Saturday, December 28, 2019

Essay about Early Renaissance Art - 918 Words

Art has gone through many significant developments throughout history. The most important turning point was the renaissance. Art took a huge turn before the 1500’s and even after. The Renaissance has assisted the world of art in breaking away from a classic structure and shaping it to what it is day. Prior to this cultural rebirth, artworks were mostly not made to scale. Paintings were unrealistic and disproportionate. Religious figures seemed to be the focus of many works. The Renaissance changed the old social context of art by introducing humanism, new themes and techniques. The Renaissance was a time when people began to think and see things differently. It was a time for new innovations. People wanted to study the†¦show more content†¦These factors help explain why the Renaissance started in Italy. Renaissance patrons wanted art that expressed life’s pleasures and joy in human beauty. It needed to be more real. Art was finally taking its turn. The use of foreshortening to create depth within art was getting better. The surroundings in art were realistic. The studies of shadow and light began. Even shading to create depth was better. Statues expressed natural beauty. Artists began using new techniques such as frescoes. In the middle ages, the perspective was limited to some modeling figures. Lines drawn along the edges of the withdrawing planes would go to different points, which was done to give the viewer the sense of being in several different areas of the painting. However, in Europe, an attempt was finally being made to be realistically rendering space, which was not exactly perfected until the Renaissance. In the Renaissance, new techniques were invented such as One Point Perspective. It created a real sense of depth. Each of the planes going into the back of the space combined at one point corresponding to the eye of the viewer, just as it does in life. Renaissance art was more visually accurate due to the source of funding for the arts, revival of the Greco-Roman style, humanism and the invention of new artistic techniques. Humanism in visual arts was a huge influencer. Renaissance Humanism centred itself on Humanity’s potential forShow MoreRelatedThe Early Renaissance Art in Florence1597 Words   |  7 PagesThe early Renaissance art in Florence focused on an elaborate, Gothic style of painting; very formal and traditional, yet there was always something that seemed to be lacking. Perspective and depth were two very important qualities in painting, yet up until the time of young Masaccio, (born Tommaso Guidi), paintings were beautiful, but seemed to just be art that hung on the wall. In Masaccio’s work, â€Å"rather than recede in space, the figures seem to come forward† (Cole 120). He may not have knownRead MoreEarly Italian Renaissance Art Essay1475 Words   |  6 Pagesroots in Early Christian art due to the iconic roles that Christ and Mary play in the Christian religion (Dunkerton 37). The ‘Madonna and Child’ has had a place in many of the early p eriods and traditions of art. Religious themes were able to command such a strong presence in the history of art due to their role as devotional aides in churches and other religious buildings (Dunkerton 27). Religious art was well maintained by religious orders and churches, and many patrons throughout early historyRead MoreEarly Italian Renaissance Art: Florentine vs. Sienese Art2288 Words   |  10 Pagesreligion brought about an increase in the production of art. The creation of artworks became an esteemed industry, and artists gained more respect in the eyes of Italian citizens. Typically, most of the art that was produced was religious in nature, and was seen as a mechanism for visually representing faith in a more tangible manner. During this dynamic period, artistic styles began to change as well. A transition from medieval, Byzantine art to a more naturalistic, humanistic style occurred in ItalyRead MoreThe Legacy Of John George Brown1323 Words   |  6 Pagesseems to be the all-encompassing feeling for both the creation and the popularity of his paintings. Since his name has faded from prominence, John George Brown has been labeled a neglected artist . He is often overlooked in the history of American art, despite the fact that he was when he died, considered one of the richest and most successful genre painters in the late nineteenth century. Additionally, he dedicated the majority of his life’s work to painting children, while making most of his livingRead MoreArt : Comparing Medieval Art to Renaissance Art1248 Words   |  5 PagesArt Appreciation Name: Chadwick West Instructor: xxxxxxxxxxxx Course: Art Appreciation, ART 137 School: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx December 19, 2012 Comparing Medieval Art to Renaissance Art Medieval art period Medieval art covers a large scope of time. The period covered over 1000 years of art in Europe, Middle East and North Africa. The period was characterized by major art movements based on national art and regional art. There was alsoRead MoreEarly Renaissance And The Renaissance1205 Words   |  5 PagesEarly Renaissance to High Renaissance The Renaissance is the period that immediately follows the Middle Ages in Europe ancient Rome and Greece. Growing prosperity and reduction in political stability accompanied by new technologies, the printing press, astronomy and the exploration and discovery of new continents was supplemented by a blossoming of philosophy, literature, and art. Painting style, decorative arts, and sculpture arose in Italy in the 14th century, reached its peak in the late 15thRead MoreEssay on Renaisssance versus Baroque Periods967 Words   |  4 PagesThe baroque and renaissance periods are two different periods. The renaissance period rolled into the baroque era. There were changes made over the years from the baroque to the renaissance period. Differences in style accumulated along with views of art and music. Baroque era covers the period between 1600 and 1750 beginning with Monte Verdi (birth of opera) and ended with deaths of Bach and Handel. The term baroque music is borrowed from the art history. It follows the Renaissance era (1400-1600)Read MoreArt in the Middle Ages and The Renaissance and Its Effect in Society1017 Words   |  5 Pagesthe period of time between the demise of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance era; this was the period from the 5th century to the 17th century in Europe. During this time, society conformed to the feudal system which was based on the hierarchy approach which upper class had control over the lower class. Included in this class structure were kings, lords, neighboring kings, peasants and church leaders. In the Middle Ages, art evolves as humans continue addressing the traditional and the new,Read MoreComparison/Contrast Renaisssance and Baroque Essay967 Words   |  4 PagesThe baroque and renaissance periods are two different periods. The renaissance period rolled into the baroque era. There were changes made over the years from the baroque to the renaissance period. Differences in style accumulated along with views of art and music. Baroque era covers the period between 1600 and 1750 beginning with Monte Verdi (birth of opera) and ended with deaths of Bach and Handel. The term baroque music is borrowed from the art history. It follows the Renaissance era (1400-1600)Read MoreRenaissance And The Italian Renaissance1396 Words   |  6 PagesThe Italian Renaissance had two distinct periods during its lifetime. The first being the â€Å"Early Renaissance†, which took place between the late 13th and the early 14th centuries. The second period was known as the â€Å"High Renaissance†, which took place during the 15th and 16th centuries. These two periods had very distinct foundations and styles behind the art and architecture of their respective periods. The Early Renaissance revived many old themes which later became the foundations for the High

Friday, December 20, 2019

The Pursuit Of The American Identity Essay - 2170 Words

Although through the trial and hardships, from 1492 to 1877 the core of the American identity, the frontier had a constant presence through the years, but through the founding of Jamestown and Plymouth, the American Revolution, Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Franklin’s virtues, letters, Abolitionist, such as William Garrison, Fredrick Douglas, and the civil war, the definition of American identity as the ‘frontier’, grew and developed into something that defines what it means to be an American. The American identity started to develop in 1492 when Columbus set sail west under Spanish authority to find a new, faster route to Asia, the indies, where the riches of gold, pearls, and spice awaited. He ended up founding a vast new land full of opportunity. In April 26, 1607, three small ships carrying colonists from England settled out of Cape Henry, in a small town they soon called Jamestown, as an opportunity for a new life. The first settlers who arrived on the east coast in the 17th century acted and thought like Europeans. They adapted to the new physical, economic, and political environment in certain ways eventually, as they became their own. The land quickly turned out to be unfriendly, brutal, and unforgiving, with harsh winters and intense heat that had taken a toll on the unprepared colonists and settlers by surprise, causing the death of most of the original population. But through the determination of building a successful settlement in the new worldShow MoreRelatedEasy Rider: a Pursuit of American Identity1359 Words   |  6 PagesEasy Rider: An Epic journey into the unknown For the American dream Easy Rider is the late 1960s road film tale of a search for freedom (or the illusion of freedom) and an identity in America, in the midst of paranoia, bigotry and violence. The story, of filmmakers Fonda/Hopper creation, centers around the self-styled, counter-cultured, neo-frontiersmen of the painfully fashionable late 60s. As for the meaning of Easy rider, Peter Fonda (Wyatt) said in an interview with Rolling Stone magazineRead MoreAmerica Is A Nation That Created By Settlers And Immigrants948 Words   |  4 PagesBeing an American is different from being a citizen of any other country for numerous reasons. America is a nation that was created by settlers and immigrants; it boasts an inherently diverse assemblage of citizens, unlike many other countries in the world. It’s a country that was built by people with a distinct set of values that honor an individual’s â€Å"God-given† rights; a set of values that further shaped how the world came to understand and view humanity. Admittedly, what I’ve come to learnRead MoreRacial Identity And Ethnicity Identity1626 Words   |  7 Pageswhen I realized my identity of how I saw myself and how others saw me when I was a child. I examined my identity by my gender identity, racial identity, and my ethnicity identity. I describe my earliest memory of realizing my gender identity by remembering when I realized I was a woman. I discuss how I became to learn about my racial identity and ethnicity identity by going to school with various people. I then describe how the aspects of my gender identity and racial identity did and did not influenceRead MoreThe Reluctant Fundamentalist773 Words   |  4 Pages The novel â€Å"The Reluctant Fundamentalist† is written by Mohsin Hamid and was published in 2007. Our main character, Changez, struggles to find his identity between being an American or Pakistani through certain events in his life. The main character, Changez makes his home in the prestigious world of New York City with a respected American identity. At the beginning of the novel, Changez describes his new life in America as coming home and as a place of possibilities and vibrancy. During a seriesRead MorePersonal Identity Essay1023 Words   |  5 PagesTo be an American is to have traits of freedom the thing that the founding fathers counted on is to have the will to speak freely and to have the will of religion in the constitution it say that every citizen should have life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This impacts and brings everyone from different places to help create a society that is free. The founding fathers also counted for the people to speak for what is right. The reason is because this helps out on what the people want insteadRead MoreRelationships And Culture Of Early 19th Century America And Their Ramifications1526 Words   |  7 PagesLong Essay: Relationships of Vulnerable Groups to t he Identity and Culture of Early 19th-Century America and their Ramifications Back in the early 1800s, the United States of America had been a country associated with the promise of liberty, autonomy from tyrannical rule, and the unalienable rights specified in the formative Declaration of Independence - life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. As a consequence of the formation of the country and its promises, several diverse groups had flockedRead MoreDoes Crime Pay: A Criminal Pursuit of the American Dream1523 Words   |  6 PagesDoes Crime Pay: A Criminal Pursuit of the American Dream American society places value on individual success. While becoming rich is revered and seen as a sign of prestige, the method in attaining wealth is not closely scrutinized. Many people are content playing the game safely, working long and hard aspiring to attain wealth through their own work. Whatever they cannot attain in their lifetime they leave to their children to aspire to. They are content moving up this game of life one step atRead MoreThe Rise And Fall Of The American Dream1643 Words   |  7 Pages2015 The Rise and Fall of the American Dream United States writer and historian, James Truslow Adams, once defined the American Dream as a life â€Å"better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement,† regardless of social class or circumstances of birth. Both The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Invisible Man, by Ralph Ellison, tell the story of a man and his experiences as he embarks on his pursuit of the American Dream. However, as the novelsRead MoreArthur Miller s Death Of A Salesman1027 Words   |  5 PagesThe Death of a Salesman. Biff is initially a victim of Willy’s continual harassment to make more money and find a better career. In this family unit, Biff must endure the unrealistic and fantasy-based elusions of his father in his fanatical pursuit of the American Dream. However, Biff soon learns of Willy’s extra-marital betrayal to his mother, which allows him to experience an epiphany against the self-deception of his father’ s abusive fantasy world. Biffs’ tragic role in this family is found in theRead MoreEssay on Song of Solomon: A Bildungsroman of Milkman 1092 Words   |  5 Pagesdiscovering his individual identity. In an essay titled Call and Response, Marilyn Sanders Mobley notes that â€Å"What Song of Solomon does ultimately is suggest that a viable sense of African American identity comes from responding to alternative constructions of self and community other that those received from mainstream American culture† (Smith 42). This viewpoint of discovering one’s identity in community is expressed in Song of Solomon and is expressed in other African-American literature including The

