Enders Game Essay

â€Å"The basic tool for the manipulation of reality is the manipulation of words. If you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use the words. â€Å" -Philip K. Dick In the novel Enders Game the author Orson Scott Card shows us a complete different world than we are used to. Set into the future, the world has just recovered from a devastation alien war that was won by a fluke of luck by our soldiers. Although this time we will strike back, in preparation for the upcoming â€Å"Bugger† war the worlds smartest children get drafted to join the battle school program set in space to learn combat form an early age. One of these kids happened to be Andrew â€Å"Ender† Wiggin, the six year old was stripped of his childhood, taken away from his family and sent to battle school. All his life Ender has extreme pressure on him because six year old Ender was meant to save the world. Throughout the novel Orson Scott Card blurs the thin line between appearance and reality, through the concept of â€Å"games† two different examples of this are Enders stays at Battle School and then again at Command School, throughout both Ender was constantl y played and manipulated for the â€Å"greater good†. While at Battle School Ender was objected to isolation, due to the jealousy of the other children. Ender grew accustomed to the hostility and tried to not let it bother him as much as he could. In the private study time given to the child soldiers they were free to do what they wished. Not having many friends and not finding the studies overly challenging Ender would play the games on the Battles School’s program. Ender quickly became engorged in a role play game called the Giants Drink. This game was deemed impossible but Ender became obsessed with it and reached levels no one had ever seen before. Ender could not stand to lose at anything so he went to any extreme needed to further him in the game. Ender was to always remember the details of this game, because to complete the level time and time again Ender had to play maliciously and evilly, he had to play as a murderer and a cheater all the qualities reminding him of his brother, Peter who Ender despised and wished to never turn into. Later on into the novel Ender is told to search for new planets to colonize. While on his mission to find new planets to inhabit Ender stumbles upon a plant that seemed to feel a little too  familiar having an uncanny resemblance to the landscape and structure of the plant of his childhood pass time game, The Giants Drink. Only to discover this planet was created for him as a means of communication by the â€Å"Buggers†. â€Å"He had played here too many times as a child not to know this place. But it was not possible. The computer in the Battle School could not have possibly seen this place† A game form his past, what he though was mere mush of pixels and graphics turned out to become a reality. Orson Scott Card made us believe throughout the novel that The Giants Drink was just a game. Whereas it was actually always a secret place only Ender had ever visited, making it perfect to use as a secret means of communication. Orson Scott Card pushed us beyond what we thought was quite insignificant and made it more or less one of the most important event to take place in the novel. By not sticking to convention and going above and beyond making us think more about how what was just a game turned into reality. Furthermore while at Battle School all the solider had to participate in â€Å"Battles† again each other. These Battles were often the highlights of these children’s days, when Ender became a commander and got his own army to train for these pretend Battles. He quickly learned that he was never going to be treated fair and that all odd will always be stacked against him always trying to defeat him. Time and time again Ender won the Battles he took part it, having a perfect win streak. This infuriated many and Ender made many enemies, even the teachers seemed to be against Ender give him multiple battles a day and also giving him two armies as opponents instead of the usual one. All his life Ender was isolated and treated unfairly so none of this was new to Ender. Whatever situation was thrown at him Ender came out at top because of his intelligence, natural born leadership and yearning to win. Although these battles seemed to be just a game to tear apart the children the skills learned in this game could be the difference between life and death, once again confusing us about what is the illusion in it all. Ender graduated through the Battle School program faster than anyone and got transferred to the next step, Command School. The first little while in Command School was spent in complete isolation, it was more terrible than Battle School which Ender thought was not possible once again only being left with the companionship of the games they offered. After a year of complete seclusion Ender meet with his mentor, teacher, friend and enemy Mazer Rackmen, the man who was responsible for saving the human race from the second â€Å"Bugger† invasion. Mazer was the only person Ender ever got a chance to be with. Together they went through anything and everything that could possibly be an aid to Ender when the â€Å"Buggers† attack. Mazer got Ender to play the simulator games again but now in a complete different way, it was no longer a one man game, Ender verses The Computer but now it was Ender Commanding different squadron leaders. The leaders which turned out to be the small group of friends Ender had accumulated over his stay at the Battle School. Together they worked amazingly, using Enders intelligence and great leadership skills. With Enders desperation to always win they always came out of battles victorious, he may have lost his friends in the process of becoming this amazing leader but he gained their complete admiration and respect. Closer to the end of this novel, Mazer gives Ender his final examination, being sick of it all Ender just wanted to end it as soon as he could. Not into it at all Ender plays half-heartedly in the bigining, when being faced with his challenge Ender steps it up knowing he was once again set for failure. Not wanting the teachers to have the satisfaction of One Upping Ender he plays in a way he hates, as a cheat but it seems to once again be the only way to succeed in these games. After beating his final examiniation Ender finds out all of the simulations he played with his squadron leaders were not games but they were they actual â€Å"Bugger† war which Ender had fought and won without even knowing what her was doing. â€Å"You made the hard choice, boy, All or nothing. End them or end is. But heaven knows there was no other way you could have doing it. Congratulations. You beat them, and it’s all over.† â€Å"Real. Not a game. Enders mind was too tired to cope with it all.† Absent mindedly Ender has annihilated a whole species, making him a murderer. Thinking he was playing a game Ender had fought a galactic war. Once again Orson Scott Card hazes the thin line between your appearances and your realities. What Ender thought was a game was a life or death situation. If Ender would have listened to his heart and lose the last game, he could have saved an intelligent species, but we never know our outcomes until our decisions have been played out and it is too late to change our mind. Orson Scott Card highlighted the fact that every little thing in someone’s life makes a huge impact. As insignificant as it may seem everything has a purpose. If Ender had not played these games to win the â€Å"Buggers† could very well be alive and not knowing their intentions, letting them live was too big a risk. All throughout his life Ender had been played with, an object of constant manipulation and mind games. Battle and Command School were no different than Earth in this aspect. On Earth Ender was bullied and manipulate into doing what he wants by Enders evil older brother Peter, while at Battle School, Colonel Graff the head administrator never failed to lie to Ender, only tell him half the truth and additionally manipulate him, When Ender got to his last training program Command School Ender was manipulated and lied to in a way he could not even begin to imagine â€Å"Of course we tricked you into it. That’s the whole point.† At the end Colonel Graff even admits that all the manipulation, lies and hostility towards Ender was a part of his and Mazer Rackmens plan. Ender having been lied to and brought back to his murderous side, the part of him he hated the most. Ender was furious and could not bear to look at anyone and went back to his room. Orson Scott Cards showed us that it’s better to not trust anyone. What you think is really happening might just not really be happening and that you should always keep a check on your reality verses your illusions. Throughout the novel Orson Scott Card blurs the thin line between appearance and reality, through the concept of â€Å"games†. At times it is quite difficult to grasp your appearances verses your realities because you get too caught up in the little things that you forget to stop and look at the bigger picture. Only if you look at your life from a neutral perspective will you be able to tell what is really happening and what is a fragment of your  imagination. Orson Scott Card illustrated this point amazingly throughout this novel.

Homosocial Communication Practices Essay

The issue on mixed or single gender school has raised very many arguments; interestingly there is no profound truth that single-sex schools provide quality education compared to mixed school. But mainly the choice of school depends on where the parent fill their child won’t get good education. The school choice can as well be determined by the individual child’s abilities and weaknesses. Being a parent with a school going girl child, and with much interest to sent her to a public school, my choice would be in a K-12 single-sex school for girls. The reasons behind my decision are that single-sex educational setting often controls student’s academic ability. Girls and boys do better in single-sex schools than in mixed-sex schools (Becker, 2001). Single-sex girl’s schools provide them with confidence and achievement; this is evident since they can take non-traditional courses considered for boys especially advanced mathematics and Physics. The girls have freedom of expression in absence of boys who would make jokes upon what the girls say assuming they where in a mixed class thus learning becomes more comfortable (Forgasz & Leder, 1995). Better expression gives the girls the much desired inside to conceptualize scientific concepts. There is also a better teacher-student relationship because teaches do not compare between different sexes. The single-sex class setting provides and creates very many opportunities that cannot exist in mixed classes, these opportunities result to better understanding of life concepts Teaches in single-sex schools undergo specialized training on how to interact with the students thus a one-to-one specialized handling of issues which would otherwise not be solved in a mixed gender school, test scores and grades improve significantly (Forgasz, & Leder, 1995). The major disadvantage of same sex school for my child is that they lack enough exposure in interacting with opposite sexes; this reduces their level of maturity and even self-discipline. These can result in shy behavior traits since they lack exposure Later in life it becomes a big challenge interacting with men since they lacked the exposure, do not understand their beliefs and way of life from their early ages. Emotional development is as well not fully established in their lives (Haag, 2000). The establishment of single sex schools means that districts must have twice the number of school as opposed to if they had mixed sex schools within the same district. The number of teacher employed is twice even if classes are small and uneconomical teaching. These would result to a nightmare in timetabling, logistical and budget challenges. This could affect the quality of education being offered within the institutions. The required same-sex education skills and extra training provided to the teachers handling these classes may not be provided and the full benefits of the single-sex school may not be accomplished in the long run (Edison & Penelope 1982). In conclusion, though same sex school offer children all the opportunities to effectively explore and maximize their potentials in an open and friendly environment, they mainly equip the young ones with one side of what they need in life which is the academics and offer less of other life knowledge skills required later in live. So as parents we must be considerate on our children whole being without laying much emphasis on the academics and ignoring the social part of life. References Edison T. & Penelope T. (1982). The independent school experience: aspects of the normative environment of single-sex. Journal of Educational Psychology. Becker, J. R. (2001). Single-gender schooling in the public sector in California: Promise and practice. Forgasz, H. J. , & Leder, G. C. (1995). Single-sex mathematics classes: Who benefits? Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. . Haag, P. (2000). K-12 single-sex education: What does the research say? ERIC Digest.

