Friday, November 29, 2019

Steroids4 Essay Example For Students

Steroids4 Essay Anabolic steroids are powerful muscle-building and performance-enhancing compounds. They are many times used as the secret-weapon behind many world-class athletes, their performance, and bodybuilding. Steroids increase the amount of muscle one can build. They are banned by almost every athletic organization and are illegal, therefore leading to arrests and jail time if one is caught with them. They also have terrible side effects that can even be deadly. Anabolic steroids are used to gain the physical advantage over opponents. Steroids are forms of hormones. These hormones control various things. Animals have different steroids in their bodies, some for self-defense, some to help heal injuries, and some steroids even assist with development. Testosterone is the male hormone reproduced to make anabolic steroids. This reproduced testosterone is known to increase strength, speed, endurance, muscle mass, and aggression. The use of steroids is the introduction of testosterone into the body from a source other than the testes. The use of these steroids can increase strength, muscle size, and athletic performance.Steroids are thought to be first used in athletics by the Russian weightlifting teams of the 1950s. Now steroids are used (illegally) from professional athletes to high school football players. We will write a custom essay on Steroids4 specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Once introduced into the body by injection or taken orally the steroids enter the bloodstream and travel to every cell in the body. In muscle cells, it causes them to reproduce at an increased rate. After strenuous exercise the muscles naturally break down and duplicate, however when on steroids, the muscles dont break down, they just reproduce. Steroids will also increase recovery time from injures. Another gain from the use of steroids is the increase in red blood cell production allowing for greater endurance. There are many negative side effects from the use of steroids. These side effects can be permanent and quite serious. These side effects differ from males and females. In males acne problems and early hair loss develop. Increased levels of circulating testosterone can act as negative feedback to the pituitary gland, decreasing the production of sperm and natural testosterone. People on steroids often show various behavioral changes as well. Know as roid rage, irritability, increased aggressiveness, nervous tension are the most prominent examples of this. Side effects in women using steroids include deepening of the voice, increased body and facial hair and decreased breast size. The steroids also throw off the hormonal balance in a female throwing off her menstrual cycle. Making it difficult, if not impossible to have a child. These side effects can become permanent in females after only a few months of use. The platelets in the blood will also clump together inside the blood vessels clogging them. Steroids can shatter the heart, liver kidneys, and immune system. Another highly feared side effect is cancer. With the steroids weakening the immune system, cancer cells have more freedom to develop. If the muscles grow too fast, tendons and ligaments can be torn. If steroids are taken in through injection, there is a risk of infection from bacteria, viruses, and even HIV. Steroids have a lot of psychological symptoms as well. They can cause mania, depression, schizophrenia, and paranoia. Steroid users usually become very irritable, aggressive, and violent. Suicide is also a problem of people who have taken steroids for an extended period of time. One of steroids mental side effects can be massive depression in which people sometimes feel that the only way out is to kill themselves. Also, steroid withdrawal can be so devastating that suicide is contemplated. Incredibly aggressive and violent sexual behavior due to steroids has also been recorded. Once someone starts taking steroids for the physical advances it gives them it can become incredibly difficult to stop taking the drugs. Your body becomes so used to the steroid being in the body that it becomes difficult to go one it without it. Luckily there are many treatment centers where someone could get help getting off of drugs, including steroids. .u8677943448d82d61af7cae4148ad985c , .u8677943448d82d61af7cae4148ad985c .postImageUrl , .u8677943448d82d61af7cae4148ad985c .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u8677943448d82d61af7cae4148ad985c , .u8677943448d82d61af7cae4148ad985c:hover , .u8677943448d82d61af7cae4148ad985c:visited , .u8677943448d82d61af7cae4148ad985c:active { border:0!important; } .u8677943448d82d61af7cae4148ad985c .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u8677943448d82d61af7cae4148ad985c { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u8677943448d82d61af7cae4148ad985c:active , .u8677943448d82d61af7cae4148ad985c:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u8677943448d82d61af7cae4148ad985c .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u8677943448d82d61af7cae4148ad985c .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u8677943448d82d61af7cae4148ad985c .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u8677943448d82d61af7cae4148ad985c .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u8677943448d82d61af7cae4148ad985c:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u8677943448d82d61af7cae4148ad985c .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u8677943448d82d61af7cae4148ad985c .u8677943448d82d61af7cae4148ad985c-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u8677943448d82d61af7cae4148ad985c:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Flu Epidemic F 1918 EssayAs serious and devoted and athlete may be, they should not engage in such dangerous smuggling of their bodies. Steroids may deliver quick and extraordinary results, but in the long run, the side effects are much more serious. The chance of being terminally ill is much more regrettable than loosing a tournament. As athletes, we should become wiser about the choices we make today, because these will affect our bodies tomorrow. Bibliography:

