Qualitative Data Collection

Qualitative Data Collection This qualitative research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of various academic activities and determine which of them should receive more attention. In this paper we need to work out strategies of data collection and sampling. At the moment Green Valley Community College has faced the necessity to implement changes into the curriculum due to the fact that many students feel dissatisfied with absence of technology use in the classroom and inappropriate educational methods.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Qualitative Data Collection specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is why it is crucial to assess the attitude of students, parents and teachers toward the curriculum. On the basis of these findings, the administration will be able to tailor the courses, offered to the learners. The key method which is going to be used is qualitative survey. This survey will include different types of questions. First, I intend to include contingency questions in this survey. For instance, one of them will look in the following way: â€Å"Do you feel satisfied with the quality of training, provided at Green Valley Community College? If no, tell which areas require improvement.† Furthermore, I would like to apply a five-point Likert scale item in order to measure students’ and teacher’s attitudes toward the curriculum. This question can take this form, †How do you feel about the curriculum in Green Valley Community College?†. The respondent will need to choose one of these options: Very Satisfied; Satisfied; Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied; Dissatisfied; Very Dissatisfied. In this way, I will be better able to evaluate the perceptions and attitudes of the participants. The questions in this survey will prompt the learners and faculty to make recommendations about academic curriculum, the use of technologies, and educational methods. I do not plan to use Yes/No and force d-choice questions in this survey because they are not very suitable for measuring people’s perception and attitudes. Under the circumstances, a longitudinal survey study will be necessary, because it helps to understand how attitudes and perceptions change over a certain period of time (Lodico et al, 2010, p 202). In my opinion, this approach will let us see whether the new teaching methods and academic activities have managed to improve the quality of education in this college or not. At the point, I have yet to determine whether it will be a one-shot or longitudinal study.Advertising Looking for assessment on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The duration of this research will depend on the decision of the board of directors. A longitudinal study requires more time and funding, however, its findings are much more reliable. In turn, a one-shot study only measures current perceptions and attitudes, b ut it cannot track the change of people’s attitudes. This study will have three groups of subjects: 1) students; 2) faculty; 3) parents. I have yet to determine the exact number of participants; however, I would like to use the so-called snowball sampling, which means that the respondents, themselves, help a researcher to find new subjects (Gray et al, 2007, p 117). In other words, those students or faculty members, whom we have already interviewed, can refer us to their group-mates or colleagues. It has to be admitted that such approach to sampling is usually very time-consuming, because the number of participants may grow at a very fast pace (Babbie, 2008). Nonetheless, this strategy will enable me to better understand the needs of both learners and educators. According to my estimations, this research will involve at least thirty representatives of each group. It should be taken into consideration that in the course of this research, I will also need to study several locat ions within the college. As it has been noted before, it is necessary to evaluate the implementation of new technologies. In this case, I will need to pay special attention to computer labs, library and class rooms. The key task is to determine whether computers and software solutions, used in this college, are well-suited for the needs of the students and faculty. This analysis will allow the administration to see what kind of technologies is most needed. Perhaps, some computers and programs require updating and upgrading. The most convenient method of data collection is observation. There are several steps which I need to take in order to gain permission for the study. First of all I need to contact the board of directors. These people are the key decision-makers in Green Valley Community College. They will determine the amount of time and funding that would be available for the needs of this research. I will need to explain the potential benefits of this research for this educati onal institution. Moreover, I will need to contact the faculty members to make an appointment with them. It will also be necessary to contact both parents and students and explain to them the rationale for this study.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Qualitative Data Collection specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The findings of this research can be of great assistance to the administration of Green Valley Community College and other educational institutions, which have also encountered such a problem as students’ dissatisfaction. Still, the reliability and usefulness of this study will strongly depend on the research design, data collection procedures and accuracy of analysis. Reference List Babbie. E. (2008). The basics of social research. NY: Cengage Learning. Creswell, J.W. (2008). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle Riv er, NJ: Pearson Education. Gray. P. Williamson J. Karp D. (2007). The Research imagination: an introduction to qualitative and quantitative methods. Cambridge University Press. Lodico, M. G., Spaulding, D. T., Voegtle, K. H. (2010). Methods in educational research: from theory to practice. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley Sons, Inc.

A Beginners Guide to Delphi Database Programming

A Beginners Guide to Delphi Database Programming About the Course: using TADOConnection Email Course Prerequisites: Delphi Programming A Beginners Guide to Delphi Programming Chapters Start with Chapter 1 : Then continue learning, this course already has more than 30 chapters ... CHAPTER 1:Fundamentals of Database Development (with Delphi)Delphi as the database programming tool, Data Access with Delphi...just a few words, Building a new MS Access database.related to this chapter! CHAPTER 2:Connecting to a database. BDE? ADO?Connecting to a database. What is the BDE? What is ADO? How to connect to an Access database - the UDL file? Looking forward: the smallest ADO example.related to this chapter! CHAPTER 3:Pictures inside a databaseDisplaying images (BMP, JPEG, ...) inside an Access database with ADO and Delphi.related to this chapter! CHAPTER 4:Data browsing and navigation Building a data browsing form - linking data components. Navigating through a recordset with a DBNavigator.related to this chapter! CHAPTER 5:Behind data in datasetsWhat is the state of data? Iterating through a recordset, bookmarking and reading the data from a database table.related to this chapter! CHAPTER 6:Data modificationsLearn how to add, insert and delete records from a database table.related to this chapter! CHAPTER 7:Queries with ADOTake a look at how you can take advantage of the TADOQuery component to boost your ADO-Delphi productivity. related to this chapter! CHAPTER 8:Data filteringUsing Filters to narrow the scope of data that is presented to the user.related to this chapter! CHAPTER 9:Searching for dataWalking through various methods of data seeking and locating while developing ADO based Delphi database applications.related to this chapter! CHAPTER 10:ADO CursorsHow ADO uses cursors as a storage and access mechanism, and what you should do to choose the best cursor for your Delphi ADO application.related to this chapter! CHAPTER 11:From Paradox to Access with ADO and DelphiFocusing on the TADOCommand components and using the SQL DDL language to help porting your BDE/Paradox data to ADO/Access.related to this chapter! CHAPTER 12:Master detail relationships How to use master-detail database relationships, with ADO and Delphi, to deal effectively with the problem of joining two database tables to present information. related to this chapter! CHAPTER 13:New...Access Database from Delphi How to create an MS Access database without the MS Access. How to create a table, add an index to an existing table, how to join two tables and set up referential integrity. No MS Access, only Pure Delphi code. related to this chapter! CHAPTER 14:Charting with Databases Introducing the TDBChart component by integrating some basic charts into a Delphi ADO based application to quickly make graphs directly for the data in recordsets without requiring any code. related to this chapter! CHAPTER 15:Lookup! See how to use lookup fields in Delphi to achieve faster, better and safer data editing. Also, find how to create a new field for a dataset and discuss some of the key lookup properties. Plus, take a look at how to place a combo box inside a DBGrid. related to this chapter! CHAPTER 16:Compacting an Access database with ADO and Delphi While working in a database application you change data in a database, the database becomes fragmented and uses more disk space than is necessary. Periodically, you can compact your database to defragment the database file. This article shows how to use JRO from Delphi in order to compact an Access database from code. related to this chapter! CHAPTER 17:Database reports with Delphi and ADO How to use QuickReport set of components to create database reports with Delphi. See how to produce database output with text, images, charts and memos - quickly and easily. related to this chapter! CHAPTER 18:Data Modules How to use the TDataModule class - central location for collecting and encapsulating DataSet and DataSource objects, their properties, events and code. related to this chapter! CHAPTER 19:Handling database errors Introducing error handling techniques in Delphi ADO database application development. Find out about global exception handling and dataset specific error events. See how to write an error logging procedure. related to this chapter! CHAPTER 20:From ADO Query to HTML How to export your data to HTML using Delphi and ADO. This is the first step in publishing your database on the Internet - see how to create a static HTML page from an ADO query. related to this chapter! CHAPTER 21:Using ADO in Delphi 3 and 4 (before AdoExpress / dbGO) How to import Active Data Objects (ADO) type-libraries in Delphi 3 and 4 to create a wrapper around components that encapsulate the functionality of ADO objects, properties and methods. related to this chapter! CHAPTER 22:Transactions in Delphi ADO database development How many times have you wanted to insert, delete or update a lot of records collectively wanting that either all of them get executed or if there is an error then none is executed at all? This article will show you how to post or undo a series of changes made to the source data in a single call. related to this chapter! CHAPTER 23:Deploying Delphi ADO database applications It is time to make your Delphi ADO database application available for others to run. Once you have created a Delphi ADO based solution, the final step is to successfully deploy it to the users computer. related to this chapter! CHAPTER 24:Delphi ADO/DB programming: Real Problems - Real Solutions In real world situations, really doing database programming is much more complex than writing about. This chapter points to some great Delphi Programming Forum threads initiated by this Course - discussions that solve problems on the field. CHAPTER 25:TOP ADO programming TIPS Collection of frequently asked questions, answers, tips and tricks about ADO programming. related to this chapter! CHAPTER 26:Quiz: Delphi ADO Programming What would it look like: Who Wants to be a Delphi ADO Database Programming Guru - the trivia game. related to this chapter! Appendices What follows is a list of articles (quick tips) explaining how to use various Delphi DB related components more efficiently at design and run time. APPENDIX 0DB Aware Grid ComponentsThe list of the best Data Aware Grid components available for Delphi. The TDBGrid component enhanced to maximum. APPENDIX ADBGrid to the MAXContrary to most other Delphi data-aware controls, the DBGrid component has many nice features and is more powerful than you would have thought. The standard DBGrid does its job of displaying and manipulating records from a dataset in a tabular grid. However, there are many ways (and reasons) why you should consider customizing the output of a DBGrid: Adjusting DBGrid column widths automatically, DBGrid with MultiSelect Coloring DBGrid, Selecting and highlighting a row in a DBGrid - OnMouseOverRow, Sorting records in DBGrid by Clicking on Column Title, Adding components to a DBGrid - theory, CheckBox inside a DBGrid, DateTimePicker (calendar) inside a DBGrid, Drop down pick list inside a DBGrid - part 1, Drop down list (DBLookupComboBox) inside a DBGrid - part 2, Accessing protected members of a DBGrid, Exposing the OnClick event for a DBGrid, What is being typed into the DBGrid?, How to Display Only Selected Fields in a DbGrid, How to get DBGrid Cell coordinates, How to create a simple database display form, Get the line number of a selected row in a DBGrid, Prevent CTRLDELETE in DBGrid, How to correctly use the mouse wheel in DBGrid, Making the Enter key work like a Tab key in a DBGrid ... APPENDIX BCustomizing the DBNavigatorEnhancing the TDBNavigator component with modified graphics (glyphs), custom button captions, and more. Exposing the OnMouseUp/Down event for every button.related to this quick tip! APPENDIX CAccessing and managing MS Excel sheets with DelphiHow to retrieve, display and edit Microsoft Excel spreadsheets with ADO (dbGO) and Delphi. This step-by-step article describes how to connect to Excel, retrieve sheet data, and enable editing of data (using the DBGrid). Youll also find a list of most common errors (and how to deal with them) that might pop up in the process. related to this quick tip! APPENDIX DEnumerating available SQL Servers. Retrieving databases on a SQL ServerHeres how to create your own connection dialog for a SQL Server database. Full Delphi source code for getting the list of available MS SQL Servers (on a network) and listing database names on a Server. related to this quick tip!