Constructivism and Problem Based Learning Annotated Bibliography

Constructivism and Problem Based Learning - Annotated Bibliography Example is particular investigation, emphasizes on practicality, while training professionals of different fields, but somehow, does not recommend that, for teaching in school. In the viewpoint of the current paper, children studying in school should also be given assignments, featuring various practical problems to solve, because by this method, their ability to analyze issues will groom, which is a required ability in all fields of life. Megalakaki, O., Sotiriou, S., Savas, S., & Manoussakis, Y. (2012). Problem-based Educational Environments: A Case Study in e-Commerce and Business Planning. Electronic Journal of Research in Educational Psychology 10(1) , 423-446 This study argues, that electronic learning facilities allow learners from various areas to develop their knowledge base, through providing them with integrated access to international libraries. At the same time, offer students an opportunity to consult with leading professionals. In this way, learners could develop in depth understanding of the practical issues of the field. However, in the light of above mentioned source, constructivism is an ideal methodology, while instructing medical students, because in this field problem based method could result in disastrous ramifications, without proper understanding of the medical knowledge. On the other hand, this research believes, that technological aids such as online videos are assisting; language instructors in making their students, learn various foreign languages. In teaching linguistics, professors should encourage their pupils to practice the language in their daily life, because this is the only way to learn, the art of communication, because, human mind initiates the process of self-correction, once the person starts talking in a non-native language. Nevertheless, theoretical background possesses a certain degree of importance in this regard, but ample amount of time should be allocated towards practical learning in the process of developing

Acting and Acting Styles Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Acting and Acting Styles - Assignment Example This provides the viewer with face to face interaction with the actor (Gibbs, 2013). The most common acting styles in film industry are naturalistic and stylized acting. Naturalistic actors are mandated to be in oneness with the character’s dress, mannerism and upbringing. He must have un-distinguishable character. Stylized acting depends on an approach that is more conspicuous to put across the director’s point. They produce comic effect through characteristic hyperbolism through dramatizing (Anderson, 2009). The significant placement of actor is known as blocking. In this style the actors are positioned in a way that can shore the dominance of a character over the other. It also depicts the grandness family and other relationships possible. This is used in the film to show the supremacy of the God Father (Coppola, 1972). The special effect acting style of Rear Projection is often used to give an illusion of a film scene on a location. It involves a combination of present foreground action and pre-filmed background footage. It is common in driving scenes. The un-realistic looking technique of this style is evident in the Romantic comedy by Hudson (Reed,

Give a full critical account of the Copenhagen criteria. Consider, in Essay

Give a full critical account of the Copenhagen criteria. Consider, in particular, whether they might create double standards as some commentators have suggested - Essay Example Examination shows that the constitutional predicament of this enlargement causes the danger of double standards, as concealed methods are deemed to be used in order to protect the selectiveness of the EU. In order to have membership to the European Union, Member States and their institutions must expand on approaches that can manage the transaction connecting deeper integration between Member States and widening to include new candidate countries. Therefore, the debate is whether the European Union is providing generosity or has amplified these double standards [2]. The criteria developed at Copenhagen European Council (1993) requires that a country has to have the capacity to maintain democratic governance and human rights, have a working market economy, and be able to recognize and agree to the requirements and objectives of the European Union. Many of these fundamentals have been explained over the course of the last fifteen years by legislation of the European Commission, the European Council and the European Parliament, in addition to European Court of Human Rights and the European Court of Justice [3]. In spite of the dissimilarity among the old Member States of the European Union, the fifth enlargement was foreseeable as a new integrated Europe would not be able to limit itself to only Western Europe [4]. Therefore, the enlargement of the European Union can be seen as an amalgamated and incorporated development of Europe after the end of the Cold War, as the countries which were formerly linked to the Soviet Union or the Warsaw pact are now independent European countries, and also democratic, with a substantive market economy, and after working towards implementing membership criteria declared by the Copenhagen European Council in 1993, are able to join the European Union [2]. Therefore, the stipulations for membership of the European Union

Thirteen Days Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Thirteen Days - Research Paper Example He is facing world war 3 in the near future. They have to come up with a quick plan on how to stop the war heads from being operational. President Kennedy does not want to invade Cuba, though the chiefs of staff really think that invading Cuba would be the best solution at the moment. He says the same course of events led to the break out World War 1. This time the risks were high because nuclear weapons were involved. They settle on blockade as the first measure which technically is an act of war that would help remove the missiles from Cuba as well as avoid war. They agree not to call it a blockade but quarantine. This is where the US navy ships will stop any ships that enter Cuban water for inspection to make sure they are not carrying any lethal weapons into Cuba. Cuban ambassador to the US at first assures president Kennedy that there are weapons in Cuba but they are only for defensive but not offensive purposes, which the president sees as lies and sends US ambassador to the UN Mr. Aldai Stevenson to a council meeting where he roughs up the Cuban ambassador with questions to categorically state if whether there are nuclear weapons placed in Cuba by the Soviet Union or not. The ambassador avoids the questions and says that the American government was spreading malicious information to incite nations. Throughout the entire process president Kennedy is pressurized by the chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staffs, General Maxwell Taylor to hasten an invasion before the whole chance of removing the missiles from Cuba become impossible. The president does not wish to subject innocent American citizens to an act world war 3. But all the same information starts spreading fast across all the American states about the possibility of a world war 3 which drives a major panic to the people who now shop for food stuff and other things in plenty just case a war breaks

Can educational inequalities be explained by children and young Essay

Can educational inequalities be explained by children and young people's social economic and cultural background - Essay Example Antoine defines this phenomena as â€Å"a situation in which individual groups in a society do not have equal social status, social class, and social circle.† (THE INEQUALITY PROJECT). Such social stratification is known to exist in the form of income groups and cultural backgrounds. Research and case studies provide further evidence to the sociologist’s claim that social class has an impact on educational opportunity. The disadvantage that a student faces as compared to other students can be explained as an extension of the disadvantages he or she may face as a result of belonging to a certain social group. Thus, a strong positive relationship can be drawn between social class and educational opportunity – the higher the social class is, the higher the quality of education achieved, and vice versa. Based on credible research and scholarly work, educational inequalities can be explained through the social economic and cultural background of the individual, making the attainment of education a process highly influenced by social factors. To understand educational inequality, it is important to first look into the factors that cause such inequalities to exist in the first place. Sociologists identify three main influences in this respect, namely, the income, gender and ethnicity group an individual belongs to. The correlation between poor income households and poor education has been proven through multiple researches. A Research report by Michael Holzman titled â€Å"A Rotting Apple† focuses on educational inequalities in New York City. It reveals that districts with high rates of poverty have a generally low quality of education, with teachers that are less experienced and schools having limited access to resources such as computers and internet as compared to schools in high income localities (SCHOTT FOUNDATION, 2012). This may be explained by the fact that households belonging to low income strata of the society may be not be able to afford sending their children to schools that offer better education with skilled teachers. As a result, the children in these low income area schools, when compared to those from high income areas, achieve less academic success. This supports the point that educational inequality is caused by differences in the income levels of the household the students belong to. Another factor that influences educational inequality is the cultural advantage students for middle class households have as compared to those from working class families. Basil Bernstein explains how children from varying backgrounds develop different codes, or forms of speech, during their early lives, which affect their subsequent school experience.† (GIDDENS, 1996) Bernstein classified the speech of working class families and middle class families as represented by a restricted code and elaborated code respectively. Working class parents are most likely to instruct or explain values and lessons to their chil dren using the minimum of words, and assuming that certain things are understood. On the other hand, middle class parents are most likely to explain and instruct their children by giving them elaborate explanations and reasons about why something is good or bad (BERNSTEIN,1977). In schools, teachers use the elaborated

