Sheila Bair's Bank Shot Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sheila Bair's Bank Shot - Essay Example She sounded the warning bell on an impending crisis, she lead FDIC in managing troubled financial institutions and provided one of the most significant arguments in the policy reform at the aftermath. From Nocera’s perspective, Bair’s position on FDIC’s role on regulation and several policies in the financial industry has been effective and correct, but often left unheeded and unappreciated. Two of the most significant of these is: 1) her insistence on greater regulation long before policymakers and experts started to preach it; and, 2) her position that banks in trouble are not necessarily needed to be bailed out. The article, hence, underscore the importance of listening to this lady in the context of averting possible reoccurrence of similar crisis in the future. Charles Kindleberger’s theory and analyses of financial crises are descriptive and it provided the general basis for Nocera’s agreement with Bair’s position on regulation and the 2008 financial crisis. Kindleberger’s model describes an exogenous shock to the system also called as displacement. The causes of such displacement are varied and could provide diverse degree of crisis severity. The tendency to speculate as well as the inevitable complacency that comes with a stable and growing financial economy on the part of regulatory bodies are crucial elements in aggravating such displacement. These run parallel with actions taken by Bair before the 2008 crisis struck. She has started warning about the explosive growth of subprime mortgages, demonstrating traces of the principles behind the Kindleberger model on financial crises. One of the most important contributions by Bair, which could enhance the Kindleberger’s model, is in the area of crisis cont rol. One of her most forceful positions was that banks do not necessarily need to be bailed out in order to stop the onslaught of the financial crisis. This is contained in her position on the larger issue about the too-big-to-fail financial institutions. For instance, Bair vehemently opposed the federal government’s rescue of Bearn Stearns. The article’s focus on FDIC inevitably tied it with the theme of lender-of-last resort. The organization is mandated to rescue and manage failed financial institutions and regulate banks’ soundness, among other functions by virtue of its mandate to safeguard the interests of depositors and of consumers. With Bair at the helm of FDIC during the financial crisis of 2008, these functions had been highlighted and that the manner by which the organization is and should function as a lender of last resort has been clearly defined. Bair’s traditionalist position has played a significant part, particularly in reinforcing FDIC ’s power and influence today, which in the early years of her tenure as chairperson, appeared to have been largely symbolic, with weak regulatory power, clipped by the federal government, with low budget allocation. In my opinion, Bair’s position on the financial crisis is sound, with particular emphasis on the crisis management and the reforms that should take place afterwards. For example, if a huge financial institution fails, the government could further aggravate the economic landscape by infusing more funds that come from taxpayer’s money. The too-big-to-fail policy does not make sense in the long-term. First, failing financial institutions mean bad management, structure and practices. Rescuing them is more painful than having the market start over with another better managed institution rather than dumping money and implementing reforms that may never really be effective considering the sheer size of the institution. In addition, it seems to be unfair to

Sequel To The Unprecedented Changing Business Environment Commerce Essay

Sequel To The Unprecedented Changing Business Environment Commerce Essay Sequel to the unprecedented changing business environment due partly to the global economic crises , rapid technological innovations, globalisation, shareholder primacy (Bratton and Wachter 2008) and several other factors, employers are driven to effect transformational changes in order to remain profitable and equally retain their competitive edge. Recently, research has suggested some different strategic ways to achieve this goal such as creating a new way to working (Thomson 2008) which explores the concept of virtual offices, stores, sales etc. thereby driving down employee expenses and other running costs. This model seemed to have worked for most organisations as evident by the growing number of organisation adopting this concept (Waddell 2010). However, Lu (2011) warns that there are traps to be careful of in adopting these transformational changes. Calif and Meyers (2011) defined virtual office as a model that eradicates customer -employee contact without compromising the originality, productivity and the image of the organisation. Tengo Ltd having adopted the internet exclusive virtual sales model since its inception in 2000, has created a call centre to address issues ranging from customer complaints, technical support, product and accessories order, to other customer/clients enquiries (Wilton 2010) since there are no office or stores to handle such complaints. This makes the call centre critical to the success of Tengo Ltd and therefore a need to employ employees with the right skills and commitment to a high standard customer service delivery. According to the case (Wilton 2010), recent review has indicated that the success stories in the past three years has caused the organisation to overstaff its call centre and this calls for an employee restructuring. The strategic decision to restructure is due to several external and internal factors that affect the delivery of Tengo services (ibid). This report critically examines the Tengo Ltd case, taking into account the external and internal factors driving the change, the leadership issues observed, employee management style and motivational issues involved in the case. 2.0 External and Internal drives for change at Tengo Ltd Changes are a part of flexible organisations with the aim of keeping their customers satisfied (Kotter and Schlesinger 2008) however, to successfully implement the changes, organisations should properly analyse why they need the changes, how they hope to effect the change and the scope of change with a well laid change management process that considers the effect of change on the employees (employee relations) (Thurley and Wirdenius 1991). 2.1 External change drivers at Tengo Ltd The use of mobile social and other communication solutions have increased over the last 10 years (Ellis and Taylor 2006) and have reached a stage where all conversations are communicated on technological devices and media; from political leaders (Obamas facebook campaign), industrial executives, disaster managers to supply chain management. The growing need to achieve results using call centres as a one-stop point of contact to resolving all its customer and supply-chain issues is one of the most important external drivers for change in the call centre industry (Avaya 2011). Tengo Ltd seems to be caught-up in the technology drive as other call centres as it has decided to invest more in its contact centre by purchasing the IVR (integrated voice response) to help improve the services of its unsatisfactory customer service. It is observed here that the investment in the new automated system that was supposed to improve the quality of service and speed up service response failed as cust omers remained dissatisfied. One good question to ask is if this is a result of the poor implementation strategy or in the organisation of work within the company. Another external driver to change is the business strategy. When businesses change their business strategies they implement the change in their operations (Wilton 2010). The most common business strategy employed by several companies and the call centre sector is cost reduction (McAfee 2011; Wilton 2010). The general belief is that if organisations reduce their employee costs against their income, it will increase the profitability of the organisation. However, cost reduction could be a tricky business strategy to implement. This is because the cost of the reduction might not outweigh the benefits hoped to derive or a total failure of the planned alternative. Tengo Ltd is focused on reducing its employee expense at the cost of employees and as seen in the case, the alternative solution not being a success. This strategy mirrors the Thurley and Wirdenius (1991) action-centred and directive strategy as it could be seem as a forced strategy that has not considered how this will affect the employees nor have a psychological contract with the affected employees but focused on deriving the implementation of both its business and technological strategies. According to Mcgregors X-theory, managers most times focus only on profitability of their firm and therefore try to enforce organisation objectives on employees even when employee dislikes the objective based on the assumption that an average employee dislikes work. However a more modern principle of change management called the triple bottom line focuses on the profit of the organisation and its trade, the people who are central to the operations of the company (employees customers) and the planet where the operation is performed (corporate social responsibilities) (Tullberg 2012). This is based on the psychological contract approach that an organisation that deals fairly with its employees and socially considers the environment where it operates will naturally be profitable. For example a company that allows flexibility and a good reward management system will have its employees contribute more and be more committed to the objectives of the company (Atkinson and Hall 2011). If the same company in consideration of its environment adopts a green initiative by eradicating paper usage in its operation and goes virtual (Calif and Meyers 2011), the company will equally by that initiative be reducing some running stationary cost thus helping the organisation to be more profitable by reducing costs and increasing productivity. This report uses the psychological contract theory to critically analyse the internal drivers for change and the changes that occurred in the firm and judge by the various theories if this change was a success. 2.2 Internal change at Tengo Ltd Internal factors like external factors have been found to drive changes (Kotter and Schlesinger 2008; Wilton 2010). 2.2.1 Job Design One of the internal changes observed at the Tengo Ltd is the change in its job design. Prior to the change, employee in the call centre had always performed variety of roles thus allowing employees to be multi-skilled and increase the fluidity of employees as they could move between different departments. According to Julia and Susanne (2012) Organisations reduce their exposure to intellectual capital risk by adopting a job rotation scheme where employees could move around cross-functionally and cross-departmentally. In contrast to this ideology, Tengo Ltd has adopted a mechanistic industrial approach similar to Taylors scientific management recommendations as a method of job design that helps increase job specification and is a good support for an automated environment (Niebel 1989). Could Tengo Ltds decision to encourage job specialisation be as a result of its complementary nature to its business strategy to reduce cost, as one of the benefits of the approach is that it helps to d ecrease training, mental overload, staffing difficulties, or because it helps to reduce errors sue to specialisation of duties? However, Salvendy (2012) highlighted several downsides to this job design approach that are more people and process related which are equally observed at Tengo Ltd. Based on the above argument, one can say that the failure of the restructuring at Tengo Ltd is due to the un-interesting process that specialisation introduces causing boredom as employees repeatedly perform the same function, and its non-communicative/non-employee involving approach to change causing dissatisfaction among employees and ultimately evidenced by a high employee turnover after the restructuring. 2.2.2 Training and Development In the recent psychological contract theories, based on the assumption that the relationship between an employee and his/her employer is that which is mutually concerned with expectation of equal input and output. One of such theories is the equity theory which states that employee have a desire to be treated fairly and equally in the workplace and that they expect to receive benefits for their input to the organisation (Allen and White 2002). Although this theory was first postulated by Stacy Adams in 1965, this theory explains the natural expectation of humans to receive equal measures for their input. One of such output or reward that employees expect is training and development opportunities within the organisation. Recent research has identified training and development programs as a core factor to employee performance (Lawler Iii 2003), with several organisations now organising in-house trainings, online training, blended learning as ways to improve on the former classroom or o n the job training that existed before now. Many companies conduct induction trainings for new recruits to understand the organisation and the functions they will be performing in the company. While others go on after the induction training to conduct specialised trainings or send their employees to off-site trainings so that the acquire new skills relevant to their industry and bring these skills to help improve performance within the company (Rowley 2000). According to him, organisations who train their employees should see them as valuable assets and thus have a plan for employee retention. Malila (2007) however warns that the absence of training opportunities within organisations may lead to skill drought. With its intention to reduce the cost for training and development programs, Tengo Ltd has exposed its organisation to the treat of skill drought as new entries might not be able to get the right training form senior employees who have not been trained themselves and this may lead to dissatisfaction. Without training and development, employees may begin to see that there is no career growth path for them within the company and given that the repetitive function approach rarely challenges them, one can suggest that this is a cause for the high employee turnover in the company. 2.2.3 Employee turnover Considering the high level of turnover experienced at Tengo Ltd, this report questions the reason for such high turnover. Can this be ascribed to the management style and work process in the organisation, or is it an industry practice within the call centre sector? According to Wilton (2010), there are two distinctive types of call centres. One is characterised by its interaction work flow model with customers described as simple, but with high targets, strict scripts and strict call handling that sees the call advisor spending more time on the phone receiving more calls than the more complex quality focused model where solving the customers problem is the key focus. This allows the call advisors to be more flexible with the scripts, create individualised interaction with the customers but receiving lesser number of calls and having no restriction on time spent with each customer. Lyndon (1993) suggests that since the flexible quality focused model allows employees to be more discret ional and are less monitored, employees derive more satisfaction with this model however call centres are mostly measured by the number of calls they receive in a period. This is one of the reasons for Tengo Ltd investing in IVRs to enable it receives more calls in the hope to increase its customer satisfaction. The turnover at Tengo Ltd is both functional (causing loss of key employees, loss of skills and failed investment) and dysfunctional (loss of unskilled employees and non-performers). It is also noteworthy to note that the strict control management style which is more Taylor oriented is applicable to the model which requires call advisors to receive more calls and is strict with the call handlings and call scripts. This type of management approach could also de-motivate employees and consequently high turnover as observed in Tengo Ltd. 3.0 Motivational Issues Given the different arguments above, there are pointers that Tengo Ltd has some motivational issues in the implementation of its restructuring. One of the issues identified at Tengo is the relatively low employee benefit, and harsh working conditions in which its employees are subjected to work compared to competing employers in the region. According to researchers, motivation is simply the reason why people put more effort into what they do in order to yield better results (Aiqiang 2009; Cooper 2004; Hennessy and McCartney 2008; Reissner 2011; Wilton 2010). According to Reissner (2011); Tullberg (2012); Wilton (2010), employees are motivated by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Intrinsic motivations is when employees are self-motivated to do or perform an activity. This is derived when there is more freedom for employees to act using their discretion, skills and thereby creating opportunities for themselves. Although hard to measure, intrinsic motivation is the key to innovative and creative thinking /leadership (ibid). The importance of extrinsic motivation should not however be neglected as this encourages employees to do more knowing that their employers are concerned with them (Wilton 2010). Few of the ways employees can be extrinsically motivated is by fulfilling their expectations in terms of monetary rewards, promotions, trainings, words of appreciation, and job security. Employees are also motivated by the level of communication between them and management in times of change. From the case, it is apparent that the organisation did not employ any communication with the employees before implementing its restructuring plan. This tends to open up the problems that might be imbedded in the change process and helps employees buy-in to the change with their respective feedbacks. 4.0 Recommendation and conclusion The intention of Tengo Ltd to restructure its organisation in order to stay competitive can be a way to ensure its sustainability however, the company has not implemented its change program with the employees in mind. The result of this implementation caused the company an increased level of employee turnover. In seeking to address the employee turnover issue Tengo must first readdress its management system especially its job design to a more motivational approach that helps to engage the interest of employees in the organisation by conducting training sessions to improve their skills. It is equally good for Tengo to consider re-introducing its job rotation model, such that the monotonous repetitive boredom caused by over specialisation will be eradicated, consider re-engineering its recruitment process to attract skilled and educated employees. More importantly focus on its employee working benefits and terms of employment such that it meets up with those of the competing call centr es in the area. In order to understand the dynamics of labour turnover, Tengo Ltd should conduct exit interviews for exiting staffs to have an understanding of reasons for the high turn-over while it remains paramount for Tengo Ltd to ensure it monitor employees emotional activity throughout the change life-cycle to eradicate any potential problems. This study has revealed the different issues encountered in the change process and possible ways to address them in order to increase employee commitment, creativity and remain competitive in the face of increasing technological demand and business changes.

