Unusual Article Uncovers the Deceptive Practices of Research Paper Help Online

Unusual Article Uncovers the Deceptive Practices of Research Paper Help Online Just get your instructions finalized, and you may be carried out with it in the subsequent five minutes. Writing is a present that comes naturally. Our on-line resource is well-known amongst similar services. You might be confused by the variety of available businesses which claim to be the very best. There are many reasons why you ought to prefer our services. One of the absolute most important factors of any online writing service is the capability to meet deadlines. Of course, when you want to turn in a typical paper done in the center of the night in a few hours, then it is a bit of cake, naturally. Being a student isn't generally connected with opportunity to waste budget. You will love our work. Accordingly, nobody has the ability to use such works in their house assignments. Top Research Paper Help Online Secrets Research help assistance also provides you with the chance to pick the w riter whom you need to work with. Mind that there's another way to profit from the research paper writing help. It's possible for you to use our inquiry form so that our support team can make sure that we've got an essay writer with the essential wisdom and experience. Making the choice to employ a custom writing service is vital. Writing is their true passion, and they're all set to take up your purchase now! Regardless of what genre you would like Business Studies, Microeconomics, Business Management and Financial Accounting, we're here to serve your requirements. Details of Research Paper Help Online Reading is a vital activity for a great many life scenarios. Asking for writing help isn't only wise, but in addition an absolutely natural choice. In today's world, students are simply too busy with many assignments, work, and chores it can not be possible to stay informed about everything, and in addition, they must get some time for rest. The students are so pleased with our work they frequently refer us for assistance. Though many students need academic support, not all of these ask for it. Have a peek at our testimonials page to find out what other students think of our expert services. New Ideas Into Research Paper Help Online Never Before Revealed It is possible to easily buy unique college essays and don't neglect to tell friends and family about it. Let's say the majority of the students aren't professional writers. In almost all situations, the research papers are largely complicated, and so, many students feel that it's not possible for them to get the maximum degree in their academic life. Secondly, additionally, it is important to begin on writing new research papers when well-rested and in an excellent spiri t. One of the primary explanations for why students are continuously stressed out is they always get too many writing assignments. Some students are worried about the originality of papers they buy online, but others fret about their privacy or high rates. Many students do not feel confident to finish the task within the moment, as stated by the research paper helpers. Today, most college students find it difficult to compose an essay on a particular topic. Most Noticeable Research Paper Help Online Go to the purchase page and choose which type of paper you expect from us. Thus, you will discover how to manage your issue appropriately. If you believe you are prepared to go ahead, simply put in your subject and topic, the period of the paper you have to have in words or pages, the deadline and the academic level you're studying at. For this reason, you can rest assured our help to compose my paper meets and exceeds all expectations. Now you're able to do all you need and forget about boring paper writing because you've got an exceptional opportunity to turn to a professional research paper writing service and find the maximum grade. When you're worried about writing research paper, it can cause you to be stressed and not to have the ability to perform in the simplest way throughout different regions of your life. Keep in mind this in case you require professional research paper writing help, you could always rely on our experts! Our customized research paper service is made in such a manner that students from every university on the planet can access our site discreetly. Using all of the evidence and on the grounds of the guidelines, the students may accept or reject the hypothesis. Nowadays, the majority of the students strive to acquire the best marks in every paper.

Strategic Plan, Part Ii Swott Analysis - 1393 Words

Strategic Plan, Part II: SWOTT Analysis Tahitia G. Brown BUS/475-Integrated Business Topics April 18, 2012 Virginia A. Carter Strategic Plan, Part II: SWOTT Analysis Manning Solutions opened their doors to customers in the fall of 2012, in Tampa Florida. Its purpose is to aid small companies, whose budgets do not allow them to obligate revenue to staff their own human resources department. Their services include hiring, maintaining personnel records, pay-roll, and complaints to name a few. The mission statement: Provide the highest-class service in human resources business by providing competitive pricing to their intended market audience. Through various marketing techniques Manning Solutions is able to†¦show more content†¦A SWOTT analysis of MCS was performed concluding that external forces such as the economy, the competition, and the government rules and regulations have very important effect on MCS strategic planning. The analysis also concludes that MCS strengths and weaknesses must also be taken into consideration when implementing a strategic plan. Strengths such as a good information system, the ability to create p rocesses and make quick improvement to existent processes allow MCS to stay ahead of the competition and be successful. On the other hand, MCS weakness such as insufficient training to employees can become a serious issue and can jeopardize the company relationships with its customers. Analyzing the different factors that affect MCS internal and external environment is essential to create and establish successful strategies. |External Factors |Strength |Weakness |Opportunity |Threat |Trend | |Legal and regulatory |As a human resources |Staying current. Statues, |As more individuals are |Time. Building a |As uncertainty and | | |firm, all employees are |laws, and regulations are |opting to become |solid reputation is |instability plague | | |well versed in all legal |constantly evolving. The firm|entrepreneurs, most |imperative toShow MoreRelatedStrategic Plan Part Ii Swott Analysis1446 Words   |  6 PagesStrategic Plan Part II Swott Analysis BUS/475 Ed Miller Strategic Plan Part II Swott Analysis Big Wheel Brewing is a new and innovative craft beer brewing company. Big Wheel Brewing is dedicated to bringing their customers craft brews of the highest quality. Big wheel beers are made for people who prefer quality over quantity. Taste is the most important thing when it comes to brewing fine craft ales. An internal and external analysis will be conducted to determine the factors that have anRead MoreStrategic Plan: Part Ii: Swott Analysis972 Words   |  4 PagesStrategic Plan, Part II: SWOTT Analysis BUS/475 August 1, 2013 Dr. Lenny Washington Strategic Plan, Part II: SWOTT Analysis Kohl’s is a U.S. department store chain that sells a mix of items including men s and women s apparel, home decor, and accessories. The department store appeals to middle-class consumers by selling discounted branded and  private label  clothing and home goods. Kohl s is in the same category of national department store competitors such as  J.C. Penney and  MacyRead MoreStrategic Plan, Part Ii: Swott Analysis1373 Words   |  6 PagesStrategic Plan, Part II: SWOTT Analysis BUS/475 SWOTT Analysis Today’s business world is one of many challenges; challenges with our Federal Government encroaching upon the business world with regulatory changes and restrictions, challenges with an ever-changing economic climate that seems to swing in either direction and challenges with both political parties that engage in meaningless finger-pointing, rather than looking for solutionsRead MoreStrategic Plan, Part II: SWOTT Analysis2637 Words   |  11 Pagesï » ¿ Strategic Plan, Part II: SWOTT Analysis BUS/ 475 SR Creative Design Inc. is a design and marketing corporation based in California that focuses on customer care as well as privacy in providing solutions of improving business activity. The mission statement, † SR Creative Design Inc. is coupled with creative minds that are devoted in delivering clients with comprehensive designs and or marketing solutionsRead MoreStrategic Plan, Part Ii: Swott Analysis Essay1403 Words   |  6 PagesStrategic Plan, Part II: SWOTT Analysis Neltresia McLellan Bus 475/ Integrated Business Topics Fritz Hibbler SWOTT Analysis Figure A provides the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats and Trends for Intelligent Resources Unlimited. The external and internal factors outlined in the table provide information necessary to identify the progression of the company. The factors will guide the strategic direction that upper management must consider for the good of the company. The internalRead MoreStrategic Plan, Part Ii: Swott Analysis1131 Words   |  5 PagesHeading: Strategic Plan, Part I: Conceptualizing a Business * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Strategic Plan, Part I: Conceptualizing a Business * * University of Phoenix * * Courtney Authement * * September 20, 2010 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Strategic Plan, PartRead MoreEssay on Strategic Plan, Part II: SWOTT Analysis BUS/4752354 Words   |  10 Pagesï » ¿ Strategic Plan, Part II: SWOTT Analysis Eduardo Arellano BUS/475 Dr. Tugtekin Gokaydin Octuber 2nd, 2013 SWOTT examination is a crucial systematic device used for evaluating both the external and internal elements, which have an influence over the company. In existing business conditions a corporation uses SWOTT analysis to assess it market standing regarding share of the market, competitive edge, and complete feasibility. SWOTT examination offers a company upgradedRead MoreBUS 475 Week 3 Business Model And Strat1114 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿ Business Model and Strategic Plan Part II: SWOTT Analysis Paper BUS/475 – Integrated Business Topics Daniel Magnole October 14, 2014 Business Model and Strategic Plan Part II: SWOTT Analysis Paper Introduction Prior to enhancing a product within a large corporation, the company must have a strategic plan in place to ensure that the change runs smoothly. The strategy plan will focus on the company’s strengths, weaknesses’, opportunities, threats, and trends in terms of the newRead MoreStrategic Plan1078 Words   |  5 PagesStrategic Plan, Part III: Balanced Scorecard Strategic Plan, Part III: Balanced Scorecard A balanced scorecard is the comprehensive collection of ongoing activities and processes that organizations use to systematically coordinate and align resources and actions with mission, vision and strategy throughout an organization making it a strategic planning and management system. (Balanced Scorecard Institute, 1998-2010). The scorecard exposes financial, customer, employee learning and growth, andRead MoreStrategic Plan: SWOTT Analysis2129 Words   |  9 Pagesï » ¿ Strategic Plan, Part II: SWOTT Analysis BUS/475 – Integrated Business Topics February 10th, 2014 Ryan Simpson Destination Fitness is a health club designed for the transportation industry specifically over the road drivers. Destination Fitness provides its clientele with a unique variety of fitness options, tools, and techniques that will allow each customer to build a fitness plan that meets their needs. The services that Destination Fitness will provide are a wide

