Ethics and Moral Theory Essay

The words â€Å"moral† and â€Å"ethics† (and cognates) are often used interchangeably. However, it is useful to make the following distinction: Morality is the system through which we determine right and wrong conduct — i.e., the guide to good or right conduct. Ethics is the philosophical study of Morality. What, then, is a moral theory? A theory is a structured set of statements used to explain (or predict) a set of facts or concepts.à  A moral theory, then, explains why a certain action is wrong — or why we ought to act in certain ways.à Ãƒ  In short, it is a theory of how we determine right and wrong conduct.à  Also, moral theories provide the framework upon which we think and discuss in a reasoned way, and so evaluate, specific moral issues. Seen in this light, it becomes clear that we cannot draw a sharp divide between moral theory and applied ethics (e.g., medical or business ethics). For instance, in order to critically evaluate the moral issue of affirmative action, we must not attempt to evaluate what actions or policies are right (or wrong) independent of what we take to determine right and wrong conduct. You will see, as we proceed, that we do not do ethics without at least some moral theory.à  When evaluating the merits of some decision regarding a case, we will always (or at least ought to always) find ourselves thinking about how right and wrong is determined in general, and then apply that to the case at hand.à  Note, though, that sound moral thinking does not simply involve going one way — from theory to applied issue.à  Sometimes a case may suggest that we need to change or adjust our thinking about what moral theory we think is the best, or perhaps it might lead us to think that a preferred theory needs modification. Another important distinction: Are moral theories descriptive or prescriptive ? In presenting a moral theory, are we merely describing how people, in their everyday ‘doings’ and ‘thinkings,’ form a judgement about what is right and wrong, or are we prescribing how people ought to make these judgements? Most take moral theories to be prescriptive. The descriptive accounts of what people do is left to sociologists and anthropologists.à  Philosophers, then, when they study morality, want to know what is the proper way of determining right and wrong. There have been many different proposals.à  Here is a brief summary. Theories of Morality (1) Moral Subjectivism Right and wrong is determined by what you — the subject — just happens to think (or ‘feel’) is right or wrong. In its common form, Moral Subjectivism amounts to the denial of moral principles of any significant kind, and the possibility of moral criticism and argumentation.à  In essence, ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ lose their meaning because so long as someone thinks or feels that some action is ‘right’, there are no grounds for criticism.à  If you are a moral subjectivist, you cannot object to anyone’s behaviour (assuming people are in fact acting in accordance with what they think or feel is right).à  This shows the key flaw in moral subjectivism — probably nearly everyone thinks that it is legitimate to object, on moral grounds, to at least some peoples’ actions.à  That is, it is possible to disagree about moral issues. à  (2) Cultural Relativism Right and wrong is determined by the particular set of principles or rules the relevant culture just happens to hold at the time. Cultural Relativism is closely linked to Moral Subjectivism.à  It implies that we cannot criticize the actions of those in cultures other than our own.à  And again, it amounts to the denial of universal moral principles.à  Also, it implies that a culture cannot be mistaken about what is right and wrong (which seems not to be true), and so it denies the possibility of moral advancement (which also seems not to be true). à  (3) Ethical Egoism Right and wrong is determined by what is in your self-interest.à  Or, it is immoral to act contrary to your self-interest. Ethical Egoism is usually based upon Psychological Egoism — that we, by nature, act selfishly.à  Ethical egoism does not imply hedonism or that we ought to aim for at least some ‘higher’ goods (e.g., wisdom, political success), but rather that we will (ideally) act so as to maximize our self interest.à  This may require that we forgo some immediate pleasures for the sake of achieving some long term goals.à  Also, ethical egoism does not exclude helping others.à  However, egoists will help others only if this will further their own interests.à  An ethical egoist will claim that the altruist helps others only because they want to (perhaps because they derive pleasure out of helping others) or because they think there will be some personal advantage in doing so.à  That is, they deny the possibility of genuine altruism (because they think we are all by nature selfish).à  This leads us to the key implausibility of Ethical Egoism — that the person who helps others at the expense of their self-interest is actually acting immorally.à  Many think that the ethical egoist has misunderstood the concept of morality — i.e., morality is the system of practical reasoning through which we are guided to constrain our self-interest, not further it.à  Also, thatà  genuine altruism is indeed possible, and relatively commonly exhibited. à  (4) Divine Command Theory Many claim that there is a necessary connection between morality and religion, such that, without religion (in particular, without God or gods) there is no morality, i.e., no right and wrong behaviour.à  Although there are related claims that religion is necessary to motivate and guide people to behave in morally good way, most take the claim of the necessary connection between morality and religion to mean that right and wrong come from the commands of God (or the gods).à  This view of morality is known as Divine Command Theory.à  The upshot is that an action is right — or obligatory — if God command we do it, wrong if God commands we refrain from doing it, and morally permissible if God does not command that it not be done. Divine Command Theory is widely held to have several serious flaws.à  First, it presupposes that God or gods exist.à  Second, even if we assume that God does exist, it presupposes that we can know what God commandsà  But even if we accept theism, it looks like even theists should reject the theory.à  Plato raised the relevant objection 2500 years ago.à  He asked: Is something right (or wrong) because the gods command it, or do the gods command it because it is right? If the latter, then right and wrong are independent of the gods’ commands — Divine Command Theory is false.à  If the former, then right and wrong are just a matter of the arbitrary will of the gods (i.e., they might have willed some other, contradictory commands). Most think that right and wrong are not arbitrary — that is, some action is wrong, say, for a reason.à  Moreover, that if God commands us not to do an action, He does so because of this reason, not simply because He arbitrarily commands it.à  What makes the action wrong, then, is not God’s commanding it, but the reason.à  Divine Command Theory is false again. à  (5) Virtue Ethics Right and wrong are characterized in terms of acting in accordance with the traditional virtues — making the good person. The most widely discussed is Aristotle’s account.à  For Aristotle, the central concern is â€Å"Ethica† = things to do with character.à  Of particular concern are excellences of character — i.e., the moral virtues. Aristotle, and most of the ancient Greeks really had nothing to say about moral duty, i.e., modern day moral concepts.à  Rather, they were concerned with what makes human beings truly ‘happy’.à  True ‘happiness’ is calledEudaimonia (flourishing / well- being / fulfilment / self- actualization).à  Like Plato, Aristotle wants to show that there are objective reasons for living in accordance with the traditional virtues (wisdom, courage, justice and temperance).à  For Aristotle, this comes from a particular account of human nature — i.e., the virtuous life is the â⠂¬Ëœhappiest’ (most fulfilling) life.

Globalization of Impact in Society Essay

The technique and fundamentals used within different parts of the world vary significantly, for modern values prevail. The vastness of globalization has impacted a majority of nations across the world. One way of looking at Globalization through the advantages and disadvantages of its nature is to overlook society’s changes from generation to generation. The complexities of convergence through trade and social processes establish a variety of commodities between cultures. In part of sharing heritages of different cultures the experience of new found goods in intellect and materialistic sources take our interest in influencing positive or negative reactions. W. J. Perry a cultural anthropologist leader wrote a Journal over culture. In the journal he talks about the diversity among cultures and the meaning behind civilizations. He states, â€Å"that various peoples, in different parts of the earth, had, independently of one another, elaborated the fundamentals of arts and crafts† (Perry 105). He describes an interesting point specifying of how the process of these experiences occur, â€Å"independently†. The exposure to foreign cultural goods frequently brings about changes in local cultures, values, and traditions. For instance, local farmers who have traditionally earned a living by working their small plots of family-owned land and selling their goods locally may find reason to be concerned by globalization because new availability of foreign foods in a market- often at cheaper prices- can displace local farmers. Such causes make local residents to hate some variations of globalization. Lieber and Weisberg in â€Å"Globalization, Culture, and Identities in Crisis† give an example of why some hate globalization. â€Å"Others, however, have treated globalization of culture as an evil because of their fears of the pervasive power and duplicity of multinational corporations or international institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) (Globalization Crisis, Lieber, Weisberg). On the other hand, there are others whom appreciate the resources that globalization brings from foreign places because there is a sympathetic relation to the arts and crafts available and produced by someone who is thousands of miles away for their unique work in particular subjects, like sculptures, food, clothing, books, jewelry, music, and so much more. Lieber and Weisberg also provide an example of the good side of globalization. â€Å"One observer has asserted that, ‘†¦globalization promotes integration and the removal not only of cultural barriers but many of the negative dimensions of culture. Globalization is a vital step toward both a more stable world and better lives for the people within it’† (Globalization Crisis, Lieber, Weisberg). This is a good point because for some regions in part of the world there are some cultures where such kind of integration can improve or further an interest towards one’s well being; for all human beings share a common notion of intellect. A great revolution occurred through technology, The Information Revolution. Many fundamentalist challenge their skills in competing with this new stream of information such as the computer systems, Ethernet, music, movies, and advertising media. This has created a new movement for individuals not only to work within the field and have a source of income and opportunity to grow in the ambition one seeks but it opens a far more modern aspect of enabling a growing culture all over the world. Since technology and computer systems are relevant in many places around the world today this challenges a new generation with new resources to obtain and fit-in as a means of their culture something that did not exist generations before. It allows for prosperity, however, in some areas there still exists a culture that decide to not be influenced by other cultures instead they are enduring a traditional way of living a society that has carried on from generation to generation without technological growth, they are contemporary hunter-gatherer peoples who, after contact with other societies, continue their ways of life with very little external influence. The nature of the hunter-gatherer persisted in technological techniques to specialize in the domain of survival, using techniques that enable men to use resources in creative measures. As Perry states as well in his journal Tradition, talking about hunter gatherer societies; â€Å"Who still persist in outlying parts of the world† (Perry 106). The level of advancement of a civilization is often measured by its progress in agriculture, trade, performance and abilities of oneself/occupation, and ranking within community distinguish the natural rights of oneself. There is a theory called â€Å"Tabula rasa,† that individuals are born without built-in mental content and that their knowledge comes from ones experience and perception† (Locke, John). Locke’s ability to understand this quality of human intellect is very profound. Tradition is an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior with cultural continuity in social attitudes, customs, and institutions. Characterizing an individual towards a manner, method, or style such as in America the way of living is much different especially during the midcentury where access to safe, inexpensive electricity was available and made at times simple. Having toasters to house lights to refrigeration, the effects were significant for many Americans. However, not all people benefited from the technological advances that America was attaining. In India and Latin America people did not have the ease access to electricity or technological equipment for the resources a typical American home would have such as the toaster or refrigerator (Jetsetcitizen). The differences between the resources available for a particular society measure considerably in the lack of or more of such customs. Michael Kaye in his journal Tradition condenses the means of this difference very well.

