of products Strategies to deal with weaknesses and threats: Competitive pricing should be brought in to reduce the threat of substitution due to high prices Import taxes may rise. As mentioned in the previous box, if import taxes do rise then the company should be okay as they are continuing to expand thus increasing profits, which overall should even out the rise of import tax if it should occur Law suits against company. Abercrombie Fitch need to ensure that the company is always running professionally to ensure that further law suits do not arise Exchange rates could affect companys profitability. The company need to be constantly aware of exchange rates and understand that stock being sold in an unstable political and economical market could lose value The availability and price of raw materials could affect the cost of manufacturing. Therefore Abercrombie Fitch need to ensure they are obtaining their raw materials at the best price available 6. Porters Generic Strategies Diagram 1: Abercrombie Fitch and Porters Generic Strategies Abercrombie Fitch now Focus Abercrombie Fitch for the future Middle of the Road Differentiation Cost Leadership Porter (1980) identified four types of generic strategies for a company to be competitively successful. The four strategies consisted of Cost Leadership, Focus, Differentiation and Middle of the Road. Abercrombie Fitch are currently using the generic strategy of Focus as they have a small range of clothing products focused on a specific market segment of 18-22 year olds. For the future the company should aim to move not entirely away from focus but slightly towards Differentiation, thus enhancing their products durability and perception 7. Ansoff Matrix Table 4: Abercrombie Fitch Ansoff Matrix Current Products New Products Current Market Male and Female : clothing swimwear belts rubber flip flops leather flip flops Female: classic scarves handbags signature totes signature scents, 8, Classic, 41 (perfume) and Wakely Male: boxer shorts underwear necklaces bracelets signature scents, Fierce, 41 (cologne) and Colden Womens jewellery Male and Female watches Music C.D of in store music A range of male and female winter shoes Bags for males Pyjamas New Market Expansion into foreign market for example Eastern Europe Abercrombie Fitch catalogue in which products can be ordered similar to Next Directory or Littlewoods catalogue Products available in large department stores within the UK for example John Lewis, House of Frasier, Selfridges and Harrods. A range of smart male and female clothing products Hair care products Abercrombie Fitch bottled water Surf boards Male and female clothing for age group 25+ Larger sizes 8. SMART Objectives Abercrombie Fitchs SMART objectives run over the limited period from 2010-2013. In the world of Beauty and Fashion 3-6months would be considered a shot term objective. 12-25 months a medium objective and 36+ months a long term objective. This is a very different time frame to other types of businesses, as fashion and beauty trends move very quickly, usually with the seasons. Therefore companies such as Abercrombie Fitch need to be thinking quickly about fashion changes. The following SMART objectives are listed in hierarchy, with the first objective being the objective that Abercrombie Fitch should definitely consider proceeding with if they had to choose one. Given the present economic climate, it may be in Abercrombie Fitchs best interest to wait until the end of the recession is completely in sight before producing any new products as bringing out a new product is a high risk. SMART Objective Target Segment Risk 1) Introduce a range of womens jewellery complementary to the companies style of casual luxury, consisting of 15 pieces by 1st November 2010 Women aged 18-22, educated, with reasonably comfortable income Medium Risk 2) Launch a new prestigious clothing range to re-capture higher end income consumers by 1st may 2011 Men and Women aged 18-22, educated, with high income Low Risk 3) Trail introduction of larger UK womens sizes 12-16 for clothing products in London flagship store by 1st March 2013 Women aged 18-22, educated, with reasonably comfortable income, that could not shop at the store before due to the size Large actually being the equivalent to a UK 10 High Risk If objective 3 is successful then 4) Trial introduction of integration of 2 real models within advertisements and in store staff within London flagship store by 12th June 2013 Men and Women aged 18-22, educated, with reasonably comfortable income. The advertisements and new models will aim to attract real size women in the UK sizes 12-16 High Risk 9. Strategic Plan, Implementation Measurement of SMART Objectives 9.1 SMART Objective 1 SMART Objective Porters Strategy Market Segment/ Ansoff 1) Introduce a range of womens jewellery complimentary to the companys style of casual luxury, consisting of 15 pieces by 1st November 2010 Between Focus and Differentiation Women aged 18-22, educated, with reasonably comfortable income. New Product/Current Market Product The jewellery will be in the companies style of casual luxury, items such as beaded bracelets, necklaces and earrings will be designed in accordance with market research results and offered to consumers in store and online Price Market Skimming Strategy high price offered and only gradually lowered Place Products will be available in all Abercrombie Fitch Flag ship stores around the world and on website. If successful will be brought into all other stores Promotion Direct Marketing- television adverts, magazine advertisements, in store advertisement. Celebrity endorsement Physical Evidence The Abercrombie Fitch logo of the Moose will remain present Process Products will be sent from the manufactures to Head office then distributed to the Flag Ship stores around the world