Human Cognition and the Role of the Internet Essay

Human Cognition and the Role of the Internet - Essay Example These cognition deficiencies are considered attributable to Internet use because the way information presented in the Internet influences human cognition. For instance, in Is Google Making Us Stupid?, Nicholas Carr argues that Internet use affects reading habits, as well as comprehension and retention of information (57). The way Google presents the information affects the way people understand the information, as well. The design of the web pages, which are oftentimes collage-like, divides the attention of readers. Web pages are often full of advertisements with flashing colors that distract the concentration of readers. Additionally, there are also hyperlinks that merely draw the attention of readers, rather than point to sites containing significant information. In addition, advertisements that are put together with information may divert the attention of Internet users. Thus, as the human mind reprograms itself to adapt with the technologies, the human mind also adapts the collag e-like structure of information as projected in the Internet. Relatively, human cognition becomes inclined to prefer shortened information over the detailed, lengthy ones. Considering the effects of the Internet on human cognition, it can be said that Internet users need to be evaluative when gathering information from the Internet. As mentioned by McLuhan, the media, which include the Internet, are not just ways in which information are generated and transferred (qtd. in Carr 57). The media also direct and influence the way people understand the information that is being transferred through them. The complexity and amount of information produced by the media often confuses people hindering them to think and evaluate information critically and contemplatively. Aside from this, the Internet also influences the way people see and use information. In its capacity to transfer and generate information faster, the internet leaves people behind should they fail to cope with the fast inform ation transfer. In addition, the bulk of the information contained in the Internet overwhelms readers in such a way that readers will be trapped in the wide variety of topics in the Internet. The problem of information segregation comes as people get confronted with various hyperlinks that may not point to appropriate and relevant information. As internet users toggle from link to link, internet users may lose their focus and get trapped in another information that are not related to the topic at hand. In this context, it can be said that the fast, complex, and vast information contained in the Internet may decrease concentration that may, in turn, decrease retention of information. Thus, problems related to cognitive deficiencies come when the human mind cannot cope with the complexity and speed of information transfer in the Internet. So, the question as to whether Google (or the internet, in general) had made people stupid is thought-provoking and worthy of critical investigation . While there are evidences that prove the inhibiting effects of internet use, the Internet also provides information that could raise the awareness of people on certain subjects. Accordingly, to resolve the issue, researchers need to investigate whether it is really the internet that causes retention and comprehension gap, or it is merely the changing perspectives of users when it

Child Study Paper Essay Example for Free

Child Study Paper Essay The Child Study data I have gathered comes from the observation I have completed at Mission Bell Elementary School. Mission Bell Elementary School is a local school in Riverside. In the P. M preschool class there are 24 students, one teacher, and one assistant. The child I decided to observe is names Zoe. Zoe is 4 years and 10 months old. I immediately was drawn to Zoe because she had such a big personality, was very social, and smart. I am glad that I choose to observe Zoe because she was able to make my observation process smooth and easy. While observing her I had to pay close attention to her biosocial development, motor skills, cognitive skills, communication skills, emotional development, social interaction, and her self-esteem. As I share my observation data, I will give examples of Zoe’s skills and overall development thus far in her life. Biosocial Development: Physical Description According to biosocial development norms Zoe is average. She is just the size she is suppose to be according the growth chart and development norms. Zoe is tall and lean. She is on the skinny side and has long arms and legs and a flat stomach. Zoe weighs 36 pounds and is 39. 75 inches tall. On the growth chart Zoe is in the 50th percentile (CDC 2000) when it comes to her weight and is in the 25th percentile (CDC 200) when it comes to her height. From these percentages on the growth chart Zoe is falling right in the middle when it comes to her physical development, showing that she is growing at a normal expected rate. Zoe displays an above average activity level in comparison to her peers. She has such a high activity level compared to the other children because out of them all she is the one that keeps busy. When indoor play time comes around Zoe is sure to play at as many play stations as she can. Zoe averages about 5 to 6 play stations. Zoe chooses to play at a number of different areas, whereas, many of the other children just get around to two different play stations. At each station Zoe spends 41/2 to 5 minutes playing, showing that Zoe’s ratio of active running around periods out weight the inactive sitting and playing periods. Motor Skills Zoe does a does a good job at controlling her gross-motor skills as well as her fine motor skills. Zoe has good balance and speed for a 4 year old. When Zoe’s gross-motor skills are compared to her classmates you notice her advancement. She does not stumble over her feet or object such as the carpet, as much as her peers do. When Zoe is outside her favorite activity is to play on the jungle gym. This activity is able to show Zoe’s good development of gross-motor skills because of how she is able to climb up and down the stairs of the jungle gym and with such speed. â€Å"Many children by age 2 become smooth and rhythmic – secure enough that soon they leave the ground. (Berk, 2007, P. 224). Zoe has mastered her fine motor skills. Zoe is able to correctly hold writing objects such as markers and crayons; she also holds glue sticks in the writing position. She holds the maker or writing object in between her thumb and her middle finger and allows her index to help support her writing tool. By having this technique down Zoe is able to control the lines that she makes on her paper as well as how dark her lines will be. She is also able to manipulate how much glue is going to go onto her paper and where it will go. In comparison to Hayliegh (3-8), who is still holding her writing tool with her palm, Zoe shows she is more advance in her fine motor skill. While playing at one of her favorite indoor play stations, which is play dough, Zoe uses her hands to manipulate the play dough into various shapes and objects. The way she is able to grasp and squeeze the play dough shows her sensatory skills, which are in connection to her fine motor skills. These two examples show that Zoe has master over her hands and how they will work to her advantage. As Zoe continues to play her favorite activity, the jungle gym, with such balance and speed she shows that she is comfortable with her movements. This is one of her favorite activities because it allows her to run around and get out her energy. Zoe favorite game, and only game she plays, are the computer games. Zoe will avoid such games as board games but will go and play on the computer when she can. The games on the computer help her to learn how to control an object such as the mouse and pointer. This helps Zoe in the development of her fine motor skills. Zoe’s favorite table game is play dough. The play dough station is always the first station that Zoe goes to if she is picked to go their. At this station Zoe again uses her fine motor skills to create all different types of objects with her play dough. Cognitive Skills While closely observing Zoe’s cognitive skills she showed evidence of Piaget’s preoperational stage. Zoe’s cognitive development is shown through her make-believe play. â€Å"Piaget believed that through pretending, young children practice and strengthen newly acquired representational schemes. † (Berk, 2007, P 227). When Zoe plays with her play dough she pretend that she is making pizza. She begins by taking a handful of play dough and placing it on the table, she then get a small rolling pin to roll the play dough out flat. Once the play dough is rolled out completely flat she uses little Lego’s to represent the pepperoni that tops most pizzas. Next she takes the finished pizza and puts it on the side of the table and pretends to heat it in an oven. The takes the play dough and begins to feed her friends. When Zoe decides to not just feed herself but her friends as well she is showing development of no longer being self-centered. This whole make believe shows how far Zoe’s Cognitive skills have developed. She is able to take something she see and act it out and think about the order in which she acts out each piece. Zoe has knowledge of classification and seriation along with her representation skills. Zoe shows that she is capable of classifying objects as well as putting them in sequence. She shows evidence of classification during clean up time. When it is time to clean up each toy has its own space and toys that are a like go into spaces next to each other. Zoe is able to identify objects and according to the likely ness of one to the other she can tell weather or not the go in the same area. For example Zoe is able to identify that the blocks and the Lego’s go into the same area but that they are different. She is also able to recognize that the entire book are books but able to classify them according to their size. She put away all the big books on one side of the bookshelf where they belong and all of the smaller books on the oppsite side where they belong. Zoe also knows sequence of numbers. She shows this when she is called up to be the calendar girl for he day. Zoe takes down all the numbers from one to 15 off of the calendar. Then one by one puts them back up in sequence. She