Saturday, December 28, 2019

What are the likely effects of fracking on global energy security - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 9 Words: 2596 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Energy Industry Essay Type Cause and effect essay Level High school Did you like this example? Introduction Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is a novel method for extracting oil and natural gas that involves injecting highly pressurised water, sand and chemicals into shale rock deep beneath the Earths surface (Sica 2015; Holloway Rudd 2013, p.xi). Commercially viable fracking techniques have been honed over the past two decades in the USA, and have proved to be an effective means by which difficult to reach resources of oil and gas can be exploited (BBC News 2013). Fracking is generally agreed to have had a dramatic effect on the price of fossil fuels, leading some to declare a fracking revolution (Ruhl 2013). Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "What are the likely effects of fracking on global energy security?" essay for you Create order The Brookings Institute estimates that average US gas prices in 2013 were 47% lower than they would have been without fracking. This means that, overall, consumers of gas saved approximately $13 Billion in the period between 2007 and 2013 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" a figure that is increasing exponentially as production of fracked fuel increases (Dews 2015). As fracking was pioneered in the USA à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" a market recently described by McDonald (2014) as account[ing] for practically all of the worlds commercial production à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" this paper will base its outlook on the impact of fracking on US energy security. We will begin by looking at the potential opportunities presented by fracking, then turn to the domestic challenges before considering the global impact, which will be split into a critique of the geopolitics and an assessment of the environmental factors raised by the technique. The potential of fracking The United States Energy Information Agency estimates that there are approximately 7229 trillion cubic feet of recoverable shale gas reserves globally (EIA-ARI 2013). This figure is likely to increase significantly, given that during this study, the EIA surveyed just 46 regions in 41 separate countries (p.1). For comparison, the Oil and Gas Journals 2012 Worldwide look at Reserves and Production put the total figure of proven recoverable conventional gas reserves at 7074 trillion cubic feet; a figure already smaller than the potential of shale gas, and one that is likely to be dwarfed as further shale exploration yields new gas fields. Although commentators such as Inman (2014) have called the predicted size of potential reserves of shale gas into question, the potential for independent energy production is obvious, and has already been hinted at by the American experience. Between 2005 and 2013, the USA reduced net imports from 10.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas, to just 4. 8 billion cubic feet. Over the same period, the wholesale price of gas collapsed from a high of $8.79 to a low of $3.71. Some experts expect the USA to become a net exporter of natural gas as soon as 2018 (Oil and Energy Trends 2013). Chief economist and Vice President of BP, Christof Ruhl (2013), predicts that, in a short space of time, the USA will also replace Saudi Arabia as the worlds largest energy producer. Although turbulence in the price of gas is not solely down to increased supply (and is presently exacerbated by a global economic slowdown), fracking has two important benefits for the energy security of countries with reserves of shale gas: They are insulated from fluctuations in global price such as those found between 2005 2013; and The risk of sudden, unexpected geopolitical events impacting on supply is greatly mitigated. Similar potential benefits are open to other nations with reserves of shale gas, which perhaps explains why countries such as the United Kingdom, which could supply its entire gas needs for the next 50 years by extracting just 10% of its estimated reserves, are so keen to expand their onshore fracking activities (Cooper, Stamford Azapagic 2014). Domestic challenges of fracking Fracking is not without its critics. In a major survey of media portrayals, Groat Grimshaw (2012) found that two-thirds of stories across all forms of news media in the USA were negative. They go on to criticise the fact that that less than a quarter of all stories made any reference to scientific research on the issue. The UK, where the government has shown a commitment to developing fracking that could make it the second major economy to follow the lead of the USA, has seen major public objection to fracking, sparked in part by a number of earthquakes that were attributed to drilling activities (BBC News 2011). Others have highlighted drinking water contamination, air pollution, and limited regulation (meaning wells can be constructed on church grounds and schools) as major criticisms of fracking in the USA (Goldberg 2013). Holloway Rudd (2013 p.126) reject many of these criticisms, noting that no link had been found linking fracking to reports of groundwater contamination. They cite a major study by the University of Texas, which concluded that many problems ascribed to hydraulic fracturing are related to processes common to all oil and gas drilling operations and that any reports of contamination can be traced to above-ground spills or other mishandling of wastewater produced from shale gas drilling, rather than from hydraulic fracturing (Holloway Rudd, p.126). These justifications seem disingenuous; the issues identified are a direct consequence of fracking, even if they are not unique to it as a form of energy extraction. Over 15 million Americans now live within a mile of an oil or gas well, a figure likely to skyrocket as more wells are constructed, especially if densely populated nations such as the UK commence drilling operations (Gold McGinty 2013). As fracking is a technology that brings production closer to communities, it is imperative that the industry do more to address these issues, rather than dismissing them as normal consequences of fossil fuel production. If they do not, they will fail to win over public opinion, which in turn could result in a hostile regulatory regime that could act as a major impediment on the proliferation of fracking worldwide, negating any positive effects on energy security. The Geopolitical significance of fracking It is not just the size of potential shale gas reserves that is significant; it is also their global distribution. Presently, Russia tops the current list of nations with proven gas reserves, closely followed by Iran, with Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan and Venezuela all featuring in the top ten à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" all nations with questionable human rights records, or a history of animosity towards the USA (Oil and Gas Journal 2012). By contrast, China à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" with negligible traditional energy reserves à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" tops the list of technically proven shale gas reserves. Brazil, the USA, and South Africa also feature in the top ten of this list (EIA 2014). This means that fracking has an enormous potential to impact on global energy security. Six out of the top ten companies in the world are involved in the energy sector, and the future of fracking could well impact on their long-term fortunes (Fortune 2014). Large exporters such as Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Venezue la depend on oil and gas exports for their security and standing in the world, and plan their foreign policies accordingly (Orttung Overland 2011). Control of fossil fuel reserves has been a factor in many global territorial disputes, and is a major motivating factor behind US political and military involvement in the Middle East (Overland 2015). Clearly then, any change to the existing status quo with regards to the production, import, and export of gas is going to have a profound impact on global politics and the future of global energy security. If the USA does indeed become a net exporter of energy, its strategic interest in the Middle East à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" where it has a huge military presence, and has been directly involved in two recent wars à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" is likely to wane (Index of US Military Strength 2015, p.117). Some nations that exert their foreign policy objectives through energy are likely to see their influence decline, while others will see potential for their security to improve. European energy security At present, relations between Russia, Europe and the USA are strained. As much as a quarter of the EUs gas is imported from Russia, and nearly 80% of it has traditionally travelled in pipes through Ukraine (BBC News 2009). Successive disputes between Ukraine and Russia regarding payment for gas resulted in almost annual cut-offs in European supply over successive winters in the latter half of the decade, causing some governments to declare a state of emergency as schools and factories closed and people struggled to survive the freezing temperatures (Cendrowicz 2009). These cuts in supply were short-lived, but demonstrate how vulnerable European energy security is to geopolitical events beyond its control. The overthrow of pro-Russian president in Ukraine, the Russian annexation of Crimea, consequent European sanctions, and a Ukrainian gas production base that is centred to the east where insurgent fighting continues to wreak its toll all point to major, continued threats to glob al energy security, and perhaps underline why European nations might want to reconsider their initial reluctance to pursue the option of fracking (Oil and Energy Trends 2014). It is clear that if predictions of shale gas reserves prove accurate, Russian influence on global energy security will be greatly diminished, and a new hierarchical relationship will develop. It is also noteworthy that while Russian influence might decline, two other BRIC nations à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" China and Brazil à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" may step onto the stage as global players in the global energy market. Some observers have commented that this could accelerate the USAs decline as a hegemonic superpower; however, with the alluring prospect of energy independence itself, fracking might actually help to revive American fortunes (Dunn Mcclelland 2013). Climate Change Although fracking has the potential to guarantee energy security for many nations, while precipitating the decline of influence for some producers and hastening the rise of others, in the long term, it has the potential to be a retrograde step for energy security. At a time when scientific consensus seems to be that the use of fossil fuels is adversely impacting on the economic and ecologic future of the planet, it seems unfortunate that fracking à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" with its promise of low cost energy independence à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" has been developed as a technology. The UK seems almost certain to miss its objectives under the Climate Change Act 2008 of reducing carbon emissions to 80% of 1990 levels by 2050 if it continues to pursue its policy of fracking (Cooper, Stamford Azapagic 2014). Although carbon taxes could offset the economic consequences of climate change, the political hurdles to implementing such policies have proved challenging to date (Rabe Borick 2012). Furthe rmore, carbon taxes will not mitigate against the physical consequences of climate change, which even by conservative best case scenario estimates, is likely to exacerbate food and water security, result in more frequent freak weather events, and mean a rise in sea levels by the middle of the century (Schneider et al 2007). These factors are likely to result in greater instances of conflict, as populations compete for increasingly scarce resources (Scott 2012). As such, the short term benefits to energy security that fracking could bring could eventually contribute to long term global instability as the more serious effects of climate change begin to take effect. Conclusion As we have seen, the fracking revolution has the potential to shake up the largely static hierarchical energy relationships that have existed since the end of World War Two. Nations such as the USA and the United Kingdom have the potential to become energy independent within a generation. Growing economies with limited traditional energy reserves such as China have the potential to become energy producers, which, until now, they have largely been excluded from. For the winners, a future of energy independence beckons, which in turn means greater energy security and greater global security. Although there are many benefits, the impact of climate change cannot be ignored. Fracking provides cheap domestic fuel, which in turn means that the point in time at which it becomes economically viable for societies to switch to renewable sources of energy disappears further into the future. This means that, long term, fracking could contribute to increased political volatility and uncertain ty, which in turn could result in reduced global energy security. Ultimately, fracking could prove to be a false economy. Bibliography Andrews. I., 2013. The Carboniferous Bowland Shale Gas Study: Geology and Resource Estimation, British Geological Society for Climate and Energy Change, London, 2013. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/226874/BGS_DECC_BowlandShaleGasReport_MAIN_REPORT.pdf  last accessed 31st October 2015 BBC News. 2009. EU reaches gas deal with Ukraine. BBC News Online https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8179461.stm  last accessed 26th October 2015 BBC News. 2013. What is fracking and why is it controversial? BBC News Online https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-14432401 last accessed 24th October 2015 BBC News. 2011. Anti-fracking protesters target Blackpool Tower. BBC News Online https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lancashire-14431512  last accessed 25th October 2015 Cendrowicz. L., 2009. Russia-Europe Gas Spat Endsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ For Now. Time Magazine https://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1870597,00.html last acc essed 27th October 2015 Cooper. J., Stamford. L., Azapagic. A., 2014. Environmental Impacts of Shale Gas in the UK: Current Situation and Future Scenarios. Energy Technology. 2 (12) Dec 2014, pp.1012-1026. Dews. F., 2015 The Economic Benefits of Fracking. Brookings Institute [Online]. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/brookings-now/2015/03/23/the-economic-benefits-of-fracking/  last accessed 24th October 2015 Dunn, D., Mcclelland, M. 2013. Shale gas and the revival of American power: debunking decline? International Affairs, 89: 1411à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å"1428. doi: 10.1111/1468-2346.12081 EIA-ARI. 2013. World Shale Gas and Shale Oil Resource Assessment. https://www.adv-res.com/pdf/A_EIA_ARI_2013%20World%20Shale%20Gas%20and%20Shale%20Oil%20Resource%20Assessment.pdf last accessed 24th October 2015 Fortune. 2014. The 500 Largest Corporations in the World, https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/global500/index.html last accessed 26th October 2015 Goldberg. S., 2013. Fracki ng hell: what its really like to live next to a shale gas well. Guardian Online https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/dec/14/fracking-hell-live-next-shale-gas-well-texas-us last accessed 25th October 2015 Gold. R., McGinty. T., 2013. Energy Boom Puts Wells in Americas Backyards. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303672404579149432365326304 last accessed 25th October 2015 Holloway. D., Rudd. O., 2013. Energy Sustainability: Fracking: The Operations and Environmental Consequences of Hydraulic Fracturing, (1st edn, Wiley) Index of US Military Strength. 2015. The Heritage Foundation. https://ims-2015.s3.amazonaws.com/2015_Index_of_US_Military_Strength_FINAL.pdf last accessed 27th October 2015 Inman. M., 2013. Natural Gas: The Fracking Fallacy. Nature. 516 (7529) https://www.nature.com/news/natural-gas-the-fracking-fallacy-1.16430 last accessed 25th October 2015 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 2014. Climate Change 2014 [online]. https://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar5/syr/SYR_AR5_FINAL_full.pdf last accessed 13th October 2015. McDonald. P., 2014. SURVEY: Fears over energy security provide boost for shale gas prospects. Oil and Energy Trends, 39: p.10à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å"18. doi:10.1111/oet.12183 Oil Gas Journal. 2012. Worldwide Look at Reserves and Production. Oil Gas Journal 2012; 110:12; pp.28à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å"31. https://www.ogj.com/articles/print/vol-110/issue-12/special-report-worldwide-report/worldwide-look-at-reserves-production.html Oil and Energy Trends. 2013. Focus: US looks for export markets for its NGL. Oil and Energy Trends 2013; 38:7; pp 3à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å"6, DOI: 10.1111/oet.12077. Oil and Energy Trends. 2014. FOCUS: Europe counts the energy cost of Ukrainian crisis. Oil and Energy Trends, 39: 3à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å"7. doi: 10.1111/oet.12162 Orttung, R., Overland, I. 2011. A limited toolbox: explaining the constraints on Russias foreign energy policy. Journal of Eur asian Studies, 2 (1), 74à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å"85. Overland, I. 2015. Future Petroleum Geopolitics: Consequences of Climate Policy and Unconventional Oil and Gas. Handbook of Clean Energy Systems. 1à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å"29 Rabe, B., Borick, C. 2012. Carbon Taxation and Policy Labeling: Experience from American States and Canadian Provinces. Review of Policy Research, 29: p.358à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å"382. doi:10.1111/j.1541-1338.2012.00564.x Ruhl. C., 2013. Oil Boom 2.0 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" An American Dream Updated. LinkedIn [blog] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20130730080645-259060403-oil-boom-2-0-an-american-dream-updated last updated 24th October 2015 Scott. S., 2012. The Securitization of Climate Change in World Politics: How Close have We Come and would Full Securitization Enhance the Efficacy of Global Climate Change Policy? RECIEL. 12(3) November 2012, p.220-230. Sica, C. E., 2015. Stacked Scale Frames: Building Hegemony for Fracking Across Scales. Area. doi:10.1111/area.12213 Stern, N. (2006). Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change: Executive Summary. HM Treasury, London. https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100407011151/https://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/sternreview_index.htm last accessed 23rd October 2015

