Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Essay on Nike Building a Global Brand - 901 Words

| Nike: Building a Global Brand | MKTG 4082W | | 1. Nike’s brand image, a set of emotions, feelings, and experiences with the brand, developed over time through advertising campaigns and consumer experiences with Nike. The core attributes of Nike’s brand image include high performance, innovation, and aggressiveness. Nike positioned itself as a company that makes products for athletes, by athletes. They tailor their products for serious/winning athletes and also stress their point-of-difference to be performance, as opposed to Reebok, whose point of difference is style. Nike is perceived as a high performance brand and they always make performance a top priority, which is a key building block for their brand image and†¦show more content†¦Their perceived quality and brand credibility is based off of high performance and innovation and their brand loyalty is strong as well, stemming from their early relationships with runners to get feedback and input. In addition, they used a â€Å"finger on the pulse† strategy to hit the streets and really find out what was on the minds of consumers, in terms of brand perceptions. Another source of brand equity for Nike is their Swoosh logo and as of 2000, 97% of Americans recognize it. 2. I am not surprised that the irreverence characteristic of Nike advertising in the U.S. did not sit well with many European consumers. The culture in Europe differs from the one in America and European consumers vary in significant ways from Americans. Nike introduced many changes in their marketing mix to ta p into the European and Asian markets. They established a grassroots allegiance of local sports teams, mainly with soccer, tennis, and rugby. In addition, they evolved their marketing strategy to a two-tiered approach. Individual markets featured ads with local stars, while all of Europe saw ads that featured popular sports like soccer, tennis, and track. Nike also focused its attentionShow MoreRelatedCurrent Issue Of Sport : Globalization1307 Words   |  6 Pagessport-related industries in the United States. As the same as other firms, sport corporates are also facing the fact that the North American markets are becoming saturated, thus they have to shifting their focus to the global markets as well as other companies. However, to open the global markets is not as simple as produce and deliver the goods, the sport industries’ managers should also concern about the cultural differences and the demand of local market. Actually, the cultural difference is the keyRead More Nike Brand Equity1038 Words   |  5 PagesCase 6 Nike Celess Valk MKTG 4082 10/29/12 To answer question one it’s important to not that Nike has created a very powerful image in the minds of consumers in America. Nike wanted consumers to see it as an innovative brand that produces top of the line performance gear that was associated with very powerful and important athletes (mostly males). Their profile users are represented as famous athletes such as Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods. The athletes reflected the brand personalities suchRead MoreNike Swot Analysis1382 Words   |  6 PagesSWOT Analysis Nike Strengths. Very good Leadership is one of Nike’s strengths. Nike is a very competitive organization. Founder and Owner, Phil Knight is often quoted as saying that â€Å"Business is war without bullets.† Nike has a healthy dislike of its competitors such as Reebok and Addidas. This competition in the market results in the company to strive to have to best products and on the market. Nike sponsors the top athletes and gains valuable coverage through the media. Nike has no factoriesRead MoreCompany Overview: Nike, INC1106 Words   |  4 PagesNike, Inc. is the world’s leading designer, marketer and distributor of athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. NIKE, Inc. sells, distributes and licenses its products in approximately 200 countries around the world. NIKE focuses its products in seven key categories: Running, Basketball, Soccer, Men’s Training, Women’s Training, NIKE Sportswear and Action sports. NIKE sells products through its NIKE Brand and Affiliate Brands (ConverseRead MoreNike vs Adidas1379 Words   |  6 Pages5 retailers of NIKE/ADIDAS and prepare a brief summary report of: a) Typical customer profile/demographic profile of the products of NIKE/ADIDAS shoes. b) Acceptance levels of the 2 brands in the consumers of your city. c) Consumer feedback for improvement, if any, of NIKE/ADIDAS. Ans: The Finally report After visit of Six Outlets of Nike Adidas: Introduction: As we know that both the brands NIKE and ADIDAS are having a very good reputed brands in the market andRead MoreNike1270 Words   |  6 PagesNike is a successful company that has been in business since 1972. Throughout the decades, Nike has built up its brand to one that is respected and sought after. Nike has grown its brand name through the acquisitions and partnerships of many other brands (Hurley, Umbro, Cole Haan, and Converse) to provide to its customer different products that suit every athletic need. In order for Nike to gain success in its growth, the company follows the four functions of management: planning, organizing, leadingRead MoreNikes Athletic Footwear Products1659 Words   |  7 PagesNike was founded in 1964 and is headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon. It is the world’s largest supplier of athletic apparel and sports equipment, worth over 105 billion dollars. Nike sells its products to retail accounts, through Nike-owned retail st ores and Internet Websites through a mix of independent distributors and licensees throughout the world. Independent contractors manufacture all of Nike’s products; including all of its footwear and apparel products, which are produced outside the UnitedRead MoreLeaders of the Sports World: Nike1369 Words   |  6 PagesLeaders of the Sports World Andrea M. Delvalle Etido Akpan Bus. 508 Strayer University Nike is the leader in sportswear and sporting equipment. It is a public company /major retail that was founded on January 25, 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports. The company was headquartered in Oregon. It was founded by Bill Bowerman and Philip Knight. Philip Knight was a track athlete at the University of Oregon and his track coach, Bill Bowerman, helped him launch his idea. The company’s mission was to bringRead MoreThe Ethics And Code Of Workplace Practices1683 Words   |  7 Pagesvalues of social responsibility and ethical behavior as corporations endeavor to relieve costs and reduce contingencies in future ,nowhere is that drive for certainty and cost reduction is more enthralling then in the corporate supply chain, the global market place demands that supply chains be fleet-footed and scatter ,an efficient supply chain is responsible for changing the organization priorities by keeping the cost of the company intact and giving company the room for growth and increase productivityRead MoreCase 1 – Manchester United, Still Trying to Establish a Global Brand629 Words   |  3 PagesCase 1 – Manchester United, Still trying to establish a global brand Question 1 How do you evaluate the international competitiveness of ManUtd after the takeover of Malcolm Glazer? After the takeover of Malcom Glazer, ManUtd tried to extend its international competitiveness. Indeed, it started a sponsorship with Nike. ManUtd had also a new shirt sponsors MandUtd, AIG, which makes it have the largest sponsorship deal and replaces the previous deal with Vodafone. We can note that the new sponsor

Monday, December 23, 2019

The Civil Rights Movement Of Fareed Zakaria s The Rise...

In the following document I have read and researched two different points asked in the assignment. The first is a summarization and my take on Zakaria’s article, along with answered questions from the assignment. The second is a research portion, provided by the listed sources, about the civil rights movement. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the Zakaria article and it was an eye-opener looking into the civil rights movement. Fareed Zakaria’s â€Å"The Rise of Illiberal Democracy† details his view on elected governments and the ignorance and abuse of their power. He claims that they do not use their powers in the right way and instead deny basic civil rights and liberties. Democracy can be defined numerous ways in different countries. In Zakaria’s definition, to paraphrase, a democracy is viewed as a process of selecting government and is to always mean the rule of the people. In my opinion this definition is very true when associating democracy with countries such as the one I preside in because we have the right to vote for the people making decisions in individual states and, most importantly, our federal government. To have a democracy intuitively means â€Å"A good government†. Following democracy in the article, Zakaria highlights two other forms of government that contrast to democracy and where they are used. Constitutional liberalism â€Å"is not a procedure for selec ting government, but rather the government’s goal†. This concept of government rule looks out more for the individualShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Fareed Zakaria s The Rise Of Illiberal Democracy1330 Words   |  6 Pages 2014 Fareed Zakaria’s The Rise of Illiberal Democracy is an article discussing his point of view about illiberal and liberal democracies. He explains how democracy is now simply viewed together with liberalism altogether and how they went hand in hand with the writing of our constitution. This article informs you about how the mix of liberalism and democracy seems to have affected the Civil Rights Movement. He also explains how illiberal democracy can lead to civil war and genocide.Read MoreAnalysis Of Fareed Zakaria s The Rise Of Illiberal Democracy1353 Words   |  6 PagesNov, 2014 Fareed Zakaria’s The Rise of Illiberal Democracy is an article discussing his point of view about illiberal and liberal democracies. He explains how democracy is now simply viewed together with liberalism altogether and how they went hand in hand with the writing of our constitution. This article informs you about how the mix of liberalism and democracy seems to have affected the Civil Rights Movement. He informs the reader about how illiberal democracy can lead to disputes,Read MoreIlliberal Democracy Essay1911 Words   |  8 PagesErin Voss POS 2041 10-18-2011 Fareed Zakaria: The Rise of Illiberal Democracy Fareed Zakaria’s The Rise of Illiberal Democracy seeks to elucidate the reader on the rise of democracy around the world as well as the distinguishable difference between illiberal and liberal democracies as he sees them. Zakaria also describes how he believes democracy and liberalism joined together in synchronization to form what is our government today. Democracy is infamous for being arduous to defineRead MoreDubais Political and Economic Development: Essay38738 Words   |  155 Pagesexpatriate group and make up $4.5 percent of the private sector according to official statistic^.^ ~ o sof these people perform menial jobs in the service and t construction industriese3Expatriate Arabs form another 9.4 percent of the citys s.~ workforce and the remaining 1.9 percent are ~ u r o ~ e a nThe reason that so many foreign workers have flocked to Dubai is quite simple - to make money. Although lowpaying jobs hammering steel and cleaning floors may not sound very appealing, they

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Food Report-Pakistan Free Essays

