Atlantis Essay Example

Atlantis Essay To some people Atlantis was one of the most beautiful places on earth at the time. Now Atlantis is still the most beautiful place on earth, but it is a hotel in the Bahamas. Its nothing like Plato talked about. Plato talked about an island in the Atlantic Ocean that was as big as a continent. Atlantis is described in the paintings by Dovilio Brero. In Atlantis every detail is taken care of.Atlantis was built in concentric circles, only way to get into each one was by the sea. Access into the different circles was more restricted as you move towards the center island. As described of Atlantis from Dovilio Brero the architecture unites beauty and harmony with an extreme functionality. The center part is the citadel. It has a diameter of about 2 ? kilometers. In the dead center is a university dedicated to the studies on time phenomena. The most astounding building in the central part is the Astronomic observatory. The Atlantians made an enormous emerald which they engraved on it the ma in codes of the city written in many different languages. The Emerald Tables were guarded in an underground room, in the most restricted zones in Atlantis.The level of Technology they had was far superior to ours. Even though their clothes make them look primitive they had some of the most advance weapons and items of the time. In an ancient Indian book it tells about a war between the Rama Empire of India and Atlantis. It says that says that Atlantis launched a single projectile charged with the power of the universe. An incandescent column of smoke and flame as bright as the thousand suns rose in all its splendor (Nuclear weapon) Atlantis also used crystals to power all their things. One of the most important crystals is the Living Crystals of Atlantis which are supposed to contain all the knowledge of the Atlantis. There is supposed to be one at the bottom of the sphinxs left paw. Sonar reading show there is a room

The ultimate irony Essay Example

The ultimate irony Essay Example The ultimate irony Paper The ultimate irony Paper In the first line of the poem, it can be seen that Duffy portrays Mrs Fraud as being a very assertive and outspoken speaker, through the opening word Ladies. This shows Mrs Freud to be a very authoritative woman who demands respect, as she is able to address all the women at the rally at the same time. When one considers the level of authority and respect that Sigmund Freud himself gained through the popularity of his theories and findings, it can be assumed that Duffy intentionally portrays Mrs Freud in this manner to show that she too has her own respectable identity outside the marriage like her husband. The pause after the word also presents Mrs Freud as a calm and rather mature individual, suggesting that she is far older and more experienced than the audience of women that she is addressing. As one reads the poem further, it can be seen that Duffy through Mrs Freud, mocks and criticizes both male sexuality and Freud himself in a very humorous manner, thus effectively killing two birds with one stone. This is seen through Duffys employment of colloquial words such as the night crawler and pork sword, in reference to the various nicknames men give their penises, throughout the entirety of the poem. This in combination with the poems structure being in the form of a sonnet, and Duffys clever use of alliteration and assonance through other words such as the dick, prick, dipstick and wick, gives the poem the feel of a nursery school rhyme, whilst also emphasizing the comical attitude that Mrs Freud maintains throughout her presentation. It can also be said that this contrasts the original suggestion of Mrs Freud as a mature individual, however , some critics argue that her attitude merely reflects her own opinion and view of men, and the way in which they express their sexuality, her husband not being any different. The last few lines of the poem can be said to be very effective in portraying the ferocity at which Mrs Freud has scathingly attacked the subject of male sexuality, leaving very little room for sympathy. The use of the word penis near the end of the poem, and Mrs Freuds description of it as average and not pretty, can be said to show Mrs Fraud as getting to the heart of the issue, whilst at the same time, this clearly illustrates her as having stripped masculinity and her husband of their somewhat tough layers. The later personification of the penis as having an envious solitary eye and the following words ones feeling of pity, is a twist on Freuds penis envy theory, something that according to Mary Greens York Notes Advanced (2007), a feminist would say Duffy does cleverly. This theory states that adolescent girls are envious of men due to them having a penis, and the use of the metaphor envious solitary eye, suggests that it is rather men who are envious of women, and the second quote implies that Mrs Freud herself, pities her husband and all other men who believe otherwise. Bibliography Peter Cash,2002, Carol Ann Duffy: The ultimate irony is that Midas possessed a magic touch all along: namely, the physical touch which had the power to transform her into a loving wife, www. le. ac. uk/engassoc/publications/bookmarks/58. pdf Mary Green, 2007, York Notes Advanced  (www.yorknotes.com).