Friday, December 20, 2019

The Scarlet Letter, By Nathaniel Hawthorne - 1229 Words

The antagonist of a story, or the villain, is someone who has a diabolical plan towards someone or something. The definition of a villain is, a cruelly malicious person who is involved in or devoted to wickedness or crime; [a] scoundrel (dictionary.com). In the novel, The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Roger Chillingworth displays the qualities of being a villain, making him the antagonist of the story. Throughout the story Roger has an ulterior motive and his actions were diabolical, qualifying his as a villain. Although he did not always seem despicable, his character developed into the monstrous man known as Roger Chillingworth. The definition of a villain is, a cruelly malicious person who is involved in or devoted to wickedness or crime; [a] scoundrel (dictionary.com). Classifying someone as a villain means that they have specific qualities. Of the qualities, evil, cruel, and malicious come to mind. As the antagonist of a story, the person poses as an obstacle in the wa y of the protagonist or other characters in the story. They stand between them, making their life miserable or putting them in grave danger. The villain of a story devotes their life to being bad when they have a solid motive. Their motive, seeming right to them, can be anything, in this novel it is revenge and anger that was stirred up by someone our antagonist loved. All villains might not start out as sinister people, like Roger Chillingworth, who was an average man until he discoveredShow MoreRelatedThe Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1242 Words   |  5 PagesLYS PAUL Modern Literature Ms. Gordon The Scarlet Letter The scarlet letter is book written by Nathaniel Hawthorne who is known as one the most studied writers because of his use of allegory and symbolism. He was born on July 4, 1804 in the family of Nathaniel, his father, and Elizabeth Clark Hathorne his mother. Nathaniel added â€Å"W† to his name to distance himself from the side of the family. His father Nathaniel, was a sea captain, and died in 1808 with a yellow fever while at sea. That was aRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne960 Words   |  4 Pages3H 13 August 2014 The novel, The Scarlet Letter, was written by the author Nathaniel Hawthorne and was published in 1850 (1). It is a story about the Puritan settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, set around 1650 (2). The story is written in the third person with the narrator being the author. The common thread that runs through this novel is Hawthorne’s apparent understanding of the beliefs and culture of the Puritans in America at that time. But Hawthorne is writing about events in a societyRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter, By Nathaniel Hawthorne919 Words   |  4 Pagessymbolism in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s â€Å"The Scarlet Letter†. Symbolism is when an object is used in place of a different object. Nathaniel Hawthorne is one of the most symbolic writers in all of American history. In â€Å"The Scarlet Letter†, the letter â€Å"A† is used to symbolize a variety of different concepts. The three major symbolistic ideas that the letter â€Å"A† represents in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s â€Å"The Scarlet Letter† are; shame, guilt, and ability. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s â€Å"The Scarlet Letter†, the firstRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1397 Words   |  6 PagesFebruary 2016 The Scarlet Letter was written by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1850 which is based on the time frame of the Puritans, a religious group who arrived in Massachusetts in the 1630’s. The Puritans were in a religious period that was known for the strict social norms in which lead to the intolerance of different lifestyles. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the puritan’s strict lifestyles to relate to the universal issues among us. The time frame of the puritans resulted in Hawthorne eventually thinkingRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne999 Words   |  4 Pages Nathaniel Hawthorne is the author of the prodigious book entitled The Scarlet Letter. In The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne commits adultery with Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. Her husband, Roger Chillingworth, soon finds out about the incident after it becomes clear that she is pregnant. The whole town finds out and Hester is tried and punished. Meanwhile, Roger Chillingworth goes out then on a mission to get revenge by becoming a doctor and misprescribing Dimmesdale. He does this to torture DimmesdaleRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne1037 Words   |  5 Pagesthat human nature knows right from wrong, but is naturally evil and that no man is entirely â€Å"good†. Nathaniel Hawthorne, author of the classic novel The Scarlet Letter, believes that every man is innately good and Hawthorne shows that everyone has a natural good side by Hester’s complex character, Chillingworth’s actions and Dimmesdale’s selfless personality. At the beginning of the Scarlet Letter Hester Prynne is labeled as the â€Å"bad guy†. The townspeople demand the other adulterer’s name, butRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1517 Words   |  7 PagesNathaniel Hawthorne composes Pearl as a powerful character even though she is not the main one. Her actions not only represent what she is as a person, but what other characters are and what their actions are. Hawthorne makes Pearl the character that helps readers understand what the other characters are. She fits perfectly into every scene she is mentioned in because of the way her identity and personality is. Pearl grows throughout the book, which in the end, help the readers better understandRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter, By Nathaniel Hawthorne1488 Words   |  6 Pages In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter, the main character, Hester Prynne, is a true contemporary of the modern era, being cast into 17th century Puritan Boston, Massachusetts. The Scarlet Letter is a revolutionary novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne examining the ugliness, complexity, and strength of the human spirit and character that shares new ideas about independence and the struggles women faced in 17th century America. Throughout the novel, Hester’s refusal to remove the scarlet letterRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1319 Words   |  6 PagesPrynne and Arthur Dimmesdale are subject to this very notion in Nathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter. Hester simply accepted that what she had done was wrong, whereas Dimmesdale, being a man of high regard, did not want to accept the reality of what he did. Similar to Hester and Dimmesdale, Roger Chillingworth allows his emotions to influence his life; however, his influence came as the result of hi s anger. Throughout the book, Hawthorne documents how Dimmesdale and Hester s different ways of dealingRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1714 Words   |  7 PagesSome two hundred years following the course of events in the infamous and rigid Puritan Massachusetts Colony in the 1600s, Nathaniel Hawthorne, descendant of a Puritan magistrate, in the 19th century, published The Scarlet Letter. Wherein such work, Hawthorne offered a social critique against 17th Massachusetts through the use of complex and dynamic characters and literary Romanticism to shed light on said society’s inherent contradiction to natural order and natural law. In his conclusive statements