The Influence of Arabic Language on the Culture Essay

The Influence of Arabic Language on the Culture - Essay Example In the Middle East region, more than one hundred million people may be found to use the language as their language of speaking. During the eighteenth century when the Arab Empire had encountered severe problems in maintaining their political stability, it was the Arabic language that emerged with its power and contributed in building a bonded relationship among the Muslim states. Thus the language played a significant part in â€Å"preserving cultural unity and continuity in the Muslim world†. If the significance of the Arabic language is studied with respect to the Arabic culture, it can be realized that the language has an important role to play in the Arab-Muslim culture. The language enabled a relationship between the Arabs and the Muslims in the support of the language as well as the cultural principles that they followed. Several authors have been found to significantly focus on the importance of Arabic and mentioned Arabic as the language of culture. The language was used in the circumstances of religious disturbances between Christians and Muslims, in internal conflicts among the Arabs, or with other countries. The language took a major part in conveying the cultural principles in the East to the West and this was executed by converting the languages of Arabic cultural books into other languages. Thus this initiated and encouraged an association between the East and the West in regard to the cultural beliefs. Studies reflect that the Arabic language â€Å"is the faithful register of Arab cultural achievement as well as the basis for politico-cultural resurgence† across the entire world of Arab. The language was found to be the â€Å"driving force† as the Arab country aspired to be superior to other countries in its nationalism actions as well as culture.

Google and Microsoft Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Google and Microsoft - Essay Example A number of internet-based products and services have been initiated and developed by Google and it earns most of its profits from advertising through its program known as AdWords. Microsoft: This renowned name in computing is again an American multinational corporation which specializes in initiating, developing, manufacturing, licensing and also supporting an unending range of products and services pertaining mainly to computing through its various product divisions. Leading products and/or services Google: AdWords for advertising based auctions at real-time basis, AdSense program senses and enables web sites to deliver customers’ ads from AdWords, Gmail, Orkut, Google Display, DoubleClick Ad Exchange used as a real-time auction market place for trading of display space for ads and Youtube which provides video and other interactive mediums for advertisers. Microsoft: Windows and Windows Live Division Segment which offers mainly PC operating systems including Windows 7 and Wi ndows Vista, Microsoft’s Server and Tools segment proffers mainly windows server operating system and product support services, Online Services Division Segment provides online information and content using Bing, MSN Portals, and others, Microsoft Business Division Segment offers Microsoft Office and other related products and Entertainment and Devices Division serves Xbox 360 entertainment platform including a whole lot of entertainment resources. Management/Leadership Style Google: This Company has a normal hierarchical structure and organized in the form of ‘bottoms up’ from the angle of creativity of product and ‘tops down’ from going on with the financials, the quarter and other aspects. Disagreements are encouraged along with large group conversation and in discussions, both sides of the mark are motivated and expected as well. Decision making does not involve hierarchy. Microsoft: The management style here is quite culture oriented, creating a nd nurturing the correct culture and relax and feel at home are two of the practices at Microsoft Corporation. Developing a clear vision, pegging to it and working hard on it is essential. Hiring of action-oriented employees is being practiced and protecting the corporate image along with ruthlessly controlling budgets form some aspects of the company’s management style. Innovation Track Record As Microsoft is quite older a company than Google, its innovation has elevated by leaps and bounds throughout its operations. But Google has proved its development and performance in a smaller time frame. Google has a policy for employees to spend 80% of their time on core projects and operations and the rest, 20% or one day a week on activities pertaining to innovation that induce their personal interests and passions. Google has created various creative internet search softwares and the Google search engine is the leader in search engines and is better than Microsoft’s Bing. I ts products such as AdSense and AdWords have shunned everyone especially in the advertising sector all over the globe; Gmail is now used and favored by a considerable lot of people. This shows that Google has focused more on the consumer side which needs more innovation for satisfaction. Microsoft has worked mainly on sophisticated softwares related mainly to

International Relations Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

International Relations - Research Paper Example Intergovernmental organizations are formed to address specific issues such as security, trade, the welfare of refugees and children, environmental conservation and management and food safety. These intergovernmental organizations engage nation-states to reach agreements, treaties and protocols that bind and which are crucial to solving some of the issues that characterize international relations. Multi-national corporations are large, wealthy, and it is impossible to deny their influence on the international stage. Multi-national corporations play a controversial role in many aspects of the foreign policy of nation-states, but their participation is considered good politics and business. Multinational corporations create many opportunities for employment and the huge profits they make increase the wealth of nations. Non-governmental organizations actively participate in international activities that are common to many nation-states. Non-governmental organizations tackle a variety of issues that include poverty, human rights, gun control and provision of education. Non-governmental organizations that address human right issues operate across nation-states and which focus on protecting human rights. Intergovernmental organizations, multi-national corporations, and non-governmental organizations have enhanced their influence in international activities, and it is impossible to ignore their participation blatantly. These three act as the thread that connects the nation-states of the world together.

Discuss how an organisation's competitive advantage can be enhanced Essay - 1

Discuss how an organisation's competitive advantage can be enhanced with the introduction of new technology - Essay Example Many companies nowadays are trying to manage their businesses with the comfort and efficiency brought by the use of new technology in their operation. However, it is not only those online companies that are directly under the influence of new technology. All organisations especially those that have very complex activities rely heavily on the use of new technology. The car manufacturing industry for instance is relying greatly on the cutting-edge technology in order to meet the requirements of their customers and the prevailing market trend. In addition, the mobile communication industry and other related industries are trying to elaborate the importance of technology in order to go along well with the recent trend and development of business activities and operations in their specific areas. It is therefore a common understanding that the implementation of new technology in an organisation brings forward specific advantages and one of them is the efficiency which the bottom line is j ust to enhance the operation in order to achieve organisational goals. In line with this, new technology is strongly associated with competitive advantage. Every organisation seems to be using advanced technology, but the question remains how exactly it brings them certain competitive advantage. ... None about new technology is mentioned as part of these strategies for competitive advantage. However, it is clear that nowadays, using either one of these generic strategies would mean integrating the idea of new and existing technology. In the case of Wal-Mart as renowned retailing company in the United States, its generic strategy is low-cost for its product offerings. However, part of the institution of this strategy in the organisation is its highly computerised value-chain management system especially for its multinational and highly globalised operation. This is to ensure that whatever it has started so far can be substantially enhanced to the fullest with the integration of new technology. Wal-Mart viewed new technology as essential part of its complex operation especially that it operates at a global setting and in order for it to become sustainable when it comes to its low-cost-product strategy. Toyota is known for its focus differentiation strategy. However, in the process of creating it, the use of new technology is integrated in its entire operation. Its high level of standard quality product does not only enhance its cost advantage over its competitors but it specifically tries to say something about the image of its brand. Its brand image is associated with high level of cutting-edge technology and this means a lot to its marketing effort, strategy and eventually competitive advantage. In the age of globalisation, competition has become fierce allowing every organisation to enhance communication of their product offerings (Wetherly and Otter, 2011). Thus, individuals are bombarded with different information. The best information prevails and it is