Training and Assessment TAEDEL301A Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Training and Assessment TAEDEL301A - Essay Example But within a few days of regular practice, one’s reflexes get tuned in with the whole process and one starts following it automatically. The task of driving can be explained from the perspective of the behaviouristic and cognitive theories. According to behaviourism, the reflexes of the body get conditioned to an action that it performs repetitively; hence in the presence of the stimulus, the body performs the task automatically. According to cognitive principles, with regular practice or repetition of a particular task, the mind adjusts and accommodates the new knowledge with the existing knowledge to form a new knowledge structure. As a result, the knowledge of the task passes from the short term memory to the long term memory and makes the learning permanent. The learner can be provided different types of trouble shooting cases and asked to resolve them. Practising the task in different contexts/situations would reinforce the acquired knowledge/skill. This task should be practised on a regular basis. It would help the learner respond quickly to situations and handle any kind of situation. In case of trouble shooting in customer care, the most effective way to determine learner performance is through customer feedback. The other way of evaluating is through mock test, where peers are acting as customers and the learning participant has to resolve the problems that each one comes up with. This assessment tool is relevant for evaluating the learner’s performance because it helps the instructor to see the learner in action. On the part of the learner, he/she also gets a real feel of doing the task hands-on and also understanding where he/she needs to improve. Learning takes place through adaptations and changes. Without initiating a change in the performance level or capacity of the learner, real learning cannot be facilitated. New knowledge structure

What Impact Did The Boeing - Airbus Dispute Have On The European Union Essay

What Impact Did The Boeing - Airbus Dispute Have On The European Union - Essay Example As such, the European Union is one of the powerful forces after the present round of polygonal trade negotiations in the World Trade Organization. The main purpose of the New Round is to put growth at the heart of the world trade structure in a way that will help them battle inflation. The World Trade Organization was recognized in 1995 as a consequence of the Uruguay Round of polygonal trade discussions. It is an international organization that sets universal rules of trade among nations. The central part of the World Trade Organization system, understood as the multilateral trading system, its Members take up the World Trade Organization agreements, which lay down the permissible ground rules for international trade as well as the market-opening obligations. The World Trade Organization is collection of governments and political bodies and is a member-driven organization with conclusions mainly taken on an accord basis. Membership entails a stability of rights and obligations. By October 2004, 149 countries had connected the World Trade Organization, with approximately twenty-five negotiating to sign up. The main and most complete unit is the European Union with its twenty-five Member States. Certainly, while the Member States organize their places in Brussels and Geneva, the European Union Commission only speaks for the European Union at more or less all World Trade Organization conferences. ... also the second-chief defense supplier in the world, and the main civil aircraft producer in the world in terms of aircraft orders after long straggling Airbus for the past five years, and the main exporter in the United States. Airbus, which first transported additional planes than Boeing in 2003, will preserve that escort for 2005 as it anticipate to sell 370 planes in contrast with 290 (Fisher, 2002, P 1). Boeing's two major sections are Boeing Integrated Defense Systems (IDS), responsible for military and space products, and Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA), accountable for civil airliners. Boeing has long been the principal in the world aviation industry. Having lived the unstable seminal years of the industry, Boeing's first achievement was as a manufacturer of military aircraft during and after World War II. In the commercial aircraft division, its first achievement happened in the 1950s with the expansion of the 707, which became the world's first victorious jetliner. Boeing then congealed its leading place in the commercial market in the 1970s with the growth of the 747. Airbus most commonly known as simply Airbus only, its foundtion in Toulouse, France, is the globes main commercial aircraft producer. It was built-in 2001 under French law. Airbus was priorly known as Airbus Industries and is merely just named Airbus. Airbus is mutually held by European Aeronautic, Defense, and Space Company (80%) and BAE Systems (20%), European Union two principal military suppliers and producers. For 2005, its CEO is Gustav Humbert. Airbus utilize around 52,000 people in numerous European Union countries. Manufacturing takes place at Toulouse France, Hamburg Germany, Barcelona Spain, and Chester UK. The foremost opponent of Airbus is Boeing, with which it fights an strong

Reasons behind Organisations Seeking Control on Its Various Essay - 1

Reasons behind Organisations Seeking Control on Its Various Operational Dimensions - Essay Example According to the research findings, the organizations have attempted to render greater interests in order to control their internal business activities and obtain advantageous competitive benefits identified in the external environment of the business. Moreover, it can be observed that the modern business organizations are highly focused on evaluating a range of useful mechanistic processes in order to enhance their power of controlling and obtaining greater competitive advantages in the global market.In order to obtain a critical understanding of the current day scenario, the various aspects associated with the accomplishment of the organizational goal, i.e. to seek control in different situations, will be evaluated. Additionally, to provide the discussion with firm evidence, the illustration of Marks & Spencer plc (M&S) strategies will be taken into account. According to Jensen, human communication is recognized as a transmission method, through which the conversation conveys one l ocation to another and is possible only when the messages are transferred from a mechanistic perspective. It is in this context that analysts who adopt mechanistic perspective believe that the concepts of communications are causally associated. Specifically, the mechanistic perspective in the communication process involves a linear relationship between the communicator and the channels through which the message is delivered. Moreover, Sorokin has also mentioned that a mechanistic perspective model possesses the capacity of understanding any complex system through the investigation of its particular characteristics as well as the interrelation persisting between the variables. The model is usually integrated with physical aspects where the system elements are identified as real and visible. With reference to the notion of mechanistic models, it can be observed as based on elements which are incorporated in a discrete manner that cannot be physically observed.