on legends Essay Example For Students

on legends Essay Disney movies have always created various stories based upon legends. To name a few: Hercules, Pocahontas, and The Sword in the Stone. The characters in these movies have shown various characteristics that possess values that are thought of as great, even years after this these films have been released. Disney has not always shown all of the various eras of time in which legends were to have taken place. These have been shown in the Medieval, American Frontier, and even Ancient Greco-Roman time. Legends often reflect the beliefs and values of their culture. During the era of Medieval England, characters have shown bravery as in The Tale of Sir Launcelot du Lake, where Sir Launcelot fought alongside King Bagdemagus verses the King of North Galys and his knights. Another incidence of bravery came about in the story of The Death of King Arthur, in which Queen Gwenevere didnt go to London for trousseau like she had told others, but rather to the Tower of London and had her loyal nobles protect her. During this time period, characters from various stories also showed their Strength as in The Tale of Sir Launcelot du Lake. Sir Launcelot was able to fight and defeat many other knights with only one spear. Another characteristic was the mens loyalty and their respect for women. In The Tale of Sir Launcelot du Lake, Sir Launcelot knew not to choose one of the four queens, but rather to be loyal to his true love, Gwenyvere. Not only in this time period and area were the characters values shown through, but also in the American Frontier. Big Mose, of Big Mose and the Lady Washington showed his strength when he was able to push a full powered steam engine all by himself and win, at that. Many people also were very resourceful; they used whatever they had that was handy. This was the case with John Darling did in John Darling and the Skeeter Chariot. He was able to make a chariot for himself out of mosquitoes and was able to hitch a ride on it all the way to China. There is more than just one example of good values shown through each story. Paul Bunyan, from Paul Bunyan and the Winter of the Blue Snow, was able to think of a better way to not only cut logs down in a faster and easier way, but also remove a log jam further down the river. When the men down by the Gulf of Mexico refused to pay, most common people would just let it go. This was not the case for Paul Bunyan. He thought up a plan that included his ox drinking the water back up the river which, in return, forced the men to pay what they owed. Even in the Anc ient Greco-Roman time period there were characters that even today, we can look back on it and learn from. In this time period was the story of Hercules. He showed major strength everywhere that he went, going undefeated when fighting various monsters. He did abnormal things which make people of today strive to accomplish similar successes. Being able to lift heavy rocks, Hercules was able to save two kids that were stuck under. Also, Hercules was always loyal to the one that he loved. He risked his own life for his love, Meg. Even though at times she had to back stab him, he was still able to maintain a sense of always trusting her. Another wonderful value shown through Hercules was his manner in which he put others before himself. In order to become a true king, he had to possess this value. He demonstrated this value when risking his life for the sake of Meg. Even in this time and setting, values have been used to make the story more believable, thus making it easier to follow and to strive to achieve similar values. .u161e70c82d974a2da225685fd1c98cea , .u161e70c82d974a2da225685fd1c98cea .postImageUrl , .u161e70c82d974a2da225685fd1c98cea .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u161e70c82d974a2da225685fd1c98cea , .u161e70c82d974a2da225685fd1c98cea:hover , .u161e70c82d974a2da225685fd1c98cea:visited , .u161e70c82d974a2da225685fd1c98cea:active { border:0!important; } .u161e70c82d974a2da225685fd1c98cea .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u161e70c82d974a2da225685fd1c98cea { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u161e70c82d974a2da225685fd1c98cea:active , .u161e70c82d974a2da225685fd1c98cea:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u161e70c82d974a2da225685fd1c98cea .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u161e70c82d974a2da225685fd1c98cea .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u161e70c82d974a2da225685fd1c98cea .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u161e70c82d974a2da225685fd1c98cea .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u161e70c82d974a2da225685fd1c98cea:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u161e70c82d974a2da225685fd1c98cea .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u161e70c82d974a2da225685fd1c98cea .u161e70c82d974a2da225685fd1c98cea-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u161e70c82d974a2da225685fd1c98cea:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Art essay fine artThere will be other Disney films that will be made in the future. Most assuredly, these films will include legendary characters that possess values that are heroic and worthy of our attention. Bibliography:

Saturn Is A Large And Beautiful Planet. It May Be Best Know Known For

Saturn is a large and beautiful planet. It may be best know known for the prominent rings that surround it, which gives the planet its unusual appearance. Saturn is one of the nine planets orbiting in our solar system. It is the sixth planet from the sun in the Milky Way galaxy. The ancient symbol for Saturn is . Astronomers still use this symbol to represent the planet. It was named after the ancient Roman god of planting and harvest. To honor Saturn, every year the ancient Romans held a joy- filled feast known as the Saturnalia. This festival began near the end of December and lasted for a week. During the festival period, prisoners were freed from jail as an act of good will; Roman armies were not permitted to start any new wars; and schools and shops remained closed to enable everyone to enjoy the festivities. Special celebrations that a number of our modern Christmas customs including Christmas dinners, holiday parties, and the practice can all be traced back to the Saturnalia. The Italian astronomer Galileo first viewed Saturn through a telescope in 1610. When Galileo looked at Saturn through his telescope, he was surprised to see that Saturn seemed to have puffy bulges on both sides instead of being round. Galileo described Saturn with ?ears?. As time passed, new and improved telescopes were developed, so astronomers were better able to view the heavens. In 1656, a Dutch astronomer named Christain Huygens also noted the bulges on both sides of Saturn. Huygens realized that what had looked like powder puffs or ears were actually nothing of the sort. Instead, Huygens suggested that a ring surrounded the planet. At the time, Huygens believed that the ring surrounding Saturn was a solid band of some substance. This was an astonishing discovery. Before Huygens' observation, astronomers had no idea that a separate ring might surround a planet. In 1675, a French astronomer named Giovanni Domenico Cassini spent a good deal of time studying Saturn. He observed a d ark band in what was thought to be a single ring and realized that the band was really a gap between two separate rings. Cassini thus identified two of Saturn's major rings. Saturn is the second largest planet in the solar system. Only Jupiter is larger, Saturn's diameter is 74,600 miles (120, 000 kilometers). That makes the planet nearly ten times as wide as Earth. From Earth we see Saturn as a bright ?star? in our sky; it takes a telescope to see its rings. Within our solar system, Saturn is the sixth planet from the sun; Earth is the third. Saturn is about 9? farther away from the sun than the Earth. Like other planets, Saturn orbits the sun. However, because it is so far away and moves at a somewhat slow pace, Saturn needs more time than Earth to make one revolution around the sun. The Earth requires 365 days, or one year, to orbit the sun. Saturn needs nearly 29? Earth years to finish its orbit. At the same time Saturn orbits the sun it is also rotating on its axis. It takes Saturn 10 hours and 39 minutes to complete a rotation. Saturn is actually a large whirling body of gases. It not a solid like Earth. You could not stand or drive a car on Saturn. Dark and light belts appear on Saturn's clouds. Beautifully colored bands of pale gold, beige, and white can be seen, although these bands are not as prominent as Jupiter. These areas are actually made up of mostly poisonous gases such as ammonia and methane. Some water vapor is present as well. Normally, these gases are invisible. However, because it is extremely cold this far from the sun, the gases have frozen and formed crystals. When we see the dark and light belts on Saturn, we're really looking at the frozen solid crystals of gases. Saturn's clouds are not quite motionless areas. Scientists have learned that a good deal of activity occurs in these regions. There are raging storms and powerful gusting winds. One particularly large storm on the planet may be seen just below Saturn's equator. This turbulent storm center appears as a massive rose- colored ova l

