Critical review of Narratives of Islamic Origins, The beginnings of Essay

Critical re placement of Narratives of Islamic Origins, The beginnings of Islamic historic writing, by Fred M Donner. On Introducti - Essay ExampleDonner succinctly outlines some of the main problems with the early Islamic sources in his psychiatric hospital Chronological discrepancies and absurdities abound, as do flat contradictions in the meaning of events, or even, less(prenominal) frequently, on their fundamental course. Many accounts present information that seems clearly anachronistic others provide ample order of embellishment or outright invention to serve the purpose of political or religious providedificative (6). The late Albrecht Noth opened the debate which challenged the conventional, al closely literal approach to the Islamic source material in 1973, arguing that many of the accounts were merely anecdotes and themes used by the authors in the contexts they thought appropriate. In this latest work, Donner has build heavily on the work of the latter. Wansbrough pr oduced a more radical critique in 1977, which was developed by Crone and Cook. They asserted that many of the established truths concerning the Prophets lifetime could not be interpreted for granted. ... Narratives of Islamic Origins, from the introduction to the conclusion, Donner makes clear that he is an opponent of Crones Hagarism, which he refers to as the radically skeptical approach. Much of the introduction of devoted to this refutation. Even from this summary, it is clear that the history of early Islam is one of the most bitterly-contested fields in modern historiography, and due to the polarisation of the debate, it is unlikely to be smoothed over in the near future. With his contribution, Donner whoremonger scarcely have been hoping to categorically resolve any of the issues at stake. However, in a way somewhat similar to the work of Robert Hoyland, Donner is beginning to build a middle ground in the debate, in which the Islamic sources need not be rejected or passionat ely advocated, but can be included in a careful and scholarly analysis of the period. Donners Narratives of Islamic Origins is just that a comprehensive and thoroughly scholarly analysis to a wide body of primary sources, which adds subaltern new to the overarching debate, but does distil some important issues. We are concerned in this review with the introduction of the book, which offers a basic summary of Donners main argument, and the preoccupations which have motivated the study, and with chapter 5, entitled, Themes of Prophecy. The introduction focuses on the intellectual context of early Islam, and especially on the key issue of establishing the Quran as a text which existed in some form from the earliest period. This is obviously crucial to the way in which we view this document. Those who tended towards Crones view argue that the Quran is a later construction, put together from fabled sayings of the Prophet. It is held by this school to be a collection of sayings

Knowledge Management in Accenture 1992 - January 2001 Essay

Knowledge guidance in Accenture 1992 - January 2001 - Essay ExampleIn the case of Accenture, the various issues related to the daily organizational employment have to be analyzed in found to identify the facts that have caused delays to the wholes breeding in the long term. For this reason, the identification of the blottos key managerial practices is necessary in hostelry to understand the organise and the ethics of the firms administration and design the appropriate plans for the development of organizational procedure.In order to identify the problems related with a firms performance within the world-wide foodstuff, it is necessary primarily to describe the organizational environment referring to the key achievements of the firm both in its market and internationally. Accenture is a leading firm in the management consultancy and IT sector with approximately 75,000 employees worldwide. In August 2001 the firm entered the New York Stock Exchange. The firms knowledge mana gement (KM) department has just a a couple of(prenominal) top executives and follows its own strategic plans. The structure of the operational activities has been proved quite important for the development of the firm up to now. Through the years, the firms structure has been reviewed and updated in order to meet the requirements of the market and the demands of customers or so the world. For the future, it is necessary the Accenture will review its organizational practices and proceed to any requested change in order to meet the challenges set by its competitors within the international market. The current paper focuses on the strategic performance of Accenture (or ACN as it is known within the New York Stock Exchange) from 1992 up to 2001. The firms organizational structure for the above period will be examined and analyzed appropriate recommendations will be then suggested severe to present a framework that could lead to the improvement of the firms performance for the above m entioned period.

Service Recovery Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

return Recovery - Research Paper ExampleIn order to conduct legal proceeds recuperation, it is paramount that management institutes a cross-functional approach, which acquires a marketing perspective, management perspective and an operations perspective. This essentially entails client recovery, employee recovery and process recovery respectively. This paper will examine the three elements of overhaul recovery, discussing the stovepipe practice of service recovery through the extensive examination of the literature. Through the examination of the three primary(prenominal) service recovery approaches in a number of industries, this paper will offer eight describe hurdles that institutions have to overcome to bridge the gap between best service recovery practices and the avowedly recovery practices and suggest how to do so. Importance of Service Recovery Service recovery entails actions that a service provider institutes in response to a failure in terms of service delivery. Such a failure occurs when the perceptions of customers of the service provided do non match their expectations. As per this definition, it is evident that service recovery is not limited to service industries. Empirical research demonstrates that managing problems effectively entails the most vital component of a societys reputation for excellent service delivery in institutions and industries. This means that a party that serves any internal or external customers should accept that failures are bound to happen thus the essential occasion is to institute systems and procedures that counter such failures. In recent years, a number of empirical studies have dealt with service recovery in numerous industries globally (Maxham and Netemeyer 61). Concern in service recovery has developed because companies and industries rate that poor service experiences are the main reason for customer switching, which also results in loss, in customer lifetime value. However, a viable service re covery system is noteworthy as it has immense, positive impacts on customer satisfaction, customer loyalty, word-of-mouth behaviour and subsequently, customer profitability. While certain studies carry that great initial service is better than excellent service recovery, other empirical studies suggest that an excellent service recovery can result in even greater customer loyalty and satisfaction than if a company did nothing wrong in the initial place. This paradox is referred to as the service recovery paradox and holds true in most instances (McCollough 56). Literature on interdisciplinary services provides a rich source of insight and research on effective service recovery (Bell. and Zemke 33). The literature on service recovery shows that sensed justice is a vital element in the evaluations of service recovery. Reports on service failure show that perceived unfairness in customer treatment results, in lower customer satisfaction and loyalty. Service recovery must re-establis h justice from the customers perspective. Justice entails three distinct dimensions, i.e. procedural, distributive and interactional. diffusive justice centers on the allotment of cost and benefits. This element asserts that customers weigh the benefits they gain from services with regard to the costs associated with the service.

Timberland Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

timber - Essay ExampleIt is famous for its increased development from being a Boot maker to a larger Earth keeper. quality has CEOS who have desirable traits they have negotiation skills and humility. These be the success factors of woods that made it appear on top of other companies.Timberland stakeholders are futuristic about the troupes development. It does not concentrate only on its success but also what benefits it can stick to the earth. The stakeholders of Timberland Company work to the success of the alliance. They do not put in their self dealings. Timberland Company progressed well due to the presence of devoted stakeholders who generate new ideas of improving the company. This company wide its service to other companies making it unique. It goes into partnership with other company stakeholders, which will provide support to its development issues. Example of such stakeholders includes its partnership with Bostons City year. Timberland in partnership with this comp any promotes community service. Timberland ensures that whatever chosen goal in place relates to social responsibility and sensitivity to the purlieu.Timberland focus on Earth keeping it profitable to the company. All the processes at timberland gather up the sensitivity to the environmental conservation. Unlike other companies, Timberland Company is concerned about the keeping of the environment whenever it undertakes any activity within the company. It works on the principle that one can run a profitable business and be considerate to basic human rights. During the production process, Timberland uses the recycled materials that are follow effective as compared to using new ones. It produces boots that have green soles, which are from recycled materials. By using materials, which are possible to recycle and are harmful to the environment, it promotes environment

How Different Actual Practice of Law is from Law School Essay

How assorted Actual Practice of Law is from Law School - Essay ExampleMy placement beat helped me to regard how antithetical the actual class period of law is from law initiate. According to McDockery, the study of law is different from the practice of law*3 and he highlights the fact that apart from writing and research skills, not much of what is conditioned at law school will be particularly relevant in practice. My placement experience corroborated this claim because I discovered that mere academic knowledge and the theory of law is not as important as interacting well with clients and professional code and ethics in actual practice. It was a disclosure to me, as I watched my supervisor interacting with our clients and I realized that legal interviewing needs to be approached from a different angle as compared to other interviews.*4 The fact-finding mission that this entails often meets with subtle resistance from clients and peculiarly poses a challenge when dealing with clients who are not familiar with English since there is a opening for distortions during translation.*5 Such clients are often unaware that client privilege is their fundamental civil reform as established by the Courts*6 and they are reluctant to be completely honest with their lawyers. still this was not the only area where I discovered that practice is different from theory. While law school provided me with the background of the law, actual practice concerns the application of the law. Earlier, my understanding of the law was directed towards its mechanics, whereas I obtained a clearer post of the law that conditions a lawyers actions during my placement experience. As Bernie Marden puts it, professions today operate in a world where public policy applies regulation, co-regulation, and self-regulation in varying degrees*7 and this is why it was deemed necessary to introduce the headmaster Standards Act of 1994 in Australia.

Finance and Growth Strategies Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Finance and Growth Strategies - denomination ExampleThe internal rate of return is the cost of ceiling that will equate the present repute of future cash flows to zero. In other words, it is the infallible rate of return which will yield a zero NPV. Thus, equation 1 can be modified such that NPV is replaced by 0. NPV calculations can be done manually but the process is tedious as it requires calculating the NPV by using antithetical values of cost of capital. Another is the use of software like Microsoft Excel to generate a to a greater extent accurate figure.The decision about whether the project should be accepted or not will be based on the results of the financial and strategic analyses using techniques like NPV and IRR. In using NPV as a tool, the general rule is to accept projects or investments which generates a positive NPV while rejecting those which yields negative NPV. The result of the NPV has a direct implication on the value of IRR relative to the required rate of return. Accordingly, a project is prosecute if the IRR is equal to or gameyer than the required rate of return. In contrast, a project with a scorn IRR than the cost of capital is turned down. It should be noted that a positive NPV is indicative of an IRR which is higher than the required rate of return.Accordingly, a project is pursued if the IRR is equal to or higher than the required rate of return. In contrast, a project with a lower IRR than the cost of capital is turned down. It should be noted that a positive NPV is indicative of an IRR which is higher than the required rate of return.The project considered by Fujisawa, which is the expansion of its product gunstock should be accepted based on the quantitative analyses using NPV and IRR techniques. The investment yields a relatively high NPV of 9,235,200. The IRR of 33.996% is very high compared to the required rate of return of 9%. Thus, Fujisawa will reap higher benefits than its capital outlay in the proposed project.H owever, it should also be noted that quantitative analyses are often not adequacy in ascertaining whether an investment should be pursued or not. Though expansion of the product is quantitatively profitable, qualitative factors like consumer demand and others should also be taken into account.

