Research Literature Synthesis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Research Literature Synthesis - Essay Example One such way in the education sector, is information and communication technology, which has caused a shift in the process of learning. The integration of information and communication technology in the learning sector has promoted instant recovery of many learning centers, thereby causing a shift in learning outcomes. Application of information technology into the learning sector requires skills and transformation of the labor sector to match technological requirements. This remains a significant challenge according to Galanouli, Murphy and Gardner (2004), in application of technology, as most instructors are not well equipped with technological variations. Consequently, the cost of introducing the new devices in learning institutions and training of instructors has remained a challenge. This is because the old dogs take a longer time to grasp matters of new technology and adapt into the system. In as much as traditional methods of learning helped in nurturing proficient students, a dvancement into the new era of technology required a change. This factor has called on many learning institutions, to come up with various ways, to match the technological demand (Galanouli, Murphy & Gardner 2004). ... Some other areas that also find educational assistance in the school include the town of Rancho Viejo and other areas such as Cameron County, Raide Hope king, South point, San Pedro. This makes it the largest school in the metropolitan area of Rio Grande Valley. Academically the school has made landmark achievements producing some of the best economists and other prominent people in the world. Consequently, it has won various awards because of the outstanding work it has done to propel the level of education. In 2008, for instance, the institution won the urban education Broad Prize, an award only given to schools that have made enormous improvements in student performance, instituted viable educational policy measures and has closed the widening gap in the educational sector (Knezek & Christensen, 2002). This can be through various educational support programmes, which include encouraging students and offering financial assistance. In as much as the institution has done much to impr ove the educational standards, the question behind the application of information technology in the institution has remained unanswered. This is due to the limited attention given to introduction of new learning materials according to Groff & Mouza 2008. It should also not be refuted that the institution has tried by installing new learning devices such as projectors and personal computers. Brownsville Independent School District (BISD) uses a system of curriculum discharge, which encourages easier understanding. This incorporates division of learning activities into three main areas. This includes written curriculum, which mainly encourage student participation through conducting assignments and taking decisive notes. In as much as the

PepsiCo Restaurants Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

PepsiCo Restaurants - Case Study Example Secondly, both businesses have the capabilities of growing as COC has invested in technology, which might end up being cost effective while CPK has replaced advertising with store openings, which is more profitable. In addition, COC has many clients around the globe, therefore this will benefit PepsiCo by enabling it to enter the new competitive market and supply its products to big entities in the globe. Concurrently, acquiring CPK will be beneficial to PepsiCo because CPK has committed employees, which will increase PepsiCo’s task force (Harvard business school 13). PepsiCo adds value to all its restaurant business because before it purchases any restaurant or launches a product, it formulates a strategic plan to direct it. In the restaurant industry, the strategic plan that guides PepsiCo believes that fast food restaurants will be on demand for the coming decades; therefore, it is a preferable business for investment (Harvard business school 6). To gauge the value that PepsiCo adds to these restaurants, one can consider the situation in Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and KFC. The cooperate resources and core skills that PepsiCo apply in its business include the marketing strategies, finance, operations, human resources and information systems (Harvard business school 3). â€Å"Let us say that PepsiCo makes the acquisition of the two aforementioned companies, how should PepsiCo structure the reporting relationship of its newly acquired units with the rest of the company?† After acquiring CPK and COC, PepsiCo CEO will structure his reporting so that he explains to the rest of the company that each of the acquired restaurants operates on its own, but they just collaborated to share their views. The COE will insist that they conduct their business transparently; concurrently, they are helping other businesses to grow (Harvard business school 10). The current organization of PepsiCo restaurants makes long-term sense because it is a great business operating at a fair

The Motorcycle Industry Is A Consolidated Industry Marketing Essay

The Motorcycle Industry Is A Consolidated Industry Marketing Essay Harleys first segment is the motorcycle and related products business. It included designing, manufacturing, and selling primarily heavyweight touring and custom motorcycles and offering a broad range of related products that included motorcycle parts and accessories and riding apparel. The custom products charge a higher price because of its features, styling, and high resale value. New competitors have entered the marketplace because demand for the motorcycles has exceeded production. The demand is prospected to grow in the future, and the switching cost is low. Their customers are mainly male, middle age, married, and have some degree of education. Most buyers hold a motorcycle for recreational purposes rather than for transportation purpose. These buyers are mostly experienced motorcycle riders. Recommendation The international touring market is growing and is significantly larger than the U.S. touring market. Europe has the largest motorcycle, even larger than US. There is high potential in expanding business in Europe. However, the company holds a smaller market shares in the European market. Therefore, continuing to develop the European market should be a major issue for the company over the next few years. The following recommendations could be used in the European market. Not only should they target heavyweight motorcycles market, they can also target sport motorcycles market. The reason is that the European sport/performance market is four times larger than U.S., and is expecting to grow even more in the future. The company could distribute the Buell Motorcycle Companys product to the European market in order to establish a sporty image and able to directly complete with other competitors. Also, the company can build a motorcycle plant in the European by using strategy alliance or joint venture. Building the plant in the European can reduce the transportation cost and increase the companys international experience. Strategy alliances is suitable in this case since the company can create value from transferring competencies or sharing resources between diversified businesses in order to realize economies of scope. Harleys motorcycles are priced slightly higher than competitors. In the U.S. market, since the customers are brand, quality, and style loyalty. Instead of focusing on the price leadership strategy, they should focus on differentiate strategy. Therefore, under the current financial availability, they should be able to generate certain funds to run the Product Development Center, which bring together employees and suppliers to design the fashion products. At the same time, the company should focus on product development and product proliferation strategy. They should concentrate on creating new products or improving existing products in order to attract existing and new customers. The company should continue to build their enterprise. Since the industry does not have significant economies of scale, growth-via-acquisition strategy could be used. Harley-Davidson can merge or acquire weaker rival or smaller players. Taking over the weaker and smaller players will increase the entry barriers. Terms- ideas Competitive advantage is what sets an organization apart, that is, its distinct edge. That distinct edge comes from the organizations core competencies, which might be in the form of organizational capabilities the organization