Iphone Vrio Model Essay Example

Iphone Vrio Model Essay Example Iphone Vrio Model Paper Iphone Vrio Model Paper Apple Inc. Case Study # 1 iPhone [pic] Professor Chug-Shing Lee BUSA 499 Capstone October 1, 2008 Analysis Conducted By Apex [pic] Ryan Boykin Ashley Fiorini Lance Tanaka Matt Webb Executive Summary Apple has demonstrated that innovation can lead to market dominance with products like the iPod. With products such as this, Apple has developed a brand that has built a customer base with astonishing loyalty. According to Business week, Apple was thirty third for top brands in the world. (Businessweek. om, 2007) Since they have developed innovative products with intuitive designs it has helped establish it as the premiere business for handheld electronics. Over the past few years Apple turned its eyes on the cellular phone market which created some issues that our team has been able to identify. Team Apex discovered that the current price did not appear appropriate for the target market. At present the current marketing for most of Apple’s products seems to be for a more youthful and technologically advance demographic. It is difficult to imagine the target market being able to afford the iPhone. This demonstrates that Apple’s target market may not be the right one for the current iPhone. Apple has had success over the past few years with mass production of electronic devices and would appear reasonable for them to exploit their brand to its full potential by developing new products. Currently Apple creates immense value for their consumers by offering products that are difficult to imitate. Unfortunately, this will not stop current and possibly new companies from copying Apple’s success by developing similar products and launching similar target methodologies. One way Apple has continued to be successful is by staying ahead of their competition and keep up on a constant stream of new products. When entering the cellular phone market Apple is facing numerous competitors and must offer a product that is unique to those counter parts. After analyzing Apple’s new product, the iPhone, it seems that there are a few courses of actions that could be taken. When addressing the issues we have identified it seems that Apple should continue with the theme of developing multiple versions of the same product. Team Apex would suggest that Apple create a cheaper version of the iPhone more suited for business professionals and would be primarily used for phone calls, e-mail and web-browsing. This phone would have less memory then the current iPhone allow them to charge a lower price. This would in turn increase the volume of iPhones being produce and allow Apple to charge lower prices for all of their phones. This case study has helped our team discovered new aspects about business that we never believe to be good courses of action. Apple has demonstrated to us that if you are not reaching the right market creating a new product specifically designed for that market. Looking at Apple’s line of iPods it seems almost ridiculous the amount and variety they have developed but when looking at it with the insight from the classes we have taken it can see that Apple has developed a digital music player for almost any type of consumer. In the long term that is what our team would like to see happen with the iPhone. We also found that using strategic analytical tools such as Porter’s Five Forces and VRIO models, can help determine key issues a company faces while determine how they can create a competitive advantage. Developing these competitive advantage has been a key to Apple’s success and they must continue to determine how to sustain in order to stay dominate in the electronics. In our analysis of Apple Computer, now known as Apple Inc. , we will unveil the company’s intricacies and how Apple has successfully positioned themselves within the communication industry. Apple Inc. esigns, manufactures, and sells computers, music players, and now mobile communication devices. Apple Inc. has always been known by its users as a revolutionary and innovative company that never fails to deliver quality products that make you say â€Å"wow†; the iPhone is no exception. With its introduction to the public at the Macworld convention in 2007 the vision for the iPhone was introduced as a bold, risky, and amazing concept with the focus on revolutionizing handheld devices and their total package capabilities. The ultimate goal for Apple Inc. s to transform and dominate the handset industry. In this study we will use proven industry testing methods such as Porters 5 Forces Model and Strategic Analysis to show the strengths and weakness of the corporation. Both me thods will help us understand how Apple Inc. is currently functioning within the communication industry and where its real impact is on the structure of the $11 billion dollar a year mobile phone market. 2. Background Apple Computer Inc. was founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in April 1976. It began as a computer software and hardware manufacturer. Apple Computer Inc. s noted as having one of the largest and most loyal customer bases that have helped solidify consistent growth for the company. In 2007 Apple Computer Inc. became Apple Inc. to reflect its expansion into the consumer electronics market while still maintaining its traditional focus on the personal computer. Apple Inc. has metamorphed from being known as strictly a computer company into a diverse technology company that is known for its art, video, graphics, and always pushing the envelope as a content creator. CEO Steve Jobs is not only the company leader he is one of it principal visionaries. Jobs latest creation is the iPhone. He refers to it as a â€Å"magical device that will change the world. † 3. Mission and Objectives 3. 1 Apple Inc. Mission Statement Apple Computer is committed to protecting the environment, health and safety of our employees, customers and the global communities where we operate. We recognize that by integrating sound environmental health and safety management practices into all aspects of our business, we can offer innovative technological products and services while conserving and enhancing recourses for future generations. Apple Inc. strives for continuous improvement in our environmental, health and safety management systems and in the environmental quality of our products, processes and services. (Apple) 3. 2 Issues Problems With careful analysis of Apple Inc. ’s current market positioning we have collectively agreed that there are two major criteria that Apex strongly suggests Apple Inc. re-evaluate in regards to the manufacturing, marketing, and selling of the highly recognizable iPhone. The first problem that the group identified is the current pricing of the iPhone. Cost is extremely high and not within the budget of its target market. The second problem is the target market. To date Apple is focusing on the younger â€Å"techno† crowd. Though these consumers do covet the phone few actually have the resources to actually purchase it. 4. Strategic Analysis 4. 1 Porters 5 Forces Model v ^ ^ 4. 1. 1 Threat of Entry Apple Inc. not only had to face a number of barriers to entry in the development of the iPhone but they must also worry about potential competitors overcoming them as well. Although Apple currently has an advantage with its innovative products it must always be aware of the ease that a competitor can copy its products, especially in the extremely competitive field of cellular phones. However those new companies to the market will not only have to compete with the strong brand that Apple Inc. has built but will also have to face barriers more strenuous then what Apple had to face. 1. Economies of Scale Apple Inc. had an existing experience in manufacturing mass-market consumer electronics devices, many of which share similar components of the iPhone; so Apple Inc. was not negatively affected by this barrier. Since Apple Inc. had the production lines and personnel to make advance electronic products such as, the iPod and their line of computers, it wasn’t difficult to develop a production line capable of mass production of the iPhone. New entrants may not have that comfort as the cell phone market is almost defined by its mass-market environment. A new company entering this market would have one of two choices available: 1) They sell their product at a higher price to make up for the fact they can’t sell the same volume as a company like Apple Inc. and must hope that the consumer sees the higher price as a indicator of better quality. Or 2) They sell their product at a lower price probably occurring a loss per unit in hopes of selling a high volume and banking on sales of applications that can be purchased for the phone. In either situation it is extremely risky as both could lead to the company’s collapse. 2. Access to Distribution Channels Although Apple Inc. has had success with the distribution of its products it does face issues with this barrier due to the limited retailers of the iPhone and the fact that there is currently only one service provider. The iPhone is only available through a limited number of distribution channels those being Apple Inc. nd ATT stores and auction websites, like eBay, and it is only supported by the ATT network. A future entrant to the market could create an advantage by make their product more available for multiple carriers and multiple retailers. 3. Product Differentiation In general this trait is favorable for Apple Inc. because the iPhone is significantly different th an most of its competitors. First and foremost, the iPhone 3G is a revolutionary phone with a high call quality as its main point of parity. A list of the iPhone’s highlighted features includes the iPod, Internet tool (Wi-Fi, 3G and EDGE network). Apple Inc. also has a certain amount of protection through the strength of its brand identity. The problem with cell phones is product differentiation can be emulated, to a certain extent. Cell phones are pretty uniform in functionality and use and not overly differentiated between each other. However, recently LG with Verizon have just release the Dare, an iPhone like product, in hopes of attacking some of Apple’s market share. Not to mention companies like, Samsung and Nokia, have released designs and plans to develop their own versions of an iPhone. 4. Capital Requirements Since Apple Inc. ad already been successful with their computers and the iPod they had an advantage with having the capital required to start mass production of a new product. Apple Inc. also has experience with developing software and hardware, which gives them another advantage as they do not need to spend as much time and money in the research and development stages as a new phone manufacturer would. S o, to most effectively compete with the iPhone they will need to invest significantly in certain areas. Apple Inc. itself did not face much resistance with this barrier because of their experience creating both software and hardware. Companies looking to enter this market with have difficult barriers to overcome in order to compete at the same level as Apple Inc. and unless a company has experience in developing consumer electronics it seems very unlikely that they can experience similar success. 5. Government Policy Any company looking to enter this market has two governmental factors they must consider before entering the market: 1) the strength of current manufactures patents and 2) the regulatory obligations and approval requirements of the FCC (Apple Insider, 2007), which governs communication technologies in the United States. Apple has gained another advantage by acquiring a patent and FCC approval for the IPhone. This will make it more difficult for competitors to copy the iPhone but we are sure will not stop companies from developing their own versions of this successful product. 4. 1. 2. Threat of Substitutes Porter’s five-force model validates that all forms of communication devices threaten the mobile phone industry as a whole. The iPhone’s top priority is to provide its customers with a complete solution in the mobile phone industry with added features and benefits. Quoting Steve Jobs â€Å"the original iPhone, it combines three products in one s of substitute industries include landlines, pagers, walkie talkies, computers, fax machines, and snail mail. If the mobile phone industry cannot meet the needs of its customers at a reasonable price, then substitute products play a key threat. Landlines are evolving to be more of a direct competitor to the mobile phone industry, but they still provide its services at a different vantage point. Landlines are non-wireless receivers that are offered at a much lower cost than mobile phones. Computers (notebook and desktop) offer numerous options in the communication sector, which include electronic mail, live chat, and communication software. Collectively, fax, snail mail, pagers, and walkie talkies make up a small portion of the market share, but still pose a threat for unsatisfied customers in the wireless industry. . 1. 3. Threat of Buyers The buyers market consists of a large amount of individuals or corporations that own one or multiple cell phones. Due to the large market, the lost of a buyer is not a key threat. When a buyer is purchasing a new cell phone, the process at times is overwhelming due to the wide variety of differentiated products. Buyers play an important role in the strategic pricing for a new cell phone b ecause they have no obligations in purchasing a cell phone from a single supplier. Buyer’s spending habits will change accordingly with the economy’s position. For example, if economic profits are high then buyers are willing to spend versus saving their disposable income. Mobile phones have become integrated as a point of parity in the American lifestyle, and economic profits will determine the price a buyer is willing to pay for a cell phone. 