First and Second Triumvirates of Rome

First and Second Triumvirates of Rome A triumvirate is an arrangement of government wherein three individuals share the most noteworthy political force. The term began in Rome during the last breakdown of the republic; it actually implies the standard of three men (tresâ viri). The individuals from a triumvirate could possibly be chosen and might possibly manage as per existing lawful standards. The First Triumvirate A union of Julius Caesar, Pompey (Pompeius Magnus) and Marcus Licinius Crassusâ ruled Rome from 60 BCE to 54 BCE. These three men solidified force in the melting away long periods of Republican Rome. In spite of the fact that Rome had extended a long ways past focal Italy, its political organizations set up when Rome was only one all the more little city-state among others neglected to keep pace. In fact, Rome was still only a city on the Tiber River, represented by a Senate; common governors to a great extent administered outside of Italy and with hardly any exemptions, the individuals of the areas did not have a similar poise and rights that Romans (i.e., individuals who lived in Rome) delighted in. For a century before the First Triumvirate, the republic was shaken by slave revolts, pressure from Gallic clans toward the north, defilement in the areas and common wars. Influential men more remarkable than the Senate, now and again sometimes practiced casual authority with the dividers of Rome. Against that setting, Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus adjusted to bring request out of turmoil yet the request kept going a meager six years. The three men controlled until 54 BCE. In 53, Crassus was executed and by 48, Caesar crushed Pompey at Pharsalus and administered alone until his death in the Senate in 44. The Second Triumvirate The Second Triumvirate comprised of Octavian (Augustus), Marcus Aemilius Lepidus and Mark Antony. The Second Triumvirate was an official body made in 43 B.C., known as Triumviri Rei Publicae Constituendae Consulari Potestate. Consular force was relegated to the three men. Normally, there were just two chosen delegates. The triumvirate, notwithstanding a five-year term limit, was recharged for a subsequent term. The Second Triumvirate contrasted from the first to the extent that it was a lawful substance unequivocally supported by the Senate, not a private understanding among strongmen. Be that as it may, the Second endured a similar destiny as the First: Internal squabbling and envy prompted its debilitating and breakdown. First to fall was Lepidus. After a strategic maneuver against Octavian, he was deprived of the entirety of his workplaces aside from for Pontifex Maximusâ in 36 and later expelled to a remote island. Antony having lived since 40 with Cleopatra of Egypt and becoming progressively disconnected from the force governmental issues of Rome was unequivocally crushed in 31 at the Battle of Actium and from there on ended it all with Cleopatra in 30. By 27, Octavian had retitled himself Augustus, adequately turning into the principal head of Rome. In spite of the fact that Augustus paid specific consideration to utilize the language of the republic, in this way keeping up a fiction of republicanism well into the first and second hundreds of years CE, the intensity of the Senate and its emissaries had been broken and the Roman Empire started its about half-thousand years of impact over the Meditteranean world.

English Language and Tourist Satisfaction

English Language and Tourist Satisfaction The travel industry over the most recent two decades grew fundamentally in Malaysia. Malaysia has gotten 24.6 million vacationers from everywhere throughout the world in the year 2010, (Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen, Tourism Minister of Malaysia) and in a report led by WTO, Kuala Lumpur( the capital city of Malaysia), was among the main 10 Most visited urban communities by number of universal guests in 2010. All nations are searching for approaches to draw in more visitors. Along these lines, traveler fulfillment has been a need subject of research as of late. Understanding what drives fulfillment for a traveler is one of the most pertinent territories of research (Prebensen, 2006), as fulfilled visitors will in general transmit their positive encounters to other people and to rehash their visit (Alã ©n, Rodrã ­guez Fraiz, 2007) In spite of the fact that there are numerous meanings of fulfillment, Reichel (1978) characterizes traveler fulfillment as the aftereffect of examination between a voyagers involvement with the goal visited and the assumption regarding the goal. As per Feng (2007) ), fulfillment is one of the most significant factors while breaking down traveler conduct, as it impacts the decision of goal, the utilization of items and administrations, and the choice to return. Numerous elements are engaged with creation of a nation a visitor favored goal. Both the administration and the private divisions must work inseparably. The individuals in the bleeding edge must be equipped for causing the guests to feel that they have picked the correct excursion goal. In this way the accentuation on language capability is justifiable. Language not exclusively is a methods for building up a correspondence yet in addition is an instrument for encouraging connections. There are in any event 1400 million individuals who live in nations that English has an official status, so it isn't astounding that one out of five part of the number of inhabitants on the planet communicate in English at the degree of ability and the rest are still sought after of learning this language ( David Graddol, 1997) As per Malaysias Government official site, 54366 guests showed up from Europe from January to September 2011, 14725 guests from North America and 21445 guests from Oceania (Australia-New Zealand). The majority of these voyagers native language is English and there are Asian and African visitors, who perceive English as the Language of the world. In the event that these visitors can impart in their mom language or whatever other language which has more utilization, they can feel comfortable in those goal nations. It gives them certainty and causes them to feel safe, bringing about expanded degrees of fulfillment. 1.1 Statement of the issue As it referenced, a significant segment in the travel industry is voyagers fulfillment. The degree of visitors fulfillment assumes a famous job in advancing the picture of the nation as a top the travel industry spot. Numerous examines uncovers that the degree of visitor fulfillment with a specific outing is the consequence of various elements (Peter Olson, 1996) which are for the most part surveyed as an examination between the vacationers view of the items and administrations he gets and the desires created previously and during his excursion (Barsky Labagh, 1992). The Hotel Industry involves a significant piece of the Tourism industry.The cordiality industry has a principle objective which is: to give necessarry or wanted items and administrations to travelers.Tourists don't simply want the offices and attractions. They need to be dealt with right and well. That is the reason a decent order of English language is constantly viewed as a benefit for staffs working in the travel industry extraordinarily in the inn business. The significance of English is irrefutable since for such a large number of years English is considered as the most significant vehicle of correspondence of the world generally.It is the language of intensity, notoriety and achievement . This language as a worldwide language can open entryways all through the world ( Philipsson, 1996) In spite of the fact that Malaysia has two authority dialects, English and Malay, our attention is on English in light of the fact that most guests don't speak Bahasa Melayu, the national language.Most Malaysian inhabitants, who communicate in English, talk it as a second language yet numerous travel industry associations happen in English. Various investigations have been done to quantify the level of visitor fulfillment, yet not many papers have concentrated on breaking down the potential connections that this variable has with utilization of English language by the travel industry staff. Thus, the principle point of this paper is to address if English language capability of the staffs working in the lodging business has any effect fair and square of sightseers fulfillment with inns in Malaysia or not. 1.2 Research question What exactly broaden English language capability of the inn staffs can raise the degree of the voyagers fulfillment in Malaysia. 1.3 Objective of the investigation To analyze whether the English language capability of the staffs working in the lodging business can change the degree of visitors fulfillment in Malaysia. Section 2 : Literature Review 2.1 Importance of Tourism The travel industry is a main thrust for financial development in Malaysia. The travel industry makes business open doors for Malaysian inhabitants and carries cash into the economy. The travel industry in Malaysia makes high impacts in the economy of this nation just as creating solidarity and national combination (Gom , 1991) In the event that travel industry development in Malaysia proceeds, it could push forward the countrys motor of development which is fabricating division. Worldwide the travel industry can bring high measure of income. This earned income has a significant job in creating Malaysias economy (Sadi and Batels 1997) The travel Industry has helped Malaysia in building up its personal satisfaction and its financial status. A proof of that is the upward pattern of the travel industry and inn industry in Malaysia until 1997 (Poon Low 2005) . Today this industry is encountering a year to year development in remote trade income. In the multi decade government put loads of endeavors to build up a few goals, for example, becoming the acquiring from remote trade , expanding the quantity of businesses and the degree of their pay, creating territorial territories and expanding income made by the administration (Khalifah and Tahir 1997). From the travel industry receipts (the travel industry income) commitment, there exists a consistent development. For instance, the travel industry receipts expanded from RM17.40 billion of every 2000 to RM24.20 billion per year later and afterward expanded further to RM25.80 billion (2002), RM29.7 billion (2004) and RM32.00 billion of every 2005. In 2006 Malaysia got RM36.3 billion (USD10.4 billion) in the travel industry receipts. (The Financial Express 2007). An aggregate of 24.6 million voyagers showed up in Malaysia and burned through RM56.5 billion of every 2010 contrasted and 23.6 million visitors burned through RM53.4 billion of every 2009. The travel industry is the second biggest industry in the nation in the wake of assembling and has been developing since 2000 with global appearances expanding by 9% every year. (New Straits Times 2011) The travel industry in Malaysia is a significant remote trade worker, adding to monetary development, drawing in ventures and giving business. The focal point of the administration is to improve the countrys position as a main remote visitor goal, while advancing residential the travel industry. (The Malaysia Governments Official Portal 2012). 2.1.1 Importance of Hotels The inn business in Malaysia is growing quickly because of the expansion of outside vacationer. The travel industry insights of Malaysia has recorded MYR49.6 billion (about USD14.2 billion) winning from vacationers in 2008, with 31.2% of the absolute traveler consumptions originating from movement housing (Euromonitor International, 2009). Without a dubt one of the primary segments that will set visitors feeling positive and furthermore influence their fulfillment is Accommodation.(Ekiz, 2009) .Here, friendliness foundations all in all and lavish inns, is recorded well to be very important.(Heung and Lam, 2003). Malaysian inns obliged 68,886,154 visitors in 2008 and had a normal inhabitance pace of 66%. The quantity of rooms provided during 2008 expanded by 3.4% (aggregate of 165,739 rooms), while the quantity of lodgings expanded by 0.6% (complete inns 2,373) when contrasted with 2007 information.( Malaysia Statistics) As indicated by Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (2010) a sum of 61,363,396 inn visitors were facilitated in 2009, comparing 60.9% inhabitance rate. Lodgings and cafés alone gave work to 1.7 million individuals, proportional to 16% of the all out work in 2009 (Economic Planning Unit, 2010). Structure the information referenced above unmistakably the normal inhabitance rate in Malaysia lodging industry is critical even in the years 2008 and 2009 that the world was encountering a downturn period. Because of the economy recouping , it is normal that this industry will confront a solid development in the quantity of sightseers and inhabitance rates .It ought to be referenced that ,the development of this industry significantly affects other related exercises ,as well. Food and drink, amusement and furthermore shopping in Malaysia are a portion of those other activities.(Poon and Low 2005) 2.2 Tourists Satisfaction Oliver (1981) claims that traveler fulfillment can be viewed as a visitors post-buy assessment of the goal. In numerous investigations, fulfillment is recognized as a precursor of devotion ( Kozak, 2001; Jang Feng,2006). In spite of the fact that Oppermann (2000) states that reviews on visitor fulfillment and goal reliability have not been completely examined, Chi and Qu (2008, p. 624) guarantee that consumer loyalty has consistently been viewed as a basic business objective since it was accepted that fulfilled client would purchase more. Despite the fact that estimating traveler fulfillment isn't basic, a few investigations have been directed to inspect the impact of consumer loyalty on faithfulness (Gummesson, 1993; Anderson and Fornell, 1994; Um et al., 2006;