Thursday, December 12, 2019

A Day That Never Happened Before free essay sample

â€Å" I am the greatest!† Four simple words but and great sentence. Most people strive hard to earn the right to say or write these words in honor of his name- including myself. Who would not want to be great? The answer is everyone of us. Yes! I darely believed that not one of us would not want to be equally great as Albert Einstein or Leonardo Da Vinci. Some even want to be a superhero like Superman or Spiderman. Another question to be considered is how to become great. You should not worry because I have one good experience that would tell you how to become equal to the greatest. One good day in my quiet simple life as a young man, I woke up with   vivid smile in my face. My friends were at the kitchen preparing some food for our adventure set on that day. You should have imagined right now how excited I was that time. We will write a custom essay sample on A Day That Never Happened Before or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page We were set to invade one of the highest waterfall in our place.   How’s that?   What I am excited about are not the things that are planned to be done but the inevitable consequences that might occur which would go beyond our control. After all, we all wanted adventure. The place was equally august as expected. The height of the waterfall was recorded at approximately two hundred feet and the depth of the pond that catches the water was too enough to advise to wear lifejacket all the time to ensure our safety. I call the basin of the waterfall a pond. The water was bluer than the sky and green was around. Truly beautiful. A raft was made available for those adventurers who would want to get into the foot of the waterfall where a small cave lies. The raft was craftily made using bamboo trunks and bigger than big plactic barrels tied by a big rope. The plastic barrels are used to prevent the raft from sinking. The raft can contain as many as thirty people of different weights. Just imagine what kind of fun it could offer. It works going to the foot of the waterfall by pulling a big rope against the current of the water which one end tied inside the small cave and the other end tied at the gigantic trunk of a tree naturally positioned at the opposite side of the pond. Proper pulling and maneuvering of the raft is the only key to get into the small cave unless a good number of people providing strengths to go against the strong current of water coming from the majestic waterfall. Aside from rafting, rock climbing can also be enjoyed at the place. What is more exciting in rock climbing is when to get to the highest prescribed weight to be climbed is the next thing you are more likely to do†¦jump! It is just about thirty feet above the surface of the cold water. For a first timer like me, it would be the most breathtaking moment of my life. I was looking at the grandeur of the setting and felt relaxed. All the tiredness I earned from hiking two kilometers and making four hundred twenty-nine descending steps just to get into the nature’s gift were vanished. My friends feel the same thing. All the good emotions I could afford to find were all there. Little did I know that one of the best experiences is already taking place. I did not hesitate to try everything and all are worth trying. Fascinating. The best part of the adventure is seeing myself riding the raft with three of my friends. Two of them are girls. I guess you could know how exhaustive it is. I was in front with my guy friend and the two girls were at our back for support. Our goal was to beat the record of five folks who successfully made it to the cave earlier that day. While doing the chore, the girls fell off one after the other from the raft. The current was so powerful that made it very hard for us to do the grip at the big rope. The girls did not give up. They climbed back to the raft and started pulling again. They are really determined to test their endurance. The tension was all over us. My palms were already pink because of the pressure it exerted against the rope. I agree that pink is better than red whish is the color of the palms of my friends. All of us tried all positions while pulling the rope just to have the maximum force we could ever put to it. Before we decided to reach the small cave, I was just contented pulling the rope against the current just to get through the middle of the pond and when we get there we stop pulling, try to relax by having a safe ride to where we come from by just going with the current. You must take note that getting into the middle of the pond is already fulfilling. Try to think how fulfilling it is to reach the cave. What am I thinking? I convinced my company to try going into the cave. Convincing people is one of my expertise and that was the easiest part. We are doing it. After so many attempts, I was so desperate and decided to quit. I already accepted that the four of us could not do it. Two of my good friends decided to quit pulling too. Unfortunately, the other girl was still pulling despite seeing sitting down and trying to calm our palm. She fell off from the raft twice, pulled her back and still pulling. She continued doing it without saying a word or even looking at us. I was surprise with her courage and determination and eventually became inspired. The next moment I saw myself pulling again with a stronger grip ignoring the pain in my palm. I gained determination. The other two did the same and we are back in form. I gazed at her, felt charmed with her splinded smile. A stronger pull, better grip and much cooperation finally made us achieved what we wanted. We reached the small cave. I was so happy but the happiest was my female friend. At the other end of the pond, some people overwhelmingly clapped. I take the clap as a gesture of felicitations and salutations to the four of us who tried and tried and succeeded. After that, we rest ourselves at the comfort of a safe ride. I sat at the raft smiling. I was still overwhelmed with what we have accomplished. I was thinking deep and realized that the whole experience at the raft carved a life-changing lesson in my heart and soul. When I decide to get into the cave and do something courageous, it taught me that life is indeed taking risk. You can not achieve what you want in life if you refuse to take the risk. When taking risk you should be well-equipped with courage, faith, determination and a little bit of inspiration. My female friend has it all. She inspired us. She is the reason why we reached our goal. A deeper thinking convinced me that courage, faith, determination and an inspiration are the qualities one must have to maximize his potential and become great. Courage and faith conquer fear in taking risks. Determination, on the other hand, keeps you going despite all disappointments and desperation that you will encounter. Finally, an inspiration would give you the comfort that what you are doing has worth. Life is always mysterious. You need to decipher its mysteries even in simple things like rafting or climbing or just walking. When you are able to understand what life is all about, greatness is within reach of you hand.   Absolutely, it was a day that never happened before and I doubt if it would happen again. I was glad that when it did, it taught me a lot about life.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Relationship Marketing and Customer Retention

