Media and Culture in the Arab Society Assignment

Media and Culture in the Arab Society - Assignment Example In addition, the paper is going to discuss the mutual influence of culture and media as it manifests itself in the Arab society. Culture comprises of the philosophies, behaviors, objects, and other features conjoint to the adherents of a particular group. Hence, through culture, people and the groups outline themselves, abide by the people’s common values, and back the society. As such, culture comprises numerous communal aspects such as; language, tools, customs, morals and ethics, standards, rules, machinery, products, governments, and institutions. Further, most culture defines the institutions as the family, education, religion, work, and healthcare ( Andersen and Taylor 69). In this sense, the influence of culture on media in the Arab culture is mainly guided by the above-named aspects. For instance, morals and ethics are highly regarded in all Arab cultures. This has been attributed to its deep devotion to religion and equally through its high value for its institutions. Unlike in the American cultures where morals and the institutions are very diluted and less valued, hence being vulnerable to the media influences. Moreover, the governance of Arab cultures is very strict on the forms of technologies, products and organizations that serve its people. For instance, prostitution, pornography among others is viewed to be rime that can even attract death penalties. The presence of such hefty penalties, therefore, defines what can be broadcasted on media. Consequently, media houses have been forced to constrain themselves to what is ‘acceptable’. ( Andersen and Taylor 69) The other aspect that is valued with high regards in the Arab world is religious beliefs. Religion has been attributed to be the driving force of morals and ethics. With such deep religious beliefs and culture is bound to be in control of negative influences. Hence, Arab cultures have been able to define the media rather than the media being able to influence them. It is factual that most  cultures in the Arabs are Muslims and it is well known that value their religion.  

African americans and Native americans Essay Example for Free

African americans and Native americans Essay African Americans and American Indians or Native Americans are two of the major subordinate groups in America today. They face many forms of oppression from the dominant group and have many things in common when it comes to this oppression. I would like to focus on five specific types of oppression they face: stigmatization, segregation, ethnocentrism, prejudice, and discrimination. African Americans are facing stigmatization far less these days, but if one looks back a half-century, they will find countless examples. Stigmatization can include the de-humanization, labeling, characterizing, and degrading of a group. During slavery, blacks were stigmatized into the happy and carefree characters Mammy and Sambo. This was done to show that slavery was good and blacks probably wouldnt be able to function in free society. When slaves were freed, blacks were painted as savages that could not be trusted to live normally. Caricatures of blacks with exaggerated features and portraits of the characters Sambo and Mammy still exist today. For Native Americans, stigmatization is far worse. Countless sports teams have a Native American as their mascot, some having very derogatory names such as the Washington Redskins. Indians were also portrayed as evil in countless western movies and as ruthless savages in others. These stigmatizations make Indians seem more like fantasy characters than real people. Many people do not realize that these stigmatizations are very hurtful and detrimental to society. Segregation, the separation of two or more groups based on physical characteristics, is another issue that still plagues African Americans and Native Americans. From the moment Europeans set foot on what is now America, they have been forcing Indians farther and farther west. The American government created reservations for the Indians so that they could have the valuable resources that they needed. Treaties were signed and broken, and the Indians moved farther along the Trail of Tears. Reservations still exist today and for the most part Native Americans have are not integrated into American society. Most would like to think that after the Supreme Court case Brown vs. Board of Education, segregation no longer exists for African Americans. Sure its not like we still have separate drinking fountains, but by and large blacks and whites are separate. In all major cities large housing projects have been created for low-income persons. The vast majority of the people living there are black. Most inner city schools are almost entirely made up of minorities. Legal segregation is no longer a problem anymore, but social segregation is still a major problem in society today and something needs to be done. Ethnocentrism is the feeling by one group that they are superior to another based on ethnic background. Native Americans have always been the victims of this. They were forced to leave their homeland by the superior Europeans and thought not good enough to live among them. Native Americans still live mostly separate and many people still degrade them and think of them as inferior both mentally and physically. Most people have not been exposed to them yet judge them anyways. This is very sad and disturbing. African Americans were thought of as the lowest, stupidest, least civilized people on earth. The whites thought they were far superior and showed this by literally stealing African Americans from their homeland of Africa and forcing to into slave labor. Even after slavery, white supremacy groups such as the KKK still exist and continue to be a proponent for the inferiority of African Americans. Many think of blacks as being less far less intelligent and civilized even today. Prejudice and discrimination are two of the biggest problems facing African and Native Americans today, and the two go hand in hand. Prejudice involves negative attitudes towards ethnic groups, which can include beliefs, thoughts, and stereotypes. Discrimination is taking action on these prejudices by denying certain rights and opportunities to these groups. Prejudice leads to discrimination of these groups. African Americans as well as Native Americans are discriminated against in employment opportunities, housing options, public school resources, and countless other ways. They are  discriminated against because of these prejudices and stereotypes.For example, say a black man walks into a store with his white friend. The employees of the store are more likely to offer service to the white man and will probably follow the black man to make sure he is not shoplifting. The prejudice views they hold cause them to discriminate against the black man. These problems are very real even today and unless society as a whole addresses them and ways to stop them, they will continue to destroy the fabric of our country.

Food Processing :: essays research papers

Food Processing   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Throughout the history of mankind science has searched into the realms of the unknown. Along with it bringing new discoveries, allowing for our lives to become healthier, more efficient, safer, and at the same time, possibly more dangerous. Among the forces driving scientists into these many experiments, is the desire to preserve the one fuel that keeps our lives going; FOOD.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As early as the beginning of the 19th century, major breakthroughs in food preservation had begun. Soldiers and seamen, fighting in Napoleons army were living off of salt-preserved meats. These poorly cured foods provided minimal nutritional value, and frequent outbreaks of scurvy were developing. It was Napoleon who began the search for a better mechanism of food preservation, and it was he who offered 12,000-franc pieces to the person who devised a safe and dependable food-preservation process.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The winner was a French chemist named Nicolas Appert. He observed that food heated in sealed containers was preserved as long as the container remained unopened or the seal did not leak. This became the turning point in food preservation history. Fifty years following the discovery by Nicolas Appert, another breakthrough had developed. Another Frenchman, named Louis Pasteur, noted the relationship between microorganisms and food spoilage. This breakthrough increased the dependability of the food canning process. As the years passed new techniques assuring food preservation would come and go, opening new doors to further research.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Farmers grow fruits and vegetables and fatten livestock. The fruits and vegetables are harvested, and the livestock is slaughtered for food. What happens between the time food leaves the farm and the time it is eaten at the table? Like all living things, the plants and animals that become food contain tiny organisms called microorganisms. Living, healthy plants and animals automatically control most of these microorganisms. But when the plants and animals are killed, the organisms yeast, mold, and bacteria begin to multiply, causing the food to lose flavor and change in color and texture. Just as important, food loses the nutrients that are necessary to build and replenish human bodies. All these changes in the food are what people refer to as food spoilage. To keep the food from spoiling, usually in only a few days, it is preserved. Many kinds of agents are potentially destructive to the healthful characteristics of fresh foods. Microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, rapidly spoil food. Enzymes which are present in all raw food, promote degradation and chemical changes affecting especially texture and flavor. Atmospheric oxygen may react with food constituents, causing rancidity or color changes. Equally as harmful are infestations by insects and rodents, which

Heineken IFRS vs US GAAP Essay

Like IFRS, reports prepared under US IFRS are presented: (i) statement of financial position, (ii) statement of comprehensive income, (iii) statement of changes in equity, (iv) statement of cash flows, and (v) notes including accounting policies. Unlike IFRS it is not required under US GAAP to present a statement of financial position as the beginning of the earliest comparative period. However, SEC registrants are required to present statements of financial position as of the end of the current and prior periods. There are more specific format and line item disclosure requirements for SEC registrants. Unlike IFRS, it is needed to present statements for the most recent quarters. Basis of accounting Both standards are prepared on a modified cost basis with growing emphasis on fair value. Financial statements can be measured into a non-highly inflationary currency. When an economy becomes highly inflationary, an entity makes price-level adjustments prospectively. Consolidation and non-controlling interest in consolidated financial statements Consolidation under IFRS is based under control model, which is assumed to exist when a parent company owns more than half of an entity’s voting power, or has legal rights. US GAAP uses a bipolar consolidation model, which distinguishes between a variable interest model and a voting interest model. Business combination The receiving entity records the net assets at their carrying amounts in the accounts of the transferor (historical cost). Functional and presentation currency Heineken’s consolidated financial statements are presented in euro, which is the Company’s actual functional currency. Once the acquisition is done, the local currency would be euro, the functional currency would be US dollar, and the reporting currency would be US dollar as well. Considerations assumed in the determination of functional currency: †¢The majority of the sales are going to be invoiced in U.S. dollars so that their cash inflow would be generated in greater proportion in that currency. Furthermore, most of the purchases of would be paid in U.S. dollars. †¢After the acquisition, sale prices will be settled in U.S. dollars, according to the budget made at the departmental Controlling of CBA. †¢The accounts receivable transactions (trade and related party) and accounts payable (trade and related parties) would be made in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency transactions Transactions in foreign currencies are translated to the respective functional currencies of CBA entities at the exchange rates at the dates of the transactions. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the reporting date are retranslated to the functional currency at the exchange rate at that date. The foreign currency gain or loss arising on monetary items is the difference between amortized cost in the functional currency at the beginning of the period, adjusted for effective interest and payments during the period, and the amortized cost in foreign currency translated at the exchange rate at the end of the reporting period. Non-monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies that are measured at fair value are retranslated to the functional currency at the exchange rate at the date that the fair value was determined. It’s important to say that unlike IFRS, US GAAP does not address whether an entity may have more than one reporting currency. However, the SEC has indicated that the foreign private issuer may select any reporting currency that the issuer deems appropriate. Also, under US GAAP the financial statements of a foreign operation in a highly inflationary economy are re-measured as if the parent’s reporting currency were its functional currency with the translation gains and losses recognized in profit or loss. Unlike IFRS, this accounting is followed for financial statements of the period that begins after the economy becomes highly inflationary. Property, Plant and Equipment (PPE) Heineken measures its items of PPE at cost less government grants received accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses. Heineken also depreciate its PPE items under straight line basis, and major components that are accounted for separately, since this most closely reflects the expected pattern of consumption of the future economic benefits embodied in the asset. It’s important to call that under US GAAP, estimates of useful and residual value, and the method of depreciation, are reviewed only when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the current estimates or depreciation method are no longer appropriate. Unlike IFRS, the revaluation of property, plant and equipment is not permitted. Inventories Heineken: Inventories are measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. The cost of inventories is based on the weighted average cost formula, and includes expenditure incurred in acquiring the inventories, production or conversion costs and other costs incurred in bringing them to their existing location and condition. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less the estimated costs of completion and selling expenses. Unlike IFRS, inventories are measured at the lower of cost and market. Under US GAAP FIFO (first in first out) method is allowed. Also, inventory is written down to market when net market is less than the cost, in difference with IFRS that states that it should be done when the realizable value is less than the cost. Leased assets Leases in terms of which Heineken assumes substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership are classified as finance leases. Upon initial recognition PPE acquired by way of finance lease is measured at an amount equal to the lower of its fair value and the present value of the minimum lease payments at inception of the lease. Lease payments are apportioned between the outstanding liability and finance charges so as to achieve a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability. Other leases are operating leases and are not recognized in Heineken statement of financial position. Payments made under operating leases are charged to profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. When an operating lease is terminated before the lease period has expired, any payment required to be made to the lessor by way of penalty is recognized as an expense in the period in which termination takes place. IAS 17 and US GAAP are conceptually similar, but ISAS 17 provides less specific guidance than US GAAP and leaves it to interpretation, substance over form.