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Smoking is the most important single preventable c Essay Example For Students

Smoking is the most important single preventable c Essay ause of illness and premature death in North America. In the United States alone, more than 500,000 deaths are attributed to tobacco use each year. This exceeds the total number of American lives lost in all of the wars fought since the country was founded. In 1962 the Royal College of Physicians of London had released a significant study, which concluded: Cigarette smoking is a cause of lung cancer and bronchitis and various other diseases. Cigarette smoking and second hand smoke can cause many different diseases and complications. Another major issue is underage smokers, and the fact that smoking is easy to start and hard to quit. The only sure way to never get hooked or fall into this trap is to never start smoking. Smoking can cause numerous diseases, such as lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and coronary heart disease. These three are the major causes of death for smokers. It also causes cancer of the lip and mouth, emphysema, cancer of the larynx, oral cavity and esophagus; about one third of all cancers of the bladder, kidney, and pancreas are attributed to smoking as well. Lung cancer has become the leading killer among cancers in the United States. More than eight of every ten cases of lung cancer are caused by smoking, and nine out of every ten victims die within five years. Emphysema is a progressive respiratory disease characterized by coughing, shortness of breath, and wheezing, developing into extreme difficulty in breathing, and sometimes resulting in disability and death. In recent years, emphysema has become a serious public health problem. Second hand smoke is also a serious problem. It contributes to thousands of cases of lung cancer and heart disease in nonsmokers. More than one hundred studies say second hand smoke can increase risks for multiple health problems. It causes burning, itching, and tearing of eyes, headaches, sore throats, coughs, and hoarseness. Infants under age one whose mothers smoke have twice as many lung infections as infants of nonsmoking mothers. Three studies published in 1981 have suggested that nonsmoking wives of smoking husbands experience an increased risk of lung cancer, and other studies have found increased illness in nonsmoking children of smoking parents. Its estimated that from 37,000 to 40,000 people die from heart and blood vessel disease caused by other peoples smoke each year. Underage smoking has also become a major problem recently. The Federal Office on Smoking and Health estimates that 3,000 young people begin smoking every day. The Department of Health and Human Services estimates the ninety percent begin tobacco use before age twenty; fifty percent of smokers begin tobacco use by age fourteen; and twenty-five percent begin their smoking addiction by age twelve (the sixth grade). Many young people begin smoking as an act of rebellion and independence. Many things have been done to try to prevent tobacco use by children and youth. The National Center for Tobacco-Free Kids is an independent, inclusive organization that works to prevent tobacco use by youth. The Center works in partnership with the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Medical Association, The National Parent Teachers Association, American Lung Association, and one hundred other health, civic, corporate, youth, and religious organizations. Many people will agree that smoking is easy to start and hard to quit. Many smokers needed several attempts at quitting before successfully quitting. More than 30 million people in the United States say they would like to quit smoking, but cannot. One hypothesis to explain this problem is that the smoker craves the effect of the nicotine in the smoke. .u61cb5971a08793425f9535dd274c1241 , .u61cb5971a08793425f9535dd274c1241 .postImageUrl , .u61cb5971a08793425f9535dd274c1241 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u61cb5971a08793425f9535dd274c1241 , .u61cb5971a08793425f9535dd274c1241:hover , .u61cb5971a08793425f9535dd274c1241:visited , .u61cb5971a08793425f9535dd274c1241:active { border:0!important; } .u61cb5971a08793425f9535dd274c1241 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u61cb5971a08793425f9535dd274c1241 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u61cb5971a08793425f9535dd274c1241:active , .u61cb5971a08793425f9535dd274c1241:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u61cb5971a08793425f9535dd274c1241 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u61cb5971a08793425f9535dd274c1241 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u61cb5971a08793425f9535dd274c1241 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u61cb5971a08793425f9535dd274c1241 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u61cb5971a08793425f9535dd274c1241:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u61cb5971a08793425f9535dd274c1241 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u61cb5971a08793425f9535dd274c1241 .u61cb5971a08793425f9535dd274c1241-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u61cb5971a08793425f9535dd274c1241:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Sound Of Ghostface Killah Shattering Preconceived Notions Of Art And The Modern Aesthetic EssayMany programs exist to help smokers quit. Some involve support groups, where some use aversive techniques in which the participant smokes many cigarettes rapidly to the point of becoming sick of them. There are many other ways to help people to stop smoking. To never have smoked tobacco means that a person will probably miss out on all of these wonderful experiences. He will not get emphysema, lung cancer, or heart disease, and he will not have to worry about the hard process of trying to quit. Underage smokers will still be an issue, and so will second hand smoke, but he could be part of the solution instead of part of the problem.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Much Ado about nothing Essay Example For Students