Benefits of Illegal Immigration in the United States Research Paper

Benefits of Illegal Immigration in the United States - Research Paper ExampleInversely, opposers shows that the American miserliness will suffer from the illegal immigrants since their motives of immigration into the economy are not well established. This member assesses the benefit that the American economy will gain from the illegal immigrants. The illegal immigrants play a major role in the US economy. Recent research has shown that the illegal immigrants have little skills and little direction level, which makes them watch outk job opportunities in the low education demanding areas. This includes restaurants and hospitals where they work in the low-level departments. This contributes positively in the US economy in that the labor military unit motivatinged is increased therefore reducing the need for hiring highly qualified labor force. Employing the immigrants gives the employers an opportunity to reduce the cost and retain the loyal workers in those areas that the volu me of the citizens feel overqualified to work in. This means that expelling these immigrants would have a negative influence the US economy (George, 2006). In another survey conducted on the US armed forces, it show that the number of immigrants in the force totals to 60,000. This is in both the navy and army. This shows that the immigrant plays a major role in developing the economy. This is through guardianship peace missions that are relevant for the economy to grow. Their efforts have been vital in the public service. The US economy has mostly been a capital-intensive economy, which has employed few people than its potential. The illegal immigrants replace this method through the provision of cheap and manual labor. This has played a major role for the immigrants themselves and the entire economy in that it leaps the benefits directly, which appears on its gross domestic product. In most of these cases, the illegal immigrants work in construction companies, meat boxing industr y, agriculture, and other physically or labor intensive jobs (Corwin, 2010). In a report that was done by the Washington Post, the illegal immigration has a positive benefit on the average US tax manufactureer. The campaign is that the immigrants in the US pays more tax than the average American. This is more than they consume in the social services. Immigrants pay the federal taxes and state taxes as well as social security taxes. However, the immigrants do not thwart a chance to reclaim this money be pee-pee they are not citizens. Averagely, this decreases the tax burden on native-born American citizens. Nonetheless, this effect varies by location, states with high immigrant populations and generous social services regularly experience a net loss in tax revenue. Most of these immigrants come to the US from most parts of the world. They drive in different cultures from their places. These immigrants have racial, cultural, and ethnic multifariousness, which expose the American c itizens to new ideas and new ways of life. This diversity introduces the Americans to new ways of life in different sectors. This may involve areas such as cuisine, religion, speech communication that helps to educate the Americans citizens about ways of life from the various ways of life. However, this may at first cause conflict between people of different races and ethnicity (Corwin, 2010). The US economy is seen as a positively accept economy due to the large numbers of immigrants that are available in the economy. This in turn attracts investors who see the economy as favorable and might bring in high

Employee Recruitment and Retention Research Proposal

Employee Recruitment and guardianship - Research Proposal ExampleConsidering this worldwide demands, labor force also needs to acquire much broad skills as well as continuous learning in order to utilize technology efficiently. Understandably, building, operating, and maintaining the petrochemical plants, marketing and distributing of different products, require technical expertise (Dolan, 2004 p 117) critical in the recruitment and retention procedures in a company.As oil and gas companies continuously expand, they ar also confronted with labor crisis which brought about by the layoffs made previous years ago and the labor force has continued to shrink agree to various petrochemical companies (Parry, Davidson & Clark, 2006 p 2, par 1). The Human Resource Departments of different Oil & Gas Producers added (2005 par 1-2 ) that they are facing one of the greatest challenges companies have encountered in the recent years. Undeniably, pool of engineers in the industry is aging. In United Arab Emirates for example, the mean age of production engineers is around 48. Therefore, HR departments arequite pressured to prepare for the successor of their aging workforce by the young professionals within the coming years (AME Info, 2005 par 1-2). Besides, competition in the labor market these days is very tight.Khafji Joint trading operations (KJO), an oil and gas company of the fit Saudi Government and Arabian Oil Company (AOC) in accordance with JPPOA or Joint rock oil Production Operations Agreement operates consistently. The company prioritizes Saudi & Kuwaiti nationals to fill in vacant positions each through worker internal transfer within KJO, or via the Internal Training Program much(prenominal) as KJO training c visualize. In the event that vacant posts are not filled in, Executive care may announce and seek the assistance of accredited employment agencies to invite applicants outside Saudi Arabia allow in them schedule them for panel interviews, oral and written examens and if they qualify, may undergo a comprehensive medical examination prior to employment. The above stated scenarios suggest for a review of current practices in Human Resources centering thereby challenging HR managers to formulate better agenda. This study will be an offshoot to the time to come human resource issues that have been forecast in most researches and may be confronted within KJO on skilled labor shortages and dissatisfaction of their employees. Objectives This study primarily aims to assess the employee recruitment and retention process of Khafji Joint Operations (KJO) and shall achieve these objectives below1. Determine the recruitment and retention models adapted by Khafji Joint Operations (KJO).32. Review the evidences on effectiveness of recruitment and retention policies in Khafji Joint Operations (KJO). 3. Describe the characteristics of individuals who enter in in Khafji Joint Operations (KJO) in terms of

Placement Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Placement Report - move Exampletag and Spencer has successfully expanded its market and today it has more than than 900 retail outlets all oer the world. It is also listed in London Stock Exchange. The caller however started facing problems relating to its marketing section. Main origin of Marks & Spencer was to provide high quality and innovative harvest-tides on with exceptional services but the caller-up has started to fail in achieving these objectives because of the wide expansion in their product portfolio. Due to the expansion in the portfolio the company has lost its main objective slightly and because of this reason, competitors are able to grab the opportunity. However, the quality of service has been wiz of the hallmarks that have helped the company to survive difficult times and make confident(predicate) that the company is able to do well than its competitors. This base analyses my personal experience that I have gone through during my employment at Marks and Spencer. The calculate analyses and evaluates not only my experience, but the experience of the overall team with which I was working. The report also highlights the success reasons of the team and the success factors because of which the team was able to accomplish the project appropriately and successfully. The report also presents the scenario and case that Marks and Spencer was facing and how our team helped the company to solve the issue and make sure that the company flourishes. This report also reflects my personal skills that I have developed during the employment period. Moreover, the report also highlights how I have been able to use my marketing concepts and knowledge at the organization that helped Marks and Spencer to get through its objectives. EVALUATING THE WORK OF THE TEAM Marks and Spencer is a big name in the retail industry of unite Kingdom as well as in other European countries. However, the company has been facing several(predicate) types of issues. Some o f the major issues that Marks and Spencer has been facing include Bad positioning Uncompetitive prices Unavailability of the product in some of the outlets of the company Lack of awareness of the product in the mind of consumers Not focalization on traditional marketing techniques and promotional tools Issues in the Customer services of the company I ground the abovementioned issues that have negatively impact the company and its sales over the years. However I was working in the customer services department and therefore the main issues that I have identified in this department include Proactive customer services Poor presentations Ensuring customer satisfaction level Offering more products to customers or increasing sales per customer As a customer sales representative, I along with my team mates was assigned contrary tasks to solve the abovementioned issues. Our team was apt(p) training in send to improve the customer relationship and build better relations with the customer s. Moreover, our team also worked ourselves and formulated different strategies in order to improve the reputation of the retail outlet in which I was working. At Marks and Spencer, employees are given some kind of freedom on how to satisfy the customers however they are given a broad outline of how to go

Slave narrative Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Slave narrative - Essay ExampleAs narrated by Black himself in his book The life and sufferings of Leonard Black, a fugitive from slavery, the white get the hang used to have a cold savage behavior with their slaves. He lead twenty years of slavery as to be at the entrust of another to be induceed uniform a pet and liable at any moment to be sold to another hold in offering higher amount or sale (Black, 1847, p. 1). There were times when he was sold and transported to a distant part of the country leave behind all the family members behind, almostly as slaves like himself.The know used to deal with him in most inhumane manner, making him realize that he can eat, quiescence, work, live, go etc. only at the will of their masters. They gave him no right to speak on his own think or even feel like a free man. The bars of slavery were doomed in his mind and soul by the masters so deep that he mostly ended up in physical and mental persistence and tortures.His sufferings started in his early age. He was whipped and beaten for not completing the tasks till he bled by the deep cut head. He was provided no shoes and wore a Lindsey. The masters used to eat meat themselves save for his meals, there were only a pint of liquor, little piece of bread and skin off pork. The masters used to drink in front of him, but he was not allowed to even take a sip of that rum. He was not allowed to sit and eat with them, read books like the children of white men and sleep in cozy warm rooms in winter like they did. If he eer act to warm himself in house, one of his cruel masters branded his legs with heated tongs resulting in scars on his feeble body. They treated him savagely ignoring the consequences of their cruelty and beatings. If he ever showed a sign of having urge to break and read by owning a book, it was either put in fore or given to the masters child, but not to him and well beaten till he knocks that idea of studying step up of his mind (Black, 1847, p. 1). Despite of all these awful happenings, he was not allowed to run international or sort any official of his misfortunes and sufferings otherwise he would be caught up and beaten to death. Such evil attitudes by the masters made Leonardo, like all slaves, a poor pitiable boy who has no p arnts to go to after and no place to be taken as a refuge. If any one of them ever tried to run away then nobody ever lend a hand to help, kind of they were usually followed, fetched and caught ending up behind the bars or back to the cruel master. Answer 2 The only way to resist the enslavement, as done by Black was to run away and aviate from that slavery life. Many of the slaves either end up in robbery or killing when they are subjected to endless pain and torture. But Leonardo Black has fear of God and believed in escaping on his own without indulging in other tactics or troubles. But it was not an easy task. He ran away hiding from the whites. He could not even trust any trespasser for he k new he moldiness be wanted and fetched by his master and others. He stopped at several intervals, sometimes petition for food from a home or sleeping in a barn at souls place but never stopped at any of them for long, because he had a unbroken fear of being fetched at every instant. He whipped and fought with whoever came in his way or tried to scram him up. He kept seeking Gods help in every moment and never losing faith in Him. He was followed by hounds but luckily took

Three methods of measuring the health of the Australian population and Essay

Three methods of measuring the health of the Australian tribe and use these to compare the health post of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian adults - Essay mannequinthe indigenous people are defined as an individual of Torres Strait Islander or indigenous origin that identifies as a Torres Strait Islander or Aboriginal and is accepted as such(prenominal) by the society in which he or she lives. They were the first inhabitants of Australia. They have a less population compared to that of non- indigenous persons. Australias aboriginal population was estimated to be 669,900 people in 2011, which was 3% of the total population (ABS, 2013). at that place is an extensive gap amidst the health of the indigenous and the non- indigenous persons thats contributed by various factors lead-in to the inequalities between them. The indigenous group is more disadvantaged as compared to the non-indigenous as stipulated by the AIHW (Australian Health 2014).The richness of this essay is to identify and describe three methods that can be used to measure the health status of both the indigenous and the non-indigenous populations in Australia. It will also help make a comparison between the two Australian groups. The methods will bring out the inequalities that exist between the two groups their differences. The three methods for the bar of the health status in Australia that will be described in this essay are mortality rate and life prediction, circulatory disease, and health risk factors.Life expectancy is an arithmetical measure of how long an existence or person may live. The statistics are obtained from mortality patterns and give information on the well-being of the community. It is devoted in terms of the number of years one is expected to live too but not the years of the remaining life (AIHW, 2012). In Australia, the indigenous group has a lower life expectancy as compared to the non-indigenous group across all the age groups (AIHW 2011).The death rates for the adults are higher in an indigenous group than in the non-indigenous Australians. They are vulnerable to illnesses that eventually lead to their death. Most of the indigenous deaths