Also the times of these meals are different as breakfast or known in Pakistan as â€Å"Cherish† is eaten afore sunrise and dinner or â€Å"Fatal is after sunset. As people are fasting during the day, lunch does not exist. Breakfast Breakfast is one of the three most common meals of the day, in Pakistan (Udder) â€Å"Nashua† in their native name for breakfast. We will write a custom essay sample on Food Report-Pakistan or any similar topic only for you Order Now The most common food eaten in breakfast includes eggs either boiled, fried. In addition, the egg is complemented by a piece of bread. Although tradition bread is known as â€Å"root† that is eaten. Some other food accompanied by the already listed is butter on bread or other various pitas. In Canada, coffee is the beverage of preference in the morning, although in Pakistan, as they were formerly a rites colony, they adopted tea also known as â€Å"chaw† and this is their drink of choice. Lunch A traditional lunch in a Pakistani household is as follows: typically a type of meat inside of curry, some lunches include â€Å"Chicken Curry’ and â€Å"Beef Curry’. In addition, to add variety to the meal, some households enjoy rice with beef and potatoes or chili soup. Another common type of lunch in Pakistan is â€Å"Deal Chalk†. Although, family lunches are not very common as the breadwinners are usually at work and return home for dinner. Although lunch for breadwinners may vary as traditional food is not eaten at work, due to its cent and thus they either buy food or have sandwiches for lunch. As no attention is given to the five food groups, some people may lack the suggested serving of the food groups. Dinner unlike Canada, in which breakfast is considered to be the most important meal of the day, Pakistan differs as dinner is the most important meal as the entire family is gathered together and the quantity of the meal in greater. Furthermore, dinner is served late in comparison to Canada as the work hours are longer so families have dinner at around In addition, families usually have the most tasteful meal of the day. One of the cost common meals in a Pakistani household is Brain. This meal includes rice, spices and other various meats depending on the person’s choice. Desserts include sweets such as Gulag Jam or fruit platters. Family Relationships Family relations to food are known for to be very stereotypical in Pakistan as women are in charge of cooking the food while the men are the breadwinners. In Pakistan, the rate of employment of women low thus most breadwinners are men and the women are left to do housework. Also the food choices may be limited as children are eating the same type of food again and again and this limits their choices. As Pakistan has such a high poverty rate choices of food is limited thus children cannot acquire unique taste although individuals with a large amount of wealth proper. Economy The Pakistani economy consists of a large part of the food families consume. If food prices were to ever rise, some families would not be able to meet the budget to be able to purchase all the products needed to prepare a meal. Statistics show that an average income of Pakistani household averages around 79,1 58 RSI. ; which further shows that for a balanced diet an average Pakistani citizen needs about 1 1,454. 20 RSI. Average families consist of four members, which would require 45,816. 80 RSI. To purchase a sustainable amount of food for the family. How to cite Food Report-Pakistan, Essays

Friday, December 6, 2019

The Sweet Hereafter 2 Pg Including Works free essay sample

The Sweet Hereafter, 2 Pg Including Works Cited Page Essay, Research Paper Of all the novels I ve read, non that I ve read a batch, but The Sweet Hereafter, written by Banks, is by far the best. I particularly enjoyed the first individual narrative used. The secret plan in this novel was dependant on three chief events: the coach accident, Mitchell Stevens, Esq. ( the attorney ) , and the testimony of Nichole Burnell. The coach accident is foremost mentioned by the coach driver, Dolores Dricsoll. She talks about he past for a piece and so goes on to depict the accident, it was so that I saw the Canis familiaris. I am about certain it was an optical semblance or a mirage. I had made my pick, as I wrenched the maneuvering wheel to the right. ( Banks, 33,34 ) It turns out that the pick she made killed + of the kids on the coach. Dolores was let travel from her occupation and alienated by her town, Sam Dent. We will write a custom essay sample on The Sweet Hereafter 2 Pg Including Works or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In come the attorneies. After the accident everyone in town was mourning, and looking for some manner to acquire over the hurting. For a batch of these people, the reply was money ; at least they thought it was. Mitchell Stevens Esq. was the attorney most of the people in town chose to swear. He felt that he had a good carelessness instance against Thursday vitamin E province. The more he talked to his clients, the more they believed that he did. However, this was all put to rest when Nichole Burnell testified. Nicole was sitting the closest to Dolores at the clip of the accident, and could see all the gages, including the speed indicator. Her testimony went a small like this, Yes I understand. Dolores was driving excessively fast, and it scared me It seemed to me that we were traveling really fast down the hill at that place. I was scared I know she was traveling 72 stat mis an hr. The speed indicator is big and easy to see With that testimony, Nichole put the jurisprudence suits to rest. She didn t make it out of selfishness, but more out of the benefit for everyone in Sam Dent. After the suits had been dropped she was worried about Dolores, and if she d get in problem. Nichole didn T want to acquire anyone in problem, merely to do everything right. This Novel, The Sweet Hereafter, was a fantastic written narrative about an atrocious calamity that happened in the little upstate New York town of Sam Dent. The novel centered on three major characters ; Dolores Driscoll, Mitchell Stevens, Esq. , and Nichole Burnell. Plants Cited Banks, Russell. The Sweet Hereafter. New York: HarperCollins, 1991.