Environmental Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Environmental Policy - Essay Example information regarding the occurring environmental degradation [Pellegrini &Gerlagh, 2006 page3] witnessed by the soviet union, Asia, Africa and even the Latin America. With democracy, was the ability to protest against the loose grip of the authorities on the optimum use of the resources available. Thus, the democratic setup helped the cause of raising voice high enough to reach the ears of the undertakers. By exploring the link between democracy and environmental policy we can find the nature of effect that each has on other, as for instance, countries with a democratic setup have a political commitment to the people of healthy environment. And democracy is a significant positive determinant of environment protection. The UK initiatives out of region have been in the developing countries, of which the present work will limit it to India. As India is arriving in the developed country arena with the zest never seen before, the sustainability model will be largely dependent on the shoulders of the youth of the nation. The UK s sustainable development projects in India aim at Natural Resource Management, Climate change policy, mainstream sustainable development and production aiming at reduced emissions[UK - SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN INDIA, 2006]. The UK Strategy for Sustainable Development, which uses that definition of sustainable development, has four objectives: - social progress which recognizes the needs of everyone - effective protection of the environment - prudent use of natural resources - maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and employment.[MAPPING COMMON GROUNDS, 2001] UKs latest initiative on the matter of democratization in environment policy making is the... World is changing, and how?, so during this time when the scientists are busy coming out with more statistical â€Å"deadlines† of natural resources remaining on earth and people are busy getting one on one with the â€Å"global warming† glossary of terms, fewer have started the leap toward new ways of living that are less daunting on our planet. People are reminded of a serious â€Å"shift of origin† like condition of the planet when researchers declare that the rising temperatures due to global warming will harm the wine industry in the regions of California or the decreasing ICE CAP for polar bear survival or the melting glaciers of the Himalayas close to India. But still now in times of severe hunger and poverty stricken countries of the world, where survival comes before living, fewer will be courageous to take report of the now termed â€Å"planet in peril†. On the positive side, there is some relief in watching the efforts of international level org anizations and NGOs come to light the way towards a â€Å"prolonged† stay here, on earth. Greenpeace, Care, UN and among others are the forth runners in this task. Scientific knowledge and policy go together hand in hand. Scientists contribute to the framing of issues and the agenda for climate change by defining what evidence they can produce and by making claims about its significance for policy-makers. The future for the environmental policy making through democratization is clearer and it is going to be a key issue for the coming organizational setups. The industrial revolution of the 1900s has had initially profound effect on the global environment which are now showing up. There is a need for table turning policies and stringent actions.

Gendered Eating Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Gendered Eating - Coursework Example The gender of the person behind the real food preparation matters in cooking and food preferences. Recently, I noted that even in communities that regard woman’s real place as the kitchen, men will still prefer being served by a man in a restaurant. This, to me means that the man in the hotel is preferred than the woman, while, at home, a woman has the responsibility of preparing food for the family. Further, this can also be interpreted to mean that professionally, men are the considered to be better cooks while women are more involved with the behind the curtains preparations and writings. In line with the cooking responsibility bestowed on the women from traditions, their experience in the field is significant, their involvement in instructional cooking ascertains their legitimate position. However, the men are considered to be better in arts than women are. This makes them more visible and relevant when it comes to the real activity of cooking. Therefore, cooking art is dominated by men while the women occupy an even more important position of teachers and instructors. Regardless of who appears with the food on your table, multiple players have been

The painting of Joseph Wright Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The painting of Joseph Wright - Essay Example The essay "The painting of Joseph Wright" discovers The painting of Joseph Wright. The fright associated with seeing the bird die overcomes one of the children until she shies away from the view. Her father holds her and encourages her to witness the experiment. The man in the front view of the picture seems to engross himself in deep thought and reflection. There appears to be excitement among the youth on how the experiment is progressing. There are two lovers on the left who seem to have little clue on the experiment and are more keen on each other than they are on the experiment. The bird in the flask unifies and focuses the disparate elements of the painting. The painting employs the use of spherical and curved shapes on the glass flask, the objects on the table, and the moon bringing out a sense of perfection. The candle dramatically lights the elements in the painting while the moon adds to this drama by presenting a view of the outside world. There is a skull in a container b arring the candle’s light. The scientist appears to look at the viewer of the painting with a suggesting impression of seeking the viewers’ opinion on whether to continue with the experiment or not. The other people on the painting seem to have less concern for the fate of the bird. The father shows attention to his daughters while the lovers show affection to each other. The boy at the window appears to raise the cage, lower the cage, or to open the curtain in order to allow the moonlight to penetrate.

Belief Systems Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Belief Systems - Research Paper Example The Belief of Dharma The concept of living the good life under the form of dharma is most often attributed to the Eastern religions of Buddhism and Hinduism. The philosophy is also one which is associated with lifestyles which one lives in order to pertains everything that is good. The basis of dharma is one which relates to serving and loving others. When one is able to do this, then they overcome karma, or mistakes they have learned in this or a past lifetime. If one has negative energy that comes back, then it is linked to karma which the individual creates. This usually is shown as a lesson or problem which one has in life. However, if one serves and does something good, then it is associated with dharma. One is then able to receive rewards and blessings within their life through the services that they offer to others. The good life is one which then relates to the idea of happiness and being able to create a reality that is positive through the use of dharma. Happiness is able t o become the luxury that one creates within their own life (Schoch, 4). Obeying the Laws of God The concept of living the Laws of God for the good life is one which is associated with Biblical scripture and Western systems. The forms of thought are based on the philosophies of morality and being virtuous with how one decides to live. The laws of God are linked to treating others as they treat you, caring for others and living with happiness and spiritual prosperity. The Ten Commandments are often associated with this concept and are perceived with following Gods laws to receive eternal blessings and life. The interpretation is one which creates the laws by building security and safety around treating others in a given manner and in being content with the things which God gives in return. The mentality that is followed then outlines specific ideologies of what one should or should not do within society and how this benefits one through a secure and peaceful life which is given by God (Whybray, 5). Similarities in the Good Life The concepts which are associated with both dharma and the Laws of God are structured first around the way in which others should be treated. In both the principles of dharma and the Laws of God there is an implication that one receives rewards and blessings from God or the universe. However, this is dependent on how one treats others, either through forms of service or by following the laws of being righteous. Each have the golden rule of treating others as they treat you while receiving rewards from spirituality when this is done. The foundation of both becomes the same with serving others and treating all with love. This is combined with the understanding that the more this is done, one will have more opportunities to receive the rewards and blessings from the hierarchy of God or the universe. The blessings in both are also similar, specifically based on the ideologies of peace, happiness and security in one’s life (Kazez, 46). Not only is there a direct association with the mechanics of following certain laws to receive blessings from a higher being and associating this with service. Both dharma and the

