Wednesday, October 30, 2019

ISO Standards and Excellence - work paper Coursework

ISO Standards and Excellence - work paper - Coursework Example These categories entail over twenty plus criterions based items. The five categories of ISO 9000 include the following: A quality management system comprises of set of rules that need to be fulfilled. Some of these require practical steps related to the ongoing processes, the others require the documentation and written material which include the declaration of the Standard Operating Procedures. Monitoring of processes, activities, timeline following and providing the employees with working manuals that clearly define their tasks and responsibilities are few of the basic requirements set forth by a Quality Management System. A quality system is a broader concept and application of the basic principles of quality services and delivery. The quality manual on the other side is a documented form of company and policy material which is largely based on the quality system manifesto and mechanisms. Quality system is a broad line definition and quality manual is the part of entire project and work which is presented as an organizational work policy representative documents. Quality procedures are set of steps and actions that are set forth before the workers prior to their working execution. The quality process include the practical demonstration of the steps so undertaken during the course of action. The work instructions comprise of the clear dos and don’ts of the organization which provides a clear path following to the organization and project accomplishment. Quality objective comes along as the part of the quality Management system and quality policy manifesto. Under the objectives, the workers are provided with the guidelines that need to be accomplished. The processes are clearly chalked out. The objectives roughly define the project goals and organizational management setup. I.S.O defines the quality objective and makes it an integral part of the organizational manifesto, the I.S.O accreditation is subject to

Monday, October 28, 2019

Economic sanctions against Cuba Essay Example for Free

Economic sanctions against Cuba Essay The US economic embargo against Cuba dates back to1962 during a revolution than led to Fidel Castro occupying the top seat as the President of Cuba. The embargos comprised both economic and commercial sanctions as well as financial support. These embargos were put in place when Fidel Castro nationalized all the enterprises that were owned by Americans in Cuba. (Jones, 2008). Due to this, the Foreign Assistance Act was passed in the US congress, which prohibited any aid to be extended to Cuba, and therefore a total embargo was imposed on all trade relations between the US and Cuba. (Sierra, 1962) This economic embargo was to undermine Cuban president, Fidel Castro and the socialist government he had established. Imports of all goods from Cuba were banned. In 1963, President Kennedy proposed that it was illegal for any US citizen to travel to Cuba either for personal reasons or for commercial purposes. In this connection, the US department of commerce made it a requirement that all exports of food stuffs and medicine be approved before being taken out of the country. (Sierra, 1962). The US economic embargo against Cuba led to great economic and social effects which are still felt today. The ban on trade relations with the US led to increased cost of imports and lower levels of production. The cost of food increased, which led to adverse shortage of food in Cuba and an increasing dependency on the Soviet Union. Cuba lost her major markets and foreign assistance leading to a collapse of the Cuban economy. (Lamrani, 2007). Because of this, the standard of living dropped. Additionally, there were critical health concerns due to a ban on medicines from the US. The US president should not continue supporting the policy but he should lift the sanctions. These sanctions hurt Castro’s administration a little, but it is the common man who suffers most from the enforced restrictions. His suffering is in direct contradiction to how the US would like to portray itself as a big brother to smaller and weaker nations. Therefore, lifting restrictions on trade will allow free trade to take place between Cuba and the US. This will stimulate economic growth of Cuba leading to a better standard of living. In addition, lifting travel restrictions will promote tourism in Cuba, which will also stimulate economic growth. Griswold (2005) says that there is need for the application of sound reasoning on trade in general as far as this policy is concerned toward Cuba. Therefore change in Cuba will not be embraced by applying more sanctions but it will be realized through dialogue between Cuba and the US government. The clips present different types of speeches by the presidents concerning different issues in the history of the US. President John Kennedy was among the best in communicating with the American people. An example of this is a humorous speech he made in a democratic fund raising event. Bill Clinton also made a remarkable speech when he talked about forgiveness in a ceremony commemorating the 1963 civil rights march in Washington DC. Contrary to the above, President Richard Nixon had the most difficult time connecting with the people because of the allegations of financial mismanagement by his administration that involved a political trust fund. Because of these allegations, he lost in California when he contested for the presidency a second time. (The history place) It is true that the economic sanctions imposed on Cuba for almost half a century seem to have failed in their mission. Castro’s administration continues to be in power and stronger than ever before, a situation, which is causing a big debate in the US government. (McLoughlin Boles, 2003) Reference Griswold, T (2005). The economic embargo. Updated 2006. Accessed Jan. 28, 2009 http://www. freetrade. org/issues/cuba. html Lamrani, S. (2007). The economic sanctions against Cuba: The failure of a cruel and irrational policy. Updated Oct.8, 2007. Accessed Jan. 28, 2009. http://www. globalresearch. ca/index. php? context=vaaid=7024 McLoughlin, E. Boles, E. (2003). The United states embargo against Cuba. Updated Dec. 5, 2003. Accessed Jan. 28, 2009 http://glenninstitute. osu. edu/washington/McLoughlinPaper. htm Sierra, J. A (1962). The economic embargo time line in Cuba. Accessed Jan. 28, 2009. http://www. historyofcuba. com/history/funfacts/embargo. htm â€Å"The history place†: Sounds of history: Updated 2009. Accessed Jan. 28, 2008 http://www. historyplace. com/specials/sounds-prez/index. html

Saturday, October 26, 2019

madden :: essays research papers

Welcome to Madden NFL 2004. This README.txt file contains information on issues not covered by the manual and install guide. - Supported 3D Accelerator Hardware Madden NFL 2004 requires a 32mb 3D Direct3D chipset including: Cards with these chipsets are officially supported ------------------------------------------------------- - nVidia GeForce2 GTS, GeForce3, GeForce4 MX series, GeForce4 Ti series, GeForce FX series Win98 driver ver: Detonator 44.30 WinME driver ver: Detonator 44.30 WinXP driver ver: Detonator 44.30 Win2k driver ver: Detonator 44.30 http://www.nvidia.com **NOTE**: Madden NFL 2004 does not officially support the GeForce 2 MX series. - ATI Radeon 8500, Radeon 9200, Radeon 9600, Radeon 9700, and Radeon 9800 Win98 driver ver: Catalyst 3.5 WinME driver ver: Catalyst 3.5 WinXP driver ver: Catalyst 3.5 Win2k driver ver: Catalyst 3.5 http://www.ati.com - Matrox Parhelia WinXP driver ver: 1.04.02.007 Win2k driver ver: 1.04.02.007 http://www.matrox.com **NOTE**: This game does not support workstation 3D cards or dual monitors.*** ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Minimum System Requirements CPU: PIII or AMD Athlon 700MHz RAM: 128MB (256MB for Windows XP) Video: 32MB supported Direct3D capable video card with DirectX 9.0 or higher compatible driver (DirectX 9.0a is recommended) - Go to the "Windows and DirectX" section of this Readme. Recommended: 10 button dual analog gamepad ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Unreadable text with WindowsXP If you are having trouble reading the text in game and you are using the WindowsXP operating system, then you will need to download a patch from Microsoft to correct this. The patch can be downloaded from here: http://download.microsoft.com/download/whistler/Patch/Q306676/WXP/EN-US/Q306676_WXP_SP1_x86_ENU.exe ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Running in Windowed Mode If you experience graphical issues while running in windowed mode at 640x480, turn the "Hardware Acceleration" setting for your video card to FULL. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Antialiasing and Anisotropic Filtering You may experience player model graphic corruption in the training and mini-camp drills with Antialiasing and Anisotropic Filtering set at 4 times or higher. Turn these settings OFF to resolve the issue. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Windows and DirectX Users with Windows (WinXP, Win2000, WinME, Win98 First or Second Edition) and a version of DirectX older than 9.0a may experience performance problems. These problems can be resolved by installing DirectX 9.0a BEFORE YOU INSTALL THE GAME, which is available on your Madden NFL 2004 game disc. Simply use windows explorer and go to X:DirectX (where X is your CD Rom drive). From there run the DXSetup.exe file. YOU MAY NEED TO UNINSTALL MADDEN NFL 2004, INSTALL DIRECTX 9.0a, AND THEN RE-INSTALL THE GAME. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- AOL and MSN - Minimizing Madden NFL 2004 If you are running AOL or MSN on Windows XP or 2000, sometimes pop-ups will minimize the game. To prevent this, press the START button in Windows then go to Settings - Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Services.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Profanity :: Swear Swearing

Profanity â€Å"Money doesn’t talk, it swears.† Many of the most brilliant minds throughout time have used profanity. Shakespeare’s best works were revised and edited in order to remove the numerous curse words or obscene phrases he included. The harmless use of profanity in an informal setting should not be penalized, by the assignment of an essay. Profanity continuously evolves, and has a very rich and interesting history. The system of assigning essays for the use of profanity is ineffective and counter productive. â€Å"When angry, count four; when very angry, swear.† The evolution of profanity began in the sixteenth century, and it evolves with each generation. Profanity is recognized in many Shakespearean works, and has evolved into the profane language used today. Some cuss or curse words have somehow maintained their original meanings throughout hundreds of years, while many others have completely changed meaning or simply fallen from popular vocabulary. William Shakespeare, though it is not widely taught, used a rather vulgar and dirty vocabulary in his writings. His works included subjects that some people wish they had not. "That includes a fair helping of sex, violence, crime, horror, politics, religion, anti-authoritarianism, anti-Semitism, racism, xenophobia, sexism, jealousy, profanity, satire, and controversy of all kinds" (Macrone 6). In Shakespeare’s time, religious and moral curses were more offensive than biological curses. Most original, prior to being censored, Shakespearean works contain offensive profanity, mostly religious, which is probably one of many reasons that his works were and continue to be so popular. "Shakespeare pushed a lot of buttons in his day- which is one reason he was so phenomenally popular. Despite what they tell you, people like having their buttons pushed" (Macrone 6). His works contained many profane words or phrases and as a result, were censored to protect the innocent minds of the teenagers who are now required to read them, and also because they were blasphemous and offensive. Almost all of the profanity was removed, and that that was not had just reason for being there. Some of the Bard's censored oaths are; "God's blessing on your beard" Love's Labors Lost, II.i.203 This was a very rude curse because a man's facial hair was a point of pride for him. And "to play with someone's beard" was to insult him. "God's body" 1 Henry IV, II.i.26 Swearing by Christ's body (or any part thereof,) was off limits in civil discourse.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Family Guy, Friend or Foe? Essay