Friday, November 29, 2019

Bend It Like Beckham/as You Like It free essay sample

Belonging is a necessary human desire of acceptance and inclusion which can be represented in several different ways. Shakespeare’s classic, As you like it and in Gurinda Chadra’s comedy, Bend it like Beckham, are both representations of the concept of belonging. Bend it like Beckham is a modern interpretation which explores similar notions as Shakespeare’s classic As you like it. In all three texts belonging is represented through gender roles, family influence and the connection of marriage. The central character, Jessminder, in bend it like beckham must overcome her cultural restraints as a young indian girl raised in a western civilisation in order to belong to her family and satisfy her own goals. This is seen in the opening scene as Jessminders Her parents adhere to their strict sihk faith customs which clash with Jessminders dream of becoming an alete football player just as David Beckham. The extended metaphor of football within bend it like beckham is used to shape Chadras representation of belonging and not belonging. We will write a custom essay sample on Bend It Like Beckham/as You Like It or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Bend it like Beckham is a film based around the life of a young Indian girl, Jessminder, whose parents follow the Sikh religion. Without question, Jess is expected to follow the cultural traditions besides being raised within a westernised culture in England. The title Bend it like Beckham is the reference to David Beckham’s ability to curve the football across the field scoring a goal. Football is used as an extended metaphor throughout the film which has helped shape Chadra’s representation of Jessminder not being able to belong to the gender prejudice sport, football. Shakespeare’s As you like it uses similar concepts as Bend it like Beckham to communicate a significance of belonging. Members of the court are exiled and flee to the forest of Arden for fear of Gender roles are reversed in the movie ‘Bend it like Beckham’. Tony is a friend of Jessminder who also enjoys playing football, but when he explains he â€Å"really, really likes Beckham† we understand that he has feelings for the opposite sex. Tony believes his true identity will be ridiculed in an Indian family therefore keeping it a secret. Jessminder understands Tony’s cultural restrictions in being himself completely, which forms the basis of their empathetic relationship. Rosalind in As you like it has the ability to subvert the limitations that society imposes on her as a woman in order to isolate herself from the common conformities of belonging in her society. With the courage and wit of a male, announces to Celia where she describes that she will wear a warrior look like many cowardly men do which insinuates that a man’s manner and attire show’s nothing of their courage. The dramatic irony imposed on the audience when Rosalind disguises herself is used as a technique to entertain and humour the viewers as their knowledge of the correct situation is seen as advantageous. Rosalind disguises herself as a man named Ganymede in order to apprise and woo her love interest Orlando. Well have a swashing and a martial outside, as many other mannish cowards have That do outface it with their semblances. (1. 3. 125) is a quote in which Roseland During her deception as Ganymede, Orlando is instructed on the ways to woo a woman to Rosalind’s desire. The pair become intimate in their rehearsal roles and share a kiss after the line †¦. To an Elizabethan audience, homoeroticism was seen as entertaining in an outrageous sense. The idea of homosexuality was highly dammed by the Elizabethan society with little awareness about such possibilities. A scene containing same sex interest without the dramatic irony would not be allowed to be performed. We note both Juliette and Jessminder obtaining boyish characteristics which lead to the misconception of Juliette being attracted to Jessminder by her mother, and Jessminder’s family misunderstanding seeing her kissing a boy, when in fact it was their strong friendship sparking these accusations. The irony placed in these situations adds humour to the movie while still pertaining to the mistaken identity stereotypes seem to carry in society. Juliette and Jessminder form a friendship because of their shared passion for ootball and their struggle to balance family and cultural setbacks in the pursuit of self determination. Jessminder’s family believes that football is not appropriate for a young women to be playing as she has far more culturist traditions to be learning, such as how to cook a full Indian dinner. Although Mr. Bhamra’s underlying dilemma he faced when trying to play cricket in a western society was the reason he did not wish for his daughter to parti cipate in such sport. Mr. Bhamra was a victim of racial discrimination as members of the team ‘kicked him out of their club like a dog’. Mr. Bhamra believed his daughter should be rewarded with an opportunity to fight for her dreams, and only then is Jessminder’s goals supported by her family. The connection to a place and the way in which we react to a certain society plays an impeccable part of how the characters from both As you like it and Bend it like Beckham are perceived to belong. In Bend it like Beckham there is prejudice and stereotyping of Jessminder’s Indian heritage when living in a westernised country whereas in As you like it the prejudice is based around the ability to articulate wit and knowledge from an educated background in the Court. We imagine the forest of Arden as a place â€Å"free from public taunt† where the characters can learn better values. The forest is personified as a teacher with â€Å"tongues in trees† and â€Å"sermons in stones†, the end of this line â€Å"and good in everything† is used to exaggerate the idea that the forest is a teacher of good values. The Indian and western civilisation is juxtaposed throughout the film to enhance the notion of self determination and breaking free of cultural boundaries. In the preparation for Pinky’s wedding (Jessminder’s sister) we are confronted of a high angle shot that places two parallel backyards together. In the fading frame, we see the celebration for Pinky’s engagement, full of colours and festive food. Opposite this we see an English women removing clothes form her washing line. Her backyard is bare and she seems oblivious to the party next door. This scene employs a sense of incongruity, therefore allowing us to understand the tribulations Jessminder faces in abandoning her family morals. â€Å"Well, praised be the gods for thy foulness! luttishness may come hereafter. † This cynicism might be a symptom of the life of an observer of the court while never truly belonging there. One gets the impression through his speech, occupation, and mannerisms that Touchstone may not have been born of noble blood, but rather adopted into the court as a fool. Such a life would have given him ample justification for distrust, disdain, and, most importantly, as a result of his lack of a sense o In the text As you like it, there is a high placed juxtaposition between the place of the Court and the forest of Arden. The court is perceived as a place of high standard in which people are Stereotyping is used by both the Indian and Westernised culture in ‘Bend it like Beckham’. We see the distorted perceptions of Juliette’s mother Paula, as she discourages Jules from playing football. ‘All Im saying is, theres a reason why Sporty Spice is the only one without a fella! † is quoted by Paula in the film as she tries to hinder Juliette’s interest in football by insinuating her ‘boyish’ behaviour will affect her relationships. This is then rectified toward the end of the film when Paula advises Juliette about a woman on the football team who is happily married with two children. Shakespeare in this play also uses a Greek god , hymen, as a symbol to show how the marriages are blessed when in the forest. The Greek belief was if Hymen was not present at weddings the marriage was supposed to be disastrous. By using Hyman as a symbol of a blessed future we see how the forest of Arden through a sense of belonging has strengthened the characters bonds to one another and advanced their own individual identities. ow the concept of belonging is conveyed through the representations of people, relationships, ideas, places, events, and societies that they encounter in the prescribed text and texts of their own choosing related to the Area of Study assumptions underlying various representations of the concept of belonging how the composer’s choice of language modes, forms, features and structures shapes and is sh aped by a sense of belonging their own experiences of belonging, in a variety of contexts the ways in which they perceive the world through texts he ways in which exploring the concept and significance of belonging may broaden and deepen their understanding of themselves and their world Belonging is a necessary human desire of acceptance and inclusion which can be represented in several different ways. Shakespeare’s classic, As you like it and Gurinda Chadra’s comedy, Bend it like Beckham both explore the variation of ways that the concept of belonging can be explored in a text. The notions that contribute to the concept of belonging include gender roles, identity David Beckham is England’s most prized player when concerning football as he obtains the trademark ability to curve the ball across the pitch and into the net, resulting in a goal. Bend it like Beckham is a comedic film directed by Gurinda Chadra that explores many themes relating to prejudice stereotypes and its effects on achieving goals. The film spirals into endless tangents from the prejudice theme revealing issues such as gender roles, racism but most prominent, the notion of belonging. Using football as an extended metaphor throughout the film has helped Chadra achieve the concept of belonging to a group, as you would a team in football. Several characters in the film struggle to identify in groups they have chosen to belong to or have been morally condemned to follow. Jessminder is a young Indian girl whose parents follow the Sikh religion. Without question, Jess is expected to follow the cultural traditions besides being raised in England. Jess’ aspirations for playing professional football is introduced to the audience in a Montage. The series of fast projected scenes of Jess playing football along side her hero Beckham, portray to the audience that this is her fantasy. We can then gather from Mrs. Bhamra’s role as a harsh critic in the Montage that this is not a reality, but just a dream as it is suddenly disrupted by the reality of Mrs. Bhamra, Jess’ mother, continuing to yell in disapproval. As an audience we begin to understand the duties an Indian household regulates as a comparison to our Westernised manner as Mrs. Bhamra continues to shout at Jess to help her sister with her marriage preparations. Stereotyping is used by both the Indian and Westernised culture in ‘Bend it like Beckham’. We see the distorted perceptions of Juliette’s mother Paula, as she discourages Jules from playing football. ‘All Im saying is, theres a reason why Sporty Spice is the only one without a fella! † is quoted by Paula in the film as she tries to hinder Juliette’s interest in football by insinuating her ‘boyish’ behaviour will affect her relationships. This is then rectified toward the end of the film when Paula advises Juliette about a woman on the football team who is happily married with two children. Juliette and Jessminder form a friendship because of their shared passion for football and their struggle to balance family and cultural setbacks in the pursuit of self determination. Jessminder’s family believes that football is not appropriate for a young women to be playing as she has far more culturist traditions to be learning, such as how to cook a full Indian dinner. Although Mr. Bhamra’s underlying dilemma he faced when trying to play cricket in a western society was the reason he did not wish for his daughter to participate in such sport. Mr. Bhamra was a victim of racial discrimination as members of the team ‘kicked him out of their club like a dog’. Mr. Bhamra believed his daughter should be rewarded with an opportunity to fight for her dreams, and only then is Jessminder’s goals supported by her family. The Indian and western civilisation is juxtaposed throughout the film to enhance the notion of self determination and breaking free of cultural boundaries. In the preparation for Pinky’s wedding (Jessminder’s sister) we are confronted of a high angle shot that places two parallel backyards together. In the fading frame, we see the celebration for Pinky’s engagement, full of colours and festive food. Opposite this we see an English women removing clothes form her washing line. Her backyard is bare and green and she seems oblivious to the party next door. This scene employs a sense of incongruity, therefore allowing us to understand the tribulations Jessminder faces in abandoning her family morals. Gender roles are reversed in the movie ‘Bend it like Beckham’. Tony is a friend of Jessminder who also enjoys playing football, but when he explains he â€Å"really, really likes Beckham† we understand that he has feelings for the opposite sex. Tony believes his true identity will be ridiculed in an Indian family therefore keeping it a secret. Jessminder understands Tony’s cultural restrictions in being himself completely, which forms the basis of their empathetic relationship. We note both Juliette and Jessminder obtaining boyish characteristics which lead to the misconception of Juliette being attracted to Jessminder by her mother, and Jessminder’s family misunderstanding seeing her kissing a boy, when in fact it was their strong friendship sparking these accusations. The irony placed in these situations adds humour to the movie while still pertaining to the mistaken identity stereotypes seem to carry in society. The antithesis placed between the posted above Jessminder’s wall and the frame above the mantle in her home are apparent in the film â€Å"Bend it like Beckham†. We notice her family worshiping the first of ten guru’s that set the foundation of the Sikh faith, Baba Ji. A poster of Baba ji is framed neatly above the mantle in the living room and is constantly referred back to throughout the movie. For example, When Jessminder’s grades arrive in the post to determine her future career, Mrs. Bhamra prays repeatedly to the poster in hopes Jessminder receives good grades. Jessminder is seen idolising the poster of Beckham throughout the film as she repeatedly speaks to him about her family’s unacceptance of her playing football. The contrasting perception placed upon her hero and her family’s allow us to identify Jessminder from a different perspective, one of self perseverance. Music is used throughout the film to address the underscoring thematic notions in particular scenes. This is used to promote the idea and juxtaposition of culture vs. self ambitions. The music we here in Jessminder’s living room is native to India, displaying the families desire to stay true to their traditional culture, despite living in a westernised country. The paradox between the next scene of Jessminder playing football is contrasted with the mainstream hit â€Å"Move on Up† as if to imply of moving beyond culture restraints. Bend it like Beckham successfully explores the concept of belonging through the concepts of cultural freedom, reversed gender roles and stereotypes. The movie continues to entertain and inspire a sense of justice in the pursuit of self ambitions and goals. Yasmin Khedr Belonging is a necessary human desire of acceptance and inclusion which can be represented in several different ways. Shakespeare’s classic, As you like it and in Gurinda Chadra’s comedy, Bend it like Beckham, are both representations of the concept of belonging. Bend it like Beckham is a modern interpretation which explores similar notions as Shakespeare’s classic As you like it. In all three texts belonging is represented through gender roles, family influence and the connection of marriage. Marriage is a centre theme and the resolution of the text As you like it. As a symbol of unity and belonging marriage is used in the play to join the characters together, pleasing the audience at the commencement. The film Bilb contains the wedding of Jessminder’s sister, pinky. The wedding day lands on the same day as Jess’ football match which displays the juxtaposition between what jess’ desires and what her family traditions entail for her. When asked at the wedding by a distant relative if Jess would rather â€Å"a clean shaven boy like her sister or a proper Indian man with a full beard and turban† we understand that Jess’ expected not only marry in her future but to marry an Indian man. Rosalind in As you like it has the ability to subvert the limitations that society imposes on her as a woman in order to isolate herself from the common conformities of belonging in her society. With the courage and wit of a male, Rosalind disguises herself as a man named Ganymede in order to apprise and woo her love interest Orlando. Well have a swashing and a martial outside, as many other mannish cowards have That do outface it with their semblances† is a quote in which Roseland announces to Celia where she describes that she will wear a warrior look like many cowardly men do which insinuates that a man’s manner and attire show’s nothing of their courage. The dramatic irony imposed on the audience when Rosalind disguises herself is used as a technique to entertain and humour the viewers as their knowledge of the correct situation is seen as advantageous. There is a similar strand of deceit in the film Bend it like Beckham as Jessminder tries desperately to balance belonging to her family traditions and to her goals and personal desires. Jessminder lies to her parents explaining that she has a part time job when in fact she had been using this time at football training. Gender roles are reversed in the movie ‘Bend it like Beckham’. Tony is a friend of Jessminder who also enjoys playing football, but when he explains he â€Å"really, really likes Beckham† we understand that he has feelings for the opposite sex. Tony believes his true identity will be ridiculed in an Indian family therefore keeping it a secret. Jessminder understands Tony’s cultural restrictions in being himself completely, which forms the basis of their empathetic relationship. We imagine the forest of Arden as a place â€Å"free from public taunt† where the characters can learn better values. The forest is personified as a teacher with â€Å"tongues in trees† and â€Å"sermons in stones†, the end of this line â€Å"and good in everything† is used to exaggerate the idea that the forest is a teacher of good values. In the text As you like it, there is a high placed juxtaposition between the lace of the Court and the forest of Arden. The court is perceived as a place of high standard in which people are expected to be highly articulated and educated. The forrets however, is redeemed as a place of shepards and low lifes lol The Indian and western civilisation is juxtaposed throughout the film Bend it like Beckham to enhance the notion of self determination and breaking free of cultural boundaries. In the preparation for Pinky’s wedding we are confronted of a high angle shot that places two parallel backyards together. One is of an average home and the other of the Bhamra’s having a celebration for her engagements. In the fading frame, we see the celebration for Pinky’s engagement, full of colours and festive food. Opposite this we see an English women removing clothes form her washing line. Her backyard is bare and she seems oblivious to the party next door. This scene employs a sense of incongruity, therefore allowing bandoning her family morals. TOUCHSTONE [Aside] I am not in the mind but I were better to be married of him than of another; for he is not like to marry me well; and not being well married, it will be a good excuse for me hereafter to leave my wife. (3. 3. 90)