Single sex schools Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Single sex schools - Research Paper Example ols are better than co-ed schools mainly because of the following three reasons: 1) Research has shown that children, both boys and girls obtain better grades in single-sex schools 2) Children can be their self in single-sex schools and 3) They are more comfortable in single-sex schools as both the sexes feel and think differently. If one accepts this reasoning than co-ed schools may not be the right choice. But then again there is not enough evidence to prove that single-sex schools are better than co-ed schools. A detailed study of the advantages and disadvantages of both the types of schools may perhaps help in arriving at a conclusion. . I t is generally believed that children can be themselves in same sex schools and take part in activities that suit them. For instance they can enjoy poetry or be a part of a band instead of marching without worrying about what the girls might think. Similarly girls can take part in sports like football or hockey without the fear of being labelled as a tomboy. Gils are able to shed their shyness. Children feel comfortable exploring subjects of their choice especially the non traditional ones. Girls feel comfortable studying subjects like advanced science or carpentry whereas boys can participate in orchestras or study languages like Latin without fear of being ridiculed for exploring subjects that are considered non-traditional. They need not don stereotypical roles and are encouraged to be curious and fearless. In short single sex schools allow children to be themselves. Today children face a huge amount of pressure from all quarters to become adults even before they are prepared. Children are forced to grow up too quickly. Some children are more comfortable in single-sex schools as the social pressures are less here. A child can grow at his own pace. As boys mature later than girls boys need more time to grow and single-sex schools may allow them to grow at their own pace. The atmosphere in single sex schools is

Ethical Criteria and its relationship with business negotiation Essay

Ethical Criteria and its relationship with business negotiation - Essay Example The main ethical criteria in businesses are utilitarian, universalism, categorical imperative, justice views, individualism, and social justice relativism and their relation to business negations. One of the ethical criteria is the Utilitarian criterion in which a business executive makes decisions solely based on the outcomes and consequences. Many businesses use the criterion to make decisions in the provision of the greatest good and for the greatest number. The criterion ensures that the decisions made create efficiency for the organization as it struggles to achieve its goals (Ferrell & Gresham, 1985). The method also aims at increasing the productivity of the business resulting in high profits of the company or the business enterprise. When a business executive maximizes profits, he can support his action that the decision he made as for the good of the organization. The use of Unitarianism leads to productivity and efficiency in an organization but can make the executive ignore the rights of some stakeholders especially the minority group making them feel unaccepted. The users of the criterion feel that they need to protect the organizations interest and the shareholde rs. Businesses require the stakeholders to hold negotiations especially when making important decisions. The criterion does not allow free negotiations and discussions by the company’s stakeholders as a single individual makes the decision for the benefit of the company. The choice of the action to be taken is determined by the largest number of stakeholders supporting it. The categorical Imperative involves the universal practice such that everyone is allowed to practice the proposed action. Kant developed the criterion and individuals wishing to use the criterion or the test should know that they would need to adopt the morality of the action. The morality of the action is the key to the adoption of the test, and

Should US continue trade with China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Should US continue trade with China - Essay Example In my opinion, United States should continue to trade with China. Many challenges that the U.S economy faces are usually domestic in nature, however, it is still important for investment to take place and the two states to continue trading. Thesis Statement: While the trade relationship between China and United States is not smooth, the benefits reaped are far much worth. History of U.S and China Trade relationship Lovett, William, Alfred Eckes, and Richard Brinkman. U.S. Trade Policy: History, Theory and the Wto. New York: M.E. Sharpe, 2004. According to Lovett, William, Eckes and Brinkman, former British Colonies were the giants when it came to international trade. As the authors stated earlier America, was only one of the states which participated in trade. At that time, the economy of the American British colonies was only considered to be extractive. Most of the commodities such as fish, lumber among other commodities were only traded within the empire. Different types of trade and manufacturing were all prohibited in the British Empire; hence, people were required to purchase goods from Asia via the England route, rather than participating in direct trade with Asians. There was colonial unrest because most of the Americans were excluded from what most termed as successful China Trade. On page 36 of the book, the authors assert that the demand for goods from China grew even after the Revolution. The authors state that in 1850s, trade between Britain and its international partners from Asia grew. By 1890s, as the authors assert, Britain already owned more than half of all the trade exports. When the Americans saw that the Great Britain made so much profit from trade, the Americans became more than interested in trade and wanted to make such profits on their own. The Americans started trading directly with China, and with the volume being comparatively small, China was viewed as a crucial player in this trade. Chai, Joseph. An Economic History of Modern Chin a. New York: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2011. Print. According to Chai, trade between China and other trading partners like the Americans declined in 1850s. Chai argues that the international environment only became favorable for the economy growth for a state like China in the year 1979 to 2009. The author points out on page 239 that the U.S and China trade troubles did not begin recently but years ago. Chain points out that the growing conflicts between China and states like the U.S grew because the foreign exchange from China’s reserve was growing due to trade. As a result of this, China also became a trade giant when it overtook the U.S and other European states and became one of the largest exporters. Chai affirms on page 239 that despite China making great profits from the booming trade, Europe was still a leader because it offered different states a market that was more receptive for goods from America. The U.S foreign trade grew enormously, but China’s trade only remained at a favorable but constant level. According to Chai, China is there today because it maintained an exchange rate that was fixed. This is the exchange rate that has led to the emerging symptoms of currency undervaluation. In the year 2008-2009, China accounted for about 39% of the total trade gap with the U.S. This issue, according to Chain was one of the contributors of China being

Parkinsons and Huntingtons disease Essay Example for Free

Parkinsons and Huntingtons disease Essay How is the motor system organized? What are the neurological bases of Parkinsons and Huntingtons disease?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The motor system of the human anatomy is mainly rooted in the interaction of the nervous and muscular system wherein the interaction between the organs involved in the two enables the human body to move and react towards its environment. Basically, the motor system is organized between these two systems wherein the control process is centralized on the brain while the enactment of the movement is done in the muscle involved. In the brain, the motor control for voluntary movements is produced in the pyramidal system, which consists of two long neuron systems. These two systems are the upper motor neurons located in the primary motor cortex and the lower motor neurons in the anterior horn of the spinal cord. Another important system in the brain is the extrapyramidal motor system located in the midbrain. This system is responsible for dampening erratic motions, maintaining muscle tone and truncal ability. Another important region is the vestibular system, which is synaptically linked to the extrapyramidal system. This system controls the balance of the general body system and while doing movement. In addition is the cerebellum, which controls the muscle activity, tone, and equilibrium. In each of these systems in the brain, significant motor processes are produced and relayed into each region thus, producing the effective and logical reaction and movement of the human anatomy towards his or her environment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      Relevant to the healthy motor system of the human body is the condition of the different regions and systems involved in the processing of the motor movement impulses. In this aspect, the common diseases relative to body movement impairment are based on their neurological damage in the brain. The Parkinson’s disease in particular, which is a movement disorder, affects the basal ganglia region in the brain resulting to deterioration of relay of motor impulses. These influences in the significant brain regions manifest in conditions of muscle rigidity, slowing to loss of physical movement in extreme cases, tremor, and others, which are the characteristic of Parkinson’s disease. The Huntington’s disease is also a degenerative condition characterized by abnormal body movements and lack of coordination. This condition is rooted on the expansion of the altered form of Htt protein called mutant Huntingtin which results to cell death in most critical regions in the brain. These cellular deaths results to the reduction of impulse relay in the brain and the processing ability of the motor regions. This abnormal cellular death in the brain region affects the physical and cognitive ability of the human body characterized by the disease. In general, the degenerative health conditions affecting the body movement are mainly rooted on the abnormal development in the critical brain regions directly related to the motor system.   Bibliography Binder, M. D. (1999). Peripheral and Spinal Mechanisms in the Neural Control of Movement (Progress in Brain Research). Elsevier Science Publication. 1st Edition. ISBN-10: 0444502882.