Free Essays - Contemplation in Heart of Darkness :: Heart Darkness essays

Marlow’s Contemplation during his Journey   In one of his novels, Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad depicts the tale of a man who reflects upon the meaning of life as well as all of its intricasies and implications. Indeed, Marlow, the main character of this story, questions several existential topics and explores his own personal curiosity about the solidarity and darkness of the jungle he finds himself in. At one point in the storyline, Marlow and his crew depart towards the station where the enigmatic Kurtz resides. An interesting aspect of this portion of the adventure is that Marlow’s crew is mostly composed of cannibals. Upon realizing how famished these natives are, Marlow contemplates how incredible it seems that the cannibals have restrained themselves from giving in to their hunger and eating the European men onboard. It is this speculation that will be the topic of discussion in the following paper. Marlow’s thoughts and perception of the native tribe will be examined in order to provide a more conc ise understanding of his analysis of the cannibals.   During their trip towards Kurtz’s station, Marlow describes the inequality of power and discrimination that the natives must live with. They constantly receive unfair treatments, such as beatings and the lack of food and medical support, as well as being paid in ridiculous manner that can only fuel their hate towards the European conquerors. Upon suggesting that the cannibals on his crew are treated in a disingenuous way, Marlow truly questions why their motives have not been violent so far : ‘’Why in the name of all gnawing devils of hunger they didn’t go for us – they were thirty to five – and have a good tuck in for once, amazes me now when I think of it’’ (Conrad 37). Further analysis provided by Marlow explores the underlying reason why the natives refuse to attack their opressors. He manages to pinpoint one particular aspect that is responsible for such behaviour : ‘’And I saw that something restraining, on e of those human secrets that baffle probability, had come into play here’’ (37). The human act of restraint, according to our narrator, is the simple yet bafling evidence which he stipulates. But what truly surprises Marlow is the fact that there shouldn’t be any logical reason for the starving cannibals not to attack, and consequently eat, him and his crew. He believes that hunger can by no means be deterred by any reasonalble explanation :