Do You Suffer from Computer Stress Syndrome Youre Not Alone

Do You Suffer from Computer Stress Syndrome Youre Not Alone If I had to choose ONE thing that stresses me out me out more than anything else in my work life, it would be computer problems. It might not surprise you that I’m writing this blog because, on this very day, I am ready to tear my hair out due to multiple technical aggravators.There are thousands of articles and probably hundreds of books that talk about how to handle stress. But … do any of them talk specifically about how to handle the stress of heart-stopping technical issues? I couldn’t find any in my admittedly basic-level internet search. I did however find a report entitled Combatting Computer Stress Syndrome that surveyed 1,000+ computer users, finding that two-thirds of them had experienced this phenomenon. Despite being self-proclaimed “savvy” users, people facing technical snafus had increased stress levels, in tandem with interrupted work or play time, loss of valuable data, dropped network or e-mail connections, and the inability to complete online purchases (that last one somehow did not garner my sympathies). My particular technical snafus today included the inability to access my QuickBooks file, some disappearing and/or inaccessible emails, and problems getting my MacMail to retrieve my business email. At the same time, I am deciding whether or not to begin implementing a CRM system â€" a project that sends me into overwhelm after just about 2 minutes of thinking about it. Even as I write, my heart is racing and my head pounding. If only there were a yoga class I could escape to at 8pm on a Sunday night! The article about Computer Stress Syndrome offered no solace, as it was focused on the quality of technical support â€" not on what to do when you are a business owner or other responsible professional facing time-sucking, aggravating and unexpected issues, or issues that you just have a hard time getting your mind around. Of course, decent tech support is essential to keeping stress levels from going through the roof. But needing to be on the phone with tech support at all is often the problem for me. I tend to postpone the inevitable for as long as possible. And what about business-related projects like the CRM that I need to deal with and that I respond to just like I would a technical problem? I would love to hire someone to take care of it for me, but it seems that no matter whom I enroll, I need to make decisions and figure things out so they know how to proceed. In many areas, I have no problem directing people and being involved in decision-making processes. But when it comes to technology I sink. The only thing I can figure out to lower my computer-induced stress levels is to take the time to solve the darned problem. In fact, I could not even complete the writing of this article until I spent an hour with Apple’s tech support team to make at least ONE of my technical issues go away. I think I have some limit, like I can handle it if there are 1-2 technical issues, but 3 or more and I’m toast. I have no further wisdom to share on this topic and am writing to ask for yours. Does anyone out there have a coping mechanism to deal with the insidious Computer Stress Syndrome? If so, please do share. You might change a lot of people’s lives for the better.

The Treatment Of Schizophrenia Varies - 1499 Words

The treatment of schizophrenia varies. Many patients are treated with drug. Current treatment modalities are somatic and psychotherapeutic which were performed in many different ways that associates with drug treatment. The somatic treatments for schizophrenia are all based on drug therapy and pharmacology (de Meduna). Of course, there have been previous approaches of treatment. Psychosurgery, which had been rejected, includes electro convulsive therapies, insulin coma, and various treatment that involved immersion in hot or cold baths. The pharmacological therapies currently applied all have scientific proof of their effectiveness, although the results of these studies have also provided that when drugs are stopped, relapse may occur†¦show more content†¦However, patients responds in different ways. The patients may have to try more than one medication to find the right dose. Neuroleptics drugs have different effects on various symptoms of schizophrenia. Positive symptoms are the ones which are affected by the drugs, hallucinations and some communication disorders are some examples. The negative symptoms are merely affected because it is believed that most negative symptoms are somewhat associated with positive symptoms (Kane). Social deficits are caused by patient s experience of positive symptoms. For example, patients experience intense anxiety from their hallucination which makes it difficult for them to have normal conversations with other people. So whenever, hallucination goes away so does the anxiety problem. Finding the right treatment takes time. Treatment with neuroleptic medication may instantly work for the patients. Studies suggested that within few days of application of the drug treatment, the symptoms occurrence reduce and positive symptoms which usually occurs for over 7 weeks and in the first week of treatment (Rosenheck). Drug treatment is by far the most effective treatment of schizophrenia. This treatment had reduced many symp toms of the disease (Grohol). The future development will also be prevented. Future drug treatment of schizophrenia will follow a more rational and sensible course, one based on better of how drug will be acting based on how the brain functions. Direct inquiries

The Decision Between Quantitative And Qualitative Data

One of the most important parts of establishing a research design involves the decision between quantitative and qualitative data. Each has its own strength and weaknesses that any successful research design must account for. Perhaps one of the easiest distinctions between the two rests in the sample size. While quantitative data normally involves a large n, or sample size, qualitative data involves a much smaller sample size in comparison. This smaller sample size allows qualitative researchers to focus more on each case, increasing the internal validity of the research, but limiting its external validity. Quantitative based research designs reverse this. The large sample size of quantitative data often makes it difficult for researches to establish causation among the independent and dependent variable(s). The external validly of such designs usually offsets this issue to some extent. Due to their large nature, and use of numerical data, quantitative research is much more replicabl e when compared to their qualitative counterparts. Unfortunately, the struggle between internal and external validity is a fundamental part of research. Even efforts to combine the two methods to form a ‘mixed methods research design’ ultimately fail to nullify the issue completely. Keeping this in mind, a quantitative analysis is the most logical given the specific research question and the data available. This chapter seeks to prove that there is a statistically significant difference inShow MoreRelatedResearch Methods Of Quantitative Research1087 Words   |  5 Pages Week 2 Assignment Adam Morrison PSY 326 Research Methods Jessica Lee Qualitative researchers are focused on interpreting and making sense out of what they observe rather than trying to simplify and quantify these observations by collecting and observing people, places and things in their natural setting. 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They are interested in finding answers to questions that focus on the â€Å"social construction of experience and how meaning is created† (Cooper White, 2012, p. 15). However, quantitative researchers â€Å"emphasize measurement and analysis, and focus on product rather than process† (Cooper White, 2012, p.Read MoreQualitative And Quantitative Research Methods1285 Words   |  6 Pages Qualitative and Quantitative Research Ravi Teja Mora Dr. Jimi Peters Research Methods Stratford University â€Æ' Qualitative and Quantitative Research Introduction There has been a widespread of debate in recent years regarding the quantitative and qualitative research methods, wether one or the other has to be emerged as superior. Although there have been so many theories and conclusions, this paper intends to discuss on the similarities and differences between the qualitative and quantitative research