4. 1. 4 Threat of Rivalry The number of competing firms within the mobile phone industry is increasing, while a few firms make up the majority of the market share. Provided by CNET is a list of suppliers that operate within the same industry as Apple’s iPhone, and a count of their product offerings. [pic] Direct competition includes all mobile phones that can be subcategorized as a basic, smart, camera, mp3, or videophone. The industries large selection of mobile phone manufacturers creates a strong threat of rivalry. The iPhone has made its debut as a smart phone targeting the higher-income demographic, but this does not eliminate the fact that all subcategories of cell phones contribute to the strengthening threat of rivalry. According to CNET Senior Editor Kent German (2008), the editor’s top cell phones include the LG Dare, RIM BlackBerry Curve 8320, Nokia N95, Samsung Instinct, Sony Ericsson W760i, and the newest edition of direct competition comes from Google introducing the T-Mobile G1. 4. 1. 5. Threat of Suppliers There are several suppliers of component parts in the mobile communication industry; therefore, manufacturers are able to make preferable purchasing agreements, allowing their manufacturing cost to then be reduced. The low cost from suppliers puts pressure on manufacturing to in turn pass on the savings to the end consumer. Other suppliers offer specific applications to be used on mobile phones, including the use of digital games (Electronic Arts, 2008). Employees also are a key component as they supply knowledge and expertise to the development of mobile communication products. Without their skills, innovation would be limited, an imperative factor for survival in this industry. Research and development in this industry is vital to the success of a mobile communication product. Suppliers in this industry are fundamental to a product’s successful development and its competitive advantage. 5. Assessment for Competitive Advantage 5. 1 Internal Strengths and Weaknesses A firm strives to achieve a competitive advantage in the marketplace to maximize value, and this is achieved using the VRIO framework. The VRIO framework consists of four questions that are used to analyze a firm’s internal strengths and weaknesses that determine its current situation. Provided by Barney, J. B. , and Hesterly, W. S. (2008) is a compiled list of the VRIO framework’s four questions, 1) The question of Value: Do resources and capabilities enable a firm to exploit an external opportunity or neutralize and external threat? 2) The question of Rarity: Is a resource currently controlled by only a small number or competing firms? 3) The question of imitability: Do firms without a resource face a cost disadvantage in obtaining or developing it? 4) The question of Organ ization: Are a firm’s other policies and procedures organized to support the exploitation of its valuable, rare, and costly-to-imitate resources? 5. 1. 1 VRIO Model VRIO | | | | |Value |Rarity |Imitability |Organization |Competitive Implications | |Brand |Yes |Yes |Yes |Yes |Sustained Competitive Advantage | |Design |Yes |No |Yes |Yes |Temporary Competitive Advantage | |Logistics |Yes |No |No |Yes |Competitive Parity | |Marketing |Yes |No |Yes |Yes |Temporary Competitive Advantage | Apple Inc. relies heavily on its brand’s reputation to sustain a competitive advantage in the marketplace no matter what product or service is being sold. They are recognized as a top performance firm because they have learned to exploit the brand name into the marketplace creating a high-perceived value by customers, which are not easily imitated. The question of rarity defines the iPhone’s highest internal threat because other firms are able to share this field of expertise, which include its design, logistics, and marketing. The iPhone’s design and functions are unique, and the bar is set high for competing products. The question of imitability has allowed the iPhone as an emergent product to have a temporary competitive advantage, until firms were able to launch its competitive products. Depending upon the imitation product, the value detracted from the iPhone is strengthened as a variety of direct and substitution products are developed. Apple Inc. apabilities in exploiting their resources and capabilities to its fullest have landed the firm a spot as the seventh contender in Fortune’s top 20 most admired Amer ican companies of 2007. Provided below is eight key attributes in scoring brand reputation (Fortunes, 2007). [pic] 5. 1. 2. Resources and Competencies In the resource-based view, the resources of Apple Inc. , the developer of the iPhone, include both tangible and intangible assets. The corporation’s tangible assets are its numerous factories and equipment, and its iPhone brand product (along with the Macintosh Computer and iPod). Another tangible asset of Apple, Inc. is its distribution system which consists of online retailers including Amazon. om; the Apple website; Apple stores; major retail stores including Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and Circuit City; and through cellular providers (Klazit, 2007). An organizational resource is its reputation among customers. Apple is known for its creativity and innovation which is an intangible asset. An effective capability of the company is its superior development of innovative products. Human resources are imperative to the success of Apple Inc. ’s iPhone, as every employee provides innovation, experience, intelligence and important relationships. 6. Industry Trends The wireless industry has experienced a tremendous growth in both its suppliers and buyers. According to Plunkett Research, â€Å"There were more than 3 billion global cellular telephone subscribers by mid 2008, including more than 260 million in the U. S. alone† (2008). The mobile phone industry exploits its product’s lifecycle that continuously update its technology between the growth and maturity phase. This sequence has allowed for numerous amounts of technology to enter the mobile industry’s boundless lifecycle. The increasing competition in the wireless industry has plummeted pricing strategies for manufacturers and service providers. Cellular phones are becoming a necessity in today’s demand for immediate communication. Previously mentioned is the growing numbers in wireless subscribers, and there is a large market opportunity in potential buyers hat include first time subscribers and those who are ready to upgrade in technology. Quoting Plunkett Research (2008), â€Å"new cell phone handsets have been selling at a rate of more than 1. 2 billion yearly-making the cellular phone the fastest-selling single item of consumer electronics by far. † The following statistics do not reflect Apple Inc. ’s target market for the iPhone, but its does demonstrate the industry’s increasing demand. According to the Cellular Telephone Industries Association (2008), â€Å"today, approximately 79% of all teens (17 million) have a mobile device – a 26% increase since 2005, and most teens have a conventional cell phone while about 15% own a smart phone. Economic variables will affect consumer behavior in purchasing a cellular phone, but it is inevitable that mobile communication devices have become integrated into the human lifestyle. 7. Strategic Development Recommendation 7. 1 Strategic Option 1 The first option that we think Apple Inc. can implement helps cover both of the dilemmas we have identified. This option would to develop a new marketing campaign that would start to target business professionals. This would consist of dual advertising with one set of ads directed to the consumers who want an iPhone for personal use and media aspect of Apple Inc. ’s products, such as music and videos. The other advertisements would be directed to business professionals with a stronger emphasis on more business useful applications like web browsing and e-mail. 7. 1. 1. Disadvantages of Strategic Option 1 However, there are advantages and disadvantages to this option. The first and largest disadvantage would be the capital and resources required to develop this new stream of marketing. Since Apple Inc. has had great success with their products, thanks to intelligent marketing campaigns, it seems that this would not be a major issue for them. Another disadvantage of undertaking a duel marketing campaign is that it could dissuade one of their target markets. One of the markets could start to feel that the iPhone is not a good product for them because of advertisements suggesting that the product is more suited for business professionals or media users. The last disadvantage we have identified is that with any new marketing there is a chance of failure which could lead to a loss of capital for Apple Inc. 7. 1. 2. Advantages to Strategic Option 1 One advantage of this new campaign would be that Apple Inc. could tap into the professional market and create a new source of revenue. This would also allow Apple Inc. to being to receive a portion of the market share that Blackberry has over business professionals. Another great advantage is that Apple Inc. could begin to create corporate accounts; these would be a lower price per unit to companies willing to buy a large volume for employees. By offering lower prices to companies purchasing mass quantities not only creates incentives for businesses but could also lead to a lower price across the broad for the iPhone. Due to economics of scale if Apple Inc. could begin to sale a large volume of iPhones they could eventually drop the price for all consumers. This could also allow Apple Inc. to start building more relationships with corporations and begin to interest companies into building their IT departments around Apple Inc. roducts. Currently Dell is the largest retailer to corporation as a majority of businesses have developed their computers systems around Dell personal computers. If Apple Inc. could build on relationships established by accounts for iPhones they could possible create incentives for business to convert to their line of comp uters. 7. 2 Strategic Option 2 The next option our team discussed and believes would work best for Apple would be to approve the research and development of a new iPhone. The new product would be specially designed for the business professional while leaving the current iPhone for a more youthful or media oriented consumer. Our team believes that Apple could design an iPhone with better business applications and wouldn’t require the memory and storage the current iPhone needs for media options. An idea our team had was to develop an iPhone with which a professional user could possible view a power point while taking a call so that person could view and hear a presentation anywhere. 7. 2. 1. Disadvantages of Strategic Option 2 The disadvantages here are even more severe then the first option as the money and time required to develop such a product would be great. This also gives time to the competition that are already targeting business professional to strengthen their grip on that market. Other disadvantage are similar to our first strategic option as consumers might choose a different brand if they feel they can’t get all the options they are looking for with either iPhone. Apple Inc. could also end up spending a great deal of money on an unsuccessful product as they not only would have to create this new product but again would need to create marketing for it as well. 7. 2. 2. Advantages of Strategic Option 2 One advantage would be the ability to offer this new iPhone at a lower price than the current one. Since the new iPhone would not have to have as many applications and storage space as the current one, they could sell it at a lower cost to the consumer. Again building corporate accounts could be another benefit of developing this product and businesses could have more of an incentive for this product as they would feel that it is a product built for business uses. Apple could also begin to sell a large number of this new product and could lead to them being able to offer both iPhones at a lower cost and take control of both markets. Apple Inc. could also become more actively involved with corporations and could again work on building relationships to interest companies in purchasing computer systems by them. 7. 3 Measurement The strategy chosen will be measured in a number of ways. One way that the results will be measured is through Apple Inc. ’s market share of the mobile communication industry. This will be calculated as a percentage of the total market share in sales. Another way the strategy will be measured is through an increase of sales. Taking into consideration external forces including competition, the economy, and other influences, an increase of sales may indicate whether the implemented strategy has been successful. 8. Strategic Implications 8. 1 Managerial Implications Evaluating the mobile phone industry as a whole, we better understand the difference between root causes and symptoms when analyzing Apple Inc. The issues we have identified in this case helped instill the fundamentals of obtaining a sustainable competitive advantage.