Much Ado about nothing Essay Venomously Don John spreads this fraudulent information: â€Å"The lady is disloyal. The word is too good to paint out her wickedness, I could say she were worse, think you of a worse title, and I will fit her to it: go but with me tonight, you shall see her chamber window entered, even the night before her wedding day: if you love her, then tomorrow wed her: but it would better fit your honour to change your mind†. Interestingly Claudio, without a word to the woman he supposedly has lost his heart to, accepts the word of the bastard Don John and falsely believes that what he is seeing is the truth. Without hesitation he makes the decision to denunciate and publicly humiliate his intended bride Hero at the altar on their wedding day just hours later. Ironically it is also gossip which resolves this tragedy and restores Messina back to its frivolous, lively and superficial lifestyle. Borachio and his accomplice are caught gossiping about their role in the deception of Claudio by the two incompetent watchmen, Verges and Dogberry, which leads to the arrest of the criminals and sees Hero’s innocence restored. Thus we can conclude that gossip in â€Å"â€Å"Much Ado About Nothing†Ã¢â‚¬  has multiple consequences ranging from the happy to the catastrophic. Gossip not only has the power to create conflict but also the power to resolve it. So how does this answer the question as to whether gossip is good or bad? Gossip depends on who is gossiping and for what reason. It has the power to heal and the power to destroy. As Timothy Hallet once said â€Å"A lot of it depends on perspective. If you are on the receiving end, gossip can feel malicious and exclusionary but idle talk can also be a valuable weapon† These prophetic words are epitomised by the disgrace and shame Hero felt when she was wrongly accused on her wedding day and the enormous pleasure it gave Don John to watch his clever manipulation of gossip strip Claudio of his honour, which proves that gossip can only be judged when we analyse its effect. Let us assume for a moment that Hero actually had acted unfaithfully. Now it would be fair to say that gossip would be a very valuable tool in this situation, because Hero would not be able to hide her actions as people would know that she was not chaste and Claudio would be saved from the humiliation of marrying a ‘stale, a wanton’. There is no denying that gossip is a powerful weapon which moves in silent ways and can define for people the accepted limits that society imposes on personal behaviour, without any direct confrontation. Thus gossip can be interpreted as a positive thing because it has the power to change and alter human behaviour. This example also illustrates the subjective nature of gossip and proves that gossip generally has both a positive and a negative effect on its participants. Usually the gossiper is enjoying the experience and the gossiped about is squirming, feeling humiliated and belittled. In â€Å"â€Å"Much Ado About Nothing†Ã¢â‚¬  characters use gossip as a mask for the truth, a disguise for reality and a camouflage to protect their insecurities. Gossip is their way of avoiding a confrontation over the serious question of love and gossip helps maintain the merry atmosphere ever present on Messinas surface, whilst the mistrust underneath its surface threatens to destroy it. Gossiping provides an alternate pathway for expressing opinions that could be seen as unacceptable. In â€Å"â€Å"Much Ado About Nothing†Ã¢â‚¬  the people of Messina use gossip as a way to force Beatrice and Benedick to admit they love each other. The fact is that these two individuals are in an ongoing, contentious battle and bluntly refuse to acknowledge any inklings of feelings for each other. Poetic Terminology EssayHere Shakespeare cleverly aligns both Claudio and Leonato to represent the male viewpoint and the code of honour that they held so dearly. Ironically Claudio is in no way held to the same pre-marital expectations of honour as Hero is because noble or well to do families were greatly concerned with the chastity of their woman, who became their kin through marriage and premarital relationships on the woman’s part were considered immoral because it was feared that impure blood would be introduced into the family bloodline, which could then lead to disputes over inheritance claims, and power struggles and disgrace as the inevitable consequence. Thus the way virginity was prized in their woman did not transfer to the male code of conduct and male virginity was never a pre-requisite for marriage. So it is easy to see that â€Å"â€Å"Much Ado About Nothing†Ã¢â‚¬  is centrally interested in the code of honour by which rule can be maintained. While for women honour lay in her chastity, for men honour depended on male friendships, alliances and was more military in nature. Unlike women, a man could defend his honour and that of his families by fighting in battle. This code of honour that we see in â€Å"â€Å"Much Ado About Nothing†Ã¢â‚¬  had sprung from an earlier feudal code, and was a European phenomenon. This code of honour lay, often uncomfortably, alongside the new legal and religious codes, which were also used to consolidate the monarchs in their absolute power. It defined the conditions of membership of the community and honour and its central moral imperative remained what it had always been, the need to be true to ones word. A man was as good as his word. To keep faith meant continuing allegiance to the code of honour, whereas to break it brought shame and banishment. Thus the customs of the code of honour were maintained chiefly by the conventions of society. However these conventions and the code of honour have rapidly changed over the decades. The perception of honour in our generation today has changed dramatically. Families today do not rely upon chaste behaviour to bring them power and position in society and although it may be considered immoral by some to loose their virginity before marriage, the majority of the population find it socially acceptable to have sexual relations before marriage. Honour for men has not changed quite so significantly and honour for men today is still very similar. Forming strong bonds, friendships and alliances between other males is the norm. However the scale and strength at which this occurs has decreased dramatically, because not as many men go to war which is were the most binding of these bonds is formed. These days it seems that these kinds of male bonds are formed on the sports field rather than on the battlefield, causing male honour to be on a backwards slide. The trend we now see in the twenty first century is that honour is no longer as important to us as it was in the 1600’s and this underpins many of society’s problems. Although the code of honour which bound the characters of â€Å"â€Å"Much Ado About Nothing†Ã¢â‚¬  to the conventions of society and confined most of civilization in the 1600’s to live within its constraints was restrictive and oppressive, this code of conduct, defining as it did a person’s worth, ensured that there was a social responsibility concerning people’s behaviour which is all too often missing in today’s ‘me’ generation.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Boston Tea Party Essays - British East India Company,

Boston Tea Party The Boston Tea Party was the key-event for the Revolutionary War. With this act, the colonists started the violent part of the revolution. It was the first try of the colonists, to rebel with violence against their own government. The following events were created by the snowball effect. There, all the colonists realized the first time, which they were treated wrong by the British government. It was an important step towards the independence dream, which was resting in the head of each colonist. They all flew from their mother country to start a new life in a new world, but the British government didn't gine them the possibility by controlling them. The events leading to the Boston Tea Party began already ten years before (1763), when the English won the French-and-Indian War. The king of Britain passed taxes on the colonies to make up for the loss of money because of the war. He did it in a line of acts, called the Sugar Act (tax to protect and secure the colonists) and the Stamp Act ( tax on all licences, newspapers and business papers ). The colonists reacted with protests against those acts, what made the British Parliament to repeal the taxes within 5 months. Then they (the government) passed taxes on lead, paint, paper and tea. These acts were called the Townshed Duties, but the colonists called them the "Insidious Acts". Mass meetings were held and people tried to influence others not to buy English imported goods anymore. In the end the parliament removed all the taxes except for tea. Actually the colonists easily didn't want to accept, to pay taxes to a government, they don't really belong to anymore. Although this tax on the tea cost a colonial family just pennies a year. Sam Adams, a kind of leader of the colonists, figured out, that the tax could be raised or lowered by the parliament at will. (Sam Adams: "The power to tax is the power to destroy!" ).He also pointed out, that the colonists had no representation in the Parliament, and that they can't be taxed without having a representation in there, to care for their interests and wills. However, most people drank tea smuggled in from the Netherlands, so they didn't care very much whether the parliament raises or lowers the taxes. When the East India Tea company realized, that the colonists were drinking cheap, smuggled tea, the Parliament gave them ( the company ) the monopoly to export tea without paying duties. That way the tea could be much cheaper than the holland tea, even with the taxes. This act was called the Tea Act, which was of great importance for the following Boston Tea Party. The colonists reacted to this act by holding meetings to discuss it. Supporter of the revolution (just to name some of them: John Adams, John Hancock, Dr. Joseph Warren) wrote letters of protest to the government's officials, but they didn't achieve anything. The tea ships arriving in Boston still had to pay the full British tax. In September, 1773, a radical group of colonists found out, that three East India tea cargo ships, laden full with tea, were heading for Boston under full sail. They knew, that if the ships got unloaded and the tax would be paid, it would be a crushing defeat. The same radical group wanted to make the agents of the East India Company resign from their job in front of a big crowd, but this part didn't work. Over the following weeks speeches in form of propaganda were made, to get all colonists informed about the events. People even quitted drinking tea (what they did for their whole life ) and started drinking coffee. The actual event On November 18th, 1773, the ships arrived. Pamphlets were posted to arrange a meeting between the citizens and the governor ( Hutchison ), called the "Committee of Correspondence". They wanted him to call the ships back to Britain. When he didn't agree, a bunch of men, disguised as Indians, went and stormed towards the harbor, planning to throw the tea into the bay. They divided in three groups, each of them with one leader. After they made the captain and his crew getting down below, they grabbed all the boxes of tea, opened them and threw them overboard. Even some members of the crew helped them to destroy the tea. A big crowed was created in the harbor, some of them even tried to steal some tea. Altogether they destroyed 340 chests. At

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Recovery-watch - Emphasis

Recovery-watch Recovery-watch Last month we announced the launch of our index tracking the use of the words green shoots and recovery in the newspapers. So where are the press putting us now? Junes references to recovery actually topped Mays (1323 compared to 1185), while green shoots held steady. Merely counting these key words wont give you the entire story, of course. The articles focuses have largely switched, from the general publics need to put faith into the markets and their restoration to the Governments failure to do what they must. The push for positive attitudes is making way for renewed caution and uncertainty, though the Independent (arguably the most optimistic paper) whisper[s] about forecasts of mild global recovery in 2010. In fact, according to the Times, optimism itself may now be a taboo word (and attitude) for public figures to admit to. The paper reminded us early this month about the derision faced by Treasury Minister Baroness Vadera for claiming she believed green shoots were visible back in January. (To be fair though, she walked straight into a trap laid by Sky News, who fed her the term and asked her to respond.) This might go some way towards explaining the Governments cautious attitude of late.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Baroque and Rococo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Baroque and Rococo - Essay Example It is typified by bold, curving forms and elaborate decoration and ornamentation. Rococo is an architectural design characterized by simplicity, the variant colour shade, frivolity and freedom of brushwork. The rococo architecture style is characterized by elaborate curves and scrolls, intricate patterns, delicate details, ornaments, asymmetrical shapes and light colours. Although, and pride of the owner they differ in some aspects, these two styles share some similarities. The baroque and rococo were two stylistic periods that conveyed tow entirely different sensibilities; while one was heavy-handed and complex, the other conveyed simplicity and fanciness and pride of the owner. Thus, the difference between the two styles can be summed up in terms of function, mood and method or design. Architectural style involves some collective aspects that distinguish a building from the rest of the architecture. These details transform an ordinary building to a unique piece of art that is satis factory to the eye. Baroque and rococo were developed at a time when customers demanded luxury design that was magnificent. It would glorify their power and pride of the owner. Thus, was preferred by nobles, monarchs and churches. Both styles attempt to reveal and arouse highly emotional effects in their designs. Baroque designs are magnificent and appealing and appear amazing as do rococo designs. They excite all primarily due to their luxury and outlook of their ample space and imposing dà ©cor.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Review the theoretical relationship between market structure and bank Coursework