Research Notetaking Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Research Notetaking - Assignment Example to more readily irrigate land in Mexican territory- in 1904 the company excavated a more direct opening at a site a few miles south of the California/Mexico border† (Wiltshire, Gilbert and Rogers 2) Jackson relates that the roots of the Hoover Dam project stretch deep into a long-term goal by the private sector to secure the irrigation of the Imperial Valley in the southern section of California. These efforts can be traced back to the 1900’s, when such irrigation aims became central to the existence of the Colorado Development Company. The successful early efforts resulted in a large tract of the Imperial Valley being nicely irrigated. There were problems however with canal siltation, even when the valley was being successfully irrigated, so that the firm had to redouble its efforts building another canal on top of the original canal that tapped the Colorado River and connected the valley to it (Wiltshire, Gilbert and Rogers 2). â€Å"Constructed in the 1930s, the concrete arch-gravity structure was intended to prevent flooding as well as provide much-needed irrigation and hydroelectric power to arid regions of states like California and Arizona. It was originally known as Boulder Dam, but was renamed in 1947 in honor of Herbert Hoover, who as U.S. secretary of commerce and the 31st U.S. president proved instrumental in getting the dam built. At 726 feet high and 1,244 feet long, Hoover Dam was one of the largest man-made structures in the world at the time of its construction, and one of the worlds largest producers of hydroelectric power† (A&E Television Networks). The History Channel notes that the Hoover Dam was originally named Boulder Dam, but that in 1947 the dam was renamed to honor the late President Edgar Hoover. Hoover was also US Commerce Secretary, and it was Hoover who was credited with having done a substantial part of the work to erect the iconic structure to the benefit of the people of states like Arizona and California. For those states,

Greed and Materialism in the 1980s Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Greed and Materialism in the 1980s - Essay Example Bateman is naming the litany of products and is pointing out items made possible by the defense research of the 1950s and 60s. Now they are made available as commercial goods. He has no appreciation for the goods, but values them for their space age quality and trendy name, much like owning an MX Missile. "What really is the best dry beer Is Bill Robinson an overrated designer What's wrong with IBM Ultimate luxury. Is the term "playing hardball" an adverb The fragile peace of Assisi. Electric light. The epitome of luxury. Ultimate luxury" (274). The conservative kids in the candy store have so many unanswered questions. Give me. Give me. Can I have a star wars defense system "I'm talking to the delivery guys from Park Avenue Sound Shop about HDTV, which isn't available yet, when one of the new black AT&T cordless phones rings. I tip them, then answer it" (308). The cold war had spurred technological advancements and Bateman was planning on reaping the benefits in the usual mindless, capitalist consumer fashion. ""...I watched the huge Sony TV over a breakfast of sliced kiwi and Japanese apple pear, Evian water, oat bran muffins, soy milk, and cinnamon granola, ruining my enjoyment of the grieving mothers..." (138).

