Apple Inc., 2008 Case Study free essay sample

Executive Overview Apple has been established for over 30 years since Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak founded Apple Computer in 1976. During Steven Jobs’s tenure as CEO, Apple’s mission was to bring an easy-to-use computer to market. However, Apple was not performing as good as Jobs projected, so he resigned in 1985. In the following 12 years, Apple experienced three different CEO’s and still could not be brought back to life. Under John Sculley, Apple worked to drive down costs by switching much of its manufacturing to subcontractors. But these efforts were not enough to sustain Apple’s profitability. During the Michael Spindler years, international growth became a key objective for Apple. Yet despite Spindler’s efforts, Apple lost momentum. Soon after Gilbert Amelio replaced Spindler as CEO, he proclaimed that Apple would return to its premium-price differentiation strategy. Despite some austerity moves, Apple lost its competitiveness and could not regain its share in the market. We will write a custom essay sample on Apple Inc., 2008 Case Study or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In 1997, Steve Jobs came back again as the CEO of Apple. This time he had a new game plan, and Apple started to focus on the digital lifestyle for consumers. Internally, Jobs worked to streamline operations and to reinvigorate innovation. This proved to be Apple’s most successful business strategy to date because a once ineffective company now has ruled the computer world. In order to understand this situation, Apples competitive advantages and industry forces must be analyzed. Competitive Advantages Apple has been in business since 1976, and has built quite a few competitive advantages along the way. Obviously, innovation has been at the forefront of Apple’s ability to compete in the world market. Other than that advantage, brand loyalty, product differentiation, superior quality, and retail strategy are also its advantages when competing with other brands. Innovation Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak sparked the PC revolution, making the world of computers on Apple’s head. The Apple II launched in 1978 drove the PC industry to $1 billion in annual sales in less than three years. Even if initially regarded as a toy by many other businesses, Apple soon revealed itself as a feasible substitute to the traditional mainframe. It continued to demonstrate its ingenuity. For example, it was the first to introduce a computer with color, a graphical interface, and many other firsts. These inventions defined Apple and its business strategies. On the basis of its all bundled package of hardware and software, Apple became synonymous with usability. Brand Loyalty In 1998, Jobs recognized that customers really wanted a Macintosh. Apples brand commitment is strong. Since 1970s, Apple user communities have been founded to connect together with enthusiasms. One of the main reasons to this is Apples ease of use. Adding extra hardware and software to a Mac is almost as easy as plugging speakers into a stereo system. Due to this advantage, Apple forms a strong relationship with its consumers, especially within the education and desktop publishing industries, which accounted for 60% and 80% of its market position respectively during the Spindler years. Product Differentiation Apple’s system continues to be one of the advantages because its closed operating system is not subject to the computer viruses and hacking that often destroy the Microsoft Windows operating system. In marketing its Mac products, Apple stressed characteristics that differentiated them form other PCs while also highlighted their interoperability with other machines. Apple trumpeted the Mac as an â€Å"Everything-ready† device that worked well with other devices. The feature of the closed system while incorporating well with other devices makes Apple more unique than other PCs. Superior Quality Apple’s high-quality bundled software distinguished the Macintosh line, such as iLife suite and iWork. In 2001, Apple introduced MAC OS X, offering a steadier environment than previous Mac platforms. In addition, Apple always urged its users to upgrade OS X every 12 to 18 months, with the aim of always providing a stable operating system to its users. Retail Strategy After Jobs returned to Apple, he revamped Apple’s distribution system, removing relationships with many smaller outlets and extending its presence in national chains. In 1997, Apple also started a website to sell its products directly to customers. Its retail strategy was regarded as a huge success. More importantly, people who visited the stores for iPod products usually checked the Mac too. This â€Å"halo effect† greatly benefited Apple’s Mac business. Porter’s Five Forces Analysis of Apple Current Competition Apple’s current rivalry is very competitive and intense. The PC industry has quite low switching costs, so the current competition is pretty high. Apple confronts tough competition from IBM, Dell, HP, and etc. Threat of Substitute Products The more differentiation of the product, the less likely the change to a substitute will happen. Apple’s operating system differentiation can always require higher pricing. However, owing to technology improvement, the â€Å"digital convergence† of PC and CE (consumer electronics) products has become more substantial in the PC market. Many different alternative devices have started to replace PCs. Therefore, this threat is becoming higher to Apple. Threat of New Entrants This threat is low since the existing companies have established powerful brand awareness. The computer industry is very saturated and new entrants would be reluctant to enter this industry. Bargaining Power of Suppliers There are two types of suppliers: microprocessors and operating systems with few sources as well as memory chips, disk drives, and keyboards with many sources. The bargaining power of the former one is high since there are mainly two sources: Intel and Microsoft. The bargaining power of the latter one is low since numerous suppliers exist in this industry. Bargaining Power of Customers As mentioned earlier, the switching costs are low. Such situation places the customers in a strong position that only companies with high product differentiation could increase the switching costs. Since product differentiation is one of Apple’s advantages to compete in this market, the bargaining power of buyers is not high to Apple. Conclusion Generally speaking, the PC industry is an intensely competitive segment. With technology undergoing paradigm changes, it could make life hard for Apple to deal with these shifts. These dynamics does not seem advantageous for Apple but simultaneously Apple has been able to maintain its technological brain and designer approach to walk away from this difficult position. Actually, Apple could transform some of these problematic features into opportunities. We all know that a key factor in bringing people into the stores is the popularity of the iPod. Most of the time, the purpose of People coming to the stores is not for Mac. No matter what brings customers to Apple stores, Apple should take advantage of this chance. This halo effect needs to be capitalized to the maximum extent. In addition, although some people complain Apple’s closed operating system, it is still seen as a secure, safe, and reliable system. Apple should try to make its system less closed, incorporating more other devices. Thus, people can use Apple more easily without too much restriction.