Monday, November 25, 2019

Gabriela Mistral Essay Example

Gabriela Mistral Essay Example Gabriela Mistral Essay Gabriela Mistral Essay Gabriela Mistral (1889-1957) Gabriela Mistral was the first Latin American woman to win a Nobel Prize in Literature. She was born in Vicuna in northern Chile in 1889. Her parents were Petronila Alcayaga, a school teacher of Basque descent and Jeronimo Godoy Alcayaga Villanueva, a vagabond poet and school teacher of Indian and Jewish ancestry. Mistrals birth name was Lucila Godoy Alcayaga. Lucila and her older sister Emelina were raised in Montegrande by their mother after the father deserted them when Lucila was three years old. At the age of nine, Lucila started attending school, but did so for only three years. At school she discovered her love of poetry and started writing her own poems. She also assumed the name Gabriela Mistral. She continued her education at home with the help of her sister who was a teacher and who encouraged Gabriela to become a teacher as well. At age sixteen she moved to La Cantera to take a job and fell in love with a young railway worker. The relationhip didnt last and two years later the young man committed suicide. The only item found in his posession was a postcard from Mistral. This affected her deeply and she wrote Sonetas de la Muerte (Sonnets of Death) to express her feelings. : After receiving a diploma in 1912 which allowed her to teach secondary school, Mistral obtained a teaching position near Santiago. Soon she was able to publish some of her poems in various periodicals and entered Chilean literary circles. She published three poems from Sonnets of Death in 1914 for which she won a national prize in poetry. In 1918, she was appointed director of a secondary school for girls located in rural Punta Arenas. The rough terrain of Punta Arenas became an inspiration for a series of poems entitled Patagonian Landscapes. In 1922 Mistral accepted the invitation of Jose Vasconcelos, the Mexican minister of education, to start educational programs for the poor in Mexico. She introduced mobile libraries to rural areas to make access to literature easier for everyone. Later, she edited a book of poetry and prose entitled Readings for Women. In addition, she traveled to other countries to study their methods of teaching. In 1923, Mistral was awarded the title Teacher of the Nation by her own government. In 1922, she published the first volume of her collected poems entitled Desolacion (Desolation). In it she expressed her feelings toward pain and death. Ternura (Tenderness), published in 1925, was a collection of poetry for children which celebrated the joys of birth and motherhood. Her later collections were Questions (1930) and Tala (1938). She also wrote fables and continued publishing in periodicals. The dominant themes in her poetry were love, death, childhood, maternity, religion and the beauty of nature and of her native land. She also had a burning desire for justice. As Mistral was becoming famous, she was asked to attend conferences and make speeches. She became Chiles representative abroad for almost twenty years, including at the League of Nations, at the United Nations and in various consulates. Evenutally, Mistral settled in the United States and taught at Middlebury and Barnard colleges and at the University of Puerto Rico. In 1945, Gabriela Mistral was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. She accepted it on behalf of Latin America. Her poetry has now been translated into other foreign languages, including English, French, Italian, German and Swedish. Gabriela Mistral died in the U. S. in 1957. Her body was flown to Chile and she was buried in Montegrande. [pic]

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Are Goverments Efforts in Curbing GreenHpuse Emissions Enough Essay

Are Goverments Efforts in Curbing GreenHpuse Emissions Enough - Essay Example The paper tells that many governments worldwide are putting in efforts to curb the emission of greenhouse gases is evident and promising. The efforts are there to see. But there is another factor that is not just equally but more disturbing. Since 1970’s the emission of green house gases worldwide has roughly doubled and with the current efforts and policies, it is believed to go up by 70% by 2050. The two major contributors of greenhouse gases are USA and China. USA and China account for nearly 44% of the total carbon dioxide production on the planet. China is responsible for 23% of the total carbon dioxide production while USA accounts for 21%. According to the Fifth U.S. Climate Action Report, there has been a 17% increase in the emissions of the greenhouse gases in the US during 1990-2007. Emission of greenhouse gases in China is increasing even more rapidly. From 1992 to 2002, there has been a 56% increase in the emission and since it has doubled. Going by the current pac e, the emissions are expected to double or triple by 2025. This is a clear indicator again, that the efforts of the 2 main contributors of greenhouse gas emissions are falling short by a long margin. The above holds good for the governments of other countries too. France and Britain have openly admitted that the goal to bring down emissions by 20% by 2020 is very low. Also the efficiency goal of improving by 20% by 2020 set by European Union has a big problem. According to the European Commission only half the 10% of improvement in efficiency will be achieved. (The Economist, 2011). Slovenia has adopted numerous plans to curb the emission of greenhouse gases but has failed to abide by its commitment to Kyoto obligations. Karl Erjavec, Slovenia’s Environment Minister, had said in 2009 government session that the requirements of the Kyoto obligations were not met. In 2009, Slovenia’s carbon dioxide emissions were 1m kilo tonnes more than the Kyoto limit (EVROPA, 2009). I t is now clear that irrespective of numerous initiatives and efforts, there has been a rapid increase in the greenhouse gases worldwide. This goes to prove that the efforts of the government in curbing the emission of greenhouses gases are not enough. There is an urgent need for Governments of all nations to take up this seriously and starting working towards reducing the greenhouse gas emissions before it is too late and the changes become irreversible. There are various reasons and challenges why governments have not been able to take strong actions and enforce stricter laws to prevent emission of green house gases. As said,