Family Guy and Freud: Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious In Antonia Peacocke article â€Å"Family Guy and Freud: Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious,† she discuses the show created by Seth MacFarlane, stating how she loves the show and how she can even recite several episodes by heart. However, when she first started watching the show she did not care for the type of humor that was expressed. Peacocke goes onto explains that she is not the only one who has these same feelings on how the show is bigoted and crude (Peacocke). Evidence to this was when the show was cancelled not only once, but also twice, in 2000 and 2002. Soon after the show was band, complaints from so many viewers to Fox Television Network, the producers were forced to start airing the show again (Peacocke). However, as she continued to watch the television program, she noticed that there was more than just racist, sexist, and bestiality jokes to be taken from the show (Peacocke). She even goes on to state how she gave the show a second chance and realized that it actually had a purpose and portrayed the stereotypes many people use today. Family Guy is one of the most disgusting, cruel and racist shows I have ever laid my eyes on, that is what I first thought after watching the TV show, Family Guy, for the first time, now that I look back on it, it is simply not true. If you look into the show more deeply and get what Seth McFarland, creator of Family Guy, is trying to portray you realize there is a lot more to it. I took the same view of the show as Peacocke, at first I did not like it, but I was forced by my family and friends to watch it. After watching several episodes, I stepped back and took a deeper look at the racist and sexist jokes said on the show, and I realized there was mor e to learn and see then just getting a chuckle out of the cruel jokes. Family Guy can be one of the most sexist and demeaning television programs out there but if you take a step back and look at what Seth MacFarlane is trying to get at, from the women of the 1950’s to the censorships of the FCC, you can learn the true meaning of Family Guy. Anyone who has ever watched an episode of Family Guy will agree that the show is very offence and often time sexist, but most people do not really get the true meaning of the show and how it relates to the stereotypes in our day to day lives. In one occasion in Peacocke essay â€Å"Family Guy and Freud: Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious,† she states that in an episode â€Å"I am Peter, Here me Roar,† there is a scene of an old 1950’s work place where a business man is talking about how women are very insecure about their appearance(). He explains that men should be sure to complement women on how they look, even if they are ugly, because they will believe it (302). Then the businessman goes on to say that a firm slap on their butt will let them know what good of a job they have done (302). I take this not to be a sexist skit but how the women of the 1950’s were mocked in the work place and how normal it was for this to happen to them. This is just one of the many examples of people misunderstanding Family Guy. Peacocke also includes in her essay how celebrities influence the way we think and what we do things in our everyday lives. This is shown in one episode of Family Guy, mentioned in Peacocke’s essay, when Brian and Stewie, are talking about Stewie’s choice of reading material (304). Brian then goes on to explain to Stewie that he only picks what he is going to read based on the books presented in Oprah’s Book Club on the Oprah Winfrey show (304). However, Stewie is quick to deny any of his accusations. Soon after Stewie’s denial, Brian is able to get Stewie to admit that he really is reading the book simply because Oprah suggests it. Here they are trying to demonstrate how Americans are willing to listen to the suggestions of celebrities and do what they tell us to do, without thinking twice about it. I agree with Peacocke on this because I have first hand experiences with my family. One example of this is my dad is a huge Payton Manning fan. When he saw that Payton was endorsing the brand Buick, he just had to go run out and get one because he wanted to be just like Payton. When I asked him about it, he said that it was a nice car and had nothing to do with Payton. But in the back of my mind I knew it was because of Payton. This goes to show that people are willing to follow the instructions of celebrities but don’t really want to admit that they do (304). An episode of Family Guy, PTV, as mentioned in Peacocke’s essay, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) is trying to shut down Peter’s Griffin’s own television show because it is not censored and appropriate enough to be put on television (306). Then the FCC takes it to a whole other level and tries to censor the town where they live, Quahog, later the FCC puts black bars over nude Griffin’s and uses a frog horn when they are using a swear word. The point MacFarlane is trying to depict in this episode is that no matter how much you try and censor media, you can never change the unforgiving nature of humans and therefore, in trying to do so, would be virtually impossible. Peacocke also states in the essay that it is the parent’s responsibility to watch over their children and there is more to worry about in this world then television (306). This reminds me of one of my own personal experiences with this as a child. One of my favorite shows that my dad let me watch growing up, The Three Stooges, got banned because the FCC thought that with them beating each other up and getting hurt every episode that it promoted violence, even though it was just a funny show to watch and get a laugh out of. Similarly, in Family Guy, they are not promoting hurtful racial or sexist slurs; they are showing the true stereotypes that exist in people today. At the end of the day, I have first hand experiences on both sides of the story. I have a reasonable understanding of the side, which does not care for Family Guy, and the side that knows the true meaning behind the television program. If the people who think this show is a disgrace would just take a step back, they could that Family Guy really has much more to offer then just racist, sexist and bestiality jokes. There is a distinct difference between what many people believe is sexist and what is simply just what the creator of Family Guy is trying to show us how people stereotype. I think that people are much more willing to listen to a message about discrimination and sexism if it is delivered in a funny way and they can make themselves believe it is really not them.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Netflix vs Blockbuster

Netflix vs Blockbuster Introduction The movie rental industry especially DVD by mail enables people to rent various film media online. The media include DVD’s, Blu-ray discs, and video games delivered to the consumer by mail. Most of the interaction takes place online through signing up to the respective rental service. The most dominant companies offering the above service include Blockbuster Video Online, Netflix, Lovefilm and eHit.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Netflix vs Blockbuster specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Though the movie rental industry still records impressive performance, there is some decline in some quarters attributed mainly to technological developments that have diminished the need for movie renting. Thanks to technology, online download and purchases and availability of substitutes like cable television and the internet pose a serious challenge to the long-term survival and relevance of the movie re ntal industry. This analysis will focus on two of the companies mentioned above. The analysis will focus on various aspects of the companies mentioned to determine which is one is more successful than the other. Additionally, there will be a brief analysis on the primary reasons for the different outcomes associated with the two companies. The discussion will contain two recommendations for the less successful company on ways of improving their fortunes. Analysis Both companies have their headquarters in the US. Netflix is the younger of the two having been in the business for slightly over fourteen years compared to Blockbuster’s twenty five years. Both entities display distinct business approaches that are clearly evident in their financial performance. Blockbuster, by virtue of it s age has a larger network spread over seventeen countries with approximately 1700 stores (Ireland et al., 2011, p. 105). Netflix on the other hand has a smaller area of operation compared to its older competitor, with stores in the US, Canada, and a handful of countries in Latin America. However, the company has in place plans to expand to Europe specifically Spain, UK and Ireland. Both companies offer more or less the same services. Even so, Netflix appears to offer a wider variety of services compared to Blockbuster (Schermerhon, 2011, p. 21). Besides disc rentals, Netflix also offers internet vide streaming as well as original programming.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Additionally, the company offers device support services by availing hardware and software support, video game consoles, set-top boxes for better quality digital transmission, Blu-ray disk players and hand-held services. Block buster on its part is only involved in online rentals and retail operations such as GameRush stores and Blockbuster Express (Schermerhon, 2011, p. 27). Given the above status of services offered by both companies it is clear that Netflix has diversified its sources of revenue more than Blockbuster. Unlike Netflix whose ownership has been steady, Blockbuster has had to change ownership a couple of times. The company stock’s tumble in 1994 led to a takeover by Viacom. Blockbuster however de-merged from Viacom in 2004 and immediately introduced the Game Pass nationally. At the same time, the company introduced Blockbuster Online, an online DVD subscription. The takeover and apparent boardroom fights have had an adverse effect on Blockbuster, something its competitor Netflix has been successful in avoiding. Netflix’s cautious approach to expansion and successful avoidance of the business twists that come along with takeovers and change of leadership are evident in their financial results (Hill Gareth, 2008, p.50). At the same time, the effect of the above trends is clear in the financial performance of Blockbuster. Near bankruptcy has led to the closure of numerous stores in Europe and a chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing saw Blockbuster purchased by Dish Network. The company sought protection due to apparent failure to service its $900 million debt as well as mounting losses. Management by the new owners has seen the closure of hundreds of stores in its areas of operation including a wind up of the Canadian unit. While Blockbuster is struggling with bankruptcy issues, its competitor Netflix recorded a net income of US$ 160 million in 2010. The company’s total revenue totaled US$ 2.17 billion while its operating income totaled US$ 283 million in the year 2010. Its total assets in the same year totaled US$982 million while total equity totaled US$ 290 million in the same year (Light, 2011, p. 56).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Netflix vs Blockbuster specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Blockbuster got delisted fro m the New York Stock Exchange on July 2010 due to a failure by its stockholders to pass a reverse stock split. This is in contrast to Netflix’s stock price increase by 219% in the same year. The share price was even better in 2011 registering $1.07 earnings per share in April 2011. Additionally, the company added 8 million new subscribers to attain a total of 20 million subscribers (Light, 2011, p. 56). In 2009, Blockbuster’s leadership declined to release figures about its subscriber’s base. By 2007 however, the company’s base had hit 3 million, a far cry though from Netflix’s 20 million. Financial performance, customer perception and stability of a business entity determine success of business (Klein, 2010, p. 45). On this front, it is clear that Netflix is more successful than Blockbuster. Blockbuster is experiencing boardroom feuds, poor financial performance and significant contraction while Netflix on the other hand is recording phenomenal gr owth, employing a cautious approach in expansion worldwide. Numerous reasons ranging from leadership and expansion and penetration strategies can help explain the above company situations. The section below briefly outlines the three most probable explanations for the above situations. It is possible that Blockbuster‘s leadership failed to capitalize on its initial dominance to establish a solid and loyal clientele, critical at a time like today. Presence in numerous other countries besides the US failed to net enough subscribers necessary for survival during hard economic times. Furthermore, the company appears to have engaged in reckless expansion with little or no proper projection on return on investment. It is therefore possible that the company spent more on deliveries than what it netted out of the subscriptions. Besides, there appears are flaws on its franchise arrangements, access to credit and unsound business decisions probably due to multiple change of ownership. N etflix on the other hand did what Blockbuster failed to do. It is apparent that the company seized the opportunity by implementing sound financial and business expansion strategies (Hitt, 2009, p. 275). Besides, Netflix embraced innovation and the use of technology to spur its subscriptions.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Recommendations To improve its fortunes, blockbuster video needs to: Concentrate on the primary market in the US before any diversification takes place. The current approach taken by Dish Network involving closure of stores is necessary to achieve the above. To embrace innovation and carry out improvements based on the weaknesses of its competitors as well as market trends. Conclusion The comparisons given above are by any means not exhaustive. Though Blockbuster recorded many successes, it is easy to spot its failures especially on the backdrop of successful peers like Netflix. The success of Netflix is comparable to that of Google and Facebook, entities that embraced technology and used then to their advantage. It will be premature however for any business entity in the same industry to write off Blockbuster. It is possible for the company to make a comeback and still claim its lost success. References Hill, C. Gareth, J. (2008). Essentials of Strategic Management. London: Spri nger. Hitt, A.M. (2009). Strategic management: competitiveness and globalization : cases. NJ: Infobase Publishers. Ireland, D.R. et al. (2011). Understanding Business Strategy: Concepts and Cases. New York: Routledge. Klein, T.D. (2010). Built for Change: Essential Traits of Transformative Companies. New York: Routledge. Light, L. (2011). Taming the Beast: Wall Streets Imperfect Answers to Making Money. Berlin: Springer Verlag. Schermerhon, J.R. (2011). Exploring Management. New York: John Wiley Sons.