A Study on Impact of Fdi on Service Sector Essay

The study aims to analyze the growth dynamics of the FDI. It intends to see whether the growth in FDI has any significant impact on the service sector growth and also investigates whether a growth in this sector causes the GDP to grow, also analyzes the significance of the FDI Inflows in Indian service sector. The study also looks into the sub-sectoral dynamics and indicates towards the fact that the trade, hotels and restaurants, transport. storage and communications sub-sector contributes the most in the growth of Indian service sector. FDI to developing countries in the 1990s was the leading source of external financing. It is one of the most important component of national development strategies for most of the countries in the world and an important source of non-debt inflows for attaining competitive efficiency by creating a meaningful network of global interconnections. FDI provide opportunities to host countries to enhance their economic development and opens new opportunities to home countries to optimize their earnings by employing their ideal resources. India ranks fifteenth in the services output and it provides employment to around 23% of the total workforce in the country. The various sectors under the Services Sector in India are construction, trade, hotels, transport, restaurant, communication and storage, social and personal services, community, insurance, financing, business services, and real estate. Meaning: FDI stands for Foreign Direct Investment, a component of a country’s national financial accounts. Foreign direct investment is investment of foreign assets into domestic structures, equipment, and organizations. It does not include foreign investment into the stock markets. Foreign direct investment is thought to be more useful to a country than investments in the equity of its companies because equity investments are potentially â€Å"hot money† which can leave at the first sign of trouble, whereas FDI is durable and generally useful whether things go well or badly. Classifications of Foreign Direct Investment FDI is classified depending on the direction of flow of money. * Outward FDI:Any investment made by a country in other countries will account for outward FDI. Where as, all the FDIs invested by other countries in that country is called inward FDI. Outward FDI, also referred to as â€Å"direct investment abroad†, is backed by the government against all associated risk. * Inward FDI : Inward FDI occurs when foreign capital is invested in local resources. The factors propelling the growth of inward FDI include tax breaks, low interest rates and grants. FDI is classified depending on how the subsidiary company works in par with the parent investors. * Vertical: Vertical FDIs happen when a corporation owns some share of the foreign enterprise. The local enterprise could either be supplying the input or selling finished goods to the parent corporation. The subsidiary here helps the parent company to grow more. * Horizontal: When the MNCs kick off similar business operations in different countries it becomes horizontal Foreign Direct Investment. It is actually a cloning that is happening here. Both the countries enjoy the same share of growth. FDI IN INDIA After getting independence in 1947, the government of India envisioned a socialist approach based on the USSR system to developing the country’s economy. The last decade of the 20th century witnessed a drastic increase in foreign direct investment (FDI), accompanied by a marked change in the attitude of most developing countries towards inward investment. FDI flows have grown in importance relative to other forms of international capital flows, and the resulting production has increased as a share of world output.. FDI in India has in a lot of ways enabled India to achieve a certain degree of financial stability, growth and development during recession. This money has allowed India to focus on the areas that may have needed economic attention and address various problems that continue to challenge the country. The factors that attracted investment in India are stable economic policies, availability of cheap and quality human resources, and opportunities of new unexplored markets. Mostly FDI are flowing in service sector and manufacturing sector recorded very low investments. The investments in service sector enhanced the benefit of flow of funds to the home country. Presently India is contributing about 17% of world total population but the share of GDP to world GDP is 2%. India has been ranked at the second place in global foreign direct investments in 2010 and will continue to remain among the top five attractive destinations for international investors during 2010-12 period, according to United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in a report on world investment prospects titled, ‘World Investment Prospects Survey 2009-2012’. According to the fact sheet on foreign direct investment dated October 2010. Mauritius is the highest FDI investment in equity inflows with 42% of the total inflow followed by Singapore, USA, UK and Netherlands with 9%, 7%, 5% and 4% respectively. Service sector is the highest FDI attracting inflows with 21% of the total inflows, followed by computer software and hardware, telecommunication and housing and real estate with 9%, 8%, 7% and 7% inflows respectively. A report released in February 2010 by Leeds University Business School, commissioned by UK Trade ;amp; Investment (UKTI), ranks India among the top three countries where British companies can do better business during 2012-14. According to Ernst and Young’s 2010 European Attractiveness Survey, India is ranked as the fourth most attractive foreign direct investment destination in 2010.

Homemade Shampoo From Scratch

Homemade Shampoo From Scratch There are a lot of reasons why you might want to make your own shampoo from scratch. The big two probably are wanting to avoid the chemicals in commercial shampoos by controlling the ingredients, and wanting to save a few bucks by making it yourself. Back in ye olden days, shampoo was soap with additional moisturizers so that it didnt strip the natural oils from your scalp and hair. Although you can make shampoos that are dry or solid, it is easier to use if there is enough water to make a gel or liquid. Shampoos tend to be acidic because if the pH gets too high (alkaline) the sulfur bridges in the hair keratin can break, causing damage that no detangler could repair. This recipe for making your own gentle shampoo is chemically a liquid soap, except vegetable-based (many soaps use animal fat) and with alcohol and glycerin added during the process. Make it in a well-ventilated room or outdoors and be sure to read all of the safety precautions on the ingredients. Ingredients 5 1/4 cups of olive oil2 7/8 cups of solid-type vegetable shortening2 cups of coconut oil1 1/4 cups of lye (sodium hydroxide)4 cups water3 tablespoons glycerin  (glycerol)1 tablespoon vodka (or another food-quality ethanol, but do not use methanol)3 tablespoons castor oilOptional: Essential oils like peppermint, rosemary, or lavender for fragrance and therapeutic properties Directions In a large pan, mix together the olive oil, shortening, and coconut oil.In a well-ventilated area, preferably wearing gloves and eye protection in case of accidents, mix the lye and water. Use a glass or enameled container. This is an exothermic reaction, so heat will be produced.Warm the oils to 95 F to 98 F and allow the lye solution to cool to the same temperature. One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is to set both containers into a large sink or pan full of water that is at the correct temperature.When both mixtures are at the proper temperature, stir the lye solution into the oils. The mixture will turn opaque and may darken.When the mixture has a creamy texture, stir in the glycerine, alcohol, castor oil, and any fragrance oils or colorants.You have a couple of options here. You can pour the shampoo into soap molds and allow it to harden. To use this shampoo, either lather it with your hands and work it into your hair or else shave flakes into hot water to liquefy it.The other option is to make liquid shampoo, which involves adding more water to your shampoo mixture and bottling it. You may have noticed that many shampoos are pearlescent. You can make your homemade shampoo glittery by adding glycol distearate, which is a natural wax derived from stearic acid. The tiny wax particles reflect light, causing the effect.

