What kinds of power are explored in Othello Essay Example

What kinds of power are explored in Othello Paper Whilst there are many types of power one can hold in society, these all vary in influence. Such is the case in Othello for the most part, since we see examples of authorial, military, sexual and oratory power to different degrees. However, although many of us would consider the former to be the most important within the play, due to the malevolent nature of Iago this turns out to be otherwise. The authorial power of Othello stems from his position in Venice as a military commander. This in itself is also an important power; without Othellos skill in warfare he would never have any influence in Venice at all because of his skin colour, seeing as Moorish mercenaries were a common sight even in Italy. As a result Othello is able to take command in Cyprus and be shown a lot of respect, such as when he disciplines Cassio in Act II Scene iii for his drunken behaviour: Cassio, I love thee/But never more be officer of mine/Ill make thee an example (229-30, 32) . We will write a custom essay sample on What kinds of power are explored in Othello specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on What kinds of power are explored in Othello specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on What kinds of power are explored in Othello specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Cassio is extremely shocked and appalled with his demotion, for it has resulted in the loss of his reputation the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial- which indicates that he holds his superior in high regard to the point of hiring a clown and musicians to seek Othellos mercy. If Othello did not have clear authority over Cassio, then the latter might have used his noble upbringing and race and disregard his demotion and openly criticize him, but Cassio instead shows nothing but respect to Othello and his wife. Yet authority over people can count for nothing in Othello too. Brabantio is a key example of this; as a respected Venetian statesman he expects his daughter to obey him, which of course was a typical patriarchal attitude in Renaissance society. It was natural for him to believe that Desdemona had been bewitched by Othello for her to fall in love and marry a Moor, especially when she was so opposite to marriage that she shunned/The wealthy curled darlings of her nation let alone a supposedly uncouth dark-skinned general. Indeed, Desdamonas confession that she does love Othello is a nervous one, since she mentions her divided duty between father and husband: You are Lord of all my duty; I am hithero your daughter. But heres my husband And so much duty as my mother showed To you, preferring you before her father, So much I challenge that I may profess Due the Moor my Lord (I.iii.182-186) Consequently, Brabantio is deeply offended by his daughters supposed deceit and delivers a line that would be brought up by Iago when Othello begins to lose trust in his wife: She has deceived her father thus and may thee. The basis for this allegation is Desdemonas cheating on Othello, and is an example of the sexual power present in the play. Desdemona does think she holds prowess over Othello; when she appears to see what was happening in Act II Scene iii Othello is at first angered at her being roused from sleep, but then remains calm as he guides Desdemona back to bed: Alls well now sweeting; come away to bed (233). Othellos calm is significant in that the couple were disturbed on their wedding night and so he had reason to be furious at Cassio, but he was composed for Desdemonas sake. Furthermore, she uses her closeness to Othello in an attempt to get Cassio reinstated as lieutenant: Be thou assured, good Cassio, I will do/All my abilities in thy behalfI will have my Lord and you again/As friendly as you were (III.iii.1-2, 5-6). Conversely, it is this request that causes Desdemona to fall under suspicion of cheating, and when asking Othello to meet with Cassio her constant appeals appear to have an ambigious tone that Iago manipulates: What! Michael Cassio, That came a-wooing with you, and so many a time When I have spoke of you dispraisingly Hath tane your part, to have so much to do To bring him in? (Act III, iii, 68-74) Iagos oratorical skill is the most dominant type of power in Othello, as he uses it to great effect on several characters. The first person influenced is the unfortunate Roderigo, who is brought several times round to Iagos train of thought; firstly in Act I when he is on the verge of committing suicide, to which Iago bombards him with regular prose (instead of blank verse) on how that is a foolish idea, and again in Act IV when a largely ignored Roderigo begins to wonder if Iago is really helping him to attain Desdemona: Why, now I see theres mettle in thee, and even from this instant do build on thee a better opinion than ever before. Give me thy hand, Roderigo. Thou hast taken against me a most just exception; but yet I protest I have dealt most directly in thy affair. Whilst Roderigo thinks he is using Iago to win Desdemona, the reverse instead is true. Iago thinks of him as poor trash of Venice and that he is just another puppet in his grand scheme of revenge. His contempt is shown through his backstabbing and murder of Roderigo in Act V Scene i when the plan to kill Cassio backfires. Othello also trusts Iago a lot, referring to him with the common epithet Honest Iago, and this great trust is what results in jealousy of Desdemona and Cassio as well as the belief she is cheating even without irrefutable proof. It is remarkable how Iago only says Ha! I do not like that (III.iii.34) to allow the thread of suspicion to grow in Othellos mind over seeing Cassio hurrying away from Desdemona. In turn, Othello is an easy victim in his trust of the ensign since he does not have excellent rhetoric skills, and his unhealthy trust in Iago affects his language, going from the eloquent man introduced in Act I Scene ii to the coarse person halfway through Act III Scene iii: All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven;Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell! (446,448). When Othello regains his nobility in the last scene, the destruction he has partially caused has already been revealed to everyone who once respected him. So we can see how, despite his lower ranking and lack of physical power, Iago is able to bring almost all the characters to death or ruin with no mercy. This shows that different types of power manifest themselves depending on how that person recognises and uses them to their advantage.