10 Facts Worth Knowing About Noah Webster

10 Facts Worth Knowing About Noah Webster Born in West Hartford, Connecticut on October 16, 1758, Noah Webster is best known today for his magnum opus, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). But as David Micklethwait reveals in Noah Webster and the American Dictionary (McFarland, 2005), lexicography wasnt Websters only great passion, and the dictionary wasnt even his best-selling book. By way of introduction, here are 10 facts worth knowing about the great American lexicographer Noah Webster. During his first career as a schoolteacher at the time of the American Revolution, Webster was concerned that most of his students textbooks came from England. So in 1783 he published his own American text, A Grammatical Institute of the English Language. The â€Å"Blue-Backed Speller,† as it was popularly known, went on to sell nearly 100 million copies over the next century.Webster subscribed to the biblical account of the origin of language, believing that all languages derived from Chaldee, an Aramaic dialect.Though he fought for a strong federal government, Webster opposed plans to include a Bill of Rights in the Constitution. Liberty is never secured with such paper declarations, he wrote, nor lost for want of them.Even though he himself borrowed shamelessly from Thomas Dilworths New Guide to the English Tongue (1740) and Samuel Johnsons Dictionary of the English Language (1755), Webster fought vigorously to protect his own work from plagiarists. His efforts led to the c reation of the first federal copyright laws in 1790. In 1793 he founded one of New York Citys first daily newspapers, American Minerva, which he edited for four years.Websters Compendious Dictionary of the English Language (1806), a forerunner of An American Dictionary, sparked a war of the dictionaries with rival lexicographer Joseph Worcester. But Worcesters Comprehensive Pronouncing and Explanatory English Dictionary didnt stand a chance. Websters work, with 5,000 words not included in British dictionaries and with definitions based on the usage of American writers, soon became the recognized authority.In 1810, he published a booklet on global warming titled â€Å"Are Our Winters Getting Warmer?†Although Webster is credited for introducing such distinctive American spellings as color, humor, and center (for British colour, humour, and centre), many of his innovative spellings (including masheen for machine and yung for young) failed to catch on. See Noah Websters Plan to Reform English Spelling.Webster was one of the principa l founders of Amherst College in Massachusetts. In 1833 he published his own edition of the Bible, updating the vocabulary of the King James Version and cleansing it of any words that he thought might be considered offensive, especially for females. In 1966, Websters restored birthplace and childhood home in West Hartford was reopened as a museum, which you can visit online at the Noah Webster House West Hartford Historical Society. After the tour, you may feel inspired to browse through the original edition of Websters American Dictionary of the English Language.

Describe and explain the most important contributions of FDR to the Essay

Describe and explain the most important contributions of FDR to the history of the United States - Essay Example His name is also connected with one of the most significant chapters in the history of American foreign policy and diplomacy - creation of the League of Nations that is a prototype of the modern United Nations; establishment and normalization of diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union; U.S. leading role in the anti-Hitler coalition and post war world. Roosevelt proved himself as an extraordinary, flexible and extremely cautious politician, able to guess the trend correctly and promptly and accurately respond to the changing mood of all social classes. His New Deal program not only balanced the finance industry of the country during and after the worst financial crisis, but also helped to minimize serious social and political upheaval. This set of laws, passed by Congress on the initiative of the President, was a bold experiment in the sphere of state regulation. Thanks to Roosevelt, the U.S. spent more than 40 years without any crises. Capitalism as the economic system has survived in America just because Roosevelt managed to humanize industrial relations and introduced the principles of social responsibility. Roosevelt started the transformation of American society into a regulated and socially oriented. Roosevelt did his best to preserve and develop the existing socio-economic system in the country and strengthen the dominant position of the United States in the world. Roosevelt, in contrast to many other Presidents, has always remained a sober and pragmatic