also recognizes the patter of the numbers. Each number is written on an insect. As she puts up the numbers she realizes that the patters of insects are caterpillar, lady bug, butterfly, caterpillar, lady bug, butterfly and so on. Zoe shows the ability to imitate real life through her play. When she creates pizza with play dough and Lego’s she is showing that she understands how to create something from what she has seen and experienced. She shows that she understands how something that is not the original object can symbolize or represent the original. Zoe also shows role play during her play. She does show by pretending to be the baby while her friend Savanna (3-11) plays the mother. This type of role play shows that Zoe understands the various roles that people play in life. Through this role play you are able to see her ideas on life. Zoe shows her perception of how a baby is to act and how they should respond to their mother. By Zoe crawls around on the floor and talks baby talk shows how she views babies. Lastly Zoe shows special interest in activities that involve imitation play. She likes to create things that she sees and experiences in her life. This ability to imitate reality shows her cognitive growth. Communication Zoe uses wide variations of communication. Zoe uses her body language, facial expressions, and verbal communication all at once when she is explaining or expressing herself. All these combined show off Zoes personality. When Zoe hurt her foot on the table Zoe used her body language to show that she was in pain. She immediately bends down to rub her foot in try to make it feel better. Then her wincing face showed that it was not helping. As Zoe dragged her body over to the teacher she then verbalized the pain that she was in. She expressed the teacher, â€Å"I hurt my foot†. Zoe is very good at exaggerating her expressions and really showing how she feels on her face. If she is happy she has a big simile, if she is shad she is frowning, and if she is hurt she is wincing and showing pain on her face. Her facial expressions do a lot of the verbal communication she might not do or it tells her feelings before her words do. When Zoe interacts with her friends she is very animated and humorous. She is very big in her movements and throws up her arms and puts out her hands as gestures when she is speaking. When she is very excited about what it is she is telling her peers she is very big in her gestures and when she is calm she uses one hand when gesturing. Zoe has a very good vocabulary and is the talkative one of the group. She is also known for her slang vocabulary. Sometimes this slang that she uses from time to time goes a little too far and she can get into trouble. Hector (3-5) did jus that told on Zoe and got her into trouble. Hector told the teacher that Zoe told him, â€Å"What the heck. † Zoe was then told that she should not use that word. Zoe is also very descriptive in her speech. She once told the teacher, â€Å"Mrs. Contreras, I made a red strawberry†. Zoe is extremely talkative and this helps aid her in learning and broadening her vocabulary, as well as learning how to express her self. Emotions Zoe is at the Initiative versus Guilt stage according to Erikson’s personality development theory (Berk, 2007). Evidence of this is show when Zoe is eager to join her class peers in various activities. In particular when it is library time Zoe likes to thumb through her book initially by herself like she is told to do but it excited when she is able to share her book with a few surrounding friends, or listen to a surrounding friend share their book with others. When it comes to creating a new picture or trying a new activity Zoe becomes excited to participate and learn something new. This took place when she had the opportunity to create a caterpillar. She learned how many circles she needed to make the caterpillar and where to glue on the legs of the caterpillar. Zoe also shows evidence of autonomy because she is able to use her mental development and sense to determine and recognize that she has to use the restroom. When it comes to Zoe’s Temperament she is not moody. She consistently is happy and friendly unless she gets hurt or someone copies her. She is usually very approachable and social with everyone. Her response positively when it comes to playing with someone new at each play station that she goes to. She also is good at sharing. For example, when Zoe goes to play on the computer she shares the mouse with the other student and takes turns clicking on the computer. She works together with her peer to find the right answer to the question on the computer. Since Zoe is good at sharing this makes her approachable and fun to play with. When it comes to Zoe’s intensity of her reactions she is directly in the middle. She is not a loud child but also not quiet. She also is good at having self control and not having tantrums. She does have very out there over the top facial expressions and gestures but not so much to make her an intense child. Zoe is also positive in her mood. If she is hurt or irritated she will tend to come down from her usually happy smiley mood. Zoe is usually happy and playful. Zoe is just about always in a very positive mood and a pleasure to be around. However, Zoe does show a broad range of emotions during her observation. She showed happiness while she was interacting with her peers, and she also displayed the feeling of being hurt, when she stubbed her toe on the table. Zoe displays knowledge of how to express herself emotionally. Social Interaction Zoe is very social and interacts with everyone. Zoe is always interacting with new peers when she is indoors going from one play station to the other. Zoe is a little different from the other girls in that she has no problem interacting with the boys. Around lunch time Zoe joins in when Dillon (4-7) is pretending to be a superhero. Zoe joins in and pretends to be a super cat. When Zoe does interact with her peers it is in a small group of maybe 3 at the most. Zoe never tends to be around large groups. Mostly you will see Zoe one on one with another peer. Zoe tends to go towards the sensatory play then the make believe play. When Zoe has a choice of an indoor play station she always goes for the play dough first. After that Zoe will do arts and crafts that involve gluing or draw a picture. By the end Zoe always ends up at the Sand table. These three types of play that Zoe consistently participates in are all dealing with her sensatory skills or fine motor skills. These are Zoe’s favorite types of play because she enjoys playing with things that involve her hands, since she is good at them. Zoe has a secure attachment to her mother, teachers, and peers. When Zoe’s mother came to visit the class she did not attach herself to her mother while she was present. Zoe recognized she was there and called on her if she needed help but she did not play at the table that her mom was at just because she wanted to be next to her. Zoe continued to do her own thing. Zoe is also not attached to any particular peer in the classroom. She demonstrates this by sitting at a new lunch table with someone new with each observation. She also plays with someone new at each play station. Some of the other children especially girls are attached to one another each observation. They will always sit together at lunch and play together in both indoor and outdoor play time, but not Zoe. Self Esteem Zoe displays confidence and high self-esteem. She indicates that she has a very positive outlook of herself through her expressions. When Zoe does something correct she wants everyone to know. For example when Zoe did a good job of cleaning up her mess and helping her peers pick up wooden blocks she went to the teacher Mrs. Contreras to show her what she had done. Zoe will not shy away form getting others to acknowledge her feelings weather positive or negative. This shows that Zoe is confident and knows when she is doing good and not doing well. Zoe is confident enough to speek up when she wants to. Zoe is her own motivation. She is a self starter and needs little direction. When it is reading time Zoe will get her book and begin reading. While most of her other peers need a reminder to sit quietly and look at their book, Zoe doesn’t. Zoe will also do things when she is asked and will not need a motivation to do it, like and incentive or a reason. Zoe might need some help with staying focused for more than five minutes on one task, but when it comes to starting a task Zoe will not waste time getting to it and starting it. Zoe usually needs little direction and makes up her mind fairly quick when it comes to deciding where she wants to play and what she wants to do. She needs little self direction and Zoe tends to play at areas where she will receive as less direction as possible. Zoe is independent and is able to handle her own. She has no problem with playing alone and being by herself. She enjoys the company from her peers but she is able to entertain herself. She doesn’t need to have other peers around her in order for her to have fun. She also is more of a leader and to be a leader you have to have an independent sprit. Zoe has other peers who follow her around and does what she wants to do. Since Zoe is not a follower she is showing she is not dependent on other but is independent. Conclusion Zoe displays a number of strengths as well as areas that she can improve. Zoe is strong in her fine motor skills. The way she is able to control her writing tool and where her lines will go on her paper and how dark they will be. She is also able to stay inside of the lines. These examples show that Zoe has done a good job of developing her fine motor skills. Zoe is also very good with her communication skills. She knows how to express herself correctly and clearly. She is able to not only use her body language and facial features to let show one know what she is feeling but she is able to verbalize it. Zoe can afford to improve on her attention span. Zoe tends to be easily distracted by the idea of moving on to something else. She needs to learn how to focus on one thing instead of trying them all. She needs to learn how to relax and be persistent in what she is working on. Overall I have enjoyed the opportunity of observing Zoe. She has taught me various things about the development of a preschooler. I plan on remembering this observation and using it as I go on to my future career working with children.