Language Manipulators Essay

UNMIK regulations clearly state that English is the official language, and any translations to Albanian, Serbian or otherwise are done as a â€Å"courtesy. † This means that all official correspondence including contracts, their exhibits and notifications must be accomplished in English, otherwise they are not valid. The following is a typical example drawn from a contract between UNMIK and a local Kosovar company. â€Å"Article VIII: Miscellaneous Provisions, section DD. English Language, states: â€Å"This Contract is written in the English language and executed in 4 counterparts plus 4 drafts in Albanian language and 4 drafts in Serbian language. It shall be construed and interpreted in the English-language version, which shall govern. Any translation into another language is provided as a matter of courtesy. † The ignoring of Kosova’s majority of 90% ethnic Albanians, and the imposition of English as the â€Å"legal† language in Kosova has created extreme difficulties, hardships and has placed Albanian Kosovars at a significant disadvantage and vulnerability, which UNMIK organizations and others have capitalized on, to the detriment of Kosovar businesses and organizations. In the United States, following the end of the civil war, individuals that came to the South and took advantage of the war-torn situation and people came to be known as â€Å"Carpet Baggers† because of the luggage they carried. As we are in a similar position, perhaps we should recognize the effective negative manipulation of Kosovars by UNMIK and Internationals by referring to them as â€Å"Language Manipulators. † The â€Å"Power† given to the English language requirement by UNMIK is being misused daily, and it enters into all forms of community action, business and our government. Just imagine if UNMIK and KFOR had to carry out it duties, and daily living using a language that the great majority of people cannot speak or write, and their actions were legally determined and evaluated by this â€Å"foreign† language. It is clearly understandable to utilize the English language within the operations of the International community, the United Nations (UN), as this has been so for quite some time. However, since UN has set precedence by creating UNMIK as the first government of a region following a war, it is unrealistic to continue to impose a foreign language on the operations of Kosova’s people. UNMIK, according to UN Regulation 1244 (1999) is supposed to be aiding the establishment of â€Å".. provisional democratic self-governing institutions to ensure conditions for a peaceful and normal life for all inhabitants of Kosovo,† and it is ludicrous to state this aim while insisting on the â€Å"legal† use of the English language. In an effort to correct the daily injustice and outright manipulation of the Kosovar people, the following corrective action needs to be implemented immediately. (1) That UNMIK, through regulations and law, recognize the Albanian Language as the Official Language of Kosova, in any and all communications and contractual negotiations and legal actions; and that the Serbian Language be also recognized as a valid language when ethnic Serbs are involved in contractual and other legal ventures with UNMIK and/or others operating fully within the borders and governing process of Kosova. OR (2) That UNMIK establish an independent organization of qualified English & Albanian speaking attorneys, one or more of which would be appointed, at the expense of UNMIK, and not drawn from the Kosova Budget, to each and every Albanian organization or corporation that must enter into contractual arrangements with UNMIK. This is necessary so long as UNMIK insists that the non-native language of English is the Legal Language over the native Albanian language of Kosova. Furthermore, no contract or agreement entered into with UNMIK shall be deemed valid in any manner if this assistance is not provided during negotiations and through the final signing of the contract or agreement. A â€Å"Double Edged Sword† Well, what do you think about the presentation so far? Does the imposition of English being the official language of Kosova make you angry, or sympathetic to the problems of the Albanian businessman, or Government Officials? Do you see â€Å"Unfairness† in it all? Are you upset with the â€Å"Language Manipulators† for taking advantage of ethnic Albanians? And which solution would be preferable to you; (1) where Albanian becomes the official language immediately, or (2) where there is an independent English Speaking support organization? If you feel that number (1) is the best option at this time, then I ask that you carefully reconsider your position as we continue the discussion. There is another side to the ingenuity of the â€Å"Language Manipulators,† and that is their passive support of the ethnic Albanian’s continued use of the Albanian Language in all aspects of their private and public life. The â€Å"Language Manipulators† are very pleased that there is no English news on TV or radio, and not one of the local papers has any English articles and we can only find job announcements for NGOs in English. And they are especially pleased that demonstrations and protests â€Å"boycott† the use of English, and are done in the Albanian Language. We see that, because UNMIK forces the English Language in official matters, many Albanians â€Å"rebel† and fight against using English, keeping it out of their newspapers, TV and radio. Just think for a moment. On the one hand they are imposing English as the â€Å"official† legal language in Kosova, creating problems and taking advantage of Albanian businessmen, but on the other hand they are â€Å"pleased† that no English is being used in Kosovar daily life, and they encourage pride in the Albanian Language. Do you see the beauty in this strategy yet? The simple fact is that those who don’t support the Independence of Kosova want ethnic Albanians to keep speaking and writing in Albanian, and to ignore the use of the English Language! English is the language of world business and western politics, and if Albanians begin using English effectively, the â€Å"truth† about Kosova could be heard by the English Speaking world, such as the United States of America. And we thought the American â€Å"Carpet Baggers† were clever and nasty in their dealing with people in the South following the civil war. â€Å"Language Manipulators† are very clever in their large-scale use of an age-old manipulation. If you don’t want someone to have or do something, then tell him or her they â€Å"must† have it or use it. We all tend to rebel against anything that is forced on us, and if we are not careful, we will be manipulated out of the very thing we want or need. And in this case, the â€Å"forcing† of the English Language on the Albanian people in Kosova is blinding them to the fact that this is the very thing they need if they are to survive and gain their full Independence. In this modern world, and in the current circumstances that Kosova finds itself in, the proficient use of the English language is the only way to get the truth beyond the borders of Kosova, to gain allies and support, and to develop the skills necessary to succeed in business and politics.

Changes in Africa from 500 C.E to 1500C.E Essay

The role of religion has changed over time in West Africa from the migration of Islam bringing its new faith, rituals, and establishment of a greater connection with the outside world through trade and cultural diffusion. However the unique African religion that existed beforehand was still retained; the African culture still believing in animism and polytheism even after the spread of Islam. From 1000-1500 CE the role of religion has seen changes and continuities influenced by the spread of foreign territories, economics, and political/social systems in West Africa. Religion in any time and has several profound influences on its society affecting the moral codes, gender relationships, and politics on that area. Previously, Africa although not fully isolated from the centers of other civilizations, remained secluded from communication with them, slowing the indigenous religions to be the main belief system. West Africa’s first major change begun around 1000 CE when followers of the prophet Muhammad came across Africa bringing its religion, Islam, and social changes. Due to its connection with the Islamic world Africa started to connect with other foreign territories through its new trading and long distance commerce system, exchanging new ideas and products. Furthermore, this new connection with the outside world brought occupants to the area, resulting in a population about 30 to 60 million by 1500 CE. These new economic effects deteriorated the native’s beliefs role as the sole influence of its society, sharing that position with Islam. Also, the Islamic influence brought on by merchants and travelers spread the new faith across West Africa bringing mixed results from new converts and those who remained with the original religion. In the 12th century around the Sudanic states lived a very powerful ruler, called Sundiata, who though never forcing Islam on the citizens encouraged the spread of Islam, attracting many converts. Around the 13th century in the Kingdom of Mali became an example of Islamicized Sudanic Kingdoms from the building of mosques, attendance of Muslim prayers, and emphasized obedience to kings. In addition, ruling leaders often took Islamic titles enforcing their authority and displaying the cultural diffusion connected with Islam. Though the role of religion in West Africa has been altered due to the spread Islam many of its traditional ethic concepts have been retained and practiced. Despite the fact that Islam was introduced around 1000 CE, unlike in other countries, the new religion was not forced upon the people and some chose to convert, while others kept the traditional beliefs. One original concept of religion that has not changed in Africa is its monotheistic beliefs where there is one superior, all powerful deity who controls the course of the world and influences its population. Also, apart from the superior creator god there is animism, in which Africans recognize lesser deities often associated with natural forces, like water, wind, sun, etc, who are connected with the affairs of humans, good or bad. Many native rituals are focused on honoring these gods and other spirits for good fortune, including prayers, sacrifices, ceremonies marking important stages in life, like birth, marriage, and death. Furthermore, another religious practice that remained intact is the recognition of diviners, or individuals who were believed to be the bridge between mortality and the divine, who knew the causes of problems and their solutions spiritually. Also, though Islam was a major change brought on by 1000 CE, throughout 500 years it remained a steadfast religion, which had some beliefs similar to that of the traditional religion. In addition Islam did not change African gender systems and supplanted original religions, rather than replace them. Although many changes were incorporated into its spiritual life, religion still determined the ethical/moral code of the population determining the social and cultural manner of West Africa. The Islamization that took place within West Africa from 1000 to 1500 CE brought a variety of religious, political, and economic changes in its society, contrary to the diversity and individuality that remained. With the spread of Islam came a broader trading network which brought Africa new ways of communication with the outside world, bringing new ideas of faith and migrants to the area. Though the movement of new faiths traveled across the Sudanic states bringing new forms of worship, religion was still the main authority that determined the ethical/ social patterns of Africa. With this in mind much of African religion was retained, leading many people to live a life devoted to animism and several nature deities. Around the beginning of 1500 CE much of West Africa, especially Ghana, Mali, and the Sudanic kingdoms, became a fusion of African culture and Islamic influence, with greater connection to the outside world and Islam while great diversity remained.

Free Essays on Corvettes Vs. U Boats

How does today’s modern media compare to past newspapers? How would past events be covered in today’s newspapers? What place would newspapers have if the Battle of the Atlantic waged on today? How do today’s newspapers compare to digital media? Years from now will it be the printed page that historians turn to for information. The use of newspapers as primary documents has strengths and weaknesses that must be assessed to determine their usefulness to historians for research. War time newspapers were biased and censored to be used as propaganda to influence public perception. During World War Two it was Canada that was called upon by the allies to provide the bulk of the protection for merchant convoys across the Atlantic. The impacts of the Canadian armed forces recorded by Canadian newspapers during wartime will be shown to have a positive impact on the morale of the population of Canada and proved that Canada was making a vital contribution to the All ied war effort. By first analyzing the positives and then the negatives of using Canadian newspapers from 1939-1946 as historical sources, with supporting evidence from secondary sources It will be shown that Canada’s efforts against German U-boats during World War Two was a vital part in the Allies victory. and without Canada’s protection of the Atlantic convoys , victory may not have been achieved. POSITIVES The people of Canada wanted positive news. They hoped for the best and realized the worst. Good news brought hope that the war would be over sooner, and bad news further instilled the need to keep fighting for those lost. Canadian newspapers were mainly positive in their reporting of the battle of the Atlantic. Negative news was only reported when nessasary or obvious. The sinking of Canadian ships and the loss of Canadian lives were always reported as not being in vain. But the newspapers were quite honorable in their details. Phrases suc... Free Essays on Corvettes Vs. U Boats Free Essays on Corvettes Vs. U Boats How does today’s modern media compare to past newspapers? How would past events be covered in today’s newspapers? What place would newspapers have if the Battle of the Atlantic waged on today? How do today’s newspapers compare to digital media? Years from now will it be the printed page that historians turn to for information. The use of newspapers as primary documents has strengths and weaknesses that must be assessed to determine their usefulness to historians for research. War time newspapers were biased and censored to be used as propaganda to influence public perception. During World War Two it was Canada that was called upon by the allies to provide the bulk of the protection for merchant convoys across the Atlantic. The impacts of the Canadian armed forces recorded by Canadian newspapers during wartime will be shown to have a positive impact on the morale of the population of Canada and proved that Canada was making a vital contribution to the All ied war effort. By first analyzing the positives and then the negatives of using Canadian newspapers from 1939-1946 as historical sources, with supporting evidence from secondary sources It will be shown that Canada’s efforts against German U-boats during World War Two was a vital part in the Allies victory. and without Canada’s protection of the Atlantic convoys , victory may not have been achieved. POSITIVES The people of Canada wanted positive news. They hoped for the best and realized the worst. Good news brought hope that the war would be over sooner, and bad news further instilled the need to keep fighting for those lost. Canadian newspapers were mainly positive in their reporting of the battle of the Atlantic. Negative news was only reported when nessasary or obvious. The sinking of Canadian ships and the loss of Canadian lives were always reported as not being in vain. But the newspapers were quite honorable in their details. Phrases suc...