Porters Five Forces Analysis and Strategic Group Analysis

Porters Five Forces Analysis and Strategic Group Analysis Porters Five Forces Analysis and the Strategic Group Analysis. The aim of this research is to critically evaluate the combination of two business strategy techniques; Porter’s Five Forces Analysis and the Strategic Group Analysis. The essay will often refer to these terms and it will be therefore pertinent to clarify these at this early stage. Current issues in the business world will also be identified and related to the theory. Limitations of these techniques will be outlined and conclusions drawn. Porter’s Five Forces Analysis is based on the concept that the key objective for any organisation should be to gain advantage over its competitors, it is not the industry that an organisation is in that counts, but where it wants to compete in terms of the nature of the competition. This competition is provided by the nature of the rivalry between existing firms, the threat of potential entrants and substitutes and the bargaining power of both the suppliers and buyers (Lowson, 2002). Strategic groups have been defined by Finlay (2000) as groups of business that are likely to respond similarly to environmental changes and be similarly advantaged/disadvantaged by such changes. Porter (1980, taken from John et al, 1997), suggests that an industry could have only one strategic group if all the firms followed essentially the same strategy. At the other extreme, each firm could be a different strategic group. Evaluation of analysis techniques Porter’s Five Forces model has been identified as a powerful tool for systematically diagnosing the principal competitive pressures in a market and assessing how strong and important each one is (Thompson and Strickland, 2003). Barriers to entry, identified as one of the five forces, presents five structural determinants that affect a company’s ability to enter new markets; economies of scale, product differentiation, government as with taxi licences for example, favourable access and capital requirements (Bowman, 1998). The economies of scale, which is a benefit gained from large scale production will keep costs down and ultimately low prices too. Product differentiation will allow keeping customers loyalty and switching costs and an appropriate example of this would be the new electric car introduced by Toyota. It can also be suggested that advertising campaigns may also be considered as an entry barrier. The existing markets will be able to raise product awareness while new entrants will less likely be able to meet the costs involved in doing so. Backwards vertical integration may also be identified as a possible entry barrier. The bargaining power of both suppliers and buyers and also the threat of substitutes; the extent to which there are products/services which are close substitutes for the product/services of the industry in question, are also considered as part of the five forces. The retail industry, and in particular the food sector, is currently faced with the problem of high power of buyers and the lack of suppliers power. According to Rigby (2005), â€Å"suppliers are receiving insufficient government protection from the market power wielded by supermarkets. The failure of the Code of Practice reflects the market power that consumers have delegated to them en masse†.    Bowman (1998) also suggests that the Five Forces model allows firms to rate the strength of each of the five forces so that they can focus their attention on the main competitive aspects. As noted by Fleisher and Bensoussan (2003), Porter’s fifth force, competitive rivalry, is also an element addressed by the strategic group analysis where it considers competitive rivalry and how this force both impact and it is impacted by other four forces. Porter (1980, taken from Bowman, 1998) suggests that the level of rivalry, the actual competition between existing producers, varies according to a number of factors. The market structure for example will be a major determinant in the intensity of rivalry. In a monopolistic market for example, where one firm has the total control of the market, quality, availability, price but mainly product differentiation will be a priority. In relation to this it must be noted that an article by Business World (2005) suggests that the law concerning the abuse by companies of dominant market positions will be reviewed and ultimately changed in the near future. On the other hand, firms operating under conditions of oligopoly may find cons iderable variation in the identity, number and size distribution of competitors internationally, as for example Burger King and McDonald (John et al, 1997). The slow growth of demand, or a declining demand, the high fixed costs involved that do not vary with the level of outputs, are also factors which will ultimately impact on the level of rivalry. It has been noted that the Strategic Group analysis is a technique used to provide management with information in regards to the firm’s position in the market and a tool to identify their direct competitors. The Five Forces industry analysis will form the first step in this process. After having identified the forces, the major competitors in the industry based on competitive variables will also be outlined. Competitors will then be divided into strategic groups based on similarities in strategies and competitive positions. As suggested by Thompson and Strickland (2003), one thing to look for is whether industry driving forces and competitive pressures favour some strategic groups and hurt others. Firms will most likely try to shift to a more favourable situated group, and how hard such a move proves to be, will depend on whether entry barriers for the target strategic group are high or low. It is also important to mention that although some companies operate in the same marke t they are not necessarily direct competitors as this will be determined by the size or market position for example. Strategic group analysis allows managers to identify direct competitors that are of a similar size and range and focus on remaining competitive in order to survive in the ever changing market. At the same time, BMI British Midland, according to an article by Done (2005), will be entering the long-haul market from London Heathrow for the first time, becoming the third UK long-haul carrier out of Heathrow, intensifying competition with British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. These three airlines are competing â€Å"head to head† to win more traffic rights to different destinations and those that are in the same market and not looking at options will more likely be left behind. The Five Forces analysis and Strategic Group analysis are very useful business tools however they both present some limitations that will now be considered. Lynch (2003) suggests that although Porter’s five forces model is a useful early step in analysing the environment, it has been subject to critics. The model assumes a classic perfect market and it assumes that organisation’s own interest come first. This however may not be appropriate if applied to charitable institutions or government bodies. The assumption that buyers and suppliers power is a threat to the organisation might also be incorrect as some companies have recently seen the benefits in working closely with suppliers. The analytical framework is essentially static, whereas the competitive environment in practice is constantly changing. In relation to this, it may be added that a PEST and SWOT analysis may also be useful tools to use when analysing an organisation. PEST analysis considers the external political, economic, social and technological factors that will have an impact on the organisation, encouraging thinking more broadly about environmental influences on the firm, while the SWOT analysis considers the internal strengths and weaknesses and external opportunities and threats (Bowman, 1998).   