Paying less for fashion Essay Example for Free

Paying less for fashion Essay Mr. Rubel, a director of SUPERVALU since 2010, serves as a Senior Advisor with TPG Capital, a leading global private investment firm with $49 billion of capital under management. Until 2011 Mr. Rubel was the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Collective Brands, Inc., the holding company for Payless ShoeSource, Collective Brands Performance Lifestyle Group and Collective Licensing International and a leader in lifestyle, fashion and performance brands for footwear and related accessories. Mr. Rubel joined Collective Brands in 2005 as Chief Executive Officer and President. Among many qualifications, Mr. Rubel brings significant retail and branding experience and experience as a chief executive officer of a large public company, including managing a significant business transformation. Mr. Rubel is a Director and serves as Chairman of the Governance Committee for The Hudson Bay Company. From 2005 until 2011, Mr. Rubel was a director of Collective Brands, Inc., and from 2006 to 2008, Mr. Rubel was a director of Furniture Brands International, Inc., a company that designs, manufactures, sources and sells home furnishings. It is perhaps one of the most representatives CEO of the last years in the fashion world. Her task as leader of Payless has made this company become one of the largest distributors of shoes worldwide. He has managed to position it as one of the most attractive companies to work by the most renowned designers. His work in difficult times was very good and is redeemable know how tackle these big problems could redesign and rethink a new strategy in order to give it another go to Payless. Lela Rose After graduating from Parsons School of Design in 1993, she went to work with two esteemed designers, Richard Tyler and Christian Francis Roth. There she honed her love of couture fabric as well as fanatic attention to detail. In 1998, Lelas vision and passion compelled her to create her signature collection, Lela Rose. Through intricately designed and finely detailed separates, dresses and jackets, Lela has established herself as a renowned designer. The Lela Rose collection is built on a design philosophy of creating hand finished clothes that exude a casual luxury and refinement. The beautiful embellished fabrics are the foundation of this innovative collection and speak to the elegance of its personality with a nod to the era of glamour. Lela Roses collection has garnered her a following of trendsetters across the country. Lelas ready to wear apparel under the Lela Rose label is sold in more than 75 specialty stores nationwide, as well as Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales and internationally in Canada, Europe, Russia, the Middle East, Taiwan and Japan. In Fall 2006, Lela Rose launched the Lela Rose Wedding collection. The collection is a pairing of unconventional fabrics and techniques that are trademarks of the designer. The impeccable quality and couture sensibility of these gowns make them one of a kind. The Lela Rose Wedding collection can be found in bridal boutiques nationwide as well as internationally. With the success of both collections, the Lela Rose brand expanded into footwear in the Fall of 2007. Rose partnered with Payless Shoesource to create the Lela Rose for Payless brand of fashion forward shoes at an extremely affordable price. This collection was followed up by Unforgettable Moments by Lela Rose, a collection of dyeable special occasion shoes that launched late in 2008. Both collections can be found in Payless stores nationwide. In 2009, Lela Rose announced she was launching Lela Rose Bridesmaid, a partnership with the Dessy Group. The Lela Rose Bridesmaid collection can be found in over 200 bridesmaid stores nationwide as well as in Canada and in the United Kingdom. Stacey Bendet. Stacey â€Å"Staceypants† Bendet was born Stacey Wiener in Chappaqua, New York. She graduated from Horace Greeley High School and went on to the University of Penn where she was a member of the gymnastics team. Stacey turned to a life of fashion after an interview on Wall Street. She rollerbladed to the interview in â€Å"orange pants and a fur bomber jacket† only to leave immediately after seeing her competition. Stacey then turned to the internet where she designed web sites for fashion houses. That designing led her and a friend to start â€Å"Alice + Olivia† with their first show involving models wearing â€Å"pants with Partridge Family–style vertical stripes and not much else besides some strategically placed bouquets.† The show was a success with requests from celebrities and stores like Fred Segal and Barneys, where she went on to be a pants designer, came pouring in. As with all of New York’s elite, rumors fly, but Bendet herself is responsible for the one about attending her yoga classes drunk. Also, some say she is reaping the benefits of her parents money and her partner is actually the talented one, while Bendet yells, makes people cry, and takes laxatives all day. Oh, the price one pays for being rich and famous. On the good side, Bendet reportedly does charity work for organizations like the New York Pubilc Library and Wyclef Jean’s Yele Haiti Organization. Designer Stacey Bendet, designs the Alice + Olivia womens and kids collections in addition to a shoe collection for Payless. She has been on the Vanity Fair Best Dressed list for two years in a row. Last year, she was married to Eric Eisner, and the couple had their first child, Eloise Breckenridge Eisner, on November 24, 2008. Cristhian Siriano Designer old Christian Siriano hails from Annapolis, Maryland, and was educated at Baltimore School for the Arts and The American Intercontinental University, London. Inspired by McQueen and Westwood, he is a freelance designer who travels from New York City to Los Angeles to work with designer Rosetta Getty. Siriano’s career in design began when he was 13 years old, as he worked for a local salon where he created costumes for the yearly hair show competition. Upon graduating from the Baltimore School for the Arts, he moved on to study at the American Intercontinental University in London and consequently showcased his small collection on 2005’s London Fashion Week in Fall. He was then given the opportunity to work with Vivienne Westwood, and was consequently given a position at Alexander McQueen. Christian Siriano was one of fifteen hopefuls on season 4 of Bravo’s reality fashion competition, Project Runway. He won three challenges throughout the season: What are The Skinny, En Garde, and The Art of Fashion. At the reunion show, Christian won $10,000 as this seasons Fan Favorite. On the final episode, Christian was named the winner of Project Runway and guest judge Victoria Beckham asked him to design an outfit for her. They have since worked together and he has designed several outfits for her. He has been incredibly successful after the show, teaming up with Puma, Gaia Online, Payless Shoesource and Victoria’s Secret. Aside from launching his own make-up line, he has also penned a book called Fierce Style: How to Be Your Most Fabulous Self. He later appeared on even more shows, including Make Me a Supermodel and Ugly Betty. In 2010, he starred in his own Bravo special called Christian Siriano: Having a Moment, which chronicled the time he spent preparing his collection for Fashion Week. Maxine Clark Maxine Clark is one of the true innovators in the retail industry. During her successful retail career, her ability to spot emerging retail and merchandising trends and her insight into the desires of the American consumer have generated growth for retail leaders, including department store, discount and specialty stores. In 1997, she founded Build-A-Bear Workshop ®, a teddy-bear themed retail-entertainment experience. Maxine was the Chief Executive Bear until June, 2013. Today there are more than 400 Build-A-Bear Workshop stores worldwide, including company-owned stores in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland, and franchise stores in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, Mexico and the Middle East. The company extends its in-store interactive experience online with its award winning virtual world atbuildabearville.com. Isaac Mizrahi Isaac Mizrahi holds the distinction of being one of todays best-known American fashion designers. His fame comes from far more than his runway creations, however: Mizrahi is a bona fide celebrity who has applied his abundant energy to a number of diverse projects. In 1995, early in his career as a designer, he was the subject of a widely praised film documentary titled Unzipped. During 1997 he published a collection of three comic books under the title Isaac Mizrahi Presents the Adventures of Sandee the Supermodel. Two years after the 1998 closing of his high-priced clothing design business, Mizrahi explored his love of theater by crafting and starring in a one-man Off-Broadway cabaret show called Les Mizrahi. The following year he began hosting his own offbeat talk show, fittingly called The Isaac Mizrahi Show, on the cable network Oxygen. During 2004 Mizrahi returned to his fashion-design origins with the launch of two new ventures appealing to very different members of the buying public: an affordable yet fashionable line of clothing for discount retailer Target, and Isaac Mizrahi to Order, a company creating high-end custom-made clothing for consumers willing to spend $20,000 on a single dress. Through all of his various projects, Mizrahi has displayed a fun-loving, humorous, and adventurous style, proving that even high fashion need not take itself too seriously. Karl Lagerfield Is a German fashion designer, artist and photographer based in Paris. He is the head designer and creative director for the fashion house Chanel as well as the Italian house Fendi, in addition to having his own label fashion house. Over the decades he has collaborated on a variety of fashion and art related projects. He is well recognized around the world for his trademark white hair, black glasses, and high starched collars. Isabel Toledo Isabel Toledo was born in Cuba and moved to New Jersey where she attended high school and met her future husband and collaborator, Ruben Toledo. She attended the Fashion Institute of Technology (NY) and Parsons School of Design (NY) where she studied painting, ceramics, and fashion design. An avid seamstress from a young age, Toledos work reflects not only a distinct design sense but a keen understanding of garment construction and appreciation for the geometric intricacies of pattern shapes. In 1985, Toledo presented her first collection. In 1998, she stopped presenting biannual collections, instead choosing to create on her own schedule. Toledo was named creative director of Anne Klein in 2006 after more than twenty years of working solely under her own name. Toledo made her debut with Anne Klein at New York Fashion Week in February 2007.[1] Toledo and Anne Klein parted ways later in 2007. ORGANIZATION INVOLVED COMPETITIVE COMPANIES Walmart: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., branded as Walmart, is an American multinational retail corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the worlds second largest public corporation, according to the Fortune Global 500 list in 2013, the biggest private employer in the world with over two million employees, and is the largest retailer in the world. Walmart remains a family-owned business, as the company is controlled by the Walton family, who own a 48 percent stake in Walmart.[5][6] It is also one of the worlds most valuable companies. â€Å"Shoes Cost Less at Walmart From womens shoes, mens shoes to athletic shoes for the whole family, youll find all the shoes youre looking for at Walmart.com. Whether youre checking out the seasons hottest womens sandals or trying to find new kids shoes for their ever-growing feet, our selection of shoes has got it all covered. You can shop our shoes by category to discover everyday low prices on sneakers, styles under $10, work shoes and more. You can also shop our list of best-selling shoes to see the most popular trends of the season. So shop shoes at Walmart.com — and save† Target The Target Corporation, originally the Dayton Dry Goods Company and later the Dayton Hudson Corporation, is an American retailing company, founded in 1902 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, Walmart being the largest. The company is ranked 36th on the Fortune 500 as of 2013 and is a component of the Standard Poors 500 index. Its bullseye trademark is licensed to Wesfarmers, owners of the separate Target Australia chain which is unrelated to Target Corporation. The first Target store was opened in 1962 in Roseville, Minnesota. Target grew and eventually became the largest division of Dayton Hudson Corporation, culminating in the company being renamed as Target Corporation in August 2000. In 2013, Target expanded into Canada and now operates over 100 locations through its Canadian subsidiary. â€Å"if you’re looking for the latest styles in women’s shoes, Target has you covered. It’s a shoe–in! Pump it up with our wide selection of peep toes,slingbacks, heels and pumps that come in a variety of heights. Indulge in cool neutrals, or select styles in colors designed to pop. Want toshow off that kickin’ pedicure? A pair of strappy sandals will definitely give it the attention it deserves. Sandals with multi–tone designs, glamaccents or uber–cool prints–you name it, we have it. If you have a serious case of FLAT–itude, we also have a large collection of ballet shoes,moccasins, flats, boat shoes and more. Execute a perfect cha-cha or samba in footwear that screams endurance and comfort.