The California Gold Rush Essay Example for Free

The California Gold Rush Essay Before the Gold Rush of 1849, California was a sparsely populated, unimportant territory of the United States mostly inhabited by the people of Mexico. However, that all changed when on January 24, 1848; carpenter and small time sawmill operator James W. Marshall discovered a gold nugget in the American River that would forever change the history of California and America1. Not only did the Gold Rush lead to California’s admittance into the Union in 1850, it also rekindled the idea of the American Dream. Hundred’s of thousands of people poured into the state by the lure of quick and infinite riches. As a result of the Gold Rush, California eventually became an advanced technologic, and agrarian state, which would help pave the roads to urban development and a very capitalistic economy. The California Gold Rush jump-started the development of California as a state, and ignited the belief of the American Dream once again. In a year’s time of the discovery of gold in the American River, the provincial Gold Rush of 1848 transformed into the global Gold Rush of 1849 making national headlines across the world. Historian Hubert Howe Bancroft best described the Gold Rush as; â€Å"a rapid, monstrous maturity† which propelled the population so progressively that on September 9th, 1850 California became the thirty-first state admitted into the Union2. By the year 1851, over 255,000 people had immigrated to the Golden State spurred on by the hopes of finding gold and achieving the American Dream3. From these hundreds of thousands of aliens that flocked to California during the Gold Rush most were young men eager to risk their lives venturing to the Mother Lode in hopes of becoming miners and starting a new life. These men, called the â€Å"49ers†, would play a vital role in the transformation of the state, as they would soon become the pillar for the powerful mining economy in California4. In addition, the ban of slavery in California opened up a window of opportunity to those from other continents. Soon ships from Asia, Australia, Europe and South America were left stranded in the San Francisco Bay as everyone sought to achieve their own version of the American Dream in the Gold Rush as well. In the early stages of California’s state hood, gold mining was the keystone of the Californian economy. Originally, many gold miners who came to California were apart of larger mining companies that at first brought organization to the gold fields5. Nonetheless, as the pressure to find gold mounted each day with the number of people coming to California increasing, it soon became every man for himself; and as a result many of these organizations failed. However, the mining process was complex, required lots of man power, and as gold was becoming harder and harder to find; the introduction to certain technological advances revitalized the Gold Rush and California as a state. The introduction of Hydraulic mining by French Canadian, Anton Chabot in 1850 and later perfected by Edward Matteson a 49er from Connecticut, had everlasting effects on the mining industry as well as the environment6. By damming river and streams miners were now able to use the newly created waterbeds for their industrial hoses, which would spray water furiously onto the riverbanks eroding the ground until gold was spotted7. As a result of Hydraulic mining, mining organizations became powerful again and a sense of unity and prosperity was restored to the gold fields. The Gold Rush also started a new market for technology as now more people stopped mining, and thought of other ways they could make a living. Worker unions began to form, as mining companies needed laborers to maintain and manufacture new machines as wells as divert and dam rivers8. However, not everyone made their fortune in the mining industry. In 1853 Levi Strauss, a German immigrant came to California with aspirations of striking it rich in the gold fields. After a year of no luck, Levi and his family decided to open a general goods store in San Francisco that would sell dry goods and clothing to the miners. His store was a hit, as miners poured in to buy tents and other necessities for mining. One item in particular, denim pants known today as â€Å"jeans† sold like wild fire amongst the 49ers, as they were durable and did not rip. By the end of the Gold Rush, nearly 594 $ million in gold ingots (estimated around 10 $ billion in 2001 dollars) would be shipped out from California towards the east coast alone9. Not only did the Gold Rush create a prosperous mining climate, it also indirectly lead to an even more booming agrarian economy; that in 1869 surpassed mining in employment and then later in 1879 became the leading element to the California economy10. By the late 1870’s, there was nearly 600,000 thousand people living in the Golden State11. In order to feed so many mouths so quick, many people that could not make it as a miner or in the now blooming cities decided to settle on plots of land and become farmers. Most preferred the farming lifestyle opposed to a miner’s life because it was safer. In addition, due to California’s vast natural resources, fertile abundant land and great weather, growing food and raising livestock was easy compared to the eastern United States and other parts of the world. The Gold Rush also permitted the cattle industry to once again flourish in the west as a cattle boom from the north was guided to California for sale to the miners12. Soon afterwards, cattle ranches were set up in Southern California and provided an economic boost to the rest of the state13. In addition to the cattle industry doing well, by 1880 great wheat ranches had expanded throughout Colusa County and produced nearly half a mission bushels of wheat a year14. As a result of the wheat industry expanding, in the 1880’s and 1890’s irrigation districts had been introduced to California along with newly refrigerated railroad cars, which perhaps did the most to advance California towards becoming an agrarian powerhouse in the United States15. With a lucrative economy that was producing food and money, the urbanization of California happened much earlier than intended. With the mass migrations of workers pouring into mining towns and cities, the ones with the best strategic position ended up becoming the most successful. As a result, San Francisco, Sacramento and Las Angeles became the most powerful cities on the west coast because of the Gold Rush16. However, with the establishment of the first transcontinental railroad in 1869, California now had a direct contact with the rest of the United States and as a result every town in California economically and socially prospered17. With the advanced development of technology, an interstate road system was built which helped distribute the urbanization of California more thoroughly18. In addition to roads, the technology that was invented in the Gold Rush now could be applied to the development of the advancement of irrigation. In 1900, San Francisco and Los Angeles built a system of dams and aqueducts that would bring running water to their respective cities19. The result of this project would for years to come stabilize the infrastructure of these two cities20. Soon, markets, architecture and literature would flourish in cities across the state as California transformed from a rural state, to one of the most powerful states in America. As time progressed, cities in California were now looking to export their goods to the rest of the world. Banks had already been established in California during the 1850’s as a place for miners to store their gold and by 1855 Wells Fargo Bank controlled about ninety percent of the transporting of gold in the state21. California possessed a highly successful banking system, but now with the help of the transcontinental railroad and the port cities, the Californian economy was now turning towards capitalism22. With a well-organized society and economy in California, industries were booming. Cities like San Francisco led the way with the exportation of goods to other countries and the eastern part of the United States23. California soon started to enter trade relationships with Asia, Europe and other continents as it exported gold, fine goods and food at a rapid rate24. As trade blossomed, so did education and literature. Soon, schools, churches, universities and newspaper companies were sprouting up all along California. This all in term led to California becoming a melting pot of different cultures just like other great states in the U. S. The Gold Rush of 1849 directly led to California’s admittance and prestige as the thirty-first state admitted into the Union. Not only did the Gold Rush bring hundreds of thousands of people to the Golden State, it also kept them there. With advancements through technology, the mining industry in California would become the strongest in the world at its time25. Also, as the mining economy grew strong, the agricultural economy grew even stronger because of the Gold Rush. With these advancements, people were able to build permanent empires through the urban development of California. As cities prospered at the benefit of the Gold Rush, California was able to grow stronger and smarter as a state through capitalism and trade with foreign countries. The Gold Rush of 1849 jump started the development of California as a state and achieved people’s goals of the American Dream. Bibliography: Gibbs, William. California Gold Rush (1848–1858). Open Collections Program: Immigration to the US, California Gold Rush, 1848-1858. N. p. , n. d. Web. 20 May 2013. Ketchum, Liza. The Gold Rush. Boston: Little, Brown, 1996. Print. Lloyd, J. D. The Gold Rush. San Diego: Greenhaven, 2002. Print. Martinez, Lionel. The Gold Rushes. The Gold Rushes. N. p. , n. d. Web. 20 May 2013. Starr, Kevin. California: A History. New York: Modern Library, 2005. Print.

Pros and Cons on Money Essay Example for Free

Pros and Cons on Money Essay This is a very sad image that has been painted of the human race. Not all people are money grabbing bankers. in fact the majority of people are good-hearted, who are prepared to give away increasingly small small amounts of spare cash to help charities. They are willing to help. You cant blame corporations and bankers for doing what they are supposed to and that is make money and turn a profit. In all exchanges someone is selling a service and someone is buying a service. There is no rule that says you cannot make money from the transaction. What we can do though is to change the environment in which banks operate. For example laws stipulating how much profit can be made, how much of profit needs to go back to society. We can take responibility for our own destinies instead of money leading us by the nose. As we develop technologically, research and development which leads to breakthroughs in all spheres of society cost money. The companies spending that money should surely be entitled to a return on their investment. Without an incentive, there may be fall off in development. So, instead of only a few bastards getting away with doing nothing for money, now we will have everyone doing nothing for money. Sounds great, until you realize that the resources to run that scheme will soon run out and people will be forced to create value by the motivation of fear and coercion, rather than by the desire to better their condition. This is exactly what derailed all socialist states. What would such alternatives be? In the field of Economics, they have tried to measure Gross National Happiness as opposed to GDP and it created even more problems. Only one country in the world has this as an index, due to problems of comparison between individuals happiness levels, measuring happiness and the fact that happiness levels are so easily influenced by personal situations. The lack of any other sensible, comparable and ordinal alternative has meant that money is the only current measuring unit. What does greed got to do with money? Even without money, greed still exists.,wom an,man,love. Well, I doubt that its true though. First let us consider the point that money is of no real value. What about Gold? Gold itself is considered money. Money itself is divided into Fiat money and Commodity money. Even without fiat money(paper money), people will still be able to use commodity money. Something similar to barter trade. Does crime still exist? i bet it will. Much more than it is now if fiat money is not used. What causes poverty itself is not the lack of money. It is the mentality of the people thats saying that i am poor, i wont become rich, i dont need money, money is the root of all evil. These are the mentality that causes poverty. And besides, i think u should clearly understand what all mean,it means nearly everything or everything.So,first of all,theres no doubt that you can not count how many evils are there in this world,that means your 90% is impossible to prove your point;and if you are right,is that also mean you agree withtheres no evil during the time when the money havent been invented?KIDDING! Money can be donated to a good cause. Like it or loathe it, civilized society cannot function without money, therefore it has to stay. Money can also be used to do alot of good also. For example, millions of Britains donate money to various charities each year to help those that are less fortunate. Comic Reilef raises tens of millions of pounds for its causes, therefore money is not all about pursuing it for the individual, many people activley share thier wealth, redistributing it to those that really need it. If money does not exist, barter trade does exist which will also leads to donation if one have an excess of goods and services. Therefore i dont think that the word donate will not occur No, because some evil clearly nothing to do with money There are many roots to acts that would be considered evil I will assume this means actions that harm others or denigrate the self, but the concept of evil itself is by no means straightforward that are nothing to do with money. For instance, a murder might be motivated by anger, a rape by uncontrollable lust, bullying and discrimination by ignorance. You dont need money to commit a crime. You need a big rock or stick to murder someone. You need the other person not to notice to steal something from someone. Crime has been happening before a monetary system. Religion has also led to a lot of destruction since a long time. Not only this even the greatest of problems dont have their root cause as money.The biggest example being Taliban.Why are they attacking people, they are not getting money from it but it is because they want blood, killing of Indians and Americans. This is called racism. So money is not the root cause of all evil. No, because Money is not the root of all evil. The lack of money is the root of all evil. I respect both sides and I understand why many people believe that money is the root of all evil. But I have to disagree. The lack of money is the root of all evil. Back in the history of mankind, before money was invented, we bartered. Money was the result of hardworking process. Bear in mind that criminals are all born in poverty and some of them live in poverty. The fear of lacking money haunts them constantly. It is the fear of not being able to feed themselves and their families that make them commit unthinkable crimes. If money is evil, could you live in a world without money? If greed or desire is evil, have you ever wanted something that is not yours? Any of you ever want an Iphone? Any of you can live without computer, electricity and all of modern comfort? If you think money is the root of all evil, Id like to recommend the Communist Manifesto for you. Marx talked about an utopia society in which people work based on their ability and get rewarded base on their needs. Money would not be necessary. I like to ask those who think money is not necessary to point out a successful communist example. Im from a communist, aka socialist, country. And we are moving toward a capitalistic market. I strongly believe that if you dont work for yourself, nobody will. Money motivates people to work harder, smarter. Would there be light bub if Edison work for just bread and milk only? You might say those riches keep getting richer without giving away their money to the poor. Id like to ask you Why the rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer? If you find the question somewhat interesting please spend sometimes read the book Rich Dad, Poor Dad. It changed a poor college students way of thinking, I hope it will be helpful too. Money is not the root of all evil. The lack of money is the root of all evil. Money represents positive value It is a great American contribution to world culture, that they have coined the phrase to make money. Money is made, by effort of muscle, willpower, and intelect. There can be no society composed entirely of thieves, as there will be no value to steal. Money represents the confidence of parties that the value of their efforts can be traded for the value of others efforts. It is a recognition of the importance of society based on trade, rather than the only real alternative: violence. To be clear, money contributed to charity is also traded, for the value of achieving a social goal this in contrast to taxes, which are forcefully taken. No, because Money is the end product of what you did Money is the end product of something that you did that you think its enjoyable to you. For example, if someone started invest into a company or firms, it is because of the excitement not because of money. It is the excitement that make people invest and this excitement will leads to the end product, money. Therefore there is no reason to say that money is the root of all evil. Money is just the end product of what you did that excite you No, because Originally, Money was the solution to the problems(/inefficiencies in transactions) arising out of barter exchange system. Read on the history of money. Originally, Money was the solution to the problems(/inefficiencies in transactions) arising out of barter exchange system. Ex: In barter exchange there had to be a double co-incidence of wants. A man selling milk who wanted to buy rice had to find someone selling rice wanting milk. GOOD LORD! Just imagine how time-consuming frustrating. Also, there was a need for a standard to objectively measure the value of all types of goods like cows, milk, foodgrains, clothes, ornaments, etc. Imagine feelings of doubt being cheated arising out of selling 1 kg rice in exchange of 3 litres milk (when later you met someone offering you 4 litres in exchange for the same value)! Moreover, money is the best most liquid store of value has legal tender so you sue someone legally if cheated. Money solved the problem also avoided all the confusion. Money is an indispensable part of our lives. Money has to be earned! The root of evil is people who want the unearned money. Saying MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL is like blaming your tools; its very embarrassing. A similar statement: Computers (or tech) is a curse. Ex: You condemn the car for it lead to a terrible accident you landed up in hospital. So is car the cause of the accident? Or are there other things to consider- like did you repair maintain it regularly? Why did you buy it? Were you drunk? Were you daydreaming while driving? Did another car hit yours? Id say that anyone with minimal level of intelligence should get the gist of it should be in a position to discern the fact that car per se didnt create the problem. In the accident scene, car was the passive factor while the man driving it was an active factor another car hitting it was the causal factor. Money too is a passive factor. How you approach it makes all the difference! Just as how you use Internet Computer decides whether it be a curse or a boon. My smartass opponent may say car was purchased with money- so again money is the root of all evil. Alright then, could you dispense with your car? Could you dispense with anything else having money value? But this is different issue altogether. No, because Money cant be dispensed with see the essence of of what I mean by money anything that is or acts as money i.e. anything that performs the recognized functions of money or serves the recognized purpose of money. Id quote a definition Money is a good that acts as a medium of exchange in transactions. Classically it is said that money acts as a unit of account, a store of value, and a medium of exchange. Most authors find that the first two are nonessential properties that follow from the third. In fact, other goods are often better than money at being intertemporal stores of value, since most monies degrade in value over time through inflation or the overthrow of governments. Now think can you do without money? Do you wanna go back to the days for barter system? Imagine no banks, no recognized/ standard medium to transact. No, because Theres no such thing as the root of evil! Evil can take different forms types and also has different causes most of them-psychological.

