Presto Cleaner

Mr.. Shelton Is upset because the complaint office doesn't do his work well. The Interaction between Mr.. Shelton and Paul Hoofer have made the bad situation worse. This case brings together the customer expectation and the service that Presto cleaner had to offer. The customer expectations are influenced by many different factors such as: C] Personal needs D Word of mouth Reputation of the company I can deduce that the quality in this case is not the best. The larger issue on Presto Cleaner staff agenda must be to modernize quality performance, just as he's working to update his technology.Both service and infrastructure should be state-of-the-art. The quality also is acknowledged as a necessary requirement successful competing and surviving in the market place. Defining quality I can stress four important points: C] D D D Quality: The ability of a product or service to meet or exceed customer expectation Ability: The competence, either native or acquired, that enables one to do som ething well Consistently: refers to a reliable or steady pattern of performance Expectations: a state of anticipation about a future This four points are very important on keeping close the customers and especially for he rivalry on the market.In fact Paul Hoofer don't think about how to work out the complaint, but his thought is to close this case as soon as possible even if the company will lose an costumer. Purely in economics terms, the loss could be enormous. Assume that Presto Cleaner manages to lose one customer a day. Based on Mr.. Shelton estimates of his laundry expenditures, the annual revenue loss from such an unnoticed customer defection would reach almost $500000. In this context, Mr.. Shelton request is not at all unreasonable. To remedy this situation, Presto Cleaner's president, Mr.. Sickles, should take some Immediate first steps.First, he should send a letter of apology to Shelton with two enclosures: a $235 check, to cover the $35 charge for the delayed order and the $200 cost of four new shirts, and a $50 certificate for future Presto Cleaner service. He should act on the principle that, having made service mistakes, Presto Cleaner should bear all the customer's out-of-pocket costs. Presto Cleaner By Andre send a complain letter at Mr.. Hoofer, that is the responsible of the Complaining The case regards Mr.. Shelton as a complaining customer and Paul Hoofer as a expansible of Complaining Office.

New Business Venture: Forms of Business

A New Business Venture Going into business is not as easy as a snap of a finger. If it were, more people would have one and be successful at it. However that is not the case. There are many steps you must take and the best way to do that is in creating a business plan. Ebert and Griffin state â€Å"Before investing time and money, the starting point for virtually every new entrepreneur is a business plan in which the entrepreneur thoroughly develops and describes her or his business strategy and demonstrates how it will be implemented† (p. 7). In the scenario, I am an inventor who has created an idea that will be suitable for the daily needs of consumers. There are many issues that can hinder my progress as an entrepreneur. The scenario states that I lack the financial and management skills it takes to begin and even own my own business. For example, I am financially unable to â€Å"fund† the costs that will be necessary to begin any investments needed to begin this pro ject. I’m oblivious to how I’m going to begin production of my idea.I’m also aware of similar inventions that could possibly heed the sale of my own, however, â€Å"Innovations are not always new products† as stated by Ebert and Griffin (p34). There are three forms of business: sole proprietorship, partnership, and corporation. There are many advantages and disadvantages in the different forms of business in relation to my business venture. To begin with, as sole proprietor, I wouldn’t work under anyone and could be my own boss.I could make up the rules and could develop what I wanted based on my own ideas. However, considering I do not have the funds, it would be extremely difficult knowing that I would be â€Å"personally liable (or responsible) for all debts of the business† (AIU Online, 2010). Subsequently, there are partnerships. Ebert and Griffin state that a â€Å"partnership is a sole proprietorship multiplied by the number of partn er-owners† (p41). That’s great if I am feeling uneasy about my skills and do not want to go into something alone.I can use the skills of my partners and I also am backed up financially because the money will not be coming only out my pocket. As well as my chances of getting financing will increase. Yet, my and any ideas have to be agreed upon which can cause problems amongst all partners. Last of all, there are corporations. â€Å"Corporations are businesses that have property rights and separate status from the owners and they are financially liable (or responsible) (AIU Online, 2010).This form of business is great in reference to the amount of liability you are responsible for. As an owner, I am accountable for only the amount of funds I invested. However the disadvantage of this type of business is how extremely pricey it would be to start up. Between the three different forms of business, I would choose to go with partnership. With a partnership, all partners can p itch in ideas for the invention and we could come to a well developed conclusion. Also someone may have talents that I do not possess.Someone may â€Å"contribute a well known name or special expertise† as Ebert and Griffin state (p41). Responsibilities will be many, and with co owners not only will they be delegated out but, it will give all the owners more time to do other tasks that may not be business related. Since you are in a partnership your chances of getting financing may become easier. Loan opportunities are important for your business start up to be successful (Ebert & Griffin, 2009). There are several investors, programs, and banking facilities that are available to you.In conclusion, with business opportunities being countless, and the funds to start those, few, partnership is the best approach for this scenario. In order to be successful in business today funds are not the only thing one needs to possess. Having ideas, a business sense, and time management are needed as well. Take the time to make a business plan is the first step anyone needs to make when deciding to go on a business venture. Then you will know what your total investment is, who you want to involve, where you will begin and how you will finance it all. It can mean the rise or fall of your business.

Heavenly Creatures Essay

heaGreat films often hinge on the successful presentation of one or two key scenes, to what degree do you agree with this statement Many great films do hinge on the successful presentation of one or two key scenes, these scenes are normally well crafted establishment scenes that straight away emerse the audience deep into the film and its culture or in most cases the scenes are climatic endings that bring together the central themes in a spectacular way. It is normally these central themes that a great film is marbled with and is most likely than not what makes a film hinge on being a great film. A great film is one sends a powerful message, influencing us to think and make great judgments through these central themes. However for these keys scenes to have any effect they must be presented successfully using well thought out visual and/or verbal film techniques that engage the audience. Therefore I agree with this statement to the full extent, as it is clear that the presentation of the key scenes in a film will either make or break a film giving it the title of being a â€Å"great† film. Will this is exactly why we write a thesis – here you have left the reader in no doubt as to your opinion on the question – good work. A Film that has become a great film through the successful presentation of two key scenes is Peter Jacksons Film Heavenly Creatures. It was a great film because the two key scenes that the movie hinged on, the beginning and end of the film, were successfully presented in such a way that the key ideas were brought together so the audience could freely engage with the movie and be influenced by its powerful messages. Heavenly creatures is about two young girls that attend Christchurch Girls High in 1950’s New Zealand. Jackson has presented to us the true story of how these girls committed Matricide. Matricide is the act of murdering your own mother. This story is compelling as it explores how the girls got to the point where they were able to go through with what was so alien to the rest of the population of Christchurch at the time. The first scene is key as it shows the girls running through Victoria park covered in blood screaming, this scene intercuts between the girls running onto a boat laughing and smiling. However the final scene of the movie shows the girls murdering their mum whilst also intercutting between the boat scene, whoever the difference is one of the girls, Pauline, is being left behind. These two scenes are key because whilst being similar, they had some relevant key differences that convey the key ideas well. Why Jackson was compelled to present this story as a film was because of the powerful message presented. This powerful message was the consequences of when a friendship becomes an obsession. This is what is conveyed and is what I think drove these girls to commit the act of matricide. Therefore it is the successful presentation of the beginning and the final scene of the movie via the use of well crafted visual techniques that conveyed this key idea making this film a great film. See the benefit of using the key words from the question – clarity. Firstly, Jackson’s presentation of the key idea of the consequences of when a friendship becomes an obsession is the intercutting of the scenes between the girls at Victoria park in both the beginning and end off the movie. Jackson used the visual technique of manipulated the images of the girls initially running onto the boat to a sepia tone to distinguish between the two scenes but to also distinguish that one is reality and one is fantasy.. This helped me to understand that the girls running onto the ship was a sort of metaphorical fantasy to the dream of how badly they wanted to be together to be happy. The fact that the girls were shown to be laughing told also reinforces this thought. The relevant point of difference between the two sepia scenes at the beginning and at the end is that in the end scene it is only Juliet running on to the boat and Pauline is getting pushed away by the crowd, not being able to get on the boat. As this scene is being intercut with the girls murdering Paul’s mother, it suggested to me that Pauline had finally come to the conclusion that no matter what the girls could not be together. Paul’s screams in the sepia images blend in with the screams from the murder in a dramatic and chilling way. I gained a sense for the tremendous emotional pain Pauline was feeling which contrasts from the laughing from the initial sepia scene. This helped me to understand how much of an obsession the girls friendship became and how it seems credible that this could consequently lead these girls to the murder. Therefore this is just one example of how these two key scenes have been successfully presented to powerfully convey the main idea of the film which is the consequences of a friendship becoming an obsession justifying that Heavenly Creatures is a great film. Good, good, good. Another way Jackson presents the key idea of the consequences of when a friendship becomes an obsession is by the use of camera visual techniques. The first camera technique that he uses that helped me understand this idea was the use of close-ups especially in the final scene. Jackson uses close-ups of the Honora’s terror filled face and both girls wicked blood thirsty faces as they took turns bludgeoning Honora to death. To me this hit home hard, Jackson’s use of close-ups to the audience made the viewing of the murder all the more real as the raw emotion of all the characters is forced upon us. I felt as though I was fully emerged and apart of the murder as much as the girls themselves which upon reflection there expressions helped me to understand the radicalism of the consequences of the girls out of control obsessive relationship. Including your own reaction is a convincing tactic. Furthermore, another visual technique used by Jackson to further convey the key idea of the film was the use of low angle shots in the final scene of the movie. Jackson used these to explain the shift in power of the relationship from Juliet to Pauline. This is shown where there are low angle shots of Pauline giving her a dominating stature in contrast to Juliet. This is a clever contrast to the start of the movie where Pauline is a shy low self esteemed girl, however to my understanding, it seems that as the movie has progressed Pauline and Juliet’s roles have reversed. This helped me to understand that the developed obsession between the girls friendship consequently changed Pauline for the worst and therefore had much greater consequences. Therefore, I believe Jackson’s use of camera visual techniques have helped to successfully present the two key scenes in the film as they have given me greater insight into the key idea of the film of the consequences of when a friendship becomes an obsession. As this theme has been portrayed effectively and compellingly this reiterates that this is a great film. In conclusion, Jackson has been successful in the presenting the key idea of the consequences of when a friendship becomes and obsession through the successful presentation of the two key scenes which are the beginning and end scenes in Victoria park. He has done this through the use of well thought out visual techniques and contrasting differences between the two scenes. Firstly showing how the friendship has become an obsession through the use of the intercutting between the sepia scenes. Secondly showin through the use of low angle shots how the obsessive relationship has changed paul and finally shown through the use of close-ups the terrible consequences of the girls obsession. The Consequences of when a friendship becomes an obsession has peen portrayed clearly and compellingly to the audience throughout this film. This was Peter Jacksons aim. He has specifically chosen this story due to its peculiar circumstances and presented his interpretation and exploration as to how two girls could go through with such an insane act, therefore he has developed this key idea and conveyed it successfully therefore making Heavenly Creatures a â€Å"great† film. Therefore this confirms that great films often hinge on the successful presentation of one or two key scenes as seen in Heavenly Creatures. William Dunlop William – a convincing response – using the tips given in class this week is a major contributor to this, such a small thing but highly effective. To move to Excellence, we need to hear about how what Jackson shows you also makes you think about, for example how can you relate to these key themes or who else or what else do they remind you of? (Universal perspective). Merit.