The Accor and Hyatt companies Essays

The Accor and Hyatt companies Essays The Accor and Hyatt companies Essay The Accor and Hyatt companies Essay Most organisations provide a portfolio of branded products. The accommodation industry is no exception. The Accor and Hyatt companies follow four core components which embody strategic marketing. They segment the market, select the right target, identify the value proposition of that market and communicate that to the target markets. The portfolio offered by both organisations is evidence of marketings evolution towards micro-markets, product based, and value based solutions. About Accor. Accor represents the worlds largest hotel and tourism organisation with more than 3500 hotels and resorts in 90 countries with claims to having the most comprehensive choice of hotel styles and locations. Accor has brands to suit all tastes including the 5 star luxury of the Sofitel and business class of the Novetel, the flexibility of the Mecure, the variety and budget saver accommodation of All Seasons, and the value and convenience of the Ibis and Formule1 brands. About Hyatt. Hyatt encompasses 206 hotels and resorts internationally. Hyatt offers services to the luxury segment of the market. The Hyatt brand includes the 4 star services of the Regency, offering customers opportunities to broaden their horizons and rejuvenatein rooms designed to reflect the best of the local cultures with exceptional technology, meeting, and fitness facilities. The 5 star Grand Hyatt serves culturally rich destinations that attract leisure and business travellers, large scale meetings and conventions. The Park Hyatt represents the companies smaller, 5 star luxury brand catering for the ..discriminating traveller seeking privacy, personalized service and the elegance of a small European hotel. Market Segmentation and Target Marketing. According to DSS research, Market Segmentation describes the division of markets into homogeneous groups which respond differently to promotions, communications, advertising and other marketing mix variables. Each segment can be targeted by a different marketing mix because the segments are created to minimise inherent differences between respondents within each segment and maximise differences between each segment. Target marketing, according to Kotler et al, is evaluating each market segments attractiveness and selecting one or more markets to enter. Segmentation for Accor and Hyatt. Accor has diversified its portfolio and services a range of market segments. It targets the luxury segment with its Sofitel and Novetel brands, the good service and value segment with its Mecure and Ibis chains, and the budget conscious with its brands Formula 1, Motel 6 and Red Roof Inn. Hyatt has segmented the luxury end of the market and targets its range of services at the consumer who is willing to pay for the privilege. Targeting for Accor and Hyatt. Accor and Hyatt target different positions in the market for numerous reasons. Markets are made up of consumers who differ with respect to wants, needs, resources, geographical locations, buying attitudes and practices. This is reflected in the statement that market segmentation is a customer orientated philosophy. The primary reasons for the segmentation of markets are: * Easier Marketing Addressing the needs of smaller groups of customers is easier if they share many characteristics; * Efficiency Creates efficient use of marketing resources by focussing on the best segment for companies products encompassing price, product, promotion, and place. Segmentation can avoid sending the wrong message or sending your message to the wrong people. * Identifying Niches provides opportunities in under-served and un-served markets. Helps a company compete for buyers in less contested markets and helps products or services find new buyers. Micromarkets. Micromarketing is a form of target marketing where companies tailor their marketing strategies to the needs and wants of narrowly defined geographic, demographic, psychographic, behavioural, or benefit segments (Kotler et al, 2003). The information within micromarkets is significant to the Hyatt and Accor companies. It is in micromarkets where products, information, and services can be utilised to better satisfy the customers wants. Micromarketing for Hyatt. Micromarketing by Hyatt has led to the introduction of special programs including Hyatt Business Plan, Meeting Connection, and Camp Hyatt, which targets business travellers and parents on holidays. Micromarketing for Accor. Accor has utilised micromarketing as a tool to identify niche markets. Accor promotes its Advantage Plus program as the logical choice for the frequent traveller and regular entertainer. Accor also offers an extensive business travel program which provides the corporate traveller with hotels in central business districts, near international airports, and major corporate parks worldwide. Bases for Market Segmentation. Hyatt and Accor consider several factors when targeting segments of the market. They may divide the entire population into 2 broad categories: * Ultimate consumer purchasing goods and services for personal use; * Business users purchase goods and services to be consumed for business purposes. The criterion for placement in one of these groups is the customers reason for buying. This provides a basis to target holiday makers with resorts in popular holiday destinations and business groups with programs such as Corporate Conference and the Hyatt Business Plan. Segmentation Basis for Accor and Hyatt Geographically, Hyatt and Accor targets the most popular holiday destinations and business capitals. They are strategically placed in major and secondary cities, as well as airport locations and popular resort destinations. Hyatt and Accor also uses demographics as a basis for segmenting with consumers needs, wants and usage rates varying closely with demographic variables. Income segmentation would be a priority for Hyatt in targeting the luxury end of the market. It has been observed that no single demographic variable captures all the difference among the needs and preferences of the consumer. An alternative is occasion segmentation. Hyatt and Accor provides packages not only based on demographics, but also incorporating events in particular cities around the world, as well as packages for personal celebrations. Segmentation based on benefits identifies a niche market. It provides useful information on the major benefits that people look for in a service, the kind of consumer that looks for each benefit, and the major brands that deliver each benefit. Market Coverage Strategy and Positioning. Once an organisation has segmented the market, it must select one or more as its target. This is the process of choosing a market coverage strategy. An organisation must determine the desirability of each segment of the market. Guidelines have been developed which include: * Target markets being compatible with the organisations goals and image; * Resources offered must match the marketing opportunities offered by the specific market segment; * Organisations must be able to generate a profit; * Seeking a market where there are the fewest competitors. According to Kotler et al 2003, an organisation can choose one of three market coverage strategies: * Undifferentiated Marketing ignores market segment differences and goes after the whole market with one market offer. * Differentiated Marketing target several market segments and design several offers for each. * Concentrated Marketing target a large share of one or a few submarkets. (insert slide 41 from marketing lecture 4 here) As is stated by Dibb and Simkin (2001) positioning is the place occupied by a product or brand in a given market as perceived by the target market customers. It is based on the products or brands attributes, standing, quality, the types of users, its strengths and weaknesses, price and value, plus any other memorable characteristics, as perceived by the targeted customers. Hyatt Market Coverage Strategy and Positioning. The Hyatt has adopted a concentrated marketing coverage strategy. The company has positioned its brands in the luxury and corporate market with .exceptional technologysophisticated business and leisure facilitiesgrand scale refinementworld class standardsanctuary and luxury. With this success, the Hyatt has become a leader in the creation and operation of luxury resorts. Hyatt services at the business traveller, with .deluxe hotels with meeting facilities and special services for the business traveller.operating hotels in major and secondary cities and airport locations. Accor Market Coverage Strategy and Positioning. In contrast, Accor has adopted a differentiated marketing strategy. Accor has brand name hotels such as the Sofitel and Novetel offering prestigious hotels and resorts in the worlds most desired business, cultural, and resort destinations; to the cut price Formule 1 offering consistent motel style accommodation at budget rates in prime transport locations. Accor also targets corporate travellers with the Novetel brand which is at the forefront of business class hotel brands. Internet Positioning. The internet offers companies such as Hyatt and Accor numerous opportunities. Online advertising being the largest has four distinct advantages: * Targetability Focus on customers from specific companies, geographic regions and locations, by time of day, computer platform, browser, personal preferences and actual behaviour. * Tracking -Track how customers interact with brands and learn what interests current and perspective customers. Internet advertising can measure response to an advertisement which is difficult using traditional advertising * Deliverability and Flexibility Advertising delivered in real time 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Ads can be launched, updated, or cancelled immediately. * Interactivity -Engage customers with a product or service more effectively online. Customers interact with the product or service, test it, and if they choose, purchase the product or service. The most significant advantage to be realised is targetability and contextual marketing. As described by Zeff and Aronson, various strategies are now readily available to capture the demographics, tastes, and preferences of users to better target content.an advertiser can finally target every ad so that it goes out to just the right prospective customer at precisely the right time. Contextual Marketing eliminates wasted impressions by only delivering ads to interested personsand an ad is not considered a nuisance when it is information a person wants. Accommodation and the Internet. Hyatt has found new ways to utilise the internet. In the past, hotel groups have handed over too much control of inventory and pricing to third party online travel agencies.and now they are trying to take back the reins after early shopping patterns have been established. One article estimated that 51% of the 6.3 billion in online bookings made in 2002 were made by the actual hotel sites, with the remaining 49% going to online travel agents. Hyatt is one of a number of hotel chains tackling this problem. A year ago they launched Travelweb LLC, there own rival to online booking sites such as Hotels.com, Expedia, and Travelocity. Conclusion. Marketings evolution towards product and value based solutions has highlighted the importance of market segmentation, targeting, and positioning to the travel and accommodation industry. The Accor and Hyatt companies offer a range of brands and services to varying segments of the population. By targeting specific segments in the market, Accor and Hyatt satisfy effectively the specific benefits sought by particular consumers. This also promotes efficient use of resources and helps identify niche markets. Tailor made programs offered by Accor and Hyatt is further evidence of the innovation of micromarketing. Accor and Hyatt base these micromarkets on the differences in consumers needs and wants, resources, demographical and geographical information, buying attitudes and practices. With this, Accor and Hyatt have implemented market strategies to position there brand of services in different market segments. Both companies have taken advantage of what the internet has to offer, especially in the areas of targetability and contextual marketing. As the internet moves beyond the desktop computer and exposes points of contact infinitely more timely and relevant, market segmentation and target marketing will provide companies such as Accor and Hyatt with the platform to continue to satisfy customers and trade profitably in this volatile industry.