Describe in detail the realist perspective of world politics, and Essay

Describe in detail the realist perspective of world politics, and contrast its assumptions with the perspectives of liberalism a - Essay Example Nevertheless, there are political theories that naturally whither away because of trivial foundation, formulation or simply not supported by strong evidence. On the other hand, there are political theories that were able to withstand time and develop itself in the course of history. These theories were proven and tested as accurate and viable and in the process were enriched by different theoreticians and philosophers, thus subsequently branched out and influenced vast ideologies, policies and programs. Among these theories include the realist perspective, liberalism and perhaps the newest inclusion is the world- systems analysis. This paper will lay out the basic principle of these political theories in comparison to each other. However, this document will principally establish the dominance of the concept of political realism in the process of discussing its historical development. This will also present the significant aspects of political realism that influence the different fiel d of political science and world history. Three Major Political Perspectives The liberal perspective Liberalism is a political theory that banks on the significance of equal rights and liberty. Liberal ideology popularized the concepts of constitutionalism, right to suffrage, and human rights. It was born out from the repressive rules of the monarchy and the Divine Right of the Kings. Liberalism used the concept of natural rights and the social contract to confront authoritarianism and absolutism. Liberalists stand by the rule of law and the responsibility of the leaders to subject themselves to the majority of the people and the assertion of the fundamental rights to life, liberty and property of every individual for the full emancipation of humanity. The world-analysis systems perspective The world-analysis system asserts that the capitalist-world economy is a particular historical system. This theory believes that the best possible means to ascertain the mode of function of the c apitalist-world economy is to look at the profound historical evolution of the said system (Wallerstein, World-Systems Analysis An Introduction). The development of the capitalist-world economy in Europe was explained by the world system analysis theory by looking at the continent in tandem with the incorporation of regions through power and colonization and the conclusion in an international division of labor and an interstate system was derived (Wallerstein, Unthinking Social Science, Second Edition). The world-analysis system is a knowledge movement that search to surpass the structures of knowledge from the 19th century. The realist perspective Understanding and grasping the objective laws governing the society in the only way that it can be improve. This is what political realism asserts. Realism considers the objectivity of the laws in the process that in politics, truth and opinion is being distinguished, and truth can only be ascertained through supporting evidence and clari fied by reason. One-sided judgment must be eliminated from the facts so that the society can clearly drive out the laws objectively and rationally. For the realists, discovering truth from the facts by providing meaning through reason is what theory is all about. For example, realism presumes that a foreign policy’s character can only be distinguished through exhaustive examination of the combined effort of the performed political acts and the

Novel Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Novel - Essay Example The expression â€Å"Kingdom of Heaven† (Albom 111), is employed as the indistinct reference for the afterlife and its state with no clear relevance to the biblical utilization of the phrase as a reference to the ideological rule of God over humankind. The implied message of Albom is that an assured afterlife exists, a just means to make amends, there is an eternal rationale in the minor actions, and that â€Å"all lives intersect† (Albom 48) echoes with the readers hungry for meaning, assurance and community. In the afterlife, Albom has masterfully woven the different scenes together of Eddie’s life experiences. Flashbacks to the mortal life of Eddie and a friend arranging his final affairs post death. He wakes up in the afterlife and learns that heaven is not what he thought; ‘a lush Garden of Eden’, but rather the place where the earthly life is described to the dead by the five most important people for everyone. These people can be loved ones or strangers, the important aspect about all of them are that they have impacted the life of the dead and changed their