OBESITY HEALTH PROMTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH Essay

OBESITY HEALTH PROMTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH - Essay Example Another interesting findings about obesity in U.K. is that the rate of increase in obesity was highest among middle aged (55-64) men. In 1994, around 18 percent of total middle aged men were obese, while in 2006 the rate stood at around 36 percent. (Trends in the prevalence of overweight and obesity)     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Today people irrespective of their ages are less interested in spending time in exercising or other outdoor activities. Along with it the busy families of today’s world have little free time to prepare nutritious, home-cooked meals. Eating out on a daily basis is becoming a part of everyday life of adults as well as adolescent members, particularly in westernized culture. Obesity poses a great problem to society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Looking at the severity of the issue the present paper seeks to examine several epidemiological issues related to obesity in U.K., different health promotion initiatives taken by the government to tackle this problem, the possible public health care interventions using health promotion theories, and finally make some evaluation of the programs under taken by the U.K. government.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Having a few extra pounds in one’s body does not imply obesity. Usually, in medical terms a person is considered to be obese when his weight is at least 10 percent more compared to the recommended weight for his height and frame of the body. For obese people, their excessively heavy weights endanger their health. Obesity is gaining much attention because in the westernized societies including U.K is increasingly being found to be responsible for higher degree of mortality as well as morbidity. The more alarming thing regarding obesity is that initially the problem of obesity have been concentrated among adults only, but over time, increasing problems related to obesity are being diagnosed among children also. According to the Health Survey of England 2002,

Midterm for Business Law Ethics Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Midterm for Business Law Ethics - Term Paper Example The new policies in the automotive industry require that all companies in the industry comply to these policies, by reducing the level of carbon emissions to the environment. This significantly affects the managerial decisions for the automotive companies in these areas. With the policy change threatening to influence these companies’ profitability as well as create new opportunities for these companies, the management has to change their managerial strategies in order to increase on their profitability. However, the influence that this policy has on the shareholding and the investor confidence in the industry is the biggest source of worry for the management of automotive companies. The policy leads to an increase in the invested capital in these companies, therefore increasing their operational costs. With such an increase in the operational costs, there is a corresponding decrease in revenues acquired. Therefore, managers have to look for new ways of achieving investor conf idence in the industry, while at the same time seek for opportunities that increase their profitability levels. Question 2 1. Corporate sustainability as a business approach focuses on establishing and maintaining long-term employee and consumer values through proper relationships. It helps the management in understanding how a business should operate in the social environment with its customers and the society, cultural environment that involves the beliefs and practices of the people it operates with, as well as the economic environment affecting its operations. Among the various advantages of corporate sustainability to the organization, include the increase in the transparency between the organization and other stakeholders like the customers. It also engages all the stakeholders in the operations, especially while drawing policies and finally helps the management in thinking ahead. 2. Ethics play a significant role in the profitability of an organization through high revenue ge neration. The belief that a manager’s actions should always be in accordance to the set norms of behaviour and objectives as well as the universal statements of belief that are "right" and "just" and "fair", plays a main role in improving their profitability. Since the norms and believes that we all hold to are intuitively determines by our religious and cultural beliefs, they direct us in doing what is right and avoiding the wrong. Therefore, doing what is right in most cases leads to motivating people in the organization, therefore increasing the organizational profitability. Question 3 According to freeman, there are two types of organizational stakeholders. These include groups, which are vital to the success, or survival of the organization and those affected or can affect t the survival of the organization. Owners of the organization have a financial stake in it, in that the success or failure of the organization directly affects them. On the other hand, the employees o f an organization have the responsibility of ensuring that the organization functions smoothly. It is the responsibility of the owners of an organization to provide the workers with good working conditions. On the other hand, the employees hold the responsibility of maximizing the shareholder wealth through diligent working and proper application of organizational resources.

Food additives used in the meat industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Food additives used in the meat industry - Essay Example n food, clothing, and other facets of living, then there grew the effort not just to ban those harmful ingredients, but also to scrutinize any manmade products that altered the natural composition of things, especially food products. This has lead to the food industry, and especially the meat industry, which is already coming under fire from vegetarians and naturalists, to consider alternatives to food additives whenever possible. It is not, however, always possible to eliminate entirely food additives, because, first, they are necessary, and, secondly, they are not necessarily harmful to human consumption. Still, the controversy goes on. Food additives, including those added to meat products, and are used for the purpose of preserving the food or meat product in order that it might retain its flavor while being transported to destinations, which are often long distances from the point of production (Goldstein Chandler, Myrna and Goldstein, Mark A., M.D., 2002, 1). In the United States, since 1958, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must approve all food additives (Goldstein and Goldstein, 2). There is a list of five reasons that the Center for Food and Safety and Applied Nutrition lists as justifying the of meat additives (Goldstein and Goldstein, 2). 1. â€Å"To maintain product consistency. Emulsifiers give products a consistent texture and prevent them from separating. Stabilizers and thickeners give smooth uniform texture. Anti-caking agents help substances such as salt to flow freely. 2. To improve or maintain nutritional value. Vitamins and minerals are added to many common foods, such as milk, flour, cereal and margarine to make up for those likely to be lacking in a person’s diet or lost in processing. Such fortification and enrichment has helped reduce malnutrition among the U.S. population. All products containing added nutrients must be appropriately labeled. 3. To maintain palatability and wholesomeness. Preservatives retard product

Corporate Governance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Corporate Governance - Essay Example This essay discusses that although the need for fresh blood or expertise has been recognized at the onset, an effective way of dealing with replacing board members remains a constant problem for most types of board of directors. According to Kelvin Westbrook, the role of the board has shifted from long term strategy development to governance and compliance. However, a complete departure of the board from long term strategy making will not likely to happen since both are not only essential functions of the board, but the two need to be balanced as well in every decision a board has to face. He said that boards as a matter of necessity must continue to evolve. Board of directors’ in order to mature needs to have a diversity of viewpoints. Kelvin Westbrook also spoke about how director candidates are screened, because it is important to understand the company’s strategy and direction. The challenges, issues and risks confronting the board should also be known. This will en able searches to be much more focused on the kind of skills, experience and background needed by the company in the boardroom to support the execution of the strategic plan and direction. To illustrate Kelvin Westbrook identified the need for directors with international background if the organization is heading towards expanding offshore. However, while international operation expertise is an invaluable requirement, the candidate’s knowledge of the US’ corporate law should not only be passable but a requirement. Stuart Scott Stuart Scott talked about the proper way of relieving directors of their posts without necessarily evoking hostility or discomfort to all involved. Directors are expected to have a modicum of awareness with regards to their duties and responsibilities when they attend board meetings. These expectations are borne from their responsibilities which they should be aware of. Even though directors are not bounded by the normal standards expected from or dinary employee, their actions and conduct inside the board room are expected to be beyond par. Thus, when directors display acts that are inimical to the overall mission of the board it is necessary to expect that the improper decorum will be met with enmity from the other board of directors. To maintain the integrity of the board including its effectiveness the offending directors must be relieved of their post. However, the process should be carried out with due respect to the position and to the person, no matter how undeserving he might have been. Mike Miles Mike Miles talked about the four qualities that every board of directors should be looking for, to replace or to populate their board rooms. First is a good grasp of the US business practices, laws, regulations, ethical standards principles of corporate governance: SOX, principles of accounting, ability to read a profit and loss balance sheet, familiarity with strategic planning and so on. Secondly, there must be a firm gra sp of how the boardroom game is played. This would include his roles and responsibilities, the dynamics in the board room and the overall sensitivities of the board of directors in general. Third, the candidate should be able to detect BS when it is being presented to him.

