Spin

Article summary The article â€Å"Spin-Out Management: Theory and Practice† encourages managers to have effective organizational structures. A powerful organizational structure promotes â€Å"the best leadership practices, business models, and decision-making processes† (Jagersman and van Gorp 17).Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Spin-Out Management: Theory and Practice specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to the authors, Spin-Out Management makes it easier for business organizations to diversify their operations. This strategy encourages firms â€Å"to produce independent business activities† (Jagersman and van Gorp 16). This practice â€Å"enhances the innovative aspects of a business† (Jones 34). The approach also increases the level of profitability. This model encourages companies to produce powerful structures that can support their potentials. The article examin es how different companies such as Dell Computers, 4BB, and Infopulse have used the above model effectively. Businesses should â€Å"identify their objectives, budgets, scopes, and penetration strategies before embracing the Spin-Out Management model† (Jagersman and van Gorp 23). Relating the article to the class materials Managers should understand the relevance of Theory, Design, and Change. This article begins by examining the issues affecting many organizations today. The theoretical argument explores the importance of an effective organizational structure. This practice can produce the best behaviors and strategies in every firm. Managers should also identify the best organizational designs in order to achieve their goals. Organizational change is â€Å"a powerful concept that supports the needs of different companies† (Jagersman and van Gorp 19). These arguments support the concepts and lessons covered in class. A â€Å"weak organizational structure will make it impossible for a company to realize its potentials† (Jagersman and van Gorp 21). A powerful â€Å"business model will add value to different stakeholders† (Jagersman and van Gorp 16). The authors examine the strategies adopted by several companies in order to achieve their potentials. The presented companies have embraced the importance of the above model. The article identifies powerful aspects that can make many businesses successful. The class readings have supported the importance of â€Å"employee motivation, powerful leadership concepts, decision-making practices, Product Development Process (PDP), and organizational transparency† (Jones 28). These concepts explain why companies such as Dell Computers realized their potentials.Advertising Looking for critical writing on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Practical application The above article supports the changing needs of differen t organizations. Many companies â€Å"lack effective organizational structures and business models† (Jagersman and van Gorp 16). A powerful â€Å"Spin-Out Business Model can redefine the performance of many firms† (Jagersman and van Gorp 16). Proper leadership â€Å"can also support the targeted horizontal synergy† (Jones 43). Businesses should therefore use powerful organizational philosophies in order to achieve their objectives.  The article offers useful ideas that can support different organizational changes. For instance, managers should support the changing demands of their stakeholders. Organizational leaders should also â€Å"hire and retain individuals with the best talents and skills† (Jones 48). They should also use different Product Development Processes (PDPs) in order to achieve their potentials. Managers should â€Å"also promote transparency and commitment in their businesses† (Jones 83). Managers should also manage the financial records of their respective companies. Relevance to organizational change and execution The above article offers powerful concepts that can support the goals of many firms. The article explains how businesses can use the above modules to achieve their goals. The article also highlights â€Å"the significance of a powerful organizational structure† (Jones 98). This structure will encourage a company to widen its objectives and goals. The authors identify the best practices that can support every organizational change. The concepts presented in the article can support the diverse needs of different firms. In conclusion, this article offers useful ideas and evidence-based strategies that can support every organizational change. Works Cited Jagersman, Pieter and Desiree van Gorp. â€Å"Spin-Out Management: Theory and Practice.† Business Horizons 1.1 (2003): 15-23. Print. Jones, Gareth. Organizational Theory, Design, and Change. Upper-Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2012. Print.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Spin-Out Management: Theory and Practice specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This critical writing on Spin-Out Management: Theory and Practice was written and submitted by user Emery Yang to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Essay about Fast Food

Essay about Fast Food Essay about Fast Food Asthma, eczema and hay fever may be linked to fast food[-0] Teenagers and young children who eat fast food could be increasing their risk of developing asthma, eczema and hay fever[-1], according to a study published Monday in the British Medical Journal's respiratory journal Thorax[-2]. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood [-3](ISAAC) study used written questionnaires completed by 319,196 13- and 14-year-olds from 51 countries and by the parents of 181,631 6- and 7-year-olds in 31 countries. They were asked if they had symptoms of the three conditions and about their weekly diet - including the types of foods they ate over the last year, and how often. "We found clear associations between certain foods and severe asthma, hay fever (or allergic rhinoconjunctivitis) and eczema [-4]in the largest study of allergies in children (aged 6-7 years) and adolescents (13-14 years) to date," said study author Hywel Williams of the Centre for Evidence Based Dermatology[-5], Queen's Medical Centre, University Hospital, Nottingham, UK. According to Williams, the associations between allergic diseases and fast food were "only really convincing for severe disease." Researchers saw a protective effect against severe asthma for those who ate fruit at least three times a week. Those consuming fast food three or more times a week had about a 30% increased risk of severe asthma, hay fever and eczema, a chronic skin condition that causes scaly, itchy rashes. The results were consistent in both age groups. Affluence and gender did not change or affect the outcome. "The cautionary notes are that this study showed an association, which does not always mean that the link between food and allergies is causal," Williams said. "It could be due to other factors linked to behavior that we have not measured, or it could be due to biases that occur in studies that measure disease and ask about previous food intake." Study authors say if further research shows that consuming a lot of fast food actually does cause these types of allergies, it could have major public health implications because of the rise in fast food consumption globally. "It's not at all surprising to me that a disease as complex as asthma would be directly affected by diet. We've known for a while that diet can affect immune system function with certain foods being pro or anti-inflammatory," says Dr. Stephen Teach, who is the chief of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Children's National Medical

Strategy management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Strategy management - Essay Example RyanAir is recognized for its rapid expansion due to deregulation of the aviation industry in 1997 in Europe and the notable success of its model, which is the low-cost business model (Palepu, 2007, p. 350). It was established in 1985, and it is the most successful and oldest low-cost airline in Europe. RyanAir was the first European budget airline having modeled itself after the success of Southwest Airlines, which is a low cost carrier in the US (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011, p. 47). The Porter’s five Forces at RyanAir Competitive Rivalry According to Johnson, Whittington and Scholes (2011, p. 89), due to deregulation, an increase in rivalry and competition on most routes create an overcapacity of various airlines from different competitors. This ultimately leads to an increase of the buyers’ power. As a result, the airlines ultimately try to counter increasing rivalry by forming various acquisitions and mergers as well as periodical and different strategic alliances. A number of airlines maintain a database of frequent flyer program so that they can increase the number of passengers. Airlines also offer discounts and unique offers to frequent flyers to increase customer loyalty. The recession and the US economic downturn combined with overcapacity among different competitors on the North Atlantic routes have forced carriers to concentrate their rivalry on the European countries. This is a significant threat to RyanAir. However, RyanAir has taken advantage over this challenge and has continued to offer low cost flights through an ambitious strategy aimed at reducing the fares further down. This inevitably gives the airline a competitive edge above its competitors (Albers, S., Auerbach, S., Baum, H., and Delfmann, 2005, p. 166). Threat of Entry of New Firms According to Boesch (2007, p. 124), a regulation was passed in the European countries that removed barriers for different and new competitors in the Airline industry. This led to a f ierce completion between newly based competitive airways and existing European based airlines. Landing slots in many European countries were used or reserved by national carriers and this led to scarcity of landing slots to new airlines. Despite the looming threat, the RyanAir has continued to attract more passengers and is opening up more routes to diversify its market share. This is at a time when other competitors are closing shop on some routes. Supplier Power There has always been, a high supplier power in the airline industry since there are only two suppliers of aircrafts, these are Airbus and Boeing. This has led to the high influence of the suppliers playing the dominant role in the industry. The cost of switching from one supplier to another has led to RyanAir retaining pilots and mechanics for usage of other supplier’s products. Fuel price has a direct proportion to the cost of oil and therefore the cost of fuel for RyanAir has been varying because of oil cost fluc tuation. Airport charges are also high therefore, being a significant concern for RyanAir (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011, p. 71). Buyer Power The buyers can be in charge of the acquiring authority and have additional choices to choose better services from the various airlines. RyanAir is fully aware of this major factor. It is the main reason it has come up with numerous promotions and offers for its customers in order to stay afloat and retain its renowned reputation in the airline in