The Battle Of Balaclava History Essay

The Battle Of Balaclava History Essay The Allied victory against the Russians at the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854 was a succession of blunders. Besides the most famous of which is Never get involved in a land war in Asia, there were also major failures in intelligence and communications. Inadequate intelligence preparation resulted in inadequate planning and execution. Poor situational awareness by the Allied commanders on the battlefield contributed to disastrous misunderstandings in communication. The extraordinary bravery exhibited by The Thin Red Line of the Highlanders and the selfless charge of the Light Brigade Into the Valley of Death would not make up for these shortcomings. Failure to Prepare The Crimean War was fought between the Allies of France, Britain and Ottoman Turkey against Russia to remove Russian occupation from the Crimean Peninsula. The war lasted from October 1853 to February 1856. The Battle of Balaclava was the second major Crimean campaign. The purpose of the campaign was to occupy the Russian held port of Sebastopol on the western end of the peninsula. The British army was to march southeast, occupy Balaclava, and lay siege to Sebastopol. The occupation of Balaclava was necessary for resupply and protection of the Allied flank (Kennedy, 1976). The British had failed to consider the climate of the Crimean peninsula in their planning. There was a lack of tents and proper winter clothing which led to reduced combat effectiveness. The British did not have maps and conducted the march by compass alone. The British did not have intelligence of the Russian unit locations. During the march to Balaclava, the leading British elements stumbled across the rearguard elements of a Russian unit at Mackenzies farm. A Russian officer was captured and questioned, but no usable intelligence was gained because the officer was inebriated (Kennedy, 1976). The British lack of intelligence meant they did not know the size of the waiting Russian force they were approaching at Balaclava. The only resistance they met at Balaclava was from a small garrison. The day after the British arrived, French units also arrived. The plan had been for the British and French to both occupy Balaclava prior to the siege of Sebastopol. Their intelligence had failed to show that Balaclava was much too small to support such a force. The French Force was moved to Kameisch Bay leaving the British solely responsible for protecting the Allied flank. Intelligence analysis of the terrain north of Balaclava would have revealed this was not a good choice (Kennedy, 1976). The valley north of Balaclava was blocked to the west by the Sapaune Heights. On the east end of the valley were the Woronzlov Heights. The north side of the valley was bounded by the Fedioukine Heights on top of which ran a road into the interior. Down the middle of the valley, from east to west, ran a ridgeline known as the Causeway Heights (see appended Figures 1-3). The Causeway Heights concealed any actions on the north side of the valley from observers in the south side of the valley (Kennedy, 1976). This blockage of the line-of-sight would contribute to the later blunders. The British constructed four redoubt positions manned by Turks under the command of British Artillery Non-Commissioned Officers along the top of the Causeway Heights approximately a half-mile from each other and a fifth redoubt on top of Canroberts Hill. The cavalry units were encamped at the western end of the South Valley. Infantry (93rd Highlanders), more Turks, and a field battery were positioned around Kadikoi. Twelve-hundred Royal Marines defended Mount Hiblak with twenty-six guns. To the northwest, five British infantry divisions and the French Observation Corps were in the Chersonese Heights (Anthill, 2001). This left the British units extended and unable to support one another while attempting to cover all possible avenues of approach. The British still did not have intelligence on the size or distribution of the Russians (Kennedy, 1976). The British did know, as a result of their skirmish at Mackenzies Farm, that there was an element of Russians somewhere to the east. The British did not know the intentions of the Russians resulting in frequent alerts everytime a Russian scouting patrol was seen. These alerts led to decreased morale and a boy-who-cried-wolf mentality among the British troops. On 24 October a Turkish spy reported the Russians were going to attack on 25 October with 25,000 troops. As a result of the numerous false alerts, this warning was ignored. No attempts were made for reinforcement or to strengthen the British position (Kennedy, 1976). The Russian Attack The Russians, on the other hand, had been conducting intelligence operations and were aware of the weaknesses of the British position. The Russian Commander, Prince Menshikov, planned a three axis attack. In the south, Major General Gribbe, would capture the village of Kamara and move toward redoubt number one. Gribbe had a combined force of infantry, cavalry, and artillery. In the center, second axis, Major General Semiakin would command two columns with artillery support to attack towards redoubts one and two after crossing the Tchernaya. In the north, Colonel Skuderi would cross the Tractir Bridge and move towards redoubt three. After these redoubts were taken, General Ryzhov was to attack the positions around Kadikoi with a unit under Major General Zhaboritski to protect their flank (Anthill, 2001). Before dawn on 25 October the Russians started their advance alerting the British troops under command of Lord Lucan. Lucan sent word to the British Commander-in-Chief, Lord Raglan, and moved Brigadier James Scarletts Heavy Brigade with the Earl of Cardigans Light Brigade in reserve to the western end of the Causeway Heights. The battle began at dawn when the Russian infantry attacked and took redoubts one to four with very little resistance from the Turkish defenders (See Figure 1, A). The Russian force then concentrated around redoubts one to three to prepare for a cavalry attack on Kadikoi. Raglan put the 3rd Infantry on alert, ordered the 1st Division into the South Valley, and the 4th Division into the North Valley. Unfortunately, these divisions would not make it to the battlefield before it was all but over. Sensing the threat to the British lines of communication, the French Commander-in-Chief, Canrobert, ordered two infantry brigades and eight cavalry squadrons to the wester n end of the South Valley (Anthill, 2001). The Thin Red Line At about 0830 Liprandi ordered Ryzhov to attack the enemy camp; the first of many vague orders during the battle. Ryzhov moved