Configuration Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Configuration Management - Essay Example This paper would particularly discuss the research paper of I. Hsin Chou1 and his proposed methods to implement change in a nuclear power plant without compromising on the security of the system. In a nuclear power plant security is given utmost priority. Any lapse in security could have serious consequences. To ensure that there is no lapse in security during the implementation of any change regarding the software of the system some steps, related to security, needs to be included in the system development life cycle. 1. Introduction Software configuration management is the study of managing and tracking changes during the development of software. The main purpose of software configuration management is to provide coordination among individuals working on a change regarding particular software through a series of managerial and technical decisions2. 1.1 Importance of change management Proper change management could help increase the coordination between different departments and emp loyees. Change management also reduces the chances of errors and bugs in a program. The project manager is provided with complete knowledge, from the resources needed to the time of completion that the team needs to complete the change3. 1.2 Importance of tracking change As mentioned before software configuration helps with the management and tracking of the changes in software. It is understandable why there is a need to manage change but why track it. Tracking of change helps keep the project manager informed about the status of the change or what phase is the change going through, providing a general idea about the completion of the software4. 2. Use Of Software Configuration Management to Develop Nuclear Safety Software The difference between the development of commercial software and nuclear safety software is the increase in the risk factors. A fault in the safety system of a nuclear power plant could have dire economic and physical consequences. With so much at risk there is practically no room for error and the authorities responsible must be vigilante and make sure that no errors are left unchecked when it comes to nuclear safety. However safety during the development of nuclear based software has been ignored. 2.1 Problem As mentioned above software configuration helps manage change. The first step to configuration management is identifying the configuration items. Configuration items are the basic structural units of a configuration management system. These configuration items can range from the tools being used to the models being followed. After identifying the configuration items the next step is to bring about the required changes to these configuration items. In most of the cases these configuration items are controlled by the operations department. The software related incidents in nuclear power plants caused the loss of more than 1.6 million MW-hours5. However the use of software and hardware products available in the market can lead to a lap se in the security and would make nuclear power plants an easy target for hackers. A recent attack on Iran’s Nuclear power plant is an example of such attacks. The power plant was attacked by the Stuxnet worm, a bug that hinders the working of the Uranium enriching machine6. From software configuration point of view there are three main threats to the system7. The first threat is from unauthorized users working from outside the system. These personnel are neither employees of the power plant nor are they working with the development team. The

Marketing Strategy of Atlas Travel Club Coursework

Marketing Strategy of Atlas Travel Club - Coursework Example The Atlas Travel Club, an incoming tour operator based in London, will be used as a case study in order to meet the objectives of the study: to determine markets, to discover the rational for choosing a marketing strategy, what factors influence marketing strategies, and how to determine the effectiveness of marketing strategies. This study also seeks to prove the hypothesis that "By getting to know the culture, norms, values, and business practices of the emerging market, a company can develop a unique marketing strategy which will help it achieve its goals." Findings indicated that the marketing strategy of Atlas Travel Club is extremely successful. A concluding recommendation was that more time be given for the interviews in order to gather more answers. Respondents should include customers and potential customers. Questionnaires should also be used as they are a good way to avoid "interview effects" whereby an interviewer influences or affects the participant's responses by their presence or method of questioning; something particularly problematic when interviewing members of a corporation who do not want to say anything negative in regards to the company for various reasons. In contrast self-completion questionnaires can be filled out independently of the researcher. It is important that both interviews and questionnaires be employed because disadvantages of using a questionnaire include the lack of an interviewer means interesting responses cannot be followed up and the respondent cannot add their own remarks. Similarly it may not be possible to correctly judge the participant's potential response, and therefore categories may not be exhaustive. It is also recommended that interviews and questionnaires present more questions regarding complaints and negative feedback. It is typical that these questions are limited in order not to get negative answers. Feedback, whether positive or negative, is good as it can be used to determine what needs to remain status quo, what needs to be changed, and how changes can be made. Marketing Strategy 3 Acknowledgements Marketing Strategy 4 Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction.4 1.1 Aims and introduction.7 1.2 Objectives 2.0 Literature Review ..9 2.1 Marketing...12 2.2 Service Marketing..13 2.3 Market Strategies...14 2.4 Computer Mediated Communication.17 2.5 Tourism..20 2.6 Market Segmentation.....21 2.7 Tourist Marketing Strategies..22 2.8 Designing Marketing Strategies.23 2.8.1 Globalization 29 2.8.2 Emerging Markets.30 2.9 Emerging Markets for Atlas Travel Club...30 3.0 Methods 3.1 Primary and Secondary Research 3.2 Secondary Research. 3.3 Primary Research. 3.3.1 Approaches to the research 3.2 Interviews 4.0 Analysis and Discussion of Findings 4.1 Interviews 4.2 Analysis and Discussion of Findings. 5.0 Conclusion5.1 Meeting the Original Aims and Objectives5.2 Problems Encountered5.3 Recommendations5.5 Marketing Strategy5.6 Evaluation5.7 Future

Five Controversial Argumentative Views That Constitute a Proper Aim of Essay

Five Controversial Argumentative Views That Constitute a Proper Aim of Law - Essay Example Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign.† Mills was a British philosopher, economist and civil servant and a very influential contributor to the ideas of his time in social theory, political theory, and political economy. His concept of liberty gave complete control and freedom to the individual and opposed unlimited state control. Mills’ theory excuses persons who are â€Å"incapable of self-government† from this principle, such as young children or those living in â€Å"backward states of society.† Mills also felt that despotism (tyranny) is an acceptable form of government for societies that are â€Å"backward,† as long as the absolute ruler has the best interests of the people at heart. However, the theory has complications as â€Å"harms† may include actions that are omitted as well as acts of commission. Failing to rescue a drowning child or failing to pay taxes, both are harmful omissions that may be regula ted by law. Mills did not think that offense constituted â€Å"harm†; however, an action could be curtailed if it violated the morals of a society. He also contended that free speech is a necessary condition for intellectual and social progress. He was famous for being one of the first supporters of rights for women. In his book â€Å"The Subjection of Women† he points out three major facets hindering women, society and gender construction, education, and marriage. His formation of the â€Å"greatest-happiness principle† is his most famous theory. It stipulated that a person must always act so as to produce the greatest happiness among feeling beings within reason. He also felt that intellectual and moral pleasures were more important than physical forms of pleasure. He believed in free markets and accepted intervention in the economy for tax on alcohol and supported legislation on animal welfare. John Austin was a noted British jurist and author of law and juri sprudence. He developed a theory called â€Å"legal positivism.† This basic theory of law states that there is no association between the validity of a law and ethics and morality. Therefore, by â€Å"legal positivism† the law is considered separate from moral and ethical values. It considers the law to be studied by lawmakers who are humans. It does not give any real basis for arguing against the validity of any law based on the content, no matter how horrible to the morality of any person. The argument is based solely on the nature of the law being a human institution. Gerald Dworkin is a professor of moral, political and legal philosophy. He is noted for his development and writings on â€Å"moral paternalism†, which refers to an attitude or policy based on the hierarchy of a families’ CEO or authority. His research includes ideas of the nature and justification of self-government or the right of self-government. His most recent book defends physician- assisted suicide. In it he argues that doctors who approve of stopping life support at the patient’s request, giving pain-relief medication that kills the patient, or who approves terminal sedation are inconsistent in condemning physician-assisted suicide. â€Å"Legal moralism† is a theory of jurisprudence which projects that laws may be used to prohibit or require a certain