Positioning of Apple, Blackberry and Nokia

Positioning of Apple, Blackberry and Nokia Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The companys best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad. Apple software includes the Mac OS X operating system; the iTunes media browser; the iLife suite of multimedia and creativity software; the iWork suite of productivity software; Aperture, a professional photography package; Final Cut Studio, a suite of professional audio and film-industry software products; Logic Studio, a suite of music production tools; and iOS, a mobile operating system. As of August 2010, the company operates 301 retail stores in ten countries, and an online store where hardware and software products are sold. Established on April 1, 1976 in Cupertino, California, and incorporated January 3, 1977, the company was previously named Apple Computer, Inc., for its first 30 years, but removed the word Computer on January 9, 2007, to reflect the companys ongoing expansion into the consumer electronics market in addition to its traditional focus on personal computers. As of September 25, 2010, Apple had 46,600 full time employees and 2,800 temporary full time employees worldwide and had worldwide annual sales of $65.23 billion. For reasons as various as its philosophy of comprehensive aesthetic design to its distinctive advertising campaigns, Apple has established a unique reputation in the consumer electronics industry. This includes a customer base that is devoted to the company and its brand, particularly in the United States. Fortune magazine named Apple the most admired company in the United States in 2008 and in the world in 2008, 2009, and 2010. The company has also received widespread criticism for its contractors labor, environmental, and business practices. Segmentation: According to Michael J. Croft (1994), segmentation is to divide a market by a strategy directed at gaining a major portion of sales to a subgroup in a category, rather than a more limited share of purchases by all category users. Market segmentation is one of the steps that goes into defining and targeting specific markets. It is the process of dividing a market into a distinct group of buyers that require different products or marketing mixes. A key factor to success in todays market place is finding subtle differences to give a business the marketing edge. Businesses that target specialty markets will promote its products and services more effectively than a business aiming at the average customer. Opportunities in marketing increase when segmented groups of clients and customers with varying needs and wants are recognized. Markets can be segmented or targeted using a variety of factor. The bases for segmenting consumer markets include: Demographical bases (age, family size, life cycle, occupation) Geographical bases (states, regions, countries) Behaviour bases (product knowledge, usage, attitudes, responses) Psychographic bases (lifestyle, values, personality) A business must analyze the needs and wants of different market segments before determining their own niche. To be effective in market segmentation keeps the following things in mind: Segments or target markets should be accessible to the business Each segmented group must be large enough to provide a solid customer base. Each segmented group requires a separate marketing plan. Apple is such a band whose core competence in innovation. For apple to keep its market share it needs not only to concentrate on its research and development but also on segmenting its market efficiently and reaching them with its new products. Customers View of Segmentation: Customers segment themselves and take no notice of how companies segment their market(s). When choosing between competing products and services, customers select the proposition that meets their needs better than any other. To win market share, therefore, a company must ensure that their offers meet these needs better than any other at a price they perceive as providing superior value for money (which does not necessarily mean it has to be the cheapest). As this is how customers operate in a market, then a segmentation project should have these as its segmentation criteria. On its own this approach to segmentation, while able to provide you with an invaluable insight into how to win a customers business, still requires you to know how to reach them. The input to this part of a winning proposition, provided by a detailed understanding of who the customers are and where they are to be found, is clearly very important and plays a crucial part in our segmentation process. In addition, by really understanding what underpins a customers choice we gain an insight into their motivations, which will lead you to understand what promotional stance to take? Interestingly, all the reputable marketing books and marketing courses which look at the alternative approaches to segmenting markets include needs-based segmentation (sometimes called benefit segmentation) in their reviews. They also conclude that needs-based segmentation is by far the most successful approach. This is the approach taken by The Market Segmentation Company, for which we have developed a series of practical steps, tried and tested in numerous markets around the world, and incorporated into our segmentation process. Positioning of Apple, Blackberry and Nokia: Blackberry handset is no longer concerned with the occurrence of iPhone. Because of not all people switch off from their Blackberry handset to iPhone gadget, this statement was stated by researchers from UBS Investment Jeffrey Fan after successfully interviewed 222 people in UK and 106 people in United States when they would buy iPhone 3G. According to Cellular News, 106 of iPhone buyers in United States, only five people, or 4.7 percent are Blackberry users. In fact, three of that number doesnt intend to sell their Blackberry after buying Apple iPhone. About 30 percent of 106 people use Motorola and Samsung. With each contributing is 15 percent, said the Cellular news. In UK, from 222 people who purchased the iPhone, only eight people or 3.6 per cent claiming to have it switch from Blackberry to iPhone. Only one person is interested in using them, iPhone and Blackberry. However, 18 percent of these respondents claim to have a corporate Blackberry so that they cannot take down the handset made by Research in Motion (Rim). From 222 people in UK, the 28 percent is former Nokia users, while 20 percent is former Sony Ericsson users, Fan explained. Fan detailed more about this research, although the research is limited, but it can prove that the market segment of Blackberry and iPhone users is very different so it will not become a significant threat to Rim. In above countries, the majority of iPhone 3G buyers have used first version of iPhone. In UK is about 29 percent and in United States is about 37 percent. Even, some iPhone operator in several countries also sells Blackberry handset as alternative of iPhone by selling Blackberry with cheaper price. For example, the T-Mobile of United States reduced the price of Blackberry Curve by USD 50, to USD 99. According to Wilbur Schramm (1954), Schramms third model is based on the convergence or network approach. Due to various kinds of noise there are chances that the message gets distorted till it reaches the receiver, to overcome the problem he introduced the concept of feedback which helps the sender to modify the information from what he observes or hears from the receiver or the audience. The communication process now takes a circular form as both parties take on the roles of sender and recipient. Schramms model emphasizes on the importance of feedback for the information to reach the receiver in the same manner as desired by the sender. Feedback is essential in the business environment to ensure that the constituencies interpret the information correctly from the companies. Apple, Blackberry and Nokia: The iPhone was growing explosively, but its market share was barely a third of Nokias 68 million smart phones. Despite the massive coverage of the iPhone success in the United States, RIM with its Blackberry still leads the U.S. Smartphone market, with a share of over 30%. Apple had less than 30%, while Android-based phones (Google) were catching up fast. In the second quarter of 2010, Nokia held onto 33% of the mobile phone market. In the Smartphone market, Nokia sold 24 million such devices, up 42% from a year earlier. The overall Smartphone market grew at about the same rate, so Nokia held its share from a year ago, at 40.3%, and actually grew share slightly from the first quarter of this year. So in the global Smartphone rivalry, Nokia still had the lead, while RIM and Apple followed. The winners of the Smartphone market will be determined by global success. So is Nokia; in so much internal turmoil that it is reportedly considering replacing its CEO. Despite the softening of Nokias market share in the United States, Nokia has managed to expand its global position, especially in the high-growth large emerging markets; including China, India, Brazil and Indonesia. In a global rivalry, it would be a fatal mistake to think of these markets as second-tier. Apple is yet to open a store in India. India has such a huge market. Nokia with leading market share in India Apple should look at it if it sights at global leader in mobiles. True, until the 1980s, the lead customers in the most advanced industries were still in the United States, Western Europe and Japan. The G-7 nations dominated talks on international economics. And what was good for California was good for the world. Today, the lead customers are increasingly in the emerging world. The G-7 has been replaced by the G-20. The U.S. market is no longer enough for global leadership. In the global markets, the new mantra is, to paraphrase Frank Sinatra: If you can make it in Shanghai, you can make it in New Delhi, too. And yet, as Nokia has found out the hard way, the United States remains necessary for sustained global success. And the U.S. market is the main source of concerns about Nokias corporate future. In high-tech business, a solid presence in the United States is not just about a market share. It is about ensuring a role in cutting-edge innovation. Apple has hugely targeted youth and people having higher interest in technological products. The major setback for apple is it doesnt support office applications. Apple needs to concentrate on overseas expansion of its market. It is able to reach its target audience in some of the developed countries, but not having full length operations in a country like India is a big loss for any industry. Apple Ad Campaigning: In the past two decades, Apple Inc. has become well known for its advertisements, which are designed to reflect a plan of marketing their products to creative individuals. Their most significant ad campaigns include the 1984 Super Bowl commercial, the 1990s Think Different campaign, and the iPod people of the 2000s. Apples portable music player, the iPod, has been showcased as a piece of contemporary art in New Yorks Museum of Modern Art. Since the original Macintosh Super Bowl commercial in 1984, which mimicked imagery from George Orwells 1984, Apple has maintained a style of homage to contemporary visual art in many of its more famous ad campaigns. For example, the Think Different campaign linked Apple to famous social figures-including artist John Lennon and social activist Mahatma Gandhi. Apple has been criticized for its sometimes questionable use of modern art as an inspiration for its marketing campaigns-at times re-creating a short film or music video shot-by-shot for its commercials. Some artists have documented entering into rights-negotiations with Apple, only to have Apple pull out of the discussions, then use the artistic imagery anyway. As a result, several lawsuits have been filed against Apple by artists and corporations alike, such as visual artist Louie Psihoyos and shoe company Lugz. These claims were later confirmed. In 1997, the Think Different campaign introduced Apples new slogan, and in 2002 the Switch campaign followed. The most recent advertising strategy by Apple is the Get a Mac campaign. Today, Apple focuses much of its advertising efforts around special events, and keynotes at conferences like the MacWorld Expo and the Apple Expo. The events typically draw a large gathering of media representatives and spectators. In the past, special events have been used to announce products such as the Power Mac G5. Apple Branding: Unique design, sign, symbol, words, or a combination of these, employed in creating an image that identifies a product and differentiates it from its competitors. Over time, this image becomes associated with a level of credibility, quality, and satisfaction in the consumers mind. Thus brands help harried consumers in crowded and complex marketplace, by standing for certain benefits and value. Legal name for a brand is trademark and, when it identifies or represents a firm, it is called a brand name. Apple Computers is the epitome of self-empowerment and self-fulfilment combined in one brand. How else to describe a Cult Brand whose original slogan for the Macintosh was, the computer for the rest of us? Of course, the rest of us were those brave individuals who wanted to control their own destinies and break free of the systems controlling grip and authoritarian ways. In the eighties, Apple painted this dark controlling force as being IBM, while in the nineties it became Microsoft and Bill Gates. As Christopher Escher, former VP of Corporation Communications, noted: They turned computers, which are essentially a product for business people to crunch numbers with, into symbols of self-realization and liberation against social constraints. Apple has a branding strategy that focuses on the emotions. The Apple brand personality is about lifestyle; imagination; liberty regained; innovation; passion; hopes, dreams and aspirations; and power-to-the-people through technology. The Apple br and personality is also about simplicity and the removal of complexity from peoples lives; people-driven product design; and about being a really humanistic company with a heartfelt connection with its customers. The 2009 results of Virtues ranking of the most social brands is in, and Apple came out on top.   Apple is one of the most powerful relationship brands, so its not surprising that people talk about it across the social Web.   In fact, Apples iPhone brand took the ultimate top spot in the list of the most social brands, while Apples iTunes brand ranked 6th, and the Apple parent brand ranked 8th.   Interestingly, according to an article from Adweek, the only other companies to have multiple brands ranked in the top 20 of Virtues list were Sony (for both the parent brand and PlayStation) and Microsoft. Apple was successful till the launch of Iphone4 but after the launch of Iphone4 it faced problems regarding the signal problem. The issue relates to the mobile phone signal, with users reporting a drop in signal strength when the phone is held. After knowing from the analysts that recalling Iphone4 would cost the millions, Apple boss Steve Jobs held a meeting after the launch and tried to suppress the problem by offering free bumpers for the customers perceiving it would boost the signal. But, there were still a lot of customers left behind un-satisfied. Positioning: In marketing, positioning has come to mean the process by which marketers try to create an image or identity in the minds of their target market for its product, brand, or organization. Re-positioning involves changing the identity of a product, relative to the identity of competing products, in the collective minds of the target market. De-positioning involves attempting to change the identity of competing products, relative to the identity of your own product, in the collective minds of the target market. It is widely recognized that Apple is a premium brand that demands and earns a price premium.   This price premium spans the entire Apple product line-up encompassing the Macintosh, iPod, iPhone, software, and accessories.   Apples positioning is aligned with targeting a less price sensitive customer.   As a result, Apples culture and internal activities are structured to meet the needs of these customers; strategists call this needs-based positioning.   Apple has thus created a culture and a set of activities to differentiate it from rivals in order to meet the needs of their target customers. If Apple were to attempt to compete for all customer segments, it would have to lower product prices.   The danger with such an approach is that it would not only undermine and erode the companys premium brand image but it would also undermine the companys culture and internal activities. Andreasen and Kotler, (2008) suggest three levels of product features. They are: Core, Tangible, and Augmented (Refer to appendix 1). Core Product. What is the core benefit your product offers?. Customers who purchase a camera are buying more than just a camera they are purchasing memories. For Apple core product is its brand. Actual Product: All cameras capture memories. The aim is to ensure that your potential customers purchase your one. The strategy at this level involves organisations branding, adding features and benefits to ensure that their product offers a differential advantage from their competitors. These are tangible. IPhone come with a beautiful packing. Apple made iTunes the activation agent for the IPhone, thus making customers familiar with its product. Augmented product: What additional non-tangible benefits can you offer? Competition at this level is based around after sales service, warranties, delivery and so on. John Lewis a retail departmental store offers free five year guarantee on purchases of their Television sets, this gives their `customers the additional benefit of piece of mind over the five years should their purchase develop a fault. Apple has setup a Genius bar and offers warranty for the product. This helps its customers to have confidence in the brand thus enables them to buy their product. Apple took care that its product not reaching the decline stage. When 2G seemed to reach decline stage it came forward with 3G and it continued till 4G.Each time it kept on increasing the price which benefited the company. Competitor Actions: Brand attitude also depends on competitor actions. A downturn in Hewlett-Packards attitude occurred during two quarters in which Canon ran some hard-hitting comparison advertising about Hewlett-Packards printers, the most visible Hewlett-Packard product with respect to advertising exposure. More dramatic was the impact of Windows 95. A product intended to neutralize Apples user-friendly comparative advantage, on Apples brand attitude. For the first quarter of 1994 (when Techtel respondents, some of whom were beta version testers, first began to provide opinions about Windows 95) to the fourth quarter of 1997, we find a very strong negative interrelationship (i.e., a correlation of -.95) between the attitudes toward Apple and toward Windows 95. Conclusion: Brand is all-important. Apple is one of the most established and healthy IT brands in the World, and has a very loyal set of enthusiastic customers that advocate the brand. Such a powerful loyalty means that Ample not only recruits new customers, it retains them i.e. they come back for more products and services from Apple, and the company also has the opportunity to extend new products to them Apple is definitely perceived as a premium brand from the customers perspective. But in case of Iphone4, Apple lost reputation from its customers. It felt in a race for cannibalizing their own products and tried to skim off the profits. Even it tried to repair its lost reputation from the customers it was not acceptable from such highly perceived company. Customers expect high valued products from Apple they might take all possible measures to care about its next product. Else, they may fall behind by miles in this market competition. Biblography: Brassington, F., Pettitt, S. (2007). Essentials of Marketing. Essex: Prentice Hall. Dibb, S., Simkin, L., Pride, w. M., Ferrell, O. C. (2006). Marketing Concepts and Strategies (5th ed.). London: Houghton Mifflin. Fill, C. (2007). Communications: Contexts, Strategies and Applications. London: Financial Times Press. Johnson, G., Scholes, K. (2008). Exploring Corporate Strategy: Text and Cases. London: Prentice-Hall. Kotler, P., Armstrong, G. (2006). Principles of marketing. New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc.

