5 page in depth essay on any topic of criminal justice system of New

5 page in depth on any topic of criminal justice system of New York - Essay Example This paper will explore these and ultimately examine the relationship between incarceration and crime. The positive change in the prison statistics in the state of New York is attributed to the changes and reforms in the law enforcement policies of the state. The state has led reforms and innovations particularly in regard to the reformatory characteristic of its incarceration policy and its introduction of the modern parole. Reform was forced out of the policymakers because in the first half of 1990s, tightening revenues threaten the budget of correctional facilities and that the state correction facilities were then already overcrowded and still more prisoners are awaiting assignments. And so, one of the first acts as governor of the former Governor George Pataki was to loosen laws on minor repeat offenders in order to help decrease prison population and help ease the pressure on the correction system. (Clear, Cole and Reisig 15) Then the state legislature amended and relaxed the so-called Rockefeller Drug Laws, which made New York one of the strictest states when it came to polici ng drug offenders. Indeed, starting the latter half of the 1990s onwards, the prison commitments steadily dropped prompting the state to close some prison facilities and save millions of taxpayers’ money. The New York experience highlighted the requirement of effective prison policy – one that is characterized by a set of graduated options that can be tailored to specific situations. This led New York policymakers and criminal justice planners to one of its new policies - the use of a variety of alternative sentencing mechanisms, which include: residential community corrections; community service and alternatives to corrections; and, probation. (Mumpower and Ilchman 544) All these alternatives are considered to be less punitive and incapacitative than state prison, but in graduated degrees. Changes in law enforcement policies included the police making fewer

Fast Food Nation Essay Example for Free

Fast Food Nation Essay In Eric Schlossers book, Fast Food Nation, the author presents an in depth analysis of the fast food industry, from its origin of Southern California to its ubiquitous manifestation of todays culture. Schlosser argues that the fast food industry has used its political influence as a way of circumventing issues of health and working conditions, while greatly increasing profits and expansion. The intent of Schlossers book is to impact the reader to stop and consider the consequences of eating at a McDonalds or similar chain. He expands upon his ideas in a series of broad and diverse ways such as criticizing schools that received payment for Coke machines and advertisements (53). He goes on to argue in chapter 4, Success, that the expansion of the fast food industry accelerated franchising, which can be beneficial for both the company that wishes to expand and for the business oriented person who doesnt want to risk it alone. McDonalds has become a real estate giant by leasing property to franchisees which, Schlosser argues, keeps franchisees fully under the control of the corporation because the lease can be terminated. He points out what was once a step to becoming a millionaire is now at a 38. 1% failure rate (98). Schlossers view is successfully defended by his careful Pinedo 2 and precise analysis of the fast food industry, effective writing dialect, and his ability intertwine statistics with moral and sympathetic appeal. Schlossers book is written for the general population, to which he is conveying a message. One effective writing device that Schlosser uses in this chapter is appealing to the readers emotions effectively by creating a background for the individuals. The reader becomes sympathetic to the fast food workers as one learns of their daily lives. Schlossers book is written for the general population which he is trying to convey his message to. He introduces the chapter with Matthew Kabong. The reader continues to learn about Kabongs daily work routine as a Little Caesars delivery guy. He earns the minimum wage? and on a good night he makes about fifty bucks (91). He is a poverty-stricken optimist that wants to own a Radio Shack in the future as Schlosser points out. I can not help but to feel sympathetic to this young mans current situation. Schlosser intentionally builds the character of Kabong by using bits of humor such as Kabong referring to his car as his office (92). This appeals to a broad audience who have held such jobs in the past and wish for better things for this individual. Schlosser builds a connection with the reader, instead of introducing the chapter with statistics and franchising information, he builds up the chapter and then introduces his points, which is a very important tool. Shortly after in the chapter, Schlosser introduces Dave Feamster, an ex-NHL player who became a Little Caesars franchisee. We learn that a bone fracture at the base of his spine halted his career in the NHL. He vanished from the NHL without so much as Pinedo 3 a good-bye handshake (93). Feamster contacts an old friend and relative of Mike Hitch, company founder of Little Caesars. He buys a Little Caesars franchise with what little money he had left. We learn that his devotion to Little Caesars led him to a good income and a total of five Little Caesars restaurants. Again, Schlosser builds up the individuals character. In this case, Dave Feamster was shown as a NHL star, who was unfairly dropped and soon had nothing. He rose from nothing and made a new career. I sympathize with Feamster as he undergoes hardship and it builds a certain connection. Schlossers uses this connection to his advantage and is able to persuade me to listen more attentively to Schlossers message. He is able to capture the readers attention and then focus their attention subconsciously to his other points on franchising. Another effective writing tool is Schlossers in-depth information surrounding franchising and his powerful argument supported with statistics and reports. Towards the middle of the chapter after Schlosser captures our attention, we learn three-quarters of the American companies that started selling franchises in 1983 had gone out of business by 1993. He backs up this claim with William Bates, a professor of economics at Wayne State University, the franchise route to self-employment is associated with higher business failure rates and lower profits than independent business ownership (98). I am persuaded to believe through his intellectual correspondents that franchising may not be the way to go and not a sure-fire way towards money. He later points out a study conducted by the Heritage Foundation that found almost six hundred new fast food chains were launched in 1996 due to government-backed loans. He shows that according to the study the chain that benefited most from the loans was Subway, which had 109 of Pinedo 4 755 stores opened by government loans (102). In this case the reader is persuaded to believe a study that conducted by what appears to be an unbiased organization. Schlossers uses the emotions of the reader; in this case he wanted to create anger in the readers mind toward the fast food industry, particularly Subway. We are led to believe we are paying for the opening of these fast food chains with our tax money. This creates an anger and resentment towards the fast food industry. Another example shown, According to a 1995 investigation by Canadas Financial Post, Subways whole system seems ? almost as geared to selling franchises as it is to selling sandwiches. It reports that the lowest investment to open a major fast food chain is Subway at $100,000, but they also take the most royalty at 8% (100). This is a legitimate investigation shared by Schlosser to persuade the reader into seeing his view. Schlosser, in this part of the chapter, is conveying the message that the fast food giants are out only to expand and make money, and really care less about the franchisee. The general population cannot help but to take what these studies say for truth. Schlosser knows this and uses it effectively throughout the book. Another effective tool is the language incorporated in this chapter. He uses certain words to his advantage in persuading the reader to his view. For instance, when talking about Pete Lowe, Schlosser describes him as a latter-day entrepreneur, the greatest superstar salesperson of all time, who built a multinational outfit from scratch (106). Schlosser uses a persuasive dialect to influence his readers and appear as an accredited source. He says earlier in the chapter when describing the city in which Kabong and Pinedo 5 Femster work, Pueblo is the southernmost city along the Front Range? a town with steel mills that was never hip like Boulder, bustling like Denver, or aristocratic like Colorado Springs (91). Again, Schlosser aims at a certain view. He suggests to the reader that the town of Pueblo is sluggish and poverty-stricken. We follow Schlossers views as a credible source as one would not know what Pueblo was like without a prior visit. He describes the town and the people in it to complete the background of the chapter. Schlosser, later in the chapter, reinforces his views when describing poor fast food workers, these fourteen fast food workers from Pueblo can almost reach out and touch the famous people (105). Schlosser is indirectly reinforcing his earlier statement. In conclusion, Eric Schlossers book, Fast Food Nation writes an accomplished and thought-provoking book on the broad spectrum of effects the fast food industry has on todays culture. Schlossers repetition, dialect, and persuasiveness, along with his ability to appeal to the readers emotions, provide a strong and successful argument. When backed up by research studies and investigations performed on the restaurants, Schlossers argument only becomes more strengthened.