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Project Management Applicatio Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Project Management Applicatio - Assignment Example Patience privacy in health organization is of high concern in today’s era when technology is adversely evolving. The data stored in the health systems database may experience harm that causes physical damage to the hard disks and the systems. Before Health insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was implemented, there were no prior standards of determining whether health cares should securely store patient’s information. After the implementation of the HIPAA act, health cares boosted their databases where confidentiality and portability of patient records were harnessed. If health organizations do not comply with the HIPAA, they can face a penalty of $250,000 and if the violation is repeated the culprit faces fines up to $1.5 million. Organizations first step should be Risk analysis. Organizations should follow the HIPAA risk analysis techniques. The risk analysis should provide medical staff with deep knowledge of understanding the risks involved with inte grity and confidentiality of patient information. The HIPAA act requires that health cares should â€Å"implement policies and procedures to prevent, detect, contain and correct security violations through assessment of potential risks†. I order to mitigate the risks involved physical safeguards such as the building of alarm systems as well as the use of extensive monitoring screen should be widely implemented. Administrative safeguards should also be used in order to secure the authorized exchange of patient information in different hospitals.

Monday, November 18, 2019

Las Meninas and Allegory of Painting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Las Meninas and Allegory of Painting - Essay Example The essay "Las Meninas and Allegory of Painting" compares Diego Velasquez's 'Las Meninas' and Jan Vermeer's 'The Allegory of Painting'. These two paintings are clearly Baroque art pieces. Las Meninas was made on 1656 and The Allegory of Painting was made on 1666 to 1668. Their subjects are slices of life, one in the castle and one in a non-specific room. Both paintings use light and shadow very well, providing depth and dimension to both paintings. Both evoke the same feelings of the viewer being in the room with the subjects, as the paintings are all open. However, they are also indifferent at the same time. They both have the element of mystery. They also feature the painter character in the painting. In Las Meninas, it is clearly identified that that character was Velazquez but in The Allegory of Painting, the painter is turned back, so positive identification of the subject is impossible. Both paintings tackle everyday life. In Las Meninas, it features the scene in the castle. Ac cording to various literature, it is in a room of the palace of King Philip IV of Spain. There are many characters in it, like the young Princess Infanta Margarita Teresa together with her maids of honor, chaperone, bodyguard and two dwarfs. However, there is the mirror element at the back wall of the room reflecting the images of the King and Queen of Spain. That implies that the painter is painting the King and Queen, and that the King and Queen are in the place of the viewer, out of the painted space.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