Get Over a Bad Break Up With These Lost Love Quotes

Get Over a Bad Break Up With These Lost Love Quotes Coping with a bad breakup? Has your boyfriend dumped you for greener pastures? Sure, love hurts. You knew that even before you got into the relationship. Love is not a garden of roses. Sometimes there are thorns too. Love is good; love is bad. You have to accept the whole package. Are you asking yourself right now: why me? You did not deserve this cold shoulder treatment, but you got it. You did everything possible to make the relationship work. Yet, you were dropped like a hot potato. Instead of beating yourself up, take a deep breath and calm down. Maybe, this was not meant to be. Everything happens for a good reason. Now, pull yourself together. You will come out of this mess unscathed. You will emerge stronger and wiser, after you have swallowed lifes bitter pills. So what now? Do you go back to your boyfriend, begging him to take you back? If that works for you, do it. However, ask yourself whether you would be happy to reconcile with your ex, after having lost your self-esteem during the process. If your boyfriend has dumped you, you should not be the needy, desperate lover who is willing to sign on a blank sheet of paper. The desperation to get back together should be mutual, if a healthy reconciliation has to occur. Instead, spend some time in quiet contemplation. Use this occasion to learn a few things about yourself. Reinvent yourself, not because you want your lost love to come back, but because you want to improve. Here are some lost love quotes for him. They work like a soothing balm on an aching heart. Release the venom inside you, and rebuild your life. As Alfred Lord Tennyson famously said, Tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all. Henry Ward Beecher What the heart has once owned and had, it shall never lose. Anais Nin Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we dont know how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of withering, of tarnishing. My Best Friends Wedding If you love someone, you say it, you say it right then, out loud, or the moment just passes you by. Mignon McLaughlin In the arithmetic of love, one plus one equals everything, and two minus one equals nothing. Dorothy Parker Love is like quicksilver in the hand. Leave the fingers open and it stays. Clutch it, and it darts away. Kahlil Gibran Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation. Ian McEwan When its gone, youll know what a gift love was. youll suffer like this. So go back and fight to keep it. La Bruyere We perceive when love begins and when it declines by our embarrassment when alone together. William Shakespeare So dear I love him that with him,All deaths I could endure.Without him, live no life. David Grayson Looking back, I have this to regret, that too often when I loved, I did not say so. Anonymous You will never know true happiness until you have truly loved, and you will never understand what pain really is until you have lost it. John Greenleaf Whittier For all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are those It might have been. G. K. Chesterton The way to love anything is to realize that it may be lost. Barbara DeAngelis You never lose by loving. You always lose by holding back. Alfred, Lord Tennyson Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. Edgar Allan Poe We loved with a love that was more than love. Michel de Montaigne If a man should importune me to give a reason why I loved him, I find it could no otherwise be expressed, than by making answer: because it was he, because it was I. William Thackeray It is best to love wisely, no doubt; but to love foolishly is better than not to be able to love at all. The Beatles Who knows how long Ive loved you,You know I love you still.Will I wait a lonely lifetime?If you want me to I will. Gretchen Kemp Theres this place in me where your fingerprints still rest, your kisses still linger, and your whispers softly echo. Its the place where a part of you will forever be a part of me.

Escape from the Long Arm of the Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Escape from the Long Arm of the Law - Essay Example The dialog finds Plato's mentor and narrative mouthpiece imprisoned and awaiting execution, a result of the trial in which he was found guilty of corrupting the youth of Athens. Crito, a friend of Socrates, has come to prison to visit the condemned man and to advocate that Socrates escape from jail. Socrates will have none of it, and instead engages Crito in one of Socrates' famous dialogs, all in an effort to prove that Socrates cannot flee the punishment of Athens in a way that does not do serious injustice. To justify his claims, Socrates introduces the character of the Laws, voice of the legal charter of Athens. The Laws ask Socrates to stay where he is, to avoid even thinking about escape, since doing so would invite the utter ruination of Athens as a whole: â€Å"Do you imagine,† the Laws inquire, â€Å"that a city can continue to exist and not be turned upside down, if the legal judgments which are pronounced in it have no force but are nullified and destroyed by priva te persons† (Plato 50a-b)? If anyone could simply escape their punishment whenever it didn't suit their own desires, they would be bending laws past their breaking point, since punishment would never have any meaning. Socrates concludes that such a stance is unacceptable. To explain his position to Crito, who is obviously predisposed to the opposite position, Socrates offers a couple of analogies, each of which highlights Socrates's subordinate relationship to the Laws. The law, he contends, is like a father or a master, and Socrates is the child or the slave—in either instance, neither the child nor the slave has the legal right to retaliate against the parent or master simply because they did not like their treatment in one particular instance. In a similar fashion, Socrates benefited from the laws regarding marriage and childrearing, and he cannot simply pick and choose such that he gains all the benefits but suffers none of the consequences. It helps his claim that the Laws have been personified, thus making a set of very diverse laws seem as if they were crafted together and objectively (which seems unlikely) and Socrates clearly believes that because one cannot separate out the Lawsone wants to obey from the Lawsone does not, then one must submit to the force of law in general. This is true even if the law ultimately produces an unfair or even unjust outcome. The price of that one small injustice does not justify committing a grave injustice by disobeying. I believe that the logical result of the Platonic view is nothing less than authoritarianism. There exists little wiggle room in Plato's formulation; the law commands and the citizen obeys. Socrates argues that the greater injustice comes from violating the laws, but what is the threshold at which such a statement can be made? If the state orders the infanticide of second or third-born children because of concerns over population density, or if the federal government declares that cancer p atients can only take marijuana if it comes in a pharmaceutical company's pill form rather than an inexpensive and more effective joint, does one really have to just shrug their shoulders and obey?