People Abercrombie Fitch already make male jewellery, therefore a female specialist will be employed and work alongside the male specialist in order to create male and female jewellery products that work in harmony Measurement Small targets should be set in order to ensure the successful completion of the Objective. As the objective is short term, monthly meetings should also take place to ensure targets are being met. 9.2 SMART Objective 2 SMART Objective Porters Strategy Market Segment/ Ansoff 2) Launch a new prestigious male and female clothing range to re-capture higher end income consumers by 1st may 2011 Focus Men and Women aged 18-22, educated, with high income New Product/ New Market Product A range of male and female clothes aimed at recapturing the wealthier consumers offering them a prestigious brand once again. Once market research has be undertaken then this will determine the types of clothing products needed. Price Pricing to reflect product differentiation- price will be higher than the standard brands products Place Products will first be launched in the flag ship stores around the world and then brought into all other stores if found to be successful Promotion Direct Marketing- television advertisements, magazine advertisements, in store advertisement. Celebrity endorsement Physical Evidence The Abercrombie Fitch logo of the Moose will remain present Process Products will be sent from the manufactures to Head office then distributed to the Flag Ship stores around the world People Ruehl No.925 employees will be interviewed and asked why they feel the brand failed. Constructive criticism will be taken away and applied to making the new prestigious range successful. A person with strong knowledge of prestige brands and turn around strategies would be useful Measurement Once market research has been undertaken a target should be set as to when the first designs will be available for viewing. Then more targets set as to when the collection will be finished. Monthly meetings should be undertaken to ensure that targets are being met and to run through any problems that may arise that could affect the objective being met on time. 9.3 SMART Objective 3 SMART Objective Porters Strategy Market Segment/ Ansoff 3) Trail introduction of larger UK womens sizes 12-16 for clothing products in London flagship store by 1st March 2013 Between Focus and Differentiation Women aged 18-22, educated, with reasonably comfortable income, that could not shop at the store before due to the size Large actually being the equivalent to a UK 10 New Product/ New Market Product As well as the usual 0-10 UK womens clothing sizes being produced the company will also introduce sizes 12-16. These sizes are the most common female sizes in the UK and should be greatly accepted Price Market Skimming- high price offered and only gradually lowered Place The new sizes will be introduced into the UKs London flagship store. If found to be successful then new objectives will be set for the introduction of the sizes across the world Promotion Small in store advertisements within UK London flag ship store Physical Evidence The Abercrombie Fitch logo of the Moose will remain present Process Products will be manufactured then distributed straight to UK flag ship store in order to cut out the middle man (The US head office) Products will have to be checked in order to ensure that they are 100% before retailing People Someone with strong knowledge on female sizing in the UK Measurement Targets set and meeting undertaken to ensure that procedures are running smoothly to meeting the objective. In the first year 4 meetings will take place and then one every month in the years to follow until the object end date 9.4 SMART Objective 4 SMART Objective Porters Strategy Market Segment/ Ansoff 4) Trial introduction of integration of 2 real models within advertisements and in store staff within London flagship store by 12th June 2013 Between Focus and Differentiation Men and Women aged 18-22, educated, with reasonably comfortable income. The advertisements and new models will aim to attract real size women in the UK sizes 12-16 New Product/ New Market Product Introduction of real size models sizes 12+ within companies Marketing/Advertising campaigns and in store staff Price Price will be based on price of advertising campaign and cost of new in store staff Place Advertisements with real size models will be trialled in the UKs London flagship store. Real size models will also be hired alongside the skinny in store staff Promotion Large advertisements including real size models within direct marketing such as, magazines, television advertisements, internet and in store. As well as London buses Physical Evidence The Abercrombie Fitch logo of the Moose will remain present Process real size models casted for advertisement and for in store staff People Someone who can sympathise with the fact that clothes should not be about what you look like in them, but how you feel in them. And understand that not everyone is a size 0 model. Bring realism to the company Measurement Small targets should be set in order to ensure the successful completion of the Objective. As the objective is long term, 4 meetings will take place in the 1st year and then monthly meetings will take place in the second and thrid year to ensure targets are being met. 10. Conclusion In conclusion after considering Abercrombie Fitchs external environment as well as Porters Generic strategies and Ansoff Matrix, four SMART Objectives have been formulated and a Strategic Plan, Implementation Measurement of each SMART Objective has also been created. If Abercrombie Fitch should decide to implement any of the SMART Objectives suggested in the near future, then the current external environment should be examined as different situations may have arisen.