Monday, October 21, 2019

The eNotes Blog How to Write a Book Review in 7Steps

How to Write a Book Review in 7Steps Book reviews are a great way to connect with fellow bibliophiles. A well-written review can help you discover new books, find bookish communities, and spark cultural conversations. When writing a book review, you want to share what you felt about a particular work- why you liked or disliked it- without spoiling it for future readers. Ultimately, the goal of writing a book review is to help readers decide whether to read the book themselves. Let’s take a look at seven steps to help you write a reliable book review. 1. Read the Book How can you write a review of a book you’ve never read? Alternatively, why would someone want to read a review by someone who has never read the book? The first and arguably most important first step to writing a book review is to read the entire book. Be attentive to your reading experience and note what captured or lost your attention. 2. Take Notes Once you’ve finished reading the book, go back and take brief, purposeful notes. What are the major events of the book and what were their effects on you as a reader? Here are some guidelines that can help lay the foundation for your review: Explain how the book as a whole affected you. Explain how the author evokes an emotional response. Explain the relationship between form and content. Explain the function of each character in the novel. Explain the characters relationships to one another. 3. Summarize the Book All book reviews should include some kind of summary. You’ll want to inform readers of what the book is about without giving too much away. To accomplish this, here are some things to include in your summary: How is it categorized by the publisher? How is the book structured? Who is the target audience? 4. Form an Opinion Your opinion is the crux of your book review. Be specific! Don’t just say if the book was good or bad, but explain why. Support your opinion with specific examples from the text and move from passing judgement to a thorough explanation. 5. Contextualize the Book You can often obtain this information from looking at the book’s cover and introduction. Otherwise, you may need to do a little research. Spend some time relating this book to similar works by the author or from the same genre to further your explanation and judgement of it. Some important questions to consider include: What genre does the book fall into? Is it the first of its kind or an imitation? Is this the authors first book or fifteenth? 6. Avoid Spoilers Please, for the love of literature, don’t ruin the book for others. A good book review does not give away the book’s plot twists or endings but piques the interest of future readers. If you absolutely have to give something away about the book, at least mark your review with a fair warning. 7. Review Your Review! Hooray! You’ve finished writing your review. Now’s the time to step back and revisit your work. You may have to edit your review to add or remove details. Here are some questions to ask during your revisions: Did you explain every major aspect of the book? What was your target audience? Did you write this for a class with specific criteria- or for a fan magazine whose audience already knows this type of book well? Did you make a clear claim about your opinion of the book? Do you support your claim with evidence? For a more in-depth review on how to write a book review, visit ’ How To Series.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Cachao essays

Cachao essays His name is Israel Lopez, but he is known as Cachao. His real name is music though. Born into a family who were all bass crazy, at least thirty five members of the Cachao clan have played the double bass at one time or another, either with the Havana Filarmonica, or in popular combos. Some of them, like his older brother the late Orestes played with the Filarmonica under the baton of Eric Kleiber, formerly the conductor of the Berlin Opera Orchestra. Cachao was so young then that they had to build him a soapbox to reach his double bass. He is not only a bass virtuoso, but a composer, arranger and bandleader as well. He also plays the trumpet, the piano, the celesta and the bongos. (Figueroa, 1) But he is not your usual one-man band. His modesty precludes him to claim that he is actually a peer of Charlie Mingus. It is virtually impossible to catch Cachao-or to pin him down to a single instrument, though the double bass is his constant companion. (Someone) It was 1939 when Cachao and his brother created the first mambo which was called what else? Mambo. It derived from the most classical of Cuban rhythms, the danzon. Out of the danzon also the chachacha-and a little later another first by Cachao, the descarga, also called the Cuban jam session. The descarga (which could mean to unload or to release an electric bolt) was another direction the mambo took under Cachao as composer and leader, with the best musicians available playing for fun after hours. They did it for their own pleasure not for money. (Ayala, 2) Fortunately, some of the best descargas were recorded at the time (mid 50s). These pieces were put together and called Como su ritmo no hay dos (Cachao, Like His Rhythm There Is No Other). The latest recording before this masterpiece was an anthology called Forty Years of Cuban Jam Session, homage from Paquito DRivera, which contains Cachaos ...

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Sustainable Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Sustainable Development - Essay Example From a historical perspective, the decisions made by our forefathers with regards to rapid industrialization and development without considering the resulting impact on the environment continue to have a severe impact on numerous ecosystems even today (Stefanovic, 2006). Similarly, the economic decisions and policies our governments make today will have an impact on the world’s sustainability and growth in the future. The above points clearly suggest that sustainable development depends on the cooperation between various societal, economical, governmental, environmental and cultural aspects. As such, sustainability should not be perceived as a homogeneous concept. In fact, planning and achieving sustainability in any tangible manner is a complex process that is based on some broad principles. The introduction of the Brundtland report and its extensive coverage of sustainability have had an influential role in shaping future laws on environmental conservation and protection in many countries and international agreements (Wallace, 2005). Sustainable development and policy continues to face numerous challenges from various corners. Amongst these, the existence of poverty within a large part of the world’s population poses a serious challenge. The planet is estimated to reach a total population of 7 billion people in 2011, which implies a greater competition and struggle for growth and control of the earth’s limited resources (Cowie, 2007). People belonging to developing and poor nations are facing prolonged shortages of food, water and access to basic civic amenities. The past few decades have witnessed the emergence of new countries experiencing tremendous economic growth. Rapid development in countries like China and India has increased the demand for oil and other non-renewable fuels and is likely to increase the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Fragile places like Antarctica are likely to bear the most serious consequences if these trends are not controlled through sustainable means (Ekins, 2005). Another issue impeding sustainable development is the lack of economic growth in some countries, especially those in Africa. Many countries like Zimbabwe have faced years of economic depression due to oppressive regimes and lack of proper government. Several multilateral agreements have emerged out of the guidelines recommended by the Brundtland report. One among these is the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Known as UNFCCC in short, this is an environmental agreement signed by various countries at the UN Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 (Wallace, 2005). The primary goal of this agreement is to restrict the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and stabilize their concentrations at an acceptable level that can prevent any serious interference with climatic patterns. However, this treaty suffers from several deficiencies, most notably its non-binding attribute which does not provide any mandatory limits that signatories have to maintain. Further, there are no enforcement