Training And Development At Pizza Hut Management Essay

Training And Development At Pizza Hut Management Essay This report is based on Pizza Hut restaurant located in West London, and will focus on the front line employees, front of house staff i.e. waiters and waitresses. This choice was particularly based on our employment experience since July 2007, and substantial internal information based on training, policies and so on. In order to determine, which extent the organisation follows good practice, learning and development i.e. strategic or business led. Company background Pizza Hut is owned by the American Group Yums Inc, which is one of the largest pizza restaurant companies in the world in terms of both the number of outlets and the percentage of market share that it holds. The company oversees more than 11,000 pizza restaurants and delivery outlets in 90 countries worldwide. (Digica 08) Britains first Pizza Hut started taking orders 30 years ago in Islington, north London, and is now the leading pizza restaurant and delivery chain in the UK. The company has over 600 outlets, including over 370 dine-in restaurants and over 170 home delivery units, and it employs almost 20,000 people in the UK. (Digica 08) Company Vision and Business strategy According to the Pizza hut student information pack (06), the vision of the company is the following; To be the most loved and trusted restaurant brand in the UK Whereas the passion is, Great People, Great Pizza, Great Times Pizza Huts vision is the desired future state and aspiration, in which the head office of the firm is seeking to focus the attention and awareness on the whole aspect of the organisation (Johnson: 09:09). So that Pizza hut to have a respected and trusted restaurant brand, such as efficient operations, good quality food and provide great value for their external customers i.e. hospitality service. The company recognises that in order to achieve their long term vision, their employees should be well managed and developed, seeing that the service levels i.e. hospitality is delivered from front line staff, in which will have overall impact on the goals of the organisation and its ability to retain customers for continuous repeat business. Pizza Hut have developed an operational strategy, which is directly linked to how component parts of the firm help deliver effectively the corporate level strategies in terms of resources, processes and people (Johnson: 09:09). For example, Pizza hut have implemented the following strategy step to achieve their overall goals: Build people capability in order to Provide come back again service with A passion for product that will Drive sales and Maximise profit Moreover, Pizza Hut recognizes that in order to reach their business aims, the following principles are important to the organization: Customer Mania Belief in People Recognition Coaching and Support Accountability Executional Excellence Positive Energy Teamwork This increased emphasis on the restaurant employees is due to the fact the company had issues with a high number of staff turnover according to Management today (1998). In which the percentage was high as 160% and resulted in extremely low employee moral. So as a result, Pizza Hut became determined to transform their staffing policy in order to, Reach sales of  £600 million Satisfy 2.6 million customers a week Reduce staff turnover to 50% (Pizza hut student information 06) Compared to other recognised competitive fast food restaurants such as McDonalds, who are using a similar strategy to Pizza Hut. For example providing career opportunities that allow their employees to develop their full potential i.e. comprehensive training programmes enables a first job employee to progress through to a senior management position through merit-based promotions. Since traditionally, it has been difficult for fast food restaurants to retain staff for long term commitment (management article 1998). Hence Pizza Hut has followed McDonalds strategy, in order to motivate staff and increase productivity so that profits are maximised. (Times 100 case study) Strategic and Business led Barham (et al: 1988) states they are two terms; Strategic Human resource Development (HRD), in which arises from the organisations vision about what its business should be; the abilities and potential of its people; and the options available within a given time period to help it grow and prosper Business-Led HRD is a response to the changing business needs of the organisation, thereby improving its capability to achieve its business goals Therefore, it can be established that the vision and strategy of Pizza Hut, according to Barham et al is (1988), is strategic and business led. For example the organisations vision statement indicates how they wish to be perceived by the members of the public, plus the potential and abilities of its employees and giving them opportunities to develop. Moreover the business is responding to the changing needs i.e. reducing staff turnover. Staff turnover is a business risk, Pizza Hut have identified the problem and minimized the ways in which it affects their restaurants through a structured staff management programme, in which this report will further investigate. Taking into account, that staff turnover has a negative impact on businesses in competitive market which Pizza Hut operates in. Especially when team members are key to its success and continuity because the level of hospitality service will determine the rate of repeat business, employee may leave if they are demotivated, by not being treated right by line managers for not being trained to cope with rush hour periods and may lose self confidence and ability. Consequently, retaining staff and treating them fairly has benefits for the business. Continuity and stability become part of Pizza Huts culture, and staff feel they belong to the organisation and take pride in their work. Skills and competencies are maintained in key business areas and productivity is often increased. On the whole Pizza Hut approach to learning and development is in line with CIPD (09) survey which, states 50% of organisations are integrating a leaning and development culture across organisation, i.e. Beliefs in people, coaching and support have become important principles to Pizza Hut. Training and development approaches Barham (et al 1988) identified three different training and development approaches which are the following: Fragmented approach where training is not linked to organisation goals, and also be perceived as a luxury or a waste of time Formalised approach -training is gradually being linked human resource needs Focused approach training is regarded as competitive weapon and is linked to organisation strategy and goals. In Pizza Hut, all new recruits joining the restaurant are sent on a initial induction programme, in which the company introduce new recruits to their job position, their team and the workplace and the organisational background i.e. business values. Secondly, it helps them establish positive relationships between the employees by building their commitment to its visions and goals i.e., Being the most loved restaurant brand and providing great service for customers. (Harrison 09:163). Furthermore, Pizza Hut emphasises the importance restaurant quality assurance system known as CHAMPS which is based on customer expectations of cleanliness, hospitality, accuracy, maintenance, product quality and speed of service. For instance McDonalds (times100 09) success is also built on the highest standards of quality, service and cleanliness delivered to customers in each of its restaurants. Therefore well trained employees at Pizza Hut are the first steps to achieving these standards in every single restaurant. In addition to, CHAMPS philosophy, the company will issue Full service restaurant team member workbook to record on going progress and achievement during on going training at Pizza Hut by using specifically designed questions aimed at testing the following areas. Menu knowledge -i.e. listing the toppings on BBQ deluxe pizza Salad station setting temperature, shelf life of certain goods when opened, how often certain items needs replenishing etc System cash handling how to cater for customer needs i.e. changing toppings on the server till. Procedures for processing credit card and cash transactions especially since each members are responsible for cash shortages. Health and Safety handling hazardous substances, sharp objects, eliminating obstruction in the restaurant floor. Operating machinery i.e. oven in a safe manner and so on. Other fast food restaurants, McDonalds are also using similar approach to Pizza Hut, all their new employees have an initial training period in which they are shown the basics and allowed to develop their skills to a level where they are competent in each area within the restaurant. Also similar to Pizza Hut strategy they will also attend classroom-based training sessions where they will complete workbooks for quality, service and cleanliness. (Times100) Following the induction, mentoring is carried out. In Pizza Hut employees go through a three hour on the job training and are partnered with a recognised expert trainer. Mentoring has been defined by Garvey (2008:8) as a process in which a person carries out a councillor and a friend to help support them in the workplace by familiarising with its customs and processes. The focus is centred on the individuals and raises business awareness like hospitality service, reducing speed etc. Harrison: 09:170 In addition to being assigned to a mentor, on the job training helps new employees gain experience and retain more knowledge and experience regarding the companies key competence areas i.e. storing order details on the server till. Also the initial on the job training partner is flexible and more informal based to reduce pressure and help encourage confidence in the new employees ability to perform. For the reason being 56% of learning training development professionals consider on the job training of front line employees as an effective way to become accustomed to the workplace. (People management 06:10 article) Lastly when the restaurant manager is satisfied with the progress, the employee will be assigned to an ongoing personal Host Training Workbook which is an educational material aimed to enhanced level of professional knowledge and broadening the restaurants awareness i.e. hospitality service in a fast moving environment. The training workbook introduces the following vital aspects of key competences: Communication skills importance of excellent communications skills for customer interaction as well with management and team members Interacting with all types of customers, generating a personal conversation with customers at the door Communications with other team members and management to ensure accurate wait times are quoted and ensure effective table turnover Keeping up to date with team room communications, awareness of CHAMPS and Customer Mania Knowledge informing customers of deals that are appropriate i.e. family deals and also being able to describe whole menu be able to manage queues using the restaurant utilisation tools using service recovery to customer issues at the door are effectively resolved or communicated to the deputy manage Attitudes/Behaviour Building rapport with customers Communicating effectively to establish customer needs Demonstration passion when explaining meal deals Prioritising effectively, getting most important task done first Being proactive when problems on shifts are identified (Harrison 09:163). (Internal Host training workbook 09) These are the key attributes restaurant managers look for in their employees, according to CIPD(09) survey indicate 79% employers value interpersonal and 74% regard communications skills as most important for recruitment. For that reason on going host training programme allows employees to acquire and develop these skills further i.e. product knowledge, experience in dealing with difficult customer etc. Especially since this is vital for the hospitality environment. In addition, all front line employees are not limited in scope since everyone gets the opportunity to progress further to management level, since 75% trainee managers start out as team members indicating a successful transition. Employees are selected by demonstrating great potential such as outstanding selling skills, commitment to CHAMPS plus recognition from other support managers, in order to be recommended for them to be selected management trainee programme. The management trainee program involves dedicated management training centers; this involves taking part in various workshops on subjects ranging from business management to leadership. (Pizza Hut 09 website) From the information given we can see that Pizza Hut have adopted a focused approach to training and development, as training is an ongoing process in the organisation and is a requirement for the organisations survival in a competitive and ever changing environment. The focused approach is also linked to individual needs as well as the organisations. Pizza Huts approach to training and development is also competitive as it operates in a demanding market and needs to provide a service to its customers which equals or surpasses its competitors level of service. This could help the organisation to gain the upper-hand in its market, by providing outstanding customer service and high quality products. Pizza Huts: organisation structure and culture Structure and culture of Pizza Hut restaurant will have implications for Human resource development, since they are closely linked. HRD determines the effective fits in provision in the organisation. According to Handy (1985) recognised four following, organisational structure culture models: The Pyramid often viewed as a stereotypical large bureaucracy organisation, in which the overall decisions are managed from the top layer. Secondly, the layers consist of a defined hierarchy of functions where the communication is based upon rules and procedures i.e. banking and insurance, hospitals etc. The net matrix involves individuals and resources bought together simultaneously due to a project to certain standards and time constraints. Individuals are flexible skilled and expert in their field. However teams are disbanded when the project is completed. I.e. construction firms, large consultancies etc. The galaxy consists of independent, highly qualified who pursue their own professional and career interest within a supporting infrastructure of resources and administration. Plus there is limited control of mechanism and management hierarchy i.e. lawyers, GP practices etc. The web and power these are known to exist in small entrepreneurial organisations and family businesses. Activities are relied on trust, empathy and personal communication. A group of people or senior individuals exercise power and influence. These organisations are highly competitive and survival is difficult due to economic influence in which employee who handle pressure thrive. Pizza Hut structure and culture fits in with Handy C (1985) The web structure and power culture. As pizza huts decisions are mainly undertaken at the top of the organization i.e. the head office instructs and gives feedback on the CHAMPS standard in the restaurant which directly reflects the front line employees service level, indicating the head office balance of power according to restaurant general manager (RGM) . In addition development is also related to training objectives, which benefit the business and the individual employees, for instance areas for improvement where staff can reduce the time for delivering meals to tables, interact with customers more often so that business CHAMP standards are satisfied and increase the customer repeat business in the process. Moreover the organisation moves very rapidly and change are dealt quickly i.e. new products in menu require employees to quickly adapt different techniques and learn promotions i.e. Christmas menus, learning to make s moothie drinks, using new coffee machine, preparing new desserts etc as soon as they are introduced. Secondly, the environment Pizza Hut operates is highly competitive i.e. Nandos, McDonalds etc as well being very sales based, because the head office sets weekly sales target, and if sales target are not met, this results reduction in working hours for front line employees (RGM 09). Therefore to ensure survival in the demanding market, employees rely on each other by working together to balance the workload i.e. communicating personally, building trust and delivering a service which will help increases customer satisfaction and reduce complaints, especially since the nature of the environment is fast driven. So that Pizza Hut Hayes can retain customers to increase their revenue in long term and ensure survival in difficult economic times. Handy, C (1985) Added Value and Horizontal integration Added value is to add to the organisations capability to achieve its goals for example producing results that enable Pizza Hut Hayes to react well to challenges and threats i.e. competitors , it is also over and above the cost of the initial investment of Leaning and development (LD) (Harrison, 2009:359) In Pizza Hut Hayes, the CHAMPS quality assurance systems is the driving tools towards the operations standards into the restaurant and help deliver the business added value. This is because the head office implemented policies are centered to meet customers requirements hence the long term vision to be the most loved and trusted restaurant brand in the UK, This is achieved by employees being trained to maintain salad bar products to quality standards, contributing to restaurant maintenance, consistently delivering and correct orders. Whereas, Customer Mania and How we win together (HWWT) philosophy coexist with the CHAMPS system. These are the attitude and behaviors used for delivering basic standards by employees, in order to deliver, a positive attitude in a fast moving fast food environment. For example by demonstrating commitment and taking accountability for understanding customer needs, collaborating with other colleagues to deliver the smooth running of the restaurant. Otherwi se service will lack consistency and business will not reach their strategic goals (Appendices 1 -USE PPD PRINTS) To measure the consistency and effectiveness Pizza Hayes employees competences and overall restaurant service, head office will use a mystery shopping programme that collects information against customer expectations using the CHAMPS criteria. In which the results of the survey are fed back to restaurant. So that RGM can use the feedback and compare Hayes against other West London Pizza Hut branches and take necessary actions to meet CHAMPS targets and add value by achieving its goals set by theà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. (Management today article) Horizontally integrated Performance Management In addition, value added is also linked to HR practices of Performance management of Pizza Hut Hayes, the business is horizontally integrated .For example CHAMPS, Customer Mania and HWWT criterions are integrated in all aspect of employee management and also identify what members of the restaurants are doing well and how they can improve to make sure the business succeeds. (Appendices) (Harrison 09:323) Ways in which this is done by: Induction all employees are made aware of performance requirements established in the framework i.e. Speed, Hospitality, Product quality etc Job related training the RGM will agree on the support required for the individual to achieve performance levels i.e. improve interaction with customers so they feel welcomed, taking additional responsibilities i.e. handling telephone orders for multi tasking, improving selling skills by up selling desserts and so on. Appraisal- feedback is given by the RGM on how employees perform to Pizza Hut CHAMPS and Customer Mania standards. Secondly both the RGM and employee agree on key targets to help improve development areas i.e. further opportunities for improvement. Personal development employees are consistently working towards the core competence framework, this helps employees expand performance i.e. speed of service, product quality, good hospitality service and creating good relations with customers and employee members. This helps the business and keeps employees committed and motivated. Recognition and rewards- all employees are recognised for their efforts for achieving CHAMPS standards, this because with mystery shopping programme individual employees are scored against the CHAMPS criterion and moreover RGM will use feedback from other senior members, and reward employees by giving them certificates, vouchers etc. Whereas customers have also traditionally rewarded employees by giving them tips for delivering excellent service in which the restaurant does not profit from. This is used as a personal motivation and incentive to follow the CHAMPS standards. This satisfies restaurant because customers will repeat business and employees will remain committed to the core competence framework. (Harrison 09:162) (Appendices) Overall, the policies adapted for performance management in the restaurant are identical to Rebecca Johnson (99) report where front line employees based in a hospitality industry i.e. hotels were given performance initiatives, such as being equipped take greater responsibilities similar to Customer Mania and CHAMPS competence and that feedback was measured through a tracking system, in order to determine whether employees performance is adding value to company and customers. This is because adding value helps Pizza Hut Hayes to be competitive and create loyal customer base and therefore performance management is carried out for individuals every six months. (RGM) Vertical integration Vertical integration involves integration LD strategy with business strategy at corporate and business unit levels and aiding performance managements, LD at operational and individual levels (Harrison 09:323). Since the focus of report is based on the operational level i.e. front line employees who are all provided with an expert workbook to record their progress and have individual targets. In which the head office, corporate level have adapted the policy of developing people capability. Moreover career planning for individual has been quite significant since 1998, 75% employees are internally promoted to management level. For example employees are supported and developed to their full potential by using programmes such as the Expert training programme, as well as the Developing Champions training programme for all levels of restaurant. This also highlights the successful nature training and development being continuous in the operation site Pizza Hut PDF (07) Recommendations: There are a number of recommendations which we have thought of that may benefit Pizza Hut. Firstly we considered most important was to offer internal promotions to staff, as this may help to reduce staff turnover on a whole. They should also have a more formal training program for their waiters to deal with the fast moving environment and they should also have team training exercises as it will help them perform better with a heavy workload. In addition they can improve further by asking customers what they want and what is important to them. We also recommend that there should be continuous development for the organisations strategic capabilities and the specific, personal capabilities of individuals and teams in order to add value.