Biography of Louis XV, Beloved King of France

Biography of Louis XV, Beloved King of France King Louis XV of France (February 15, 1710 – May 10, 1774) was the second-to-last king of France prior to the French Revolution. Although he was known as â€Å"Louis the Beloved,† his fiscal irresponsibility and political maneuvers set the stage for the French Revolution and, ultimately, the fall of the French monarchy. Fast Facts: Louis XV Full Name:  Louis of the house of BourbonOccupation: King of FranceBorn: February 15, 1710 in the Palace of Versailles, FranceDied: May 10, 1774 in the Palace of Versailles, FranceSpouse: Marie LeszczyÅ„skaChildren: Louise Élisabeth, Duchess of Parma; Princess Henriette; Princess Marie Louise; Louis, Dauphin of France; Philippe, Duke of Anjou; Princess Marie Adà ©laà ¯de; Princess Victoire; Princess Sophie; Princess Thà ©rà ¨se; Louise, Abbess of Saint DenisKey Accomplishments: Louis XV led France through a period of immense change, winning (and losing) territories and ruling over the second-longest reign in French history. His political choices, however, laid the foundation of dissent that would eventually lead to the French Revolution. Becoming the Dauphin Louis was the second surviving son of Louis, Duke of Burgundy, and his wife, Princess Marie Adelaide of Savoy. The Duke of Burgundy was the eldest son of the Dauphin, Louis, who was in turn the eldest son of King Louis XIV, the â€Å"Sun King.† The Duke of Burgundy was known as â€Å"Le Petit Dauphin† and his father as â€Å"le Grand Dauphin.† From 1711 to 1712, a series of illnesses struck the royal family, causing chaos in the line of succession. On April 14, 1711, the â€Å"Grand Dauphin† died of smallpox, which meant that Louis’ father, the Duke of Burgundy, became first in line for the throne. Then, in February 1712, both of Louis’ parents fell ill with measles. Marie Adelaide died on February 12, and the Duke of Burgundy died less than a week later on February 18. This left Louis’ brother, the Duke of Brittany (also, confusingly, named Louis) as the new Dauphin and heir at the age of five. However, in March 1712, both brothers contracted measles as well. A day or two into their illness, the Duke of Brittany died. Their governess, Madame de Ventadour, refused to let doctors continue bleeding Louis, which likely saved his life. He recovered and became the heir to his great-grandfather, Louis XIV. In 1715, Louis XIV died, and five-year-old Louis became King Louis XV. The laws of the land required there to be a regency for the next eight years, until Louis turned thirteen. Officially, the role of Regent went to Phillippe II, Duke of Orleans, the son of Louis XIV’s brother Phillippe. However, Louis XIV had distrusted the Duke of Orleans and preferred that the Regency be held by his favorite illegitimate son, the Duke of Maine; to this end, he had rewritten his will to create a Regency council rather than a singular Regent. In order to circumvent this, Phillippe made a deal with the Parlement of Paris: annul Louis XIV’s changed will in exchange for the return of the droit de remontrance: the right to challenge the king’s decisions. This would prove fatal to the monarchy’s functioning and ultimately lead to the French Revolution. Regency and the Boy King During the Regency, Louis XV spent most of his time at the Tuileries Palace. At the age of seven, his time under Madame de Ventadour’s care ended and he was placed under the tutelage of Franà §ois, the Duke of Villeroy, who educated him and taught him royal etiquette and protocol. Louis developed what would be a lifelong love for hunting and horseback riding. He also came to have an interest in geography and science, which would influence his reign. In October 1722, Louis XV was formally crowned king, and in February 1723, the Regency was formally ended. The Duke of Orleans transitioned into the role of prime minister, but soon died. In his place, Louis XV appointed his cousin, the Duke of Bourbon. The duke turned his attention to brokering a royal marriage. After evaluating nearly a hundred candidates, the somewhat surprisingly choice was Marie LeszczyÅ„ska, a princess from the deposed Polish royal family who was seven years Louis’ senior, and they married in 1725, when he was 15 and she was 22. Their first child was born in 1727, and they had a total of ten children- eight daughters and two sons- over the next decade. Although the king and queen loved one another, the successive pregnancies took a toll on their marriage, and the king began taking mistresses. The most famous of those was Madame de Pompadour, who was his mistress from 1745 to 1750 but remained a close friend and advisor, as well as a major cultural influence. Religious dissent was the first and most enduring problem of Louis’ reign. In 1726, a delayed request from Louis XIV to the pope was fulfilled, and a papal bull was issued condemning Jansenism, a popular subset of Catholic doctrine. Ultimately, the bull was enforced by Cardinal de Fleury (who persuaded Louis to back it), and heavy penalties were levied on religious dissenters. De Fleury and the Duke of Bourbon clashed over the king’s favor, and de Fleury ultimately was the victor. Rule of Fleury From this point until his death in 1743, Cardinal de Fleury was the de facto ruler of France, manipulating and flattering the king into allowing him to make all the decisions. Although the cardinal’s rule produced an appearance of harmony, his strategies for keeping power actually resulted in a growing amount of opposition. He banned debate in Parlement and weakened the navy, both of which came back to haunt the monarchy in huge ways. France was involved in two wars in relatively quick succession. In 1732, the War of Polish Succession began, with France supporting the Queen of France’s father Stanislaw and an Eastern European bloc secretly agreeing to bypass him. Ultimately, Fleury spearheaded a diplomatic solution. Following this, and its role in negotiating the Treaty of Belgrade between the Holy Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire, France was hailed as a major diplomatic power and came to control trade in the Middle East. The War of Austrian Succession began in late 1740. Louis XV initially refused involvement, but under Fleury’s influence, France allied with Prussia against Austria. By 1744, France was struggling, and Louis XV went to the Netherlands to lead his army himself. In 1746, the French occupied Brussels. The war didn’t end, though, until 1749, and many French citizens were unhappy with the terms of the treaty. Louis’ Later Reign and Legacy With Fleury dead, Louis decided to rule without a prime minister. His first act was to try to reduce the national debt and improve the tax system, but his plans met with fierce opposition from the nobility and the clergy because it taxed them, rather than just â€Å"ordinary† citizens. He also attempted to purge Jansenists from a semi-religious organization of hospitals and shelters. War followed again, first in the New World in the French and Indian War, then against Prussia and Britain directly in the Seven Years’ War. The end result was the end of French rule in Canada and the West Indies. Louis’ government continued to falter; the Parlements rebelled against the king’s taxation authority, which would begin the pre-Revolution dissent. By 1765, Louis had suffered major losses. Madame de Pompadour died in 1764, and his son and heir Louis died of tuberculosis in 1765. Fortunately, the Dauphin had a son who became Dauphin in turn, the future Louis XVI. Tragedy continued: the late Dauphin’s wife died, followed in 1768 by the Queen. By 1769, Louis XV had a new mistress: Madame du Barry, who gained a reputation for crassness and impertinence. In 1770, Louis’ ministers began fighting back against the rebellious Parlements, consolidating royal power, imposing controls on the price of grain, and attempting to rid the tax system of corruption. The same year, Marie Antoinette came to court as the wife of the future Louis XVI. Even in his final years, Louis XV pursued new construction projects. In 1774, Louis fell ill with smallpox. He died on May 10 and was succeeded by his grandson Louis XVI. Although Louis XV was popular during his lifetime, historians point to his hands-off approach, his conflicts with Parlements, his expensive wars and courts, and his suppressive activities as laying the foundation for the French Revolution. The French Enlightenment took place during his reign, with the participation of brilliant minds such as Voltaire and Rousseau, but he also censored many of their works. A handful of historians defend Louis and suggest his negative reputation was created to justify the French Revolution, but that view is in the minority. Ultimately, Louis XV is typically viewed as a poor monarch who gave over too much of his power and in so doing set in motion events that would eventually lead to the destruction of the monarchy and the upheaval of France. Sources Bernier, Olivier. Louis the Beloved: The Life of Louis XV, (1984).â€Å"Louis XV.† Biography, https://www.biography.com/royalty/louis-xv.â€Å"Louis XV: King of France.† Encyclopaedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Louis-XV.

English Literature and History Learning journal. Subjects of Queen Essay

English Literature and History Learning journal. Subjects of Queen Elizabeth - Essay Example Her 45 year rule is considered as the ‘golden era’ of England (Crown, 2009). The Queen was proficient and had the huge political foresight. Her selfless attitude towards her kingdom is depicted through her decision of not getting married. As getting married to a foreign king would make England vulnerable to the foreign policies and would easily be drawn into the political turmoil. The Elizabethan era was the one of the most promising period of England’s history. The phase was noted to be filled with both knowledge and prosperity of the kingdom. The Queen was one of the best rulers of her times and reflected huge amount of care for subjects. Even though she was not very widely accepted by her subjects who considered her a protestant, the kindness that Elizabeth I portrayed for her subjects during her reign of almost a half century was irreplaceable and commendable. Furthermore, Elizabeth I handled the situation of financial turmoil and religious conflicts that her predecessor has left very tactfully (Stump & Felch, 2009). With this concern the essay presents the rich understanding on the historical portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I. Furthermore, the essay provides considerable insights about different aspects of the society during her reign. Queen Elizabeth I was one of the most knowledgeable and sound queens among her siblings. The Queen was fluent in six languages and had a huge urge of learning. Elizabeth I faced massive uncertain situations during the early years of her life. She was secluded from her family and had spent her life in her half brothers home. This seclusion from the normal life could not make her distressed and she devoted her initial years of life and adulthood in nurturing the different literatures (Guy, 1995). These initial years of upbringing has influenced her ruling periods to a greater extent. The initial phase of her life and during her adolescence, the Queen portrayed a selfless character and hugely depicted her

Health Care Informatics - Electronic Health Records Essay

Health Care Informatics - Electronic Health Records - Essay Example Ultimately, EHRs provide protection against natural disasters as well as other dangers that may occur unexpectedly including floods, explosions, and fires since the records are usually stored in databases in multiple locations and can be accessed with ease. They allow the physicians to use their laptops, tablets and mobile phones from one room to the next or different locations while the employees who are on-call can login through secure virtual private networks and get access to information on their patients. EHRs allow the providers along with the patients to get access to information required to reduce errors and improve the satisfaction and outcomes of the patients. 2.List and explain in detail 3 advantages and 3 disadvantages of EHRs. Do not just list your answers. Advantages 1. Cost aversion Majority of the reduced costs linked to EHRs originate from efficiencies that result from having information on patients available electronically. The efficiencies include better test utili zation, reduced resources for the staff in regards to management of patients, reduced cost of supplies required for maintaining paper files as well as reduced costs of transcription and costs associated with pulling charts. Using EHRs can greatly decrease redundant usage of tests or required to send hard copies through the mail to various providers. Through ensuring information about patients is easily available, EHRs assist in the reduction of costs associated with pulling charts and the supplies required in maintaining paper charts.

The Difference between the Ghost Stories of Dickens and Gaskell Essay Example for Free