International Business And Organizational Factors Apple Inc Smartphones

International Business And Organizational Factors Apple Inc Smartphones Global marketing is perhaps one of the most significant factors in todays business world since it has made tremendous changes in the way the business is carried out around the world. Globalization and international business have been central to the developments and radical changes in the recent years and it has deeply affected people, management processes, business and economy. A large number of companies went global to utilize marketing opportunities for the realization of their business potential by successfully establishing sustainable competitive advantages and better marketing position where as many firms have failed in their international expansion efforts as they didnt heed the basic tenets ingrained in the critical business environments. In todays increasingly competitive and international free market economy contexts, transnational exchanging of technology, infrastructure and demographic movement have become increasingly important (Johnson and Turner, 2003, p. 1). The ultimate outcome of this growing importance of international business is that a customer, no matter whether he lives in Europe, Asia, Africa or Australia, will be familiar with a large number of world-class brands like Apple, Cadbury, Coca-cola, Dell, Ford, HP, Nestle, Nokia, Toyota and so on. The effect of globalization is that new brands are seemingly born global, For this research paper, Apple Inc- specifically its Smartphone sector- has been chosen to conduct detailed analysis on the literature related to the international business and organizational factors. This research paper presents an analysis on internal and external environment of the chosen organization- Apple Inc and examines its strategies for international marketing in terms of effectiveness and usefulness for its international operation. International Business: The case of Apple Inc Apple inc, founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne in the 1970s is one of the most internationally influential and highly successful companies of today. It is an American multinational company that designs, makes and markets PCs, portable music players, cell phones, software, computer peripheral and services. It markets through its own retailing, online stores and third party sellers (Sander and Slatter, 2009, p. 81, Linzmayer, 2004). Apple was the first mainstream marketer for personal computers and is still an important market player worldwide and it has become a niche player by setting the pace for ease of use, innovative design and customer loyalty. Apples story is that one off-hobby machines that a most talented electronic expert made for himself has eventually become the core of the global marketing of one of the most successful companies of all times (OGrady, 2008, p. 1) Most of high tech companies focused only on a particular line of product whereas Apple made it different that it manufactured personal computer, created an operating system that can run in it and designed various application and software programs that fits it, and more over discovered and established market for digital music players and Smartphone. Apple is not confined in a particular market; instead, it plays significant roles in various high competitive markets like PC, software, operating system, digital music player and Smartphone. With innovative design and product differentiation strategy, it has so far produced a number of various unique products including iMac, iLife, iTunes, iPad, iPod, iPhone and 3G iPhones. Apple is better known for its wise and visionary strategic thinking that has helped it overcome marketing and competitive issues. For instance, when it experienced significant financial loss of around $45 million in 2002, Apples visionary management took effective competitive strategies that could help it stay strong in the market. The strategic thinking of Apples management has always guided it to create a focal point for decision making to help it protect the organization from the ambiguous and uncertain situations (Walker, 2003, p. 4). Apples recent developments -iPhone and 3G iPhone- became some of the most discussed new technology outcomes of the recent generation throughout the world. Its strategies of ease of use, simplicity, efficiency and fun are the major factors that helped it make its Smart phones seem to be different species than that of its competitors (Newsweek, 2007) Tilmann (2010) reported that Apples share in the worldwide PC market is constantly increasing. It has become the fifth largest PC seller in the US market for the first quarter of 2010, shipping 1,398 milion Macs computer machines. Apple is the seventh largest cell phone marketer, holding 2.7% market share in the worldwide cell phone markets, having a 112.2% increase in mobile devise sales. Apple is the third largest Smartphone marketer in the world during the first quarter of 2010. (Gartner, 2010) Apple is going to release its iPhone OS and therefore it is expected that second quarter of 2010 will be a very important one for Apple (Gartner, 2010). Apple is spending huge on RD in order to provide its customers with products and services, made up of latest technology and innovation, with supreme quality and reliability. Carson (2008) reported that more than 500 million subscribers were offered a legitimate iPhone deal in the beginning of 2008, with a target of big gains from its international marketing. The launch of iPhone had thus created a massive global footprint. Apples international marketing of iPhone has been first channeled through SingTel of Singapore, Bharti Airtel of India, Globe Telephones of Philippines and Optus of Australia, adding 100 million potential customers to its brand. International marketing has been highly significant for Apple in recent years. Its global sale of PCs and digital music players have contributed major share of its total revenues. For instance, Apple posted revenue of $9.6 billion and a net quarterly profit of $ 1.6 billion in the first quarter of 2008, showing a gross margin of 34.7% from the 31.2% figure of the year of gross profit. International sales accounted for 45% of its total revenues (OGrady, 2008, 162). International Business Environment of Apple Inc This section of the research paper analyzes micro and macro environments of Apples international business. The SWOT analysis and PESTEL analysis are considered in this section to analyze international business environments both micro and macro levels. SWOT analysis of Apple Inc Analyzing both internal and external environments is vital in strategic planning because it can help management take decisive actions regarding resources allocation, measuring efficiency of operation and evaluating the productivity of employees. SWOT is a very useful technique for analyzing both micro and macro environments of a firm drawing together key strengths and weaknesses as presented internal (micro) analysis and opportunities and threats as presented external (macro) analysis (Beamish and Ashford, 2007, p. 42). Internal Environment: Strengths According to Datamonitors (2010) report, Apples total revenue has been increased to the highest record figure of $ 42,905 million in 2008 from 2007 total revenue of $24,578 million. This growth shows that its annual growth rate is 32.15% which is an outranking performance as compared to many other firms playing in the same market. Apple has very recently reported that its financial performance for the 2010 first quarter has been increased to $15.68 billion (Apple.com). When it comes to its focus on innovation, technology and RD, it is obvious that its focus on RD and its thrive on innovation has been a critical factor behind its success. Its RD spending for 2009 only was accounted to be $1,333 million (Datamonitor, 2010). Apple is highly rewarded for its unique brand success and brand loyalty. Datamonitor (2010) reported that Apples brand image has been im porved to the 20th position in 2009 from the 24th position of 2008 and 35th position of 2007. With a number of unique names, Apples products like iTunes, iLife, iMac, iPad and iPhone are not attributable to any brand other than Apple. This brand image and loyalty remains to be its major strength in its international markets. Internal Analysis: Weaknesses Design and manufacturing defects are major risks that many high tech electronic companies often face from its corporate customers and end users. As Apple is dealing with innovative products and advanced technology, any defects in its products can adversely affect its international business. For instance, Apple faced risks of defects with Ultracompact USB in 2008 causing it to exchange every components for new redesigned adapters (Datamonitor, 2010). Similarly, patent infringement seems to another risk, as common for high tech and Multinationals. In 2007 alone, Apple had to spend huge amount only for defending more than 47 patent infringement cases (Datamonitor, 2010). External Environment: Opportunities When it comes to Apples international business, the main opportunity that it enjoys is its growing market-share Apples Smartphone. It is still expected to grow further in the years to come. Apples Smartphone market has been valued as 15% of the total mobile market of 2009. It is estimated that Apples Smartphone market is likely to account 35% of the worldwide mobile market in 2012. Apart from this, touch screen device has been a trend among customers that in turn will be another opportunity for Apple in its global marketing (Datamonitor, 2010) Apples mobile PC is another species that recently attracted greater number of customers. The market for mobile PCs also is expected to increase in the coming years. Apples mobile PCs sales have been found to be increased by 15% in 2009. Both Smartphone and mobile PCs give greater opportunities for Apple and therefore it can grab the slices of these emerging hot markets by further enhancing quality, diversity, technology, innovation and designs. External Environment: Threats Self reliance for components is always a positive point for a manufacturer especially when it goes global. As