3 Revised Run-In Lists

3 Revised Run-In Lists 3 Revised Run-In Lists 3 Revised Run-In Lists By Mark Nichol A run-in list is one that is incorporated into the body of a sentence, rather than formatted as a numbered, unnumbered, or bulleted list with each item on a separate line. Such a list, unfortunately, often invites errors when writers don’t attend to interrelationships among the items or become intimidated into believing that organizing the items is more complicated than it really is. Here are three types of errors introduced into run-in lists and how to remedy them. 1. â€Å"Students plant trees to halt coastal erosion, monitor water quality, and educate others about the importance of environmental stewardship.† As written, the sentence suggests that students plant trees to accomplish the three goals subsequently listed. However, the trees were planted only to control coastal erosion; the other two items in the sentence are separate activities. To eliminate ambiguity, reorder the three items, simultaneously improving the sentence rhythm by placing the activity descriptions in order according to the length of the phrase: â€Å"Students monitor water quality, plant trees to halt coastal erosion, and educate others about the importance of environmental stewardship.† 2. â€Å"With severe fetal alcohol syndrome, there can also be organ deformities, including heart defects; heart murmurs; genital malformations; kidney and urinary defects.† Semicolons are necessary in a sentence containing a run-in list only if one or more items in the list are themselves lists and the sentence cannot be reorganized otherwise. In this case, the list is not complex it consists of a simple roster of typical organ deformities and semicolons are not required. Also, the conjunction in â€Å"kidney and urinary defects† does not serve as a final conjunction in the list unless â€Å"kidney defects† and â€Å"urinary defects† are treated as distinct list items separated by a comma and the conjunction; because they are combined into one item, they must be preceded, as is, by a conjunction. However, to improve sentence rhythm, I placed â€Å"genital malformations† as the last item, so the conjunction precedes that phrase: â€Å"With severe fetal alcohol syndrome, there can also be organ deformities, including heart murmurs and other conditions, kidney and urinary defects, and genital malformations.† 3. â€Å"Preliminary research shows that it: reduces the risk of trauma, decreases the frequency and severity of alcohol misuse, and increases enrollment in specialized alcohol abuse treatment.† A colon should precede a list only when what precedes the colon is a full clause. In this case, the preceding wording is a simple phrase; the colon between the pronoun and the verb is a clumsy interruption: â€Å"Preliminary research shows that it reduces the risk of trauma, decreases the frequency and severity of alcohol misuse, and increases enrollment in specialized alcohol abuse treatment.† (A colon is appropriate in this revision, which is wordier than necessary: â€Å"Preliminary research shows that it has the following outcomes: It reduces the risk of trauma, decreases the frequency and severity of alcohol misuse, and increases enrollment in specialized alcohol abuse treatment.†) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Has vs. Had20 Pairs of One-Word and Two-Word FormsPredicate Complements

What makes you shudder And what are your commitments

What makes you shudder And what are your commitments Grammar Geeks I belong to a LinkedIn group called Grammar Geeks, where one of the most popular discussions right now, with 269 comments, is â€Å"What Makes You Shudder?†Ã‚   Each of these 269 entries contains someone’s comment (or more often complaint) about a grammar gaffe. At first I was interested in some of the conversations†¦Ã‚   but quickly, the conversation itself was the thing making me shudder.   In fact, I began to shudder each time another member of the group posted a complaint.   Even the word â€Å"shudder† began to make me shudder! from toonpool.com My shuddering at the shuddering forced me to look at my own way of being around grammatical errors.   Do people shudder when I let them know I am shuddering? A Turning Point for The Essay Expert At Unleash the Power Within, the Tony Robbins seminar I attended recently, I discovered multiple errors in the handouts we were given.   Believing I could make a contribution, I brought some of these errors to the attention of one of the staff.   This man pointed out, quite correctly, that the errors certainly did not prevent people from signing up for programs – in particular the ones that cost $10,000. â€Å"Why do you care so much about this?† he asked.   â€Å"Why is your focus on finding things that are wrong?† And â€Å"What would like be like if you started finding things right?† I took his comment seriously, and perhaps it was the corresponding self-reflection that had me shuddering at the relentless list of grammar complaints populating the Grammar Geeks conversation. A Shudder-Free Life?   Finding my Commitment Have I stopped shuddering at the things that have traditionally made me shudder?   Well, no.   But I am putting more attention on my commitment to effective expression in the world. I am also considering that there are bigger problems in the world to shudder about if I want to shudder – like the way we treat our environment, and the failures of our mental health system, and the hunger that still exists in the world side by side with opulence. And I still care deeply about clarity in writing and other verbal expression.   My job is to help people and companies say what they want to say, powerfully and precisely.   When I write, or when I edit someone else’s writing, I care that the final result is moving, compelling, and result-producing. Often grammatical correctness is required to produce an intended result.   An error in a resume, cover letter, or college application can be the difference between acceptance or rejection, an interview or no interview.   It can change someone’s life – maybe someone who is destined to find a cure for cancer, or discover new treatments for mental illness, or advocate for environmental issues (I have worked with people doing all of these things). As for the shudderers, I believe there is something to be gained from acceptance.   Not everyone will write or speak perfectly all the time, and I can accept them for who they are rather than putting distance between us with a shudder.   I think I’ll listen for the meaning of their words instead.   Because even with a grammatical error or two, I can hear what people are saying loud and clear. 🙂 I often adjust my grammar to match the situation Im in. On the streets of Brooklyn, I ask for directions by saying, Wheres the post office at? and on a dentists intake form recently changed Whom should we thank? to Who should we thank? because it just sounds more normal to the general public. Log in to Reply Judy Cullins says: September 2, 2011 at 5:35 pm I say focus on meaning and did the information enlighten you? I get a few gripes on my editiing when the meaning is clear. why do these kinds subscribe to my 170 blog posts and books when the only thing they say to me is This is a grammatical error. They miss my humor and the picture. Certainly, if they read my body of work, they would think amazing, not grammar minutia. Log in to Reply Judy Cullins says: September 2, 2011 at 5:36 pm I meant to say the BIG picture. I love blogs with humor! Log in to Reply Penelope J. says: September 6, 2011 at 3:39 pm Im afraid that I find it hard to compromise. Writers should learn, among other things, to use correct grammar and punctuation. Its a sign of respect for their readers. If there are grammatical errors, as someone above pointed out, there may be other more important mistakes in the content. Some popular bloggers maintain that its their creativity and content that count, and not their grammar. Why focus on whats wrong? is the usual retort when you point out, for example, that the possessive its does not have an apostrophe. Little do they realize how many of their so-called readers are turned off by or not reading their posts anymore for this very reason. However, spoken English is another matter. People can speak it the way they like. Anyway, the language/lingo is changing so much that almost anything is acceptable. Log in to Reply The Essay Expert says: September 6, 2011 at 4:41 pm Thanks Penelope. I admit that while I hold high standards for myself and for other writers, I also know that there are fewer and fewer great writers out there. Hey, not everyone can have The Essay Expert edit their writing, as much as I would like to take that on! My intention is to be forgiving while not relaxing my standards. Quite a trick! Log in to Reply

Discussion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Discussion - Essay Example Bazarov is a nihilist and believes that everything in this world is only true on the basis of basis of scientific proof. He only believes that everything that is old and traditional has no meaning in it until and unless it is proved scientifically. According to the words of Uncle Pavel in chapter 5, Bazarov is a nihilist â€Å"who respects nothing†. In responding to his uncle, Arkady, Bazarov’s friend informs his uncle, The personality of Bazarov that is explicit from this introduction about his being a nihilist shows him as a person who keeps faith in nothing and believes on experimentations and scientific results. Pavel’s idea that Bazarov respects nothing is somehow right as one who shows distrust in everything will have no reverence for it. Therefore, Bazarov is critical about the things and believes around him. He regards art as somewhat time wastage, which shows that he lacks the sensuousness of life. Bazarov is a character that is somehow ironic about everything around him. He believes in nothing. He is himself a doctor and feels that his profession and work is far more effective than the work of a poet. He also shows disregard for many concepts as he says, According to Bazarov, aristocracy, liberalism and other concepts are of no meaning as they are not useful in any aspect. He regards all these words as a waste of time. He is not a Russian but considers himself such because of his negligible linkage to Rome. He further explains himself, Hence, according to Bazarov, usefulness of objects and principles is an important aspect that cannot be negated. He feels that he is in benefit by negating the existence and reality of everything. Bazarov informs that Romans do something by recognizing its importance. As related to Romans, he also keeps acceptance for performances that are useful. He even negates any feeling for his country. When

Recycling, Reducing and Reusing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Recycling, Reducing and Reusing - Essay Example Moreover, the examination of the recycling procedure with appropriate examples will also be discussed in the essay. The selected recycle journal template is comprised of diverse sorts of products that can be effortlessly recycled as well as reused. These products encompass newspapers, aluminum cans, milk jugs, glass bottles, magazines, water bottles and detergent containers among others. Moreover, the units of the aforesaid products can also be identified to be portrayed in the selected recycling journal template (Argosy University Online Programs, 2011). It can be affirmed in this similar concern that recycling is the method based on which a community can diminish wastes. Waste minimization is necessary to curtail the quantity of the waste materials to be recycled. It is worth mentioning that by recycling, reducing along with reusing the wastes, the selected community i.e. Fayetteville City will be able to decompose the waste products and also in generating greater awareness about the importance of recycle in the community. Specially mentioning, the quantity of waste products that are to be recycled is mainly determined by two important factors. These include the population of a particular community and the consumption patterns of the items. In coming years, it is projected that the population of Fayetteville City may increase. Thus, with the increase in the population, it is anticipated that there will be a subsequent increase in the volume of the waste products to be recycled. Based on the provided recycling journal template, the total unit including all the waste products that have to be recycled is 51 (Argosy University Online Programs, 2011). Therefore, it reflects that the total garbage, which could be recycled by the community i.e. Fayetteville City is 10424808 units. The calculation has been presented hereunder. It is vivid that a huge figure of total waste products can be recycled and reused. The thrash, which could be