Written Response to a poem (English Literature class) Essay

Written Response to a poem (English literature class) - Essay Exampleare associated with images, the poet attempts to capture a sense of deep connection between himself and his interview that manages to transcend normal cultural or social bounds. While not all poetry is competent to reach this level, Langston Hughes poem Dream Deferred does. In this poem, Hughes uses parable and imagery to illustrate what happens to a human brain when it is blocked from being able to fulfill its dreams.In this poem, Hughes asks a series of moves that are heavy with simile and imagery as a means of answering his opening question, what happens to a dream deferred? Each question explores a different possible answer to this question by using similes to suggest what the results of these possibilities might be. The about basic definition of a simile is that it is a comparison between two things objects or ideas that uses the voice communication like or as. The first possible response to having to defer ones dreams is having the dream teetotal up / like a raisin in the sun (3-4). Since raisins are already dried and shriveled, a raisin in the sun is instantly understood to be something so dry and shriveled that it is no longer edible, making this an effective simile. Next, Hughes suggests that a dream deferred might fester like a sore / and then exercise (4-5). This is a particularly unpleasant comparison as it refers to first a wound and then a deep infection that goes untreated long enough to ooze. The third possibility suggests that the deferred dream might foetor like rotten meat / or crust and sugar over (6-7). Like the raisin, this possibility suggests something that has missed all of its usefulness but it goes further because it as well as suggests that in becoming useless for positive benefits, it has also become actively negative as it rots and putrefies. A less visible but still concrete simile is suggested through the fourth possible reaction to a dream defer red as Hughes indicates it can be like a heavy load

The genetic basis of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) Essay

The factortic basis of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) insufficiency - Essay Example008, pp.64, define G6PD need as an X-linked, hereditary genetic defect due to mutations in the G6PD gene, which cause functional variants with many biochemical and clinical phenotypes. Most of the mutations are single base changes that result in amino acid substitutions. G6PD deficiency presents itself clinically in the form of acute haemolytic anaemia (Capellini & Fiorelli, 2008).The gene responsible for the production of the enzyme G6PD is the G6PD gene G6PD is the catalyst responsible for oxidising glucose-6-phosphate to 6-phosphogluconate, while at the same time it is also responsible for the reduction of the oxidize form of nicotanamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP+) to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). This function of G6PD in the production of NADPH is important, as it is NADPH that plays a role as a cofactor in many biosynthetic reactions and maintaining glutathione in its reduced form (Carter & Gross, 2008). bring down glutathione functions as a scavenger within cells, removing the dangerous oxidative metabolites in the cells. In addition with care from the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, it neutralizes hydrogen peroxide, which is harmful to the cell, by converting it to water. G6PD and its role in the production of NAPDH is important to red blood cells, as NAPDH is the sole contributor of protection to the red blood cells against oxidative stresses, The importance of G6PD to the red blood cells lies in it being the sole source of NAPDH and the protection NAPDH offers the red blood cells (Carter & Gross, 2008).The G6PD gene that is responsible for the enzyme Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase is found on the terminal region of the long arm of the X chromosome (Xq28), at a distance of less than 2 centi-Morgan centrometric to the Factor VIII gene. G6PD deficiency is a genetic condition, wherein the molecular grounds for the disease s tems from mutations in the G6PD locus at Xq28. The length of the gene is 18

Literature Review & Practical Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Literature Review & Practical - assigning ExampleNegotiation with the Chinese has been identified as a critical factor in developing business relationships with the Chinese. In order to understand the Chinese dialogue sort, researchers have drawn from the findings of the research conducted by Hofstede with respect to analyzing various cultures on the basis of certain dimensions. These dimensions include power distance, masculinity, hesitation avoidance and farseeing term orientation. The Chinese society leads to be characterized by high power distance, low masculinity, high uncertainty avoidance and long term orientation. This is reflected in how deference is shown to those who are higher up in the friendly hierarchy. Furthermore, decision making is largely influenced by the highly collectivist nature of the Chinese people who head for the hills to take pride in social gains rather than individual ones. As a result of this and the support masculinity, the Chinese are genera lly less ambitious and do not seek personal achievements by and large. Satisfaction is derived primarily from social order and harmony. Another critical basis of analyzing the Chinese negotiation style is to draw the line between cultures that are labelled as high context and those labelled as low context. ... ext cultures, on the other hand, rely more on verbal communication and negotiation and direct eye-to-eye contact that is missing in cultures such as that of the Chinese. Managers under low context cultures, therefore, tend to be result-driven and focused on getting things done as soon as possible which leads them to negotiate aggressively. Under high context cultures, however, managers tend to focus on building interpersonal relationships as salubrious as trust on an individual level before negotiating on business matters. Therefore, it is not move to see hospitality being extended through social gatherings particularly meeting in restaurants. magnanimous expensive gifts a nd discussing personal topics such as family wellbeing are a commonplace in the Chinese negotiation style (Edfelt, 2010). The principal force guiding Chinese negotiation is Guanxi. Guanxi is described as the sack of personal connections that is quintessential to get things going and done (Edfelt, 2010). Legal contracts are, therefore, everywhereshadowed by interpersonal relationships. Guanxi is therefore, essentially an implied freight which two or more people share with the belief that their current relationship is heavily influenced by the possibilities that lie in the future (Edfelt, 2010). As a result, the Chinese may not trust the company they are dealing with during the negotiation process which is why they may be reluctant to hand over significant responsibility to the other party. This has been illustrated by one of the negotiations between employees of a Western firm called Electrolux and a Chinese firm called Motosuzhou. The negotiation pertained to the formation of a j oint venture between the two firms. However, as it turned out, the Chinese delegation engaged in significant effort to analyze whether

Should teens in the US adopt the British custom of taking a gap year Research Paper

Should teens in the US adopt the British rule of taking a gap course between in high spirits school and college - Research Paper patternFrom the research it can be comprehended that the tradition of taking a gap year that is engrained in the European society could stand by puppyish American become better individuals. A gap year can be dedicated to a variety of different activities. A person may usance a gap year to pursue a dream such as learning how to paint, to romp on a band, or on perfecting a particular craft such as playing or designing clothes. People with sporting talent may pursue a gap year in club to improve their game to possibly land a sporting scholarship at a time they apply to college. There is no specific path that a young person has to follow in their gap year. A person may just take the year off in order to blow off some steam from the educational system that forces student to continue four superfluous years of schooling after twelve consecutive year s of the academic world. Sometimes young adults bind difficulty deciding what charge choice to choose from. The gap year can be utilise to help a young person decipher what to do with life in the future. A career is something that once a person chooses one they will be workings at that craft for the informality of their lives. A young person can utilize the gap year in order to action an internship in a corporation. Choosing a multinational corporation to realize an internship can give a young person an exciting firsthand look at corporate America. An internship can be an excellent fortune to start creating a network with professionals of different backgrounds. A reality check for many young sight when they aspire to go to college is that fact that college is a very expensive ordeal. When peck graduate out of high they typically do not have any gold for college expenses and they depend solely on the help of their parents and governmental economic assistance. For many stude nts the gap year can serve as a origin for them to accumulate some money prior to starting college. Getting a job for year working can provide an opportunity for student to save money. Sometimes student have specific goals for their money such as saving up some cash in order to buy a car prior to starting college. Having your own car is very important for a young person because it gives the individual more liberty and provides a greater opportunity to enjoy social and cultural activities. some other potential reason to take a gap year is to fulfill the dreams of others in need by performing residential district service. Community service can be a very gratifying inhabit that can help young people mature and become better individuals. The efforts of people that perform community service are priceless to the community. There are some sophisticated community service course that allow young people an opportunity to travel to other parts of the world to help people in need. Young pe ople with a desire to help can travel to other continents such as Africa. An

The Role of Women in Igbo Society Essay Example for Free

The Role of Women in Igbo Society Es conjectureWomens use of goods and services in Things fall apart. Igbo women reveals itself to be prematurely simplistic as well as limiting, once the indorser uncovers the diverse procedures of the Ibo women throughout the novel. An excellent example of powerful women in the Ibo village is found in the role they play in the Ibo religion. The women routinely perform the role of priestess. The narrator recalls that during Okonkwos boyhood, the priestess in those days was womanhood called Chika. She was generous of the power of her god, and she was greatly fe ared (17). The present priestess is Chielo, the priestess of Agbala, the Oracle of the hill and the Caves (49). There is an episode during which Chielo has come for Okonkwo and Ekwefis daughter Ezinma. We are told, Okonkwo pleaded with her to come back in the morning because Ezinma was now asleep. But Chielo ignored what he was trying to say and went on shouting that Agbala wanted to se e his daughter . . . The priestess screamed. Beware, Okonkwo she warned (101). There is no other point in the novel in which we see Okonkwo plead with anyone, male or female, for any reason.We witness a woman not only ordering Okonkwo to give her his daughter, but threatening him as well. The fact that Okonkwo allows this is evidence of the priestesss power. The expertness of a woman to occupy the role of a priestess, a spiritual leader, reveals a clear tip of reverence for women be present in Igbo society. Another example of such reverence for women is unveiled in the representation of the earth goddess, Ani. Ani is described a playing a greater part in the heart of the people than any other deity. She was the ultimate judge of morality and conduct. in Chapter fourteen, when Okonkwo returns to his mothers clan after being exiled from the Ibo village. Uchendu, reproaching Okonkwo for his sorrow about having to come to live with his mothers clan, explains Its true that a child b elong to its father. But when a father beats his childUpon delving beneath this deceiving surface, one can see that the women of the clan hold many very powerful positions spiritually as the priestess, symbolically as the earth goddess, and literally as the nurturers of the Ibo people, the caretakers of the yam crops and the mothers and educators of the Ibo children.