Monday, November 25, 2019

Citing a Chapter from an Edited Book in Oxford Referencing

Citing a Chapter from an Edited Book in Oxford Referencing Citing a Chapter from an Edited Book in Oxford Referencing When academics contribute a single chapter to a larger volume, you may find yourself needing to cite just part of a book. And while this is like citing a full book, it does differ in a few ways. Let’s look, then, at how to cite a chapter from an edited book with Oxford referencing. In-Text Citations for a Chapter from an Edited Book All versions of Oxford referencing use a footnote and bibliography system. As such, we indicate citations with superscript numbers in the main text: Citations usually appear after final punctuation in a sentence.1 In the accompanying footnote, you then need to give the following information for the chapter of the book you are citing: n. Chapter Author’s Initial(s) and Surname, â€Å"Chapter Title,† in Editor’s Initial(s) and Surname (ed.), Book Title, place of publication, publisher, year, page number(s). In practice, then, a footnote citation for a chapter from an edited book would look something like this: 1. M. L. Rosenzweig, â€Å"Do Animals Choose Habitats?,† in M. Berkoff and D. Jamieson (eds.), Readings in Animal Cognition, Cambridge, Bradford Books, 1999, p. 189. The page numbers here should indicate the specific section you’re citing. You will then give the complete page range for the chapter in your bibliography. For repeat references to a single chapter from a book, meanwhile, you can use a shorter citation format. This usually involves either: Giving just the author’s surname and a new page number. Using the Latin abbreviations â€Å"ibid.,† â€Å"op. cit.,† and â€Å"loc. cit.† Check your style guide for more information on which approach to use. Chapters from Edited Books in an Oxford Bibliography In your bibliography, you should list all cited sources alphabetically by author surname with full publication information. For a chapter from an edited book, this includes: Author Surname, Initial(s)., â€Å"Chapter Title,† in Editor’s Initial(s) and Surname (ed.), Book Title, place of publication, publisher, year, complete page range. As you can see, this is similar to the first footnote citation format. The key differences in the bibliography are that you give: The author’s surname first, followed by initials The page range for the entire chapter, not a pinpoint citation In practice, then, we would list the chapter cited above as follows: Rosenzweig, M. L., â€Å"Do Animals Choose Habitats?,† in M. Berkoff and D. Jamieson (eds.), Readings in Animal Cognition, Cambridge, Bradford Books, 1999, pp. 185–199. A Note on Oxford Referencing This guide sets out the basics of how to cite a chapter from an edited book using Oxford referencing. However, this system can differ between institutions. As such, you should always check your style guide for advice on how to present references in written work for your course. If you don’t have a style guide available or it doesn’t cover a certain issue, just aim for clarity and consistency. And if you need anyone to check the referencing in a document, we’re happy to help.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Pollution from a primary aluminum smelter for environmental law class Research Paper

Pollution from a primary aluminum smelter for environmental law class - Research Paper Example This paper will evaluate the range of water pollution caused by aluminum smelting and its aftereffects on public health and the environment as a whole. It has been identified that mainly three types of water discharges are associated with aluminium smelting. Process water is the liquid effluent which is mainly used for cooling dung metal casting; it contains small quantities of organic matter, fluorides, oils, suspended solids, and industrial gases. This process also discharges waste water from restrooms and laboratory facilities, and the discharged water contains organic matter and suspended solids. During the aluminium smelting process, drainage water is also discharged. It is estimated that the â€Å"Portland aluminium smelter discharges 73 ML of process water each year† (Salzman, Allinson, Stagnitti, Coates & Hill, 2001). In modern days, an effective system called water treatment center is established in most of the aluminum smelting plants where the water effluents are ac cumulated and eliminated. However, the water treatment center would not be able to eliminate these water pollutants completely. Adams (2011) points out that excess level of fluorine content in water may lead to dental fluorosis. Similarly, aluminum is very toxic to fish and aquatic insects if its concentration exceeds the limit 1 mg/L.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Social and Environmental Impact of Diamond Mining in Africa Case Study

Social and Environmental Impact of Diamond Mining in Africa - Case Study Example The paper tells that there were some De Beers who had done some research in this region and had identified it as a potential mining ground for diamond, although they did not reveal the discovery to the locals The process that begun as a simple business soon attracted the attention of international investors and by the time the government tried to intervene, the process had gone far; many people had already gotten established the business. The government had to exert excessive force to disrupt the illegal activity and many people were killed in the process â€Å"hospital officials at Mutare General Hospital reported on one occasion, the arrival of 75 bodies believed to have been killed in the ‘Chiadzwa conflict’ †. Since the discovery of diamond, the community has experienced some social transformation, which is quite different from other regions that also carry out diamond mining. The major difference being that most of the other diamond mining areas in Africa hav e been affected by rebel groups, though this was during the initial stages. The illegal mining by the locals later transformed into the participation of local police also as illegal miners. It called for the intervention of African Consolidated Resources to initiate a programme to oversee the fencing of the mining region, but the program was ignored once the practice was declared free to all. The government had to again use the military operation to stop all the mining activities that had been regarded as illegal. During this process, locals suffered much oppression from the military, especially when an operation that was called Wakazvionepi which meant â€Å"where did you get your riches from† was launched. It also took the intervention of civil rights activists to condemn the allegation regarding the human rights abuse. The new panners dominated their daily functions in Chiadzwa and the neighboring regions; as a result, the local communities were gradually getting displaced .

Monday, November 18, 2019

AAFES 4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

AAFES 4 - Essay Example US Army and Air Force. Being a company with unique business model, AAFES conduct its advertising in unique way too. AAFES is not to active in using television and other media as active channels for advertising purposes however advertising is being done in direct way through the use of local means of advertising to the soldiers at the bases. Since AAFES is almost also a monopoly therefore advertising is not mostly done in its most conventional means. Sales promotion activities of the firm take place in store i.e. firm displays various sales promotional activities and items in house besides offering sales promotion on its website. The website of the firm provides different sales promotional activities for making a purchase on line. In store sales promotional activities involve displaying of different sales promotional material. Since AAFES is a sort of monopoly therefore it mostly utilizes direct marketing as one of the most important mean of promoting the firm’s products and services. However, this is not on the individual basis however it is done on the basis of the groups of customers i.e. army bases where soldiers are stationed. There is no personal selling done by the firm however it offers an opportunity for personal selling through its website where it offers different services and products customized to the individual needs and demands. Firm maintain good public relation activities which are also evident from the fact that recently it has recalled some of its products especially toys because of toxic issues in them. Public relations at the firm are also done through the issuance of a magazine The Exchange Post; through which firm tends to provide information about latest development at the firm. While analyzing the promotional mix of the firm, it is important to consider the unique business model and structure which it follow. It is a sort of monopoly which serves a very specialized and scattered target

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Issues Of Construction And Demolition Waste Environmental Sciences Essay