far as Apples case is concerned, it is depending on third party components like DRAM, NAND and flat panel displays, that in turn not only bring chances of causing cost disadvantages but also raises issues of liabilities and components defects (Datamonitor, 2010). The competition in the worldwide market for PCs, software, digital music players and cell-phones is extremely rigorous. Apple is playing in such an environment where large multinationals like HP, Dell, Acer, Microsoft, Nokia, Fujitsu, Sony Ericsson are major competitors and going head on head with them is extremely challenging. PEST analysis of Apple Inc A better organization is one, which easily gets accustomed with changing business contexts. Changing business environments can be evaluated and understood only if effective analysis can be carried out. PEST analysis is an invaluable tool for analyzing external (macro) environment of a firm including competitors, suppliers and customers. PEST analysis divides a firms overall environments in to four, political, economic, social and technological (Gregory, 2000, p. 49). Apples external environments are detailed below: Political Environment Shenkar and Luo (2004) emphasized that the political processes faced by an MNE, let it be compliance, evasion, negotiation, cooperation and coalition building, are more difficult and problematic than that in domestic operation. It is mainly because; the number of political constituencies including government, union, political parties and interested groups are multiplied in international business environments (p. 175). As far as Apples case is concerned, its marketing in countries like China, India and other Asian countries are more likely to be affected by any changes in political and government policies can have significant impact on its business. Economic Environment When Apple chooses a specific entry mode to enter in to a country, it has to consider a number of economic and other factors. Economic factors in other countries like financial strength, exchange rate fluctuations, Foreign direct investment and related policies and other economic variables can also have significant influence on Apples international business. The growth of Apples market share in Smartphone and other sectors shows that it has been less affected by the worst financial downturn of the recent years as compared to other firms. Social Environment The significance of social and cultural factors to a firms international business cannot be overestimated. Consumers worldwide tend to become more attracted to Smartphone and touch screen devices. Even though the general social factors are positive for Apples Smartphone market in other countries, various other social factors like attitude towards foreign products, cultural entities and social values can up to an extent create challenges on its business (Shenkar and Luo, 2004, p. 150). Technological Environment Apples relentless focus on technology and innovation is its major strength that helps it gain better competitive advantages. Apples technology is its another positive factor because people worldwide tends to embrace latest technology quicker. Apple is introducing its 4G iPhone which is now expected to gain good sales across other countries as well. International Strategies of Apple Inc This part of the research paper relates to the major international business strategies of Apple inc. Apple strategies Innovative product design, Brand loyalty, Own store strategy and education sales are detailed below. Its strategies like complete solution and Product differentiation are intentionally omitted because, the specified sector for the research is Apples Smartphone sector. Innovative Design strategy Apples products like iPod and iPhone became widely known for its excellence in innovative product design and development. Apple was not a technology follower until 1990s. Steve Jobs realized that technology creation is critical to stay for long in a market and thence he made significant changes of Apples products lines after 1997 (Betz, 2002, p. 194- 195). This is how Apple has eventually become a technology creator and now created success stories of iPhone throughout its worldwide markets. When companies like HP and other players in hardware and software markets focused on lower costs and high volume sales, Apple focused on technology and product differentiation (Hoskisson, Hitt and Irelandl, 2008, p. 133). Apples international business is committed to bring high quality mobile communication, digital music players and video experience to its worldwide customers. Its business strategy is its effort to design and develop its own hardware products like iPhone with its own software, ease of use and innovative design being its major features (Apple Annual Report, 2009). Brand Loyalty Strategy Apple brand is one of the strongest in todays international market. A number of products like iPad, iPhone, iMac, iLife, iTunes and iDvd are clearly positioned in customers mind with Apple brand. Its strategy to design and develop innovative products have been closely related with its digital hub and thus to have gained a unique successful brand position among its customers. Apples brand personality is created with an emphasis on emotion, touching customers lifestyle, imagination, innovation, dream and aspiration (marketingminds.com). Apples brand is likely to change the lifestyle the people listen music, use mobile for communication and music needs etc (Cuneo, 2003). According to Keates and Clarkson (2003) Apples strong brand image and its loyalty only were the factors that saved Apple from being fully wiped out form the market when its managerial mistakes caused it to be closer to be bankrupted in 1990s (p. 43). When it comes to the brand positioning, Apple gains 50%. ADWEEKs (2009) study concluded that some customers are found that they couldnt live without Apples brand as it is highly inspiring to them. Readers brand choice was 50% Apple, 26% Google and 4% Starbucks (Brand of the Decade, 2009). Apples own store strategy Apple has been creating its own stores for the international marketing of its products including its Smartphone. Apart from online selling and third part sales force, Apple has used own store as a strategy for enhancing better distribution and by facilitating its customers enjoy music and other products and services. Its own stores are friendly places where customers have easy access to play and experience new technologies (insidecrm.com). Apple opened 34 its own stores in 2005 for a total of 135 and dramatically its international business by opening stores in Canada, three stores in UK and in Japan as well (OGrady, 2008, p. 129). Its own store strategy helps it gain more customers, attract them towards its products and technologies, provide better direct services and collect more accurate information from its customers. Education Sales Apples another strategy for its international business was education sale by focusing on selling its products and services to schools and universities and thus to spread its technology to the new generations. Students by seeing Apple products at schools or colleges become highly attracted to using or owning one for them and this is how Apple has been using education sale strategy for its marketing (insidecrm.com). Effectiveness of Apples Strategies This section of the research paper uses Porters generic Strategy (given in the appendix) to determine the effectiveness and success of Apples international business, mainly focusing its Smartphone market. The attractiveness of the firm and its position in industry are major factors that determine effectiveness. Apples case shows that it has been able to boost its market share for Smartphone in recent years. According to Porters generic strategy, cost advantage and differentiation are two major factors that determine strength of a firm. Apple has remained far positive with its market shares and larger number of shipping, and when considering Smartphone market, the market share was highly impressive. Apples RD is its main power that is a critical factor behind its differentiation; innovative design and technology focus strategies as well. Apart from its differentiation strategy, the major points to look at are 1) brand loyalty and 2) its iPhone buzz across the world. These both are major success factors of Apple Inc. Brand loyalty remains to be a strong advantage because it can help the company stay very strong in its international market. Similarly, the iPhone buzz throughout the world also has been a success factor that shows how far Apple has been gaining the international business and competitive advantages. Evaluative Conclusion and Recommendations Apart from the above-discussed Apples strategies, this part of the research paper recommends Customization facility and direct marketing as other two important strategies for Apple. Customers are different in tastes, requirements and lifestyles. They require different products at different features. A customer may require an iPhone with camera facility whereas the other may require it with additional inbuilt memory to store more songs. It goes like it. By facilitating customization, customers will be able to access Apple website, design their own products, select features for it, add specifications and finally order the goods. It will not only help increase the number of its customers, but also add more customer loyalty and satisfaction as well. Secondly, I would recommend that Direct marketing, by directly selling its products to the international customer, will be helpful to reduce middlemen costs and extra inventory handling too. It will help the company to make its products ultimately cheaper to the customers This research paper has highlighted the literature related to the Apples international business, mainly regarding it Smartphone sector. The paper has presented detailed analysis on the micro and macro analysis of Apples international business environment by using appropriate tools of SWOT and PEST analysis. The international business strategies of Apple are detailed in this paper, drawing the effectiveness of its strategies and operation.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