Computers and The Increase of Labor and Wage Inequality in The 1980’s :: History Technology Essays

Computers and The Increase of Labor and Wage Inequality in The 1980’s Although computer technology dates back to at least the 1940’s, microprocessors were first introduced on a wide scale in manufacturing in the 1970’s. It has been noted that mainframe computers started to be used in business in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. Computers have seemed to grow more rapidly ever since the Apple II was born in 1977 and the IBM PC in 1981. PC (personal computers) spread rapidly in the 80’s and 90’s and have been upgrading ever since. It has been said that during this increase in popularity and use of computers the labor inequality and wage difference has been increasing as well. Throughout this paper we will discuss reasons why computers are to blame and why computers have had nothing to do with economic increase of skilled educated workers and a decrease in need for unskilled and uneducated workers. Increase in the growth rate of the demand of more skilled workers due to the pace of the technological work from 1970 to the present has been one of the arguments against computers causing inequality. From the 1970’s the pace of work has been faster, the work load has been greater because demand has gone up, and many jobs have become more difficult to learn. There are no longer mills where education and much knowledge was needed to get the job done. Work has gotten much more involved and complex. The employment of high school drop outs have fallen from 64.4% in 1940 to 9.8% in 1996, and the employment of college graduates have risen from 9.3% to 41.6%. Although computers have been around that whole time there is no way they caused a 54.6% decrease in the employment of high school drop outs. It has also been said that there has been an expansion slowdown from what the country was used to in the beginning half of this century from the 1970’s, so this has allowed companies to pay one educated worker rather than paying two of three uneducated workers that did the same job. Over the years unions have also began to disappear causing some of those unskilled workers how were once protected by contracts to a given union to become no longer demanded. Many of those unskilled workers who escaped being unneeded have noticed a dramatic pay decrease. Many people might think, â€Å"What are you talking about, in the 1940’s they were making like five to ten dollars a day.