The expectancy theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The expectancy theory - Essay Example n’ a motivation do things to reach an objective would prove true if said person believes in the value of the goal and there is chance to reach that goal. If an employee under the direction of a manager could he motivated to do something set by the latter, if the said employee puts value on the outcome of his or efforts and believes that reaching the same outcome is attainable or probable. Vroom’s explanation of the expectancy theory can be reduced into an equation as follows: Force = valence x expectancy (Koontz & Weihrich, 2006). Force here would represent the strength of employee’s or subordinate’s motivation. Such force is a function of valence which equates with the strength of same employee’s preference for an outcome and expectancy as expressed in a probability that a certain action ultimately brings a desired outcome (Koontz & Weihrich, 2006). A manager would benefit much if he has knowledge that an employee is interested in outcome like prom otion or higher pay. A manager, in applying the theory can tie up the pay with a level of performance while meet organizational objectives. Given the connection, it would be easier for the manager to motivate the said employee to do tasks assigned in attaining the desired level of performance which could actually help the employee or subordinate to be promoted or have the higher pay. Indifferent and non-believing employees could not be motivated as there would be a zero and negative valence

He effect mass media's Female beauty ideal on female adolescents' Research Paper

He effect mass media's Female beauty ideal on female adolescents' self-perception - Research Paper Example The media exemplifies female beauty based on thinness and flawlessness – unrealistic and unattainable physical attributes for anyone, even the featured model(s). These images can have negative affects on female adolescents’ self-perception. Body image is central to adolescent girls’ self-definition because they have been lead to believe that appearance is an important basis for self-evaluation and for public evaluation (Thompson, Heinberg, Altabe, &Tantleff-Dunn, 1999). Awareness of constant public evaluation and the internalization of the gaze of others lead young girls to self-monitor, and in turn judge their own appearance. (Advertising Educational Foundation Inc., 2003). Social comparison is another aspect that plays a significant role in female adolescents’ self-perception (Anderson et al., 2001). By comparing oneself to and attempting to fit such a stringent beauty ideal, female youth faces inevitable failure, resulting in body dissatisfaction, low s elf-esteem, and/or eating disorders (Heinberg, 1996; Rodin & Striegel-Moore, 1985; Thompson & Stice, 2001). Adolescents are vulnerable and easily influenced, and research demonstrates that adolescent females are directly affected by the stereotypes and thin images that depict female beauty in mainstream media. â€Å"Many adolescents are concerned with bodily characteristics and physical attractiveness, and the media is filled with people who exemplify a cultural ideal of beauty that is difficult for most adolescents to attain. For females, a critical part of this ideal is being thin† (Anderson et al., 2001). Exposure to these ideals and images has lead to distorted beliefs and definitions of beauty amongst young girls. One study shows female adolescents’ distorted description of the ideal girl, i.e., 5ft 7in., 100lb, size 5, with long blond hair and blue eyes (Nichter & Nichter, 1991). The problem with such a view is that adolescents often tend to relate themselves to it and attempt to change themselves accordingly. Previous studies have examined the negative effects that fashion magazines have on female adolescents. This study uses such literature to dive deeper into this problem, aiming to gather a better understanding of how time spent, repeated exposure, and both direct and indirect pressures from various media (TV, Internet, magazines) impacts self-perception amongst adolescent girls. Specifically focusing on girls’ ages 13-17, the goal of this study is to point out the effects the unrealistic female beauty ideal promoted by the mass media has on their self-esteem and body-esteem, given that adolescence is such an influential developmental stage. Literature Review Media or what is generally referred to as mass media is any form of communication that simultaneously reaches a large number of people, it is represented and not limited to TV, newspapers, magazines, films, books and billboards (Wimmer ). Given these multiple forms of media it has become possible to access a number of them at any given time. This explains why they have been so effective in influencing our culture, changing beliefs, tastes, interests and behavior (Biagi). It has become an important aspect in dictating what people consider as ideal. The most affected

Social Justice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Social Justice - Essay Example A review of these arguments in favour of and against death penalty shows that death penalty is, indeed, an efficacious mean of punishing criminals guilty of serious and heinous crimes. This paper, therefore, evaluates the debates in favour of and against capital punishment and presents a coherent and logical debate in favour of death punishment. In the presentation of the arguments in favour of death penalty, Stephen Toulmin’s model of argumentation is applied (Stephen Toulmin, online). The application of the Toulmin’s model of argumentation helps in presenting the arguments in a coherent and logical manner. There are three main arguments in support of death penalty as an effective mean of punishing the offenders who are guilty of crimes of high magnitude. The first argument is based on the claim that death penalty deters crime. Death penalty as a deterrent mean to further commission of crime is one of the main reasons why death penalty is practiced in many jurisdiction s. As a mean of punishing the criminals for their offences, death penalty deters further commission of crime in two ways. ... SA in an attempt to find out whether, really, capital punishments lead to reduction in crime rate, it was found that, there is, indeed, a strong correlation between death penalty and the rate of crimes, especially crimes of high magnitude like murder ( Arguments for and against Death Penalty, online). The study showed a significant reduction in crime, in places where death penalty is practiced as compared to other places where different means of punishing such criminals is practiced. But, apart from the studies that tend to support the view that death penalty can lead to reduction in crime, it is also, a matter of common sense that, when the people who are committing crimes are abolished or killed, then the rate of crimes will significantly reduce because they will not have another opportunity to commit the crimes. The second reason why death penalty leads to reduction in crime is due to the fact that by killing the offenders of serious crimes, other people with the intent to kill wi ll be afraid of doing so for fear of the consequences that would befall them(Goel, 2008). People, naturally, fear severe punishments, especially death, and so, when the law prescribes death penalty for serious crimes, then many people, utterly out of fear for the death, will refrain from committing such crimes. Although there are some studies contradicting this fact, arguing that death penalty does not deter criminals from committing crimes( Arguments for and Against Death Penalty, online) there are contrary studies supporting the view that death penalty instils fear among the criminals and, therefore, prevents them from committing crimes. But it is a fact that some people commit crimes due to psychological problems and for these kinds of people, death penalty cannot prevent them from

He effect mass media's Female beauty ideal on female adolescents' Research Paper

He effect mass media's Female beauty ideal on female adolescents' self-perception - Research Paper Example The media exemplifies female beauty based on thinness and flawlessness – unrealistic and unattainable physical attributes for anyone, even the featured model(s). These images can have negative affects on female adolescents’ self-perception. Body image is central to adolescent girls’ self-definition because they have been lead to believe that appearance is an important basis for self-evaluation and for public evaluation (Thompson, Heinberg, Altabe, &Tantleff-Dunn, 1999). Awareness of constant public evaluation and the internalization of the gaze of others lead young girls to self-monitor, and in turn judge their own appearance. (Advertising Educational Foundation Inc., 2003). Social comparison is another aspect that plays a significant role in female adolescents’ self-perception (Anderson et al., 2001). By comparing oneself to and attempting to fit such a stringent beauty ideal, female youth faces inevitable failure, resulting in body dissatisfaction, low s elf-esteem, and/or eating disorders (Heinberg, 1996; Rodin & Striegel-Moore, 1985; Thompson & Stice, 2001). Adolescents are vulnerable and easily influenced, and research demonstrates that adolescent females are directly affected by the stereotypes and thin images that depict female beauty in mainstream media. â€Å"Many adolescents are concerned with bodily characteristics and physical attractiveness, and the media is filled with people who exemplify a cultural ideal of beauty that is difficult for most adolescents to attain. For females, a critical part of this ideal is being thin† (Anderson et al., 2001). Exposure to these ideals and images has lead to distorted beliefs and definitions of beauty amongst young girls. One study shows female adolescents’ distorted description of the ideal girl, i.e., 5ft 7in., 100lb, size 5, with long blond hair and blue eyes (Nichter & Nichter, 1991). The problem with such a view is that adolescents often tend to relate themselves to it and attempt to change themselves accordingly. Previous studies have examined the negative effects that fashion magazines have on female adolescents. This study uses such literature to dive deeper into this problem, aiming to gather a better understanding of how time spent, repeated exposure, and both direct and indirect pressures from various media (TV, Internet, magazines) impacts self-perception amongst adolescent girls. Specifically focusing on girls’ ages 13-17, the goal of this study is to point out the effects the unrealistic female beauty ideal promoted by the mass media has on their self-esteem and body-esteem, given that adolescence is such an influential developmental stage. Literature Review Media or what is generally referred to as mass media is any form of communication that simultaneously reaches a large number of people, it is represented and not limited to TV, newspapers, magazines, films, books and billboards (Wimmer ). Given these multiple forms of media it has become possible to access a number of them at any given time. This explains why they have been so effective in influencing our culture, changing beliefs, tastes, interests and behavior (Biagi). It has become an important aspect in dictating what people consider as ideal. The most affected

Based on Hypothesis that education does not occur in a vacuum use Essay

Based on Hypothesis that education does not occur in a vacuum use Plato's system of education in the'ideal polis'and the four influences on education presented - Essay Example The ideal education system would prepare each class of people for their various roles in the society. This universe has not come into existence by chance but has a purpose and has been intelligently crafted. The souls on this universe are at different levels of evolution. Through understanding and emulation, the souls can be restored to their original state of excellence. This requires education and work according to each one’s level of evolution. This led to the division of the society into different classes. In The Republic, he said "...compulsory learning never sticks in the mind." Plato believed that children would never learn unless they wanted to learn. Hence, it was essential that education should commensurate with their level of evolution. This called for segregation of classes, so that each group could be educated in their special field. Plato’s educational thought is his portrayal of the ideal society or the ‘ideal polis’ in The Republic. His ‘ideal polis’ consists of three classes of citizens - the Guardians (ruler of the polis), the Auxiliaries (Guardians who remain warriors), and Craftsmen (the rest of the citizens). This model society according to Plato should be ruled by highly intelligent philosopher-kings. Plato believed that Guardians are the best members of the society because they are best able to preserve the city. Therefore, he argued, that the Guardians should be the ones who ought to rule the city (412a-c). In The Republic, Plato demonstrates that the vision of an ‘ideal polis’ is the main thesis of a dialogue that justice is the foundation of a good political order and hence in everyone’s interest. It is the interest of the entire political community. It inculcates a sense of unity and keeps the polis healthy. Plato’s ideas was that those who love their polis the most would love the polis the best. The reason he cited was that if we love something, we identify ourselves with that to the extent that we are even