The war at sea Essay Example for Free

The war at sea Essay Despite this fact they were only a side show to the Western Front. Aeroplanes were significant to the war effort as they brought glamour and gave cvillians and soldiers on the Western front hope as well as heros to believe in. This boosted the morale of the nation and helped the war at sea, on the home Front and on the Western Front. The Home Front: The war of 1914-1918 was the first war thathad an impact on everyone. No longer did a war involve sopldiers or men in the armed forces alone. Helpless civilians were also affected. The first world War touched everyone at some point throughout its duration, and people who lived in cities were the victims of bombardments by enemy planes. The First World War was the fist time that blackouts were introduced, this was so German planes would not know when they were opver a city. The alarm would sound and everyone would take cover intheir bomb shelters until a second alarm sounded to say it was safe to come out. When the war started Britain had only a small professional army. The government decided to invest a lot of money into advertsing aspects of the war; fighting for ones country and trying to encourage patriotsm. Posters and leaflets were plastered everywhere to promote and encourage recruitment to the armed forces. Propoganda was vital to ensure men signed up. The British press reinforced the governments recruitment drive with tales of German atrocities such as the murder of babies and nurses and the raping of HELPLESS WOME. One of the most popular stories of the time was that of German factories making soap from boiled corpses. The campaign to enrol men was very succesfull and by 1916 over 2 million had enlisted. In 1916 the government introduced conscription for men between the ages of 16 and 40 for the first time. This was due to many reasons; the number of men volunteering for the war was dropping, the lower classes were conscribing which was crippling the agricultural system whilst the upper classes did not volunteer. The war effort was only attracting certain people and it was felt by most that not all men were playing their part. Conscription meant that everyone, from all walks of life, helped their country. Not everyone agreed with conscription, many members of parliament voted against it. Others did not go to war due to political or religious beliefs. They were called conscientious objectors or conchies. They had to appear in front of a tribunal to prove that they had valid reasons. If not they were often put in prison where they were badly treated. Some chonchies helped at the front as stretcher bearers; these men had a life expectancy of about 3 days. In 1914 the government introduced DORA this stood for the defence of the Realem Act. This gave the government a wide range of powers, some of which included censership of what the publicfopund out about the wa and what enemy countries found out about the allies, thus ensuring no piece of information got into the wrong hands. The government was able to use any building as part of the war effort and to take over various industries including the coal industry, ensuring that business men did not profit from production. In 1915 the munitions crisis occurred due to the stalemate on the Western Front as armament and weapons were running out. Men had to train with wooden sticks as there were insufficient rifles to equip each man. The bombardment of enemy trenches could not continue if there were no shells. Some soldiers were only allowed to use 3 rounds of shot per day. The situation was looking dire for the government at this time. The daily male put the national scandal into circulation and as a result a coalition government was formed so that all parties could work together. Lollyd George was made Minister of Munitions. One of the initial problems of the munitions crisis was that too many skilled young workers had gone to war in search of better pay. The government had to recall many of these men. Another key constituent of Llyod Georges plan was to introduce women to the work force. In 1915 100,000 women enlisted for work however only 5,000 of these got jobs. The unions were worried that when women took the jobs they would dilute the salary of the mens jobs. Llyod George clearly ststed that women would earn the same amount as men and that their jobs would be complete when the war was over. Many women worked in the munitions factories and by 1915 the situation had improved and helped all fronts. It is recognised that without the assistance of the women the war would probably been lost. As men left for war an increasing number of women went into the professions usually dominated by men. Women went into all fields of work including ship, coal , steel, transport and agricultural (land girls) industries. However their made impactwas in the munitions factories. Here the women were in high risk jobs which affected both their skins and their lives. Toxic chemicals turned their skin yellow and they were often labelled canaries as a consequence. Women payed the ulimate price as many of the died of the cancer these toxic chemicals caused. In1917 women aged over 30 were given the right to vote. The war had help[ed the men of the country to realise that women were a part of a functioning Britain and that they to had a voice that needed to be heard. Asquith a former priminister, supported votes for women during the war although he had previously aposed this when in power. The attitude towards women and their role changed as a result of the war. Under DORA the government had the right to secure land and use it for farm production. In 1917 the government had a problem, there was a shortage of food. A quarter of British ships were being sunk by German U-boats in April and there was supposedly only six weeks of wheat left. As supplies ran low prices rose. Shops closed early as they ran out of food. Poorer families starved whilst the rich hoarded all of the food they could get their hands on. The government reacted in a variety of ways. The earnings of industry workers rose and in May 1917 voluntary rationing was introduced. The Royal family led the way by stating that hey were reducing their ingestion of bread and such products by 25%. Posters were designed to encourage economical consumption and in November the nine penny loaf was introduced. None of these measures were affective so in 1918 compulsary rationing was introduced for bread, sugar, meat, butter and beer. Each fam,ily was given a ration which was stamped when anything was bought. There were heavy fines for those whgo tried to break the rules. Rationing was welcomed by most and even improved the health of poorer people by the ne dof the war. The Defence of the Realm Act also controlled the news that flowed in and out of Britain. The british press was heavly censored and even the House of Commons was not always kept informed of the goings on at the Western Front. Journalists were banned from travelling with the troops in case stories were leaked to the British public, thus maintaining morale amongst civilians. In 1916 the british government had to overcome one of its greatest challenges, the filming of the battle of the Sommme. The battle had raged on and many lives had been lost for only a few square miles of land. The film sold out in cinemas all over the country. The footage was unique and showed dying soldiers, and men going over the top. The nation appreciated the tone of the film and although people were shocked they appreciated the films realism. The film was a huge success and saluted as a great piece of cinematography. For the government it achieved its aim by showing the public that despite the absurd and horrendous number of casualties, the war was a worthy cause. Propaganda was used to keep up morale as well as uniting all against the enemy. The Home Front was as important and as vital as the other fronts. It supplied the troops with munitions and the patriotism to convince those at home that their sacrifice was for a deserving cause. This would not have continued without the propoganda and the governments policy of protecting the public from hearing news that would destroy their trust. The Home Front was succesfull due to the efforts of many women who were able to show the men in power that they were as good as them. On a political the Home Front gave women confidence and a certain amount of admiration from the countries men. The war wopuld not have been won without this and was beneficial to the success of the Allies, but it also needed the help of the other three fronts to succeed. Western Front: When the war was first declaired in 1914 it was expected to be over by Christmas. The public thought that it wopuld revolve around gallant young men on horse back charging against the Germans and thus winning a lightning victory. They could not have been more wrong. As sson as war was declared the Germans put the Schlieffen Plan into operation. Their aim was to secure victory over France within six weeks and then turn their attention to Russia in the East. Al;l would have gone according to plan if Belgium had not put up such heroic resistance against Germany and delayed them. The German commander Moltke had also to send a 100,000 troops towards Russia who had mobalised more quickly than anticipated. The Germans were heading towards Paris but were held up quite dramatically by the British troops even though they outnumbered the British. The French launched a direct and grand attack on Germany but were halted by machine gun fire. The Germans gathered their troops and headed towards Paris. However the German troops advance too quickly and ran out of supplies, the German soldiers were also exhausted. The Allied troops desperately tried to save Paris without France, Britains chief Ally, the war would be over. The Germans decided not to advance on Paris and instead chose to go around and attack the French from behind. The French stopped the German advance on the river Marne but were unable to force them to retreat. By the 8th of September each side had dug in to protect themselves, using barbed wire, snipers and machine guns as a means of defence. These were the first signs of stalemate. This stalemate lasted until 1918 with millionsof lives lost and no land gained. The trenches stretched fro the sea in the North too the Alps in the South. The Germans launched several attacks on various Forts in Verdun and both sides resourced the battle. By 1916 700,000 men had been killed and then French were close to collapsing. To help the French the british led by Hague launched their offensive at the Somme, after a week of bombardment the British advanced. There were 57,000 casualties on the first day and by November 1. 5 million men had died. The atrocities of the battles of Verdun and the Somme were something the politicians and the public were unprepared for. Military leadership was criticised and Hague became known as a bad commander; a butcher who knew nothing about modern warfare. Hague was used to the old style of war and was not prepared dor the way things were in the new age of technology. At these battles new technology and tactics, like the introduction of tanks and creeping ambush, set a presedant for future wars. The Battles of Verdun and the Somme have sinced been recognised as a turning point in the war although at the time they were thought of as a complete disaster. In 1917 the Americans joined the war after the Germans declared unrestricted warfare on American ships suspected of carrying armaments for the Allies, although America maintained neutrality. The Germans accused the USA of having double standards. When the Germans tried to ally with mexico it was the last straw and America declared war on Germany on the 1st April 1917. Although this was good news the Americans did not arrive immediately in force and the French continued to struggle. Top make matters worse the Russians had made peace with the Germans in 1917 as a result of the Russian Revolution and the new communist regime. This was bad news for the Allies. It meant that Germany could now mobalise hundreds of thousands of troops from the Eastern to the Western Front. The German force increased as their army was no longer spread across Europe. A final attack was planned under the command of Lundenhoff. However the power of Germanys army had diminished as they were weak and tired. The troops were starved and their whole final offensive failed largely due to the malnurishment of the troops. Although the Germans had ended the stalemat it was the Allies who benefited. The Americans were sending troops at a rate of 50,000 men per month. The troop swere assisted by technologically advanced tanks, aeroplanes and improved artillery. In 1918 the Allied counter attack along the Western Front had reached the Hindenburg line and by October the Germans were in full retreat. When the November Armistice came into effect the Great War was finally over. The Western Front was considered the most important by some. The public views of The Western Front was far from reality. Letters from soldiers fighting on the front were censored and changed so that the image of the heroic battles the Allies were fighting were not destroyed by the truth. It was feared that if the truth were known it would result in havoc amongst the Allied Nations. Civillians new nothing about the terrible conditions of the trenches and propaganda made the war look muchmore glamerous than it really was News papers painted victorious pictures of trench war fare and the public new no better as this was the first technically advanced war ever. The film of The Battle of the Somme, changed that image and people became more aware of the tragedy of loss. Recruitment numbers reduced during the war which was why conscription was introduced. Each of the fronts played an important part in winning the war. The public viewed the Western Front as the only War Front as this was where most of the soldiers were sent, although others were sent to Gallipoli, The Balkans and the middle East. The Western Front had the most casualties which is why it will always be perceived as the most important. The war in the air was vital for surveillance, advancements in aviation and morale boosting. It gave the public something they could understand and belive in. The war at sea proved to be a turning point for the Allies. The Allies starved the Germans into surrendering, thus weakening them and rendering their last offensive unsuccesfull. The war at sea brought the Americans into the picture at a time when the Allies needed reinforcement. The Americans brought with them artillery, equipment and strong healthy men at a time when they were most needed. The war at sea also supplied the troops on various fronts with food and ammunitions so that they were as strong as circumstances would permit. The Home Front was the provider of men for enlistment, was the center for propaganda and made ammunitions and artillery to be used by the troops. DORA was introduced as part of the Home Front offensive to protect civilians and information, and brought women into action replacing the men who were away. The Home Front also provided nurses and kept the nation at Home running smoothly so that the men could return to an organised country at the end of the war. The Western front was where the fighting took place where thousands of men died and where some of the most heroic and dangerous battles ever took place. The men on the Western Front clearly had the hardest task with variable weather conditions and the dreaded over the top manoeuvre. It was also the most traumatic but it would not have succeded without the help and combination of the other three fronts. The Allied victory was due to an imalgamatoion of effort from all the fronts.