does something that others cannot do or does it better than others can do it. For example, Dell has developed a competitive advantage based upon its ability to create a direct-selling channel thats highly responsive to customers. Southwest Airlines has a competitive advantage because it is skilled in giving passengers what they want quick, convenient, and fun service. Or those core competencies that lead to competitive advantage also can come from organizational assets or resources the organization has something that its competitors do not have. For instance, Wal-Marts state-of-the-art information systems allows it to monitor and control inventories and supplier relations more efficiently than its competitors, which Wal-Mart has turned into a price advantage. Strategy -A Strategy is a long term plan of action designed to achieve a particular goal as differential from tactics or immediate achieve a particular goal, as differential from tactics or immediate action with resources at hand. Strategic Management-It is the process of specifying an organizations objectives, developing policies plans to achieve these objectives, and allocating resources so as to implement the plans. It involves development of mission and strategic vision. It is long run in the nature and provides the organization with a road map Concept of Strategic Management: Strategic Management in the context of the construction industry comprises the following seven areas: Vision, mission and goals -The starting point for all organization endeavors; establishing a vision provides each members with a direction to follow in all business practices members with a direction to follow in all business practices. Core competencies -The Business boundaries for an organization does best and where its strength resides organization do the best and where its strength resides. Knowledge Resources -The Combination of human and technology resources that provide the backbone for completing organization projects. 3. What do I want to do after Graduation?   With todays economy like it is, I have to find ways to stick out from my competitors. Therefore, with a business management degree, also known as a general management degree, I have a lot of different areas I can go into after school. For example, finance, human resources, information technology, marketing, operations management, and strategic management. With this degree I will be prepared to assume a wide range of managerial positions in the business field. But the big question is do I want to start looking for a job, stay in school and change my major or go on to graduate school? But first I have to ask myself what I want to do/ what of my life. The questions I have to ask myself are?   Is there an industry that interests you? For example: Financial services, technology, real-estate, or health care?   What type of company would I like to work for?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   For example: Public or private, small or large, domestic or international   Then I need to develop a target list of firms that interest me?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   For example: Identify and research the top 10 firms that interest me and also areas that they are located.   What type of job motivates me? For example: Do I want to be an accountant, sales person, financial analyst or marketing research associate? What are unique strengths about me? For example: I need to develop a list of the skills I bring to a potential employer such as time management, communication skills, ability to multi-task, listening skills, ability to get things done. Where do I want to live now an in the future?   The actual job search can be time-consuming and frustrating. However, there are steps I can take to insure I spend my time wisely and efficiently. What do I need to know?    What industry is the target company in? How large is the company? Who are their competitors? What type of products does the company produce/provide? Who are the companys customers / prospects? Is the company an employer of choice? What criteria does the company look for when hiring? Are these companies located in your geographic preference? Where do they have offices? (International) What is their reputation in the market?   A company has competitive advantage whenever it can attract customers and defend against competitive forces better than its rivals.   Companies want to develop competitive advantages that have some sustainability (although the typical term sustainable competitive advantage is usually only true dynamically, as a firm works to continue it).   Successful competitive strategies usually involve building uniquely strong or distinctive competencies in one or several areas crucial to success and using them to maintain a competitive edge over rivals.   Some examples of distinctive competencies are superior technology and/or product features, better manufacturing technology and skills, superior sales and distribution capabilities, and better customer service and convenience.   5. A niche strategy can be competitively attractive because     The focusers specialized competencies and capabilities in serving the target market niche give it strength in countering challenges from larger multi-segment competitors (who may not be easily able to put the capabilities in place to meet the specialized needs of the target market niche and at the same time satisfy the expectations of their mainstream customers). Also targeting the market niche acts as an entry barrier and gives it some measure of protection from other firms wanting to horn in on the niche. Rivalry in the niche may be weaker than in the broader market if there are relatively few players competing in the niche. Difficulties in matching the focusers competitive capabilities in serving buyers in the target market niche present a hurdle that the sellers of substitute products must overcome in order to be a factor in the niche. Examples of Focus Strategies   eBay -Online auctions Jiffy Lube International -Maintenance for motor vehicles Bandag-Specialist in truck tire recapping Porsche -Sports cars What Makes a Niche Attractive for Focusing?   Big enough to be profitable and offers good growth potential Not crucial to success of industry leaders Costly or difficult for multi-segment competitors to meet specialized needs of niche members Focuser has resources and capabilities to effectively serve an attractive niche Few other rivals are specializing in same niche Focuser can defend against challengers via superior ability to serve niche members Risks of a Focus Strategy    Competitors find effective ways to match a focusers capabilities in serving niche Niche buyers preferences shift towards product attributes desired by majority of buyers niche becomes part of overall market Segment becomes so attractive it becomes crowded with rivals, causing segment profits to be splintered 6. The car industry is an ongoing growing market where the environmental issues become more and more crucial due to the apparition of new legislations to preserve nature and avoid Global Warming. Therefore, in this case more precisely work with the niche market of electric vehicles. Actually, carmakers have to face the problem of excess capacity. They are producing more than they are selling. One of the reasons can be the decreasing demand due to the economical regression and also to the fact that cars last longer. Another reason is that they want to produce in large volumes in order to make the production cost decreased. So, they can be competitive on the market. Now, scale economies are a critical issue for car manufacturers. The concerns for the economy and global warming have forced the automobile industry to start developing alternatives for fuel vehicles. At first, the automakers showed a little interest into this concern and they did not want to look into the development of alternative energy sources at all because of the high cost and the many risks involved. Nevertheless, due to new legislations, automakers do not have the choice anymore. They have to come up with new technologies to make fuel-efficient cars or find alternative to normal fuel engines. At the end of the 20th century, car manufacturers came up with new technology to produce internal combustion engines with an electric motor and the development is ongoing. In todays society people are judged on the type of car they choose to drive. Of course, car manufacturers know about that fact and they target their potential customers to market their products. For example, anyone who drives a nice car is perceived by others as being wealthy and no one wants to be seen driving an unattractive car. Consumers also tend to feel better when they are driving a nice or a new car. Another feature of the socio cultural aspect for car is that auto makers have to keep in mind the growing environmental concerns and the need of fuel efficient vehicles. Many environmentalists are worried about the impact that the gasoline cars have on the environment and therefore search for alternatives. The automotive market is characterized by a very low number of entrants. In order to compete in this market the newcomers must be able to achieve economies of scale by adopting a cost saving strategy. Therefore, the car manufacturers must mass-produce to be able to offer cars to the customer at a reasonable price. At the same time, it requires an extreme amount of capital not only to be able to manufacturer the product, but also to keep up with the research and development of new products. 