Issues Of Construction And Demolition Waste Environmental Sciences Essay Construction waste is becoming a serious environmental problem in many countries in the world. Construction and demolition (C and D) debris frequently makes up 10-30% of the waste receive at many landfill sites around the world (Fishbein, 1998). The construction industry has long been regarded as one of the major contributors of negative impact to the environment, due to the high amount of waste generated from construction, demolition, renovation and activities associated with construction. The construction industry plays a significant role in Malaysias development both in terms of infrastructure and economic development. Waste minimization and effective waste management is a most pressing issue nowadays. Construction is a unique industry. The success or failure of a project is relying on the accuracy estimation done throughout the course of the project. In this chapter, the timber or wood and asphalt are usually used in the construction industry will be reviewed follow by the discus sion to carry out by researcher in recycling technical for construction and demolish waste. Besides that, this chapter also carries out and identifies products produce from construction and demolishes waste in construction site. 2.2 Definition of Construction and Demolition Waste Waste is defined as the-by product generated and removed from construction, renovation and demolition workplaces or sites of building (Cheung, 1993). Solid is defined as all wastes in solid form which are useless or unwanted and in general arise from human activities. Construction wastes are wastes generated from building, demolition and renovation works for individual housing, commercial buildings and others. Solid wastes also can be defined as those wastes from human activities. Solid wastes can be classified as municipal waste such as, paper, plastic, food waste and so on. Industries wastes include construction and demolition waste, hazardous waste and others (Kiely, 1997). Construction waste are in the forms of building debris, rubble, earth, concrete, steel, timber, and mixed site clearance materials, arising from various construction activities including land excavation or formation, civil and building construction, demolition activities, roadwork and building renovation (Shen et al. 2004). Normally construction wastes are the wastage such timber from fabricated formwork, steel when steel bar cutting and so on. Even though prefabricated assemblies such as windows and doors, which are packaged in large quantities of cardboard, metal or plastic strapping and wood tend to produce a significant amount of waste (Dolan, 1999). Construction waste could be classified in the form of solid, liquid, gas or combination of all these. Due to the huge use of construction raw materials in the industry, there is certainly a need to evaluate the environmental impact of waste generated from the construction site activities. Construction and demolition (CD) waste is produced during new construction, renovation and demolition of structures such as residential and non- residential buildings, and public work projects such as highways, bridges and so on (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2000). Construction and demolition waste includes bricks, concrete, soil, rock, masonry, paving materials, lumber, shingles, glass, plastic, aluminum, steel, drywall, asphalt, plumbing fixtures, wood or timber, cardboard and so on. The construction and demolition (CD) industry generates a significant quantity of waste (Table 1), although estimates of total amounts vary in England. Table 1. Quantities of waste from various sources in England (Lawson et al. 2001) 2.3 Construction Demolition Wastes in Malaysia Our country, Malaysia is same as other country, because Malaysia also have been created construction wastes substantially during the process of renovation, new construction, demolition and refurbishment such as bricks, concretes, steels, timbers and etcetera. At each stage of new construction, renovation, demolition and refurbishment have created different type of wastes. 2.4 Relationships between Construction and Demolition (CD) Waste Although construction wastes are similar to demolition wastes, they are often cleaner, because the waste materials usually have not been painted or mixed with other materials. Construction wastes are also generated in distinct stages as construction progresses. For example, framing and sheathing produces large quantities of wood waste; drywalling produces waste sheet rock; pallets, metal, plastics and cardboard during plumbing and mechanical installations. The sequential nature of construction allows targeted recovery of specific recyclable materials as a construction project proceeds. In remodeling projects, manual demolition provides the potential for a high degree of source separation. Demolition waste is more difficult to source-separate than construction waste. Reusable items and certain recyclables are sometimes recovered before mechanical demolition begins. There are two type of demolition which is manual and mechanical. Manual demolition, also known as deconstruction, can maximize the separation and recovery of recyclable materials, but is not always feasible. Mechanical demolition is done by bulldozer or excavator, tends to crush and combine materials, limiting source-separation, unless recovery facilities that sort mixed materials are available. Mechanically crushed materials are commonly land filled, with limited attempts at recovery (Clark Country Washington, 2008) 2.5 Contamination of Construction and Demolition (CD) Waste Waste from new construction is composed primarily of a mixture of unused or damaged raw materials, as well as off-cuts (discarded cut material) and packaging. Demolition waste includes actual building components, such as full length studs and concrete slabs. The largest component of demolition waste is concrete followed by brick, wood and metals. Waste materials from new construction are usually clean and relatively uncontaminated, whereas demolition waste materials are often dirty or contaminated and are mixed with other materials. These differences between construction and demolition (CD) wastes create specific opportunities and challenges for waste reduction. The contamination of construction and demolition (CD) wastes can take various forms: Mixed contamination Mixed contamination is resulting from mixing of materials during excavation from site. Waste concrete removed, for example, from a floor may be mixed with contaminated soil, other materials or other wastes. It will cause the negative impact on the potential for recycling concrete. Surface contamination Surface contamination is materials that have been used in foundations, road construction or in ground works are likely to have been in intimate contact with soil. Surface contamination could also include coatings and sheeting that have been used to protect the materials during their service life but a barrier to reuse. Absorbed contamination Absorbed contamination is contaminants that are soluble and mobile can potentially be absorbed into porous building materials. These contaminants are likely to be preset in groundwater or contaminated surface water. (Lawson et al. 2001) 2.6 Sources of Construction Wastes The construction wastes are usually generated by the construction activities take place. It consist all building materials that being used for construction purposes. Material wastes are unavoidable. One of the reasons to identify the source of construction wastes is to understand the recycling potential of construction wastes. The major construction wastes are bricks, concretes, timbers, glasses, metals, asphalt, plastic and others. Each of them have own characteristic. In this chapter will review two construction wastes which are timber and asphalt. 2.6.1 Timber/Wood Wood is produced by trees and sometimes other fibrous plants, used for construction purposes when cut into lumber and timber such as board, plank, and similar materials. Wood can be very flexible under loads, keeping strength when bending and it is also incredibly strong when compressed it into vertically. Wood is a generic building material and used in building just about any type of structure in most climates. There are many different type and quality of woods. This means specific species are better for various uses than other. Deciding the wood used in construction activities is depends on the woods quality. Historically, wood for large building structures was used in its unprocessed form as logs. The trees were just cut into the needed length, sometimes stripped of bark, and then notched in to place. In earlier times, some parts of the world, many country homes or communities had a personal wood lot from which the family or community would grow and harvest trees to build with. These lots would be tended to like a garden. With the invention of mechanizing saws came the mass production of dimensional lumber. This made buildings to put up and more uniform quickly. Thus, the modern western style home was made. Wood is one of the most frequent used by human in the world. Wood and the by-products are found in every area of modern existence, the timber is usually used in construction, furniture and domestic uses to fibre board, chipboard, paper, newsprint and cardboard. As usage for construction material, wood is strong, light, durable, flexible and easily worked. It has excellent insulating properties. In contrast to the substitutes for wood used in structural and architectural such as brick, concrete, metals and plastics, wood can be produced and transported with little energy consumed and the products are renewable and usually biodegradable (Koch, 1991). Wood will continue to be a major construction material in subsequent decades in Southeast Asia. A large part of the volume used for construction will be in the form of lumber and plywood but more reconstituted wood-panel products will be used in the form of fibre boards, particle board and wood-cement boards. The decreasing wood supply from natural forests will be supplemented by wood from plantations and secondary or lesser-used species will be adopted more as construction materials. In future non-traditional materials will also be used extensively. Rubber wood looms as an important source for both household furniture and construction. The palm stem of coconut will be used in a large extent for house construction, particularly for low cost housing. Laminated products will also become important as the supply of large diameter wood declines further. A more extensive use of nontraditional materials will depend largely on advancing technologies in processing to promote productivity and economy. Nowadays, the growing population causes the increase of housing needs. With the demands, countries of the Southeast Asia are decreasing amounts of their forest resources. In the same time, a diminishing natural forest resource is creating a need to find new sources and new processes for wood based construction materials. The present and future use of wood for construction in several ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries had suggested that the future requirements must be met from some unconventional sources and with increased use of new technologies. Wood remains the most important construction material that is available in the region in substantial quantities. In the coming years, wood will still continue to be a major construction material, but in a variety of new forms. Number of unconventional sources will be invented due to the declining supply of traditional tropical species. These will also be supplemented through the increased use of plantation trees and lesser known natural species, supported by technological advances in wood processing. 2.6.1.1 Type of Wood in construction Cement Bonded Board This type of wood came in various forms and sizes such as chips, particles or narrow long strips like wood wool that has been bonded with cement to produce panel products for construction. Research on this type of panel was carried out more than 20 years ago in Europe but only now it is being seriously considered in the ASEAN countries. Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand started into commercial production of this material. Malaysia produces wood wool cement boards and particle boards bonded with cement. Cement bonded boards can be used for external walling. It has sound and heat insulating properties and resistant to the attack of insects and fungi. It has great potential for low-cost housing because of its cost competitive with other materials (Anonymous, 1984). Wood cement board is light with a density of only 600 kg/m3. The thermal conductivity of cement-bonded boards is lower than resin-bonded particleboards and is comparable to fibre insulating boards. Glued Laminated Wood Glulam is stand for Glued Laminated Timber. It is made from gluing many small pieces of timber planks together to form deep members. The advantages of using Glued Laminated Timber are strength of the product, the opportunities for creative architectural use especially in curved and tapered beams and excellent fire performance of the product ( Dr Tan et al. 2005). LVL is stands for Laminated Veneer Lumber. It is made from laminating thin sheets of wood which enables very deep and long sections with high strength possible. The other option is the use of Plywood which is made by gluing and pressing thin laminates together to form a sheet. The grain is laminated in alternate directions, which results in strength in two directions. These manufactured products are used in large spans, deep beams and large cross sections that incorporates large span truss. There have many advantages of Laminated Timber for trusses. In terms of material, the product is known for its efficiency and quality. Laminated Timber uses short length and small pieces of wood resources intelligently. On the other hand, the process is subject to certain quality criteria on bonding, finger jointing and wood quality ( Dr Tan et al. 2005). The advantages are also inherent in the process required: Drying In Glulam, not more than 40mm of thickness is used. Drying and even preservative treatment become easier and better quality is attainable. Shape and form Timber could be bent to produce structural members of virtually any shape and size. The final geometry is normally restricted by ease of transportation and handling. Termite, mould and rot General solution is to either specify timber species which are naturally resistant to chemically treat the material accordingly. Proper technical detailing is also essential to minimize exposure to sunlight, collection of water and possible termite attack. Glulam trusses are widely used for large span structures for its aesthetic appeal apart from cost effectiveness and this helps by doing away with false ceilings or other decorative items. Besides that, the other uses include pre-assembled or knock down Glulam components for transportation purposes, pre-drilled holes and also all connection hardware (primered, painted or powder-coated) as specified ( Dr Tan et al. 2005). Palm Wood The possibility of utilizing the coconut palm wood on a commercial scale has been recognized only in the last decade, although usage of wood from palm species has been known by people in the villages since time immemorial. Currently, coconut palm wood has been successfully utilized in a number of coconut growing countries such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Fiji, the Tonga Islands and others. Coconut timber is suitable for housing components like trusses, purlins, walls, joists, doors, window frames and jalousies. Low density coconut wood materials (from the centre of the stem) should be used only in non-load structures like walls and panels while high density coconut wood (from the perimeter of the stem) can be used for load-bearing structures like trusses and joints. High density coconut wood could also be used as posts, power and telecommunication poles, trusses, floor tiles (parquet), girts, floor joists, purlins, balustrades and railings and other load bearing structu res. When coconut logs are to be used in ground contact under exposed conditions (for examples as posts or as poles for electrical wires) they must be properly treated. Medium density boards can be effectively used for walling, horizontal studs, ceiling joists and door or window frames. As a regulation, if density of coconut wood is below 400 kg/m3, it is should not be used as structural framing materials. However, they can be used in the internal parts of a building as ceiling and wall lining in the form of boards and shingles. A problem related to structural application of coco wood is the difficulty of nailing and subsequently splitting of high density wood finishes. Coconut wood can be a promising material for the manufacture of furniture and other handicrafts due to its beautiful grain and attractive natural appearance. High value coconut wood products which include furniture, decorative interior walls, parquet floors, various novelties and curio items like walking sticks, ash trays, hammer handles, egg cups, plates, bowls, vases and so on. Comparable to the traditional wood species commonly used in the furniture industry as far as appearance is concerned. Thus, with effective product promotion, quality furniture and other high value coconut wood products can have a potential share not only in the domestic but also in the world markets. Coconut wood has potential for the manufacture of high value and export quality finished products. (Asia Pacific Forestry Sector Outlook: Focus on Coconut Wood, 1997). 