The Difference between the Ghost Stories of Dickens and Gaskell Essay The belief of the supernatural or those things beyond the capacity of human explanation is not widely accepted ideology nowadays; however, the supernatural belief had really existed in the past and is evident in the numerous literary works of celebrated authors. There is also certain logic in that the supernatural belief is very strong during the past times and had continually wane to a cynical, disbelieving attitude that the people now adopt towards the supernatural. That is, there are times when these beliefs are explicit and the so-called beliefs are rather â€Å"bizarre† or â€Å"extreme† and in this manner, I would seek to explain the supernatural attitude of a specific era, in this case, the Victorian Era, and try to explain their beliefs on the context of the literary works of Charles Dickens (To Be Taken With A Grain of Salt) and Elizabeth Gaskell (The Old Nurse Story). This does not end here though, as I aim to differentiate the â€Å"sexist† literary treatment of the two celebrated authors and of course, tore apart the literary works by its parts. Most noticeable between the two is the first-person-point of-view adopted by Dickens and Gaskell. Almost all horror stories are fabricated in this manner and probably the reason is that the author wants an active participation of the reader by delving into the intimate thoughts of the central character; in the Dicken’s ghost story, central figure was a male juror in a murder crime, while in Gaskell’s story, central figure, was female nurse-maid. Notice that both authors are very sexist in picking out their central characters and even their subordinate and their supporting characters as well. Females naturally dominate Gaskel’s story while Dicken’s story redounds with males. Dickens’ may have liked to paint the males in his story as good persons whilst Gaskell presents suspicious characters in every other characters except the maid, Rosamund and the helpers. The sisters Maude and Grace Furnivall was illustrated as bad, not to be trusted types. Even Maude’s child was evil in the manner that she tried to lure Rosamund to the deadly Fell. Old Lord Furnivall was atrocious and unforgiving while the young Lord Furnivall was uncaring. Naturally the nature of the characters contributed to the degree of horror or ghostly appeal of the story. The trend is that the more evil the characters, the scarier the story appears to the reader. Like in almost every Victorian story, position and power and the disparity between the classes are illustrated (although not explicitly pronounced) here. The juror have servants (Dicken’s) and the Furnivalls are beyond the reach of the normal house staff (e. g. they dine separately). In Dicken’s story, the servants were simply a fleeting thing/character but in Gaskell’s, much participation of the help was observed. Remember that Gaskell’s story was related by a nurse-maid. Charles Dickens’ choose to ignore their presence (except once) in the story. The tone of both ghost stories, being that of supernatural, is eerie and hair-raising although much can be said about the differential treatment of the male and female species regarding the supernatural. Gaskell’s maid from the start, acknowledges and is wary of the Supernatural (being afraid to go to the East Wing), and adopts a rather frightened prissy, girly fear towards the Girl-Ghost (who aims to take away Rosamund) and Lord Furnivall (who haunts the piano and is considerably a bad and frightening figure not to be reckoned of). On the other hand, Charles Dickens’ juror, adopted first a disbelieving attitude towards the Murder-Victim-Ghost until he saw one but he did not show any fright towards the ghostly character. In fact, it was almost as if Dickens wants to convince us that even on the face of Supernatural, males are indomitable and will still display signs of bravado. Dickens and Gaskell may also have opposing ideas on the character of their central ghost/s. All the ghosts were victims of ugly situations; Dicken’s ghost was a victim of murder in Piccadilly while Gaskell’s ghost were one family ? girl and mother, were victims of cruel treatment from Lord Furnivall, and Lord Furnivall, was a victim of his conscience over what had happened to her child and granddaughter. The difference between the ghost/s from the two stories is that Dickens’ adopted a protagonist ghost while Gaskell adopted that of the antagonistic Ghost. The Murder-Victim-Ghost (Dickens’ story) helped the jury decide on the outcomes of the court decision regarding his murder whilst that of the Three-Furnivall-Ghost aimed for retribution towards the remaining family members. They took away Grace Furnivall for the atonement of her sins over the tragic matter that had occurred in the Fell. Grace turned over the secret of her hated sister to Lord Gaskell and did not do anything with the banishment during the winter in Fell, hence the heavy retribution. Also, the tone differs for both stories because the reader tries to accept the purpose and presence of the ghost in Dickens’ story, hence there is no-fright-appeal. Opposite is true for Gaskell’s story, which sets an easy tone at the start of the story followed by a frightening tone in the middle which builds incessantly until the last part of the story. If a reader wants to be really frightened, then, he/she should read Gaskell’s The Old Nurse’s Story. The theme for both stories is justice and retribution. Charles Dickens’ Murder-Ghost seeks justice for the heinous act of the prisoner who killed him in Piccadilly by approaching a favorable juror which will point or clear his case even on the demise of his after-death. He even whispers and apparatus at dreams of each juror and was an active participator in the litigation of his murder case. He whispers to the witness and even dabbles with the thoughts of the venerable Judge. Ghost is powerful here since he has the ability to mobilize people in the courtroom through their thoughts. Elizabeth Gaskell was rather extreme and dramatic in the unfair retribution that he had bestowed on Grace Furnivall. Gaskell opted at first for a scandalous family, full of deceit and lies and with all the family members jealous of each other. She paints the death of each member of the family as an ugly moment, wherein, even the souls would never seek peace. Understand that this is the most commonly adopted mantra for horror stories nowadays ? scandal associated with un-restful souls. The ghosts then seek retribution for the death that had occurred in the Fell and the culprit was found to be Grace Furnivall. What is most amazing about Gaskell is that she inserted an important character Rosamund which turned out to be only an accessory character in the story. In this manner, Gaskell was able to mislead the reader into believing that the girl Rosamund was their target when in fact it was the old Grace Furnivall who was really their intention. In the end, Grace becomes afflicted with madness or becomes a neurotic. A perfect case for retribution. Victorian Era’s literary appeal is that it redounds with romance and horror that is highly popular during those times. Much can be said regarding the perception of the supernatural as gained from the two stories. Unrestfull souls (in the form of ghosts, apparitions) whose death is not yet conclusive, seek to circulate around the earth looking for answers before exiting from this human world. They may either be good or bad. Sometimes they manifest in dreams or they may as well have been the result of conscience (e. g. Grace Furnivall). The supernaturals are intangible and are separate entities from the human beings. Although they are viewed as concrete-abstract, they are believe to have an active participation in earthly doings (This cannot be proven and explained. ). Supernatural literature may have reflected the ideologies and beliefs of the people in the past but in the realm of technology today, they are still regarded as literary amusement; something to be entertained with but never to be believed in. Work Cited Stone, W. and M. Edwards. Understanding Literature. NY: JMC Press Inc. , 1986.

It’s Time to Tell the True History of Texas :: Personal Narrative

It’s Time to Tell the True History of Texas When the Bob Bullock Texas State History museum opened in March 2001, it advertised itself as â€Å"The Story of Texas.† It still calls itself the story of Texas in letters chiseled into the top of the building, on its Web site, on signs directing visitors to the museum, and even on the refrigerator magnets you can buy in the gift shop. When I first saw the slogan, I wondered how there could be â€Å"the† story of Texas, since Texas has been culturally diverse throughout its history as a part of Mexico that became a separate nation and later a state. Shortly Texas will have no one group as a majority. I grew up in the Rio Grande Valley, where the great majority of the population, like me, is Mexican American. How was this new museum going to present my story? I had to go and find out.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When I first walked into the lobby, I noticed the large mosaic on the floor but I couldn’t figure out what it depicted. I just saw a campfire and a bunch of wiggly figures. Someone next to me told their kids that they’d be able to see the entire mosaic from the third floor. I decided to wait and do the same.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first exhibit I saw was the â€Å"It Ain’t Braggin’ if it’s True† (one of my friends told me I had to see the shrine to Lance Armstrong and the rhinestone car). The name of the exhibit didn’t make much sense to me though; aren’t all museum exhibits, especially ones about history, supposed to be true? The big banner in the middle of the room didn’t help much either. It simply said â€Å"Vision† and had a quote about how only those with great vision can see opportunity where others see empty space. Maybe those who have this type of vision get the braggin’ rights?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Texas was never a big empty space. The Spaniards and later the French who came here discovered cultures that were centuries old. But history, and the museum itself, begins with European colonization. The history of Texas, one of the signs says, was shaped by the way the different groups of people who came to Texas responded to the land and to each other. So land, and interaction between different groups of people, would be used a lot in the telling of this story of Texas, I assumed.