8. There is a HUGE market for tablets.   Many have said this is like a living room computer, as well, as an e-book reader.   It would also be a great entertainment device, on airplanes (if were allowed to use them), on the bus, and around town. Also the iPad will be ideal for bringing to meetings without the intrusion, distraction, boot up or power cables of a laptop. In the future the laptop will be staying in the office. The people that will benefit from this product a lot are doctors and also nurses. I think when the iPad launches it will be a big competitive advantage to the company because of what they have done in the past. Honestly, the iPad, will give Apple more power in the companys product line and also move the company forward toward being the spoke in the wheel that is the world of media and technology. Making something that fits between a smartphone and a laptop has been a goal for the consumer technology industry for more than a decade. The most recent attempt has b een the Netbook. The iPad easily makes Netbooks seem boring and staid, and too close to the same old form factor, the computer. My prediction is that the iPad will really shake up the competitors and really hurt their netbook business in the long run. And, the competitors will really struggle this time to find a way to create tablets that are equally as unique and competitive with Apple. Sure, they will create similar designs, but Apples ability to deliver a complete eco system of hardware, software, apps and services tied to the iPad is their real advantage. And with iPads starting at $499, it will make it much easier for Apple to push a new mobile computing agenda that goes well beyond the interest of techies and will tap into the mobile computing interest of a large market of consumers.The iPad is taking a different tack: taking tasks that were too big for an iPhone and puts them on a device that isnt pocket-sized, but is more convenient to carry around than a 13- or 15-inch lapt op. The iPad poses a real problem to competitors on a couple of fronts. The big one is the fact that Apple uses their own processor to power the iPad. No Intel tax in the bill of materials. I suspect that even with bill of material costs for screen and memory being an issue, Apple is still able to get margins of over 20% for the entry version at $499 because of this vertical integration of Apple internet protocol.   On the other hand, any competitor doing a tablet will have the screen and memory component costs as well as the processor costs and at a competitive price of $499, they would have much smaller margins to work with. Also, Apple is able to tap into its rich eco system of easy to use multi-touch interface and 140,000 apps that give it additional functionality from the start. At the very least, it puts them two years ahead of competitors who will try and create competitive products in this same category with similar app ecosystems. The economy -rich peo young class Apple has created a new market, everyone will soon try to follow. 2. A business has to understand the dynamics of its industries and markets in order to compete effectively in the marketplace. The forces that drive competition, is contending that the competitive environment is created by the interaction of five different forces acting on a business. In addition to rivalry among existing firms and the threat of new entrants into the market, there are also the forces of supplier power, the power of the buyers, and the threat of substitute products or services. The intensity of rivalry, which is the most obvious of the five forces in an industry, helps determine the extent to which the value created by an industry will be dissipated through head-to-head competition. Another point is both potential and existing competitors influence average industry profitability. The threat of new entrants is usually based on the market entry barriers. They can take diverse forms and are used to prevent an influx of firms into an industry whenever profits, adjusted for the cost of capital, rise above zero. In contrast, entry barriers exist whenever it is difficult or not economically feasible for an outsider to replicate the incumbents position. The most common forms of entry barriers, except intrinsic physical or legal obstacles, are as follows: Economies of scale: for example, benefits associated with bulk purchasing. Cost of entry: for example, investment into technology. Distribution channels: for example, ease of access for competitors. Cost advantages not related to the size of the company: for example, contacts and expertise. Government legislations: for example, introduction of new laws might weaken companys competitive position. Differentiation: for example, certain brand that cannot be copied. The threat that substitute products pose to an industrys profitability depends on the relative price-to-performance ratios of the different types of products or services to which customers can turn to satisfy the same basic need. The threat of substitution is also affected by switching costs that is, the costs in areas such as retraining, retooling and redesigning that are incurred when a customer switches to a different type of product or service. Buyer power is one of the two horizontal forces that influence the appropriation of the value created by an industry (refer to the diagram). The most important determinants of buyer power are the size and the concentration of customers. Other factors are the extent to which the buyers are informed and the concentration or differentiation of the competitors. This force is relatively high where there a few, large players in the market, as it is the case with retailers and grocery stores; Present where there is a large number of undifferentiated, small suppliers, such as small farming businesses supplying large grocery companies; Low cost of switching between suppliers, such as from one fleet supplier of trucks to another. Supplier power is a mirror image of the buyer power. As a result, the analysis of supplier power typically focuses first on the relative size and concentration of suppliers relative to industry participants and second on the degree of differentiation in the inputs supplied. The ability to charge customers different prices in line with differences in the value created for each of those buyers usually indicates that the market is characterized by high supplier power and at the same time by low buyer power. Bargaining power of suppliers exists in the following situations: Where the switching costs are high (switching from one Internet provider to another); High power of brands (McDonalds, Coca Cola) Possibility of forward integration of suppliers (Brewers buying bars); The nature of competition in an industry is strongly affected by suggested five forces. The stronger the power of buyers and suppliers, and the stronger the threats of entry and substitution, the more intense competition is likely to be within the industry. However, these five factors are not the only ones that determine how firms in an industry will compete the structure of the industry itself may play an important role. 5 Forces analysis The Porters Five Forces model is a simple tool that supports strategic understanding where power lies in a business situation. It also helps to understand both the strength of a firms current competitive position, and the strength of a position a company is looking to move into. Despite the fact that the Five Force framework focuses on business concerns rather than public policy, it also emphasizes extended competition for value rather than just competition among existing rivals, and the simpleness of its application inspired numerous companies as well as business schools to adopt its use. With a clear understanding of where power lies, it will enable a company to take fair advantage of its strengths, improve