Education in the Occupied Territories essays

Education in the Occupied Territories essays The Israeli Occupation of the Palestinian areas has destroyed completely the education system that the P.A tried to establish in the liberated Palestinian areas. In 1994 the PA inherited an educational system from the Israeli Civil Administration that was completely destroyed by the occupation. The Israeli policy was aimed to destroy the education of the Palestinian population in order to control the masses. In 1994 the PA took this bad situation and tried to handle it with care, it began with a crisis management policy that was called THE FIVE YEAR DEVELOPMENT PLAN, this plan aimed to maintaining the high access rates to basic education and to increasing secondary education enrolment rates. The plan foresees important well focused and cost effectively managed efforts in the areas of curriculum development, textbook development and production in service as well as pre-service teacher training. Approximately $100 million in donor assistance was spent on education infrastructures between 1994 and 1999, and the FIVE-YEAR PLAN envisages donor commitments of a further $45 million per annum, for a total of US$ 225 million for the 2001-2005 periods. According to the FIVE-YEAR PLAN there are 1800 schools that needed developing in the West Bank and Gaza, the PA had access to 1400 schools. Since the beginning of the second uprising, the plan was completely interrupted by the reoccupation of the West Bank and Gaza. The Israeli army has intentionally destroyed schools and the educational centers that were established to control the bad situation in 1994. For example, the Israeli Army has damaged over 400 schools in Hebron and south of Gaza, which represents 22% of the primary and secondary schools, the damage ranges from broken windows to the total destruction of schools. The inability of students to pay fees has also impaired the schools ability to cover their regular running costs. The need for social/humanitarian ass...

Turn Your Teacher Weaknesses Into Assets to Get the Job

Turn Your Teacher Weaknesses Into Assets to Get the Job One interview question that can stump even seasoned job-seeking educators is What is your greatest weakness as a teacher? This question may come at you disguised as What would you most like to change/improve about yourself? or What frustrations did you encounter in your last position? This weakness question really tags as an opportunity to Describe your strengths. Your response can tip the interview in your favor or send your resume to the bottom of the pile. Forget Conventional Wisdom In the past conventional wisdom recommended putting a spin on this question by describing an actual strength camouflaged  as a weakness. For example, you might have tried to be clever and offered perfectionism as your weakness, explaining that you refuse to quit until the job gets done right. But in responding to your weaknesses, you should should stay away from any personal qualities. Save your personal qualities such as perfectionism, enthusiasm, creativity, or patience for describing strengths. In responding to a question about a weakness, you should offer more professional traits. For example, you may recall how you noticed your attention to detail, organization, or problem-solving may have needed improvement. Once you have provided the trait, you should provide details on how you purposefully worked to address this weakness. Include any of the steps you have taken or are currently taking to mitigate this weakness. Here are two examples of how you might respond to a question about your greatest weakness. Corrected Weakness: Organization For example, you can state that you have been less excited about the amount of paperwork that comes along with a classroom of students. You may admit that in the past you tended to procrastinate on assessing classwork or homework. You can also admit to having found yourself on more than one occasion scrambling to catch up right before the grading period ended. You might feel like your honesty leaves you vulnerable. But, if you go on to explain that in order to combat this tendency, you set a schedule for yourself this past school year that dedicated time every day to paperwork, you will be viewed as a problem solver. You might include other strategies you used such as self-grading assignments whenever practical, which allowed students to assess their own work as you discussed the answers together in class. As a result, you can acknowledge that you learned to stay on top of your grading and needed a short time at the end of each period to compile the information. For new teachers, examples like this could come from student teaching experiences. Now an interviewer will see you as self-aware and reflective, both highly desirable attributes in a teacher. Corrected Weakness: Seeking advice Teachers are independent, but that can lead to isolation in problem solving, and some problems may necessitate advice from others.This is particularly true in dealing with confrontational situations such as dealing with an irate parent or a teachers aide who arrives late to your class every day. You might admit that you may have tried to solve some problems on your own, but upon reflection, felt it was necessary to seek the advice of others. You can explain how you found the teacher next door to you or an administrator was important in helping you address different kinds of uncomfortable confrontations. If you are an educator looking for first job, you may not have classroom experiences to use as examples. But dealing with confrontations is a life skill and not limited to the school building. In this case, you can provide examples of problem-solving confrontations you may have had at college or at another job. Seeking the advice of others shows that you can identify people or groups that can be resources instead of trying to tackle confrontational problems on your own. Self analysis Employers know job candidates have weaknesses, says Kent McAnally, director of career services at Washburn University. They want to know that we are doing the self-analysis to identify what ours are, he writes for the American Association for Employment in Education. Showing that you are taking steps to improve is essential to making a positive impression, but more importantly, it is essential for developing your personal and professional goals and development plans. And THAT is the real reason for the question. Tips to Master the Interview Be truthful.Do not try to guess what the interviewer wants to hear. Answer questions candidly and present your authentic self.Prepare for the question but do not let your answers sound coached.Remain positive as you explain how your weakness could be seen as a positive in the job.Avoid using negative words like â€Å"weak† and â€Å"failure.†Smile!

Problem of Trans-National Terrorism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Problem of Trans-National Terrorism - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that the multinational business enterprise and its attendant economic phenomenon of globalization have become ubiquitous in the new neo-liberal world order of the last few decades.   However, all too often, these enterprises’ activities have lacked prudence and foresight in terms of the consequences for the local populations.   Moreover, the loopholes of international business law allow these companies to go scot-free and evade accountability toward the citizens of the countries in which they operate.   Globalisation per se can either be beneficial or disadvantageous to a particular country.   But, recent evidence suggests that there are more cases of the latter than the former.   The culmination of this discontent among the masses of lesser developed regions of the world seems to fuel the fire of trans-national terrorism.   This essay tries to find how far true the criticisms directed at the phenomenon of neo-liberal glo balization are, and how much it is culpable for the propagation of terrorism. The primary criticism leveled against globalization is its lack of accountability toward the local and broader communities in which it functions.   While financial analysts can accurately evaluate the values of tangible assets, more often than not the measure of intangible consequences of a business corporation’s operations are not accounted. For example, let us take a company that out-sources manufacturing of cosmetics to a developing country.  

Author Case Study and an Application Case Study Essay

Author Case Study and an Application Case Study - Essay Example This was based on the understanding of economic development and how this was affected by the public administration which one was a part of. The different developments with public administration ultimately led to a large amount of differences with public administration and how it should be probed. The concepts that Lindblom was associated with were developed with public administration and the different arenas which it affected. Lindblom was interested in how the public administration could easily affect the structure and process of economics, social and cultural viewpoints. The concept of public administration became essential specifically by the need to control and develop the different structures which were associated with public administration. The first point which Lindblom shows is based on the social and organizational control structures. The belief is that any type of organization requires control structures to continue functioning and to balance out the social and economic order which one is a part of. Lindblom claims that the best way to do this is through unilateral controls, which consists of a hierarchy. He also states that it is possible to have effective controls with polyarchies and the market; however, these are limited based on the type of structure which one is in. The focus of each of these controls is based on maintaining, controlling and developing society under the leadership of a specific set of individuals. At the same time, there is the ability to control and monitor the public administration through the commands which are used by the administration (Fry, 264). The concept of controlling different social and cultural orders through social administration expands with the understanding that there has to be a balance between the rights and privileges of individuals while creating the necessary approach to different needs of those in society. This leads to Lindblom’s

Strikes Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Strikes - Research Paper Example As a means to an end, it recommends strategies that an organization can implement to maintain a successful working relationship with the unions. The management plays a pivotal role in a firm. It ensures that the working environment is conducive for the employees; hence, reducing cases of strikes. It also works jointly with the unions to improve the welfare of the workers and ensure high productivity. Additionally, it controls and manages the activities of the firm to guarantee smooth running of the business. Most of the organizations have unionized employees; thus, the unions ensure that the rights of the workers are fully protected. On the same note, they impact organizations negatively and positively. For instance, they ensure increased profitability, reduced turnover, and improved relationships with the employees. However, in case there are disagreements, there is likelihood of engaging in strikes; hence, low profit and negative publicity. In that case, organizations need to work jointly with the unions by seeing them as partners and developing a strategic partnership with them that is based on respect and trust (Ghosh, 2 005; Tschida, 2006). This discourse focuses on discussing the role of the management and unions in an organization. It also gives a detailed summary of the effects that unions have on the management. Finally, it recommends strategies that organizations can implement to create a productive working relationship with the unions. It is without doubt that the trade unions play a major role in enhancing productivity; thus, managers should work together to maintain a positive working setting that is based on mutual trust and social cohesion. Managers are paramount in a firm as they ensure all activities are in accordance to the stipulated goals. The main role of an organization’s management is to guide firms towards accomplishing their goals as well as