Crime and Punishment in Ancient Greece Essay

Today, criminals are punished for their crimes by going to jail or prison or being on probation. But what was it like in Ancient Greece? After the Dark Ages, about 1200-900 BC, the Ancient Greeks had no official laws or punishments. Murders were settled by the victims family killing the murderer, but this was difficult if they were elderly or female. This often began endless blood feuds. It was not until the seventh century BC that the Greeks began to establish laws. Around 620 BC, Draco wrote the first law for Greece. This law said that exile was the penalty for murder and was the only one of Draco’s laws that Solon kept when he became law giver in 594 BC. Foreign slaves were often employed as police men and women in Ancient Greece. After somebody reported a crime, if somebody was arrested, an informant would receive half of fine charged to the criminal. In Athens, criminals were tried before a jury of 200 or more citizens picked at random. Going to prison was not an usual punishment for the people of Greece. In cases involving rape, theft, adultery, and murder, the accused got a written summons that told them when they had to appear before the magistrate. Athenian law was divided into two things, public and private action. Public actions included the entire community. Private actions included an individual. In cases of murder, the victims family was required to prosecute the killer. Even though magistrates were at the trial, they weren’t judges. They neither gave advice nor did they convict the felon. They just supervised the hearing. The jury in a trial was made up of 200-600 members over the age of thirty to make sure there was no risk or bribery. After the speeches had been delivered by the prosecution and the defense, the jurors voted without deliberation. In the 5th century BC, jurors cast their vote in secret. Each juror was provided with two tokens, one for conviction and the other for acquittal. The juror put one of these in a wooden urn whose tokens were disregarded, and the other in a bronze urn whose votes were counted. Judgement was passed on a majority verdict. In the 5th century B. C. , a tie meant an acquittal. In the following century, old-numbered juries were the norm and that is the custom today. In Ancient Rome the slaves had no rights at all. They were thought of and treated like merchandise. However, slaves did cost money to buy so many of the punishments did not inflict lasting damage. The lash was the most common punishment. When slaves were beaten, they were suspended with a weight tied to their feet, so they wouldn’t be able to move them. Another punishment was to be branded in the forehead. An alternative punishment included the slave being forced to carry a piece of wood around their necks wherever they went. This was called furca; and whichever slave had had been punish with this was called furcifer all the time after that. Slaves were also, by way of punishment, often kept in a work-house, or house of correction, where they had to turn a mill for grinding corn. When punished for any capital offense, they were commonly crucified; but this was eventually prohibited under the rule of the Emperor Constantine. In Rome, the punishments for death are beheading, strangling in prison, throwing a criminal from the Tarpeian rock, crucifixion, burying a person alive, or throwing a criminal in the river (patricide). Throwing a criminal in the river was inflicted for killing your father. The criminal was immediately blindfolded as unworthy of the light, and in the next place the person were taken to the field of Mars outside Rome, stripped of everything then whipped with rods. He was then sewed up in a sack, and thrown into the sea. Later in time, to add to the punishment for patricide, a serpent was put in the sack; and still later, an ape, a dog and a cock. The sack which held the criminal was called Culeus, on which account the punishment itself is often signified by the same name. There are eight kinds of punishments, fine, fetters, flogging, retaliation of kind, civil disgrace, banishment, slavery, and death. Punishments in Ancient Rome were very harsh and violent and they are unlike the laws today.