weaknesses, and avoid taking wrong steps. Therefore, to apply this planning tool effectively, it is important to understand the situation and to look at each of the forces individually. After identifying favourable and unfavourable forces for the companys performance and industrys attractiveness, it is important to analyse the situation and examine the impacts of the forces. One of the critical comments made of the Five Forces framework is its static nature, whereas the competitive environment is changing turbulently. By thinking through how each force affects a company, and by identifying the strength and direction of each force, it provides with an opportunity to identify the strength of the position and the ability to make a sustained profit in the industry. It is important for a corporation strategists goal to find a position in the industry where his or her company can best defend itself against these forces or can influence them in its favour, or is the goal to become part of the ongoing commerce with the intention to produce innovative ideas that will expand the size of the industry? Is it true that the environment poses a threat to the organisation, leading to the consideration of suppliers and buyers as threats that need to be tackled, or does it offer the ground for a constitutive industry player co-operation? Limitations of Porters Five Force Model Porters model is a strategic tool used to identify whether new products, services or businesses have the potential to be profitable. However it can also be very illuminating when used to understand the balance of power in other situations. At the heart of industry are rivals and their competitive strategies linked to, for example, pricing or advertising; but, he contends, it is important to look beyond ones immediate competitors as there are other determines of profitability. Specifically, there might be competition from substitutes products or services. These alternatives may be perceived as substitutes by buyers even though they are part of a different industry. An example would be plastic bottles, cans and glass bottle for packaging soft drinks. There may also be potential threat of new entrants, although some competitors will see this as an opportunity to strengthen their position in the market by ensuring, as far as they can, customer loyalty. Finally, it is important to appreciate that companies purchase from suppliers and sell to buyers. If they are powerful they are in a position to bargain profits away through reduced margins, by forcing either cost increases or price decreases. This relates to the strategic o ption of vertical integration, when the company acquires, or mergers with, a supplier or customer and thereby gains greater control over the chain of activities which leads from basic materials through to final consumption. Examples of Golf Equipment 1. The threat of new entrants into the market is moderate, indicators point in mixed directions. Companies within the industry can be separated into two parts: golf and sporting goods. To take the largest golf company, for example, Callaway. For a company like Callaway to enter into this market would require significant amounts of investment. One could assume that other sporting goods companies could diversify into golf similar to Adidas and Nike, but there are no large manufactures that are not in the market already. Brand preferences are very important to consumers. Callaway lists brand preferences as one of the top five reasons why consumers buy their clubs, is because of technology, quality, customer service and price. Capital requirements are low the production of clubs are very labor intensive and very little animation is in the manufacturing process. Access to distribution channels are very important the quality of the club which is largely based on the material of the club ar e very expensive. To obtain carbon fiber and specific alloys that few manufactures make would be troubling for a small company to maintain and economies of scale in purchasing power would be most evident here. Essay

Comparing Good and Evil in Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rin

Comparing Good and Evil in Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Imagine yourself in a pre-industrial world full of mystery and magic. Imagine a world full of monsters, demons, and danger, as well as a world full of friends, fairies, good wizards, and adventure. In doing so you have just taken your first step onto a vast world created by author and scholar John Ronald Reuel Tolkien. Tolkien became fascinated by language at an early age during his schooling, in particularly, the languages of Northern Europe, both ancient and modern. This affinity for language did not only lead to his profession, but also his private hobby, the invention of languages. His broad knowledge eventually led to the development of his opinions about Myth and the importance of stories. All these various perspectives: language, the heroic tradition, and Myth, as well as deeply-held beliefs in Catholic Christianity work together in all of his works. The main elements of Tolkien’s works are Good versus Evil, characters of Christian and anti-Christian origin, and the pow er of imagination. In Tolkien world, evil is the antithesis of creativity, and is dependent on destruction and ruin for its basis. Conversely, goodness is associated with the beauty of creation as well as the preservation of anything that is created. The symbolic nature of these two ideologies is represented in the Elven Rings, which symbolize goodness, and the One Ring, which is wholly evil. A main theme of "The Hobbit", then, is the struggle within our own free will between good will and evil. "Early in the (Lord of the Rings) narrative, Frodo recalls that his uncle Bilbo, especially during his later years, was fond of declaring that†¦ there was only one Road; that it was lik... ...Pity 2. Self-sacrifice B. Evil 1. corruption (Gollum) 2. greed (Smaug) II. Characters, Christian and anti-Christian A. Christian 1. Comparing to Christ a. Bilbo b. Gandalf B. Anti-Christian 1. Satan a. Saruman b. The Ring III. Power of the Imagination A. Creates secondary belief B. Escape through imagination Works Cited  · Tolkien, John Ronald Reuel. The Hobbit. New York: Ballantine, 1982.  · Wood, Ralph C. "Traveling the one road: The Lord of the Rings as a "pre-Christian" classic." The Christian Century Feb. 93: 208(4).  · "Eucatastrophe." Time September. 1973: 101  · Evans, Robley. "J. R. R. Tolkien" Warner Paperback Library. 1972: 23-4, 41-2, 202  · Urang, Gunnar. "J. R. R. Tolkien: Fantasy and the Phenomenology of Hope" Religion and Fantasy in the Writing of C. S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and J. R. R. Tolkien. United Church Press, 1971

Intertextual Relations Between Pride and Prejudice and Bridget Jones Diary Essay

Each text is not the effort of one person; theme and plot derived from existing texts are present in newer texts through repetition and similarity. Authors compile from pre-existing texts known as intertextuality, the use of prior texts in current texts. Julia Kristeva, a psychoanalyst is the first to introduce the term ‘intertextuality’. She redefines the theories established by Ferdinand de Saussure and Mikhail Bakhtin and suggests a text is not simply interpreted by its words, instead it is a study based on the works it has adapted (lecture). Kristeva mentions that although a writer usually talks to a specific audience, a text exists in time, and it is reprinted and translated with addressing the language of the current time period known as parole and langue. The novel Pride and Prejudice was first published in 1813, but another novel based on the same plot called Bridget Jones Diary, a modern version of Pride and Prejudice was published in 1996. Every text is the absorption and transformation of another, with similar themes and conditions considering the lifestyle in that time period, known as a mimetic orientation. Intertextuality, the relationship to other prior texts is present among Pride and Prejudice, Bridget Jones Diary, and A Dog’s Head through the overarching similarity of characters, value of class and synchronic language. The common element of character development is interacting between Pride and Prejudice, Bridget Jones Diary, and A Dog’s Head. During the 1800’s, the value of high culture and wealth was outstandingly important to the people of that decade. Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is a plot consisting of high culture, and is strongly referenced in connection to Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones Diary. Fielding’s borrows the plot from Austen and also has some of the same characters and events in her novel. The character of Elizabeth Bennett and Bridget Jones is similarly constructed with the hardships and love crisis they suffer from. First of all, both protagonists fall in love with a man whose last name is Darcy. Both Mr. Darcy are respected and wealthy men. Furthermore, both protagonists share similar feelings, for example, at the ball event Elizabeth is hurt to hear that Mr. Darcy thinks of her to be â€Å"‘tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt’† him (Austen 13). Similarly, Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice hurts Bridget by saying she is ill mannered and does not know how to talk (45). At this time both the protagonists dislike both Mr. Darcy and have severe hatred for him. Secondly, Mr. Wickam in Pride and Prejudice is the same as Daniel Cleaver in Bridget Jones Diary. Both Mr. Wickam and Daniel Cleaver are despised by Mr. Darcy but admired by the heroine at first. Bridget’s mother is a bit like Mrs. Bennett, as they both insist their daughters get married to wealthy men. Bridget believes she is unattractive because she is fat. When things do not work out with Daniel Cleaver, she questions, â€Å"Why does nothing ever work out? It is because I am too fat† (Fielding 181). Bridget is unhappy about her appearance all the time, which is similar to the character of Edmond in A Dog’s Head. The novel A Dog’s Head introduces the unrealistic character of Edmond who is born with the head of a dog, a spaniel in particular. Ovid establishes the theory of metamorphosis emphasizing the transformation of a human to an animal feature in his poem â€Å"metamorphosis†. This theory is present in A Dog’s Head as Edmond is a human but has a dog’s head. Edmond is always troubled in life because people criticize him for having the head of a dog, and to add to that, â€Å"the head of the most ridiculous dog to be found† (2). He has a series of unsuccessful relationships, for which he blames his appearance to be the reason, somewhat like Bridget who also blames her weight for her breakup with Daniel. Although the author does not provide a description of Bridget, we know a bit about her through the writings in her diary. Bridget’s negative image of herself results in a lower self-esteem, as well as Edmond who also has a low self-esteem when he remembers he has the head of a spaniel. At one point, losing his virginity to a prostitute becomes hard because no one wants to sleep with an animal (125). His personal relations with his parents are negative from the day he is born. His parents are happier to be alone so his dad gives him money, â€Å"Edmond stuffed the notes into his pocket, kissed his papa and mama and went away, never to return† (47). This further notifies us that although there are minor matches from Edmond’s personality with Elizabeth and Bridget, there is a similarity between the characters through physical appearance and their lives. The theme of class relates to reputation, the value of money being an ever-long requirement in society. People have been classified into hierarchical sectors according to their financial circumstances. In Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennett’s mother Mrs. Bennett is astonished at the fact that Mr. Bingley is a wealthy and handsome young man visiting their town. She immediately informs her husband and desires one of her daughters marry him. Mrs. Bennett is portrayed as a shallow and self-centered woman as she constantly persists her daughters marry the richest men. This is evident when Elizabeth announces her engagement to Mr. Darcy and Mrs. Bennett replies â€Å"Mr. Darcy! Who would have thought it†¦Oh! My sweetest Lizzy! How rich and great you will be! What pin-money, what jewels, what carriages you will have! † (Austen 357). Similarly, in Bridget Jones Diary, Bridget’s mother introduces her to a recently divorced, wealthy man. Bridget is certain on her mother’s motives and she claims, â€Å"I don’t know why she didn’t just come out with it and say ‘Darling, do shag Mark Darcy over the turkey curry, won’t you? He’s very rich. † (Fielding 12). Comparatively, Edmond from A Dog’s Head lives in a shallow society, where money can overpower anything, even a man with a dog’s head. Edmond invests some money in the stock market and realizes it is more valuable than anything. â€Å"Wealth brought Edmond great enjoyment. First, it canceled out his head. [†¦ ] Oh, the sublime effect of bank notes! Overnight that hideous or ridiculous object became just anybody’s head. † (85) He makes a lot of money and realizes that money has always been there and supported him more than anything else. A hierarchy of social classes has created the boundaries between families and people historically. The importance of class depicts a social value and worth in society. Lower class people are treated as inferiors while upper class people gain more respect and value. As evident in A Dog’s Head, Edmond is treated better when he has more money and class, and Mrs. Bennett and Mrs. Jones want their daughters to be married to rich men. The language and text of Pride and Prejudice is a lot different from Bridget Jones Diary and A Dog’s Head. In order to understand â€Å"one text as an intertextual representation of another† (Salber) the individual composition of values and attitudes needs to be understood in different contexts. With this said, Pride and Prejudice is a realist text composed in the nineteenth century. What is happening in the real world at the time the author writes the text is incorporated into the text, known as mimetic orientation. The author associates a mimetic version of the reality of everyday life set in the Regency period of England, a time when â€Å"power and marriage within one’s own class was essential† (Salber). The novel Pride and Prejudice also reveals â€Å"aspects of gender, class, identity and marriage as political institution† s a presentation of English history (Art). Language as it exists at any moment of time is referred to as the synchronic system of language (lecture 4). The power of language, synchronically applied suggests that the language in Pride and Prejudice slightly differs from the 20th century language used in Bridget Jones Diary. For example, the word ‘simpleton’ used in Austen’s novel indicates the life of a simple, unmarried girl, whereas in Fielding’s novel, the word ‘singleton’ is used to categorize the career oriented women in search for a perfect male companion. This supports Kristeva’s statement that â€Å"language is read as at least double†, and that the structures of language exist within a certain time period (Salber). As mentioned earlier, Bridget Jones Diary is a modification of Pride and Prejudice and is a more modern approach to the same story. The means of communication are different; for example, Daniel Cleaver and Bridget initiate romance through computer messaging, whereas in Pride and Prejudice communication took the form of letters. The langue, a language viewed as an abstract system used by speech community, is different for every person. In Pride and Prejudice the vocabulary Austen uses is archaic and demonstrates the time period in which it was written. For example, a conversation between Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner,â€Å"It was first broken by Mrs. Annesley, a genteel, agreeable looking woman† (Austen 226). The word ‘genteel’ may not be used in today’s novels and speech and represents its time period. Likewise, the words ‘singleton’, ‘smug marrieds† and ‘emotional fuckwittage’ became a part of the British popular culture when used in Bridget Jones Diary. The plot of Pride and Prejudice is the same as Bridget Jones Diary since Bridget Jones Diary is a modification of Pride and Prejudice and is a more modern approach to the same story. The female protagonists both worry about the relationships in their lives. The plot begins with the life of the female protagonists, and continues to their developing lives as the plot moves on. Both Pride and Prejudice and Bridget Jones Diary are the same story, where the first event, the ball in Pride and Prejudice is held with the attempt to find a suitor for Mr.  Bingley who is a young and wealthy man, and similarly a Christmas party is held by Bridget’s mother to introduce Bridget to Mr. Darcy. The events that occur further on in the texts lead to the same conclusion in both novels. The value of class and reputation is an overarching theme similarly applied in the three novels proving money has the value to make anyone happy. Lastly, the use of language and difference in word choice is what makes the novels acceptable in their time periods. These intertextual relations combine the three novels with many similarities.