Kant Metaphysical Exposition of Space Essay Example for Free

Kant Metaphysical Exposition of Space Essay Explain and asses what you think to be the best argument Kant gives as his Metaphysical Exposition of Space (B37-40) that space cannot be either and actual entity (Newtonian concept) or any independent relation among real things (Leibnizian concepti be on). In other words, is he successful in arguing that space must be (at least) a form of intuition? Do any of his arguments further show that space must be ONLY a form of intuition and not ALSO something Newtonian or Leibnizian? In his Metaphysical Exposition of Space, Kant attempts to show that the experience of space is just a form of intuition. Kant defines space as that of which we sense out side of us, in comparison to our mind, which is our inner sense. This outer sense of space, he claims, is known only to us because we have a intuitive sense of there being space in the first place. Kant asserts this argument in direct response to two other claims about the nature of space. The Newtonian concept of space holds that space is an entity existing in its own right, with objects merely being in it. The Leibnizian concept of space however holds the opposite, space doesnt really exist and is just a relation created between existing objects. Kant believes both concepts are wrong and claims that to first know about objects in space, we must have some deeper knowledge of space to put them in space. He further tries to claim that space is only a form of intuition and not just the foundation to support either of the other two concepts. Kant presents some strong points showing the faults in the other concepts and provides a reason alternative to what makes the nature of space. However his concept too, that space is known only through intuition, also isnt as strong as it should be. It appears that space may be known through intuition from an individual perspective, but on closer investigation, taking in all forms of life and evolution, where did this pre wired intuition of space have its start? Kants concept of space seems to be well grounded in some areas and not in others. Kants definition of space helps him prove that the concept of space is a form of intuition. Space, he holds, is everything that is sensed outside of us. The mind is the inner sense and everything else is in space. We then represent objects in that space, where they are interpreted as having shape, magnitude and relationships to other objects in space. But then what is this space, Kant questions? Not satisfied with the current theories of the nature of time, Kant moves to show their faults through a set of arguments. The Newtonian concept of space claims that space exists as an entity in its own right. This concept is the most user friendly, and it is similar to the common sense view that most people grow up with. That is, we experience objects around us as exist in a void of space, where that void itself can exist on its own. Objects exist in this space, which is an infinite entity. The theory claims that through our sense, sight, touch extra, we learn about the world. We learn from our senses about space and how it works. We start of in the world with no idea of space and through a trial and area type system of learning, we being to understand the nature of space and of objects in it. Space exists and we lean of its existence though life experience. Kant cannot accept the Newtonian concept of space. In his first argument, Kant claims that space is not a concept that has been drawn from our experiences. His reasoning behind this is; how can we know to put the data that we gain from our senses into a world of space if we dont know of space to begin with? That is, to know to put this sensory data into a thing called space, we must first have some idea of space. Kant does not think that it is possible to stumble across the idea of space just through trial and error. Space, he claims, must be an intuitive idea that we are born with, so we know to put the data we gain into some logical order. We cant experience space without first having some idea of it being there. We must know what we are looking for, before we can find it. Kant seems to be onto something with this argument. It does seem plausible to think that the idea of space is already programmed into our brain. For we are objects ourselves that did develop in this world. But then isnt that learning about space through experience just over a few generations. So on a longer time scale we gradually learnt how to interact with space. The intuition of space is just another characteristic that we gain from our ancestors. The species, or life, learnt about space. But this is not what Kant is trying to claim. He is claiming that it is intuition that we have always had, the entire human existence has always had. This on the biological level seems rather odd. Is it just humans that have this intuition? It doesnt seem grounded to answer this question with a yes. But then back in early beings of life, do single cell organisms also have this intuition, do they even know they exist? So Kant must mean fully developed humans, or at least fairly intelligent animals. But this still suggests that having the intuition of space is something that is developed over evolution. So in turn is something that is gain from the species evolutionary experience. It is an odd claim to say that just one day a higher level animal just suddenly experience space. Perhaps now we have some basic animal instinct of how space works, Kant does not justify how this come about. The intuition of space my have evolved, which is a from of long term experience. The Leibnizian concept claims that space is just the relationship between objects and cannot exist on its own. Unlike the Newtonian concept of space, this theory claims that space does not and could not exist without the presents of objects. Space is just an attribute of objects, without them space is not present. If there was no objects there would be no need for space and it would not be present. We see objects all around us, and in order to understand the raw data presented by our senses we dream up relationships among them which we call space. Space is not an entity in its own right, it is simple the relation between existing objects. Kant can also not accept the Leibnizian concept of space. In his second argument, Kant claims that it is possible to have space without the presents of objects. Using a thought experiment Kant tries to show that we can image an empty space, a space without objects in it. He uses the experiment as a direct attack on the Leibnizian concept that space is just an attribute of objects. Kant believes that it is possible to image empty space, free of any objects. He claims that since this is possible space must be more then just an attribute of existing objects. Kants argument here doesnt seem as strong. He just seems to state that we can imagine empty, boundless space. It seems slightly more difficult to achieve then what he makes out. At first it seems sure, we can think of empty space, but is it really empty space that we are imagining here? Maybe we can think of a void, but isnt that just the space between objects? The depths of space, are just long distances from existing objects, not empty space. It seems every time we try to think of space it is in relation to objects or boundaries. Kant tries to make the thought experiment seem simple, but on closer inspection, imagining space total separate to objects is very difficult. Space might be its own existing thing, but it is not shown through this method of reasoning. It still seems plausible that space in known by our intuition, however that intuition is just knowing to see that existing objects have the attribute, and relation to other objects, space. Kant does not strongly prove that space can exist on its own. Kant claims that space is an existing thing that we are born being aware of and nothing more. It can only be this and not a combination of intuition and the Newtonian and Leibnizian concepts of space. It cant be, for example, that space is an intuition of a simple relationship between objects, or that we intuitively need to learn of its existence through experience. Kant uses further arguments to show this. In his third argument Kant further shows that to understand space we must first have the framework set out to understand that space must exist. That is it must be known by pure intuition alone. For the Leibnizian concept to be correct, it would seem possible to think of separate spaces. That is, according to the theory, space only exists with resect to objects, or every object has its own space. It seems the concept is suggesting that there is lots of little spaces everywhere, that connect, or not connect, regarding if the objects are close or near. Kant believes that is not a very reasonable way of seeing how the world or space works. Intuitively we seem to know that there is one infinite space, that maybe divided up by objects, but is still known to be part of the one big whole of space. Kant even seems to suggest that it is impossible for our minds to imagine no space at all. Our intuition of space is so strong, our minds cannot interpret the world without it. Space cannot be intuitive and a relation between objects, Kant believes it must only be known intuitively The mind experiment Kant uses here seems much more agreeable. I does seem that we see space as one big infinite entity, in which all objects exists. The Leibnizian theory does seem to infer that there are lots of little independent spaces following the object they belong to. This seems to be a very strange way of seeing the world indeed, and one very hard to imagine. Kants argument against the Leibnizian concept is strong here, but does it prove that both space is an intuition and not at all an aspect of an object? It appears we can agree with Kant that space is not just a relation between objects, that it exists in its own right. But what is not strong is that intuition is the way we can experience and not through learning from our senses. In his forth and finally argument on the nature of space, Kant tries to show that it is not something we intuitively know to look for, but that we are already born knowing of its existence. Kant believes that it is not possible to interpret the raw data given to us by our senses into any order without first knowing to put it into space. The data would simple not make any sense. And why would just having this data spore the idea of putting into an order of space. How do we know to link that sound with that vision? Yes we learn other things about the world from experience, but this only possible by having the framework of knowing how space works in our heads to being with. All other knowledge is built on the bedrock of us knowing that things outside of us work in space. Kant claims that knowing space is through intuition alone, and through a combination of intuition and learning. Kants argument here is partly agreeable. He makes a strong point that linking to very different experience, like sight and sound, into one event, would be very difficult achieve, if at all, if they werent put into space. From a person to person basis his concept of space is quiet agreeable. If each person was to learn in their life time about how space worked, wouldnt there, by numbers, be some people they never stumble across its working, or even people taking different amounts of time to achieve this knowledge. It would seem that these people would behave very strange in the world. Babies seem to develop an idea of how space works in all about the same way and time frame. If it was up to each individual to learn, or to stumble across the truth, the world would probably be a very different place. So yes, Kant seems to be on the right track that each person is pre wire to expect a world with space, this does not however explain how and when and for what level of life this pre wiring occurred. Kants theory of intuitive space needs to be more developed. Kant finally concludes that space cant be known through trial and error, it cant be an attribute of objects, and must be known through the intuition alone. The raw data that our eyes and ears gather would be useless if our mind didnt have space to make sense of it all. But would space still exist even if it wasnt an intuition? Kant would seem to answer yes to this. So is the need to have the intuition of space to understand it just a human condition? Kants reply to this one does not seem as clear. Surely before humans there were living beings interacting in space. Did these living things need an intuition of space to survive? For humans it seems necessary that we understand the nature of space, otherwise I dont think we would be able to survive. But then if we didnt understand what our senses where telling us by putting them into the concept of space, why would we evolve senses at all? Surely we wouldnt have eyes and ears ect. If we evolved not needing or using them. So does every animal that has the same sensors as us have the same intuition of space as we do? This idea seems to be begging the question ? what came first the intuition of space, or the senses and the ability to perceive it? For one seems to be seems to be surely useless with out the other. Kants concept seems to work if we just look at a snap shot of the world functioning today, however it does not satisfy how the world got to be the way it is. Perhaps this is not goal he was wanting to achieve, but for his concept to hold these questions of evolution need to be answered. Kants claims show the faults in past concepts, however his concepts is not total solid yet either. Kant resolves some issues, but then raises some more. It seems now that we cant take for granted what we all assume that we learn about space through experience, and it seems too that space exists in its own right. Kant seems to make this clear, he does not however clearly prove that space is known by intuition alone.