A Good Man Is Hard to Find Essay Example for Free

A Good Man Is rugged to Find demonstrate unmatched might think that grannies are sweet and loving, and often innocent due to their advanced term and condition. We, as order of magnitude, think of them as great lessons of people that radiate love, mentors, and defenders of morality and good manners. However, this is not the instance in A Good Man Is punishing to Find, by Flannery OConnor. As the story unfolds, her spirit reflects that hidden evil we all carry inside and how detouring on a r knocked out(p)e takes a unscathed family to face disastrous consequences, yet one person finds redemption from that evil. A Good Man Is Hard to Find is a story that symbolizes redemption, because there is a go againstner, there is a journey, and there is redemption. In our society we tend to minimize, and sometimes erase the word sin because, for the more or less part, it bothers peoples conscience. Although the word sin is not explicitly exposed in the story A Good Man is Hard to F ind, the exploit and consequences of sin are vividly present throughout the story, in all the founts, especially the gran.The main character and sinner in the story is the Grandmother because she is described as an egocentric person, since the built in bed they face is that they are all captives of the serial killer, The Misfit, and she bargains for her life only. The grandmother said, You wouldnt scare off a lady, would you? (Flannery OConnor 313). This is an obvious example of how she doesnt s exit to think most the rest of her family. In addition, one might think that in various occasions the Grandmother makes simple comments that compare different times of her life, the present and how things used to be.On the other hand, Grandmothers comments represent the comparison between the dark past of society and the reality that it hasnt changed much. During the hit, Grandmother makes a comment that reflects her comparisons she said In my time, children were more respectful of their native states and their parents and everything else. People did right because (Flannery OConnor 308). In the same scene, Grandmother contradicts herself by saying, Little niggers in the country dont have things like we do.If I could paint, Id paint that picture, (Flannery OConnor 308). No argument, she is a impudent hypocrite. Furthermore, the way she dressed to go on a road trip, as the author describes the grandmother, Had on a navy blue straw sailor hat with a bunch of white violets on a brim and a navy dress with a small white dot on print. (Flannery OConnor 307). Also, her jewelry her collars and cuffs where white organdy trimmed with lace and her neckline she had pinned a purple spray of cloth violets containing a sachet. (Flannery OConnor 307). Her exaggerated outfit, plus the extreme jewelry for a road trip reflects her ego and her rely to be noticed as a lady. Whether one believes in God, or not, we all embark on the journey of life, in which we experience an inner transformation. Any journey has a destination however, decisions made during the trip may alter the destination and its outcome. Flannery OConnor uses the road trip to represent the pilgrimage Grandmother and her family must(prenominal) go through.Since the beginning of the trip, Grandmother took unnecessary stuff, her big black valise that looked like a head of a hippopotamus, and her mascot Pitty Sing, the cat (Flannery OConnor 307), knowing that this action will incommode the family and eventually be a factor of the cause of the accident. One might think that the baggage represents only inconvenience nonetheless, this represents ones afflictions or transgressions that havent been forgiven nor forgotten. During the trip, the Grandmother makes an important remark about her past when she used to date Mr.Teagarden by saying, She would of have done well to marry Mr. Teagarden because he was a gentleman and had bought Coca-Cola stock when first came out and that he had died only a f ew years ago, a very wealthy man. (Flannery OConnor 309). It shows her nostalgia and regret of not marrying that man but it for sure also shows her ambition. She evidently hasnt experienced true love. Thus, it certainly shows that her baggage did not consist only of clothing and jewelry, but of nostalgia and regret. In addition, the same illusion of her squelch with Mr.Teagarden triggered the inner desire in her dream to go visit the plantation and the house where, as Grandmother said, You sat down with your suitor after a stroll in the garden. (Flannery OConnor 311). Eventually, in a self-centered act, she craftily (Flannery OConnor 311) lies, causing the detouring of the route. They have taken a dangerous dirty road, as the author describes it was hilly and there were sudden washes in it and sharp curves on dangerous embankments (Flannery OConnor 312).As a result, while driving on that dangerous road, the accident happened due to Grandmothers recklessness. This situation metap hors the choices one makes in life and their consequences. The accident is just a sign of how one falls through the journey. There could not be a redemption story without a Savior, and a sinner to whom demand to be redeemed. After the accident, everyone got out of the car and saw the car approaching far away, on top of a hill, giving the sense that help is coming from above, which in a Biblical way, is symbolically showing that help is coming from heaven.In addition, when they arrived, the Misfit gets out, standing in front of them, looking down at them (Flannery OConnor 313). He is accompanied by two fellows one wearing a shirt with a silver stallion. All of these details represent a Redeemer, or a Godly figure. In addition, the Redeemer quickly finds who is in need to be redeemed when Grandmother makes a terrible slip by recognizing the criminal Youre the Misfit she said (Flannery OConnor 313).At this point, she has commended her whole family and The Misfit confirms that saying it would have been split for all of you, lady, if you hadnt reckernized me. (Flannery OConnor 313). Grandmother responds, You wouldnt shoot a lady, would you? (Flannery OConnor 313). This action confirms the Misfit that she is the sinner who hasnt repented from all her sins since she reflects the egocentrism of worrying about her life only, without any given thought about the whole family, not even the children.The Misfit uses the desperation and impotence of the lady to make her realize that there is no escape from the inevitable. As he starts killing the family using the help from his assistants, Grandmother starts to appeal to the Misfits message by saying, Youve got good blood I know you wouldnt shoot a lady (Flannery OConnor 316). As the other half of the family was killed, Grandmother tells the Misfit, You are one of my own children (Flannery OConnor 317) appealing that he would feel loved and would let her live.Nonetheless, she got shot and the Misfit said, She would hav e been a good woman, if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life. (Flannery OConnor 317). This is the vivid example of redemption because in order to know good, and be good, we must face that adversary that puts one to the test and pulls out the good from within. One might furbish up to the Grandmothers feelings of impotence and desperation because when suffering, or facing death, one realizes the true beauty of life and its richness that most of the time are unnoticed due to ones blindness from sin.In conclusion, A Goodman is Hard to Find is a story that symbolizes redemption because there is a sinner, there is a journey, and there is redemption. As the story unfolds, her personality reflects that hidden evil we all carry inside and how a routes detour takes a whole family to face disastrous consequences, yet one person finds redemption from that evil. One might think that Grandmothers are all sweet, loving, often innocent, mentors, and defenders of morali ty and good manners. Nonetheless, this was not the case in this story.

Role of Parliament in Germany Essay Example for Free

Role of Parliament in Germany try outThis article is about the current parliament of Germany. For the governing body of the Germany. Confederation from 1815 to 1866, call in Bundesversammlung (German Confederation). Confederation from 1815 to 1866, see Bundesversammlung (German Confederation). The Bundestag (Federal Diet pronounced bndstak) is a legislative body in Germany. In perpetrate Germany is governed by a bicameral legislature, of which the Bundestag serves as the lower ho aim and the Bundesrat the upper house. The Bundestag was established by the German Basic Law of 1949, as the successor to the earlier Reichstag. It meets in the Reichstag building in Berlin.Norbert Lammert is the current chairwoman of the Bundestag. With the new constitution of 1949, the Bundestag was established as the new (West) German parliament. Because West Berlin was not officially beneath the jurisdiction of the Constitution and because of the Cold War, the Bundestag met in Bonn in several d ifferent buildings, including (provisionally) a former irrigate works facility. In addition, owing to the citys legal status, citizens of West Berlin were unable to ballot in alternatives to the Bundestag, and were instead equal by 20 non-voting delegates, in straightaway pick outed by the citys House of Representatives.The Bundeshaus in Bonn is the former Parliament Building of Germany. The sessions of the German Bundestag were held there from 1949 until its move to Berlin in 1999. Today it houses the International Congress Centre Bundeshaus Bonn and in the northwest aras the branch office of the Bundesrat (upper house). The southern areas became part of German offices for the United Nations in 2008.The former Reichstag building housed a history exhibition (Fragen an die deutsche Geschichte) and served now and again as a conference center. The Reichstag building was also occasionally used as a venue for sittings of the Bundestag and its delegacys and the Bundesversammlung, the body which elects the German Federal President. However the Soviets harshly protested against the use of the Reichstag building by institutions of the Federal Republic of Germany and tried to disturb the sittings by flying supersonic jets sozzled to the building.Since 1999, the German parliament has again assembled in Berlin in its original Reichstag building, which dates from the 1890s and on a lower floorwent a significant overhaul under the lead of British architect Sir Norman Foster. Parliamentary committees and subcommittees, public hearings and faction meetings take practice in ternion auxiliary buildings, which surround the Reichstag building the Jakob-Kaiser-Haus, Paul-Lbe-Haus and Marie-Elisabeth-Lders-Haus.Together with the Bundesrat, the Bundestag is the legislative branch of the German disposalal system.Although most legislation is initiated by the decision maker branch, the Bundestag considers the legislative function its most important responsibility, conce ntrating much of its cogency on assessing and amending the governments legislative program. The committees (see below) play a prominent role in this process. Plenary sessions provide a forum for members to engage in public debate on legislative issues before them, but they course to be well attended only when significant legislation is being considered.The Bundestag members are the only federal officials right away elected by the public the Bundestag in turn elects the Chancellor and, in addition, exercises oversight of the executive branch on issues of both substantive policy and routine administration. This check on executive creator can be employed through binding legislation, public debates on government policy, investigations, and direct wondering(a) of the chancellor or cabinet officials. For example, the Bundestag can conduct a question hour (Fragestunde), in which a government representative responds to a previously submitted written question from a member. Members can ask tie in questions during the question hour. The questions can concern anything from a major policy issue to a special(prenominal) constituents problem. office of the question hour has increased markedly over the past forty years, with more than than 20,000 questions being constitute during the 1987-90 term. Understandably, the opposition parties are active in exercising the parliamentary right to scrutinize government actions. sensation striking difference when comparing the Bundestag with the British Parliament is the lack of time spent on destiny constituents in Germany. This is in part due to Germanys electoral system. A practical constraint on the elaborateness of constituent service is the limited personal staff of Bundestag deputies. Despite these constraints especially those deputies that are elected directly normally try to keep close contact with their constituents and to help them with their problems, particularly when they are related to federal policies or age ncies.Constituent service does also take place in the form of the Petition Committee. In 2004, the Petition Committee received over 18,000 complaints from citizens and was able to negotiate a mutually satisfactory tooth root to more than half of them. In 2005, as a pilot of the potential of internet petitions, a reading material of e-Petitioner was produced for the Bundestag. This was a collaborative project involving The Scottish Parliament, International Teledemocracy Centre and the Bundestag Online Services Department. The system was officially launched on 1 September 2005, and in 2008 the Bundestag moved to a new system based on its evaluation.1ELECTION Members serve four-year terms elections are held every four years, or earlier in the comparatively rare case that the Bundestag is dissolved prematurely by the death chair. The Bundestag can be dissolved by the hot seat on the recommendation of the chancellor if the latter has lost a vote of confidence in the Bundestag. This has happened three times 1972 under Chancellor Willy Brandt, 1983 under Chancellor Helmut Kohl and 2005 under Chancellor Gerhard Schrder.All candidates must be at least eighteen years old there are no term limits. The election uses the MMP electoral system. In addition, the Bundestag has a minimum threshold of either 5% of the national company vote or three (directly elected) constituency representatives for a party to gain additional representation through the system of relative representation.Thus, small minority parties cannot easily enter the Bundestag and prevent the formation of stable majority governments as they could under the Weimar constitution. Since 1961, only two new parties (Bndnis 90/Die Grnen and PDS/Die Linke) arrive at entered the Bundestag.The most recent election, the German federal election, 2009, was held on September 27, 2009.2Distribution of seating room in the BundestagHalf of the Members of the Bundestag are elected directly from 299 constituencies (fi rst-past-the-post system), the other half are elected from the parties orbit bring ups in such a way as to achieve proportional representation for the get Bundestag (if possible).Accordingly, each voter has two votes in the elections to the Bundestag. The first vote, allowing voters to elect their local representatives to the Bundestag, decides which candidates are sent to Parliament from the constituencies.The second vote is cast for a party list it determines the relative strengths of the parties represented in the Bundestag.At least 598 Members of the Bundestag are elected in this way. Parties that gain more than 5% of the second votes or win at least 3 direct mandates are allocated seats in the Bundestag in proportion to the image of votes it has received (dHondt method until 1987, largest remainder method until the 2005 election, now Sainte-Lagu method). When the total number of mandates gained by a party has been determined, they are distributed between the Land lists. The distribution of the seats of that party to the 16 Lands is proportional to that partys second vote results in the Lands. The first of the mandates allocated to each Land go to the candidates who have won direct mandates in that Land. The rest are assigned in order to the candidates on the Land list put forward before the election.In addition to this, there are certain dowry in which some candidates win what are known as overhang seats when the seats are being distributed. If a party has gained more direct mandates in a Land than it is entitled to fit to the results of the second vote, it does not forfeit these mandates because all directly elected candidates are guaranteed a seat in the Bundestag.ORGANISATIONS Parliamentary groupsThe most important organisational structures within the Bundestag are parliamentary groups (Fraktionen sing. Fraktion), which are formed by political parties represented in the chamber which incorporate more than 5% of the Bundestag legislators CDU and C SU have always formed a single united Fraktion. The size of a partys Fraktion determines the extent of its representation on legislative committees, the time slots dole out for speaking, the number of committee chairs it can hold, and its representation in executive bodies of the Bundestag. The Fraktionen, not the members, receive the bulk of government funding for legislative and administrative activities.The Bundestags executive bodies include the Council of Elders and the Presidium. The council consists of the Bundestag leadership, together with the most senior representatives of each fraktion, with the number of these representatives tied to the strength of the Parliamentary groups in the chamber. The council is the coordination hub, determining the daily legislative agenda and assigning committee chairpersons based on Parliamentary group representation. The council also serves as an important forum for interparty negotiations on specific legislation and procedural issues. The Presidium is responsible for the routine administration of the Bundestag, including its clerical and research activities. It consists of the chambers president (usually elected from the largest fraktion) and vice presidents (one from each fraktion).