Beethoven Biography

Beethoven, who was a great composer and pianist of German origin was born in the 1770 and died in 1827. On the same note, he is grouped among the very influential composers and played a very great role in Western classical music especially due to the fact that he existed during the transition period between the famous classical and romantic eras (Beethoven: biography, 2001).Although he was born in Bonn which was the capital city of Cologne, currently known as Germany, he later migrated to Vienna where he got occupied in studying as well as learning to play piano.It bears noting that though he developed a hearing problem, this did not deter him from his music career since he continued to perform and compose even after becoming completely deaf. Although he did not live for long, he made notable contribution in the field of music. With this background, this paper will objectively describe his biography, laying more emphasis on his life history as well as his major accomplishments. 2. 0 Background InformationBeethoven was born in the family of musicians since his grandfather Lodewijk van Beethoven was also a musician of Flemish origin who was employed as a bass singer and ended up becoming a music director (Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)). More to that, his grandfather still had a son by the name Johann van Beethoven who was also talented in music since he was employed as tenor in the same place with his father. The son used to teach violin and piano lessons part time as a means of supplementing his income. Johann married a lady by the name Maria Magdalene and the two became the parents of the famous Ludwig van Beethoven.Although studies record that the parents of Beethoven had seven children, it is only Beethoven together with two younger boys who survived past infancy stage. He was the second born in the family and even though his exact date of birth is not known as there are no records, it is assumed that he was born 16th December 1770. This is due to the fact that it is evidently known that he was baptized on 17th December 1770 and by then children were being baptized a day after birth (Lane, 2005). Moreover, most studies indicate that he used to celebrate his birthday on 16th December.Beethoven talent in music was discovered quite early in life and his father who was a music teacher was the first person to start teaching him how to play keyboard. Although his father used to teach him, he still had other local teachers like Tobias Friedrich who taught him how to play piano, Franz Rovantini who taught him how to play violin as well as Gilles van den Eden. In the year 1779, Beethoven began to study music seriously with the help of Christian Neefe who helped him compose and publish his first composition in the year 1783.He was first employed in the year 1784 at Court Chapel although before then he used to work as Neefe assistant without any pay. He was later appointed as an assistant organist and the people who used to work closel y with him like Maximilian Fredrick noticed his talent in music and encouraged him to pursue further studies in music. Although studies illustrate that Beethoven had attempted to travel to Vienna in 1787, he was forced to go back to Bonn to take care of his siblings especially after his mother’s death.His father who was becoming a worse alcoholic day by day could not be trusted with caring for the family, this is denoted by the fact that he used to do it through a court order. However, in the year 1792, Beethoven travelled back to Vienna through the help of Elector. At Vienna, he trained under Haydn and managed to compose lots of work that was not published even though the works displayed his development in the music career. Similarly, these works by then indicated that he had learnt a lot from Haydn’s since they displayed a lot of Mozartean flavor.Nevertheless, Beethoven did not first concentrate on composing but on learning to play piano under the instruction of Hayd n as well as playing violin. He was also occasionally taught on Italian vocal composition style by Antonio Salieri for some few years. Even though after sometime Elector ceased to finance him, he continued to stay in Vienna because some people from the same place who had noticed his talent in music continued to support him financially (Crowest, 2009, p. 120). 3. 0 Beethoven’s Music CareerBeethoven’s Music career began to flourish in 1800. It is noteworthy that his first music performance at Vienna was in1795 after which he planned for the publication of his initial compositions, piano trios of Opus 1 which were dedicated to his patron. He continued to compose in many forms such as symphony, quartet and string. Although his works were greatly influenced by Mozart and Haydn, he emerged to be unique due to his music development, his use of modulation and texture, as well as his unique characterization of emotion.Beethoven was not only a composer, but a music teacher as we ll. Further studies indicate that he also taught Ferdinand Ries who became a composer and went a head to write a book entitled ‘Beethoven Remembered’ which explained about their encounter. Carl Crenzy who was a music teacher was also a Beethoven student for two years from 1801-1803 (Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)). Just at the height of his career, Beethoven developed a hearing problem which was quite discouraging since he could no longer be able to appreciate music.Even if the exact cause of the problem is not known, it has been assumed that the problem was attributed by lead poisoning, syphilis, his habit of immersing his head in water in order to stay awake and typhus. However, the doctor’s report indicated that it was as a result of distended inner ear. The evidence of his deafness is not only from his works which record his written conversation with his friends, but also from a large collection of his hearing aids which have been preserved in Beet hoven House Museum in Bonn. He completely become deaf at 1814 but still continued with his music career (Davies, 2001, p.234) and (Udvarhelyi, 2003). Much as Beethoven used to obtain money from his compositions and his performances, he also depended heavily on financial help from his patrons like Prince Lichnowsky and Archduke Rudolph who was the last born son of Emperor Leopold II. As years progressed, he continued to develop his career and by 1810, he had managed to be recognized as a great composer. However, due to family and personal as well as financial problems, a slight decline was noted in his music career. He also had numerous illicit love affairs which may have contributed to the decline of his performance.In addition, he also started to experience ill health and his brother who was also ailing died in the year 1815. Albeit during this time he was still composing, his health did not stabilize and in 1825, he became bedridden. Nonetheless, he composed the fifteenth Quartet and still compiled the sixteenth, fourteenth and the thirteenth quartet while still in poor health. In 1826, his health deteriorated further (Kinderman, 1997, p. 238). Further studies illustrate that he latter died in 26th March 1827 and his funeral service which took place in the Holy Trinity Church was attended by more than ten thousand people.Beethoven was buried at Wahring cemetery located in Vienna, but latter his remains were exhumed in 1862 for study purposes. Further studies indicate that the exact cause of his death is not known although it has been projected that he might have died of infectious hepatitis, syphilis, lead poisoning, Whipple’s disease or Sarcoidosis. However, the analysis that was done after his body was exhumed point out that he could have died from excessive lead poisoning administered by his doctors (Beethoven: biography, 2001). 4. 0 Beethoven Major AccomplishmentsBeethoven’s composition represents several music genres and also contained a v ariety of music combinations. He wrote a total of sixteen string quartets, five string quintet, seven works for piano trio, five string trios and a lot more works containing a variety combinations of wind instruments. In addition, he also wrote nine symphonies and nine concerti and some vocal works with orchestral accompaniment. The first and the second symphonies and the first set of the six string quartets as well as some few other works were written in his early life when his music was greatly influenced by Mozart and Haydn (Kinderman, 1997, p.284). Most of the major works of Beethoven that identified him as a hero was written when he started experiencing hearing problem. Such works include the six symphonies, the very last piano concertos, five string quartets, Fidelio which was his only opera and some piano and violin sonatas. In his last stages of life, he began composing works that displayed high personal expression, formal innovation and his intellectual depth. His very last works include the last five quartets, ninth symphony and the last five piano sonatas.However, there are some of his works which were still very significant and may not have been recorded or published. 5. 0 Conclusion Whereas studies indicate that Beethoven managed to become one of the renowned giants of classical music, some of his character traits did not display a vey strong personality. For instance, his deafness made him to contemplate suicide and was frequently described as an impatient as well as a highly irritable person. He had some close friends who stayed by his side especially during his illness which led to his death.However, most studies indicate that he found it quite hard to get along with people the main reason why he was never legally married. His works remain to be a strong indication of his contribution in music arena. References Beethoven: biography. (2001). Retrieved July 10, 2010, from http://www. lvbeethoven. com/Bio/BiographyLudwig. html Crowest, F. J. ( 200 9). Beethoven: With Illustrations and Portraits. Charleston: BiblioBazaar, LLC. Davies, P. J. ( 2001). Beethoven in person: his deafness, illnesses, and death.West Port: Greenwood Press. Kinderman, W. (1997). Beethoven's Childhood . Berkeley: University of California Press. Lane, W. (2005). Beethoven's Childhood . Retrieved July 10, 2010, from http://www. lucare. com/immortal/childhood. html Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827). (n. d. ). Retrieved July 10, 2010, from http://library. thinkquest. org/22673/beethoven. html Udvarhelyi, G. B. ( 2003). Beethoven in Person: His Deafness, Illnesses, and Death (review). Bulletin of the History of Medicine , 77 (1), 196-197.

blood brothers

blood brothers "As like each other as two new pins."Within the play Mickey and Edward are presented differently due to their upbringing. Mickey is created to be friendly and very adventurous, as he like to play adventure games with his friends. Edward is presented as a friendly, generous character who a well-behaved, shy little boy.There are many differences and similarities throughout the play.The first difference is that Mickey makes friends easily than, unlike Edward who hardly has any friends this is because Mrs Lyons rarely lets Edward go out to play. Mrs Johnston lets Mickey roam round freely without any rules this lets Mickey socialise more than Edward.Another difference is there education. Edward has a better education than Mickey as Edwards's parents can afford to send him to a private school. Edward knows many large words, which a normal seven year old would not. For example in the play if Edward does not know the meaning of a word he would get his dictionary out and look it up on the oth er hand Mickey does not know what a dictionary is.This suggests to the reader Edward has a good, strong education and that he is independent.The next difference between Mickey and Edward is the class of their families. Mickey comes from a lower class family than Edward. Mickey's family gets treaded like dirt from the policeman as he threatened the Johnston family with court. The policeman acts the total opposite with the Lyons family as he has a scotch with Mr Lyons, this shows he wants to stay on their good side and blames the lower class for Edwards mistakes as he said " If y' don't mind me sayin' this I'm not sure I'd let him mix with the likes of them in the future,

