Jurassic Park Greed Isnt Good - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 595 Downloads: 5 Date added: 2019/08/15 Category Cinematographic Art Essay Level High school Tags: Jurassic Park Essay Did you like this example? Jurassic Park is a book filled with epic creatures and action-packed scenes. On an island filled with larger than life dinosaurs, they can seem like the main attraction. However, the people in the book also play a huge role in the drama and suspense of the story. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Jurassic Park Greed Isnt Good" essay for you Create order With most of them being scientists or investors, they seemed like the last concern. They didnt cause much trouble, except for a chubby computer nerd named Dennis Nedry. A major theme throughout the book is greed. One of the best examples of this is Nedrys greed. His need to pay off his debts lead him to steal company property and sabotage the security system, ending in disaster. His actions were what eventually burned Jurassic Park to the ground, and taught us all a lesson about generosity and forgiveness. Dennis Nedry was hired by InGen as a computer programmer for Jurassic Park. To combat his financial problems and low salary, he accepted an offer from Biosyn, a competing genetic engineering company. He was asked to steal dinosaur embryos, that Biosyn planned to later clone and use. This was a large task, but Dennis had planned it out. To make things easier for himself, he built a trapdoor into the computer program. This allowed him to access and shut down the parks security system. But later when he was approached by Lewis Dodgson at Biosyn, Nedry was ready to listen. And able to say that he could indeed get past Jurassic Park security. He could get into any room, any system, anywhere in the park. Because he had programmed it that way. Just in case.(Page 195, Crichton) Choosing to leave the whole park unguarded and open cost many people and dinosaurs their lives, not to mention tons of money lost in the process. It was greedy to only think of himself and what would benefit him perso nally. This wasnt the end of his greed though. Dennis was only in it for the money, not caring about the wrong that he was doing. When he met with Lewis Dodgson at the airport, it was clear that Nedry was set on getting his fair pay. Look, Ive got it covered, the man said. Just relax, and get the money ready. I want it all Sunday morning, in San Jos? © airport, in cash. (Page 78, Crichton) His greed forced him to make bad decisions that ended up killing many people, including himself. Dennis was not the only person who was greedy. Jurassic Park creator and founder John Hammond looked past many ethical issues to make money and protect his precious dinosaurs. While he had little interest in the actual genetic engineering aspect, he was heavily focused on power and progress. Hammond used information and materials that werent his, to create a dinosaur that no one knew about. He took advantage of people and their skills to benefit him and make money. One last thing, Morris said. Suppose InGen wasnt really making a museum exhibit. Is there anything else they could have done with the information in the report you gave them? Grant laughed. Sure. They could feed a baby hadrosaur. (Page 45, Crichton) Dr. Grant did not know that this was happening, but if he would have, a lot of lives would have been saved. Given these points, it is clear that greed is a common theme. It influenced many peoples actions and decisions, highly impacting the course of the book. It taught us lessons about gratefulness and generosity. Though greed fuels hate and demise, it also helps us to realize how fortunate we are.

The Trafficking Of Human Trafficking Essay - 1752 Words

In this essay, the history of human trafficking will be examined, followed by who is affected by trafficking. Next the scope and types of exploitation will be discussed. Human trafficking is an issue that affects countries all over the world. Governments have made an effort to curb trafficking, however these efforts have been very narrowly focused. American ignorance has led to poor handling of the issues by policy makers. Finally the essay will discuss a proposed solution and set some goals for society to work on in the future. When examining the traditional definition of slavery, it focuses on one human being taking ownership of another. Traditionally slaves were transported by lengthy sea voyages. However, with advancements in transportation human trafficking victims can be quickly and easily moved around the world (Kara 67). According to Robert Uy, â€Å"Trafficking, prostitution, and slavery have existed since the beginning of civilization and, while at times have been prohibited, have continued to exist† (215). Slaves can be exploited virtually forever with a form of slavery known as bonded labor, which has existed for centuries. Individuals involved in this type of slavery are often loaned money with the agreement to work of the debt; unfortunately, the pay is so low the debt is almost never repaid (Kara 67). Despite legislative efforts to pass effective anti-trafficking and anti-forced labor laws, the overwhelming focus has been on preventing sex trafficking. This coupledShow MoreRelatedThe Tr afficking Of Human Trafficking1061 Words   |  5 Pagesare approximately twenty to thirty million slaves in the world today. Unfortunately due to trafficking being a fast growing crime it is very difficult to identify and locate these organizations and victims. Although there are many groups created to support victims, not enough awareness is being made and not enough action is being applied to stop human trafficking. Sex trafficking is a form of human trafficking that has been a worldwide issue since ancient times, but regularly forgotten, due to it beingRead MoreThe Trafficking Of Human Trafficking886 Words   |  4 Pages(Attention catcher)What if somebody came into your life and guaranteed a better lifestyle, but instead you were enslaved into human trafficking? Human trafficking is when a person is abducted from their current situation and mostly likely used for sex slavery. Furthermore, did you know human trafficking increased over the years? (Listener relevance) Although you may not be as aware in your comfortable surroundings, you should always be aware of suspicious vehicles and people. Even though we enjoyRead MoreThe Trafficking Of Human Trafficking930 Words   |  4 Pagesman. Regardless of the reasons, there are nearly 30 million victims of human trafficking globally. There are more slaves now than ever before. Trafficking of persons is not a subject that should be ignored or tak en lightly. In order to fully understand the enormity of this crisis, we will examine the root causes, facts, and the impact of human trafficking throughout the world. There are several factors to why human trafficking exists: poverty, governmental instability, natural disasters, addictionRead MoreThe Trafficking Of Human Trafficking3494 Words   |  14 Pagesended, never to return, they go back and sneak into our communities in severe forms by human trafficking crimes. When humanity eliminated the phenomenon of human slavery, it returned in different pictures and forms, combining them enslaving people, through the recruitment, transportation, transfer of people by force and threat, and using and exploiting them in different ways. Among the victims of human trafficking crimes, there are those who are subjected to sexual exploitation, labor exploitationRead MoreThe Trafficking Of Human Trafficking1287 Words   |  6 PagesHuman Trafficking Human trafficking is the modernized version of slavery that involves force, fraud, and/or a type of labor in a sexual act. The United States government defines it to be â€Å"In which a sex act is forced in which the person induced has not yet been attained eighteen years of age† (National Institute of Justice). Human trafficking is a threat to all nations and promotes breakdown of families and can support organized crime. Trafficking can occur everywhere. Human trafficking and humanRead MoreHuman Trafficking And The Trafficking901 Words   |  4 PagesHuman Smuggling and trafficking continues to be a worldwide plague that has been, thus far been largely ignored by the international community. The paramount reason human trafficking and smuggling has festered and grown roots and spread globally. It started as a grassroots effort on the local level where women and girls (it