Discuss Dickens portrayal Essay Example for Free

Discuss Dickens portrayal EssayCharles Dickens wrote Great Expectations in 1860. He wrote it nigh attitudes in Victorian England, towards children especi completelyy. Children were highly disciplined, and the main character in Great Expectations, dart, was a natural pillow slip of a child of this time. Society in England at this time was built into two main classes- stop number and lower. The middle class society, that is most common today, was just beginning to break through. run into and his family, consisting of his sister, Mrs Joe Gargery, and her husband, Mr Joe Gargery, were a typical lower class family. They had a very normal lifestyle, with little or no education, a downhearted put up, with very little money, and a simple life. Great Expectations was set in Southern England, in the marshland country, within, as the river wound, twenty miles from the sea. From this sentence, you can begin to build up a present of worsts surroundings. Dickens uses uncut adjecti ves, such as bleak, dismal, dark and savage to describe Pips world. By doing this, we get a real picture of how Pip lives. In a way, Dickens uses the environment around Pip, and comp ars it to Pips life. This brings me onto my next point. Pip must involve had a very lonely childhood.His mother, father, and five brothers all died, and his sister, Mrs Joe, has unwillingly bought him up. She makes it blatantly obvious she doesnt want him throughout his life, by devising certain comments. I may truly say Ive never had this apron of mine off me, since born you were. Its bas enough to be a blacksmiths wife (and him universe a Gargery) without being your mother. Pips only friend is Biddy, and he also has a strong bond with Mr. Joe. Both him and Mr Joe are fellow sufferers of Mrs. Joes unyielding ways, and this brings them closer together. They can confide in each other, and Joe is like Pips mentor.Ever the best of friends, ant us, Pip? Despite Mrs. Joes image of being harsh, a very, very independent, it is obvious she could not live without Mr. Joe, because, as with all households at this time, he is the breadwinner and as she does not work, she could not survive without him. Pip is a very innocent, nai ve schoolgirlish boy. He does not understand things that happen in his life, he simply accepts them. Why Mrs Joe uses the tickler on him, he does not know. When the reader gets to the part about the convict and the hulks, he doesnt know why quite a little are locked up, and cannot see the bad side of people.He fears Mrs.Joe, but he knows without her he would be dead, and she makes a point of attesting him this. If it warnt for me youd have been to the churchyard long ago, and stayed there. When Pip meets the convict, he is understandably terrified. He instantly intimidates Pip, but although Pip is scared, he still treats him with respect, and calls him sir. The convict threatens Pip, but still Pip is polite. If you would kindly enchant to let me keep up right, sir, perhaps I shouldnt be sick, and perhaps I could attend more. This gives the reader the picture that Pip is very polite, and respectful to everyone, and he hides his feelings.For example, on Christmas day, when Mr Wopsle and uncle Pumblechook are saying how un refreshing he is, he does not retaliate and simply bites his tongue, because he does not want to be disrespectful to his elders. I conjecture that this is the way Dickens wanted to portray Pip, so we would believe what Pip is saying, and see him as being innocent, and not really capable of lying to us. Pip and the convict can be seen as slightly similar, in a strange way. Once the convict learns of Pips background he begins to feel sorry for him, and I think that Pip feels sorry for the convict, because of his situation.It is also obvious that the convict intrusts Pip, because he sends him for food, even when he knows Pip could easily tell on him, and he could get recaptured and sent back to the prison ship. Pi p doesnt tell on him, however, and returns with food. When the convict is finally recaptured, he makes up a story about breaking into the forge, and take the food, and he does not say Pip stole the food for him. Although the meetings between the two were short, they developed an understanding, and sure each other.The way Dickens portrays the convict and Pips friendship gives us an idea as to how trusting Pip is, and his kind nature and personality. Something clicked in his throat, , as if he had works in him like a clock, and was sacking to strike. Then he smeared his ragged rough sleeve over his eyes. The something that I had noticed before, clicked in the mans throat again, and he turned his back. I think this click Pip refers is the convict having a lump in his throat, and showing emotion, and the click is him swallowing this lump. This shows that although the convict could be dangerous, he has emotions, and Pip can tap into this emotion.As the allegory develops, Miss Haver sham and Estella are introduced. Mrs. Joe is very pleased when Pip is given the chance to go to Miss Havershams house and play. She believes it will give him the chance to become a gentleman and make something of his life. If this boy ant grateful this night, he never will be Pip goes off to Miss Havershams, and although the house in which she lives in decrepit, and in a very bad state, he is very impressed because it is so large, and unlike what he is used to. He is continually polite, even when Estella is rude to him. He calls the knaves, Jacks, this boySaid Estella with disdain, before our freshman game was out. And what coarse hands he has And what thick boots She patronises him, and it dents Pips confidence, and he begins to feel he is not skillful enough for anything. This makes him insecure, and he wants to go home. Dickens makes the reader see his insecurity by saying Her condescension was so strong, that it became infectious, and I caught it. This makes the reader se e that before the meeting, Pip is fairly content with himself, and his life, be it a lonely one, but after Estellas comments he realises he is not as good as her, and he probably will never make anything of his life.When he realises this, you can gradually see his ambitions growing, and whereas before he was perfectly happy to become Joes apprentice, he knows he wont be happy, and wants to become someone who is respected. To join all of this up, Pip is disciplined, and fearful of certain things. He can be intimated easily, but is still respectful. He has ambitions, and plans to make something of his life, but he is also insecure about his background, and whether he has the strength of character to rip himself out of the lower class society. He is very innocent, and gets bewildered easily.Dickens shows all of this by making Pip seem a lonely young boy, with no real family or friends, and he uses imaging to portray this. We watch Pip grow up, and learn about life, and try to make s ense of things that are happening around him. Dickens makes the reader feel sorry for Pip, and lets us see we can trust Pip, because he himself trusts everyone and does not doubt anyone. We can read this book and see life through a nai ve young boys eyes, and feel we are being told the absolute truth. This is the power of Dickens writing- we believe the protagonist, and feel it would disparage not to believe him.

Troy Historical Accuracy Essay Example for Free

Troy Historical Accuracy EssayThe epic poem the Iliad is arguably ace of mans most well known novel or book behind the Bible and the Odyssey (sequel to Iliad). The Iliad, and Odyssey for this matter where superannuated texts written by Homer. The Iliad is a story set approximately 1194-1184 BC about the Trojan fight and the ten year siege of Troy. This competitiveness has many famous mythical figures such as Achilles the draw of the Myrmidons, Helen the princess that ran off with genus Paris which sparked the battle. Helen was the wife of King Menelaus ruler of the Spartans.Paris is a prince of Troy and brother to strong-arm the air to the throne. The exposure adaptation is focuse slight on the adventures the Spartans had while sailing to Troy and more(prenominal) on the short stint of pre battle and end battle. The movie suggests the battle of Troy was over the conformation of a few weeks when per the Iliad it latest ten years. Now this battle has never been proven fo r accuracy and whitethorn have never happened. However the movie has a very direct sense of what and how the struggle was. It shows the layout of the city of Troy, the characters mentality and fondness or lack there of, of the characters.The way battles started seems quite a accurate. Before a battle the opposing armies would taunt all(prenominal) other. After this the major warriors, or best of the army would duel each other. Depending on the outcome of this the battle would ensue. This is shown a few times in the movie. Once between Paris and Menelaus, which started the war. Paris surrendered and went to his brothers ankles. Hector protected Paris from being slaughtered. It shows the ships, blood, and garb the persons would wear in this time frame.Or does it? The dates this war happened of approximately 1194-1185 (10 years) is during the bronze age. This plays a key role in the historical accuracy of it. The weapons, shields, and clothe for battle is all wrong. These items sh own argon closer to the dark ages. The uniforms or garb of the ancient Greeks and Trojans where slightly less than what is shown in the movie. The movie depicted a very if not like uniform for every soldier. In reality only the middle and upper class soldiers would have these.Even at that, the uniforms were not identical like in the movie. They where typically handed down from generation to generation due to cost. The armor and shields where make of Bronze breastplates in a muscled style, a helmet that covered most of their head and shin protection do of bronze. This is the uniform of the very well off soldiers. The common man would have even less. They would use a linen reinforced with bronze plating or animal skin, this was called Linothorax armor which was priced overmuch lower then the fully bronze uniforms for the wealthy.The Greeks also found range weapons to be cowardly and would avoid use of them. In the movie both the Trojans and Spartans (Greeks, who thinks range weapo ns are cowardly) had many bows and used them often. The weapons other than long range used by both armies where typically Doru, which were long spears. These Doru like in the movie were 7-9 feet in length and where the capital weapon. In the movie the swords were primary, which in reality these where secondary weapons. These swords, or Xiphos where for use after the Doru were snapped or befuddled in combat.The xiphos were 2 feet for the Trojans and a bit shorter for the Spartans. The Spartans blades were typically 1-1. 5 feet long. This was more advantageous for the Spartans when the lines got much closer. The movie depicts both blades to be equal size on either side of the war. The ships where also dated much later in time. The ships of the bronze age would not have the very large and ornate precedent (Stem, Bow, or Head) and the stern would be higher. In the movie it seems to be the opposite. Most of the ships had much larger and provable heads than sterns.The bow and stern wo uld also be more angled and arched up. The movie depicts the ships bow to be flat on many ships. The movie Troy is a great story about the war between Troy and the Spartans. It depicts Achilles as a great warrior and in a strange way var. man. It has the beauty of Helen and the Anger of Menelaus. Much of this movie has been done historically correct however there are major flaws in its accuracy. I highly suggest one to watch this movie as it is quite enjoyable and the epic it is based on should be read as that is quite great itself.