Vanguard Case Analysis Essay -- Business and Management Studies

Vanguard Case Analysis After reading through the Vanguard case, there were a few difficult forks in the road that Vanguard seems to be facing. The company’s future can be greatly affected by some of these difficult choices. Vanguard has to decide whether to change their investment offerings, further develop Internationally, or to simply advertise to increase their client base. Top managers at Vanguard have to step up to the plate and rollout detailed plans as to what path the company should take regarding some of these issues. Through our in-class discussions, the majority of the students argued on one major problem that Vanguard was facing. The problem entailed Vanguards ability to increase future customers without increasing costs. Markets are ever-changing, and the ability of companies to adapt to these changes is the key to survival. One company mentioned specifically in the case was Citigroup. Their ability to adapt to market changes and become a giant in the investments segment as a â€Å"one-stop financial supermarket† is a prime example. Should Vanguard take on this type of adaptation or stick to their current business objectives? One interesting quote Brennan in the case stated â€Å"In the future, nothing about Vanguard’s values will change,† but â€Å"everything about the way we do business must change.† With this in mind, the question is what must change for Vanguard to succeed and continue to earn revenue and gain customers without increasing costs? ...

Biological Theories and Criminal Behavior Essay

Biological theories address deviant behavior as a relationship between biological factors, and social norms in respect to crime. The theories address behavior of an individual based upon his or her biological impact. Schmalleger, (2008) points out a connection to social environments and the impact upon human behavior. The connection has validity because of human thoughts and activities are constantly flowing through the brain providing an impact relating to behavior. Researchers base biological theories on flaws relating to heredity, dysfunction of the brain’s neurotransmitters, injuries, trauma, or abnormalities involving the brain affecting behavior (Raine, 2002). Brain development is a biological theory providing information connecting damage of the frontal lobes located in the brain’s cerebrum to criminal behavior. The brain is similar to a computer sending messages to the body and when the messages cannot be delivered it is because of a dysfunction that has occurre d in the brain. The frontal lobes and the limbic system are two of the major areas of the brain involving behavior. The frontal lobes are responsible for reasoning, problem solving, and emotions (Allen & Harper, 2010). The limbic system contains electrical circuitry controlling emotions and motivation (Allen & Harper, 2010). The amygdala when stimulated produces behavior related to emotions, memory and fear. When the amygdala is functioning properly it produces the proper behavioral reaction or response to the event that is happening (Allen & Harper, 2010) When damage occurs to the frontal lobes the ability to reason or censor thoughts, and actions will become impaired leading to maladaptive behavior, aggression, or anti-social behavior (Allen, & Harper, 2010). A study by Antonio Damasio provided information relating to injuries of the frontal lobes may be responsible for anti- social behavior (Crime Times, 2007). The study revealed that damage to the frontal lobes was evident when monitoring the individuals who were injured when he or she exhibited social skills and behavior (Phillips, 2012). Patients who were able to handle and deal with decisions previously in his or her personal life were no longer able to do so (Phillips, 2012). Intellectually there was no change but when he or she had to make a decision involving emotions and feelings the abnormalities in behavior were exhibited (P hillips, 2012). Phineas Gage is the major example relating to the damage to the frontal lobes and change in  behavior. He worked as a foreman on the railroad engaged in construction work. There was an explosion when the tampering rod he was using ignited the blasting powder and the tampering rod entered his head just below the jaw traveling through the frontal lobe of his brain exiting the top of his head. After the initial recovery he began to exhibit violent, aggressive, and anti-social behavior (Crime Times, 2007). Phineas Gage was a mild mannered individual prior to his accident but after the injury to the frontal lobe he became just the opposite a man exhibiting aggression and anti-social behavior. The inability to make rational decisions, control aggression, and emotions has a possible connection to criminal thoughts and behavior. Ongoing research relating to the connection of crime and brain dysfunction will perhaps provide a more solid explanation in the near future. Neuropsychological factors may interfere with the ability to make important functional and executive decisions on a daily basis (Bartol & Bartol, 2011). Abnormalities in the brain may increase the aggression while preventing the ability to control aggressive behavior (Bartol & Bartol, 2011). The central nervous system provides a route for electrical impulses relating to thought, behavior, and emotions traveling to and from the brain. Synapses are the gaps between the cells of the nervous system and chemicals known as neurotransmitters provide the impulses the means of connecting to the synapses (Allen & Harper, 2010). When electrical impulses are interrupted researchers believe it is the result of low levels of neurotransmitters that interfere with emotions and produce aggressive behavior. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter and when the levels drop there is a proven relationship between violence and behavior (Allen & Harper, 2010). The anti-social behavior and chemical imbalances are prevalent in alcoholics. Malnutrition in children also inhibits the growth and development of the brain. Cognitive deficiencies and underdeveloped brains place children and adolescents at risk for anti-social behavior (Bartol & Bartol, 2011). Dysfunctions in the brain relating to growth, chemical imbalance and injuries prevent the ability to address issues, exhibit proper emotions and solving problems inhibit behavior acceptable in society. The brain controls the entire body and mental capacity to make proper, logical, and informed choices when dealing with risk factors influencing criminal behavior. References Allen, C. & Harper, V. (2010). Laboratory Manual for Anatomy and Physiology, Fourth Edition / Edition 4 Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated Hoboken, NJ ISBN-13: 9781118135662 Crime Times, (2007) A lesson from history†¦ Phineas Gage and frontal lobe damage. Retrieved from http://www.crimetimes.org/98d/w98dp5.htm Phillips, J. (2012). The Brain and Crime: What is the relationship here? Retrieved from http://drjezphillips.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/the-brain-and-crime-what-is-the-relationship-here/ Raine, A. (2002). The biological basis of crime. In J.Q Wilson & J. Petrsilia (Eds.) Crime: Public policies for crime control. Oakland: ICS Press.