Critical study of the parametric model development process Free Essays

string(92) " but the configuration management and long-term maintenance issues still must be addressed\." Abstract: Complex parametric models may consist of many interrelated cost estimating relationships (CERs), as well as other equations, ground rules, assumptions, and variables that describe and define the situation being studied. Models generate estimates based upon certain input parameters, or cost drivers. Parametric models can generally be classified as commercial or company-developed. We will write a custom essay sample on Critical study of the parametric model development process or any similar topic only for you Order Now This review provides practical information about developing, deploying, and maintaining company-developed parametric models. Company-developed models – also referred to as company-owned, in-house, or proprietary models – differ from cost estimating relationships (CERs) because of their higher level of complexity, and the range of costs they estimate. Commercial parametric estimating models, available in the public domain, use generic algorithms and estimating methods which are based on a database that contains a broad spectrum of industry-wide data. Unlike commercial models, company-developed models are designed for the specific estimating needs of an organization or to describe a particular product. A proprietary model offers an alternative to trying to use a commercial model to meet an organization’s unique estimating requirements. JEL classification: C50, C51 Key words: equation, parameter, parametric model, commercial model, proprietary model 1. Introduction A parametric cost model can be viewed as the collection of databases, cost estimating relationships (CERs) [1], cost factors and algorithms, which together are used to estimate the costs of a system and its components. A parametric cost model uses known values to estimate unknown ones. Industry use parametric models to support conceptual estimating, design-to-cost analyses, life-cycle cost estimates, risk analyses, budget planning and analyses. Parametric models can also be used as the basis of a cost estimate in preparation of firm business proposals, or in the independent assessment of cost estimates prepared using a traditional estimating approach. Models generate estimates based upon certain input parameters, or cost drivers. Parameters â€Å"drive the cost† of the end product or service being estimated. Some examples are weight, size, efficiency, quantity, and time. Some models can develop estimates with only a limited set of descriptive program inputs; others, however, require the user to provide many detailed input values before the model can compute a total cost estimate. A model can utilize a mix of estimating methods, and it may allow as inputs estimates from other pricing models (or information systems) or quotes from external sources, such as subcontracts. Several companies implemented commercial parametric estimating hardware models, which can rapidly compute development and design costs, manufacturing costs of prototypes, and production unit/manufacturing support costs. Commercial parametric estimating models use generic algorithms and estimating methods which are based on a database that contains a broad spectrum of industry-wide data. Because this data encompasses many different products, a company working with a commercial parametric model must calibrate it before using it as a base of estimate for proposals submitted to the higher-tier contractors. Calibration tailors the commercial model so it reflects the products, estimating environment, and business culture of that particular company. A proprietary model offers an alternative to trying to use a commercial model to meet an organization’s unique estimating requirements. Proprietary models are developed for an organization’s own product and cost estimating needs and are, in effect, self-calibrated. Proprietary models can be implemented for a variety of estimating purposes, and have a wide range of complexity, completeness, and application. 2. The Proprietary Model Development Process The major activities involved in developing a proprietary model are: Step 1: Identifying the Parametric Model Opportunity One of the most critical steps in the proprietary model development process is the identification of a good opportunity for implementing a parametric model. This involves two points. First, it is important to investigate the feasibility of developing the model, which entails an evaluation of both its technical feasibility and cost effectiveness. Technical feasibility refers to the ability of the model to meet the estimating needs of the organization, and examines whether the organization has the resources to develop the model within a reasonable timeframe. This includes performing a cost-benefit analysis to decide whether a proprietary model would be cost-effective to implement and maintain. All potential benefits should be considered in the cost-benefit analysis; for example, contractors have achieved significant savings in proposal preparation, evaluation, and negotiation through the implementation of proprietary parametric estimating models. Other contractors have achieved additio nal benefits through multiple applications of the same model, such as for design studies, target costing, and contract risk management as well as basic estimating. The second critical point involves gaining the support of internal upper-level (including program) management and key customer management. If the model then meets the acceptance criteria provided by these groups, they agree to support its proper application in subsequent proposals. Little good comes from implementing a proprietary model if there is no internal management buy-in, or no support from the key customers on the estimating technique. Also, the firm’s management will want to understand the results of the feasibility study so it can properly assess the financial investment required to support model development and on-going maintenance activities, such as training, model enhancements, and software corrections. On receiving approval to begin development from internal and external management, the contractor establishes an implementation team to guide the creation of a valid proprietary model. This team should include representatives from the company and key customers. Step 2: Information Systems Needs When implementing a proprietary model, the organization should commit and obtain the necessary resources for information systems development and support activities. Information systems support is required for a variety of functions: – defining the formal system requirements needed to support the cost estimating model (e.g., hardware, software, interfaces with other systems); – testing the model to ensure it adequately satisfies all end-user requirements; – maintaining the integrity of the model throughout its life span by establishing procedures to manage and control all changes (i.e., configuration management); – providing software support services once the model is deployed to keep it operational (e.g., corrections, revisions, miscellaneous enhancements). When simpler models are implemented (e.g., spreadsheet models), the degree of support is smaller, but the configuration management and long-term maintenance issues still must be addressed. You read "Critical study of the parametric model development process" in category "Essay examples" Step 3: Data Collection and Analysis Historical costs should be used, with the development team ensuring that they are relevant to the firm’s current operating procedures. In an effort to include as much relevant cost data as possible, analysts normalize it as it is incorporated into the database [2]. They adjust data so it is as homogeneous as possible (e.g., similar in content, time value of money, quantity), and does not contain anomalies. Programmatic, noncost data may also require normalization. The analyst must assess the condition of each program’s data and make appropriate adjustments as required. When developing a model, the team identifies the main characteristics, called the primary cost drivers, that are responsible for, and have the greatest impact on, the product or services cost to be estimated. Step 4: Model Development The development of a proprietary model incorporates many anticipated uses and goals – such as estimating/users’ requirements, availability of credible data, life-cycle costs, systems engineering costs, forward pricing rates – and it must integrate these into the parametric estimating approach. The modeling process, in particular, focuses on these tasks: – specifying the estimating methods for accomplishing the estimating goals; -identifying the job functions and other elements of cost that will be estimated; – defining data input structures; Proprietary models may contain a number of different estimating techniques. Step 5: Calibration and Validation Parametric models are calibrated and validated before they are used to develop estimates for proposals. Since proprietary models are based on an organization’s historical data, they are considered to be self-calibrated. Validation is the process, or act, of demonstrating the proprietary model’s ability to function as a credible estimating tool [3]. Validation ensures: – estimating system policies and procedures are established and enforced; – key personnel have proper experience and are adequately trained; – proper information system controls are established to monitor system development and maintenance activities in order to ensure the model’s continued integrity; – the model is a good predictor of costs. Models should be validated and periodically updated to ensure they are based on current, accurate, and complete data, and that they remain good cost predictors. The purpose of validation is the demonstration of a model’s ability to reliably predict costs. This can be done in a number of ways. For example, if a company has sufficient historical data, data points can be withheld from the model building process and then used as test points to assess the model’s estimating accuracy. Unfortunately, data sets available are often extremely small, and withholding a few points from the model’s development may affect the precision of its parameters. This trade-off between accuracy and testability is an issue model developers always consider. When sufficient historical data are not available for testing, accuracy assessments can be performed using other techniques. Another testing methodology compares a commercial program’s final cost to the proprietary model’s estimate of it. However, it may be months, or years, before this approach can be applied to a given program. The model team may use this method when a program is near completion, or is at a point where a meaningful earned value performance index for it can be determined. Step 6: Estimating System Policies and Procedures After validation, the company must modify its estimating system policies and procedures to explain the appropriate use and application of the model for reviewers and company users. In particular, the model’s developers need to document its proper use as a valid bidding tool. Companies should also explain the model’s design, development, and use. For example, the contractor, as part of its support for the follow-on production model and estimating tool, developed a detailed manual containing information about the mechanics of the model, its estimating methodologies, and the timing of updates. The company also amended its Estimating System Manual to include a section on the model, and to refer the reader to the model’s own manual. Step 7: Internal Approval Process Model developers need to assure company representatives that the model relies on the firm’s historical data and, therefore, captures how the company executed similar projects in the past. Any departmental budget allocations produced by the model should reflect the average budgetary split the firm has historically experienced. Developers should also consider the fact that a model, if approved, might change the way the company anticipates executing an existing (or planned) program (e.g., the project director may need to shift work and modify the budget). This obviously affects the circumstances under which other company personnel would approve the model. A best practice from contractor experience involves the integration of the company representatives into the model implementation team. As an example, when implementing the follow-on production model, the model designers, from the beginning, solicited the participation of key internal representatives. During the development of each module, the team incorporated the inputs of the functional department primarily responsible for executing that portion of the project which the module was designed to estimate. Although the Finance Department led the model building effort, it continuously reviewed its progress with representatives from the Engineering and Manufacturing Departments. These representatives were responsible for coordinating and obtaining any necessary information from their organization, and keeping management informed. Step 8: External Approval Process Although a company may internally approve a model, the customer must also be shown that the estimating approach is valid. The involving of customers in up-front decision facilitates their acceptance of parametric techniques. In seeking acceptance of a proprietary model, the company formed a Continuous Improvement Process (CIP) team [4]. The team’s composition included company representatives from various departments. All team members participated in establishing selection criteria for the model’s database. Based on the selection criteria, the contractor personnel collected actual cost data from many contracts. When using the model for the first time with a buying organization, the CIP team invites the buying organization to the company for a joint review and explanation of the model. Immediately after obtaining funding to develop the model, the developing company discussed it with other contractors, additional government organizations, to ensure widespread support in data collection and model validation. Including customers on the development team does not guarantee a model’s acceptance, of course. It does ensure that the customer has a voice in the model’s design and usage, but the model’s ability to reasonably predict costs is the ultimate basis for acceptance. No person, internal or external to the company, can prove this before final development and testing. Step 9: Model Maintenance Through the development process, the team develops a sense of how often the model needs updating. Maintenance activities include not only the incorporation of new data into the model, but also an evaluation of the mathematical relationships between the technical parameters and the costs the model estimates. Periodic evaluation of the model is required to ensure the estimates are relevant and the contractor is using the most current, accurate, and complete data. New data is contributed as programs mature and, occasionally, from non-company sources. In some situations, the cost modelers develop new CERs, based on a subset of the original database, in order to better match a new estimating requirement. The process of maintaining a model involves keeping an audit trail of the CERs developed, the data points used, and their statistical effectiveness. 3. Conclusions Company-developed parametric models – also known as proprietary models offers an alternative to use a commercial model regarding organization’s own product and cost estimating needs. No company or individual can develop a valid model without the participation of a number of key people which include the customers, all interested company personnel, and government representatives. Some concepts should be considered by all implementation teams as follows: – establish a process flow and target development dates to ensure all team members provide their inputs to the model’s design; – consider the costs and benefits of model development; – evaluate commercial models as an alternative to proprietary development; – remember that the goal is to establish a more efficient and reliable estimating system, not just create a model. References Stuparu D., Vasile T., Stanciu M. The Cost Estimating Relationships (CER’s) – modern method for predicting cost, Revista Academiei Fortelor Terestre, nr. 1/2010. Vasile T., Stuparu D., Daniasa C.I. Collection and Normalization of Parametric Data, Analele Universitatii din Oradea, Tom XVIII, vol. II, 2009, pp. 703-708. Stewart R.D., Wyskida R.M., Johannes J.D. Cost Estimator’s Reference Manual, 2nd Edition, New York, Wiley, 1995, pp. 57-67. * * *http://www.ceh.nasa.gov/webhelpfiles/Cost_Estimating_Handbook_NASA_2004.htm How to cite Critical study of the parametric model development process, Essay examples