Orion Shield Project Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Orion Shield Project Analysis - Essay Example Due to his good work the company promoted him as the project manager for Orion Shield Project. However this appointment was the biggest error on the part of company. Lack of administrative knowledge and experience of Gary was the principal reason for the failure of the project. Apart from that lack of effective communication and truthfulness with the stakeholders of the project was also another rationale towards the failure. If Gary would have maintained honesty and open communication from the beginning of the project, it would have never failed. The poor decision making, unprofessional approach and unethical behavior also affected the stakeholders as well as the clients. Moreover it also affected the career of Gary Allison. Table of Contents Introduction 4 Case Analysis 5 References 9 Introduction Project management is an important and specialized task which requires a set of specific knowledge and expertise. Project management is the area which includes initiating, planning, system atizing, organizing, guiding and monitoring of the associated resources (Pmi, n.d.). Project management is mainly undertaken to meet the objectives of a particular project in a structured way and within the stipulated time frame. A project manager thus needs to have in-depth knowledge and proficiency in some specified area (Himss, n.d.). Some of those essential skills include preparation, financial management and planning, forecasting and also the most important task of assessing the risk associated with the project. Eminent scholars such as Schwalbe stated that the duty of a project manager is not only confined to meet the specified time, budget, scope, quality and requirements of the project, but also hold the liability to smoothen the progress of the entire process (Schwalbe, 2010, p.8). Apart from that project managers are also liable to satisfy the demands and other functional requirements of the people associated with the project. They should also counterbalance the challenges of a project (Heerkens, 2007, p.1). The activities of project may also impact or affect some of the communities, therefore the project manager also have the duty to look after such issues. In the context of the project of Orion shield do not falls in special category and required the same skills and expertise to accomplish the project successfully. The Orion shield project mainly failed due to poor handling and management. The project was mishandled from the beginning to the end of the project. Also as the project initiated, the program manager Gary Allison also did not approach the requirements of the stakeholders of the project. The project will now analyze whether Gary was the fittest person to carry out the task or it was a wrong selection. It will also emphasize whether the director of engineering, Henry Larson Selected the wrong person to be the program manager of the Orion Shield project. Lack of experience on the part of the project manager has mainly caused the problems in the project. The inexpertness of Gary Allison to handle such tasks has been also one of the reasons for creating this issue. Case Analysis Gary Alison was actually Ph. D in mechanical engineering. He was a talented project engineer in Scientific Engineering Corporation (SEC). However the good work has allowed the company to promote him as the program manager for the Orion Shield project. The Orion Shield project was valued more than $ 2 million. Initially Gary was in two minds but finally accepted the role the project manager of the as Project Manager of Orion Shield Project. Within the first 6 months of the job he stated that he was spending sleepless nights and was far more better when he was doing the engineering jobs. Therefore this clearly portrays that Gary was not at all comfortable

Business Relocating to Third World Countries Pay Cheap Essay

Business Relocating to Third World Countries Pay Cheap - Essay Example (Vestring Till et al, 2005) Source: Bain & Company, 2005. Reasons There are several reasons attributing to this shift of both the service sector and the manufacturing factories to third world countries. Apart from cheap labour that is available, people in these countries have become a highly educated workforce in terms of manufacturing, R&D and engineering. Countries like India and China have succeeded in providing cheap labour while at the same time maintaining quality. Data shows that 77 global companies have set shop in India. (Vestring Till et al, 2005) Cost of manufacturing in countries like Taiwan and Singapore is one fourth of the cost of manufacturing the same component in countries like Germany. Other reasons why some of these third world countries attract off shoring of factories is that it enables these MNC’s to expand market base. Having a manufacturing hub in Asia or Latin America helps them to cut transportation costs and engage in expanding business operations i n these countries. Emerson for example has put up shop in Asia and Mexico with its engineering and manufacturing being done at China, India and Philippines. Source: Bain & Company, 2005 Another major factor is the wide disparity in wages paid in the West and those in third world countries. A job that would require 20-30 dollars/ hour to be paid in the West could be completed in about 1 dollar/hour in China. (Vestring Till et al, 2005) Human right laws and adherence to such practices are also questionable in these countries. Severe lack of job opportunities, inflation and rising poverty indexes make employees work under harsh conditions without questioning authority. These have prompted civil society to question whether this kind of manipulation and exploitation of... This report stresses that the ethics of companies off shoring factories to third world countries and managing their business by paying meagre salaries and violating several labour laws regarding minimum wages and working hours are being debated constantly. It is true that to an extent the developed countries do not promote the growth of indigenous industries as it would severely impact their business. Import duties in rich countries on a variety of goods are high which discourages third world countries in developing their own industry. This paper makes a conclusion that several multinational companies over the last decade have relocated their factories and businesses to third world countries. This to an extent has managed to open up the economy of these countries by generating employment and also creating foreign exchange. In the face of stiff competition from emerging economies like China the concern of the business houses to look for cheaper avenues of manufacturing is true and needs to be considered. There are several examples of factories in third world countries running as per the stated labour laws of the particular nation but the number of companies doing it otherwise far exceeds those doing it ethically. It is therefore imperative that a fine balance needs to be struck between these extremes since it ultimately boils down to the question of human dignity, basic rights of fair wages, ethical business practices and whether you as a company or a consumer would want to be associated with a product that has been manufactured at the cost of another’s misery.

Søren Kierkegaard Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

SÃ ¸ren Kierkegaard - Essay Example He notably only traveled abroad five times, four times to Berlin and once to Sweden. Despite this fact, he still managed to take from his studies and many experiences to form a universal model for understanding the different stages and aspect of living. His many works garnered him acclaim among fellow scholars and mathematicians of his era, and like many of the greatest philosophers his works have been heralded as timeless. One of Kierkegaard's most notable works is his theory of the spheres of existence. For the philosopher, existence meant to become progressively more individualistic (Kierkegaard, 175). Keirkegaard believed this individualistic existence caused everyone to travel along a path toward self-realization and this process, he noted, had three stages. These stages being, Ethical, Religious and Aesthetic, as "All human beings are currently at one of this stages, depending on the extent to which they have achieved their life-project (Kierkegaard, 175)." By more individualistic, Kiekegaard means that through each stage individual gain a higher understanding of self than they had before and it is through the privileged perspective provided by the assessment of and graduation from the previous stage that allows the person to attain this new form of self. Kiekegaard goes on to further note that, "Each stage is a way of seeing life, a way of understanding the world. They are different ways of livi ng out one's existence, independent spheres of life, situations which embody a certain stability. Living fully in the aesthetic sphere will never lead to the ethical one, and the upholding of ethics will never open the door to religion." He closes by pointing out that no one stage can completely dominate and individual's life and if one were to allows this to happen they would stay stagnant and not progress through the stages. Aesthetics The first stage of Kierkegaard's progression of existential stages is aesthetics recognized as the 'immersion in sensuous experience; valorization of possibility over actuality; egotism; fragmentation of the subject of experience; nihilistic wielding of irony and skepticism; and flight from boredom (Stanford, p1)." This stage of existence is a very selfish one that involves excessive self-indulgence. Kierkegaard refers to temptation and the appreciation and distraction of beauty a lot in this section.Ethics Ethics in Kierkegard's work has more than one meaning, "It is used to denote both: (i) a limited existential sphere, or stage, which is superseded by the higher stage of the religious life; and (ii) an aspect of life which is retained even within the religious life (Stanford, p1)." This is basically the stage where one starts to asses their life and view themselves objectively. It is recognized as the stage of reasoning this stage is 'limited' in that it is the stage that comes before the religious stage, but it is retained within the religious stage in that the traits used in the ethical stage must also be used to make the valuable choices in the religious stage. Ultimately the final obligation to transition from Ethics into the religious stage is to completely relinquish one's reliance on reason for one's trust in faith. Religion The final stage of existence that Kierkegaard recognizes is the stage of Religion, and specifically Christianity. Kierkegaard

Business Relocating to Third World Countries Pay Cheap Essay

Business Relocating to Third World Countries Pay Cheap - Essay Example (Vestring Till et al, 2005) Source: Bain & Company, 2005. Reasons There are several reasons attributing to this shift of both the service sector and the manufacturing factories to third world countries. Apart from cheap labour that is available, people in these countries have become a highly educated workforce in terms of manufacturing, R&D and engineering. Countries like India and China have succeeded in providing cheap labour while at the same time maintaining quality. Data shows that 77 global companies have set shop in India. (Vestring Till et al, 2005) Cost of manufacturing in countries like Taiwan and Singapore is one fourth of the cost of manufacturing the same component in countries like Germany. Other reasons why some of these third world countries attract off shoring of factories is that it enables these MNC’s to expand market base. Having a manufacturing hub in Asia or Latin America helps them to cut transportation costs and engage in expanding business operations i n these countries. Emerson for example has put up shop in Asia and Mexico with its engineering and manufacturing being done at China, India and Philippines. Source: Bain & Company, 2005 Another major factor is the wide disparity in wages paid in the West and those in third world countries. A job that would require 20-30 dollars/ hour to be paid in the West could be completed in about 1 dollar/hour in China. (Vestring Till et al, 2005) Human right laws and adherence to such practices are also questionable in these countries. Severe lack of job opportunities, inflation and rising poverty indexes make employees work under harsh conditions without questioning authority. These have prompted civil society to question whether this kind of manipulation and exploitation of... This report stresses that the ethics of companies off shoring factories to third world countries and managing their business by paying meagre salaries and violating several labour laws regarding minimum wages and working hours are being debated constantly. It is true that to an extent the developed countries do not promote the growth of indigenous industries as it would severely impact their business. Import duties in rich countries on a variety of goods are high which discourages third world countries in developing their own industry. This paper makes a conclusion that several multinational companies over the last decade have relocated their factories and businesses to third world countries. This to an extent has managed to open up the economy of these countries by generating employment and also creating foreign exchange. In the face of stiff competition from emerging economies like China the concern of the business houses to look for cheaper avenues of manufacturing is true and needs to be considered. There are several examples of factories in third world countries running as per the stated labour laws of the particular nation but the number of companies doing it otherwise far exceeds those doing it ethically. It is therefore imperative that a fine balance needs to be struck between these extremes since it ultimately boils down to the question of human dignity, basic rights of fair wages, ethical business practices and whether you as a company or a consumer would want to be associated with a product that has been manufactured at the cost of another’s misery.