Riordan New System Proposal Essay Example for Free

Riordan New System Proposal Essay Executive Summary Riordan Publishing started as a small publishing company made up of two brothers, George and Edward Riordan. They wanted to provide a way for creative minds to be heard. Their objective was and will always be to help writers reach their full potential. Riordan eventually expanded to four locations around the globe to assist authors of all varieties achieve their dreams. Riordan works with editors, artists, and authors; which is why they understand the importance of unifying and synchronizing all of their locations. Improvements in the system were needed in order to effectively accomplish this objective. Riordan’s issues involved: 1. Communication problems 2. Data sharing concerns 3. Collaborating in real time 4. Project management Riordan researched several options for improving their system, and decided to convert to Cloud Computing. The benefits for Cloud Computing outweighed the risks involved; influencing Riordan to choose Egnyte Cloud Computing as its Cloud service provider. The benefits of Cloud computing are vast and can enable Riordan to reduce spending on in house technology infrastructure, streamline processes for employees worldwide all while increasing flexibility of the cloud and scaling it to the needs of Riordan. After researching the many different cloud computing sources, Riordan chose Egnyte as the perfect fit for the company. Egnyte won Best Data Center Storage Solution award in Europe. Egnyte was also awarded â€Å"Most promising startup cloud provider† at the Up 2011 Cloud Computing Conference. They  offer features that will help integrate Riordan’s Publishing like: 1. Supports a variety of systems 2. Security and Privacy 3. Synchronization 4. Premium support 5. Storage 6. Audit reports Riordan feels confident that Egnyte will innovate the way they perform in every aspect of the business, creating a more unified work environment for employees anywhere they are. Egnyte allows Riordan to gain access to technologies (infrastructure, platforms, and software) that they might otherwise need sophisticated IT support to obtain and setup. For example, few small businesses have the knowledge and expertise to perform the installation and planning of an IT system or even perform the ongoing maintenance required to have it run optimally. Egnyte offers solutions, by simply contracting with the Cloud provider Riordan will have the ability to immediately use these services and offerings. Egnyte enhances Riordan by improving many of its core business practices: 1. Communications a. Employees to employees b. Office to office c. Employees to editors, artists, and authors 2. Collaborations a. Employees to employees b. Office to office c. Employees to editors, artists, and authors 3. Innovative ways to enlist new writers 4. Ability to share data with fewer risks for: a. Plagiarism b. Intellectual theft c. Creative theft Riordan only has one main concern with converting to Egnyte’s Cloud Computing service and that is the security of the Cloud platform. They realize that there is a small percentage for security risks given that there is a lack of  control of security operations from Riordan, internally. Riordan wanted to ensure there were ways to reduce this risk before committing to Egnyte’s services. Riordan decided to implement a third party key management system. This system will give Riordan the peace of mind knowing that data that the company has of authors, editors, artists, and employees has a little more protection via secure encryption; making it less likely for theft or tampering. Riordan has chosen Vermetric Data Security as their extra line of defense. Vermetric Data Security ensures there is a consistent and repeatable method for encrypting Riordan’s data, enforcing access policies and gaining real time security information on its systems. Cloud Computing is going to give Riordan the competitive edge they need to continue to makes dreams come true as George Riordan stated, â€Å"We will open the eyes of the world, one book at a time.† The key to the Riordan’s success is to stay up-to-date with training for employees, making sure the business plan is in constant alignment with the IT system, and analyzing for future issues that may arise. By using the Cloud technology Riordan not only ensures that it’s company data is secure and accessible worldwide, it is also flexible enough to provide future upgrades and expansion and forever scale with the companies needs and desires. Riordan Publishing- EGNYTE A New Enterprise System Proposal History of Riordan Publishing Brothers Edward and George Riordan were both struggling authors in 19th century New York City. Reputable publishing companies were few are far between. The Riordan brothers were in need of a local publishing company that was interested in investing and supporting struggling authors seeking to achieve their dreams; by having their work materialize in print. Finding a publishing company that suited these needs was harder than they anticipated. The Riordan Brothers did the next best thing they could. Riordan Publishing started with humble beginning in New York City in 1814. Edward and George Riordan were the only employees for the first three months, but that quickly changed. From the beginning their company mission statement, a quote often said by George Riordan â€Å"We will open the eyes of the world, one book at a time† drew the attention of other likeminded  authors. Within 5 years of being in business Riordan Publishing had expanded from one office in New York City. George moved to London; opened an office, and the company grew from two employees to over 100 employees and over 400 authors. Today Riordan Publishing employs over 4,000 people worldwide with offices in New York, London, Seattle, Rome, and has over 15,000 authors and artist. Each location within Riordan Publishing has created individual processes for author/editor collaboration. Riordan Publishing has been searching for an Enterprise solution to unify their international locations and Authors that are spread around the globe. Sharing data between author/office and office/office has been a redundant and convoluted process. Riordan Publishing is now exploring their options for unifying and synchronizing all their offices. This transition will introduce global employees to a singular fast secure and modern platform. The new enterprise system that Riordan decided to implement is cloud computing. Cloud Computing Egnyte is Riordan Publishing’s answer for a cloud computing solution. Egnyte is proven cloud storage platform. Egnyte just won Europe’s Best Data Center Storage Solution award at The Seventh Annual Cloud World forum in London. Egnyte offers enterprise solutions; which includes a scalable, â€Å"file sharing infrastructure with a complete centralized administration, auditing, and storage integrations for use of unlimited employees. Egnyte provides its’ users with a variety of computing services that include low cost storage space, content access, mobile access, and a top notch support, supports a variety of operating systems.† (Egnyte, 2014) Included in the price for the Enterprise Package you get: unlimited storage, 10GB man per file size, Enterprise-class security, Desktop Sync, FTP Integration, Premium support, Outlook Integration, Custom Branding, Role-based Administration, Storage Sync, Audit Reports, Salesforce.Com Integration, and AD and LDAP Support, and most importantly enterprise file sync and share (EFSS). These features are what persuaded Riordan to select Egnyte as their cloud computing source. Business Requirements Riordan Publishing’s business requirements are simple: global access, reliability, speed, minimizes unneeded costs by combining its software and  hardware infrastructure, security, an ease of collaboration solution, and affordability. Having servers in four different countries has been costly to monitor and maintain. By virtualizing the servers on the Cloud platform, it eliminates the need for four different server locations, the electric bill and internet bills associated with running them and also the IT staff that maintains them. The shift from the four servers into the Cloud can save Riordan an immense amount of capital and enable funds to be used in other ways such as corporate expansion. Riordan’s IT team has been growing nearly as fast as their list of new writers trying to keep up with the demands of supporting its legacy software and dated servers. Riordan needs a solution that will upgrade its ancient system along with cutting its cost in its infrastructure management, and a way to unite all their servers into one centralized setting that everyone can easily access, the solution being the â€Å"Cloud†. The Cloud computing solution will provide a reliable, fast, and an effective method for Riordan’s editors, writers, marketing, financial teams to collaborate; enabling them to upload, access projects from the office, or the comfort of a writer’s home. Riordan is in need of a system that helps with editorial workflow, a way to unite their writers with their editors, and management for a collective collaboration resolution so goals and deadlines are easily met. There is also a need for an ease of access download for outside vendors such as a printing house or e-book company like Amazon Kindle. Information Riordan Publishing handles various amounts of information daily. Due to the nature of Riordan’s work as a publisher, it is very important that information is protected. The type of information on the cloud would consist of original literature, photos, research, and products scheduled to be released. Security is of an utmost importance because of the inherent threat of plagiarism, intellectual, and creative theft. Since the company has 4,000 employees and over 15,000 contracted authors and artist, the cloud would have to be very powerful to meet the demands of the employees. The employees of Riordan use the Office Suite, Microsoft Outlook, and a plethora of other productive software applications. Each international office and individual  author and artist can use a different type of mobile devise including, Blackberry, iPhone, Android, and Windows Phone. The new system would have to take all the employees’ needs, and incorporate that into the custom create cloud operating system. The cloud would eventually have all employees’ emails, conversations, files, pictures, and documents. The information most definitely would be safeguarded from vulnerabilities, threats, and risks from cyber-crimes. Security and Ethical Concerns One of the main concerns a company has is the security; which can involve ethical issues. Riordan Publishing had a couple concerns regarding the safe keeping of their data in the cloud. Some of the concerns were: If employees are allowed to use cellular phones for business use, then how will the company know when employees are abusing company time for personal use? What happens if data is hacked, and client information is stolen and sold? Is the company held accountable when laws are broken by employees? Riordan Publishing Company decided to take steps that would educate all employees of the laws, and the consequences of breaking them. The company will be implementing mandatory meetings to keep employees informed of cyber-crimes, rules of the use of business smart phones, appropriate use of persona time at work, and ways to improve employees’ work habits. Riordan’s main focus is data security: which needs to meet industry standards that consist of keeping the system up to date and