Review the theoretical relationship between market structure and bank performance - Coursework Example The relationship between the structure of the market and performance of the bank exists due to various reasons. For instance, there is the advice that company executives (specifically, the chief executive officers) acquaint the government and bank officials. Such advice is vital for establishing better pricing strategies and focusing on the income within a certain period. It is vital for the Chief Executive Officer’s undertake their usual duties considering the relation established between the market and performance of the bank. The main concern of this paper is to portray the relationship between the market structure and bank performance. Theoretical relationship between market structure and bank performance Market structure is a commonly used marketing term that gives a description of the level of competition that various business organizations lie under. There are two named variables of the market structure responsible for ascertaining a good relation between banks and mark et structures. To begin with, there is market awareness, used when measuring the assets of the banks in relation to the liabilities (Gelos & Roldos 2004, p. 41). They help ensure that the liabilities do not outweigh the assets. This is significant as it helps maintain the profits and financial statement of the banks. Market share is the second variable and acts as an element measuring the deposit of banks within certain periods. The performance of the bank brings about accomplishing banking activities, which are necessary especially when bank executives aim at creating better relations with the outside market. Since long time, people have had the urge to acquire more knowledge on operating business entities. They have also had concerns about the relationship between their businesses and the government. This is evident through the collapse of the privatised banks in Mexico (Graf 2013, p. 165). Top most leaders in any business industry should aim at ensuring that their businesses oper ate smoothly without much loss on the finance department. This is necessary in enhancing the relationship between them and banks. This is due the fact that hindering losses denotes a business operating in a situation where the activities generate more profits, necessary to be deposited in the banks. Individuals dealing with banking operations need to evaluate the performance of the activities undertaken within and outside the bank. Scrutiny of the external and internal banking factors is necessary. This is because it enables executive employees of a particular bank to acquire vital knowledge about overall bank performance. The relationship may also exist through an assessment the operations of business industries. This is crucial especially in a case where the executives demand to know what other businesses contribute to the banking sector. Effects of market structures on bank performance The existence of a good relationship between market structure and banks is an essential element in setting strategies for dealing with the action involving the setting of prices. The relationship has resulted in positive effects on banks. For instance, well-established market structures play the role of increasing finance due to the reason that the individuals operate through to accomplish set objectives. This then leads to an increase in bank finance as the business partners have to increase general savings. The reason why banks opt to relate to

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Pre-Negotiation Planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Pre-Negotiation Planning - Essay Example If I can't meet the deal with IAAPA, I will find the second-hand machines from the Chinese exhibition that is going to be held the next month after IAAPA exhibition. Nevertheless, attending the Chinese exhibition, I need to inspect the machine carefully if I want to purchase the machines from the Chinese exhibition. It is because the second-hand machines are vulnerable.This is the long-term relationship because IAAPA is an annual event. It is held every year and we frequently buy previous gaming machines from them. So I will try to make a deal with them since it is going to have a positive impact on Mr. Games and IAAPA relationship, but I still need to consider the cost of the machines. If it is too high then I will politely reject their offer, but I still need to maintain the relationships.Possible conflicts:- IAAPA sets up a price more than $150,000, it is because this machine is highly demanded by gamers around the world, so they will not sell this machine for the cheap price. - W e are not going to meet at our target price, and we are having conflict to meet our target price.- As a marketing chair of the Mr.Games Company, I am having a responsibility to give the rational answer on why we are purchasing their product, or why we are not meet the deal. I will tell them that IAAPA has a good standard, and the quality of the gaming machines so we will be satisfied if we can reach deal with them. Mr.Games is going to have 10 additional Maximum Tunes for their arcades gaming station. We also are going to tell IAAPA where we are going to purchase the products if we are not meet a deal with them. I believe by being open for both sides we are going to maintain the trust. It is going to be not ethical, if finally they know we are not buying the machines from them because the price is too high, and buy from Chinese dealers instead. *QUESTIONS Is there any discount for buying 10 gaming machines? How does the maintenance of the Maximum Tune 3? *OFFERS -Anchor 10 Maximum T une 3 for $ 155,000 -Re-anchor We are Mr. Games company, a loyal customer since 1994. We have bought a lot of gaming machines from IAAPA. I hope that this can be a consideration to get a cheaper price, and we will purchase 10 gaming machines directly. Furthermore, we always provide the payment on time, and pay the whole sum in cash. We will not take a credit to pay for the Maximum Tune 3 gaming machines. *Priorities on purchasing gaming machines (based on cost) 10 Gaming Machines with cheap price *The end of meeting As the ending, I should thank them for their time. No matter reaching a deal or not I should thank

Friday, November 15, 2019

Influence of culture on fashion

Influence of culture on fashion â€Å"The more we learn about culture the greater our understanding of the future of global consumerism in Fashion.† Fashion industry is all about making fashion statements. The industry runs on the motto to be different, stylish, edgy as well as continuous changes in every season of every year. Fashion to customers is being different from the crowd or making a statement by using clothing and accessories that set them apart. Fashion industry is getting more expensive with passing time. In the United States, around 250 billion dollars is spent on fashion and accessories like bag, shoe, etc. (Anon., 2012) When fashion industry is concerned, culture is an integral part of it. Fashion and culture goes hand in hand. Our clothes are a source of non-verbal communication which send messages about who we are, where we come from, what we do and etc. Overall, fashion is a way of expressing ourselves through our clothing and accessories. People try to stay â€Å"in fashion† and they are mostly influenced by popular culture which is reflection of cultural forces as well as social factors. Global consumerism: Widespread use of the internet and communications are changing how and on what people spend their money. This phenomenon has led to emergence of the global citizens who participate in the global marketplace through multinational corporations offering brands which meet their ever changing needs. (Byrnes, 2007, p. 1) This combination of global culture and global connectivity can be defined as globalization. Globalization has created a market with no border and as a result culture is running free in this new era. Now a day, we can see Indian food in every city of the globe or people living in Western countries are wearing ethnic clothes. Consumption is an action that varies from culture to culture. (Byrnes, 2007, p. 2) The result of adopting consumption related values on a worldwide scale has been referred to as a ‘global consumer culture’. Global consumer culture is â€Å"shared sets of consumption-related symbols such as product categories, brands, and common consumption activities†. (Lee, 2006) Global fashion consumerism: The global fashion industry is growing and changing at an incredible rate. According to a study in 2010, Dubai was supposed to reach $655 billion in textile and apparel trade which is 6% of global exports. The data indicates how fashion is evolving in the era of globalization. UAE was the biggest market for Swiss watches in 2013 and had increased 23% year-on-year to $835 million. (Wyne, 2013) This data shows the shift it global fashion consumerism. Meaning, now the Middle East has started emerging as the fashion hub though New York and Paris are still considered as fashion cities of the world. This change has been possible because of UAE’s vast amount of disposable income and also the influence of western culture in the people’s mind. Cultural influence on fashion: It is important to know the influence of culture on fashion industry and to foresee cultural and social movements in order to comprehend the fashion environment. Fashion is not an isolated factor of clothing or accessories but it is connected to our life in every aspect and among them culture is the most significant. Fashion goes further than clothing and into the manner we desire to live our lives.Meaning, fashion influences our lifestyle. Fashion is influenced by cultural changes, such as modernization, art and even technological innovation. There is an apparent interaction of shifts in consumer lifestyle, fashion and culture.It is essential to realize that fashion is made by people living in different cultures and different locations. If we want to understand fashion and its trend then it is necessary to understand what surround us in terms of the way we live. It is our society and culture which is our surrounding and they are the ones which influence our lifestyle. Development of new fashions has mainly three sources in terms of culture. They are: High culture, low culture and pop culture. (Anon., 2010) 1. High culture means elite activities like visual art, auditory art, and applied art like photography, design and architecture. In terms of influencing fashion inspiration, these sources bring new types of ideas and concepts to the designers. How art impacts fashion can be seen in the Louis Vuitton partnership with quite a few contemporary artists, like Takeshi Murakami or Stephen Sprouse, who had embellished Louis Vuitton Monogram bags in the past. 2. Pop culture or popular culture, is a cultural segment, which is followed, appreciated and understood by a larger portion of the world audience. Usually it is highly influenced by movie or music celebrities. This type of culture is seen as a mercantile culture which is produced at a mass level for mass consumption.An example of how pop culture influences our lifestyle and our fashion can be seen by taking into account the most fashionable TV shows, like ‘Sex and the City’ and how everybody wanted to wear clothes like the central characters of the serial.With the progress of globalization, common trends of fashion are seen all around the globe (i.e. Levi’s jeans). 3. Low culture includes local street activities like graffiti or Hip Hop. The power of subculture to fashion can be seen clearly skateboard culture from the 70s to present day.It can be difficult to distinguish certain styles as subcultures because they are quickly (predominantly clothing and music) adopted by mass culture. For example, the Japanese Harajuko girls, who are teenagers, originally from Tokyo’s Harajuko district, who dress in a particular way. American singer Gwen Stefani named her 2005 world tour as well as her clothing line after these girls.In this way, a subculture or local culture has become a part of the global fashion and has been adopted by the global fashion market. (Anon., 2010) Macro and micro trends in fashion: Macro trends are drivers for 5-10 years whereas micro trends are drivers for 1-3 years. (Sheppard, 2014) Like most industries fashion industry is also shaped by macro and micro trends. Macro trend is a larger behavioral group and a micro trend is the mini fashion craze. Currently the micro trend is undoubtedly the skinny jeans, which is closely followed by leggings and footless tights. But a larger macro-trend for a while in the fashion has been ethical and environment friendly clothing and accessories. Trends come and go because of the impact of media in our lives. The hit US TV drama Mad Men, which is set in the early 1960s, has had a big influence on high street fashion. Actress Christina Hendricks has helped to bring back full skirts, longer hemlines, and cropped cardigans as well as almost single-handedly brought back the curvy fit in the fashion market. The micro trends are also changing because of the internet.(Anon., n.d.) Culture is made of factors like society, education, values, and norms and so on. Since, fashion deals with how we look and what we wear; it is largely influenced and controlled by culture. In the past, fashion was segmented and local culture influenced but with the emergence of globalization we are turning towards a more global fashion consumerism. This is why brands like Chanel, Burberry are seen in India, Thailand, and Dubai and so on. To understand the future of global fashion consumerism, we need to understand how people interpret fashion these days and whether they are influenced more by their own culture or popular culture. Though in countries like India, local culture plays a bigger influence on consumerism but still common people are seen wearing trendy clothes matching current global fashion. This shows the cultural difference among the people in the country. Thus, understanding the culture is very important for global fashion consumerism. Bibliography Anon., 2010. Cultural influences on trend forecasting. [Online] Available at: http://www.intothefashion.com/2010/01/cultural-influences-on-trend.html [Accessed 22 February 2015]. Anon., 2012. Fashion and Consumerism. [Online] Available at: http://fashionormassconsumerism.blogspot.com/ [Accessed 21 February 2015]. Anon., n.d. BUDGET STYLE TIPS: FASHION CYCLES. [Online] Available at: http://www.bargainshopper.com.au/Fashion-cycles [Accessed 22 February 2015]. Byrnes, K., 2007. The Sharing of Culture: Global Consumerism. UW-L Journal of Undergraduate Research. ght.com/tools/porters-five-forces.html Lee, J.-W., 2006. Young consumers peceptions of multinational firms and they acculturation channels towards western products in transition economies. International Journal of Emerging Markets. Sheppard, S., 2014. FORECASTING THE FUTURE. [Online] Available at: http://global-influences.com/interview/forecasting-the-future/ [Accessed 22 February 2015]. Wyne, H., 2013. Consumerism, affluence fan UAEs fashion flames. [Online] Available at: https://www.zawya.com/story/UAE_puts_shine_on_fashion-ZAWYA20131013094850/ [Accessed 21 February 2015].