affects boys as well) would be used and sold for sex. Eventually, greed and corruption tagged along for the ride and at that point the crimes became an organized enterprise. AtRead MoreSex Trafficking And Human Trafficking Essay1243 Words   |  5 Pages Human trafficking brings in billions of dollars into the U.S and all around the world. â€Å"The prime motive for such outrageous abuse is simple: money. In this $12 billion global business just one woman trafficked into the industrialized world can net her captors an average $67,000 a year† (Baird 2007). The laws around human trafficking are not strict and vary depending on what country it is happening in. Human trafficking is not something that is strictly foreign, itRead MoreThe Trafficking And Forms Of Human Trafficking Essay1317 Words   |  6 Pages2.1.2 The concept of Human Trafficking and forms of Human Trafficking Human trafficking is a complex phenomenon hence difficult to conceptualize (Maclnnis, 2012). Scholars, nations and international organizations have individually or collectively tried to define human trafficking and, not surprisingly, they disagree with one another. United States (US) for instance does not consider organ trade as human trafficking whereas the United Nations (UN) and Canada do (United States Department of StateRead MoreHuman Trafficking And Sex Trafficking1264 Words   |  6 PagesA challenge that I took interest in is the horrifying problem that women and young girls face as victims of human trafficking and sex slavery. Women and young girls make up 98% of victims of trafficking for exploitation. Human trafficking and sex slavery is a form of modern slavery, in which traffickers profit from the control and exploitation of others. It is a multi-billion industry. Traffickers use control of others for the purpose of engaging in sexual activities and or forcing others to provideRead MoreHuman Trafficking And Human Sex Trafficking1850 Words   |  8 Pagesof human sex trafficking come to one s mind. The United States of America is not immune to this type of horrific behavior. America is the land of the free and yet something as awful as human sex trafficking occurs in our very own backyard each and everyday. According to the Department of Homeland Security the definition of human trafficking is â€Å"modern day slavery that involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act† (â€Å"What Is Human Trafficking?†)

Marketing Management of Woolworths South Africa

Question: Discuss about the Strategic Marketing Management of Woolworths South Africa. Answer: Introduction This report primarily focuses on the analysis of the marketing strategies and challenges facing Woolworths South Africa. Woolworths is a supermarket retailer that among the leading players in the retail industry. It offers a broad range of food, clothing and general merchandise to the customers (South African edition, 2012). However, the brand has failed to sustain the competitive advantage due to the unpleasing feedbacks from the customers from social media. There are several complaints regarding the poor quality of products sold and the low competency portrayed by the client service personnel of the organization. It is also said that the supermarket promises customers of instant response to their needs but fails. People prefer to seek alternatives from their competitors such as Shoprite Group, Spar, Pick ` Pay and Massmart that ensure efficiency in meeting the needs of the local market and convenient distribution (Ehimario, et al. 2012). For example, if the supermarket want to acce lerate the growth of its market share and exposure in the food retailing, the management has to implement new market strategies and principles that can lead to customer loyalty and satisfaction. Hence, the organization can reestablish its operations and maintain a reputable brand name across South Africa and the other locations. It is from this perspective that the report shall analysis the market situation using the SWOT analytical tool, the retailers current positioning, challenges, the marketing strategy and action plan to implement in the company. The marketing objective This report primarily aims at providing an insight situation analysis of Woolworths South Africa current marketing strategy and provide appropriate recommendations that can enable it to overcome its current challenges and limitations. Therefore, it can revitalize its brand to ensure sustainable growth in future. The achievement of this objective will majorly depend on the ideal marketing mix strategies used by Woolworths. The changing trends in the retail industry of South Africa are influenced by the consumers demand for best shopping experiences accompanied by value, loyalty and low prices (Vivek, et al. 2012, pp. 122-146). Also, the report will provide the management with excellent competencies in its strategic practices and action plan that ensure Woolworths brand name sustains its competitive edge across south Africa and worldwide. SWOT Situation Analysis Strengths Woolworths ability to generate adequate capital can facilitate faster expansion and opening of more stores across South Africa is a strength that can aid in improving its market share. Hence, over time it will outdo the central market leader, Shoprite whose market share is around 36% (Luiz, et al. 2011, p.1-21). Secondly, people trust the brand, and it has a good reputation. It is a result of its distinctive competency where they ensure freshness and high quality of products that they sustain a competitive edge. The implementation of the right business journey marketing strategy that aims at creating a multiplier effect that influence the buying behavior of customers. Moreover, the organization has maintained a better supply chain management due to its ability to establish a close relationship with the producers and its suppliers (Partrick, 2016). Weaknesses Over the past few years, the company has been facing negative responses from the customers regarding their products. Some of the complaints include plastic bags and cockroaches found in the food and the poor response from the incompetent customer personnel. Hence, the consumers perception of the quality of products is diminishing. The limited market share is also a weakness as the competitors have occupied a significant portion of the retail market, hence unable to compete other competitors internationally (Descubes McNamara, 2015). The company has failed when it comes to speeding up the new technologies, for example, the integrated marketing which can aid in dominating the South Africas retail market. The managers of the supermarket also fail in making strategic decisions that can improve the growth levels. Opportunities South Africas retail industry portrays excellent growth potentials due to various factors that includes; the advances in the supply chain, computerization, and the changes in the citizen's lifestyle. Its ability to invest appropriately in food prices gives it a competitive advantage (Hems, 2010). Hence, Woolworths utilizes this opportunity to formulate multi-option retailing to meet the emerging trends in the industry. The increased group sourcing gives them an opportunity to unlock the additional margin. The emerging economies give a chance for further strategic acquisitions and franchise. Moreover, a positive perception of customers regarding the companys attention to detail and modernization of its products gives it an opportunity to extend the distribution channels and technological advancements and offer a broad range of goods (Woolworth's integrated report, 2012). Threats There is stiff competition from other retailers both locally and internationally and from players like discounters and catalog-based retailers, hence making penetration to the market is quite difficult. Due to the increased oil prices in South Africa, it becomes quite difficult for Woolworths to continue with its competitive pricing strategy (Phambuka-Nsimbi, 2015). They also face the threat of high costs of raw materials which further impacts the profits margin negatively. The frequent economic recessions also hinder the organization from opening more stores. Finally, direct government interference cause uncertainties concerning the market changes and economic conditions. PESTEL analysis Political factors The political stability of the region allows the retail industry to prosper as the companies can carry out the business activities both national and internationally. The import of raw materials