monitored. Once implemented, Riordan will benefit from the cloud system enabling employees to connect to the corporate network over VPN for a seamless experience anywhere. The contributions to the company are vast, but the main appeal is that employees can access a network that is custom tailored to them from any online connection. Riordan also would not have to pay for hefty data center bills, expensive servers, a tech team to maintain equipment, and power bills. Conversion Process Riordan Publishing Company decided that the best course of action regarding issues with their previous system was to convert to Cloud Computing. In order for Riordan Publishing to combine their international offices and  individual contracted authors into one centralized data system, a Cloud Storage and Management System will be implemented. Egnyte will standardize procedures for sharing, collaboration, storing, and accessing a centralized network. This will make it possible for Riordan’s entire pool of employees to follow the same processes, continue procedures of working with authors to publish new books, and produce publications in a more streamline timeline. Cloud computing allows Riordan Publishing to achieve one of their goals of going green. Riordan employees, contracted authors, and artists also do not have to worry about the costs, hassles of mailing manuscripts, or shuffling through emails to find work they are using for collaboration with one another. Egnyte’s easily accessed cloud storage allows all users to organize, view, and update data simultaneously. Proposed Process Changes New and existing contracted authors and artists will be given access to Riordan’s Egnyte account. They will upload copies of their work throughout the entire writing process. Egnyte’s editors and publishers will be able to access their work, and collaborate effectively on each project. Each user will be able to access Egnyte from their home computer or mobile device to give status updates, check emails, and upload documents for easy collaboration. Once the editor and author have finished their project they will send the project to Riordan’s Senior Editors for approval; who will then notify the Distribution and Marketing Team that the project is ready for printing. The Distribution and Marketing Team will then notify Bickford Printing and Amazon’s Kindle team to log on to Riordan’s Egnyte account, this is where they can access the publications that are ready for printing and distribution to E-books. The diagram below shows how simple, and streamline the new process will be. Diagram 1.1 All of Riordan’s International offices, contracted Authors, and Artists can now access the same centralized data network to create, collaborate, and distribute new books using Egnyte’s cloud storage. (Egnyte.com, 2014) Cloud Technology Cloud technology uses a method called, â€Å"offloading†. Cloud technology manages the majority of programs processing. This means that most processing can be done on the cloud; as opposed to the actual mobile devices, increasing overall efficiency. Being able to access the cloud from a laptop or smartphone provides great flexibility. Employees are to travel while working, or work from a remote location. The mobility also has negative implications mainly being security and privacy. Users depend on the IT management for security and privacy settings because the data is stored and managed on the cloud. A bug or security loophole exploited may result in a breach of privacy. There is truly no way to know how a cloud vendor safeguards data. Potential vulnerabilities could, for instance, grant a group access to passwords, or other private information used in Riordan’s Publishing Company. Cloud computing also brings up the question of reliability. Riordan has to understand that from a technical standpoint it would not be possible to provide users with the cloud in a place with no internet connectivity such as a park, a basement, a tunnel, and a subway. Even with the limitations the cloud can be quite useful and powerful; if employees are properly trained to adhere to strict computer and network policies that discourage them from leaving their devices unmonitored. The benefits of cloud computing far outweigh the negative aspects like giving a company the ability to start up a network with low overhead costs, and little setup time. The maintenance aspect of owning your own servers, and having to up keep up and administer them is also new the third party cloud company’s responsibility. This would give Riordan’s employees more time to work on their tasks at hand rather than fiddle with a network. The mobile platform has many obstacles to overcome, but once a user does acquire a reliable internet connection the user will see the benefits of not having to be restricted to their office. Together the cloud and mobile devices will provide flexibility and mobility that will push Riordan into a productive and successful future. The diagram below represents how Riordan Publishing’s information will process through the cloud. Diagram Riordan’s information system flowing through the cloud. Business Requirements Riordan has had problems in the past with authors and editors not making deadlines because of the way they shared information in the past. Mailing hard copies of manuscripts, getting lost in the mail, misplaced, or shipped to the wrong Riordan office. Those manuscripts that were sent in digitally were not being saved to a network drive where others could access them. Instead, they were stored locally to specific machines where they could be lost due to computer failure, someone leaving the company, or someone due to calling in sick. This meant no one else could access the information; which meant deadlines were not met. Riordan was losing money hand over fist because they were doing extra unnecessary double work. Authors, artists, and editors could not collaborate in a timely manner because of the slow sharing process. This is what initiated the conversion. Riordan’s ultimate demand for cloud technology comes from needing a Global unified network experience for all persons associated with Riordan regardless of their physical locations in the world. Cloud Computing enables Riordan to globalize the workforce at a lower cost. This allows the user access to the cloud as long as they have an internet connection. The reduction in spending on technology infrastructure makes for minimal up front spending, and the cloud can be scaled to pay as you go; while services can be implemented based on Riordan’s demands. The overall savings Riordan will have over a course of several years can be used to fund new operations, expand the organization, hire new employees, give bonuses, and upgrade personal desktop computers and laptops. The impact will be more purchasing power and more capital. The cloud computing infrastructure gives more freedom to Riordan. This allows them to work without diving into heavy software, licensing fees, or spending big money on hardware. Additionally, the direction no matter if it is the OS, email client, or software can all be customized. It would not be a problem for the organization to just suddenly change their mind about their cloud. What Riordan really gets out of this business venture is the two most valuable things in the business world; time and money. The cloud makes the acquisition of these two valuable elements to be made fairly quickly. Riordan will profit from Cloud Computing because they are willing to take the necessary steps to evolve with the chances of technology. Egnyte is going to integrate all the aspects of Riordan Publishing Company into one location; making it easy for all employees, authors, editors, and artists to collaborate with one another in a single place; the cloud. Acquiring and Maintaining Egnyte Riordan determined changes were needed to improve performance, communication, and time management throughout all locations of the company. This was decided after making a business process management plan. Riordan researched the benefits and risks of converting to cloud computing. After determining cloud computing would enable the company to improve communication, data storage, and enhanced project management; Riordan needed to decide on the best way to convert to the new system. Riordan chose to use the direct cutover conversion process. Riordan established a project management strategy that helped the company better understand their budgets, time constraints, tools, skills, and techniques; this gave the company insight on how to improve these areas with Egnyte’s Cloud Computing application. Next, Riordan began training employees on this new system; showing the employees the different enhancements that Egnyte offered, and ways to deal with issues that may arise from the conversion. Riordan also designed an IT strategy to ensure that all areas of the company understood the company’s end goal. The one risk in cloud computing that Riordan needed to address was securing their data. They adapted a Third Party Key Management System to deliver an added step in securing their data. The key management system that Riordan decided to choose was Vormetric Data Security. Riordan believes that when all areas of the company work closely with the IT division, then the company will run efficiently. This will allow employees to focus on other areas in the company that require employees’ attention. Strategic Role Cloud Computing will innovate and produce business growth for Riordan Publishing Company. This will be a hybrid cloud that contains software-as-a-service allowing Riordan to efficiently communicate, share  data, and reduce costs. Once the system is in place, the employees are trained, and all departments are fine tuned to the needed adjustments regarding the cloud; allowing the company to focus on the accelerating projects, collaborating with colleagues, strengthening relationships with distributors, and most importantly discovering new talent. One area that is overlooked because of time restrictions is unknown writers that submit unrequested manuscripts that are placed in a pile called â€Å"slush† pile. The benefits of Engyte’s Cloud service include: â€Å"the ability to access new technology, faster application development, available expertise in special skills, faster responses to business demands, and flexibility in IT peaks and valleys.† Employees, authors, aspiring writers, editors, and artists can easily communicate with video conferences; while viewing information about an active project no matter the office location. (Andriole, S.J., 2012) This conversion will essentially allow for cost reduction that could be used to scout for new clients; which opens up more doors of opportunities with the cloud through chat groups and communities, implement new design tools, improve promoting tactics, update to the newest material for the production of the books, and implementing the policy of bringing your own device to work. This policy is possible because employees and all other persons involved in the company can connect through devices such as smart phones, laptops, thin clients, and tablets. This can reduce the cost of purchasing devices for the company, and allows the company the ability to give incentives for participation. References Andriole, S. (2012). Seven Indisputable Technology Trends that will define 2015. In Communications of the Association for Information Systems (Vol.30, pp. P 61-72). Laudon, Kenneth. C., Laudon, Jane. P. (2013). Essentials of Management Information Systems (10th ED.). : Prentice Hall. http://www.egnyte.com/corp/plan_pricing.html http://www.pwc.com