† Kohls Kohls Corporation is an American department store chain headquartered in the Milwaukee suburb of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, operating 1,146 stores in 49 states as of February 2013. In 1998, it entered the SP 500 list, and is also listed in the Fortune 500 (#146 in 2012). The chain was the 20th-largest retailer in the United States in 2013 in terms of revenue I.n 2011, Kohls was the second largest U.S. store company by retail sales. ASSOCIATED BRANDS Keds: Is an American brand of plimsoll-style canvas shoe with rubber soles. Keds were introduced in 1916 by U.S. Rubber (later known as Uniroyal, then Uniroyal Goodrich, and finally acquired by Michelin). The shoe brand was later acquired by Stride Rite Corporation and is currently owned byWolverine World Wide. When choosing a name, the initial choice was Peds, from the Latin meaning foot, but that name was already a trademark. Keds were first mass-marketed as canvas-top sneakers in 1960. They became known as sneakers because the rubber soles allowed sneaking around silently. In the 1960s and 1970s, Keds added to its range of casual shoes a line of athletic shoes called Pro-Keds for more serious use, specifically forbasketball. Keds have been used by many athletes. In countries like India or Soviet Union, Keds has been transformed into a generic brand and until recently any athletic shoe was customarily called a Keds. Keds are a staple at physical training classes in the school curriculum, and usually the students are needed to compulsorily wear the basic white Keds for their classes. â€Å"today, Keds is a head-to-toe fashion lifestyle brand fueled by a passion for imagination, inspiring a new generation of girls to stay authentic, optimistic and brave.† Sperry Top-Sider On an icy winters day in 1935, Paul Sperry watched in amazement as his cocker spaniel Prince ran across the icy New England landscape without slipping. Sperry, a former naval officer, avid sailor and part-time inventor, had been trying to design a proper shoe to safely navigate the slippery deck of his sloop, Sirocco. Nature and Princes paws provided the ultimate answer. Tooling a pattern in a rubber outsole similar to the wave-like grooves on Princes paws, Paul Sperry created a truly sea-worthy boat shoe. The first Sperry Top-Sider Authentic Original was officially launched and the worlds first boat shoe was born. Over 75 Years later, Sperry remains the vanguard of the nautical lifestyle. From the worlds first boat shoe to todays product collections featuring iconic design details, enduring style and the latest performance technologies, Sperry Top-Sider embodies a passion for the sea and the good life it represents. Tommy Hilfiger As one of the world’s leading lifestyle brands, Tommy Hilfiger delivers superior styling, quality and value to consumers worldwide. The band celebrates the essence of classic American cool and provides a refreshing twist to the preppy fashion genre. Since its debut in 1985, the Tommy Hilfiger Group has become a US$ 4.6 billon apparel and retail company by offering consumers a breadth of beautifully designed, high quality products including men’s women’s and children’s apparel, sportswear, denim, and range of licensed products such as accessories, fragrances and home furnishings. Kenneth Cole: Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc. (NYSE: KCP) is an American fashion house founded in 1982 by Kenneth Cole. He originally named the company Kenneth Cole Incorporated in September 1982 and planned to showcase his new line of shoes during market week at the Hilton New York Hotel. Finding that he could not afford to purchase a hotel room or showroom to exhibit his line, he borrowed a truck and asked the mayor’s office for permission to park two blocks away from the Hilton Hotel in front of a fancy shoe building. Upon learning that permits were only granted to utility companies and production companies shooting full-length motion pictures, Cole changed the name of the company to Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc. and applied for a permit to shoot a full-length motion picture entitled â€Å"The Birth of a Shoe Company†. With Kenneth Cole Productions painted on the side of the truck, they opened for business on December 2, 1982, in front of 1370 Avenue of the Americas. They had a fully furnished forty-foot trailer, klieg lights, a director, a rolling camera, models as actresses, and two NYPD policemen as doormen. A velvet rope allowed a limited number of people into the trailers and in two and a half days they sold forty thousand pairs of shoes. The company remains Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc. to this day to honor this unusual beginning In 1985, Kenneth Cole opened his first store on Columbus Avenue in Manhattan, followed shortly thereafter by another store on Union Street in San Francisco. Kenneth Cole retail and Company Stores can now be found worldwide in countries such as Mexico, Canada, Venezuela, Colombia, Israel,United, UnitedKingdom, Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Australia and South Africa. Michael Kors Michael Kors (USA), Inc. designs and produces luxury accessories and sportswear for men and women in North America. The company offers dresses, tops, jeans and pants, skirts and shorts, outerwear, special sizes, swimming products, spring trends, and Michaels picks for women; handbags and small leather goods; shoes, including sandals, pumps, wedges, flats, and boots and booties; watches and jewelry; and accessories, such as belts and fragrance, and gifts. It also provides apparels, sunglasses, underwear, loungewear and sleepwear, and cologne for men. Michael Kors (USA), Inc. was founded in 1981 and is based in New York, New York with lifestyle stores in Edison, New Jersey; Paris, France; Vancouver, Canada; San Antonio, Texas; Boston, Massachusetts; and Valencia, California. MAGAZINE ELLE Is a worldwide lifestyle magazine of French origin that focuses on fashion, beauty, health, and entertainment. Elle is also the worlds bestselling fashion magazine. It was founded by Pierre Lazareff and his wife Hà ©là ¨ne Gordon in 1945. The title, in French, means she. Today, it is the world’s largest fashion magazine, with 43 international editions in over 60 countries. Technologically speaking, the Elle brand is a global network encompassing over 33 websites. Subscriptions account for 73 percent of readers. There are 33 Elle websites globally, which collectively attract over 25 million unique visitors and 370 million page views per month[4] Elle reaches over 21 million readers. The vast majority (82 percent) of Elles audience are women between the ages of 18 and 49. Elle readers have a median age of 34.7 years. Forty percent of readers are single, and the median household income is $69,973. Our readers are young enough to think about life as an adventure and old enough to have the means to live it, said Robbie Myers, editor in chief. Elle owes its graphic signature to Art director Peter Knapp. Vogue Magazine is a fashion and lifestyle, which is published in many countries. It is a monthly publication aimed primarily at audiences interested in both fashion trends as lifestyle. It is considered the worlds most influential post that is published in 14 countries. The distributed Condà © Nast Publications, based in the U.S. city of New York. The first issue appeared on December 17, 1892. He began as a weekly, then biweekly, and monthly now. W magazine W is a monthly American fashion magazine published by Condà © Nast Publications, who purchased original owner Fairchild Publications in 1999. It was created in 1972 by the publisher of sister magazine Womens Wear Daily, James Brady. The magazine is an oversize format – ten inches wide and thirteen inches tall. Stefano Tonchi is the editor of W; Nina Lawrence is the vice president and publisher. W magazine has a reader base of nearly half a million, 469,000 of which are annual subscribers. 80 percent of the magazines readers are female and have an average household income of $135,840. STRATEGY First, the company should focus on better understanding the customer and their needs. More research is needed regarding what the customer experience in stores and what else do they expect the company to deliver them , as the management of fashion products , can become boring for customers at some point and in some way go out of style to them , which will lead to other products in the competition. This as the company is focused on customers between 20 and 30 years who purchase a larger quantity of shoes, but also change their minds more often and is more difficult to retain segment. On this issue, it is important that the company generates strategies that allow customer loyalty so that they seek only Payless shoes and accessories in decreasing the risk of direct competition, the above is feasible to achieve to track the companys participation in fashion shows of the major cities , advertising in magazines and also a coupon , preferred customer cards and other attractions that help customers generate a high recall brand . On the other hand , it is important that the company also locate a focus on new segments and improved product offerings for men, older women, children and in general for the whole family . The company currently has an image of offering products for young people and their strategies focus on delivering products to other segments the sales of the company can significantly increase and improve margins for partners. The renewal of collections should go together a wide range of products throughout the time in which the collection is current , otherwise , customers come to the stores at the beginning of the collection and will be for them a novelty, but after half the time of the collection or the end of the sales may be affected because customers will not find novelty in products, then to keep sales constant is important that the company has a good assortment innovative shoes and accessories in the duration of each collection. This can be tricky to achieve particularly in relation to the management of production costs and also in terms of the distribution chain, in order to minimize these risks is of great importance generates a strict planning and control each of both design processes, such as production and distribution throughout the supply chain, which will have or maintain its current competitive advantage. Furthermore, the company must generate sound policy management of its human resources not only in their stores but also in the factories that produce as this can generate greater prestige to the business and attract more customers by empathy policy development on human resources and social responsibility. Question for Discussion 1. Which of the different product mix pricing strategies discussed in the text applies best to payless new strategy? Payless For two handled ways of pricing strategy. The first is the competitive pricing strategy, because the large surface chains were entering the business, had to maintain low costs with the mood of even remain competitive and thats when entering the second pricing strategy is the strategy. The psychological price was instrumental in the development of the new corporate strategy. The stores became much more comfortable and much more brands hired additional recognized and trusted, which generated a positive perception approaching clients. The company is returned much more competitive and achievement to establish a business model focused on the distribution of brands and innovative shoes thanks to the hiring of renowned designers worldwide. 2. How do concepts such as psychological pricing and reference pricing apply to the Payless Strategy? In what ways does the strategy deviate from these concepts? Customers know that when arriving at Payless can find brands and models of shoes from famous designers at prices much lower than in the normal market, but not only that determined the success of the company. Trust, responsibility, environment model shops and sell their shoes which have made ​​people detect a unique and innovative model to its most direct competition. The strategy can deviate from these concepts through customer care. People often need greater customer care and the fact that a model which provides the self does start losing attention to the wishes of the client. On the other hand need to have a large amount of supply. People seek innovation and variability Payless therefore has the obligation to renew its product portfolio much faster than the competition or their dealers themselves in order not to lose the appeal against their clients. http://www.fashionmodeldirectory.com/designers/stacey-bendet/ http://www.forbes.com/profile/matthew-rubel/ http://www.buddytv.com/info/christian-siriano-info.aspx http://www.notablebiographies.com/news/Li-Ou/Mizrahi-Isaac.html http://www.walmart.com/cp/Shoes/1045804 http://www.target.com/c/women-s-shoes/-/N-5xtd2 http://www.keds.com/store/SiteController/keds/us_keds http://www.sperrytopsider.com/store/SiteController/sperry/History_sperry http://global.tommy.com/int/en/About/overview http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Cole_Productions http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=1007367 http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vogue_(revista