Preparing to Conduct Business Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Preparing to Conduct Business Research - Essay Example Identity theft as Sennewald & Christman (2008) assert, occurs when an individual uses another individual’s information or personal details as his/her own in order to engage in fraudulent activities or other crimes. The growth of identity theft affects the retail world immensely. The issue of retail identity theft can be solved through an exploratory research. The application of both qualitative and quantitative research designs would ascertain a highly credible, precise, and accurate research. The designs will explore the topic from different points of reference through the application of different methods. The application of a single research design, whether the qualitative research design or the quantitative design would lead to inefficiency in the determination of the seriousness of the issue, and the probable solution. On the one hand, using the quantitative research design will lead to a high degree accuracy in the quantification of retail identity theft. The research method will make it possible to collect measurable data, which through numerical comparisons, will be analysed and presented through easy to interpret methods. In addition, the application of the quantitative method will be of great importance in reporting the collected data since it appl ies standard statistical analyses, which are comprehensible and understandable (McLeod, 2008). On the other hand, the incorporation of the qualitative method during the conduction of the research will enhance the effectiveness of the study through the improvement of the accuracy of the results. The qualitative research design will focus on the identification of the motives, the driving forces, and the triggers of the behaviour. In addition, the design will enhance the credibility of the research through the incorporation of a participant observation techniques, interviews with victims of identity theft, and reformed identity thieves among other methods. Through these methods, the research will possibly