The Poverty of the Lakota People of South Dakota :: Poverty Essays

For the Lakota people of South Dakota, modern day capitalism is a frustrating network of impersonal commerce, resource and profit. Since colonialism, the global arena has replaced the values and needs of the Lakota with presupposed economic definitions of need, and has â€Å"forced deterioration of the traditional political system† existing in Lakota society (115). In the absence of traditional political organization and subsidence economy, the Lakota are impoverished and have little choice but to adhere to the economic prospects offered to them by the federal government. In doing so, Lakota people struggle with â€Å"economic opportunities† that damage community identity and marginalize their status in society. Economics greatly influences their own ability to shape their modern Lakota culture. As â€Å"economic opportunities† align to the mandates of the world economy and are determined by the culture and experience of the United States government, both Pine Ridge and Rosebud maintain distressing levels of poverty and unemployment. In direct response to demands of the world economy, Lakota industry exhibits a growing dependence on cash instead of land, and breaks down community identity (65). Wal-Mart and Safeway chains encumber the production of Lakota owned small business, and similar multinational business chains create limited market success. When a small business actually succeeds in surviving, competition immediately pops up and â€Å"neither [competing business] can make a living† on reservations (37). Attitudes towards successful Lakota entrepreneurs are often sour and unforgiving, as everyone else struggles to survive. However, Lakota people must engage in the economic venues opened to them by the federal government as a federally dependent nation. Factory and wage work make up the bulk of Lakota employment, as well as handicrafts catering to tourist tastes. Naturally, making â€Å"arrows, arrows every day† is â€Å"really boring† (21) for many Lakota, but risks of developing asthma, blisters, broken bones and severe burns in wage work is high. Over the years, the business propositions open to South Dakota Indians have included a â€Å"fishhook factory, moccasin factory, arrow factory and electronic circuit factory in Pine Ridge,† and the destructive nature of factory work threatened the physical health and well being of every individual fortunate to gain employment (18). As the majority of Lakota men and women are forced to seek work outside of the reservation, many parents abandon their families in cramped, over crowded housing units. As dependence on cash instead of land inc reases, and average job spans for Lakota men consist of 3.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Business Degree Opportunity Essay

