Persuasive Bullying Speech Essay

Are you tired of being bullied in school or at work? Are you angry or frustrated because of being bullied, or have you been accused of bullying? Bullying became a personal issue for me about two years ago. My oldest daughter came home from school in tears. The children that had been her closest friends and playmates turned on her while she spent time in the hospital undergoing testing for her epilepsy. They told her that they killed a beloved pet, cut its head off and ran it up a flagpole. Next, they wrote in the bathroom â€Å"We hate you and want you gone†, and signed their names. She had belongings destroyed, and was treated horribly. She also received text messages from the kids who were bullying her, the first two seemed innocent, â€Å"hello†, â€Å"are you Rebecca†, then came â€Å"are we going out tonight†, and â€Å"are you my f†¦ lover. † The school did nothing, using the excuse â€Å"Kids will be kids†, and the police department refused to enforce anti bullying laws. The officer that we spoke to was the same officer that had given a cyber-bullying lecture to the kids just the week before. He told them to come to him anytime with this problem and he would help them, yet when our daughter spoke with him, his response (as well as the Juvenile Prosecutors office) was what do you want us to do. see more:anti bullying speech Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon scenario in today’s schools. According to Lexlee’s Kids. com statics show that every 7 minutes a child is bullied, and 85% of the time no one intervenes. I would like to take a few minutes of your time to speak about anti bullying laws and some of their flaws, the definition and types of bullying, and what drives some children to commit suicide because of the problem and some resources where you can get support on bullying. It is time that we all take a stand, and protect our children. First, anti-bullying legislation has been in the forefront since 1999 beginning with the massacre in Columbine which killed 13 people, wounded 24, and the suicide of the two shooters, yet it is only getting worse. A year later the US Secret Service released an analysis showing that in 37 premeditated school shootings bullying that reached â€Å"torment† was the root cause. They estimate that 60-80 percent of children are bullied at school. Also 1 in 3 young people have experienced cyber threats. Over 25 percent adolescents and teens have been bullied repeatedly through cell phones and internet, and over half of these young people do not tell their parents and one in 5 is reported to the police. According to the United States Dept of Justice, it is reaching â€Å"Pandemic† levels. 49 states have anti bullying laws, with Montana being the only one not having passed legislation. One of the problems is that there are too many gaps in the laws, and the laws are not clear. In Georgia, a boy named Jaheem was being bullied in school, and he committed suicide. The authorities refused to act because in Georgia, anti-bullying laws are only for children in grades 6-12, the reason, Jaheem was in 5th grade. In the Tyler Clementi suicide case in New Jersey the people who bullied him were charged with 15 offences including intimidation and bias, making this a hate crime against a gay man. According to campusprogress. org New Jersey has introduced legislation named in honor of Tyler that prohibits harassment of students for such reasons as race, sex, religion, sexual orientation, ect, and makes cyber-bullying a form of harassment. Second, according to bullyonline. com bullying is the persistent unwelcome behavior, mostly using unwarranted or invalid criticism, nitpicking, fault finding, exclusion, isolation, being singled out and treated differently, being shouted at, humiliated, excessive monitoring, verbal and written warnings imposed, or in the workplace distorted allegations of underperformance. Bullying can come in many shapes and forms, from name calling, physical contact, gang, road rage, cell phones, text messages, email, and social websites. We can all agree that bullying is wrong, and that we all know someone who it has happened to. However, what have you done to help someone who is being bullied? If the answer is nothing, then you are just as guilty as the person/ people actually committing the act. What is the solution to stop this growing epidemic? States can pass laws, but it will take courage from both the victims and bystanders to make sure that the laws are enforced. After all isn’t a student’s safety just as important as test scores?