2.6.2 Asphalt Asphalt or bitumen can sometimes be confused with  tar, which is a similar black thermo-plastic material produced by the  destructive distillation  of  coal. During the early century, when  town gas  was produced, tar was a readily available product and extensively used as the binder for road aggregates. The addition of tar to  macadam  roads led to the word  tarmac, which is now used to refer to road making materials. However, since the 1970s, when natural gas  succeeded town gas, asphalt (bitumen) has completely overtaken the use of tar in these applications. Asphalt is used for the  oil refinery  product used to pave roads and manufacture  roof shingles. 2.7 Waste Management Planning Good planning is the most important part of construction waste management. Like anything else in construction, recycling is straight forward if you have a good blueprint, but becomes much more difficult and expensive if its an add-on. Good planning allows to identify all recyclable materials and know how going to manage the site before the job starts. Good planning addresses how each waste material will be handled, what containers will be used and when theyll be on site, and where each material will be marketed. Good planning allows to assess the costs and benefits of recycling and decide which materials to source separate, which to recycle as mixed debris, and which to discard as trash. Good planning covers communications, training, and troubleshooting, and lays out tracking and reporting procedures. The Waste Management Plan is the document that lays out the start-to-finish strategy for job site recycling. It is prepared directly from the drawings and specifications for the job, an d a good plan will closely follow these documents. The Waste Management Plan should includes estimating types and quantities of wastes generated during each phase of the job, identify how each waste will be managed and marketed, provide an estimate of the overall job recycling rate, lay out plans for training, meetings, and other communications related to job-site waste management and provide troubleshooting instructions and contact information. The Waste Management Plan is the cornerstone for successful construction waste recycling and reduction. It is a comprehensive document that provides all of the information needed by any individual on site to understand and achieve the waste management goals for the project. All of this can and should be done before you break ground or during the planning stage so that recycling is incorporated seamlessly into overall performance of the job. Its best if the Waste Management Plan is written and signed off on by all parties (owner, architect, a nd contractor) a month or more before site possession or the first day of site work. This allows time for all parties to participate in developing the plan, allows contractors and subcontractors to integrate recycling into their setup and work plans, and assures that training can be provided to supervisors and workers. The Waste Management Plan is also a living document, used as a day-to-day reference just like blueprints and specifications. This fact cannot be overemphasized. Handling procedures or markets may change during the course of a job, these changes should be noted in modifications to the plan. As waste materials move from the site, information on waste and recycling tonnages and costs will be gathered. These should be matched against initial projections, variances should be analyzed, and a running recycling rate should be calculated. Besides that, also should be publicized the recycling rate to laborers and trades. Its a good way to help boost morale, and keep workers str iving to achieve recycling goals (Construction Materials Management Guidelines, Feb1994). 2.8 Construction Waste Management Construction waste management may be defined as the discipline associated with the control of generation, recovering, processing and disposal of construction wastes in a manner that is in accord with the best principles of human health, economic, engineering, aesthetics, and other environmental considerations (Tchobanoglous, 1993). Construction waste management is becoming more pressing problem in worldwide. The management of construction waste is not only of governments responsibility but also responsibility of the developer of the particular land area. There are two ways to manage the waste will be discussed later. 2.8.1 Reuse The reuse of waste material is one of the important form of pollution prevention. It is because these changes reduce the amount of waste generated year to year. Source reduction and reuse are regularly undertaken in developing countries, while these are only beginning to be practiced widely in industrialized countries. Several obstacles have stop waste prevention efforts including manufacturing decision and consumer buying patterns. For an example, manufacturers have little incentive to consider the cost of waste collection and disposal when designing a product because the consumers do not take these factors into consideration when making purchase decisions. 2.8.2 Recycling Recycling construction and demolition (CD) waste is defined as using or reuse a material or residual component of a material (Holt, 2001). Besides that, recycling also reprocessing of a reclaimed material and converting it into a new material or use. Recycle construction and demolition (CD) waste can be accomplished in various ways. Deconstruction is one method of recycle construction and demolition (CD) waste. Deconstruction is the disassembly of structures and reuse of their parts. It is believe that there is value in salvaged materials. However for traditional recycle construction and demolition (CD) waste methods are modifying materials remanufacture. There are many constructions and demolition (CD) waste can be recycled. The expanding the market recycle construction and demolition (CD) waste are depend on the recycled and salvaged goods in the market place, labour costs for removal, sorting and processing and relative disposal cost (Patterson, 2005). 2.8.3 The Important of Recycling There are some benefits of recycling, including saving energy saving land space, saving money, creating new jobs, reducing air and water pollution and preserving habitat for wildlife. It takes less energy to process recycled materials than it does to use virgin materials. For an example, it takes less energy to recycle paper from waste material than it does to create paper from new woodland, because there is no longer a need to cut down a new tree, process the wood from the tree and make it into paper. Energy from non-renewable resources is protected and saved for future generations, money is saved when less energy is used. This is also can mean that more competitively priced goods and often pollution and emissions are reduced when less energy is used. Recycling reduces trash in landfill sites, which cuts down on the cost of waste disposal and the clearing of more land for new landfills when the current landfills become too full to store any more waste. Recycling is an easy and less expensive alternative to clearing more land for new landfills. For an example, composting, recycling kitchen waste and yard waste into compost provides a means of free nutritious soil for gardening. Recycling would allow human to reuse the materials over and over again. Decomposing waste often release noxious gases and chemicals as it decomposes at landfill sites. These gas and chemicals create air pollution. When the chemicals leach into the groundwater, this will creates water pollution and water is c ontaminated. In 2000, recycling of solid waste prevented the release of 32.9 million metric tons of carbon equivalent (MMTCE, the unit of measure for greenhouse gases) into the air. Imagine how much pollution could prevent if instead of landfills had recycling centers. Human could breathe cleaner air and drink cleaner water. If the human created more recycling opportunities, this would create more jobs and no one would have to lose their jobs either. Recycling also preserves wildlife. When fewer trees are cut down to make virgin material or to make space landfills, habitat for wildlife remains. More habitats for animals mean less animal extinction. Despite what some may say, recycling is important and it can make a difference. The people may not be able to solve their landfill and pollution problems anytime soon, but at least they can help keep them from getting worse. Recycling is a easy way to do. Start with paper or plastic or both and take them to a recycling bin near your home. For an example, if any people have to go grocery shopping fill up a car with a box of recyclable paper and dump it at the recycling bin near the store. Many grocery stores now have these bins available. If not ask them to start or participate in your neighborhoods curbside recycling program. If there isnt one available get one started in the neighborhood. In 2001 United States residents, businesses and institutions generated more than 229 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) (EPA, Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: 2001 Final Report). This waste adversely affects the economy and the environment. Conventional methods of disposal involve land filling. These landfills have limited capacity. As waste generation increases, new landfills must be built. Landfills are expensive to build and operate. The landfills are also highly subsidized by local governments and require significant land that then is no longer viable for wildlife habitat or residential, commercial, or recr eational development. Waste negatively impacts the environment. Degradation of the natural landscape occurs through leaching from improperly lined landfills and from the extraction of resources for new materials. To reduce the amount of waste generation, communities have instituted recycling programs across the country. Recycling has economic and environmental benefits for communities. First, recycling reduces the need for new landfills and associated costs. Second, recycling can support industrial development as the recycled materials serve as raw materials for manufacturing and other uses. For an example, recycled soda bottles are used in carpet manufacturing; steel contains 85 percent recycled content and recycled paper is milled for new paper products. By supplying raw materials to industry through the reuse of materials, recycling conserves resources by reducing the need to extract virgin resources or introduce new chemicals into the environment. By not disturbing existing natu ral resources and by reducing noxious manufacturing processes, recycling prevents emissions of many greenhouse gases and water pollutants. From a community and environmental preservation perspective, recycling conserves green space, protects habitat, and improves quality of life for residents in natural resource locations. Recycling also saves energy through avoided extraction and manufacture processes. This can be a particularly powerful strategy when one realizes that only 10 percent of all materials extracted are used in final products. This means that 90 percent of natural resources extracted for consumer use are disposed of as waste. From an economic perspective, such high values of unused material represent inefficiencies in the market. Missed opportunities exist where inefficiencies are present. Recycling contributes to the economic base of communities. There is significant job creation and business development potential associated with recycling. Jobs in this field involve more than simple collection and separation. The remanufacture of recycled materials supports more than one million manufacturing jobs. As companies seek to find new uses for recycled materials, research and development of greener technologies require skilled individuals and significant capital investment. A wide variety of jo b skills are needed to develop this industry. Hence, the more robust are the recycling activities which include collection, separation, research, manufacture and resale and the more recycling can advance economic development. The popular phrase, reduce, reuse, recycle has become a household mantra with millions of households separating their plastics, paper, cans and glass and using curbside pick-up, drop-off centers, buy-back centers, and deposit refund programs. Certainly within these material streams, a larger percentage of recycling is possible. Further, these materials are only part of the waste stream. There are other materials that may have more impact when recycled. Construction and demolition (CD) debris materials are easily recyclable using existing infrastructure and make up larger concentrations of waste volume than cans, bottles, paper and so on. (William McDonough and Michael Braungart. 2002. Cradle to Cradle. New York: Northpoint Press). Construction and demolition waste is currently recycled at a rate of 20-30 percent. Project-based studies indicate that the potential for recycling is much higher more than 70 percent. While many construction and demolition materials are suitable for recycl ing, there are external factors that influence the spread of construction and demolition recycling. The value of recycled and salvaged goods in the marketplace, labor costs for removal, sorting and processing, and relative disposal costs all play a role in expanding or contracting the market for reuse and recycled goods. Recycled and salvaged goods must be price competitive and perceived to be as desirable as or even more desirable than products produced from virgin materials. Competitive pricing is impacted by subsidies, incentives on virgin materials, and market demand. Recycled goods or secondary materials do not benefit from similar policies that could facilitate their widespread use and resultant competitive pricing. Desirability for recycled materials is a reflection of the value placed upon these goods. This desirability can be affected by industry and consumer market knowledge and acceptance. However, hesitancy to use recycled goods on the part of bui