Nature Of Competition In The Consumer Cosmetic Market Marketing Essay

Nature Of Competition In The Consumer Cosmetic Market Marketing Essay With regards to brand popularity and customer experience, Procter and Gamble is considered to be among the most successful brands in the global market. Moreover, Olay, anti-aging skin-care produced by the company is a renowned brand not only in the U.S but the entire global market. By using this brand for the case, the study demonstrates features and market communication approaches that could be utilized by brand marketers in order to gain competitive advantage locally and internationally. The study focuses on brand communication and promotion approaches that have resulted into positive consumer attitude towards the brand in the global market. Overview of Olay Brand Olay is a skin care product produced by Procter Gamble in U.S. The product is one of the leading skin care market brands in the global market, and the leading earner brand for Procter Gamble. In majority of the markets, including China, US and UK, Olay is the anti-aging market leader despite the competitive market environments. The brand is further extended into other products such as Total effects, Professional, Quench, Regenerist, Olay Vitamins and White Radiance. Olay is used as a moisturizer for those who desire to stay looking young since it is anti-aging cream. Nature of competition in the consumer cosmetic market It is important to note that demand for cosmetic brands is on the rise as more people settle for aesthetic beauty and body care. The Olay brand is mainly in the anti-aging market which experiences rising consumer demands as well as competition. The anti-aging product market is heightened by the increasing aging population especially in the developed countries, and the increased desire by both the younger and older consumers to maintain youthful appearances. With a growth forecast of 4.3 per cent between 2009 and 2014, the anti-agers market is expected to experience steady global growth. Such a market growth rate is higher than that of any other cosmetics category, and therefore the anti-agers category has attracted more players in the market; both large and smaller companies intensifying fierce competition globally. This implies that the market players have to apt their marketing approaches in order to retain their clients and appeal to more in the market. The graph given below demon strates the rate of launch of new anti-aging products in the global up to 2009; Figure 2.2: Graph showing stronger growth and competition in anti-aging market Source: Datamonitors Product Launch Analytics (2010, p.2) As given in figure 2.2, the anti-agers launches almost equaled the launches of overall skin care products in the global market. The sharp rise in anti-agers launches even during 2007-2009 economic recession showed that anti-ages are recession-proof, and that consumers are likely to demand for anti-agers even in harsh economic climate. Moreover, the graph shows rising competition in this category, implying that brand marketers have to think of newer approaches of communicating to their consumers. Brand communication based on product differentiation and innovation Being such a competitive market, market players need to ensure that their brands are appealing to the consumers in the market if they are to gain good command of the global anti-aging market. Innovation is therefore high among the industry players, ranging from brand packaging strategies, product promise to ingredient formulation in the products. Olay brand marketers capture the cognitive aspect of their consumers by communicating their innovation and differentiation vividly to their customers. The communication is often done through memorable packaging, and product arrangement in the stores. A survey conducted by Datamonitor (2010) between 2005 and 2009 revealed that the leading aspect that all the anti-aging products market players hold in the highest esteem is up-scaling. About 17 per cent of the new product launches that took place in the global market between 2005 and 2009 were touted (communicated) as up-scaling. Some other popular claims that resulted in new launches were mainly based on consumer health. The claims included the the communications which justified the products as not harsh to the consumer skins. The pie-chart given below show some of the aspects (features) that characterised the claim of new anti-aging skin care launches in the global market as widely communicated by different brand marketers to the appeal of the consumers. Source: Datamonitors Product Launch Analytics (2010, p.5) Communication strategies used by Olay to dominate market Procter Gamble has made attempts to achieve competitive advantage in the competitive global anti-aging skin care cosmetics market. Apart from being Procter Gambles strongest brand, Olay is the leading anti-aging skin care brand in the global market. The most remarkable Olay milestone was in 2003 when the sale of the brand broke the US$ 1 billion mark, showing the growing strength of the brand in the global market. Brand performance survey which was conducted in the U.S in 2009-2010, and said to be highly representative of the global market showed that Olay brand commands greater chunk of the skin care product market, beating its number two brand by nearly half (Datamonitor, 2010). The table given below shows the 2009-2010 Olay performance in the US market (with the results said to be representative); Company Brand 2009-2010 % Market Share Procter Gamble Olay 16.7 Procter Gamble Ponds 8.4 Procter Gamble L Oreal Paris 5.5 Johnson Johnson Aveeno 5.3 Johnson Johnson Garnier 5.1 Johnson Johnson Neutrogena 4.6 Johnson Johnson Nivea 4.5 Johnson Johnson Noxzema 4.0 L Oreal Dove 3.8 L Oreal Clinique 3.6 Due to its better market performance as compared to other brands, Procter Gamble capitalized on the Olay brand strengths and worked on its weaknesses so as to ensure continued market leadership in the global market. First, the company created and actively promoted various sub-brands of Olay, with each sub-brand aligned to a unique tier with the purpose of attracting customers from a larger demographic base. The sub-brands of Olay brand include the following; Olay Total Effects this is the cheapest sub-brand of Olay, targeting the low and middle income earners in the global market. The key features of this brand as communicated by the marketers, and that are majorly pronounced in the brand adverts include the following; tone enhancements, line minimization, gentle exfoliation, nourishing moisturisation, subtle lifting, free radical defense and pore refinement. Apart from its appealing packaging (appendix 1 a), these are the brand communication strengths that have kept the brand afloat in the market. Olay Complete this is a mid-priced Olay sub-brand with the following product communication features as the focus strengths; it offers sun protection to the skin using UVA/UVB, and Vitamins A, C, D and B5; the brand has moisturizers with the green tea extracts. The brand packaging is appealing with the Olay logo clearly marked on the package to arouse consumer memories (Appendix 1 b). Olay Regenerist this is another mid-priced Olay sub-brand with the formulation strengths combining the following ingredients as the focus of their brand communication; Pal-KTTKS, pentapeptide and other anti-aging ingredients such as Vitamins B3 and E, allantoin and green tea extracts. The packaging of the sub-brand is similarly appealing with the Olay logo clearly marked on it (appendix 1 c). Olay Definity the mid priced product contains glucosamine ingredients with the marketing statement being; fight what ages you most. The packaging demonstrates an appealing product design with the logo clearly visible (appendix 1 d). Olay Pro-X this is the latest sub-brand created by the Procter and Gamble Company to capitalize on the brand popularity of Olay. The product is premium priced and brand designed to give the consumers younger look skin through cell turn-over rate boosting. The packaging design is shown in appendix 1 e. Given that Olay Pro-X is the latest Olay sub-brand in the market, and is the greatest seller for the company, the current study will dwell on some of the communication used for promoting the brand. Olay Pro-X sub-brand Pro-X is the latest Olay sub-brand that the Procter Gamble Company is capitalizing on. The product was first launched in the US market in 2008, and since been introduced in other major and fast growing markets such as China, Canada and UK. The premium priced skin care products sell at a price range of between US$ 42 and US$ 62 depending on the market. The most remarkable differentiating feature of the product is its complex ingredients, containing peptide complex Pal-KT. The ingredients which were developed by Procter Gamble scientists, and are exclusive to the company enhance a firm skin look of the consumers. As a brand communication and pricing strategy, Olay Pro-X products are retailed in department store brands with the right store ambience to beat its high priced rivals Lancome and Clinique. To combine communication and experiential features, the sub-brand is distributed throughout major drug stores, chain stores, super market channels and discount stores through the world to ensure easy access by the consumers. The presence of Pro-X brand across different market structures despite its premium nature is meant to encourage the growth of Olay brand through competition at different pricing points, positioning the masstige alongside lower and mid priced Olay sub-brands. In its promotional strategies, Procter Gamble aimed to satisfy its target market by sensitizing its consumers of the following attributes through effective brand communication; Cleansers: restorative cream cleanser and exfoliating renewal cleanser Complete Regimen Protocols: anti-aging starter protocol and the intensive wrinkle protocol Primary moisturizing solution: hydra firming cream, age repair lotion and wrinkle smoothening cream. Targeted specialized treatments: deep wrinkle treatment, eye restoration complex, intensive firming treatment, skin tightening serum and discoloration fighting concentrate. By availing all the above components and benefits of Olay Pro-X sub-brand, Procter Gamble ensured variety for their consumers through one brand. A section of consumers who are loyal to Olay brands confessed that in majority of cases, they get their expectations in the Olay products that they use (). The products from the Pro-X range have similarly received awards from media, showing that the brand is well received by people as reflected on the media. A 2009 Americas Healthiest Beauty Buys competition run by Health Magazine selected Pro-X Eye Restoration Complex as the best eye product in the market. In another product competition known as Defy Your Age Beauty Award, Pro-X Age Repair Lotion SPF emerged as the best product in the category. Such acknowledgements by media have instrumentally encouraged more consumers to try the Olay brands due to independent verification of the brands as opposed to promotions. Product marketing strategy for the Olay Pro-X sub-brand Procter and Gamble Company has worked towards creating a professional brand image for the Pro-X product to appeal to more customers in the global market. As evident on the product packaging (appendix 1e), all the Olay Pro-X products are actively and conspicuously labelled with the word professional so that the brand aim is swiftly known to the customers. The word professional has been used as a strategy not only by Procter Gamble but several other companies in the global market. The word is intended to convince the clients that the products are better alternatives to solve their problems in a superior manner, given that majority of the products labelled professional are premium. Figure 2.3 given below shows the number of major brands that have used the word professional as strategy to entice customers; Figure 2.3: Graph showing use of the word professional as a branding strategy Source: To the customers, the perception of the word professional becomes real especially after comparison usage images (outcome before and after the product usage) and consumer testimonies as placed on media. The higher prices of Olay Pro-X brand (at between US$ 42 and US$ 62) acts to validate the premium and professional image of the product in the global market. However, this price is quite significant for most customers to pay for cosmetic products, particularly in the harsh economic climate witnessed during the 2007-2009 economic recession. Being aware of the economic challenge that customers face, Procter Gamble introduced pricing strategies and promotional activity appeals to the customers who make compromises on their spending and consumer assurance offers. One of such offers which were used in the US market was referred to as rebate and money-back guarantee scheme. In this scheme, the customers could send their purchase receipts to the company for a US$ 20 refund on products bought at US$ 50 and above. This would encourage trial buying, and give the customers opportunity to test if the brand information suites the product features and ingredients as had been communicated earlier. The pricing strategy was used as a tool against other competitors in the market. Although Olay competitors retailed at the same or almost similar price, the pricing strategy enabled new customers to try the Olay products and later on be loyal to them. In a nutshell, Procter Gamble through effective communication strategies ensured that Olay brands are reliant on their customers, and therefore informed the belief that Olay products were worth their prices. The Olay Pro-X brand promotion has been boosted by infomercial about the brand. Despite the brand sales being strong and on the rise, the company developed about thirty minutes infomercial that informed their customers about the brand values and benefits. Quoted in Womens Wear Daily (2010), Chris Heiert, the brand marketing director justified the Olay infomercial by making the following remarks; Consumers are information seekers and want to understand the science and technology. That led to this idea which is the best of both worlds. We will be able to reach new consumers but when she wants to go back and purchase it, she can-in the mass market. (In Datamonitor, 2010, p.11). The infomercial stressed on the science behind the manufacture of the product, interviewing the scientists who developed the product, and presenting some of the clinical tests data on the product. The infomercial similarly displayed shots of Olay consumers before and after use of the product. Due to the longer duration of the infomercial, it was imperatively designed to capture the attention of viewers throughout the duration of play rather than at the start or end. Overall, the infomercial played a key role in informing Conclusion and relevance of the case study to the study topic The anti-aging skin care market upon which Olay brand competes is quite competitive locally and internationally. This warrants effective communications on brand innovation and differentiation as vital strategies for market survival. In order to ensure the relevance of Olay brand Procter Gamble offered novel aspects of the brand that encouraged its purchase over its substitutes and competitors. Introducing new ingredient that had never been used by competitors (Pal-KT) in its Olay Pro-X products, Procter Gamble were able to create a unique brand that was more result oriented as opposed its competitors. However, the result was achieve through effective communication that ensured accurate product promotion based on what the consumers were expected to draw from these products. Secondly, Procter Gamble Company through Olay brand managed to win consumer trust through media and scientific verification of its products. It is extremely important for brand marketers to gain the support of consumers through loyalty to the brands. The scientific and media verification are particularly gained when the test results conducted before and after the product use are valid as in the brand communication. In the case of Olay Pro-X brand, Procter Gamble introduced a money back guarantee scheme that would help assure the customers of the workability and reliability of the product. Moreover, brand campaigns, store ambience and brand packaging played a central role in winning consumer trust on this brand. The word professional was used as a branding communication strategy on the product packaging and stores so as to assure consumers of the reliability of their products. Finally, Olay brand popularity was ensured through adverts and promotions. Specifically, the company used infomercials (which is relatively a new approach to brand promotions) to provide strong marketing platform to promote the brands. Infomercials focus on the strengths of the brand being promoted by highlighting the past successes of the brand. Pegged with the brand verification, infomercials importantly build brand loyalty and equity in the market while encouraging new set of customers to try the brand. The strategies given here and others could be used by the local Chinese cosmetics manufacturers to gain dominance in the local industry. 