Labor Laws and Unionization Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Labor Laws and Unionization - Assignment Example It greatly facilitates implementation of policies that are directed at general welfare of employees rather than segregated for the benefits of few. Â  Unionization has significantly helped reduce exploitation of organized labor and provided them with a critical platform to bargain for their rights. The Davis-Bacon Act of 1931 is important legislation that significantly curtailed the right of a single employee to work for reduced wages which were used to ensure that workers of government-sponsored construction projects were paid locally approved wages or wages as determined by the local unions of construction workers (Reynolds, 1987). Moreover, the clause of ‘in good faith’ is the essential paradigm that supports the union and asks that employers’ bargain be in good faith while coming to satisfactory conclusions with the union leaders. Thus, labor laws encourage unionization. Â  Yes, teaching assistants should be considered bona fide employees as they are contracted under defined terms and conditions as approved by the management. Moreover, under criteria set forth in 29 CFR Part 520.201, the teaching assistants are employees with rights, including that of joining unions and the rights to be eligible for the minimum as prescribed within the defined labor law. They are a vital part of academia and take on the responsibilities of assisting teachers. They help students on an individual basis and even take up teaching when required and therefore constitute an important part of academia. Â  Teaching assistants also provide the teaching staff with much mental and physical relief by relieving them of the stress of dealing with students who may require more personal coaching. Assistant teachers are playing vital roles in all types of schools, including higher education. They contribute considerably to the improvement of education and serve as a critical resource for the schools and academia in general (Kerry, 2001).

Surface modification to control stem cell differentiation in vitro Essay

Surface modification to control stem cell differentiation in vitro - Essay Example The stem cells within a developing embryo can differentiate into all sorts of specialized cells (known as pluripotent cells), while they can also sustain the normal turnover of revitalizing organs, such as skin, blood, or intestinal tissues (Keller, 1995). (National Institute of Health, 2001) It is getting more and more apparent that stem cells are extensively sensitive to their surroundings and react to prompts rendered by, hardness in two (2D) and three-dimensional (3D), chemistry, topography and culture. Surface modification involves changing the surface of an object by bringing chemical, biological or physical characteristics distinct from those detected originally on the surface of that object. In biomaterials, the surface modification performs a substantial role in ascertaining the consequence of the interactions of biological-materials. The surface of a material can be customized by using a particular modification in the surface of material to improve adhesion, cell interactio ns and biocompatibility. Accordingly surface modification is critical in the designing and development of new medical devices and biomaterials. The principle for the surface modification within the biomaterials is thus to continue the fundamental physical characteristics of a biomaterial while changing only the outmost surface to regulate the bio-interaction. In case such kind of surface modification is appropriately accomplished the functionality and mechanical properties of the device will remain unaffected, however, the bio-response associated to the device-tissue boundary will be modulated or improved. These surface modifications can be accomplished by utilizing mechanical, physiochemical or biological methods (Ratner, 2004). Objectives Stem cells are amazing cells, having both the abilities of differentiation to adult somatic cells and self-renewal in-vitro and in vivo. They possess various characteristics and advantages that can be coupled with the surface modification techniq ues to revolutionise healthcare applications and drug development. Stem cells provide a consistent and limitless furnish of physiologically applicable cells from formalized pathogen-free origins for practical applications like drug discovery, replacement therapies, toxicology studies and disease modelling (Roy, 2010). (National Institute of Health, 2001) Controlling Stem Cell Differentiation and Lineage Commitment The eventual purpose of bioengineering of stem cells is to become able to recognize and perhaps control the lineage commitment and differentiation of stem cells in vitro. Once this objective is attained, a huge number of therapeutic applications can be visualized. For instance one such application could be the production of different kinds of neurons in order to treat the injuries of spinal cord, Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease. Similarly the development of the muscle cells of heart for patients who have suffered heart attacks can also be imagined. Moreover, the production of pancreatic cells relevant in the secretion of insulin-secreting can also be considered to treat those suffering from Diabetes (Type I), along with the production of stem cells of hair follicle to treat some specific kinds of baldness. Complete Organ Generation These bioengineering techniques could also