The Marketing Strategy Of Apple Inc And Its Effectiveness

The Marketing Strategy Of Apple Inc And Its Effectiveness After reviewing the list of available topics for the 2012 Oxford Brookes Research and Analysis Project, I was most drawn to the topic A review of the Marketing Strategy of an organisation and its success because this relationship between the marketing strategy and organisational success is an area of high interest to me. I believe that undertaking this project will expose me to the real life interplay of the marketing models in the implementation of the business strategy of an organisation and help me to understand how a good marketing strategy can result in the success or otherwise of an organisations business strategy. Being much aware of how between 1995 and 1997 Apple Incorporated (then Apple Computers Incorporated) almost went bankrupt with $1 billion in backorders (California Digital Library, 1998); I believe that Apple Incorporated will be a fit candidate for this project analysis to show how an effective marketing strategy turned a failing company into the most valuable corporate body in share prices in under a decade (BBC UK, 2012). 1.2 Brief historic overview of Apple Inc. and its development: Apple Inc. wholly-owned subsidiary involved in the design, manufacture and marketing of mobile communication devices, computers and portable digital devices, including related software solutions and peripherals. Apple was established in 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak and Incorporated on January 3, 1977 in Cupertino, California (California Digital Library, 1998). Initially a success, infighting and a power struggle between founder Jobs and CEO John Sculley on which products to develop and market led to Jobs resigning from Apple in 1985 (California Digital Library, 1998). Misguided product development, poor research into consumer products and a failure to understand consumer needs led to a fall in market share, profits and faced near bankruptcy in 1996 after huge losses and unfulfilled backorders (California Digital Library, 1998). A restructuring of products and a strategic partnership with Microsoft to invest $150 Million in non-voting Apple shares and making available Office, Internet and development tools on Apples Macintosh computers, helped keep Apple afloat (CNET News, 1997). Apple currently is a market leader in the Mobile Computing industry with a much diversified range of products; including the iPod, iPhone, iPad, Macintosh Computers. 1.3 Project Objectives: The objectives I aim to achieve by undertaking this project work include: To understand how the ANSOFF and Marketing Mix models are applied to the market/product relationship and the overall development of a marketing strategy for an organisation. To review the marketing strategy of Apple using the ANSOFF and Marketing Mix models and access how the market/ products of Apple are developed effectively marketed to their consumer base. To access the contribution(s) that the application of these models by Apple Incorporated has made to their financial performance. This assessment will include: The contribution to net sales from their main market products. Access the effectiveness of their marketing costs to net sales. 1.4 Overall Research Approach The research is centred on the analysis and review of the marketing strategy of Apple Incorporated by evaluating their product development and marketing strategies from the ANSOFF and Marketing Mix models. The research approach which will enable me meet the outlined objectives will include a mix of theoretical models and making inductive conclusions from their practical application by Apple. Deductive assessment from qualitative and quantitative contributions to the success of Apple by their applications of the functions of these models will be made from the financial statements of Apple and from Industry and Media publications. Chapter 2 Information Gathering In this research and analysis project there were mainly two sources of information I considered; primary and secondary. 2.1 Sources of Information Primary Sources Primary sources are the first hand information gathered by the researcher directly in the research field from his subjects and are usually in their crude form (Yale University, 2008). Methods for obtaining primary data include: Questionnaires and Oral Interviews I will not make use of the primary data sources due to constraints including: Financial constraints, time limit, subject location and the non-response of the subject to my request for information. Secondary Sources Secondary sources of information are that which is available to a researcher as a result of other research work or publications in a relevant field; this necessarily will not mean similar or same research objectives; but does make the relevant fact and data available to a secondary researcher (University of Illinois, 2011). Sources of secondary data include Industry related and media publications, Textbooks, Financial reports, etc. I will make use of secondary data sources as they were more convenient to the constraints I faced. My sources of secondary data included: Industry and Media Publications: I will make use of publications and tools from experts in the computing industry including reports from C.Net, Web Archives Organisation and The Car Phone Warehouse. References will also be made to major events and activities of the Apple in media and news publications and some of which include the Financial Times, The Guardian, The New York Times, The BBC and CNN. This enabled me to access independent views on the success or otherwise of Apples marketing strategy. Library research: During the research I frequented my local library in Leyton, the library of the London School of Economics (LSE) and the Library of the London School of Business and Finance. This facilitated me on my understanding of the ANSOFF and Marketing Mix models and their theoretical development. Electronic Research: I also made use of the internet to gather the majority of information I needed to analyse the history, development and current strategic position of Apple Incorporated, to which the website of the SEC, www.sec.gov, provided me with financial publications and reports. I also found information on the prices of relevant competitive products including the Samsung, HTC and VIM (Black Berry) from industry participants like the Car Phone Warehouse, www.carphonewarehouse.com. 2.3 Ethical Considerations of the Project: As an ACCA student and having written the Ethics and corporate governance module I do understand clearly the ethical situations that can arise from analysing an organisations strategies. I have as such made no attempt to obtain or disclose any top level information or data that might jeopardise the long term strategic position of my subject of study: Apple Incorporated. All the information that I will use in my analysis are publicly available from Apples financial reports and from various other industry and media outlets. References will be made to these media outlets, news events and such relevant information in the financial statements of Apple and all such sources will be disclosed as due and correctly attributed to. To the best of my knowledge neither myself nor any close relative hold any form of financial instrument, shares or stock in Apple or any competitor in the mobile electronics industry and as such I do not seek to profit from this research for any effects it might have on such instruments. 2.4 Theoretical base and definition of Models The ANSOFF Model developed by H. Ansoff (Johnson et al 2005) is a product/market growth matrix that allows an organisation to generate alternative directions for its strategic development. Alternative strategic directions are options of products and market coverage that are available to an organisation taking into account their strategic capability and the expectations of stakeholders (Johnson et al, 2005). Protect / Build Product Development Consolidation With existing capabilities Market Penetration Beyond current expectations With new capabilities Market Development Diversification New segments With existing capabilities New territories With new capabilities New uses with new capabilities Beyond current expectations Beyond current expectations Source: H. Ansoff (1988) as cited by Johnson et al (2005). An organisation typically starts from the position of building or protecting their market presence with its existing products in their existing market (Box 1). The organisation then has the choice of pushing further the same product in that very market or moving to developing new products in that market (Box 2). The organisation can also bring their existing products into new markets (Box 3) and finally the last and most radical option of diversifying into a new market with a new product (Box 4). (Box 1) Protect / Build: According to Johnson et al (2005) this involves consolidating and strengthening their current market status with their current products. This may require just increasing the efficiency of their processes by downsizing some activities. This approach is much preferred stagnant markets and requires much competitive advantage or edge to win over customers from competitors. Box 2 Product Development: A business resides in an environment and changes in that environment will demand new products or services at the expense of an established product. An organisation then delivers these modified or new products to existing markets. Product development is most utilised by industries with short product life cycle software and consumer electronics (Johnson et al, 2005). Box 3 Market Development: This is the case where existing products are offered to new markets which may include exploiting into other market segments, developing new users for existing products and advancing on the geographical stage both nationally and internationally. In all cases, it is prudential that market development strategies are based on products or services that meet the critical success factors of the intended new market. As simply on offloading traditional products or services into new markets are likely to fail. Market development also requires a degree of product and capability development (Johnson et al, 2005). Box 4 Diversification: This is a strategy that removes an organisation away from their current markets and products; that is their established comfort zone of domination as one may put it (Johnson et al, 2005). Diversification increases the market power that the head office must oversee and may be in response to a market decline, an attempt to spread risk or as a corporate response to the expectations of powerful stakeholders. Diversification can be understood in two ways; Related and Unrelated. Related diversification is seen as a strategic development beyond current products and markets; but within the capabilities or value network of the organisation. Unrelated diversification has to do with developing beyond the current capabilities or current value system and this is often referred to as conglomerate strategy (Johnson et al, 2005). An organisation can make a choice as to which of the function(s) of the model to apply in its strategic options. When this option has been made an organisation then has to develop a marketing approach to gain the advantage over their competitors. Marketing Model (Marketing Mix): Marketing is the management process responsible for identifying, anticipating and satisfying customer requirements profitably; it is widely used as a concept or a process and to cover a series of techniques (CIM, 2012). Marketing strategy therefore reflects a companys best options as to how it can most profitably apply its skills and resources to the chosen product and segment market Consumers have needs and wants, and are placed into segments based on those needs, but understanding the nature of customers and their needs is only just but the first step in implementing a business strategy. An organisation needs to communicate to the consumer why their product fulfils these needs and the tools used in this communication form the basis of the marketing mix model; being the Product, Price, Place and Promotion, also known as the 4Ps. The 4 Ps model was developed by McCarthy (Kotler et al, 2008) but modern scholars have identified 3 more Ps, People, Processes and Physical evidence that are more at play in the service sector, Booms and Bitner in (1981), as cited by Brassington and Pettit (2006). Product: This is what the customer receives from the organisation or manufacturer; totality of goods and services that the company offers the target market. (Kotler et al, 2008:49). A product goes beyond just the item sold, and is not only what to make, but how, when and its life span of feasible production. In marketing terms a product is split between the actual product and the augmented product. The actual product in its simple terms must satisfy the basic needs of the customer; and thus can be termed as the threshold product. However if an organisation seeks to survive in a changing market, it must provide more than the basic product. Price: The price is the amount of money the customer parts with in order to acquire the product; and may involve more than just the basic and straightforward calculation of costs and expected profit margins of the organisation (Brassington and Pettit, 2006). A common trait with price; regardless of the basis of calculation; is that it must reflect the value the customer holds to the product. This is a customers individual behaviour trait as Brassington and Pettit (2006) noted; and is a judgemental perception of what they are getting for their money, what options their spending power held for them and how much the amount relatively means to them. External factors that affect price include competitors and the general economy. The influence of pricing on the success of the overall marketing mix approach can be established with Bowmans Strategic clock model which shows the link between the perceived value of product, the price and its chances of success. A product that fails to communicate the appreciable value / price ratio to consumers will fail. The Strategic Clock Model, (C. Bowman and D. Faulkner 1997) Brassington and Pettit (2006), notes that within a given economic situation price sends all sorts of messages to the customers; it indicate quality and desirability and in the eyes of competitors it is seen as a challenge as low pricing can indicate a price war and high pricing leaves room for a competitor to undercut. Internal factors that may affect pricing include required return or shareholder expectations, cost of manufacture. Pricing is the most flexible element of the marketing mix but it is also quite a dangerous element to play with (Brassington and Pettit 2006). Place: Once the product and the price have been determined, the customer must be able to purchase the product. This can be directly from the manufacturer or from an intermediary or distributor. There are various modes of distribution in order to transfer the product to the customer; from simple mail order to long and complex distribution chains. Place in the modern era of marketing has also taken the electronic edge and includes the internet and telephone orders. The Place function is not just about the movement and transfer of goods, it is about manipulation, competitive advantage and power of bargain between the consumer and the manufacturer (Brassington and Pettit 2006). Promotion: Product promotion is about communicating to the consumer or customer. An organisation has a product that may be competing with several others to satisfy a customers need. The act of convincing consumers on why an organisations products are the best in fulfilling their need is what promotion is all about. Often seen as the most active and glamorous part of marketing, it does demand a daunting amount of artistic endeavour and can be used to overcome setbacks an organisation may have in the other aspects of the marketing mix. Promotion in totality however contains two main acts: pull promotions that attempt to attract the consumer to purchase the product and push promotions that aim for retailers or intermediaries, encourage them to purchase the product and promote them to their own consumers. Promotion involves not just advertising but also discounts or sales promotions, personal selling, branding and public relations (Brassington and Pettit 2006). People, Processes and Physical Presence: Booms and Bitner (1981), as cited by Brassington and Pettit (2006), added 3 more Ps (People, Processes and Physical Presence) to the initial 4 Ps model to reflect the extra activities in the marketing of services. People reflect the human aspect of rendering a service to a consumer. A customer that feels comfortable with a particular service provider trusts them and has a rapport with them; forms a relationship with that provider that a competitor will find hard to break into. People add value to the service package that goes beyond what the service aims to offer (Brassington and Pettit 2006). Process concerns the live provision and consumption of a service; which is much different to the hidden processes of manufacturing sectors. A service provider has to maintain consistency with the consumer this involves specific quality controls, training, manuals of service, time of service and a professional level of quality (Brassington and Pettit, 2006). Physical Evidence has to do with how an organisation maintains an ambience of their principal locality of rendering services for the consumer. This is a premises from which their service is sold or delivered and includes how appealing it is in terms of maintenance, design and accessibility. This can include the airplane one boards when they book a flight, the room they sleep in when they book a hotel (Brassington and Pettit 2006). 2.5 Limitations of the report This report has limitation due to the constraints it was subject to and the intrinsic limitations of the theoretical models. The unavailability of primary data has restrained this reports view of scope to the secondary data and the financial statements of Apple Incorporated. Constraints that limit the scope and dept of the report also include the number of words which as underlined in the project outline is a maximum of 6,500 words. Time has also been a constraining factor limiting the extent to which the research could be carried out. The location of the study subject, Apple Incorporated has also made it impossible to study the cultural influences and other market factors, apart from marketing strategy, that could and can affect the success. The nature of the theoretical models ANSOFF and the Marketing Mix model restrains their exact application and thus analysing their real life application. These models like all theoretical models may not necessarily be reflected in their totality when applied and certain assumptions need to be made in order to analyse their effectiveness. Chapter 3 3.1 Application of Models and Analysis An assessment of the current marketing strategy of Apple Incorporated using the ANSOFF and 7 Ps Marketing Mix modules will set a point out on what exactly Apple does and how this has been effectively reflected in their success. Outline of ANSOFF Model as Applied By Apple: Market Penetration: Apple from its period of incorporation had been focused on gaining a market share in the computer and I.T industry and although they had a reflection of research into other I.T based products; their main focus was on a limited product spectrum which included the Apple II, Lisa and Later the Macintosh computers (California Digital Library, 1998). They based this market penetration strategy on their style and brand appeal, and sought to grow their market share the more. This clearly fitted into the ANSOFF model function of market penetration and market consolidation strategy. This approach however begun to recede in the 1990s as their strategic competitors Microsoft and IBM outgrew Apples market share with much cheaper and more innovative computers which in addition capitalised on the inability of Apples computers to integrate with other industry standard software and computers (Jim Carlton, 1998). Market Development Function: Apples market spans across the globe and is segmented on a regional and product basis including consumer, business, education, enterprise and government organisations that make use of the power and productivity of Apples products. This market has been developed with focus on product differentiation and enhanced knowledgeable sales persons, which allows the easy conveyance of value of products to consumers (Apple Inc, 2011). Apple is also active in the reseller and third-party locations market including Apple Premium Reseller Program which allow high level integration and support services to their products (Apple Inc, 2011). This high value market development is directly linked to their products which are developed on value, ease of use and integration. Product Development Function: Being involved in the mobile computing industry which is highly characterized by frequent product introductions and rapid technological advances requires strategic application of the product development function of the marketing mix model. iPod: This is a portable digital music player introduced in 2001as a niche product it clearly struck a nerve with a new generation of electronic users. With the traditional PC being regarded as my parents computer or the official business computer, Apple identified a market that desired the portability of an electronic music player and the storage prowess of a computer for that music data. It includes the iPod touch, iPod nano, iPod shuffle and iPod classic all of which work with iTunes and related accessories both Apples and third-party compatibles. Apple sold more than 15 million units in the last three months of 2005 and helping double the quarterly profits of Apple from $255 Million in 2004 to $565 Million in 2005 (BBC UK, 2006). The graph 3.1 shows how this product dominates the mobile music devices industry. Graph 3.1 Source: IDC, 2006 as cited CNN Money, 2006. Apple US Electronics Music Player Market Share iPhone: Developed in early 2007, the iPhone combines a smart mobile phone, an iPod and an internet communications device; as then CEO Steve Jobs put it a widescreen iPod with touch controls, a revolutionary phone and a break through internet communicator (Anthony Imbimbo, 2009). It also includes accessories that allow it to communicate with other Apple products and tools that elaborate on ease of use, value and user friendliness. Within three months Apple had sold 270,000 iPhone devices and generated $5 Million of net revenue for the 3rd quarter of 2007, (Apple Inc, 2007). Graph 3.2 Sources: Apple Incorporated Financial Statements, 2010 2011, Growth in Net iPhone Sales Between 2008 2011. Graph 3.3 Sources: Apple Incorporated Financial Statements, 2010 2011. Percentage Growth Net iPhone Sales to Net Sales 2008 2011. Graph 3.2 and 3.3 above indicate how the iPhone product grew rapidly and its net contributions to sales. Mac: This is the personal computing product which includes desktop and portable computers, related devices and third party hardware products. They are designed to target high end business and professional customers. iPad: In the first quarter of 2012 Apple introduced the iPad which like the iPod touch and iPhone is based on the multi-touch technology, showing how using their existing capabilities Apple develops products to fulfil market needs (Apple Press Info, 2010). Described as a multi-purpose mobile device for browsing the web, reading and various other functions, the market reception of the iPad was so successful that Apple sold 300,000 within the first twenty-four hours of its launch (Ars Technica, 2010). Graph 3.4 shows the accelerated growth of net sales contribution from the iPad product. Graph 3.4 Sources: Apple Incorporated Financial Statements, 2011. Percentage Growth in Net iPad Sales to Net Sales Between 2010 and 2011. This simultaneous implementation of the product and market development functions of the ANSOFF model clearly follows in line with Johnson et al (2005) observation that market development requires a degree of both products development and capability development. Chart 3.5 Sources: Apple Incorporated Financial Statements, 2011, Percentage of Products to Net Sales. Chart 3.5 above shows the net contribution to net sales from the most recent products from Apple Incorporated. iTunes and iCloud: The iTunes offers a tool for organising digital files on apples devices on both Windows and Mac platforms it is integrated into the iTunes Store which allows the rental and purchase of digital products from Apple accredited sellers, including the App Store and iBookstore with one account (Apple Inc, 2011). The iTunes interface provides an integration platform for all devices one may own allowing files to be wireless pushed to all devices (Apple Inc, 2011). Extending on the iTunes digital hub integration, Apple introduced the iCloud in October 2011, which allows consumers to store and share all their files across all Apple devices they own, perform backups and various other functions including managing mail and contacts. This digital hub ideology allows Apple to provide the augmented services that make their products value stand above those of their competitors. Software Products and Computer Technologies: Apple offers a range of computer softwares for education, enterprise and government customers including the Mac OS X, iLife 11, iWork 09, server software and professional application software including Final Cut Pro, Logic Studio etc (Apple Inc, 2011). Apple also builds software for their mobile devices supported by the iOS architecture and offers these augmenting products to enhance the customer use and value of their products. Display Peripheral Products: Apple has a range of peripherals and display devices including the Apple LED Cinema Display, AppleTV and Thunderbold Display, Apple also offers several third-party augmenting devices that add value to their products (Apple Inc, 2011). Diversification Functions: When Apple introduced the iTunes and iTunes Store product they created a completely different product line that strays from their electronics products lines and yet offers more augmented value to their mobile devices. This online music store can be seen as a concentric or related diversification that provided a platform where the music industry could sell its products easily to the rapidly growing market of iPod and iPhone users. This diversification has been so successful that Apples online music store the iTunes overtook the largest music retailers in number of songs sold in 2008, (Apple Press Info, 2008). Source: ArsTechnica 2008, Apple iTunes Store Music Sales by % Volume. A more detailed analysis shows how Apple changed the way consumers purchase music from buying a whole album to allowing selection of a particular track or set of tracks. This lies in related horizontal diversification as Johnson et al (2005) pointed out as activities that are complimentary to the parents core activity network. Apple clearly uses a combination of the ANSOFF product, market development and diversification functions to effectively contribute to its success as a mobile I.T manufacturer. Application of the 7P Marketing Mix Model by Apple Incorporated Apple applies the 7P marketing model by either identifying a specific markets needs or by creating a market by defining products that address the needs of their target segment consumers. Product: Apple defines their products with the final consumer in focus and does not seek to gain all the consumers in the market; rather they focus on the Value seeking consumers and thus all of Apples products are designed to satisfy the needs of these value consumers. Products are designed with each aspect specifically detailed to achieve an advantage over equivalent competitor products including; superior ease of use, seamless integration and innovative design (Apple Inc, 2010). As Kotler et al (2008) describes, Apple provides augmenting services and peripherals for almost all of their product lines including maintaining compatibility to older generations and other third-party devices and software. These services, which are additional to all Apple products as basic packages at no and extra packages at extra costs allows consumers to continuously add more value to their products to fulfil their evolving needs. Currently as I write this report, Apple has launched several series of product upgrades and differentiation within the iPhone, iPod and iPad for other value consumers identified in their market segment whose needs the current products do not meet; including the iPhone 5, iPod Touch, iPad Mini and the Mac Book Pro and iMac (Apple Online Store, 2012). Pricing: One other aspect of the Marketing mix model which Apple applies effectively is the pricing of their products. Apple markets itself as a high end product manufacturer with a high-quality buying experience for their target consumers, and this is reflected in their pricing. Apples products are higher in prices in a comparison to their market competitors but this it leverages with its unique ability to design and develop its own operating systems, hardware, application software and services and provide its customers with new products and solutions of superior ease of use, seamless integration and innovative design. Apple believes in high quality sales and after sales support experience and ensures that although their prices are higher than any competitor; the final end consumer knows that the quality of product, sales and after sales support is second to none (Apple Inc, 2011). From C. Bowman and D. Faulkners (1996) strategic clock model, Apple Incorporated can be seen to be solely concentrated on a high value high price relationship which they also described as focused product differentiation. A samples analysis of the current UK mobile phone market prices ranges between the major market competitors and Apples iPhone product belo