Friday, October 18, 2019

Experienceing MIS Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Experienceing MIS - Assignment Example Queries would be required in order to build the required reports as well as to extract any other one time information required by Samantha from the database. Finally, Samantha would require the implementation of an application program so as to make the database connectivity simpler and more user friendly. The application that Samantha requires would be for one user, which is Samantha in this particular instance. Two scenarios are likely, Samantha could either be performing the jobs herself or through hired hands. In both cases, information regarding the customer and the job would have to be entered and monitored in a database by a single individual managing the company, which is Samantha. Since most database functions performed by Samantha would be simple, a single user personal database management system (DBMS) would be a good choice (Kroenke, Bunker, & Wilson, 2013). In terms of the particular personal DBMS, Samantha could easily implement MySQL. This would offer a reasonable personal DBMS choice since MySQL is an open license product and provides relatively simple

BusinessMGT Unit5 discussion Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

BusinessMGT Unit5 discussion - Assignment Example (â€Å"Competitive Advantage†, 2010) Smart Chips Company’s market share has been hurt by the clone microchips. Though the company specializes in developing first-of-its kind microchips, but the makers of clone microchips release microchips that are similar to the original but are sold at comparatively lower prices. To recuperate their market share, Smart Chips Company needs to redesign its product in a way that it has a competitive advantage over the cloning microchips. To bring about these drastic changes, the firm will have to determine how to incorporate the value chain activities to create value and competitive advantage. Smart Chips Company’s profit and market share depend on its efficiency of performing these activities, together with value chain support activities. The value chain support activities include: administrative infrastructure management, human resource management, technology (R&D) and  procurement. In order to develop competitive advantage, Smart Microchip Company must have resources that are superior and which cannot be replicated by the competitors. A cost analysis should be performed to assess the areas where the cost can be reduced. Company must create cost advantage either by reducing costs at each level of the value chain or by reconfiguring the entire value chain. Better marketing can also help in increasing the number of sales of the firm. Promotion and service plays an influential part in the marketing of a business. With effective marketing, Smart Chips can also use product positioning, and quality checking as means of gaining competitive advantages over clone microchips. This may lead the company towards the road to sustainable success. SWOT analysis will also be helpful to Smart Chips. It is a tool used by companies to assess their strengths and weaknesses, and opportunities and threats in the market. It is a simple way of evaluating firm’s current

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Geoengineering Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Geoengineering - Essay Example On the other hand, it can be characterized more specifically as inherent incorporated engineering schemes to improve climate. The name geo-engineering is distinctive with ecological harm and unplanned existence environment alteration; that are outcomes of mechanized human world, instead of being an anticipated result. The worldwide withdrawal of hydro-carbons and the chains of it from the under-surface via incorporated geological discipline and engineering expertise have been named as petroleum or gasoline geo-engineering. The ground of geo engineering is at present passing through a course of interest and discussion, as it has at the moment turned out to be generally established that global warming is jointly truthful and perilous. A level of necessity, in labors to investigate and execute possible solution, is founded on the momentous disappointment in managing emissions, and the likelihood that extreme spots in the global environment organization are just around the corner. In spe cific concern, the Arctic contraction is resulting in speeding up of warming. Speedy attempts with geo-engineering may be crucial. Other sensitive spots might be evaded by tumbling the rage of global warming so as to achieve constructive destiny and stop the consequential climatic transformation. 1. Approaches for Geo Engineering Expected approaches for geo engineering can be enumerated as: solar radiation organization, Greenhouse gas treatment, Arctic geo-engineering, Heat carrying. Solar radiation organization schemes meant for lessening the quantity of sunbeams striking the globe and thus neutralize global warming. Through this approach of geo engineering; greenhouse gas amount in the ambiance do not diminish, and therefore this technique does not tackle troubles for example marine acidification originated by these gases. The occurrence of global diffusion as a by-product of plant or animal fuel utilization is extensively recognized, and is not basically a geo-engineering practic e. Also it is happening by nature as an outcome of volcanoes and chief forest fire spread. On the other hand its purposeful exploitation is an instrument of the geo-engineering. Solar radiation organization schemes regularly have the improvement of condition. While greenhouse gas treatment presents an ample prospective solution to climate amendment, it does not provide immediate consequences; for the same reason, solar radiation organization is mandatory. Practices that are part of this group comprise of: stratospheric sulfur aerosols, Ocean foams, Cool roof, Cloud reflectivity development, increase cloud reflectivity, Space sunshade and Cloud seeding of cirrus clouds. Cool roof is made by means of whitish-colored roofing and concrete paving materials, Cloud reflectivity development can be acquired by means of fine and excellent sea water spray to whiten clouds and boost cloud reflectivity. Space sunshade is done by hindering solar emission with space oriented reflectors or other ar rangements. Cloud seeding of cirrus clouds is achieved most likely by utilizing airliners. Greenhouse gas treatment schemes appeal to eradicate greenhouse gases from the environment, and thus deal with the core foundation of global warming. These schemes either openly eliminate greenhouse gases, or otherwise meant to manipulate usual progressions to eliminate greenhouse gases obliquely. These schemes present a wide-ranging resolution to the

It depends what you choose for report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

It depends what you choose for report - Essay Example Walgreens was founded in 1901 and it has established its drug stores in forty seven states. In the Fortunes magazine Most Admired List (2015), Walgreens Company was ranked fifth in the food and drugstores category. The company was also ranked number three among food and drugstores in the Fortune magazine 500 largest U.S based companies (2015) (Fortune magazine). Consequently the magazine also ranked Walgreens number thirty seven overall in terms of revenue. In the fiscal year 2014, Walgreens recorded $ 72217 million in revenues, $ 2450 million in profits, $ 35481 million in total assets, $ 62739 million market value and $ 19454 million in total shareholder equity (Fortune magazine). Consequently, the percentage profit for the fiscal year was 3.4 percent on sales and 6.9 percent on assets. This report gives a deep insight of Walgreens Company and gives a better understanding of the company in relation to its operations, business practices, organizational strategies and growth prospects. Knowledge of Walgreens Company is vital in helping and guiding a prospective employee to make informed decision about whether to work for Walgreens or not. The primary strength that is enabling Walgreens to stays afloat is the fact that it is the market leader. This is attributed to many factors such as increase sale of generic drugs and favorable demographics. One of the major weaknesses that hinder Walgreens from operating optimally in the existence of fierce competition in the drug store industry. Although Walgreens is the current market leader, existing and new drug companies are reducing its market share. Another major weakness is the reduction in foot traffic to Walgreens drug stores. It is imperative for potential employees to carry out an assessment of the company they intend or aspire to work for so as to make informed and better decisions. The following are some of the considered factors: The compelling need for Walgreens to reorganize, reinvent and improve

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Geoengineering Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Geoengineering - Essay Example On the other hand, it can be characterized more specifically as inherent incorporated engineering schemes to improve climate. The name geo-engineering is distinctive with ecological harm and unplanned existence environment alteration; that are outcomes of mechanized human world, instead of being an anticipated result. The worldwide withdrawal of hydro-carbons and the chains of it from the under-surface via incorporated geological discipline and engineering expertise have been named as petroleum or gasoline geo-engineering. The ground of geo engineering is at present passing through a course of interest and discussion, as it has at the moment turned out to be generally established that global warming is jointly truthful and perilous. A level of necessity, in labors to investigate and execute possible solution, is founded on the momentous disappointment in managing emissions, and the likelihood that extreme spots in the global environment organization are just around the corner. In spe cific concern, the Arctic contraction is resulting in speeding up of warming. Speedy attempts with geo-engineering may be crucial. Other sensitive spots might be evaded by tumbling the rage of global warming so as to achieve constructive destiny and stop the consequential climatic transformation. 1. Approaches for Geo Engineering Expected approaches for geo engineering can be enumerated as: solar radiation organization, Greenhouse gas treatment, Arctic geo-engineering, Heat carrying. Solar radiation organization schemes meant for lessening the quantity of sunbeams striking the globe and thus neutralize global warming. Through this approach of geo engineering; greenhouse gas amount in the ambiance do not diminish, and therefore this technique does not tackle troubles for example marine acidification originated by these gases. The occurrence of global diffusion as a by-product of plant or animal fuel utilization is extensively recognized, and is not basically a geo-engineering practic e. Also it is happening by nature as an outcome of volcanoes and chief forest fire spread. On the other hand its purposeful exploitation is an instrument of the geo-engineering. Solar radiation organization schemes regularly have the improvement of condition. While greenhouse gas treatment presents an ample prospective solution to climate amendment, it does not provide immediate consequences; for the same reason, solar radiation organization is mandatory. Practices that are part of this group comprise of: stratospheric sulfur aerosols, Ocean foams, Cool roof, Cloud reflectivity development, increase cloud reflectivity, Space sunshade and Cloud seeding of cirrus clouds. Cool roof is made by means of whitish-colored roofing and concrete paving materials, Cloud reflectivity development can be acquired by means of fine and excellent sea water spray to whiten clouds and boost cloud reflectivity. Space sunshade is done by hindering solar emission with space oriented reflectors or other ar rangements. Cloud seeding of cirrus clouds is achieved most likely by utilizing airliners. Greenhouse gas treatment schemes appeal to eradicate greenhouse gases from the environment, and thus deal with the core foundation of global warming. These schemes either openly eliminate greenhouse gases, or otherwise meant to manipulate usual progressions to eliminate greenhouse gases obliquely. These schemes present a wide-ranging resolution to the

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Traditonal Theories Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Traditonal Theories - Essay Example The classical criminologists on the other hand, argued that criminal behavior was as a result of rationalism thereby refuting claims of possession by evil spirits (Barak et al. 95). Criminals thus pursue personal interests by committing crimes. Since criminals are rational, committing crime is a free will. According to Barak et al (95), criminals commit crimes to â€Å"maximize their pleasure and minimize their pain†. Crimes were punished through legal reforms which are formal and rational in nature. The positivist school of thought argue that criminals are forced to act by factors beyond their control such as; biological, psychological and sociological factors thus refuting rationalism as a driver of criminality (Barak et al. 95). The criminals are seen as portraying abnormal behavior and thus punishment is aimed at correcting the behavior to conform to the norms of society. They are thus given reform treatment and social intervention. The last school of thought emphasizes on inequality as the diver of criminal activities. They thus commit crime to correct the inequalities. Such crimes include activities such as; financial manipulations and robbery. Such conditions are corrected through equitable distribution of resources (96). White-Collar and Organized Crime The traditional theories can be applied to white-collar crimes and organized crimes.