from suppliers outside the country and export of end products to customers at various destinations. The government encourages international trade, therefore giving an opportunity for Woolworths to operate both in Africa, Australia, New Zealand and other continents where the brand has established stores. Economic factors The fluctuation of the South African rand negatively impact the growth of the Woolworths brand. Additionally, the economic recessions being experienced in the region leads to losses of, hence failure of many companies. Other economic factors that affect the retail industry include, low rate of savings, high oil prices and a decrease in the GDP which impacts the consumer spending patterns. Socio-cultural factors The South Africans are culturally diverse and they prefer high quality products. They believe that highly priced goods and services tend to satisfy customer needs and preferences and therefore the supermarket can gain a competitive advantage due to its competitive pricing strategy. The high demand for a better retail shopping experience is a factor that challenges the retailers to focus more on providing a broad range of products which consumers can select. The food security policy is a social factor that the country is achieving hence accelerating the exports to other countries. Technological factors The use of new technologies, e-retailing and the internet accelerates international competitiveness through expansion of the operations to other foreign markets. The advanced technologies is one of the strengths that enables Woolworths to let their customers have a lasting shopping experience and enables the company to develop a better supply chain management. Environmental factors Woolworths has put in place various measures that ensure protection of the natural environment and resources. For example, then combined waste initiatives that focus on the reduction of waste to the landfill, the recycling project and water management best practices in its supply chains. Legal factors The laws of the country require that all retailers put measures to protect employees, customers and the public at large. The increased taxation negatively impacts the performance of Woolworths. Further, the government laws protect the consumers from harmful food products that may impact the health status of its citizen. Corporate social responsibility is a mandatory fact that all retailers should comply with as per the regulations of the country. Current positioning of Woolworths Perhaps, Woolworths brand is still trusted and reliable to customers. The company is among the top 100 companies listed on the securities exchange of Johannesburg in South Africa (Mitchell, 2015). It has a strong market position in the southern hemisphere, however has failed to sustain its leadership which led to losses. The annual report of December 2015 showed that Woolworths earning per share increased by 30.6%, and the gross profits grew by 48.1%. It is evident that the company continues to expand across Africa and other continents at a high rate and hence increasing the market share from 11% (Woolworths, 2015). Despite the complaints on social media, it continues to provide quality products and services and uses various promotion strategies that aim at gaining a competitive advantage and increase the market share. However, it has not yet gained a greater market share since the Shoprite seems to dominate the food sector however they are leading in the retail industry of South Afr ica. The performance in 2016 evidenced that Woolworths recorded a customer base of 3.2 million and continued to attract young customers (WHL Integrated Report, 2016). They aim at becoming a leader in fashion and food retailing. Currently, statistics on the fresh produce and prepared food show a significant growth in the market share of the brand. Woolworth launched a brand campaign of fresh food people that aimed at freshening the positioning in the market. The target market of Woolworths constitutes the local consumers shopping both from the stores and online. Also, it targets high income earners and online shoppers and its future focuses on the black and upmarket (Chu Chiu, 2013). Their brand is gaining a better positioning in the market due to the following activities conducted by the company. Firstly, there is understanding customer needs through the world of difference loyalty program and product availability at the right place and time. Further the organization takes into consideration the environmental concerns and supporting the SA school. Woolworths strategic plans, goals and objectives show that they are customer centric and aim at providing quality products at cheaper prices. Hence, an essential step to grow the business and expand the product line (Rehan, 2014, pp.222-230). Current challenges Woolworths brand faces a slow market growth due to a slowdown in the South Africas economy since 2014 (Matsoma Ambe, 2016, pp.194-210). Hence there is a reduction in shopping confidence which has forced the company to cut its prices and focus on customer loyalty initiatives. Negative customer responses where product quality is the issue as discussed on the media. They also face the challenge of customer acquisition and retention. Moreover, the high employee turnover and weak staff morale is a great challenge which is as a result of failure to give compensation and benefits to employees accordingly (Hem Teslo, 2012). For example, the case that was raised on Facebook regarding a worker who injured herself but the organization failed to cater for her hospital bills. They also face the challenge of negative perception by customers regarding the price and value and inability to provide trans-seasonal merchandise. The market discounting led to profit downgrade of Woolworths. In addition, there is greater competitive pressure from the rivals. For example, Shoprite has come with new strategies of segmentation, and engaging customers thus shall continue maintaining its market leadership (Prinsloo, 2010). The impact of such challenges on Woolworths depends on how they control them. They may either build or destroy brand image and reputation and therefore the marketing managers should ensure that they retain customer by offering quality products that are free from defects. The adverse effects may include, reduction in repeat business, decrease in brand recognition and market share (Kapferer, 2008). However, this organization may use the following recommended strategies to overcome the challenges discussed above. The company should come up with innovative marketing strategies that differentiate their products from the competitors to change shopping habits and customer interaction with the brand. Additionally, the marketing managers have to increase the frequency of promotional campaigns and events which in turn improves sales volume. It can also ensure full participation in corporate social responsibilities activities and offer GM- free foods (Chowdhury, 2013). Moreover, the embrasure of Omni channel processes and advanced networks can result to a unified retailing and maintenance of employee efficiency. It may carry market surveys to identify areas that customers need improvement and convince them to continue shopping from their stores. Lastly, they should hire staff personnel that focus on better services to customers and respond to customers complaints on the spot rather than giving promises that cannot be fulfilled in the long run (Veneto, 2013). Effective marketing strategy to apply Revitalize the Woolworths brand There are six strategies that Woolworths South Africa can adopt to revitalize its brand from the current positioning in the market. First, it should refocus itself by defining the goals of the brand and improve the financial discipline. Secondly, it has to restore the brand relevance. This strategy requires that the organization has got a clear understanding of the marketplace, market segments, customer insight and brand promise (Hollebeek, 2011, pp.555-573). Thirdly, it should have to reinvent the brand experience which can either be emotional or functional hence leading to brand distinctiveness. Another strategy includes reinforcing the resulting culture. For Woolworths to revitalize its brand it has to identify the measurable and appropriate milestones, implement the reward and recognition systems. Next, it has to rebuild its brand trust by predicting the consumer behavior patterns. Thus, establishing a long lasting brand loyalty