Motherhood as Vocation

Of Woman Born: Motherhood as Experience and Institution reveals the trials and tribulations of mothers everywhere and across time through the voice and experiences of its author, Adrienne Rich.   This classic piece of feminist literature is an exceptionally relevant work even after the thirty years since its original publication.   Motherhood, as described by Rich, is a â€Å"Sacred Calling† with a healthy dose of irony.   From this description it is not entirely clear the depth of Rich's personal experience and perception of motherhood.   In reading the book, though, her message of motherhood as a skewed institution becomes entirely clear. Rich describes her experiences in motherhood as being fairly forgettable save for the exception of â€Å"anxiety, physical weariness, anger, self blame, boredom and divisions within† herself.   These feelings seem to sum up the experiences of many mothers and, yet, we also often hear of the fine points of mothering, as well.   We hear of the joy in hearing a child's first words.   We hear of the fun in taking a toddler to the park for exploration. Even the trials we hear of regarding the trouble-making teens seem laced with a subtle but happy sentimental reflection.   Rich's reflections on motherhood, though, only seem to fixate on the loneliness, fears and negativity associated with the difficult occupation of motherhood.   Readers are not privileged to the enjoyable aspects of her motherhood experiences.   In fact, readers are made to believe that, perhaps, all motherhood was for Rich was the trials and tribulations. The view of motherhood that readers get from Rich's descriptions is that she feels put upon, oppressed by the institution of motherhood and a part of a culture (motherhood) that is undervalued and under-appreciated.   Yet motherhood is perhaps the most vital institution of all.   So while the integral components of this institution, the mothers, must embark on the grand journey for which they received the sacred calling, they are not justly rewarded but, instead, penalized for participating.  Ã‚   Therein, perhaps, lies the biggest irony of all: motherhood is the institution that keeps civilization running and, yet, this multifaceted position has become one of the least valued. Throughout history, as Rich sees it, mothers have not received the admiration they are due.   Instead, they have been oppressed and treated as though their roles are to be expected but not appreciated.   In addition to this hegemonically accepted perception of motherhood, women have been made to feel as though their main function as a human being is to reproduce.   Thus, women have been made to feel as though they are only true women through the act of bearing and raising children. At the time of the book's writing, the Women's Movement was in full swing and the sad state of the institution of motherhood had become even more pitiful.   Although women were entering the workforce more and more, mothers were still being treated as second class citizens who were expected to maintain their roles of mother over all else.   But, the situation was becoming even worse.   Now, women were elated to be welcomed (or somewhat welcomed) into the workforce and, yet, they were soon to be expected to take on everything in addition to motherhood! Things have progressively gotten worse for women in the institution of motherhood.   With the Women's Movement and its combining with the established role of motherhood, women have bought in to the ideal that they are, in fact, expected to take on everything.   Women have been allowed to work the long days just like men, but something is different between the sexes: women are still expected to tend to the children and the household just as much as the pre-Women's Movement days. So, really, women are taking on the jobs of at least two people and being sold on the idea that this is the best of both worlds.   Rich's trials took place in the confines of her own household without the added trouble of trying to incorporate her working life.   In Of Woman Born: Motherhood as Experience and Institution, Rich sounds most bothered, in her motherhood experiences, by the boredom of her life and the lack of outside outlets available to her.   That is, Rich's story appears to be one of a bored mother with only her children to focus on.   For someone like Rich who had career aspirations and maybe didn't necessarily even possess the drive to have children, the institution of motherhood only served to hold her back and push her down. The institution of motherhood is one that is certainly oppressive.   I believe it is, as Rich suggests, a means by which patriarchal influences have maintained control over womankind.   However, part of being a mother is the desire to want to mother.   I believe that times have changed somewhat since the time of the writing and more and more women are seeing that they do not have to bear and raise children out of obligation.   Of course, there is the new problem that women feel the need to be Superwomen and do it all, but at least the weight to bear children is a flexible one that can be lifted if desired. Hegemonic ideals will always dominate, but personal choice can have a greater influence if we have faith in ourselves and our roles in life.   Although the institution of motherhood may always be tainted by the facets that serve to oppress mothers everywhere, personal choice can ultimately dictate our place in the world, individual roles of motherhood and the ability to enjoy that role if it is ones true chosen path.   