Creativity and innovation management I'm witness Essay

Creativity and innovation management I'm witness - Essay Example r hand a large number of people believe in order to run a new business successfully the individual needs to have a highly creative mind that is capable of imagining without any boundaries. Amabile (2012) have mentioned that creativity defines a person’s ability to generate new ideas or concepts that can pertinently solve relevant problems and can offer competitive advantage to the orgazanitions. An employee with high creative intellect allows the firms to develop innovative product or services development and can also introduce new marketing strategies which have not been tried before. (Covin and Slevin, 1991) also added that in term of organizational success of a new firm, creativity is perhaps the biggest predicator. The increasing competiveness in the global business market has led the organizations to adopt first mover advantage so that they can offer products and services which have not yet been offered before and marketing or branding strategies that have not been tried before. This as a result allows the organizations to offer unique customer experiences thereby increasing their competitive advantage. Achieving competitive advantage is quite important fo r the new emerging business to overcome the barriers to entry created by the existing well established firms. Duxbury (2012) mentioned from a theoretical perspective that creative thinking can emerge depending on different types of characteristics of the personality of the individuals. The types of characteristics have been indentified which are responsible for the creating thinking are, intrinsic motivation, domain oriented skills and creativity oriented cognitive process. The intrinsic motivation allows an individual to pursue a particular venture for his own interest. This type of personality is critical to creative nature of an individual; it creates a strong sense of necessity within the individual, which forms the basis of the creative process. It allows the individual to stay persistent in tough