M Butterfly by David Henry Hwang free essay sample

Analyzes memory plays plot, structure, characters, themes of love deception. In the play M. Butterfly by David Henry Hwang, the action derives from a true story about a French diplomat who had a long-term affair with a Chinese singer, presumably thinking this was a woman when in fact it was a man. The story was also a spy story as the woman acquires secrets from her diplomat-lover for her government. The title of the play intentionally evokes images both of Puccinis opera Madame Butterfly and what in French would be seen as Monsieur Butterfly. The opera embodies a certain Western attitude toward Asian women and toward Asians in general, and Hwangs play uses those ideas as something against which to balance his own drama as he deconstructs certain ideas from the opera and creates a different sense of operatic reality. Within this operatic universe, Gallimards complacent Western stereotyping of Asians. We will write a custom essay sample on M Butterfly by David Henry Hwang or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page .

Happiness depends upon ourselves Essays

Happiness depends upon ourselves Essays Happiness depends upon ourselves Paper Happiness depends upon ourselves Paper Happiness depends upon ourselves according to Aristotle but Epictetus believes that When we remember that our aim is spiritual progress, we return to striving to be our best selves. This is how happiness is won. Throughout Rhetorical History it is evident that rhetoric has served as a functional interaction between people and their environment. In order for there to be a functional interaction there must always be an exigency and a remedy as standard elements of the total environment, as well as a rhetorical interaction to support them both. In this paper I intend to examine the rhetorical situations that moved the rhetoricians Aristotle and Epictetus to construct their rhetorical theories. Epictetus, like most rhetoricians has a theory that is marked by imperfections, called exigencies. These imperfections are problems that Epictetus found while creating his theorys ideals. The main exigency for Epictetus and other Stoics was to show their students that philosophy has a practical purpose of guiding people towards leading better lives. According to Epictetus everyone is not perfectly happy for much, or even all of the time. He wanted to show his students that there is a reason for this being the case and most importantly that there are solutions that can remedy this situation. Another aim of Epictetus teaching was to live well to secure for oneself true happiness. Epictetus theory had to fall on the ears of a receptive audience and he found that in the school he formed for upper-class Romans. With students such as Flavius Arrian, and Herodes Atticus, Epictetus was considered the greatest of Stoics. : Epictetus was said to relate his school to the workings of a hospital where students would come to seek treatments for their ills. In stark reality that was true, people flocked to Epictetus schools because it gave them a solvent to the trials of human life and living in society. Every day they were set up with frustrations and obstacles and Epictetus goal was to teach people to see the happiness through those situations. The students who learned from Epictetus were easily able to turn the things they were hearing everyday into something they could use everyday. We have to deal with hostile and offensive people, and we have to cope with the difficulties and anxieties occasioned by the setbacks and illnesses visited upon our friends and relations. Even people with good fortune had to face the fact of their own death, but that was no reason to not search for true happiness. As with any theory there are constraints marked as a way to remove the seen problem in Epictetus theory. Two types of constraints can be identified in any rhetorical theory, artistic and inartistic proofs. Artistic proofs are defined as those things that are in the speakers control. In Epictetus theory, various artistic proofs can be identified. The language that he chose to use, the emotion that he conveyed through his message, and the reason that he used to arrive at how to formulate both of these things are all examples of artistic proofs. There are also inartistic proofs in every theory. These things would be all the ideas that are out of the speakers control. Examples of inartistic proofs in Epictetus theory could be many things, mostly things going on the environment around him and his society. The class status of the students that Epictetus taught would be an inartistic proof. Had Epictetus been directing his speeches at lower class people who had never been schooled, they may have no idea what he was speaking about. The potential students that are attempting to learn have to be on relatively the same level as the teacher. The historical events can also be an example of an inartistic proof. The mindset of the society and the way that they feel about their government, their peers and their noble classes had a huge influence on how they acted in everyday life. Now that Ive discussed the exigencies, the audience, and the constraints of Epictetus, I will focus on the same characteristics of Aristotle. Aristotle taught some of the most influential rhetoricians of his time and to them he tried to instill the same ideals that he valued so much. The most memorable of these was likely the scientific method that he used to explain why things happened the way they did. Aristotles exigency was marked by urgency mostly because he wanted the people of his day to understand what he did. Reason is the source of the first principles of knowledge, and from this reason Aristotle used the ideas that came about to persuade people of what exactly was going on in their day. Public discourse at the time was used to hinder peoples reason and they could never make decisions on their own if they were not taught how to reason for themselves. Aristotle was a firm believer that the mind is led by language, and he used his language to teach the people about their ability to learn and rationalize ideas. Aristotles main goal was to have a democratic government, and he knew that the people would never get to have one without the knowledge base that they needed to be expressive. Rhetoric is essential to any democracy according to Aristotle and it was important for him to teach all aspects of rhetoric to the people who supported it. The people who were most affected by Aristotles views were the people who heard him speak. At the time of his lectures most of these people were people in the kings court. He was hired by various kings to counsel them and lecture in their courts. The ideas that Aristotle was preaching about at the time were easily accepted because the people were easily impressionable. He believed that citizens must have knowledge and reason to be able to express their ideas. They were dealing with things that were easily explained by the scientific ideals that Aristotle believed in, and therefore he wanted to teach them how to express the ideas that they had about the things that were going on. Aristotle said that All men are mortal; Socrates is a man; therefore, Socrates is mortal. This was a simple idea that almost everyone could hold onto. It was explained by logic and was the dominant form of logic for almost 2,000 years. Some constraints were also posed on Aristotles scientific logic. Various artistic and inartistic proofs are identifiable in Aristotles theory. The language that he chose to use was important if nothing else than because he was preaching to men who favored the king he was working for at the time. He had to be very aware of what he was saying in honor of the king. Another artistic proof that Aristotle faced was the emotion that he portrayed in his lectures. People have said that Aristotles ideas would not have been so widely accepted had he not added to them so much emotion while he was speaking. There are also some evident inartistic proofs in Aristotles theory. As in the artistic proofs, the status of the audience members of Aristotles lectures, was very important, but out of his control. He was hired by the king; he could not discriminate who he was appointed to speak to. This brings up another inartistic proof, the government. The government was greatly out of Aristotles control, he was even manipulated by them because he was employed by them. They were however the people who could remove the exigency facing his theory. Both of the rhetors discussed, Aristotle and Epictetus, have similarities and differences in the situations that they faced. Epictetus was more faced with the guidance that he was offering to his students. His issues were more of a moral and emotional case where as Aristotles ideals were focused primarily on science and nature. The audience members that each rhetorician spoke to had personalities of their own as well. While each rhetor spoke to a fairly similar audience, their reasons for doing so were very different. Epictetus knew that he would have to focus his attention to upper class nobles, who had been schooled enough to know vaguely what he was talking about. Aristotle on the other hand, was appointed to teach to the kings court, he had no real decision in who he was preaching to. Aristotle over came this difference by teaching people to teach others. There are also some differences in the artistic and inartistic proofs that each rhetor faced. Epictetus, for example, used a specific language, showed a certain amount of emotion, and the reason that he was trying to convey to his audience. Aristotle believed that emotions were a rational feeling that gets in the way of good reason. Epictetus would have greatly disagreed with this notion that emotions were logical. Epictetus believed that emotions were the way to lead a person to unveil his true happiness. He felt that few people were content with life, but that through his learning they could find solutions to be happy most, if not all of the time. Where Epictetus would try to explain how to overcome the frustrations and setbacks of every conceivable type of complication, Aristotle would spend his time trying to find the truth and showing people how they had arrived at that conclusion. Both rhetors used various means to arrive at the success that they did with the individual audience that they were speaking to. Each one was faced with different exigencies and faced some constraints along the way. However Aristotle and Epictetus both overcame all of these things and were able to teach their message and let it be taught for many years after they were gone. Ashley Mock March 3,2004 Rhetoical Theory Paper #2 593-62-3535 Bitzer, Lloyd, Functional Communication: A Situational Perspective, in E. E. White, ed. ,Rhetoric in Transition (University Park: Pensylvania State UP, 1981) 21-38. James Fieser, Ph. D. , The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Epictetus: Overview: 1 March 2004. iep. utm. edu/ James Fieser, Ph. D. , The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Aristotle: Overview: 1 March 2004. iep. utm. edu/.