English Dominance Essay Example for Free

English Dominance Essay English is one of the most spoken languages in the world. Globally around 380 million people speak English as their first language, 250 million use it as their second language, and 1 billion are in the process of learning it and about one third of the global population are affected by it one way or the other. By the year 2050 it is forecasted that around a half of the world will be able to communicate properly in English. (Pennycook A. 1994) English is on its way to become a dominant global language. The language has developed to become the language of use in international trade, international science conferences, and global politics. The predominant usage of English has gone further to affect international and regional organizations such as World Bank, European Union, and other multinational companies. (Brutt-Griffler, J. 2002) English dominance originated from political suppression and economical manipulation by Britain and United States. Some policies of international organization such as World Bank have served to propagate the dominance of English in developing countries (Keal, P 1983). However, the most important factor that has led English to become such a globally spoken language is the emergence of United States of America as a ‘world super power’ a nation that uses English as its major language of communication. (Brutt-Griffler, J. 2002). Since the United States and Britain dominate in the international organizations such as World Bank, World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations (UN), World Trade Organization (WTO) and so on, this has influenced such worldwide entities to use English as a major language of communication. ((Brutt-Griffler, J. 2002) The use of English as the dominant language in these organizations has generated enormous benefits especially in the ease of operation. However it has not been smooth sailing has a myriad of controversies have continued to emerge because of the same dominance. (Keal, P 1983). â€Å"Linguistic dominance has its origins in conquest, military and political subjugation, and economic exploitation. The role of language in imperial expansion has been a central element of the europeanisation of the world† (Robert P) This view has continued to emerge in many forums where most nations (especially the non-English speaking) have constantly objected to the dominance of English because it has been seen as a way of â€Å"Europeanizing† others. (Robert P) The purpose of this paper is to critically analyze both the benefits and costs with the purpose of establishing the direction the organizations are likely to take in this thorny and controversial issue. Benefits of English language in International organizations Communication This is perhaps the greatest benefit that the domination of English has brought to almost all world bodies. Having one language as a â€Å"lingua franca† facilitates or breaks down the communication barriers. (Gary C) Members of such bodies like the United Nation, the World Bank are able to communicate easily despite the fact that they come from different countries and cultural backgrounds. In fact most delegates of European Union and common wealth are able to speak English as their second language. What this means is that a Chinese is able to communicate effectively with a German national despite their cultural differences. (Edwards, J 1985). Because of globalization, there has come a need for faster communication tools and processes. Internet has played a significant role in speeding up the globalization phenomena because it is very fast and inexpensive. (UNESCO) The language that has dominated most of the Internet use is English slated at approximately 80% usage on the websites. This has enabled most of the international organization’s develop communication channels via the Internet that eases the mode and the cost of communication. The organizations have been able to implement most of their programs within specified period across the globe. (UNESCO) Up to 700,000,000 people speak English language across the globe, what this means is that almost all countries of the world have a sizeable number of people who are able to communicate in English. This makes it easier for the International organizations to operate and find employees in the respective countries, thereby lowering their payroll budgets because they do not have to employ expatriates who are normally very expensive to retain. A good example is the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) that is located in Kenya, Africa. The local citizens here speak English as the second language, and are competent in its use. (Martinez Cobo 1984). The organization has not had any problem in recruiting locally thereby saving a lot in the payroll budget. Fostering global peace The ability of many United Nations mediators to communicate in English coupled with the increased usage of English in many states of the world has enabled conflicts that arise between various states to be solved efficiently. In addition, many English speaking nations especially the members of the Common Wealth are able to establish strong diplomatic relationships with ease since language has not been a barrier. (Maurais J. Morris, M. A. 2003) Facilitating international business English as an international business language has facilitated commercial transactions among the member states of European Union, Common Wealth, and Association Of South East Asian Countries. This is more evident in the software market whereby many soft wares have been produced in English language. (Rudby, R. Saraceni, M. 2006) A good example of a country that can attest to the advantages of knowing how to speak in English is India. It has reaped enormous benefits in the global market from its citizen’s competence on spoken English. According to Rudby and Saraceni this has prompted nations like China to encourage its citizens to learn English language. Currently China has the largest number of people studying English and has made English compulsory from third grade. (Rudby, R. Saraceni, M. 2006) Sharing of information and ideas It is a requirement for scientists from different parts of the world to publish their findings in English language and thereby enabling any English speakers to be able to access a wide range of information from various experts and from different part of then world. Some scientists are also able to use these published reports as valuable inputs to their researches. Empowers the United Nations to address various problems in the world Enhanced communication resulting from the common usage of English by many countries of united nation has enabled such countries to put across their valuable contribution in solving current global issues like terrorism, famine and diseases. (Rudby R. Saraceni, M. 2006) Pre- dominance of English in Common Wealth countries enable the member countries to adopt policies geared towards ensuring efficient delivery of aid and other humanitarian services across the globe. (Rudby R. Saraceni, M. 2006) Negative effects of English dominance It has contributed to conflicts in the European Union Having a single language seems to be the most ideal and efficient solutions for the European Union but many members who do not come from Anglophone communities find such arrangement unacceptable. Current the language policy in the European Union grants every language an equal status whereby any language can be used to conduct meetings and translations are provided for other language speakers. (Robert P) However there is a provision to the extent that â€Å"the institution especially the preparatory committee of European Union may stipulate in their own rules of procedure which of the language to be used in each specific cases. † (Robert P) This has served to encourage some languages to become more dominant than others especially English which is frequently chosen in such situations. This has led members of major language speakers like French and German to fiercely protest fearing that their international status of their languages may be lowered. (Martinez Cobo 1984). There is also a growing concern among the non -English members of the European Union that English dominance is crossing over the boundaries of international organization to entrench itself to education and other sectors of the other countries. (Mary K. Flynn). Germany has been the most affected whereby English has became a general subject in primary schools of many states and has grown into official language of many companies and firms together with Germany. This has consequently resulted to a diminished status of the German language and criticism that imposing English as the first language to all pupils is against the concept of promoting cultural diversity in them. (Mary K. Flynn).