Stress is a rising concern in corporate world

Stress is a rising concern in corporate world Stress is a rising concern in corporate world. In fact, repeat increase in percentage of workers in global economies experiencing a rise in workplace stress. According to survey by Northwestern National Life One-fourth of employees consider their jobs as the number one stressor in their lives. Job life is the most important part of employee life but on other hand it is one of the key reason of stress. Job atmosphere contain with competitive nature that why people in the world are more center in achieving job related goals and ignoring the stressors which influencing their work and life. (Ahsan, Abdullah, Gun Fie, Alam, 2009).Due to stress an organization can suffer serious crisis such as reduction in employee productivity, increase in employee turnover, inferior motivation levels and augment between employee conflicts. The main object of this article is establish a comparative analysis on employee characteristics versus working conditions and identifies the primary cause of job stre ss. Most researchers have the same opinion on certain factor highly stressful in work environment for example organizational culture and function can be stressful due to poor communication, lack of support in problem resolving and higher management failure in defining organizational goals lead to stress. Under or over promotion, poor pay, nature of job causes stress regarding employee personal career development. If management fails to identify the employee roles in organization then role ambiguity and role conflict generate stress. Lack Interpersonal relationships at work, conflict in demands work to home and work overload also multiply the stress effect on employee (European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, 2002) There is multiple Job condition that may lead to stress. Long working hours, infrequent rest break, hectic and routine tasks in shift works, lack in employee skill utilization little sense of control at work place these all work condition can be categorized in design of task which leads to stress. Management Style can causes stress for example lack of employee participation decision making, poor communication hierarchy in the organization, excessively tight controls by the managers creates negative stress among the employees. Depressed organization environment, lesser amount of support from coworkers and deficiency in providing help by supervisors reduces the interpersonal relationships and increase the chances of stress. Role overload with uncertain job expectations and too much work to home responsibility creates stress which leads to role conflict. Rapid changes in political, economic and technology extend stress and increase job insecurity and jamming the opportunity for employee growth. Symptoms of physical stress are headaches or backaches, muscle tension, diarrhea or constipation, nausea, dizziness, Insomnia, Chest pain, rapid heartbeat, weight gain or loss, skin breakouts (hives, eczema), Loss of sex drive and frequent colds. (The Texas AM University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating, 2009) Signs and symptoms of stress can also be caused by other psychological and medical problems. The prime focus of this article is to identify employee behavioral symptoms during stress and how they affect employee physiological wellbeing. Employee behavioral symptoms during stress can be define as increased absenteeism, tardiness, and intentions by workers to quit their jobs-all of which have a negative effect on organizational performance. If the role in an organization is not clear or unclear boundaries of responsibility due to this situation interpersonal friction between the persons involved. Unfortunately, the conflict often categorizes as interpersonal conflict rather than role conflict, and resolution is then complicated and misdirected. (Fisher, c. 1977, Rev. 1985, 2000.) Role conflict is a type of social conflict it is due to when an individual being require to perform more than one role and these role are highly incompatible from each others. In individual case a person responsibility is being torn between multiple roles with in organization or groups or outside the organization. When an employee has to carry out multiple management roles with in one department it can case conflict between supervisor and co-worker roles. In journal role conflict occur due to overlapping of responsibility and obligations to different group. With an organization point of view role conflict can be define, when individual employee have to perform numerous conflicting responsibilities. Role conflict can also be build up within organization boundaries, when employees require to generating more production and on other hand managers demands supervisors for more improve quality controls. Responsibility of results, without sufficient authority to achieve unrealistic objectives leads to role conflict. Employee life can also suffer from work to family role conflict which reduces the organizational commitment. Increase competitive pressures on organizations for increase outcomes and requiring more time for workforce results in less time available for the employees to be with their families. Finding indicates that there was a major contribution of work-family role conflict to organizational commitment. (Akintayo, 2010) Work-family role conflict generates due to various reasons and these can be unique to each individual situation. Source for Work-family Role conflict can be time-related, strain-related or behavior-related and the outcome of role conflict can be in shape of both psychologically and behaviorally stress. Employee feels guilt about spending less time at home due to work overload at work place, lack in social communication with co-workers at work place or family members at home. Work family conflict affects unenthusiastically employee work and family life quality. It is difficult for employee to carry out responsibility in work domain at the cost of neglecting responsibility and time at family domain. Employee inability to socialize due to work load, responsibility of results without sufficient authority and unrealistic objectives leads to stress with the outcome of role conflict effecting employee productivity. Telecom industry in Pakistan has shown rapid growth and proven its importance in economic growth. Many foreign investments are being invested in Pakistan in telecom industry total of 1438.60 million US $ foreign direct investment in telecom sector in year 2007-08. GST/CED Collection from Telecom Sector is Rs. 44.53 billion in 2007-08. Telecom sector share in GDP is 2 % in 2005-06. (Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, 2009) Reason why employee facing stress is due to nature of their job attending non-stop mobile calls, direct interaction with customers and achieving the target within limited time line make the employee stressful (Dollard, Dormann, Boyd, Winefield, Winefield, 2003). Employees have to produce quality through resolving the customer problems so they can remain satisfied while increasing the quantity to reduce the cost by following preset standards. (Suri Rizvi, 2008) There is great rivalry among telecom companies in attempt to gain a larger market share. Due to the enormous competition among different companies, employees are obliged to increase productivity and provide better quality under unrealistic quality controls. This is the ideal situation where stress can easily generates and cause its negative effect on employee productivity. The nature of call center job also posses necessary ingredients which are identify by the scholars for role conflict. This article provides the information how an employee effect by stress which cases role conflict. Another objective is to identification of key factor which cases stress, role conflict and their relationship with employee productivity. Testing relationship among these factors and there outcome with the help of quantitative tools. This research can provide benefits to company owners, CEO, managers and supervisors, how they can develop the stress free workplace culture. It can also be use as a guide line in prevention and control of the causes of job stress and role conflict. The outcome of this research can be low employee turnover, reduction in workplace conflict and increase in productivity. Organization can reduce the impact of stressors by minimize the role conflict and role ambiguity by developing such policies which gave employee more authority, so they can perform their work activities. Stress affects the performance of employees for last three decades comprehensive work has been done in this regard. The source and outcome of stress are dissimilar in every individual case that why its hard to held responsibility of stress on few stressors. Rising development and expansion in markets and businesses establish the need for more research on stress, how work related stressor effect performance and predict the effect of workplace stressor. Researchers are keen to build up intervention designed which reduces the possible negative impact of stressor on job performance. (Gilboa, Fried, Shirom, Cooper, 2008). Study has point out the following familiar sources of job stress with in organizational environment which can affect employee wellbeing. Role ambiguity is the vague categorization of rite, duties, responsibility and limitation that describe employees job. Work relationships such as employee relationship with its coworkers and mangers. Employee communication gap with its coworkers can cause stress. Employees feels that they have proper training, resources, equipment and tools to perform their task. Career advancement refers to employee expectations and prospects to growth within organization. Lack of opportunity in growth increases the stress. Insecurity of losing job and uncertainty about the future also cultivate stress. Lack in decision making, authority and control at work sturdily correlate with stress. Work-home interface also cause the stress, when work responsibility spill over with employee home life. This can create complexity in employee relationship outside the work specia lly when employee experiencing lack of social support. Workload refers to when employees are unable to produce or fulfill the work requirement according to what is ask to them. When employees are expected to perform more with in limited time or resources allocate to them, in the result employee experience stress at workplace. Compensation and benefits gives employee the feeling of self-worth and their value to the organization. The nature and structure of job can cause stress job such as how much physical working is require, what would be the working conditions, how much challenging and experience would be drive from the job and type of tasks. (Coetzee Villiers, 2010). Work-related factors can be formulate due to work over load when job is requiring more output and attention in limited duration or underutilization of employees skills and they start feeling that their knowledge and experience is ignore and wasted. When employee starting to realize that his job is boring or tedious. (Green, et al., 1995). Job or role ambiguity creates stress when job requirement are not formally designed and worker are uncertain about their responsibilities and duties. (Beehr, 1985). Role ambiguity negatively correlated with employee creativity but role conflict when mediate by self-efficacy show positive link with employee creativity. Future more self-efficacy and job satisfaction provide weak mediators link between role conflicts. Conversely lone job satisfaction provide weak mediator link between role ambiguity and creativity. (Tang Chang, 2010) Employee has to manage the numerous roles at the same time. Whenever time dedicated at work make difficult to fulfill his family roles requirements then work to family conflict generates and the outcome of this conflict is stress. (Greenhaus Beutell, 1985) Employee has to develop their professional skills in order to meet the changing requirement due to advancements in technology. In the absence of advance knowledge individual feels job insecurity. These technological advancements make the workplace more complicate and stressful. (Tse, 2010) In service provider occupation lack in professional aspect (autonomy, client satisfaction and collegiality) and greater Bureaucratic Conditions (formalization and reutilization) leads to work overload and role conflict which is correlate with unmet expectation. Higher unmet expectation linked with higher job stress. Unmet expectations play important role in organizational-professional conflict because in bureaucratic structure organizations employees consider that their skills and abilities are being run over which harms employee expectations and case stress. (Lait Wallace, 2002) Individual with strong internal locus of control are less effect by work stress as compare the one with an external locus of control. Support from coworkers and supervisors are beneficial in reducing workload stressors. Work stress is positive correlated with depression and resource is negatively correlated with depression. Resource consider as a coworker and supervisor lend a hand in workload and strength the individual internal locus of control. Supervisor support narrowed down the prediction for role conflict. (Stanley, Muramatsu, Heller, Hughes, Johnson, Valles, 2010) In Meta analysis seven stressors have been identified (job performance: role ambiguity, role conflict, role overload, job insecurity, work-family conflict, environmental uncertainty, and situational constraints) and they show negative correlation with job performance. Investigation of moderators relationship is highly negative correlated with role overload with performance in managers as compare with subordinates. (Gilboa, Fried, Shirom, Cooper, 2008) Autonomy at work reduce the role conflict and positive link with job satisfaction (R u y t e r, W e t z e l s, F e i n b e r g, 2001). The consequences of stress within organization are increase turnover, absenteeism and employee low productivity. Employee productivity is interlink with work environment .Employer should articulate work environment in such manner that the challenging task can be accomplish in a productive way. Encouraging work environment motivate employees and bad working conditions contribute to low productivity of employees. (Taiwo, 2010)