Question: Discuss about the Relationship Marketing and Customer Retention. Answer: Introduction Morrison has been appeared to be a grand-market, which was introduced in UK. It was recognized as greatest series of huge market acquiring fourth position globally as compared to other reputed brands such as Asda, Sainsburys, and Tesco. This grand-market was established previously counting 100 years. Earlier than it was just a booth located in the market named as Bradford. Morrison was also recognized as the venture of family and has reached triumph throughout the longer period. Starting with a little booth till hypermarket, it reached till a phase of development and reached success. Currently, Morrison operates over 450 outlets globally and has appeared as the greatest food suppliers. William Morrison introduced the organization and thus it takes his name Morrison. Their chief firm is situated in Bradford, UK. Currently, Morrisons head is Andrew Higginson and David Potts is their CEO. In this firm, there prevails a custom arrangement, which is being followed by this firm and that is known to be a Market Street. Morrisons ventures atmosphere is considerable as it is completely different and unique from other rivals. The value proposition regarding the individual actually seems to be sort of business that would basically a marketing statement that would assist in defining the requirement of purchasing the product and service for the utmost benefits. It would aims and targeting the esteemed customer requirement. Morrison would require the value proportion as it would be assisting in rectifying the problem and support in accomplishing the requirements or goals. It would certainly require the value proportion to draw the distinction among the value that you provide and value they will be receiving from somewhere else. It would help in creating the value proposition by accepting the business that would be lending the product and thus occupying the fourth largest supermarket in United Kingdom. Moreover there are various different relationship concepts that would enhance the absolute value proposition of the innovative loyalty card that would be adopting by Morrison for gaining the profitable market sh are. Therefore, it would include the explained evaluation regarding the customer value chain that would be discussing in the discussed report. After reviewing the report, there would be appropriate solution to the discussed topic along with the examples. Relationship marketing and customer retention Methods to maintain customer by relationship marketing:- As considering methods, there exist really several forms, which can be implemented by a firm for maintaining their purchasers along with the assistance of relationship marketing. And the crucial concentration of relationship marketing is based upon the devotion of their clients as well as the extensive period connection of shoppers fairly than the petite period connection (Business Insider, 2015). Methods that can be implemented by the firm are: By locating clients outlooks The finest method to maintain the clients within a firm is to maintain the hope of the customers extremely than ever previously. By locating the anticipation previously assists in decreasing the doubt to the service level in which a firm can verify that their customers are satisfied. By appearing to be the professional It is also recognized to be other method by which clients can be maintained. Firms are relied upon the facilities to operate their functions. Rather, firms should become more skilled in their sector by which they can maintain their clients. Whether a firm appears to be more faithful advisor after routinely there exists client devotion that may surely decrease the clients mix. A firm would recognize the issues clients are dealing with for creating trust. Creating trusts by relationships In a firm, a good connection plays crucial role for maintaining the list of clients. Customers would belief their firm and then only they will attain success. A firm might also pay a lot of attention towards their customers and positivity with their connection to clients. Currently, competitiveness prevails in a huge manner in the market very conveniently offering the facilities for the client is inefficient, as they should too have to create shared feelings along with the customers for offering them good sense and acquiring back again. Through applying email business operation Firms should message their active clients just for one time in a period and should let them know regarding the latest facilities as well as the updates connected to the firm. By this method, the relationship among the firm and the client is maintained; and by this the client as well as the organization may experience values (Donald and Jennifer, 2004). Through initiating a blog It assists in creating a connection with the clients. As regarding to the blog, it consist a facility by which the firm can write or update their achievement every week basis. Clients can also provide their feedback and suggestion regarding the firm on such blogs by which a firm can view further to the issues of the clients they are dealing with, and by easily fixing all of them. Through this method, the clients experience values and they seek to maintain the same one in the firm. Through facilitating clients facility It is considered as the most effective method for maintaining clients is through the client is by augmenting the clients facility (Thomas, 2001). Generally every client leave their firm by the result of frustration with the facilities and for retaining the contentment between the facilities and clients should be augmented. Implementation of CRM model CRM structure is generally defining client connection administrative structure and consist several implementations in vast range of sectors. CRM model is effectively applied in hotel business. Hotels may result to struggle with several reputed names in the industry for retaining their position as well as to draw other clients towards them and the most crucial factor is to maintain their previous market. CRM assists in drawing the fresh clients as well as it also encourages contentment and devotion between clients. It can also assist in maintaining the clients and develop the ventures methods as well as the outcomes (Martin, 2015). CRM structure can be applied in medical fields also. This structure can also be implemented in medical centers and result to assist in developing the simplicity for the prices (Knox, 2003). Moreover, it also assists in the administrating the medical centers and also assist in the application the strategy of healthcare administration and sale campaign. This structure is helpful for the assessment of this firm because it assists in the reinforcing the concentration of the client and moreover assists to struggle further well along with erstwhile rivals. CRM structure also assisted this firm in fine consideration of the clients and moreover the preference of the clients, their choices as well as the purchasing pattern of every human being. Further, applying this structure for the assessment Morrison can also be capable to decrease the price of the gaining regarding the clients, great development in the client facilities. Most significantly, there will surely be client maintenance and thus devotion of the client regarding the firm also gets augmented. Benefits also appears to be developed and there exist apparent recognition regarding the beneficial clients as well as the customer outcomes. There also exist resemblance among the client maintenance as well as the industrial connection as every ways assist in maintaining the clients. Industrial connection assists the venture in containing the lengthier period connection with the clients by offering them the finest facilities, hence the client can be devoted to the venture and maintains regarding the venture maintenance also gets raised. Also their wishes fulfilled by the firm or the ventures easily satisfy the client maintenance, the client. Idic Model For evaluating the study regarding the connection mediators, the firm recognizes several constructs with identical explanations, which functions beneath various assumed name and creates with identical names. Rogers and Peppers developed IDIC model. This structure describes that a firm should always approach four methods for retaining their customers and keeping the lengthy period connection along with the clients. Four activities which should be implemented can really be customized, interacted, differentiated, and recognized. In a firm, for creating client value by supervised connections as well as finest approaches client experiences, the firm should recognize clients, segment them, relate with them, as well as modify few features of their characteristics regarding them. Assessment of client connection administration method: Assessment of Morrisons Morrisons is generally a hypermarket firm, which is located in the UK. The basic nucleus positive point of this firm is which it offers new products over the nation containing extremely great excellence (Buttle, 2004). The method Morrison encourages their newest advancement; clients appears to be greatly know regarding the food quality as well as the atmospheric apprehensions. Due to the huge supervision on their contribution series it offers making it more spirited benefit in the industry. Morrison applies several various features to separate themselves from other rivals. Individual among them is the client facility. In this form a firm can segment themselves from other rivals. This firm approaches easy facility plans by offering the finest client facility and Morrison basically encourages their executives in the atmosphere themselves along with other rivals just for the contending the industrial share. This firm provides the finest goods and facilities along with the assistance of Industrial Street and therefore there exist huge client maintenance. Furthermore other firm lacks to execute in a proper manner. This firm also spend during the entrepreneurship as well as growth plans regarding the executives and resulting to offer excellent class client facility produced that might draw great number of clients. Hence, clients of Morrison are pleased by getting the facilities they get. Morrison also comprised their rivals Lidli and Aldi regarding the cost comparing deals. Inbond Lojistics Morrison would be following the vertical integrated chain value that would occupy the number of abattoirs, bakeries and various pack houses of the vegetable and fruits. There would be benefit that represents the manufacturing facilities of Morrison which was in close proximity toward the distributor center even allowing the reduction of foods miles and reducing the cost as well. The advantage of such would be offering to the customer for meeting the utmost benefits and advantages that would meet the target expectation of the group and would be including the high perceived value therefore the customer would stay back in the company for long term. It is in general explaining the fact that it would synchronize the detailed firms and the method that would be imply in the tedious operation, moreover explaining to more easy it is a business sense that would be logistic that means involves the logics and the flow of management system in order to acquire the defined goals in the midst of sta rting point and consumption or destination end for meeting the expectation and need of customer regarding the corporation. The facility tradition can be appear to be prevailing in a firm only when a facility based and clients interest emerges as the most significant rule in the form. Several organizations have maintained the aims of being client-oriented, rather some tend to consist extremely instilled the tradition in the firm for making it to emerge it as the essential part of company. The corporate tradition is the group of basic standards and values contributed by the internal atmosphere of the firm. In general language, it can easily be explained that the internal atmosphere within the firm is totally dependent on the inbound values of customers. Operations Morrison would be meeting the expectation and demands of the customers as rapidly being available and would be reacting as per their requirement to reach the appropriate objective. The process would be increasing the efficiency of the company in order to attain the great position in the cut-throat competition. They would be only focusing on the requirement that customer requires for better benefit of sales demand. They would make and transport product which would be in demand. The product would be fresh with the minimum amount of wastage. Morrison even facilitates the farmers by acquiring the fresh milk from them. It would be great advantage that would aim in the cost-saving and freshness that has been enclosed in their product. The proper execution would be playing a deliberate role in getting the optimum result and thus simultaneously reducing the risk of failure with utmost secure system Outbond Logistics There would be quick delivery of product from the source of warehouse to shops and even from the growers to the shop. There would be more than 15 million matters of facts that has been discussed in the given case study and would foster the need of improvement to attain the great position. When there is a comparison among the other competitor, the distribution armada in excess of 700 tractors which is extremely speedy turnaround time in midst of placing and delivering the product. This Company would be reducing the carbon footprint by cutting the distance of travelling, Marketing and sales There is a high profile advertising campaign that Morrison have highlighting the high profile advertising campaign and would promote the social responsibility along with the use of charities that would be sponsoring, (Smith, 2011). With the sales demand, there would be an opportunity to explore the reach and delivering the significant role for attaining the great level of customer satisfaction. The marketing and sales are the two prospects that would be aiming at market and method to accomplish the position in the cut throat competition by delivering the great value to the customer with the advancing tools and proper planning strategy. Firm Infrastructure Morrison would be supporting entire stakeholder that would be including in the company, the top most priority of Morrison is corporate responsibility. The infrastructure would be supportive in making the environment a pleasing place through which you can deliver great value to the organization and help in accelerating the demand to be motivated toward the work. Value proposition differs from company to company and from product to product. There are many ways of relationship marketing concepts that can be applied to increase the value which would include digital marketing and physical marketing that would involves a large number of customer and understanding the need to significantly demonstrate the role and responsibility. Proposition of Morrison. The rewards and the value would be giving to customer should be of the great value through there is a strong membership through which the customer would be attracted by company. The advantages which would be offering to the customer for meeting the utmost benefits and advantages that would meet the target expectation of the group and would be including the high perceived value therefore the customer would stay back in the company for long term. If the customer is not satisfied with the customer and with the requirement to draw the reference through the case study. There would be several terms that has been incorporated in the following factors:- To expand and enhance the value proportions Morrison has considered some trustworthiness cards for making sure that customer feel the encouraged and shop from their several stores. There has to be an appropriate selection of reimbursement. There would be advantages that are of two types and would be able to establish the long term relationship. The process would involve the ways that would be moving toward the customer acquisition to the individual, the customer retention and the development would be toward the customer. On the other hand the structure would include the factor regarding the performance of employee and managing it to be having a great customer relationship with customer. According to the case study Morrison has followed CRM value chain model in their business environment and have adopt all the approaches and take of the requirements and opportunity of the purchaser. This business even completed loyalty cards so that to be a focus for many customers. For attaining the great level of customer satisfaction there would be proposed study and understanding the factor that would aim to work with utmost consideration and deliberation to accomplish the goal. Conclusion With the completion of task 2 regarding the supermarket company Morrision have been conversed in detail. In the discussed report, the value chain of customer along with the value proposition of company that has been explaining in customer value chain method for describing the environment of the company. With the help of CVC model the 5 primary stages in relation to customer would be outlining by the author Buttle which would offer the clarification of vital is to have the relationship with the customer that would be generating the greatest value to the company. Morrison also makes use of several relationships that would be supporting the total value of proposition. There are certain ways which would be adopting by Company for enhancing the value proposition and thus report clearly describes the model that would be to define the culture and concept along with environment that would be associating with the Morrison. This would be solution to the proposed and discussed questions. Recommendation Morrison should try ornament ling the market share with the help of conventional stores. Morrison need to give proper consideration that would help in increasing the stakeholder number and would be more competitive advantage in the market. The Diversification of product length is supposed to be there as this will assist in pull towards you the numeral of customers of dissimilar groups. There should be proper price proposition regarding the product would have proper focus to meet the requirement. With the escalating international market, Morrisons should get bigger their business in additional countries as well this will lend a hand in cultivate their business References Morrison, Alastair M.; Taylor, Stephen; Morrison, Alison J.; Morrison, Allison D. (1999) Cognizant Communication Corporation. Information Technology Tourism, Volume 2, Number 2, pp. 97-113(17) Developing Buyer-Seller Relationships. American Marketing Association. F. Robert Dwyer, Paul H. Schurr, Sejo Oh(Apr., 1987). The Journal of Marketing, Vol. 51, No. 2 11-27 East versus West: A comparison of online destination marketing in China and t... Ruomei Feng; Alastair M Morrison (Dec 2003); Joseph A Ismail Journal of Vacation Marketing; 10, 1; ABI/INFORM Global pg. 43 Buttle, F. (2004). Customer relationship management: concepts and tools. Oxford: Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann. Thomas, J. S. (2001). A Methodology for Linking Customer Acquisition to Customer Retention, Donald, R. L. and Jennifer, A. S. (2004). Valuing Customers, Journal of Marketing Research 41(1) 718. Martin, (2015). Better Targeting your Customers with CRM Value Chain Model. [Online] Cleverism. Available at: https://www.cleverism.com/crm-value-chain-model-better-targeting - customers/. [Accessed on: 07/03/17]. Business Insider, (2015). Here's a way retailers can grow customer loyalty. [Online] Business Insider. Available at: https://www.businessinsider.in/Heres-a-way-retailers-can-grow-customer-loyalty/articleshow/47531243.cms. [Accessed on: 07/03/17]. Pepper, D. and Rogers, M. (2004). The IDIC Methodology. [Online]. Available at: https://wikimemoires.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IDIC-Methodology.jpg. [Accessed on:07/03/17]. Walsh, S., Gilmore, A. and Carson, D. (2004), Managing and implementing simultaneous transaction and relationship marketing, International Journal of Bank Marketing, Vol. 22 No. 7, pp. 468-483. Sweeney, A. and Morrison, M. (2004), Clicks vs. Bricks: Internet-facilitated relationships in Financial Services, International Journal of Internet Marketing and Advertising, Vol. 1 No. 4, pp. 350-370. Stauss, B., Schmidt, M. and Schoeler, A. (2005), Customer frustration in loyalty programs, International Journal of Service Industry Management, Vol. 16 No. 3, pp. 229-252. Reinartz, W.J. and Kumar, V. (2003), The Impact of Customer Relationship Characteristics on Profitable Lifetime Duration, Journal of Marketing, Vol. 67 No. 1, pp. 77-99. Buttle, F. (2000). Gartners CRM Model. [Online] Academia. Available at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228396256. Greasley, A. (2009). Operations management, 2nd edition, Wiley. United Kingdom. Buttle, F. (2009). Customer Relationship Management, Concept and Technologies, New York, Routledg. Bolton, Ruth N. (1998), A Dynamic Model of the Duration of the Customer's Relationship with a Continuous Service Provider: The Role of Satisfaction, Marketing Science Piccoli, Gabriele and L. Applegate (2003), "Wyndham International: Fostering High-Touch with High-Tech" Bottomley, P. P. and Holden, S. (2009). Do we really know how consumers evaluate brand Extensions Journal of Marketing Research, 38, 494 50. Ingram, D. (2013). Outbound Vs. Inbound Logistics. [Online] Chron. Available from: https://smallbusiness.chron.com/outbound-vs-inbound-logistics-77016.html. Baziotopoulos (2008). "An Investigation of Logistics Outsourcing Practices in the Greek Manufacturing Sector". PhD thesis. McGinnis M. A., Military Logistics: Insights for Business Logistics, International Journal of Physical Distribution Logistics Management Mallik, Susan (2010). "Customer Service in Supply Chain Management". Misra, M.I. Kahn, U.K. Singh, Supply Chain Management Systems: Architecture, Design and Vision, North American Business Press 2010 Boxx, R. (2015). The Challenge of Retaining Customers. [Online] CBMC international. Available https://www.cbmcint.com/the-challenge-of-retaining-customers Smith, PR. And Zook, Ze. (2011). Marketing Communications, Integrating Offline and Online With Social Media. London. Kogan Page.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Supply and Demand Case Study Cabbage Patch Kids Essay Example