A career in business is more varied than most people realize. Having a career in business you can involve the obvious functions such as management and marketing. Again most people don’t know that you can be the backbone for economic, political and social systems at all levels. Having a business degree can be applied to virtually any industry and can also help you start your own business. Some of the new professional opportunities this degree afford to employees would be a higher position within the company as well a pay increase. Let’s take Krystal’s restaurant for example not only will they pay for your schooling while working there you can apply for a higher position and continue working your way up the latter. For example if you’re an employee you can apply for management and if you’re already a manager you can apply for the district manager position. Those to major moves not only give you a different position but benefits and money comes right alone with it as well. Now don’t get me wrong with this degree you are not limited to just working in restaurants you are able to put in application in doctors office, warehouses, clinics, hotels, and etc. Other types of careers that people with a business degree would have are Accounting, Human Resource, Customer Service, Sales, Receptionist, and Administrative Assistant. All of these jobs come with different pays and benefits. I know somewhere down the line you would want a ball park ideal of how much money can be earned with a business degree. Well I can tell you that you can make anywhere from 27,450 to 60,000. If there are any further questions about the earning potentials a person with a Business Degree has you can check out the Pay Scale web site and it will break it down for you alone with the jobs. Some of the opportunities that I found alone with pay are Administrative Assistant (27,216-38,660), Administrative/Office Manager (33,586-45,060), Office Manager (43,744-60,781), Retail Store Manager (39,588- 48,168), Executive Secretary or Administrative Assistant (30,000- 60,920), Legal Secretary (29,479-53,448), and finally we have Executive Assistant to CEO (49,132-60, 000). So as you see having a degree in Business can really pay off if you apply yourself and have some years of experience behind you and your degree is what determines your pay scale rather it will be high or low. There are a few more jobs that are out there for people with Business Management Degrees such as Non- Profit Organization and it can pay up to 42,911, Government- State Local and it can pay up to 37,000, School/School District and it can pay up To 27,450, Government –Federal can pay up to 52,500, College-University can pay up to 37,500, Foundation/Trust can pay up to 49,000, Private Practice/Firm can pay up to 45,105, Hospital can pay you up to 46,810, Franchise can pay you up to 41,271, Self-Employed can pay you up to 32,250 and last but not least a Contractor can pay you up to 57,704. While looking at the pay scale website I realize that there are plenty Of jobs out there a person can work with an Associate Degree in Business Management . For the longest I have thought that a manager job in either fast food or retail was the only jobs out there that an Associate Degree can get until I found the Business Jobs website. Now that you know there are jobs out there for you let’s talk about all the fun times you will get to have with the company that tries to keep their employees with benefits and increase in retention. I know by now you’re wondering what I mean by benefits and fun. Well I know on a previous job I worked they showed their employees their care and would like for them to hang around for a while by giving them extra benefits. For example when we have a meeting sometimes you could wear your favorite basketball team and they would allow you to have fun and eat once your done it’s time for the meeting. These types of meeting people love to attend. The company even went out of their way for the employees as well they gave out money and a plaque for the employee of the quarter at Christmas time. I can go on and on about this company and the way they retained their employees. So allow me to give you some more examples of the benefits to the company increasing their retention. Some companies sponsors an all- paid vacation to an exotic location, usually to mark the employee’s five-year anniversary with the company. When companies do things like that you give your employees a reason to want to stay with the company for those many years so that is one way to retain your employees. Another way to retain employees is allowing sabbaticals for higher education after certain tenure with the company. The employee’s vacation benefits can take the form of annual holiday to recharge the batteries of life, and company trips to increase teamwork and bonding coworkers. I have learned that it is easier to retain employees by just being honest with them at all times. An employee will be more likely to stay if they know they can depend on you to tell the truth and have their back when needed. You will soon found out that if your treating the employees right and like family that’s the type of results you will receive and your business will be successful. Every business will benefit from happy employees verses the ones that is mad and always ready to go home. Now that you know how some companies keep their employees you should know how it benefit s the company. By retaining the employees the companies save money on turnovers and on training. When a company saves money on things like training or turnovers it allows them to be able to do more for their employees. And by taking care of their employees they will see that their employees will take care of them in the long run. References Pay scale 2000-2011 Pay Scale Bright Hub Inc. 2011 Bright Hub Inc.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

The Illustrated Man essays

The Illustrated Man essays This is a collection of short stories written by Ray Bradbury. The story opens when a man, on a walking tour of Wisconsin, meets another man whose body is covered in tattoos. The man with the tattoos, known as the Illustrated Man, is looking for a job. He camped the night with the other man. His tattoos, he told him, where given to him by a witch from the future. When the sun comes down, the tattoos come to life, and play out little dramas upon the man's flesh. Each of the stories contained in this book come from the dramas played out from the man's tattoos. The first story, The Veldt, tells the tale of a family from the future. In the future, people have rooms much like the halodeck from Star Trek. The room is virtual reality, and can be programmed and sensitized to its owners to create for them whatever reality they wish. For this family, the room serves as their children's nursery. Indeed, the children spend so much time in this "nursery"; it has become a surrogate parent to them. The parents - particularly the father - have become concerned about the amount of time the children spend with the nursery. He fears that perhaps their playtime has become all too real. He calls in an expert to check the nursery out. The room is supposed to respond whenever a person requests, or even thinks of what it wants the room to create. However, the room seems to have been stuck in a rut. The scene: the middle of an African veldt, where a family of lions feasted upon their kill. The expert suggests that the father try turning off the nursery for a while, and give the family a chance to come together as a real family again, without all their technological inventions getting in the way. The father tries this, but the children and wife rebel. Finally, he relents and turns it back on again. The children race into the nursery, and get locked in. They scream for their parents....