west along the North Valley. A small force cut off over the Woronzlov Heights towards Kadikoi. The 93rd Highland Foot was positioned behind a ridge in the road to take cover from the artillery turned against them. The commander of the 93rd, Sir Colin Campbell, arranged his men two deep (instead of the doctrinal four deep) standing abreast. On their flanks were Turks who fired one volley before retreating. Sir Colin Campbell rode up and down the line saying: There is no retreat from here men, you must die where you stand. The 93rd fired three volleys into the advancing cavalry. The Russians wheeled and retreated to rejoin Ryzhovs main body (See Figure 1, B). The Crimean War was the first war to see war cor-respondents on the battlefield. London Times correspondent W.H. Russell watched the scene and wrote of seeing the thin red streak tipped with steel. This ph rase would be shortened into the now common phrase The Thin Red Line (93rd Sutherland Highland Regiment of Foot Living History Unit, Inc.). Follow, and up the hill, up the hill, up the hill, Followd the Heavy Brigade. Tennyson, The Charge of the Heavy Brigade The Heavy Brigade was next to be involved against the Russians. The Thin Red Line had succeeded and Ryzhov had halted about one hundred yards uphill from the Heavy Brigade. Brigadier Scarlett, facing the main enemy cavalry force, wheeled his force and although outnumbered, charged uphill toward the Russian cavalry (See Figure 1, C). Even someone completely unfamiliar with military tactics can understand that consideration of the terrain could have placed the Heavy Brigade in a better location instead of positioning them to charge uphill. Despite this terrain dis-advantage, after some heavy fighting, the Russian cavalry broke and retreated back to the Woronzlov Heights (Anthill, 2001). Into the valley of Death rode the six hundred. Tennyson, The Charge of the Light Brigade The greatest blunder of the battle, and one that lives in infamy began at approximately 1015. Raglan ordered to advance and seize any opportunity to retake the Heights, but did not specify which heights. Rather than seek clarification, Lucan took this to mean the Woronzlov Heights and moved the Light Brigade into the North Valley and kept the Heavy Brigade in the South. Raglan saw the Russians were moving to haul away the captured guns from the redoubts. In what resembled a bad example of the childrens game of telephone Raglan gave an order to his Quartermaster, Brigadier Airey, who in turn wrote the order as Lord Raglan wishes the Cavalry to advance rapidly to the front, follow the enemy, and try to prevent the enemy carrying away the guns. Troop Horse Artillery may accompany. French Cavalry is on your left. Immediate (The National Archives, United Kingdom) and gave it to his Aide de Camp, Captain Nolan, who in turn relayed the order to Lieutenant General Lucan. What message Nolan p assed to Lucan is unknown, though Lucan claimed that Nolan vaguely waved his arm across the North Valley and stated that they were to charge the guns. From his lack of situational awareness, Lucan only knew of the guns at the end of the North Valley where Ryzhov had moved. The next stage of the blunder came into play. Lord Cardigan, the commander of the Light Brigade, had recently divorced Lucans youngest; not creating the best command climate. Lucan ordered Cardigan to charge the guns. As Cardigan started the Light Brigade up the 2 kilometers of the North Valley, Nolan was waving his sword in the air, possible to try and redirect the charge toward the redoubts when he was killed (see Figure 3). The Light Brigade took artillery fire from one of the captured batteries on their right flank, three batteries on their left flank, and from the battery they were charging toward. They pushed through the line of guns and forced Ryzhovs cavalry to retreat back. The Russians believed the Briti sh must have been drunk. The French Marshal Bousqet stated It is magnificent, but it is not war: it is madness. Twenty minutes after the start of the charge, the survivors returned. Six-hundred thirty-seven started the charge. The brigade lost three-hundred sixty men and five-hundred seventeen horses (Anthill, 2001). The French Cavalry swept in and cleared the Fedioukine Heights (see Figure 2) to protect the Light Brigades flank during the retreat. The British infantry divisions moved into the valley and continued a halfhearted fight against the Russians for the rest of the afternoon. The Russians held the Woronzlov Heights and pulled away the captured guns. Aftermath and Conclusion Blame for the destruction of the Light Brigade began soon after the battle. Raglan blamed Cardigan who blamed Lucan who blamed Nolan. Since Nolan was killed in the battle, he couldnt defend himself. The matter would be debated for decades. The press coverage exalted the bravery of the Light Brigade instead of the failures of the command. Cardigan went home to Britain as a hero and was made Inspector General of the Cavalry. Lucan was made the scapegoat by the British command, but was still awarded with the Order of the Bath. This attitude of bravery over intelligence led operations would prevail in the British military until World War I. Both sides claimed the battle as a victory. The British succeeded in defending Balaclava. The Russians, although failing to break through the Allied lines of communication, had succeeded in taking strategic positions. The Battle of Balaclava and especially the charge of the Light Brigade remains a classic example of military failures in intelligence and communication. Todays Soldiers can identify with the importance of clarifying vague orders. The modern version of the operations order and fragmentary orders used by the United States Army greatly aid in this clarification. Clearly defining the Commanders intent is possibly the most stressed step for the planning cell when preparing an operations order. If the British military had used modern methods of intelligence preparation of the battlefield, they could have better planned for the defense. They could have defined the avenues of approach, established fields of fire, and been aware of how the terrain affected line of sight. If the commanders on the field had been kept aware of the overall battlefield situation, rather than just what was within view, the Light Brigade may have moved according to Raglans intent. The Battle of Balaclava, especially the charge of the Light Brigade, remains a classic example of military failures in intelligence and communication. File:Battle of Balaclava (map 1).png Figure 1. (Public domain) File:Battle of Balaclava (map 2).png Figure 2. (Public domain) File:Charge Timeline.jpg Figure 3. (Public domain)