4. METHODOLOGY Introduction 4.1 Research Philosophy This current study used the philosophy of applied research. Applied research takes place in environments that are characterized by organizations, systems, cultures, behavior, rules, politics and processes. These components execute simultaneously and change over time. Any effort to analyze an organization or an industry will result in findings showing differences in characteristics, habits and rules across the different constituent components. To develop a clear insight when researching on issues that may affect organizational performance, the situation and the entities (constituent factors) must be comprehended. The uniqueness of a situation must be understood and considered when researching. Constructivism is based upon the assertion that knowledge on phenomena is best-retrieved from people or entities that are immersed in the research environment (Denzin and Lincoln, 2011). Thus the focus is on the participants and entities that have experience and knowledge on the phenomena being studied. Constructivism as a post-positivist philosophy is generally opposed to positivism, in terms of the absolute validity of knowledge. Constructivism is based on the tenet that knowledge can be constructed from multiple dimensions. The existence of multiple realities is emphasized in different variations of constructivisms epistemology (Creswell, 2009). The world under constructivism and most research areas are complex and can be analyzed from multiple perspectives that should therefore be considered in creating knowledge. Thus, the approach is best suited in studying aspects that are influenced by a multitude of factors. Constructivism also requires that the researcher should understand the position and potential effects that their views have on the accuracy of their findings (VanderStoep and Johnston, 2009). The choice of constructivism in research philosophy is guided by the nature of the problem being addressed in the study. Different approaches have been adopted in analyzing the eff ectiveness of marketing communication strategies. In essence, this implies that the area being studied is complex and can be analyzed from different dimensions. Therefore, there is a match between the tenets of constructivism and the nature of the problem being studied. 4.2 Research Design Both qualitative and quantitative research designs were used in the study. The choice of a qualitative research design was guided by the nature of the study and the epistemology that has been adopted. Qualitative research designs are generally developed with the aim of creating a deeper understanding of the data. In most cases, qualitative inquiries are not pre-emptive. The nature of the study, the scope and the strategies that will be used in data collection are often determined by the research questions. Additionally, the analytical process under a qualitative research design may influence the direction that is adopted. Though the research design adopted should be in line with the nature of the research questions, some situations have been identified as suited for qualitative studies. A number of these scenarios are evinced in the current study. First, qualitative techniques are suitable in cases where there is little known on the subject area (Bohnsack, Pfaff and Weller, 2009). It is worth noting that even though marketing communication is an area that is has been intensely researched; fewer studies have explored how brand marketing communications impacts on consumer attitudes. Majority of the studies are based on consumer behavior change without exploring their attitudes towards the brand. From this perspective, the study appears to be exploratory in nature and therefore a qualitative research design is suitable. Secondly, a qualitative research design is appropriate in cases where a study seeks to develop an understanding of the participants experiences. Under the epistemology adopted, understanding the participants experiences is vital in developing valid and reliable results. Hence, the study attaches great weight to the participants experiences. Likewise, qualitative research design is suitable in cases where it is difficult to approach the participants due to practical or ethical reasons (Denzin and Lincoln, 2011). The study delves on issues relating to marketing communication and its impact on consumer attitude; it illustrates how marketing communication would be used to influence consumers positively towards a given brand. These are issues of critical importance to competitive firms and it is therefore expected that getting data for quantitative data analysis may not be easy. Accordingly, the anticipated practical difficulties have also played a role in the adoption of a qualitative re search design. Lastly, a qualitative research design has been adopted because it supports the nature of the research questions as much as it is in line with it. A qualitative research design allows for greater flexibility than formal quantitative techniques. This flexibility offers the support needed to collect rich data so as to answer the research questions. The quantitative part of the study aimed to understand how various brand marketers use marketing communication to influence consumers attitudes towards their brands. Data collection instruments consisting of semi-structured questionnaires were prepared for quantitative data collection. Unlike the qualitative data collection approaches, data results were presented in numbers and statistical measures (Creswell, 2009). Using quantitative research methods ensured that the measurable effects of marketing communication with respect to consumer attitudes towards the brands in question were achieved. 4.3 Research Approach The research approach used has to be in line with the research design and the epistemology adopted. A case study approach was also used in the study. Case study methodologies have been used in different research fields with varying levels of success. Marketing communication research studies have adopted this research approach as well. Ideally, a case study is expected to capture the complexities of selected cases. Most researchers concur with the view that selected cases should be contemporary; it is a complex functioning unit and it has to be investigated in its natural context. The method of inquiry used and interest in individual cases have been identified by different researchers as important aspects in selecting and implementing a case study approach. The case studys methodology is related to other methods in that it allows for the use of different techniques and approaches in analyzing a case from multiple perspectives. Triangulation of approaches and findings from the different approaches is also supported by a case study approach (Bohnsack, Pfaff and Weller, 2009). This is the main reason why the case study approach is often referred to as a meta-method. Proctor Gambles Olay was selected as the case for various reasons. First, Proctor Gamble Company engages in a lot of marketing communications with a view of convincing consumers to buy its products. Additionally, Proctor Gamble is one of the companies that have global leader brands in terms of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. This shows that the company is progressive and more likely to embrace marketing communication strategies as a means of changing consumer attitudes towards its brands. Lastly, the researcher could easily access information on marketing strategies of the co mpany as opposed to other first tier rivals in the global market. The first step in the research approach was selecting a case. The next step involved seeking permission from relevant authorities within the selected organization so as to carry out the study. In seeking permission, the researcher informed the relevant authority about the aim of the study and the procedures that will be used. These were measures intended at ensuring informed participation and gaining any support that could be offered by the company. Additionally, the study involved perusing through advertising and marketing communication initiatives by the case organization. The next step involved selecting members of the organization that would be interviewed. The selection was based on availability and knowledge of the marketing communication initiatives implemented by the company and their effects on respective brands that were investigated. Sample and Population The definition, selection and sample of the population are important aspects in research. For this study, the participants were mainly drawn from Proctor Gamble Company. To start with, the researcher collected qualitative data from three employees of the company. The employees, were mainly in the marketing department were selected depending on their ability and knowledge of the marketing communication strategies used by the company to promote its brands. The study thus focused on marketing communication professionals within the case company. Convenience sampling is used due to the multiple practical issues that have to be considered. Furthermore, the potential participants are few and so the use of random sampling approach was considered to be unfeasible. Secondly, the researcher collected quantitative data from 100 participants who were considered to be consumers of Proctor and Gamble Olay brand. The consumers were identified from Proctor Gamble stores and shops where they agreed and consented to their participation. In seeking for the consent of the participants, the researcher requested them to spare about 10 minutes in order to complete the survey questionnaires. The researcher even explained to the participants the importance of the research. The researcher also explained to them that the activity was voluntary and they could only participate if they want to. Instrumentation The semi-structured survey questionnaire that was used by the researcher sought information on the participants background variables, information on marketing communications, and the duration of interaction with Proctor and Gamble Company products. In relation to the interviews, the study focused on the four major areas that are highlighted in the research objectives and questions; the features that firms and brand marketers consider when preparing a marketing communication for a brand; the marketing communication aspects that influence consumer attitudes and buying behaviors towards brands in the market; the impacts of new technology introduction in the marketing communication with regards to consumer behavior and attitudes towards a brand; and, ways of building business network and stronger brand through effective marketing communication. Determination of how the variables were brought out in the research questions were considered as important aspects in the research process. It is worth noting that the study was not limited to short answers. Rather, the participants were required to expound on their views and the researcher looked at the brand marketing communication efforts that the company has in place. Data Collection The study involved the collection of two sets of data: data from the interviewees and data collected through administering of the questionnaires. The focus was on active marketing communication efforts rather than past marketing strategies. In collecting the qualitative data, the focus was on collecting information from employees within the case organization that have the knowledge and experience of the effects of brand marketing communications. Semi-structured interviews were used because they allow for the flexibility afforded by unstructured interviews and they also support formal organization required to answer the first research question. The use of semi-structured interviews is thus guided by the requirements brought about by the instrumentation of the variables. Use of semi-structured interviews is both feasible and practical with respect to collecting rich data and time requirements. After selecting the participants, they were required to identify the days that they would be free to be interviewed. This was a measure aimed at ensuring that the interviewees were comfortable with the selection of the time and place of interview. The interviewees were then individually informed of the day, place and time that the interview will take place. The interviews were conducted via telephone conversation and recorded for transcribing later. Each interview ran for about 30 minutes. The participants were not in any way coerced or influenced into participating in the study. They were informed of the aim of the study and the nature of the questions that would be asked beforehand. Additionally, the interviewees were informed that they were free to ignore some questions for either institutional or personal reasons. These measures were aimed at ensuring that the interviewees were at ease. Due to the strategic importance of marketing communication to the organization, the questions directed to the interviewees focused on the company stance on the same. This indirect approach of questioning is important since in most cases, it reduces the pressure on the interviewees. Moreover, they generally relayed their experiences in their workplaces (from which they have developed their personal views). As indicated earlier, the researcher approached customers at Proctor and Gamble stores and shops, and asked them to take about 10 minutes in order to complete the quantitative survey questionnaires. The participants did this at their own volition. Data Analysis Qualitative data analysis techniques were used to analyze the data while considering the research questions. The two major data analysis techniques used were quasi-statistics and logical analysis. Quasi-statistics is a qualitative data analysis technique that involves counting the number of times something is mentioned. This technique is important in answering the second and third research questions. On the other hand, logical analysis is a qualitative technique that involves generalization of causation and logical reasoning processes. To support the logical reaso