Roma Culture :: essays research papers

Roma Culture Romas, or Gypsy, have traveled all over the world starting from India, which is considered their origin however not proven, and ending up as far as Spain where their customs have influenced and changed modern day societies. These diasporas were not deliberate but rather forced on them due to their beliefs. Stereotypes have been created to make Romas look like thieves, which is where the phrase, â€Å"I’ve been gypped,† comes from. Gypsies were and still are easy to point out due to their dark skin and jet black hair making it easier to discriminate. They traveled to Egypt, Turkey, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, France, and Spain looking for a place to call home, but no one would accept them. Some even persecuted and murdered them like in the Holocaust. However, what is most interesting is how their miseries and suffering have made them into one of the strongest cultures to survive so long. One of their biggest strengths is music. Without it, they might not still be here to day. Music by definition is â€Å"vocal or instrumental sounds possessing a degree of melody, harmony, or rhythm.† However, to the Roma people music is a form of identity, of beauty, of culture. The music heard from these people will tell a story, whether of their troubled past or just pure entertainment. Every person in the Roma society is familiar with or can chant the heartfelt lyrics and melodies that have been orally passed on or created as generations have come and gone. Each country and generation had a different style of music. Yet, they all put a lot of pride and work for each gathering and chant. All sorts of instruments, mostly percussion, are played by extremely talented artists. Certain attires are prepared for the dances that go with each song. The women would normally do most of the dancing. They would decorate themselves with beautiful linens and jewelry and attach thimbles and tambourines to their body. The men usually would play the instruments. Both sexes would s ing, even the little children. A key part in keeping their identity so strong is that the parents are strict on teaching their children the music and dance. Their lyrics tell stories about horrible times or hope for freedom in the end. These styles of music create a kind of passion and thrive to continue. Their music kept them alive. One of the most interesting things about the Roma society is how their music, being so sacred to them, changed other societies. Roma Culture :: essays research papers Roma Culture Romas, or Gypsy, have traveled all over the world starting from India, which is considered their origin however not proven, and ending up as far as Spain where their customs have influenced and changed modern day societies. These diasporas were not deliberate but rather forced on them due to their beliefs. Stereotypes have been created to make Romas look like thieves, which is where the phrase, â€Å"I’ve been gypped,† comes from. Gypsies were and still are easy to point out due to their dark skin and jet black hair making it easier to discriminate. They traveled to Egypt, Turkey, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, France, and Spain looking for a place to call home, but no one would accept them. Some even persecuted and murdered them like in the Holocaust. However, what is most interesting is how their miseries and suffering have made them into one of the strongest cultures to survive so long. One of their biggest strengths is music. Without it, they might not still be here to day. Music by definition is â€Å"vocal or instrumental sounds possessing a degree of melody, harmony, or rhythm.† However, to the Roma people music is a form of identity, of beauty, of culture. The music heard from these people will tell a story, whether of their troubled past or just pure entertainment. Every person in the Roma society is familiar with or can chant the heartfelt lyrics and melodies that have been orally passed on or created as generations have come and gone. Each country and generation had a different style of music. Yet, they all put a lot of pride and work for each gathering and chant. All sorts of instruments, mostly percussion, are played by extremely talented artists. Certain attires are prepared for the dances that go with each song. The women would normally do most of the dancing. They would decorate themselves with beautiful linens and jewelry and attach thimbles and tambourines to their body. The men usually would play the instruments. Both sexes would s ing, even the little children. A key part in keeping their identity so strong is that the parents are strict on teaching their children the music and dance. Their lyrics tell stories about horrible times or hope for freedom in the end. These styles of music create a kind of passion and thrive to continue. Their music kept them alive. One of the most interesting things about the Roma society is how their music, being so sacred to them, changed other societies.

Strategic Management and Swot Analysis

Contents: I. INTRODUCTION a. Brand Extension for L’OREAL II. LITERATURE REVIEW a. Ansoff Matrix b. SWOT Analysis c. BCG Matrix III. REFLECTIVE STATEMENT IV. REFERENCES Brand Extension for L’OREAL Brand extension takes place whenever a company wants to enter a new market by using the name of one of its existing brands, rather than using a new one. Especially the luxury sector takes advantage of its well-known brand names when it comes to launching new products into new markets (Kapferer, 2008, p. 295).The popularity of brand extension strategy is due to the belief that it leads to higher consumer trial than the use of a new brand name because of the awareness levels of the brand name being leveraged (Keller, 2003, p. 582). L’Oreal as a global brand is known for high quality cosmetic goods like make-up and hair care products for women, men and kids. Its mission â€Å"Beauty for all† connects with the company’s slogan â€Å"Because you're worth itâ₠¬ , which is used in nearly every single L’Oreal advertisement.To identify all the different products of the brand’s portfolio they utilize the same logo for all of their goods by adapting to the specific field (L’Oreal homepage, 2012). Considering L’Oreal’s image of good appearance we decided to extend the brand by entering a new market with a new product. The diversification L’Oreal shoes should be placed in the customer products area with a target group of professional women. The leather shoes should be available for middle to high income consumers. Though the price is affordable for this group of customers the quality is still high.With this strategy we want to cover the needs of the existing customers and reach out for new potential clients. On one hand we intend to increase our sales and profits; on the other hand we use the good reputation of L’Oreal to get our new product connected to the values of the umbrella brand. To make sure that we created a new logo keeping the traditional L’Oreal letters with a reference to the shoe sector as shown in (image 1). Meanwhile, we forecast that L’Oreal shoes can strengthen the global brand in future.Image 1: Traditional L’Oreal letters mentioning the new sector Brief Literature Review Before putting theory into practice every company needs to consider its internal and external situation. In this part, three marketing theories will be applied to L’OREAL. These are: The Ansoff matrix, the SWOT analysis and the BCG matrix. Ansoff matrix is a model that helps firms to outline the range of marketing options open to them (Riley, 2012). L’Oreal shoes classified as a diversification was made according to the Ansoff matrix.A diversification is described as a new product for a new market. L’Oreal added shoes to its existing product range, left the skin and hair care market and entered the new footwear area. Image 2: Ansoff matrix With the SWOT Analysis we could discover our strengths and weaknesses, and identify both the opportunities and the threats for L’Oreal. In other words, as Renault stated â€Å"A SWOT is to reveal positive forces that work together and potential problems that need to be addressed or at least recognized†.Comparing the strengths to the weaknesses for L’Oreal shoes we have to mention that the variety of suppliers and the competitive quality price relation of the product overweight the missing expertise in the shoe sector. The opportunity of using the strong image of L’Oreal and the fact that there are no other middle price shoes in our own umbrella brand product range can be used to attract new customers. Taking into account that the economic situation has changed and people are not willing to spend as much as they did before the recession took place (Price, 2012).Using the BCG Matrix a company can recognize if a product is profitable or not. It can be helpful if a company has to decide whether investing additional resources in a certain product or services. There are four categories developed to the relative market share and market growth rate: star, cash cow, poor dog, question mark (Lu ; Zhao, 2006). A star is a product with a high market share and a high market growth rate. With this kind of product the company gains revenue. Therefore, a star can be used to support weaker sectors. These products with a low market growth rate and a low market share are called poor dogs.Cash cows are well-established with a high market share but as the market growth rate is low the company has to be aware of limited opportunities. Those limitations do not exist for question marks as they are located in high growth markets with a low market share. These unknown new products like L’oreal shoes do have the potential to establish and become stars or even cash cows. In future they could be able to promote weaker sectors and create a trade-off (Lu ; Zah o, 2006) ;;; I found another website to reference these two paragraphs From which website did you get this?! gt;;;; According to the Internet Center for Management and Business Administration (2012) the BSG matrix is limited. The different products in a company’s portfolio cannot be taken as independent; they are related to each other. This has to be taken into consideration when it comes to the question whether you keep or you eliminate a product. Reflective Statement To develop the topic we firstly did some research about the definition of brand extension and L’Oreal as a company.We discovered that creating a brand extension for L’Oreal is a difficult task as the umbrella brand already covers a lot of sectors in the beauty and care area. We thought about a product that would fit into the enterprise’s image of beauty and decided to choose shoes for middle-aged professional women. We looked into several marketing theories to support our decision such as t he SWOT analysis, Ansoff matrix, and the BCG matrix. However, we discovered that The SWOT analysis is the most helpful theory for our research.Since L’OREAL shoes classified as diversification, the SWOT analysis helped us to discover our brand’s current strengths and weaknesses; as well as the potential opportunities and threats that we might find in the future. This made it easier for us to set our brand’s short term and long term goals. References: Collett, S. (1999). Business Planning, E-journal of SWOT Analysis, 33(29), 58. Retrieved November 05, 2012, from http://jr3tv3gd5w. search. serialssolutions. com/ Hussey, D. (1999). Strategic Change, E-journal of Igor Ansoff's Continuing Contribution to Strategic Management, 8(7), 05.Retrieved November 06, 2012, from http://onlinelibrary. wiley. com/doi/10. 1002/(SICI)1099-1697(199911)8:7%3C375::AID-JSC462%3E3. 0. CO;2-U/pdf Kapferer, J. N. (2008). The New Strategic Brand Management: Advanced Insights and Strategic Thinking. London: Kogan Page. Keller, Kevin L. (2003). Strategic Brand Management. (2nd ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Lu, H. & Zhao, L. (2006). INTEGRATING GIS AND BCG MODEL FOR MARKETING STRATEGIC PLANNING. 14(18), 02-04. Retrieved November 06, 2012, from http://iceb. nccu. edu. tw/proceedings/APDSI/2006/718-725. df Price, E. (2012). A reduction in European over-consumption will be undone by any Eurozone solution. Retrieved November 01, 2012, from http://blogs. lse. ac. uk/europpblog/2012/07/23/eurozone-over-consumption/ Riley, J. (2012). Ansoff Matrix. Retrieved November 07, 2012, from http://www. tutor2u. net/business/strategy/ansoff_matrix. htm Renault, V. (n. d. ). SWOT Analysis: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. Retrieved November 08, 2012, from http://ctb. ku. edu/en/tablecontents/sub_section_main_1049. aspx