Communication And Social Development In Society

Communication And Social Development In Society A society can neither exist without communication nor can a social structure survive without it. The multi faceted development (economic, social, political and cultural) have further asserted the importance of communication in human life. Successful communication is the key to all social relationships and environments personal or professional. What is Communication? Communication is something so simple and difficult that we can never put it in simple words. Various sociologists, educationists and psychologists have defined communication in different ways and according to the disciplines to which they belong. According to Legans communication is an act of getting a sender and a receiver tuned together for a particular massage or series of messages. Schramm says, it occurs between two corresponding systems accompanied through one or more non-corresponding systems, resulting in an identical status to establish commonness. Others like Howland, Warren Weaver, Gist, Loomis and Beegles etc. have defined communication in their respective ways, but one can conclude that it is a social interaction, that transfers the thoughts or ideas from one person or group to another so that it could be understood and acted upon. The more homogenous a group is, the effective the communication. In the 21st Century, everyone in the world can compete on an equal footing with everyone else. Therefore the difference between success and failure will be the ability to communicate and to understand. Communication is a continuous activity. It is the two way process. It is an act of sharing knowledge, feeling, ideas, information with the use of words, facial expressions, gestures, body movement and often silence, that takes its meaning from the situation. The communication situation exist when: there is a person (sender or transmitter) desirous of passing on some information; there is another person (receiver) to whom the information is to be passes on; the receiver partly or wholly understands the message passed on to him; the receiver responds to the message i.e., there some kind of feedback. The communication situation cannot exist in the absence of any of these four components. Consultant Faculty Member, Center for English Language Training (CELT), College of Engineering, Osmania University, Hyderabad, 500007. e-mail: [emailprotected] Communication is the lifeblood of the world. In todays globalized world, communication is essential for life. Communication is more than just a matter of speaking and hearing. Good communication, on the other hand, means that your message will be sent and that the people understand the message in its entirety. Further, they are much more likely to respond in a positive manner if the message was communicated effectively. A poorly communicated message will result in an unfavorable response. You cannot have human relations without communication. However, good and effective communication is required not only for good human relations but also for good social development. Types of Communication Verbal oral and written Non-Verbal expression, expressive behaviors and body language Communication Distinctions Formal/Informal Official/unofficial information exchange Vertical/Horizontal Superior Subordinates/peers Personal/Impersonal Situation of mutual influence/exchange without mutual influence Instrumental/Expressive Necessary for job/non-job information transmission Principles of Communication In order to make our communication effective we should follow certain scientific principles. They are shown in the Figure 1. Figure 1 Courtesy Consideration Conciseness Completeness Clarity Correctness Principles Of Communication Clarity For clarity of expression: use simple, easy-to-understand words, use single words for long phrases, use concrete expressions that have a visual impact on the mind and will be easy to remember, prefer active constructions, which are direct, avoid jargon. Completeness For completeness ask: who, what, where, when and, why. Conciseness For conciseness: only relevant facts, no repetition, no verbosity, proper organization of the message. Consideration For consideration: avoid gender bias, emphasize positive, pleasant facts. Courtesy Courtesy begets courtesy: so make your message courteous, use empathy, be respectful by not fawning, be brief, clear and courteous. Correctness Correctness implies: giving correct facts, at an appropriate time, in a suitable style. Conditions for Effective Communication Scholz describes some of the factors which influence the effectiveness of communication. The credibility of the communicator and the motive attributed to him have a profound influence on the reception of his message. The most successful communications are those which reinforce at least some of the audiences beliefs, those which state conclusions as well as premises and those which call for action. People are interested first in people, then in things, last in ideas. Their attitudes and opinions are strongly influenced by the groups to which they belong or want to belong. It is better to communicate information little by little over a period of time than all at once. Repeating a communication obviously prolongs its influence. Short sentences, familiar words and active verbs help to make communication both interesting and persuasive. In changing opinions, an oral presentation tends to be more effective than the written word. Only rarely is it possible for communication, particularly over the short range, to impart deep-seated attitudes or beliefs. Mass communication alone is hardly ever an effective agent of change. Communication in Education Traditional education always neglected communication. When we talk of communication skills in the field of education, it not only points at the provider, supplier or teachers but also it is equally important to develop this art among the recipients or the students. Quest of knowledge, search of truth, urge of understanding have resulted in identifying communication as the ultimate factor in making education effective. Communication is an art and if used scientifically in education it can create wonders. Communication in Industries Communication is a valuable skill. If you possess strong communication skills, this will go far in effectively helping you communicate in both your personal and professional lives. Being able to successfully communicate in business is a prime qualification many employers actively look for when hiring new staff. When conducting business we interact with different people, including, but not limited to customers, bosses, colleagues and subordinates. Depending on the nature of business we may also interact with other agencies or partnering organizations. No matter the industry, if we work for the private or public sector, or what our line, grade or position is, it is a guarantee communication will somehow prominently play a part in our daily routine. Your communication skills not only reflect upon you but your business. Organizations want to ensure they hire candidates who possess these dexterities. Once in the position our communication skills illuminate a statement about both yourself and our company, and well want to present a positive image. Projecting poor communication skills may paint us or our organization in a negative light. Communication and Globalization Culture, Communication and Globalization are focused on issues related to intercultural and international approaches to the ways in which culture, communication and globalization interplay with the world around us. Today India is developing fast vertically in the field of industry, trade, education etc., but if the efforts are put at individual level in the area of communication whether interpersonal or intrapersonal, the horizontal development in terms of quality could be also achieved at the desirable rate.

Cultural Materialism Essay example -- essays research papers

When it comes to anthropological theory the combination of several established ways of thought often result in a completely new and independent way of thinking. Cultural Materialism is one of these children theories that resulted from a coming together of social evolutionary theory, cultural ecology and Marxist materialism (Barfield). The goal of cultural materialism is to explain politics, economics, ideology and symbolic aspects of a culture with relation to the needs of that society. From a cultural materialist point of view society is indisputably shaped by the factors of production and reproduction. From this all other facets of society, such as government and religion, must be beneficial to that society’s ability to satisfy the minimum requirements to sustain themselves (Harris 1996). An example of this would be the invention and continued use of industry because it increased the ability to produce needed materials and food. One important aspect of the cultural material istic approach is that it operates completely from the etic perspective. Marvin Harris, one of the founders of cultural materialism, believed that a holistic approach is vital to correctly analyzing culture and believed that the emic approach failed at providing a wide enough scope. Harris tried to employ the scientific method and incorporated it into his theory. The result of this is that cultural materialism focuses only on events that are observable and quantifiable and replicable (Harris 1979). Cultu...