Business Strategy and Innovation of Cisco Systems Inc

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of the report was to discuss the business strategy of Cisco Systems Inc (Cisco), a company widely considered innovative. The report was to discuss the justification of Cisco’s status of innovative, how the business environment impacted on Cisco and it’s opportunities for innovation, their sources of competitive advantage, strategic options available to Cisco, and evaluate the risks of implementing the strategic change to achieve this optionThis was done by evaluating Cisco’s current strategies, its business environment and markets, applying strategy frameworks in the context of its industry and innovation, and by analysing the risks that could be associated with implementing this change. Cisco innovate in three ways; they build innovation using research and development budgets; they buy innovation, by making strategic acquisitions; and they partner, developing strategic partnerships and ecosystems to aid innovation. Cisco’s ex ternal environment was assessed using PESTEL analysis and applying Porter’s Five Forces framework.It was established that the main key drivers for change were technological and worldwide competition laws. VRIN Frameworks were applied to assess Cisco’s sources of competitive advantage, as well as some of the threats they face in these areas. It would appear that the biggest threat to Cisco in this area is Non-substitutability; Cisco’s competitors are eroding their market share by offering similar products. Two strategic options were discussed; selling their enterprise products directly to the end users and entering the consumer market.It was decided that the more radical of the two was entering the consumer market; and the risks associated with implementing the change, along with advice on how Cisco could manage the strategic change, were discussed. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. 0 INTRODUCTION5 2. 0 IS CISCO INNOVATIVE? 6 3. 0 CISCO AND THEIR BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT8 3. 1 TH E MACRO ENVIRONMENT8 3. 2 KEY DRIVERS FOR CHANGE8 3. 3 APPLYING PORTER’S FIVE FORCES FRAMEWORK9 3. 3. 1 The Threat of Entry10 3. 3. 2 Threat of Substitutes11 3. 3. 3 Power of Buyers11 3. 3. 4 Power of Suppliers12 3. 3. 5 Competitive Rivals12 4. 0 COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE13 4. 1 Value14 4. 2 Rarity15 . 3 Inimitability15 4. 4 Non-Substitutability16 4. 5 Cisco’s Organisational Knowledge16 5. 0 STRATEGIC OPTIONS17 6. 0 IMPLEMENTING STRATEGIC CHANGE19 6. 1 Risk20 6. 2 Managing Strategic Change21 7. 0 CONCLUSION22 8. 0 REFERENCES24 9. 0 BIBLIOGRAPHY26 1. 0 INTRODUCTION Cisco Systems Inc (Cisco) was established in 1984 by a husband and wife team who wanted to solve the technical issue of emailing each other, but on different networks, and developed the first multi-protocol router, a device which allowed the different networks to ‘talk’ to each other by translating the different protocol languages (Cisco Systems Inc, 2012).This report will examine Cisco as an innovat ive company, the external factors affecting their ability to innovate, their sources of competitive advantage within the industry and consider some of Cisco’s strategic options, the risks associated with the changes in strategy and how this can be managed. The information has been compiled from information published by Cisco on their website, Exploring Strategy, Ninth Edition (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011), Academic Journals and published articles. 2. 0 IS CISCO INNOVATIVE?To establish if Cisco is innovative, first we have to define what innovation is. Innovation can be defined as, â€Å"†¦the conversion of a new knowledge into a new product, process or service and the putting of this new product, process or service into actual use. † (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011, pg 296). Therefore until the product, process or service is brought to the market; it cannot be considered an innovation. In regards to innovation, Cisco has an extensive innovation strategy. They do this using their â€Å"three pillars of innovation: build, buy and partner† (Cisco, 2012.Acquisitions, pg 1. ), The ‘Build’ aspect relates to internal innovation, whereby they develop products and services with Research and Development (R&D). They have 7 major laboratories in locations around the world, and employ around 20,000 engineers (Cisco, 2012). The diversity of basing these facilities all over the world will only help to aid innovation, as the people can use their own cultures and experiences to develop new product and services, thereby helping to develop worldwide solutions to global industry problems. Yearly Cisco invests over $5 Billion on R&D (Cisco, 2012).With regards to their ‘Buy’ aspect of their innovation strategy, Cisco is constantly looking to acquire technologies to improve their current product range. Cisco has acquired over 160 companies up to the end of 2012, and will continue to actively seek out acquisition opportunities to increase their product range (Cisco, 2012). It may be argued that innovation by acquisition is not innovation; however the innovation comes with the integration of these technologies into their existing product ranges and taking new products to market.Cisco also purchase technologies that have yet to be brought to the market, so are more inventions than innovations, and take calculated risks in doing so. Cisco’s approach to innovation is an open one, and they have many strategic partnerships. Cisco is aware that to maximise the potential of their products, they must rely on the products of other vendors. Cisco have created an Ecosystem, to help develop their Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS), a system that Cisco see as the future of the IT network; the collaboration of the network, all managed simultaneously on one platform (Cisco, 2012).By opening up their innovation to these ecosystem partners, it will engage the partners on a positive way and ensure tha t the partner’s complimentary products and services will be fully compatible with the UCS. The ecosystem approach will help speed up innovation, as more people working together to create innovative products or services are more likely to get superior products to market faster (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011). Cisco has, since inception, been a first-mover in its markets. Cisco’s vision, â€Å"Changing the way we work, live, play and learn† (Cisco, 2012.Corporate Overview Pg 11), shows that they want to lead the market in developing networking technologies. This gives them considerable advantages, allowing them to become market leaders in these areas, and charge a premium for these products. 3. 0 CISCO AND THEIR BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT When we discuss the business environment, we are in fact looking at the environment where the business operates. In this section the external environment will be analysed using PESTEL framework, focusing on some of the key dri vers for change, use Porters Five Forces to analyse the Industry and will look at the opportunities and threats Cisco face. 3. THE MACRO ENVIRONMENT The Macro Environment of a business is concerned with the external factors which affect almost all organisations (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011). Appendix A shows a PESTEL analysis for Cisco, outlining some of the issues which they face. For the purpose of the report, however, only the important key drivers for change will be discussed. 3. 2 KEY DRIVERS FOR CHANGE Looking at the PESTEL Analysis, there are some that are more relevant to the industry Cisco operate – Technological. Virtualisation technology became one of the most important key drivers for change in the IT industry of recent times.This meant companies like Cisco had to begin to develop systems that would take advantage of this. This has led to huge developments in ‘Cloud’ technologies, where the resources are provided, at a service fee, over the internet. They provide several variations of the ‘x-as-a-service’ model. This is beneficial to cash-conscious companies, who are looking to reduce the expensive CAPEX costs IT infrastructure incurs, passing this responsibility onto the service provider. The rate at which this technology has been released and adopted has fuelled Cisco’s innovation, as they have to innovate to continue to remain competitive.Another key driver for change is the Competition Laws Cisco are faced with, namely the US Antitrust policy, whereby all acquisitions have to be approved by the Department of Justice and the Federal Change Commission, who look at how acquisitions will affect the competition balance. They do not, however look at the innovative developments these acquisitions will create, nor if the benefit of such innovation outweighs the competition problems (Mandel and Carew, 2011). Appendix B shows some of the scenario outcomes of the effects of acquisition laws on the develop ment of technologies in the Cloud market.Scenario building can be useful, however you cannot have just one universal scenario for the company as a whole, there can be an endless chain of scenarios created for every situation that can be thought up. That is why, when looking at scenarios, it is important to identify the key drivers for change. 3. 3 APPLYING PORTER’S FIVE FORCES FRAMEWORK Porter’s Five Forces Framework can help Cisco establish if an industry is an attractive option, identifying five areas in competitive forces; the threat of entry, the threat of substitutes, the power of buyers, the power of suppliers and competitive rivalry (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011).For the purpose of the report, we will focus this next section on Cisco’s Switching market. 3. 3. 1 The Threat of Entry Cisco must be aware of potential competitors into their markets, and creating sufficient barriers to entry can help. These barriers need to be overcome by new entrants to the market if they wish to compete (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011). Cisco, as first-movers, has created several barriers to entry; Cisco has greater experience over its rivals and uses its first-mover advantages to secure market share before anyone else tries to compete.Cisco do not manufacture the components of their products, they rely on over 600 companies for this (Cisco, 2012). They could try to secure exclusivity with these suppliers, thereby reducing the new entrant’s ability to buy the same components, making it harder for them to replicate Cisco’s products. In response to competition threats, Cisco could, in theory, enter into price wars with new entrants to the market, they could increase their marketing spend, and out-market the new entrants, as they have the financial means to do so.Overall, the threat of new entrants means Cisco have to remain innovative, to product new products, protected by patents, and creating new industry standards, to ma intain their share of the market. 3. 3. 2 Threat of Substitutes With the emergence of cloud technologies, Cisco was in danger of falling behind and their products substituted with Cloud technologies. However Cisco has developed products to compete in this area, for example their Switching-as-a-Service, giving their customers the option to have their network switching hosted in the cloud.To avoid being substituted, Cisco had to adapt to the emergence of Cloud technologies to remain relevant. Emerging technologies such as this ensure Cisco retains their innovative edge. 3. 3. 3 Power of Buyers Cisco only sells their enterprise products through a network of distributers. This increases the distributers buying power as Cisco are reliant on them. However due to the complexity of the products, there doesn’t appear to be a threat from the buyers in terms of competition, as they are unlikely to find backward vertical integration attractive.Cisco have to remain innovative to maintain the relationships with their buyers, if Cisco are seen to fall behind technology’s advance, then they will become obsolete to the buyers, and they will look to buy other products that are innovative. 3. 3. 4 Power of Suppliers As previously discussed, Cisco relies on over 600 suppliers to provide the components of their products. This gives the suppliers power, as delays in Cisco receiving their products will disrupt their supply chain. 3. 3. 5 Competitive Rivals In the switching market, Cisco currently hold around 69% of the market share Cisco, 2012), and while this is a comfortable position to be in, Cisco must not become complacent. HP is growing in market share year-on-year (Gabra, 2012), offering Cisco real competition in affordable managed switching products. HP also has a strong brand and a large presence in both the business and consumer markets. This makes HP an attractive alternative to the end user, which is a threat to Cisco’s core switching business. Cisco has to continue to develop their products, make them better than the rivals, to ensure they can maintain the market share.Customers need to see that they are getting value for money, so Cisco must do this with that in mind, they have to make the products affordable AND innovative. Cisco is strong in many areas discussed, they are innovative in nature, it is part of their history that they began and continue to innovate. As innovation is part of Cisco’s DNA, this is unlikely to change. They are developing some of the traditionally physical technologies (switching for example) for the cloud market, creating cloud platforms which they can still provide their core products from.Cisco has patent protection on their products, which puts them in a strong position to their competitors. To keep this patent protection relevant they need to continue to invent new designs to bring to market. They do have some weakness; the entry of HP to their core switching market is worth noting. Cisc o have still got a good market share, however HP are slowly eroding this, with gains in market share each year. Cisco will have to tackle this to ensure this erosion does not progress too far. To do this they must continue to produce superior products to HPs, and thereby drives their innovation. 4. COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE As previously discussed, Cisco currently have over 69% of the market share in their switching market. How does Cisco maintain their competitive advantage? The resource-based view is that, â€Å"†¦competitive advantage and superior performance of an organisation is explained by the distinctiveness of its capabilities. † (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011 pg 83) This is to say that it is the capabilities of the companies which give it the competitive advantage; the development of new innovative technologies alone will not give a company this competitive advantage (Eng & Luff 2011).Looking at some of Cisco’s resources and competences (Appendix C) we can see that these are wide-ranging, from the obvious of buildings, Computer Equipment and Employees, to the less obvious; strong balance sheet, worldwide R&D and Ecosystems. From here we can establish which of these are threshold resources and capabilities, those which are required to compete in a market (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011) and the distinctive resources and capabilities, those required to give a company it’s competitive advantage (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011).These have been illustrated in Appendix D. For the purpose of this report we will focus on the distinctive resources and capabilities, as those are the ones which will secure Cisco’s Competitive Advantage, and apply VRIN Framework to assess Cisco’s basis of these advantages; Value, Rarity, Inimitability and Non-substitutability. 4. 1 Value â€Å"Strategic capabilities are of value when they provide potential competitive advantage in a market at a cost that allows an org anisation to realise acceptable levels of return†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011 pg 90).Cisco does this by taking advantage of opportunities and limits the threats that they are presented with (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011). Acquisitions allow them to adopt new technology that their rivals cannot. If, for example, they were only to licence technology from these companies, their competitors could also. By buying these companies this allows them exclusive access to the technologies. Cisco’s R&D spending and the acquisition of technologies allow Cisco to produce products, which they protect with patents, that their competitors do not have, putting them ahead of the competition.Cisco spends billions of dollars each year on R&D, however still produce good profits which is acceptable to their shareholders. This shows that the shareholders understand that to achieve and maintain the market share, then spending on this level is acceptable. 4. 2 Rarity â€Å"Rare capabilities†¦are those possessed uniquely by one organisation or by a few others. † (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011). Cisco currently has over 8000 patents protecting their products, and files around 700 more per year.This gives them long lasting protection from competitors. Cisco employ over 20,000 engineers (Cisco, 2012) and the skills and knowledge of these people is a valuable commodity. Cisco must ensure they try to maintain a high level of staff retention to avoid engineers going to work for competitors. Cisco has a strong brand in the business market, with around 69% of the market share in the switching market alone (Cisco, 2012).Cisco have to ensure that they keep creating new rare capabilities to maintain this competitive advantage and adequately protecting innovations, for example, in the USA design patens last 14 years (United States Patent and Trademark Office, 2003) and 20 years in the UK (Intellectual Property Office, 2011). 4. 3 Inimita bility â€Å"Inimitable capabilities – those that competitors find difficult to imitate or obtain† (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011 pg 91). Cisco work with their customers to ensure that their needs are met, in turn this leads to co-specialisation (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011).If Cisco is successful with this, then the customer is more likely to come back to them with future problems for Cisco to solve, and are unlikely to move to a competitor. Cisco’s innovative culture was imbedded into the company right from inception. Cisco has a competitive advantage here as innovation is something they just ‘do’ and have always done. Breeding this into an established company may prove difficult due to a lack of experience, resources and change resistance.Cisco also adapt well to changes in market conditions, and as technology moves forward, so do Cisco; by producing products and services to meet emerging technology. 4. 4 Non-Substitutability Cisco is at risk of substitution by competitors. Patent protection lessens the risk as by the time the patents expire; technology will have advanced so much that the patented technology is already old. This also does not stop companies from copying ideas; you only need to look at the press coverage of Smartphone producers taking each other to court, accusing the other of patent infringement.Cisco has to ensure that the products and services they offer remain ahead of the competition, to get a foothold on the market, to avoid substitution. 4. 5 Cisco’s Organisational Knowledge â€Å"Organisational knowledge is the collective intelligence, specific to an organisation, accumulated through both formal systems and the shared experience of people in that organisation. † (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011 pg 94) The items discussed in the VRIN framework above can be consolidated into the organisational knowledge of Cisco, and this too creates competitive advantage.The ex plicit knowledge gained by using codified information within the company’s structure and the tacit knowledge gained by experience and expertise combines is difficult to imitate, thereby creating a source of competitive advantage over rivals (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011). 5. 0 STRATEGIC OPTIONS When assessing Cisco for potential strategic options, the following had to be considered; what markets do Cisco currently operate in, what products and services do they provide and is there any scope within the value chain for vertical integration?Two of the options which came to light were selling their enterprise products directly to the end user and entering the consumer market. Using the â€Å"Ansoff product/market growth matrix† (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011 pg 232) selling products to the end user would be market penetration, which would involve Cisco increasing their market share with their current product range through vertical integration of the Sale s and Marketing part of the value chain.The reasons behind Cisco taking this approach would be the potential of increased profit margins. By selling through distribution channels and partners, Cisco will come up against bias towards their competitors. As end users often rely on their IT reseller for advice on what they require, if the IT reseller has a preference for a competitor, then Cisco will lose the opportunity, regardless if their product is superior. They will increase their contact with their end users, and this will increase customer visibility and co-specialisation.Marketing direct to the end user will provide a greater visibility of the Cisco brand and could help build their brand awareness. This would also give them an advantage over competitors who do not sell online, and allow them more direct competition with those that do. They would still be able to work with their partners, as the partners would be the ones implementing the equipment, and will maintain their curre nt partner program revenue.There are a few issues that Cisco needs to be aware of if they implement this option; this will be costly. They will have to increase their sales and marketing presence, and they will also have to increase their distribution facilities, as well as create a direct sales channel, especially an online sales platform. They also run the risk of alienating their partners, as they will be in direct competition with them, which could result in partners looking to other options.This however could be combated by working with the partners, using partner deal registration procedures, to ensure that Cisco and their partners do not end up going after the same deals. They could also provide a referral system for new customers to the partners, if they buy direct from Cisco, then Cisco will refer them to a partner to handle the installation and management of the system. It may be that for this to work Cisco would have to withdraw their business from the distributers, essen tially cutting out some of the middle men.With regards to entering the consumer market, Cisco could go into the market selling new products and services (conglomerate diversification) however in this their current portfolio could be included, as they would be new products into the market (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011). Consumers are looking for ways to combine their work and home technologies, making accessing all of the information they require easier. Therefore entering the consumer market with a mix of both current and new products may be prudent.This would allow them to build a market share on the products they know well. With new products, Cisco’s innovation policy of â€Å"Build, buy and partner† could apply here; they could build new products, for example set-top TV boxes and smart TVs which include their collaboration products (Cisco Jabber and TelePresence); buy innovation, for example if they were to buy a telecoms provider such as TalkTalk, they co uld introduce IP Telephony at home as a standard offering; or they could partner with the producers of these products to integrate Cisco technologies into these products.This would allow Cisco to generate Economies of Scope, as they would be able to use their existing resources in the new market. This may also produce a synergistic effect (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011) as the increased brand awareness in the consumer market may bring more sales into the business market and vice-versa. 6. 0 IMPLEMENTING STRATEGIC CHANGE In the previous section two possible strategic options were considered; selling their enterprise products direct to the end user and entering the onsumer market. Here the focus will be on the more radical option of entering the consumer market and will look at the risks associated with implementing this change and how this change can be managed. When evaluating strategies, it is important to look at three key areas; Suitability, Acceptability and Feasibility , otherwise known as SAFe. For the purpose of the report we will focus on risk, a key point in assessing the Acceptability of the strategy (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011). . 1 Risk â€Å"Risk concerns the extent to which the outcomes of a strategy can be predicted† (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011 pg 371). This can be assessed using different financial and statistical tools to establish the effects of the strategy on the Cisco’s risk level. Sensitivity testing can be used to challenge the different assumptions about a strategy and what the effects the ‘what if’ scenarios will produce (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011).If Cisco enters the consumer market with assumptions of how much revenue this will generate, and there is an economic downturn, resulting in reduced revenue, what will the effects if this reduced revenue be? Financial Ratios would allow Cisco to look at the financial impact of the strategic option (Johnson, Whittington a nd Scholes, 2011). For example, entering into the consumer market would be of high financial risk due to sunk costs in setting up the new business stream and increased R&D costs, which would have a negative impact on the financial position of Cisco.Break even analysis is another financial tool that can be used to assess risk. This analysis shows the point where revenue will match fixed and variable costs, allowing Cisco to know the level of revenue required to break even (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011) and assess if it is even viable. 6. 2 Managing Strategic Change Due to the rate that the technology markets change, Cisco should adopt a revolutionary change strategy (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011) to ensure they take advantage of the opportunities available to them.They must ensure that there is a clear and concise strategic direction communicated throughout the company and to its stakeholders. To do this Cisco may be required to make changes to management, taking in new people to reinforce the changes (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011), preferably people with a proven track record in the consumer market. Management must also be ready to provide a business case for change (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011) to outline why the proposed strategy is a good one, and may include some of the risk assessments mentioned above.Some of the decisions made to facilitate the change may seem extreme; changes in management, portfolio changes, increased focus on the consumer market and increased R&D spend, however these can be seen as both symbolic and rational levers for change (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011). In managing resistance to change, Cisco should adopt a situational leadership style, where they can use different styles in change leadership to adapt to different situations (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011).This will allow Cisco the flexibility to use different methods to increase stakeholder ‘buy-in’ to the s trategy. Some stakeholders may resist the changes as they may feel they are unnecessary or the timing is wrong, and it is essential that this is controlled to avoid stakeholders just ‘doing what they are told’. Compliance, as opposed to co-operation (or ‘buy-in’) can be detrimental to the success of the strategy, as underneath the surface nothing will have changed. Using this methods to achieve co-operation from stakeholders will keep the strategy focused (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011).However managers must also be sensitive to the strategy resistance, if there is a large amount of resistance they must assess to see if the resistance is warranted. Managers should be, wherever possible, honest in regards to the progress of the strategy (Johnson, Whittington and Scholes, 2011), from their business case for change, the progress of the change, through to the results achieved by the change. Failure to be honest in this will result in the stakeholders l osing faith in the strategy. 7. 0 CONCLUSIONCisco’s innovation is based around their ‘three pillars of innovation’; ‘Build’, where they spend around $5 Billion per year on R&D; ‘Buy’, they have acquired over 160 companies over the years and actively seek out new acquisition possibilities each year; and ‘Partner’, Cisco has developed strategic partnerships and ecosystems to aid innovation. The innovation culture has been part of Cisco’s strategy since the company was formed in 1984. The business environment Cisco operates in was discussed using PESTEL analysis and applying Porter’s Five Forces Framework.With the PESTEL analysis it was established that most of their Key Drivers for Change came from the Technological area of PESTEL. It was also decided that the legal aspects relating to competition law was also a Key Driver for Change, as it impacts their Acquisition policies. Scenario building was deemed importan t, however Cisco must be aware that not one scenario was sufficient, they must develop scenarios for all of their Key Drivers for Change. Porter’s Five Forces was discussed to show some of the factors which determine if the industry is attractive, and the threats Cisco face within the industry.It was determined that innovation alone does not bring competitive advantages. Cisco’s distinct resources and capabilities were assessed against the VRIN framework to identify the sources of their competitive advantage. The VRIN framework can also be consolidated to form Cisco’s organisational knowledge, which was also identified as another competitive advantage. Two strategic options for Cisco were discussed, selling of their enterprise products direct to the end user, and entering the consumer market. It was decided that the more radical of the two was the entry into the consumer market.The risks associated with implementing this strategy were discussed as was managing t he change. It was concluded that Cisco should adopt a revolutionary change strategy to facilitate the strategy implementation. 8. 0 REFERENCES CISCO SYSTEMS INC, (2012). 2012 Annual Report. [online]. San Jose: Cisco Systems Inc. Available from: http://www. cisco. com/assets/cdc_content_elements/docs/annualreports/ar2012. pdf [Accessed 19 November 2012] CISCO SYSTEMS INC, (2012). Corporate Overview. [online]. San Jose: Cisco Systems Inc. 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[online]. Palo Alto: Hewlett-Packard Company. Available from: http://h30507. www3. hp. com/t5/HP-Networking/Ethernet-Switching-Market-Share-Did-HP-eat-up-that-much-share/ba-p/120753 [Accessed 25 December 2012]IPO, (2011). Renewing your patent. [online]. Newport: Intellectual Property Office. Available from: http://www. ipo. gov. uk/types/patent/p-manage/p-renew. htm [Accessed 28 December 2012] JOHNSON, G. , WHITTINGTON, R. and SCHOLES, K. , (2011). Exploring Strategy, Ninth Edition. Essex: Pearson Education Limited. MANDEL, M. and CAREW, D. G. , 2011. Innov ation by Acquisition: New Dynamics of High-Tech Competition. [online]. Washington: Progressive Policy Institute. Available from: http://capitalis. com/admin/white_papers/file43. pdf [Accessed 3 December 2012] USPTO, 2003.How long does patent protection last? [online]. Alexandria: United States Patent and Trademark Office. 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Explain the differences in similarities between french regional Essay