in its trademark. Lastly, Woolworths should realize the global alignment by rebuilding its internal and external marketing principles. Hence, by using the six strategies, it can be able to redesign the product range to satisfy the target market needs (Bose, 2012). Sustain the brand For the organization to revitalize its brand, it has to periodically monitor and change its pricing strategy from a competitive one to a market penetration pricing. New pricing can neutralize the competitors impact on sales. The measures to use may include but not restricted to, lower pricing, targeted customer offers and better range of the brands (Beneke, et al. 2012). The pricing strategy adopted by a company determines its profit and survival, and the adjustments impact the overall marketing strategy used by the firm. Therefore, they can give a discount on prices and promotion offers that can help in attracting more customers. Customers claim that Woolworths sets high prices which are not proportional to the quality. (WHL Integrated Report, 2016). Providing high-quality products can be a strategy that can change the minds of customers and be convinced that the brand is still healthy and wholesome. It is also paramount to place value on Woolworths privately labeled products to che rish the core shoppers. Hence, customers can have a new brand experience through unique brand attributes. However, it needs to expand its business by developing new stores and provide regular refurbishments of the existing ones in places where there is potential for growth. As a result, the demand for its products can increase which can lead to revitalization and sustainability of the brand. The use of the drive-thru collection techniques and new Click and Collect location facilitates convenience and customer loyalty through multi-channel customer experiences (Ferguson and Brown, 2012, pp.391-404). Grow the brands market share It is paramount to persuade and convince the customers that the brand is still of high quality and the management ensured that they addressed and rectified the issues regarding the quality of products offered by the company (Ghodeswar, 2008, pp.4-12). Revising of the pricing strategy leads to targeting a significant market share of the brand in South Africa and worldwide and survival afterward. For it to achieve growth of the brand, there is need to integrate both the traditional and emerging marketing communication channels that can lead to a successful conveyance of the message regarding the brand and its new features. The promotional tools may include social media, online and public relations to gain back customer trust and greater market share. (Kanagal, 2014). There is need to analyze the products life cycle and current positioning of Woolworths before embarking on the promotion strategies to use to revitalize, sustain and grow the market share of Woolworths. The marketing team should perform a thorough research on the people that is the target market and their demands. The company employees play a significant role in ensuring delivery of quality services especially the customer service personnel that always receives and responds to customers claims and feedbacks (Hollebeek, 2011, pp.555-573). Action plan Objectives Activities Evaluation criteria Control metrics Costs Brand awareness Contacting website owners of various industries to ask them place the Woolworths Ads on their webs. Creation of the emotional grabbing advertisement to enhance promotion of the brand. Displaying prominently the products in the store. Measuring the social media exposure. Consumers perception of value. Evaluating the engagement of customers to message regarding a new brand. The brand remains to be relevant and is properly positioned. Consumer feedback through the online polls. Level of customer loyalty and profits earned within a year Approximately $ 500,000 Increasing Sales volume Restructuring the pricing strategies Expansion of the distribution channels. Diversifying the offerings. Over-deliver quality to the prospective and existing customers Establishing clear and effective sales messages. Comparing actual sales to projected sales in the marketing plan. Increase in sales is a positive effect, Managing both variable and fixed costs Revenue earned after every financial year $ 800,000 Enhancing sustainability and growth Strengthening leadership practices in all the roles. Creating high value propositions in the overall strategy Benchmarking and measuring profitability. The rate of the revenue growth A firms reputation to crucial and regular customers. Renewed growth toward operational excellence. Insightful conversations on growth potential $ 10 million Conclusion In summary, Woolworths South Africa is facing challenges concerning the customers perception of the brand and the quality of the products. The marketing positioning is quite pleasing but it is appropriate for this organization to implement the above marketing strategy and action plan for it to achieve the goal and objective of sustaining its competitive advantage in the retail industry nationally and globally. Maximum utilization of its strengths, opportunities and competency can aid in attaining an increase in its market share. It is also important that they neutralize their weakness and threats from the external environment to achieve its goals and objectives. References Anderssen, S. (2015). Clothing retailers: winter is coming. Kagiso Asset Management accessed at https://www.kagisoam.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Clothing-retailers-winter-is-coming.pdf Beneke, J., Hayworth, C., Hobson Z. (2012). Examining the effect of retail service quality dimensions on customer satisfaction and loyalty: The case of the supermarket shopper.Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services. Bose, T.K. (2012). Market Segmentation and Customer Focus Strategies and Their Contribution towards Effective Value Chain Management: International Journal of Marketing Studies Vol. 4, No. 3; Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education. Chu, M. Chiu, S. (2013). Effective Marketing Strategies to Attract Business Visitors at Trade Shows: International Journal of Business and Management Vol 8, No 24. Chowdhury, P.P. (2013). Key strategies and issues of positioning: A review of past studies. American Academic Scholarly Research Journal Vol. 5, No. 1. Descubes, I. McNamara, T. (2015). The consumer engagement process as it relates to a brands revival strategy. Ehimario U.I., David S., Thandi R.P., Lungiswa T., Cassandra S., Christopher P., Rina S.,Solange D. Corinna H. (2012 ).Big Food, the Consumer Food Environment, Health,and the Policy Response in South Africa. Ferguson, J.L. and Brown, B.P. (2012). Sizing up the retailer brand implementation gap and itseffects on brand-building outcomes. Journal of Brand Management 19 (5): 391404. Ghodeswar, M.B. (2008). Building brand identity in competitive markets: a conceptual model. Journal of Product Brand Management, Volume 17(1), pp. 412. Hem, A.F. Teslo, P.S. (2012). Brand Positioning Strategies: An Experimental Test of TwoTypes of Benefit Differentiation. Hollebeek, L. (2011). Exploring customer brand engagement: definition and themes. Journal of strategic Marketing, 19(7), 555-573. Janiszewska, K. Insch, A. (2012). The strategic importance of brand positioning in the place brand concept: elements, structure and application capabilities, Journal of InternationalStudies, Vol. 5, No 1, pp. 9-19. Kapferer, J. N. (2008). The New Strategic Brand Management: Creating and sustaining brand equity long term 4th Edition. Kanagal, N.B. (2014). Conceptualizing objective setting and metrics in marketing strategy Journal of Management and Marketing Research Volume 16. Luiz, J., Bowen, A. and Beswick, C. (2011). Woolworths South Africa: Making sustainability sustainable. Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies 1 (1): 121. Matsoma, N. Ambe, I. (2016). Factors Affecting Demand Planning in the South African Clothing Industry Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies. Vol 8(5), P.194-210. Mitchell, S. (2015). Woolworths kicks off new marketing campaign, retrieved on 3rd May 2017 from https://www.smh.com.au/business/retail/woolworths-kicks-off-new-marketing-campaign-20151019-gkd4dl.html Partrick, D. (2016). Why Woolworths has to think fresh, marketing magazine accessed at https://www.marketingmag.com.au/hubs-c/woolworths-think-fresh/ Prinsloo, D.A. (2010). Classification and Hierarchy of Retail Facilities in South Africa. Accessed on 1st March 2017 from www.urbanstudies.co.za/pdf/New-Retail-Classification-2010.pdf Phambuka-Nsimbi, C. (2015). Modern Retailing and its Implications for Developing Countries: Insights from Retail Managers Journal of Business Management and Strategy, Vol. 6, No.1 Helms, M. (2010). Exploring SWOT analysis where are we now? A review of academic research from the last decade, Journal of Strategy and Management, Vol. 3. Rehan, R.M. (2014). Urban branding as an effective sustainability tool in urban development. HBRC Journal Vol 10(2) pp. 222-230. South African edition, (2012). South African retail and consumer products outlook accessed at https://www.pwc.co.za/en/assets/pdf/retail-and-consumer-products-outlook-2012-2016.pdf Veneto P. (2013). Overview of the South African Retail Market https://www.tv.camcom.gov.it/docs/Corsi/Atti/2013_11_07/OverviewOFTHESOUTHAfrica.pdf Vivek, S.D., Beatty, S.E., Morgan, R.M. (2012). Customer engagement: Exploring customer relationships beyond purchase. The Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, 20(2), 122-146. Woolworths integrated report, (2012). Trends influencing our strategy, retrieved on 3rd May 2017 from https://www.woolworthsholdings.co.za/investor/annual_reports/ar2012/integrated/business/industry_trends.asp Woolworths, (2015). Company website, Good business journey report retrieved on 1st March 5, 2017 from https://www.woolworthsholdings.co.za/investor/annual_reports/ar2015/whl_2015_gbj.pdf WHL Integrated report, (2016). Company website, https://www.woolworthsholdings.co.za/downloads/2016/WHL-Integrated-Report-2016.pdf

Techno Schmechno a postmodern approach to electro Essay Example For Students

Techno Schmechno: a postmodern approach to electro Essay nicaIn searching for a properly post-modern style of music, it may be better to look at the electronic music scene, which began with house music in the early to middle 80s, rather than at hip-hop. It is true that the hip-hop artist generally disappears into the narrative of the music to the extent that many of their lives are a direct reflection of what they sing about: gang violence, drugs, racism, alienation in the US, etc. but here already we encounter two problems. One is the existential choice of reading: if we do read these lives as reflected, or as ghostly risings out of formal lyrical narratives called rap and hip-hop, which lend to the narratives distinct anthropological and sociological connotations of a symbolic as opposed to structural order, or at least blur the concept reality (qua the signified) with rapping (qua the signifier), then one perhaps makes the mistake of naturalising signs which are altogether become ambiguous, to the extent we have blurred an idea about na ture with a structural and then formal aspect of the narrative anyway. To do this makes the historical or real experiences of gang violence, drugs, racism etc. little more than lame stereotypes or pastiches of the rap, now become Rap, or somewhat almighty in terms of its myth. Whence, though originate these themes? To read as above, is altogether too much myth construction. Either the reality of experience is annulled as signified, in favour of structural or formal readings, or rap narratives suck the lifeblood out of experience and turn it into symbolism. The other way then to read hip-hop, and this is where one encounters the second problem, is to commence with real experience: to see this art as a function of the artists experience, or even to annul the artistic dimension in favour of pure type of expression: cathartic, violent, confronting this may salvage a political dimension, but thats not very post-modern really. Nevertheless the primary elements for hip-hop to cross over i nto post-modernism were there, and post-modernism here primarily connotes a logical conclusion, which makes explicit the absence of a delineation between a staged performance and a real event. These elements should however include not only critical analyses of lyrical content and its performance, but, and which is lacking, also the formal dynamics of mechanical production and reproduction as triggered by such technologies as synthesisers, samplers, sequencers and drum machines. We will write a custom essay on Techno Schmechno: a postmodern approach to electro specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now House music (now dead), and all its post-house sub-styles, ie, acid house, new beat, techno, and then the great proliferation from techno-pop to hardcore trance, jungle and other recent idiolects of electronica have more recognisable post-modern functions, in terms of musical form, which I hope to convey in this essay. I prefer to use the term idolect rather than style or genre here as micro-genres of electronic music have distinct paradigmatic features, mainly connoted by the universal use of certain technical forms such as the use of rhythm, tonality etc. We may, in general, call these forms, parametrical (see endnote 1) features which tend to index the whole of electronic music as a syntagm: as an integrational or cardinal form, the individual contents of which look metaphorical, distributional and catalytical (see endnote 2) . For example, the typical 4/4 time signature, which as a sign denotes a typical dance song. Wider shifts in content signify the proliferation of what we mig ht have called styles, although the proliferation of these is so rapid, the styles are so short lived and there are so very many of them that it is quite possible for a style to be introduced on one album and then never to reappear. Therefore it is better to read electronic music overall or integrationally in terms of its syntagm as vertically parallel to other kinds of music (eg heavy-metal or AOR) and to read styles as individual lexicons rather than as evolving movements, especially in the post-techno era. An example of this is Melbourne (Australia) musician Guyver 3s album Perception Camera (if?: 1996), which occasionally contained recognisable elements of jungle, trance and techno but was generally so idiolectic that it would be necessary to invent a whole new term/style to categorise it. Another example is Pan(a)sonics Kulma (Blast First: 1996), which wholly employed what one might call mechanical pastiche by using analogue machinery within a distinct wider context in which th e dominant paradigm is production using digital technology, but then became stylistically indistinct due to a subsequent lack of historicity: the band itself is an anonymous entity: it fiercely resists contextualisation, its idiolect was not drawn upon by others. Here are two examples: I could cite many more, but the exponential growth in categorical or generic styles is actually a result of electronic musics utter loyalty to mechanical production and reproduction which leads to a distinct waning of affect. I quote Jameson in this context: The end of the bourgeois ego, or monad, no doubt brings with it the end of the psychopathologies of that ego what I call the waning of affect. But it means the end of much more the end, for example, of style, in the sense of the unique and individual brush stroke (as symbolised by the emergent primacy of mechanical production). As for expression and feeling or emotions, the liberation, in contemporary society, from the older anomie of the center ed subject may also mean a liberation from every other kind of feeling as well, since there is no longer a self present to do the feeling.All the above may be quite clearly seen in electronic music above all because of its dependence upon mechanical production for its syntagmatic existence. The first big idiolectic explosion here was acid house circa 1987/1988 (originating in Detroit some years earlier. No one knows exactly who wrote the first acid house song or what it was, and rightly so: its a rather irrelevant argument. When acid house became big it was often hailed as a new resisting movement, the new punk or the punk movement of the eighties. This was because, in line with the punk ethos, which uses simple guitar, drum and bass; acid house could be done by almost anyone with a sampler, sequencer and programmable keyboard. Little theoretical knowledge was required and acid house acts popped up from nowhere and everywhere before popping back into the general vacuum or total flow of electronic music. Some important distinctions from punk as a syntagm were quickly discerned however acid house was extremely minimal, even more so than