Work Of Muhammad Anwar Al Sadat History Essay

Work Of Muhammad Anwar Al Sadat History Essay On the sixth of October 1981, Anwar el Sadat reviewed the troops on the anniversary of the 1973 war. When all of a sudden a vehicle veered out of the marching column, men stormed out throwing hand grenades and firing with machine guns. Many were wounded and eleven dead, among them Anwar Sadat. Those men were uniformed men, which means they belonged to the Egyptian Army. Again this means that the Egyptian President was assassinated by his own army. Thus, many questions occur; who why etc. In order to find the answers, one has to dive into the life, events and history of this distinguished, controversial character, on whose tomb was carved, A man who lived for principles and died for peace. Muhammad Anwar Al Sadat (25december1918-6 October 1981) was the third President of Egypt, serving from 15 October 1970 until his assassination on 6 October 1981. He was a senior member of the free officers group that overthrew the Muhammad Ali Dynasty in the Egyptian Revolution of 1952, a close confidant of Gamal Abdel Nasser, whom he succeeded as President in 1970. He was born on the 25th of December 1918 Mit Abu al-Kum, Egypt. Died on the 6th of October 1981 (aged 63). In his eleven years ruling as president he changed Egypts direction, departing from some of the economic and political principles of Nasserism by reinstituting the multi-party system and launching the Infitah. His leadership in the October war of 1973 and the regaining of Sinai made him an Egyptian hero. His visit to Israel and the eventual Israel-Egypt peace posthumously, but was an act enormously unpopular with the Arab world and Islamists, and resulted in Egypt being expelled from the Arab League. Plotting against British Rule and King Farouk As a schoolboy, Sadat frequently demonstrated against the British, who occupied Egypt at that time. His heroes were all nationalists: Mahatma Gandhi, Adolf Hitler, Ataturk, and Egyptians Saad Zaghlul, Mustafa Kamil, and Mustafa Nahhas. He also admired a peasant martyr from Dinshaway (near Mit Abul Kom) whom the British had executed in 1906. One result of the 1936 treaty which Prime Minister Nahhas signed with the British was the opening of the military academy to lower middle class youths like Sadat and Gamal Abdel Nasser. Sadat graduated from the academy in 1938 and was posted to Manqabad in Upper Egypt. There he first met Nasser, a leader by nature, serious and somewhat aloof. The enthusiastic young officers talked politics, debating the best way to rid their country of the British. In 1939 Sadat entered the Signal Corps. While Nasser was off in the Sudan, Sadat plotted direct action against the British. Occasionally he met with Hassan Al-Banna, the Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood, a group of religious zealots who wanted to root out Western and secular influences and turn Egypt into a theocracy. Axis forces based in Libya pushed into Egypt in 1941, hoping to seize the vital Suez Canal. In the following year the British arrested Sadat for plotting with two German spies who were living in a Nile houseboat and trying to send information to Rommels army. Escaping from jail in October 1944, Sadat hid out until the end of the war which made it safe for him to resurface. He then participated in an unsuccessful attempt on the life of former Prime Minister Nahhas, who had cooperated with the British during the war. Sadats role in the killing of Amin Osman, an Anglophile politician, landed him back in jail in January 1946. Sadats friendship with King Farouks private doctor linked him to the Iron Guard, a secret palace organization which struck at the kings enemies. The trial of Sadat and others in the Amin Osman case was overshadowed by the outbreak of the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. The principal defendant escaped; Sadat and the others were acquitted and released. After dabbling in business schemes for a year or two Sadat won reinstatement in the army. He reestablished contact with Nassers circle, which were now calling themselves Free Officers and planning to overthrow the corrupt and inept government. The riots of January 1952 destroyed foreign-owned businesses throughout Cairo and completed the publics disillusionment with the king and the old politicians. Nasser summoned Sadat to Cairo from his post in Sinai on the evening of July 22, 1952. But finding no further message from his chief, Sadat took his family to the movies and nearly missed the coup. However, it was Sadat who broadcast the news of the coup to the public on the morning of July 23. King Farouk was sent into exile and Brigadier Mohamed Naguib served as the Free Officers front man until Nasser broke with him and put him under house arrest in 1954. The posts Sadat held during the Nasser years were not quite at the center of power. He edited the regimes newspaper, al-Gumhuriya. He served as secretary-general of the Islamic Congress and of the National Union, the forerunner of the Arab Socialist Union and Egypts only political party. During the 1960s he was speaker of the National Assembly. Sadat, along with Field Marshall Abdel Hakim Amer, bears much of the responsibility for Egypts disastrous involvement in the Yemeni civil war (1962-1967). Then Egypts defeat by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War nearly destroyed Nassers regime. Aware of his ill-health and of plots against him, Nasser named Sadat vice president at the end of 1969. Nicknamed Major Yes-Yes for his acquiesces to Nassers wishes; Sadat had outlasted most of the other Free Officers who might have inherited the presidency. During Nassers presidency During the presidency of Gamal Abdel Nasser, Sadat war appointed Minister of State in 1954. In 1959, he assumed the position of Secretary to the National Union. Sadat was the president of the National Assembly (1960-1968) and then vice president and member of the presidential Council in 1964. He was reappointed as vice president again in December 1969. Presidency After Nassers death in 1970, Sadat succeeded him as President, but it was widely considered that this presidency would be shortly lived. Viewing him as having been little more than a puppet of the former President, Nassers supporters in government settled on Sadat as someone they could easily manipulate. Nassers supporters were well satisfied for six months until Sadat instituted the Corrective Revolution and purged Egypt of most of its other leaders and other elements of the Nasser era. In 1971, Sadat endorsed in a letter the peace proposals of UN negotiator Gunnar Jarring which seemed to lead to a full peace with Israel on the basis of Israels withdrawal to its pre-war borders. This peace initiative failed as neither the United States nor Israel accepted the terms discussed then. Sadat likely perceived that Israels desire to negotiate was directly correlated to how much of a military threat they perceived from Egypt, which after the Six-Day war of 1967, was at an all time low. Israel also viewed the most substantial part of the Egyptian threat as the presence of soviet equipment and personnel (in thousands at this time). It was for those reasons that Sadat expelled the Soviet military advisers from Egypt and proceeds to whip his army into shape for a renewed confrontation with Israel. 6th October War On the sixth of October, 1973 the shattering, unexpected news broke and spread all over the world. A war was launched by the Egyptian army against the Israelis putting an end to the latter occupation of some Egyptian and Syrian lands. The long-awaited victory was achieved. Bar Lev line was devastated, and the legend of the invincible Israeli army was dispelled. Using petrol as a weapon was for the first time declared in this war by King Faisal, the king of Saudi Arabia. This bold, decisive and wise action had indirect tremendous effects on that war, as it was an ingenious way of forcing the leaders of many (if not all) countries to change their over supportive policy towards Israel. The glorious triumph of Egypt and Syria following the 1973 war, restored dignity throughout Egypt and the Arab World, and for years Sadat was known as the hero of the crossing. Without faith you might just as well commit suicide. Those words were stated by Sadat reflecting his belief in God and himself wh ich are weapons no non-believer can fight. Besides, self confidence is the last thing Anwar Sadat lacked. Being announced by that faith and confidence, Sadat became the first Arab leader to visit Israel and speak before the Knesset in Jerusalem seeking a permanent peace settlement. The Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty The Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt in 1978 led to a negotiated peace between those two nations signed in Washington DC on March 26, 1979, the first between Israel and any of its Arab neighbors. Israel had a consistent policy since its founding in 1948 that called for direct, one-to-one negotiations as the method of resolving disputes with the Arab countries, but until Sadat brought Egypt to the table no Arab country had been willing to even talk to Israel. Sadat and Begin shared the 1978 Nobel Peace Prize for their historic agreements. However, the initiative was far from universally popular in other Arab countries or even Sadats own country, Egypt. Other Arab nations, and especially the Palestinians, saw Egypts agreement with Israel as a stab in the back, leaving them weaker and with less bargaining leverage against Israel. Without Egypt, the united Arab front had no credibility. Sadat became isolated in the Arab world and increasingly unpopular at home, conditions that finally led to his assassination in 1981. Since the signing of the treaty, Egypt has stood by its commitments, even after President Sadat was assassinated by Muslim extremists. The Israel-Egypt peace pact was denounced by all other Arab states and no further progress was made toward an end the Israel-Arab conflict until the Madrid Conference in 1991. Unpopularity and conspiracy theories The last years of Sadats reign were marked by turmoil and there were several allegations of corruption against him and his family. In January 1977, a series of Bread Riots protested Sadats economic liberalization and specifically a government decree lifting price controls on basic necessities like bread. 120 buses and hundreds of buildings burned in Cairo alone. Dozens of nightclubs on the famous Pyramids Street were sacked by Islamists. Following the riots the government reversed itself and recontrolled prices. Near the end of his presidency, most of Sadats advisors resigned in protest of his internal policies. The deaths of the Defense Minister Ahmed Badawi and 13 senior Egyptian Army officers in a helicopter crash on 6 march 1981 near the Libyan border increased the public anger at Sadat and his policy. C:UsersSaifDesktopnEO_IMG_DSC_7083.jpg Sadats Tomb, with a memorial of the Unknown Soldiers. Islamistis were enraged by Sadats Sinai treaty with Israel, particularly the radical Egyptian Islamic Jihad. According to interviews and information gathered by journalist Lawrence Wright, the group was recruiting military officers and accumulating weapons, waiting for the right moment to a launch a complete overthrow of the existing order in Egypt. Chief strategist of El-Jihad was Aboud el-Zumar, a colonel in the military intelligence whose plan was to kill the main leaders of the country, capture the headquarters of the army and State Security, the telephone exchange building, and of course the radio and television building, where news of the Islamic revolution would then be broadcast, unleashing-he expected- a popular uprising against secular authority all over the country. Assassination and aftermath On 6 October 198, the month after the crackdown, Sadat was assassinated during the annual victory parade in Cairo. A fatwa approving the assassination had been obtained from OmarAbdel-Rahman, a cleric later convicted in the U.S for his role in 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Sadat was protected by four layers of security and the army parade should have been safe due ammunition-seizure rules. However, the officers in charge of that procedure were on hajj to Mecca. As air force Mirage jets flew overhead, distracting crowd, a troop truck halted before the presidential reviewing stand, and a lieutenant strode forward. Sadat stood to receive his salute, whereupon the assassins rose from the truck, throwing grenades and firing assault rifles rounds. The attack lasted about two minutes Photographer Bill Foley captured one of the last shots of a living Sadat. The photograph is titled The Last Smile. The lead assassin Khalid Islambouli shouted Death to pharaoh! as he ran towards the stand and shot Sadat. After he fell to the floor people around Sadat threw chairs on his body to try to protect him from bullets. Eleven others were killed, including the Cuban ambassador, an Omani general and a Coptic Orthodox bishop, and 28 were wounded including James Tully, the Irish minister of defense, and four U.S military liaison officers. Sadat was then rushed to a hospital, but was declared dead within hours. This was the first time in Egyptian History that the h ead of state had been assassinated by an Egyptian citizen. Two of the attackers were killed and the others were arrested by military police on-site. Islambouli was later found guilty and was executed in April 1982. Maybe now, we became able to find sensible answers to the previously mentioned questions; who why etc. In addition, we get to fully understand the words engraved on his tomb and how appropriate they are. He was really a man who lived for principles and died for peace. Quotes Said By Anwar Al Sadat Fear is, I believe, a most effective tool in destroying the soul of an individual and the soul of a people. Many people seek after what they do not possess and are thus enslaved by the very things they want to acquire There is no happiness for people at the expense of other people Love is what we were born with. Fear is what we learned here. You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith. Russians Can give you arms but only United States can give you a solution.

Essay --

Classroom Engagement Teaching and Learning Parent or Community Involvement Student Social or Emotional Support Philosopher Socrates Socrates created a method called â€Å"The Socratic Method† that made people think critically and outside the box. This is a method that is being used in education and in everyday life. Socrates educated his students how to think. He pointed out the errors in people’s thoughts and understanding of life and society. Socrates believed that questioning was an excellent way to gain understanding and knowledge. Parents would ask questions until they were answered correctly. By asking questions children will gain knowledge and become more social. Philosopher Plato Plato believed that a teacher must know his/her subject as well as the limit of their knowledge. Plato teachings were based on philosophy. He taught moral philosophy and despised natural philosophy. Plato believed that knowledge had no practice use Plato believed that parents should provide positive models for children so they can imitate. Children will get ideas and imitate as they grow older Plat...

Brain Transplant :: essays research papers

Brain Transplant Medical technology has seemed to advance enough so that doctors are able to perform brain transplants. So far this procedure has only been successfully performed on animals, and now doctors hope to perform this procedure on humans. I believe brain transplants should not be performed at all, and especially not on humans because of the numerous problems and side effects that could arise. Even though brain transplants can be successfully performed on animals, this does not mean that it will be successful with humans. The human brain is much more complex than the brain of animals, so there will be many more complications during surgery. For example, the healthy brain that was removed could have been damaged in some way without the doctors knowing it. It would also be very difficult to attach a person's brain in a different body because of the millions of neurons that send and receive messages to and from all over the body. It would be almost impossible to reconnect every single neuron, and without them a person could not function normally. Many psychological effects are also possible because the human brain is so complex. Our brain makes us who we are, and with a different brain we would no longer be unique. A person with a different brain would seem to be a total stranger and in many ways they would be. Hopefully these dangerous side effects will convince doctors not to perform this procedure on humans. The advancement of technology can be very beneficial to everyone, but I do not believe that this medical technology of brain transplants will help anyone. We were all born with one brain and through childhood to adolescence our mind developed into who we are. No one should steal our identity from us, even if we are seriously injured, and change it to a completely new one. Also for the people who have died with healthy brains, that was their identity and it should not be given to anyone else. Another problem with brain transplants is how can doctors choose what are "healthy" or "normal" brains. An elderly person who has died would have an aged brain that would not be as efficient as a younger person's brain. Then would doctors have to find healthy brains of the same age as the person who Brain Transplant :: essays research papers Brain Transplant Medical technology has seemed to advance enough so that doctors are able to perform brain transplants. So far this procedure has only been successfully performed on animals, and now doctors hope to perform this procedure on humans. I believe brain transplants should not be performed at all, and especially not on humans because of the numerous problems and side effects that could arise. Even though brain transplants can be successfully performed on animals, this does not mean that it will be successful with humans. The human brain is much more complex than the brain of animals, so there will be many more complications during surgery. For example, the healthy brain that was removed could have been damaged in some way without the doctors knowing it. It would also be very difficult to attach a person's brain in a different body because of the millions of neurons that send and receive messages to and from all over the body. It would be almost impossible to reconnect every single neuron, and without them a person could not function normally. Many psychological effects are also possible because the human brain is so complex. Our brain makes us who we are, and with a different brain we would no longer be unique. A person with a different brain would seem to be a total stranger and in many ways they would be. Hopefully these dangerous side effects will convince doctors not to perform this procedure on humans. The advancement of technology can be very beneficial to everyone, but I do not believe that this medical technology of brain transplants will help anyone. We were all born with one brain and through childhood to adolescence our mind developed into who we are. No one should steal our identity from us, even if we are seriously injured, and change it to a completely new one. Also for the people who have died with healthy brains, that was their identity and it should not be given to anyone else. Another problem with brain transplants is how can doctors choose what are "healthy" or "normal" brains. An elderly person who has died would have an aged brain that would not be as efficient as a younger person's brain. Then would doctors have to find healthy brains of the same age as the person who