The Meaning of Lives Essay Example for Free

The Meaning of Lives Essay In her article The Meaning of Lives, Susan Wolf, a moral philosopher and philosopher of action, investigates whether meaning can exist in lives without postulating the existance of God. Wolf establishes her position on this philosophical question from an agnostic perspective and rationally argues that such a question can in fact â€Å"fit within a negative or agnostic view about the meaning of life† (Wolf 63). With this paper, I will first summarize the prominent points of Wolf’s article then highlight and expound upon areas of her argument that contradict her line of reason. Lastly, I will introduce the theistic perspective on meaningful lives along with presenting Wolf’s reason and argument as supporting evidence for the theistic view. In the Meaning of Lives, Susan Wolf opens briefly with an evaluation of the philosophically ambiguous question, â€Å"What is the meaning of life? † She argues this particular question is impossible to rationalize because it dependents upon a postulation for the existence of God. Wolf claims it is necessary to postulate the existence of God in order to argue this original question because if God does exist, then He â€Å"may have created us for a reason, with a plan in mind†(Wolf 63). Thus, if God exists then there would be purpose and meaning to human existence dependent upon the creator God. Wolf does not deny the existence of God; she simply suggests that a divine existence is improvable. Therefore the question of a grand purpose and meaning in life is an unnecessary and an improvable argument to find an answer to, due to the improvable nature of God. However, she does believe that meaning in lives is not contingent upon the existence of God stating, â€Å"Meaningfulness is an intelligible feature to be sought in life† and that â€Å"a positive view about the possibility of meaning in lives can fit with a negative or agnostic view about the meaning of life†(Wolf 63). She expounds on this argument in three distinct sections. The first part of Wolf’s argument observes three different examples of meaningless lifestyle. Wolf articulates that learning from three paradigms of meaningless lives, one can construct an understanding for meaningfulness. She begins with a lifestyle she labeled the Blob. The Blob is defined by a lifestyle that â€Å"is lived in hazy passivity†¦ unconnected to anyone or anything, going nowhere, achieving nothing† (Wolf 64). Wolf deduces from the Blobs meaningless lifestyle, that in order to attain a meaningful life one must be engaged in a project, which can include relationships. The second meaningless lifestyle, in contrast to the Blob’s lifestyle of passivity, is regarded as the Useless life; â€Å"a life whose dominant activities seem pointless, useless or empty† (Wolf 65). After reviewing the lifestyle of the Useless life, a life void of worth, to achieve meaning â€Å"one must be engaged in a project or projects that have some positive value† (Wolf 65). The final category of a meaningless life would be the lifestyle of the Bankrupt, â€Å"someone who is engaged or even dedicated, to a project that is ultimately revealed as bankrupt, not because the person’s values are shallow or misguided, but because the project fails†(Wolf 65). Ultimately, Wolf concludes that in order to achieve meaningfulness one must not only be engaged in a project of positive value but that project must be in some way successful. After providing a working definition for a meaningful life, Wolf raises the question as to what constitutes â€Å"positive value† and who has the right to objectively determine value. Similarly to Wolf’s construction of meaningfulness, she argues reasons for why an individual is incapable of objectively determining positive value. This incapability for determining objective value is due to the individual’s subjectivity and â€Å"interest in living a life that feels or seems meaningful†(Wolf 66). Therefore, because an individual is incapable of distinguishing objective positive value from interest, it is unlikely that the individual can distinguish what is required for a meaningful life. She argues that objective value is determined and achieved through observing value in other people’s lives. Wolf clarifies that the objective good she is referring to is not compared to moral goodness, â€Å"benefiting or honoring humanity† (Wolf 67). Wolf claims that meaningfulness is not contingent upon moral value. Instead, Wolf suggests that while there are examples of lives exhibiting great moral value, such as Mother Teresa and Gandhi, that are full of meaning; there are also examples of other lives, such as â€Å"artists, scholars, musicians and athletes†, that possess great meaning, not based upon their moral value. These lives are considered valuable and meaningful due to their ability to â€Å"develop our skills and our understanding of the world† which â€Å"give meaning to our lives- but they do not give moral value to them †(Wolf 67). A greater understanding of our own worth and the Universe is what Wolf constitutes for lives to have meaning. The final stage in Wolf’s argument poses the question â€Å"what is the good, after all, of living a meaningful life†(Wolf 67)? Wolf does not wish to define goodness, but rather discusses the advantages for living a life full of meaning. Wolf makes the final stand, that in order to grasp meaningfulness and understand how one can achieve it in their life; an individual must become enlightened to their status in the world as â€Å"a tiny speck in a vast universe† (Wolf 69). This description of where an individual lies in relation to the vastness of the Universe, provides the reality that meaning in lives cannot logically be contingent upon the desires and benefits for the individual, due to humanities insignificance. It seems illogical to Wolf, that a person who seeks to find meaning in their life could conclude that is dependent upon their independent happiness claiming, â€Å"to devote oneself wholly to one’s own satisfaction seems to me to fly in the face of truth, to act as if one is the only thing that matters, or perhaps, more, that one’s own psychology is the only source of (determining) what matters† (Wolf 70). The truth, to which Wolf refers, is the reality that individuals have very little significance in relation to the value of the vast Universe. It is because of this truth that a self-center and egocentric life goes against of logic after such a truth is realized. Wolf argues that instead of egocentric priorities to achieve meaning, an individual should alternatively be focused on the needs of the Universe and others. She understands that â€Å"you are just one person among others, equally real- is the source of practical reason-in this case, it gives you reason to take the pains of others to constitute reasons for action†¦reason to care about the pain of others that is grounded, not in our own psychologies, but a fact about the world†(Wolf 70). In this section, I will address three areas of Wolf’s reasoning I find to be inconsistent with her argument as a whole. A concern that I have regarding Wolf’s argument is her use of the word â€Å"meaning†, in regards to the meaning of lives. A very different connotation of the word â€Å"meaning† suggested by the philosophical question, â€Å"What is the meaning of life? † Wolf states that the question, â€Å"What is the meaning of life? † requires an individual to postulate the existence of God because it implies their ultimate aim â€Å"to find a purpose or a point to human existence†(Wolf 63). However, Wolf also argues, â€Å"whether or not God exists, the fact remains that some objects, activities and ideas are better than others. Whether or not God exists some ways of living are more worthwhile than others†(Wolf 72). At the beginning of Wolf’s argument about the meaning of lives, suggests that she neither denies nor rejects the existence of God. She argues this as true because she believes the question behind the meaning in lives can be answered as â€Å"an intelligible feature to be sought in life and that it is at least sometimes attainable but not everywhere assured†(Wolf 63). Wolf reduces the meaning of lives to that which can be determined by human reasoning a finite measurement of this transitory world. Thus Wolf, who has neither denied nor rejected the existence of God has unreasonably eliminated the question of origin of lives, as irrelevant to meaning in lives. She focuses how certain types of lives merit significance in existence and consequently refers to the word â€Å"meaning† as synonymous with value. Finally, Wolf argues that there is value in human lives that â€Å"can fit with a negative or agnostic view about the meaning of life†(Wolf 66). This statement is far less controversial than her attempts to argue that meaning in lives is achievable without the postulation of God. Logically, to explore meaning in lives, one must consider the beginning of life, which must have been constructed either by accident or by a creator. Meaning cannot be cited as more or less significant at a particular point in an individual’s life. Thus, the point that one comes into existence must be regarded for defining meaning within an individual’s life. The second problem in Wolf’s argument comes in her evaluation of what is considered a project of positive value. An individual who is engaged in a project of positive value is central to Wolf’s definition of a meaningful life. Although, projects of positive value can add to meaning in an individual’s life, Wolf’s reasoning as to â€Å"who is to decide which projects have positive value† is vague and inconsistent with her earlier positions (Wolf 66). Wolf concludes that individuals are incapable of objectively deciding what has positive value, due to subjective interests, which skew their understanding of objective value. Wolf deduces that in order for an individual to understand projects of positive value, which will eventually adds meaning to heir lives, they must experience an â€Å"epiphany†¦ to the recognition that our life to date has been meaningless† (Wolf 66). This comment is completely inconsistent with Wolf’s fundamental goal to acquire an understanding of meaning in lives from an intelligible process of reason. The understanding for projects of positive value through an epiphany is inconsistent with her pervious arguments because it depends she suggests that understanding meaning comes from an unintelligible source of knowledge. Who is to say that that epiphany is not guided by a supreme higher being? The irony of Wolf’s conclusion about the necessary epiphany, is that her statement â€Å"It is the sort of experience that one might describe in terms of scales falling from ones eyes†, compares closely to the allusion found in Acts 9:18 (Wolf 66). The verse reads â€Å"And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized† (NIV 1000). The language of scales falling from the eyes in order to gain true understanding is regarded in both versions as an act depended upon a supernatural entity enabling the change. This very interesting comment by Wolf, suggests that understanding how an individual recognizes truth through epiphany is beyond the capabilities of human control and intellect. Her attempted arguments about how a meaningful life is realized are sound up until the point about epiphany. Lastly, Wolf’s argument for meaning in lives lacks any discussion of immortality as a necessary property for meaning. Wolf reasons that there are certain lifestyles that are more meaningful than others. This argument for certain lifestyle having greater meaning has limited relevance because as she rationalizes, lives are finite and temporary as are the lives of others whom we must focus in our acknowledgement of the truth that we are just a â€Å"speck in the vast Universe†(Wolf 69). Wolf does a fine job at articulating the insignificance and temporary state of human life. However, she fails to recognize that in her attempts to construct a logical framework for meaning in finite lives she disregards the possibility for immortality to give further meaning to lives. Thus, she reduces the idea of meaning as an avoidance of an egocentric lifestyle and recognizes insignificance and meaning within an individuals’ life alone. Wolf’s claim that meaning is attainable through certain actions only satisfies temporary lives for a finite amount of time. This argument surrounding meaning as dependent upon an inward realization of insignificance manifesting into outward actions, is simply a cycle of meaningless people helping other meaningless people, and causes only a temporary impact. In an argument for the importance of immortality to meaning in lives, Gianluca Di Muzio states, â€Å"If a human being dies and her actions have no lasting effect, because the world itself perished, then her life was meaningless. If, in the end, all comes to nothing, then it does not matter in the first place whether a particular person existed or not† (Di Muzio 2). In order for actions and lives to be meaningful, they must have a lasting impact or something to gain, and provide for others in a way that is not reducible to the finite and temporary world. Thus, achievable immortality must exist for meaning to be possible. Although she attempts to determine the meaning in lives for an agnostic world, I would argue that Wolf’s argument actually supports many theistic views regarding the meaning of lives. Though many of Wolf’s arguments do not adequately provide understanding for meaning in lives from an agnostic perspective, many of her points parallel to the theistic view of â€Å"purpose theory. † Before I expound on these similarities, an understanding of the theistic view regarding the meaning of must be addressed. According to Borchert, the theistic view argues that, â€Å"life is meaningful insofar as one fulfills a purpose that God has assigned† (Borchert 295). In â€Å"Confession†, Leo Tolstoy discusses meaning in life from the theistic perspective and claims â€Å"now I see clearly that my faith-my only real faith-that which apart from my animal instincts gave impulse to my life- was a belief in perfecting myself† (Klemke 2). Tolstoy sought such perfection in artistic achievements and loving his family. In trying to find meaning in family and people, Tolstoy ultimately realizes that â€Å"My family — wife and children — are also human. They are placed just as I am: they must either live in a lie or see the terrible truth† (Klemke 10). In other words, Tolstoy realizes that if meaning resides in the finite and temporary nature of humanity, meaning too will die along with the life. Tolstoy further suggests that meaning cannot reside within artistic modes when he writes Art, poetry? Under the influence of success and the praise of men, I had long assured myself that this was a thing one could do though death was drawing near — death which destroys all things, including my work and its remembrance; but soon I saw that that too was a fraud† (Klemke 10). This declaration further supports Tolstoy’s theistic belief that everything of and in this world cannot be the ultimate source of meaning in lives. Although, the substance of this world may increase value within life, it cannot supply ultimate, enduring meaning. Tolstoy finally declares, â€Å"To know God and to live is one and the same thing. God is life- Live seeking God, and then you will not live without God† (Klemke 11). This passage concludes with his theistic assertion that without a â€Å"divine plan for the world, then all efforts come to nothing, because everything comes to nothing. Hence our lives are meaningless without God† (Metz 293). Though Wolf attempts to support an agnostic view for the question, â€Å"is there meaning in lives? † her central points mirror those of the theistic view and supports many of its claims. This final section will concentrate on central points within Wolf’s argument that support a theistic view for understanding meaning in lives. To begin, she claims that a life has meaning insofar as it is â€Å"engaged in a project or projects that have some positive value† (Wolf 65). Although this statements seems logical, Wolf fails to provide an intelligible source for acquiring knowledge about whether or not a project has positive value and which projects do not. She betrays the agnostic attempt to provide an understanding of meaning in lives through reason, by suggesting that realization of projects with positive value relies upon an epiphany. The concept of an epiphany for realization is inconsistent with her attempts to rationalize. However, when Wolf’s definition is placed against the theistic view, it is logically consistent with theological beliefs. Theists believe that an individual must be actively engaged in positively affecting peoples lives with in the world, while ultimately contributing to God’s divine plan in order for their lives to have meaning. This concept is articulated beautifully in Gianluca Di Muzio’s argument: Theism and the Meaning of Life, in which he states, â€Å"In order to have meaning, our lives must make a difference to a higher scheme. And theism sees human action as doing a sort of double duty. On one hand, they affect other people and events in this world, on the other, they further or hinder God’s ultimate plan† (Di Muzio 2). This statement suggests that humanities actions in projects have the ability to have two different forms of significance, both relative and ultimate. Relative significance refers to the theistic perspective that, â€Å"actions and events have relative significance when they only influence other actions and events†(Di Muzio 3). Ultimate significance is when our actions and events â€Å"contribute to God’s plan† (Di Muzio 3). Both of these forms contribute to theistic view, however Wolf’s argument focuses solely on relative significance. The theistic understanding of relative significance is paralleled to Wolf’s understanding of meaning in lives. She believes that when individuals realize their insignificance and begin to seek beyond themselves for meaning by actively engaging in projects of positive value, they can acquire meaning. Though this insignificance is transient, it supports the theistic belief that, â€Å"human beings have access to value† without having to postulate the existence of God, because â€Å"existence affords the opportunity to attain the kinds of goods that make a human life worthwhile and fulfilling† (Di Muzio 5-6). Wolf’s profound point that human life is just a â€Å"speck in a vast universe† lays the foundation for the theistic belief in ultimate significance (Wolf 71). Theists believe that there is A fundamental disproportion between aspirations and reality is a powerful source of the idea that our lives are absurd and meaningless. We think we matter, and yet we don’t. The world is not intoned with our hope, desires and projects. The possibility of out destruction looms everywhere; and human suffering, however enormous, seems to be nothing but a passing accident, a byproduct of the presence of sentient creatures in a world that merely tolerates them for a short time. (Di Muzio 9) This understanding of human insignificance plays a vital role in the theistic belief that despite human fragility, purpose and significance are achievable within the most tragic circumstances. Wolf’s recognition of our insignificance implies our need to look beyond our own lives for meaning. If a life of meaning depends upon recognizing the truth about our insignificance and continuing to be â€Å"actively engaged in a project of positive value†, and one cannot perform these projects due to tragic circumstances, then within Wolf’s reasoning their life can not have meaning. Wolf’s understanding of meaning depends upon individual human performance. In trying times of suffering, whether great or small, this concept of looking outside of ones own circumstances is hard to accomplish and in some circumstances impossible, thus in such cases meaning cannot be unachieved. The theistic view of ultimate significance provides a hope that a life of suffering can have meaning and purpose too in that, â€Å"the idea of God and hope for immortality can help us look again at the world and our fragile lives as meaningful†(Di Muzio 9). The project of participating in God’s divine plan is the only project that has lasting and unwavering value for meaning in lives. Wolf’s central argument concerning meaning in lives provides many logically convincing and sound points. However, Wolf’s definition of a life of meaning is both disconnected from her original argument and lacks a consistent, authoritative source and process for achieving meaning. She attempts to suggest that meaning is an â€Å"intelligible feature to be sought in life†, then provides the solution for achieving this insight of through the unintelligible source of epiphany. Secondly, Wolf’s argument for the realization of insignificance as the truth, unlocks the need for an individual to look beyond serving his or her own self-centered desires for meaning. However, though her point about insignificance seems valid, Wolf fails to provide examples or an understanding of how an individual can objectively determine how to look outside of themselves. In total, Wolf produces an understanding of meaning that depends upon an individuals abilities to undergo an epiphany and properly manifest their understanding of the need to look outside one’s self and recognize Universal needs. The problem with this stance is that focusing on the Universe provides no lasting impact, or meaning to a particular life because the things of this Universe are finite and temporary. The individual’s life will eventually end along with the actions and events they affected. Though existence can provide an opportunity for value, as understood in Wolf’s argument and the theistic view, meaning is dependent upon a infinite being whose performance can not be temporary. An individual must not be reliant on their personal performances and finite experiences to obtain meaning, but rather is actively engaged in an eternal project of positive value, determined by an infinite and constant authority, God. Works Cited Borchert, Donald M. Theism. Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 2nd ed. 10. Detroit: Gale, 2006. Web. 25 Apr 2012. Di Muzio, Gianluca. Theism and the Meaning of Life life’s meaning? Ars Disputandi . 6. (2006): 1-12. Print. Klemke, E. D. â€Å"The Meaning of Life†. 2nd. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000. Print. Metz, Thaddeus. â€Å"Could God’s purpose be the source of life’s meaning? † Cambridge Journals. (2000): 293-311. Print. Wolf, Susan. The Meaning Of Lives. 62-73. Print.