Dr. Faustus Essay -- essays research papers

Dr. Faustus Dr. Faustus, written by Christopher, is the story of a man that represents the common human dissatisfaction with being human. He sells his soul to the devil for what he believes to be limitless power, with full logical knowledge as to the consequences of such a transaction. He knows the stakes of his gamble with the devil. His extensive education and his cultural environment had certainly alerted him as to the dangers associated with Lucifer. Although aware of the consequences of such a pact, he is blinded by three things that bring about his ultimate demise. His greed to know all, his pride that made him believe he was better than man, and his denial that in the end he would bring his own downfall upon himself. If Faustus had not been these things he would not have brought an end to himself. Dr. Faustus denies the existence of everything, from his eventual torture in hell if he does not repent, to men, society, and indeed the world. The only aspect of his life which he does not deny is his physical reality. When Faustus meets with Mephistopheles (a messenger of the devil) he is frightened and demands a new appearance for his devil servant. "I charge thee to return and change thy shape; Thou art to ugly to attend on me. Go, and return an old Franciscan friar; That holy shape becomes a devil best." (Marlowe p.14) By choosing Mephistopheles to change his form, he i...

Mcdonalds Marketing Communication Strategy Assignment

Marketing Communications Strategy – Our Marketing Communication Strategy will be mainly focussing on advertising and personal selling in the marketing communications mix, with a television commercial for advertising and in store marketing for personal selling. – The television commercial will be a short introduction of our product with associations of the season, surrounded with the McDonald feelings and sounds which come always with their commercials. The in store marketing consist of billboards in the stores of the new product and, which we think is very important, trained cashiers who are asking every customer, after they made their order, if they want to add the ‘Vla’ to their order. – We choose television because it’s relatively cheap to reach a very large audience. We think is important to let the whole country know about our product (product awareness). This product is for everybody in the Netherlands, although some segments will be pur chasing it more than others (families for example).With television we can bring the associations of the season with our product, which is valuable. We do not use television for direct-response purposes, but want to let the customer know about our product and make them curious. The next time they step into a McDonald’s branch they are aware and curious of the existing of the product and that will result in a higher chance that the customer purchase the ‘Vla’. – Furthermore we choose in store marketing because it’s a very effective and cheap way to let McDonald consumers purchase the ‘Vla’.We use it to reinforces the television commercial, because customers already notice the existence of the product, maybe are already benevolent to try the new product. If they see the product on billboards in the store and thereafter are asked proactively to them if they want to try the new product the chance that they will purchase the product will incr eases substantially. Now we can speak of a integrated marketing communication mix for our product. Summarize the main features of all the company's products. State what other products your company produces, and describe briefly where the new product fits into your existing product line. To start with, the products of McDonalds are fast food products which have consistent quality, are easy deliverable and consistent across all markets in their taste and their range of products. – McDonalds have a broad scale of products. The main food product is the hamburger. They serve it in different variants. Fish burgers, chicken nuggets, salads and fries complement the main products. – You can pick menus of these products, which comes with drinks or milkshakes. The Happy meal is worth mentioning, which is the popular menu for the kids. – Relatively new for McDonalds are the breakfast products. Then you have the Dessert products, where our product fits perfectly into. â€⠀œ If you look at the temporary Desserts of McDonalds we differentiate the McFlurry, Apple pie, Donut, Sundea Ice cream, Chocolate Muffin, Softice and Fresh Fruit. – We think our product ‘Vla’ will perfectly fits into the range of Dessert products McDonalds is serving at the moment. It a totally other product then the contemporary Dessert McDonalds serve. But more important: it’s already a popular, traditional Dutch, dessert and serving it in the McDonalds will be valued by the customers in different moods.Like customers who eating a menu and love to finish with the ‘Vla’, customers just walking by and order a ‘Vla’ for on the way and also not to forget: the kids will love the (smaller sized) Vla in their Happy Meal. It’s a healthier alternative then the other contemporary products except the fresh fruit. So parents are also more likable to choose this dessert for their children instead of the other more fat making desserts . SWOT Analyses: Strengths – What do you do well? – Holiday season associations – Bringing a typical Dutch dessert – Good quality/price ratio Good products in the McDonald’s strategy of serve worldwide similar products with in addition serve in every country local products that are influenced by the local kitchen. Our product is the local product influenced by the local culture. Weaknesses – What are you not so good at? Where might you need to improve? – Only holiday season (for the test phase, if it will succeed we will bring more seasonal Vla’s) – High cost of marketing with our form of marketing communication, the television commercials. Will we generate enough revenues from the dessert? – If we don’t capture the market, we will fail in advanceOpportunities – What's coming that might be an opportunity? – The timing of our product, in the season of ‘Sinterklaas’ and Chrismas. â €“ To convince tourists that they must try the traditional product ‘Vla’ as their Dessert. – Make our product ‘the’ traditional product of McDonald’s, which will be a classical McDonald Dessert in the next decennia. Threats – What's coming that might cause you problems? – Cannibalize the present Desserts of McDonalds that are available in the Netherlands. – Bring a product that is similar with products in supermarkets (Albert Heijn, Dirk van den Broek, C1000 etc).