Explain the differences in similarities between french regional geography and the development of cultural landscape geography under the influence of carl sauer - Essay Example His argument that ‘human cultural action’ that shapes the visible features of earth’s surface through culture remains unquestioned. He said, culture provokes action, responses and adaptation by humans. â€Å"Culture is the agent, the natural area is the medium, the cultural landscape is the result. Under the influence of a given culture, itself changing through time, the landscape undergoes development, passing through phases, and probably reaching ultimately the end of its cycle of development. With the introduction of a different – that is an alien – culture, a rejuvenation of the cultural landscape sets in, or a new landscape is superimposed on remnants of an older one,† Sauer (1925), The Morphology of Landscape.† University of California Publications. French regional geography was the effect of external forces taking place in other spheres of France. As Sauer argued, French regional geography, like any other part of the world, showed every sign, every scar and mark of history and culture on it. The static growth of the rural areas during the long rule of monarchy, the chaos and the horrifying bloodshed during French Revolution, impact of Napoleonic wars and aftermath, success over the vast oceans, usurping new colonies and competing to retain them, struggling for supremacy amongst other European powers, wars faced by France, the various political, cultural, military, historical and economic upheavals of the country are etched on the French landscape over centuries. Sauer says (Northern Mists) that France lost most of her ports and her north and southwest regions were ravaged during the war of hundred years. Napoleon’s wars had left bitter memories in both France and Britain. The country’s culture altered after Frenc h revolution, and so did the French landscape. Newly attained colonies had left far reaching impacts on European nations. Use of