Ã‚   As also noted by Recklies (2001) the model is best applicable for analysis of simple market structures. A comprehensive description and analysis of all five forces gets very difficult in complex industries however a too narrow focus on particular segments of such industries, on the other hand bears the risk of missing important elements. Another limitation of Porter’s model  is that it assumes that companies try to achieve competitive advantages over other players in the markets as well as over suppliers or customers. With this focus, it dos not really take into consideration strategies like strategic alliances that in today’s market are very common. As suggested by Thompson and Strickland (2003), not only can alliances offset competitive disadvantages or create competitive advantage but they can also allow firm’s to concentrate more on the mutual rivals than towards one another. The strategic group analysis provides a good framework for management to be aware of their direct competitors and one analytical tool that is useful for comparing the market positions of each firm separately or by grouping them into positions is the Strategic Group Mapping. This tool however does not as such, show how in reality an organisation can maintain or even gain competitive advantage over its rivals (Thompson and Strickland, 2003). It would be therefore suggested that Porter’s Three Generic Strategies, whereby organisations can gain competitive advantage over their rivals either by offering lower prices than competitors for equivalent products or providing unique benefits that more than offset a higher price, should also be adopted to complement other organisational analysis. Porter also suggests that firms should pursue a generic strategy and only concentrate on one of these, instead of trying to pursue all of them risking failure (Porter, 1985:3). An example of a successful company adopting cost leadership is Ryanair that has clearly prioritised the strengthening of its strategic position in the market over short-term profit maximisation. It is using its cost leadership position to drive prices even lower so as to increase the financial pain on higher cost competitors (Mattimoe, 2004). The combination of these two strategy techniques is fundamental for a business looking ahead in the future and trying to remain competitive in the ever changing external environment. Other analysis techniques such as PEST and SWOT, Three Generic Strategies could also be used to compliment the two discussed business tools. Conclusion It can be construed that Porter’s Five Forces analysis and the Strategic Group analysis are very useful business tools that allow management to identify their position in the market. It was noted that Porter’s Five Forces analysis assumes that the key objectives for any organisation is to gain competitive advantage over its rivals, while Strategic Groups were defined as groups of business that are likely to respond similarly to environmental changes. The Five Forces presented some structural determinants such as the economies of scale, which are the result of large scale production, government intervention as with patents and licences, and product differentiation. In a monopolistic market, price, quality, availability and product differentiation are the priority, while in an oligopoly market price tends to be the main determinant. It was also noted that these two techniques for analysis are very useful business tools however they both present some limitations. The Five Forces model could be used for simple market structure however a comprehensive description and analysis for complicated markets may not be ideal. The model also regards buyers and suppliers power as a threat for the organisation, however it was noted that companies have recently seen the benefits in working closely with suppliers. It was also suggested that an organisational analysis should include a PEST and SWOT analysis to consider with a broad view the external and internal factors that may affect the business future performance. Finally it was also suggested that a firm, as per Porter’s view, should aim to follow one of the Three Generic Strategy, and in particular either cost leadership as per Ryanair’s example or product differentiation. Bibliography Bowman, C. (1998) â€Å"Strategy in practice†, Harlow: Prentice Hall Business World (2005) â€Å"EU to curb abuses by dominant companies†, 11 Mar, p1 Done, K. (2005) â€Å"BMI enters long-haul Heathrow market†, Mar 10, p1 Finlay, P. (2000) â€Å"Strategic Management: An Introduction to Business and Corporate Strategy†, Harlow: Prentice Hall Fleisher, C. and Bensoussan, B. (2003) â€Å"Strategic and competitive analysis: methods and techniques for analysing business competition†, Prentice Hall John, R., Ietto-Gillies, G., Cox, H. and Grimwade, N. (1997) â€Å"Global Business Strategy†, Thomson Business Press Lowson, R. H. (2002) â€Å"Strategic Operations Management: The New Competitive Advantage†, London: Routledge Lynch, R. (2003) â€Å"Corporate Strategy†, 3rd ed. Harlow: Prentice Hall Mattimoe, J. (2004) â€Å"Ryanair Plc†, 27 May, Irish Equity Research Porter, M.E. (1980) â€Å"Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analysing Industries and Competitors†, New York: The Free Press Porter, M.E. (1985) â€Å"Competitive Advantage†, New York: The Free Press Recklies, D. (2001) â€Å"Beyond Porter-A Critique of the Critique of Porter†, Recklies Management Project GmbH, Available from: www.themanager.org   Rigby, E. (2005) â€Å"Reform of code for big stores would aid suppliers†, Financial Times, 7 Mar, p1 Thompson, A.A. and Strickland, A.J. (2003) â€Å"Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases†, 13th ed. McGraw-Hill References Egan, C. (1995) â€Å"Creating Organisational Advantage†, Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann Grant, R.M. (2002) â€Å"Contemporary Strategy Analysis: Concepts, techniques, applications†, 4th ed. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers Ltd Miller, A. (1998) â€Å"Strategic Management†, 3rd ed. McGraw-Hill Swaan Arons, H. and Waalewijn, P. (1998) â€Å"A Knowledge Base Representing Porter’s Five Forces Model†, Erasmus University Rotterdam Tilson, N. (2005) â€Å"Blueprint to boost business unveiled†, Belfast Telegraph, 9Mar, p1