Abortion - Bible is Pro-Choice :: Argumentative Persuasive Topics

Bible is Pro-Choice Without any question, the Bible is overwhelminly pro-choice. Although the Hebrews were influenced by many of the laws of their Assyrian, Sumerian, and Babylonian neighbors, all of which forbade abortion, the Hebrew scriptures had no laws forbidding abortion, not a single one. This was chiefly because the Hebrews placed a higher value on women than did their neighbors. There are, however, some references to the termination of pregnancy. Exod. 21:22-25 says that if a pregnant woman has a miscarriage as a result of injuries she receives during a fight between two men, the penalty for the loss of the fetus is a fine; if the woman is killed, the penalty is "life for life." It is obvious from this passage that men whose fighting had caused a woman to miscarry were not regarded as murderers because they had not killed the woman. The woman, undeniably, had greater moral and religious worth than did the fetus, which was nothing more than a worthless glob of tissue, a meaningless, lifeless conglomeration of cells - contrary to antichoice people who cons ider it "human life." There is also reference in the Mosaic law to what is now called "abortion on request" Num. 5:11-31 indicates that if a husband suspects his wife is pregnant by another man, the "husband shall bring his wife to the priest," who shall mix a drink intended to make her confess or be threatened with termination of her pregnancy if she has been unfaithful to her husband. In other words, the Jewish Church was directly involved in bringing about abortions for those countless Hebrew women who fell into this category referred to above. Yes, the Jewish priests actually performed the abortion on the women. The Bible is undeniably specific on this point. Of course, there are less intelligent biblical exegetes who interpret this in various other obviously erroneous ways. It is best not to consider their ignorant opinions in this matter.