Southeast Asia Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Southeast Asia - Assignment Example Air pollution is caused by air particles, biological molecules, or other harmful materials into Earth’s atmosphere that cause diseases and eventually death to humans. Additionally, burned land can be sold at a higher price illegally, and eventually used for activities including oil palm and pulpwood production. It is also considered to be cheaper and faster compared to cutting and clearing using excavators or other machines damaging living organisms such as animals and food crops, or the natural environment. The average record high levels of air pollution caused by haze were in June 2013 in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. In having to response to regional pressure after the latest haze crisis, Indonesia has finally agreed to adopt the ASEAN agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution from 2002. This kind of problem flares up every dry season, in varying degrees.Overpopulation is when undesirable conditions of a number of existing human populations exceed in the carrying capa city of Earth which is caused by: reduced mortality rate, better medical facilities, and depletion of precious resources. In addition to that, conflicts and wars rise in unemployment, and high cost of living also make up causes of overpopulation. Philippines is one of the countries in Southeast Asia that face this issue and believed to why the country has sustained poverty and poor economic growth among families by depriving them of the financial resources that were required to secure education and adequate health care for their children.

The Big Bowl Part2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

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Gandhi's view on western civilization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

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Exchange Rate Risk in the UAE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Exchange Rate Risk in the UAE - Essay Example Due to the growing population in UAE, the construction activities for hotel, condominiums and commercial and entertainment infrastructure are increasing and directly contributing to growing interest rate of the currency. The most dominant factor of the financial market in the United Arab of Emirates is been Banking Sector, which is intermediate between common man and economy as it endows with the credit conveniences to the same. And hence the demand for the credit is increasing which is also causing to increase in the rate of currency, but contradictorily in point of fact this is harmful. Since there is an expansion in the financial markets, the banking sector are benefited the most and can maintain the profitably and exploit most in this market. The liberalization of the country demands the overseas banks to invest, seeing that United Arab of Emirates can come into sight of global economy. An increase in lending money or mortgaging activities from the banks, can risk the cost-cuttin g measure of the country, therefore banks should perimeter it. The growth of the economy is taken care by the government for improvement among the financial systems. The supervisory body (Emirates Securities and Commodities Authority) is been given the responsibility of Initial Public Offerings in January 2007. Global investors should be invited to expand the capital markets in United Arab of Emirates by getting rid from the board membership. As suggested there should be a legal format for all the financial markets which will lessen the arguments. The major drawback of United Arab of Emirates is that the unmethodical insurance segment, and to enhance the market segment, this segment should be privatized. The high standard of living, productivity has caused the inflation in the economy of the United Arab of Emirates. US interests are not hooked up with flexible monetary policies. The high oil prices causes inflation and leads to major problem in the economy of United Arab of Emirates . Hence monitory policies should be independent, not confined to the interest rate of the compared currency and more effective. The cause of rise in the inflation was due to the rising cost of accommodation. This will lead to threat in cost of living which can cause the local economy. As a result this should be stopped. UAE Currency Markets The US dollar and the United Arab of Emirates dirham are hooked up at the rate of 3.6710 and similarly the Great Britain Pound (GBP) shifts directly with the US Dollar as well as AED. Source: http://www.dubaiselect.com/dubai_property_services/financial-services/the-currency/As shown in the above chart, GBP/AED moved from high in May of 6.9860 to a low of 6.6398 in June which on an AED 1,000,000 property would be an increased cost of 7,464 in less than two months. The currency fluctuations create instability in the financial markets which would affect in decision making for the acquisition of the property. This also avoids in the need of the development. But as soon as this hook is been broken between the US Dollar and AED, the instability in exchange rate and interest rate would generate a necessity amongst the short term and long term risks proficiently. The trading countries like Australia, Africa and other Arab countries, deal United Arab of Emirates with the US Dollar and thus major of trading or imports is done in US dollars. Hooking up with US dollars is not advantageous for the United Arab of

Michelle Obama should be one of 2010 most influnce people in TIME Essay

Michelle Obama should be one of 2010 most influnce people in TIME Magezine - Essay Example Jamie Oliver, a chef and founder of the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation believes she is a true revolutionary. Oliver commended her for standing firm in her conviction â€Å"that if we all just eat better and move more, then we can fight obesity† (Oliver, par.4). First, Obama dedicates a great deal of her time on helping the military families. America is currently engaged in two wars; one in Afghanistan and another in Iraq. Both of these war conflicts cause a lot of death on America's fighting men and women. Family members are away for months at a time on active duty, away from their spouses and children. They are always in harm’s way; family members are always waiting beside the phone for the dreaded call. In this great trouble time their families need support and comfort. This is one of the best things that Michelle Obama does. She spent a lot of time working with these families to bring their stories to light and ensure that they are not forgotten in the middle of the ne ws cycle. She knows that they face a lot of problems and are sometimes ignored by the press and by the government. What she wants is a country that will recognize the sacrifices of those men and women who serve in the arm force to protect the country. Above all, she promotes and helps military families to ensure that they get the respect that they so richly deserve. She makes sure that their financial needs are met. She encourages them and appreciates them for their family service. Obama is not seeking attention or popularity, but she does it from the good of her heart. She also encourages everyone to support them and comfort them, while their family is on a mission to fight for the country we love. She will tell everyone, we are living free because they are fighting and protecting us. She helped those who are wounded while serving the country. She makes sure they get the proper medical attention that they need. Obama makes sure that the country recognizes the men and women who sacr ifice themselves to protect the United States of America. Obama, together with Jill Baden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden recently launched the â€Å"Joining Forces† campaign. According to Obama, this campaign is a way of giving back to the military families for their sacrifices. It aims to assist military families who confront unique challenges, such as frequently moving or having a parent or spouse at war. Obama realizes the difficulties that military families experience because of their separation from home. She has called on companies to recruit and hire members of the military and their spouses to help them in their financial needs. The three areas of concern of the â€Å"Joining Forces† campaign of Obama are in the fields of employment, education and wellness. In the area of education, â€Å"Joining Forces† will help schools to become more responsive to the unique needs of military children and families. It will also promote higher education institutions and programs of military-connected students and expand job-training opportunities for military spouses and veterans (Whitehouse.gov, par.7). In the field of employment, â€Å"Joining Forces† will highlight the workforce potential and expand the employment and career development opportunities of military spouses and veterans. It will also assist employers to create military family-friendly workplaces (Whitehouse.gov, par. 5). Obama believes that the military fami

Reason of brand image transfer between industries Dissertation

Reason of brand image transfer between industries - Dissertation Example The question which is raised is then based on why corporations decide to transfer brands between industries. The strategic implications and the associations with how this relates to the environment becomes the most important aspect while creating a deeper understanding of what the expected results are within the brand image. The ability to develop more insight into brand image transfer is then able to create questions of how corporations can use this for better results when associating with the external environment. ... ?†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦25 Methodology†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..26 Type of Study†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.27 Ethical Considerations†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...30 Summary†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦30 Results†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦31 Discussion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..36 Recommendations for Brand Image Transfer†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦40 Limitations of the Study†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.41 Implications for Future Research†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...43 Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.45 References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..47 Introduction The power of a brand is one which is often recognized as a driving force among businesses that are searching for solutions. The role of the brand becomes even more essential to examine when looking at the transfer between industries and with alternative products and services. The effects which this holds are able to alter both the internal and external environment while creating changes within the industry. Creating effective strategies for brand identity is one which can begin to alter the way in which individuals respond to given situations while creating a different relationship with the strategies that are created with corporations. Examining the