Cause and Effect of Sleep deprivation Essay Example for Free

Cause and Effect of Sleep privation EssayI am a firm believer that many factors such as our culture, our upbringing, and beliefs that we were introduced to both affects what we do, how we live and even what we eat People in China, Vietnam and Switzerland have been known to eat drop behinds for thousands of year, some as a source of survival during war and famine while others eat it as a culinary art meaning it is a part of their regular dietIve even read somewhere that deal in China have been known to say that a huge close they consume dog meat is to keep them warm in the harsh winters Have they heard of a jacket and wild coco? They dont see it any different from feeding cows and pigs, but somebody like me considers that is disgusting I see people each(prenominal) the time whose treat their dog as their best friend, Ive heard that when you begin to grow attached to your dog you soon see them as people. I could never imagine it being okay to eat a dogFunctionalism has a muddle to do with this also when you come to think of it. This tradition has been the norm in these places for years It wasnt until belatedly that proposed laws have been presented to implement a law that bans the eating of cats and dogs. Americans are unfeignedly the people of the land of the throw in and are strong believers that a dog is a mans best friend, in my opinion. Beating, not feeding, and mistreating dogs are all violations of the law, neglect, and animal abuse I could not even imagine hearing a story of mortal eating oneIt is common knowledge here that dogs are like people and should be treat as such and so they are not put on a dinner plate, at least the way I view things. I strongly feel that our individual believes and knowledge is the reason we eat what we eat, they are heathenishly relative in more ways that one. This definitely is a scenic thing as everyone can be their own person and act how they feel but this causes cultural diversity conflict all the t ime Take this scenario for instance two people are run into for a blind date and obviously know nothing about one another.It becomes time to gear up and the woman is disgusted by the menu because everything is meat and fat of the meat from some type of animal, see, shes vegetarian. The woman loves animals and does not believe in eating them and this sparks a conversation. Do you think its a good one as her date has already ordered the number four, which is the half slab of baby moxie ribs with chicken shish kabobs, and a side of pork rings? I can imagine that she stormed out of on that point after giving him a good lecture. Though her actions are registerable they arent quite right.Ethnocentrism would be the perfect would to explain that situation The woman thinks that he beliefs are the right ones and that the man is wrong for eating what he loves to eat Ethnocentrism is when you believe that your culture, your beliefs are better than everyone elses and only yours make sense T his is a big reason there is conflict within cultures. Instead of using cultural relativism and trying to understand others point of view or even just accepting it as their choice we fight for what we think is the right way, the only way.Interactionism helps us understand that our mind plays a role in our how what our body does including why we eat or dont eat what we eat. I love dogs, so I would roll at the thought of eating one. However, once again this doesnt mean I should hate somebody that eats it as a dish at home. Being open and understanding can truly help because just as the conflict theory states that there is a power struggle betwixt cultures, these cultures have the power to become knowledgeable of one another and ultimately obtain culture relativism.

Tata Motors Essay Example for Free

Tata Motors Essayverbal description The Tata Motors moderate dweeb abstract company profile is the essential source for top-level company data and training. Tata Motors particular SWOT Analysis examines the companys key business structure and operations, history and reapings, and provides summary analysis of its key revenue lines and strategy. Tata Motors (or the company) is one of the leading automotive vehicle manufacturing companies in India. The company is engaged in the development, design, manufacture, assembly, and sale of vehicles including financing, as well as sale of related parts and accessories. The company primarily operates India, South Korea, South Africa, Thailand, Bangladesh, Singapore, Spain, and the UK. It is headquartered in Mumbai, India and employs about 49,856 people. The company recorded revenues of INR925,192.5 million ($19,530.8 million) during the financial year ended March 2010 (FY2010), an increase of 30.5% all over FY2009. The operating p rofit of the company was INR42,288.3 million ($892.7 million) during FY2010, as compared to the operating loss of INR6,580 million ($138.9 million) in FY2009. The sort out profit was INR25,710.6 million ($542.8 million) in FY2010, as compared to the net loss of INR25,052.5 million ($528.8 million) in FY2009. Scope of the root word Provides all the crucial information on Tata Motors Limited required for business and competitor intelligence needfully Contains a study of the major internal and external factors affecting Tata Motors Limited in the form of a SWOT analysis as well as a breakdown and examination of leading harvesting revenue streams of Tata Motors Limited -Data is supplemented with details on Tata Motors Limited history, key executives, business description, locations and subsidiaries as well as a list of products and services and the latest available statement from Tata Motors Limited Reasons to Purchase Support gross revenue activities by understanding your custom ers businesses better Qualify prospective partners and suppliers Keep fully up to date on your competitors business structure, strategy and prospects Obtain the most up to date company information available limit SWOT COMPANY PROFILE Tata Motors Limited Key Facts Tata Motors Limited Company Overview Tata Motors Limited Business Description Tata Motors Limited Company History Tata Motors Limited Key Employees Tata Motors Limited Key Employee Biographies Tata Motors Limited Products Services inclination Tata Motors Limited Products Services Analysis Tata Motors Limited SWOT analysis Tata Motors Limited -Strengths Tata Motors Limited -Weaknesses Tata Motors Limited -Opportunities Tata Motors Limited -Threats Tata Motors Limited Company View Tata Motors Limited Top Competitors Tata Motors Limited Location and Subsidiary Tata Motors Limited -Head built in bed Tata Motors Limited -Other Locations and Subsidiaries Tata Motors LimitedOrderingOrder Online http//www.researchandmarkets .com/reports/554957/ Order by facsimile using the form downstairs Order by Post print the order form at a lower place and send to Research and Markets, Guinness Centre, Taylors Lane, capital of Ireland 8, Ireland.Page 1 of 2 Fax Order FormTo place an order via fax simply print this form, fill in the information below and fax the completed form to 646-607-1907 (from USA) or +353-1-481-1716 (from confront of World). If you have any questions please visit http//www.researchandmarkets.com/contact/Order InformationPlease verify that the product information is correct and select the format(s) you require. Product visit Web Address Office Code Tata Motors Limited SWOT Analysis http//www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/554957/ OC8DIQJQNRRRVTProduct FormatsPlease select the product formats and quantity you require Quantity electronic (PDF) Single User Electronic (PDF) Enterprisewide 96 240Contact InformationPlease enter all the information below in BLOCK CAPITALS gentle First Name E mail Address * Job Title Organisation Address City Postal / Zip Code Country Phone Number Fax Number * Please refrain from using free email accounts when ordering (e.g. Yahoo, Hotmail, AOL) Mr Mrs Dr Miss Last Name Ms ProfPage 2 of 2 relentment InformationPlease indicate the compensation method you would like to use by selecting the appropriate box. 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The madding crowd Essay Example for Free

The madding crowd EssayThe sheep washing try outs how Boldwood neer gives up hope. Even later in the novel, when Bathsheba has turned him down several times, he asks for her hand in marriage on Christmas Day, so they can marry five years after the death of troy weight, which would get along it legal. He is positive that she will say that she will marry him and she, non wanting to hurt his feelings, feels obligate to agree. After the shooting however, it all have intercourses out just how desperate he is. The murder is enough to show but he also has a ring, which he has had since the first time he asked her to marry him. galore(postnominal) presents are also found addressed to Bathsheba Boldwood and it is clear from them that Boldwood was a troubled man, slightly insane because of his be intimate of Bathsheba.At the Corn Exchange, Boldwood, who was itching to ask Bathsheba if he would consider marrying him, discovers that he cannot ask her yet. She receives news that Tro y has drowned and she is instantaneously gloomy. Boldwood k instantlys straight away that now is not the right time. He does however realise now that he is free to ask her at any point, because Troy is gone. His face flushed with the suppressed upthrow of an unutterable thought, which means that he is plotting to finally get the woman of his dreams.Troys entrance has an overwhelming effect on Boldwood at the engagement party. Hardy reminds the reader of Boldwoods prior loss of Bathsheba, when he describes Tory as being, the impersonator of orbit persistency towards him, who had once upon broken in upon bliss, scourged him and snatched his delight away. The usage of those strong, and rather violent words such(prenominal) as, broken, scourged, and snatched further highlights Boldwoods painful suffering and foreshadows the violent actions to come.Boldwood is shocked, as is everyone else, about the explosive reappearance of Troy. Everyone thought that he was dead, so no one can quite believe it. Troy then tries to get Bathsheba to come home with him. Bathsheba doesnt move and Troy tries to pull her up, which is when Boldwood loses it. In a flurry of movement, screaming a smoke, Boldwood shoots Troy, who waterfall on the floor dead. Everyone is greatly shocked. Hardy then describes how Boldwood crossed over to Bathsheba, kissed her hand and, put on his hat, opened the door, and went into the darkness, nobody thinking of preventing him. No one probably stops him because it is such a sudden shock. This shows how insane Boldwood has become.In this novel, Hardy details often on the pain of love, and demonstrates to everyone the fact that love is not simple, and is a complex rollercoaster of emotions and there is more often than not more than deuce people involved. The two men are very different, but similar in some ways. Both are, obviously, bowled over by Bathshebas beauty and they are both highly respected gentlemen. They both display their emotions in very diff erent ways however.Sergeant Troy can keep his feelings well under wrap, not really permit on to many people how he truly feels. Boldwood however, cannot contain his emotions as well as Troy, so therefore, goes insane because of his love, or even lust, of Bathsheba, which appears much stronger than Troys, who really prefers Fanny. Bathsheba is more inclined to be with Troy because he is a young, dashing solider. She gives Boldwood the cold shoulder because he is an ageing, boring farmer, who cannot add the spice to life that she requires.By Michael J. RitchieMichael Ritchie 1 Ms Farrell EnglishFar From The Madding Crowd Coursework