Bnl - When I Fall Poetry :: essays research papers

â€Å"When I fall† is a lyrical song written by Steven Page and Ed Robertson of the Barenaked Ladies. It is about a window washer who is at a critical moment in his life. The song is structured in such a way that a progression and transformation is seen in the window washers troubles from worrisome to life threatening. The window washer is the persona of the poem, and in the first stanza he expresses a fear. He is somewhere he doesn’t want to be and is scared. This is followed by the chorus of the song in which it is made clear that he wants to make a change in his life, but is afraid of failure. At this point the window washers troubles take on the form of deep mental anguish where he resorts to prayer and laments on the physically and mentally troubling aspects of his world. In the next stanza, the window washer comments on the prestige of the boardroom he looks into as he washes the windows. Here he addresses the change he wants to make in his life and states that he would like to swap places with the business men in the room. However, he realizes that this is impossible because they would never agree to lower themselves to the stature of a window washer. When he realizes this, his thoughts become radical and he contemplates suicide. By the end of the song however, he pulls himself together and realizes that what he does and who is does have some value in the world. All of this is brought to the reader by an abundant use of figurative language throughout the song. For Instance, the scaffold the man is standing on symbolizes his position in life (he is scared and wants to escape. In the third stanza, after describing the problems with his world and how he prays, he curses the windstorms. This is actually a metaphor for his mental confusion and despair. In the next stanza, the prestige of the boardroom is made evident by the allusion of it towards a pharoahs tomb. We know in the end that he has pulled it all together when he calls his â€Å"crystal clear canvas† (the windows) a â€Å"masterpiece† . He has given value to his work and thus, value to his life. The sonf has a definite rhyme scheme which lends itself well to the theme of the poem.