Analysis of Two Pictures by Dorothea Lange Essay Example for Free

Analysis of Two Pictures by Dorothea Lange Essay Dorothea Lange is one of the America’s most renowned documentary photographers. Yet her works can not be considered as â€Å"purely† documental. Lnge’s ability to demonstrate the inner world of her heroes and her masterful photographic techniques placed her works in the middle between photography and art. In this paper I will attempt to review and analyze two Lange’s photographs: â€Å"Human Erosion in California† (â€Å"Migrant Mother†) and â€Å"Child and Her Mother†. I am going to analyze them in terms of style, symbolism and influence on future Lange’s career and development of the art of photography. â€Å"Human Erosion in California† and â€Å"Child and Her Mother† are separated with the period of three years being made in 1936 and 1939 respectively. This was a time when Lange was about forty and her talent flourished reaching its highpoint. At that time she made her name as a social critic, as her matter of primary concern was the fate of poor and dispossessed people . â€Å"Human Erosion in California† is probably her most famous picture touching this theme. More broadly, Lange was interested in the people as they are and people in different situations. The â€Å"Child and Her Mother† is more a psychological than social work, or, better to say, a work on human psychology in a stagnating society. Here Lange could apply her experience she received working with Maynard Dixon and in the portrait studio to develop her own original style . The picture that later became known as â€Å"Human Erosion in California† or â€Å"Migrant Mother† was originally made in California in 1936. This picture that became almost an iconic vision of the Great Depression depicts Florence Owens Thompson, a Cherokee woman whose husband died in 1932 leaving her with five children and expecting the sixth child. Describing their meeting Lange wrote: I did not ask her name or her history. She told me her age, that she was 32. She said that they had been living on frozen vegetables from the surrounding fields and birds that the children killed. She had just sold the tires from her car to buy food. Lange has made several pictures of the same model to find the best perspective. The most famous of the pictures she made demonstrates a prematurely aged woman sitting in a camp with two underage children cuddling to their mother. The woman looks both tensed and tired. Her look can not be called desperate, she rather seems to be disappointed and desolated. A woman can not afford herself to become frustrated as she has to care of the babies. Despite of all her grieves she looks strong and decisive. This picture places a model in the centre while the details of the background are unimportant. Much later Thompson told that Langer promised her not to publish the picture and to send her a copy, yet she did neither. Officially the picture was made for the government and Lange never received royalties for it, but this work was a landmark that contributed greatly to her success. 20 000 pounds of food arrived to the camp where the picture was made after publication of the picture, but Thompson has not received any since she had already moved in search of work . Durden observes that many of Lange’s pictures â€Å"focus on the expressive potential of the body’s gesture† . This is true for the â€Å"Migrant Mother†, but this feature of Lange’s work can be most obviously illustrated by the â€Å"Child and Her Mother†. The picture was made in 1939 in the Yakima Valley near Washington. It is less famous than the â€Å"Migrant Mother†, yet not less brilliant as it presents another aspect of Lange’s talent. â€Å"Child and Her Mother† is a socio-psychological work combining the view of a teenage frustration with social blunders. From the artistic point of view Lange used a different composition in this picture. In contrast to static â€Å"Migrant Mother† this photograph presents movement and tensed rhythm. A child, who can also be perceived as a young girl downcasts her eyes linking against the wire fence while carefully observed by her mother. Both stand on a sandy desert land burned by sun, but the mother attempts to cover her eyes while the daughter keeps them open. It appears that the girl is trying to escape the life that her mother has lived in order to overcome sadness and poverty . Lange’s work in the times of the Great Depression are not unique. Not less famous are, for example, works of Arthur Rothstein. Yet Lange is distinguished by her profound sympathetic understanding not of the social phenomena, but of the people suffering from it. This is a kind of â€Å"female view† of the Great Depression as an event that revealed the hidden sides of people’s characters. For this reason Lange’s pictures would hardly be lost in the stream of her contemporaries’ works. Works Cited: 1. Partridge, Elizabeth. Restless Spirit: The Life and Work of Dorothea Lange. Puffin, 1991; 2. Meltzer, Milton. Dorothea Lange: A Photographers Life. Syracuse University Press; 1st Syracuse University Press Ed edition, 2000; 3. Durden, Mark. Dorothea Lange. Phaidon Press, 2006; 4. Spirn, Anne Winston. Daring to Look: Dorothea Langes Photographs and Reports from the Field. University Of Chicago Press, 2008; 5. Maksel, Rebecca. â€Å"Migrant Madonna†. Smithsonian magazine, March 2002. http://www. smithsonianmag. com/arts-culture/Migrant_Madonna. html retrieved April 27, 2009.