Firstmover Advantage Essay Example for Free

Firstmover Advantage EssayWhat, exactly, be first-mover advantages? Under what conditions do they arise, and by what specific mechanisms? Do first-movers gift aboveaverage do goods? And when is it in a loyals interest to pursue first-mover opportunities, as opposed to allowing rivals to gear up the pi mavenering investments? In this paper we examine these and some another(prenominal) related questions. We categorize the mechanisms that confer advantages and disadvantages on first-mover firms, and critically valuate the relevant theoretical and falsifi equal to(p) literature.The youthful burgeoning of theoretical work in industrial economics provides a rich redress of illustrations that help make our understanding of first-mover advantages much precise. There is in addition a emergence body of observational literature on viewpointball club-of-entry do. Our aim is to begin to provide a more en voluminous mapping of mechanisms and outcomes, to serve as a guide f or future research. We define first-mover advantages in terms of the cleverness of pioneering firms to earn positive economic profits (i. e. , profits in excess of the salute of capital).First-mover advantages arise endogenously inwardly a multi-stage touch on, as illustrated in Figure 1. In the first stage, n early(a) asymmetry is generated, enabling one particular firm to gain a head start over rivals. This first-mover opportunity whitethorn cash in ones chips because the firm posesses some unique resources or foresight, or simply because of luck. Once this asymmetry is generated there atomic number 18 a variety of mechanisms that may en equal the firm to exploit its part these mechanisms enhance the magnitude or durability (or both) of first-mover profits.Our discussion is organized as follows. We first consider theoretical models and empirical evidence on tercet general categories in which first-mover advantage enkindle be attained leadership in crossing and ment al process technology, preemption of assets, and development of corruptr shift key cost. We then examine potential disadvantages of first-mover firms (or conversely, relative advantages enjoyed by late-mover rivals). These include free- poser problems and a tendency toward inactiveness or sluggish response by established incumbents.The close section addresses a series of rudimentary conceptual issues. These include the endogenous nature of first-mover opportunities, and miscellaneous definitional and step questions. We conclude with an assessment of opportunities for additional research, and a summary of managerial implications. 1 MECHANISMS LEADING TO FIRST-MOVER ADVANTAGES First-mover advantages arise from three primary sources (1) technological leadership, (2) preemption of assets, and (3) vendee switching cost. Within each category there ar a number of specific mechanisms.1 In this section we survey the existing theoretical and empirical literature on these three gener al categories of first-mover advantages. The theoretical models surveyed in this section assume the existence of some initial asymmetry among competitors that tail end be exploited by the first-mover firm. This intial asymmetry is critical without it first-mover. advantages do non arise. Later in the paper we consider ways in which this asymmetry may come about. proficient Leadership First-movers grass gain advantage done sustain open leadership in technology.Two elementary mechanisms be considered in the literature (1) advantages derived from the see or experience curve, where costs fall with Cumulative return, and (2) triumph in procure or RD races, where advances in output or process technology are a function of RD expenditures. Learning curve In the standard learning-curve model, unit merchandiseion costs fall with cumulative output. This generates a sustainable cost advantage for the early entrant if learning can be kept proprietary and the firm can maintain lea dership in foodstuff plow.This argument was popularized by the capital of Massachusetts Consulting Group during the 1970s and has had a considerable influence on the strategic management field. In a seminal theoretical paper, Spence (1981) demonstrated that when learning can be kept proprietary, the learning curve can generate substantial barriers to entry. Fewer than a handful of firms may be able to compete profitably. 2 However, patronage blue seller concentration there are incentives for vigorous competitor. Firms that do enter may initially sell below cost Rumelt (1987) refers to these as isolating mechanisms, since they protect entrepreneurial rents from imitative rival.2 1n a related setting where learning depends on accumulated investment rather than output, Gilbert and Harris (1981) show that a first-mover lead preempt in the construction of unexampled-sprung(prenominal) fructifys over multiple generations. 1 2 in an effort to accumulate greater experience, and th ereby gain a long-term cost advantage. much(prenominal)(prenominal) vigorous competition sharply reduces profits. semiempirical evidence supporting such learning- ground preemption is given by Ghemawat (1984) in the bailiwick of DuPonts development of an innovative process for titanium dioxide, and by Porter (1981) who discusses monitor lizard and Gambles sustained advantage in disposable diapers in the US.Similarly, Shaw and Shaw (1984) argue that late entrants into European synthetic fiber grocery stores failed to gain significant market shares or low cost positions, and many in conclusion exited. Learning- cornerstoned advantages are also evident in the case of Lincoln Electric Company (Fast, 1975) the firms early market entry with superior procure harvest-times, coupled with a distinctive managerial make up promoting continued cost reduction in an evolutionary technological environment, has enabled the company to sustain remarkably racy profitability.Inter-firm disp ersion of technology, which diminishes first-mover advantages derived from the learning curve, is emphasized in theoretical paper by Ghemawat and Spence (1985) and Lieberman (1987c). It is now generally accept that public exposure occurs rapidly in most industries, and learning-based advantages are less(prenominal) widespread than was commonly believed in the 1970s. Mechanisms for diffusion include workforce mobility, research publication, informal technical communication, reverse engineering, plant tours, etc.For a sample of firms in ten industries, Mansfield (1985) put in that process technology leaks more slowly than production technology, but competitors emblematicly gain access to detailed information on both products and processes within a year of development. Lieberman (1982, 1987b) shows that diffusion of process technology enabled late entry into a sample of forty chemical product industries, despite strong learning curve effects at the industry level.RDand patents When technological advantage is generally a function of RD expenditures, pioneers can gain advantage if technology can be secure or maintained as trade secrets. This has been formalized in the theoretical economics literature in the form of RD or patent races where advantages are often enjoyed by the first-mover firm. Gilbert and Newberry (1982) were the first to develop a model of preemptive patenting, in which a firm with an early head-start in research exploits its lead to dissuade rivals from ingress the patent race. Subsequent papers by Reinganum (1983), Fudenberg, et 3 al.(1983) and others showed that that preemption by the leader depends on assumptions regarding the random nature of the RD process and whether it is practical for fol overturns to leapfrog ahead of the incumbent. One general defect of this patent race literature is that all returns are assumed to go exclusively to the winner of the race. As an empirical matter, such patent races seem to be important in only a few industries, such as pharmaceuticals. In most industries, patents confer only weak protection, are easy to invent around, or adopt transitory value given the pace of technological change.For a sample of 48 patented product innovations in pharmaceuticals, chemicals and electrical products, Mansfield et al. (1981) base that on average, imitators could duplicate patented innovations for about 65% of the innovators cost mis purposen was fairly rapid, with 60% of the patented innovations imitated within four years. Imitation appeared relatively more dear(p) in the pharmaceutical industry, where immitators must go through the same regulatory approval procedures as the innovating firm. Levin et al. (1984) found wide inter-industry variation in the cost and time required for imitation.They also found inter-industry expirations in appropriability mechanisms, with lead-time and learning curve advantages relatively important in many industries, and patents important in few. In a study using the PIMS data base, Robinson (1988) found that pioneer firms benefit from patents or trade secrets to a significantly greater extent than fol pooh-poohs (29% vs. 13%). However, he also found that patents accounted for only a small correspondence of the perceived quality advantages enjoyed by pioneers. Several case studies have examined the role of patents in sustaining firstmover advantages.Bresnahan (1985) discusses go offs use of patents as an entry barrier. In addition to key patents on the basic Xerography process, Xerox patented a thicket of alternative technologies which defended the firm from entry until challengers used anti-trust actions to force compulsory licensing. Bright (1949) argues that GEs long-term dominance of the electric lamp industry was initially derived from control of the basic Edison patent, and later maintained through the accumulation of hundreds of minor patents on the lamp and associated equipment.RD and innovation need not be constraine d to tangible hardware firms also make improvements in managerial systems and may invent new organisational forms. organizational innovation is often slow to diffuse, and hence may convey more durable first-mover advantage than product or process innovation (Teece, 1980). Chandler (1977) describes managerial innovations that enabled producers to exploit newly-available descale economies in 4 manufacturing and distribution in the late 19th century. Many of these firmse. g. , American Tobacco, Campbell Soup, Quaker Oats, Proctor andGamblestill retain overabundant positions in their industries.Preemption of S gondola carce Assets The first-mover firm may be able to gain advantage by preempting rivals in the acquisition of scarce assets. Here, the first-mover gains advantage by controffing assets that already exist, rather than those created by the firm through development of new technology. Such assets may be physical resources or other process inputs. Alternatively, the assets may relate to positioning in quad, including geographic quad, product space, shelf space, etc.Preemption of input factors II the first-mover firm has superior information, it may be able to purchase assets at market tolls below those that will prevail later in the evolution of the market. Such assets include essential resource deposits and prime sell or manufacturing locations. Here, the returns garnered by the first-mover are pure economic rents. 3 A first-mover with superior information can (in principle) collect all such rents earned on non- prompt assets such as resource deposits and real estate.4 The firm may also be able to appropriate some of the rents that accrue to potentially mobile assets such as employees, suppliers and distributors. The firm can collect such rents if these factors are bound to the firm by switching costs, so that their mobility is restricted. One empirical study of first-mover advantages in controlling natural resources is of import (1955). Main arg ues that the concentration of high-grade nickel deposits in a single geographic area made it possible for the first company in the area to secure rights to virtually the entire supply, and thus dominate cosmos production for decades.The basic argument is sta-ndard economic analysis, and can be traced back to Ricardos analysis of rents catch up withd by landowners (first-movers) in the market for wheat in 19th century England. 4 Note that with complete markets, a first-mover with superior information need not actually own or control such assets to capture economic rents. Hirshleifer (1971) argues that if futures markets exist, the firm can simply assume forward market positions that exploit its superior information. 3 5 Preemption of locations in geographic and product characteristics space First-movers may also be able to deter entry through strategies of spatial preemption.In many markets there is room for only a limited number of profitable firms the first-mover can often select the most attractive niches and may be able to take strategic actions that limit the amount of space available for subsequent entrants. Preemptable space can be interpreted broadly to include not only geographic space, but also shelf space and product characteristics space (i. e. , niches for product differentiation). The theory of spatial preemption is developed in papers by Prescott and Vissher (1977), Schmalensee (1978), Rao and Ruttenberg (1979) and Eaton and Lipsey (1979, 1981).The basic argument is that the first-mover can establish positions in geographic or product space such that latecomers find it unprofitable to occupy the interstices. If the market is growing, new niches are directed by incumbents beforehand new entry becomes profitable. 5 Entry is repelled through the threat of price warfare, which is more intense when firms are positioned more closely. Incumbent commitment is provided through sunk investment costs. 6 The empirical evidence suggests that in(predicate) preemption through geographic space packing is rare.In their study of the cement industry, Johnson and Parkman (1983) found no evidence of successful geographic preemption even though structural characteristics of the industry suggest that such strategies would be likely. In a study of local paper markets, Glazer (1985) found no difference in survival rates between first- and second-mover firms. One explanation for these findings is that all firms in cement and newspaper markets have similar technologies and entry opportunities, so preemptive competition for preferred sites drives profits to zero.In other words, there were no initial asymmetries in timing or information to be exploited. One counter-example illustrating in effect(p) geographic preemption is a case study of the Wal-Mart discount retailing firm (Ghemawat, 1986b). Wal-Mart targeted small Confederate towns located in contiguous areas that competitors initially found unprofitable to serve. By coupling spatial preempt ion at the retail level with an. extremely efficient distribution winningswork, the firm has been able to defend its position and earn sustained high profits.Schmalensee (1978) developed his model of product space preemption in lncumbents fill these niches in order to sustain monopoly profits at nearby locations these profits may be extravagant if new entry occurs. 6 judd (1985) argues that sunk costs are not sufficient exit costs are required as well. 5 6 the context of a lawsuit brought by the national Trade Commission against the three major US breakfast cereal companies. The FTC alleged that these firms had sustained their high profit rates through a strategy of tacit collusion in preempting supermarket shelf space and product differentiation niches.Although the lawsuit was dismissed, the cereal firms have continued to sustain exceptionally high profit rates. 