The Diary of Anne Frank Thanks to the Nazis :: Anne Frank

The Diary of Anne Frank   Thanks to the Nazis The Diary of Anne Frank Journeying back to the early nineteenth century, when Nazi forces occupied Germany during World War II, the lives of those living in this territory was spent in constant fear and anxiety. The Diary of Anne Frank leads readers through the harsh times of a family trying to escape imprisonment in concentration camps by Nazi soldiers, where death was almost certain. Born on June 12, 1929, Anne Frank was a German-Jewish teenager who was forced to go into hiding during the Holocaust. She and her family, along with four others, spent 25 months during World War II in an annex of rooms above her father's office in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. During the two years in hiding which Anne refers to as "a time when the ideals are being shattered and destroyed, when the worst side of human nature predominates, when every one has come to doubt truth, justice and God (pg.327)." Anne kept a diary that was given to her by her father, Otto Frank, on her birthday. Between June 1942 and August 1944, from Anne's thirteenth birthday until shortly after her fifteenth birthday, Anne recorded her feelings, her emotions, and her thoughts, as well as the events that happened to her. "†¦[I]deas, dreams, and cherished hopes rise within us only to meet the horrible truth and be shattered†¦yet in spite of everything I still believe that people are rea lly good at heart (pg. 327)." The diary is an accurate record of the way Anne grows up and matures, in the unfortunate situation she found herself. Given the circumstances in which the novel is written Anne gave a very vivid description of her surroundings and the feelings she encountered throughout her ordeal. The novel displays the grief and frustration that is experienced throughout the time spent in hiding. The emotions of the situation are captured in the text and gives validity to the pain and frustration encountered. Despite the amusing and enlightening side of the diary, that documents the process of her adolescence, it also provides a vividly terrifying description of what it was like to be Jewish hiding during the time the Nazis sought to kill all the Jews in Europe. After two years of living in the "secret annex", behind a bookcase, and having to be extremely quite during the day so that the workers in the office and warehouse below could not hear them the family was captured.

Stages in a Marketing Plan Essay -- Business Marketing Papers

Stages in a Marketing Plan This essay will present the stages of a marketing plan and critically evaluate the differences suggested by the leading authors. However it is vital to understand what marketing planning is. Although marketing planning would appear to be a simple and step-by-step process, in reality it is not. As marketing plans are very complex, cross functional and it touches every aspect of organizational life. However the stages of marketing planning will explain and explore some of these issues by focusing on the process of marketing planning. Marketing planning can be defined as a sensible way to manage the sales and marketing function is to find the systematic way of identifying a range of options, to choose one of them, then to schedule and cost out what has to be done to achieve the objectives. Marketing planning is the planned application of marketing resources to achieve marketing objectives; it is simply a logical sequence of a series of activities leading to the setting of marketing objectives and the formulation of plans for achieving them. Companies go through some kind of management process in developing marketing plans. Marketing planning is essential when considering the increasingly hostile and complex environment in which companies operate. Many external and internal factors interact in a complex way, which affect the ability to achieve profitable sales. The four typical examples, which companies set, are maximising revenue, maximising profit, maximising return on investment and minimising costs. Revenue is the monetary value received by a company for its goods or services. It is the net pric... ...d along by momentum. Also if the company's culture and management style are not supportive of marketing planning, then no improvements will occur. And also if the business is highly competitive, no improvements will be seen, however the company might fare much worse without a marketing plan. Common implementation problems of a marketing planning could be lack of a plan for planning, weak support from management, lack of resources, lack of information and also it could occur due to too much detail and being too far ahead. In today's increasingly competitive markets, there is a growing realization that success in the future will only come from meticulous planning and market preparation. Therefore having a marketing plan is useful as it is better to weigh up the costs of planning against the costs of not planning.

A Christmast Surprise for Gramma Essay

A Christmas Surprise for Grandma by Gloria J. Shuttleworth Grandma lived on Sugar Creek Mountain all alone. It was a beautiful mountain, with tall cedar trees all over the mountain top. In the middle of the mountain was a crystal clear lake. The water in the lake was the prettiest blue you’ve ever seen. When the water was calm, you could see the fish swimming around in the lake. I loved sitting by the lake when I was a little girl. Grandma would pack us a lunch, and we would sit at the lake for hours on end. Hour after hour, grandma would tell me stories about her life on the mountain. I remember the day that grandpa drowned in the lake. My parents had tried to talk grandma into moving into town, but she wouldn’t hear of it. My parents knew not to argue with her, because they knew that grandma was set in her ways. â€Å"I’ve been on this mountain for so long that I’ve forgotten which is the oldest, me or the mountain,† grandma had said, with a twinkle in her eyes. I knew my parents worried about her being alone, because grandma was the only person who lived on Sugar Cliff Mountain. Today I was going to visit grandma, and the excitement grew inside me at the thought of spending time on the mountain once more. After all, it had been ten years since I had seen grandma. It’s hard to believe that my career had kept me away for so long. As I approached the top of the mountain, I could see grandma staring out the window of her little log cabin home. Grandma greeted me at the door with a big hug. â€Å"I am so happy that you could come to visit with me,† said grandma. This Christmas is going to be so wonderful! I have a special surprise for you dear. Little did grandma know that I had a very special surprise for her as well. â€Å"Well, we can’t stand around here all day,† said grandma. There’s a lot of work to get done. I have invited the people from the village to come to my Christmas party on Saturday evening. After I had freshened up a bit, we spent the day baking all sorts of cookies and candies. Grandma had a story to tell as we baked the goodies for the party. She told me about how she used to bake apple pies for grandpa. â€Å"He loved apple pies,† said grandma. Those were his favorite. She said that after the pies would cool off, that grandpa would send her into the living room, under the pretense that he would clean up the kitchen. Grandma knew what he was really up to, but she never let on that she knew. Grandma would go into the living room and sit in her rocking chair. She would sing some of the songs that she knew grandpa loved. About an hour later, grandma would wander back into the kitchen. â€Å"Why Henry! † she said kitchen, grandma retired for the evening. I made myself a cup of tea and sat down in front of the fireplace. Sitting alone in the quiet house, I pondered my childhood memories of my grandparents. They had always been such a fun loving and happy couple. Shortly after they were married, grandpa built the log cabin home for his â€Å"Little ole Emmy†, as he called her. Just before Christmas, almost twelve years ago, grandpa was outside gathering firewood, when grandma heard a horrible scream and a terrible noise. She ran outside to find that an area of the ice on the lake had fallen through. She yelled for grandpa over and over but no reply ever came. They searched the lake for over a week, but no trace of grandpa could be found. Finally, they called off the search. One of the men who had helped in the search said they’d probably never find grandpa now. Just then, as my thoughts were still racing around in my head, my grandmother brought me back to reality. â€Å"We have to be up very early in the morning dear, so off to bed now,† she said. I slowly walked to my grandmother’s room, and kissed her goodnight. Morning came early at grandma’s house. As I entered the kitchen I could smell the homemade biscuits and gravy cooking on the stove. â€Å"What’s on our list of things to do today? † I asked. â€Å"The men are coming from the village this morning to put the lights on the trees, and we have lots of presents to wrap for the children,† she said. Just then, there was a knock at the door. It was the men from the village ready to start putting up the lights. Grandma was so excited as she stepped back to watch them. â€Å"Let’s wrap those presents now Laura,† said grandma. As I watched grandma wrap the presents and tie the ribbons, I knew that so much more was being placed around them. With each piece of wrapping paper grandma was also wrapping them with love. After the last present was wrapped, we realized that we’d been wrapping presents all day! It was now getting dark outside and grandma wanted to go outside to view the lights. As we stepped out onto the porch, we gasped. The sight that met our eyes was so beautiful to behold! The snow was glittering and the reflection of the lights on the snow was beyond words! It was breathtaking! That night I went to bed with a heart full of love for my grandmother. I knew that someday I wanted to be just like her, full of love for others. Saturday evening the village people started arriving just after dark. Grandma always waited until evening to have her Christmas party, because she loved the lights. All the guests gathered around in the front yard and began to sing Christmas carols. Oh, how grandma loved that! Ole Ben was a jolly fellow who worked at the village store, and he was chosen to help Santa hand out the presents. The children shouted with glee, as they unwrapped their gifts. Grandma said, â€Å"Laura, come here dear, I have a surprise for you. As she handed me the present, I could see the love and pride in her eyes. â€Å"I love it grandma†, I said, as I bent down to kiss her cheek, â€Å"I will cherish it forever. † Grandma had made a quilt out of some of my dresses that I had worn as a little girl. â€Å"Grandma, if you could have just one special gift for Christmas, what would it be? † I asked her. Without ev en stopping to think, she replied, â€Å"I would like to see your grandfather just one more time, so I could feed him the apple pie that the horses quit snatching when he left us. † Just then grandma’s face lit up like the lights on the Christmas tree! Everyone turned to see what grandma was looking at. Walking slowly toward her, with an apple pie in his hand, was grandpa! There was two slices missing from the pie that he was holding. The village people were speechless, as they thought they were seeing a ghost. Grandpa chuckled, as he yelled out, â€Å"Emmy, those darn horses snatched the pie and got away with two pieces. Difference to me, but slowly my memory started to return. I remember now going out to gather firewood. There was a nice piece of wood on the lake. I thought the lake was frozen over so I stepped out on the lake to get the piece of wood. I remember hearing the lake crackle and that’s the last I remember about the accident. â€Å"Laura, how can I ever thank you for bringing grandpa home to me? † asked grandma. Laura replied, â€Å"Seeing the happiness and the love you have for each other is all the thanks I need. † As Laura retired to bed that night, she couldn’t help but think about the surprise that she had given to grandma for Christmas. She knew in her heart that it was the best surprise present that grandma would ever get. What a warm and wonderful feeling came over Laura as she fell asleep, thinking of her grandparents.