Analysis of the French Wine Sector

Analysis of the French Wine Sector Introduction The wine industry is one of the oldest industries in the world with a number of countries being that major players in the industry. One of the countries in which the wine industry has existed for a very long time is France. For a long time, France has been known to be one of the renowned nations in the production and consumption of wine. This means that there are very many firms that produce wine in France. France has a large population that consumes wine thus this population acts as the first market for the wine sector or industry in the country. The government of France has been supporting the Wine sector for a long time due to the expansiveness, and thus influence of the industry to the economy of France. The government support has backed the sector from both internal and external economic pressure and threats (Jenster, 2008). Over many years, the wine industry in France has been influenced the interests in English and the Dutch market. This happened before the French revolution. The ancient regions in France which have been known to produce wine include Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire Valley, Champagne, Languedoc and Rhone. France dominated the wine industry globally till near the end of the 20th century. However, the 21st century has brought about significant changes in the wine industry.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Analysis of the French Wine Sector specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The global wine market has become significantly competitive. Other regions of Europe and the world have come in the industry and are giving France a cut throat competition. In Europe, Spain and Italy have joined wine producing countries in the world. Also, there are other recent wine produces like Australia, California – United States and a number of countries in the South American region (Wherry, 2011). The wine sector in France started booming in the 19th century after the e nd of French revolution. The French Revolution brought about the rise in incidences of production of poor quality wine in France. This was because there was inadequate knowledge among the producers of wine in the country. The technology that was being utilized in the processing of wine was poor. Therefore, investment was made in order to come up with improved technologies in wine production. Therefore, a wine processing technology known as â€Å"chaptalization† which entails the addition of sugar into wine to raise alcohol levels was developed. This was a turning point in the wine sector in France as this technology was further built on to better the industry. By around 1850s, the wine industry had sky had attained voluminous growth. During the same time, the upper class commonly referred to as the bourgeoisie had emerged. This class formed part of the largest group of wine consumers. The bourgeoisie provided a big market for the wine sector. Many technological developments t ook place in the wine sector to better quality of wine. Towards the end of the 19th century, the government of France gave Louis Pasteur the task of studying the problems that were facing the wine industry. Pasteur carried out research and established findings that revolutionized the science of winemaking in France. In his study, he discovered what caused wine spoilage and developed processes of eliminating wine spoilage. Also, the development of the French railway systems added to the betterment of the wine sector as it opened up more area for trading of the French wines. More regions became accessible (Anderson, 2004). Wine is produced in different regions of France. France as a country produces approximately 60 million hectoliters of wine annually. The country has the second widest total vineyard area globally. The leading county in terms of the size of vineyard area in the world is Spain. France still leads the production of wine in the world.Advertising Looking for rese arch paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It was only eliminated from the top spot in the year 2008 by Italy. The country produces a wide variety of wines. Expensive and high vined wines are produced and exported to other countries where they are consumed. Modest wines are also produced though they are mostly sold in the local market (Anderson, 2004). France has different varieties of grape, and this is one of the factors that give this country a competitive advantage in the wine sector. These different varieties of grape include chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, syrah, and sauvignon blanc. However, these varieties have been introduced and are now being cultivated in other countries. The wine making practices that were only utilized in France have also been imported by other countries. This has been coupled with other pressures like the drop in the local consumption and the growth of wine i ndustries in other countries within and outside Europe. This has put pressure on the wine sector and reduced the competitive advantage of this sector in the world market. The per capita wine consumption dropped by almost 20 percent in the 1900 decade. This means that reliance on foreign markets remains to be the focus of wine producers in the country. France has been depending on the regional market for the sale of its wine. Therefore, the production of wine in other states within and without the European Union threatens the wine sector. Expensive wines have been fetching a lot of in some for the sector as most of the expensive wines find markets in the wealthy markets of Europe and the United States (Dougherty, 2011). The wine sector is an important booster of the agricultural sector of France. Agriculture forms part of the important sectors in the economy of France. The main crops that are grown are sugar beets, barley, wheat, corn and potatoes and fruits. The fruits are utilized in the making of wine. Therefore, the wine industry holds a big part of the local economy through the support of the horticultural sector. The wine sector provides employment to a relatively big number of people. Apart from this, the wine industry is a foreign exchange earner for the country by way of the payments that are made from the sale of wine in the international market. The wine sector boosts other industries in the country; therefore, its importance in the French economy is too open (Dougherty, 2011). The wine sector in France has been coping well in the global wine industry. However, the competitive developments in the 21st century have affected innovation and the wine export opportunities for the country. However, the country is still ranked as the leading producer and in consumption of wine.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Analysis of the French Wine Sector specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is important to note that the gap at which it is leading is shrinking at an increasing rate. By the year 2007, France only had a 20 percent of the total world production while its consumption stood at 14 percent. More competition is likely to shrink its market more and force the country out of the international wine market. The wine exports are reducing while the local sales are also going down (Jordan, Zidda Lockshin, 2007). Strategy Exploration – Exporting, Differentiation and New Technology Owing to the recent developments in the wine sector of France, a number of strategies have been adopted to streamline the sector. These strategies are differentiation, exporting and new technology. All the strategies aim at improving the competitiveness of a sector in the economy. Differentiation, commonly known as product differentiation in economics and business studies can be defined as the approach that a firm in the industry adopts in order to develop and increase marketing of its u nique goods for different segments of customers. This strategy works well where a firm has an upper hand when it comes to competitive advantage and the ability to sustain costly advertising campaigns. Essentially, this is regarded as one of the marketing strategies. This strategy is also called market segmentation. Product differentiation simply means separating the products of a firm from those of competitor firms. The major objective of product differentiation in an industry is to boost the competitive advantage of the product in the market. In other words, product differentiation increases the competitive advantage of products if it is properly applied by a firm in the industry or economy. In economics, well conducted product differentiation results in monopolistic competition. It eliminates perfect competition. There are there different types of product differentiation, which are simple, horizontal and vertical differentiation (Zanni, 2004). The exporting strategy involves the a ssessment of the products as it appertains to their potentiality for export. Exporting strategies aims at helping a firm to enter and gain grounds in the international market. Exports expand the market for products and the competitive base of a firm. New technologies are applied in either the business processing or production stages of products of a firm. When applied in the production process, new technologies do aim at raising the quality and the value of products in the market. When the product quality is improved by way of applying new technology, the products become more competitive in the market (Jordan, Zidda Lockshin, 2007).Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The various strategies may be used differently at a time; however, in certain instances, firms may decide to use various strategies concurrently. However, this depends with the intensity of the problem that is being solved by these strategies or the objectives of the firm that is applying the strategies. More often, one strategy is applied. Nevertheless, the success of the strategy determines the employment of the proceeding strategy. The wine sector of France has applied all these strategies at different times. These strategies have been applied to increase the competitiveness of the sectors as a result of internal and external constraints that have been affecting the operation of the sector in the country. New technology has for instance been applied from the earliest time of the industry with a lot of changes being made to enhance wine quality. Product differentiation has also been adopted by the wine industry and applied in different ways. The wine has been branded differently t o make it distinctive from other wine products from Italy, Spain and other wine producers in the United States and the South American region. Other aspects of product differentiation like packaging have also been employed by the French wine industry. With the shrinkage of the local market, the wine sector of France has been forced to develop export marketing strategy which will see it increase foreign sales that will be useful in offsetting the effect of the shrunken local market (Moulton Lapsley, 2001). Strategy Analysis: French Wine Sector (Impact on ) Strategy Exporting Strategy II Differentiation Strategy III New Technology Customers There are different types or brands of wine produced in France. France Produces high quality wine which is suits the customers in the foreign market. The quality of wine that is mostly consumed at the local market is of medium quality. Also, there will be price differences that come with each developed wine brands. Therefore, they are attrac ting customers of different income bases. The different brands in which the wine is offered gives an opportunity to customers in the foreign market to enjoy the variation and differences min tastes of wine. There is a likelihood of increase in the number of customers in the foreign market. Innovation in the wine industry, through the introduction of new technologies, has resulted to the development of new tastes and variations in wine products. Therefore, the number of customers has also risen. Technology has a positive impact especially so when it turns out positive on products. Employees When the export strategy succeeds, the employees will get an assurance of being sustained in the industry. With increased exports, there will be increments in income for the company. Therefore, the workers will get an increment in wages which will better their economic conditions and motivate them. Differentiation has a direct effect on employees. When the industry diversifies its production and distribution process, this results in an increased number of employees. There will be structural changes that come with differentiation which will have a short-term effect on the employees as the program picks up. However, the employees will get benefits as the program picks up. The new technology is leading to the production of different brands of wine. New brands of wines mean that the market will expand the meaning that more jobs will be created, and the current employees will be remunerated. Community There will be different types of wines available for the community. Increase in wine exports has encouraged wine tourism, which will better the community. Wine sector differentiation offers the community with employment activities as differentiation creates more diversification and thus more job opportunities. Community development results from improved technologies and improved productivity. Innovation will lead to the growth of the wine sector. This will benefit the community directly through offering employment opportunities. Also, it will have indirect benefits through corporate social responsibility activities of the firms in the sector. Government Increasing exports are helping the government of France to advance international business relations with other countries through bilateral and multilateral trade agreements. It opens up the country to increased trading activities. Differentiation has been the source of business diversification that has led to the development of tourism and hotel industry. This is because most French wine accompanies meals. The government uses wine as the major tourism feature. Support of research and development in order to innovate results in industrial growth meaning that the government will directly gain from industrial growth. More jobs will be created for the citizens and the government will garner more taxes from the industry. Alliances France is cooperating with other wine companies in other countries. This will help the country to gain new techniques