Southwest Airline essays

Southwest Airline essays Employees are managed in a variety of ways and these differences are largely due to the differences in the environments of the organization. For instance, some companies seem to hire just about anybody while others are highly selective. Some companies provide extensive training for their employees while others simply see if they will survive. Organizations must often change quickly due to pressures put on them by the global environment. There are some similarities in the way that the people of Lincoln Electric and Southwest Airlines have developed their organizations. For example, both organizations place great value on their employees. At Lincoln job security is important. There have been no layoffs since World War II. Even during the recession from 19881-1983 nobody at Lincoln lost his job. Southwest also realizes that its employees provide them with their competitive advantage and employees are rewarded for a job well done through profit sharing. Overall, both companies realize that the employees are the direct link to the customers and without happy employees there are no happy customers. Lincoln and Southwest have both developed an organization that has the reputation of a good place o work. On the other hand, there are many ways in which Lincoln Electric and Southwest Airlines differ in the way they have developed their organizations. First of all, Southwest seems to place a lot more emphasis on selection. As a result, Southwests selection process is much more developed than Lincolns. Lincoln uses no aptitude or psychological testing, while Southwest uses extensive personality testing. Next, Lincoln has a more developed system for performance evaluation. Subordinates are formally evaluated by their supervisors twice a year. Southwest, on the other hand does not have much of a performance appraisal system. Also, Southwest has a more developed system of training. At Southwest all employees must a...

Coboalt essays

Coboalt essays Cobalt My report is about the element Cobalt. Cobalt is the 27th element on the periodical table and has an atomic number of twenty-seven. It has a symbol of Co. Cobalt ¹s atomic weight is 58.9332. It has a melting point of 1,490Ã… ¡ C. and a boiling point of 2,900Ã… ¡ C. Cobalt looks almost exactly like iron and nickel. Cobalt is between iron and nickel on the periodical table and found in only . 001-.002 percent of the earth ¹s crust. Cobalt was first found in the Harz Mountains. People in the silver mines dug up arsenic cobalt ores. Then, because they thought the ores contained copper, heated the ores releasing arsenic trioxides. Cobalt was named after the German kobold. A kobold was said to be an underground goblin or demon. In 1735 cobalt was identified. Cobalt is a white metal with a bluish cast. It is magnetic and very hard and does not tarnish. Cobalt has many uses and I will talk about some of them. It is a very expensive metal that is used in the manufacture of very ma ny expensive alloys. Cobalt-iron alloys have very unique and special magnetic properties. For example, Hyperco is used as the nucleus in strong electromagnets. Alloys containing titanium, aluminum, cobalt and nickel can be made to become permanently magnetic. One alloy, called Stellite, is an alloy of cobalt, chromium, tungsten, and molybdenum. This alloy is extremely hard and keeps its hardness at extreme temperatures. It has many uses: cutting tools are made of it along with gas turbines. Zaire is the world ¹s largest producer of cobalt with 65% of the world ¹s reserve. Cobalt is a common trace element found in food. It is a component of vitamin B12. It is important to our health. But excessive amounts may cause nausea, damage to the heart, kidneys, and nerves, and even cause death. I think that Cobalt is a neat element. Before I did this report I knew nothing of Cobalt. Now I know how they use it as an alloy and in other ways. ...

Free Essays on Pertinent Issues Of Adolescence

Pertinent Issues of Adolescence During adolescent years, most people experience many stressful situations under the influence of peer pressure. Most of them have a negative impact on one’s life. At colleges, universities, and other places where youngsters spend their free time, alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, and delinquency take their place. It’s difficult to resist the pressure that is put on one’s strong will. However, an individual with a good self-esteem, many friends, and good relationship with parents, successfully gets through this period of life unharmed. On the other side, some adolescents might face number of dangerous situations, such as eating disorder, alcoholism, drugs, suicidal behavior, violence, depression, stress, etc which could temporarily or permanently damage their self-image. Due to some negative influence and an impaired value system, some teenagers get involved in delinquent behavior. Alcohol and Drugs First, and most common risk factor of adolescent development, is alcohol and drug abuse. Alcohol is the most famous stimulating substance among teens. It is consumed at almost every social occasion. Many underage people consume alcohol at their friend’s house, in bars, or at home. Colleges and universities are the most popular place to create one’s drinking habits. Students get together nearly ever night and have parties where alcohol is served. Whether it’s a weekend or a weeknight, is not of their concerns. It’s like a routine to get drunk at least two times a week. Most of these students become addicted to regular drinking. Most of them are heavy drinkers, consuming five or more drinks of alcohol in one day. Due to these adventures, students miss their classes, regret their actions, forget their behavior, have unplanned sex, or experience severe hangovers. In addition, majorities of these drinkers are â€Å"binge† drinkers, consuming one glass of alcohol after another until they can’... Free Essays on Pertinent Issues Of Adolescence Free Essays on Pertinent Issues Of Adolescence Pertinent Issues of Adolescence During adolescent years, most people experience many stressful situations under the influence of peer pressure. Most of them have a negative impact on one’s life. At colleges, universities, and other places where youngsters spend their free time, alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, and delinquency take their place. It’s difficult to resist the pressure that is put on one’s strong will. However, an individual with a good self-esteem, many friends, and good relationship with parents, successfully gets through this period of life unharmed. On the other side, some adolescents might face number of dangerous situations, such as eating disorder, alcoholism, drugs, suicidal behavior, violence, depression, stress, etc which could temporarily or permanently damage their self-image. Due to some negative influence and an impaired value system, some teenagers get involved in delinquent behavior. Alcohol and Drugs First, and most common risk factor of adolescent development, is alcohol and drug abuse. Alcohol is the most famous stimulating substance among teens. It is consumed at almost every social occasion. Many underage people consume alcohol at their friend’s house, in bars, or at home. Colleges and universities are the most popular place to create one’s drinking habits. Students get together nearly ever night and have parties where alcohol is served. Whether it’s a weekend or a weeknight, is not of their concerns. It’s like a routine to get drunk at least two times a week. Most of these students become addicted to regular drinking. Most of them are heavy drinkers, consuming five or more drinks of alcohol in one day. Due to these adventures, students miss their classes, regret their actions, forget their behavior, have unplanned sex, or experience severe hangovers. In addition, majorities of these drinkers are â€Å"binge† drinkers, consuming one glass of alcohol after another until they can’...

Tools of Managerial Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Tools of Managerial Economics - Essay Example Competitive markets, Market power and imperfect markets are the three main areas of interest in managerial economics. Managerial economics underlies the basic factors which monitor the process of a manager - the external and internal factors. As the implies the internal factors lie in the purview of a manager and correspondingly microeconomics define the basic tenets of managerial economics. Thus managerial economics has a more limited scope - it is more application of microeconomics to managerial issues. Thus when we try to analyze a basically macroeconomic phenomenon, the fall of the Socialistic regime in Eastern Europe, we will be basically analyzing the forces which defined the characteristics of different markets in this market under several external forces, the most important being government intervention. Individuals are found to share common motivations that lead them to behave rationally in making economic choices - this is the foundation of managerial economics. This implies that an individual who, when faced the same choices at two different times, will behave in the same way during both the times (Varian 2005). The entire conceptual base is economics is built on the theory of Demand and Supply - the main pillars on which the subject stands. Thinking of the buying process as a contest, demand and supply are the forces which monitor and shape the strategies that the two sides adopt in the market. The aspect of nations it is demand and supply again which determine the level and efficiency in the macro levels of economic activity. The political and economic systems built by the communists in eastern Europe started on its route to collapse by 1973. A prime economic problem of allocation occurred - the planners in this socialist economy stressed on the allocation of a large share of its GNP to in armaments production and heavy industries. This investment, done at the cost of living, led to the immobilization of a large number of resources. Thus the U.S.S.R. was at one time leading the world in the production of several primary goods like coal, oil, electricity, steel, and cement, which was not getting reflected in the final products or finished goods. When one tries to understand the reason for the collapse of the system in U.S.S.R, one should realize that this is a classic example of how the extreme government expenditure has caused a nation's economy to go bankrupt. This is a classic example of a situation where a perfect market has been suppressed - factors of production were being employed at abnormal prices and market demand was being met by a monopolist - the state here. Economists and managers alike, build models of economic behaviour by inductive reasoning. The model is tested with actual empirical data. If the tests support the model, it can be accepted; otherwise, it should be revised. The situation in eastern Europe has thrown across several important information – like the growth of an economy in the midst of severe administrative bottlenecks, the lack of meaningful foreign trade, and political dissonance.  Ã‚  

Individual Project Drugs and Crime Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Individual Project Drugs and Crime - Essay Example Mental functioning becomes clouded due to the depression of the central nervous system. Other effects included slowed and slurred speech, slow gait, constricted pupils, droopy eyelids, impaired night vision, vomiting, and constipation. surge of pleasure that rapidly follows administration of some drugs. Long term effects: Long-term effects of heroin appear after repeated use for some period of time. Chronic users may develop collapsed veins, infection of the heart lining and valves, abscesses, cellulites, and liver disease .Pulmonary complications, including various types of pneumonia, may result from the poor health condition of the abuser, as well as from heroin's depressing effects on respiration. In addition to the effects of the drug itself, street heroin may have additives that do not really dissolve and result in clogging the blood vessels that lead to the lungs, liver, kidneys, or brain. (www.drugsfree.com) Two cases of crimes due to consumption of LSD can be focused. First, the case of Stephen Kessler stands out because of the style and magnitude of the headlines in April 1967, which declared him a "Mad LSD Slayer" and "LSD Killer" because he reportedly said to the police as he was being arrested: "Man, I've been flying for three days on LSD." Although it was later reported that Kessler had last taken LSD more than a month before the killings and had actually been on "three quarts of lab alcohol" and "one-and-a-half grains of pentobarbital", this data was trumpeted with somewhat less fanfare. The second major LSD-related crime that splashed across televisions, newspapers, and magazines was that of the murderous cult of personality around Charles Manson. When several members of the group were... Long-term effects of heroin appear after repeated use for some period of time. Chronic users may develop collapsed veins, infection of the heart lining and valves, abscesses, cellulites, and liver disease .Pulmonary complications, including various types of pneumonia, may result from the poor health condition of the abuser, as well as from heroin's depressing effects on respiration. In addition to the effects of the drug itself, street heroin may have additives that do not really dissolve and result in clogging the blood vessels that lead to the lungs, liver, kidneys, or brain. Two cases of crimes due to consumption of LSD can be focused. First, the case of Stephen Kessler stands out because of the style and magnitude of the headlines in April 1967, which declared him a "Mad LSD Slayer" and "LSD Killer" because he reportedly said to the police as he was being arrested: "Man, I've been flying for three days on LSD." Although it was later reported that Kessler had last taken LSD more than a month before the killings and had actually been on "three quarts of lab alcohol" and "one-and-a-half grains of pentobarbital", this data was trumpeted with somewhat less fanfare. The second major LSD-related crime that splashed across televisions, newspapers, and magazines was that of the murderous cult of personality around Charles Manson. When several members of the group were indicted for high profile murders in 1969, it was big national news. The media carried extensive mentions of the use of LSD, Datura, and other drugs by the members of the â€Å"Manson Family†. Kasabian spent eighteen days on the witness stand during which Manson’s attorney repeatedly returned to questions about her LSD use, trying to depict her as a person who could not tell fact from fantasy.