Use Of Hydraulic Kers Commercially Engineering Essay

Use Of Hydraulic Kers Commercially Engineering Essay The potential of using a KERS on a bicycle to store hydraulic energy can be achieved using a device such as a hydraulic accumulator. In a hydraulic accumulator the potential energy is stored in the form of a compressed gas or spring, which is used to exert a force against a relatively incompressible fluid. Accumulators store energy when the hydraulic system pressure is greater than the accumulator pressure and releases hydraulic energy in the opposite case. By storing and providing hydraulic energy, accumulators can be used as a primary power source for a KERS. Accumulators are naturally dynamic devices; meaning they function when configuration changes, for example, valves opening and closing. Accumulators respond rapidly to configuration changes, and nearly instantaneously for gas accumulators. They are usually used in conjunction with a pump/motor in a hydraulic circuit. A hydraulic system utilizing an accumulator can use a smaller fluid pump since the accumulator stores energy from the pump during low demand periods. The pump doesnt need to be so large to cope with extremes of demand, therefore the supply circuit can respond more quickly to any temporary demand and to smooth pulsations. There are four types of accumulator: bladder, diaphragm bladder, piston (spring or gas controlled), and metal bellows. Depending on the application, the choice of most suited is based on the required speed of accumulator response, weight, reliability and cost. Compressed gas accumulators are the most commonly used type since they generally have the faster dynamic response and are most reliable. Accumulators with seals will generally have the lowest reliability as there is the potential for leaks. Pressurised gas accumulators take advantage of the fact, that the gas is compressible. The potential to store energy and the affect of the accumulator is dictated by its overall volume and pre-charge of the gas. The pre-charge is the pressure of the gas in the accumulator when there is no hydraulic fluid within the accumulator. Too high of a pre-charge pressure, reduces the fluid volume capacity, and limits the maximum amount of hydraulic energy that will be available to the system. A gas accumulator has a gas pre-charge, which is less than the nominal hydraulic system pressure. When hydraulic fluid enters the accumulator, the gas is compressed to the nominal system pressure, which is in an equilibrium position and corresponds to the maximum amount of energy that can be stored. As system hydraulic pressure drops, the gas will expand forcing hydraulic fluid back into the system. Most gas accumulators are bladder type, made up of a vessel divided into two volumes, by a flexible membrane. Within the bladder, nitrogen is stored under high pressure, which is an efficient and safe medium since the ability of gas to store energy increases exponentially as pressure rises and because of its inert properties. As fluid from the hydraulic circuit, enters the vessel (under system pressure) and impinges against the bladder, the gas is compressed allowing energy to be stored. The release of energy when required is achieved via conventional valve arrangement. Figure Bladder Accumulator [10] and [4] Use of hydraulic KERS commercially There are, a number of emerging systems that allow the operators of vehicles to reduce both fuel consumption and unwanted emissions, specifically to vehicles that are subject to constant stop-start operations, like for example buses, refuse collection vehicles (RCV). Constant stop-start operations, such as braking in large vehicles, produce considerable kinetic energy, which is wasted as heat. Capturing this energy using conventional hydraulic technology enables it to be stored and then returned to the vehicle systems. The potential uses are not just limited to aid subsequent acceleration (reducing the energy required from the engine), but can potentially power ancillary equipment. For example, RCVs can use stored energy to drive the hydraulic refuse compacting and packing mechanisms. This enables a significant reduction of engine speeds and operating noise [10]. Hydraulic Power Train Technology Hybrid hydraulic power-train technology normally incorporates a hydraulic system operating parallel to the IC engine to share the task of powering the vehicle. Although other arrangements are possible (in series), the simplest is where the conventional vehicle transmission and driveline components are replaced by a hydro-mechanical transmission, a system that works similarly to a hydrostatic CVT. In which the output shaft from the vehicles engine is used to drive a hydraulic pump that in turn supplies pressure to hydrostatic motors; these are then connected via a gearing mechanism to the vehicle power-train to drive the wheels [10]. These motors then, under braking, act as pumps to charge accumulators, where energy is stored before being released back to the power-train, transmitting torque to the driveshaft and propelling the vehicle. Fig depicts the capturing and releasing of energy in a hydraulic circuit. Engine Trans Pump/ Motor Low Pressure Accumulator High Pressure Accumulator Drive Shaft Capturing Releasing Figure Hydraulic Power-train Examples of Commercial Hydraulic KERS There are two commercial products of hydraulic hybrid KERS on todays market and both are implemented on delivery vehicles and refuse truck applications. These are Parker Energy Recovery System [6], and Eaton Hydraulic Launch Assistà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ (HLA ®) [7 ].Prototype testing proposes typically regenerative braking capability captures about 70% of the KE produced during braking, minimizing the load on the engine, and helping to reduce fuel consumption [9]. The hydrostatic motors, when acting as pumps during vehicle braking, also help to slow the vehicle down by inducing drag on the rotating drive-train; a feature that helps to reduce brake wear [9] by more than 50% [8]. Generally these systems operate at a maximum pressure of 5,000 PSI [9]. The hybrid technologies are controlled by specialized systems that are activated upon braking. The controls prevent service brake application until just before a complete stop. They also monitor if the energy stored in the accumulator falls below a predetermined level, upon which the vehicle engine can be used to provide supplementary power. However, on vehicles with frequent stop-start cycles, this is seldom required as even gentle braking is sufficient to maintain the stored energy at high levels. http://www.eaton.com/ecm/groups/public/@pub/@eaton/@hybrid/documents/content/ct_132084.jpg Figure Hybrid Hydraulic KERS implemented on large Vehicles [7] The HLA ® has two modes of operation, Economy Mode and Performance Mode. When the operating in Economy Mode, the energy stored in the accumulator during braking is used alone to initially accelerate the vehicle. Once the accumulator has emptied, the engine will begin to perform the acceleration. This process results in increased fuel economy of 30% and provides increased acceleration of 2% [7 ]. Economy mode allows for maximum fuel savings maximum exhaust emission reductions of 20% to 30% [7]. In Performance Mode, acceleration is created by both the energy stored in the accumulator and the engine. Once the accumulator has emptied, the engine is completely responsible for acceleration.  While a 17% increase in fuel economy is possible, the greatest benefit is an increased acceleration of 26% [7]. The benefits of hybrid solution are numerous; reduced emissions, increased brake life, and better fuel economy. The technology also allows the possibility to reduce the size of the vehicle engine as this can be sized for peak speeds, rather than for low-end torque. Application of Hydraulic KERS to a Bicycle A team of engineering students from the University of Michigan [1] undertook a project to use a hydro-pneumatic regenerative braking system on a bicycle. It was a redevelopment of a heavier previous attempt to make a working prototype to fit within a 29 front wheel (fig). They use a 0.5 litre accumulator and believed this to be sufficient in storing the required energy at a maximum working system pressure of 5000psi. Its weighed an impractical 13kg almost as much as a bike and is its major drawback, its weight can be accounted for by its separate high and low accumulators, separate hydraulic pump and motor and its relatively large mounting bracket (fig). Figure Prototype Hydry-pneumatic KERS from the University of Michigan [1] Calculations They failed to test and thus supply conclusive results for the performance characteristics of their prototype, but instead prescribed its key performance parameters via theoretical calculations. In the same way and based on the same calculations the following section outlines the performance of a hydro-pneumatic KERS. Storage Capacity Firstly for a hydraulic system to be implemented the storage of fluid must be addressed, the capacity must be determined and pressures needed to store the kinetic energy. The combined mass of cyclist and bicycle (90kg) braking from 32km/h (20mph) has 2880kJ of kinetic energy. Parker [5] (manufacture of accumulator and motors) rates the ACP series accumulators at max pressure 5000psi, if assuming ideal gas law: () So () Parker rates the ACP Series Accumulators 2 bore with capacities of 0.32l, 0.5l, 0.75l. If the accumulator has a pre-charge of P1 = 3200psi and max pressure is P2=5000psi; then rearranging gives: () Taking the capacity as: V1=0.5l gives V2= 0.32l. Energy stored is: () Thus 0.5l capacity accumulator pre-charged to 3200psi provides more than 5kJ. Hydraulic Motor/Pump Performance Fig presents torque-rpm curve for the Parker 09 series hydraulic motor. It will be used to determine braking and launching performance of the hydraulic motor/pump. Figure Torque-Rpm Curves for Parker 09 Series Hydraulic Motor [1] Braking A hydraulic KERS must use a hydraulic motor to provide enough torque to run the bicycle as well as providing enough resistive torque to be an effective brake. If the bicycle travelling at 32km/h (20mph) on 0.66m (26inch) diameter wheels, which spins the motor at 4632rpm through the 18:1 gear ratio of the pump gear train, then this corresponds to 4.52Nm of torque at 3000psi (fig ). This translates to a braking torque of about 81.36Nm applied to the main gear due to the 18:1 gear ratio. Launching On release of pressure, a fully charged 5000psi accumulator generates 7.57Nm of torques (fig). The 14:1 gear ratio of the motor gear train applies a 105 Nm torque to the main bicycle cluster gear. 7.57Nm corresponds to around 800rpm from motors torque rpm curve (fig), which turns the main gear at around 57rpm due to the 14:1 gear ratio. This is an initial speed of 8km/h (5mph) which will increase as pressure is expended. Advantages In many applications, especially those where high power densities are required, hydro-pneumatic systems offer a more efficient alternative to system driven by electric motors. The technology can be used to capture and transfer high levels of energy extremely quickly compared with similarly sized electric systems, which generally require long periods over which batteries have to be charged. They are also likely to have a longer operating life than battery-powered systems. Disadvantages The main disadvantage of a hydro-pneumatic KERS would be its weight, which is attributed to by weight of hydraulic fluid, accumulator material (steel), and the fact that in application it would be necessary to have separate high and low pressure accumulators. As well as potentially needing separate hydraulic pump and motor. In hydro-pneumatic systems when the gas is not charged by the hydraulic fluid and thus not storing energy, the fluid can be considered dead weight. If implemented on a bicycle to be used as a KERS, this would be counterproductive. Lastly hydro-pneumatic systems are limited where consistent levels of power are required for extended periods at near constant speeds, such as long-distance cruising. Conclusion The major consideration when using hydro-pneumatic accumulator for storing the energy whilst braking, is of course the loss of pressurized gas in a sealed accumulator. It is a failure critical to safety when it plays such an important role as braking. It is apparent the hydraulic accumulator needed for a KERS, does not have an excessively large capacity (pre-charged to 3200psi), in order to release enough energy to propel a bike to 32km/h (20mph). Furthermore, a hydraulic motor can produce 81.36Nm braking torque which makes it an effective brake. However based on the weight of the prototype (13kg) from the University of Michigan, it is impractical to use a hydro-pneumatic technology, as it stands currently, for a bicycle KERS.