The Cultural Invasion of Kenya Essay -- American Culture Traditions Es

The Cultural Invasion of Kenya A screeching yell ripped through the house that Wednesday evening, "Ahhhhh, we're being invaded!". My mother rushed into the living room. I pointed to the flickering television screen. "Look," I whispered in disbelief. A few seconds of silence followed. There they were, the words I never thought would appear on our 29 inch Sony screen: "Sizzlin' Hot Country". The appearance of American country music on the Kenyan airwaves was the latest sign that American culture had penetrated the borders of my country. The airing of Garth Brooks and Dolly Parton on the local television station is not the only evidence of the rapid spread of American culture in Kenya. One look at a large portion of its youth and this cultural invasion will become apparent. Baggy pants, Nike, pop music and malls, symbols of American youth culture can now be associated with the Kenyan teenagers. The Nike phenomenon hit Kenya several years ago. My classmates in primary school were obsessed with the American brand name that had rocked the global shoe industry. Their school desks had the Nike name and logo painted on in every color imaginable. Not being able to afford some of the merchandise, many resorted to drawing the logo on bags, clothes, shoes and other visible possessions. Turning up to a class party with the trademark tick appearing on one's footwear simply made one the center of attention. My favorite pair of shoes, I have to admit, were a pair of black Nikes which raised many brows and turned just as many heads. Secondary school had its fair share of examples of the cultural invasion. In most schools in Kenya, students dress in uniforms. For example, in my school it was compulsory to wear a white shirt, gra... ...ols of success. While hip hop and baggy pants may not epitomize American success, Kenyan youth adopt this aspect of American culture perhaps because of the common roots and racial background the majority share with African Americans. Wearing Nike shoes or sagging one's pants may seem to be meaningless gestures. However, wearing shoes that many popular, rich American sporting icons don or sagging pants like the famous hip hop artists makes one different from the rest. It allows one to adopt an American identity, one defined by success and importance. While some would argue that such a spread of American culture would be beneficial because it would, in a sense, create a global village, I think this cultural invasion creates more harm than good. It would result in the demise of local cultures and languages. And this is certainly not a good thing.