Quartz Triboluminescence

Quartz Triboluminescence Many minerals and chemical compound display triboluminescence, which is light produced when chemical bonds are broken. Two minerals that exhibit triboluminescence are diamond and quartz. The procedure to produce the light is so simple, you should try it right now! Feel free to use diamonds, but be aware the light is produced when the crystal lattice is damaged. Quartz, on the other hand, is the most abundant mineral in the Earths crust, so you should probably start with that. Quartz Triboluminescence Materials You need any form of quartz, which is crystalline silicon dioxide (SiO2). You dont have to sacrifice perfect quartz crystal points for this project! Most gravel contains quartz. Play sand is mostly quartz. Go outside and find two semitranslucent rocks. Chances are good they are quartz. How to See the Light First, make sure the quartz is dry. The phenomenon occurs when the crystal lattice is torn apart by friction or compression. Wet quartz is slippery, so its presence will compromise your efforts.Gather your materials in a darkened location. It doesnt need to be pitch black, but light levels need to be low. Give your eyes a couple of minutes to adjust to make it easier to see the flashes of light.Method 1: Firmly rub together two pieces of quartz. See the flashes of light?Method 2: Strike one piece of quartz with another. Now, you may also get actual sparks using this method, plus you may chip off splinters of rock. Use eye protection if you go this route.Method 3: Walkthrough dry sand. This works well at a beach or in a sandbox, but the sand must be dry or else the water will cushion the crystals.Method 4: Crush a piece of quartz using pliers or a vise. This method is especially nice if you want to take a video of your project.Method 5: Do what the Uncompahgre  Ute did and fill a tr anslucent rattle with bits of quartz. Shake the rattle to see the glow. The native tribes used rattles made of rawhide, but a plastic bottle works fine, too. How Quartz Triboluminescence Works Triboluminescence sometimes is called cold light because no heat is produced. Material scientists believe the light results from a recombination of electrical charges that become separated when crystals are fractured. When the charges get back together, the air is ionized, producing a flash of light. Usually, materials that display triboluminescence are displayed an asymmetrical structure and are poor conductors. This is not a hard-and-fast rule, however, since other substances display the effect. Its not restricted to inorganic materials, either, since triboluminescence has been observed between vertebral joints, during blood circulation, and even during sexual intercourse. If its true the light results from ionization of air, you might expect all forms of triboluminescence in the air to produce the same color of light. However, many materials contain fluorescent substances that release photons when excited by the energy from triboluminescence. Thus, you can find examples of triboluminescence in just about any color. More Ways to See Triboluminescence Rubbing together diamonds or quartz is not the only easy way to observe triboluminescence. You can view the phenomenon by pulling apart two pieces of duck tape, by crushing wintergreen candies, or by pulling the Scotch tape from its roll (which also produces x-rays). The triboluminescence from the tape and the candies is a blue light, while the light from fracturing quartz is a yellow-orange. Reference Orel, V.E. (1989), Triboluminescence as a biological phenomenon and methods for its investigation, Book: Proceedings of the First International School Biological Luminescence: 131–147.

John Rawls' The Laws of Peoples Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

John Rawls' The Laws of Peoples - Essay Example Think of a brother and sister, having happily grown up in the same house; one goes on to become a millionaire and the other is steeped in poverty. In such a case, too, we must ask: where is justice Cannot their wealth be pooled together, giving rise to a state of happy existence similar to when the two were children It is the world with its differential preferences for different virtues that gives rise to inequalities, and we must do what we can to minimize the phenomenon. Coming to Rawls' reasons for reducing inequalities, he says that one reason is to reduce the hardships of the poor. Why are the poor poor in the first place Naturally, the poor are so because they were born poor, and rising from a depth of poverty is, in many cases, well-nigh impossible. We all know the story: poverty leads to crime, crime leads to imprisonment, which leads to further poverty a society, if it to be civilized, must first ensure that none of its citizens are allowed to fall into the hell-hole that poverty is. The second reason Rawls gives is that some people may be treated as inferior if inequalities exist. Here, we need only take the ancient Indian society, for example: there were (and still are) four castes. The first was the priests and teachers; the second was the warriors; the third was the merchants and such; and the fourth was those that did menial work. To each his role. It was natural for a priest to look down upon a menial worker, and the society was for centuries in that condition - but only until, as is natural, human nature took over and the priests began demanding too much. To call a menial worker "lower" than a priest was to call a spade a spade: we now need only look at Indian history to see how that system failed. Rawls goes on to hint at the idea that inequalities are designed to serve the many ends that peoples share, and that each makes contributions according to capacity. I can tentatively accept this viewpoint, but must question the ideality of a society that allows naturally gifted people to be treated in a superior way. It is human nature, yes, but it is the role of a society to minimize such aberrations. Continuing in this socialist vein, I agree entirely with the premises of the resource distribution principle and the global distribution principle, particularly the latter. A people gets to a happy situation by developing, on its own, a structure conducive to the production of wealth. This is due to the natural gift of that people to do this. Consider, for example, the Mongoloid virtue of hard work. The culture of that race is based around the idea that hard work is fulfilling; that hard work is a duty. And what do we see reflected in the real world One can take any case one cares to - Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea. Now, think of the global egalitarian principle: socialism has not worked, but in an ideal world, it would have. That is my bold point. Why should not a certain people donate - even a small part of - their wealth to a people who have simply not been able to build a civilization for themselves, as in the so-called third-world countries Are the people of such countries not har d-working If they are, why are they underdeveloped It is well-nigh impossible to answer; all

Develop Pitch Letters to Editors Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Develop Pitch Letters to Editors - Essay Example Important Questions: What are the effects of recession in terms of fashion production, fashion themes, the hiring of fashion models, the holding of fashion shows? What are the opportunities for teen shoppers (e.g. where to find recession-chic stores or how to maximize a reader’s present wardrobe)? As runway shows and promotions for the publicity-driven fashion world suffer from cost-cutting, where can one see and find the latest news on the fashion trends? These questions would form the basis for my article. In addition, I am also looking at using several case studies of real people with recession-chic experience and how recession affected, say, their shopping patterns. To find the answers to these questions, I will interview fashion directors, designers, models and ordinary teens – all the stakeholders in the issue. The challenge that I can see in writing this article is how to lighten up the theme so as to be teen-friendly. I hope to do a very excellent piece and I see this feature running 2000+ words. I am a regular visitor of refinery29.com. I find the site extremely convenient because 1) it caters to my taste; and, 2) I could find my fashion requirement for news, trends and clothes just by browsing the Internet. As a consumer, I find the web really helpful with the amount of shopping and fashion research you could finish in just one sitting. However, one of the downside of the medium is that you could not personally see products and items when buying online. I did have some experience of buying the wrong size or, there was just something off with the design, among other issues. And so I think that a story about custom tailoring might interest your site. Custom tailoring puts everybody at a distinct advantage. Someone going the custom route gets exactly what he or she wants – the choice of fabric,