President Clinton’s Pentad Essay -- Burke Clinton Social Action Essays

President Clinton’s Pentad Throughout time, many theorists have studied modes of persuasion. The ancient Greeks focused on persuasive discourse in the public arena which allowed a democracy to function properly. However, more recently Kenneth Burke, a literary critic and philosopher, has also evaluated how our language influences social action. Yet unlike the ancient philosophers, Burke was interested in how not just public messages but all symbolic activity leads to persuasion of others. From this belief, Burke developed the theory of Dramatism which he defined as, "The study of human relation and motives by means of a methodical inquiry into cycles or clusters of terms and their function" (Hauser, 1998, October 30). He viewed life as a drama which contained a series of accounts with interacting parts that create meaning and persuasion (Gusfield, 1989). Burke coined many terms unique to his theory that he could apply to any situation involving persuasive communication. Therefore, Burke’s theory of Dram atism can be clearly illustrated by identifying his key terms and applying these to an instance of persuasive communication; however, this theory does not easily apply to other forms of communication. To begin, it is important to understand Burke’s main themes and the terms involved in each. Burke has three main themes in his theory: the necessary elements for a foundation which leads to persuasion, the tools needed to evaluate a persuasive situation, and the involvement of guilt in the outcome of the persuasive situation. A sequence of these three themes appear within persuasive communication. First, Burke focused his work on the use of persuasion in the social realm. Furthermore, in accordance with what was stated befor... ...his theory provides a clear understanding of rhetoric and its effects, but does not apply to all communication scenarios. Therefore, Burke’s theory of Dramatism is strong within a limited scope, but weak as an overarching theory of all communication. Works Cited Craig, R. (1998, November 9). Lecture in Boulder at the University of Colorado. Desilet, G. (1972). Kenneth Burke’s Dramatism in Perspective. Santa Barbara. Griffin, E. (1997). A First Look at Communication Theory. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Gusfield, J. (1989). On Symbols and Society. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Hauser, G. (1986). Introduction to Rhetorical Theory. Prospect Heights: Waveland Press, Inc. Hauser, G. (1998, November 2). Lecture in Boulder at the University of Colorado. Hauser, G. (1998, October 30). Lecture in Boulder at the University of Colorado.

Discuss the role played by Mr. Morrison Essay

Mr. Morrison symbolises the strength of Afro-Americans in the face of adversity. He is a source of courage and protection for the Logan family, acting almost as a guardian angel when papa is not home. There is an air of myth surrounding Mr. Morrison, created by factors such as his stature, his deep voice and scarred features. This makes him an interesting and thus successful character for Mildred Taylor. When the children first meet Mr. Morrison, his description relates directly to Mildred Taylor’s imagery. The attention that she pays to the significance of trees as an emblem of strength, influences her description of the powerful Mr. Morrison: â€Å"The man was a human tree in height, towering high above papa’s six feet two inches. The long trunk of his massive body bulged with muscles†¦ † The living strength and permanence of trees are a symbol of the strength which the black community draws from its history, tradition and inheritance, and the ‘roots’ which have been put down in their land. Thus, the description of Mr. Morrison is in keeping with such imagery. The timing of Mr. Morrison’s arrival assists Mildred Taylor in developing tension and suspense. He arrives on the scene in the wake of the news of the attack on The Berry Family. Mr. Morrison, we learn, was wrongly accused of starting a fight and then sacked from his job. This gives us an example of institutionalised racism and also hints that there may well be more incidents and fights. The children immediately warm to him and are deeply fascinated by his giant-like appearance. Mr. Morrison’s attributes make him immune to the physical threats by which the local whites terrorise the black community. This gives the children courage and inspiration. As a result he is a figure who earns Stacey’s respect. Stacey becomes much closer to Mr. Morrison after he makes it plain that he will not be reporting the matter of the fight to with T. J to Stacey’s mother. Indeed, such is Mr. Morrison’s positive influence, that Stacey shows increased maturity by telling his mother about the fight himself. On their way back from shopping in Vicksburg, Papa, Stacey and Mr. Morrison are ambushed by the Wallaces. Mr. Morrison shows his tremendous power by taking on three attackers and badly injuring two of them. In the following chapter he again demonstrates power and shrewd judgement too by lifting Kaleb Wallace’s truck. This act is enough for him to avoid being drawn into fighting whilst still standing up for himself. By checking the truck for a gun first, Mr. Morrison shows an admirable measured determination not to be bullied. Furthermore, Mr. Morrison is a vital calming influence upon the headstrong Hammer when the children’s uncle is seeking to avenge Cassie’s humiliation in strawberry. The image of Mr. Morrison sat watching on the porch for the nightmen is a very powerful one. To the Logan’s he is a guardian angel figure, who protects with great strength, yet is otherwise the perfect example of calm. In the stories he tells to the family we learn of an horrific past in which his family were murdered by racists. His scars symbolise the healing power and capacity to endure that are characterstic of the persecuted black people. His voice – â€Å"like the roll of low thunder† – further emphasises Mr. Morrison as a key symbolic figure in the book, as this simile echoes the title. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Mildred Taylor section.