Supply and Demand Case Study: Cabbage Patch Kids Paper Turning the Supply Chain into a Revenue Chain Turning the Supply Chain into a Revenue Chain by  Gerard P. Cachon  and  Martin A. Lariviere †¢ Print †¢ Email †¢ Purchase Article FEATURED PRODUCTS [pic] Guide to Getting a Job by Gill Corkindale, Daisy Dowling, David Silverman, et al. $19. 95 Buy it now  » [pic] Management Tips: From Harvard Business Review by Harvard Business Review $18. 00 Buy it now  » [pic] Lords of Strategy: The Secret Intellectual History of the New Corporate World by Walter Kiechel $26. 95 Buy it now  » †¢ Email †¢ Share †¢ Print In the summer of 1997, movie fans ? cked to their local Blockbuster video stores eager to rent The English Patient and Jerry Maguire, only to find that all ten or so copies of each had already been checked out. Blockbuster shared their frustration. It knew it was annoying customers and losing sales. It wasn’t that the company didn’t know how many copies it could have rented; demand could easily be predicted by looking at theater receipts. And it wasn’t that the company was inefficient at getting tapes into stores and returning rented tapes to shelves; its buying and replenishment processes were fine-tuned. The problem was that at $60 a copy, Blockbuster couldn’t afford to stock the number of tapes it needed to serve every customer, only to replace the mall a few weeks later with copies of the next hot movies. Its suppliers, the movie studios, had to charge a high initial price to earn enough revenue themselves. But at $3 per rental, Blockbuster had to rent a tape more than 20 times to earn a profit. Given that peak demand for a title lasts only a few weeks, the company couldn’t justify buying enough tapes to even come close to satisfying initial demand. We will write a custom essay sample on Supply and Demand Case Study: Cabbage Patch Kids specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Supply and Demand Case Study: Cabbage Patch Kids specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Supply and Demand Case Study: Cabbage Patch Kids specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The studios’ high wholesale price limited availability, and no one—not the supplier, not the retailer, not the customer—was happy. But in 1998, Blockbuster solved the problem by radically changing the way it paid its suppliers. It agreed to give the studios a share of the rental fees in return for a much lower up-front price on tapes. Here’s how it works. Suppose the supplier charges only $9 per tape instead of $60 but receives 50% of the rental revenue. Even though Blockbuster keeps only half of the revenue, or $1. 0 per rental, it breaks even after each tape has been rented a mere six times. It can now justify purchasing many more tapes. Having more tapes means more potential rentals. Combined with the drastically lower cost, this translates into a significantly higher profit for Blockbuster. For the movie studio, increased tape sales and the added revenue stream also result in more profit. Everyone goes home happy. (For a look at a plausible profit scen ario, see the exhibit â€Å"The Economics of Revenue Sharing. †) [pic] The new arrangement paid off immediately for Blockbuster. In the year after starting the program, the company increased its market share by about 5%, which roughly equaled the share of the number-two retailer, Hollywood Entertainment. Now, revenue sharing is common throughout the industry. Our research indicates that revenue sharing will work for many products but only when two conditions are met. First, the cost to produce the additional units must be less than the incremental revenue they generate. If it is, a greater availability will increase supply chain profits, so both parties will be better off. In the video rental industry, making a movie is xpensive, but copying a tape is cheap. Consequently, the supply chain can double or quadruple inventory, and the resulting revenue rise will easily cover the additional production cost. This condition is not satisfied in all markets. Chrysler could increase revenue by expanding supplies of its PT Cruiser, but the costs involved would be prohibitive, and the greater availability might end up und ermining the car’s cachet. The second criterion is that the administrative burden associated with revenue sharing must be small enough that the cost of running the program doesn’t eat up all the gains. For the video rental industry, this is a minor concern. Suppliers need only link into the point-of-sale systems that even the smallest video retailers already use. We suspect there are other industries whose products and services satisfy these requirements and for which revenue sharing would also work well. Consider, for example, distributing music in digital formats. The expense to copy a file is essentially zero—far less than the value it creates for customers (remember, we’re focusing on the incremental cost of expanding supply, not the sunk cost of creating content). The market is also likely to grow substantially with improved availability. Many customers find a list price of $18. 97 for a CD daunting when all they want is one song. Digitally distributing individual songs provides an opportunity to expand total industry revenues. Finally, monitoring usage is simple and easy if records are centrally maintained. In this light, Bertelsmann’s deal with Napster makes tremendous sense: Napster’s centralized structure allows for revenues to be tracked, and its 38 million users allow for rapid expansion of the market. [pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic]

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Collective Bargaining Definition

Collective Bargaining Definition Collective bargaining is an organized labor process through which employees negotiate with their employers to resolve workplace problems and disputes. During collective bargaining, the concerns and demands of the employees are usually presented by their union representatives. Agreements reached through the bargaining process typically establish terms of employment such as wages and hours, benefits, worker health and safety, training, and the grievance resolution processes. Contracts resulting from these negotiations are often referred to as a â€Å"collective bargaining agreement,† or CBA.   Key Takeaways: Collective Bargaining Collective bargaining is a function of unionized labor by which workers negotiate with their employers to resolve problems and disputes that could otherwise result in strikes or work-stoppagesIssues involved in collective bargaining often include wages, benefits, and working conditionsThe result of collective bargaining negotiations is a mutually binding contract or Collective Bargaining Agreement or CBA Brief History of Collective Bargaining in America The American Industrial Revolution of the 1800s spurred the growth of the unionized labor movement. Founded by Samuel Gompers in 1886, the American Federation of Labor (AFL) gave many workers bargaining powers. In 1926, President Calvin Coolidge signed the Railway Labor Act formally requiring employers to bargain with unions as a way of avoiding economy-crippling strikes. A product of the Great Depression, the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 made it illegal for employers to deny workers the right to form new unions or to join existing unions. The National Labor Relations Act The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) prohibits employers from preventing employees from forming or joining unions and from retaliating against employees for taking part in union activities. The NLRA bans so-called â€Å"closed shop† arrangements under which employers require all employees to join a certain union as a condition of their employment. While government workers, farm workers, and independent contractors are not covered by the NLRA, several states give state and local government workers and farm workers the right to unionize. The Collective Bargaining Process When issues in terms of employment arise, the NLRA requires the unions (labor) and the employers (management) to bargain â€Å"in good faith† on the issues involved until they either agree on a contract or reach a mutually-agreed stand-off, known as an â€Å"impasse.† In the event of an impasse, employers can impose conditions of employment as long as they had previously been offered to the employees before the impasse was reached. In either case, the result is often the prevention of a strike. Contracts agreed to through collective bargaining are mutually binding and, except under extraordinary circumstances, neither side may deviate from the contract’s terms without the consent of the other party. When legal problems arise during collective bargaining sessions, they are resolved by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the independent federal agency assigned to deal with organized labor disputes and to protect the rights of employees by enforcing the NLRA. What Does ‘In Good Faith’ Mean? The NLRA requires both employers and employees to bargain â€Å"in good faith.† But considering the massive number of disputes claiming failures to negotiate in good faith, that go before the NLRB every year, the term is rather vague. While there is no specific list, a few examples of acts that might be found to violate the â€Å"in good faith† requirement include: Refusing to bargain with the other side about valid workplace issues.Changing or disregarding the terms of a signed contract without the consent of the other sideUnilaterally changing terms of employment.Agreeing to a contract with no intention of actually honoring its terms. Good faith disputes that cannot be resolved are referred to the NLRB. The NLRB then decides whether the parties should â€Å"go back to the table† for further bargaining or declare an impasse, leaving the existing contract in force. The Union’s Duties in Collective Bargaining Labor unions are not obligated to support all or even any of the demands of its workers in collective bargaining negotiations. The NLRA requires only that unions treat and represent all of their members fairly and equally.   Most unions have specific internal grievance procedures to be followed by workers who believe the union has failed to uphold their rights or otherwise treated them unfairly. For example, an employee who feels the union acted unfairly in refusing to support his or her demands for more overtime hours than agreed to in the existing contract would first look to the union’s grievance procedure for relief. Pros and Cons of Collective Bargaining Collective bargaining gives employees a voice. Non-union workers often have no choice but to accept the terms of employment imposed by management or be replaced by employees who will. The legally-ensured right to negotiate empowers employees to seek a more beneficial situation. The collective bargaining process has contributed to higher wages, better benefits, safer workplaces, and improved quality of life for all American workers, whether they are union members or not. On the other hand, collective bargaining can result in a loss of productivity. The bargaining process can take months and require the participation of many, if not all employees during working hours. In addition, there is no guarantee that the process will prevent a strike or work slow-down. Sources and Reference â€Å"Collective Bargaining.† American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).â€Å"Employee Rights.† National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)..â€Å"Collective bargaining rights.† National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).â€Å"National Labor Relations Act.† National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).â€Å"Can I be required to be a union member or pay dues to a union?.† National Right to Work.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Legal research questions Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Legal research questions - Case Study Example CCA concluded both the errors were insignificant and confirmed that the trial had proved Mr. Evan's guilt beyond doubt. The High Court of Australia allowed the appeal and ordered a new trial. The court held that errors at trail to ask Mr. Evans to dress like the robber and also not allowing his claim for alibi undermined Mr. Evan's defense and that he had not received a fair trail. The court held that there had been a substantial miscarriage of justice1. safety and health of the people as well as the environment. The identification and management of the risks associated with the GMOs and to regulate them is the prime objective of the GT Act2. For the purpose of adopting the GT Act effectively by all the states a 'Gene Technology Regulator (GTR) was established under the Common Wealth Act which authority was given power to act in each state. The national scheme governing the GMOs is regulated by the GTR3. The GTR acts independently on her own subject however to the powers granted by the Act. "Four categories of dealings are exempted from the general prohibition on dealings with GMOs"4These dealings are (a) Exempt dealings; (b) Notifiable low risk dealings; (c) Dealings listed on the GMO Register and (d) Licensed dealings (a) The Kyoto Protocol was a treaty entered into in December 1997 at Kyoto with the objective of reducing the gas house gases which result in changes of climate. As of November 2007 there were about 175 countries which have ratified the protocol framed as a result of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. (b) Australia has made an international commitment at Kyoto to be a part of the protocol and to limit the gas house emissions to 108 percent of the 1990 baseline. This projection equals to 30 percent reduction from its 'business as usual' projections5. This commitment was revised on December 2007 to the reduction of 60 percent on 2000 levels by the year 2050. (c) Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has signed the instrument of ratification in December. With this ratification the Kyoto Protocol has become the first Act of the new Government. However under the Kyoto Rules the ratification will take effect only after 90 days from the date of ratification6. Note: The Parliamentary Library in the internet website http://www.aph.gov.au/library/intguide/SCI/kyoto.htm contained useful information on the Kyoto Protocol. Further reference to the Media Release from the government gave information