Michelangelo Essay -- essays research papers

During the dates 1475-1564 there were many famous painters working all around the world. One of which was Michelangelo. He painted and sculpted many famous items that are still talked about today. Michelangelo led a very buisy life, as of which you will be reading about today. Michelangelo was born in 1475 in a small village of Caprese near Arezzo At the age of 13 michelangelo’s father Ludovico Buonarroti placed michelangelo in the workshop of the painter Domenico Ghirlandaio through connections with the ruling Medici family. About two years later michelangelo studied at the sculpture school in the Medici gardens. Shortly thereafter he was invited into the household of the Magnincent, Lorenzo de’Medici. Where he had an oppertunity to converse with younger Medici, which later became pope Leo X. As he was also introduced to humanists as Marsilio Ficino and the poet Politian, who were frequent visiters. By the age of 16 Michelangelo had produced two relief sculptures ,the battle of the Centaurs and the Madonna of the stairs, which showed that he had achieved a very personal style at a very early age. His patron Lorenzo died in 1492; two years later Michelangelo fled Florence,when the Medici were temporarily expelled. For a while he was settled in Bologna, where in 1494 and 1495 he sculpted several marble statuettes for the arca (shrine) di San Domenico. Michelangelo went to Rome, where he was able to examine many newly unearthed classical statues and ruins. He soon produced his first large sculpture the over life size Bacchus in 1496-1498. One of the few works of pagan rather than Christian subject made by the master, it rivaled ancient statuary, the highest mark of admiration in Renaissance Rome. At about the samr time period Michelangelo did the marble Pietà   in 1498. It was finished in 1500. It was one of the most famous works of art, the Pietà   was probubly finished before Michelangelo was 25 years old, and is the only piece of work he ever signed. In the piece the youthfull Mary is shown seated majestically, holding the dead Christ across her lap, it was a theme that was borrowed from northern European art. Instead of revealing extreme grief, Mary is restrained, and her expression is one of resignation. In this work, Michelangelo summerizes the sculptural innovations of his 15th-century predecessors such as Donatello, while ushering in the new monumentality... ...helangelo ultimately became responsible for the altar end of the building on the exterior and for the final form of its dome. The great Renaissance poet Ludovico Ariosto wrote succinctly of this famous artist: â€Å"Michael more than mortal, divine angel.† Indeed, Michelangelo was widely awarded the epithet â€Å"divine† because of his extraordinary accomplishments. Two generations of Italian painters and sculptures were impressed by his treatment of the human figure: Raphael, Annibale Carracci, Jacopo da pontormo, Rosso Fiorentino, Sebastiano del Piombo, and Titan. His dome for Saint Peter’s became the symbol of authority, as well as the model, for domes all over the Western world; the majorityof state capitol buildingsin the united states, as well as the Capitol building in Washington D.C., are dirived from it. Michelangelo died in 1564 and his body was placed in a fine monument in the church of Santa Croce. To conclude, Michelangelo led a long and very talented life. As a painter sculpture, poet and architect. He has many famous pieces of work still known and talked about today, all around the world. Many people knew him and loved him and those who didn’t know him personaly, knew of him.

Compare and Contrast Texting vs Calling Essay

What would we do without cell phones? Have you ever tried to leave your phone at home just to see how much it’s really needed in your everyday life? I have and it’s a lot harder than you think. Technology has grown so much in the past ten years then you would ever know. From little black and white flip phones to tablets with apps, games, music and pretty much anything you could ever want just in the palm of your hand. In 1973 the first cell phone was invented, and it took twenty-two years after that, 1995, to invent text messaging. Now it seems as though text messaging is among the most popular way of communication. Although texting and phone calls aim to accomplish the same task, they both have their differences. Texting can be quick and easy, saves you time and battery life and lastly, it keeps all conversations private from the public. Calling makes conversations feel more personal and professional, takes less time to explain what needs to be done and saves on your monthly bill. Everyday someone new is signing up for cell phone services. Whether it be At&t, Sprint, Verizon, US cellular, and the list goes on, we are dealt with the decision of what is more important minutes or data plan. Minutes are the allowed time per month to receive incoming and outgoing calls. Whereas, Data plan is the allowed text messages and pictures that can be sent. Nowadays most cell phone plans come with unlimited text and call minutes due to high amounts of each being placed each month. Texting is the newest and coolest thing to do among young adults. Texting allows you to say what you have to say without carrying on a long conversation. It saves you time and battery life. We all know how important it can be to save battery life when there is no charger around or if out in public with nowhere to charge it. Texting can help with explaining something to a friend about a â€Å"cute shirt† you see while shopping. Easy as one, two, three, take a picture hit forward in a text message then hit send. They will be able to see it as soon as the message is delivered. Also, texting can save you from that embarrassing moment in public when having a private conversation about yourself or someone you know. With texting there are advantages, but they also come with disadvantages. Texting can be faster and get to the point, but, when you enter in a â€Å"no service area† your message won’t get delivered at that direct moment. Could take a few hours before the recipient receives it. Which could be a disadvantage to both calling and texting. Auto correct is a feature on your phone that changes words in your sentences making them different from what you meant. Therefore, could be the cause to a message being misinterpreted by the receiver and take it the wrong way then it was intended to be understood. Causing more trouble than it should have. A big problem around the world today is the distraction with texting and driving, causing you to take your eyes and attention off the road. Hearing a voice rather than seeing a text can make a phone conversation feel more personal and make an important call have a professional touch to it. If you are going to be late for a job or professional event it is always better to call rather than text. One feature with call phones, is when calling and the other end does not answer you are able to leave a voice mail to what you were calling about. Calling takes less time to explain what you are doing and what needs to be done. Therefore having a longer conversation in a less amount of time. Another advantage to calling is getting the quick response to a question you may have rather than wait on a response. The main advantage would be unlimited minutes for incoming and outgoing calls that could help save on your monthly statement bill. If you’re on a family plan this could definitely be a plus especially if you have a big family. Have you ever had to be put on hold by the cable company, for example, and you waited ten minutes for a representative to pick up, and that moment you are waiting for the solution and beep, beep, beep the call was dropped. Nothing can be more annoying than having to call back and start all over, worried it will happen again. Having no service, just like when texting, and a call is needing to be made can cause anger/frustration in a person. Driving while talking on the phone can be just as distracting as texting, having only one hand on the wheel engaged in your conversation can cause distractions to paying attention to other drivers around you. In some tates talking on a cell phone while driving can get you a ticket and fined. Texting VS Calling can only be judged by each individuals experience and preference. A teenager will most likely choose texting, to avoid awkward phone conversations, whereas, an old fashioned mom or dad would choose to call or vice versa, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Personally I enjoy using both, I will text when bored and want to prolong a conversation, and call if I need a quick and easy response.

My Tub

A girl and her tub should not be messed with. My full-body slnklng hole with relaxing jets is my form of relaxation in this rat race called life. Even though, I am surrounded by dirty clothes, piles of forgotten cosmetics and beauty products with plastic toy animals staring at me, I am alone. I lock the door and barricade myself from my husband, two small boys, phone calls, laundry, and life. I turn off the overhead light and let the natural sunrays from outside come through the window.I might exfoliate the soles of my tired feet or I might run the dull razor up and down my hairy legs, but mostly I Just sit. I close my eyes while putting up my feet and letting my mind race to an imaginary world where things are simple. I let the heat from the hot water steam up my glasses. I let the heat turn my skin pink from the extreme temperature differences in the room and melt away my stress and worries.The sweat runs down my face and mixes with the washed away make-up, dirt, and tears. It form s puddles and trickles down my body and drift away In the Immense pool. I conquer all of life's dilemmas, family squabbles, and work stress on deserted island in the bathroom. And when it is over, I would like to think they all disappear down the drain for a temporary leave. This is my secret clubhouse that I retreat to for relief. My tub is my own and should not be messed with.