October 15, 2015 Essays - Americas, Politics, Political Philosophy

October 15, 2015 Essays - Americas, Politics, Political Philosophy October 15, 2015 Intro to Afro American Studies Bi-Weekly Essay #3 What are some of the similarities and differences in practices of self-determination of Africans in the U.S. and their counterparts throughout the hemisphere? Abstract: Both Africans in the Western Hemisphere and Africans in the United States practiced self-determination. They practiced self-determination in many ways such as marronage and quilombismo as a means to bring African people together to determine their own statehoods and form their own allegiances. Africans used their difference to fight one another rather than uniting themselves in the 18th and 19th century. However, Africans began to realize that if they wanted to conquer enslavement they would have to overcome the dominating social structure. The Africans in the Western hemisphere used the knowledge passed down from their griots when practicing self-determination. They did this more often than the Africans in the U.S. because they underestimated them and they were uneducated for a while. Africans in the U.S. were more aware of what was happening around them versus the other parts of the world. Although, Africans were divided by suffering from the injustice of slavery. they we re able to preserve their culture and use such as their means to resist. Critical Review of Scholarship: To begin answering this question, I will use the information provided during lectures as well as the readings. One of sources is coming from "Black Self Determination: A Cultural History of the Faith of Fathers. This source will be used to elaborate on what self-determination is and how it evolved. The second source is "Quilombismo: An Afro-Brazilian Political Alternative. This source will be used to further elaborate on what quilombismo is and how it effective in helping the African race as a whole in the practice of self-determination. Another source I will use to elaborate on marronage is the "Black Movements in America by Cedric Robinson. My other evidence will come from class lectures and Dr.Carr particularly from the human social organization and their influence over people and nations. Discussion: To completely understand the practices of self-determination within the African community, you have to define what self-determination is. "Self Determination is the uniqueness of culture" (Dr.Carr). It is the process by which a person or group controls their own life, decides their own statehood and forms their own allegiances. (Franklin P., V. Black Self Determination: A Cultural History of the Faith of the Fathers. Southern Historical Association, 1986. Print.) From the small movements such as spiritual and secular slave songs, the Federal Writers Project and addresses in front of the Congress have demonstrated what self-determination means in the African community. The Western Hemisphere Africans and the U.S. Africans used maroonage to practice e self-determination. Maroonage was a common way Africans resisted throughout the hemisphere. Maroon is a based word from the Spanish culture. Maroons are small private communities that served as a safe refuge for runaway slaves and indentured servants. (Robinson, Cedric J. Black Movements in America. New York: Routledge, 1997. Print.) They were fugitive communities where escapees went. These maroons gave slaves hope of a community where they could have a new home and are apart of a safe haven to rebuild their families. Unfortunately these maroons never lasted so long because of the pressure it created on the Europeans. Regardless of the hardships of slavery, Africans did not let anyone take their culture from them. Their culture is what kept them dehumanized. Abolition always followed the Blacks regardless of where they were from. Because the Africans seemed less than the Europeans, the Africans wanted to create something to become equal with the higher powers. They combined their religion to create Afro Catholicism in hopes in acceptance of their religion to become equal as the Europeans. North Americans began practicing Afro Christianity as a means of resistance and a way Africans could gather publically. Quilombismo significance was "the value in the tactics and strategies of survival, resistance and progress of African communities in contemporary Brazil" (Nascimento Do, Abdias. Quilombismo: An Afro- Brazilian Political Alternative. Journal of Black Studies, 1980. Print.) Quilombismo revealed itself as a factor capable of mobilizing the Black masses in a disciplined manner when the Afro-Brazilians registered the quilombist concept. Quilombismo is in a constant process of renewal