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Angelic Overview :: social issues

Angelic Overview ANGELIC OVERVIEW: "Angels are spirits," proclaimed St. Augustine! St. Thomas Aquinas believed that angels were pure spirit, having no matter or mass, and taking up no space; but Thomas believed angels could assume bodies at will. The purpose of angels is the same as mankind: to love and serve the Lord. However, being that angels are not material beings, and possibly from a different dimension, they can serve the Lord in many different ways. Angels have far greater will and intellect than we have. Whereas mankind must sift through and experiment with natural laws, angels can grasp all natural laws with a single thought. Eventually we find that angels cannot work miracles per se, but they can perform many special effects that appear miraculous, such as protecting Daniel from the lions in Daniel 6. When angels appear to man, they usually appear with wings, but the wings are not the method of loco- motion. The angels seem to slip in and out of the fourth dimension; thus travel is more or less instantaneous. If you have access to a Catholic Bible (it MUST be Catholic), check out Daniel ch. 14, to read how the prophet Habakkuk was instantly carried, via angel, from Judea to Babylon, a distance of 600 miles. The primary general duty of angels is as messengers of God. (The word "angel" means messenger in Greek.) But angels can do God's chores, such as busting Peter out of jail in Acts 5, or destroying Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19. But some angels obey only the devil, and those angels are known as "demons", as is Satan himself. Satan had been an angel, but decided to do his own thing. Angels can see all aspects of a situation instantly, since they are so very wise. Angels, and the dimensions they live in, were apparently created before our visible world and universe. (The Bible tells us in Genesis ch.1-2 that mankind was created (or evolved) last.) The number of angels are countless. One reason they are count- less is that the Bible holds that each person who is or has lived, in the universe, has a guardian angel (Matthew 18:10). Additionally, some people who have died may have been transformed into lower angels. Many people witness "small miracles", and attribute them to God, when, in fact, angels may likely author the event. Speaking of miracles, some people believe that the reason more asteroids don't hit and damage planets is because each planet also has a guardian

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Competitor Analysis- Boeing

Competitor Analysis – Product These two companies Boeing and Airbus in the Aviation Industry, there have always been various airframe producers which were competing against each other. Throughout the years, two of them gained the majority of the market share. The American company Boeing has been the market leader for a very long period of time, until Airbus outturned them for the first time in 2002. In recent years, Airbus has put itself at the top of the aircraft-building world with the A380, the whale of a plane that is the largest passenger jet in the world.In year 2011 Boeing has introduced the 747-8 International, the revamped version of the class 747 it calls the â€Å"Queen of the Skies. † We broke down the numbers in categories, based on size, power, capacity, luxury, availability, and more to compare this two aircraft. By comparing the capacity, Boeing’s 747-8I has a maximum capacity of 467 passengers. The Airbus A380 usually holds around 500 passengers, but has room for as many as 853. The Boeing’s wing span is 224. 6 feet. The A380 spreads out over 261. 7 feet.The 747-8I is more than 250 feet long, the A380 measures 238 feet. In fact, the 747-8I is the world’s longest passenger aircraft. By comparing weight and power, the 737-8I can take off with a weight of 987,000 pounds, and produces 66,500 pounds of thrust, the A380’s maximum takeoff weight is 1,235,000 pounds, and it produces up to 70,000 pounds of thrust. That gives the 747-8I more power per pound. Boeing’s jet can go 11,443 miles in the air, for A380 can only do 9,756 miles. The difference mean the 747-9I can fly New York to Sydney without stopping, but the A380 cannot.Next, comparing the availability, so far, Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific, Korea Air, and a few other airlines have placed orders with Boeing. The A380 has been around longer, and is flown by Air France, Emirates, Qantas, Lufthansa, British Airways, Korea Air, Virgin Atlantic, and more. Because the A380 has been around longer, it's easier to get on board. About 1st class luxury, First class on a Lufthansa 747-8I includes a personal locker and an especially wide seat that goes fully flat for comfortable sleeping, in the other way Emirate's A380's first class includes two lounges, private suites, and a shower spa.For travelers looking for top of the line luxury, there are better choices offered by airlines flying the A380. By comparing the price, Boeing sells the â€Å"Queen of the Skies† for $351. 4 million. A new Airbus A380 is more expensive, at $389. 9 million. The Boeing 747-8I is new and the A380 has been in service for several years, which accounts for some of the differences. Boeing's jet has a lot going for it, especially the fact that it is the newer aircraft.But for those looking to get in the air today, the Airbus A380 is bigger, more luxurious, and more available. Competitor Analysis – Company Technology Airbus sought to compete with the w ell-established Boeing in the 1970s through its introduction of advanced technology. For example, the A300 made the most extensive use of composite materials yet seen in an aircraft of that era, and by automating the flight engineer's functions, was the first large commercial jet to have a two-man flight crew.In the 1980s Airbus was the first to introduce digital fly-by-wire controls into an airliner (the A320). With Airbus now an established competitor to Boeing, both companies use advanced technology to seek performance advantages in their products. For example, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is the first large airliner to use composites for most of its construction. Currency Boeing's production costs are mostly in United States dollars, whereas Airbus' production costs are mostly in euros.When the dollar appreciates against the euro the cost of producing a Boeing aircraft rises relatively to the cost of producing an Airbus aircraft, and conversely when the dollar falls relative to the euro it is an advantage for Boeing. There are also possible currency risks and benefits involved in the way aircraft are sold. Boeing typically prices its aircraft only in dollars, while Airbus, although pricing most aircraft sales in dollars, has been known to be more flexible and has priced some aircraft sales in Asia and the Middle East in multiple currencies.Depending on currency fluctuations between the acceptance of the order and the delivery of the aircraft this can result in an extra profit or extra expense — or, if Airbus has purchased insurance against such fluctuations, an additional cost regardless. Safety Both aircraft manufacturers have good safety records on recently manufactured aircraft. By convention, both companies tend to avoid safety comparisons when selling their aircraft to airlines. Most aircraft dominating the companies' current sales, the Boeing 737-NG and Airbus A320 families and both companies' wide-body offerings, have good safety records.Older m odel aircraft such as the Boeing 727, the original Boeing 737s and 747s, Airbus A300 and Airbus A310, which were respectively first flown during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, have had higher rates of fatal accidents. According to Airbus' John Leahy, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner battery problems will not cause customers to switch airplane supplier. Also, Boeing has recently re-designed the battery system for the Dreamliner so that it is impossible for it to catch fire. Flight testing is underway, and the 787 should soon return to flight.The world's safest commercial jetliner is the Boeing 777, with no fatalities. The A380 closely follows, but has made less flight so far, and has only been in service for a recent number of years. Outsourcing Because many of the world's airlines are wholly or partially government owned, aircraft procurement decisions are often taken according to political criteria in addition to commercial ones. Boeing and Airbus seek to exploit this by subcontracting prod uction of aircraft components or assemblies to manufacturers in countries of strategic importance in order to gain a competitive advantage.For example, Boeing has maintained longstanding relationships with Japanese suppliers including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries by which these companies have had increasing involvement on successive Boeing jet programs, a process which has helped Boeing achieve almost total dominance of the Japanese market for commercial jets. Outsourcing was extended on the 787 to the extent that Boeing's own involvement was reduced to little more than project management, design, assembly and test operation, outsourcing most of the actual manufacturing all around the world.Boeing has since stated that it â€Å"outsourced too much† and that future airplane projects will depend far more on its own engineering and production personnel. Partly because of its origins as a consortium of European companies, Airbus has had fewer opportun ities to outsource significant parts of its production beyond its own European plants. However, in 2009 Airbus opened an assembly plant in Tianjin, China for production of its A320 series airliners.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Research proposal and literature review The WritePass Journal