of production and improve its access into the foreign market. This also improves its reputation in the international market. Alliances are part of the facets f the differentiation strategy. A business alliance, which is part of business partnership, helps in the development of technology and production invention and innovation. His s helping in the bettering of products in the industry. Competitors New competitors have come into the wine industry. These competitors are Italy, Spain and other countries in South America for instance Chile. In order to overcome the competition, France has chosen to adopt differentiation strategies that help to maintain their products in the international wine market and maintain a good share of the wine market in the international market. The competition that has developed in the global wine market has necessitated the rebranding of products to and increased promotion of the French wines both at the local and i n the international market. Wine firms in France are adopting all measures that will see them maintain the status and sales of their products in the now competitive wine market. As part of the efforts of fighting competition, new brands are developed through research and development thereby helping to raise the competitive levels of the French wine industry. Investors The whole process of the wine sector improvement gives an opportunity to investors in the agricultural sector of France. This sector produces raw materials that are used in the making of wine. The export of wine products into the international market results in other business deals giving a chance to both foreign and local investors. Investors in the industry directly benefits from the export of wine. This opens a window for investors in the wine and related sectors. More income is generated as a result of new technologies, more income to the investors thus more investments. The different strategies that have been used in the improvement of the wine sector in the country have different effects on the different business groups in the wine industry. Overall, these strategies have the primary aim of beating the competition in the wine market. As earlier explained, the exporting strategy has been the focus of the wine sector in France due to the witnessed decreasing rate of local consumption of wine. This strategy has aided in increasing the access of new brands into the international market thereby leading to stakeholder benefits. The investors have benefited in different ways. The government of France and investors in the wine industry has been the major beneficiaries from the exporting strategies. The international business agreements that are established opens up the country to cross-country trading activities. These trading opportunities are taken up by investors who build on the opportunities presented to establish other trading activities. On the other hand, the foreign business transacti ons, which serve as sources of foreign exchange, are crucial to the economy of a country. More foreign exchange earnings mean that the French economy will be stronger. Therefore, the wine industry is coming to Exporting strategies continues to support the wine sector of France that has been facing a stiff competition since the beginning of this decade (Jordan, Zidda Lockshin, 2007). Analysis of Competitive Strategies Competition also exists between different wine producers in France. In the year 2010, private labeled wines continued to lead in sales. The privately labeled wines had a market share of 28 percent. In terms of sales in the chain stores like the hypermarkets and supermarkets, the brand accounted for almost 80 percent of sales in the same year. A similar trend was also seen in the year 2011. The high sales of the private labels are attributed to the value which customers attach to the private labeled products (Jordan, Zidda Lockshin, 2007). The wines that target niche c onsumers such as the young people, women and consumers who are more conscious with their health are the driving forces of innovation in the wine sector. Light wine versions are expected to feature considerably in the market. The production and supply of organic wines is also expected to rise. A large number of wine producers in France are turning into producing organic wine because of the changing customer preference. The French government came up with a modernization plan to aid the sector and increase its competitiveness due to competition in the sector. The plan was unveiled in the year 2008. The aim of the plan was to bring down the complex regulations that blocked wine companies from effectively competing with other producers in the international arena. Players in the sector conquered with the content of the plan. The plan was developed in line with the business reforms f the European Union. The plan allowed for the production of grape wine, as well as putting the year on the l abel of the wines. Also, cheaper wine making techniques have been adopted courtesy of the plan. The cheap wine production techniques are used in countries that compete with France in wine production. The categorized wine producers into three groups whish are Vignobles de France also known as wines of France. This label replaced the Vin de table. Wines under this category carry both the year on the label and the variety of grapes uses in making it. The second category is Indication Geographique Protà ©gà ©e also known as Protected Geographical Region. This group replaced the Vin de pays. The last group is the Appellation d’Origine Protà ©gà ©e (Jean-Guillaume, 2009). The plan had the objective of attaining originality in production and encouraging massive wine production. This plan has been adopted in the industry. Also, the government of France has had pressures to amend the law which bared the online marketing of wines. Online wine marketing is now legal, and many busine ss analysts argue that this is the likely trend as we move into embracing information technology in easing commerce (Jean-Guillaume, 2009). Some critiques have argued that the French wine industry is suffering from inadequate entrepreneurship. This problem has given room for external competition, which threatens the sector. From quite a long time, the young winemakers in France were not encouraged to invest in the industry. There has been little aggressiveness among the French businessmen. Many businessmen avoid taking risks and have shunned from investing in the wine industry. This is contrary to what has been happening in the wine industry of other countries for instance Australia, which is now amongst the biggest competitors of France. Australia has been supporting investment and innovation which has resulted in massive investments in the industry by young investors. The French wine industry has worked on a conservative perspective which explains why it has been caught up by the emerging competitors in the wine industry (Jean-Guillaume, 2009). If at all more players will continue to come into the global wine industry and the French government fails to revive the local wine market, the competition may grow stiffer causing negative effect on the whole wine industry in the country. Conclusion Form the discussion; it is can be concluded that the wine sector in France has been under some economic pressures. These pressures have mostly resulted from an accelerating trend of competition in the international wide industry. It is important to highlight the problems or crises that the sector is facing. This will be critical in giving a clear understanding of how adopting business strategies have been critical in saving the sector from collapse. From the consumer pint of view, the producers are not producing cheap wine that will be affordable for them. Many factors lie behind this problem. The government has put up tough rules to govern the production of wine. These r ules have not been favoring the production of quality cheap wine. The French government has been in the limelight for failing to embrace the forces in the wine market. Nonetheless, the government has woken up to the challenge and has been nurturing plans that are helping to bail the industry. However, some of the measures have not solved the compelling issues in the industry. Wine diversity has been reserved through the categorization that was part of the government plan to modernize the wine sector. Nonetheless, quality improvement has not been done living the problem of reduction of local wine consumption unresolved. Furthermore, the least focus on quality may work against the French wine brands in the international market. The three strategies borrowed by the wine firms in France have been very beneficial. Through the exporting strategy, small firms in other countries. Such companies have attained financial growth and expansion. When a firm opens up into the foreign market, the o perations of the company will expand thereby leading to the growth of the sector under which the company lies. When the French wine enters the entire market world including the Asian market as it the trend that is being observed, growth and development will be imminent for both the individual companies and the industry at large. Export growth means the growth in demand for the products. The industry is thus active in terms of continuous and increased production to meet the demand in the growing external market. Product differentiation that has been going on has resulted in the production of different wine varieties. In addition to the new technologies aimed at improving the quality of these brands, the wine companies are recording increased sales both in the local and international market. The three categories of wines that were reached under the modernization plan are part of the differentiation strategy. Companies have become more diversified and produce different types of wines o f different standards widening their market. Differentiation has made the wine industry breach its culture of mostly producing expensive wine for the purpose of export. Companies are borrowing examples from the upcoming countries like Australia. These upcoming countries do not concentrate on producing expensive wine; they produce fairly cheap wine which is easily marketed as it is favored by its prices. Also, technology does not only feature in the production of wine. The companies have pressured the French government which has been forced to amend the laws and allow for online marketing of wine products. Internet marketing helps companies in reaching a wide network of consumers or customers. Internet marketing, which is a component of e-commerce, is easing the marketing of wine and subsequent expansion of the wine market. The French wine sector needs to keep improving on these strategies as the competition in the wine market is stiffening with more players coming in the industry. O ne thing that has not been emphasized by the industry is the restoration of the local market. There was a drastic fall in the quantity of local customers. Drop in local consumption of wine was significantly severe in during the financial crisis of 2008 to 2010. The local market has remained low from then. This paper has given an insight into the wine industry. Through the paper, I have known the real economic forces and trends in the wine industry. I had only known France as the leading and dominant in the world wine industry. However, from doing this paper, I have gotten to know that the wine industry is a competitive industry just like other industries in the world. Also, i have learnt that, at one point, France was overtaken by Italy in average wine production. Competition in business necessitates actions which have been taken by way of adopting business strategies. Some of the strategies are working well while others will have to be improved. The paper has also helped me to know the importance of different strategies and how they can benefit different stakeholders in business. Business is in itself a process. There are different cycles in business. The business can perform well at some times due to favorable conditions. However, businesses will encounter challenges which will require strategies that will help to make the business to stand the challenges. This is where business strategies become significantly important. Business strategies are mostly developed at the beginning of programs and are adjusted according to the challenges that come in the process of doing business. Business strategies give companies gives companies the framework of handling an issue or implementing a business program. The strategy establishes various steps and how these steps and actions will be coordinated so that the business goals are attained. Business strategies emphasize on the opportunities present in the external and internal business environment. Also, the threats that f ace the business from either within the company or from outside the company are highlighted in the strategies. The business environment is not static. It keeps changing with the changes in business forces. As the external environment in business shifts due to changes in either the competitors or customers and or sociopolitical and technological changes, the business goes back to the board to draft a set of action that will help it adapt to the changes as these changes causes a changes in the way a business or company functions. The threats have to be eliminated, and a good environment cultivated. This is the chief aim of business strategies. References Anderson, K. (2004). The worlds wine markets: Globalization at work. Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar Pub. Dougherty, P. H. (2011). Viticulture: The Geography of Wine. Berlin: Springer Verlag. Jean-Guillaume, D. (2009). An Institutional Approach to French Wine Strategies: the Cahors Case: 4th Bacchus Interdisciplinary and International W ine Conference Dijon, 8-9-10 July 2009. Web. Jenster, P.V. (2008). The business of wine: A global perspective. Copenhagen: Copenhagen Business School Press. Jordan, R., Zidda, P. Lockshin, L. (2007). Behind the Australian wine industrys success: does environment matter? International Journal of Wine Business Research, Vol. 19 Iss: 1, pp.14 – 32. Moulton, K.S. Lapsley, J.T. (2001). Successful wine marketing. Gaithersburg, Md: Aspen Publishers. Wherry, F.F. (2011). Culture of markets. S.l.: Polity Press. Zanni, L. (2004). Leading firms and wine clusters: Understanding the evolution of the Tuscan wine business through an international comparative analysis. Milano: F. Angeli.