Marks and Spencer Overview

An overview of Marks & Spencer plc Marks & Spencer (M&S) is a leading British retailer, with over 895 stores in over 41 countries around the world. As of 2009, 600 stores currently located throughout the United Kingdom along with 295 stores planted internationally (M&S 2009). According to Deloitte (2009) M&S is the largest clothing retailer in the United Kingdom, as well as being an exclusive food retailer and as of 2009, the 43rd largest retailer in the world.The large majority of its domestic stores sell both clothing and food, and since the turn of the century it has started expanding into other ranges such as homewares, furniture and technology. Figure 1 illustrates M&S’s overall sales in millions from the years 2005 – 2009. The graph trend shows a gradual increase in turnover every year. By the end of 2009 M&S revenue reaches 9,062. 1 million compared to 2005 revenue of 7,490. 5 million. A difference of ? 1571. 6 Data taken from M&S 2009. Figure 1: M&S Sales (2005-2009) Figure 2 represents the operating profit of M&S.There is a steady rise in the growth of sales from 2005 to 2008. However in the year 2009 there is a decline in the growth of sales. This is fairly due to the economic recession resulting in less economical activity. M&S prices would have risen resulting in a decline in demand for their products and services. Data taken from M&S 2009. Figure 2: M&S Sales growth (2005-2009) Figure 3 displays the two primary categories of business for M&S. Food as a whole and all other products falling under house hold products. Both areas of business are equally important as they hold a near perfect hare of the business. Data taken from M&S 2009. 51% 49% Figure 3: M&S main business areas Business strengths and weaknesses: M&S has grown over the 21st and it is arguable that the company has moved from strength to strength. M&S are strong in many dynamics ranging from a political ly, economically and highly strategic company. One major strength of M&S is its emerging image of an active environmentally friendly company. On 15 January 2007, M&S launched an initiative, known as ‘Plan A’ (M&S, 2009) to dramatically increase the environmental sustainability of the business within 5 years.In 2006 the Look Behind the Label marketing campaign was introduced. The aim of this campaign was to highlight to customers, the various ethical and environmentally friendly aspects, of the production and sourcing methods engaged in by M&S including Fairtrade products and sustainable fishing. As indicated by A. Fletcher (2006) all coffee and tea sold in M&S stores is now Fairtrade. According to the BBC (2006) the company offers clothing lines made from Fairtrade Cotton in selected departments.This aspect of M&S emphasises the equality and fairness to the public and helps promote its products to certain groups in the market who would not previo usly purchase their products for this specified reason. Although M&S is a highly recognised and established company it has fallen under heavy criticism in the past. War on Want (2007) criticised M&S, in its Growing Pains report for using its influence to force overseas suppliers to continuously diminish their costs while boosting their own profits. Political issues have also arisen, the company has been criticised for its support for the State of Israel during wars and conflict.According to J. Smith (2004) activists have campaigned against the company and some stores have had their signage altered and their goods re-labelled. As a result boycotts have taken place with little effect on M&S sales and profits yet this has led to a disruption in social cohesion of society demonstrate through protests. Development of new products and services: Most (M&S, 2009) stores originally sold both clothing and food, and since the turn of the century it has started expanding into ot her ranges such as homewares, furniture and technology, beauty and energy.The Indigo collection (M&S, 2009) is a new range of clothing aimed at the core, 35-45, feminine businesswoman type. The shoes, trousers and jeans will be UK-sourced and the T-shirts will involve Fair trade cotton from Senegal, India and Pakistan. Beachwear may be added to the list if the success continues. Per Una, also a relatively new product for younger female's clothing sold at M;amp;S stores. The product was launched on September 28, 2001 as a joint venture between M;amp;S and Next. All per Una items include the three hearts logo.The BBC (2005) states Per Una has been a major success for the company. In 2006 (M;amp;S, 2009) launched a range of domestic technology products. Thirty-six stores now offer this range. Additional services offered include television installation and technical help. Competitors: M;amp;S does not have any one store that is a complete competitor in terms of products and services . Supermarkets such as Tesco, Asda and Sainsburys compete with M;amp;S to a certain extent, primarily in the food industry. Marks ;amp; Spencer is predominantly a clothing store which obtains most of the company’s profit.Yet due to the significant product differentiation, M;amp;S competes with many companies for example Cotton Traders are a competitor in their clothes, John Lewis competes in their home accessories whereas Waitrose competes in food. As a result M;amp;S have to constantly innovate and outsource to stay competitive in the market and dominate. Marketing Strategies: By training and developing its staff well, M;amp;S is in a position to develop a competitive advantage over its competitors Firstly, developing value-for-money products that customers want.Training and development brings new skills which help to add value to its products and services, for example by cutting costs. This enables the company to keep prices lower to benefit the customer and increase consum er demand leading to profit in the long run. M;amp;S provides good customer service through communication skills, this can have a positive impact on customer service. Training and development equips individuals with the skills they need to achieve their targeted role in the business.When Steve Sharp joined as marketing director in 2004, he introduced a new promotional brand under the Your M;amp;S banner, with a corresponding logo. This has now become the company's main brand in its advertisements. The use of high profile television campaigns has been influential in the company's recent success, particularly with the achievements of a new clothing campaign featuring high profile models, and the new TV ad campaign for its food range. These adverts have the tagline ‘This is not just food, this is M;amp;S food’.Furthermore the use of camera special effects and footage along with music and a pleasant voiceover leads to a very persuasive advertisement. A new store format desi gned by Urban Salon Architects has won much praise and is in the process of being rolled out across all stores, with a majority of stores being completed by the end of 2008. The full new look makeover is a reworking of store design, including the gutting of old stores. An increase in display and product walls, window display styles, larger fitting rooms, glass walls, till points, and general total updating of decals, equipment, and lighting.