Analysis Of Marketing Positioning Of Kelloggs Special K Marketing Essay

Analysis Of Marketing Positioning Of Kelloggs Special K Marketing Essay Kotler et als ideology of marketing entailing understanding consumers and their needs and designing marketing initiatives to deliver those needs (2009, p. 5) emerges in the marketing endeavors undertaken by the Kelloggs Special K (SK) cereal brand. The marketing foresight inculcated by the brand not only helped it contribute to the overall success of the Kellogg conglomerate but also helped it evolve as a strong contender in the UK cereal industry. This assignment will unravel the marketing practices followed by the SK brand by analyzing its positioning in the UK cereal market. The analyses will encompass highlighting the customer segmentation adapted by this cereal brand followed by evaluating the efficacy of its target market selection. Subsequently, it will assess the cereals positioning as compared with its competitors positioning including its usage of the marketing mix elements to sustain that positioning. Finally as an outcome of the above analysis, it will offer recommendatio ns to strengthen the brands market positioning. Assumptions Made: Barring considering the retailers as buyers for a five force analysis of the UK cereal industry, the assignment considers the end users as the consumers of the SK cereal. Whilst for a perceptual map, price  [1]  has been used to draw inferences on the product quality of the various cereal brands, Kelloggs product life cycle stage in the UK market and SKs brand share have been used to draw inferences on SKs product life cycle stage. UK Cereal Market and Kelloggs: The UK cereal market grew by 15.7% in value between 2004 and 2008 because of the perceived health benefits of and convenience in consuming cereals coupled with the declining popularity of the traditional breakfast (Worth, 2009). This growth rate indicates the attractiveness of UK cereal industry, which is also substantiated by a Porters five forces analysis of the market (represented diagrammatically in Figure 1.1). This oligopolistic market is dominated by three big brands: Kelloggs, Weetabix and Cereal Partners (Worth, 2009 and Datamonitor, 2009a) with Kelloggs leading the market (as shown in figure 1.2). Since giving the world its very first ready to eat cereal cornflakes (Emerald, 1991, p. 16), Kelloggs has become practically synonymous with breakfast cereals (Mitchell and Boustani, 1992, p. 21). With over 100 years of experience in the cereal business, it appears that Kelloggs has built its high brand value (shown in figure 1.3) on consistent pioneering innovations and incessant delivery of consumers nutritious food requirements. And keeping true to this tradition is Special K, the leading cereal brand of the Kelloggs family  [2]  . Special K and its marketing choices: Launched in the UK in 1959 (Kelloggs Special K, 2009), Special K is a nutritious low-fat, ready to eat diet cereal that owes its eminent market position to the enhanced marketing choices made by the Kellogg marketers (Kellogg Company, 2003,2004). Following section of the assignment will analyse the components of the marketing choices made by the SK brand. Market segmentation and Target Market: SK is targeted at weight conscious women, employed/homemakers, between the ages of 25-49 who desire to attain a slimmer shape either for a healthy lifestyle or for an occasion. And in pursuit of their weight goals these women will prefer to consume nutritious food substitutes including paying an above average price for the product. Alike the cereal manufacturers who use a number of variables to segment their customers (deduced from the data on consumption of cereals displayed in figure 1.4), it appears that SK also segments its customers using demographic variables such as gender, age and occupation and behavioral variables such as occasion and benefits. But unlike the other cereal manufacturers, SK utilized its customer segmentation to identify and serve a distinct market group, which proved to be attractive and profitable over catering to the entire mass market. Moreover factors that contribute to the continued success of serving this target market are: Dieting trends: Results of a consumer research carried out in 2008 revealed that women are constantly trying to lose weight, where 24.3% of the women dieted most of the time as compared to 13.9% of men (Baxter, 2009). This consumer behaviour augments SKs target market selection. Popularity of Health food: The popularity of health food is increasing as confirmed by a consumer research where 43.8% of the research pool displayed an affirmative interest in purchasing functional food. This growing trend benefits SK as women (47.3%) accounted for the majority of the preference over men (40.1%) (Taylor, 2008). UK Obesity levels: The forecasted UK obesity levels for 2010 where women (29%) are more likely to be obese then men (27%) (Gower, 2008) not only favors SKs product proposition but also provides the brand with an opportunity to expand its customer base. Grocery shopping: SK can effectively access its target market using Kelloggs existing distribution channel of grocery chains, owing to the consumer behaviour where women undertake majority of the shopping at supermarkets as compared to the men (shown in figure 1.5). Growth of UK cereal market: In addition to its current growth rate (as discussed earlier), the UK cereal market is also forecasted to prosper in the future (displayed in figure 1.6). This future growth rate, supported by an immense market potential that exists in the form of people still skipping their breakfast, enables SK to attract new customers. Whilst the above factors substantiate SKs distinctive target market selection it is also imperative to evaluate the brands positioning in this target market as compared to its competitors to gauge the success of its marketing foresight. Competitors versus Special Ks positioning: Though Porters five force analysis of the UK cereal industry reveals that competitive rivalry in this market is moderate, failure by cereal manufacturers in differentiating their products will result in increased competition. SK endures industry competition based on the category points of the parity from other health cereal brands, including the various Kellogg brands, and market competition from other slimming aids such as diets, meal replacements and appetite suppressants (represented diagrammatically in figure 1.7). Whilst the popularity of the cereals is on the rise (refer to prior discussion) the popularity of the slimming aids is on the decline due to the augmented awareness of the healthy eating habits (Baxter, 2009). Hence though the slimming aids are positioned as weight management products (Refer to figure 1.8 for the positioning of the various slimming aids in the market) also targeted at women, it can be deduced that SK has a superior market potential over these products. A perceptual mapping of SK with its industry competitors (displayed in figure 1.9) divulges that the brand is perceived as high quality premium priced product by its customers. However SKs consumer perceived value is not alone limited to its price and quality differentiation but rather is accentuated by its unique market positioning in the cereal industry. Special K is positioned as a premium shape management nutritious cereal for women The above positioning unveils that instead of imitating its competitors by using common variables such as quality, energy, taste, natural ingredients and price, SK utilizes the popular variable of body shape to differentiate its product (refer to figure 1.10). Though a number of consumer products and services use the variable of shape to differentiate their product, SK was the first cereal brand to employ this positioning making it unique in the cereal industry  [3]  . Kelloggs by using its extensive experience to develop and position the SK cereal, appears to have understood and delivered its consumer needs; where women may want to lose weight either post an occasion such pregnancy or holiday or to lead a healthy lifestyle or to improve their physical experience. The value proposition offered by SK that acts as its point of difference from the other cereal brands has also helped it minimize the risk of cannibalization from the other Kellogg cereals. Furthermore, SKs market positioning has helped convert the consumers cereal purchase decision from a low involvement to a moderate involvement activity by linking their purchase decision to the psychological and physical benefits that can be derived from the product. Infact the SK 2 week challenge, which is an important element of the brands positioning (refer to figure 1.10), facilitates potential increases in the product usage and brand loyalty as once consumers verify the benefits of the product they may want to extend their association with the brand. It can be argued that by targeting only one distinct consumer group, SK is limiting its profit potential but on the contrary the growth in its market share (depicted in figure 1.11) is a testament of its successful market positioning in highly profitable target market. However SKs current and future market share could be threatened if it is no more the only cereal adopting the shape positioning as revealed in a SWOT analysis displayed below. Hence the strength of its positioning depends on effective management of the marketing mix elements. Marketing Mix Elements: Product: SK by offering a series of value added benefits in addition to its core benefits (displayed below) appears to acknowledge the importance of support for its customers during the challenging process of weight loss. And by providing these benefits the brand has transitioned from a low fat consumer product to a perceived personal weight management partner for its customers. Furthermore it appears to understand variety seeking behaviour  [4]  of its consumers as it extended its product line to include other SK sub-brands failing which women might have used other tasty healthy cereals with the SK personal plan. The brands packaging while being environmentally and user friendly: easy to transport and store, also serves as an effective marketing tool. It provides product information and reinforces the brands positioning by illustrating its value proposition of shape on the box. Moreover by using the Kelloggs name and tag line: If it doesnt say Kellogg on the boxà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.it isnt Kellogg in the box on the packaging, it depicts its association with Kelloggs premium quality and high brand value thus discouraging potential brand switching  [5]  . Place: Kellogg distributes SK selectively through supermarkets, hypermarkets and convenience stores utilizing the below represented distribution network. Using popular supermarkets/hypermarkets, which are the leading medium for cereal distribution (shown in figure 1.13), is aligned with SKs target market selection (covered in a prior discussion) which is accentuated by the supermarkets ability to attract customers through their own high advertising budgets (displayed in figure 1.14). Promotion: SK utilizes promotional campaigns, advertising and interactive marketing to sustain its winning market positioning. The SK 2 week challenge, which is an integral element of the cereals offering, originated as a creative promotional campaign that helped the brand acquire its market growth (Kellogg Company 2003, 2004). Success of the 2 week challenge is largely attributable to the consumer perception that it is an easier challenge to take due to its shorter duration. Another successful campaign launched by the brand is the SK slimmer jeans challenge which astutely kicks-off at the start of the New Year when women would be keen on losing their post holiday weight and dropping a jeans size (Kelloggs 2009). SK uses its high media advertising expenditure, which is higher than any of its competitors (shown in figure 1.15) to effectively communicate its positioning to its target market. It creatively employs the informational appeal message style in its television advertisements to convey product information and benefits, aimed at sustaining and attracting new customers (as evident in its latest advertisement  [6]  ). On the downside, some women may not relate to the product as the brand stereotypes a womens body shape by using perfect size models in most of its advertisements which may also conflict with its brands positioning of slimmer shape (not perfect shape). SK also recognized the growing popularity of internet among UK consumers (Euromonitor International 2009a) and hence uses its website and facebook group, as forms of interactive marketing, to connect with its customers. SK by allowing consumers to access the brands value added services on its attractive website aims to engage its customers and encourage repeat visits. Price: As cited earlier, SK is priced higher than any of its industry competitors  [7]  (displayed in figure 1.16) which is in sync with its premium brand positioning. The brands high quality is buttressed by its high price. SKs growing brand share despite its higher pricing appears to support the consumer perception that a high value compensates for a high price. But as discussed in the SWOT analysis, SKs future product demand may decline if the consumers opt to purchase the cheaper private health cereals due to the economic recession (Worth, 2009). Moreover its future demand may also be impacted by the marketing tactics of supermarkets such as placing their cheaper cereals on the shelf next to the SK brands  [8]  . Marketing recommendations: From the above analysis, it is evident that SK is effectively managing its marketing mix elements to strengthen its market positioning. However since the brand is in the maturity stage of its product life cycle (represented diagrammatically in figure 1.17) it needs to defend its market share to avoid the onset of the decline stage. Hence the following recommendations have been offered: Firstly using its exposure of a high advertising budget, SK can enhance its promotional activities by aptly launching additional innovative promotional challenges. And increase consumer participation in these challenges by providing opportunities to win prizes such as designer wardrobes or free SK cereal vouchers. Secondly by using real  [9]  slimmer size women in its advertisements it will not only distinguish itself from the other product manufacturers who stereotype womens body shape but also may generate increased consumer confidence in the products market message. Alternatively by taking inspiration from its website, SK can incorporate the success stories of its consumers in its advertisements to reinforce the products effectiveness. Lastly owing to the growing popularity of health foods it can extend its product line to introduce other weight assistance products such as SK nutrition drinks which may complement rather than compete with the cereal. Such product introductions will also reflect the brands commitment to delivering the healthy weight management needs of its consumers. The above recommendations will not only augment SK existing strong market positioning but will also discourage possible brand switching due to the economic recession. Conclusion: This assignment acknowledges that the marketing choices made by Special K, quite like its name, prove to be special for the brand. Perceptive of its consumer needs and behaviour, Special K effectually segmented its customers and selected a profitable and sustainable target market in a flourishing cereal industry. This target market selection has immensely contributed to the special status acquired by this brand. However the true success of the brand lies in how it differentiated itself from its competitors by relying on the SHAPE positioning that also acts as the value proposition for its consumers. Though the brand astutely manages the product, place, promotion and price attributes of its marketing mix to support its positioning, the reality of its product life cycle stage cannot be escaped. Hence recommendations to improve SKs advertising, promotional activities and brand line extensions have been made to avoid the onset of the decline stage for the product. Appendix: Kellogg brand list: Kellogg offers a vast product line catering to the needs of different customer segments. Kellogg brands include All bran, Coco Pops, Cornflakes, Crunchy Nut, Frosties, Fruit n Fibre, Winders, Natures Pleasure, Optivita, Country Store, Honey Loops, Just Right, Ricicles, Start, Pop tarts, Rice Krispies, Frosted Wheats and Special K. Special K product variations: Special K Packaging: As shown in the above images, Special Ks packaging conveys that it is a low fat cereal and provides information on the personal plan and its benefits and cereal nutrition figures. The red color is synonymous with the Special K branding and labeling which not only shows it strong connection with the Kelloggs brand but also symbolizes confidence and excitement (Kelloggs Special K, 2009) that a consumer will enjoy after achieving the shape desired by them. The packaging supports easy and convenient usage through the cardboard box and plastic bag, which help in storage and preservation of the quality of the cereal. Special K in supermarkets: The observations on the shelf space occupied by Kelloggs Special K were made by visiting two large supermarkets, Tesco and Morrisons. A large section of the middle shelf space in the cereal section of the supermarkets was devoted to Special K cereals and its sub-brands. This shelf positioning helps attract customer attention and expedite the purchase process. Another observation made was that both Tesco and Morrisons placed their cheaper cereals next to Special K which may deter the purchase decision of a cash strapped consumer. Infact Tesco has also extended this marketing gimmick to its online shop as displayed in the below images. Links to advertisements: http://www.specialk.co.uk/special-k-news.aspx Latest advert h ttp://www.tvadmusic.co.uk/2009/06/kellogs-special-k-shape-up-for-summer/