Competition and Market Analysis for Red Bull

Competition and Market Analysis for Red Bull This paper investigates the competition analysis of Red Bull energy drink in the market and deciding about its competitive advantage if there is any. Some information about the energy drink market in general is presented. This is followed by product, company background and history is presented. Then we analyzed Red Bulls brand positioning and direct competitors. Afterward, analyze and classify the features of Red Bull through macro and micro factors to determine the strength of competition. This followed by looking at Red Bulls marketing mix. We will identify the problems and opportunities of Red Bull. For that part we are going to search for data about market segments and market share of Red Bull and its competitors. To support all this we are going to make a local market quantitative survey in the city of Abu Dhabi using a questionnaire targeting youth aged 18-34. The Market When looking into Energy drinks market, we can notice a doubling increase since they were first introduced into the United States and Europe. The current U.S. domestic market may be around $4 billion and is expected to reach an estimated US $15 billion by 2011. The reasons for the increasing demand for energy drinks are attributed to consumers concerns about time stress to keep balance between work-life and private life. Consequently the market is bombarded with many new energy drinks, with strange names and claims of a higher energy increase compared to the prior brands to find their way in the market. There are, however, a few major energy drinks that control most of the market and do not have too much amounts of caffeine. In addition to caffeine, a range of other energetic ingredients as taurin, Guarana, and B vitamins are added into energy drinks to make them more effective. New probable developments are geared toward increasing the health functionality of energy drinks which will increase market approval due to a growing society obsessed by health. The Energy drink market is not only limited to products or brands competing with each other but it also includes the whole non alcoholic drink market. Many outside factors have influenced the demand for this market such as the increasing attractiveness of health lifestyles and sports club membership. -Company and Product Review Red Bull is classified as a soft drink. It is a non alcoholic stimulus drink with an absolutely exclusive formulation consisting of  two natural substances and important metabolic transmitters such as, amino acid, taurin and glucuronolacton in addition to stimulating caffeine, vitamins and carbohydrates. It gives stimulation and revitalizes the body after effort and activates the human performance both mentally and physically. The industry is capital-intensive: average annual profits per production worker are about $700,000. History of Red Bull market expansion In 1982, Dietrich Mateschitz, originator of Red Bull and Chalerm Yoovidhya, decided to enter the market of energy drink which was controlled by Japan and Thailand at that time. In 1987, the product was first introduced to Austria which was a difficult market for Red Bull to carry on. Shortly Mateschitz developed a marketing strategy and as a result the product became well known in Austria and extended into Hungry and the rest of Germany. After that Red Bull has been successfully recognized world-wide and has reached a market leader position in 20 countries- in Europe, Asia and the USA. By 1997, Red Bulls buzz marketing strategy proved successful in the U.S. The following timeline shows the expansion of Red Bull in the market.  [1]   Date Market Expansion 1987 Austria 3.5. (not mature market) 1994 UK, Germany and Eastern Europe 3.6. 1997 US and South Africa 3.5. 3.6. 2006 Japan 3.7. (very mature market) When Mateschitz realized that a great sporting event could be useful, Red Bull started sponsoring about 500 extreme sports athletes and hosting stylish parties. Events are now hosted by Red Bull throughout the world such as the Xgames and the Red Bull Air Races and thus their tagline, gives you wings is known worldwide. Product Review The following table sums up the product review  [2]   Cost $2.00 Cost Per Ounce $0.25 Active Red Bull Ingredients Caffeine, Taurine, B-Vitamins, Sugar Taste Rating 7.5 Kick Rating: 8.0 Final Judgment Rating: 9 Its the original energy drink! Red Bulls mission is to stretch their wings over the world. It is a short phrase that communicates vivid information about the brand. This slogan which is used in all Red Bull campaigns worldwide is creating strong brand awareness of the product and is connecting between the brand and the product type. They are expanding rapidly into global market. They are keen on keeping Red Bull values, while maintaining the control position in the energy drinks category by delivering better-quality customer service in a highly experienced and commercial manner. Direct Competitors Although Red Bull still maintains a dominant position in many significant markets, it is no longer the only player. The major challenge to Red Bulls leading position has come from US-based imitators: Monster, Rockstar and Full Throttle which have introduced price competition to the segment and this is possible to have become more and more important during the depression periods. Monster energy drink does its best to be like Red Bull. The taste is similar, the ingredients are identical, and they target the male/18-25 demographic. Though, they do have one different advantage over Red Bullquantity. The Monster energy drink comes in a 16 oz. can, whereas Red Bull only offers 8.3 oz cans. So, youre essentially getting twice the product at the same price ($2 per can) Rockstar competitive energy drink whose motto is party like a Rockstar, targeted at the younger consumers who want to be wild and crazy and spend all night dancing. There are a number of flavors of Rockstar cola, energy drink, and juiced. The energy drink is similar in taste to all the others, whereas the cola product has the best taste. The juiced version is said to be 70% real fruit juice and 100% energy. They were the first to use the 16oz larger size, and this has fixed and become the standard. Only Red Bull continues to market the smaller cans, which is part of their image. Full Throttle is manufactured and owned by Coca Cola, just like their Coke Blak mixture of coffee/cola drink. Full Throttle energy drink is marketed as a rebellious drink, with erupting flames on the can. An 8 oz. serving has 110 calories (comes in a 16 oz can) and 29g of sugar. It also includes things like ginseng extract and plenty of caffeine. Full Throttle comes with a citrus taste and a red can. Full Throttle was first introduced to the market in 2005. It is targeted at 20-30 year old men, and contains Taurine like Red Bull. From the above stated information we can find that: 1-Monster is similar to Red bull in taste, but only targets males. It has two advantages over RB in price and quantity which is double size of RB. 2- Rockstar is double the size and Price as it is 1.99$ so it is cheaper than RB. 3-Full Throttle has the same taste and ingredients as RB, but it has advantage of quantity and price There are also other industries where Red Bull GmbH  competes such as sports, leisure and recreation. The Brand Positioning In spite of the competition, Red Bull resembles a new type of drinks called the energy drinks. In this new market sector Red Bull has a branding as a top border brand product. The brand positioning of Red Bull comes from the benefits of the product and the brand image. The positioning message of Red Bull is Red Bull vitalizes Body and Mind. This positioning idea has become the unique brand personality of Red Bull, which can be explained below. Sarcastic Self confident Intelligent Innovative Humorous, charming Individualist Impulsive It can be assumed that the positioning idea of Red Bull has created the best energy drink status among the target market. It is also clear that customers appear to be attracted to the general appearance and brand of Red Bull. The positioning strategy of Red Bull aims at best product, top price and top profitability. As for the price, Red Bull has a position in which it can command a best price because there is nothing to compare it with. It is an exclusive useful drink, promising and offering benefits that cannot be offered by any other drink. Threats of new entrants The most significant development in the market of energy drinks and the main direct competitor to Red Bull is the new product from Coca Cola, Relentless. It is also cheaper because it is sold in can double the size of Red Bull but the same price. -First-mover advantage has disappeared as the market has matured. Red Bull is the giant of the stimulant drink industry, in comparison to Coca Cola and Pepsi in the cola market. Red bull has achieved economic level which would allow them to be the most competitive price in the market. Although there is a price gap between Red Bull and other cheaper energy drinks, it seems that Red Bull has surmounted the position segment of the market due to its marketing strategy which is considered a huge barrier to entry. Red bull has a strong brand power that impresses loyal customers and consequently they can charge high prices even when competition comes from Coca Cola. Analysis of Macro and Micro factors affecting the attractiveness of Red Bull in the market Macro factors Political and Legal Forces When Red Bull was first introduced into the market as a new non-alcoholic drink labeled with a new idea as an energy drink, the Health Organisation was doubtful that Red Bull could be an appetizer medicine. Rumors saying that Red Bull contains ingredients like bulls galls, added to their doubts. But confidence in the product increased due to the fact that Red Bull has been used in the Australian market for 9 years and in the Asian market for 30 years without any registered complaints. Moreover a study conducted by an independent institute (ISME) in 1998 proved that although Red Bull has stimulating effects like caffeine, it does not lead to addiction. On the other hand Red Bull still needs approval from each country to be sold. This procedure is time consuming and consequently costly. Some countries still have suspicions about Red Bull. According to msnbc.com in May, 2009, Six German states have asked retailers to stop selling Red Bull Cola energy drinks after a test found a trace amount of cocaine. However authorities say the drug level was too low to cause a health risk. Countries such as Denmark, Norway, and France have banned the sale of Red Bull. This means that legal factors have a high negative effect on RB Economical Factors Red Bull is hardly affected by economic periods of expansion and contraction because it is a particular drink, serving a niche market. Red Bull target market includes sportsmen/women as well as hard working people. The main consumers of the product are Athletes, night clubbers, shift workers, executives and long-distance drivers. Despite the availability of few substitutes, the sales of Red Bull are increasing through their well positioned advertisements. This factor has low influence on RB. Socio-Cultural Factors When the product was first introduced people had doubts about the product and nobody wanted to try it. But now due to change of peoples lifestyle, people are now much more open for new experiences. In addition they are confident to try it, because any health concerns were cleared by organisations like the ISME. The consumers are male and females regardless of age who are very sporty or work very hard. Longer working hours as well as increased road traffic led to more need for energy boost. Nowadays Red Bull has a very stylish image and is sold in a lot of supermarkets and clubs (See the graph which illustrates the categories of males and females consumers)  [3]   Technological factors Red Bull is totally manufactured in Austria where it is exported to 28 countries. There are two reasons why it is not manufactured in any other country; first, to guarantee taste reliability and to make sure that Red Bull tastes the same all over the world. Secondly in that way the formula will be kept securely in one place. Red Bull is normally produced in 250ml cans, but glass bottles are an alternative jus in case they do not have enough cans as it once happened. Energy drink Red Bull, uses electronic points of sale (EPOS) data. This system allows customers research team to check the distribution of Red Bull. This system points out the gaps that can be returned to the retailers. Environmental factors Red bulls cans are environmentally friendly because they are made of recyclable aluminum. Glass bottles can also be recycled and therefore do not damage the environment either. This might give the product a competitive advantage when rules become stricter and more equal throughout Europe as well as in the rest of the world. http://researchwikis.com/Energy_Drinks_Market Micro Factors 6.1 Bargaining Power of Buyers: Top 4 Energy Drinks by 2010 Market Share Rank Energy Drink Parent Company Market Share 1 Red Bull Privately Held 42.6% 2 Monster Hansen Natural 14.4% 3 Rockstar Privately Held 11.4% 4 Full Throttle Coca-Cola Company(KO) 6.9% By working out the concentration ratio of the 4 top energy drinks brands as seen in the above table it will be possible to come to the relative size of the products in relation to the industry