Capitalism and Individualism in Robinson Crusoe Essay

In popular imagination Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe has become an adventure story for children, for which the original novel is not responsible, but the abridged and bowdlerized versions must be blamed. A close reading of the original text reveals a novel of enormous significance. In many ways the novel can be said to be defining the modern citizen of capitalistic society. It is also widely regarded as being the first modern novel. In fact this latter claim is not unrelated to the previous proposition. The modern novel is not only a mirror to the modern psyche, but also bears an organic relationship to it. A general proposition is that literature was the means by which the modern psyche came into being, and the modern novel is particularly instrumental in this sense. In this regard Robinson Crusoe not only sets the agenda of modern capitalism and individualism, but was also a key phenomenon that helped bring about its realization. The German sociologist Weber made the observation that the character of Robinson Crusoe was the ideal example of the Protestant work ethic in action (118). In his desert island isolation Crusoe makes the discovery of God, and establishes personal communion with Him through his newly found faith and the aid of the Bible. Therefore he is the quintessential Protestant. Weber’s general thesis was that the Protestant nurtures an ascetic relationship to work. In the absence of supporting church and societal structures, the Protestant falls upon his worldly activity to express his devotion. According to the doctrines set out by Luther and Calvin, the Protestant establishes a personal communion with God, justified by his faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior, and in the Bible as the word of God. This was the doctrine of â€Å"justification by faith†. It necessitated that the Protestant maintain an intense relationship to work, this being the only means by which to establish piety and purposefulness. This is what Weber calls the Protestant work ethic. There is no doubt that Robinson Crusoe exemplifies this principle. The overriding characteristic of the Protestant is his isolation and individualism. In normal circumstances we would think of a Protestant as spiritually isolated. But in Crusoe’s tale this isolation is magnified and made tangible. He is physically isolated from society, marooned on a desert island, and his spiritual isolation comes in tandem. He discovers God in the worst depths of his despair, and it is a discovery born purely of his own life circumstances, and the signs that God has transmitted to him therein. He comes to God in complete isolation, with his own experience and the words of the Bible alone pointing the way. The rest of the novel can be seen as his continuing conversation with God. On Crusoe’s part the conversation is carried out through a constant strengthening of faith, along with diligence in his work to maintain himself on the island. The responses of God are to be read in the improving circumstances of Crusoe, as he gradually becomes more and more master of his own dominion. This is exactly what the Protestant expects. Salvation is through work, which is a form of piety. Weber’s further contention is that modern capitalism is result of the Protestant work ethic. In the following passage he explains the process whereby religious enthusiasm brings about economic activity: Those mighty religious movements whose significance for economic development lay primarily in their ascetic and educative impact, commonly only exhibited their full economic effect after the high point of purely religious enthusiasm had already been passed; when the convulsive search for the kingdom of God was gradually beginning to dissolve into sober, vocational virtue, the religious root was slowly dying out and giving way to utilitarian worldliness. (Ibid) Diligence was the prime virtue of the Puritan from the very beginning, even though it did not appear to be capitalistic at first. In the early days, after the Protestant Reformation, much of the Puritan zeal was transmitted into revolutionary activity. The English Civil War, the overcoming of monarchy, the uprooting of the old aristocratic order, the annulment of organized religion, all this stemmed from Puritan zeal. Eventually the Whigs, the moderate Protestants, took over the reins of power and began to persecute the Puritans in turn for their zeal. In time the religious enthusiasm mellowed and was channeled, as Weber describes, into â€Å"sober, vocational virtue†. Utilitarian worldliness was only the end product of this evolution, and in which form we recognize it as modern capitalism. Weber goes on to cite the Shakespearean scholar Edward Dowden, who places Defoe’s novel at exactly this point of sociological transition. It was where â€Å"Bunyan’s ‘Pilgrim’, hurrying past ‘Vanity Fair’, filled with his lonely inward striving after the kingdom of heaven, was replaced in the popular imagination by ‘Robinson Crusoe’, the isolated economic man who pursues missionary work on the side† (Ibid). Dowden tends to belittle the religious element as false, and wants to define the character of Crusoe as unflinchingly and ruthlessly capitalistic. Weber, however, does not make this mistake. Religion and worldly diligence go hand and hand, and is an attitude without which capitalism is impossible. Material greed does not deliver capitalism. Only if the profit-making endeavor is undertaken as an act of asceticism is it possible for all the gains to be ploughed back into industry and thereby keep the machine of capitalism in motion. Weber made a thorough analysis of all the major civilizations in order to show that they were not capable of producing capitalism because the ascetic relationship to work was absent. Any tendency in this direction would be defeated by the ills bred by covetousness and greed. Karl Marx was also tempted to jettison the religion of Crusoe and analyze him in terms of being an â€Å"economic man† alone. â€Å"Of his prayers and the like we take no account,† he says, â€Å"since they are a source of pleasure to him, and he looks upon them as so much recreation† (Marx 47). It is a lead followed by many modern economists. For example Peter Mathias describes it as â€Å"a sophisticated myth of the ascent of man, of economic growth by dint of the work ethic, of the imperative of ‘improvement’ and the determination to master nature† (17). It is plain to see why economists are tempted to invade the island of Crusoe. It is because the analysis of economics is restricted to personal needs and their fulfillment. The only cognizance made towards the existence of society is in the introduction of the exchange mechanism, so that the surplus product of one’s labors can be exchanged with that of another’s to mutual benefit. In this process society is minimized and personal needs are maximized. The obsession of the economist is with personal desires, and so he is happy to push society to the distance. In Robinson Crusoe’s plight Defoe has created a situation which attracts the gaze of the economist compulsively. Defoe does not disappoint; along with the religious awakening of Crusoe we are also given a meticulous account of his economic situation. Once set on his task of survival he surveys his situation dispassionately, seeing himself as a creature of needs, placed on an island of limited resources, and his own capacity of labor to transform the resources into products of use, i.e. commodities that are able to meet his needs. He cultivates some land to plant barley and rice. He makes a fishing rod to catch fish from the sea. After a few years of such effort he gets the measure of things and realizes that he should avoid being wasteful. He calculates that he cannot consume more than forty bushels of barley and rice in one year, and settles thus the amount that should be planted for harvest each year. â€Å"I had no competitor, none to dispute sovereignty or command with me: I might have raised ship-loadings of corn, but I had no use for it; so I let as little grow as I thought enough for my occasion† (Defoe 118). But a bad crop one year makes him reproach himself for his laziness, and he duly plans for insurance against future disasters. â€Å"I resolved for the future to have two or three years’ corn beforehand; so that, whatever might come, I might not perish for want of bread† (Ibid 144). But apart from this there is little of economic analysis to be pursued in his situation. This is because, beyond future insurance, he has no need for surplus production, and more importantly, because there is no exchange. After he recovers gold coins from the wreck of the ship he realizes the intrinsic futility of money when it has no exchange value. This has led Rich Whately to comment that â€Å"Robinson Crusoe is in a position of which Political Economy takes no cognizance† (5). While this is true, the fascination for the economist still holds. This is probably because Crusoe exemplifies the inner heart of capitalism, that which political economy tries to overlook or deny. For example, social cost is a concept that has only recently forced its way into the discourse of political economy, and only after degradation of the global environment on a massive scale. But to Crusoe it appears immediately. After he has cut down some wild vines he muses: I thought those beautiful vines and those slender young trees were free goods; they belonged to nobody. I thought the costs were all external. But I didn’t realize that when I cut them down, I would be depriving myself of this intangible source of pleasure. Since I am the only one on the island and will be here for some time then it is clear that I did not correctly evaluate my true costs of production. (Ibid 91). Crusoe also exemplifies the ascetic impulse involved in capitalism, that which totally escapes the scrutiny of political economics. While he has become seemingly immersed into the world, he makes contrary claims, saying that he now sees the world as something remote. â€Å"I had nothing indeed to do with it, nor was ever likely to have, so I thought it looked, as we may perhaps look upon it hereafter – viz. as a place I had lived in, but was come out of it† (Ibid 117). Through his isolation, and his discovery of God, he has found a purpose that lies beyond the confines of the world. If he was yet physically in it, his diligence was but an expression of his piety. Without this otherworldly presence he would be consumed by greed and covetousness. Crusoe is always conscious of the fact that he has escaped these evils by being distanced from society. He sees the hands of Providence in this design, that he should be marooned on a desert island, â€Å"removed from all the wickedness of the world here,† in order that his soul be saved (Ibid). He comes to see the island as a veritable Eden, capable of cleansing sin from anyone who finds himself in his own situation: â€Å"The most covetous, griping miser in the world would have been cured of the vice of covetousness if he had been in my case; for I possessed infinitely more than I knew what to do with† (Ibid 118). Another aspect of modern capitalism is the inalienable rights of the human, which we also find delineated in the novel. Locke has established the concept of human rights on a philosophical basis through his Two Treatises on Government. The premise to his analysis was the individual as an isolated element in society, and therefore he works on the basis of Protestantism. That which Locke derives through philosophy, Defoe presents to us in vivid narrative form through the situation of Robinson Crusoe. The first step is his removal from society, and the second step is his removal from the world, through his discovery of God, and the realization that his diligence is but a means of worshipping God, and beyond this he had no truck with material existence. But the more and more diligent he becomes, therefore, the more and more he strengthens his communion with God, the more and more conscious does he become of his mastery over his own dominion. As Philip Zaleski puts it, â€Å"This conversion does not go unrequited; as Robinson surrenders to God, the island surrenders to him† (40). His purposefulness is otherworldly, but the worldly mark of it is the right of possession that he establishes over his territory. It is part of the conversation that the Protestant establishes with God. If he is justified by his faith, and that alone, God will convey this message to him through his worldly circumstances. In many points of the novel we find Crusoe becoming conscious of his inalienable rights, and marveling at what he possesses by the grace of God. In one guarded moment, while ambling through a scenic valley, he rejoices in his sense of possession: â€Å"I was king and lord of all this country indefensibly, and had a right of possession; and if I could convey it, I might have it in inheritance as completely as any lord of a manor in England† (Defoe 92) This is indeed a novel conception of right, and one that was overtaking the feudal and aristocratic rights of old, rooted in primogeniture. Only through his pious diligence has Crusoe come to possess this piece of land. The example of Crusoe is a microcosm of capitalism staking its right over the commodity products of capitalistic diligence. This sense of mastery and possession eventually extends to people too. He saves a prisoner of the cannibals, who occasionally visit the island to ritually consume their captives. He enslaves him in turn, calls him Friday, converts him to Christianity, and more importantly, teaches him awe towards European civilization, and thereby establishes between them the colonial master-slave relationship. Most modern commentators find this aspect of the novel hard to stomach. James Joyce said of Robinson Crusoe, â€Å"He is the true prototype of the British colonist†¦ The whole Anglo-Saxon spirit is in Crusoe: the manly independence, the unconscious cruelty, the persistence, the slow yet efficient intelligence, the sexual apathy, the calculating taciturnity† (qtd. in Phillips 33). The feminist critic Ulla Grapard comments that the self-sufficiency of Crusoe is misleading, for it fails to take into account the slavery he imposes on Friday. There is also the suggestion that civilization is the product of European man and his communion with god, with the exclusion of women and others, and therefore â€Å"imposes boundaries separating those who belong in economic discourse from those who do not† (Grapard 33). These are all valid complaints, but fail to take into account that colonialism and male-centeredness are inextricably part of capitalism. Not only the contents of Robinson Crusoe, but the medium itself was a revolutionary phenomenon. The novel form was an innovation that proved ideal to capture the spirit of individualism, as well as portray the plight of the individual in context of capitalistic modernity. According to Chesterton, the novel concerns itself with relationships. He also calls it a feminine medium, because understanding social relationship is the forte of women (39). Many consider Aphra Behn to be the first novelist, who published a generation before Defoe. But Oroonoko does not dissect social relationships to any extent, and is more intent on plain narrative, even though long. When the novel came of age in the Victorian era the female practitioners of the form advanced the medium greatly, among them Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte. But there is good reason to call Robinson Crusoe the first novel, even though it is set far from human society, and therefore cannot deal with human relationships greatly. Defoe’s effort is the first novel because it considers the relationship that precedes all others, which is the relationship between man and God. Because of his physical isolation and instinct for survival, Coleridge saw in the character of Robinson Crusoe â€Å"the universal representative, the person for whom every reader could substitute himself† (qtd. in Keane 51). For a novel to succeed the reader must be able to identify with the protagonist in some way. In the case of Crusoe the reader’s identification is not only universal, but also works at a very fundamental level. Walter Allen call it a dramatization of â€Å"the inescapable solitariness of each man in his relation to God and the universe† (28). It is something that the individual must come to terms with before he can relate to others. Weber contends that Protestantism gave birth to the individual of modern capitalism, and identifies the Protestant work ethic as the means by which this became the social norm. But he fails to recognize the extent to which literature was also the instrument. Even before the advent of the novel literature was thoroughly engaged in the process of creating a â€Å"secular† instrument of creative expression. In the Christian era literature was overwhelmingly devotional, and even then limited by the parameters of Church doctrine. Like Bruno, Savonarola and Galileo, many were the martyrs and victims to the cause of self-expression. With the Protestant Reformation the authority of the Church was overcome, resulting in the emancipation of literature. It did not just express individualism, but was the means by which the individual discovered a new voice. For example, instead of composing paeans to the saints, Ben Jonson wrote flattering poetry aimed at his aristocratic patrons, and meant only for circulation in aristocratic circles. Even when the content was religious there was bound to be a personal or metaphysical element associated, as we find in the poetry of John Donne and George Herbert. The specific genesis of the novel can be traced to the search for scientific clarity and objectivity in literature. The Royal Society of London, apart from fostering scientific experimentation, also encouraged a style of writing that reflected scientific precision. The trend emerged of keeping diaries and journals; such a process was thought to mimic the procedure of scientific and empirical observation. The early members of the Royal Society were avid keepers of diaries, notable among them Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn. Diaries of prominent people were published posthumously. These served as the blueprints for the first novels. We notice that in Robinson Crusoe, Defoe is straining to follow the diary format in order to infuse credibility to his tale. There is even a section which is strictly in the diary format, which Defoe abandons after a point, with the excuse that Crusoe had run out of paper and ink. In truth it is a desperate attempt at realism, and Defoe only discards it when he sees that it is impeding the flow of the narrative, and that the last is more important. It must be kept in mind that Robinson Crusoe is not yet a novel, but is striving to become one. The greatest effort is made to camouflage the fictional aspect. The frontispiece of the original edition emblazons the word â€Å"LIFE† from the full title, which reads â€Å"The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner†. To Defoe it was vital that the work be read as autobiography. The desired effect was realism, and to achieve this Defoe employs the style of the diarist. David Marshall comments: â€Å"From the outset, the narrative is preoccupied with autobiography itself as Robinson Crusoe engages in repeated and at times almost compulsive acts of autobiography† (899). Believability and the willingness of the reader to identify with the protagonist is crucial. To the modern novelist this comes naturally, for he creates his characters and immediately engages in their mutual relationships, which makes them both identifiable and believable. But for Defoe such a technique was not to hand. Nor did the circumstances of his protagonist allow for such. He has no option but to strive for realism through the context of autobiography. However, even the most vivid realism would not have made Robinson Crusoe a novel, if it was not for the continuing conversation that Crusoe establishes with God. This is the accidental feature that qualifies this work of literature as a novel. Not only this, but because the relationship that it considers is the most fundamental one, it becomes the protean novel, i.e. that starting point from which all other novels stem. It accomplishes the most difficult task, which is to establish the individual though his relationship with God and the universe. After this all subsequent novels can engage in the simpler task of exploring the relationships between individuals. This is why the mood of the novel is extremely somber throughout. It has led Charles Dickens to comment â€Å"Robinson Crusoe should be the only instance of a universally popular book that could make no one laugh and could make no one cry† (599). It is too serious for the ordinary emotions. Dickens himself wrote novels that made the nation laugh and cry with abandon, and such is what we normally expect from the medium. In conclusion, in Robinson Crusoe, Daniel Defoe has created a character that establishes the individual of modern capitalism. In his circumstance of isolation on a deserted island, and also in his discovery of God therein, Defoe finds the opportunity to demonstrate the Protestant work ethic in action. Through the portrayal of the work ethic we discover the emergence of capitalism and individualism, both advancing in tandem. As Crusoe strengthens his communion with God he discovers his individual self, and at the same time senses more and more his mastery and possession over the island. At the same time we notice the emergence of a new literary form, the novel. It is not only the ideal medium for the expression of capitalistic individualism, but was also historically the means by which it came to be established. Works Cited Allen, Walter Ernest. The English Novel: A Short Critical History. Boston: Dutton, 1955. Chesterton, Gilbert Keith. The Victorian Age in Literature. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 1966. Defoe, Daniel. Robinson Crusoe. ICON Group International, 2006. Dickens, Charles. Selected Journalism, 1850-1870. Ed. David Pascoe. New York: Penguin Classics, 1997. Grapard, Ulla. â€Å"Robinson Crusoe: The quintessential economic man?† Feminist Economics.1.1 (March 1995): 33-52. Keane, Patrick J. Coleridge’s Submerged Politics: The Ancient Mariner and Robinson Crusoe. Ann Arbor: University of Missouri Press, 1994. Marx, Karl. Capital: An Abridged Edition. Contributor David McLellan. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 1999. Marshall, David. â€Å"Autobiographical Acts in Robinson Crusoe.† ELH. 71.4 (Winter 2004): 899-920. Mathias, Peter. â€Å"Economic Growth and Robinson Crusoe.† European Review. 15 (2007): 17-31. Phillips, Richard. Mapping Men and Empire: A Geography of Adventure. London: Routledge, 1997. Weber, Max. The Protestant Ethic and the â€Å"Spirit† of Capitalism. Translated by Gordon C Wells, Peter R Baehr. New York: Penguin Classics, 2002. Whately, Rich. Introductory Lectures on Political Economy. 4th ed.; London, 1855. Zaleski, Philip. â€Å"The Strange Shipwreck of Robinson Crusoe.† First Things: A Journal of Religion, Culture, and Public Life. 53 (May 1995): 38-44.