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Native People of North America Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Native People of North America - Assignment Example This are spirits being used in the western religious practices and pueblo cosmology. There are personification spirits of things existing in the real world. It can represent anything in the natural world from location, concept, and revered ancestor to an element or a quality. There are more than 300 kachinas in pueblo culture. Real Hopi katsinas/kachinas have changed to suit the contemporary world. Today, curving have been termed Hopi katsinas/kachinas for business purposes changing the meaning and originality of the culture of the Hopi people. Natchez are Native American people who are believed to have a Mississippi origin. They have unique language that has isolated them from their close relatives. They have a distant resemblance to the Muskogean languages. Thus, their unique language is a facet towards maintaining their originality. The other unique characteristic of the Natchez is the unusual social system. The system is composed of exogamous marriage and nobility classes. The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin was given the rights to the nation by the government’s legal process known as the Indian Treaties. These treaties were granted by the house of congress. Congress vested its powers to overthrow all the historical Indian treaty legislation. This took place when they refused to agree to its promise of granting the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin treaty rights to own their lands in 1830. The congress legislation to eliminate the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin overrode all Indian Treaties. This is an example of plenary authority. Their accomplishments are preserving their native culture and language, improving their educational opportunities and protecting their environment. 3. Reservation gaming helps nationwide collection of revenues from fee charged from gaming projects. This revenue is used to build schools and colleges as we as investing in drug and alcohol treatment programs. 2. Despite that

Monday, November 18, 2019

Textile Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Textile - Assignment Example tant to check the dry cleanability of plastic buttons for a rayon print dress because the plastic may dissolve in the dry cleaning solvent used such as perchlorethylene. The plastic becomes sticky and the buttons may attach to the fabric; hence, staining the print. Consumers should check the dry cleanability of the leather trim on a wool sport coat because the make-up of the coat may entail spandex that is vulnerable to irreversible damage when subjected to chlorine bleach. The 100% cotton whites may appear gray after dry cleaning because the heat and chemical components of the dry cleaning solvent subjected to them weakens the cellulose in the fabric; hence, the color. It is possible to restore the original whiteness by using mild soap and non-chlorine bleach to ensure that harsh chemicals do not compromise the cellulose structure in the cotton. Some garments are best cleaned by laundering and others by dry cleaning depending on the fabric structure. Cotton garments with spandex would be vulnerable to wear and tear if subjected to a chlorinated dry cleaning solvent. A 100% cotton garment may have a ‘Dry Clean Only’ label to protect its make-up from the risk of wear and tear caused by harsh environments created by the washing machine. The cellulose structure may disintegrate due to the heat in the washing machine; hence ruining the

Friday, November 15, 2019

Management of Implant Related Nerve Injury

Management of Implant Related Nerve Injury Nerve injury following implant therapy often results in paraesthesic or anaesthesic effects that affect quality of life of the patient. Patients usually experience postoperative changes in sensation, including pain, even though the intraoperative procedures were uneventful. In cases of uneventful clinical implant placement procedures, a postoperative telephonic interview, as soon as the effects of anaesthesia have dissipated, will enable the clinician to determine possible nerve injury and hence initiate management protocols. Postoperative radiography would be essential to assess whether the inferior alveolar nerve canal or mental foramen have been traversed, however it must be noted that absence of radiographic findings do not preclude nerve injury. Management protocols aim to alleviate pain, loss of normal sensation and overall discomfort following nerve related injuries, with varying degrees of success depending on the nature of injury. Hence, it is clearly identified that the imp ortance of comprehensive pre-planning mitigates the need for management of nerve related injuries. Nerve injuries in the maxilla are relatively uncommon compared to mandible. Branches of the greater palatine nerve, posterior superior alveolar nerve, and the nasopalatine nerve, which supply the gingival issues in the anterior and posterior palate and buccal mucosa of the maxilla, are inevitably damaged due to flap procedures in implant therapy. Due to the rich anastomosis between these nerves, very rarely does this damage result in neural deficit. Numerous academic studies have been attributed to implant related nerve injury of the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve, more importantly, the inferior alveolar nerve, mental nerve, and the lingual nerve. Interventions can be broadly classified as, a.  Non-surgical b.  Surgical, and c.  alternate treatments. a. Non-Surgical Therapy This form of therapy should be mandated as soon as signs and / or symptoms of nerve injury be suspected, whether intraoperatively or postoperatively. Corticosteriods, dexamethasone (8mg daily for 3 days) or prednisolone (1mg/kg/day up to 80mg day), in high doses have been shown to minimize neuropathies in acute nerve injuries if administered within 1 week of the injury. A non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) could be added to the regimen or prescribed as an alternative. Ibuprofen, 800mg three times daily for 3 weeks, is a suitable NSAID. Corticosteriods and NSAIDs reduce the inflammatory response with corticosteroids having the added effect of preventing ectopic discharges from injured axons and preventing neuroma formation (Juodzbalys et al, 2011). Pain and temperature are the first sensations to resolve with other sensations taking longer (Alhassani and Alghamdi, 2010: 405; Juodzbalys et al, 2011). The use of topical applications has not been broadly researched. Capsaicin and clonidine patches along with EMLA paste (4% lignocaine) are some of the products used to treat hyperalgesia with varying success. Topical clonazepam, 0.5mg to 1.0 mg 3 times day was shown to be effective in relieving burning oral pain (Graff-Radford and Evans, 2003: 979, Fukada et al, 2012). Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), antiepileptic drugs, and muscle relaxants have been effective in treating cases with neuropathic pain and intermittent pains which exhibit an â€Å"electric shock† – like symptoms (Graff-Radford and Evans, 2003: 980). An example of a TCA is amitriptyline although other antidepressants can be used. In patients where TCAs are contraindicated, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (Venlafaxine) can be prescribed. Gabapentin and topiramate are antiepileptic drugs which stabilize the injured nerve membrane. It must be noted that this class pharmacological agents depress the activity in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Hence patients on these therapies can expect side effects including, drowsiness, loss of memory, and somnolence. It can be expected that some patients cannot manage the side effects of these drugs and opt to live with pain or altered sensations (Renton et al, 2012; Park et al, 2010: 345). Cryotherapy is effective treatment to minimize swelling over the osteotomy site and hence minimizing secondary nerve damage due to swelling. Use of ice packs in the first 24 hours promotes post-surgical recovery and reduces nerve degeneration and neuroma formation (Juodzbalys et al, 2011). A stellate ganglion block is a treatment modality that used to treat patients experiencing chronic neuropathic pain and to relieve subjective symptoms. If performed early,1 to 2 month post nerve injury, it accelerates neurophysiological repair by blocking the sympathetic nervous system hence increasing blood flow and decreasing oedema (Fukada et al,2012;). A more recent non-surgical, non-invasive approach includes the use low level laser therapy (LLLT), also known as cold laser therapy, for inducing tissue repair. The initial concept, now available for mainstream commercial use, has been gaining interest as research with over 200 random clinical trials have been already published, 50% of which were aimed at pain relief, but it must be noted fewer studies have investigated its efficacy in the head and neck region. LLLT broadly aims to reduce inflammation and provide analgesia by blocking peripheral axonal transmission and stimulating nerve regeneration / healing. After repeated treatments with LLLT, decreased central sensitization is acheived (ThorLaser). [ABDUL PLEASE ASSIST ME WITH THAT REFERENCE FROM THORLASER]. In animal studies, LLLT has shown positive results in enhancing myelination of axons and nerve function. In the Midamba and Haanaes 1993 study, similar protocols were used on patients with long standing inferior alveolar or l ingual nerve neurosensory deficits, an average of 71,1% improvement was noticed in subjective symptoms (cited in Ozen et al, 2006: 7). The use of vitamin B12 as an adjunct with routine pharmacotherapy is thought to promote the regeneration of nerve terminals. Modalities that increase blood flow to the injured nerve also promote healing. These include near infrared therapy to increase local blood flow and adenosine triphosphate by causing vasodialation. b.Surgical Therapy Microsurgical repair includes procedures that involve internal neurolysis, external neurolysis, and removal of the neuroma. Microsurgical repair of the injured nerve carries its own risk as permanent anaesthesia is a possibility. Hence, these procedures are carried out with aid of a microscope by specialist neurosurgeons or trained maxillo-facial surgeons. Microsurgical repair of the lingual or inferior alveolar nerve has been shown to have significantly improved sensory outcomes in most patients with total recovery in a fewer patients. Zicchardi et al (2009: 300) have concluded that statistically, there were no significant differences between the microsurgical neurosensory outcomes between the inferior alveolar and lingual nerves. It has been reported that 55% to 82% of patients show improved neurosensory outcomes of microsurgical repair of the inferior alveolar nerve (Strauss et al, 2006: 1769; Bagheri et al, 2012: 1983). This wide range leads to hypothesize that other factors play a role in the outcomes of microsurgical nerve repair. Time between the nerve injury and microsurgical repair has been a topic of debate with regards to sensory outcomes. Some groups advocate early repair (6 month or earlier post-injury), and some groups finding no statistical difference in sensory outcomes between early or later repairs. However, in a retrospective cohort study undertaken by Bagheri et al, a cohort of 167 patients were evaluated post-microsurgical repair, where it was deduced that early repairs were directly related to better outcomes. Younger patients (patients less than 51 years) also yielded a more favourable outcome than older patients. Neurosensory testing will also give insight into the severity of damage and hence the outcome of microsurgical repair, if indicated. In cases where it has been clearly established that nerve damage has occurred post implant therapy, removal of the implant within 24 to 30 hours has been shown to resolve neuropathy (Renton et al, 2012). c.  Other Treatment Modalities It is clear from above that nerve injury post implant therapy has an effect on the quality of life of affected patients. Some patients even lose confidence in their treating physician / dentist / specialist as a result, and opt for alternate management strategies. Psychotherapeutic interventions, including cognitive behavioural therapy, aim to manage the resulting depression, if diagnosed. When combined with psycho-active chemotherapy, stress management techniques, and hypnosis, has been shown to be effective in managing neuropathic pain. Patients are taught to modify their behaviours according to their symptoms, psychological traits and ultimately decreasing patients’ pain-related disability (Dickenson et al, 2010: 1644). Further investigation into treatment modalities for nerve injuries, iatrogenic or otherwise, make mention of other procedures, that are beyond the topic of this discussion, but include the use of epidural injections, neuromodulation, transcutaneous electrical stimulation, spinal cord stimulation and deep brain stimulation. There are no clearly defined management protocols for the management of nerve injury post implant therapy, however, Juodzbalys et al, (2011), have constructed a management guideline that incorporates some of the treatment modalities described above (See Table 1). REFERENCES Alhassani, A., Alghamdi, A.S.T., 2010. Inferior alveolar nerve injury in implant dentistry: Diagnosis, causes, prevention, and management. Journal of Oral Implantology, 36 (5), 401 – 407, viewed 30 April 2014, (Ebsco online / Allen Press). Bagheri, S.C, Meyer, R.A, Cho, S,H, Thoppay, J, Khan, H.A, Steed, M, 2012. Microsurgical repair of the inferior alveolar nerve: Success rate and factors that adversely affect outcome. Journal of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, 70, 1978 – 1990, viewed 30 April 2014, (online Science Direct). Dickinson, B.D, Head, A, Gitlow, S, Osbahr III, A.J, 2010. Maldynia: Pathophysiology and management of neuropathic and maladaptive pain – A report of the AMA Council on Science and Public Health. Pain Medicine, 11, 1635 – 1653, viewed 24 May 2014, (Ebsco online / Wiley Blackwell). Fukuda, K, Ichinohe, T, Kaneko, Y, 2012. Pain management for nerve injury following dental implant surgery at a Tokyo dental college hospital. International Journal of Dentistry. vol. 2012, Article ID 209474, viewed 22 April 2014, (Ebsco online / Hindawi Corporation). Graff-Radford, S.B, Evans, R.W, 2003. Lingual nerve injury. Headache, 43, 975 – 983, viewed 21 April 2014, (Ebsco online / Wiley Blackwell). Juodzbalys, G., Wang, H-L, Sbalys, G., 2011. Injury of the inferior alveolar nerve during implant placement: a literature review. Journal of Oral Maxillofacial Research , 2 (1), 1 – 20, viewed 22 April 2014, (Ebsco online). Ozen, T, Orhan, K, Gorur, I, Ozturk, A, 2006. Efficacy of low level laser therapy on neurosensory recovery after injury to the inferior alveolar nerve. Head Face Medicine, 2, 3-9, viewed 01 June 2014, (Ebsco online / BioMed Central). Park, J.H, Lee, S.H, Kim, S.T, 2010. Pharmacological management of trigeminal nerve pain after implant surgery. International Journal of Prosthodontics, 23, 342 – 346, viewed 22 April 2014, (Ebsco online, Quintessence) Renton, T., Dawood, A., Shah, A., Searson, L., Yilmaz, Z., 2012. Post-implant neuropathy of the trigeminal nerve. A case series. British Dental Journal, 212 (E17), 1 – 6, viewed 30 April 2014, (online Nature Group). Strauss, E.R, Ziccardi, V.B, Janal, M.N, 2006. Outcome assessment of inferior alveolar nerve microsurgery : a retrospective review. Journal of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, 64, 1767 – 1770, viewed 05 May 2014, (Ebsco online/ Quintessence). Ziccardi, V.B, Riviera, L, Gomes, J, 2009. Comparison of lingual and inferior alveolar nerve microsurgery outcomes. Quintessence International, 40, 295 – 301, viewed 02 May 2014, (Ebsco online/ Quintessence). THORLASER