Research proposal and literature review Part 1: Introduction and Background Research proposal and literature review ). It can be indicated that the combination of talent management and knowledge management is beneficial for the operations present at companies (Aiman-Smith et al., 2006; Analoui, 2007). Talent management has been found useful to motivate employees to demonstrate their skills, as this would be possible through raising awareness about the importance of knowledge management. Different knowledge management concepts can be identified as directly related to talent management initiatives in organisations (Analoui, 2007). Such concepts are related to recognising the potential of knowledge employees, presenting adequate orientation to create and share knowledge as well as demonstrate activities pertaining to the retention of solid knowledge. For that reason, the purpose of the study is to demonstrate the relationship between talent management and knowledge management. This issue has been adequately explored in the literature in an attempt to find out essential aspects pertaining to each of the two concepts (Armstrong, 2007). Yet it is expected that the present study can provide significant insights into different methods and strategies that relate to using the advantages of talent management and knowledge management in practice (Ingham, 2006). Three main research questions are identified for the present study: Research Question 1: What is the relationship between talent management and knowledge management in the context of contemporary organisations? Research Question 2: How can knowledge management contribute to extending the impact of talent management initiatives across organisations? Research Question 3: How can organisations improve the aspect of learning among employees as well as empower them? Such research questions are considered helpful and thus will be covered in the study by providing adequate answers. Specific objectives are identified for the study: To assess and enhance the impact of both talent management and knowledge management initiatives across organisations; To determine employee contribution and attitude towards the functioning of the organisation and outline of specific strategic goals; To include a series of recommendations on how the relationship between talent management and knowledge management can be enhanced to achieve optimal results Part 2: Literature Review Introduction This section of the study outlines major points related to the connection between talent management and knowledge management as outlined in the literature. The introduction of knowledge management programs is found beneficial to develop and enhance mechanisms of talent management initiatives. This in turn will result in more empowered employees who tend to be more satisfied with their job and thus more productive in the long term. A substantial part of the literature review section refers to exploring the link between talent management and knowledge management. The emphasis is on the attitude demonstrated by employees regarding the combination of these two essential concepts of the HR field. The Link between Talent Management and Knowledge Management It has been argued that talent management is mostly associated with enhancing the potential of new employees as well as recruiting and retaining existing ones. In the process of retaining employees, the focus is on the most competent and qualified workers in the organisation. Other elements emphasised by talent management include educational and training opportunities, progression planning, and organisational expansion (De Wit and Meyer, 2005). The benefits of talent management have been recognised in the literature (Aiman-Smith et al., 2006). Such an activity is subject to control by the HR department. Researchers have focused on the optimal ways that can be used to expand the skills of their employees, which would be possible through the development of relevant strategic objectives (Analoui, 2007). Organisations should be adequately prepared to correspond to any changes or aspects of financial performance. The contribution of talented employees should be considered in the process o f organising adequate talent management and knowledge management initiatives. In addition, researchers have argued that the interrelation of knowledge management and talent management is mostly maintained for the accomplishment of particular strategic goals (Aiman-Smith et al., 2006). As a specific area in the HR field, talent management requires significant attention in order to utilise the optimal potential of employees in the workplace. On the other hand, knowledge management has been perceived as introducing regulatory mechanisms that can facilitate or motivate employees to achieve their full potential. This can be done through the creation, accumulation and application of solid knowledge mechanisms in the organisational context (Aiman-Smith et al., 2006; De Wit and Meyer, 2005). It has been identified that knowledge connection management is a specific field within the broad domain of knowledge management, as it has been considered such differentiation is important to expand the knowledge in modern organisations. The focus of employee performance has been emphasised in the literature especially in a direction of recruiting talented employees and advancing the possibilities of information technology (Evans et al., 2007). As a result, companies would be able to use and share knowledge in an efficient manner. The idea is to enhance organisational performance at all possible levels (Haesli and Boxall, 2005). The effective execution of talent management and knowledge management in organisations requires an adequately constructed process, which is related with the identification of talented employees, creating solid knowledge base, and sharing such knowledge efficiently. In addition, it is important to motivate employees to practice such knowledge in the best possible manner by demonstrating creativity and innovation. According to research, knowledge management mechanisms can be rather effective if they are combined with models of talent management and thus focused on the capabilities and structure of organisations (Green, 2000). It can be argued that knowledge management mostly relates to essential aspects of technology development and organisation, with the utmost goal to create adequate knowledge procedures across organisations. It is significant to note that successful knowledge management can be achieved if companies ensure efforts to combine these two areas of the HR field (Frank and Taylor, 2004). Knowledge management application can help organisations manage their knowledge base properly, while talent management application can reinforce the talent of employees and supervise them accordingly (Evans et al., 2007). In this context, it is important to differentiate some of the most viable knowledge management competencies to include dimensions of organisational behaviour, structure and empowerment of knowledgeable employees. Knowledge Management and Organisational Capabilities Knowledge management is a dynamic area of the HR field pertaining to the identification of essential capabilities and dimensions of organisational performance (Frank and Taylor, 2004; Green, 2000). The most relevant idea is to generate knowledge principles continuously, which would contribute to better functioning of organisations. The HR department is usually responsible for raising awareness regarding the importance of knowledge management and knowledge creation at all levels of the organisation (Evans et al., 2007). Therefore, it would be possible to identify knowledge management mechanisms as rather structured in nature as well as controlled by managers with the purpose to manage and control knowledge effectively. The process of accepting certain knowledge forms may be challenging, but the combination of knowledge management and talent management can significantly facilitate the performance of organisations (Evans et al., 2007). Knowledge management indicates the necessity to ens ure constant reinforcement of certain HRM activities. Researchers have argued about the importance of measuring the performance of each employee especially through feedback, which has been found effective not only for the organisation but also for the professional development of employees (Frank and Taylor, 2004). In terms of performance, it has become important to implement a relevant strategy and present a strong vision; hence, companies are expected to introduce clear strategic goals for future initiatives that can combine successfully talent management and knowledge management. As a result, this would improve both the external and internal capabilities of the organisation, as shown in the literature (Green, 2000). However, short-term and past-oriented financial pointers cannot become distinctive indicators that can appraise the overall company’s performance anymore. In this context, intangible assets such as knowledge management and talent management rather than tangible financial assets are a measure of a companys strategic value (Smart, 1999). As a result, knowledge management has emerged as a quite important branch of management in the sense of developing intangible asset monitor systems to evaluate performance indicators of the workforce as well as provide certain details about financial performance (Sewell, 2005). The intangible asset monitor is a system consisting of performance pointers that can link such intangible assets in a relevant manner. Moreover, the classification of intellectual capital has become a priority to many organisations in an attempt to enhance their internal structure and acceptance of certain criteria for employee performance, which may contribute to extensive growth (Frank and Taylor, 2004). For that reason, researchers have proposed the implementation of Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA) emerging as a strategic management parameter that includes both financial pointers and nonfinancial indicators (Green, 2000; Sewell, 2005). Such a strategic learning system is able to modify a particular business theory through the implementation of strict monitoring mechanisms. The goal is to assess an organisation’s knowledge management and talent management initiatives. At the same time, knowledge management emerges with significant objectives related to the improvement of all parameters of organisational knowledge, introduction of innovative mechanisms that support knowledge and motivation of employees (Evans et al., 2007). The combination of knowledge management and talent management activities is useful for enhancing organisations to achieve essential strategic objectives through a clearly defined path of possibilities (Redman and Wilkinson, 2006). Yet, it can be indicated that knowledge management has not significantly contributed to the actual organisational performance. Its combination with talent management activities has been found a preferable option to enhance organisational performance (Green, 2000). The cost-effective parameters of such a combination of activities should be considered as well. Researchers have indicated that the BCA can realistically measure knowledge management and talent management performance through the method of cost analysis (Nonaka, 1994). In this sense, knowledge management refers to an entire philosophy of training employees in order to enhance their collaboration and integration within the organisation. Therefore, researchers have suggested the method of knowledge management scorecard (KMSC) as a relevant way to evaluate performance through the lens of knowledge management (Evans et al., 2007). Effective Combination of Talent Management and Knowledge Management The conceptualisation of the link between talent management and knowledge management is required in order to expand the potential of employees to bring greater value to the organisation. Talent management has been found important in eliciting a sufficient amount of intellectual knowledge (Nonaka, 1994). In addition, the notion of talent management clearly adheres to the principles outlined by strategic management. It aims to strengthen the dimensions of knowledge in organisations through the identification and reinforcement of talented employees, as the leading point made in the literature is that once these employees have been recognised, they should be retained in the long term (Sewell, 2005). The concept of talent management also refers to the affective domain of the HR department especially in terms of facilitating a proper vision for emotional intelligence. Various examples can be also found in relation to how talent management and knowledge management can be adequately combined to create the south positive impact and retain qualified and experienced employees in the long run (Sewell, 2005). It appears that there are plenty of successful companies that have demonstrated their aim to combine these two branches of management in an effective way. For instance, Igus, which is a leading manufacturer of energy systems in Germany, is a clear example of such successful organisations (Igus Official Website, 2014). The company is noted for its commitment to arranging all aspects of management in a clear and efficient way by reinforcing the potential of employees so that they can contribute to optimal organisational performance. Conclusion It has been argued that the necessity of including both talent management and knowledge management in contemporary organisations can contribute to improved performance, productivity and adequate employer-employee relationships. The focus is on the formation and implementation of a clear HR strategy for organisations to operate in particular markets or industry sectors (Green, 2000). As illustrated in the literature review, the concept of combining talent management and knowledge management has been subject to extensive discussions among management scholars. It has been identified that both systems should be carefully considered upon the implementation of a particular organisational strategy. Scholars have focused on the necessity to direct the HR department in a proper direction by taking advantage of the strong aspects of both talent management and knowledge management (Evans et al., 2007). Yet, greater emphasis is put on exploring the effects of different knowledge management frame works that could further lead to the accomplishment of various strategic management goals. This literature review also emphasised that the combination of talent management and knowledge management initiatives is associated with rather positive effects on employee performance and productivity as well as job motivation.   