Marketing Strategy for Competitive Advantage Essay

Executive Summary Three friends – Lyndon Duke Hanson, Scott Seamans, and George Boedecker, founded Crocs Inc. in the year 2002 in Colorado, USA. As the firm grew, it acquired Foam Creations in Canada to own manufacturing operations, under the leadership of Ronal Snyder in 2004, and gained sole rights. Crocs is a designer, manufacturer and retailer of molded, casual footwear for men, women and children. All Crocs footwear feature a proprietary closed-cell resin called ‘Croslite’ that provides the wearer with extreme comfort by taking the shape of the feet of the wearer due to heat. The company boasts the footwear as being ideal for casual use as well as for professional and recreational uses viz. boating, hiking and hospitality. The product is claimed to be lightweight, slip-resistant, and odor-free, and is available in several bright colors. Crocs shoes are sold across 129 countries and come in 250 styles. The company has also diversified into apparel and accessories. One major acquisition has been of that of Jibbitz show charms, for which the company has also acquired  licensing agreements with Disney, Nickelodeon, Warner Bros. and DC Comics. The case discusses the phenomenal supply chain management of the company that has been a major reason for the success of the company, besides of course the popularity of the shoes. The achievement of an extremely flexible supply chain was the vision of Ronal Snyder, CEO, to meet customer’s demand based on the exact same principle followed by software giants. This supply chain provided Crocs with a competitive advantage in the footwear industry. Crocs had the highest profit margin in the industry at 56.5% in 2006, considerably higher than that of its competitors. Crocs created a blue ocean by creating differentiation and low costs and breaking out of the red ocean. This resulted in global expansion and quick growth. Profits increased from $10.9million in 2004 to $763.3milion in 2007. Later in the case study, we will see the Industry Analysis to understand the competitive scenario. This reveals that Nike is the market leader, followed by Adidas. A look at Porter’s Model shows that consumer’s bargaining power is a major threat in the industry. We also see the standard manufacturing practices in the industry compared to Crocs’ manufacturing techniques. The SWOT Analysis gives an understanding of the potential threats and rising opportunities. Customer’s changing tastes and threat of substitutes pose immediate threat to the firm, but it can capitalize on its unique product range and supply chain in order to gain a majority market share. Industry Analysis The global footwear market has grown from $153.2 billion in 2004 to $189.3 billion in 2007. Although the footwear industry is in the maturity stage, it is known that the demand for the product will not decline. Hence, global  sales are forecasted to reach $238 billion in 2013. Footwear industry is a highly fragmented market. The industry experiences intensive competition led by major firms such as Nike, Reebok, Adidas, and Converse. Nike is the industry leader, followed by Reebok and Adidas; Nike has a market share of 47%, Reebok – 16% and Adidas – 6%. Competitors Nike Nike is the world’s largest designer and marketer of athletic footwear and apparel. The stores are located over 180 countries. Nike is based in Oregon. It runs its manufacturing operations primarily in Asia. Nike’s footwear accounted for 60% of the company’s total net sales in 1999, after which the firm attempted to become more diversified. Nike’s largest share of sales comes from United States. Nike is one company to have crossed the $5 billion mark. Nike’s target consumers were 18-44 aged people, with six-digit income. Adidas Adidas is in the second position in the global market. It is based in Germany and sourced 97% of its footwear from Asian. Its main market is the Europe region. The firm had only a 3% market share in 2005, but after the acquisition of Reebok in 2006, the share jumped up to 9%. Footwear sales accounted for 45.5% of the total sales for Adidas in 2007. Adidas target slightly young aged, 18-44 and was especially popular among Hispanics and African Americans. Other competitors include Puma (Germany), New Balance (USA – largest privately held manufacturer), and C&J Clark (UK-based) nearing the $2.0billion mark. Porter’s Five Forces Model Threat from Existing Competition The industry is characterized by easy entry and exit. The market is competitive, with the industry being described as red ocean, often. The market has reached maturity stage, and the growth is slow-paced. Firms are  always attempting to lower costs and manage supply chain effectively to meet the changing demand. There is always a potential threat of a competitor eating into the market share. Threat from New Entrants The footwear industry is an easy market to enter for new players. Investments required are not huge, and raw materials are easily available. Legal policies are not strict, except in cases of imports in some countries. However, human rights issue is a major cause for concern in the footwear industry. Manufacturing/outsourcing decisions are used for low costs. Threat of Substitutes As entry is easy, substitutes are a major threat. Pricing becomes a key concern. Knock-offs also pose a great threat to companies even though certain designs are proprietary. Bargaining Power of Suppliers Shoes are mostly made from similar raw materials that are easily available. So, most firms manage to get materials at low costs. However, for Crocs, this is not a problem because it owns the manufacturing units and has a proprietary right over croslite. Bargaining Power of Consumers Consumers have the greatest power in the footwear industry due to availability of substitutes. Price and quality are major attributes of the product. Changing consumer taste is a potential threat. Changing fashion and trends and even fads are a problem faced by manufacturers. Competitors have come up with the concept of ‘Shoe Design’ to give the consumer the ability to custom design shoes that are delivered with two weeks. SWOT Analysis Opportunities Market penetration in the footwear industry is still considerably low, especially in Asia-Pacific region. Developing countries like India are emerging markets with huge population for firms to capitalize on.  Purchasing power of people in these countries is increasing, thus showing potential target consumer groups. Threats Substitutes and knock offs pose great threat to major players in the industry. Since pricing and quality are major concerns, low costs are the main objectives. Changing trends and consumer taste are also a serious threat. Strengths Crocs’ unique design that offers great comfort, odor-free, slip-resistant lightweight shoes at comparatively lower prices is a distinctive competency. Supply chain flexibility offers Crocs a competitive advantage over the other firms. Weakness Crocs is required to distinguish its product, especially with the usage of croslite in its footwear. This makes it difficult for Crocs to develop new products in the formal range. Financial Analysis While 92% of company’s revenues came from footwear, the remaining 8% was from the sales of accessories and apparels. Revenue has increased over the years and reached $354.7 million in 2006. There has been a tremendous increase in cost of the goods sold and was reported to be $154.2 million in 2006 from $47.8 million in 2005. Net profit margin has also been increasing and it was found to be 18.2% in 2006. Revenue was found to be $142 million in the year 2007 for Q1. Gross profit was reported to be 84.4% in the first quarter of 2007. In comparison with competitors viz. Nike and Deckers, gross profit margin of Crocs has been considerably higher. Debtor’s turnover ratio is the highest in the industry, indicating that Crocs is efficient at handling debts. Asset  management is also performed well at Crocs. But looking at the inventory turnover ratio, Crocs is one of the lowest in the industry. This shows that Crocs is unable to turn inventory into cash as effectively. It is seen that in 2006, Crocs has inventory worth $86.2million compared to $28.5million in the previous year. This shows that Crocs capital is blocked in its stock. About Crocs Inc. Mission Bring profound comfort, fun and innovation to the world’s feet. Brand Attributes Innovative Crocs shoes are distinguished from others by the following motive of the firm – Radical thinking, health-minded research, and providing solution to the Feet. Fun Colors and designs offered and the emotional experience served are important to Crocs to create its brand image. Comfort Crocs claims to offer profound comfort, ergonomic design, massaging foot bed, and lightweight. Simple Crocs believes in keeping its products simple with a versatile function. Crocs Shoes Clogs with Croslite Target Consumer Segment: Men, women and children of all ages Diabetic patients and other ailments Crocs shoes are lifestyle products that exhibit personalities like trendy, fun, and high fashion, dressy, casual and active. Various models offered include mammoth, clogs, sandals, flats, heels, boots, slip-ons, flip flops, sport, work, Ocean Minded among others. Crocs started off as a company with about 25 models in 2004, and reached a point in 2007 when it offered 250 models. Original design was the clogs that kids could personalize with Jibbitz. Over time, Crocs extended its line by using usual raw materials like leather and suede with croslite soles. Supply Chain Management For consumer, Crocs designed an extensive distribution system so its shoes were available in a variety of retail outlets from specialty stores to department stores and large shoe store chains. Footwear companies have two alternatives to choose from in the manufacturing of their products; they can both own and operate the factories that produce their products, or outsource operations. Factories may be located internationally or locally. Most firm practice outsourcing of operations to enable reduced costs. Crocs believed in meeting customer demands in the current season. Supply Chain was Crocs main focus. Crocs had adopted the global logistics strategy. The firm was vertically integrated and by 2007, had acquired various units all across the world for its operations to cater to different consumers. Hence it was faced with large capital expenditure requirements and the management of the factories themselves. Yet Crocs did a tremendous job at supply management. Where its competitors followed the seasonal order placements, Crocs had a delivery time of two to four weeks for newly placed orders, indicating how Crocs understood the demand for the product. Crocs owned the manufacturing, warehousing and retails units in almost all countries. With its effective management, Crocs was able to maintain low costs. Any other company in the footwear industry did not achieve such a flexible supply chain. The firm maintained good professional relations with the retailers, and deployed its own personnel in stores and provided a store-in-store experience to customers. Core Competencies Unique Product Crocs is the only company that offers shoes made of croslite. This material ensures extreme comfort to the wearer. Crocs owns proprietary rights over  the material, and this becomes the firm’s distinctive competency. Since Crocs is the only firm with the sole right of manufacturing such footwear, it should ensure no knock-offs are sold in the market in its name. Flexible supply chain Crocs understood the dynamic footwear industry and built a revolutionary supply chain to meet the demands of it consumers. Crocs is able to replenish stocks within weeks at short notice. This gives the firm a competitive advantage over the rivals. Other than the core business activities, Crocs has initiated a program called Crocs Cares to provide the inhabitants of disaster affected areas with shoes in over forty countries. Conclusion Crocs has managed to develop an extremely flexible supply chain in order to meet customer and retailer demands, similar to none other in the footwear industry. The firm is extensively vertically integrated and has followed a pattern of a series of acquisitions for growth. Another advantage for the firm is the sole proprietary rights over the croslite material. However, Crocs has learnt the need to extend its product line and incorporating materials like leather and suede in its products. Crocs has also managed to lure its customers by acquiring the charm business, and also by diversifying into accessories and apparels.   Although the firm is showing year-on-year profits, it is seen that by following the model of semi-finished products to achieve quick delivery, it is faced by the problem of low inventory turnover. The important thing to understand is that the industry is dynamic, and the demand is quite unpredictable due to varying trends. Thus, Crocs will continue doing better by focusing on the end-user product. References www.packagedfacts.com Global Footwear Market Report http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com How Crocs Is Outpacing The Pack http://logisticsviewpoints.com Crocs Revolutionary Supply Chain http://www.blueoceanstrategy.com Crocs Review http://ezinearticles.com History of Crocs http://www.hoovers.com Factsheet of Crocs http://company.crocs.com About Crocs – Company Profile