The International Company Logistics

Logistics is the designing and managing of a system in order to control the flow of material throughout a corporation. This is a very important part of an international company because of geographical barriers. Logistics of an international company includes movement of raw materials, coordinating flows into and out of different countries, choices of transportation, cost of the transportation, packaging the product for shipment, storing the product, and managing the entire process. The concept of logistics is fairly new in the business world. The theoretical development was not used until 1966. Since then, many business practices have evolved and logistics currently costs between 10 and 25 percent of the total cost of an international purchase. There are two main phases that are important in the movement of materials: material management and physical distribution. Materials management is the timely movement of raw materials, parts, and supplies. The physical distribution is the movement of the firm†s finished products to the customers. Both phases involve every stage of the process including storage. The ultimate goal of logistics is to coordinate all efforts of the company to maintain a cost effective flow of goods. There are four logistics concepts: the systems concept, the total cost concept, the after-tax concept, and the trade-off concept. The systems concept is based on all functions of a organization working together in order to maximize benefits. This concept sometimes requires certain components of the organization to operate suboptimally in order to achieve maximum goals of the system. The total cost concept is based on the systems concept, however goal achievement is measured in terms of cost. A variation of the total cost concept is the after-tax concept. This goal of this concept is after-tax profit. This concept is becoming very popular because of the many different national tax policies. The trade-off concept links the system together in a way that is very efficient, but can have trade-offs that might be inefficient. The advantages of such high efficiency must be weighed against the risk involved. One of the largest obstacles of international logistics is geography. The distance and manner materials must be shipped is the most important step in international logistics. Transportation infrastructures vary greatly throughout the world. International companies must consider all options before starting any operation in another country. Perhaps a country could have easy access by ship, but no way to transport the goods once on the ground. All available routes into and out of the country must be determined in order to judge the feasibility of the operation. Ground shipments are excellent for neighboring countries such as the U.S. and Mexico. Normally, shipping across ground borders is fairly uneventful and is usually the best method if time and distance allow it. Ocean shipments are divided by three types of service: liner, bulk, and tramp. Liner service is regularly scheduled passages on assigned and established routes. This ship routes are similar to taking a plane somewhere. This service is used more for one-time or irregular shipments. Bulk service is contractual for a prolonged period of time. This service is for those needing to ship large quantities on a fairly regular basis. Tramp service is for irregular routes and scheduled as needed. This service would be to destinations liner service normally does not operate, and for large quantities. The type of ocean service you use also depends on where the material must go. Certain types of ships can only go to certain places, and certain ships can only carry a certain type of freight. All alternatives must be fully researched before ocean service can be considered as a valid option. The biggest advantage of ocean shipping is cost. Typically, ocean service is the least costly option, however is also has the slowest travel time. Accidents are infrequent, however if one would happen, large quantities of material are lost all at once. Certain operations could not sustain long periods of down-time caused by lost goods, which could prove devastating. Additionally, not all countries have adequate docking facilities and material may have to be delivered in another manner. Sometimes, the material can be ocean shipped to a neighboring country, and then trucked across land. Air freight is the quickest method for shipping goods. It also is the most costly. While the airfreight industry has had tremendous growth over the years, it still makes up less than 1 percent of all international freight. Typically, airfreight is used for high value items, and those required to have a short transit time. Perishable goods for instance, practically requires air shipment. Another advantage to air freight is the abundance of facilities throughout the world that are accessible by air. Transit time is another important aspect of international logistics, and is closely related to the manner in which the material is shipped. Because the ocean freight takes longer, large quantities are shipped. This requires storage of inventory in both countries. By using air freight, the smaller quantities and more periodic shipments can reduce storage costs. Air freight is also more predictable than ocean shipments. Where a ship may be a few days late, the air freight is usually only a few hours late. Predictability is important for many types of shipments, and when it is required, air freight is the mode of choice. Packaging for international shipments must also be researched. Many times, a single shipment may be trucked, air freighted, and shipped. Packaging for three different types of shipping can be tricky. The most common type of international shipping is in containers. These containers can ride on a truck and then be placed on a ship. Beyond general packaging, climate changes must also be taken into consideration. Care must be taken that the freight is not susceptible to extreme temperatures or humidity. When air freight is being used, the weight of the packaging must be considered for maximum benefit. Extremely heavy packaging can add thousands of dollars to an air freight bill. Logistics of a storage facility is also very important. How many locations and where they are located must be closely researched in order to yield the most benefit. Sometimes, a location can be chosen based on monetary benefit in addition to logistical benefit. Certain enterprise zones can greatly increase after-tax profits. These types of areas must be researched and compared for cost/benefit. The final part of logistics is how to tie this system together. All of these different options and concepts must flow together and operate as efficiently as possible. There are three basic forms of logistics management. Centralized logistics management provides that the logistics operations are headed by managers that also head other divisions of the company. This type of management helps avoid internal problems by having a central manager that ultimately decides how logistics and operations are coordinated. Decentralized logistics management is based on the fact that a company needs to have a division that helps control the local-adaptation needs. Dealing with different cultures requires input from the local branch. The managers that deal with the cultural differences on a daily basis normally know what works and what doesn†t. Outsourcing is the final option for logistics management. When this happens, transportation firms concentrate on logistics, and the company can concentrate on it†s production. There are many cost savings using this type of program, however that lack of control can negatively effect many companies. International logistics requires many different options and requirements to be met in order for a company to operate internationally. It†s like a big puzzle that must be put together, in order for all the goals to be met. As described above, there are many options to consider, and sometimes what appears to be an option really isn†t. It is not difficult to hit a road block, and you must start over with a new plan. Once the logistics plan is in place, you must constantly look for improvements in order to maximize profits and goals.