The Effect of Race on Voter Turnout essays

The Effect of Race on Voter Turnout essays Does voter turnout amongst various races stem from a lack of resources, or just plain laziness? The determining factors have been studied and pondered in the minds of many for years. The effect of race on voter turnout is often hypothesized and associated with lower levels of voter mobilization, weaker mobilizing institutions, and higher barriers to voter participation. Furthermore, America has seen several trends and fluctuations in the turnout of the minority voter throughout history. Unfortunately, minority voters have not been known to forcefully turnout, but rather express a sense of apathy towards elections (Hill and Leighley 1996). Throughout this analyzation I will address these issues and provide various opinions and theories regarding the demographic factor of race on voter turnout. Additionally, voter behavior among races in the most recent presidential election will be included. Lastly, I will take a look at the impact of gender within the demographic factor of rac e. The information and analyzations regarding race and voter turnout are most often based upon ones own theories. In 1949, an author by the name of V. O. Key brought forth one of the most prominent scholarships on this particular topic. He described Southern politics as driven by whites obsession with blacks. According to Key, the political strategies used to maintain control in the black belts from the late 19th century through the immediate post-World War II period-one-party rule and the adoption of various suffrage restrictions, set the tone of the so-called Southern politics. Moreover, because these features of the electoral system did not discriminate in their consequences for voter turnout, both whites and blacks in the South displayed lower levels of turnout than their counterparts in the rest of the nation. Although subsequent scholarship has assumed that Keys observations were relevant only to ...

Homework Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 55

Homework - Assignment Example But on the negative side, there are environmental worries such as a disastrous oil spill (the pipeline could break due to a number of factors such as acts of sabotage, an earthquake, an explosion, an accident, etc.) which could destroy pristine lands along the route, especially along the sensitive Sand Hills region of north-central Nebraska. My stance is the pipeline project should be approved because environmental concerns were being adequately addressed by the project proponents. This is because more oil supplies will bring down the cost of oil and benefit millions of American consumers. This is similar to what consumers enjoy today regarding the use of fracking (hydraulic fracturing) technology which made natural gas easier to access, more abundant and considerably cheaper too. The project passed the Senate (by a vote of 62-36) and the U.S. Congress ( or Lower House) approved it on February 11, 2015 (by vote of 270-152). Keystone was delayed due to Democratic control of Congress as Democrats opposed it but the recent mid-term elections shifted control of Congress to the Republicans who support it. President Obama is expected to veto it as he is a Democrat but neither the Senate nor the House has enough votes to overcome an expected presidential veto as of now. If the Republicans win the next presidential election, they will certainly approve the Keystone XL Pipeline Project because it favors Big Business. They are expected to revive this big oil project in the next Republican administration if their candidate wins whoever it will be among the various possible frontrunners such as Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney, Scott Walker, Paul Rand, and Marco Rubio. The Senate is now in Republican control (majority of senators are now Republican). What this all boils down is a s tark choice between conservation (wise use of resources) and preservation (no

Business Strategy Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Business Strategy Report - Essay Example They use trade rules and regulations that have been set for each country by the European Union. Branches of each of the business units are spread across these countries. However, they do not share business premises or any other resources. Each business unit operates on its own, but they operate under the same company name In this paper, we shall be reporting to thunder software. As stated, thunder software deals with developing, creating new, and existing software’s for mobile phones and computers. The business unit is spread across the European geographical market. This places the business unit in a very competitive industry and market. Most of the new and better software come from this market. The industry in this specific market has many developers that release open source software’s. This software’s do not require the user to purchase them so that they can be able to use them. This has raised competitiveness in the industry because the open source software’s can be used for the same function as a normal software’s. In order to compete with such a software the company needs to develop better and more user-friendly software’s. New and latest methods for developing software bring the most important chance to improve a company’s reputation (Mark & Eric & Linda 2013, p. 1). Putting this fact into context, competition is bound to be high in the software industry. There is a lot of revenue that is collected from the software business. Every company that prides itself in making it in the software business bites in from the cake of revenue. However, it is not easy for a company to make it in the software industry The European geographical market presents a challenge in terms of competition in the software market. More companies are capable of creating top notch software’s. Thunder software relies on its growth strategies so that they can be able to stay afloat amidst the competition. The company invests in the latest

Management of People in Multinational Enterprises Essay

Management of People in Multinational Enterprises - Essay Example This paper illustrates that while this has generally benefited the people living the country by providing them the wide range of products, availability of all kinds of products, competitive prices and increased job opportunities, it has had a challenging impact on the multinational enterprises. Such companies also are known as MNCs have been facing issues of managing its resources and operations in the global arena. P. V. Morgan defines International Human Resource Management or IHRM as ‘the interplay between three dimensions: †¦ human resource activities, types of employees and countries of operation’. Thus IRHM is an extension of the typical human resource management which includes six functions: human resource planning, staffing, performance appraisal and management, training and development, compensation and motivation and industrial relations. While all these activities are included within IHRM, the function of IHRM is includes managing the different types of e mployees. In IHRM, three kinds of employees are defined: host country employees, home country employees, and other country employees. In the same manner, countries of operation include three kinds of countries: host country, home country, and another country. The host country is where the company is operating; home country refers to the country where the company maintains its headquarters and other country is any country that is related to the company in terms of labor, finance etc. Globalization has greatly changed the way that companies operate and do this and IHRM is one function that has been developed as a result of the increase in globalization at such a rapid rate. The expansion of companies in different countries has made the function of IHRM necessary as globalization has brought together people from different countries, cultures, status, and gender.

Music, Performance and Authenticity in Films Essay

Music, Performance and Authenticity in Films - Essay Example In addition, rock film performance has been encrypted from Quadrophenia, the album of the group The Who, to the film bearing the same name as the album. This transformation of recorded audio music pieces into films did not bring any disparaging change in the rock culture; rather, it boosted and made rock performance more livelier and entertaining, attracting more and more enthusiasts. Initially, rock artists recorded music without the inclusion of videos and other display features that would make it more appealing. While rock music performance concentrates on the rock culture promotion through recording the audio pieces, the film performance is greatly involved in the use of visuals to promote the same culture. This paper will critically compare and contrast the differences and similarities in the music, the authenticity, and self-conscious film performances of Pink Floyd and The Who. Pink Floyd – The wall The film Pink Floyd-The Wall was adapted from the album The Wall. The w riter of the film utilized the music lyrics to convey different themes as represented in the original songs. Some of these include the theme of isolation, cruelty, insanity, fascism, and hard mentality as fashioned by the wall. Notably, throughout the film, there is an expression of a sad and brutal mood of the music as depicted by the author’s feelings in his school day poems. ... While music metaphorically illustrates this social alienation, the film projects the character into the real emotional situation (Kaarki 2002, p. 184). There is an illustration of severe emotional suffering that revolves in the abyss of loss and isolation resulting from fatherless childhood (due to his father death in the British war) and the domineering, overprotective, and phobia-filled love of his mother. As noted, Pink built a mental wall that could allow him to live a life free of the emotional troubles caused by the failing education system which concentrated on producing societal compliant sycophants, by police brutality, estranged marriage, and uncontrollable drug abuse (Pink Floyd 1982). Remarkably, not only does the film performance demonstrate the ability of the writer to describe the moods of the song but also evokes the emotions of the film viewers. Through the evaluation of the harmony of the film performance, viewers are able to observe the relevance of the musical per formance which develops and maintains the psychological wall built by Pink to run away from his pains. Significantly, the film performance brings out a better understanding of the music themes with an illustrative depiction of the continuous piling of problems as one runs away from their effects rather than finding solutions. In the film, the author excellently matches the themes present in the music with the film performance, giving insightful, enigmatic, and arresting images. Factually, critics have been of the view that the lifestyle as described in the song perfectly suits the film performance with its spectacular ability to conjure captivating and memorable images that elicit lingering and