William Shakespeare Essay -- Papers

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare was born in Statfordon-Avon, England in April 1564. The son of John Shakespeare a Glover and his mother Mary Arden who came of wealthy framing family. William Shakespeare was the eldest of three sons there were also four daughters, only one of his sisters out lived William. From when Shakespeare died there has been lots of books written about Shakespeare and his works. Such as Shakespeare in his Brie Lives written by Aurbery in the 17th century and Shakespeare Truth and Tradition written by Dr J. S. Smart in 1928. There have been many more but too many to list. Shakespeare grew up and developed a great sense of words and how to use them. He soon met a wife Anne Hathaway she was from a good farming family much like his mother was and soon they were married. In 1583 Anne had a baby girl Susanna and two years later she gave birth to twins Hamnet and Judith. Shakespeare they thought probably came to London because of this. Soon after he published his first text Greene’s Attack in a Groat’s-worth of Witte. There is a great gap in ...

Robert Goddard: The Father of Modern Rocketry Essay example -- essays

Robert Hutchings Goddard was a futurist. He was born in Worcester, Massachusetts on October 5, 1882. He was the son of a machinist and his father was known for his brilliance with machinery and tools. The Goddard’s moved from Worcester to Boston while Robert was just an infant, because his father went in half and half on a local machine tools shop. In Boston, is where the young Robert Goddard spent his youth as an only child, and most of his younger years were spent alone at home due to his mother’s illness with tuberculosis. Robert would not see his family’s hometown of Worcester again until he was seventeen in 1899. Much of his life was spent as an ill child (Spangenburg, 10), and he was an average student with an aversion to mathematics. Illness kept him out of school entirely in that autumn of 1899, and by this time Robert had only completed his freshman year of high school. Although he was unable to spend a lot of time within institutional walls, the young Goddard was not without a strong yearning to learn--at least to learn science. Much of the time he spent sick at home sick was consumed reading the Scientific American, or books from the library both science and science fiction novels—-especially H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds, a novel he would re-examine often in later years (Burrows, 32). Robert Goddard found happiness while doing his chores and often used found this time for relaxing. Like many young seventeen year olds, the time was spent daydreaming and this was the case on the 19th day of October 1899. Little did the young man know that this entry in his diary would change his entire life: â€Å"As I looked toward the fields in the east I imagined how wonderful it would be to make some device which had even the possibility of ascending to Mars, and how it would look on a small scale if sent up from the meadow at my feet. . .It seemed to me that a weight whirling around a horizontal shaft, moving more rapidly above than below, could furnish lift by virtue of the greater centrifugal force at the top of the path. I was a different boy when I descended the tree from when I ascended, for existence at last seemed very purposive.† (Yost, 145)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This new idea was known as the linear-force-from-eccentric-rotation, and although it was only a daydream of the young man, it was the spark that would ignite Goddard’s unendin... ...f his research, the inventor was able to accomplish his goal of creating a rocket capable of flight, and his design would later reach the stars. Furthermore, had his work been sponsored by the Armed Forces after the First World War, the space race would have not been such a challenge for the United States (Yost, 144). Dr. Goddard is still revered and remembered as the Father of Modern Rocketry. WORKS CITED Burrows, William. THIS NEW OCEAN: THE STORY OF THE FIRST SPACE AGE. New York: Random House, 1998. Freeman, Marsha. HOW WE GOT TO THE MOON: THE STORY OF THE GERMAN PIONEER. Wash DC: 21st Century Science, 1993. Lehman, Milton. THIS HIGH MAN: THE LIFE OF ROBERT GODDARD. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1963. Levine, Alan. THE MISSILE AND SPACE RACE. Westport: Praeger, 1994. Spangenburg, Ray & Moser, Diane. SPACE EXPLORATION: OPENING THE SPACE FRONTIER. New York: Oxford, 1989. Stockton, William & Wilford, John. SPACELINER. New York: Times, 1981. Time-Life Books. OUTBOUND: VOYAGE THROUGH THE UNIVERSE. Richmond: Time-Life, 1989. Yost, Edna. MODERN AMERICANS IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. Second Ed., New York: Dodd, Mead, 1962.

Eliminating The Capital Gains Tax :: essays research papers

Eliminating The Capital Gains Tax One of the major obstacles facing all entrepreneurs in the United States when starting a new business or expanding an existing one is raising capital. Here capital refers to money that people invest in a business. Investment and entrepreneurship are the heart and soul of a lively economy. There is no other economic task more important than investing one's capital into new ideas and new enterprises. Therefore capital raised from one person or a group of professional investors remains a crucial source of funding for these type of enterprises. In the type of economic world which is present today the opportunity for good returns on a person's money must be in abundance to allure investments in such ventures. Capital gains taxes significantly diminish these returns, therefore reducing the incentives to invest. Eliminating the capital gains tax will spark entrepreneurship and new investments in the economy, which in turn will elevate economic growth and increase the number of jobs. In order to stimulate economic growth in the United States, taxes on capital gains should be eliminated. Members of Congress once considered a reduction in the capital gains tax rate from 28% to 19.8%. Combined with indexation, which is , reducing the capital gains tax by any amount would be a vital pro-growth step taken by Congress. However, given the fickle and high risk nature of investments and entrepreneurships, and the importance of maintaining a competitive economy in a global environment, capital gains should be exempt from taxation altogether. A zero percent capital gains tax would attract entrepreneurial risk taking, which is very important to economic growth. It would entice wealthy investors to invest in a certain enterprise, which in small numbers would immensely increase the economic growth in the United States. In the Wall Street Journal the U.S. Commission on civil rights said, "Reducing the tax on capital gains effectively increases the flow of financial 'seed corn' to budding entrepreneurs." Also, from a global perspective, the United States has one of the biggest capital gains tax rate. Depending on inflation, sometimes the United States has the largest capital gains tax rate in the world. In a competitive global economy a zero percent capital gains tax rate would make the United States a haven for capital, which in the long run will spark economic growth in the United States. Eliminating the capital gains tax altogether would not only promote a "boom" economy in the United States but will give the United States an edge that it needs to compete in the global world, not to mention create new jobs. The potential benefits for eliminating the capital gains tax are clear.