The eNotes Blog The David Foster WallaceDictionary

The David Foster WallaceDictionary When David Foster Wallace died in 2008, he left behind a legacy of three excellent novels, several short story collections, and numerous essays. But what many of his fans may not be familiar with is Wallaces secret preparations for (perhaps?) another project, a dictionary. Thanks to The Telegraph, some of those notes are now available online. If youre anything like me, youll find comfort in the authors shared  frustration  with words like utlization (Kill it! Kiiiill it!) and curiosity at the paradoxical nature of adjectives like colloquialism. I only wish someone else would take up the flame and create a very biased dictionary, complete with personal commentaries in the manner of DFWs. Sure, some quirky collections are out there (Foyles Philavery is one I particularly enjoy) but I crave that Wallace zing found below. Any takers? Read on for some excerpts of David Foster Wallaces amusing views on parts of the English language. Utilize A noxious puff-word. Since it does nothing that good old  use  doesn’t do, its extra letters and syllables don’t make a writer seem smarter; rather, using  utilize  makes you seem either like a pompous twit or like someone so insecure that she’ll use pointlessly big words in an attempt to look sophisticated. The same is true for the noun  utilization, for  vehicle  as used for  car, for  residence  as used for  house, for  presently,  at present,  at this time, and  at the present time  as used for  now, and so on. What’s worth remembering about puff-words is something that good writing teachers spend a lot of time drumming into undergrads: â€Å"formal writing† does not mean gratuitously fancy writing; it means clean, clear, maximally considerate writing. Pulchritude A paradoxical noun because it refers to a kind of beauty but is itself one of the ugliest words in the language. Same goes for the adj. form  pulchritudinous. They’re part of a tiny elite cadre of words that possess the opposite of the qualities they denote.  Diminutive,  big,  Ã‚  foreign,  fancy  (adj.),  classy,  colloquialism, and  monosyllabic  are some others; there are at least a dozen more. Inviting your school-age kids to list as many paradoxical words as they can is a neat way to deepen their relationship to English and help them see that words are both symbols for real things and real things themselves. Mucous An adjective, not synonymous with the noun  mucus. It’s worth noting this not only because the two words are fun but because so many people don’t know the difference.  Mucus  means the unmentionable stuff itself.Mucous  refers to (1) something that makes or secretes mucus, as in â€Å"The next morning, his mucous membranes were in rocky shape indeed,† or (2) something that consists of or resembles mucus, as in â€Å"The mucous consistency of its eggs kept the diner’s breakfast trade minimal.† Myriad As an adj.,  myriad  means (1) an indefinitely large number of something (â€Å"The Local Group comprises myriad galaxies†) or (2) made up of a great many diverse elements (â€Å"the myriad plant life of Amazonia†). As a noun, it’s used with an article and  of  to mean a large number (â€Å"The new CFO faced a myriad of cash-flow problems†). What’s odd is that some authorities consider only the adjective usage correct - there’s about a 50-50 chance that a given copy editor will query  a myriad of  - even though the noun usage has a much longer history. It was only in 19th-century poetry that  myriad  started being used as an adj. So it’s a bit of a stumper. It’s tempting to recommend avoiding the noun usage so that no readers will be bugged, but at the same time it’s true that any reader who’s bugged by  a myriad of  is both persnickety and wrong - and you can usually rebut snooty teachers, c opy editors, et al. by directing them to Coleridge’s â€Å"Myriad myriads of lives teemed forth.† Unique This is one of a class of adjectives, sometimes called â€Å"uncomparables†, that can be a little tricky. Among other uncomparables are  precise,exact,  correct,  entire,  accurate,  preferable,  inevitable,  possible,  false; there are probably two dozen in all. These adjectives all describe absolute, non-negotiable states: something is either false or it’s not; something is either inevitable or it’s not. Many writers get careless and try to modify uncomparables with comparatives like  more  and  less  or intensives like  very. But if you really think about them, the core assertions in sentences like â€Å"War is becoming increasingly inevitable as Middle East tensions rise†; â€Å"Their cost estimate was more accurate than the other firms’†; and â€Å"As a mortician, he has a very unique attitude† are nonsense. If something is inevitable, it is bound to happen; it cannot be bound to happen and then somehow e ven more bound to happen.Unique  already means one-of-a-kind, so the adj. phrase  very unique  is at best redundant and at worst stupid, like â€Å"audible to the ear† or â€Å"rectangular in shape†. You can blame the culture of marketing for some of this difficulty. As the number and rhetorical volume of US ads increase, we become inured to hyperbolic language, which then forces marketers to load superlatives and uncomparables with high-octane modifiers (special  Ã‚  very special  Ã‚  Super-special!  Ã‚  Mega-Special!!), and so on. A deeper issue implicit in the problem of uncomparables is the dissimilarities between Standard Written English and the language of advertising. Advertising English, which probably deserves to be studied as its own dialect, operates under different syntactic rules than SWE, mainly because AE’s goals and assumptions are different. Sentences like â€Å"We offer a totally unique dining experience†; â€Å"Come on down and receive your free gift†; and â€Å"Save up to 50 per cent†¦ and more!† are perfectly OK in Advertising English - but this is because Advertising English is aimed at people who are not paying close attention. If your audience is by definition involuntary, distracted and numbed, then  free gift  and  totally unique  stand a better chance of penetrating - and simple penetration is what AE is all about. One axiom of Standard Written English is that your reader is paying close attention and expects you to have done the same. Focus Focus  is now the noun of choice for expressing what people used to mean by  concentration  (â€Å"Sampras’s on-court focus was phenomenal†) and  priority  (â€Å"Our focus is on serving the needs of our customers†). As an adj., it seems often to serve as an approving synonym for  driven  ormonomaniacal: â€Å"He’s the most focused warehouse manager we’ve ever had.