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Dice Report Essays - Electronic Design, Breadboard, Free Essays

Dice Report Essays - Electronic Design, Breadboard, Free Essays Dice Report -741680763270My initial idea on how the program must work would be simply using DIR,OUT, and IF commands. For example, I imagined that if the button was pressed at a certain second, a certain number of lights would turn on. This program would have to then include a set timer which would loop back after hitting a certain number of seconds, supposedly 6 because the dice only has 6 numbers. This idea is a bit similar to the use of a random command, but would take much longer to code. Fig 1. Initial Dice flowchart. This was my initial dice flowchart without any animations. -629532-67158300Fig 2. Final Dice flowchart. This is my final dice flowchart which include the animations. -49276038290500-688769364972500Fig 3. Dice Layout. This diagram shows where each LED would be placed and what pins will be used. Fig 4. Entire Circuit. This photograph shows the entire circuit including the LEDs, resistors, breadboard, wiring, and BoeBot base. Fig 5. Close up on BoeBot pins. Pins 0-6 were used and the button on pin 13. Unfortunately there are two wires that were not needed and were not taken off when this photograph was taken. Red wires attached to pin 12 and last Vss pin should not be there. 0000Fig.6. Close up on actual dice. This photograph shows the layout of each LED, resistor and wiring. I have done this almost identically to the layout I had drawn before. The red wire located at the bottom of the breadboard grounds the entire breadboard. Without this wire, the dice did not work before.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Systems and diffusion of innovation theories as they apply to Essay

Systems and diffusion of innovation theories as they apply to healthcare delivery and nursing practice - Essay Example Such demands energy. The theory also tackles the concept of equifinality, which is among the differences between closed and open systems. Equifinality describes a system that can reach the same final state even with different states of initial condition. Unlike close systems that have positive entropy, open systems also approach minimum entropy production, thus aiming for complexity. Taking note of all of these differences, it has been described that the stable state of closed and open systems are equilibrium and steady-state, respectively (von Bertalanffy, 1950). 1. Systems Theory and Healthcare Delivery in the U. S. The Healthcare system, in general, is an open system. It does not react to changes by trying to maintain its state, but by trying to adapt to the changes it is up against. It is in a constantly changing state to maintain its stability, so to speak. Historically, in United States, from 1965, the expenses for healthcare has steadily increased at least 4.5% yearly, much gr eater than the 1.7% increase posted by the country’s gross domestic product, a measure of income. A part of the healthcare expense has increasingly been depended on the private sector, through the private health insurance provided by the employers. The government, on its part also took part in covering for the increase in healthcare expenses. The advancements in medical technologies and the deregulation of medical supply have caused such increase in expenses. However, when the country was undergoing recession, the government implemented the â€Å"managed care†, in which the government limited the use of advanced medical equipment and therapy options (Reinhardt, 2001). In addition, the healthcare system is equifinal. For example, a patient’s willingness to use a novel therapeutic option depends upon the healthcare provider’s sex, specialty, medical school, years in profession, practice volume, and practice location (Sanson-Fisher, 2004). The different perm utations that can lead to the willingness to subject to a treatment option are many. One may arrive at the final decision of (dis)agreeing to undergo the treatment option even through different initial points. 2. Systems Theory and Nursing Practice Going inside the healthcare system is a complicated one because of its complex structure. It is so complex that the nursing profession itself, which is the largest healthcare profession in the United States, is an open system. Their characteristic as an open system is evident in various instances. First, the final state in nursing practice does not depend on the amount of initial state from which it came or the tangible additions or omissions that resulted to the existence of the final state. For example, the nurses’ role in healthcare is vital because they provide the majority of the initial care to the patients, especially among those in critical condition. Specifically, nurses of a certain section of the hospital are exposed to the same conditions during their clinical practice, but yet others graciously handle the situation and others crack under pressure (Smith, 2010). Diffusion of Innovation Theory Applied to the Current Situation From the name itself, diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory, as proposed by Rogers is a much more recently developed theory concerned with the adoption of innovations by a unit over time. In this theory, the contribution of the subunits in spreading the new

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Medea (video) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Medea (video) - Essay Example She defies the prevalent male chauvinism by murdering Glauce and the society abhors her. Additionally, although the book clearly indicates that Medea loved her children, the video portrays her as a jealous irrational woman whose appearance scares away even her own children. This is a conscious move by the director to expose the perceived animosity of Medea. It portrays her as a brutally proud woman who is reluctant to let her opponents succeed. Although the book portrays Medea as a typical traditional woman fighting against social ills, the video portrays her as a cunning and cold schemer. It gives her the ability to see through the deceitful values and false pieties of her enemies. The video portrays Medea as loving and caring. This is evident through the actions that she did to Jason when they first met. However, one keeps on wondering whether Medea had ever experienced love before she met Jason. Although the book portrays Medea as an abnormal person, the video portrays her as a normal human being with feelings. Her heart turns into vengeance upon discovering that Jason was planning to marry another