Welcome Address Essay Example for Free

Welcome Address Essay A warm and pleasant evening to all those who are present here. If there are no stars,there won’t be any beauty in the sky. If there is no difference of opinions there won’t be any creative and innovative ideas. Similarly if there is no Annual Function in our school, there won’t be any chance for our young and dynamic children to uphold the pride of the institute, to catalogue the challenges we face, the endeavors we made andthe success we achieved and to show what we were, what we are and what we will be. Here am I hence, much privileged to stand before you, to extend profound wishes andgreetings from the bottom of my heart, to bring the warmth of our affection, throughthe stream of love, to welcome each and every one of you.It is time for yet another day of the year to exhibit the talents of all our children, to bring to your kind notice their academic excellence, and the medals they bagged intheir outstanding performance in spots, and the grades they achieved in extracurricular activities, and in everything they speak and perform today as the cultural feastunfolds.We are extremely happy to have you with us today, to share in our joy and delightfulmoments of the day, and to be part of what we are. Wishing you all once again ahappy and memorable stay, I remain.Thank you. INTRODUCING THE CHIEF GUEST I am profuse elated to take an opportunity to introduce our chief guest of the day Rev.Dr. N. Ravichandran, the director of the IIM Indore. He is graduated from IIMMadras in 1980 with specialization in Applied Probability. He joined IIM Ahemdabadas faculty in Production and Quantitative Method Area in 1980.His teaching and research interest include Applied Probability, Business ProcessReengineering, Competitive Strategy, IT for Competitive Advantage, Logistics andSupply Chain Management, Operation Strategy, Quantitative Methods inManagement, Simulation and Stochastic Modeling.He had held several short term visiting positions in many European Universities. Hehas edited and co-authored 6 books, presented 80 research papers in national andinternational conference, 70 research publications in peer reviewed journals andauthored 40 management cases. He has designed 8 new  executive courses at IIMAhemdabad and introduced 7 electives in the PGA program of IIM Ahemdabad.Several companies in India and in abroad as well have sought his expertise, to evolve,tailor made executive programme, in the areas of general management, business process reengineering, information technology as a source of advantage, competitivestrategy, supply chain management, logistics, operation management and strategicsourcing.Since Nov. 2008, he is the director of the IIM Indore