Frankenstein and Blade Runner Essay

The texts, Frankenstein and Blade Runner reflect changing contextual values; however the treatment of content remains the same. Mary Shelley’s didactic Frankenstein published in 1818 centres on scientific advancement of the Industrial Revolution, as presented through a consolidation of Gothic and Romantic elements in response to the shifting paradigms of the Enlightenment Age. Similarly, Blade Runner directed by Ridley Scott in 1982, transforms the notions of Frankenstein to position its postmodern audience to consider the negative ramifications of the Cold War and the rise of capitalism. These contextual ideas will be explored through the thematic concerns pertaining specifically to the destructive potential of abusing scientific power, the flawed responsibility of man as creator and the nature of humanity. Indeed, Blade Runner is a realisation of the sublime warnings highlighted by Shelley’s Frankenstein in 1818. Destructive potential of abusing scientific power Frankenstein highlights the destructive potential of abusing science through overpowering human morality and provoking irresponsibility. The 18th Century Age of Enlightenment was a social movement where logic and reason was advocated as the primary source of authority, characterised by scientific advancements such as Galvani’s concept of electricity as a reanimating force and theorists such as Erasmus Darwin. Hence, Walton’s metaphor, influenced by Age of Enlightenment, â€Å"What may not be expected in a country of eternal light? † is mantric for both Walton and Frankenstein who display a â€Å"thirst for knowledge† in their respective scientific quests. The metaphor and symbol of â€Å"eternal light† represents the mysteries the pair wish to uncover and accompanied with rhetorical question it reflects the optimism of society embracing the Age of Enlightenment. However, the irrevocable consequences of abusing scientific power is highlighted when Frankenstein says, â€Å"â€Å"All my speculations and hopes are as nothing, and like the archangel who aspired to omnipotence, I am chained to an eternal hell. † as he is tormented by the â€Å"filthy daemon† he creates; a monster â€Å"even Dante could not have conceived. The allusions to John Milton’s Paradise Lost and Dante Alighieri’s Inferno through metaphor and simile emphasises the destructive potential of abusing scientific power as Frankenstein’s environment decays into hell. This caution of the destructive potential of abusing science is realised in Blade Runner through Scott’s mise-en-scene of the dystopian urban wasteland of 2019 Los Angeles, emphasising the destruction of the natural environment as a result of the Cold War’s nuclear threat and rise of consumerism. In the opening sequence, the slow-panning panorama shot, under chiaroscuro lighting, captures a hellish megalopolis with huge smokestacks spewing fire into the atmosphere and large pagan corporate edifices towering over the city. This disorienting imagery is coalesced with violent, non-diegetic sounds and visuals of constant rain, symbolizing concerns of acidic rain and the burning of the environment. Hence, Scott’s utilization of futuristic â€Å"film noir† cinematography establishes a grim, claustrophobic environment that is completely devoid of the natural world. By depicting such dystopia and understanding contextual concerns such as the capitalist deregulation and the ‘trickle down’ theory of Reagan’s era, Scott applies Shelley’s â€Å"Promethean† motif to caution viewers about the potential environmental dangers of abusing modern technology and nuclear warfare, which were widespread social concerns at the time due to the climax of the Cold War. Flawed responsibility of men as creator Frankenstein highlights how unrestrained science undermines man’s responsibility as creator. Shelley’s era was a time of religious revival where philosophers such as Kierkegaard asserted spirituality was more than â€Å"objective appearance† and demanded engagement. In both texts, several biblical allusions are made to the image of man usurping the title of â€Å"creator† and creation becoming the forsaken â€Å"fallen angel. † Hence Victor’s Godly damnation reflects man as illegitimate to play the role of God: â€Å"Wretched devil! You reproach me with your creation; come on, then, may I extinguish the spark which I so negligently bestowed. Through the emotive biblical language and poetic allusion to â€Å"Milton’s Paradise Lost†, Shelley evokes the retelling of Satan’s fall from grace, where the monster’s likeness to the â€Å"fallen angel,† exacerbates the notion that man, corrupted by the moral insensitivity of science, is flawed as creator. Moreover, the â€Å"spark† alludes to the â€Å"eternal light† which irresponsibly leads to the immoral creation of a monster that is both extravagant and aberrant. This is illustrated by the graphic imagery of the monster’s impurity such as â€Å"skin arely covered† and â€Å"yellow eye† alongside the creature’s painful personal recollections through direct use of the first person, â€Å"I was a poor, helpless, miserable wretch. I knew, and could distinguish, nothing; but feeling pain invade me on all sides. † Hence, Shelley highlights to readers in the Enlightenment period that innate selfishness of men corrupts the moral grounding of scientific pursuit rendering man as illegitimate to play the role of God. The issue of mankind as selfish creators, disengaged from institutionalized structures such as Christendom, is extended in Blade Runner in the â€Å"meeting of the maker’ scene. Tyrell ruthlessly exploits his economic power by separating himself from the decaying dystopia of Los Angeles. Tyrell’s fundamentally flawed intentions are personified in the Tyrell Corporation’s edifice of a Grandiose, Mayan style pyramid physically exerting a powerful dominance over the city. It is presented through an upward panning low angle shot, spliced with close up shots to reinforce the dominance of consumerist progress in dystopia. The pyramid’s historical association with Egyptian royalty links them with the divine, typifying Tyrell’s ‘God-like’ role as creator. This is reinforced in Tyrell’s costuming of white clothing amidst long shots of a candle-lit church atmosphere, typifying his glorified religious status. Moreover the low-angle shots of the ‘artificial owl’ with dark shadows emphasises the extent to which the natural environment has been artificially remodeled due to the rise of consumerism in the 1980s. Hence, the dehumanised portray of Victor Frankenstein and Tyrell demonstrates that despite differering contexts, science leads to an abandonment of moral responsibility and man is flawed as creator. What constitutes humanity in an individual Frankenstein highlights the true nature of humanity as influenced by the 18th Century Romantic Movement. The 18th Century Romantic Movement was a social reaction against the 18th Century Age of Enlightenment, characterised by stressing the beauty of the natural world and emotional feeling. The natural world’s splendour is highlighted as Frankenstein flees to Mont Blanc for conciliatory peace away from his torment. â€Å"The unstained snowy mountain-top, the glittering pinnacle †¦ the eagle soaring amidst the clouds. † The Romantic and emotive language, imagery and allusion to Edmund Burke’s On the Sublime and the Beautiful portrays the beauty of the natural world, free from destructive science. Further humanity’s emotions are romanticised through the benevolent portrayal of the Monster. â€Å"No father had watched my infant days; no mother had blessed me with smiles and caresses†¦ What was I? † Through the combination of emotive language, a personal tone created through the personal pronoun â€Å"I† and a rhetorical question to question what constitutes humanity within a being, Shelley transcends the Gothic stereotype typically bestowed upon a monster to emphasise the monster’s human longings for parental love and companionship. Hence, as the Romantic Movement and its fascination with the sublimity of nature, was being overcome by the strict rationality of the Age of Enlightenment, Shelley foreworns of the destruction of the magnificence of humanity, both in the natural world and in human emotions, as a result of rampant science and irresponsibility. Similarly, the â€Å"more human than human† portrayal of Roy in Blade Runner also highlights our mistreatment of scientific creations as artificial commodities, blurring the distinction between humans and products of artificial intelligence. In the final scene, Scott uses a close-up shot at Roy’s nailed hands, literally portraying him as a Christ-like figure, as he is enslaved and morally detached from humanity from the goals of â€Å"commerce†. The condescending aphorism in Tyrell’s comment at Roy’s desperate cry for life, â€Å"the light that burns half as long, burns twice as bright† alludes to the â€Å"eternal light† in Frankenstein’s Age of Reason and its effects on humanity’s disregard for the human consequences of its actions. Hence Roy asserts â€Å"I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe†, which reflects about his personal, human pain and suffering as a result of the commoditised world. Furthermore, a close up of Roy, alongside the pure white background creates a cathartic moment as Roy becomes ‘the fallen angel’, magnanimously giving life to Deckard and instilling human qualities within him. It is through illustrating Roy’s sensitivity that Scott ‘appropriates’ Shelley’s dilemma of what constitutes humanity within any being, questioning the morality of the technology-dependent audience of the 1980s; as they take scientific creations for granted. Hence after suffering and succumbing to brutal dehumanisation, both Replicant and Beast have emotively evoked pathos and senses of profound solemnity. Ultimately, both Frankenstein and Blade Runner are products of their cultural milieu and forewarn us of the destructive potential of abusing science, illegitimately playing the role of God and the values of humanity that degrade our morality and responsibility. More subliminally, however, each text embodies the moral limitations of being human through the oppressive nature of scientific and technological advancement.