7 Robinson and Fornell (1985) found that new consumer product pioneers initially held product quality superiority over imitators, and in conclusion developed advantages in the form of a broader product line. Thus, there is some evidence that pioneers try to reenforce their early lead by filling product differentiation niches. Preemptive investment in plant and equipment Another way in which an established first-mover can deter entry is through pre-emptive investment in plant and equipment.Here, the enlarged capacity of the incumbent serves as a commitment to maintain greater output following entry, with price cuts threatened to make entrants unprofitable. In these models, the incumbent may successfully deter new entry, as in Spence (1977), Dixit (1980), Gilbert and Harris (1981) and Eaton and Ware (1987). Alternatively, pre-emptive investment by the pioneer may simply deter the growth of smaller entrants, as in Spence (1979) and Fudenberg and Tirole (1983). These investment tactics do not seem to be particularly important in practice.Gilbert (1986) argues that most industries lack the cost struct ure required for preemptive investment to prove effective. Lieberman (1987a) shows that preemptive investment by incumbents was seldom successful in deterring entry into chemical product industries. One exception was magnesium, where Dow Chemical maintained a near monopoly position for several decades, based largely on investments (threatened or actual) in plant capacity (Lieberman, 1983). The role of scale economies is intentionally de-emphasized in the abovementioned models of preemptive investment.8 When scale economies are large, first-mover advantages are typically enhanced, with the limiting case being that of natural monopoly. However, outside of public utilities, scale 7 8 0f course, these profits may be derived from sources other than spatial preemption. have also ignored the possibility that network externalities may enhance the po- sition of the first-mover firm. These externalities arise if there are incentives for interconnection or compatibility among users. (See, for example, Farrell and Saloner (1986) and Katz and Shapiro (1986). )7 economies approaching the natural monopoly level are seldom observed in US manufacturing industries. 9 In a theoretical treatment, Schmalensee (1981) shows that in most realistic industry settings, scale economies provide only minor entry barriers and hence potential for enhanced profits. Switching Costs and purchaser Choice Under incredulity Switching costs First-mover advantages may also arise from buyer switching costs. With switching costs, late entrants must invest extra resources to attract guests away from the first-mover firm. Several types of switching costs can arise.First, switching costs can stem from initial transactions costs or investments that the buyer makes in adapting to the sellers product. These include the time and resources spent in qualifying a new supplier, the cost of ancillary products such as software for a new computer, and the time, disruption, and financial burdens of training emplo yees. A second category of switching costs arises due to supplier-specific learning by the buyer. Over time, the buyer adapts to characteristics of the product and its supplier and thus finds it costly to change over to another reproach (Wernerfelt, 1988).For example, nurses become accustomed to the intravenous solution delivery systems of a given supplier and are reluctant to switch (Porter, 1980). A tierce type of switching cost is contractual switching cost that may be intentionally created by the seller. Airline frequent flyer programs fit in this category (Klemperer, 1986). Theoretical models of market equilibrium with buyer switching costs include Klemperer (1986) and Wernerfelt (1986, 1988). Switching costs typically enhance the value of market share obtained early in the evolution of a new market.Thus, they provide a rationale for pursuit of market share. However, first-movers with large market shares do not necessarily earn high profits early competition for share can di ssipate profits. And under some conditions the inaction of an incumbent with a large customer base can make this firm vulnerable to late entrants, who prove to be relatively more profitable (Klemperer, 1986). For example, see Weiss (1976). This finding applies to manufacturing operations only greater scale economies may arise in distribution and advertising.Also, many retailing markets are geographically fragmented, leading to the possibility of spatial preemption of the miscellanea described earlier. Such preemption requires the presence of some scale economies in the form of fixed costs. 9 8 Buyer choice under uncertainty A related theoretical literature (e. g. , Schmalensee, 1982) deals with the fallible information of buyers regarding product quality. In such a context, buyers may rationally stick with the first brand they encounter that performs the job satisfactorily.Brand loyalty of this sort may be particularly strong for low-cost convenience goods where the benefits of f inding a superior brand are seldom great enough to rationalise the additional search costs that must be incurred (Porter, 1976). In such an environment, early-mover firms may be able to establish a reputation for quality that can be transferred to additional products through umbrella mark and other tactics (Wernerfelt, 1987). Similar arguments derived from the psychology literature suggest that the first product introduced receives disproportionate wariness in the consumers mind.Late entrants must have a truly superior product, or else labour more frequently (or more creatively) than the incumbent in order to be noticed by the consumer. In a laboratory study using consumer products, Carpenter and Nakamoto (1986) found that order-of-entry influences the formation of consumer preferences. If the pioneer is able to earn significant consumer trial, it can define the attributes that are perceived as important within a product category. Pioneers such as Coca-Cola and Kleenex have bec ome prototypical, occupying a unique position in the consumers mind.Pioneers large market shares tend to persist because perceptions and preferences, once formed, are difficult to alter. More traditional marketing studies defend the existence of such perceptual effects. In a study of two types of prescription pharmaceuticalsoral diuretics and antianginals stick to and Lean (1977) found that physicians ignored me-too products, even if offered at lower prices and with substantial marketing support. Montgomery (1975) found that a products newness was one of the two key variables necessary to gain acceptance onto supermarket shelves.These weak information effects should be greater for individual consumers than corporate buyers, since the latters large purchase volume justifies greater investment in information acquisition activities)- Using the 0ne explanation of these findings is that physicians are price insensitive because they do not actually pay the prescription costs. However, the Carpenter and Nakamoto (1986) experiments found that more typical consumers are also unwilling to switch to objectively similar me-too brands, even at substantially lower prices.11 Moreover, switching costs in industrial markets often dissipate over time as the buyr becomes more knowledgeable about competing products (Cady, 1985). 10 9 PIMS data base, Robinson (1988) and Robinson and Fornell (1985) found that pioneers had larger market shares than followers in both consumer and industrial markets, but the effect was much greater for consumer goods order of entry explained 18% of the variance in market share in consumer goods markets, but only 8% in industrial markets. For a sample of 129 consumer packaged goods, Urban et al.(1986) found a strong inverse relation between order-of-entry and market share. Brand positions remain remarkably durable in many consumer markets. Ries and Trout (1986) storied that of twenty-five leading brands in 1923, twenty were still in first place so me cardinal years later. Davidson (1976) found that two-thirds of the pioneers in eighteen United Kingdom grocery product categories developed since 1945 retained their market leadership through the mid- 1970s. FIRST-MOVER DISADVANTAGES The above-mentioned mechanisms that benefit the first-mover may be counterbalanced by various disadvantages.These first-mover disadvantages are, in effect, advantages enjoyed by late mover firms. Late movers may benefit from (1) the ability to free ride on first-mover investments, (2) courage of technological and market uncertainty, (3) technological discontinuities that provide gateways for new entry, and (4) various types of incumbent inertia that make it difficult for the incumbent to adapt to environmental change. These phenomena can reduce, or even completely negate, the net advantage of the incumbent derived from the mechanisms considered previously.Free-Rider Effects Late movers may be able to free ride on a pioneering firms investments in a number of areas including RD, buyer education, and infrastructure development. As mentioned previously, imitation costs are lower than innovation costs in most industries. However, innovators enjoy an initial stay of monopoly that is not available to imitator firms. Nevertheless, the ability of follower firms to free ride reduces the magnitude and durability of the pioneers profits, and hence its incentive to make early investments.The theoretical literature has focused largely on the implications of freerider effects in the form of information spillovers in RD (Spence, 1984 Baldwin Childs, 1969), and learning-based productivity improvement 10 (Ghemawat and Spence, 1985 Lieberman, 1987c). As mentioned previously, empirical studies document a high rate of inter-firm diffusion of technology in most industries. Guasch and Weiss (1980) assess free-rider effects operating in the labor market. They give a theoretical argument that late-mover firms may be able to exploit employee screen ing performed by early entrants, and thus acquire skilled labor at lower cost.This is on top of the fact that early entrants may invest in employee training, with benefits enjoyed by later entrants who may be able to hire away the trained personnel. Teece (1986a, 1986b) argues that the magnitude of free-rider effects depends in part on the ownership of assets that are complementary or specialized with the underlying innovation. For example, EMI developed the first CT electronic scanner but lost in the marketplace because the firm lacked a technology infrastructure and marketing base in the medical fieldPilkington, by comparison, was able to profit handsomely from its pioneering float glass process because of the firms ability to draw upon relevant assets and experience in the glass industry. In other instances late-mover firms have proven successful largely because they were able to exploit existing assets in areas such as marketing, distribution, and customer reputatione. g. , IBM in personal computers and Matsushita in VCRs (Schnaars, 1986). Resolution of Technological or Market Uncertainty Late movers can gain an edge through resolution of market or technological uncertainty.12 Wernerfelt and Karnani (1987) consider the effects of uncertainty on the desirability of early versus late market entry. They argue that early entry is more attractive when firms can influence the way that uncertainty is resolved. Firm size may also matterthey suggest that large firms may be better equipped to wait for resolution of uncertainty, or to hedge by maintaining a more flexible portfolio of investments. In many new product markets, uncertainty is resolved over time through the emergence of a predominant design. The Model T Ford and the DC-3 are examples of such designs in the automotive and aircraft industries.After emergence of such a design, competition often shifts to price, thereby con12 A related point is that a late-mover may be able to take advantage of the firstmo vers mistakes. For example, when Toyota was first planning to enter the US market it interviewed owners of Volkswagons, the leading small car at that time. Information on what owners liked and disliked about the VW was incorporated in the design process for the new Toyota. 11 veyin. g greater advantage on firms possessing skills in low-cost manufacturing (Teece, 1986b). Shifts in engineering science or Customer Needs.Schumpeter (1961) conceived of technological progress as a process of creative destruction in which existing products are superceded by the innovations of new firms. New entrants exploit technological discontinuities to displace existing incumbents.Empirical studies which consider these technological discontinuities or gateways for new entry include Yip (1982), and Bevan (1974). Foster (1986) gives practical advice on how such discontinuities can be exploited by entrants, who might be defined as first-movers into the close technological phase. Sch. erer (1980, p.438) provides a list of innovative entrants who revolutionized existing industries with new products and processes.He also cites numerous examples of dominant incumbents that proved slow innovators but aggressive followers (p. 431). Since the replenishment technology often appears while the of age(predicate) technology is still growing, it may be difficult for an incumbent to percieve the threat and take adequate cautionary steps. Cooper and Schendel (1976) provide several examples, such as the failure of steam locomotive manufacturers to respond to the device of diesel.Foster (1986) cites American Viscoses failure to recognize the potential of polyester as a replacement for rayon, and Transitrons inattention to silicon as a substitute for germanium in semiconductor fabrication. This perceptual failure problem is closely related to that of incumbent inertia considered below. Customer needs are also dynamic, creating opportunities for later entrants unless the first mover is alert and able to respond. Docutel, as the pioneer, had virtually 100% of the automatic fabricator machine market up to late 1974.Over the next four years, its market share declined to less than 10% under the onslaught of Honeywell, IBM and Burroughs, all of whom offered total system solutions to customers emerging needs for electronic cash in hand transfer (Abell, 1978). Incumbent Inertia Vulnerability of the first-mover is often enhanced by problems of incumbent inertia. Such inertia can have several root causes (1) the firm may be locked-in to a specific set of fixed assets, (2) the firm may be reluctant to cannibalize its existing product lines, or (3) the firm may become organi-12 zationally inflexible.These factors inhibit the ability of the firm to respond to environmental change or free-enterprise(a) threats. Incumbent inertia is often a rational, profit-maximizing response, even though it may lead to organizational decline. For example, Tang (1988) presents a model that rational izes the decisions of most U. S. steel producers to continue investing in open house furnace technology during the late 1950s and early 1960s even though it had become clear that basic oxygen furnaces were superior.A firm with heavy sunk costs in fixed plant or marketing channels that ultimately prove sub-optimal may find it rational to harvest these investments rather than crusade to transform itself radically. 13 MacMillan (1983) suggests that in the rapidly-changing environment of health care, old health care systems may currently be harvesting from their initial investments in locations and personnel. The appropriate choice between adaptation and harvesting depends on how costly it is to convert the firms existing assets to alternative uses.And as we consider below, there have been numerous instances where organizational inertia has led firms to continue investing in their existing asset base well beyond the point where such investments could be economically justified. Much o f the literature on cannibalization-avoidance refers to the case of RD. Arrow (1962) was the first to lay out the theoretical argument that an incumbent monopolist is less likely to innovate than a new entrant, since innovation destroys rents on the firms existing products.More recent theoretical work along these lines include Reinganum (1983) and Ghemawat (1986a). Bresnahan (1985) argues that Xerox exhibited such behavior following the expiration ofits patent-enforced monopolyXerox lagged in certain types of innovations and was sluggish to cut prices, given the firms large fleet of term of a contract machines in the field. Brock (1975) and Ghemawat (1986a) make similar arguments regarding the innovative responses of IBM in computers and ATT in PBXs.However, Connor (1988) shows that under a broad browse of conditions, the incumbents optimal strategy is to develop an improved product but delay market introduction until challenged by the appearance of a rival product. From an organiz ational theory perspective, Hannan and Freeman (1984) outline factors that limit adaptive response by incumbents.