Monday, October 14, 2019

Procter and Gamble Organisation and People Management

Procter and Gamble Organisation and People Management 1. Introduction: Procter and Gamble Company is a complicated organization which produces various products, and its ambition is to reach the taste of the consumer. PG began in the 1911, they first produced vegetable shortening. They were always in the state of innovation by producing every day a new product. The company was enrolled in a learning process to improve its products, so as to be more efficient than the previous years. They mainly follow three steps to be more successful. The first step was to make innovative needed products; the second one was to continue in producing the successful products with suitable quantities; the third is to have more capital investments to enlarge the company in the future. These three steps preserve the success of PG. Procter and Gamble (PG) is a multinational corporation with 156 branches distributed in more than 70 countries. There are three main development centers, the first center is in Germany which is responsible for developing paper products like Always and Pampers. The second development center, which is in Brussels, is responsible for detergents. The last center is located in the United Kingdom and it is responsible for soap and shampoo. Procter and Gamble (PG) environmental science department plays a unique role to ensure that their product are safe for the consumer and for the environment. Environmental safety is an integrated part of the quality that PG builds into each of its products throughout the world. Procter and Gamble Company are committed to producing superior quality of goods and to producing products to refine the worlds consumers. The companys actual performance could be deduced by looking at its 2009 Annual Report. Its worldwide net earnings for the year 2009 were 13,436 million dollar, which is 13.61% increase over the prior year. It has total assets of $134,833 million and liabilities of $71,451 million. PG has been paying a dividend for 120 consecutive years since its incorporation in 1890 and has increased its dividend for 54 consecutive years at an annual compound average rate of approximately 9.35%.This is an evidence of how much consumers demand PGs product and how this initiates the company to develop 300 brands to satisfy five billion consumers all over the world. Alan G. Lafley became chairman of PG in 2000, he made it clear that he wanted innovation across the spectrum-in how the company invents, markets, manufactures, and distributes its products. 2. Methods 2.1 Data collection methods We get the data from the documentary analysis of the PG which come from the website of the PG. The data is easy accessed in the internet. PGs annual plans are useful in the research. At the same time, we keep contact to PG via emails. They give us information on the plan of the companys development. 2.2 Issues and challenges Biases different comments of PG in massive aspects, often find data from some organization within the PG. that circumstances may cause biases, which influence comments to become less objective and even flattery. It is significant to distinguish the information because possibly comments on one aspect could go opposite and cause dilemma. Detailed resource constraints it is not difficult to find general information about PG. However, it was not easy to search details and depth objections. Although, connecting PG for details may work, yet it cannot be certain that the opinions gained from PG are 100% objective and real. Collecting from dispersive information a majority of resources is dispersive. It means much time consuming and less efficiency. Also some information may mislead ideas to somewhere wrong. 2.3 Analysis Through the analysis of companys annual report, we know the performance of PG. according to the structure and culture of PG, we can forecast the development foreground. We evaluate the approaches to management and leadership. We use the view of a manager, trying to give out a better way. We are based on management principles and analysis the existing business model. PG has a unique pattern in the business management which was widely praised by consumers. 3. Business strategy, mission and goals 3.1 Introduction Three billion times a day, PG brands touch the lives of people around the world. This happens because PG provides branded products of superior quality and value to improve the lives of the worlds consumers. This results in leadership sales, profit and value creation, allowing employees, shareholders and the communities in which we operate to prosper. The Procter Gamble Company (PG) is a brand behemoth. The worlds first maker of household products courts market share and billion-dollar brands. Its business is divided into three global units: beauty, health and well being, and household care. It also makes pet food and water filters and produces soap operas. Some 25 of PGs brands are billion-dollar sellers, including Gillette Fusion, Always/Whisper, Braun, Bounty, Charmin, Crest, Downy/Lenor, Folgers (which it reportedly plans to spin off), Gillette, Iams, Olay, Pampers, Pantene, Pringles, Tide, and Wella, among others. The above are supported by Robert N. Lussier(2009) The PG consists of over 138,000 employees working in over 80 countries. It began as a small, family-operated soap and Candle Company now provides products and services of superior quality and value to consumers in more than 180 countries. In PG, they are focusing their efforts on where they can make the most meaningful difference in both environmental and social Sustainability. Come from Andrea Redmonds (2010) research, their commitment begins with PGs Purpose, values and principles, in which Sustainability is embedded, and manifests itself in a systemic and long-term way. They try to make their company better. 3.2 Mission and goals In 2007, PG established five strategies for Sustainability and set goals to be achieved by the year of 2012. In March of 2009, thanks to the progress it had made so far and to emphasize their commitment to achieving even more significant wins, they increased each of the goals. The five strategies are as follows: strategy1 Products: Delight the consumer with sustainable innovations which improve the environmental profile of the products. Develop and market at least $50 billion in cumulative sales of sustainable innovation products, which are products that have an improved environmental profile. Strategy 2 Operations: Improve the environmental profile of PGs own operations. An additional 20% reduction (per unit production) in CO2 emissions, energy consumption, water consumption and disposed waste from PG plants, leading to a total reduction over the decade of at least 50%. PROGRESS (percent reduction per unit production) Since July 2007 Since July 2002 Energy Usage 11% 48% CO2 Emissions 10% 52% Waste Disposal 30% 53% Water Usage 13% 52% Strategy 3 Social responsibility: Improve childrens lives through PGs social responsibility programs. Enable 300 million children to Live, Learn and Thrive. Prevent 160 million days of disease and save 20,000 lives by delivering 4 billion liters of clean water in the Childrens Safe Drinking Water program. Strategy 4 Employees: Engage and equip all PGers to build Sustainability thinking and practices into their everyday work. Strategy 5 Stakeholders: Plan the future by working transparently with their stakeholders to enable continued freedom to innovate in a responsible way. Beside the five strategies, they have several goals on the market. 1. Designed to Matter In PG, they focus the Sustainability efforts on improvements that matter, to make the most meaningful impact they can. 2. Purposes, Values Principles PGs Purpose, Values Principles articulate their shared vision, a common set of behaviors and their beliefs about the business and its potential. 3.3 Marketing strategy Many people think that multi-brand strategy will result in a situation that internal competition happens, but P G believes that the best strategy is to compete with their own product. Gary Armstrong (2009) said this is because the market economy is a competitive economy, while its opponents to develop new products to share the market. As their challenge themselves and overcome their own, so that their products  brands may occupy a different market, in order to consolidate its leadership position. 1. Differentiated brands If P Gs multi-brand strategy to be understood as simply more brands, it would be wrong. Actually the pursuit of similar products, the differences between different brands, including features, packaging, promotion, etc., to form each brand distinctive, such as Procter Gamble brand strategy so that each brand has its own development, the market will not overlap, and it will not lead to market its brand in the consumer confusion. The words above are supported by Piero Morosini (2005) 2. Manufacture of USP According to the report, USP means unique selling proposition. It is proposed by the American advertising guru Rosser Reeves (said Brent Green 2006). Marketing theory: the core of its content: Advertising should be according to the characteristics unique to the consumer for rhetoric,  and allow consumers to believe that this feature is not available to others or others not mentioned. These features can bring tangible benefits to consumers. 3. Unique way: numbers brands in one organization As Michel Philippart (2005) and Hangzhou da Xues (1994) study, multi-brand strategy is very difficult to succeed. While a single image of the brand extension strategy to facilitate the unity of management, reduce marketing costs, easy-to-be customers to accept, but it is not guaranteed, because of a branding, the easy formation among consumers  fixed image, resulting in the customers mind-set is not conducive to the extension product. 4. Overall structure: The Procter Gamble Company (PG) is divided into three main worldwide units, which are household care, beauty and grooming and health and well-being (Marketing magazine: 2009). Every units report is sent to Susan E. Arnold, who has been promoted from vice chair of PGs beauty and health department to the position of president of global business units. The beauty care section is also managed by Susan Arnold. PG has restructured its hierarchy of top executives, who include Arnold, in order to meet the changing needs of their larger, more flexible and faster-paced global business. Lafley, who is the chairman of PG, announced that PG has nearly doubled its business since 2000 with the acquisitions of the Clairol, Wella hair care businesses and Gillette. The change in structure is designed to meet the needs of a larger business that is also developing new initiatives faster than in the past (Balendu: 2007). Initially, PG managed its international operations through an international division of foreign expansion, in the same manner many other multinational enterprises. A variety of products were identified to match national differences and preferences. Consequently, a portfolio, consisting of subsidiaries, run by country general managers was established. However, this management structure may result in two basic problems. Firstly, the cost of operating these subsidiaries is high, and secondly the ferocious autonomy of national subsidiaries prevented the global roll out of new products and technology improvements (Lin, 2008: 9). Therefore, PG needed innovation in the subsidiaries management structure. It concluded that the matrix structure, in which subordinates report to more than one superior (MacKenzie, 2002:22), is a better alternative for PG, as it allows authority to be kept at lower levels. However, most firms would have some difficulty implementing this Matrix structure into their organization because it is difficult to organize multinational activities through this complex structure. For example, dual reporting can lead to disagreements and confusion and a possible overlap of responsibilities. This may result in a loss of accountability and wastes time. Through time PG has been trying to optimize its structure. The current structure resulted in a culture within PG, which was viewed as slow, conformist and risk-averse (Lin, 2008:11). This led to a decrease in productivity and an increase in inefficiency in the organization. Moreover, these factors would slow down the decision making process and reduce the competitiveness of the company. Although, the management structure of PG seems imperfect at the moment. However, the Procter Gamble Company is still a giant in the area of consumer goods and the leading maker of household products in the United States. PG operates its business in over 80 countries around the world and has approximately 300 brands in more t han 160 countries (Answers.com: 2010). The matrix structure helps PG develop its global business structure into more specific areas. As a result, the company has become more flexible to change within market competitions and the different expectation of PG. The final stage of completing the innovation process of management structure is to transform the formal structure and responsibilities of the company. For example, the global business units of PG were established in order to manage product development, manufacturing and marketing of their respective categories all around world. Furthermore, global business service units were established to organize with the transactional activities such as Accounting, HR, IT, etc. Eliminating bureaucracy and increasing accountability is another main objective of structure change (Bartlett, 2004: Chp 4). The Procter Gamble Companys corporate structure has been mainly dependent on worldwide subsidiaries and merging. During this time of restructuring, PG has continued its active acquisitions pace. For instance, PG entered the European tissue and towel market through the purchase of Vereinigte Papierwerke Schickedanz AGs European tissue unit and added the luxury fragrance business of Giorgio Beverly Hills, Inc. In the same year, PG returned to the South African market following the lifting of U.S. sanctions. The company has altered its geographic management structure gradually. As a result, PG has divided its operations into United States and International, which is would now managed around four regions, North America, Latin America, Asia and Europe/Middle East/Africa (Answers.com:2010). According to an article on Answers.com, PG announced a new restructuring initiative in September 1998. A key factor of this restructuring was a shift from an organization centered around the four geographic regions to one centered on seven global business parts based on product lines: Baby Care, Beauty Care, Fabric Home Care, Feminine Protection, Food Beverage, Health Care Corporate New Ventures and Tissues Towels. PG has continued to restructure and adapt to different markets and different financial situation worldwide. According to a firm press release announcing the new structure, This change will drive greater innovation and speed by centering strategy and profit responsibility globally on brands, rather than on geographies (Answers.com: 2010). 5. PGs Culture: Culture plays an important role in any organization to run their organization well in this fast growing business world. According to Scheins theory of culture it is defined as A pattern of shared basic assumption that the group learned as it solved its problem of external adaptation and integration that has work well enough to be considered valid and therefore to be taught to new members as a correct way to perceive, think and feel in relation to those problem(Scheins 1992,p12,italics altered). According to Schein organizational culture is the acquired outcome of group experience, as it is to a large extent unconscious. Schein considers culture to the three layer phenomenon. From figure 1 it is clearly seen that the organizational culture comprises of three layers first one is the artefacts, espoused values and underlying assumption. Artefacts Innovation culture is the mission statement of Procter and gamble organization in which they state that the consumer is boss, consumer should be the heart of all PG do from ideation stage through the purchase of the product. For example if 15 seconds with a deodorant or two minutes with a disposal diaper have made a small part of your life a little bit better then PG made a difference. PG policies made the company a unique one that respect of governments and law, respects in workplace and respect in the market place (annual report of PG, 2005). PG is a multinational company and it is widely spread geographically. They maintain open work system in lots of work places around the world. Executive offices do not have doors. Leaders do not have a secretary cordoning them off. All the offices on the executive floors at Procter and gamble are open the conference room is an open round space. They made it round as a small symbol of the new approach (Lafely .A, 2000 CEO of PG). Espoused values PG is having hierarchy of company ethics principles. PVP(Purpose, Values and principles), corporate policies, worldwide business conduct standards, operating policies/procedure/practices. For over 170 years PG purpose values and principles has been guiding the way they do business and it is shown in the fig 2 below. There purpose is to provide branded products and services of superior quality and values that improves the lives of the worlds consumer. PG lives with its people and values, they recruit the finest people in the world who built organization by promoting and rewarding people without regard to any difference related to performance. Lafely said that PG have been fortunate that some of this flexible multifaceted ethics exist in our heritage. For example Procter and Gamble pioneered a technician based system in its manufacturing plants during the 1960s and 70s. In this system they avoided the approach in which one person assigned to do only one job. The technician system still operates today. To get the highest evaluation rating in PG factory, you learn how to do all the jobs on line and once you have that rating, company expect you to be capable of problem identification, problem solving, and innovation. This background has made it easier for us to plug manufacturing and engineering in to the innovation culture. PG CEO Lafely said in one conference that once people in our organization have succeeded at innovation you can see the energy in the company changing. People routinely says that we can do this is feasible and the change of attitude of the people in PG is incredible to watch. Integrity, leadership, ownership, passion for winning and trust are the main asset values of PG. By considering purpose and values they made their principles like the show respects for individual, interest of the company and individual are inseparable and innovation is the cornerstone of PG success. These are the officials objectives which had been espoused by the company he ad and it is common for PG organization all over the world. Fig 2 PVP of PG 2003 sustainability report Underlying Assumptions It consists of unconscious, taken for granted beliefs, perception, thoughts and feelings. PG are having problem relating to external adaption and internal integration. PG keep refining their products, launch model from ideas, to prototype, to development, to qualification and to commercialization. Applying this sequential practice on large scale and replicate them does not mean to eliminate judgment, thats why PG needs active leaders and a strong innovation culture. Therefore PG introduces the inclusive culture for leaders and they expected to build inclusive work environment that welcomes and embraces diversity an environment where people feel comfortable. Forced diversity training/learning process are utilized to equip leaders to values and nurture difference in management experience, style of leadership and problem solving approaches. By analyzing the PGs culture it is seen that PG is having a strong and dominant culture and that culture follows in every part of the world. Innovation is the main theme of PGs success and to bind organization culture together. 6. PGs management leadership: Innovative Management and Leadership of PG When we observe organizations and try to classify, we tend to classify them in terms of their success and describe them as highly successful, successful, struggling to succeed or unsuccessful. There are certain factors influencing their success. Management in the organizations has to perform some functions like planning, organizing, staffing, directing, leading and controlling for success. Management consists of implementation of the vision and strategy provided by leaders, coordinating and staffing the organization and handling day-to-day problems. By Koontz and Weihrich management is the process of designing and maintaining an environment in which individuals work with such performance for optimizing efficiency in reaching goals. HENRI FAYOL identified the main operations in business management- technical, commercial, financial, security, accounting and administration. The administration function he further subdivided into organizational, coordinating, commanding, controlling and purveyance. The purveyance further included the concepts of forecasting and planning.  [i]   PG was facing certain disadvantages using the Henri Fayol method because it was not an empirical but more theoretical. Moreover PG wants to be innovative and wants to differentiate products not just by formulation but also by design. So they adopted the Cooper-Kleinschmidt study of innovation method which was based on the triangle process. The Innovation Diamond in Exhibit 1 began as a triangle process, Resources, and strategy the result of a 1990s Cooper-Kleinschmidt study of innovation across a Broad range of businesses.4 Procter Gambles management in the 1990s subsequently transformed the triangle into their Initiatives Diamond, shown in Exhibit 2.  [ii]   The Innovation Diamond is introduced as an integrative and guiding framework to help management focus on whats important to success: innovation strategy, a solid idea-to-launch process, portfolio management and the right climate and leadership. PGs Initiatives Diamond serves as a guide for each businesss product innovation efforts, and helps to focus managements attention on what is important to success. Heres what Bob McDonald, PGs Vice Chairman of Global Operations, says: The Initiative Diamond played a significant role in improving the business results in PGs Fabric Home Care global business unit. This work brought us a new discipline to manage our innovation programs, and yielded a major increase in the in-market success of our initiatives. We aligned our organization on how to use Stage-Gate ® success criteria and portfolio and resource management to deliver better innovations for the consumers we serve.  [iii]   The top half of PGs diamond in Exhibit 2 is strategic in nature, and captures the businesss product innovation strategy: goals, the mix of new products required to meet those goals, and the required resources. Portfolio management (or project selection) is thus closely connected to strategy. The bottom half of the diamond is more operational and focuses on delivering specific new product projects or initiatives: what resources must be put in place for each project; and how individual new product projects are managed so they succeed using PGs idea-to-launch SIMPLTM Methodology? Thus how the PGs business success has been generated through focusing on effective innovative Management. Peter F. Drucker says Leadership is the lifting of mans vision to higher sights, the raising of mans performance to higher standard, the building of mans personality beyond its normal limitation. Alan Bryman offers the working definition of leadership as: the creation of a vision about a desired future state which seeks to enmesh all the members of an organization in its net. Many commentators trait spotting approach to ;have argued or assumed that the performance of an organization depends on the quality of leadership exercised by its leaders, same is the case with PG organization and its leaders. The single most enduring thing PG leaders can do is to identify develop our next generation of leaders. If we can get the right people with the right skills and experiences in place to run our business, the rest will take care of itself-By Lura Mattimore, Director, Leadership development PG. So the leader is someone who exercises influence over other people leading is a process of actuat ion. It provides an electrifying effect to the organization makes people action-oriented and bridges gaps within the organization. Distribution of work, delegation of authority and supervision of work should be done meticulously. There are various approaches to leadership such as trait spotting, style counseling, content fitting, New leadership. PG uses the trait spotting approach to leadership. PG leaders are built from within because they believe that their future success is entirely dependent on the ongoing strength of talent pipeline. So the first trait spotting in PG is done by PG leaders itself who select the next leader of the company by searching a quality of dedication towards the work. PG leaders are not born leaders at first they are just the ordinary people of the company. For PG people are the company most important asset. Their success depends entirely on the strength of the talent which they build from within manage with a disciplined process led by the CEO the senior leadership team. This is an essential element of how PG is designs to lead. Thus PG develop leaders purpose is to centre on improving more consumers lives in more parts of the world more completely. Thus PG uses two dimensional style of leadership because it concerns for the production as well as for the people. People are the main asset of PG and for production they always wanted to get differentiated by their innovation method. Thus PG uses the two dimensional style. (Blake Mouton 1964) According to the Likerts there are four leadership systems: Exploitative Autocratic Benevolent authoritative Participative Democratic Democratic leaders have complete confidence and trust in their subordinates, they allow the subordinates to make decision for themselves; these types of leaders always motivate their subordinates by reward for achieving goals and to share the new ideas and opinion. PG uses the democratic type of leadership system. They believe that building their organization from within, by promoting and rewarding PG people whom they value and consider them as their most important asset because of their faithful work excellent performance. Procter gamble respect all individual, consumers and their human resource offer them their trust on condition that they treat them similarly. PG also uses servant type of leadership because they always feels that the customers are the boss .And in servant leadership, leaders put the needs of their followers first. According to the John Adair Leadership is a social process in which one individual influences the behavior of others without the use or threat of violence. Below is the example of how the innovative product is developed under the innovative leadership of PG, which shows some relationship between leader and follower of the PGs. PG crank up on one on one consumer research, so the marketers of PG spend lot of time with the consumers in their homes, watching the way they wash their clothes, clean up their floors, diapers their babies and asking about their habit and frustration. So based on this one on one technique PG opened a diaper -testing centre right down the hall of their office, where moms watch their tots get undressed ,diapered , and measured every way by PG technicians in brightly colored smocks. So one thing the PG learn from this experience is that parents are frustrated by how long it takes their youngsters to be toilet trained. So thus based on the comments received from the parents PG launch their new innovative product in the line of pampers whose mission was to dry diapers to helping moms with babys development. Thus how the PG is always innovative in the way of leadership to find new products which improves their relationship with their followers, as the consumers are the main boss of the PG . 7. Future Aspects: Strategy improvement: Through analysis of P Gs multi-brand strategy we realize that many of the benefits of this strategy are clear, but it is very difficult to achieve in the market, they have to note that several aspects of business practice. According to Sanjay Tiwari (2000), they can make some improvement by the ways below. A company which operates a variety of brands must have the appropriate strength; the work of brand extension is complicated.  From market research to product launch, to advertising, every job has a large number of enterprises to spend manpower and material resources. In the specific operation, they must be through careful investigation, to find the product differentiation. The industries in which according to the specific situation of enterprises, such as Procter Gambles consumer products industry which with easy access to a successful multi-brand strategy.   Structure Improvement: The improvement of structures of PG possibility could be to have wholly autonomous temporary groups or teams that are responsible for an entire project, and are split up as soon as it is successfully completed. Teams are often not very good for decision-making, and they run the risk of relational problems, unless they are small and have a lot of self-discipline. Actually, team members still require a definite leader, which is indicated from decentralization. It means the separation of the organization into competing autonomous divisions. PG has various branch brands, and some in one subject. Competition between own brands may seems unreasonable. However, changing corporate structure may encourage positive challenges among PG. In addition, appropriate manipulating probably is required during the management process. On the other hand, some inefficiency brands or areas may better to be abolished for saving funds and decrease expenses. Decision- making is very crucial of this innovation, which is easy to regret if prediction is wrong. Various differences of brands among PG could be helpful and practical in different occasions. However, this improvement could go to the opposite and create unexpected situation because sometimes the market could be influenced by news in many ways. 8. References:

Sunday, October 13, 2019

British Influence Turned the Indians From Civilized to Savage-Like Essa

British Influence Turned the Indians From Civilized to Savage-Like The average British citizen in America during the 17th Century had a preconceived notion of Indians as savage beasts. However, before the arrival of the British, the New England Indians, specifically the Wampanoag tribe, lived a harmonious and interdependent lifestyle. Conflict among the Wampanoag was limited to minor tribal disputes. The war methods of the Indians were in fact more civilized than the British methods. The close living quarters of the British and Indians forced the Indians to adopt aspects of British civilization in order to survive, such as the ways of warfare. Douglas Leach in his book Flintlock and Tomahawk: New England in the time of King Philip's War argues that British influence on Indian society turned the Indians from savage to civilized. This paper will argue that British influence turned the Indians from civilized to savage. The examination of Wampanoag behavior from before British influence through King Philip's War proves that Wampanoag beliefs became more materialistic, that land ownership became important, and that unnecessary violence became a part of their warfare. The way the Indians conducted war, although it appeared primitive and frightening, in actuality was less barbaric than the Puritans way of warfare. Leach describes the Wampanoag way of battle as unsophisticated and dance around a fire beating drums with their faces painted in order to demonstrate their ferocious manners. Then, using bows and arrows, tomahawks, and knives the Indians would send small groups of warriors against their enemy village. As a form of revenge during war the Indians often scalped their enemies as a trophy or captured their enemies for... ... in reality the Indians showed more civility than the British. It was not until the adoption of British methods that the Indians behavior became uncivilized, ruthless and cruel. Works Cited Anderson, Virginia DeJohn. "King Philip's Herds: Indians, Colonists, and the Problem of Livestock in Early New England." William and Mary Quarterly 51.(1994): 601-624 Drake, James D. King Philip's War: Civil War in New England 1675-1676. Massachusetts: University of Massachusetts Press, 1999. Hirsch, Adam J. "The Collision of Military Cultures in Seventeenth-Century New England." The Journal of American History. 74. 4 (1988): 1187-1212. Leach, Douglas E. flintlock and Tomahawk: New England in King Philip's War. NewYork: Norton, 1959 Salisbury, Neal, ed. The Sovereignty and Goodness of God by Mary Rowlandson with Related Documents. Boston: Bedford Books, 1997.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Pascals Wager and Global Warming :: Climate Change, Greenhouse Gases

Since measurements began in 1958 -- and it can be assumed to have been the case since the industrial revolution -- emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere has risen steadily as a result of the burning of fossil fuels (Quay, pp 2344). Although there is much argument over the implications of increasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, there are several points that almost all scientists would agree on: firstly, carbon dioxide acts to absorb radiated heat; if present in our atmosphere will do just that to some extent. Second, the concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere is rising. Third, the temperature of the planet is rising - although the amount of this increase and the causes of this rise are subject to disagreement (Philander, pp 193). When I was at school in Vermont, one of my teachers explained to me Pascal's Wager. According to this teacher, the philosopher and mathematician Pascal had tried to establish the costs and benefits of believing in God. He saw it in this way: you can either believe in God or not. If you do believe in God, and there is in fact no God, then you will perhaps have spent some extra energy unnecessarily abstaining from certain pleasures and wasting your Sunday mornings in Church, but overall you did not give up too much. And, it could be argued, you may have actually treated your fellow men more kindly then you would have otherwise. If, however, there is a God, and you believed in him, then you get eternal salvation. On the other hand, you could choose not to believe in God. If there is no God, then you are fine. You can sin all you like, you can allow yourself transgressions and forbidden acts, and the only punishments you will face will be those of this life. If, however, you lived thusly and there is a God, then you face an eternity of torture and unbearable misery. So, Pascal reasoned, one would do best to believe in God and act accordingly. That way, if you're wrong, the worst thing that could happen is that you were more pious and caring then you may have otherwise been. If you do not believe in God and you turn out to be wrong, the risks become terrifying. My teacher suggested that I apply this same logic to global warming. It is a matter of playing the odds.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Appearance of Pre-Hispanic Filipinos Essay