Learning & Professional Practice assignment‏ Essay

Learning & Professional Practice assignment† - Essay Example This paper provides some discussions on the various aspects of learning that are important in understanding how human beings are as learners. Specifically, it explains how people learn as discussed mostly in the view of educational psychology, the methods used to further a person’s learning progress, the way learners responds in different learning environment, and how human beings develop what they learned into a higher level of thinking. People tend to have a general notion that learning usually transpires within the domains of formal educational institutions such as schools and universities. Although most of the knowledge that individuals accumulated over time have been a result of formal training and discourse, it is undeniable that the process of learning is an unending and inevitable phenomenon which happens in any other venues besides formal institutions. As Salmon (1980) puts it, learning also occurs outside schools and universities – that is, within the comforts of the home, the workplace, or any place where we can communicate and socialize with other people. Apparently, this is particularly true with a person’s early childhood learning experiences and equally true with his/her continual learning endeavors after bidding farewells to the academic world on his/her graduation day. In the early childhood years, human beings started to learn through the aid of speech and language which are usually accompanied by effective nonverbal gestures. From reciting nursery rhymes, they stepped up to writing our own essays and poems. From counting one to ten, they moved to memorizing the multiplication table and solving even more complex problems on accounting or mathematical economics. Eventually, they became capable to manage the financial aspects of a business. From learning the rules of a game, they became able to set our own rules or even devise a new game. I have to agree with Cam (1995) that the manifestations of

Racial Profiling Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Racial Profiling - Essay Example It is a racial stereotyping that members of a certain race tend to engage in a particular crime than members of the other groups. In the event of an investigation of a terror suspect in the U.S, most of the people singled out to be suspects are always Arabs and Muslims. The process will always rely on the nationality, the religion as well as the manner of dressing; this is what Michael refers to as racial profiling. In this article, the writer points out that is important to consider ones right even if a crucial investigation is being conducted. Like it or not, the universal fundamental rights of an individual has to earn consideration and also the fact that one is always innocent until proven guilty. Much of this’ discrimination is outlawed’ in the U.S. The criteria used to identify and analyze a terror suspect have regards to being racial discrimination. It is in the conclusion that ones religion, nationality, and ethnicity are judged on the criterion of identifying a terror suspect. In the way, selection of Arabs and Muslims as terror suspects will always connect the boundary that separate suspect description and relying on profiling. A good example is when a member of the public tips an officer that a suspect of certain religion or ethnicity has engaged in criminal activity. The police start by questioning member of the same religion to rule out the fact that they have formed a gang in the neighborhood, this is racial profiling. He says that when one decides on whom to suspect or point out as a terrorist on ones thought is a mere is a generalized observation (Banks &Richard 1213-1214). Widespread observation sometimes brings you to a wrong conclusion. Another pe rfect example is when an intelligence report comes that an individual building will be bombed. The report gives a specific date at a particular time; this limited description will make the police subject all Arab

Music, Performance and Authenticity in Films Essay

Music, Performance and Authenticity in Films - Essay Example In addition, rock film performance has been encrypted from Quadrophenia, the album of the group The Who, to the film bearing the same name as the album. This transformation of recorded audio music pieces into films did not bring any disparaging change in the rock culture; rather, it boosted and made rock performance more livelier and entertaining, attracting more and more enthusiasts. Initially, rock artists recorded music without the inclusion of videos and other display features that would make it more appealing. While rock music performance concentrates on the rock culture promotion through recording the audio pieces, the film performance is greatly involved in the use of visuals to promote the same culture. This paper will critically compare and contrast the differences and similarities in the music, the authenticity, and self-conscious film performances of Pink Floyd and The Who. Pink Floyd – The wall The film Pink Floyd-The Wall was adapted from the album The Wall. The w riter of the film utilized the music lyrics to convey different themes as represented in the original songs. Some of these include the theme of isolation, cruelty, insanity, fascism, and hard mentality as fashioned by the wall. Notably, throughout the film, there is an expression of a sad and brutal mood of the music as depicted by the author’s feelings in his school day poems. ... While music metaphorically illustrates this social alienation, the film projects the character into the real emotional situation (Kaarki 2002, p. 184). There is an illustration of severe emotional suffering that revolves in the abyss of loss and isolation resulting from fatherless childhood (due to his father death in the British war) and the domineering, overprotective, and phobia-filled love of his mother. As noted, Pink built a mental wall that could allow him to live a life free of the emotional troubles caused by the failing education system which concentrated on producing societal compliant sycophants, by police brutality, estranged marriage, and uncontrollable drug abuse (Pink Floyd 1982). Remarkably, not only does the film performance demonstrate the ability of the writer to describe the moods of the song but also evokes the emotions of the film viewers. Through the evaluation of the harmony of the film performance, viewers are able to observe the relevance of the musical per formance which develops and maintains the psychological wall built by Pink to run away from his pains. Significantly, the film performance brings out a better understanding of the music themes with an illustrative depiction of the continuous piling of problems as one runs away from their effects rather than finding solutions. In the film, the author excellently matches the themes present in the music with the film performance, giving insightful, enigmatic, and arresting images. Factually, critics have been of the view that the lifestyle as described in the song perfectly suits the film performance with its spectacular ability to conjure captivating and memorable images that elicit lingering and

Racial Profiling Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Racial Profiling - Essay Example It is a racial stereotyping that members of a certain race tend to engage in a particular crime than members of the other groups. In the event of an investigation of a terror suspect in the U.S, most of the people singled out to be suspects are always Arabs and Muslims. The process will always rely on the nationality, the religion as well as the manner of dressing; this is what Michael refers to as racial profiling. In this article, the writer points out that is important to consider ones right even if a crucial investigation is being conducted. Like it or not, the universal fundamental rights of an individual has to earn consideration and also the fact that one is always innocent until proven guilty. Much of this’ discrimination is outlawed’ in the U.S. The criteria used to identify and analyze a terror suspect have regards to being racial discrimination. It is in the conclusion that ones religion, nationality, and ethnicity are judged on the criterion of identifying a terror suspect. In the way, selection of Arabs and Muslims as terror suspects will always connect the boundary that separate suspect description and relying on profiling. A good example is when a member of the public tips an officer that a suspect of certain religion or ethnicity has engaged in criminal activity. The police start by questioning member of the same religion to rule out the fact that they have formed a gang in the neighborhood, this is racial profiling. He says that when one decides on whom to suspect or point out as a terrorist on ones thought is a mere is a generalized observation (Banks &Richard 1213-1214). Widespread observation sometimes brings you to a wrong conclusion. Another pe rfect example is when an intelligence report comes that an individual building will be bombed. The report gives a specific date at a particular time; this limited description will make the police subject all Arab

College Essay Essay Example for Free

College Essay Essay Do we send students to college to grow personally and intellectually or strictly to develop work related skills? In your opinion what should be the purpose of a college education and what do you hope to gain from your personal experience? College is a big step for anyone, especially teenagers, who is still growing up. Unlike in high school where the main focus is the curriculum, college also focuses on developing personality. College is not about papers and tests; it is about growing personally and intellectually while developing work related skills to help in life. A college education involves more than books and tests. It should be an experience a student should never forget. At Southwestern University, the school motto is â€Å"Be Southwestern. † To â€Å"Be Southwestern† students have to be determined and focused. To â€Å"Be Southwestern† students have to be involved. During my visit to Southwestern University, I noticed that for such a small school there are so many opportunities available to learn in variety of environments and participate in campus life. At Southwestern University the campus life consists of music, plays, Greek life, athletic events, religious interests, and preparation for the study abroad program. I have never been out of this country, and one thing I like about Southwestern is the study abroad program. Personally, I have always wanted to go to Italy. Not just because I am in love with Italian food but because it’s so different from America. I want to go to a college that allows me to see the world and experience new things. A college education should help you meet your desire to explore and interact with the world around you. Another thing I like about Southwestern University is how much help is available for students from professors. I want to go to a college that has small class sizes and cares about me as an individual. Every Southwestern University student I’ve talked to has said the professors will know who you are, will always be available for assistance, and will always help you succeed. At Southwestern University, a student is not just a number. The professors there are dedicated to a student’s personal success. Instead of going to a tutor, a student can schedule a simple meeting with the professor to discuss theclass. A little help can go a long way. As a student at Southwestern University, I hope to continue to strengthen my sense of pride and leadership. I have played the game of softball my entire life and hope to continue to play competitively in college. In my college softball experience, I hope to gain a greater inspiration to push myself harder than ever before both, academically and athletically. I hope one day when I look back on my college career I can say that Southwestern made me the student-athlete I always wanted to be. Through my college experiences, I will see the world in a new perspective, developing new intellectual light in a variety of subjects, and engaging in challenging curriculum and discussions. I want to find out who I am and what kind of person I will become, and I strongly believe Southwestern University will help me do that. A college education should additionally develop an individual’s appreciation for history. I go to a high school that is starting to make its history; however, I want to go to a university that has its history already established. As the oldest school in Texas, Southwestern University has many traditions. I want to be able to engage in these traditions and perhaps help make some new ones while I’m there. I don’t just want to be a part of history I want to make history. A college experience should be one of the best times in a person’s life. The professors, the activities, and the history of the school should help one develop personally and intellectually as a student. I know that my time spent at Southwestern University will make me stronger, confident, and a more independent thinking individual who is ready to face not only challenge of working environment but also whatever life throws at me.