Comparing Invisible Man and Brave New World Essay -- comparison compar

Comparing Invisible Man and Brave New World      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Both Ellison’s The Invisible Man and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World are political in nature, and at this level, seem completely dissimilar. The Invisible Man attempts to illuminate the social entrapment of Black Americans, while Brave New World cautions against an over-reliance on technology and the amorality it can potentially inspire. At a deeper level, however, both books are also about the status of the individual in society, and it is here that there is a remarkable similarity between the two novels.    In both The Invisible Man and Brave New World, we see men fighting against societies that devalue their individuality and thereby lessen their sense of identity and self worth. "I've always tried to create characters who were pretty forthright in stating what they felt society should be" said Ellison in a 1963 interview (Graham and Singh, 85). This statement captures the underlying theme of both novels : that an ideal society is one that is founded upon the ability of individuals to assert themselves freely and without prejudice. Close examination of both works show that while they are wildly different in many ways, at this one level, they are very much the same.    In order to see this similarity in theme more clearly, we must first peel back the layer of political meaning, which isn't easy. As previously stated, these are both political novels on the surface, and sixty years of critical commentary that has focused specifically on this level has done little to make an alternative reading any easier: conventional wisdom tells us that Invisible Man is a treatise on the state of Black America, and Brave New World is a cautionary tale of the misuse of techn... ...aid Ellison in an interview shortly before his death, "is that they are individuals with individual vision" (Graham and Singh, 391). It is upon the strengths of these individuals that our entire society is built. And unlike John, the embattled savage of Brave New World, whose desperation I recognized even as a child peering into a coloring book, the individuals in Invisible Man still have the power to make themselves heard and continue the grand cycle of applying their "individual vision" to the tapestry of society.    Sources Cited Ellison, Ralph. Invisible Man. New York, New York: Vintage Books, 1995. Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World and Brave New World Revisited. New York, New York: Harper Collins Publishers. Amritjit Singh and Maryemma Graham. Conversations with Ralph Ellison. Jackson, Mississippi: University Press of Mississippi.      

The Concept of Corporate Social Responsibility Essay -- Social Responsi

The Concept of Corporate Social Responsibility With the interest in Corporate Social Responsibility growing, increasing numbers of organisations are incorporating CSR into their business operations in an effort to be seen acting as good corporate citizens, so what is CSR & what is it's role in today's organizations? The term CSR refers to a company?s obligation to maximize its positive impact on society, accommodating changing social, market & stakeholder pressures in an effort to achieve sustainable economic, social & environmental development throughout its operations and activities. CSR puts expectations, continuous improvement & innovation at the heart of business strategies and the four dimensions of social responsibility are generally considered to be economic, legal, ethical & philanthropic. Approaches to CSR are varied and due to the differences in priorities & values across the world, there is no "one size fits all" strategy. Where previously, the role of a socially responsible company was simply to create good will in the community, organisations are now required to take into account the full scope of their impact on communities & the environments in which they work, balancing the needs of stakeholders with the need to make a profit. Although there is no one size fits all strategy, well managed CSR programmes have universal benefits; o Increase Profit o Enhance business competitiveness& opportunities o Maximise value of wealth creation to society o Can improve financial performance & access to capital o Enhance brand image, raise profile & boost sales o Attract & retain quality workforce, o Improve decision-making on critical issues o Helps manage risks & reduce long-term costs o Incre... ...ww.bnet.com www.businessdecisionresources.com www.busmmgt.ac.uk www.ccbriefing.co.uk www.cisweb.org www.corporatecitizenship.co.uk www.dti.gov.uk www.ethicalcorp.com www.eurpoac-eu.com www.eurpopeanenergyfocus.com www.globalchange.com www.managing4value.net www.ncbe.co.uk www.nottingham.ac.uk www.sustainability.com www.knowthis.com www.cim.co.uk www.smallbusinessmarketingplans.co.uk www.mintel.co.uk www.wmrc.com Books Marketing Cooncepts & Strategies Dibb, Simkin, Pride & Feral Kotler on Marketing Philip Kotler Marketing Strategy Sudharshan Mastering Marketing Financial Times The Essence of Services Marketing Adrian Payne Value Based Marketing Doyle Marketing Plans Malcom Macdonald Marketing Principles and Practice Adcock, Bradfield, Halborg, Ross Publications Marketing Week Recruitment & Employment Confederation

The Panama Canal Essay -- History Historical Essays

The Panama Canal In 1902, Theodore Roosevelt had a dream of a dominant America in both major oceans, connected by an American canal. With his inspiration, construction began on what has been called the largest project of any kind ever undertaken. Now that it is complete, the Panama Canal makes the world a much smaller place for ocean-going vessels of all sizes. Ideas for a canal across Panama have been in the works ever since the time the isthmus was discovered. In 1513, Vasco Nuà ±ez de Balboa crossed the 50-mile wide land bridge and claimed the water on the other side in the name of Spain. Shortly after, in 1534, a team was sent to survey possible canal routes that would follow the Chagres River, but it was deemed to be impossible to build at the time. There were no other notable instances of interest in a canal until 1848, when the California Gold Rush swept the United States. The Panama railroad was completed in 1851, and transported millions of dollars worth of gold and other riches from one sea to the next. In 1952, future president Ulysses S. Grant led the American Fourth Infantry across the isthmus and 150 of his men died of cholera in the jungle, inspiring him to commission surveys in Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama during his presidency in 1969. The survey teams, which were supervised by the Secretary of the Navy, decided that a route through Nicaragua would be the best for a transcontinental canal (www.pancanal.com). Three decades later, President McKinley’s U.S. Isthmian Canal Commission would also favor the Nicaraguan route, but for reasons which will be discussed later, the Panamanian route was ultimately chosen. The only physical attribute of Panama t... ... On December 31, 1999 the Panama Canal was handed over to the Republic of Panama, ending United States influence there for almost a century. As it always has been, the canal is to remain neutral, safe, and open to vessels from all nations for as long as it is in operation. Although the circumstances by which the construction of the canal came about were less than diplomatic, the final state of the passageway represents a free and equal ideology for mankind. Bibliography LaFeber, Walter. The Panama Canal. Oxford University Press: New York, 1978. A Man, A Plan, A Canal, Panama. A WGBH Production In Association With The British Broadcasting Corporation. WGBH Foundation: Boston, 1999. The Panama Canal. http://www.pancanal.com/eng/history/index.html. Panama Canal Authority: 2001. CanalMuseum.com. http://www.canalmuseum.com. Ared Networks: 2002.