How have existing fiscal mechanisms (rules and practices) tried to Essay

How have existing fiscal mechanisms (rules and practices) tried to overcome or alleviate a "tragedy of the commons" dilemma - Essay Example Practically, though, it is not easy to ascertain whether the most favorable size of government has been achieved. Although, the provision of services and public goods can promote growth, revenue-raising mechanisms and inefficient provision of services and goods can impede growth (Schick 1998, p18). Evidence from Central Asia and Europe lists factors such as fiscal consolidation and budget deficits, size of government, quality governance, and composition of taxes and expenditure as some factors that affect fiscal growth. In this regard, public fiscal systems play a huge role in economic growth of any country. Enacting a stable fiscal position need a sustainable fiscal consolidation. In most cases, these have to be recurrent. Indeed, they are largely considered as a basic characteristic of the evolution of the market. Such consolidations are undertaken across Central Asia and Europe, albeit with relative degrees of success (Berthà ©lemy & Varoudakis 1996, p72). Fiscal growth for any country would require successful financial adjustment. On the other hand, unsustainable financial consolidation is counterproductive and can sometimes discourage investor confidence since they fail to establish sound financial position for the government (Scartascini 2004, P37). Sustainable government adjustments are required to create long-lasting financial space for expenses that propagate growth. Indeed, evidence from financial bodies such as the Organization of Economic Co-operation and development suggest that make-up of financial adjustment is paramount for fiscal sustainability (Berthà ©lemy & Varoudakis 1996, p12). Consolidations, which heavily rely on, tax cuts and increases in public ventures have been unsustainable while consolidations with structural reforms in their public expenditure reforms have lasting effects and financial growth by extension. Perhaps this is

The Architecture of Kyotos Nanban-ji Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Architecture of Kyotos Nanban-ji - Essay Example This paper highlights that the proliferation of Christianity started to be carried out in 1559; proselytizers sustained their plans and exertions despite the extreme distress that was brought about by oppression, and with the security assured by Nobunaga, a significant growth in the number of Christian followers cropped up. Nearly 20 years later, with backing from hundreds of its supporters and followers, the antiquated worship room was reconstructed, which was followed by a religious gathering in celebration for the achievement of the chapel. Nanban-ji is known as St. Mary's Temple.From the study it is clear that the most thought-provoking of all features of the Nanban-ji is the unorthodoxy of its architectural design. The Nanban-ji Church was built by the Europeans, particularly the Southern Barbarians, but there seems to be a more Chinese rather than a European touch on its architectural details. There is a significant resemblance of the architecture during the Momoyama period in Nanban-ji's overall design. One important feature of the Nanban-ji is the use of folding screens that are made in pairs with decorations fronting the onlookers and guests. Division is common in Nanban-ji. The substantial utilization of folding screens help set up the Church’s factions: guest hall, worship hall, main hall, kitchen, sleeping quarters, and abbot’s quarters.  Looking at Nanban-ji’s integrated architectural plan, an architectural hierarchy manifests in the arrangement and organization of buildings – apart from the Nanban-ji temple.

Related to Bussiness Ethics (see the assignment creteria) Essay

Related to Bussiness Ethics (see the assignment creteria) - Essay Example Since 1999 Microsoft has been at the centre of a number of legal disputes with both the US Government and the European Commission. At the heart of the disagreements have been accusations that Microsoft had been exploiting its monopoly power in order to reduce competition, and consequently choice, in the marketplace. Microsoft was accused of anti competitive behavior in the United States and had severe financial penalties inflicted on them in an anti trust law court action in Europe. Whilst the financial penalties were relatively easy for Microsoft to bear, the company continued to face accusations of poor ethics and unfair tactics) In your opinion, how important is it to stakeholders in a company that the ethics of the CEO match those of the organization? Explain your answer with reference to Bill Gates during his tenure as CEO at Microsoft. How well a business corporation performs in financial terms is significant for a broad group of people that includes potential/existing investors, creditors, employees or managers. With differing information needs and purposes, each category of stakeholders should be provided with data that is comprehensive, relevant and reliable, so as to allow an informed opinion to be reached on the corporations financial performance. However, all too often, the customer is left out of this equation. The situation is no different in the case of Microsoft Corporation, which has tremendous reach and market share, but whose customers have very little say in the affairs of the company. Bill Gates’ personal efforts as a philanthropist is widely appreciated,– both in terms of money and energy. Yet, the history of Microsoft since its inception shows that the organization is a purely economic enterprise, whose sole purpose is profits and whose foresight stops with the next quarter. This dev iation in behavior between the Chief Executive Officer and his organization is the

Corporate social responsibility as tool for risk management Dissertation

Corporate social responsibility as tool for risk management - Dissertation Example 3. How does the level of corporate social responsibility practices taken in the company happen to impact the profitability position of the company? 4. What are the best possible practices in terms of corporate social responsibility dimension which are practiced in J Sainsbury Plc? Findings and Analysis The findings and analysis portion would first endeavor to identify potential relationships between the parameters of corporate social responsibility and the activities to mitigate the level of business risks. Through the findings the potential of corporate social responsibility parameter would be analyzed in regards to the appropriation of business profits to help create and sustain effective relationship with the external and internal stakeholders of the company. The use of corporate social responsibility models can be used by the company in countering the level of social risks involved through the gaining of valuable information from the stakeholder’s end (Kytle & Ruggie, 2005 ,p.5-8). Further findings show that though the act of rendering social responsibility tends to reflect that profits of the company are generally used for rendering social activities. However it is observed that in the long run such social responsibility activities of the company happens to enhance the goodwill of the concern and hence also augments its social value (Parkinson, 1995, p.261). In this respect the case of J Sainsbury Plc also shows that increased commitment rendered in sustaining both the natural environment and in establishing enhanced relationships with the community at large has helped the company to gain wider market coverage. Again the level of social responsibility practices also helps the company in enhancing the recruitment possibilities in the company through the opening up of more number of retail outlets in the region (J Sainsbury Plc, 2011, p.64-65). The senior management has realized the importance of CSR guidelines as a tool for the company to position its elf in the competitive climate. Proper CSR guidelines not only reflect the expectations of the stakeholders from the company but also monitor the behavior of the company in whichever place it operates. Although these guidelines are not legally binding, yet they reflect the government’s expectations of the company on corporate social responsibility (UNICE, 2001, p.3). The most challenging part of the corporate social responsibility is that they act as benchmark against which they are evaluated by governments and stakeholders. They do not replace the sectoral code of conduct or the individual companies (Mullerat, 2010, p.39). A response of the senior management also throws light on the fact that CSR is viewed as an important management tool in the organization. Corporate social responsibility has both an internal and an external dimension. Human resource management, health and safety factors associated with the occupation, business restructuring, management of natural resources and the environmental impacts are some of the internal dimensions of CSR.

The Architecture of Kyotos Nanban-ji Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Architecture of Kyotos Nanban-ji - Essay Example This paper highlights that the proliferation of Christianity started to be carried out in 1559; proselytizers sustained their plans and exertions despite the extreme distress that was brought about by oppression, and with the security assured by Nobunaga, a significant growth in the number of Christian followers cropped up. Nearly 20 years later, with backing from hundreds of its supporters and followers, the antiquated worship room was reconstructed, which was followed by a religious gathering in celebration for the achievement of the chapel. Nanban-ji is known as St. Mary's Temple.From the study it is clear that the most thought-provoking of all features of the Nanban-ji is the unorthodoxy of its architectural design. The Nanban-ji Church was built by the Europeans, particularly the Southern Barbarians, but there seems to be a more Chinese rather than a European touch on its architectural details. There is a significant resemblance of the architecture during the Momoyama period in Nanban-ji's overall design. One important feature of the Nanban-ji is the use of folding screens that are made in pairs with decorations fronting the onlookers and guests. Division is common in Nanban-ji. The substantial utilization of folding screens help set up the Church’s factions: guest hall, worship hall, main hall, kitchen, sleeping quarters, and abbot’s quarters.  Looking at Nanban-ji’s integrated architectural plan, an architectural hierarchy manifests in the arrangement and organization of buildings – apart from the Nanban-ji temple.