Management style of Mahatma Gandhi Essay

The name, Mahatma Gandhiji evokes the image of truth personified, who has been revered by masses and classes equally. Who is known to be thinker, philosopher, leader, politician, saint and many more roles for which he donned the caps simultaneously. The management principles that his life reflects, are inherent part of modern management practices. 1. Walk the talk: Mahatma Gandhiji lived simple life. He believed in â€Å"do as you say†. Practice and preach was not different for him. His life had been open book for anybody to read. Irrespective of the circumstances he always held up to his moral values that he used to preach to one and all. His â€Å"walk the talk† had many admirers in British camp, and many swear by his truthfulness. In today’s organizations, people honor and follow leaders whose words are no different than their actions. Companies, who have deep rooted culture of walk the talk, win over customers and prosper beyond expectations. 2. Lead by Example: Mahatma Gandhiji has been a great leader who led by example. Be it smaller initiatives like living simple life, fight for untouchables; or bigger movements like non cooperation, salt march, quit India, he has led by example. He led from front. People believed him because he did himself what he expected from them to do. We have faith and trust in leaders and managers who lead by example. Who tread the path themselves first on which they want other to follow. Faith is the fundamental requisite in the organizations and those who lead by example commands enough of it. Lead by example; command respect, do not demand respect. 3. Build impeccable and honest brand: The brand â€Å"Mahatma Gandhiji† is one of the greatest brands which has been enlightening and moving people since decades together. This brand has been built on integrity, transparency, quality, truthfulness and connectivity with every single person. It has emotional connect rather than rational connect with its audience. Great brands commands emotional connect with its consumers. The great brands build on the impeccable platform of transparency and truthfulness. Even you are also a brand personified; the Brand You. 4. Strategize in line with available resources: The whole freedom movement of Mahatma was based on the principle of non violence. There was no other way he could grapple with the mighty British Empire. The biggest resource was empty handed, inspired masses. He utilized this resource in the most efficient way. He strategized every action on non violence and moved masses to fulfill the objectives. Managing and excelling with available resources is the key to success for the organizations. Efficiency in every aspect of business and utilizing the available resources diligently is the hall mark of great management teams. Strategy must be made and implemented looking into the resources available. 5. Build great team and work for a common cause: Mahatma Gandhiji had built a great team of leaders from diverse beliefs and principles. Jawaharlal Nehru, C. Rajgopalachari, Valabbh Bhai Patel, Jinnah and many others worked in tandem for a common cause; freedom of India. They complemented each other. The team also had a great bench strength. Great leaders build great teams with members who complement each other. It has leadership at all levels. It has great bench strength which grabs the baton and continue the race for common cause. Organizations with great teams have potent force to conquer the market. 6. Engage people: Mahatma Gandhiji enthralled and engaged people like a magician. He was apt in the art of making people devote everything for the cause. In every single movement he led for India’s freedom, he pulled the people together for a common mission. Every one of them was so engaged that they are ready to go to any extent to achieve the goal of India’s freedom. Gallup Inc., a research-based performance-management consulting company, has shown that engaged employees are more productive and more likely to stay with the organization. Engage them with common cause, a common goal, a common mission which must be lived every moment by them. Engaged employees are key to greatness for organizations. Mahatma Gandhiji exhibited this lesson long ago. It is still as much relevant as was at that time. There are many priceless gems in Mahatma Gandhiji’s life. His philosophy is applicable in every facet of life. You only require getting one step underneath and digging the gems out for you rselves. Social Orientation- Interdependence on teams For Gandhiji, the interests of the group are of high importance. He believed that the needs of the community and the service of the poor should always override every selfish or individual interest. (Alexander, 1984) His wish was that every village in India to become a self-supporting and self-contained entity, much like a team environment in today’s corporations. These villages would share information or commodities with other villages where they are not locally producible. (Andrews, 1949) Teams in today’s organizations often must share information with other teams in order to work more efficiently. Take for example, the Information Engineering Associates (IEA) department within DuPont Corporation. Because of internal marketing within the company and sharing of their expertise, the IEA department was able to move from team to team, sharing their knowledge and improving the information technology service within the corporation. No discrimination-Hiring Policies Gandhiji believed in the ancient caste system, but he entirely refused to have anything to do with the idea of â€Å"untouchability†. He refused to regard any caste as superior in rank. He regarded men and women equally as his brothers and sisters, treating them in every single act of life as equals. Even today, an organisation is not supposed to discriminate while hiring candidates. Gandhijiji’s philosophy of no discrimination is seen in the hiring policies of an organisation. Before launching a public campaign or action that will impinge on society, it is vital to bring to your mind â€Å"the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him† — this has always been the advice of Gandhijiji. Compare this with what often happens in the business world. The grievances of individuals — whether they are of employees or customers — are called into question and denied redress by citing the â€Å"company policy† or by contending that the company’s â€Å"image† would be adversely affected in the long run. Non cooperation: The doctrine of non-cooperation was the genius of Mahatma Gandhiji. He believed that even the most oppressive government derived its authority from the consent, implicit though, of the oppressed. If only the people showed resistance and turned their backs on the government, it would collapse and be pauperised, sooner or later. For the chief executive of a company, non-cooperation is a stark reminder of the imperative to win the loyalty and goodwill of his employees. A business enterprise cannot be run by coercion and compulsion. Voluntary cooperation by the employees can be secured only by providing adequate opportunities for their self-development and self-management. Transperancy Truth and transparency are the hallmark of Gandhijian philosophy. This holds good eminently for the business world too. For a management to be effective and enduring, it has to be an open book, subjecting itself to public scrutiny. Ethics and honesty, by which Gandhijiji set store. Time – long-term outlook: Gandhi believed that economic growth should proceed in harmony with nature and between people, even if that growth was slower and more gradual than growth brought on by heavy industry and high technology. (Prabhu, 2001) Gandhi was always more concerned with the means then about the ends. (Alexander, 1984) Building a learning organization takes time and effort. The leader responsible with incorporating change within an organization must have a complete view of the big picture. Promoting any type of change can be difficult, but the leader must always keep site of the final destination. Building trust in an organization takes time. Team members must trust the leader and believe what s/he says in order for them to willingly follow. Gandhi believed that the rule of community behavior must be found through long practice. This was the best for all involved. (Alexander, 1984) Gandhi rated character building higher than book learning. He had no use for an educational system that was geared to moneymaking. (Nanda, 1985) Within an organization, open communication and honesty is highly valued. A leader with a strong character has integrity and integrity is important within an organization. Gandhi felt it was important to understand that the  perception of truth undergoes an ongoing process of refinement, which is evolutionary in nature. (Murphy, 1991) He felt that the process of learning was evolving. Learning within an organization evolves with time. The learning curve may be slow at first, but as more people learn they become confident in their abilities and are content with their work. Gandhijiji the leader: Gandhijiji was one of the best leaders that India ever had. Now, what is it that made Gandhijiji so great and successful? What made his leadership successful was a steadfast purpose and his listening to his inner calling. Both, purpose and calling were built on values like truth, justice, love, non-violence, and charity. He neither benefited of personality development- nor communication-, organization-, management- or leadership-trainings nor good looks. What made him strong was his inner voice, his beliefs and convictions, which were giving him guidance and credibility, because he lived what he preached: one man can make a difference; strength comes not from physical capacity but from an indomitable will; leadership by example is the most effective. He believed in the following few concepts when it came to leadership or life in general:  · Gandhiji was known for the trust he was granting everyone. He saw the good in people and believed in them.  · What he developed were caring relationships which – aside trust – were built on mutual respect and non-violence.  · While managing relationships Gandhiji showed an immense integrity – towards himself and towards others, who were sometimes harshly opposing stakeholders. Like this he remained transparent, credible, and trustworthy.  · Hence, he could openly, freely follow his path and his purpose.  · And he was a master in changing small things with an enormous effect for the big picture. This is how he reached his vision: with short term targets and a great patience. Many of his sayings are praised by Westerners, because they are so close to Western leadership teachings about solution-oriented managing which allows mistakes – â€Å"Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes† – or what Americans use to say by â€Å"Walk the talk† seems to be included in Gandhiji ´s â€Å"Happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do are in harmony.† Gandhiji ´s values, beliefs and convictions are a clue to a  leader ´s attitude shaped by care and by deep motivation. They are also a powerful means for conflict management, a basically daily reality of every manager or leader around the world. Leaders in today’s volatile environment must also possess these characteristics for which Gandhiji believed in. A leader today must be honest, forward-looking, inspiring, and competent. Kouzes and Posner (1996) state that the first law of leadership is, â€Å"If you don’t believe in the messenger, you won’t believe the message†. A leader must be truthful and honest in order for people to follow. As many have said, a leader must walk the talk. But without followers there would be no leaders, therefore the first milestone toward earning leadership credibility is clarity in personal values. Hierarchal organizational structures operate from the top down. The workers at the bottom are dominated and told what to do and when to do it. Gandhiji felt that the people should control their own destiny in small-scale groups. He believed that independence must begin at the bottom, that self-rule could not be imposed on people from above. He believed that self-rule or self-government must first be nurtured, through education and example. This education must start at the local or village level and then be encouraged to spread out into larger communities. Leaders in today’s organizations must have strong values and a belief in the capacity of individuals to grow. In other words, they empower others within the organization. They envision a society in which they wish to see their organizations and themselves live. They are visionaries and believe strongly in their ability in shaping the future and they do not hesitate to act on these beliefs through their own personal behavior and actions. They energize the organization as a whole. When compared to Gandhiji’s leadership principles, you can see that Gandhiji had a rock-solid value system and he wanted to make major changes in society. He had a totally interdependent relationship with his followers, as he was often seen walking with â€Å"commoners† as well as having high tea with â€Å"dignitaries†. He leadership style incorporated the four â€Å"E’s†: Envision, Enable, Empower, and Energize. Gandhiji believed that one must not offend or harbor any uncharitable thoughts toward anything or anyone even when one considers themselves your enemy. This principle is not unlike the value system that leaders of today should have. A leader in today’s organization must be honest and patient when dealing with customers and fellow workers. Generally people will not willingly follow a dishonest person especially through a crisis period, which is not all that uncommon throughout a project lifecycle. A leader should also respect other people, and value different ideas and opinions. Because organizations are becoming increasingly diverse and expanding across cultural boundaries, a leader should be aware of and respect these differences. Satyagraha begins with reasoning with ones opponent or adversary in an attempt to arrive at a just solution. Neither a person has a monopoly on the truth nor is either side wholly correct. The purpose is to work out a rational compromise that is agreeable to both sides. A leader must have the ability to communicate and diffuse disagreeable situations. Conflicts naturally occur between individuals who are passionate about something. Often a leader must stand the neutral ground and help facility a win-win situation when dealing with conflicts.