Ralph Ellison was an African American

Ralph Ellison was an African American writer and literary critic who was most recognized for the book â€Å"Invisible Man† in 1952, which is written in an adaptation of the Afro-American folk and cultural tradition. In her paper â€Å"Ritual and Rationalization: Black Folklore in the Works of Ralph Ellison† Susan Blake posited that â€Å"the predominant theme in this story is the quest for cultural identity [†¦] as unbeknownst to the main character, he seeks identity as a black man in a white society† (p. 121). This is evident as Battle Royal opens with a seemingly young and confused black boy on the cusp of manhood, who desperately wants to belong but is unsure of how to establish himself in a world where life is stacked against him. This is an issue which can be identified in today's society particularly among the black youth. For the purpose of this essay we shall analyse the events in â€Å"Battle Royal† in an effort to identify parallels which exist between present day society and that of the protagonist's society in â€Å"Battle Royal†. The chapter is an account of inequality and racial injustices in a small town down south in the post -colonial era, where segregation was alive. It begins with the protagonist narrating a childhood memory of his grandfather's death and his final words in passing. The grandfather had admonished the protagonist's parents to teach him and the other young ones to be a traitor as he, the grandfather had been, so he can get ahead in a white society. These were appalling words to the family and the children, including the narrator had been rushed from the room. The boy grew, always thinking the grandfather had imparted a curse and spent his life trying to escape the clutches of the curse, for who would want to be known as a traitorous coward? The parallels which exist between our society and that of the story are embedded in the symbolism that Ellison employed as a tool in his treatment of the issues of the black society in the 1950s. The story is rife with symbolism for issues which may easily be identified in modern day society. First we see the dying grandfather and his last words, symbolic of the hopes and dreams of ancestors passed on to the next generation. He has little else left to leave behind as a legacy, all he has is his wisdom. We see a confused black boy, symbolic of much of the black society, wandering aimlessly as they haven't a true sense of who they were before slavery and they struggle to figure out how to begin to carve out a place in this world. The gathering at the Battle Royal, comprising of the most influential and affluent whites in the society represents the hierarchy that governs the system we live under. It also represents black perception of opportunities for a seat at the table or at the very least, crumbs from the table; a chance to win the approval of whites for social and economic advancement. Such opportunities are often used as a lure, they keep blacks hopeful, paint a picture of all we could accomplish but beneath the surface can be the trap that leads to destruction. The white stripper represents the fantasies of blacks, something that is often not attainable; something that would often serve as a source of embarrassment to us if they were to be known, yet they make us vulnerable. The animosity the nine boys have towards the main character symbolizes the helplessness and frustration of the black community (Blake, p.122). The protagonist represents to the boys, a constant reminder of the scourge of their lowly estate as slaves, the physical and sexual exploitation that had to have occurred to make his existence possible, for he was a ginger coloured boy, indicative of lighter complexion which is testament to a black ancestor being raped by a white master. He was tainted by this for it made him appear to be a house nigger as opposed to darker hued boys who would have been regarded as field niggers. This mentality is prolonged in present day society as colorism is an issue among blacks, who feel that the lighter skinned blacks have better odds as they may have lighter skin tones and finer hair textures that may afford them more opportunities than darkies. This frustration feeds into the symbol of the blindfolded fight serving as blacks being played against each other. We lash out, not knowing why we are fighting against each other, not recognizing that the differences in each other that we pick at make no difference to whites, who still see us all as blacks. We are conditioned to adopt the philosophy of every man for himself. In essence we forsake the principle of community and abandon team work. It sets us up for the money rug, which is symbolic of the whites dangling the proverbial carrot, a part of a sordid game that further divides us and allows them the upper hand. It relegates us to a position of grovelling, total degradation. It represents the economic struggles of blacks , who must bear unspeakable humiliation and undergo excruciating pain and sacrifice to make a dollar. Finally, the note in the main character's dream symbolizes the ever shifting goal post; the reality that the rules of the game will always keep changing. Ellison uses the Battle Royal as a ritual rooted in slavery in which both sides accept their status and assumes their role (â€Å"Art† p. 175) Other writers used some variation of the Battle royal in their stories as it appears to have been a fixture of slavery in which slave owners pitted their strongest slaves against their neighbor's with the plantation as the ultimate stake. In order to understand the underbelly of the basis of the symbolism in the grandfather's statement on his death bed, one must know the differences between the Sambo and John characters in African American folklore. Sambo represents the docile, subservient slave who accepts degradation while John represents the unbroken defiant slave who continually defies master. The parting words of the protagonist's grandfather serve as nuggets of wisdom for though youth and pride would have many aspiring to be a John, for longevity sake it would serve him better to be a Sambo or Samfie; for though this appears to be Sambo's nature, it is his greatest source of power. We see the protagonist rejecting the Sambo nature out of pride. This is still the attitude of many blacks today, for they cannot see how playing Sambo will benefit them and think it further extends the white man's narrative, that they can be no more than grovelling idiots who suck up and worship the ground that whites walk on. They refuse to accept the grandfather's philosophy that it can be harnessed and used as a tool that can pacify the whites to some degree and help blacks to eke out a living for themselves. By virtue of the staunch opposition to the Sambo stereotype, some blacks are regarded as traitors because they choose the path of least resistance to survive a prejudicial society. Those who would try to walk the path of Sambo are called coons, Massa's boy as a label that shows disdain for their decision to travel the path of least resistance; an indictment that they have somehow sold out the black race or relinquished their black card. This may result in alienation, as both whites and blacks reject such a one.By the end of the chapter the grandfather's words take on new meaning for he only wished to let the next generation know that to get ahead blacks must outsmart the white man by playing the white man's game of black subservience, but know at all times that you won't win on their terms. Take footsteps of Sambo, for Sambo can fly under the radar but John will draw heat from Massa and they will always seek to break John. The takeaway then, is that we should continue to go to the sc hools, take the scholarships, seek to accomplish by the white man's standards but know that for him this is entertainment and so the game of â€Å"send the fool a little further† will always be part of the black man's reality.

Fruit of the Spirit

IYWCC Impact Studies Rediscovering the Holy Spirit Lesson 6: Fruit of the Holy Spirit David Jones, Teacher I. INTRODUCTION: Talking with Christians about the Holy Spirit can sometimes get pretty confusing. Last week we studied the specific â€Å"gifts† of the Holy Spirit – which to an outsider sounds like the Holy Spirit might have something in common with Santa Claus. This week we study the â€Å"fruit† of the Holy Spirit, which sounds like the Holy Spirit might have something in common with an fruit tree. How would you explain the difference between the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the fruit of the Holy Spirit? . Gifts are about what we do 2. Fruit is about who we are Let's dive into our study of the Bible and find out! II. LIMITS OF OUR FLESH Galatians 5:16-17 â€Å"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to th e other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. † We know, then, that the indwelling Spirit wars against the desires of our flesh. What is the desire of the Spirit?It is the desire of the Holy Spirit to produce, or bring forth, fruits of righteousness in us as a result of His presence. He desires to truly transform us from the inside out. Philippians 1:10, 11 â€Å"That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. † These fruits of righteousness that result from the indwelling Spirit are termed the fruit of the Spirit. 1. There Is Nothing Good That Can Come From Our Flesh.There is a simple and vital law that God has established in the natural world: Genesis 1:11, 12 â€Å"And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, w hose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. † In other words:  · Orange trees give rise to orange trees.  · Apple trees give rise to apple trees.  · Wheat plants give rise to wheat plants. Tomato plants give rise to tomato This sinful flesh does not bring forth righteousness – it brings forth sin! Romans 7:18 â€Å"For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. † 2. What Comes From The Flesh’s Fruit? (Galatians 5:19-21). â€Å"Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like:† Religion only serves to mask or whi tewash these evil works – it cannot bring orth the fruits of righteousness. Even the most righteous works are tainted with pride and self-righteousness. 3. Anything Good In Our Lives Is A Result Of The Work Of The Spirit. â€Å"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery,†¦But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance:† If nothing good can come from our flesh, then it is clear that any good fruit produced in our lives is the result of the inner workings of the Holy Spirit. Just as the sinful flesh brings forth sin, the Holy Spirit will bring forth holiness and righteousness.John 6:63 â€Å"It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. † 4. It Is Our Duty To Submit To The Spirit And Allow Him To Bring Forth Fruit. â€Å"It is not without design, evidently, that the apostle uses the w ord â€Å"Spirit† here, as denoting that these things do not flow from our own nature. The vices above enumerated are the proper â€Å"works† or result of the operations of the human heart; the virtues which he enumerates are produced by a foreign influence—the agency of the Holy Spirit. Hence, Paul does not trace them to our own hearts, even when renewed.He says that they are to be regarded as the proper result of the Spirit’s operations on the soul. † (Barnes) 5. God Is Very Interested In Bringing Forth Righteous Fruit In Our Lives: John 15:16 â€Å"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. † Romans 7:4 â€Å"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, th at we should bring forth fruit unto God. The source of good works is not a reformed or renewed human heart – it is the person of the indwelling Holy Spirit. It is our part to die to self and yield to the Spirit so that He can produce His fruit in us. John 12:24 â€Å"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. † III. NOW, WHAT ARE THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT? 1. Inward Fruit That Effects My Relationship To God (Godward) A. Love. Colossians 3:14 â€Å"And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. † Love to God and to human beings.The Greek word agape means â€Å"unconditional love; benevolence. † Love forms the foundation for all the other fruit listed. Love seeks the better good of the one to whom it is directed.. B. Joy 1 John 1:4 â€Å"And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. † Joy is greater tha n happiness, for happiness is dependent upon circumstances, whereas joy depends upon an inward faith in the love and goodness of God. C. Peace. John 14:27 â€Å"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. †We are to enjoy peace in the midst of trials and persecutions, and peace among one another. An inner quietness and trust in God's sovereignty and justice, even in the face of adverse circumstances. 2. Inward Fruit That Effects My Relationships with Others (Outward) D. Longsuffering. 2 Timothy 3:10 â€Å"But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity,patience,† Longsuffering may be defined as the ability to cheerfully endure an unbearable situation. It denotes the state of mind which can bear long when oppressed, provoked, insulted and injured. E. Gentleness.Titus 3:1, 2 â€Å"Put them in mind to be subject to princi palities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men. † The word means goodness, kindness, benignity; and is opposed to a harsh, evil, cruel temper. It is mildness of temper, calmness of spirit, and an unruffled disposition. You might say, easy going. F. Goodness. Acts 10:38 â€Å"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. †A Christian must be a good man who does good to all. 3. Inward Fruit That Effects My Relationship To My Conscience (Inward) G. Faith. 1 Corinthians 4:2 â€Å"Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. † A Christian is to be a faithful man, faithful to his word and promises; faithful to His God and to His calling; faithful to those he loves and serves; A Christian is to be a man who can be trusted in. H. Meekness. Ephesians 4:2 â€Å"With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;† Meekness is subdued strength, or power under control. Meekness does not equal weakness!Meekness is the reception of injuries with a belief that God will vindicate us, and it is the opposite of vengeance and retaliation. It is not easily ruffled, insulted, angered, or offended. I. Temperance. 2 Peter 1:5, 6 â€Å"And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;† Temperance is self-control. It is derived from the Greek word meaning strength, and refers to the power which we have over passions of all kinds. It denotes the self-rule which a man has over the evil tendencies of his nature.The word temperance has often referred to abstaining from alcoholic drinks, but here it has a much wider meaning, implying chastity, s elf-government, restraint and moderation. The influences of the Holy Spirit on the heart make a man moderate and restrained, teaching him to restrain his passions and govern himself. IV. CONCLUSION The Spirit produces these character traits that are found in the nature of Christ. They are the by-products of Christ's control; we can't obtain them by trying to get them without his help. If we want the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us, we must align our lives to his John 15:4-5 – Remain in Me, and I in you.Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. 5 â€Å"I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. a. We must know him. b. We must love him. c. We must remember him. d. We must imitate him. To understand the fruit of the Spirit, we must see ourselves, not as individual trees, but as an entire garden unde r the cultivation of God's Spirit. His purpose involves not simply the production of a single kind of fruit but all the fruit, each becoming ripe as it is needed.