as a whole and to determine the market form of the industry. By using the four-firm concentration ratio we find that it is 75.3% which is high, and is bordering between oligopoly and monopoly, In this concentrated market the customers dont have high bargaining power which enables Red Bull to position high prices. Moreover, other products may find it difficult to compete with the brand loyalty due to the huge advertising spending of Red Bull. Consumers in energy drink market are not actually aware of price because they are Consumer with high income and buy it when it is required to regenerate their energy after a long day of hard work. The relationship between the manufacturer and retailer has developed along the market lifecycle resulting in swing of power. The fame of energy drinks has created a market pull where retailers have no real bargaining place. The extent of bargaining power differs according to the distribution channel. Bargaining Power of Suppliers: Red Bull production process is to some extent simple therefore the power of the suppliers is apparently rather low. The added value at each stage leads to large profits. Suppliers can only enter energy drink market through the brand-owner, thus the balance of power is in the favour of the brand owner. -Threats of substitute products Red Bull is a fast moving consumer product and, consequently, it mainly depends on desire purchasing. Although price sensitivity is a low factor inside the target segments, handiness is the average purchase criteria. Red Bull has successfully created a position where product substitution threats are low due to the brand power and customer loyalty. On the other hand, there are other products substituting the need for caffeinated drinks with less sugar and a better blend of carbohydrates and protein that give a greater energy enhancement. Also drinking plenty of fluids, such as water and herbal tea are useful. The market is full of better alternatives than relying on expensive energy drinks that only give you a momentary feeling of energy. The Marketing Mix Strategy Red Bull has its own marketing which is different from the Marketing Mix Theory based on the 4 P ´s. Red Bulls own  Marketing Mix Strategy is consisting of [ 1] the mediaadvertising category, [2] sports-and event sponsoring and [3] sampling. In 2008, Red Bull spent on marketing approximately more than 1 million$ which equals 30% of its revenue. Media Advertising Red Bull uses all the available media channels such as cinema, TV, radio, press and the internet in order to reach its main target market-young people. Thus they successfully advertise in TV shows like T.F.I. Friday and in magazines like Time Out and mens health. By doing so, they let the consumers understand the product and decide about the moments they can use it themselves. Red Bull realizes this by an amusing and humorous cartoon campaign, through which they easily send the message that this energy drink helps you to escape by giving you wings. The idea of communicating with the consumer in the form of a simple cartoon makes the people enjoy the campaigns and at the same time remember the brands name and the message it delivers. Sports-and Event-Sponsoring The company also uses sponsoring in their marketing mix strategy. Red Bull does event sponsoring either by creating its own events (i.e. Red Bull Music Academy .) or by promoting other events (i.e. Speed Ski World Championship). This strategy means that Red Bull brand appears in the form of logos and stickers and that the product  ´s target market is accurately defined. The image, the reliability and the visibility of the product are supported by sponsoring specific events where the peoples attention is drawn to the product. Red Bull sponsors the athlete target market where Red Bull is always needed in extreme sports such as free climbing and motorsports and fun sports as well. Sampling Sampling is another very important part of their three component -marketing system. The methods used are well tested and proven in other markets. The main purpose of Red Bull is to boost the company samples at the right place and at the right time by finding its precise target market such as driving, studying, working night shifts and sports. Sampling is conducted in a charming way by extremely motivated and cultured employees of Red Bull. All their equipment is the product, a free range of clothes and a small, but very attractive sampling car. Red Bull is following the basic sampling rules consisting of: never force the product always explain the benefits of the product drink always a full can ( 250 ml) It must always be cooled being cautious about whom are sampling the product Surveying the local market To have some information about Red Bulls brand image and how the people see it, we made a questionnaire of 3 sections including 13questions. The survey targeted males and females whose age is between 18-34 living in or near Abu Dhabi. 22 % of the respondents are females, whereas 78 % are males. We used Emails to send and collect back the questionnaires. Significant findings The energy drinks market proposes the following drinks: Red Bull, on top then come power Horse, and Monster, The best known beverage is in the city of Abu Dhabi and avenues, is Red Bull as 88 % of the respondents have tasted it and the majority of these people find it good (41 %). The other data have no significance. The most common consumption rate for energy drinks is occasional: 80 % drink occasionally drink and 20 % frequently. With relation to Red Bull, which of the following is important to your purchase?     For 58 % of the people, find the physical boost is important. 36.4 % of the total respondents are influenced to buy Red Bull because it is sponsored by athletes and some related it to formula 1.the taste of the beverage is an extremely important criterion. The smell and the energizing properties are very important (with respectively 45 % and 42 %). The design of the can does not influence so many consumers: 9.1%  buy the drink because of the design. Where do you buy Red Bull? 80% present of the respondents buy it from supermarkets whereas 20% buy it from fending machines at petrol stations. What is the first word that springs to mind when you hear the words Red Bull? 60% said superman, 30% wrote formula1, and 10% said flying in the air Which tag line, if any, do you most associate with Red Bull? 70% chose Brain and body energy, whereas 30%chose Gives you wings Which sports do you most associate with Red Bull? 55% Formula1 and 25 % said motorbikes, 10%responded Golf and 10% chose Athletic 90% described Red Bull as the best energy drink in the market and 10% finds it suitable for their lifestyle Result People dont buy Energy drinks because they really need it but because this need is created by the manufacturer. It is the big advertising campaign which has convinced people to accept this product. Red Bull has been the first energy drink in the market. Red Bulls target is people who need energy and concentration such as sportsmen and students. For that reason, the company sponsors numerous sports events: Formula 1, Xtreme competition. Red bull gives you wings. It is the famous slogan that makes consumers think that Red Bull gives more energy than usual. The result is that the Red Bull has quickly got success by young people. Red Bull keeps on marketing by this young generation. more Conclusion When Red Bull was first introduced, it was easily imitated because the ingredients were printed on the can and the product was not patented. Although the taste of Red Bull did not do well in taste tests, it succeeded due to the marketing strategy. It can be said that Red Bull was not only the first energy drink to be in competition with soft drinks but also created the new energy drink type in the majority of markets. After Red Bull hit the market in the late 90s till the present, many other companies entered the energy drink market but unable to compete with it. Red Bulls has approximately 100 major competitors and the main competitors are Monster, Rock Star and Full Throttle. Many substitute products have been introduced and categorized as energy drinks such as Iceà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ T creating an energy drink called Liquid Ice, Nellys Pimp Juice and Lil Johns, Crunk Juice. Although these competitors are present in the market no other energy drink could maintain Red Bulls 70à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  90% of the market share it has in over 100 countries all over the world. Problems and Opportunities: Problems: Red Bull is not a patented drink product, therefore anyone is able to choose a can, read the ingredients on the label and start their own business. That is why the market is flooded by competition. In addition, Red Bull as well as all other energy drinks and supplements, have received negative reports from a medical point of view. Elevated amounts of caffeine and sugar can lead to adverse effects on heart and blood pressure. Opportunities: Red Bull is one of the most popular energy drinks in the world. They earned this position by intelligent, consistent marketing strategy. Red Bull has the opportunity to maintain their position and develop a continuing pace to aim their niche target consumers by seriously using untraditional and traditional marketing strategies. Red Bull has a competitive advantage over its competitors As we have seen Red Bull is an international energy drink that is sold by Red Bull GmbH. In 2006, more than 3 billion cans were sold in more than 130 countries. -Red Bull has a continual international marketing strategy by sponsoring a variety of great sports to promote a cool public image and enhance brand power. -The product has remained the top energy drink throughout its growth due its effective marketing strategy. The product speaks for itself and its consumers do not report any complaints despite of negative publicity Red Bull has developed a sugar free option. -Red bull has this competitive advantage not only because other drinks that follow it are not as appealing in packaging, marketing, but also because Red Bull is aware of their marketing challenges and they are continually changing and developing their marketing philosophy to overcome and avoid possible competitors. Red Bull Consumer Questionnaire This questionnaire is all about Red Bulls consumers and targets males and females between 18 and 34 years old and based in the Abu Dhabi. Section 1(background) Please specify your age group by putting an x in the box that applies to you. 18-21 22-25 26-29 30-34 2) Where do you live? Please specify closest town/city. Abu Dhabi   Shahama Shamkha   Bani Yass Samha 3) What is your gender? M/F Please specify. Section 2( Loyalty) 1) Are you familiar with the Red Bull brand? Yes/No Please enter in the box. If your answer is no then please do not go past question 3 of this section and I thank you for your time. 2) Which of these drinks are you most aware of? Please rank your top three 1 being youre most aware and put an x beside any others you are aware of. Monster Rockstar Red Bull Power Horse Full Throttle Others please state 3) Which of these drinks would you buy, if applicable? Please rank your top three 1 being your first choice Rockstar Red Bull Power horse Full Throttle Others please state 4- With relation to Red Bull, which of the following is important to your purchase? Please rank each option by putting a circle around the appropriate number. Important Un-important Taste 1 A Hydration 1 B Physical Boost 1 C Mental Stimulant 1 D Sponsored Athletes 1 E Price 1 F Availability 1 G Image 1 H Can shape, colours and size 1 I Association with Extreme Sports 1 J Others please stateà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ and rank 1 5) Where do you buy Red Bull? Please underline all that apply. Wholesaler Supermarket Independent Retailer Vending Machine Restaurant Hotel Other please state : Section 3 Brand Image 1) What is the first word that springs to mind when you hear the words Red Bull? Please specify your word in the box. 2) Which tag line, if any, do you most associate with Red Bull? Please choose a tag line by underlining it Stimulation for body and mind Brain and body energy   Gives you wings   Your sport, our science 3) Which sports do you most associate with Red Bull? Please rank the sports 1-5 with which you most associate Red Bull. 1 being the highest Please also put an x beside any other sports you associate with Red Bull. Golf Formula 1 Skiing/Snowboarding Mountain biking Athletics Cricket Surfing Motorbikes Skateboarding Obscure Extreme Sports 4) Which sports do you partake in regularly? Please list in the box provided. 5) Does any Red Bull advert stand out in your mind? If so please describe the advert in the box provided. 6) Please try to describe Red Bulls packaging. Please describe any colours and/or emblems in the box provided. 7) How would you rate Red Bulls image? Please rank your option by circling the appropriate number. Cool Un-cool 1 2 3 4 5 8) Which of the following statements if applicable best describes why you buy Red Bull? Please make your selection by underlining the appropriate statement. a) Red Bull fits my lifestyle choice. b) Red Bull has an image Id like to be associated with. It provides me with a welcome energy boost. c) It gets my mind in gear. d) It provides good value against the competition. e) Its the best energy drink on the market. f) It tastes good on its own or as a mixer.