The natives of the Philippine islands already wore different types of clothing and ornaments before the arrival of Spanish colonizers. The men usually wore short-sleeved, collarless jackets that reached just below the waste. The jackets were also symbols of their status in the community. The chief usually wore red, for example. The bahag was worn for the lower part. It is a strip of cloth wrapped around the waist which passes between the things, leaving the thighs and legs exposed. A head gear or a putong is a piece of cloth wrapped around the head. This is also important like the color of the jacket. A red putong meant that the wearer has already gone to war and killed an enemy. An embroidered putong meant that the wearer has killed at least seven enemies. Adornments such as necklaces, armlets or kalombiga, anklets, earrings and rings were also worn. These were usually made of gold and other precious stones. Women also wore sleeved jackets called baro and skirts called saya or patadyong. Women fancied wearing ornaments as well such as gem-studded bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and rings. Tattoos Tattoos played an important part in the appearance of pre-Hispanic Filipinos both for the men and women. Tattoos were considered to be the equivalent of medals, one had to work for and earn it. The more tattoos a person had, the more impressive was his or her war record. The Visayas was known to be the Islas del Pintados or Islands of the Painted People because it was the there that the early Spanish colonizers observed very tattooed people and Spanish writers referred to them as the pintados, meaning â€Å"painted†.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Effects of Globalization Towards Our Culture Essay

This article focuses on the globalization of culture and the role of media in the ensuing identity crisis (both individual and social) resulting from this process. The article tries to display the basic concept of the process of globalization with all of its effects, threats, challengesï ¼Å'and opportunities and will illustrate its interaction with the media in developing countries. The essay will show that the main components of power structure in today’s world can be linked to these two complimentary processes –globalization and the information era. The interaction between these two phenomena has changed the quality of communications which, in turn, is creating new personal and social identities (personification and personifying). According to survey results, it is clear that in societies which are not efficient in reinforcing and strengthening their communication infrastructures and which are unable to compete with the new methods of communication and information exchange, identity formation gains political, economic and culturally adverse and asserts an unrepairable damage. In conclusion, the article tries to present some proposals for developing countries’ media –as the active player of this era – and offers ways to deal with the unavoidable process of globalization and identity crisis. Globalization, the New Phenomenon Globalization, which also has been called global construction, global orientation and global expansion by various schools of thought, is the latest phase process in an old process rooted in the expansion of modern capitalism and encompassing the political, economic and cultural realms worldwide. Modern capitalism that first emerged in the sixteenth century is a far more complex phenomenon embracing a broader economic spectrum and a more detailed definition than the concept of common market. Thus, some experts view it as â€Å"contraction and condensation at the global scale coupled with ever-increasing expansion of awareness† (Robertson, 1992, p. 8). Many have expressed different and even contradictory definitions of globalization in their discussions over the past few years. According to British sociologist Anthony Giddens, some social sectors are utterly pessimistic about globalization and reject it in its entirety. On the other hand, there are those who perceive globalization as an undeniable reality with profound and inevitable consequences. Yet there are others, who are generally referred to as Global Expansionists. They view globalization as an inescapable development developing ever-increasing momentum due to the intensification of global interactions and the waning importance of national boundaries. They believe that national economies, cultures and policies will integrate into a global network and that local and national authority and hence dominance will diminish in favor of a homogenous global economy and culture (Held, 2000). On the other side of the spectrum, there are opposing arguments against the virtues of globalization. Giddens (1999b) refers to them as the pessimists, and they include a gamut of those from the traditionalists to those challenging the dominance of capitalism. They perceive globalization as synonymous to westernization and Americanization. They even include the environmentalists. This school of thought argues that globalization will create a world of winners and losers along with the global conquest and economic domination of specific political groups, especially in the wealthy nations like the U.S. These groups are strong enough to resist any pressures to alter the new world-order and could impose their desires and goals as global agendas and work plans. The promoters of this school of thought point out to the waning of national sovereignty and local identity and the eventual prevalence of inequality and injustice in the world (Rupert, 2000). Meanwhile, some dispute the idea of the â€Å"global village† introduced by Marshall McLuhan and envision more of a â€Å"global pillaging† for the underdeveloped countries (Held, 2000, p. 25). There are other theoreticians who dispute this widely held view. For example, Giddens challenges this prospect and believes that the wealthy should not be blamed for all the negative aspects of this phenomenon, which actually is to some extent very similar to the westernization process. However, globalization is becoming ever-increasingly decentralized and thus it is not dominated by a certain group of countries or multinational companies. Even the western countries are being affected by this new trend. There is increasing evidence of Inverted Colonialism. Inverted Colonialism could be defined as the impact of non-western countries on the development of western culture and economy (Giddens, 1999a). According to Giddens not only is globalization a novel experience, it is a revolut ionary phenomenon. In addition to its economic consequences, its political, technological and cultural impact can not be underestimated. More than anything, globalization is influenced by the advancement of communication systems. In the middle of these two extreme positions, there is a third opinion, which is called â€Å"transformationalism.† This perspective gives limited importance to globalization and emphasizes the significance of national and local institutions (Mirabedini, 2001, p. 147). This third view does not condemn the whole of globalization and praises its positive aspects. These scholars note that although globalization imposes a great deal of pressure on local economies and cultures, it is possible to transform this threat into an opportunity, thereby resisting being conquered by it. Based on this viewpoint, the leaders of the world would support the notion of democratization of global institutions; and nations could play a decisive role in the policymaking process under the framework of the new world order and solidify their territorial rights and legitimacy (Held, 2000). The acceptance of this notion is reflected in the response of former French Premier Leonel Jospin on the issue of France’s national identity in the globalization process. He said, â€Å"We will do our best to make globalization an internal and endemic process in compliance and harmony with our way of life.† He argued that â€Å"The course this globalization process takes will depend on the action we take in relation to it, because although globalization is a fact, it is not an end in itself. We must bring it under control if we are to enjoy its benefits and prevent its negative aspects† (Jospin, 2001). It can thus be concluded that the present range of opinions on globalization, differs from the definition of capital expansion of the 16th century. In this sense it is a new concept based on the ever-increasing time-space compression and the enhancement of public knowledge and awareness due to the profound alteration in communication systems and its immense impact on economic, political and cultural trends. It can be stated fairly that â€Å"Globalization is a complex phenomenon, marked by two opposing forces. On the one hand, it is characterized by massive economic expansion and technological innovation. On the other hand, there is increased inequality, cultural and social tumult, and individual alienation† (Mowlana, 1998, p. 22). Globalization of Culture and Identity in the Information Era On the subject of globalization, the most controversial debate is raised on the issue of cultural globalization and its main topic, the â€Å"identity crisis† and the role of mass media as a facilitating tool for its expansion or limitation. The notion of cultural globalization has prompted various reactions, reflecting contradictory implications. Some perceive this phenomenon as an instrument for establishment of universal unity and democracy based on a global culture signified as the â€Å"global village.† According to the principles of McLuhan (1968, 1964), this is due to the expansion of new communication systems. However, others disagree and contend that globalization has not resulted in a unified political and economic identity (Rajaei, 2001). In contrast, cultural globalization has destroyed national identities. Fukuyama challenges the idea of cultural globalization. He argues that despite external economic pressures, societies tend to preserve their individual identities and cultural values eventually determine the economic direction of the countries. This doesn’t mean that societies will not be impacted by the globalization trend. However, there are more profound elements in national cultures, whic h resist the uniformity derived from economic and political ideologies. Critics argue that cultural globalization will result in cultural dominance and supremacy. The deterioration of endemic cultures will be replaced with a universal culture promoting excessive consumption and dominance of the economic and information technology powers of the world. These scholars believe that the western world is unfit to provide a suitable response to cultural globalization. This is because it is being challenged by numerous social and cultural predicaments, itself. Tomlinson, one of the world-class theorists says: â€Å"The cultural globalization that we are witnessing today is not the net result of human endeavors and experiences and even it has not equitably benefited from cultural diversities. Rather it is the manifestation of dominance of a certain overpowering culture† (Skelton & Allen, 1999, p. 23). These researchers emphasize that the efforts made to conform to the aggressive culture or interpret western culture in various parts of the world have had disastrous results and have revealed insurmountable cultural gaps. Thus, it is impossible to create a global culture with this procedure, and it only widens the existing gap between cultures. Doubtless, globalization has affected certain values rooted in major religions and cultures of the world. Concepts of good and evil, right and wrong, individualism and pluralism, individual interaction with the society and the very meaning of life are all warped and corrupted by global capitalism, international markets, mass media and the promotion of excessive consumption. Even some local languages and valuable traditions are on the verge of disappearance as the result of globalization. Global consumerism is now forming a homogeneous global culture where indigenous cultures of the South are being replaced by Western cultures (Muzaffar, 2002).