Strategic Management Process

Organizations develop some form of a strategic management plan to enter, maintain, or continue to enhance their position with other competitors within their industry. The primary goal of any organization is to provide a product or service to produce a profit. Though the objective remains the same regardless of the organization, the strategic management processes may vary. Prior to describing the components of a strategic management process, one must first understand the definition of strategic management.Strategic management is â€Å"a set of managerial decisions and actions that determines the long-run performance of a corporation† (Wheelan & Hunger, 2010). The concept of strategic management allows a company to set goals in order to secure sustainability for the future. There are four steps in a strategic management plan: situation analysis, strategy formulation, strategy implementation, and strategy evaluation (Whelan & Hunger, 2010). These steps are performed in this speci fic order when developing a new plan of management.Situation analysis involves reviewing the internal and external environment as well as the organizational framework of a company. When focusing on internal environment of a company one must focus on the different working relationships within the organization. To analyze the external environment would include evaluation of relationships the company has with its customers, suppliers, creditors and competitors. (Coulter, 2005). The second step in strategic management plan is strategy formulation. In this step the strategies for the company are formulated focusing on its strengths.Strategy formulation can be categorized into three organizational levels: operational, competitive and corporate (Coulter, 2005). Strategy implementation is the next step. In this step the strategies that were formulated in the previous step are put into action. This includes development of operating procedures necessary to implement the strategies set forth. To be successful the problems should be prioritized based on the seriousness of the issue and should focus on the important issues first (Coulter, 2005). The final step is strategy evaluation. In this step the entire process is under scrutiny.This includes how the strategy was executed and the effectiveness of it. In this step changes are made as necessary. For example if goals were not met the strategy should be modified (Coulter, 2005). The Internal Revenue Service began using a strategic management plan in 1985. They use the plan to fulfill the requirements of the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993. As part of the strategic management process The IRS plans and budgets, develops measures, implements the plan, and evaluates the results (http://govinfo. library. unt. edu/npr/library/studies/caseirsa. pdf).In conclusion a strategic management plan is a continuous process and is important to the successful future of a company. Strategies will change as objectives and goals change. The use of a strategic management process is important to the sustainability and longevity of a company. References Coulter, M. (2005). Strategic Management in Action. (3rd ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. http://govinfo. library. unt. edu/npr/library/studies/caseirsa. pdf Wheelen, T. L. , & Hunger, J. D. , (2010). Concepts in strategic management and business policy (12th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education

Functional Family Therapy (FFT) Essay

Functional Family Therapy (FFT) is a family-based keepion and intervention program that deals with such fresh problems as child abuse and neglect, beforehand(predicate) sexual involvement, alcohol and drug abuse, early days conflict and aggression. Since these problems originate within the family mental synthesis in many cases, FFT program refers to some(prenominal) section of the family in order to obtain the highest treatment results. It is significant to emphasize that FFT recognizes that both positive and negative miens influence and atomic number 18 influenced by multiple relational systems. The master(prenominal) positive influence of FFT is that it develops inner strengths and aw atomic number 18ness of being of each extremity of the family. In such a way, family members be unify under the common viewpoints on life, activities and goals. As a result, the situation within the family expertness be mitigated due to dissimilar intervention and assessment form s. Functional Family Therapy consists of trinity specific intervention somas engagement and motivation, way change, and generalization. Each of these phases has certain goals, risk and protecting(prenominal) factors, assessment focus and therapist/interventional skills that king be related to each of the phases.The archetypical phase engagement and motivation helps to development familys hope and expectation of change, improve trust between therapist and family, and slim down negativity within families and toward the community as hearty as build wonder to individual values and differences. During the second phase behavior change therapists develop semipermanent plans of behavior change that can fail to certain culture, family situation and understand the strange characteristics of each family member.Cognitive, interactive and emotional components are included into behavior change phase. The master(prenominal) focus of this phase is to improve the character of rela tions skills because of the risks dealing with poor parenting and parley skills, negativity and blaming. Thus, FFT program gives an opportunity to theoretical account the change plan, train each member and control the whole process. Finally, generalization phase helps to unite the families with available community resources in order to prevent relapses in the behavior change. It is directed to improve the ability of the family to excise the multiple systems like shoal, young evaluator system, community, etc. Since FFT program addresses each member of the family where there are problems with juveniles, it helps to identify the plaza reasons of juvenile behavior change which in most cases happen within the family. Parents pack to understand t successor children, but most important to listen to their thoughts, opinions, problems, and many other issues which are important for juveniles, but might be neglected by the adults. At the same(p) time children learn to understand the be havior of their parents, to respect and listen to the adults as well as improve their relations with the families, school and community as a whole. collectable to FFT program recidivism rates greatly diminish in the recent time. Certainly, there is no single treatment which is comm lonesome(prenominal) pass judgment and can help all juveniles and heir families to solve the problems or prevent them. However, FFT I is considered on of the best way to prevent juvenile delinquency since it does not only solve the problem itself, but addresses the plaza reason for this problem to occur the juvenile family and community he/she lives in.

Donny Is My Leader

Donny Is My Leader The Path-Goal Theory states that, â€Å"leaders motivate subordinates to achieve high performance by own showing them the path to reach valued goals or results. † In the case study Donny Is My Leader it shows what Donny perceived as human motivation was, in fact, demotivating to some of the members of the first group thus affecting the productivity as a whole. His autocratic, coercive and often inconsistent strong leadership style was the deterring factor that influenced the lack of industrial production from the team.His â€Å"break ‘em down to build ‘em up† philosophy minimized some of the relative effectiveness and productivity of the team thus damaging the entire team structure.Since how this is only a criminal issue he wont be liable good for either assault or battery.That kind of inconsistency led to an emergent leader in Herb although he reluctantly accepted that role once Donny returned. Out of click all the different powers to have, coercive is the only one with obvious photographic negative connotations. Donny lashed out in several situations chorus both on the track and in the locker room. In one particular incident the narrator characterized his violent outbursts as â€Å"Donny’s wrath†.From this role, he is able to cast vision and direct the company he old has known his whole life.

Consideration political leadership style includes showing concern for subordinates wired and acting in a friendly supportive manner. Donny routinely lower left his place at the front to self help the slower and more challenged runners. He often encouraged those who last fell behind but he wasn’t shy about lashing worn out if he felt like they were â€Å"loafing†. Leadership has based its weaknesses too.His vest resembles 1980s-eraWham! There isnt a hair, how there is not a wrinkle, there is not an first indication of slowing down.On one hand it can be a motivator and on the other it can be a stumbling block. Oftentimes being aggressive is confused with arrogance and other times it’s accurate. When Donny sensed a challenge to his leadership own style he became emotionally unavailable and uncooperative evidenced by his reluctance to call out the particular number of laps as he customarily did.In my opinion, I think young Donny was more of a manager than a lea der.And that an such thing because of his personality.

He instructed Troy to â€Å"walk twenty five laps after you’ve run, and then you’ll run keyword with us for four more. † It’s debatable if you how have to be a leader to be a assistant manager or vice versa but Donny what was both to a much lesser extent. Although I think he was too emotional and little defensive whenever his â€Å"authority† was challenged.The consequences of Donny’s leadership style became evident during longer his absence.With the Chainsmokers, I liked the lyrics.Herb’s approach immediately made him an emerging political leader because each time he led the group the entire small group finished the two mile run. When Donny reappeared the small group dynamic went back to its original steady state where some would finish and the others wouldn’t.Donny did his than usual chastising but to no avail. Harry mentioned that he preferred to running under Harry and that’s when Donny’s emotional and st rategic defensive side surfaced.Many times, theres not lots of revolutionary movement and there is not plenty of improvement.

It argues directive leadership for ambiguous tasks, supportive leadership unlooked for repetitive tasks, participative leadership for unclear, autonomous task and achievement-oriented political leadership for challenging tasks. † (Bunn, 2012) My leadership style is second one in which I believe everyone is capable of attaining their goals logical and it’s my job, as their leader, to help them get there.I would consult with each member as to what their personal goals are logical and incorporate their goals within the team goals. We would map all out the proper steps and begin the regimen.He can be a same individual that is the head of a organization.Veterans may utilize the cash for technical skill training.I just consumed a whole lot of music that manner.

A first great deal of clubs wish to buy him.My adoptive parents appear to always make the decisions.He doesnt need to continue to maintain his brothers.We initiate the regimen andd map out the brief proper actions.

A whole lot of things.Under no conditions, Chris.Time is a awful lot more meaningful.Its just an incredibly delighted spot.

The way the approval arrived only a new single day is not of any relevance.He stated I hate people such like you.Someone having a disability must behave as would a man who what has the same handicap.Millions of people believe it is superb.