I Prefer to Live in Big Cities Than in Small Towns

I Prefer to Live in Big Cities than in Small-towns In English, there is a well-known fairy story about a poor country boy, Dick Whittington, who goes to London because he believes that the streets of that city are â€Å"paved with gold†. The story is a tale of â€Å"from rags to riches†. Dick eventually becomes the Lord Mayor of London. Like the hero of that story, I love to take adventure in the cities. I grew up in a small town and then moved to a big city, so I have experienced the good and bad sides of both. I never thought that I would like living in a big city, but I was wrong.Cities contain a great assortment of people. Whenever I walk around a shopping precinct at midday on a weekend, I am fascinated by all the different types of people hurrying around the shops. Sometimes, I just sit on a public bench and simply watch the variegated streams of shoppers. Today, in the age of globe-trotting transport and communications, city life is more mixed than it has ever be en. Capital cities are not cosmopolitan, and eager to attract foreign trade currency. There is a contemporary English joke which tells that â€Å"you can never find an Englishman in London†.The United States is made up of people of different races, religions, abilities, and interests. However, you seldom find such a variety of people in a smaller town. I think that living in an area where everyone was just like me would quickly become boring. Whether rightly or wrongly, I love the excitement of big cities. Small towns have a slow pace. Large cities mean you have to adapt to a variety of situations, like finding a new route to work or trying a new restaurant. I enjoy that challenge very much. Another pan of the excitement of city living is the variety of cultural activities available.There is a wide assortment of theatre, music and dance performances available in big cities. These things are rare in small ones. Governments and local authorities usually build public amenities i n the big cities. Money is invested in transport, libraries, parks and museums. Often, countries will compete with each other for the best â€Å"show-case† building. Malaysia has built a skyscraper that is taller than is anything in New York. In large countries, region will compete against region: New York against Chicago, Shanghai against Hong Kong and Beijing. All of this is good for the citizen.The magic of the Dick Whittington story is rekindled in me when I enter a library in a magnificent building. If a person is at university studying art or music, a large city usually offers galleries and public performances. Even when I was a teenager, I appreciated the worth of living in a city because two or three times a year there was a rock concert by one of my favorite bands. There is one thing I want to talk is small-towns and big cities both have some problems in terms of transportation. In a small town, you have to own a car to ensure a comfortable living.You can't get aroun d without one because there isn't any kind of public transportation. Big cities generally have heavy traffic and expensive parking, but there you have a choice of taking public transportation. It's not free, but it's often cheaper than driving when you consider gas and time. Especially if you don't have a car, you're better off in the city. And of course, security is a concern, and that's one area where small towns are superior to big cities. Still, I would rather be a bit more cautious and live in a large city than to feel secure but bored.

Critique of Sap System - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 981 Downloads: 8 Date added: 2017/09/16 Category Advertising Essay Did you like this example? Critique of SAP system Introduction: SAP ERP is an integrated enterprise resource planning (ERP) software manufactured by SAP AG that targets business software requirements of midsize and large organizations in all industries and sectors. More than 2,300 customers are using the latest version of mySAP ERP. It is a real-time process system which all the users log on the central platform server. There are many sub-functions of SAP including SAP ERP Financials, SAP ERP Human Capital, Management SAP ERP Operations, and SAP ERP Corporate Services. We only focus on the revenue cycle and expenditure cycle of the SAP system which is direct related to the accounting information system. Expenditure cycle: About master records: The expenditure cycle is composed of purchase system and accounts payable system. The creation of material master records and vendor master records makes the purchase system more efficient. While traditional information system has three databases include customer sales A/R (customer database), production scheduling shipping (Manufacturing database) and vendor A/P inventory (Procurement database). Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Critique of Sap System" essay for you Create order SAP systems a common operational database (customer, production, vendor, and inventory). The problem with traditional system is the lack of effective communication between systems is often the result of a fragmented systems design process. On the other hand, SAP systems use a common operational database that supports communications and present the data in a way that meets all user needs. The material master is the main source of material specific data. It is used by all components in the logistics system. By using the master record, we can avoid data redundancy, and use the data in many other functions other than purchasing data for ordering. Those include posting goods movements, managing physical inventory, inventory valuation, and material requirements planning. Also material master is divided into three levels: client level, plant level and storage level. The advantage of this is the company can set which information is valid within specific department. As to vendor master data, all the vendors’ information is recorded and updated. Different department can always have access to synchronous and up-to-date information. But a faulty transported object such as a configuration change or code for an interface can have an effect on other SAP functionality in the production environment. For instance a change to the HR module within payroll can affect functionality in the FI-CO module. A server failure under this model could leave the entire organization unable to process transactions. However, two linked servers can be connected in redundant backup mode. Just like material master records, vendor master records are divided into three levels: General data (Client level), Purchasing data (purchasing organization level), and Accounting data (company code level). After create a vendor master record, it is linked to the appropriate reconciliation account in General Ledger. The control problem can be who has the authorization to access the data warehouse. The organization should establish procedures to oversee the authorization of individuals at customer and supplier sites that will be granted access to their data warehouse. Unauthorized access of Material Mater records and Vendor master records can lead to the entire expenditure cycle break down. About purchase requisition: When inventory is below a certain level, the SAP system can generate a requisition automatically when predetermined recorder levels are reached. The problem is the goods may be requisitioned for unauthorized purposes. It will be better if purchase requisitions are prenumbered (instead of get a number after creating a Purchase requisition) within each originating department as a control over outstanding requisition to ensure that goods requisition are duly ordered and received. For purchase other than inventory replenishment, requisition authority is granted to specific people. This authority should usually restricted to the value and types of goods and services applicable to the person’s function and level of authority. Special procedures usually apply for requisition plant and equipment or for entering into lease contracts. About purchase order: In SAP, purchase orders can be created with or without reference to a purchase requisition or a RFQ. That increase the risk of purchases made for unauthorized purposes. We can reset the system that except for programmed inventory replenishment, the purchase department issue purchase orders only on the receipt of requisitions properly approved by an employee who has appropriate requisitioning authority. We can also improve the efficiency of the system by centralization of purchasing in a specialized department. The purchase department is better able to negotiate more favorable terms and prices and, by amalgamating orders, can obtain better volume discounts. About receiving: In receiving goods, SAP can suggest data from the purchase order when the goods receipt is entered in the system. That’s the same effect as the blind copy of PO, it is more efficient because the system can tell the receiving department the right amount immediately. But compare with manual process, the SAP system often eliminates the segregation of duties. However, SAP is the best ERP system to help resolve the segregation of duties problem, which is a basic, key internal control. SAP currently provides more than 150 predefined user roles, which act to limit a user’s access to only certain functions and associated data. When the user logs onto the system, a role-based menu appears on the functions of limiting the user to the specified task. When an invoice is entered in the system with reference to a purchase order, the system suggests data from the purchase order and the goods receipt. If there are any discrepancies between order or goods receipt and the invoice, the system warns the users, and blocks the invoice for payment. But sometimes the discrepancies results from mistakes in goods receipt. That would delay the payment too the vendor. So it will be better if the organization set some manual reviews here. When a discrepancy occurs, the special authorized staff investigates the PO, inventory report from warehouse, and the goods receipt report, and defines the mistake as soon as possible.