Corporate social responsibility as tool for risk management Dissertation

Corporate social responsibility as tool for risk management - Dissertation Example 3. How does the level of corporate social responsibility practices taken in the company happen to impact the profitability position of the company? 4. What are the best possible practices in terms of corporate social responsibility dimension which are practiced in J Sainsbury Plc? Findings and Analysis The findings and analysis portion would first endeavor to identify potential relationships between the parameters of corporate social responsibility and the activities to mitigate the level of business risks. Through the findings the potential of corporate social responsibility parameter would be analyzed in regards to the appropriation of business profits to help create and sustain effective relationship with the external and internal stakeholders of the company. The use of corporate social responsibility models can be used by the company in countering the level of social risks involved through the gaining of valuable information from the stakeholder’s end (Kytle & Ruggie, 2005 ,p.5-8). Further findings show that though the act of rendering social responsibility tends to reflect that profits of the company are generally used for rendering social activities. However it is observed that in the long run such social responsibility activities of the company happens to enhance the goodwill of the concern and hence also augments its social value (Parkinson, 1995, p.261). In this respect the case of J Sainsbury Plc also shows that increased commitment rendered in sustaining both the natural environment and in establishing enhanced relationships with the community at large has helped the company to gain wider market coverage. Again the level of social responsibility practices also helps the company in enhancing the recruitment possibilities in the company through the opening up of more number of retail outlets in the region (J Sainsbury Plc, 2011, p.64-65). The senior management has realized the importance of CSR guidelines as a tool for the company to position its elf in the competitive climate. Proper CSR guidelines not only reflect the expectations of the stakeholders from the company but also monitor the behavior of the company in whichever place it operates. Although these guidelines are not legally binding, yet they reflect the government’s expectations of the company on corporate social responsibility (UNICE, 2001, p.3). The most challenging part of the corporate social responsibility is that they act as benchmark against which they are evaluated by governments and stakeholders. They do not replace the sectoral code of conduct or the individual companies (Mullerat, 2010, p.39). A response of the senior management also throws light on the fact that CSR is viewed as an important management tool in the organization. Corporate social responsibility has both an internal and an external dimension. Human resource management, health and safety factors associated with the occupation, business restructuring, management of natural resources and the environmental impacts are some of the internal dimensions of CSR.

Teenage Pregnancy Essay Example for Free

Teenage Pregnancy Essay One of the societal problems that our country encounters is the teenage pregnancy or the early pregnancy. Many Teenagers are involve in premarital sex. This also lead to other societal problem like overpopulation and poverty. The sexual revolution has ushered in a period in which the average adolescent experiences tremendous pressures to have sexual experiences of all kinds. Filipino teens get a higher exposure to sex from the Internet, magazines, TV shows, movies and other media than decades ago, yet without any corresponding increase in information on how to handle the input. So kids are pretty much left to other kids for opinions and value formation when it comes to sex. Sexual misinformation is therefore equally shared in the group. Parents at home and teachers in school feel equally inadequate or uneasy to discuss the topic of sex with youngsters. The problem mounts because the barkada (gang) has a more profound influence than parents do and they exert pressure and expect the adolescent to conform to the rest of them. In the Philippines, according to the 2002 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study by the University of the Philippines Population Institute (Uppi) and the Demographic Research and Development Foundation, 26 percent of our Filipino youth nationwide from ages 15 to 25 admitted to having a premarital sex experience. What?s worse is that 38 percent of our youth are already in a live-in arrangement. In fact, female adolescents whose friends engage in sexual behavior were found to be more likely to do the same compared to those who do not associate with such peers. If the teen perceives her peers to look negatively at premarital sex, she was more likely to start sex at a later age. Teenage mothers tend to have poor eating habits and are less likely to take recommended daily multivitamins to maintain adequate nutritio n during pregnancy. They are also more likely to smoke, drink or take drugs during pregnancy, which can cause health problems for the baby. Unplanned pregnancies lead to a higher rate of abortions. In the Philippines, although abortion is illegal, it would shock you to know that we even have a higher abortion rate (25/1,000 women) .For sure, there are more abortions that happen in our country that are not even reported. Backdoor abortions are resorted to with untrained ?hilots? with questionable sterility procedures, increasing the possibility for tetanus poisoning and other complications. Even though there are many ways to stop this problem, there will always be the lak of discipline of the teenagers.That is why there is the controversial RH Bill which will solve the problem or maybe it cannot.

Festingers Social Comparison Theory Psychology Essay

Festingers Social Comparison Theory Psychology Essay In this essay we are asked to look at Festingers social comparison theory and its findings, applications, methodologies and theoretical approaches since its birth. We are asked to illustrate our understandings with reference to literature. Social comparison theory assumes that people tend to evaluate their successes, failures and opinions in relation to others (Festinger, 1954). This may occur with reference to a physical reality; what is happening at a particular moment in time relative to ones perceptions of anothers abilities. Take for example if someone can run a 6 minute mile he or she cannot know this is good or bad without comparing this time with other runners. It may also take place with reference to an objective evaluation, for example a comparison between two assignments with similar grades. Festinger (1954) postulates that there is an innate drive within human beings to compare themselves with outside images and assess their abilities in line with their assessments of others who are similar on the same tasks. Following on from Festingers (1954) original theory according to Kruglanski Mayseless (1990) people prefer to compare themselves with people who are similar to themselves as it tends to result in a mo re accurate evaluation. For example the runner would take into account age and sex of other runners and make comparisons based on this knowledge. Social comparisons are defined as comparative judgements made about a stimulus from the environment. They are context dependent (Kruglanski Mayseless, 1990). There are three levels of analysis to Social Comparative Theory. Firstly a judgemental process must exist before comparisons can be made. Social comparisons are made up of categorisations and comparative judgements about the self. The third level is the most specific of the three and is composed of the content of the comparison whether it is in the domain of comparison for example in sporting competition; levels of achievement with reference to age and gender may be taken into consideration, as outlined by the runner example(Kruglanski et al., 1990). There are two main kinds of social comparison; upwards and downwards social comparisons. Upwards comparisons occur when an individual compares itself to someone who they believe to be better off than themselves. Downwards social comparisons occur when people compare themselves to people they believe to be worse off than themselves. Festinger (1954) proposes that people who engage in downwards social comparisons do so in order to maintain their self esteem and buffer their self evaluations. Upwards social comparisons supposedly exhibit more negative effects such as lowered levels of self-esteem. These processes will be discussed later. There have been many components to Festingers original theory that still remain intact but the scope of social comparison theory has been extended to a vast array of psychological domains and its implications have been applied to a variety of settings. How SCT findings, methodologies and theorising has evolved since Festingers 1954 publication Festingers original theory has undergone a number of changes over the years particularly in relation to its extension towards cognitive psychology. Since its founding the theory has been accepted to be more complex than originally thought. For example new dimensions of the theory have been suggested. Revisions include en empirical emphasis on motivations and drives, self enhancement, perceptions of self esteem, self esteem buffering, perceived target closeness, components of closure to name but a few (Kruglanski et al., 1987; Corning, 2002, Gerrard, Gibbibs, Lane Stock, 2005). According to Suls, Martin Wheeler (2002) social comparisons serve as a defence mechanism to protect ones self evaluation. Self enhancement depends on a number of variables such as whether the person compares upwardly or downwardly. If a person compares his or her own abilities in relation to people perceived to be lower than the individual this may act as a buffer to maintain the person sense of self worth and esteem. In the educational domain, people that are less academically driven prefer downwards social comparisons to prevent them from felling bad about bad results (Blankton et al., 1999). Research suggests that people have varying responses to social comparisons and these depend upon the perceived closeness of the target and the perceiver, and the importance of the particular domain of categorisation or expertise owned by the perceiver (Tesser, 1988; Suls et al., 2002). Several other models have been introduced to extend Festingers (1954) original theory. Social comparisons proxy model as proposed by Wheeler, Martin Suls (1997) refers to a situation in which people use social comparisons to assess their abilities in relation to an unfamiliar task. To illustrate, Wheeler et al., (1997) offers the example of a person considering pursuing a university degree. Social comparisons are made between the person and others who are currently in university. If the proxy (experienced other) is similar to how they perceive themselves on average they are more likely to pursue the goal. Amount of effort needed to pursue goal is an important indicator of the outcome and often other related attributes are perceived irrelevant (Suls et al., 2002). There seems to be sufficient evidence to support this theory. A model that has been derived from SCT is the Relative Deprivation Theory as proposed by Davis (1959). This model provides a conceptual framework for personal perceptions of discrimination and deprivation. Davis (1959) postulates that this process helps people cope with social deprivation, people tend to assess their levels of deprivation by comparing their situation with those around them. In India because of the inflexibility of the Caste system people often compared themselves downwardly in order to deal with their present state of poverty, for example those living in the slums would compare themselves to the sewage dwellers or pavement people. This acts as a buffer for people to cope better with their unchangeable circumstances. The applications of Festingers (1954) theory are vast. The implications have many important effects particularly for health psychology. Research suggests that when a threat is involved downward social comparisons help people cope better. For breast cancer patients it was found that patients who preferred downwards social comparisons dealt with their illness much better (Taylor, Wood Lichman, 1983). Likewise, according to Meta analysis, comparisons of the self to others in relation to appearance can lead to body dissatisfaction which correlates strongly with eating disorders (Myers Crowther, 2009). In conjunction with Meta Analysis Corning, Kruum Smithans (2006) study looking at social comparisons and eating disorder symptoms found that women who engage in everyday social comparisons were more likely to exhibit eating disorder symptoms, and also found that self esteem was also a predictor of disorders. Research reveals that social comparisons can also predict success in cessation o f smoking behaviours (Gerrard, Gibbons, Lane Stock, 2005). People that dissociate themselves from other smokers or the target behaviour are more likely to give up smoking in comparison to those who do not. When a decrease in downwards comparisons to smoking exists, smokers are more likely to quit. Social comparison theory has also been applied to an academic setting. Research suggests that upwards social comparisons can predict success in an academic environment. Gibbons, Benbow Gerrard (1994) found that gifted students preferred to compare themselves with those who did the best in the class on receiving a high grade. Conversely, if students received a poor mark they preferred downwards comparisons. This inconsistency is considered by the researchers to represent a form of buffering of the self concept and esteem. Research conducted by Blankton, Buunk, Gibbons Kuyper (1999) found that overall those who preferred upwards social comparisons did better in end of term grades. Interaction between affect and social comparison Comparisons may involve affective and cognitive components. The Wheeler Miyake (1992) study that incorporated the Rochester Social Comparison Record (RSCS) scale found several important findings conveying the importance of the cognitive and affective component. Firstly the comparison direction, either upwards or downwards; depended on the perceivers relationship with the target. It also found evidence for a cognitive component to the theory, that is to say, priming mood effects the directional movement of social comparisons. Schacter (1959) proposes that people make comparisons by evaluating emotions. In a number of experiments he found that fear evoked participants to want to be in a situation where someone else was experiencing the same feelings. This has been explained as a self evaluative component similar to what Festinger outlines in his original theory (Schacter, 1959). Conversely, Goethals Darley (1977) suggest that values are a component people make social comparisons base d upon. Priming of a negative mood led to more upward social comparisons. Wills (1981) found that inducing threat leads to more downwards social comparisons this is explained as downwards comparisons serve to increase positive affect, mood, boost esteem and may reduce anxiety. Another study found that comparisons can lead to an induction of a positive or negative feeling (Buunk, Collins, Taylor, VanYperen Dakof, 1990). Downwards social comparisons increased peoples subjective well-being and an opposite effect was found for the upwards comparison (Wheeler et al., 1992). Being primed with either a threatening ego or self-esteem booster condition has a significant effect on individual social comparisons. When an ego boost is induced people tend to prefer upwards social comparisons and can this can predict behaviour i.e. individuals exhibited increased ability on a task. The opposite effect was found for an induced threat, similarly to Buunk et als. (1990) findings. Thus it has been co ncluded that motivations to maintain a positive self evaluation reflects performance on tasks (Johnson Stapel, 2007). Lastly people who exhibited high self esteem tended to engage in more self-enhancement comparisons (Wheeler et al., 1992). There seems to be a ubiquitous consensus that SCT exists but the exact dimensions of the theory are contested. The methodologies used tended to be mostly qualitative and really not applicable to the natural world. According to Wheeler Myiake (1992) existing methodologies for studying social comparisons have focused primarily on retrospective accounts and specify that an experience sampling measure should be adapted to account for social comparisons as they occur in naturalistic settings. In their 1992 study they describe a qualitative method of measuring SCT called the Rochester Social Comparison Record (RSCR) (Wheeler et al., 1992). Discussion Conclusion It has been assumed that social comparison theory is a pervasive and ubiquitous phenomenon in everyday life. However, there still needs to be a lot of work conducted in this area particulary in relation to directional comparisons and their implications (Buunk et al., 1990). Albeit, despite revisions on social comparison theory the fundamental building blocks of Festingers (1954) original theoretical framework remains the same. The self evaluative component is important for this theory (Suls et al., 2002). As proposed by Festinger (1954) people make evaluations of their own behaviours in relation to others that they perceive are similar, this aspect has remained untainted. There seems to be evidence for this drive like ambition for humans to compare themselves in relation to others (Festinger, 1954). There seems to be a distinct cognitive component to social comparison theory. Suls et al. (2002) propose that comparisons are made uniformly across all domains and are not exponentially context driven. Priming can effect comparative judgements (Wills, 1992; Schacter, 1959). Current research in this domain outline that comparative knowledge depends on the motivations of the comparator and are dependent upon a number of situational, cultural and personality facets. Kruglanski et al., (1990) posit that motivational factors, perceived relevance, and availability heuristics all have an important role in whether the evaluative dimension relates to similar or different others. The work on social comparison theory has been extended to practical applications to health, counselling psychology and educational psychology. Over all social comparison theory has had a major impact in Psychology. Its implications and applications have been extended to many branches of psychology and undoubtedly the full extent of its pervasiveness have yet to be uncovered.