punk with its vocals, three chords, and drums formula. Most acid house songs consisted of little more than a simple drum machine pattern, a bass line that was very distinct in that it always employed sharply defined phasing techniques (whence the definition acid house) and some sampled vocals, often lifted from other songs. Here is the first discrete example of monadic absence all that I just described was produced electronically. The form of the song was always extremely repetitive and hypnotic, focussing on quantity, while the concept quality remained in the background. Sequencing one or two quite short musical phrases produces this type of electronic music. Sequencing involves electronically copying and pasting a musical phrase or phrases in a very similar way that one might copy and paste a paragraph on a word processor. Th e analogical equivalent to much acid house (and other idiolects of electronica) would be a paragraph pasted and thus repeated over and over again. Thus the presence of the musician literally almost becomes irrelevant, as the machine produces almost all the music. Musicologists (and fans of guitar rock) might criticise this sort of composition as slack and unoriginal but that would be missing the point. This music nonetheless sounded incredibly fresh and new it was a whole new way or syntagm of making music, challenging the traditional concept of composition. The ethos behind it and its means of production actually required the waning of affect by intuitive absence and extreme repetition. This ethos signifies the instrumental (in the utility sense echoes of Max Weber perhaps) features of electronic music, and the word hypnotic as I used it above is important. Why acid house? Sex, drugs and rock n roll acid house was made primarily to dance to while tripping on various forms of LSD and ecstasy and the late eighties saw the creation of the phenomenon known as the warehouse party which later evolved into the now notorious (usually outdoor) rave where lots of acid and ecstasy (mainly ecstasy) are consumed, and acid house, techno and trance etc are danced to all night long. Electronic music as we now know it is primarily a music of utility; it is not so much listened to at home for aesthetic enjoyment as it is frantically danced to at clubs, parties and raves while high on the substance of ones choice in order to attain a special magical and transcendent moment. I would suggest that when such a moment is indeed reached there can be no better way to describe it than by recognising it as the post-modern intensity, where intensities have conveniently replaced or deferred for now the problem of representative meaning. This is also why electronic music is better at post-modernism because the whole dance and drugs culture which centre this music may be said to be base d on the search for the ultimate aesthetic intensity, not through the authentication of affect or ego, but through the extreme loss and negation of the self by use of repetitive, hypnotic, mechanical dance music and also by drugs. Perhaps to be intense equals to be high, but I dont want to start sounding religious here. .u02e244f9a01094e296c7aaeab027a175 , .u02e244f9a01094e296c7aaeab027a175 .postImageUrl , .u02e244f9a01094e296c7aaeab027a175 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u02e244f9a01094e296c7aaeab027a175 , .u02e244f9a01094e296c7aaeab027a175:hover , .u02e244f9a01094e296c7aaeab027a175:visited , .u02e244f9a01094e296c7aaeab027a175:active { border:0!important; } .u02e244f9a01094e296c7aaeab027a175 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u02e244f9a01094e296c7aaeab027a175 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u02e244f9a01094e296c7aaeab027a175:active , .u02e244f9a01094e296c7aaeab027a175:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u02e244f9a01094e296c7aaeab027a175 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u02e244f9a01094e296c7aaeab027a175 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u02e244f9a01094e296c7aaeab027a175 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u02e244f9a01094e296c7aaeab027a175 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u02e244f9a01094e296c7aaeab027a175:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u02e244f9a01094e296c7aaeab027a175 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u02e244f9a01094e296c7aaeab027a175 .u02e244f9a01094e296c7aaeab027a175-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u02e244f9a01094e296c7aaeab027a175:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Native American Genocide Essay ThesisAnother reason that hip-hop proper branched off into house et al may well be political. Hip-hop as such was never really amenable to a capitalist music industry, which equates political safety with commercial success. Hip-hop has always had more of a counter-cultural aspect to it, from Afrika Bambaatas and Grandmaster Flashs earlier performances out of the New York ghettoes to Public Enemys very distinct articulations and expressions of political protest. MTV is a good case to cite: it wouldnt even play Michael Jacksons Billie Jean until CBS threatened to withdraw the use of its other artists, and when MTV played the whole seventeen hou rs of Live Aid in 1985, they cut the one hip-hop act on the bill out: Run-DMC. The focus of house and its follow-ons into the nineties has always been more on the dance floor it seems. The Summers of Love of 89 and 90 were much more about a subculture of hedonism and pleasure than any distinctly political culture, which sub-cultural scene seems to have continued from there. It would be difficult to see electronic music ever becoming distinctly political as it thrives on a depoliticised ethos in any case. One of the more conspicuous features of all the idiolects since house is a genuine lack of personality cults. Where hip-hop retains a focus on the artist, often by immersing the artist entirely within its narrative; house, techno and so forth abhor the artist. To focus on the artist would detract from dance musics instrumentalising connotations. Often the names of electronic acts are strikingly obscure this is the list of acts that appeared on a Melbourne electronic compilation Blu e Sector Vol. 1: Amnesia, the Headmaster, TSM, Stride, Foil/M24, Prime 8, Tonto, Voiteck, Zen Paradox. Numbers (808 State, Apollo 440, U96, Front 242), unidentified abbreviations (TCH, JX, SQ16, PGR, MR V, X-Project) and meaningless or ambiguous words (Tonal Plexus, Marmion, Klatch, Datura, Autechre, Drax) most often appear. Are these nick-names of people, names of drugs, of bits of technology or more sinister things? All of the above (certainly Datura is at least a drug, and SQ16 stands for 16-track sequencing) and more probably. In any case the reader may sense that a certain anonymity is strongly indicated an anonymity that hopes to signify the consumer and intstrumentaliser of the music. Live concerts are not known of in the conventional sense either. When bands do play live, the gig often becomes a paradox for the consumer. One example is a Black Lung gig in Melbourne, 1997. When Black Lung commenced playing he, she or they (actually a he and sometimes she as well), they made a remarkable statement by leaving the curtains closed. Actually, the venue they played that night doesnt have any curtains so they placed some there temporarily. The band wasnt seen at all and the music ended up gelling and becoming almost indistinguishable from the music that the DJ played before and after the act. The curtains acted as a contiguous symbolic bar, sequestering the signifying artist from the signified music on an historical level. The music then became dehistoricised: it took its form wholly internally rather than presently; the terms became reversed, as on a CD: music became the empty internal signification of the absent artist who was fulfilled in image and concept only. Those people who werent already too out of it to know the difference had problems deciding what to do. Dance? If not, then chat with friends? In any case, there wasnt anything to look at and the atmosphere was more like that in a cafe than anything. Sit around in little groups and get stoned perhap s So here we have an example of mechanical reproduction without a source, a move from the symbolic to the structural wholly opposed to the ethos of hip-hop, which is all spectacle and exhibition. All that remained was the electronic music, which seemed to proceed from the infrastructure of the club itself, like a type of