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Robert Andrew Millikan Essay -- essays research papers

Robert Andrew Millikan In 1909 Robert Andrew Millikan set up an apparatus to measure the charge of an electron within an accuracy range of 3%. In 1913 he came out with a value of the electrical charge that would serve the world of science for a generation. Young Millikan had a childhood like most others: he had no idea what his profession would be. Once he recalled trying to jump from a rowboat to a dock, falling in the water, and almost drowning. Here he had his first account with physics - Newton’s Third Law of Motion: "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction". Even in High School Physics courses Millikan was not so spirited, which may have had a little to do with his teacher’s habit of spending the summers using a divining rod to find water. After Millikan graduated from Maquoketa High he was accepted into Oberlin College. Robert actually began his physics career when he taught an elementary course at the request of his Greek professor during his sophomore year. He then transferred to Columbia University from which he graduated in 1893 as the only student graduate in physics. After this accomplishment Millikan travelled to Germany to study with such professors Planck and others. When this period was on his resume Millikan was offered a position in the Physics department at the University of Chicago and Millikan took it. After teaching for a period Millikan decided that physics could o...

Sunday, November 10, 2019

At&T vs Skype Essay

This analysis provides an overview of the current and prospective opportunities for Skype, a Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) company. The report finds that Skype’s revenue has decreased dramatically in the last three years mainly due to the increase in competition. Josh Silverman, president of Skype, realizes some decisions must be made in order to remain an industry leader. The company’s current growth plan strategy includes three phases. Phase 1 though already completed, was to become operational on at least one platform, with one revenue system, and focus on one market with one primary service. Phase 2 consist of developing many platforms, diversified revenue streams, many conversation modes, many regions and market targets. Phase 3 encompasses multiple market segments, established products, regional ubiquity, and mature target markets. Though Skype is well developed there are still potential growth opportunities. These opportunities include expansion of existing calling plans and prices, incenting existing users to ‘sell’ Skype to new users and collaborating with cell phone providers. With the market growing rapidly the next phase taken by Skype is crucial in their development. By using the current opportunities Silverman can advance the company as well as attack other providers in the industry. SYNOPSIS OF CASE FACTS Skype is a software application that essentially allows users to use any telephone or videoconference services over any internet connection. This transmission is called VoIP (as shown in Appendix A) and because of the reasonable long-distance and local call packages this option has become an attractive economical alternative to landline or traditional cell phone plan. Josh Silverman, president of Skype, is faced with making the next strategic move that will put Skype in a better position to successfully compete in the telecommunications industry. In order for Silverman and his leadership team to proceed with the next steps it is recommended that they first assess the economic environment. It is important to understand the economic environment that it currently has, as well as the predictions for growth within the industry. Finally, Skype’s key success factors (KSF’s) include cost, building relationships with mobile operators, globalization and word of mouth promotion by existing users. If Skype can focus on one of these KSF’s and be uniquely different where it sets them apart from rivals then Skype will continue to see growth in users and revenue. In terms of market size and growth rate, The VoIP market increased 66% from 2005-2006 with a projected continual increase of growth for decade upwards of 150%. This growth was due to the inclusion of an expansion to other ways of utilizing VoIP services. From internet to cell phone usage, the forecasts called for VoIP applications to create $32.2 billion in profit with over 270 million users. As of 2009, Skype would not be considered a major competitor within the VoIP Market. Comcast Corporation, which held 31.5% of the market, was the leader by 15.3%. Time Warner was in second with 16.2%, and Cox Enterprises, Inc. at 9.6% was only 1.3% ahead of Vontage Holdings Corp. with 8.3%. The rest of the market, which was considered as â€Å"other†, encompassed 34.4% in which Skype captured a small share. All of the major competitors growth rates from 2005-2009 were declining rapidly. For Skype, this was good news because the projections in growth of U.S. and Europe users from 2005-2011 showed 17% increase in the U.S. and 37% increase in Europe. ​Although major players had a traditional stronghold on the telephone industry, Skype services created a substantial technological pull that provided a major shift in the macro environment for these majority companies. In addition, the transition from PTSN to VoIP technology also sparked regulatory and social conversations of change. And according to our textbook, â€Å"since macroeconomic factors affect different industries in different ways†¦it is important for managers to determine which these represent the most strategically relevant factors† (Thompson, Peterraf, Gamble, Strickland, 2012). For Skype, this environment was ripe with opportunities for growth, and the company decided to strategically chart their progressive growth into diversification through a phased plan incorporating the one to any platform functionalities. In addition, Skype would need to be concerned about new technology which provided potential new entrants an opportunity to gain market share . ​ The VoIP industry is in the growth stage of the lifecycle process in 2009. The landline telephone market is in decline due to f the attractive and less expensive option of VoIP technology, which can utilize the increasing amount of cheaper internet connectivity. Other markets such as the cell phone market are starting to introduce technology that based on current projections over half of the cell phone market will be VoIP based technologies by 2019. ​Skype’s virtual market encompasses a global strategy due to the unlimited potential and increasing deployment of fiber optic networks internationally. The barriers to entry are reasonable because they already have achieved substantial growth and success within one platform. Additionally, gaining access to technologies through innovation, acquisitions, and mergers are ways to go from their one to any platform in the future. The Company to work to establish itself in markets that are emerging, and where other players have not focused. STRATEGIC ISSUES AND KEY PROBLEMS SWOT analysis, see Appendix B was performed highlighting the positives and negatives within the company. Skype has succeeded in the market primarily due to aggressive pricing. However, the competitive pricing also puts Skype at a disadvantage. Although Skype’s growth numbers show a 47%, 72% and 61% increase in registered users, Skype minutes and Skype out minutes, respectively, in fourth quarter of 2008, Skype witnesses a decrease in revenue growth, 46% to 26% from Q308 to Q408, respectively. The company uses a broad differentiation strategy to appeal to buyers and offers competitive pricing, suggesting that buyers can reduce fees associated with long-distance and local calls that are incurred with their current telephone provider. A defined strength is word of mouth advertising which has ultimately kept down operating costs. Everyone loves Skype because it is largely free. The executive team at Skype is faced with crafting a strategy that will put Skype in a position to compete with heavy hitters in the market like Comcast (31.5% of the market share), Time Warner Cable, Cox Enterprises and Vonage Holdings. A key strategy for Comcast was the acquisition of AT&T’s cable operations. This move increased Comcast’s membership by expanding business geographically into 6 other states. Please refer to Appendix C for competitive matrix. DRIVING FACTORS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS Skype has several driving factors for the recommended solutions. One, the ‘fan base’ is instrumental in promoting the application. According to the executive outlook, ‘Skype becomes more valuable as more people use it, thereby creating an incentive for existing users to encourage new users to join’ (Thompson, Peterraf, Gamble, Strickland, 2012). Secondly, Skype offers competitive pricing and plans which has attracted many users but a slight modification of addendum to the plan would promote profitability. Finally, acquisitions of competitors have been successful for other rivals, yet it could be expensive and not something that Skype could afford to do now. An alternative would be to continue to collaborate with cell phone providers. RECOMMENDATIONS The leadership team at Skype should focus on modifying and building out the calling plan to boost revenues. Skype-to-Skype minutes has seen the greatest growth between Q307 and Q408, 72%, however this plan is free. The addition of a small fee to this service or offering a prepaid bundled package could dramatically increase revenue in this area. Another strategy is to continue collaborating with cell phone providers making it easier for users to access Skype from mobile devices, not just desktops or laptops. Market penetration with mobile devices could increase membership and revenue. Also, Skye could partner with major W-Fi hotspot providers to have a â€Å"Skype Here† promotion where places like Starbucks would partner with Skype to encourage people to Skype from their stores. This would increase the time that a customer could spend in the store, and refresh the idea of Skyping from with a pleasure activity like getting a cup of coffee. This could lead to promotions with Skype as well. For example, if a member spends 300 minutes Skyping at a certain Starbucks then they would get a coupon for a free coffee at that location. With IM, Facetime, and other Communications applications the struggle is to keep Skype in the consumers mind as the preferred method of making communication, as opposed to the other methods. Lastly, offer incentives to existing users to encourage new users to join Skype. The incentive payout would have to line-up with the price points of the calling plans. ​Another area that Skype should explore is the corporate or B2B communications, companies spend thousands each year using conference calls, or virtual meetings. Skype should design a simple method for business to offer a fixed price conference calling plan on a per employee basis. The corporate market is largely untapped and corporations typically have a robust IT infrastructure that lends itself well to Skype. ​