Free Essays on McDonaldization Affects Us All

McDonaldization Affects Us All McDonalds is everywhere. When a person walks just a couple of blocks from their house they are going to pass at least two McDonalds. In our society, McDonalds has become a common fixation in our culture. It is what represents America. According to Eric Schlosser, â€Å"Fast food has joined Hollywood movies, blue jeans, and pop music as one of America’s most prominent cultural exports† (10). In a way the fast food industry is taking over, especially McDonalds. Actually McDonalds has taken over because like what was said in the beginning of this paragraph, McDonalds is everywhere. This is where McDonaldization comes in. According to Robert Keel, â€Å"McDonaldization is the process by which the principles of the fast-food restaurants are coming to dominate more and more sectors of American society as well as of the rest of the world†(1). The affects McDonaldization have had on society and its employees tend to be negative ones. But the reason it is so widespread is because huge organizations rely on it as a means to maximize profit. But is the price too high for the rest of us to bear? It plays as a de-motivator and affects everyone’s everyday thinking. McDonaldization affects how consumers want the biggest, fastest, and best product they can get for their money and it also contributes to how unequal and dehumanizing the workplace is, and finally, McDonaldization causes people to become close-minded, ignorant, and afraid of change. Imagine yourself behind the counter or in the drive- through window at McDonalds. You are programmed how to act and what to say. You have been working there for three years and earn $5.50 an hour. You have never worked more than 29 hours while working there. As stated by Keel, â€Å"These circumstances are true for over 40 percent of six million people employed in restaurants today† (1). The reason for these circumstances are due to the change in our society by which the co... Free Essays on McDonaldization Affects Us All Free Essays on McDonaldization Affects Us All McDonaldization Affects Us All McDonalds is everywhere. When a person walks just a couple of blocks from their house they are going to pass at least two McDonalds. In our society, McDonalds has become a common fixation in our culture. It is what represents America. According to Eric Schlosser, â€Å"Fast food has joined Hollywood movies, blue jeans, and pop music as one of America’s most prominent cultural exports† (10). In a way the fast food industry is taking over, especially McDonalds. Actually McDonalds has taken over because like what was said in the beginning of this paragraph, McDonalds is everywhere. This is where McDonaldization comes in. According to Robert Keel, â€Å"McDonaldization is the process by which the principles of the fast-food restaurants are coming to dominate more and more sectors of American society as well as of the rest of the world†(1). The affects McDonaldization have had on society and its employees tend to be negative ones. But the reason it is so widespread is because huge organizations rely on it as a means to maximize profit. But is the price too high for the rest of us to bear? It plays as a de-motivator and affects everyone’s everyday thinking. McDonaldization affects how consumers want the biggest, fastest, and best product they can get for their money and it also contributes to how unequal and dehumanizing the workplace is, and finally, McDonaldization causes people to become close-minded, ignorant, and afraid of change. Imagine yourself behind the counter or in the drive- through window at McDonalds. You are programmed how to act and what to say. You have been working there for three years and earn $5.50 an hour. You have never worked more than 29 hours while working there. As stated by Keel, â€Å"These circumstances are true for over 40 percent of six million people employed in restaurants today† (1). The reason for these circumstances are due to the change in our society by which the co...

From Argonaut to Internaut

From Argonaut to Internaut From Argonaut to Internaut From Argonaut to Internaut By Maeve Maddox The combining form -naut gives English several words that convey a type of traveler. The Greek word for sailor was ÃŽ ½ÃŽ ±Ã Ãâ€žÃŽ ·Ãâ€š (nautes). Classical Latin mesonauta referred to a sailor â€Å"intermediate in rank between a rower and a steersman.† Classical Latin Argonauta referred to the sailors who traveled with Jason in the Argo (his ship). The earliest â€Å"naut word† in English is the noun Argonaut (1596): one of the legendary heroes who accompanied Jason in the Argo in his quest of the Golden Fleece. Because of their quest for gold, the US â€Å"forty-niners† (gold-seekers who went to California in 1849) were also referred to as argonauts. Here, with the date of their earliest citation in the OED, are some other â€Å"naut words† in English: aeronaut (1784) A person who makes balloon ascents or flies in a balloon, a balloonist. aquanaut (1881) An underwater ‘explorer’ or swimmer. astronaut (1928) A person who travels in space; especially a person who is (or has been) a crewmember on board a spacecraft or on a space mission. cosmonaut (1959) A traveler in outer space; an astronaut (especially a Russian space traveler). cybernaut (1965) A robot (1973) A computer user (1990) A person who interacts with a virtual reality environment using computer technology internaut (1992) A user of the Internet, especially a skilled or habitual one. Note: Internaut first shows on the Ngram Viewer in 1991 and leaps upward from there. In French, the word internaute is the equivalent of â€Å"internet user.† According to Wikipedia, English internaut â€Å"refers to operators or technically highly capable users of the Internet,† but internaut as a one-word option for â€Å"internet user† has its appeal. oceanaut (1962) Another word for aquanaut. If you are wondering why juggernaut is not in the list of â€Å"naut words,† here’s your answer. The naut in juggernaut is not the combining form that means sailor or traveler. It’s an accident of spelling. In Hindu religion, Jaggernaut is a title of Krishna. The title derives from Hindi Jagannath, â€Å"Lord of the world.† In an annual ceremony, a representation of this incarnation is carried in procession by an enormous vehicle. The ritual is especially associated with the town of Puri in India. According to legend, devotees there once allowed themselves to be crushed under the wheels of the cart in sacrifice. The word juggernaut is used figuratively to mean, â€Å"anything that demands blind devotion or merciless sacrifice and â€Å"a massive inexorable force or object that advances irresistibly and crushes whatever is in its path.† For example, Donald  Trump  is a  political juggernaut  with a carnival barkers draw.- Dallas News Game of Thrones: Can HBO’s Juggernaut Maintain Its Momentum?- The Fiscal Times. In the following examples, the word unstoppable is redundant: The big unstoppable juggernaut proved the inspiration for so many players- Independent (Ireland) At first glance the Argonaut High girls  basketball  team looks like an  unstoppable juggernaut.  Auburn Journal Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Useful Stock Phrases for Your Business Emails"Have" vs "Having" in Certain ExpressionsThe "Pied" in The Pied Piper