The Metamorphosis of Anne in The Diary of Anne Frank Essay example --

The Metamorphosis of Anne in The Diary of Anne Frank        Ã‚  Ã‚   A young girl, Anneliese Marie Frank, receives an empty jar of a diary for her thirteenth birthday, amidst much political strife in her new home country of Netherlands. As a German-born Jew in hiding, Anne will eventually fill her diary with over 2 years of experiences of the Secret Annex. Initially, she makes use of her newfound outlet to exhibit her growing interest to become a writer. The diary, for Anne, acts as her personal confidante before her family goes into hiding, and becomes even more valued to her during their ordeal. Eventually, in 1944, Anne will hear of an opportunity for her work to be published after the war, and sets out to revise her entries. Despite this, it does not take away from the appeal for readers of her diary. The audience, as it were, is attracted to the prospect of experiencing the life and times of a person: young, female, Jewish and in hiding. As a diary, there is no foreshadowing in its content, and although in context we und erstand the inevitable end, we suspend our disbelief to immerse ourselves in the story. The narrative voices of her diary, come with several different identities too. As "Anne", herself, complete with her own feelings of awkwardness and insecurity; "Anne", the girl who ponders and philosophizes; and "Kitty", creating an identity for her diary to lay the basis for a relationship for herself. Between the duality of her personality, and the perspective of her "diary", Anne Frank demonstrates a process in realizing her own maturity as a writer.    Living in the confinement of the Annex imposes a cruel circumstance upon Anne at a critical time in her life. As an emerging teenager, dealing... ...lf, the content of her diary demonstrates how she has melded her unique experience with her personality to carve out her own sense of self. Where she began as an innocent and somewhat naà ¯ve girl, she does not lose this sense of innocence. What she does is replace this naivete with a conscious awareness of the scope of her existence, in terms of realizing the potential for her future. It's no coincidence that being the socially inclined girl she was at school, meant she adapted to life in the Annex through a diary to create a portrait of her life in hiding through her work. For Anne, not only was her diary her personal outlet, but a prism by which she could reflect on herself through her many colourful identities.    Works Cited Frank, Anne. The Diary of A Young Girl. Eds. Otto H. Frank and Miriam Pressler. Definitive ed. New York: Bantam, 1997. The Metamorphosis of Anne in The Diary of Anne Frank Essay example -- The Metamorphosis of Anne in The Diary of Anne Frank        Ã‚  Ã‚   A young girl, Anneliese Marie Frank, receives an empty jar of a diary for her thirteenth birthday, amidst much political strife in her new home country of Netherlands. As a German-born Jew in hiding, Anne will eventually fill her diary with over 2 years of experiences of the Secret Annex. Initially, she makes use of her newfound outlet to exhibit her growing interest to become a writer. The diary, for Anne, acts as her personal confidante before her family goes into hiding, and becomes even more valued to her during their ordeal. Eventually, in 1944, Anne will hear of an opportunity for her work to be published after the war, and sets out to revise her entries. Despite this, it does not take away from the appeal for readers of her diary. The audience, as it were, is attracted to the prospect of experiencing the life and times of a person: young, female, Jewish and in hiding. As a diary, there is no foreshadowing in its content, and although in context we und erstand the inevitable end, we suspend our disbelief to immerse ourselves in the story. The narrative voices of her diary, come with several different identities too. As "Anne", herself, complete with her own feelings of awkwardness and insecurity; "Anne", the girl who ponders and philosophizes; and "Kitty", creating an identity for her diary to lay the basis for a relationship for herself. Between the duality of her personality, and the perspective of her "diary", Anne Frank demonstrates a process in realizing her own maturity as a writer.    Living in the confinement of the Annex imposes a cruel circumstance upon Anne at a critical time in her life. As an emerging teenager, dealing... ...lf, the content of her diary demonstrates how she has melded her unique experience with her personality to carve out her own sense of self. Where she began as an innocent and somewhat naà ¯ve girl, she does not lose this sense of innocence. What she does is replace this naivete with a conscious awareness of the scope of her existence, in terms of realizing the potential for her future. It's no coincidence that being the socially inclined girl she was at school, meant she adapted to life in the Annex through a diary to create a portrait of her life in hiding through her work. For Anne, not only was her diary her personal outlet, but a prism by which she could reflect on herself through her many colourful identities.    Works Cited Frank, Anne. The Diary of A Young Girl. Eds. Otto H. Frank and Miriam Pressler. Definitive ed. New York: Bantam, 1997.