The adoption of a positive attitude among employees is a clear sign of the effectiveness of the mentioned combination of management approaches. An extensive focus on the talent management and knowledge management initiative has been outlined in the research literature. Despite the usefulness of training and development programs, the mentioned initiative has been considered more important in relation to specifying long-term implications. In addition, different recommendations have been introduced of how to expand the positive effect of talent management and knowledge management activities in today’s organisations (Evans et al., 2007). The improvement of organisational control mechanisms has been extensively discussed in the literature. As a result, researchers have indicated the importance of extending employee learning and empowering them to succeed as professionals in a particular area of expertise (Green, 2000). Therefore, the presented literature review fulfilled the objective of enabling individuals to understand the complexity of the talent management and knowledge management initiative. Part 3: Research Methodology Prior to proposing the most viable research method to be used in this study, it is important to clarify that focusing on research philosophy is inseparable part of the entire research process. Quantitative research methodology is considered most appropriate to answer the presented research questions and achieve the stated objectives. In this way, the researcher needs to focus on collecting a substantial amount of numerical information that would be sufficient to explain particular research phenomena (Balnaves and Caputi, 2001). In terms of presenting a clear paradigm of research philosophy, the emphasis is on the use of positivist research philosophy, in the sense of providing an adequate explanation for human behavioural patterns from the perspective of cause and effect. The social environment has been identified as an optimal place to collect the information necessary for presenting research findings (Nonaka, 1994). Moreover, the possibility to achieve a high level of generalisabil ity of findings is a relevant way to ensure greater objectivity of the obtained information. to generalise the findings to the wider population. Advantages and Limitations of Quantitative Research Methodology The basic aspect underlying the specificity of quantitative method is its focus on retrieving sufficient numerical information, which would allow the researcher to conduct an in-depth statistical analysis (Balnaves and Caputi, 2001). The retrieval of quantitative data is statistically dominated and thus emerges with substantial accuracy considering that it is not open to various interpretations as in qualitative research design. One of the benefits of adopting quantitative research methodology is that it contributes to the easy collection of data, as it can be visually presented with charts and figures. Another benefit of this type of methodology is associated with the possibility to carry out a research at a large scale due to inclusion of extensive statistical details (Green, 2000). A disadvantage of the research method selected for this study is that it may represent a rather costly option compared to qualitative research design (Vogt, 2006). A second disadvantage of quantitative research methodology relates to changing numbers as a result of specific operations and calculations, as this may have a negative impact on the overall results obtained in the study (Nonaka, 1994). Sampling Procedure The sampling procedure used to construct a relevant sample of participants is random sampling, which refers to selecting individuals on a random principle (Balnaves and Caputi, 2001). There is a sense of unpredictability associated with this sampling procedure, as the intention of the researcher is to ensure optimal objectivity of results. It can be stated that all people from a particular segment have the equal chance to participate in the study. The simple technique pertaining to random sampling is the availability of random number tables, which serve a notification purpose in the sense of informing the researcher to select study subjects at a particular defined period and thus participants are generated on a random principle (Vogt, 2006). However, it should be noted that the use of randomisation devices may be also considered in this study, as it has been found to produce effective results in terms of avoiding bias in research (Maxim, 1999). The application of random sampling is a proper way to produce legitimate results as well as adequate findings and implications for long-term practice. It is important to indicate that the results obtained from randomly selected participants are perceived as credible and accurate and thus such a sampling technique should be preferred in the research process (Balnaves and Caputi, 2001). However, there is a significant challenge associated with the selected sampling technique. It obviously cannot include all representatives of the general population, which may result in the formation of sampling errors. There is an aspect of uncertainty, but this usually emerges with any method and thus the researcher should be prepared to address similar concerns (Maxim, 1999). In order to accomplish the research objectives outlined in this study, the researcher considers the formation of a sample that consists of 250 senior managers employed in a UK based financial institution. Validity The aspect of internal validity is important in research, as it relates to evaluating whether the study can assess what it was initially outlined. In addition, validity refers to determining whether the obtained results can be considered truthful. There is also an aspect of external validity, which is associated with achieving a high level of comprehensive research results in the sense that they find a broad application in various research settings (Vogt, 2006). Thus, it is assumed that the present study has an adequately high level of internal validity because of the lack of insufficient knowledge on the topic or improperly introduced arguments. However, it should be considered that data insufficiency may pose a significant risk to ensuring validity of data. It is important to avoid situations leading to the generation of low internal validity from research findings (Carmines and Zeller, 1980). In addition, certain instrumentation issues in relation to the data collection tool may c reate additional challenges in the process of ensuring internal validity. The possibility to generate invalid scores is also clear and similar situations should be apparently decreased in the organisational context. The issue of order unfairness is a concern which is also considered in the present study, as the focus is on the order of particular involvement conditions that should not be removed from the precise effect of those conditions (Carmines and Zeller, 1980). Other threats considered in the present research include particular errors in statistical analysis testing, improperly constructed correlations and the emergence of causal errors, which are most likely to appear in the data analysis process. In terms of exploring the dimensions of external validity, it is important to consider its important role in determining outcomes in quantitative research. External validity refers to drawing more general inferences in relation to the collection of data among participants. Specific time periods and settings are important in determining the study results, b ut there are problems in relation to external validity that should be adequately considered. The major problematic issue is related to survey population, which is followed by time and attempts to ensure a sufficient level of environmental validity (Balnaves and Caputi, 2001). In terms of testing survey population validity, the researcher is concerned with the idea of whether specific inferences can be obtained from a particular population segment. In case bias is demonstrated throughout the research process, it is clear that external validity is subjected to substantial threat. Furthermore, in case the sample size is considered insufficient or lacking characteristics of randomness, it may appear that the respective calculations are irrelevant. The process of achieving greater generalisation of results to the wider population may be problematic. The concept of time validity may emerge in order to demonstrate the degree to which obtained research findings can be comprehensive as related to other time periods (Carmines and Zeller, 1980). There may be certain changes occurring in the connection between variables, implying that the perceived level of time validity in this case would be rather low. The notion of environmental validity shows that the retrieved results can be comprehensive across a variety of settings. Despite the assumed high reliability and accuracy of the selected research methodology, it should be noted that achieving proper international generalisability may be a problem especially when it refers to small surveys and case studies (Carmines and Zeller, 1980). In conclusion, it can be argued that the notions of validity and reliability are more applicable to quantitative research than qualitative research. Part 4: Data Analysis The process of conducting an in-depth data analysis is fundamental to achieve the research objectives of the study. Considering that the proposed data collection tool is survey is important to implement statistical analysis, which is properly constructed. Yet, it should be considered that the researcher may provide various alternative ideas in terms of analysing the information obtained from research participants (Vogt, 2006). It is important to adhere to a properly constructed strategy of data analysis considering that extensive knowledge of working with survey data is essential throughout all stages of the data analysis process. There are different paths of analysis that can be followed by the researcher in this study, as the most important aspect is to recognise the specific audience and research objectives, and thus the implementation of an appropriate analysis tool to interpret the data would be possible (Maxim, 1999). The initial stage of data analysis is represented by Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA), which indicates that the researcher initially looks into the data set in order to determine specific categories that will be later grouped for analysis. It is a preliminary form of data analysis (Vogt, 2006), but the essential part of the process is to derive the main findings from the collected survey data. It is important to make sure at this stage that analysis files are adequately consistent with one another because the issue of data analysis inconsistencies may be quite problematic in the long term (Maxim, 1999). It is also important to mention that the survey results can be analysed with specific software applications, which are intended for similar purposes. Other basic aspects to be considered during the data analysis process include filtering, comparing and showing rules as well as using saved views of the data set. Once the researcher prepares a summary of the retrieved data, the next step would be to focus on individual responses and exporting charts. As mentioned in the research literature, the use of charts and figures significantly facilitates the visual presentation of the research findings (Vogt, 2006). References Aiman-Smith, L., Bergey, P., Cantwell, A. R., and Doran, M. (2006). ‘The Coming Knowledge and Capability Shortage’. Research-Technology Management, pp. 15-23. Analoui, F. (2007). Strategic Human Resource Management. London: Thomson Learning. Armstrong, M. (2007). A Handbook of Employee Reward Management and Practice. New York: Kogan Page. Arthur, D. (2012). Recruiting, Interviewing, Selecting Orienting New Employees. New York: AMACOM. Balnaves, M. and Caputi, P. (2001). Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods: An Investigative Approach. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publishing. Carmines, E. G. and Zeller, R. A. (1980). Reliability and Validity Assessment. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publishing. De Wit, B. and Meyer, R. (2005). Strategy Synthesis. London: Thomson Learning. Evans, W. R., Novicevic, M. M., and Davis, W. D. (2007). ‘Resource-Based Foundations of Strategic Human Resource Management: A Review and Extension’. International Journal of Learning and Intellectual Capital, vol. 4(1-2), pp. 75-91. Frank, F. D. and Taylor, C. R. (2004). ‘Talent Management: Trends That Will Shape the Future’. Human Resource Planning, vol. 27(1), pp. 33-41. Green, M. (2000). ‘Beware and Prepare: The Government Workforce of the Future’. Public Personnel Management, vol. 29(4), pp. 435-443. Haesli, A. and Boxall, P. (2005). ‘When Knowledge Management Meets HR Strategy: An Exploration of Personalization-Retention and Codification-Recruitment Configurations’.   International Journal of Human Resource Management, vol. 16(11), pp. 1955-1975. Igus Official Website (2014). About Igus [online]. Available at: igus.com/AboutIgus [Accessed on: 20 Oct. 2014]. Ingham, J. (2006). ‘Closing the Talent Management Gap’. Strategic HR Review, vol. 5(3), pp. 20-23. Maxim, P. S. (1999). Quantitative Research Methods in the Social Sciences. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Nonaka, I. (1994). ‘A Dynamic Theory of Organizational Knowledge Creation’. Organization Science, vol. 5(1), pp. 14-37. Redman, T. and Wilkinson, A. (2006). Contemporary Human Resource Management-Text and Cases. Harlow: Pearson Education. Sewell, G. (2005). ‘Nice Work? Rethinking Managerial Control in an Era of Knowledge Work’. Organization, vol. 12(5), pp. 685-704. Smart, B. D. (1999). Top Grading: How Leading Companies Win by Hiring, Coaching, and Keeping the Best People. Paramus: Prentice Hall Press. Vogt, W. P. (2006). Quantitative Research Methods for Professionals in Education and Other Fields. New York: Allyn Bacon.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Educational Reform Essays - Rodham Family, Bill Clinton, Free Essays