Ikea Global Business

Resource Based View This view focuses on Value, Resource, Imitability and Organizational factors (VRIO) of capabilities and resources deposit within the firm. Ikea has out performed its competitors since the time it was born. Below is the analysis of Ikea based on VRIO analysis- Value – When different companies enter into the industry dominated by a single firm. Then, the firm dominating needs to focus on its value adding capabilities and resources. Ikea is a firm that has been dominating the industry in which it’s operating.The reason behind this success is the firm has some valuable resources and capabilities. For example. the firm has strong long-term commitment with the suppliers, which has been beneficial for the firm to get its products at lost cost and the company specializes in recycling five of its waste materials. It is known for its franchising missions, unlike other companies it does not get into the international markets via joint ventures or partnerships b ut through agreements.One of them is, in 2001 it entered into an agreement with Musicmusicmusic, Inc. to introduce industrial sound service. Rarity – This means the firm needs to have certain resources and capabilities, which are not available by the others. Ikea possesses huge real estates for forests that are under its responsibility and management. The firm has adopted environmental conservational culture that does not allow it to accept timber, plywood, layer glued wood and veneer from forest of high conservation value. Also you can read  Business Ethics ComprisesThe company is popular for its designer products and classical furniture that range from Egyptian art to Asian style. Point to be noted is that the firm imports curve wood and bamboo heavy lacquers from China using which furniture is made by using high quality craftsmanship, which is all sold at a low cost. This makes the firm to have rare quality products which are most demanded by customers and therefore, giving a competitive advantage.

Discrimination And Prejudice

Prejudice is a term which is used in most of our daily conversations and means unconfirmed or untested formed belief, attitude, opinion or knowledge held about an entity or a group and it is taken as truth by the person or groups who holds such opinion, belief, attitude or knowledge, (Honey, 1999). A typical example is the belief of the western countries that Africans are primitive and nothing good comes from them. This statement qualifies as prejudice since no test has since been carried out to confirm this claim even though most western community widely accepts it.Another example to elaborate further prejudice is an opinion by Christian community that both Muslims and Hindus are sinners, not worthy of heavenly inheritance. The same is also the typical opinion held against Christians by adherents to other religious groups. This statement propagates prejudice since it is not true that following a different religious belief makes people bad. Final example in this category is the belie f by a group of people that Muslims are terrorists. Is it confirmed?Discrimination on the other hand is a term widely used to mean a process of according unequal treatment or chance to different individuals, group of people, objects or events based on the views held on them. In this case therefore, the factors about which positive view(s) is/are held have higher probability of being given favorable treatment as opposed to those factors about which negative attitudes are held. By the same token, to discriminate refers to an act of giving unequal treatment to an entity or group with presume similar characteristics, (Cochran, 1999).For instance, the belief that Africans are primitive may influence someone from western countries to prefer an American as his/her personal doctor over an African medical specialist. A faithful Christian is most is likely to appreciate neither Hindu nor Islamic faith and vise versa. Finally, most Muslims may not be given visa to most countries as other natio nals have access to this document with ease. It therefore follows that discrimination and prejudice are two interrelated words with prejudice possibly resulting to discrimination Discrimination and Prejudice Discrimination is easiest explained through prejudice. Prejudice is when a social subject holds a preconceived notion about another person or a group of people, without judging from experience. Discrimination is when a social subject acts upon such preconceived notions. A common mistake is the concept that both prejudice and discrimination are only negative, as in a derogative notion of someone (such as the treatment many minorities were subjected to), but, in truth, positive discrimination and prejudice are both possible, if there is a preconceived notion in favor of someone.Both of these notions are those of inequality, the difference between them being in thought as opposed to action of any kind. In fact, it's possible to be prejudiced and not discriminate, out of such things as fear or profit, and it is possible to discriminate for the same reasons and not be prejudiced. Though, most commonly, it is those who are biased who discriminate, and those who are-non biased give equal tr eatment to their peers from different groups.There are three types of discrimination, based mostly on the level of social deepness. There is personal discrimination, which consists of any personal attack on a minority member, from slurs to murder. This is any attack on the personal level, any interaction of particular human beings. An instance of such an attack would be calling a transgendered human spawn of Satan. There is legal discrimination, which is when a minority group is denied any kind of rights – public institutions, jobs, housing and anything social, basically.Any person who has ever been denied a job because â€Å"blacks do not work as well as whites do† (without looking at the prior credentials) knows what legal discrimination is like. And, finally, the most deeply entrenched in society is institutional discrimination. This is when there is a tradition of discrimination so deep that it is no longer viewed as discrimination, where a discriminatory idea is s o old and seemingly natural, that even members of the minority group themselves sometimes believe it.A great example is that â€Å"Romani are thieves†. Despite all cultural tradition, if this stereotype weren't upheld by society, building walls on their side of the Romani self-chose seclusion, their way of life might have changed over the centuries, like it did with many other peoples. There are four basic approaches to the matters of aging within society. The first is the functionalist approach, otherwise known as social disengagement theory.It looks upon the withdrawal of elders from society as natural, since they gradually lose social power, and thus remove themselves from social responsibilities as to make room for youth in functional aspects, while retaining the ability to engage in activities of their choosing, such as hobbies, should they so desire. However, the activity (or interactionist) theory disputes the functionalist approach, by claiming that the more active an elderly person remains, the better their quality of life. They may disengage from responsibilities, but remaining active is necessary for a full life even in this age.Research supports this, despite criticisms that this may set unrealistic goals for the elderly. Their capacity for activity does lessen, but activity remains a basic need for happiness, and needs to be fulfilled, even in this reduced amount. But if the elderly are happier if engaged in activities, why do they disengage? Conflict theory states that, since profit is the driving force behind society, there is much pressure on the elderly to leave their positions, so that younger, less expensive and more competent specialists may be hired, the elderly losing social value as time goes on.This seems more correct than the subculture approach, which states that the elderly, while disengaging with those younger, form subcultures among themselves to compensate. While subcultures may be formed, they are not the defining factor f or the disengagement, but rather, one of its consequences. And last, the exchange theory on aging combines all of these perspectives, by stating that the elderly remain active socially (and thus, happy) as long as their activity is beneficial to all involved.By â€Å"beneficial† they do not mean only economic benefits, but also the exchange of simple human feelings such as love, friendship and compassion, though some elderly people remain engaged economically (for instance, by renting rooms in their homes), and thus allow themselves the possibility of social interaction. This also includes the functionalist perspective, for it shows how rewards are given in return for past productivity. This is the most comprehensive approach.