Five forces analysis applied to the online auction industry Essays

Five forces analysis applied to the online auction industry Essays Five forces analysis applied to the online auction industry Paper Five forces analysis applied to the online auction industry Paper Essay Topic: Marketing The online auction industry offers marketplaces where buyer and seller meet to trade various products. Advantages of online auctions are: a wide community, broad product range, lower search and transaction costs and, compared to fixed price, a lower price. Therefore, a win-win situation is created, with benefits for buyers, like making a good deal and the auction feeling, and benefits for the sellers, like obtaining a good market price and being able to sell dispensable inventory. Some auction sites list a broad range of products on their site, and other specialize on niche products. Apart from that, the industry can be divided into three segments: Business-to-Business, Business-to-Consumer and Person-to-Person (Consumer-to-Consumer), with either businesses or consumers as market participants. Online auctions are one of the few profitable E-Business Models, and make up nearly 10% of all revenues created in E-Commerce. Five forces analysis applied to the online auction industry 1. Threat of entry In the industry, there are various barriers: : Capital requirements: Only some hardware (Server etc.) and a software packet are needed, as well as human capital to run an online-auction. In comparison to other industries, overall ramp-up costs are relatively low and no inventory is required. Economies of scale exist: Within a certain range of users, there are fixed costs, but only very few variable costs. For example, two servers and a program adjusted for 1000 users, may also fit 10000 users, so there are declining costs per unit. Because the fixed costs are low, economies of scale are not a relevant barrier to enter the online-auction industry. Product differentiation: Image is important to establish trust, confidence and customer loyalty; these elements are essential for online auctions. Special services, like warranties offered by uBid, and measures to foster community spirit, like special sites that attract a certain community, help to acquire new users and to keep actual users. Switching costs: are high, because sellers who gain reputation at certain online-auction sites cannot transfer this to other sites. If customers would switch from a provider with a huge community to one with a small community, disadvantages caused by smaller audiences, bidding and selling, appear. The result would be a smaller product variety and fewer buyers that can bid for an offer. Learning curve: In order to communicate with the user community and react to their needs, online-auction specific techniques, like online marketing, can be used. The market leader eBay for example, constantly analyses their customer base to be able offer services according to their needs. Certainly, the huge amount of users frequenting eBays site makes it easier to draw conclusions on the services wanted. Community: An online-auction needs a critical mass of buyers and sellers to be attractive. The membership-loop is an example of network externalities, the bigger the community, the more advantage customers gain from an online-auction: buyers only go to a site if they can expect a certain amount of offers, and sellers only go there if a sufficient number of buyers will bid for their products. Entering the online auction market is relatively easy as low start up capital is required. On the other hand network externalities play an important role in the industry. To be successful in the long run it is crucial to build up a critical mass of customers. Customers face high switching costs as they are not able to transfer the reputation gained among one community to a different community. Thus, new entrants face difficulties in attracting new customers. Customer loyalty, company image and community building have to established over time and can not be achieved immediately. To sum up entry barriers are high, thus new potential entrants are not a viable threat to the incumbents. 2. Bargaining power of buyers Buyer concentration differs over the industry segments. In the B2B segment, buyer concentration is high compared to C2C and B2C. With over 40 million customers in the latter two markets, the buyer group is very fragmented and each single customer does not have the power to negotiate on fees. The Internet is a very transparent market that enables customers to select a provider with optimal price-performance ratio. As it is very easy in the Internet to switch from one service-provider to another, providers have to increase switching costs artificially, for example building up a system to measure reputation of customers. Due to the high entry barriers, the risk of backward integration of customers does not exist. Conclusion At least in the C2C sector buyers have low bargaining power. 3. Bargaining power of suppliers Main suppliers of the online-auction industry are companies providing network infrastructure such as servers. Server and other hardware suppliers are operating in an oligopolistic market with undifferentiated products and therefore switching costs are low. To establish the network and web pages IT specialists can be hired or outsourcing partners such as site hosting companies can provide services. Highly qualified personnel are rare thus bargaining power can be exercised by high salary demands. The threat of forward integration is low as entry barriers into online-auctioning are relatively high. Apart from selective cases of high salary demanding IT specialists, the overall bargaining power of suppliers is low. 4. Pressure from substitute products Online: Online retailers like Otto, power shopping agencies, online advertising Offline: Adds in newspapers, flea markets, garage sales, traditional auction houses, liquidators, companies offering catalogue selling Each of these services can substitute only parts of the services provided by online auctioning, depending on the customer segment and the product demanded. The more diversified the customer base of an online-auctioneer the more difficult it becomes to find substitutes with an equal product range and competitive transaction costs. Threat of substitutes poses a low risk to the online auction industry, especially to dominant industry players like eBay. 5. Intensity of rivalry among existing competitors The total number of players in the industry is approximately 2700 with eBay as the market leader with a market share of 65%. The industry is highly concentrated, the largest five companies occupy approx. 90% of the whole online-auction market. Industry growth has been extremely high in the past years and is expected to go on as the Internet will spread further and its use will become more common. eBay did grow since it was started 1996, and uBid, with 14 percent the second biggest player on the market, had an 80 percent increase of revenue from December 1999 to December 2000. Another reason for a low level of rivalry are the unsaturated markets: because there are still customers that dont use online-auctions at all, providers can concentrate on gaining new clients instead of stealing them from each other. Due to the big differences between the online-auction providers, like varying amount of consumers and different communities, the switching costs in the industry are high. Therefore, the rivalry between the various providers is not that strong. There are no high exit barriers in the online-auction industry, because there are no specialized assets and no fix costs of exit. The main reason for low rivalry in the industry is the dominant position of the market leader eBay: It is difficult for potential rivals to compete with eBay`s huge user community. The low rivalry is enhanced by the growth opportunities typical for unsaturated markets. The competitive situation of the online-auction industry consists of the following main elements: High entry barriers deter new potential rivals from entering the market. Bargaining power of buyers and suppliers is low. No substitutes which fully satisfy the needs of the online auction customers are available. Rivalry among incumbents is low. These characteristics lead to a high profit potential of the industry. SWOT analysis of eBay EBay was found in 1995 by Pierre Omidyar. The idea seems to be so simple, and brilliant on the other side: offer a marketplace for a community in order to facilitate C2C trade. Ever since eBay`s customer base and their product range as well as total revenue and finally their market share increases and even a period of economic slowdown, cant thwart eBay. Strengths: Being the first to run online-auctions thereby introducing a new idea of running e-commerce can be named as eBay`s initial strength. Ever since eBay is the market leader in the online auction industry and explored international markets within the last years. The customer base increased rapidly over time and the largest online trading forum was established. The critical mass of participants as well as products couldnt be scored to date by competitors. The trading platform is easy to navigate, accessible from various countries and generally facilitates transactions. The customer needs only a computer and Internet access for the transaction. EBay is a relatively neutral partner, whose job it is to initiate and overview the business, not to control or influence the transaction. The bidding procedure follows certain rules. Offences against these rules can be punished by eBay resp. by the users e.g. with the rating systems or the program Safeharbor. Thus enhances trust, improves customer loyalty and fosters the sense of community. Through constant improvements in customer services, like additional product groups and special sites, as well as through strategic alliances with partners along the value chain, eBay provides additional service to its customers. Good communication with its community through forums and face-to-face discussion facilitates feedback from customers. The skilled human resources, like Meg Whitmann, fostered eBay present position. The reliability of the system was increased by investment in new servers as well as in Maynard Webb, a premier software engineer. Capital requirements were relatively low in the start-up-period and even now fixed cost required to run the business are low, seen relative to earnings. Later eBay raised capital through a public offering of common stock in 1998 and an additional offering in 1999. The strengths listed above fostered the built up of a brand provide a secure starting point for the future development and challenges. Weaknesses: The basic concept of eBay: running online auctions is easy to copy for potential entrants. Weaknesses can be detected in the IT system: Operating online might be dangerous, because the site or a running