Free Essays on National Mandatory Death Penalty

Mandatory National Death Penalty  · You should receive the mandatory death penalty for the committing the following crimes: Murder, brutal rape, treason, high treason, and terrorism. Court process  · You will be tried in the city and State that the crime was committed in, if there is no local, federal or state courts with in the city that the crime was committed in; then you will be moved to the nearest city that has the court. Appeal process  · You have two years to make your appeals. If in the two years you are found not guilty then your sentenced will be relinquished, if you are still found guilty then your death sentence will be moved up for your execution as soon as possible or at the end of the two years your appeals have not gone through then you are still executed.  · You may go through a higher court system if the time permits. Prior to execution  · Two days prior to your execution your lawyer (if you do not have one, one will be appointed to you) and yourself will create a will or last testimony.  · One day prior to your execution family and friends are no longer allowed make visitations, however you are allowed to make contact through the telephone.  · On your execution date you are allowed visitations from your family and friends as well as the preacher. After the execution  · The body will be taken out of the execution room and the family may then pay their last respects.  · All left over funds will then be given to the person stated in the will written the previous day. I come before you today to pose the question of a Mandatory National Death Penalty. What this means is in every state if you commit any of the following crimes you will automatically receive the death sentence. These crimes include murder, terrorism, high treason, treason or brutal rape. Now some of you may feel that the states are giving up their rights. Maybe they are, however if you look at it from th... Free Essays on National Mandatory Death Penalty Free Essays on National Mandatory Death Penalty Mandatory National Death Penalty  · You should receive the mandatory death penalty for the committing the following crimes: Murder, brutal rape, treason, high treason, and terrorism. Court process  · You will be tried in the city and State that the crime was committed in, if there is no local, federal or state courts with in the city that the crime was committed in; then you will be moved to the nearest city that has the court. Appeal process  · You have two years to make your appeals. If in the two years you are found not guilty then your sentenced will be relinquished, if you are still found guilty then your death sentence will be moved up for your execution as soon as possible or at the end of the two years your appeals have not gone through then you are still executed.  · You may go through a higher court system if the time permits. Prior to execution  · Two days prior to your execution your lawyer (if you do not have one, one will be appointed to you) and yourself will create a will or last testimony.  · One day prior to your execution family and friends are no longer allowed make visitations, however you are allowed to make contact through the telephone.  · On your execution date you are allowed visitations from your family and friends as well as the preacher. After the execution  · The body will be taken out of the execution room and the family may then pay their last respects.  · All left over funds will then be given to the person stated in the will written the previous day. I come before you today to pose the question of a Mandatory National Death Penalty. What this means is in every state if you commit any of the following crimes you will automatically receive the death sentence. These crimes include murder, terrorism, high treason, treason or brutal rape. Now some of you may feel that the states are giving up their rights. Maybe they are, however if you look at it from th...

Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Personal Statement Example The subjects of Economics and programming classes of C language and Matlab were also part of my undergraduate course of Electrical Engineering. I have the honor of having worked as â€Å"treasury† for my school organization. In addition to that, I frequently open stock market and buy stocks. I also have a lot of knowledge about various engineering, applied mathematics, finance, and economics tools that are frequently employed in problem solving techniques used in strategic planning, risk management, and investment. I would like to mention that I chose to study Electrical Engineering at the undergraduate level so that I would be able to serve in the firm that my father owns. My father wants me to take charge of the work once I am done with my studies. In order to run the business in the competitive market scenario, it is imperative that I equip myself with good skills on the financial side of the business as well. Having realized the importance of Financial Engineering in the c ontemporary world, I started reading books on the very subject. As I learnt more, my interest in Financial Engineering studies grew further. My father wants me to take complete hold of his business because he wants to see me leading his firm in the right direction in his life.

Congestive Heart Failure Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Congestive Heart Failure - Case Study Example The patient history demonstrates that he smokes 1.5 packs every day. The patient has been smoking for 35 years. The patient’s smoking is one of the risk factors which predisposed him to his heart condition. Moreover, the patient is an occasional drinker which predisposed him to his heart problem. In addition, lack of proper exercise and failure to adhere to a healthy diet. Psychological stress would also be among the risk factors predisposing the patient to his heart condition. The patient is currently on ECASA, Isosorbide dinitrate, Metoprolol, Nitroglycerin, and Glyburide. The current treatment is aimed at relieving of symptoms of the patient’s heart condition, prevention of worsening of the condition. The current treatment is also aimed at treating the condition of the patient. The drug indications for the patient include ECASA which contains aspirin as an active ingredient. This drug is effective and appropriate for the relief of pain related to heart conditions. Mo reover, ECASA is effective in the prevention of possible inflammation to the heart which would worsen the condition of the patient. The indication for isosorbide dinitrate is appropriate for the management of the patient’s condition because this drug is effective in the prevention of chest pain related to heart conditions especially angina. Nonetheless, isosorbide dinitrate has adverse effects such as lightheadedness, flushing, and headache which must be taken into consideration in the management of the condition.  Ã‚  ... Metoprolol acts through blockage of beta-adrenergic receptors of heart muscles. This illustrates that metoprolol is effective in preventing the complication of the patient’s condition into heart failure as a result of adrenergic stimulation. It is however important to note that drug interaction of metoprolol with digoxin and calcium channel blockers would result in excessive reduction of blood pressure. Therefore counter indications must be provided during the prescription of metoprolol for the patient’s condition. Nitroglycerin is an appropriate vasodilator which is indicated for the treatment of the patient’s congestive heart failure. Glyburide which acts to lower the glucose levels in blood is an appropriate indication for the patient’s heart condition. This is because glyburide acts as an adjunct to exercise and diet. Since the patient is short of breath, exercising would not be viable and hence the appropriateness of glyburide as one of the medication s for the management of his heart problem. The dosages of these medications as provided in the indication are appropriate for the adult patient. Nonetheless the condition of the patient would influence possible adjustments to the treatment. In order to ensure that the patient adheres to the medication, the health care provider must ensure compliance by encouraging the patient to take the drugs. This would be achieved by explaining the importance of adhering to the dosages and the possible side effects that are related to the drug. When the patient is presented with the possible side effects, he would be enabled to selective alternative drugs for the management of the