Educational Reform Essays - Rodham Family, Bill Clinton, Free Essays Educational Reform American Polling Choice Words: If You Cant Understand Our Poll Questions, Then How Can We Understand Your Answers? Core Issue Richard Morin writes about a problem plaguing polls across the nation. Morin states that many Americans polled do not understand the poll questions, yet they seem to always have an opinion on most questions poised. Supporting Ideas 1) When President Clinton was confronted with questions about his past actions with Monica Lewinsky, he created ambiguity within the questions. He misinterpreted the meaning of sex, and what it entails. 2) To create the most illustrating answers, several questions are asked; the answers should come out the same. This will prove how strong the polls should be supported. If few questions are asked, the standard error (margin of error) is extremely higher than that of more lengthy surveys. 3) There is also a language problem. How questions are written creates different results. By describing an event within a question may create a biased answer. They m ay also not be probing at the right question they had intended. Conclusions Morin states that all the attention brought to polls over the past year have greatly increased the polling process. The polls indicated early on how the public felt about Clinton, Clintons a good president but a man of ghastly character who can stay in the White House but stay away from my house, dont touch my daughter and dont pet the dog (Cannon, 290). The public stayed with the approval of the presidents policies and should have been paid more attention to. On the other hand, some feel that polls may never play

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Comparing and contrasting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Comparing and contrasting - Essay Example An even more distressing truth is, in most cases, those who seek to overthrow the government are just as corrupt as those they are trying to overthrow, if not more so. This turmoil and unrest has led to many stories being shared, via movie renditions and books. One such book that tells of a story of this unrest in Africa is, A Long Way Gone, written by Ishmael Beah. A movie that tells of another story in Africa is, Hotel Rwanda. Though this book and movie share many similarities in their telling of the turmoil, they also have their differences. By looking at the similarities and differences of the situation, the characters, and by discovering which character is more identifiable, a more inside glimpse into the tragedies, and mercies that surround the turmoil in Africa, can be seen. Similarities and Differences in the Situation To begin with it is important to note the similarities and differences in the two situations presented. A Long Way Gone, is the story of a boy who finds himsel f alone after rebels destroy his home town. He, then, is left to wander the country side, until he is finally picked up by the government army. With this army he is coerced into fighting, against the ‘rebels’ at the young age of thirteen. ... In both of these stories the government is fighting those they deem as rebels whom, they believe, would like to overthrow their leadership. In, A Long Way Gone, Ishmael, said that at a point, when fighting for the government, the lines of good versus bad became blurred. He realized that he was the one now destroying villages of innocent people and possibly taking away families from boys, like his was taken from him. Similarly in, Hotel Rwanda, many Tutsi people who ended up being killed were innocent women and children, not soldiers who were fighting. One major difference that can be seen in these two stories, however, is the fact that in A Long Way Gone, the war that was taking place was a civil war that had been fought, between two groups of people, over a long period of time. In, Hotel Rwanda, however, it was genocide, where the government ordered the complete destruction of this race, or group of mostly unarmed people, in a day. It is said that more people died in this genocide t han all the nuclear bombs ever dropped, put together. Another difference in the situation of these stories is the fact that the war in, A Long Way Gone, was, for the most part, a political one. In, Hotel Rwanda, all though it was initially made out to be a political â€Å"war†, it was mostly a genocide of a group of people because of their beliefs, they were Christians. Similarities and Differences in the Characters It is also important to note the similarities and differences of the main characters of these stories. The main character of, A Long Way Gone, is Ishmael Beah, a young village boy. The main character of, Hotel Rwanda, is Paul Rusesabagina, the assistant manager of Miles Collines Hotel. One of the major similarities between these characters is

Friday, November 1, 2019

Thornton's plc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Thornton's plc - Essay Example The study will dwell on situational analysis of Thornton Plc, to get an insight on the overall aspect of the company on the point of view of an investor. As an investor, information provided will lead to decisions for investing particularly in choosing companies in the same category. The situation analysis should take into account the market, competitors, staff, structure, technology, control systems, production and supply, performance and financial state. (Policy Coordination and Planning Section, pp 7-8) A situational analysis will be done to analyze performance to Thornton, Plc. It will present a detailed picture of the present state of the company. It will consist with a review of the past data and its translation into future trends with regard to marketing, production and financial system of the company.. Financial state will make use of scoreboard and benchmark information analysis. What is a balanced scorecard? The balanced scorecard of the company is defined as â€Å"a performance measure which will present whether the operational activates of the company are aligned with its company’s objectives in terms of vision and strategy†. .(Wikipedia) What is a benchmark. This is defined as a â€Å"security or index against which the performance of other securities is judged.† It is explained as a â€Å"goal to meet or beat†. For example, investors use the S&P 500 Index as a benchmark, and if their returns is more than the benchmark, the investor have beaten the benchmark, meaning the company is a good investment. The theory behind this is the expected return of investment must at least be equal or more than the benchmark or otherwise, investor may well at least invest in the benchmark (Investors Glossary) Market. Thornton Plc has been in the market of confectionary since 1911 manufacturing and selling quality chocolates to

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Ann Taylor Brand Analysis Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Ann Taylor Brand Analysis - Term Paper Example The Ann Taylor brand was created in 1954 and today it has become a well established brand. According to Keller, Sternthal and Tybout, in case of established brands, managers must reassess their points of parity and points of difference from time to time. When customers think about Ann Taylor, they first consider the long term and the admirable market operations of the brand. In order to analyze the brand image of AT, a survey was conducted among 6 women professional from different age groups (between 30 and 39). From the survey responses, it is obvious that old brand image of Ann Taylor including poor fit, the traditional style, comes to customers’ mind when they think of AT despite the restructuring efforts of the company. All the five respondents said that they owned an Ann Taylor product. In addition, most of the participants said that they gave great emphasis on company’s reputation while choosing a clothing brand. The survey also indicated that poor quality and sty le are the main reasons why customers are reluctant to buy AT products. Misconceptions like ‘AT still follows a conventional business pattern’ also have adversely affected the brand’s reputation and thereby sales volume. Nowadays, AT deploys celebrities and initiates advertisement campaigns to change its brand image and associations so as to make consumers enlightened on particular product characteristics and quality. This advantage assists Ann Taylor to raise sales only on the strength of its brand image despite its product features. Although these brand-related or non-product related associations have to be emphasized, the company must make sure that such associations do not reduce the market demand of its products. In short, American women customers tend to choose Ann Taylor brand mainly because of the reputation the brand has in the US clothing market. Brand Elements Brand position, brand promise, brand personality, brand story, and brand associations are the important elements associated with a brand. Ann Taylor brand specifically works for addressing the clothing needs of middle class professional women. This brand equally serves the interests of every woman whether she is a trainee in a small firm or a top executive at a multinational corporation. High quality is the most important feature that the brand offers to its customers. The brand is well known for its repute across the New York market for more than a half century. The company’s long success history adds value to its brand credibility which in turn assists the brand to maintain customer loyalty. While analyzing the brand association, it seems that the Ann Taylor makes efficient use of its logos, packaging, and slogans. Ann Taylor’s Heidi Klum featured Holiday 2010 campaign attained great public attention and it assisted the company to change its brand image to some extent. However, Ann Taylor’s logo is not much recognized in the market and people do not e asily recognize AT products among other brands despite its long years’ service history. In short, these brand elements have reinforced the point of difference, which represents the outcomes of product differentiation. While analyzing