auction can be disturbed by hackers or external tools (e.g. automatic overbidding tool) It is impossible to prevent system downtimes. eBay has no distribution channel besides the Internet. The size of the community and the variety of customers, which comes along with the size, results in different expectations towards the aim and participants in auctions. As a current problem one can name the growing presence of companies. It can be seen as a weakness that, C2C being the core competence of eBay, it is only in narrow ranges possible to exploit the potential of B2C trading. Turning towards businesses likely will result in loosing customers as well as a loss of potential revenues. Opportunities: With the growing worldwide diffusion of the Internet and the increase of e-commerce, countries like China offer a large market of potential customers. Other areas like South America or Eastern Europe, which are characterized by a high population, could also be attractive for eBay. So the geographical expansion represents a great opportunity to compensate for the saturating market in the US and to continue its growth. In this effort eBay`s brand image and its huge installed base could give it a competitive edge over its competitors. Secondly the alliances of eBay (e.g. with MercadoLibre.com, the market leader in online auction sites in Latin America) and the acquisitions of large or leading regional competitors could help to establish a favourable position in these countries. Another growth opportunity is the expansion of its current product line. One possibility is to increase the number of existing specialty sites. In the past eBay successfully introduced trading categories (e.g. eBay Motors), which were addressed to a particular product or group of products. As the variety of goods traded is almost infinite, there is enough space for more categories of this kind. Another possibility is the broadening of its pre- and post trade services (e.g. shipping service, escrow service etc.). By increasing the service around the auction eBay is enhancing the convenience in the auction and, which is even more important, it is increasing the customers` feeling of security and trust in its site. The increase in trust is extremely important for acquiring new customers, who until now were reluctant to join eBay because of their concerns about security issues in e-business in general. In this task eBay again could capitalize on its alliances with the leading companies in the various services. A third possibility to broaden its product line is the expansion in other segments of the online auction industry. The initial idea behind eBay was to provide a platform where consumers can trade with others consumers. But lately it has entered also the B2C business by attracting corporate customers like IBM for its services. For the corporate customers eBay with its huge customer base represents an ideal additional distribution channel for products (e.g. discontinued products or excess inventory), which could not be sold profitably elsewhere. As we will see in the last section of the SWOT analysis, this kind of expansion can also pose a threat on eBay`s success. Another point is that eBay could use its experience in C2C and B2C in order to also enter the B2B segment. This segment of large ticket items is certainly attractive for eBay, because of the vast amount and the value of products traded in it. A fourth possibility is to diversify into a new industry like the online retailer industry. With the acquisition of Half.com and the introduction of its Buy it now!-feature it has made the initial steps into the online retail business. eBay has gained a lot of knowledge concerning consumer behaviour and has experience in dealing with diverse customers so that it can use these skills in the new industry. This second business segment would be another source of revenue and would decrease its strong dependence on the auction business. One further opportunity for eBay could be the accelerating development of the technological innovations, especially in the mobile business. As the mobile phones and PDA`s etc. become more sophisticated and nowadays already have access to the Internet, the wireless technology offers an additional way of reaching current and new customers. Threats: As the online auction model, especially in the C2C segment, is easy to imitate, there is a permanent threat of new competitors. Online retailers (e.g. Amazon) and other Internet companies are diversifying into the auction market. While most entrants where not successful, one new competitor (uBid) could gain a considerable market share of 15% (of the online auction revenue) within a short time. If new entrants, who have enough financial recourses or who are ready to sacrifice profits, start a price war (by lowering the fees or by offering services for free) in order to win customers then eBay would face substantial losses in this competition. Furthermore, traditional auction houses begin to set up websites and brick-and-mortar retailers try to sell their products over the Internet. Another major threat could be eBay`s expansion in the B2C segment. On the one hand, this segment is very profitable and it is necessary to serve it in order to support future growth. On the other hand small er customers, especially the sellers are threatened by the presence of corporatism, who intensify the competition in the auction. These smaller sellers are afraid of being overlooked among the mass of products offered by corporate sellers. More and more customers express the concern that eBay is being sold out by cooperating with corporatism and that it would slowly lose its neutrality as a marketplace. With its move into the B2C segment eBay could lose the trust of its smaller customers and with it the community spirit, which were the driving forces of its success. Competitors who are aware of this problem can steal the frustrated customers away from eBay or offer auction sites, which focus on the specific needs of different customer segments. There is still a problem concerning the security issue. Even though eBay has installed features like SafeHarbor and the feedback forum to avoid frauds and other illegal activities, the security at online auctions is still not sufficient. Moreover, eBay is still exposed to system outages and attacks by hackers. These problems are not expected to be completely solved in near future. One big threat is the rapid expansion of eBay itself. By moving so fast into news countries and new business segments, problems of coordination and management of these diverse activities could emerge. Especially in its geographic expansion, eBay is facing different legal systems and competitive environments, which could be difficult to deal with. Conclusion: It appears that the strengths of eBay overweigh its weaknesses. It has a market share and a customer base, which cannot be achieved by any current competitor in near future. The network externalities in this industry contributes to eBay`s position as a market leader and make it difficult for new competitors to catch up with eBay. It also has a well-known brand and the image of a pioneer in its business. Some weaknesses of eBay are of general nature (e.g. system outages, hacker attacks etc.) and appear also in other Internet companies, so that they are not eBay-specific. The SWOT analysis reveals that eBay has a broad range of opportunities to be successful in the future. eBay has already taken several steps (e.g. geographical expansion, alliances etc.) in order to continue its success in the past. The decreasing trust of its customers and its fading community spirit represent the major threats to eBay. To sum up, due to its various strengths eBay is a favorable position and enjoys significant growth even in times of economic downturns. Competitive strengths analysis of eBay and its rivals indicate that eBay has a competitive advantage or disadvantage? What are the sources of this advantage or disadvantage? EBay is competing in the online auction industry, an industry that is characterized by high growth. The concept of online-auctioning is easy to copy; nonetheless, eBay is still the unchallenged market leader (64% of revenues in 2001), with the second company following far behind (uBid, 15%). There are various reasons for the competitive advantage of eBay. The most important factors that contributed to eBay`s competitive advantage over its rivals can be traced back to its foundation. Pierre Omidyarà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½s vision of a community like efficient online-market place on which people could trade in a peer-to-peer manner, turned out to be very fruitful, as well as his experience in the IT-sector. Both qualities have remained substantial elements of eBay`s business model. The company was founded in the bay of San Francisco and initially focused on the people living there (thats where the name eBay comes from). This location was decisive for its success, too: only in a place near to the most innovative IT-Cluster of the world, Silicon Valley, this business could be established that early. People were open for this kind of technologies earlier than in other locations, and professionals working in IT could be found easily. Additionally, the community spirit that Omidyar wanted, and that is needed for trust base of person-to-person trade, cou ld be found in the tolerant atmosphere prone to the San Francisco Bay Area. eBay`s service was new, and word of mouth spread quickly, so soon it had a critical mass of participants for an auction. This enabled them to make use of network externalities. The self-reinforcing loop of network externalities assured them a steadily growing user community and market leadership. Apart from this, eBay gained from this early foundation by being able to collect more experiences in this industry than their competitors are. eBay`s constant evaluation of service improved techniques belonging to the auction-process (e.g. their Feedback system or automatic bidding) as well as IT for handling a broad audience. They frequently asked customers for feedback, thus keeping in touch with the community and being able to adjust service to its needs. The revenues created by the network externalities after acquiring a critical mass of customers gave them more capital, than most of their competitors had. eBay was able to hire qualified leading personal, to enable a high standard of IT and to finance far reaching marketing efforts, that further increased their competitive advantage. In conclusion eBay`s main advantage is their big customer base that results in a huge product variety and attractive prices. It is very hard for competitors to offer services that compensate customers for not having as many trading partners as eBay can offer them. The company keeps this advantage, by strategically focusing on its core competence, personalized C2C online auctions.