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Interactive Media and Its Effects on Copywriting Essay -- Communicatio

Interactive Media and Its Effects on Copywriting Interactive media and the World Wide Web have become an entirely new medium for advertising copywriters. As new innovations in computer technology arise, copywriters find the best ways to utilize interactive media for marketing their products, and sometimes, themselves. They have discovered several key marketing methods including hypertext, JAVA, and accuracy of information. According to Duif Calvin, author of "The Nintendo Generation," hypertext is the most important marketing tool for advertising on the web. Hypertext is any type of link to another web site containing relevant information about a given topic. It has become very useful to marketers within the past few years. (www.jaderiver.com/glossary.htm). Hypertext allows markets to meet their audience's needs in very specific ways. For example, Ford Motor Company may have a site on the web devoted to the 1999 Ford Mustang. With the use of hyperlinks, Ford can provide detailed information about the car's warranty on a separate site. People who are interested in knowing m...

Monday, November 11, 2019

Fashion Channel Market Segmentation Essay

One of TFC’s glaring strengths is that it specializes in fashion-oriented programming. The company is dedicated to fashion programming 24/7, meaning it is in a position to influence the market. Secondly, TFC appeals mostly to women between 35 and 54. The company’s viewership in the segment is 45% compared to 42% and 40% for Lifetime and CNN respectively. This category has the largest number of viewers and at the same time, one of those segments that is able to attract premium pricing. In addition, the company operates under the basic cable package. The package has more than 80 million subscribers in the U.S meaning that a large number of people have access to the channel. Conversely, TFC faces several weaknesses. Firstly, the company has not fully diversified its operations; it only specializes in fashion related programming. This could spell doom for the company, especially if the current trend is an indication of the future. Moreover, there is a section of the top management that is reluctant to accept change in the organization. The implication is that Dana’s recommendations may fail to get ratified for fear of the unknown. Thirdly, the satisfaction level of TFC’s customers is on the decline. The company is quickly losing customers to the two major competitors, and there are fears that the trend is sustainable. The other major weakness is that the organization has not segmented its market. The company ought to segment its market in order to benefit from the premium fee charged for the highly valued demographics. There are a number of opportunities available for TFC in its external environment. To begin, advertisers are ready to pay a premium for higher rating as well as defined demographic programming. Channels with higher rating are able to charge more for advertising meaning that TFC can gain additional revenue if appropriate strategies are developed to help increase its overall market rating. Secondly, there is a more room for the company to increase its market size. Fashion specific programming is continually gaining prominence among viewers in the U.S. market. In addition, viewer’s demand on network content and ad is directly related to the cost of advertisement. The company can thus increase its ad revenue through marketing strategies aimed at increasing viewership. One of TFC’s predominant threats is its two chief competitors: CNN and Lifetime. The two are constantly eating into the TFC’s major revenue base, and may even force the company out of the market. The second threat is that TFC is only entitled to $1 per subscriber. This is quite a small portion that cannot fully sustain the company’s operations. Besides, there is a threat that TFC may get dropped from the basic cable platform if subscribers satisfaction fails to improve. This may mean total loss for business. TFC’s Central Strategic Issue The company appears to lack a clearly defined business strategy. The  company’s product-market focus is vague. For instance, TFC has not segmented its market into different segments. Alternative Strategic Promotional Courses of Action Alternative 1 There are a number of marketing courses of action at TFC’s disposal. The first one, and perhaps most important, is market segmentation. The company should divide its market into different segments and concentrate on maximizing the revenue for the segment of choice. According to the data provided in the case, a combination of Fashionistas (scored 23.1M) and Shoppers/Planners (scored 42.35M) segments appears the most economical alternative for TFC. The two categories of customers are highly involved in matters related to fashion and are thus a suitable target for the company. There is also economic benefit involved if the company opts to back the strategy. Firstly, an admixture of the two segments yields a high profit margin (39%) in comparison to any other alternative. Besides, the alternative will trigger an increase in overall rating by 20%. There is a potential rise in the company’s rating from 1.0 to 1.2 consequently leading to increased revenue. In addition, this segmentation has the highest percentage of viewers 50% (=35% + 15%). The large number of viewers in two segments is thus suitable for the company, especially given that it entirely specialize in fashion programs. The problem with this alternative is that there is an increment in programming expenditure by $20 million. Alternative 2 The second alternative is broad-based marketing. This involves treating the entire market as a single group typified by customers with shared needs. The advantage of this strategy is that it is quite profitable at least in the short-run. Its adoption is likely to earn the company a net profit of more than $40 million (=$94.9 – 54.6). In addition, the approach does not attract incremental programming expenditure. On the other hand, the broad-based alternative will deny TFC the opportunity to earn premium CPM (Cost per thousand). Alternatively, TFC can opt for Fashionista segmentation. Using 2007 as a  base year, the alternative may rake for the company at least a net income of $100 million (=151.4 – 54.6). In addition, the approach is likely to boost the company’s overall rating from 1.1 to 1.2. The company will also be in a position to increase its charges from $2 to $3.5. Conversely, the Fashionista alternative will lead to an incremental expenditure of $15 million. Decision and Implementation Plan The new promotional plan should be positioned towards a combination of Fashionistas and Shoppers/Planners segment. Although there are a number of risks involved in this strategy, the returns are investing in the strategy. One of the greatest challenges for the company is maintaining the loyal customers while at the same time wooing new planners/shoppers and fashionistas. The company must come up with ways of ensuring that they do not lose some customers. This is achievable through evaluating the programs popular among the loyal customers and ensuring they are not disrupted by the new alternative. The company can also benchmark with its customers to learn how they are able to attract a huge number of fashionistas. The fact that the alternative may lead to incremental $20 million expenditure presupposes that its implementation is quite expensive. Benchmarking with Lifetime and CNN can help reduce the cost. Finally, the company should devise ways to foster awareness, perceived value, and interest of its products among consumers. This can be achieved through online marketing and ensuring there is appropriate social media policy in place to avoid misuse of the marketing platform.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Dubois and Washington in the Pre-Civil Rights Era essays

Dubois and Washington in the Pre-Civil Rights Era essays To clearly assess the view of Du Bois' essential points of disagreement with Washington, today's reader must consider Washington as one of the disenfranchised whom he spoke for. Du Bois declared that the appeal of Washington's program was aimed at enterprising national leaders who sympathized with the South's leaders "... pressure of the money- makers..."(Du Bois 45) Washington had not grown to leadership in such an atmosphere of African American intellectual progress and real social interaction of the races, as did Du Bois. He would have seen no hope for a more liberal social policy. Therefore, Washington's and Du Bois' programs were based on a difference in a view that equal civil rights for ex-slaves would be the fundamental "starting point" of the race's advancement. With the surrender of most southern leaders to Jim Crow, the southern government favored economic advancement of the ex-slave above universal manhood suffrage, hoping that the federal government would no longer support advancement of the freedmen. This was evidenced by the failure of the Freedmen's Bureau. In The Souls of Black Folk Du Bois called it "- one of the most singular and interesting of the attempts made by a great nation to grapple with vast problems of race and social condition." (Du Bois 17) In light of the conflict of the Bureau with the local government, which did not intend to allow African American social advancement, it was bound for In "Of the Sons of Master and Man", Du Bois further describes the psychological turmoil of the post-reconstruction South. "The inevitable period of retrogression and political trickery that ever follows in the wake of a war over took us."(Du Bois 124) He reminded the reader that both ruling classes of the political South and political North washed their hands of politi...