digital epiphenomenon but with no particular analogical supervenience or parallel. Indeed as one punter exclaimed when the music stopped for the night what happened to the band? Good question, but apparently they had already played. Had we seen them though, we would have seen two people sitting behind some keyboards and mixers not doing anything except occasionally twiddle some knobs. Black Lung were probably well aware of the visual poverty of their show compared to a traditional rock concert but ironically the device of the curtains as opposed to, say, a visually distracting laser show, produced a much more disorientating effect Essentially and formally there is exa ctly no need for a human presence to play the music here. .u85675fb1cdacdb451b90d154991e8c97 , .u85675fb1cdacdb451b90d154991e8c97 .postImageUrl , .u85675fb1cdacdb451b90d154991e8c97 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u85675fb1cdacdb451b90d154991e8c97 , .u85675fb1cdacdb451b90d154991e8c97:hover , .u85675fb1cdacdb451b90d154991e8c97:visited , .u85675fb1cdacdb451b90d154991e8c97:active { border:0!important; } .u85675fb1cdacdb451b90d154991e8c97 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u85675fb1cdacdb451b90d154991e8c97 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u85675fb1cdacdb451b90d154991e8c97:active , .u85675fb1cdacdb451b90d154991e8c97:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u85675fb1cdacdb451b90d154991e8c97 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u85675fb1cdacdb451b90d154991e8c97 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u85675fb1cdacdb451b90d154991e8c97 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u85675fb1cdacdb451b90d154991e8c97 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u85675fb1cdacdb451b90d154991e8c97:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u85675fb1cdacdb451b90d154991e8c97 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u85675fb1cdacdb451b90d154991e8c97 .u85675fb1cdacdb451b90d154991e8c97-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u85675fb1cdacdb451b90d154991e8c97:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Child Abuse EssayWhat we have is a deferral of the problem of artistic legitimation in favour of legitimation as cultural product. Electronic music does not so much refuse legitimation as a product but to that extent a product is all it is. It is not possible to legitimate the artist when the artist is absent from the process of identification. There is a total flow to the phenomenon of electronic music. Any one piece becomes indiscrete, when on the dance floor songs are beat-mixed to the same speed and/or pitch so that gaps both of form and space are perpetually absent, barring the event of complete breakdown, in which case it is the music that disappears and not the song . This flow is similar to that of TV and radio. If dead air is anathema there then dead beats are anathema in the techno club. The song is itself deconstructed in another sense as well: the remix. The remix (then better known as the extended version) became the defining phenomenon of dance music in the eighties. But in the extended version, the original song was still very much signified. The extension usually consisted of an extra three or four minutes inserted at various points of the original song. It was quite easily possible to formally identify various bits of the song as original bits and extended bits. But in the nineties the remix usually plays with the very concept of the original song, completely restructuring all the tracks and sometimes dispensing with the original vocals altogether. A good example in dialectic terms is the remix single by Underworld, Born Slippy (Junior Recordings: 1996). Five versions of the song are offered here. The first is the short version which is a straight edit of the long version which sounds like what we might have called the original version because it is the one wh ich was played on radio, TV music shows, and appeared in the movie Trainspotting, from which it gained its popularity in the first place. Note how originality is here constructed not at all in terms of production though, that is, original because it was the first version to appear because all versions appeared pretty much simultaneously. A dialectic between broadcast culture and club culture becomes apparent here, because clubs usually eschew radio mixes and vice versa. Often the consumer who gets to know a track in a nightclub and subsequently buys the single nowaydays may be quite disappointed when he or she discovers the version they know and love is nowhere to be found on their disc as it is a limited edition DJs mix or something similar. Originality is here then wholly constructed out of context, as an arbitrary apparition dependent on place of broadcast. Originality is then also dependent on the consumer the consumer literally constructs originality all by her or himself. The artist has already disappeared behind a formally impenetrable wall of technology anyway, so the artist is no source of authority here, as the artist is the one who has prostituted what is left of the song out to various remix engineers. I say prostituted because the artist pays the engineer (often DJs or fellow techno acts) to put their body in terms of concept onto the song and make it sound other. The second version on the Born Slippy single is the Darren Price mix. We now lose all the musical tracks from the short version, but retain the original vocals. The new musical tracks share a conceptual equivalence with the short version too, ie, the melody is retained. So Born Slippy is still quite easily signified a formal connection is retained. Once we get to the third version, the Darren Price remix, we are in deeper deconstructive waters. All signs of the song we knew as Born Slippy have disappeared, a wholly other musical piece takes its place. Nonetheless its still known by its name and as a remix. Its not another song. Listening closely for signs of the song we thought we knew, it seems that the songs speed is still the same. Maybe thats the signifying link? It seems so, because when we get to the fourth version: the Alex Reece mix the musical elements are once again wholly replaced, but the beat does sound familiar in an ambiguous manner. In vain we make the link though, b ecause once we get to the fifth version even the signifying beat disappears in whats called the deep pan banstyle/alex reece mix. I chose this example because apparently it offers a dialectic of deconstruction we began with the conventional short version and gradually all the formal signifiers disappeared. But if we apply this commentary fairly then no version is really anymore authoritative than any other. It was, after all the context that we saw as defining originality, because, if I was a DJ, I would have license to call any of these versions Born Slippy by Underworld. Maybe then it would be better to join all five versions together and the whole piece as one song. Indeed one can do that, but this is only to defer the problem of definition into its own particular mini-total flow constucted by naming. It doesnt really solve the problem, as one might as well go all the way and call every techno song Born Slippy by Underworld. The whole interest in anonymity and confusing the definition of songs has a certain attitude of glee or jouissance about it. On the other hand, it may well be that if anonymity is assured by the use of mechanical reproduction, the artist seems to remain present, albeit in a ghostly type of manner, by appealing to idiolect, and this is why there is such a proliferation of idiolects in the electronic scene. As formal significations are dispensed with entirely, eg, songs, musicians, melodies, lyrics etc. a type of individuality returns out of its repression to haunt this music. But are we talking about the unique and individual bru shstroke or just the fact that different brands and types of brushes, pallettes and paints are being used in different combinations? That is, can we sense artistic presence here or just the fact that this piece uses a Roland DX-100 and a Jupiter 8 while that one uses a Casio and a Yamaha?End notes1. As an element which remains constant for the whole duration of a piece of music. See N. Ruwet. 2. See Barthes, Roland (1977) Structural Analysis of Narratives in Image-Music-Text. References:Jameson F. (1991); Postmodernism, or, the Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism, Durham, NC: Duke University Press.