Risk Management Process Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Risk Management Process - Research Paper Example Hazards are identified and through proper management control power and resources are conserved (Kendrick, 2009). Projects being undertaken possess different risks and therefore project manager must understand every detail of the project and outcomes expected to ensure that the project does not fail. Understanding of requirements of the project will ensure that proper strategies are formulated and resources used efficiently to avoid uncertain risks (Loosemore & Raftery, 2006). Risk management process involves detail stages which are used to enable understanding and creating correctional measures that can be used to avoid risks. Therefore before undertaking any activity there is a need to know every project risk before selecting and implementing a project (Hillson, & Simon, 2007). Role of Risk Management in Overall Project Management Risk management is done by all stakeholders involved in the project. Safety and health of employees is to be maintained for the success of the project. Th is is through providing information and training to workers and preventing occupational risks. It is important in identifying risks and putting in place appropriate measures to ensure that the project delivers as per the goal (Hillson, & Simon, 2007). Means of implementing measures are also made so that a project is run with a detailed understanding of what it demands at every face. Ensuring that perceived risks do not occur is a role of management hence ensures that they control the process through evaluation of completed stages and comparing them with set objectives and chances of risking the project. The assessment is needed to understand cause of the problem and if it can be corrected with appropriate measures (Belbin, 1981). Risk Management Process Cycle within a Company Several steps are undertaken before venturing into selection and implementation of projects. First, hazards are identified by determining perceived source of problem. This could be from inside or outside the or ganizations. It can be done through use of available objectives, scenario-based where events that can cause risks are examined. Second stage is assessing the hazards (Kendrick, 2009). This is through both qualitative and quantitative methods. The purpose of this stage is to determine the probability of the risk happening, estimate severity. Risk level is determined for each hazard identified. Focus is on how the risk can be eliminated. Third stage is deciding on preventive action. These are measures that will be used to eliminate or control the risks (Loosemore & Raftery, 2006). Tacking action is the fourth stage where preventive measures are put into place by prioritizing of what is essential. It also involves assigning individuals tasks when and how to do them to avoid the risks. The final stage is monitoring and reviewing the assessment time to time is necessary so as to understand what was left out and if every specification is being followed (Belbin, 1981). Risk Management Acti vities throughout the Project Life Cycle Several activities are undertaken during risk management process. Managers plan how various risks will be managed including how every task is assigned, roles of employees and the cost budget. Giving an account of planned and faced risks is also an activity done to determine extent of effort spent and effectiveness of the measures used. Plans for mitigation are prepared describing what will be done, when, how and by whom in the project hence minimizing

Male Hysteria' in Showalter's The Female Malady Essay

Male Hysteria' in Showalter's The Female Malady - Essay Example They say that these characteristics, coupled with some environmental issues trigger hysteria. For a long time, until recently, stories of hysteria were told by men, and in these stories, the women were portrayed not as the heroines, but as the victims. But as more research was done by various psychoanalysts, different opinions and observations came to light. The main one being that hysteria could not only be linked to women but could also be a male condition, or a condition general for individuals, irrespective of gender, who feel that they are silenced by society or powerless against it. According to texts, male hysteria has always been considered a shameful condition, and male hysterics are seen as unmanly and weak (Showalter, p180). They say it is as if the feminine component associated with hysteria is itself a symptom. In A System of Medicine by John Russell Reynolds, it is argued that hysterical men or boys are either of morally or mentally feminine constitution. The stereotypes and prejudices that were protested at some point are alive and still being used against mal e hysterics. An analyst notes that a hysterical man is described as one who behaves like a woman. In her book, Showalter included one study she made on Emile Batualt, a French researcher. According to the study, Batualt observations were focused on hysterical men found in Salpetriere’s special ward. Here, the male patients were fearful and timid. Their gazes were not piercing or lively. They were languorous, poetic and soft. Eccentric and coquettish, they preferred scarves and ribbons to manual labor (Showalter, p172). With these kinds of expectations, doctors were finding it difficult to accept the diagnosis of hysteria in men who seemed virile. The image of a hysteric in psychiatric literature is described to depict that the man would be closely described as a passive homosexual. This advances the image created of male hysteria, which brings