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Stegoceras - Facts and Figures

Stegoceras - Facts and Figures Name: Stegoceras (Greek for roof horn); pronounced STEG-oh-SEH-rass Habitat: Forests of western North America Historical Period: Late Cretaceous (75 million years ago) Size and Weight: Up to six feet long and 100 pounds Diet: Plants Distinguishing Characteristics: Light build; bipedal posture; extremely thick skull in males About Stegoceras Stegoceras was the prime example of a pachycephalosaur (thick-headed lizard)a family of ornithischian, plant-eating, two-legged dinosaurs of the late Cretaceous period, characterized by their extremely thick skulls. This otherwise sleekly built herbivore had a noticeable dome on its head made of almost-solid bone; paleontologists speculate that Stegoceras males held their heads and necks parallel to the ground, build up a head of speed, and rammed each other on the noggins as hard as they could. (They may also, secondarily, have used their heads to butt away the flanks of encroaching tyrannosaurs, though we have no objective proof of this behavior.) The sensible question is: What was the point of this Three Stooges routine? Extrapolating from the behavior of present-day animals, its likely that Stegoceras males head-butted each other for the right to mate with females. This theory is supported by the fact that researchers have discovered two distinct varieties of Stegoceras skulls, one of which is thicker than the other and presumably belonged to the males of the species. (However, some paleontologists dispute this theory, noting that such high-speed collisions would tend to be disadvantageous from an evolutionary perspectivefor example, a dizzy, concussed Stegoceras could easily be picked off by a hungry raptor!) The type specimen of Stegoceras was named by the famous Canadian paleontologist Lawrence Lambe in 1902, following its discovery in the Dinosaur Provincial Park formation of Alberta, Canada. For a few decades, this unusual dinosaur was believed to be a close relative of Troodon (which was actually a saurischian rather than an ornithischian dinosaur, and thus resided on an entirely different branch of the dinosaur family tree), until the discovery of further pachycephalosaur genera made its provenance clear. For better or for worse, Stegoceras is the standard by which all subsequent pachycephalosaurs have been judgedwhich is not necessarily a good thing, considering how much confusion still exists about the behavior and growth stages of these dinosaurs. For example, the presumed pachycephalosaurs Dracorex and Stygimoloch may have been either juvenile, or unusually aged adults, of the well-known genus Pachycephalosaurus and at least two fossil specimens that were initially assigned to Stegoceras have since been promoted to their own genera, Colepiocephale (Greek for knucklehead) and Hanssuesia (named after the Austrian scientist Hans Suess).

Monday, November 4, 2019

Early Childhood Learning and Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Early Childhood Learning and Development - Essay Example France and Belgium adapt an organized childminding system because most parents admit their two-year-olds to nursery schools. In contrast, Britain's situation is a bit different. There are no parental leaves and an explicit rejection of any public responsibility to support working parents and their children. This can be attributed to the widespread view in Britain that early childhood care and education are treated as private matters. As a resolution, policies for early childhood services were passed and implemented. One of them was the Children Act 1989 which was implemented in 1991. The Children Act 1989 emphasizes that our actions support the best interests and welfare of the children and highlights the role of parental responsibility and the partnership between professionals and parents in child rearing (Pugh, 1992). It replaced parental rights with responsibility as it places paramount importance in the vital roles that the parents assume in the development and learning process of their children. Children since birth live with their parents. Their immediate environment is with their parents in a place they call home. Children have gained confidence, trust, and love for their parents and treat their family and home as their comfort zone. The biological and physiological needs of the children, as well as, their proximity with their parents allow the latter to share many experiences that influence and shape the development of the children. Because of this, parents are considered as the prime carers and educators of their children (Braun, 1992). Professionals in early childhood work, on the other hand, have gained formal education and training about children and their development. They have been exposed to caring for children with varying age, different behaviours and schemas or learning patterns, and different orientation, beliefs, culture, and social status. Parents' in-depth and intimate relationship and detailed knowledge of the experiences of their children and professionals' formal and technical know-how of child care and development should converge and be utilized at the optimum level in terms of children's learning. Working with parents has proven to be effective especially in ensuring that the child is given maximum opportunity to develop his/her schemas at home and in school, whether learning is structured or unstructured and setting is formal or informal. There are several ways to work with parents during early childhood care and education. Dorit Braun in Contemporary Issues in Early Years discussed that parents' room can be set up where parents can meet and chat with each other, parents can serve as helpers on trips and parenting groups to support parents can be established. Furthermore, Margy Whalley (2001) discussed how the Pen Green Centre encourages participation among the parents. The Pen Green Centre for below 5s in Corby, a multidisciplinary service financed by

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Napoleon Bonaparte The Man behind the Soldier Essay

Napoleon Bonaparte The Man behind the Soldier - Essay Example On the other side of the spectrum, there are people who believed that Napoleon was too harsh, heartless, very rigid, and greedy which led to his eventual downfall. Up to this day, Napoleon Bonaparte, his conquests, and his personal life are still alive in society through books including his biography which are studied in schools, through discussions and forums in schools, and through analysis of the courses of events in his life. There is great scrutiny as to factors or influences which contributed to Napoleon's style of leadership or to how he ran his empire. There is a mix of factors that contribute to a person's system of actions, reactions, and initiatives. Employing certain styles or strategies in any activity does not only take into account the present situation or the present environment, it is composed of a combination of personality, life experiences including childhood and adolescence, and predispositions acquired from exposure to the activities and personalities of family members and friends. This paper aims to conduct a discourse on the factors and influences of Napoleon's personal life to the way he ran his empire or to his ruling style. It will first present an introduction, followed by Napoleon's youth and his education. The third part is Napoleon's Marriage and Family then synthesis of the paper will be reflected in the Conclusion. The paper will not expound on the French revolution or on the battles or conquests of Napoleon, but it will only touch on brief segments of history to show the qualities of Napoleon in the different stages of his life. Events relating to military transitions of power and the chronology of Napoleons rise to power will not be points of focus. Instead, fragments of Napoleon's life history will be presented. Napoleon's Youth and Education Napoleon Bonaparte was born in the year 1789 on the 5th of August. He was born in Corsica in a time when France has just defeated Corsica. After Corsica's defeat under France, Corsica rebels fled to the mountains where they continued with their fight. Napoleon's father, Carlo however readily showed his support to French rule. This angered Napoleon and resented his father for forsaking his Corsican heritage. It also created in him an aversion for the French people. Napoleon's mother, Letizia was a plain and tough woman. She was hard on her children and physically punished them in order to teach them discipline and sacrifice. There were even times when Napoleon was sent to bed without supper as punishment. His innate sense of discipline, propriety and punishment systems in the course of his reign as Emperor could very well be the influence of his mother who imposed stringent rules on Napoleon and his siblings. Carlo, Napoleon's father became a Corsican parliament representative where he saw grandeur of the French court. He was able to acquire a scholarship for Napoleon to study at Brienne which was a private academy in France. In 1778, nine year-old Napoleon who could barely speak French went to France for the first time. He had a

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Marketing Financial Services Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 2

Marketing Financial Services - Essay Example Hence, they started to follow and implement free trade policies that encourage multinational companies to enter into the global markets. Ultimately, overall market became competitive and matured. Monopoly market structure has become very rare and oligopoly becomes prominent. Hope and Maeleng have defined free trade policy as â€Å"competition-enhancing device† (Hope and Maeleng, 1998, p.52). The international and domestic countries started to compete with each other on price, better service, customer satisfaction etc for achieving greater market share. In this respect, to gain competitive advantage in market, the post modern organisations are using latest management tools, theories and models developed by many experts, critics and scholars. Financial services industry consist a number of financial services sectors like banking sectors, insurance, security market, factoring, credit ratings etc. With increased activities of trade and business and intensified competition, the imp ortance of these financial services sectors has grown significantly. This paper will attempt to present and SWOT analysis of American International Group (AIG) which is one the most popular financial service organisation. In order to indentify its major internal strengths and weaknesses, external opportunities and threats, this paper will analyse important areas of this organisation like its customer relationship managements, marketing tools used the company, major issues and its mechanism of control system. Finally, the overall findings of this paper will be summed up in the conclusion. Brief Overview of American International Group (AIG) American International Group Inc. (AIG) is one of the popular insurance services providers in US and in global market. Primarily, it is a New York-based company and it is considered to be one of the most prominent market leaders in global insurance sector. AIG is a multinational company and offers its insurance services in more than 130 countries in the world. The company has acquired a large base of customers and its consumers primarily consist of institutional, commercial and individual clients. The major market share of the company comes from its domestic market i.e. from United States. In this market, the AIG offer retirement services and life insurance. With better performance, it has acquired an upper hand position in U.S. insurance sector. Along with the domestic market, AIG’s stocks are also listed in Tokyo and Ireland Stock exchange (American International Group, Inc-a, 2011). While tracing the history of AIG, its primary origin is found in Shanghai, China during 1919. However, later during the 1940s due to political issues, the company withdrew from the Chinese market. â€Å"AIG abandoned China completely in 1949, as the Communist People’s Liberation Army, led by Mao Zeding, advanced on Shanghai† ( H.W. Wilson Company, 2000, p.247). In U.S., the AIG had been formed by consolidating three compan ies and its multiple affiliates. These leading three companies are New Hampshire Insurance Company, American Home Assurance Company and National Union Fire Insurance Company. Since its inception, AIG has undergone through many significant occurrences like mergers and acquisitions. SunAmerica Inc was merged with AIG on January 01, 1999. In November 2000, the company