Hp and Compaq Merger

Webster University November 6, 2011 Hewlett- Packard Company, referred to as HP, is an Ameri sewer international reading engine room association. Its headquarters is establish in California USA. The attach to was founded in 1939 built in a Palo crushed-pitched garage by Bill Hewlett and David Packard and is instantaneously whiz of the worlds orotundst in establishment technology companies operating worldwide in almost of exclusively cartridge holdery country. It has 87,000 employees in cxx countries. HP specializes in developing, manu facturing computing, data storage, and ne 2rking hardw argon.In addition it designs softw be and delivers services. A volume of HPs produce business organisations take on storage devices as well(p) as computing devices, and a wide regorge of imaging point of intersections and last but not least, printers. Its harvests be astray avail qualified to ho social function harmonizes, pure(a) to medium sized individualised credit lin ees, as well as by online dissemination, occasion make out retailers, and major technology vendors. It excessively caters to enterprises and office put out retailers. The late 90s brought innovation but first home plate sales assumeth, as HP go about troubles in keeping up with the changing commercialize.It was at the point where Carly Fiorina was found as the in the al unneurotic chief operating officer. The focus then became on customer and internet sales. Carly revamped musical arrangemental structure. This led to a revenue growth however, mete out termss salve declined and HP faced recession in 2001, which led to pay cuts and layoffs. Stock prices continues to hang glide which led to the consideration of acquisitions. HP is committed to the development of reapings, information, and services that atomic number 18 widely accessible to every unmatchable including those with disabilities.The commitment it provides in supply to every cardinal supports its dive rsity and Total Customer knowledge objectives stop up that its technological benefits serve all. accord to Dave Packard, it is necessary that people work together in unison to fightd common objectives and repress functional at cross purposes at all levels if the ultimate in faculty and achievements is to be obtained. HP has a imagination of diversity as cosmos a master(prenominal) portion that drives success as well as private bringers from every ane within the company.Their emulous payoff stops them to hear and to adjust through the depth of their nurtures. It is alert for HP managers to come together regularly in post to discuss and respect the HP Way which ensures their top priorities through lower be, information technology arranging avails, amplification in business growth, an improvement in skill, and customer service improvements. HP is organized in the form of deuce aggroups. The introductory-class honours degree is the descent Customer Organiz ation, and the punt group is the Consumer Business Organization (Wagonfeld, Rubenstein, and Block, 2001). some(prenominal) groups ar supplied through the avocation overlap divisions Computing systems, imaging and printing systems, and embed personal systems. In addition HP services atomic number 18 available which work between the consumer, the crossway, and the groups. Major product lines embarrass personal computing machine (PC), desktop and fluent personal information processing systems, software put to work upants, copiers, scanners, networking solutions, and consulting services. In addition, the companys support group offers consulting, education, and solution financing to its users.Compaq was founded in 1982 by rod Canion, Jim Harris, and Bill Murto and its headquarters is based in Houston, Texas. The three founders invested $1,000 each in indian lodge to begin the formation of their company and began their first-class honours degree product, a portable perso nal computer to run all the software beingness developed at the time for the IBM PC. four-spot long time into operation, the company was able to surface way to the Fortune 500 more than than rapidly than any another(prenominal) company in the same do primary(prenominal). Compaq products were developed and invest in three antithetical groups.The first group is the Enterprise Computing assort which designs and develops servers, internet products, and networking products. The second group is the commercial message PC Group which designs and develops commercial desktops, and small and medium business solutions. The final group is the Consumer PC Group which designs and develops consumer products such(prenominal) as desktops, printers, and portables. Compaq markets its products mainly to consumers from the following sectors Business, home, government and education. In 2001, Compaq and HP engaged in a union.The unfermented HP leave alone constitute the second largest globa l technology provider with rough $87 cardinal in revenue as well as many opportunities to create competitive advantages with their animate resources. It then had the ability to provide a multiple play of solutions and will be in position of competitive advantage in comparison to the leader IBM. prior(prenominal) to Compaqs uniting with HP, its heart token was CPQ, however after the union its ticker symbol is now HPQ. . The managements reasons for the fusion included the following amend economics and innovation, complementary eadership in signalize markets, strengthened business provides critical volume in key growth market, and financial benefits. First of all, combining HP and Compaq would sequel in creating economies of scale, send off sales channel, and a more flexible diffusion channel. min of all, the optical fusion would facilitate the diligence lead-in product line in the blame slight server category, and s core a broader portfolio of products and servi ces. troikaly, having around 65,000 IT architects in 160 countries accelerates growth and leads to crack customer loyalty.Finally, financially, it estimated $2. 5 billion in annual constitute savings by mid 2004 and the union would in any case allow HP to cast up investment in the imaging and printing business. Reasons against the conjugation were the following HPs business portfolio would be worse collect to an accessiond ikon in unprofitable PC business, and the PC market was expected to shrink. Second of all, the consolidation risk of the pro represent nuclear fusion reaction is warm as no uniting involving computer companies had ever met expectations, and analysts estimated a revenue loss that could be as in last spirits as 15-17%.Third of all, it would wee-wee a electronegative bushel on HP spudholders as a dramatic drop in stock price was announced after the suggestion of the uniting and Wall Street predicted low estimates for future financial performance. A twenty-five percent reason against the merger is that HPs strategic position will not materially improve as incomplete company had a profitable business forge nor successfully transitioned into a direct distribution representative. Furthermore, a merger would not materially improve HPs market position in full(prenominal) profit areas. Despite the debate for or against the merger, at that place was a 51. % approval allowance and supporters believed it was the take up option available for some(prenominal) tautens. SWOT summary The strengths of the merger are Compaq-Server category and overall storage, HP gamy-end storage, and severe brand recognition. HP and Compaq were to save $2. 5 billion in operating cost by 2004. After their merger, at that place was an increase in cash flow. The weaknesses they faced are the development of a direct distribution clay sculpture, consulting and outsourcing (low market share), and Compaq printers (low market share). Consumers were unsure rough the reliability of impertinently products, and HPs market share was to increase to 18. % only. The opportunities they were faced with are the improvement the merger could have of economics and innovation namely economies of scale. It also strengthened market leadership in storage, and market growth in IT services. Finally, the brats posed were the increases of pressure by dell in the lower-end server market, and the entrants of IBM and Dell into the market that get ahead eroded more market share. Michael E. porter draws upon industrial R development economics in pitch to derive the five force backs that consider the competition and the overall profitability of a market.For example, an unattractive attention would be one that combines the five forces that drives down overall profitability. The first force in Porters specimen is the threat of the entry of new enemys. Profitable markets that yield lavishly returns and will therefore attract new firms. The resu lt of this is many new entrants which eventually ebb profitability for all firms in the industry. The merger that occurred between Compaq and HP raises a take hold level of threat for new entrants collect to economies of scale that are achieved by the already existing shams, and this is what results in their competitive advantage.In addition, there is indispensableness for exalted corking requirement for any new player that wants to enter the market. Another factor is product polariation which results in a eternal need for the improvement in technology in order to grab consumers attention. A third factor is deem consumer discombobulate cost. An example of this is the ease for customers to limiting their laptops due to the keep goingardization of most computer components. In addition, the access to distribution channels makes it uncomplicated for consumers to approach the desired products, due to the availableness of direct customer service and some(prenominal)(preno minal) internet and computer retailers.The second force in Porters model is the bargaining power of buyers. Moderate consumer chemise costs makes it easier for consumers to be able to diverge their laptops, due to standardization of most computer components. A low form of suppliers are providing HP and Compaq products to consumers. In addition, suppliers operate with high fixed costs, which is the main reason there are a low number of suppliers. The third force in the model is the bargaining power of suppliers, which consists of a high number of customers that are fragmented and providing products to them is not an easy task, which is wherefore suppliers bargain highly. in that location are however, a few large suppliers which are trustworthy, reliable, and recognized. They provide good fictional character raw material such as Intel and Hitachi. A fourth force in Porters model is the threat of substitutes. Switching costs for consumers is high because of low price HP Compaq la ptops that indicate its signal towards the nerve center class and upper middle class atom. These people find it harder to switch from one product to another which is why they are more correspondingly to extend loyal. In addition, frequent product presentations and invariant improvements in price serve as a cause for moderate threat.A final force in the model is rivalry. High fixed costs in the cost for setup of manufacturing units increases fixed cost, which makes it more difficult for the existing players to go the market. Also, constant quantity changes in products and price makes competition stiffer. It is eventful to note that the two big players that hold the top two market share spots in the computer computer hardware industry are IBM and Dell. IBM has strong look and development and marketing and gave rise to PC industry with Microsoft Windows OS. IBM global services also have strong customer assistance.The latter(prenominal) is a direct business model with low inven tory costs, and Dells c pretermit relationships with its consumers helped build loyalty, and it ranked number one in the global PC market in 2001. In July 1999, Carly Fiorina was appointed as the CEO of HP, and the board believed she was the recoverer of HP. Her goal was to reinvent the company match to the HP way. Her motto was Preserve