Free Essays on England Vs Spain In The Race To Explore The New World

â€Å"England vs Spain in the race to explore the new world† Europeans were among the most wealthiest people in the late 1400’s into the 1500’s. They lusted for gold, spices, furs and other luxury goods from different parts of the world. These goods primarily came from Asia and Africa. Before the search for an alternate route to the East, most Europeans concentrated on Mediterranean trade which was monopolized by the Italians. European countries would have to go through them to acquire eastern goods. Late in the thirteenth century a fleet of Genoese ships found a route through the Straight of Gibraltar to get from Southern Europe to Northern Europe. They went this way instead of using the old land route which was much slower. At this time exploration of new routes to the east were not even an issue. Mediterranean trade was so profitable that there was no need to search for an alternate route. Although in the 15th century the bubonic plague hit Europe killing about a 1/3 of the population. So many people died that most people had no clue to how long they would live. Most people realized this and took this opportunity to take great chances like embarking on dangerous sea voyages. They thought it was a good idea since they were probably going to die anyway. When Columbus tried to get the Portuguese, who were thriving on African exploration, to sponsor an expedition to the west he was turned down. So he moved on to Spain where he explained to them his plan. He even tried to persuade the Royal Courts of England and France. Finally, in 1492, Spain granted to fund Columbus’ exploration. In 1497 the King of England who had previously rejected Columbus’ request for sponsorship sent a sailor named John Cabot to look for an alternate route to the Indies. Cabot reached the tip of Newfoundland and thought it was part of Asia. He rushed back to England to tell them and arranged an even bigger fleet to go back. John C... Free Essays on England Vs Spain In The Race To Explore The New World Free Essays on England Vs Spain In The Race To Explore The New World â€Å"England vs Spain in the race to explore the new world† Europeans were among the most wealthiest people in the late 1400’s into the 1500’s. They lusted for gold, spices, furs and other luxury goods from different parts of the world. These goods primarily came from Asia and Africa. Before the search for an alternate route to the East, most Europeans concentrated on Mediterranean trade which was monopolized by the Italians. European countries would have to go through them to acquire eastern goods. Late in the thirteenth century a fleet of Genoese ships found a route through the Straight of Gibraltar to get from Southern Europe to Northern Europe. They went this way instead of using the old land route which was much slower. At this time exploration of new routes to the east were not even an issue. Mediterranean trade was so profitable that there was no need to search for an alternate route. Although in the 15th century the bubonic plague hit Europe killing about a 1/3 of the population. So many people died that most people had no clue to how long they would live. Most people realized this and took this opportunity to take great chances like embarking on dangerous sea voyages. They thought it was a good idea since they were probably going to die anyway. When Columbus tried to get the Portuguese, who were thriving on African exploration, to sponsor an expedition to the west he was turned down. So he moved on to Spain where he explained to them his plan. He even tried to persuade the Royal Courts of England and France. Finally, in 1492, Spain granted to fund Columbus’ exploration. In 1497 the King of England who had previously rejected Columbus’ request for sponsorship sent a sailor named John Cabot to look for an alternate route to the Indies. Cabot reached the tip of Newfoundland and thought it was part of Asia. He rushed back to England to tell them and arranged an even bigger fleet to go back. John C...

Hip-Hop as an Integral Part of African- American Culture Essay

Hip-Hop as an Integral Part of African- American Culture - Essay Example There is a wide range of African-American music for instance gospel, jazz, blues, soul and hip-hop. However, hip-hop is the most important music genre that has greatly influenced the culture and identity of the African American people. To the African American people, hip-hop is encompasses more than music to include other components such as language, clothing and way of life. African Americans use hip-hop to express black culture and identity in society. To the African American community, hip-hop is part of the black identity and culture.Hip-Hop originated in the African-American community in the late 1970s as a form of music as well as an artistic culture in New York City. The late 1970’s was an important time in the history of the African American people as it marked a period when both the black middle and working classes were struggling to move out of poverty. Hip-Hop originated from other traditional forms of African American music such as jazz, soul and gospel. It was cre ated by African Americans like Herc who was working and had the ability to create a form of music and culture that expressed and shaped the culture of black people in New York City in the 1970s. However, since the development of hip-hop culture the society associated hip-hop with negative messages from the American urban streets such as drugs, violence and crime. Hip-hops representation in the media and the society is contrary to the original purpose that was to offer black people a forum to express personal feelings in an artistic and rhythmic manner (Reese par. 5).The different elements of hip-hop culture provide avenues and creative outlets through which African American people can practice and express the black culture. Most people use hip-hop to express their political and emotional feelings to the rest of the world.  

Nordstrom Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Nordstrom - Case Study Example This has enabled Nordstrom to be leading in delivery of standard customer loyalty and services, in United States. Despite of its profit being majorly from the retail stores, Nordstrom has extended its credit segment, the multiple boutiques, and the internet sector (Cakir & Canbolat, 2008, pp.1367-1378). Demand purchasing in minimizing leftover inventory Nordstrom uses the demand forecasting in minimizing the leftover inventory. The overall corporate leadership in Nordstrom is based on two goals. Nordstrom integrates purchasing with demand in order to keep the inventory lean. The items in Nordstrom are kept in stock for a remarkably short time to enhance easy purchase by the customers due to the limited time. Normally, Nordstrom keeps the items in inventory for a short time, usually 62 days. Apart from the daily sales, Nordstrom gives discounts on certain goods as well as planning for more productive and profitable sales prices. One of the greatest challenge facing retailers is custom er retention. However, Nordstrom has succeeded in retaining its customers through piercing the insight into the minds of their customers. This has enhanced management and success of its inventory. The web-based system has enhanced monitoring of the demand. Customers check the items from the nearest local store, place an order and the items are delivered to them. The management and stock controllers are, therefore, able to access the movement of certain products to ovoid overstocking or under stocking (Cakir & Canbolat, 2008, pp.1367-1378). Benchmarks used to assess the success of web-based inventory integration The benchmarks used by Nordstrom in assessing the success of the web-based inventory system include monitoring other organizations and incorporate the ideas used by organizations in their normal operations. Nordstrom faces competition from companies like Nike and Macy’s. Taking certain qualities from their competitors and intertwining them in Nordstrom, a great success of the web-based inventory would be realized. Nordstrom uses the web-based inventory in informing the investors and the viewers of the financial statements. The website site, www.sec.com contains any additional information that they may need. Any concerns or questions raised from Nordstrom financials are discussed and addressed in the footnotes (Cakir & Canbolat, 2008, pp.1367-1378). The web-based inventory displays the items remaining in stock online; both from the warehouse and all the other stores. This helps in monitoring of the stock in all the stores from a central point. The web-based inventory enables the online transactions. The inventory to the website resulted in all the stores acting as online warehouses. The percentage of the customers purchasing good online can be used to gauge the success of the web-based system. High percentage of online customers is an indication that the web-based inventory integration was a success. Furthermore, the success of the system can be e valuated through the inventory turnover. Increased turn over indicates a positive response to the system (Spector & McCarthy, 2000, pp. 67-69). Application of participatory planning in product purchasing and groups involved Participatory planning encompasses people affected by the plans and those who are to implement them. Transparency and equitability will enhance increased customer trust in retailing. The interaction of employees with the managers determines the success of the