A Brand I like

In this fast changing world, consumerism is a predominant aspect in human life. The path that most individuals take in life follows a certain pattern. This pattern points toward the direction of the culture of capitalist creating differences in human values. The modern world is a ground for people to set standards on certain products allowing them to have a unique position in the society.The so called product â€Å"brands† became a medium that actually let people possess things that would somehow set them apart from other individuals in the society. As such, most of the consumers today are more conscious on the products that they purchase.They care more about branded products compared to the unbranded counterparts because most people believe that branded products are far more dependable than the unbranded ones (Hasan, 2008). In addition to this, numerous people have unwavering affection for beautiful things. Some are particular for the brands quality and history (cited in Mah, 2007).According to Elissa Moses (2000), certain brands serve different purposes for different people. It could define an individual's identity while being able to bring satisfaction to the individual at the same time. Brands serve as passes to success and global culture. It is a reflection of all the good things in life and a promise for better opportunities.Also, brands are reinforcements that can assure a solid and ongoing lifestyle in such a way that they serve as a refuge for those people who are seeking reliable pleasure. Moreover, brands serve as status symbols that can reflect the position of an individual and his or her family   economically. In the United States â€Å"branded† products are easily available because most of the stores and supermarkets are piled up with these products yet, they come in affordable prices.However, in different countries like Asia and Latin America, brands are considered as scorecards indicating how a person could follow the latest tren d and how they are well depicted within the society. Generally, branded products are well recognized by people because it identifies who a person really is.Recent researches showed that nowadays, consumers have a strong connection with the brands that they purchase. Whenever an individual tends to buy certain product such as cars, technological devices and items that will comply for their daily needs, the brandnames greatly affect the product purchasing decisions of the consumers (Hasan, 2008).This is pretty interesting because like any other individuals I take note of the brand before I purchase a certain product. As a sports enthusiast, I always see to it that I use sports equipments and athletic shoes that would compliment my passion for the said activity. This is why I am very particular with Nike products most especially the Nike air max shoes.I do believe that only few people do not recognize the Nike logo which is known as â€Å"Swoosh.† I was able to say so because fo r one, Nike has been endorsed by well known athletes such as Michael Jordan, Venus and Serena Williams, LeBron James, Andre Agassi and other superstars. The Nike swoosh logo is a representation of the wing of the Greek goddess of victory known as Nike.According to researches, Nike served as the inspiration for the greatest and courageous Greek warriors. Legends told that Greeks would utter â€Å"When we go to battle and win, we say it is Nike.† Originally called as the strip, the Swoosh logo is described only in three words: simple, fast and fluid. Since it was first created by Carolyn Davidson in 1971, Nike became one of the worlds most trusted and recognized brands.Although one would say that the logo is very simple, it connotes positivity which well complimented its mission towards â€Å"bringing inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world† (Nike logo,† 2008).Aside from the fact that Nike is really popular, the logo alongside with its slogan †Å"Just do it† relates very much with my purchase decision because it communicates a very strong and positive outlook in life. As a sport person I take this brand as something that reinforces me to go on with my passion for sport because I believe that Nike   was able to deliver the benefit that it promised which is deeply reflected within its mission.And unlike any other brands, Nike for me is an embodiment of all the good things that sports life has to offer. In addition to this, I think that the advertisers in charge for the promotion of Nike did an effective and efficient use of their money because from a consumer's perspective, the brand created a radical change in the sportswear industry that never failed to please its consumers.Also, I noticed that the usage of this brand is not limited to sports enthusiast. I saw other people who are not deeply engaged in sports using different Nike products, which is a testimony that Nike was able to broaden its reach in every nook o f the world.This is an indication that there is an increase in the demand for the products that have the Nike brand and that the company is exerting more effort in promoting brand awareness for the products they create. Somehow, there is a link with the brand, the company that produces the products and the consumers. This type of relationship is beneficial for the three key players who are dependent with each other. A Brand I like In this fast changing world, consumerism is a predominant aspect in human life. The path that most individuals take in life follows a certain pattern. This pattern points toward the direction of the culture of capitalist creating differences in human values. The modern world is a ground for people to set standards on certain products allowing them to have a unique position in the society.The so called product â€Å"brands† became a medium that actually let people possess things that would somehow set them apart from other individuals in the society. As such, most of the consumers today are more conscious on the products that they purchase.They care more about branded products compared to the unbranded counterparts because most people believe that branded products are far more dependable than the unbranded ones (Hasan, 2008). In addition to this, numerous people have unwavering affection for beautiful things. Some are particular for the brands quality and history (cited in Mah, 2007).According to Elissa Moses (2000), certain brands serve different purposes for different people. It could define an individual's identity while being able to bring satisfaction to the individual at the same time. Brands serve as passes to success and global culture.It is a reflection of all the good things in life and a promise for better opportunities. Also, brands are reinforcements that can assure a solid and ongoing lifestyle in such a way that they serve as a refuge for those people who are seeking reliable pleasure.Moreover, brands serve as status symbols that can reflect the position of an individual and his or her family   economically. In the United States â€Å"branded† products are easily available because most of the stores and supermarkets are piled up with these products yet, they come in affordable prices.However, in different countries like Asia and Latin America, brands are considered as scorecards indicating how a person could follow the latest trend and how they are well depicted within the society. Generally, branded products are well recognized by people because it identifies who a person really is.Recent researches showed that nowadays, consumers have a strong connection with the brands that they purchase. Whenever an individual tends to buy certain product such as cars, technological devices and items that will comply for their daily needs, the brandnames greatly affect the product purchasing decisions of the consumers (Hasan, 2008).This is pretty interesting because like any other individuals I take note of the brand before I purchase a certain product. As a sports enthusiast, I always see to it that I use sports equipments and athletic shoes that would compliment my passion for the said activity. This is why I am very particular with Nike products most especially the Nike air max shoes.I do believe that only few people do not recognize the Nike logo which is known as â€Å"Swoosh.† I was able to say so because for one, Nike has been endorsed by well known athletes such as Michael Jordan, Venus and Serena Williams, LeBron James, Andre Agassi and other superstars. The Nike swoosh logo is a representation of the wing of the Greek goddess of victory known as Nike. According to researches, Nike served as the inspiration for the greatest and courageous Greek warriors.Legends told that Greeks would utter â€Å"When we go to battle and win, we say it is Nike.† Originally called as the strip, the Swoosh logo is described only in three words: simple, fast and fluid.Since it was first created by Carolyn Davidson in 1971, Nike became one of the worlds most trusted and recognized brands. Although one would say that the logo is very simple, it connotes positivity which well complimented its mission towards â€Å"bringing inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world† (Nike logo,† 2008).Aside from the fact that Nike is really popular, the logo alongside with its slogan  "Just do it† relates very much with my purchase decision because it communicates a very strong and positive outlook in life. As a sport person I take this brand as something that reinforces me to go on with my passion for sport because I believe that Nike   was able to deliver the benefit that it promised which is deeply reflected within its mission.And unlike any other brands, Nike for me is an embodiment of all the good things that sports life has to offer. In addition to this, I think that the advertisers in charge for the promotion of Nike did an effective and efficient use of their money because from a consumer's perspective, the brand created a radical change in the sportswear industry that never failed to please its consumers.Also, I noticed that the usage of this brand is not limited to sports enthusiast. I saw other people who are not deeply engaged in sports using different Nike products, which is a testimony that Nike was able to broaden its reach in every nook of the world.This is an indication that there is an increase in the demand for the products that have the Nike brand and that the company is exerting more effort in promoting brand awareness for the products they create. Somehow, there is a link with the brand, the company that produces the products and the consumers. This type of relationship is beneficial for the three key players who are dependent with each other.Based from the ideas that were presented, it is apparent that brands affect the decision making of the consumers. There are some people who are deeply attached to a specific brand,   which in the long run, are the very same people who will invest on products that contain the   preferred brand because it was able to meet the needs of the consumer (Hassan, 2008).Moreover, the study was able to address the statement â€Å"what others say about your brand is much more powerful than what you say about yourself† in a sense that the images portrayed by the brands refle ct an individual's outlook in life. They are powerful tools that can serve as an expression of who you are and what you have.ReferencesHasan, T. (2008, April 28). Influence of brand name on consumer decision. (Undergraduate dissertation, Umeà ¥ University, 2008) Umea univesitet. Retrieved August 6, 2008 from http://www.diva-portal.org/umu/abstract.xsql?dbid=1623