the best and reinvent the rest. At the time Carly took over, it was a collection of independent businesses, each merchandising a different kind of product.Her eccentric was to execute an e-services strategy that would unify them into one profitable square. After merging with Compaq, the main strategies that are focused on are the following Sustainability where the new HP essential two retain and grab additional market share, Uniqueness by being the largest IT company world-wide, value added by which the merger must demonstrate success, an increased product line through enhancement, adaptation to market forces through flexibility, and the ret ention of customer base through stability. Fiorina promised balanced revenue and net profit growth, targeting 12%-15% growth in 2000.The conundrum was that Carly Fiorina held too many offices as she was CEO, COO, and chairwoman of the board. This led to an abuse of power, poor decision-making, and miscommunication. some(prenominal) Compaq and HP were in an unwinnable price war with Dell. The merger of HP and Compaq clearly benefited two companies. From Porters five forces model of HP-Compaq, it is evident that there are moderate entry barriers, moderate threat of substitutes, high competition, moderate bargaining of power of buyers, and high bargaining power of suppliers.HP focuses on making technology more mere(a) for its users from individual customers to large businesses. Its top priorities are to lower costs, improve its technology systems, increase business growth, and improve two efficiency and customer service. Despite the fact that both HP and Compaq were mature compan ies before the merger, the merger is still considered to be under restructuring, which resulted in the company losing some of its ground as a mature company. Blending the assimilation of both companies resulted in more sophisticated ideas and is now more supportive in providing more effective customer service. through the successful merger of HP and Compaq, their costs were reduced by $3 billion annually. From the information provided above, it is measurable to note that the introduction of improved and more innovative products should be of focus as competition in existing players is high in order to gain market share and competitive position in the market. The company is center on its strategies in order to ensure achieving all business priorities by adjusting and optimizing the product line and enhancing high end services.When analyzing a merger between two companies give care Compaq and HP, it is worth noting that if we were to do a segment analysis of this merger, a differen t closing curtain would be drawn than an increase of benefit in the merged firms. In a segment analysis, the combined firms would adversely lose money while trying to gain advantage over its product line in the business sector for example. A large business segment would only see a small increase in profits in this case. Depending on the springyity in the market and the pertinent position of the firms involved, the effects of a merger would vary significantly across different segments.For example, if Dell and Compaq were to have merged in 1998, it would have resulted in a negative consumer surplus. This in turn allows us to prehend that the use of segment analysis can be valuable in assessing what impacts a merger could result in in various markets that have different consumer segments. The evolution of the market also plays an important factor. In the case of the HP-Compaq merger, if the same merge had occurred at a different period alike(p) 4 years earlier there would have be en a small consumer upbeat as opposed to the results yielded in its 2001 merger.bread maker and Breshnan (1985) proposed a strategy of contend and supply to evaluate the effects of mergers. Products and consumers are find by market participants consort to baker et. al, which in turn will be correlated with equilibrium prices which will lead the price coefficient to be biased towards aught. Furthermore, providing the consumers with a chance to not leveraging any of the products available in regards to personal computers plays an important role as it allows the supply price increase to change the quantities purchased.In addition, by using the demand parameters that are estimated, price-cost margins and bare(a) costs can be mensurable without the use of actual cost information. According to Nevo (2000), in the HP-Compaq merger, marginal costs and the number of products are held constant in their pre-merger level. Furthermore, post-merger equilibrium conciliatoryities are cal culated based on the demand parameters in the pre-merger phase. From this, we can make the assumption that both consumer preferences and the value of the good did not change after the firms merged.However, one cannot ignore the fact that changes in the strategy after the merger took place postinged for price sensitivity and curiously changes outside the industry that could impact demand for the product places doubt on whether such an assumption is valid. A way one can look at the estimates of different segments is by looking at the aggregated demand elasticities over time. This is pictureed in a report by Foncel and Invaldi (2000). It is important to note that the add elasticity for the whole market is increasing over time.This is turn means that consumers are being less sensitive as the market is glide path its maturity, this would lead to the expectation that the demand for personal computers would be more elastic. Income effect plays a big role here as soaring prices means that purchasing a PC would become a smaller share of the budget over time. In addition, further developments in software widened the use of computers and have now become a necessity in our daily lives. The total elasticity of the home segment is the one that faces the largest rise.The reason for this is that this segment became less elastic over time due to two reasons. The first reason was due to high income elasticity and the second was due to high usage of some(prenominal) developments in other domains such as the internet. Qualitative analysis of coordinated effects in the HP-Compaq merger is essential in take careing the formation of the merger that took place between both companies. In order to coordinate firms that are looking into merging should be able to come to an agreement which is not everlastingly easy as products in both firms are complex and differentiated.Compaq and HP should monitor lizard one anothers demeanour closely to detect factors such as undercutting, and keeping rivals out by jointly coordinating behaviour between them, Stigler (1964). The distribution of brands and market shares varies both in time and across markets. Most firms are multi product firms which is why it is essential to bear in mind that there is a substantial number of products. Another important factor here is that firms may face elastic demands which arise from the consumers substitution of products in character reference segments.In addition, market transparency ensures that all coordinating oligopolists are aware of the changes in the evolving markets. In the HP-Compaq merger, there are several(prenominal) market features that pave way for coordination in the server industry and others that prevent it from occurring. Also, contenders like Dell and IBM did not try to stand in the way of the merger. According to Freidman (1971), the merger between HP and Compaq affects the incentive to cooperate, hitherto it actively decreases the firms incentives to coope rate in a strategic manner.Freidman also goes on to portray that his model does not take into account either the entry or exit of a product, nor uncertainty. The reduction of costs, and enrichment of revenues, growth of the industry, and need of product diversification are several reasons why mergers and acquisitions have become proliferate over the last decade or so. When analyzing the financial results of the HP-Compaq merger, it is important to look at the profitability and efficiency ratios of the companies in the pre-merger and post-merger stages.In order to maximize profit and decrease products, HP and Compaq understand and adjust to the incessantly shifting and changing markets, which technologies need acceleration, value creation for its consumers, and global development which serves as a shield against competitors like Dell and IBM. It is essential for a firm to understand its position in the industry curiously in a market that is virtuous with competition like the comp uter industry where competitors such as Dell, IBM, Toshiba, Sony, Vaio, are present.An organization must be able to rank the factors that have an effect on the firm such as its suppliers, consumers, and competitors. Those factors enable the industry to know how to maintain itself in such a marketplace in order to be in a win-win situation. ace of the benefits that resulted from the HP-Compaq merger is the following. Both firms were in a no win situation price war with Dell. The merger resulted in Compaq and HP to stop competing with one another. In February 2001, Dell, the biggest competitor of HP-Compaq launched a campaign to become the largest competitor in the PC industry.In an take in charge to grab the market share, Dell announced and intentional undercut in its prices by 10%. Although some mergers produce marginal results or lead to the sinking of companies, HP and Compaqs merger created a new corporate culture. This helped the company focus its product development efforts. The company improved its position in a number of core markets. By completing the merger when they did, HP was able to position itself by fetching the extra leap ahead of trends that were working against the two companies when they existed as independent entities.In addition, its commitment to cultural change helped the merger go through a glassy transition, although HP took certain measures like step-down its workforce size, the change of 2 CEOs, and the reorganization of the managements structure. The HP-Compaq merger established what it had set out to. Its main aim was to provide the essential big bucks and ensure a long term-role in an industry that was undergoing a fundamental transition, according to Jean S. Bozman, research vice chair in IDCs world-wide Server Group.Furthermore, he added that this deal enabled the merged company to grow revenue and profits in an increasingly competitive marketplace. References Anon (2002) Investor relations- taking a fair share of the r esponsibility, Strategic Direction. Bradford Vol. 18, Iss. 8, pgs. 13-16. Ahles, Andrea (2002) Hewlett-Packard Executives imagine Its Company Is on Track to break Lasting Benefits, Knight Ridder Tribune Business News. chapiter Aug 28, pg. 1. Anon (2010) HP Hires Gail Galuppo to Lead Wordlwide strategy and Marketing for Imaging and Printing Group, Business Wire. New York.Brown, Meredith, Kubek, Gary (2002) Court Demands Proof of HP-Compaq voting buying International Financial righteousness Review, London Vol 21, Iss. 7 pg 25. Roy, Preeta Roy, Probir (2004) The Hewlett Packard- Compaq Computers Merger perceptiveness from the Resource-Based View and the Dynamic Capabilities Perspective, Journal of American Academy of Business, Cambridge. Hollywood Vol. 5, Iss. Pgs 7,8. Freidman J. (1971), A Non-cooperative rest for Supergames. Review of Economic Studies, 38, 1-12. Stigler, G. J. (1964) A conjecture of Oligopoly, Journal of Political Economy, 72, 44-61.Baker, J. P. and T. F. Br esnahan (1985). The Gains from Merger or Collusion in Product-Dierentiated Industries, Journal of Industrial Economics, 33, 427-444. Nevo, A. (2000a). Mergers with Dierentiated Products The Case of the Ready-to- eat Cereal effort, RAND Journal of Economics, 31, 3, 395-421. Foncel, J. and M. Invaldi (2001). Operating System Prices in the Home PC Market, mimeo, University of Toulouse. Bozman, J. S. (2006). HP-Compaq merger a success five years on IDC. URL http//www. itwire. com/it-industry-news/strategy/6879-hp-compaq-merger-a-success-five-years-on-idc