Science Vs Religion :: essays research papers

Since the beginning of human history there have been many explanations for events that seem out of human control. In recent civilized history, religious and since the beginning of human history there have been many explanations for events that seem out of human control. In recent civilized history, religious and scientific views have often clashed with one another. Religious ideas are usually presented first and then enough scientific evidence accumulates to dare religious beliefs. These findings of science are met with incredulity and most are considered a heresy. Since the middle ages until the 18th centuri, religious ideology was the most accepted way of explaining the unexplained. During the next couple hundred years, many members of academia(a school of philosophy), using science to back them up, came up with new ways of dealing with the unanswerable questions. When the church had the greatest power, men and women of science were viewed as the "wicked guys." In most cases it was safer to believe in the church and their ideas, in order not to be excommunicated or shunned by society, than to place their trust in charlatan scientists. As a result, many conflicts arise between men of religion and men of science. Even if a scientist set out to prove the church wrong and show some very strong evidence contrary to popular belief, he was usually shunned and his ideas denounced publicly. It is not until many people have similar evidence and findings do they gain any credibility with normal people and the church. Nowadays people believe that if a scientific view is false, then by continuing study and research the truth may be discovered. one may conclude that if no one presented new ideas, then intelligent thought would have no place in a society like that. Scientists like Darwin accepted the risks involved in presenting new ideas. Voltaire also was a revolutionary thinker. Although, he presented ideas of his own, he decided to satirize science and religion. Each society, church, men of academia, believes that their ideas are correct and therefore are the best of the world. It is true, even to this day, that each nation has a different set of standards, reasoning, and beliefs on how life works and what are the best possible things to believe in. In some cases, nations try to push those beliefs on other nations. This results in a push for new scientific research and other religious and philosophical beliefs of that nation, to fight the ideas that are being reflected on them.

Psycho Motifs :: essays research papers

PSYCHO MOTIFS   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Have you ever seen Psycho? I have, and in my opinion this movie is one of the best horror flicks ever. Part of the reason I think this because of the motifs Hitchcock added to the movie. Some of these motifs are the motion down, eyes, and circles.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What is a motif? Better yet, what is the motif I’m about to tell you about? Well, let me start by giving you a definition of the word.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Motif : A recurrent thematic element used in the development of an artistic or literary work. (In this case, a movie.) One motif in this movie could be circles. For example, the eyes of all the characters, and the Norman’s birds. How about the police man’s sun glasses, they were also circular. Here’s a creepy one, the peep hole that Norman spies on Marion with. Another example could be the drains, which in two cases both had blood being washed down. Eerily, there is the empty eye sockets of Norman’s dead mother. There is even the letter O in Norman’s name. To sum this set of motifs up, circles are shown throughout this film, and to find these really shows the extent Hitchcock would travel to set his movies above the rest.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Throughout the movie PSYCHO, I noticed several points where it seemed that an object or person was going downward. For instance, the rain descending for quite a long period of time in the beginning when Marion left town with the stolen money. Then there’s the water flowing down the sink drain and the bathtub drain. Also, the way everyone seems to be looking down on Marion. Then there’s Norman, and how the you see him always coming down his steps, but rarely up them. For my last spotted example, the bodies and their cars sinking into the swamp is one creepy instance of the downward motif. I don’t know the point of these motifs, this one included, except for the extra spice it just gives to the watchers who plan on picking through the movie to find these â€Å"Hitchcock bonuses†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Do you ever feel like you’re being watched? Well, in Psycho another motif is eyes. One example I used earlier is the police man’s sun glasses. You can’t see his eyes, but you know he’s watching or more likely inspecting Marion for any trace of trouble. Later in the film, Marion pulls into to a car dealership to trade in her car.

Mother To Son Essay

The author, Langston Husthes, vividly showed how the African-Americans struggled and managed to live. The efforts they made to change and how much they changed their appearances were very evident in the three poems, â€Å"I am too†, â€Å"Mother to Son†, and â€Å"Negro†. The writer started the poem using a conversational tone, which easily showed its viewers that he was talking to somebody. In his poem, â€Å"Mother To Son†, the author told the story of how the African-Americans struggled to survive the harsh realities of living in a society dominated by the white people. The text included: â€Å"Life for me aint been no crystal stair. Its had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor — Bare. † This specific part of the poem showed how much the African-Americans suffered from living in a society dominated by white people. The author used a lot of metaphors in the poem to illustrate his points. The â€Å"crystal stair† mentioned in the poem, contained several meanings. The crystal may be considered to be attractive, but very fragile. The use of the crystal in the poem was somehow successful in connecting a creative story with that of reality-that the crystal stair may be used as a symbol for the way of living white people had. The poem was also told from a mother’s point of view. From the text, it can be perceived that the mother was a slave at the white house, serving white people. The reader is given contrasting images of how the African-Americans suffered, while the white and rich Americans ruled over society. Throughout the entire poem, the mother tried to show the readers the uneven treatment given to both races. Words, such as â€Å"and† were repeatedly used to emphasize the hardships endured during that time. The line, â€Å"And places with no carpet on the floor –Bare,† was also used to demonstrate how the white people unfairly treated the black people.