† As a verb, it seems isomorphic with the older  to concentrate: â€Å"Focus, people!†; â€Å"The Democrats hope that the campaign will focus on the economy†; â€Å"We need to focus on finding solutions instead of blaming each other†. Given the speed with which  to focus  has supplanted  to concentrate, it’s a little surprising that nobody objects to its somewhat jargony New Age feel - but nobody seems to. Maybe it’s because the word is only one of many film and drama terms that have entered mainstream usage in the last decad e, e.g.,  to foreground  (= to feature, to give top priority to);  to background  (= to downplay, to relegate to the back burner);  scenario  (= an outline of some hypothetical sequence of events), and so on. Fervent A beautiful and expressive word that combines the phonological charms of  verve  and  fever.  Lots of writers, though, think fervent is synonymous with  fervid, and most dictionary defs. don’t do much to disabuse them. The truth is that there’s a hierarchical trio of zeal-type adjectives, all with roots in the Latin verb  fervere  (= to boil). Even though  fervent  can also mean extremely hot, glowing (as in â€Å"Fingering his ascot, Aubrey gazed abstractedly at the brazier’s fervent coals†), it’s actually just the baseline term;  fervent  is basically synonymous with ardent.  Fervid  is the next level up; it connotes even more passion/devotion/eagerness than fervent. At the top is  perfervid, which means extravagantly, rabidly, uncontrollably zealous or impassioned.  Perfervid  deserves to be used more, not only for its internal alliteration and metrical pizzazz but because its deployment usually shows that the writ er knows the differences between the three  fervere  words. Feckless A totally great adjective.  Feckless  primarily means deficient in efficacy, i.e., lacking vigor or determination, feeble; but it can also mean careless, profligate, irresponsible. It appears most often now in connection with wastoid youths, bloated bureaucracies - anyone who’s culpable for his own haplessness. The great thing about using  feckless  is that it lets you be extremely dismissive and mean without sounding mean; you just sound witty and classy. The word’s also fun to read because of the soft  eassonance and the  k  sound - the triply assonant noun form is even more fun. Noma This medical noun signifies an especially icky ulcerous infection of the mouth or genitals. Because the condition most commonly strikes children living in abject poverty/squalor, it’s a bit like scrofula. And just as the adj.  scrofulous  has gradually extended its sense to mean â€Å"corrupt, degenerate, gnarly†, so  nomal  seems ripe for similar extension; it could serve as a slightly obscure or erudite synonym for â€Å"scrofulous, repulsive, pathetically gross, grossly pathetic†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ you get the idea. Hairy There are maybe more descriptors for various kinds of hair and hairiness than any other word-set in English, and some of them are extremely strange and fun. The more pedestrian terms like  shaggy,  unshorn,  bushy,  coiffed, and so on we’ll figure you already know. The adj.  barbigerous  is an extremely uptown synonym for  bearded.  Cirrose  and  cirrous, from the Latin  cirrus  meaning â€Å"curl† or â€Å"fringe† (as in  cirrus clouds), can both be used to refer to somebody’s curly or tufty or wispy/feathery hair - Nicolas Cage’s hair in  Adaptation  is cirrose.  Crinite  means â€Å"hairy or possessed of a hair-like appendage†, though it’s mainly a botanical term and would be a bit eccentric applied to a person.  Crinose, though, is a people-adj. that means â€Å"having a lot of hair†, especially in the sense of one’s hair being really long. The related nouncrinosity  is antiquate d but not obsolete and can be used to refer to somebody’s hair in an amusingly donnish way, as in  Madonna’s normally platinum crinosity is now a maternal brown.  Glabrous, which is the loveliest of all hair-related adjectives, means having no hair (on a given part) at all. Please note that  glabrous  means more baby’s-bottom-hairless than bald or shaved, though if you wanted to describe a bald person in an ironically fancy way you could talk about his  glabrous domeor something.  Hirsute  is probably the most familiar upmarket synonym for  hairy, totally at home in any kind of formal writing. Like that of many hair-related adjectives,  hirsute’s original use was in botany (where it means â€Å"covered with coarse or bristly hairs†), but in regular usage its definition is much more general.  Hispid  means â€Å"covered with stiff or rough little hairs† and could apply to a military pate or unshaved jaw.Hispidulous  is mainly just a puffed-up form of  hispid  and should be avoided.  Lanate  and  lanated  mean â€Å"having or being composed of woolly hairs†. A prettier and slightly more familiar way to describe woolly hair is with the adjective  flocculent. (There’s also  floccose, but this is used mainly of odd little hairy fruits like kiwi and quince.) Then there are thepil-based words, all derived from the Latin  pilus  (= hair).  Pilose, another fairly common adj., means â€Å"covered with fine soft hair†. Last but not least is the noun  pilimiction, which names a hopefully very rare medical disorder â€Å"in which piliform or hair-like bodies are passed in the urine†. Outside of maybe describing some kind of terribly excruciated facial expression as  pilimictive, however, it’s hard to imagine a mainstream use for  pilimiction.  Tomentose  means â€Å"covered with dense little matted hairs† - baby chimps, hobbitsâ€℠¢ feet and Robin Williams are alltomentose.  Ulotrichous, which is properly classed with  lannate  andflocculent, is an old term for â€Å"crisply woolly hair†. Be advised that it is also, if not exactly a racist adj., certainly a racial one - AC Haddon’sRaces of Man, from the early 1900s, classified races according to three basic hair types:  leiotrichous  (straight),  cymotrichous  (wavy) andulotrichous.