Legendary Lycurgus the Lawgiver of Sparta

Legendary Lycurgus the Lawgiver of Sparta Athens had its Solon, the law-giver, and Sparta, its Lycurgus- at least thats what we like to believe. Like the origins of the reforms of Lycurgus, the man himself is wrapped in legend. Plutarch on Lycurgus Rise to Power Plutarch tells the story of Lycurgus as if he had been a real person, albeit an eleventh-generation descendant of Hercules, since the Greeks generally ascribed genealogy that went back to the gods when writing about important figures. In Sparta there were two kings who jointly shared the power. Lycurgus, according to Plutarch, was the younger son of one of these two kings. His older brothers wife was pregnant when both Lycurgus brother and father died, and so, the unborn would have become king- assuming it was a boy- in time. Lycurgus sister-in-law proposed to Lycurgus, saying she would do away with the child if he would marry her. In that way both she and Lycurgus would maintain power in Sparta. Lycurgus pretended to agree with her, but instead of having the child killed after birth, as was a Greek custom, Lycurgus presented the child to the men of Sparta, naming the child and saying that he was their future king. Lycurgus himself was to act as guardian and advisor until the baby ca me of age. Lycurgus Travels to Learn About Law When slander about the motives of Lycurgus got out of hand, Lycurgus left Sparta and went to Crete where he became familiar with the Cretan law code. Plutarch says Lycurgus met Homer and Thales on his travels. Recalled to Sparta, Lycurgus Institutes His Laws (Rhetra) Eventually, the Spartans decided they needed Lycurgus back and persuaded him to return to Sparta. Lycurgus agreed to do so, but first he had to consult with the Delphic Oracle. The advice of the oracle was so well respected that it would add authority to whatever was done in its name. The oracle said that the laws (rhetra) of Lycurgus would become the most famous in the world. Lycurgus Changes Spartas Social Organization With the oracle on his side, Lycurgus instituted changes in the Spartan government and provided Sparta with a constitution. In addition to changes to the government, Lycurgus altered the economy of Sparta, banning ownership of gold or silver and useless occupations. All men were to eat together in common mess halls. Lycurgus reformed Sparta socially, too. Lycurgus started the state-run education system, including the training of women, the peculiar non-monogamous Spartan marriages, and the role of the state in deciding which newborn was fit to live. Lycurgus Tricks the Spartans Into Keeping His Laws When it appeared to Lycurgus that all was being done according to his suggestions and that Sparta was on the right track, he told the Spartans that he had one more important mission. Until he returned, they were under oath not to change the laws. Then Lycurgus left Sparta and disappeared forever. That is the (condensed) story of Lycurgus, according to Plutarch. Herodotus also says the Spartans thought the laws of Lycurgus came from Crete. Xenophon says Lycurgus made them up, while Plato says the Delphic Oracle provided them. Regardless of their origin, the Delphic Oracle played an important role in the acceptance of the laws of Lycurgus. The Great Rhetra Heres a passage from Plutarchs Life of Lycurgus on his obtaining an oracle from Delphi about the establishment of his form of government: When thou has built a temple to Zeus Syllanius and Athena Syllania, divided the people into phylai, and divided them into obai, and established a Gerousia of thirty including the Archagetai, then from time to time appellazein between Babyka and Knakion, and there introduce and repeal measures; but the Demos must have the decision and the power.

Chant and Cant

Chant and Cant Chant and Cant Chant and Cant By Maeve Maddox My dear friend, clear your mind of cant. You may say to a man, Sir, I am your most humble servant. You are not his most humble servant. You tell a man, I am sorry you had such bad weather and were so much wet. You dont care sixpence whether he is wet or dry. You talk in this manner; it is a mode of talking in Society: but dont think foolishly. (Johnson to Boswell, May 15, 1783) The word cant as Samuel Johnson uses it here means empty talk, insincere expressions of feelings or beliefs the speaker doesnt really have. The OED gives various other meanings for the word cant, including: A pet phrase, a trick of words; esp. a stock phrase that is much affected at the time, or is repeated as a matter of habit or form. Phraseology taken up and used for fashions sake, without being a genuine expression of sentiment Affected or unreal use of religious or pietistic phraseology; language (or action) implying the pretended assumption of goodness or piety. Cant is a doublet of chant. Both come from French chanter to sing. In a broad sense, a chant is a song, but what most people think of as a chant is a monotonous song, not particularly melodious, and usually unaccompanied by a musical instrument. Chant can also be used as a verb: Monks chant their prayers. Magicians chant their spells. How did a word meaning song or to sing give rise to one meaning empty talk? Canting was a term applied to the sing-song whining pleas of beggars asking for charity. What the beggars said was perceived as insincere and their way of saying it was like singing. Thus the word cant in Dr. Johnsons sense was born. By the way, Dr. Johnsons advice to Boswell remains as valuable to writers today as it was in 1783. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Writing Prompts 10150 Synonyms for â€Å"Idea†Adverbs and Hyphens

Employment Negotiation Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Employment Negotiation - Assignment Example Those who are confident, show sincere interest, and have the proper skills for the job are most likely to get hired. The BATNA form is filled out below. My degree and my experience support my desirable outcome. Monster.com (2010) describes the company as, "Cricket Communications, a subsidiary of Leap Wireless headquartered in San Diego, CA, is an affordable wireless service providing flat-rate unlimited products over high-quality, all-digital wireless networks that feature the latest technology. Cricket serves customers across the United States and is a pioneer of unlimited wireless services with no long-term commitments or credit checks required." The position is a full-time managerial position over staff. Their website is www.cricket.com. Cricket Communications, a subsidiary of Leap Wireless headquartered in San Diego, CA, is an affordable wireless service providing flat-rate unlimited products over high-quality, all-digital wireless networks that feature the latest technology. Cricket serves customers across the United States and is a pioneer of unlimited wireless services with no long-term commitments or credit checks required. ... Their website is www.cricket.com. Explain the job market, and how your product/service (knowledge, skills, etc.) compares to others in the market. Attach the job posting or develop an appropriate job description. I believe my knowledge and skills will apply appropriately to the job description and is comparable with others in the market. The job posting is as follows: Retail Business Manager Cricket Communications, a subsidiary of Leap Wireless headquartered in San Diego, CA, is an affordable wireless service providing flat-rate unlimited products over high-quality, all-digital wireless networks that feature the latest technology. Cricket serves customers across the United States and is a pioneer of unlimited wireless services with no long-term commitments or credit checks required. Cricket offers customers access to a variety of the latest phones and mobile applications such as unlimited text, instant and picture messaging, Mobile Web, popular games and ring-tones. We are a fast growing, entrepreneurial, fast-paced, fun place to work. We offer competitive pay; performance-based bonuses; free mobile phone and service; paid time off; and advancement opportunities. Cricket values diversity and inclusion - when everyone is included, the possibilities are UNLIMITED! To learn more about other career opportunities, Cricket Culture and benefits please visit: http://www.mycricket.com/aboutcricket/careers /. Position Overview - Retail Business ManagerAssumes direct responsibility for all day-to-day store operations, including: Targeted sales achievement Store financial management Merchandising/promotional activities Customer service and retention Audits Employee training Merchandising/promotional activities Inventory management Cash