Friday, November 8, 2019

Essay on Evolution of Technology in Western Civilization

Essay on Evolution of Technology in Western Civilization Essay on Evolution of Technology in Western Civilization Essay on Evolution of Technology in Western CivilizationThere is no doubt that Western civilization has caused a unique industrial revolution in life of the world, which has become a science and technology revolution. Transformation of nature on the planet has entered a new stage, which is characterized by avalanche unpredictable progress.Since the beginning of mankind, there is a constant scientific and technological progress due to the development of the human mind. If we consider the development of man from the beginning, we will notice a trend. Initially, human was engaged in gathering, ie, he gathered berries. Humans used and gathered what was grown by nature, not by him. Then people discovered that they could grow any grains and legumes to provide themselves with food. He began creating special tools to cultivate the land. Later, people began to create a variety of tools for farming, hunting, etc. (Zsinka, 2014).With the development of crafts, people have got more opportunities for existence, they could provide themselves with everything they needed: food, dishes, clothes, etc. The same trend can be observed during the development of industry. With the development of industry, people have improved their achievements. They create better goods that meet the needs of humanity. People constantly improve themselves and everything around to simplify the life.In the 20th century, science and technology began to play the role of the main engines of economic and social development. Scientific-technical revolution became a support vector of historical dynamics. For those who enjoyed it to the maximum extent, it gave strength, which at the end of the 20th century was the measure of success of the country and the people. Economic and military power of the state, complemented by a high standard of living, which are based on NTP, actually puts it ahead in the forefront, provides advantages in the global arena (Perl, 2011).Western civilization is a special type of civil ization (culture), which historically emerged in Western Europe and in the last century endured a specific process of social modernization (Bowden, 2011). Western civilization is associated with the progressive development and constant changes in a persons life. It appeared in ancient Greece and ancient Rome. The first stage of its development, called ancient civilization, was marked by the emergence of the core values of the Western type of society: private ownership, private industry, market-oriented; the first sample of democracy democracy, however, was limited; republican form of government. It created the foundations of civil society to ensure the rights and freedom of the individual, as well as a system of social and cultural principles that contribute to the mobilization of creativity and development of the individual.The next stage in the development of Western civilization is connected with Europe and Christianity. The Reformation gave rise to a new trend in Christianity Protestantism, which became the spiritual foundation of Western civilization. The main value of this civilization is the individual freedom of choice in all spheres of life. It was directly connected with the development of specific European type of personality that emerged during the Renaissance. â€Å"The individual becomes tragically responsible not only for approximation and removal from the Supreme, but also for the choice of what he, that individual, considers the Supreme† (Fitzgerald, 2002).According to Weber, rationality became the most important independent value of the West. Public consciousness is rational, free of religious dogma in solving practical problems, pragmatical, but the scope of application of Christian values is a social morality of not only his personal life, but also of business ethics (Zafirovski, 2011).In the era of geographical discoveries and colonial wars, Europe extended its type of development in other regions of the world. For the first time, mankind, due to the global spread of Western values and institutions (16-19 centuries), was really integrated into the framework of the world-embracing system of connections. By the end of the 19th-early 20th century, these values and institutions became dominant in the world and continued to define the main features of the face of the Earth in this century until very recently.The main content of civilization process in the 20th century was the tendency to the formation of the historical structures of the universal world civilization. Processes taking place in the 20th century in the West became global, directly affecting all nations, all other civilizations, who were forced to seek an answer to the historical challenge of the West. That challenge was perceived in a particular form of reality as an imperative of modernization. In this situation, the question of the relationship between modernization and westernization became central to the vast majority of humanity of non-Western w orld (Lin, 2010).In the second half of the 20th century, the world was developing under the influence of scientific and technological revolution (STR), which is usually understood as a qualitative transformation of modern productive forces on the basis of science and technology. STR began in the 30s of the 20th century and received a powerful acceleration during the Second World War and the Cold War.There were found new sources of energy nuclear, solar-powered, wind power plants. People started using new artificial materials nylon, plastic, etc. Automation has changed the nature of work and the place of man in the production process. The emergence of cybernetics has created logistical base for the scientific management of social processes. Industries such as electronics, petrochemicals, nuclear energy, the overall mechanization and automation of production came to the fore. People started exploring space and underwater world. STR has led to the release of new types of products, in troduction of new technologies and new tools. Dissemination of scientific and technological revolution was not confined to industry, transport, communications, and energy. STR rapidly invaded other areas of life, such as trade, monetary system, education, management (Milke, 2012).Today technology intrudes into all areas of society: from economics to sports and leisure, it affects interpersonal relationships, changes the structure and hierarchy of values, and determines characteristics of the modern individual.With the help of technology people create a new world, both real and virtual, make technical objects (car, computer) the main objects of attention, replacing natural communication with their people. Technology has multiplied power and possibilities of man. At the same time, it has brought a host of new problems, spawned sharp contradictions, has become one of the causes of the crisis of civilization (Hunt, 2008). Public opposition to the construction of nuclear power plants, ch emical, pulp and paper mills can be considered a reaction to the scientific and technological progress. Sometimes they are expressed in a very extravagant form. For example, American farmers Mennonites abandoned agricultural machinery and plow with the help of horses (Zsinka, 2014).Technical progress can not be stopped. Ultimately, it defines the socio-economic development of society and the standard of living. Development of civilization depends on how rapidly scientific and technological progress develops. Enhancing the role of science and technology in modern society actualizes the moral responsibility of the scientist for the consequences of his discoveries. It is known that many nuclear scientists involved in the development of atomic weapons, warned the world about the catastrophic consequences of its application.In our time, humanity has great losses, both human and material, as a result of technical failures and accidents. Though, not only technique is to be blamed. People c ontrolling it usually make mistakes, which lead to tragedies. The root cause of the negative impact of technology on the human need should be looked for not so much in it, as in man, in social relations, in the ways of solving economic and other issues, ways to meet social and individual needs.Mankind has invented drugs and alcohol, which are widely used in medicine and industry; but they also created the conditions for such phenomena as drug addiction and alcoholism, providing mass human losses comparable with wars (Huff, 2014).Transformation of science into a direct productive force of society does not mean that science is transformed into its fourth element. This only shows that science most significantly and positively affects every element of the productive forces of society, thereby converting and amplifying them. Results of research eventually lead to the improvement and the emergence of innovative instruments and objects of labor, raise the level of knowledge and skills of t he workforce, which in turn provides the basis for the transformation and growth of the productive forces of society, and ultimately for economic development.As to such a feature of modern scientific and technological revolution, as the priority development of science in comparison with the equipment and technology, it is of fundamental importance in the present conditions. Countries and large economic entities gain the possibility to predict and plan the creation of such equipment and technology, which will ensure the implementation of strategic plans in the field of economic development and solving social problems.Acceleration of STP has great economic and social importance for any country in the world. Perhaps there is no more powerful and strong factor, which has such a significant effect on all economic and social processes.