Facts and Opinions in Opinion Essay Samples

Facts and Opinions in Opinion Essay Samples Facts and Opinions in Opinion Essay Samples In an opinion essay, the focus of attention is your own point of view, as opposed to an argumentative essay, for example, where you basically defend another persons opinion. A good opinion essay should include your point of view, stated in the introductory paragraph, reasoning for your opinion, and, of course, a conclusion, where you sum up your argument. Remember to back up your reasoning with examples. Preferably, place each opinion in a separate paragraph. You can also add opposing or supporting opinions of experts or your peers, but you have to remember that any opinion should be clearly stated. The most important part of this essay is to effectively prove your point of view. For that, you have to build a solid argument. Normally we distinguish between two main types of argument, inductive and deductive. Which one to use in your essay largely depends on your thesis statement. In this post, we will learn about the two types of reasoning and if an inductive argument is suitable for an opinion essay. Types of Argument An inductive argument basically means that your thesis statement is a projection of a more general statement, and your reasoning will increase or decrease the probability of your conclusion being true. The later depends on how strong or weak your reasoning is. For example, if your evidence is reliable, you have more chances to prove your point. This type of argument is more suited for presenting an opposing point of view, because it will give you room to refute. In a deductive argument, the truth of the conclusion is logically derived from the reasoning: if, then For example, if it rains, then the road will certainly be wet; we cannot conclude that it rains because the road is wet, there can be other reasons for that. This is a good type of argument to defend your point of view. For you the conclusion is true, by default, and you only need to break it into elements that will prove your reasoning. How to Support Your Opinion with Facts To prove your point of view, you have to build a good argument that will explain how you have come to a certain conclusion. An essential part of this is to present your facts clearly and in an easy to understand manner, so that your audience is not left guessing. It is important to understand that facts are verified pieces of information, not based on opinions. The effectiveness of your argument depends on the way you present data: define the point and present only the most valuable information; raw data is for you to analyze, not the reader. find a way to break up the text: pictures, charts, diagrams, even statistics will let the readers mind rest, but dont overload your paper with graphics. if you have a boring topic, try to make it more fun with a writing style, or couple of fun facts. The key to making the audience believe in your point of view is believing in it yourself.

Case Studies in Finance Company G & H Essay Example for Free

Case Studies in Finance Company G & H Essay Company G deals mostly in selling books in a large retail setting, however they implement a concept that is more community-based. Company H deals in a variety of media, including books, music, and video along with electronics and other varieties of merchandise. Not only does Company H differ in merchandise variety, but it also differs from Company G in that it is internet-based only and is highly interested in further corporate acquisitions—very different from Company G’s â€Å"community store concept†. Bruner, Eades, & Schill, 2010, pp. 96-97). Since Company H has a variety of merchandise to sell, along with its interest in acquisitions; it has a significantly higher level of net fixed assets than that of Company G. Acquisitions will always increase the level of net fixed assets. Since Company G tends to implement a strategy that does not favor large acquisitions, its level is lower at a level of 7. 6 versus 24. 4 in Company H. Company H also exceeds Company G in most of the liabilities section, which automatically gives Company H a leg up in being able to take on more liabilities such as credits and loans. However, Company G comes out winning in terms of income and expenses, with a net income of 8. 5%. Company H’s net income ended at 2. 9%. This also relates to lowered percentage of SG&A expenses on Company G’s side, higher interest income, special items income, and its lower percentage of income taxes. Company G is also considered to be more liquid than Company G, with a current ratio of 1. 57 versus Company H’s 1. 49. This indicates that while Company G has more liabilities, it is better-able to pay its short-term liabilities than Company H. It is understandable why Company H keeps its liabilities slightly lower so that they do not become overwhelmed with short-terms loans and notes that it will not be able to pay back on time. Case Studies in Finance Company G & H. (2016, Nov 19). We have essays on the following topics that may be of interest to you

Research Methods in Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Research Methods in Education - Essay Example Qulittive reserch tends to be ssocited with prticipnt observtion nd unstructured, in-depth interviewing. The methods of dt collection with which qulittive reserch is ssocited hve been employed by socil scientists for mny yers. The best-known of these methods is prticipnt observtion, which entils the sustined immersion of the resercher mong those whom he or she seeks to study with view to generting rounded, in-depth ccount of the group, orgniztion, or whtever. Unstructured interviewing, in which the resercher provides miniml guidnce nd llows considerble ltitude for interviewees, is lso fvoured technique. Most prticipnt observers conduct t lest modicum of such interviewing, but some qulittive reserchers use it more or less exclusively. The ims of such interviewing re quite different from the fmilir survey pproch. While some qulittive reserchers mke use of n interview schedule, others operte with loose collection of themes which qulittive reserch strtegy ws used in this study becuse this method fits better the chosen topic. Prticipnt observtion nd unstructured interviewing re the centrl dt gthering plnks since in this wy it ws possible to get closer to the people tht were investigted nd be less inclined to impose inpproprite conceptul frmeworks on them. Quntittive reserch is ssocited with number of different pproches to dt co... qulittive reserch strtegy ws used in this study becuse this method fits better the chosen topic. Prticipnt observtion nd unstructured interviewing re the centrl dt gthering plnks since in this wy it ws possible to get closer to the people tht were investigted nd be less inclined to impose inpproprite conceptul frmeworks on them. Quntittive Reserch Quntittive reserch is ssocited with number of different pproches to dt collection. In sociology in prticulr, the socil survey is one of the min methods of dt collection which embodies the fetures of quntittive reserch to be explored below. The survey's cpcity for generting quntifible dt on lrge numbers of people who re known to be representtive of wider popultion in order to test theories or hypotheses hs been viewed by mny prctitioners s mens of cpturing mny of the ingredients of science. (Hirschi's 1969) In frmes of quntittive reserch tht dt re collected on cross-section of people t single point in time in order to discover the wys nd degrees to which vribles relte to ech other. 2.2. The popultion nd smpling Prticipnts were 3 techers completing their Msters degrees nd plnning to work s secondry school prctitioners. Interviews were conduscted during the week. Every meeting took bout 30 minutes. ll nswers were recorded nd then noted down on the pper. ll prticipnts where told it ws strictly confidentil nd the interviews where rrnged by myself, we communicted by telephone nd emil. 2.3. Piloting Leedy & Ormrod (2001) recommend the use of brief pilot study to test the vlidity nd relibility of mesurement instrument, developed for specific purpose nd never previously tested or used in prctice. The mesurement instrument used in this reserch ws subjected to pilot test. The min reson