Types of Accounting Systems Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Types of Accounting Systems - Term Paper Example â€Å"Under cash based accounting revenue is recorded when cash is received, and expensed is recorded when cash if paid† (Weygant, et. al. 2002, pg.89). The use cash based accounting is suitable for small businesses that deal primary in cash such as a hot dog vendor or a pizza cart. The use of cash based accounting is not in compliance with the generally accepted accounting principles, thus public companies cannot utilize this method of accounting because it would violate GAAP and SEC mandates. It is easier to implement a cash based accounting when the firm does not have account receivables or account payables. It is possible for accountants to convert a system from a cash basis accounting to an accrued basis accounting. The process is time consuming due to the fact that the accountant must use a lot of adjusting entries. The users of financial statement or stakeholders require precise and accurate financial statements that are free of fraud and materials errors. The major sta keholders groups that use often use financial information of companies to make decisions include the employees, lenders, shareholders, board of directors, suppliers, managerial staff, governmental institutions, and the community. The employees need information regarding the financial activity of the company they work for to provide them with security that the company is aligned with the going concern principle. The lenders evaluate the financial statements of companies to determine whether to lend them money or not. Banks and others rely on the accuracy of the financial statements to make decisions worth thousands or millions of dollars. Suppliers often extend credit lines to corporate customers based on their evaluation of the financial performance of an enterprise. The general public expects corporations to act in a socially responsible manner at all times. The shareholders make buy and sell decisions based on the results of the financial statements. Wall Street would collapse if investors stop believing in the accuracy of financial statements. Back at the turn of the century a series of financial scandals caused investors in the US to lose confidence in the accuracy of financial statements released by public companies. The US Congress reacted by passing the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act raised the consumer confidence, overall accountability, accuracy, and it imposed severe penalties for white collar crimes. Executive managers such as CEOs found of fraudulent financial activity can receive penalties of up to 20 years in prison. The CEO now has to sign the financial statements prior to being release to certify that they are free of fraud and material error. Accountants utilized a concept knows as depreciation to reflect the loss in value of an equipment or machinery as time passes. The most common depreciation method used by accountants in the United States is straight line depreciation. Straight line depreciation is calculated by diving price minus salvage value by lifetime in years (price – salvage value) / (years). Depreciation helps adjust the value of an asset. Companies that depreciate its assets receive a tax benefit because depreciation is categorized as an expense the lowers the net earning of the company. Three additions depreciation methods are LIFO, FIFO, and weighted average. The MACRS depreciation method is one of the best methods to reduce taxes in the short

Risk Assessment and Security Controls Assignment

Risk Assessment and Security Controls - Assignment Example 4. Incident response management – management oversight, plans, defined roles to quickly discover an attack and effectively containing the damage and remove the attackers' presence, and restore the integrity of the network and system (www.sans.org, nd.) Boundary defence – detect/prevent/correct flow of data transfer in the network by establishing different trust levels. Application software security – all acquired software must be managed to prevent, detect and correct security weakness (sans.org c, nd). Malware defence – control the spread of malicious code at multiple points. This would include the rapid update of malware defence, data gathering and corrective action (sans.org b, nd). Data protection – must have tools that will prevent data exfiltration to preserve the integrity of critical data. Data recovery capability – the system must properly back up critical data and must have the capability to recover it in the event of the attack and /or loss. 10. Continuous vulnerability assessment and remediation - - continuous evaluation of new information to identify vulnerabilities that would minimize if not totally eliminate opportunities for attackers.     Ã‚